whom there were many and fair. Some were feeding in the streets
their sparrow-hawks and moulting falcons; others were giving an
airing to their tercels, (6) their mewed birds, and young yellow
hawks; others play at dice or other game of chance, some at
chess, and some at backgammon. The grooms in front of the
stables are rubbing down and currying the horses. The ladies are
bedecking themselves in their boudoirs. As soon as they see the
knight coming, whom they recognised with his dwarf and damsel,
they go out three by three to meet him. The knight they all
greet and salute, but they give no heed to Erec, for they did not
know him. Erec follows close upon the knight through the town,
until he saw him lodged. Then, very joyful, he passed on a
little farther until he saw reclining upon some steps a vavasor
(7) well on in years. He was a comely man, with white locks,
debonair, pleasing, and frank. There he was seated all alone,
seeming to be engaged in thought. Erec took him for an honest
man who would at once give him lodging. When he turned through
the gate into the yard, the vavasor ran to meet him, and saluted
him before Erec had said a word. "Fair sir," says he, "be
welcome. If you will deign to lodge with me, here is my house
all ready for you." Erec replies: "Thank you! For no other
purpose have I come; I need a lodging place this night."

(Vv. 393-410.) Erec dismounts from his horse, which the host
himself leads away by the bridle, and does great honour to his
guest. The vavasor summons his wife and his beautiful daughter,
who were busy in a work-room--doing I know not what. The lady
came out with her daughter, who was dressed in a soft white
under-robe with wide skirts hanging loose in folds. Over it she
wore a white linen garment, which completed her attire. And this