But now he has learned so much of
arms that he will never wish to bear them again his whole life
long. His heart cannot longer endure the thought, for there is
nothing more cowardly than his heart." And the Queen, as she
watches him, is happy and well-pleased, for she knows full well,
though she does not say it, that this is surely Lancelot. Thus
all day long till evening he played his coward's part, and late
in the afternoon they separated. At parting there was a great
discussion as to who had done the best. The son of the Irish
king thinks that without doubt or contradiction he has all the
glory and renown. But he is grievously mistaken, for there were
plenty of others as good as he. Even the vermilion knight so
pleased the fairest and gentlest of the ladies and damsels that
they had gazed at him more than at any other knight, for they had
remarked how well he fought at first, and how excellent and brave
he was; then he had become so cowardly that he dared not face a
single knight, and even the worst of them could defeat and
capture him at will. But knights and ladies all agreed that on
the morrow they should return to the list, and the damsels should
choose as their lords those who should win honour in that day's
fight: on this arrangement they all agree.
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