Without escort or company he quickly went out into the garden,
meeting no one on the way, and he was so fortunate as to find
that a part of the garden-wall had recently fallen down. Through
this break he passes quickly and proceeds to the window, where he
stands, taking good care not to cough or sneeze, until the Queen
arrives clad in a very white chemise. She wore no cloak or coat,
but had thrown over her a short cape of scarlet cloth and
shrew-mouse fur. As soon as Lancelot saw the Queen leaning on
the window-sill behind the great iron bars, he honoured her with
a gentle salute. She promptly returned his greeting, for he was
desirous of her, and she of him. Their talk and conversation are
not of vulgar, tiresome affairs. They draw close to one another,
until each holds the other's hand. But they are so distressed at
not being able to come together more completely, that they curse
the iron bars. Then Lancelot asserts that, with the Queen's
consent, he will come inside to be with her, and that the bars
cannot keep him out. And the Queen replies: "Do you not see how
the bars are stiff to bend and hard to break? You could never so
twist, pull or drag at them as to dislodge one of them." "Lady,"
says he, "have no fear of that. It would take more than these
bars to keep me out.
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