Then gazing upon her, all the King’s household, lord and lackey, prince and page, cried with one voice that her favour was greater than that of the Queen.  The King himself gave judgment with his barons that this thing was so; therefore Sir Graelent was acquitted of his blame, and declared a free man.

When judgment was given the lady took her leave of the King, and attended by her four damsels departed straightway from the hall upon her palfrey.  Sir Graelent caused his white horse to be saddled, and mounting, followed hotly after her through the town.  Day after day he rode in her track, pleading for pity and pardon, but she gave him neither good words nor bad in answer.  So far they fared that at last they came to the forest, and taking their way through a deep wood rode to the bank of a fair, clear stream.  The lady set her palfrey to the river, but when she saw that Graelent also would enter therein she cried to him,

“Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow.”

Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.  Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

“Graelent,” said she, “you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank.”

Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.  Again he forced his horse to enter the water; but the current was very swift and the stream was very deep, so that presently Graelent was torn from his saddle, and being borne away by the stream came very nigh to drown.  When the four maidens saw his piteous plight they cried aloud to their lady, and said,

“Lady, for the love of God, take pity on your poor friend.  See, how he drowns in this evil case.  Alas, cursed be the day you spake soft words in his ear, and gave him the grace of your love.  Lady, look how the current hurries him to his death.  How may your heart suffer him to drown whom you have held so close!  Aid him, nor have the sin on your soul that you endured to let the man who loved you die without your help.”

When the lady heard the complaint of her maidens, no longer could she hide the pity she felt in her heart.  In all haste she turned her palfrey to the river, and entering the stream clutched her lover by the belt.  Thus they won together to the bank.  There she stripped the drowned man of his raiment, and wrapping him fast in her own dry mantle cherished him so meetly that presently he came again to life.  So she brought him safely into her own land, and none has met Sir Graelent since that day.