[Sidenote:  Lancelot’s prowess.] Lancelot had been present at every one of these knightly games, and had easily borne away the prize, for his very name was almost enough to secure him the victory.  When the time for the last tournament came, he pretended to take no interest in it; but, riding off to Astolat (Guildford), he asked Elaine, the fair maiden who dwelt there, to guard his blazoned shield and give him another in exchange.

This fair lady, who had fallen in love with Lancelot at first sight, immediately complied with his request, and even timidly suggested that he should wear her colors in the coming fray.  Lancelot had never worn any favors except Guinevere’s, but thinking that it would help to conceal his identity, he accepted the crimson, pearl-embroidered sleeve she offered, and fastened it to his helmet in the usual way.

    “’Lady, thy sleeve thou shalt off-shear,
    I wol it take for the love of thee;
    So did I never no lady’s ere [before]
    But one, that most hath loved me.’”
                              ELLIS, Lancelot du Lac.

Thus effectually disguised, and accompanied by Sir Lawaine, Elaine’s brother, Lancelot rode on to the tournament, where, still unknown, he unhorsed every knight and won the prize.  His last encounter, however, nearly proved fatal, for in it he received a grievous wound.  As he felt faint, and was afraid to be recognized, Lancelot did not wait to claim the prize, but rode immediately out of the town.  He soon fainted, but was conveyed to the cell of a neighboring hermit.  Here his wound was dressed, and he was carefully nursed by Elaine, who had heard that he was wounded, and had immediately set out in search of him.

[Sidenote:  Lancelot and Elaine.] When Lancelot, entirely recovered, was about to leave Elaine after claiming his own shield, she timidly confessed her love, hoping that it was returned.  Gently and sorrowfully Lancelot repulsed her, and, by her father’s advice, was even so discourteous as to leave her without a special farewell.  Unrequited love soon proved too much for the “lily maid of Astolat,” who pined away very rapidly.  Feeling that her end was near, she dictated a farewell letter to Lancelot, which she made her father promise to put in her dead hand.  She also directed that her body should be laid in state on a barge, and sent in charge of a mute boatman to Camelot, where she was sure she would receive a suitable burial from the hands of Lancelot.

In the meanwhile the hero of the tournament had been sought everywhere by Gawain, who was the bearer of the diamond won at such a cost.  Coming to Astolat before Lancelot was cured, Gawain had learned the name of the victor, which he immediately proclaimed to Guinevere.  The queen, however, hearing a vague rumor that Lancelot had worn the colors of the maiden of Astolat, and was about to marry her, grew so jealous that when Lancelot reappeared at court she received him very coldly, and carelessly flung his present (a necklace studded with the diamonds he had won at various tournaments) into the river flowing beneath the castle walls.