and being told that they rode in search of the Sancgrael, she laughed
again, saying--

"Silly knights all, that seek it before you be bearded! For three of
you must faint and die on the quest, and you, sir," turning to Sir
Dinar, "must many times long to die, yet never reach nearer by a
foot."

"Let it be as God will," answered Sir Dinar. "But hast thou any
tidings, to guide us?"

"I have heard," said she, "that it was seen latest in the land of
Gore, beyond Trent Water." And with her white finger she pointed
down a narrow glade that led to the north-west. So they thanked her
and pricked on, none guessing that she herself was King Urience'
wife, of Gore, and none other than Queen Morgan le Fay, the famous
enchantress, who for loss of her gerfalcon was lightly sending Sir
Dinar to his ruin.

So all that day they rode, two and two, in the strait alley that she
had pointed out; and by her enchantments she made the winter trees to
move with them, serried close on either hand, so that, though the
four knights wist nothing of it, they advanced not a furlong for all
their haste. But towards nightfall there appeared close ahead a
blaze of windows lit and then a tall castle with dim towers soaring
up and shaking to the din of minstrelsy. And finding a great company
about the doors, they lit down from their horses and stepped into the
great hall, Sir Dinar leading them. For a while their eyes were
dazed, seeing that sconces flared along the walls and the place was
full of knights and damsels brightly clad, and the floor shone.