The entire estate and the people on it
belonged to her, and the place was well furnished, safe, and
private. There Lancelot arrived. And as soon as he had come,
and had laid aside his clothes, the damsel gently laid him on
a lofty, handsome couch, then bathed and rubbed him so carefully
that I could not describe half the care she took. She handled
and treated him as gently as if he had been her father. Her
treatment makes a new man of him, as she revives him with her
cares. Now he is no less fair than an angel and is more nimble
and more spry than anything you ever saw. When he arose, he was
no longer mangy and haggard, but strong and handsome. And the
damsel sought out for him the finest robe she could find, with
which she clothed him when he arose. And he was glad to put it
on, quicker than a bird in flight. He kissed and embraced the
maid, and then said to her graciously: "My dear, I have only God
and you to thank for being restored to health again. Since I owe
my liberty to you, you may take and command at will my heart and
body, my service and estate. I belong to you in return for what
you have done for me; but it is long since I have been at the
court of my lord Arthur, who has shown me great honour; and there
is plenty there for me to do.
Pages:
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763