Some time after that, King Arthur heard how Merlin had been beguiled by Vivien, and he sorrowed with great bitterness that Merlin was lost unto the world in that wise. So endeth the story of the passing of Merlin. [Illustration] PART II The Story of Sir Pellias _Here followeth the story of Sir Pellias, surnamed by many the Gentle Knight. For Sir Pellias was of such a sort that it was said of him that all women loved him without disadvantage to themselves, and that all men loved him to their great good advantage. Wherefore, when in the end he won for his beloved that beautiful Lady of the Lake, who was one of the chiefest damoiselles of Faëry, and when he went to dwell as lord paramount in that wonderful habitation which no other mortal than he and Sir Launcelot of the Lake had ever beheld, then were all men rejoiced at his great good fortune--albeit all the Court of King Arthur grieved that he had departed so far away from them never to return again. So I believe that you will have pleasure in reading the history of the things concerning Sir Pellias hereinafter written for your edification._ [Illustration: Sir Pellias, the Gentle Knight.] [Illustration] Chapter First. _How Queen Guinevere Went a-Maying and of How Sir Pellias Took Upon Him a Quest in Her Behalf._ [Sidenote: _Queen Guinevere goeth a-Maying._] Now it befell upon a pleasant day in the spring-time, that Queen Guinevere went a-Maying with a goodly company of Knights and Ladies of her Court. And among those Knights were Sir Pellias, and Sir Geraint, and Sir Dinadan, and Sir Aglaval, and Sir Agravaine, and Sir Constantine of Cornwall, and sundry others, so that the like of that Court was hardly to be found in all of the world, either then or before or since. The day was exceedingly pleasant with the sunlight all yellow, like to gold, and the breeze both soft and gentle. The small birds they sang with very great joy, and all about there bloomed so many flowers of divers sorts that the entire meadows were carpeted with their tender green. So it seemed to Queen Guinevere that it was very good to be abroad in the field and beneath the sky at such a season. [Sidenote: _There cometh a damsel to the May party._]