Lancelot departeth from the knight and cometh toward the castle. Just
as he had passed over a great bridge, he looketh about and seeth two
knights come all armed to the entrance of the castle, and they made
hold their horses before them, and their shields and spears are before
them leaning against the wall. Lancelot looketh at the gateway of the
castle and seeth the great door all covered with beards fastened
thereon, and heads of knights in great plenty hung thereby. So, as he
was about to enter the gate, two knights issue therefrom over against
him.
"Sir," saith the one, "Abide and pay your toll!"
"Do knights, then, pay toll here?" saith Lancelot.
"Yea!" say the knights, "All they that have beards, and they that have
none are quit. Sir, now pay us yours, for a right great beard it is,
and thereof have we sore need."
"For what?" saith Lancelot.
"I will tell you," saith the knight. "There be hermits in this forest
that make hair-shirts thereof."
"By my head," saith Lancelot, "Never shall they have hair-shirt of
mine, so I may help it."
"That shall they," say the knights, "Of yours as of the other, or
dearly shall you pay therefor!"