I set forward." "Clear shall be thy path, and nothing shall detain
thee, until thou come into my dominions, and I myself will be thy
guide!"

So he conducted him until he came in sight of the palace and its
dwellings. "Behold," said he, "the Court and the kingdom in thy
power. Enter the Court, there is no one there who will know thee,
and when thou seest what service is done there, thou wilt know the
customs of the Court."

So he went forward to the Court, and when he came there, he beheld
sleeping-rooms, and halls, and chambers, and the most beautiful
buildings ever seen. And he went into the hall to disarray, and
there came youths and pages and disarrayed him, and all as they
entered saluted him. And two knights came and drew his hunting-dress
from about him, and clothed him in a vesture of silk and gold. And
the hall was prepared, and behold he saw the household and the host
enter in, and the host was the most comely and the best equipped that
he had ever seen. And with them came in likewise the Queen, who was
the fairest woman that he had ever yet beheld. And she had on a
yellow robe of shining satin; and they washed and went to the table,
and sat, the Queen upon one side of him, and one who seemed to be an
Earl on the other side.

And he began to speak with the Queen, and he thought, from her
speech, that she was the seemliest and most noble lady of converse
and of cheer that ever was. And they partook of meat, and drink,
with songs and with feasting; and of all the Courts upon the earth,
behold this was the best supplied with food and drink, and vessels of
gold and royal jewels.