After the marriage of Arthur, Launfal took leave of the court and repaired with two knights to Karlyoun, where he tarried, making good cheer for a year’s space, till he came to the end of his resources. His boon companions then forsook him, and he fell into great poverty. In this strait he borrowed a saddle and bridle from the mayor’s daughter, and rode away westward. The weather was hot; he dismounted in a fair forest, and sat in the shadow of a tree, covering his worn garments with his mantle. After a space, two “gentyll maydenes,” wearing kirtles of Indian sandel and green mantles bordered with gold, appeared before him. Har faces wer whyt as snow on downe, Har rode was red, hern ey were browne, I sawe never non swyche; That oon bar of gold a basyn, That other a towayle whyt and fyn, Of selk that was good and ryche. They came to him over the heath; he greeted them in all gentleness, while on the part of their lady, dame Tryamour, they returned his salutation, and invited him to follow them and speak with her. He courteously consented, and was conducted to an honourable pavilion, enriched with gold and crystal, as well as radiant carbuncles. He fond yn the pavyloun The Kynges doughter of Olyroun, Dame Tryamour that hyghte, Her fadyr was Kyng of fayrye, Of occient fer and nyghe, A man of mochell myghte. In the pavyloun he fond a bed of prys Theled with purpur bys, That semylé was of syghte Therinne lay that lady gent, That after Syr Launfal hadde ysent, That lessome lemede bryght. For hete her clothes down sche dede, Almest to her gerdyl stede, Than lay sche uncovert, She was as whyt as lylye yn May, Or snow that sneweth yn wynterys day, He seyght never non so pert. The rede rose, whan sche ys newe, Ayens her rode nes naught of hewe, I dare well say yn fert. Her here schon as gold wyre, May no man rede her attyre, Ne naught well thenke yn hert. This fay lady informed Launfal that there was no man in all “Christenté,” be he king or emperor, whom she loved as much as himself, at which words the knight was inflamed with reciprocal passion, And kiste that swete flour; And sat adoun her bysyde, And seyde, Swetyng, what so betyde, I am to thyn honour. She tells him that she is acquainted with his present distress, and that if he will truly forsake all women for love of her, she will enrich him inexhaustibly— I wyll the yeve an alner, Imad of sylk and of gold cler, Wyth fayre ymages thre; As oft thou puttest the hond therinne, A mark of gold thou schalt wynne, In wat place that thou be. She also promises him her steed Blaunchard and her squire Gyfre, with the additional advantage of her protection by magic art from dangers of war or tournament.