All the palace was filled with knights and damsels,
and among them was the sister of Meleagant, of whom I shall tell
you, farther on, what is my thought and reason for mentioning her
here. But it is not fitting that I should explain it here, for I
do not wish to confuse or entangle my material, but rather to
treat it straight forwardly. Now I must tell you that Meleagant
in the hearing of all, both great and small, spoke thus to his
father boastingly: "Father," he says, "so help me God, please
tell me truly now whether he ought not to be well-content, and
whether he is not truly brave, who can cause his arms to be
feared at King Arthur's court?" To this question his father
replies at once: "Son," he says, "all good men ought to honour
and serve and seek the company of one whose deserts are such."
Then he flattered him with the request that he should not conceal
why he has alluded to this, what he wishes, and whence he comes.
"Sire, I know not whether you remember," Meleagant begins, "the
agreements and stipulations which were recorded when Lancelot and
I made peace. It was then agreed, I believe, and in the presence
of many we were told, that we should present ourselves at the end
of a year at Arthur's court. I went thither at the appointed
time, ready equipped for my business there.
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