{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/arthur/art129.htm","path":"neu/arthur/art129.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/arthur/art129.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends/Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n An Arthurian Miscellany\n SIR LANCELOT DU LAKE\n from RELIQUES OF ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY \n by\n BISHOP THOMAS PERCY\n \n \n When Arthur first in court began,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And was approv\u00e8d king,\n By force of armes great victorys wonne,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And conquest home did bring;\n \n Then into England straight he came\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0With fifty good and able\n Knights that resorted unto him,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And were of the Round Table.\n \n And many justs and turnaments\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Whereto were many prest,\n Wherein some knights did farr excell,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And eke surmount the rest.\n \n But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Who was approv\u00e8d well,\n He for his deeds and feates of armes\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0All others did excell.\n \n When he had rested him a while,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In play, and game, and sportt,\n He said he wold goe prove himselfe,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In some adventurous sort.\n \n He arm\u00e8d rode in forrest wide,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And met a damsell faire,\n Who told him of adventures great,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Whereto he gave good care.\n \n \"Why shold I not?\" quoth Lancelott tho,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"For that cause came I hither.\"\n \"Thou seemst,\" quoth she, \"a knight full good,\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And I will bring thee thither,\n \n \"Wheras a mighty knight doth dwell,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0That now is of great fame;\n Therefore tell me what knight thou art,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And what may be thy name.\"\n \n \"My name is Lancelot du Lake.\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Quoth she, \"It likes me than;\n Here dwelles a knight who never was\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Yet matcht with any man;\n \n \"Who has in prison threescore knights\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And four, that he did wound;\n Knights of King Arthurs court they be,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And of his Table Round.\"\n \n She brought him to a river side,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And also to a tree,\n Whereon a copper bason hung,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And many shields to see.\n \n He struck soe hard, the bason broke:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And Tarquin soon he spyed:\n Who drove a horse before him fast,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Whereon a knight lay tyed.\n \n \"Sir Knight,\" then sayd Sir Lancel\u00f2tt,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Bring me that horse-load hither,\n And lay him downe, and let him rest;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Weel try our force together.\n \n \"For, as I understand, thou hast,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Soe far as thou art able,\n Done great despite and shame unto\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The knights of the Round Table.\"\n \n \"If thou be of the Table Round,\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Quoth Tarquin, speedilye,\n \"Both thee and all thy fellowship\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I utterly defye.\"\n \n \"That's over much,\" quoth Lancelott tho,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Defend thee by and by.\"\n They sett their speares unto their steeds,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And each att other flye.\n \n They coucht their speares, (their horses ran,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As though there had been thunder);\n And strucke them each immidst their shields,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wherewith they broke in sunder.\n \n Their horsses backes brake under them,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The knights were both astound;\n To avoyd their horsses they made great haste,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And light upon the ground.\n \n They tooke them to their shields full fast,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Their swords they drew out than;\n With mighty strokes most eagerlye\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Each at the other ran.\n \n They wounded were, and bled full sore,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They both for breath did stand,\n And leaning on their swordes awhile,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Quoth Tarquine, \"Hold thy hand,\n \n \"And tell to me what I shall aske;\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Say on,\" quoth Lancelot tho.\n \"Thou art,\" quoth Tarquine, \"the best knight\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0That ever I did know;\n \n \"And like a knight that I did hate;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Soe that thou be not hee,\n I will deliver all the rest,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And eke accord with thee.\"\n \n \"That is well sayd,\" quoth Lancelott tho,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"But sith it must be soe,\n What knight is that thou hatest thus?\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I pray thee to meshow.\"\n \n \"His name is Lancelot du Lake,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He slew my brother deere;\n Him I suspect of all the rest:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I would I had him here.\"\n \n \"Thy wish thou hast, but yet unknowne;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I am Lancelot du Lake,\n Now knight of Arthurs Table Round;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0King Hauds son of Schuwake;\n \n \"And I desire thee do thy worst.\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Ho, ho,\" quoth Tarquin tho,\n \"One of us two shall end our lives,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Before that we do go.\n \n \"If thou be Lancelot du Lake\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Then welcome shalt thou bee;\n Wherfore see thou thyself defend,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For now defye I thee.\"\n \n They buckled then together so,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Like unto wild boares rashing,\n And with their swords and shields they ran\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At one another slashing.\n \n The ground besprinkled was with blood,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tarquin began to yield;\n For he gave backe for wearinesse,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And lowe did beare his shield.\n \n This soone Sir Lancelot espyde,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He leapt upon him then,\n He pull'd him downe upon his knee,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And rushing off his helm,\n \n Forthwith he strucke his necke in two;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And when he had soe done,\n From prison, threescore knights and four\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Delivered everye one. \n \n \n Next: The Boy and the Mantle, by Bishop Thomas Percy [1765]","title":"Arthurian Miscellany: Sir Lancelot du Lake, by Bishop Thomas Percy [1765]","type":"page"}