But in my
opinion, before she finds him she will have searched in many a
land, after many a journey and many a quest, before she has any
news of him. But what would be the use of my telling you of her
lodgings and her journeyings? Finally, she travelled so far
through hill and dale, up and down, that more than a month had
passed, and as yet she had learned only so much as she knew
before--that is, absolutely nothing. One day she was crossing
a field in a sad and pensive mood, when she saw a tower in the
distance standing by the shore of an arm of the sea. Not within
a league around about was there any house, cottage, or dwelling-
place. Meleagant had had it built, and had confined Lancelot
within. But of all this she still was unaware. As soon as she
espied the tower, she fixed her attention upon it to the
exclusion of all else. And her heart gives her assurance that
here is the object of her quest; now at last she has reached her
goal, to which Fortune through many trials has at last directed
her.
(Vv. 6459-6656.) The damsel draws so near to the tower that she
can touch it with her hands. She walks about, listening
attentively, I suppose, if perchance she may hear some welcome
sound. She looks down and she gazes up, and she sees that the
tower is strong and high and thick.
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