Egglame fled, and else he had been dead, and he hath chased him
even to Carlion, and we shall meet with him anon in the highway.
That is well said, said Arthur, now have I a sword, now will I
wage battle with him, and be avenged on him. Sir, you shall not
so, said Merlin, for the knight is weary of fighting and chasing,
so that ye shall have no worship to have ado with him; also he
will not be lightly matched of one knight living, and therefore
it is my counsel, let him pass, for he shall do you good service
in short time, and his sons after <46>his days. Also ye shall
see that day in short space, you shall be right glad to give him
your sister to wed. When I see him, I will do as ye advise, said
Arthur.

Then Sir Arthur looked on the sword, and liked it passing well.
Whether liketh you better, said Merlin, the sword or the
scabbard? Me liketh better the sword, said Arthur. Ye are more
unwise, said Merlin, for the scabbard is worth ten of the swords,
for whiles ye have the scabbard upon you, ye shall never lose no
blood, be ye never so sore wounded; therefore keep well the
scabbard always with you. So they rode unto Carlion, and by the
way they met with Sir Pellinore; but Merlin had done such a
craft, that Pellinore saw not Arthur, and he passed by without
any words. I marvel, said Arthur, that the knight would not
speak. Sir, said Merlin, he saw you not, for an he had seen you,
ye had not lightly departed. So they came unto Carlion, whereof
his knights were passing glad. And when they heard of his
adventures, they marvelled that he would jeopard his person so,
alone. But all men of worship said it was merry to be under such
a chieftain, that would put his person in adventure as other poor
knights did.