Lancelot cometh down below and findeth his horse saddled and is mounted as soon. The damsels are at his stirrup, and pray him for God's sake remember to defend the honour that is theirs of the castle, for, save only he so doth, they must flee like beggars into other lands. Thereupon the Knight soundeth his horn again. Lancelot, when he heareth the blast, hath no mind to abide longer, and forthwith issueth out of the castle all armed, lance in hand and shield at his neck. He seeth the knight at the head of the bridge, all armed under a tree. Thitherward cometh Lancelot full speed. The knight seeth him coming, and crieth to him. "Sir Knight," saith he, "What demand you? Come you hither to do me evil?" "Yea," saith Lancelot, "for that evil are you fain to do to this castle; wherefore on behalf of the Vavasour and his daughters do I defy you." He moveth against the knight and smiteth him on the shield with his spear and the knight him. But Lancelot pierceth his shield for him with his sword, and smiteth him so stiffly that he pinneth his arm to his side, and hurtleth against him so passing stoutly that he thrusteth him to the ground, him and his horse, and runneth over him, sword drawn. "Ha," saith the knight to Lancelot, "withdraw a little from over me, and slay me not, and tell me your name, of your mercy." "What have you to do with my name?" saith Lancelot. "Sir," saith he, "Gladly would I know it, for a right good knight seem you to be, and so have I well proven in the first encounter." "Sir" saith he, "I am called Lancelot of the Lake. And what is your name?" "Sir." saith he, "I am called Marin of the castle of Gomeret. So am I--father of Meliot of Logres. I pray you, by that you most love in the world, that you slay me not." "So will I do," saith Lancelot, "and you renounce not your feud against this castle." "By my faith," saith the knight, "thus do I renounce it, and I pledge myself that thenceforth for ever shall it have no disturbance of me." "Your pledge," saith Lancelot, "will I not accept save you come in thither." "Sir," saith the knight, "You have sore wounded me in such sort that I cannot mount but with right great pain." Lancelot helpeth him until he was mounted again on his horse, and leadeth him into the castle with him, and maketh him present his sword to the Vavasour and his daughters, and yield up his shield and his arms, and afterward swear upon hallows that never again will he make war upon them. Lancelot thereupon receiveth his pledge to forego all claim to the castle and Marin turneth him back to Gomeret. The Vavasour and his daughters abide in great joy. III.