Clamodos heareth the damsel and cometh thitherward. When they espied
him, great joy have they thereof and rise up to meet him. "Sir," say
they, "Welcome may you be!"
"Damsels," saith he, "Good adventure may you have! And whom await you
here?" saith he.
"We await," saith the Mistress of the damsels, "some knight that shall
clear this pass, for no knight durst pass hereby."
"What is the pass; then, damsel?" saith he.
"It is the one of a lion, and a lion, moreover, so fell and horrible
that never was none seen more cruel. And there is a knight with the
lion between the two mountains that is right good knight and hardy and
comely. Howbeit none durst pass without great company of folk. But
the knight that hath repair with the lion is seldom there, for so he
were there we need fear no danger, for much courtesy is there in him
and valour."
And the knight looketh and seeth in the shadow of the forest three fair
stags harnessed to a car.
"Ha," saith he, "you are the Damsel of the Car, wherefore may you well
tell me tidings of the knight of whom I am in quest."
"Who is he?" saith the Damsel.
"It is he that should bear a shield banded argent and azure with a red
cross."
"Of him am I likewise in quest," saith the Damsel; "please God, we
shall hear tidings of him betimes."
"Damsel" saith the knight, "that would I. And for that you are in
quest of him as am I likewise, I will convoy you beyond this pass."
The Damsel maketh her Car go on before, and the damsels go before the
knight; and so enter they into the field of the lion, and right fair
land found they therewithin. Clamados looketh and seeth the hall
within an enclosure and seeth the lion that lay at the entrance of the
gateway. As soon as he espieth Clamados and the damsels, he cometh
toward them full speed, mouth open and ears pricked up.
"Sir," saith the Damsel, "and you defend not your horse on foot, he is
dead at the first onset."