{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart378.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart378.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart378.htm","text":"CHAPTER V\nHow a yeoman desired him to get again an horse, and how\nSir Percivale's hackney was slain, and how he gat an\nhorse.\nAND anon the yeoman came pricking after as fast as ever\nhe might, and asked Sir Percivale if he saw any knight\nriding on his black steed. Yea, sir, forsooth, said he;\nwhy, sir, ask ye me that? Ah, sir, that steed he hath\nbenome me with strength; wherefore my lord will slay\nme in what place he findeth me. Well, said Sir Percivale,\nwhat wouldst thou that I did? Thou seest well that I am\non foot, but an I had a good horse I should bring him\nsoon again. Sir, said the yeoman, take mine hackney and\ndo the best ye can, and I shall sewe you on foot to wit\nhow that ye shall speed. Then Sir Percivale alighted\nupon that hackney, and rode as fast as he might, and at\nthe last he saw that knight. And then he cried: Knight,\nturn again; and he turned and set his spear against Sir\nPercivale, and he smote the hackney in the midst of the\nbreast that he fell down dead to the earth, and there he\nhad a great fall, and the other rode his way. And then\nSir Percivale was wood wroth, and cried: Abide, wicked\nknight; coward and false-hearted knight, turn again and\nfight with me on foot. But he answered not, but passed\non his way.\nWhen Sir Percivale saw he would not turn he cast\naway his helm and sword, and said: Now am I a very\nwretch, cursed and most unhappy above all other knights.\nSo in this sorrow he abode all that day till it was night;\nand then he was faint, and laid him down and slept till it\nwas midnight; and then he awaked and saw afore him a\nwoman which said unto him right fiercely: Sir Percivale,\nwhat dost thou here? He answered, I do neither good\nnor great ill. If thou wilt ensure me, said she, that thou\nwilt fulfil my will when I summon thee, I shall lend thee\nmine own horse which shall bear thee whither thou wilt.\nSir Percivale was glad of her proffer, and ensured her to\nfulfil all her desire. Then abide me here, and I shall go\nand fetch you an horse. And so she came soon again\nand brought an horse with her that was inly black. When\nPercivale beheld that horse he marvelled that it was so\ngreat and so well apparelled; and not for then he was so\nhardy, and he leapt upon him, and took none heed of\nhimself. And so anon as he was upon him he thrust to\nhim with his spurs, and so he rode by a forest, and the\nmoon shone clear. And within an hour and less he bare\nhim four days' journey thence, until he came to a rough\nwater the which roared, and his horse would have borne\nhim into it.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XIV CHAPTER V","type":"page"}