and go, and so departed. And as they rode, Arthur said, I have
no sword. No force, said Merlin, hereby is a sword that shall be
yours, an I may. So they rode till they came to a lake, the
which <45>was a fair water and broad, and in the midst of the
lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white samite, that held
a fair sword in that hand. Lo! said Merlin, yonder is that sword
that I spake of. With that they saw a damosel going upon the
lake. What damosel is that? said Arthur. That is the Lady of
the Lake, said Merlin; and within that lake is a rock, and
therein is as fair a place as any on earth, and richly beseen;
and this damosel will come to you anon, and then speak ye fair to
her that she will give you that sword. Anon withal came the
damosel unto Arthur, and saluted him, and he her again. Damosel,
said Arthur, what sword is that, that yonder the arm holdeth
above the water? I would it were mine, for I have no sword. Sir
Arthur, king, said the damosel, that sword is mine, and if ye
will give me a gift when I ask it you, ye shall have it. By my
faith, said Arthur, I will give you what gift ye will ask. Well!
said the damosel, go ye into yonder barge, and row yourself to
the sword, and take it and the scabbard with you, and I will ask
my gift when I see my time. So Sir Arthur and Merlin alighted
and tied their horses to two trees, and so they went into the
ship, and when they came to the sword that the hand held, Sir
Arthur took it up by the handles, and took it with him, and the
arm and the hand went under the water. And so [they] came unto
the land and rode forth, and then Sir Arthur saw a rich pavilion.
What signifieth yonder pavilion? It is the knight's pavilion,
said Merlin, that ye fought with last, Sir Pellinore; but he is
out, he is not there. He hath ado with a knight of yours that
hight Egglame, and they have foughten together, but at the last