{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart396.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart396.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart396.htm","text":"CHAPTER VII\nHow Sir Bors was lodged with a lady, and how he took upon\nhim for to fight against a champion for her land.\nAND when he was unarmed they led him into an high\ntower where was a lady, young, lusty, and fair. And she\nreceived him with great joy, and made him to sit down by\nher, and so was he set to sup with flesh and many dainties.\nAnd when Sir Bors saw that, he bethought him on his\npenance, and bade a squire to bring him water. And so\nhe brought him, and he made sops therein and ate them.\nAh, said the lady, I trow ye like not my meat. Yes,\ntruly, said Sir Bors, God thank you, madam, but I may\neat none other meat this day. Then she spake no more\nas at that time, for she was loath to displease him. Then\nafter supper they spake of one thing and other.\nWith that came a squire and said: Madam, ye must\npurvey you to-morn for a champion, for else your sister\nwill have this castle and also your lands, except ye can\nfind a knight that will fight to-morn in your quarrel\nagainst Pridam le Noire. Then she made sorrow and\nsaid: Ah, Lord God, wherefore granted ye to hold my\nland, whereof I should now be disherited without reason\nand right? And when Sir Bors had heard her say thus,\nhe said: I shall comfort you. Sir, said she, I shall tell\nyou there was here a king that hight Aniause, which held\nall this land in his keeping. So it mishapped he loved a\ngentlewoman a great deal elder than I. So took he her\nall this land to her keeping, and all his men to govern;\nand she brought up many evil customs whereby she put to\ndeath a great part of his kinsmen. And when he saw that,\nhe let chase her out of this land, and betook it me, and all\nthis land in my demesnes. But anon as that worthy king\nwas dead, this other lady began to war upon me, and hath\ndestroyed many of my men, and turned them against me,\nthat I have well-nigh no man left me; and I have nought\nelse but this high tower that she left me. And yet she\nhath promised me to have this tower, without I can find a\nknight to fight with her champion.\nNow tell me, said Sir Bors, what is that Pridam le\nNoire? Sir, said she, he is the most doubted man of this\nland. Now may ye send her word that ye have found a\nknight that shall fight with that Pridam le Noire in God's\nquarrel and yours. Then that lady was not a little glad,\nand sent word that she was purveyed, and that night Bors\nhad good cheer; but in no bed he would come, but laid\nhim on the floor, nor never would do otherwise till that\nhe had met with the quest of the Sangreal.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVI CHAPTER VII","type":"page"}