Great sorrow reigned among all the lords
and dames, and Queen Guinevere, on bent knees, had sued the king's
pardon for the recreant knight. At length, after many entreaties,
Arthur's generous heart relented, and he gave the doomed life into the
queen's hands to do with it as she willed.
Then Guinevere, delighted at the success of her suit with her royal
husband, sent for the knight to appear before her, in her own bower,
where she sat among the ladies of her chamber.
When the knight, who was called Sir Ulric, had reached the royal lady's
presence, he would have thrown himself at her feet with many thanks for
the dear boon which she had caused the king to grant him. But she
motioned him to listen to what she had to say, before she would receive
his gratitude.
"Defer all thanks, Sir Knight," said the queen, "until first I state to
thee the conditions on which thou yet holdest thy life. It is granted
thee to be free of death, if within one year and a day from this
present thou art able to declare to me what of earthly things all women
like the best.
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