{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart196.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart196.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart196.htm","text":"CHAPTER II\nHow a damosel came into the court and desired a knight to\ntake on him an enquest, which La Cote Male Taile emprised.\nTHEN that same day there came a damosel into the court, and she\nbrought with her a great black shield, with a white hand in the\nmidst holding a sword. Other picture was there none in that\nshield. When King Arthur saw her he asked her from whence she\ncame and what she would. Sir, she said, I have ridden long and\nmany a day with this shield many ways, and for this cause I am\ncome to your court: there was a good knight that ought this\nshield, and this knight had undertaken a great deed of arms to\nenchieve it; and so it misfortuned him another strong knight met\nwith him by sudden adventure, and there they fought long, and\neither wounded other passing sore; and they were so weary that\nthey left that battle even hand. So this knight that ought this\nshield saw none other way but he must die; and then he commanded\nme to bear this shield to the court of King Arthur, he requiring\nand praying some good knight to take this shield, and that he\nwould fulfil the quest that he was in. Now what say ye to this\nquest? said King Arthur; is there any of you here that will take\nupon him to wield this shield? Then was there not one that would\nspeak one word. Then Sir Kay took the shield in his hands. Sir\nknight, said the damosel, what is your name? Wit ye well, said\nhe, my name is Sir Kay, the Seneschal, that wide-where is known.\nSir, said that damosel, lay down that shield, for wit ye well it\nfalleth not for you, for he must be a better knight than ye that\nshall wield this shield. Damosel, said Sir Kay, wit ye well I\ntook this shield in my hands by your leave for to behold it, not\nto that intent; but go wheresomever thou wilt, for I will not go\nwith you.\n<354>\nThen the damosel stood still a great while and beheld many of\nthose knights. Then spake the knight, La Cote Male Taile: Fair\ndamosel, I will take the shield and that adventure upon me, so I\nwist I should know whitherward my journey might be; for because I\nwas this day made knight I would take this adventure upon me.\nWhat is your name, fair young man? said the damosel. My name is,\nsaid he, La Cote Male Taile. Well mayest thou be called so, said\nthe damosel, the knight with the evil-shapen coat; but an thou be\nso hardy to take upon thee to bear that shield and to follow me,\nwit thou well thy skin shall be as well hewn as thy coat. As for\nthat, said La Cote Male Taile, when I am so hewn I will ask you\nno salve to heal me withal. And forthwithal there came into the\ncourt two squires and brought him great horses, and his armour,\nand his spears, and anon he was armed and took his leave. I\nwould not by my will, said the king, that ye took upon you that\nhard adventure. Sir, said he, this adventure is mine, and the\nfirst that ever I took upon me, and that will I follow\nwhatsomever come of me. Then that damosel departed, and La Cote\nMale Taile fast followed after. And within a while he overtook\nthe damosel, and anon she missaid him in the foulest manner.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK IX CHAPTER II","type":"page"}