The Queen hath much pity of the damsel, for she was of right great
beauty, and well might it be seen by her cheer and her semblant that no
joy had she. She had told the Queen her name and the name of her
father and mother, and the Queen told her that many a time had she
heard tell of Alain li Gros, and that he was said to be a worshipful
man and good knight. The King lay one night beside the Queen, and was
awoke from his first sleep so that he might not go to sleep again. He
rose and did on a great grey cape and issueth forth of the chamber and
cometh to the windows of the hall that opened toward the sea, calm and
untroubled, so that much pleasure had he of looking thereat and leaning
at the windows. When he had been there of a long space, he looked out
to sea and saw coming afar off as it were the shining of a candle in
the midst of the sea. Much he marvelled what it might be. He looked
at it until he espied what seemed him to be a ship wherein was the
light, and he was minded not to move until such time as he should know
whether a ship it were or something other. The longer he looketh at
it, the better perceiveth he that it is a ship, and that it was coming
with great rushing toward the castle as fast as it might. The King
espieth it nigh at hand, but none seeth he within nor without save one
old man, ancient and bald, of right passing seemliness that held the
rudder of the ship. The ship was covered of a right rich cloth in the
midst and the sail was lowered, for the sea was calm and quiet. The
ship was arrived under the palace and was quite still. When the ship
had taken ground, the King looketh thereat with much marvelling, and
knoweth not who is there within, for not a soul heareth he speak. Him
thinketh that he will go see what is within the ship, and he issueth
forth of the hall, and cometh thither where the ship was arrived, but
he might not come anigh for the flowing of the sea.
"Sir," saith he that held the rudder, "Allow me a little!"
He launcheth forth of the ship a little boat, and the King entereth
thereinto, and so cometh into the great ship, and findeth a knight that
lay all armed upon a table of ivory, and had set his shield at his
head. At the head of his bed had he two tall twisted links of wax in
two candlesticks of gold, and the like at his feet, and his hands were
crossed upon his breast. The King draweth nigh toward him and so
looketh at him, and seemed him that never had he seen so comely a
knight.