"Sir," saith the King to the knight, "He is not in this country." IV. Claudas holdeth many a castle that King Claudas ought not of right to Meliant likewise, but the father belongeth not to King Claudas. that cometh before the Table Round without saluting him. conquer his own right. But so much I tell you plainly, that never will that such is his valour and his loyalty that he will readily answer in he is your knight and of your household; wherefore King Claudas sendeth He thought to be assured in his kingdom and to live peaceably; but what his sister's son, Meliant of the Waste Manor, and he slew the father of have, whereof he disherited his father, but meet is it that each should time he sate at meat one day in Cardoil, behold you thereupon a knight "Sir," saith he, "Where is Lancelot?" you word that he is his mortal enemy, and you also, if so be that for between them as of this that you tell me, but well know I that King his death." "By my head," saith the knight, "that misliketh me. Wheresoever he be, love of him you receive him from this day forward, for he hath slain murder, but and if he hath no will to do this, then well may I allow death, neither I nor other ought greatly to love him and he refuse to Meliant was the son of his sister-german, wherefore much grieveth he of King Arthur was at Cardoil, and so were his knights together with him. I fail mine own knight and he be such as durst defend himself of redress his wrong. When Lancelot shall know these tidings, I know well "Sir knight," saith the King, "I know not how the covenant may be that right be done upon him. But, sith that he will not love his own reason, and will do all that he ought to do to clear himself of such a