_How Sir Bors was lodged with a lady, and how he took on him for to
fight against a champion for her land._
And when he was unarmed, they led him into an high tower, where was a
lady, young, lusty, and fair. And she received him with great joy, and
made him to sit down by her, and so was he set to sup with flesh and
many dainties. And when Sir Bors saw that, he bethought him on his
penance, and bad a squire to bring him water. And so he brought him,
and he made sops therein, and ate them. Ah, said the lady, I trow ye
like not my meat. Yes, truly, said Sir Bors, God thank you madam, but I
may eat none other meat this day. Then she spake no more as at that
time, for she was loth to displease him.
Then after supper they spake of one thing and other. With that there
came a squire, and said, Madam, ye must purvey you to-morn for a
champion, for else your sister will have this castle, and also your
lands, except ye can find a knight that will fight to-morn in your
quarrel against Pridam le Noire. Then she made sorrow, and said, Ah
Lord God, wherefore granted ye to hold my land, whereof I should now be
disherited without reason and right. And when Sir Bors had heard her
say thus, he said, I shall comfort you. Sir, said she, I shall tell
you, there was here a king that hight Aniause, which held all this land
in his keeping. So it mishapped he loved a gentlewoman, a great deal
elder than I. So took he her all this land to her keeping, and all his
men to govern, and she brought up many evil customs, whereby she put to
death a great part of his kinsmen. And when he saw that, he let chase
her out of this land, and betook it me, and all this land in my charge:
but anon, as that worthy king was dead, this other lady began to war
upon me, and hath destroyed many of my men, and turned them against me,
that I have well nigh no man left me, and I have nought else but this
high tower that she left me. And yet she hath promised me to have this
tower, without I can find a knight to fight with her champion. Now tell
me, said Sir Bors, what is that Pridam le Noire? Sir, said she, he is
the most doubted man of this land.—Now may ye send her word that ye
have found a knight that shall fight with that Pridam le Noire in God’s
quarrel and yours. Then that lady was not a little glad, and sent word
that she was provided. And that night Sir Bors had good cheer, but in
no bed he would come, but laid him on the floor, nor never would do
otherwise till that he had met with the quest of Sancgreal.