de Logris,” answered the damsel.  “A Knight of our Round Table,” said Sir Launcelot; “the more am I bound to your service.  Only tell me, gentle damsel, where I may find this Chapel Perilous.”  So she directed him, and, riding through forest byeways, Sir Launcelot came presently upon a little ruined chapel, standing in the midst of a churchyard, where the tombs showed broken and neglected under the dark yews.  In front of the porch, Sir Launcelot paused and looked, for thereon hung, upside down, dishonoured, the shield of many a good knight whom Sir Launcelot had known.

As he stood wondering, suddenly there pressed upon him from all sides thirty stout knights, all giants and fully armed, their drawn swords in their hands and their shields advanced.  With threatening looks, they spoke to him saying:  “Sir Launcelot, it were well ye turned back before evil befell you.”  But Sir Launcelot, though he feared to have to do with thirty such warriors, answered boldly:  “I turn not back for high words.  Make them good by your deeds.”  Then he rode upon them fiercely, whereupon instantly they scattered and disappeared, and, sword in hand, Sir Launcelot entered the little chapel.  All was dark within, save that a little lamp hung from the roof, and by its dim light he could just espy how on a bier before the altar there lay, stark and cold, a knight sheathed in armour.  And drawing nearer, Sir Launcelot saw that the dead man lay on a blood-stained mantle, his naked sword by his side, but that his left hand had been lopped off at the wrist by a mighty sword-cut.  Then Sir Launcelot boldly seized the sword and with it cut off a piece of the bloody mantle.  Immediately the earth shook and the walls of the chapel rocked, and in fear Sir Launcelot turned to go.  But, as he would have left the chapel, there stood before him in the doorway a lady, fair to look upon and beautifully arrayed, who gazed earnestly upon him, and said:  “Sir Knight, put away from you that sword lest it be your death.”  But Sir Launcelot answered her:  “Lady, what I have said, I do; and what I have won, I keep.”  “It is well,” said the lady.  “Had ye cast away the sword your life days were done.  And now I make but one request.  Kiss me once.”  “That may I not do,” said Sir Launcelot.  Then said the lady:  “Go your way, Launcelot; ye have won, and I have lost.  Know that, had ye kissed me, your dead body had lain even now on the altar bier.  For much have I desired to win you; and to entrap you, I ordained this chapel.  Many a knight have I taken, and once Sir Gawain himself hardly escaped, but he fought with Sir Gilbert and lopped off his hand, and so got away.  Fare ye well; it is plain to see that none but our lady, Queen Guenevere, may have your services.”  With that, she vanished from his sight.  So Sir Launcelot mounted his horse and rode away from that evil place till he met Sir Meliot’s sister, who led him to her brother where he lay, pale as the earth, and bleeding fast.  And when he saw Sir Launcelot,