When he saw that he did not come, he took leave of the King and the
Queen and all them of the court, and departed, thinking him that he
would go prove his knighthood in some place until he should have heard
tidings of his mortal enemy. He rideth amidst the great forests
bearing a red shield like as did his father, and he was all armed as
for defending of his body. And a long space of time he rideth, until
one day he cometh to the head of a forest, and he espied his way that
ran between two mountains and saw that he had to pass along the midst
of the valley that lay at a great depth. He looketh before him and
seeth a tree far away from him, and underneath were three damsels
alighted, and one prayed God right heartily aloud that He would send
them betimes a knight that durst convoy them through this strait pass.