So Sir Lancelot departed, and when he came to the Chapel Perilous he alighted, and tied his horse to the gate.  And as soon as he was within the churchyard, he saw on the front of the chapel many shields of knights whom he had known, turned upside down.  Then saw he in the pathway thirty mighty knights, taller than any men whom he had ever seen, all armed in black armour, with their swords drawn; and they gnashed their teeth upon him as he came.  But he put his shield before him, and took his sword in hand, ready to do battle with them.  And when he would have cut his way through them, they scattered on every side and let him pass.  Then he went into the chapel, and saw therein no light but of a dim lamp burning.  Then he was aware of a corpse in the midst of the chapel, covered with a silken cloth, and so stooped down and cut off a piece of the cloth, whereat the earth beneath him trembled.  Then saw he a sword lying by the dead knight, and taking it in his hand, he hied him from the chapel.  As soon as he was in the churchyard again, all the thirty knights cried out to him with fierce voices, “Sir Lancelot! lay that sword from thee, or thou diest!”

“Whether I live or die,” said he, “ye shall fight for it ere ye take it from me.”

With that they let him pass.

And further on, beyond the chapel, he met a fair damsel, who said, “Sir
Lancelot, leave that sword behind thee, or thou diest.”

[Illustration:  Beyond the chapel, he met a fair damsel, who said, “Sir Lancelot, leave that sword behind thee, or thou diest.”]

“I will not leave it,” said Sir Lancelot, “for any asking.”

“Then, gentle knight,” said the damsel, “I pray thee kiss me once.”

“Nay,” said Sir Lancelot, “that God forbid!”

“Alas!” cried she, “I have lost all my labour! but hadst thou kissed me, thy life’s days had been all done!”

“Heaven save me from thy subtle crafts!” said Sir Lancelot; and therewith took his horse and galloped forth.

And when he was departed, the damsel sorrowed greatly, and died in fifteen days.  Her name was Ellawes, the sorceress.

Then came Sir Lancelot to Sir Meliot’s sister, who, when she saw him, clapped her hands and wept for joy, and took him to the castle hard by, where Sir Meliot was.  And when Sir Lancelot saw Sir Meliot, he knew him, though he was pale as ashes for loss of blood.  And Sir Meliot, when he saw Sir Lancelot, kneeled to him and cried aloud, “O lord, Sir Lancelot! help me!”

And thereupon, Sir Lancelot went to him and touched his wounds with the sword, and wiped them with the piece of bloody cloth.  And immediately he was as whole as though he had been never wounded.  Then was there great joy between him and Sir Meliot; and his sister made Sir Lancelot good cheer.  So on the morrow, he took his leave, that he might go to King Arthur’s court, “for,” said he, “it draweth nigh the feast of Pentecost, and there, by God’s grace, shall ye then find me.”