"Sir," said Merlin, "it were pity to leese [_lose_] Griflet, for he will be a passing good man when he cometh to age, abiding with you the term of his life; and if he adventure his body with yonder knight at the fountain, he shall be in great peril if[2] ever he come again, for he is one of the best knights of the world, and the strongest man of arms." [Footnote 2: "If" here means _whether_. "In great peril if ever he come again," _in great danger of never getting back_.] "Well," said King Arthur. So, at the desire of Griflet, the king made him knight. "Now," said King Arthur to Sir Griflet, "sithen [_since_] that I have made thee knight, thou must grant me a gift." "What ye will, my lord," said Sir Griflet. "Thou shalt promise me, by the faith of thy body, that when thou hast jousted with the knight at the fountain, whether it fall [_happen_] that ye be on foot or on horseback, that in the same manner ye shall come again unto me without any question or making any more debate." "I will promise you," said Griflet, "as ye desire." Then Sir Griflet took his horse in great haste, and dressed his shield, and took a great spear in his hand, and so he rode a great gallop till he came to the fountain, and thereby he saw a rich pavilion, and thereby under a cloth stood a fair horse well saddled and bridled, and on a tree a shield of divers colors, and a great spear. Then Sir Griflet smote upon the shield with the end of his spear, that the shield fell down to the ground. With that came the knight out of the pavilion, and said, "Fair knight, why smote ye down my shield?" "For I will joust with you," said Sir Griflet. "It were better ye did not," said the knight, "for ye are but young and late made knight, and your might is nothing to mine." "As for that," said Sir Griflet, "I will joust with you." "That is me loth," said the knight, "but sith [_since_] I must needs, I will dress me thereto; but of whence be ye?" said the knight. "Sir, I am of King Arthur's court." So they ran together that Sir Griflet's spear all to-shivered [_shivered all to pieces_], and therewithal he smote Sir Griflet through the shield and the left side, and brake the spear, that the truncheon stuck in his body, that horse and knight fell down. When the knight saw him lie so on the ground he alighted, and was passing heavy, for he wend [_weened_] he had slain him, and then he unlaced his helm and got him wind, and so with the truncheon he set him on his horse, and betook him to God, and said he had a mighty heart, and if he might live he would prove a passing good knight. And so Sir Griflet rode to the court, whereas great moan was made for him. But through good leeches [_surgeons_] he was healed and his life saved. * * * * *