{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart438.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart438.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart438.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVIII CHAPTER IX\n \n Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends and Sagas\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n BOOK XVIII\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n CHAPTER IX\n \n How Sir Launcelot rode to Astolat, and received a sleeve to\n wear upon his helm at the request of a maid.\n \n \n MADAM, said Sir Launcelot, I allow your wit, it is of late\n come since ye were wise. And therefore, madam, at this\n time I will be ruled by your counsel, and this night I will\n take my rest, and to-morrow by time I will take my way\n toward Winchester. But wit you well, said Sir Launcelot\n to the queen, that at that jousts I will be against the king,\n and against all his fellowship. Ye may there do as ye\n list, said the queen, but by my counsel ye shall not be\n against your king and your fellowship. For therein\n be full many hard knights of your blood, as ye wot well\n enough, it needeth not to rehearse them. Madam, said\n Sir Launcelot, I pray you that ye be not displeased with\n me, for I will take the adventure that God will send me.\n \n And so upon the morn early Sir Launcelot heard mass\n and brake his fast, and so took his leave of the queen and\n departed. And then he rode so much until he came to\n Astolat, that is Guildford; and there it happed him in the\n eventide he came to an old baron's place that hight Sir\n Bernard of Astolat. And as Sir Launcelot entered into\n his lodging, King Arthur espied him as he did walk in a\n garden beside the castle, how he took his lodging, and\n knew him full well. It is well, said King Arthur unto the\n knights that were with him in that garden beside the\n castle, I have now espied one knight that will play his play\n at the jousts to the which we be gone toward; I undertake\n he will do marvels. Who is that, we pray you tell\n us? said many knights that were there at that time. Ye\n shall not wit for me, said the king, as at this time. And\n so the king smiled, and went to his lodging.\n \n So when Sir Launcelot was in his lodging, and unarmed\n him in his chamber, the old baron and hermit came\n to him making his reverence, and welcomed him in the\n best manner; but the old knight knew not Sir Launcelot.\n Fair sir, said Sir Launcelot to his host, I would pray you\n to lend me a shield that were not openly known, for mine\n is well known. Sir, said his host, ye shall have your\n desire, for meseemeth ye be one of the likeliest knights of\n the world, and therefore I shall shew you friendship. Sir,\n wit you well I have two sons that were but late made\n knights, and the eldest hight Sir Tirre, and he was hurt\n that same day he was made knight, that he may not ride,\n and his shield ye shall have; for that is not known I dare\n say but here, and in no place else. And my youngest son\n hight Lavaine, and if it please you, he shall ride with you\n unto that jousts; and he is of his age strong and wight,\n for much my heart giveth unto you that ye should be a\n noble knight, therefore I pray you, tell me your name,\n said Sir Bernard. As for that, said Sir Launcelot, ye\n must hold me excused as at this time, and if God give me\n grace to speed well at the jousts I shall come again and\n tell you. But I pray you, said Sir Launcelot, in any wise\n let me have your son, Sir Lavaine, with me, and that I\n may have his brother's shield. All this shall be done,\n said Sir Bernard.\n \n This old baron had a daughter that was called that\n time the Fair Maiden of Astolat. And ever she beheld\n Sir Launcelot wonderfully; and as the book saith, she\n cast such a love unto Sir Launcelot that she could never\n withdraw her love, wherefore she died, and her name was\n Elaine le Blank. So thus as she came to and fro she was\n so hot in her love that she besought Sir Launcelot to wear\n upon him at the jousts a token of hers. Fair damosel,\n said Sir Launcelot, an if I grant you that, ye may say I\n do more for your love than ever I did for lady or damosel.\n Then he remembered him he would go to the jousts\n disguised. And because he had never fore that time\n borne no manner of token of no damosel, then he bethought\n him that he would bear one of her, that none of\n his blood thereby might know him, and then he said:\n Fair maiden, I will grant you to wear a token of yours\n upon mine helmet, and therefore what it is, shew it me.\n Sir, she said, it is a red sleeve of mine, of scarlet, well\n embroidered with great pearls: and so she brought it\n him. So Sir Launcelot received it, and said: Never did\n I erst so much for no damosel. And then Sir Launcelot\n betook the fair maiden his shield in keeping, and prayed\n her to keep that until that he came again; and so that night\n he had merry rest and great cheer, for ever the damosel\n Elaine was about Sir Launcelot all the while she might be\n suffered.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVIII CHAPTER IX","type":"page"}