"
"Art thou, indeed, Sir Lancelot?" said the damsel, joy suddenly starting
through her tears; "then is our deliverance nearer than we hoped for.
Thy fame is gone before thee into all countries, and thy might and thy
prowess, it is said, none may withstand. This evil one, Sir Tarquin,
hath taken captive my true knight, who, through my cruelty, betook
himself to this adventure, and now lieth in chains and foul ignominy,
without hope of release, until death break off his fetters."
"Beshrew me," said Lancelot, "but I will deliver him presently, and cut
off the foul tyrant's head, or lose mine own by the attempt."
Then did he follow the maiden to a river's brink, near to where, as
tradition still reports, now stand the Knott Mills. Having mounted her
before him on his steed, she pointed out a path over the ford, beyond
which he soon espied the castle, a vast and stately building of rugged
stone, like a huge crown upon the hill-top, which presented a gentle
ascent from the stream.
Now did Sir Lancelot alight, as well to assist his companion as to
bethink himself what course to pursue; but the damsel showed him a high
tree, about a stone's-throw from the ditch before the castle, whereon
hung a goodly array of accoutrements, with many fair and costly shields,
on which were displayed a variety of gay and fanciful devices.
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