in this enterprise , however , he had more real difficulties than generally fell to the lot of a knight-errant of yore , who seldom had anything but giants , enchanters , fiery dragons , and such like easily conquered adversaries , to contend with and had to make his way merely through gates of iron and brass , and walls of adamant to the castle keep , where the lady of his heart was confined ; all which he achieved as easily as a man would carve his way to the centre of a christmas pie ; and then the lady gave him her hand as a matter of course .