Then at noon came a damsel unto him with his dinner, and asked him, “What cheer?” “Truly, fair damsel,” said Sir Launcelot, “never so ill.”  “Sir,” said she, “if you will be ruled by me, I will help you out of this distress.  If ye will promise me to help my father on Tuesday next, who hath made a tournament betwixt him and the king of North Wales; for last Tuesday my father lost the field.”  “Fair maiden,” said Sir Launcelot, “tell me what is your father’s name, and then will I give you an answer.”  “Sir knight,” she said, “my father is King Bagdemagus.”  “I know him well,” said Sir Launcelot, “for a noble king and a good knight; and, by the faith of my body, I will be ready to do your father and you service at that day.”

So she departed, and came on the next morning early and found him ready, and brought him out of twelve locks, and brought him to his own horse, and lightly he saddled him, and so rode forth.

And on the Tuesday next he came to a little wood where the tournament should be.  And there were scaffolds and holds, that lords and ladies might look on, and give the prize.  Then came into the field the king of North Wales, with eightscore helms, and King Badgemagus came with fourscore helms.  And then they couched their spears, and came together with a great dash, and there were overthrown at the first encounter twelve of King Bagdemagus’s party and six of the king of North Wales’s party, and King Bagdemagus’s party had the worse.

With that came Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and thrust in with his spear in the thickest of the press; and he smote down five knights ere he held his hand; and he smote down the king of North Wales, and he brake his thigh in that fall.  And then the knights of the king of North Wales would just no more; and so the gree was given to King Bagdemagus.

And Sir Launcelot rode forth with King Bagdemagus unto his castle; and there he had passing good cheer, both with the king and with his daughter.  And on the morn he took his leave, and told the king he would go and seek his brother, Sir Lionel, that went from him when he slept.  So he departed, and by adventure he came to the same forest where he was taken sleeping.  And in the highway he met a damsel riding on a white palfrey, and they saluted each other.  “Fair damsel,” said Sir Launcelot, “know ye in this country any adventures?” “Sir knight,” said the damsel, “here are adventures near at hand, if thou durst pursue them.”  “Why should I not prove adventures?” said Sir Launcelot, “since for that cause came I hither.”  “Sir,” said she, “hereby dwelleth a knight that will not be overmatched for any man I know, except thou overmatch him.  His name is Sir Turquine, and, as I understand, he is a deadly enemy of King Arthur, and he has in his prison good knights of Arthur’s court, threescore and more, that he hath won with his own hands.”  “Damsel,” said Launcelot, “I pray you bring me unto this knight.”  So she told him, “Hereby, within this mile, is his castle,