{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_1252/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_1252","id":"gutenberg_1252","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1252","summary":null,"tags":["Arthur, King -- Legends","Arthurian Legends","Arthurian romances","Category: British Literature","Category: Classics of Literature","Category: Historical Novels","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Fantasy"],"text":"Le Morte D\u2019Arthur\nKing Arthur and of his Noble Knights of the Round Table\n\nby Thomas Malory\n\nIN TWO VOLS.\u2014VOL. II\n\n\nContents\n\n\n BOOK X.\n\n CHAPTER I. How Sir Tristram jousted, and smote down King Arthur,\n because he told him not the cause why he bare that shield.\n\n CHAPTER II. How Sir Tristram saved Sir Palomides\u2019 life, and how they\n promised to fight together within a fortnight.\n\n CHAPTER III. How Sir Tristram sought a strong knight that had smitten\n him down, and many other knights of the Round Table.\n\n CHAPTER IV. How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Sagramore le Desirous and\n Sir Dodinas le Savage.\n\n CHAPTER V. How Sir Tristram met at the peron with Sir Launcelot, and\n how they fought together unknown.\n\n CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tristram to the court, and\n of the great joy that the king and other made for the coming of Sir\n Tristram.\n\n CHAPTER VII. How for the despite of Sir Tristram King Mark came with\n two knights into England, and how he slew one of the knights.\n\n CHAPTER VIII. How King Mark came to a fountain where he found Sir\n Lamorak complaining for the love of King Lot\u2019s wife.\n\n CHAPTER IX. How King Mark, Sir Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan came to a\n castle, and how King Mark was known there.\n\n CHAPTER X. How Sir Berluse met with King Mark, and how Sir Dinadan\n took his part.\n\n CHAPTER XI. How King Mark mocked Sir Dinadan, and how they met with\n six knights of the Round Table.\n\n CHAPTER XII. How the six knights sent Sir Dagonet to joust with King\n Mark, and how King Mark refused him.\n\n CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Palomides by adventure met King Mark flying, and\n how he overthrew Dagonet and other knights.\n\n CHAPTER XIV. How King Mark and Sir Dinadan heard Sir Palomides making\n great sorrow and mourning for La Beale Isoud.\n\n CHAPTER XV. How King Mark had slain Sir Amant wrongfully to-fore King\n Arthur, and Sir Launcelot fetched King Mark to King Arthur.\n\n CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Dinadan told Sir Palomides of the battle between\n Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristam.\n\n CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Lamorak jousted with divers knights of the\n castle wherein was Morgan le Fay.\n\n CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Palomides would have jousted for Sir Lamorak\n with the knights of the castle.\n\n CHAPTER XIX. How Sir Lamorak jousted with Sir Palomides, and hurt him\n grievously.\n\n CHAPTER XX. How it was told Sir Launcelot that Dagonet chased King\n Mark, and how a knight overthrew him and six knights.\n\n CHAPTER XXI. How King Arthur let do cry a jousts, and how Sir Lamorak\n came in, and overthrew Sir Gawaine and many other.\n\n CHAPTER XXII. How King Arthur made King Mark to be accorded with Sir\n Tristram, and how they departed toward Cornwall.\n\n CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Percivale was made knight of King Arthur, and\n how a dumb maid spake, and brought him to the Round Table.\n\n CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Lamorak visited King Lot\u2019s wife, and how Sir\n Gaheris slew her which was his own mother.\n\n CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred met with a knight\n fleeing, and how they both were overthrown, and of Sir Dinadan.\n\n CHAPTER XXVI. How King Arthur, the Queen, and Launcelot received\n letters out of Cornwall, and of the answer again.\n\n CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Launcelot was wroth with the letter that he\n received from King Mark, and of Dinadan which made a lay of King Mark.\n\n CHAPTER XXVIII. How Sir Tristram was hurt, and of a war made to King\n Mark; and of Sir Tristram how he promised to rescue him.\n\n CHAPTER XXIX. How Sir Tristram overcame the battle, and how Elias\n desired a man to fight body for body.\n\n CHAPTER XXI. How Sir Elias and Sir Tristram fought together for the\n truage, and how Sir Tristram slew Elias in the field.\n\n CHAPTER XXXI. How at a great feast that King Mark made an harper came\n and sang the lay that Dinadan had made.\n\n CHAPTER XXXII. How King Mark slew by treason his brother Boudwin, for\n good service that he had done to him.\n\n CHAPTER XXXIII. How Anglides, Boudwin\u2019s wife, escaped with her young\n son, Alisander le Orphelin, and came to the Castle of Arundel.\n\n CHAPTER XXXIV. How Anglides gave the bloody doublet to Alisander, her\n son, the same day that he was made knight, and the charge withal.\n\n CHAPTER XXXV. How it was told to King Mark of Sir Alisander, and how\n he would have slain Sir Sadok for saving his life.\n\n CHAPTER XXXVI. How Sir Alisander won the prize at a tournament, and of\n Morgan le Fay: and how he fought with Sir Malgrin, and slew him.\n\n CHAPTER XXXVII. How Queen Morgan le Fay had Alisander in her castle,\n and how she healed his wounds.\n\n CHAPTER XXXVIII. How Alisander was delivered from Queen Morgan le Fay\n by the means of a damosel.\n\n CHAPTER XXXIX. How Alisander met with Alice la Beale Pilgrim, and how\n he jousted with two knights; and after of him and of Sir Mordred.\n\n CHAPTER XL. How Sir Galahalt did do cry a jousts in Surluse, and Queen\n Guenever\u2019s knights should joust against all that would come.\n\n CHAPTER XLI. How Sir Launcelot fought in the tournament, and how Sir\n Palomides did arms there for a damosel.\n\n CHAPTER XLII. How Sir Galahalt and Palomides fought together, and of\n Sir Dinadan and Sir Galahalt.\n\n CHAPTER XLIII. How Sir Archade appealed Sir Palomides of treason, and\n how Sir Palomides slew him.\n\n CHAPTER XLIV. Of the third day, and how Sir Palomides jousted with Sir\n Lamorak, and other things.\n\n CHAPTER XLV. Of the fourth day, and of many great feats of arms.\n\n CHAPTER XLVI. Of the Fifth day, and how Sir Lamorak behaved him.\n\n CHAPTER XLVII. How Sir Palomides fought with Corsabrin for a lady, and\n how Palomides slew Corsabrin.\n\n CHAPTER XLVIII. Of the sixth day, and what then was done.\n\n CHAPTER XLIX. Of the seventh battle, and how Sir Launcelot, being\n disguised like a maid, smote down Sir Dinadan.\n\n CHAPTER L. How by treason Sir Tristram was brought to a tournament for\n to have been slain, and how he was put in prison.\n\n CHAPTER LI. How King Mark let do counterfeit letters from the Pope,\n and how Sir Percivale delivered Sir Tristram out of prison.\n\n CHAPTER LII. How Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud came unto England,\n and how Sir Launcelot brought them to Joyous Gard.\n\n CHAPTER LIII. How by the counsel of La Beale Isoud Sir Tristram rode\n armed, and how he met with Sir Palomides.\n\n CHAPTER LIV. Of Sir Palomides, and how he met with Sir Bleoberis and\n with Sir Ector, and of Sir Pervivale.\n\n CHAPTER LV. How Sir Tristram met with Sir Dinadan, and of their\n devices, and what he said to Sir Gawaine\u2019s brethren.\n\n CHAPTER LVI. How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Agravaine and Sir\n Gaheris, and how Sir Dinadan was sent for by La Beale Isoud.\n\n CHAPTER LVII. How Sir Dinadan met with Sir Tristram, and with jousting\n with Sir Palomides, Sir Dinadan knew him.\n\n CHAPTER LVIII. How they approached the Castle Lonazep, and of other\n devices of the death of Sir Lamorak.\n\n CHAPTER LIX. How they came to Humber bank, and how they found a ship\n there, wherein lay the body of King Hermance.\n\n CHAPTER LX. How Sir Tristram with his fellowship came and were with an\n host which after fought with Sir Tristram; and other matters.\n\n CHAPTER LXI. How Palomides went for to fight with two brethren for the\n death of King Hermance.\n\n CHAPTER LXII. The copy of the letter written for to revenge the king\u2019s\n death, and how Sir Palomides fought for to have the battle.\n\n CHAPTER LXIII. Of the preparation of Sir Palomides and the two\n brethren that should fight with him.\n\n CHAPTER LXIV. Of the battle between Sir Palomides and the two\n brethren, and how the two brethren were slain.\n\n CHAPTER LXV. How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides met Breuse Saunce\n Pit\u00e9, and how Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud went unto Lonazep.\n\n CHAPTER LXVI. How Sir Palomides jousted with Sir Galihodin, and after\n with Sir Gawaine, and smote them down.\n\n CHAPTER LXVII. How Sir Tristram and his fellowship came into the\n tournament of Lonazep; and of divers jousts and matters.\n\n CHAPTER LXVIII. How Sir Tristram and his fellowship jousted, and of\n the noble feats that they did in that tourneying.\n\n CHAPTER LXIX. How Sir Tristram was unhorsed and smitten down by Sir\n Launcelot, and after that Sir Tristram smote down King Arthur.\n\n CHAPTER LXX. How Sir Tristram changed his harness and it was all red,\n and how he demeaned him, and how Sir Palomides slew Launcelot\u2019s horse.\n\n CHAPTER LXXI. How Sir Launcelot said to Sir Palomides, and how the\n prize of that day was given unto Sir Palomides.\n\n CHAPTER LXXII. How Sir Dinadan provoked Sir Tristram to do well.\n\n CHAPTER LXXIII. How King Arthur and Sir Lancelot came to see La Beale\n Isoud, and how Palomides smote down King Arthur.\n\n CHAPTER LXXIV. How the second day Palomides forsook Sir Tristram, and\n went to the contrary part against him.\n\n CHAPTER LXXV. How Sir Tristram departed of the field, and awaked Sir\n Dinadan, and changed his array into black.\n\n CHAPTER LXXVI. How Sir Palomides changed his shield and his armour for\n to hurt Sir Tristram, and how Sir Launcelot did to Sir Tristram.\n\n CHAPTER LXXVII. How Sir Tristram departed with La Beale Isoud, and how\n Palomides followed and excused him.\n\n CHAPTER LXXVIII. How King Arthur and Sir Launcelot came unto their\n pavilions as they sat at supper, and of Sir Palomides.\n\n CHAPTER LXXIX. How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides did the next day,\n and how King Arthur was unhorsed.\n\n CHAPTER LXXX. How Sir Tristram turned to King Arthur\u2019s side, and how\n Palomides would not.\n\n CHAPTER LXXXI. How Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector reported to Queen\n Guenever of the beauty of La Beale Isoud.\n\n CHAPTER LXXXII. How Epinogris complained by a well, and how Sir\n Palomides came and found him, and of their both sorrowing.\n\n CHAPTER LXXXIII. How Sir Palomides brought Sir Epinogris his lady; and\n how Sir Palomides and Sir Safere were assailed.\n\n CHAPTER LXXXIV. How Sir Palomides and Sir Safere conducted Sir\n Epinogris to his castle, and of other adventures.\n\n CHAPTER LXXXV. How Sir Tristram made him ready to rescue Sir\n Palomides, but Sir Launcelot rescued him or he came.\n\n CHAPTER LXXXVI. How Sir Tristram and Launcelot, with Palomides, came\n to joyous Gard; and of Palomides and Sir Tristram.\n\n CHAPTER LXXXVII. How there was a day set between Sir Tristram and Sir\n Palomides for to fight, and how Sir Tristram was hurt.\n\n CHAPTER LXXXVIII. How Sir Palomides kept his day to have foughten, but\n Sir Tristram might not come; and other things.\n\n BOOK XI.\n\n CHAPTER I. How Sir Launcelot rode on his adventure, and how he holp a\n dolorous lady from her pain, and how that he fought with a dragon.\n\n CHAPTER II. How Sir Launcelot came to Pelles, and of the Sangreal, and\n of Elaine, King Pelles\u2019 daughter.\n\n CHAPTER III. How Sir Launcelot was displeased when he knew that he had\n lain by Dame Elaine, and how she was delivered of Galahad.\n\n CHAPTER IV. How Sir Bors came to Dame Elaine and saw Galahad, and how\n he was fed with the Sangreal.\n\n CHAPTER V. How Sir Bors made Sir Pedivere to yield him, and of\n marvellous adventures that he had, and how he achieved them.\n\n CHAPTER VI. How Sir Bors departed; and how Sir Launcelot was rebuked\n of Queen Guenever, and of his excuse.\n\n CHAPTER VII. How Dame Elaine, Galahad\u2019s mother, came in great estate\n unto Camelot, and how Sir Launcelot behaved him there.\n\n CHAPTER VIII. How Dame Brisen by enchantment brought Sir Launcelot to\n Dame Elaine\u2019s bed, and how Queen Guenever rebuked him.\n\n CHAPTER IX. How Dame Elaine was commanded by Queen Guenever to avoid\n the court, and how Sir Launcelot became mad.\n\n CHAPTER X. What sorrow Queen Guenever made for Sir Launcelot, and how\n he was sought by knights of his kin.\n\n CHAPTER XI. How a servant of Sir Aglovale\u2019s was slain, and what\n vengeance Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale did therefore.\n\n CHAPTER XII. How Sir Pervivale departed secretly from his brother, and\n how he loosed a knight bound with a chain, and of other doings.\n\n CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Percivale met with Sir Ector, and how they\n fought long, and each had almost slain other.\n\n CHAPTER XIV. How by miracle they were both made whole by the coming of\n the holy vessel of Sangreal.\n\n BOOK XII.\n\n CHAPTER I. How Sir Launcelot in his madness took a sword and fought\n with a knight, and leapt in a bed.\n\n CHAPTER II. How Sir Lancelot was carried in an horse litter, and how\n Sir Launcelot rescued Sir Bliant, his host.\n\n CHAPTER III. How Sir Launcelot fought against a boar and slew him, and\n how he was hurt, and brought unto an hermitage.\n\n CHAPTER IV. How Sir Launcelot was known by Dame Elaine, and was borne\n into a chamber and after healed by the Sangreal.\n\n CHAPTER V. How Sir Launcelot, after that he was whole and had his\n mind, he was ashamed, and how that Elaine desired a castle for him.\n\n CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot came into the joyous Isle, and there he\n named himself Le Chevaler Mal Fet.\n\n CHAPTER VII. Of a great tourneying in the Joyous Isle, and how Sir\n Pervivale and Sir Ector came thither, and Sir Percivale fought with\n him.\n\n CHAPTER VIlI. How each of them knew other, and of their great\n courtesy, and how his brother Sir Ector came unto him, and of their\n joy.\n\n CHAPTER IX. How Sir Bors and Sir Lionel came to King Brandegore, and\n how Sir Bors took his son Helin le Blank, and of Sir Launcelot.\n\n CHAPTER X. How Sir Launcelot with Sir Percivale and Sir Ector came to\n the court, and of the great joy of him.\n\n CHAPTER XI. How La Beale Isoud counselled Sir Tristram to go unto the\n court, to the great feast of Pentecost.\n\n CHAPTER XII. How Sir Tristram departed unarmed and met with Sir\n Palomides, and how they smote each other, and how Sir Palomides\n forbare him.\n\n CHAPTER XIII. How that Sir Tristram gat him harness of a knight which\n was hurt, and how he overthrew Sir Palomides.\n\n CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides fought long together,\n and after accorded, and how Sir Tristram made him to be christened.\n\n BOOK XIII.\n\n CHAPTER I. How at the vigil of the Feast of Pentecost entered into the\n hall before King Arthur a damosel, and desired Sir Launcelot for to\n come and dub a knight, and how he went with her.\n\n CHAPTER II. How the letters were found written in the Siege Perilous\n and of the marvellous adventure of the sword in a stone.\n\n CHAPTER III. How Sir Gawaine assayed to draw out the sword, and how an\n old man brought in Galahad.\n\n CHAPTER IV. How the old man brought Galahad to the Siege Perilous and\n set him therein, and how all the knights marvelled.\n\n CHAPTER V. How King Arthur shewed the stone hoving on the water to\n Galahad, and how he drew out the sword.\n\n CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur had all the knights together for to joust\n in the meadow beside Camelot or they departed.\n\n CHAPTER VII. How the queen desired to see Galahad; and how after, all\n the knights were replenished with the Holy Sangreal, and how they\n avowed the enquest of the same.\n\n CHAPTER VIII. How great sorrow was made of the king and the queen and\n ladies for the departing of the knights, and how they departed.\n\n CHAPTER IX. How Galahad gat him a shield, and how they sped that\n presumed to take down the said shield.\n\n CHAPTER X. How Galahad departed with the shield, and how King Evelake\n had received the shield of Joseph of Aramathie.\n\n CHAPTER XI. How Joseph made a cross on the white shield with his\n blood, and how Galahad was by a monk brought to a tomb.\n\n CHAPTER XII. Of the marvel that Sir Galahad saw and heard in the tomb,\n and how he made Melias knight.\n\n CHAPTER XIII. Of the adventure that Melias had, and how Galahad\n revenged him, and how Melias was carried into an abbey.\n\n CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Galahad departed, and how he was commanded to go\n to the Castle of Maidens to destroy the wicked custom.\n\n CHAPTER XV. How Sir Galahad fought with the knights of the castle, and\n destroyed the wicked custom.\n\n CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Gawaine came to the abbey for to follow Galahad,\n and how he was shriven to a hermit.\n\n CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Galahad met with Sir Launcelot and Sir\n Percivale, and smote them down, and departed from them.\n\n CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Launcelot, half sleeping and half waking, saw a\n sick man borne in a litter, and how he was healed with the Sangreal.\n\n CHAPTER XIX. How a voice spake to Sir Launcelot, and how he found his\n horse and his helm borne away, and after went afoot.\n\n CHAPTER XX. How Sir Launcelot was shriven, and what sorrow he made and\n of the good ensamples which were shewed him.\n\n BOOK XIV.\n\n CHAPTER I. How Sir Percivale came to a recluse and asked counsel, and\n how she told him that she was his aunt.\n\n CHAPTER II. How Merlin likened the Round Table to the world, and how\n the knights that should achieve the Sangreal should be known.\n\n CHAPTER III. How Sir Percivale came into a monastery, where he found\n King Evelake, which was an old man.\n\n CHAPTER IV. How Sir Percivale saw many men of arms bearing a dead\n knight, and how he fought against them.\n\n CHAPTER V. How a yeoman desired him to get again an horse, and how Sir\n Percivale\u2019s hackney was slain, and how he gat an horse.\n\n CHAPTER VI. Of the great danger that Sir Percivale was in by his\n horse, and how he saw a serpent and a lion fight.\n\n CHAPTER VII. Of the vision that Sir Percivale saw, and how his vision\n was expounded, and of his lion.\n\n CHAPTER VIII. How Sir Percivale saw a ship coming to him-ward, and how\n the lady of the ship told him of her disheritance.\n\n CHAPTER IX. How Sir Percivale promised her help, and how he required\n her of love, and how he was saved from the fiend.\n\n CHAPTER X. How Sir Percivale for penance rove himself through the\n thigh; and how she was known for the devil.\n\n BOOK XV.\n\n CHAPTER I. How Sir Launcelot came to a chapel, where he found dead, in\n a white shirt, a man of religion, of an hundred winter old.\n\n CHAPTER II. Of a dead man, how men would have hewn him, and it would\n not be, and how Sir Launcelot took the hair of the dead man.\n\n CHAPTER III. Of an advision that Sir Launcelot had, and how he told it\n to an hermit, and desired counsel of him.\n\n CHAPTER IV. How the hermit expounded to Sir Launcelot his advision,\n and told him that Sir Galahad was his son.\n\n CHAPTER V. How Sir Launcelot jousted with many knights, and how he was\n taken.\n\n CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot told his advision to a woman, and how\n she expounded it to him.\n\n BOOK XVI.\n\n CHAPTER I. How Sir Gawaine was nigh weary of the quest of the\n Sangreal, and of his marvellous dream.\n\n CHAPTER II. Of the advision of Sir Ector, and how he jousted with Sir\n Uwaine les Avoutres, his sworn brother.\n\n CHAPTER III. How Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector came to an hermitage to be\n confessed, and how they told to the hermit their advisions.\n\n CHAPTER IV. How the hermit expounded their advision.\n\n CHAPTER V. Of the good counsel that the hermit gave to them.\n\n CHAPTER VI. How Sir Bors met with an hermit, and how he was confessed\n to him, and of his penance enjoined to him.\n\n CHAPTER VII. How Sir Bors was lodged with a lady, and how he took upon\n him for to fight against a champion for her land.\n\n CHAPTER VIII. Of an advision which Sir Bors had that night, and how he\n fought and overcame his adversary.\n\n CHAPTER IX. How the lady was returned to her lands by the battle of\n Sir Bors, and of his departing, and how he met Sir Lionel taken and\n beaten with thorns, and also of a maid which should have been\n devoured.\n\n CHAPTER X. How Sir Bors left to rescue his brother, and rescued the\n damosel; and how it was told him that Lionel was dead.\n\n CHAPTER XI. How Sir Bors told his dream to a priest, which he had\n dreamed, and of the counsel that the priest gave to him.\n\n CHAPTER XII. How the devil in a woman\u2019s likeness would have had Sir\n Bors to have lain by her, and how by God\u2019s grace he escaped.\n\n CHAPTER XIII. Of the holy communication of an Abbot to Sir Bors, and\n how the Abbot counselled him.\n\n CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Bors met with his brother Sir Lionel, and how Sir\n Lionel would have slain Sir Bors.\n\n CHAPTER XV. How Sir Colgrevance fought against Sir Lionel for to save\n Sir Bors, and how the hermit was slain.\n\n CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Lionel slew Sir Colgrevance, and how after he\n would have slain Sir Bors.\n\n CHAPTER XVII. How there came a voice which charged Sir Bors to touch\n him not, and of a cloud that came between them.\n\n BOOK XVII.\n\n CHAPTER I. How Sir Galahad fought at a tournament, and how he was\n known of Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector de Maris.\n\n CHAPTER II. How Sir Galahad rode with a damosel, and came to the ship\n whereas Sir Bors and Sir Percivale were in.\n\n CHAPTER III. How Sir Galahad entered into the ship, and of a fair bed\n therein, with other marvellous things, and of a sword.\n\n CHAPTER IV. Of the marvels of the sword and of the scabbard.\n\n CHAPTER V. How King Pelles was smitten through both thighs because he\n drew the sword, and other marvellous histories.\n\n CHAPTER VI. How Solomon took David\u2019s sword by the counsel of his wife,\n and of other matters marvellous.\n\n CHAPTER VII. A wonderful tale of King Solomon and his wife.\n\n CHAPTER VIII. How Galahad and his fellows came to a castle, and how\n they were fought withal, and how they slew their adversaries, and\n other matters.\n\n CHAPTER IX. How the three knights, with Percivale\u2019s sister, came unto\n the same forest, and of an hart and four lions, and other things.\n\n CHAPTER X. How they were desired of a strange custom, the which they\n would not obey; wherefore they fought and slew many knights.\n\n CHAPTER XI. How Sir Percivale\u2019s sister bled a dish full of blood for\n to heal a lady, wherefore she died; and how that the body was put in a\n ship.\n\n CHAPTER XII. How Galahad and Percivale found in a castle many tombs of\n maidens that had bled to death.\n\n CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Launcelot entered into the ship where Sir\n Percivale\u2019s sister lay dead, and how he met with Sir Galahad, his son.\n\n CHAPTER XIV. How a knight brought unto Sir Galahad a horse, and bade\n him come from his father, Sir Launcelot.\n\n CHAPTER XV. How Sir Launcelot was to-fore the door of the chamber\n wherein the Holy Sangreal was.\n\n CHAPTER XVI. How Sir launcelot had lain four-and-twenty days and as\n many nights as a dead man, and other divers matters.\n\n CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Launcelot returned towards Logris, and of other\n adventures which he saw in the way.\n\n CHAPTER XVIII. How Galahad came to King Mordrains, and of other\n matters and adventures.\n\n CHAPTER XIX. How Sir Percivale and Sir Bors met with Sir Galahad, and\n how they came to the castle of Carbonek, and other matters.\n\n CHAPTER XX How Galahad and his fellows were fed of the Holy Sangreal,\n and how Our Lord appeared to them, and other things.\n\n CHAPTER XXI. How Galahad anointed with the blood of the spear the\n Maimed King, and of other adventures.\n\n CHAPTER XXII. How they were fed with the Sangreal while they were in\n prison, and how Galahad was made king.\n\n CHAPTER XXIII. Of the sorrow that Percivale and Bors made when Galahad\n was dead: and of Percivale how he died, and other matters.\n\n BOOK XVIII.\n\n CHAPTER I. Of the joy King Arthur and the queen had of the achievement\n of the Sangreal; and how Launcelot fell to his old love again.\n\n CHAPTER II. How the queen commanded Sir Launcelot to avoid the court,\n and of the sorrow that Launcelot made.\n\n CHAPTER III. How at a dinner that the queen made there was a knight\n enpoisoned, which Sir Mador laid on the queen.\n\n CHAPTER IV. How Sir Mador appeached the queen of treason, and there\n was no knight would fight for her at the first time.\n\n CHAPTER V. How the queen required Sir Bors to fight for her, and how\n he granted upon condition; and how he warned Sir Launcelot thereof.\n\n CHAPTER VI. How at the day Sir Bors made him ready for to fight for\n the queen; and when he would fight how another discharged him.\n\n CHAPTER VII How Sir Launcelot fought against Sir Mador for the queen,\n and how he overcame Sir Mador, and discharged the queen.\n\n CHAPTER VIII. How the truth was known by the Maiden of the Lake, and\n of divers other matters.\n\n CHAPTER IX. How Sir Launcelot rode to Astolat, and received a sleeve\n to wear upon his helm at the request of a maid.\n\n CHAPTER X. How the tourney began at Winchester, and what knights were\n at the jousts; and other things.\n\n CHAPTER XI. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine entered in the field\n against them of King Arthur\u2019s court, and how Launcelot was hurt.\n\n CHAPTER XII. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed out of the\n field, and in what jeopardy Launcelot was.\n\n CHAPTER XIII. How Launcelot was brought to an hermit for to be healed\n of his wound, and of other matters.\n\n CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Gawaine was lodged with the lord of Astolat, and\n there had knowledge that it was Sir Launcelot that bare the red\n sleeve.\n\n CHAPTER XV. Of the sorrow that Sir Bors had for the hurt of Launcelot;\n and of the anger that the queen had because Launcelot bare the sleeve.\n\n CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Bors sought Launcelot and found him in the\n hermitage, and of the lamentation between them.\n\n CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Launcelot armed him to assay if he might bear\n arms, and how his wounds brast out again.\n\n CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Bors returned and told tidings of Sir\n Launcelot; and of the tourney, and to whom the prize was given.\n\n CHAPTER XIX. Of the great lamentation of the Fair Maid of Astolat when\n Launcelot should depart, and how she died for his love.\n\n CHAPTER XX. How the corpse of the Maid of Astolat arrived to-fore King\n Arthur, and of the burying, and how Sir Launcelot offered the\n mass-penny.\n\n CHAPTER XXI. Of great jousts done all a Christmas, and of a great\n jousts and tourney ordained by King Arthur, and of Sir Launcelot.\n\n CHAPTER XXII. How Launcelot after that he was hurt of a gentlewoman\n came to an hermit, and of other matters.\n\n CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Launcelot behaved him at the jousts, and other\n men also.\n\n CHAPTER XXIV. How King Arthur marvelled much of the jousting in the\n field, and how he rode and found Sir Launcelot.\n\n CHAPTER XXV. How true love is likened to summer.\n\n BOOK XIX.\n\n CHAPTER I. How Queen Guenever rode a-Maying with certain knights of\n the Round Table and clad all in green.\n\n CHAPTER II. How Sir Meliagrance took the queen and her knights, which\n were sore hurt in fighting.\n\n CHAPTER III. How Sir Launcelot had word how the queen was taken, and\n how Sir Meliagrance laid a bushment for Launcelot.\n\n CHAPTER IV. How Sir Launcelot\u2019s horse was slain, and how Sir Launcelot\n rode in a cart for to rescue the queen.\n\n CHAPTER V. How Sir Meliagrance required forgiveness of the queen, and\n how she appeased Sir Launcelot; and other matters.\n\n CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot came in the night to the queen and lay\n with her, and how Sir Meliagrance appeached the queen of treason.\n\n CHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot answered for the queen, and waged\n battle against Sir Meliagrance; and how Sir Launcelot was taken in a\n trap.\n\n CHAPTER VIII. How Sir Launcelot was delivered out of prison by a lady,\n and took a white courser and came for to keep his day.\n\n CHAPTER IX. How Sir Launcelot came the same time that Sir Meliagrance\n abode him in the field and dressed him to battle.\n\n CHAPTER X. How Sir Urre came into Arthur\u2019s court for to be healed of\n his wounds, and how King Arthur would begin to handle him.\n\n CHAPTER XI. How King Arthur handled Sir Urre, and after him many other\n knights of the Round Table.\n\n CHAPTER XII. How Sir Launcelot was commanded by Arthur to handle his\n wounds, and anon he was all whole, and how they thanked God.\n\n CHAPTER XIII. How there was a party made of an hundred knights against\n an hundred knights, and of other matters\n\n BOOK XX.\n\n CHAPTER I. How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred were busy upon Sir\n Gawaine for to disclose the love between Sir Launcelot and Queen\n Guenever.\n\n CHAPTER II. How Sir Agravaine disclosed their love to King Arthur, and\n how King Arthur gave them licence to take him.\n\n CHAPTER III. How Sir Launcelot was espied in the queen\u2019s chamber, and\n how Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred came with twelve knights to slay\n him.\n\n CHAPTER IV. How Sir Launcelot slew Sir Colgrevance, and armed him in\n his harness, and after slew Sir Agravaine, and twelve of his fellows.\n\n CHAPTER V. How Sir Launcelot came to Sir Bors, and told him how he had\n sped, and in what adventure he had been, and how he had escaped.\n\n CHAPTER VI. Of the counsel and advice that was taken by Sir Launcelot\n and his friends for to save the queen.\n\n CHAPTER VII. How Sir Mordred rode hastily to the king, to tell him of\n the affray and death of Sir Agravaine and the other knights.\n\n CHAPTER VIII. How Sir Launcelot and his kinsmen rescued the queen from\n the fire, and how he slew many knights.\n\n CHAPTER IX. Of the sorrow and lamentation of King Arthur for the death\n of his nephews and other good knights, and also for the queen, his\n wife.\n\n CHAPTER X. How King Arthur at the request of Sir Gawaine concluded to\n make war against Sir Launcelot, and laid siege to his castle called\n Joyous Gard.\n\n CHAPTER XI. Of the communication between King Arthur and Sir\n Launcelot, and how King Arthur reproved him.\n\n CHAPTER XII. How the cousins and kinsmen of Sir Launcelot excited him\n to go out to battle, and how they made them ready.\n\n CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Gawaine jousted and smote down Sir Lionel, and\n how Sir Launcelot horsed King Arthur.\n\n CHAPTER XIV. How the Pope sent down his bulls to make peace, and how\n Sir Launcelot brought the queen to King Arthur.\n\n CHAPTER XV. Of the deliverance of the queen to the king by Sir\n Launcelot, and what language Sir Gawaine had to Sir Launcelot.\n\n CHAPTER XVI. Of the communication between Sir Gawaine and Sir\n Launcelot, with much other language.\n\n CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Launcelot departed from the king and from Joyous\n Gard over seaward, and what knights went with him.\n\n CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Launcelot passed over the sea, and how he made\n great lords of the knights that went with him.\n\n CHAPTER XIX. How King Arthur and Sir Gawaine made a great host ready\n to go over sea to make war on Sir Launcelot.\n\n CHAPTER XX. What message Sir Gawaine sent to Sir Launcelot; and how\n King Arthur laid siege to Benwick, and other matters.\n\n CHAPTER XXI. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine did battle together,\n and how Sir Gawaine was overthrown and hurt.\n\n CHAPTER XXII. Of the sorrow that King Arthur made for the war, and of\n another battle where also Sir Gawaine had the worse\n\n BOOK XXI.\n\n CHAPTER I. How Sir Mordred presumed and took on him to be King of\n England, and would have married the queen, his father\u2019s wife.\n\n CHAPTER II. How after that King Arthur had tidings, he returned and\n came to Dover, where Sir Mordred met him to let his landing; and of\n the death of Sir Gawaine.\n\n CHAPTER III. How after, Sir Gawaine\u2019s ghost appeared to King Arthur,\n and warned him that he should not fight that day.\n\n CHAPTER IV. How by misadventure of an adder the battle began, where\n Mordred was slain, and Arthur hurt to the death.\n\n CHAPTER V. How King Arthur commanded to cast his sword Excalibur into\n the water, and how he was delivered to ladies in a barge.\n\n CHAPTER VI. How Sir Bedivere found him on the morrow dead in an\n hermitage, and how he abode there with the hermit.\n\n CHAPTER VII. Of the opinion of some men of the death of King Arthur;\n and how Queen Guenever made her a nun in Almesbury.\n\n CHAPTER VIII. How when Sir Lancelot heard of the death of King Arthur,\n and of Sir Gawaine, and other matters, he came into England.\n\n CHAPTER IX. How Sir Launcelot departed to seek the Queen Guenever, and\n how he found her at Almesbury.\n\n CHAPTER X. How Sir Launcelot came to the hermitage where the\n Archbishop of Canterbury was, and how he took the habit on him.\n\n CHAPTER XI. How Sir Launcelot went with his seven fellows to\n Almesbury, and found there Queen Guenever dead, whom they brought to\n Glastonbury.\n\n CHAPTER XII. How Sir Launcelot began to sicken, and after died, whose\n body was borne to Joyous Gard for to be buried.\n\n CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Ector found Sir Launcelot his brother dead, and\n how Constantine reigned next after Arthur; and of the end of this\n book. GLOSSARY\n\n\n\n\nBOOK X.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. How Sir Tristram jousted, and smote down King Arthur,\nbecause he told him not the cause why he bare that shield.\n\n\nAnd if so be ye can descrive what ye bear, ye are worthy to bear the\narms. As for that, said Sir Tristram, I will answer you; this shield\nwas given me, not desired, of Queen Morgan le Fay; and as for me, I can\nnot descrive these arms, for it is no point of my charge, and yet I\ntrust to God to bear them with worship. Truly, said King Arthur, ye\nought not to bear none arms but if ye wist what ye bear: but I pray you\ntell me your name. To what intent? said Sir Tristram. For I would wit,\nsaid Arthur. Sir, ye shall not wit as at this time. Then shall ye and I\ndo battle together, said King Arthur. Why, said Sir Tristram, will ye\ndo battle with me but if I tell you my name? and that little needeth\nyou an ye were a man of worship, for ye have seen me this day have had\ngreat travail, and therefore ye are a villainous knight to ask battle\nof me, considering my great travail; howbeit I will not fail you, and\nhave ye no doubt that I fear not you; though you think you have me at a\ngreat advantage yet shall I right well endure you. And there withal\nKing Arthur dressed his shield and his spear, and Sir Tristram against\nhim, and they came so eagerly together. And there King Arthur brake his\nspear all to pieces upon Sir Tristram\u2019s shield. But Sir Tristram hit\nArthur again, that horse and man fell to the earth. And there was King\nArthur wounded on the left side, a great wound and a perilous.\n\nThen when Sir Uwaine saw his lord Arthur lie on the ground sore\nwounded, he was passing heavy. And then he dressed his shield and his\nspear, and cried aloud unto Sir Tristram and said: Knight, defend thee.\nSo they came together as thunder, and Sir Uwaine brised his spear all\nto pieces upon Sir Tristram\u2019s shield, and Sir Tristram smote him harder\nand sorer, with such a might that he bare him clean out of his saddle\nto the earth. With that Sir Tristram turned about and said: Fair\nknights, I had no need to joust with you, for I have had enough to do\nthis day. Then arose Arthur and went to Sir Uwaine, and said to Sir\nTristram: We have as we have deserved, for through our orgulyt\u00e9 we\ndemanded battle of you, and yet we knew not your name. Nevertheless, by\nSaint Cross, said Sir Uwaine, he is a strong knight at mine advice as\nany is now living.\n\nThen Sir Tristram departed, and in every place he asked and demanded\nafter Sir Launcelot, but in no place he could not hear of him whether\nhe were dead or alive; wherefore Sir Tristram made great dole and\nsorrow. So Sir Tristram rode by a forest, and then was he ware of a\nfair tower by a marsh on that one side, and on that other side a fair\nmeadow. And there he saw ten knights fighting together. And ever the\nnearer he came he saw how there was but one knight did battle against\nnine knights, and that one did so marvellously that Sir Tristram had\ngreat wonder that ever one knight might do so great deeds of arms. And\nthen within a little while he had slain half their horses and unhorsed\nthem, and their horses ran in the fields and forest. Then Sir Tristram\nhad so great pity of that one knight that endured so great pain, and\never he thought it should be Sir Palomides, by his shield. And so he\nrode unto the knights and cried unto them, and bade them cease of their\nbattle, for they did themselves great shame so many knights to fight\nwith one. Then answered the master of those knights, his name was\ncalled Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9, that was at that time the most mischievoust\nknight living, and said thus: Sir knight, what have ye ado with us to\nmeddle? and therefore, an ye be wise, depart on your way as ye came,\nfor this knight shall not escape us. That were pity, said Sir Tristram,\nthat so good a knight as he is should be slain so cowardly; and\ntherefore I warn you I will succour him with all my puissance.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. How Sir Tristram saved Sir Palomides\u2019 life, and how they\npromised to fight together within a fortnight.\n\n\nSo Sir Tristram alighted off his horse because they were on foot, that\nthey should not slay his horse, and then dressed his shield, with his\nsword in his hand, and he smote on the right hand and on the left hand\npassing sore, that well-nigh at every stroke he struck down a knight.\nAnd when they espied his strokes they fled all with Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9\nunto the tower, and Sir Tristram followed fast after with his sword in\nhis hand, but they escaped into the tower, and shut Sir Tristram\nwithout the gate. And when Sir Tristram saw this he returned aback unto\nSir Palomides, and found him sitting under a tree sore wounded. Ah,\nfair knight, said Sir Tristram, well be ye found. Gramercy, said Sir\nPalomides, of your great goodness, for ye have rescued me of my life,\nand saved me from my death. What is your name? said Sir Tristram. He\nsaid: My name is Sir Palomides. O Jesu, said Sir Tristram, thou hast a\nfair grace of me this day that I should rescue thee, and thou art the\nman in the world that I most hate; but now make thee ready, for I will\ndo battle with thee. What is your name? said Sir Palomides. My name is\nSir Tristram, your mortal enemy. It may be so, said Sir Palomides; but\nye have done over much for me this day that I should fight with you;\nfor inasmuch as ye have saved my life it will be no worship for you to\nhave ado with me, for ye are fresh and I am wounded sore, and\ntherefore, an ye will needs have ado with me, assign me a day and then\nI shall meet with you without fail. Ye say well, said Sir Tristram, now\nI assign you to meet me in the meadow by the river of Camelot, where\nMerlin set the peron. So they were agreed.\n\nThen Sir Tristram asked Sir Palomides why the ten knights did battle\nwith him. For this cause, said Sir Palomides; as I rode upon mine\nadventures in a forest here beside I espied where lay a dead knight,\nand a lady weeping beside him. And when I saw her making such dole, I\nasked her who slew her lord. Sir, she said, the falsest knight of the\nworld now living, and he is the most villain that ever man heard speak\nof and his name is Sir Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9. Then for pity I made the\ndamosel to leap on her palfrey, and I promised her to be her warrant,\nand to help her to inter her lord. And so, suddenly, as I came riding\nby this tower, there came out Sir Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9, and suddenly he\nstruck me from my horse. And then or I might recover my horse this Sir\nBreuse slew the damosel. And so I took my horse again, and I was sore\nashamed, and so began the medley betwixt us: and this is the cause\nwherefore we did this battle. Well, said Sir Tristram, now I understand\nthe manner of your battle, but in any wise have remembrance of your\npromise that ye have made with me to do battle with me this day\nfortnight. I shall not fail you, said Sir Palomides. Well, said Sir\nTristram, as at this time I will not fail you till that ye be out of\nthe danger of your enemies.\n\nSo they mounted upon their horses, and rode together unto that forest,\nand there they found a fair well, with clear water bubbling. Fair sir,\nsaid Sir Tristram, to drink of that water have I courage; and then they\nalighted off their horses. And then were they ware by them where stood\na great horse tied to a tree, and ever he neighed. And then were they\nware of a fair knight armed, under a tree, lacking no piece of harness,\nsave his helm lay under his head. By the good lord, said Sir Tristram,\nyonder lieth a well-faring knight; what is best to do? Awake him, said\nSir Palomides. So Sir Tristram awaked him with the butt of his spear.\nAnd so the knight rose up hastily and put his helm upon his head, and\ngat a great spear in his hand; and without any more words he hurled\nunto Sir Tristram, and smote him clean from his saddle to the earth,\nand hurt him on the left side, that Sir Tristram lay in great peril.\nThen he walloped farther, and fetched his course, and came hurling upon\nSir Palomides, and there he struck him a part through the body, that he\nfell from his horse to the earth. And then this strange knight left\nthem there, and took his way through the forest. With this Sir\nPalomides and Sir Tristram were on foot, and gat their horses again,\nand either asked counsel of other, what was best to do. By my head,\nsaid Sir Tristram, I will follow this strong knight that thus hath\nshamed us. Well, said Sir Palomides, and I will repose me hereby with a\nfriend of mine. Beware, said Sir Tristram unto Palomides, that ye fail\nnot that day that ye have set with me to do battle, for, as I deem, ye\nwill not hold your day, for I am much bigger than ye. As for that, said\nSir Palomides, be it as it be may, for I fear you not, for an I be not\nsick nor prisoner, I will not fail you; but I have cause to have more\ndoubt of you that ye will not meet with me, for ye ride after yonder\nstrong knight. And if ye meet with him it is an hard adventure an ever\nye escape his hands. Right so Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides departed,\nand either took their ways diverse.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. How Sir Tristram sought a strong knight that had smitten\nhim down, and many other knights of the Round Table.\n\n\nAnd so Sir Tristram rode long after this strong knight. And at the last\nhe saw where lay a lady overthwart a dead knight. Fair lady, said Sir\nTristram, who hath slain your lord? Sir, she said, here came a knight\nriding, as my lord and I rested us here, and asked him of whence he\nwas, and my lord said of Arthur\u2019s court. Therefore, said the strong\nknight, I will joust with thee, for I hate all these that be of\nArthur\u2019s court. And my lord that lieth here dead amounted upon his\nhorse, and the strong knight and my lord encountered together, and\nthere he smote my lord throughout with his spear, and thus he hath\nbrought me in great woe and damage. That me repenteth, said Sir\nTristram, of your great anger; an it please you tell me your husband\u2019s\nname. Sir, said she, his name was Galardoun, that would have proved a\ngood knight. So departed Sir Tristram from that dolorous lady, and had\nmuch evil lodging. Then on the third day Sir Tristram met with Sir\nGawaine and with Sir Bleoberis in a forest at a lodge, and either were\nsore wounded. Then Sir Tristram asked Sir Gawaine and Sir Bleoberis if\nthey met with such a knight, with such a cognisance, with a covered\nshield. Fair sir, said these knights, such a knight met with us to our\ngreat damage. And first he smote down my fellow, Sir Bleoberis, and\nsore wounded him because he bade me I should not have ado with him, for\nwhy he was overstrong for me. That strong knight took his words at\nscorn, and said he said it for mockery. And then they rode together,\nand so he hurt my fellow. And when he had done so I might not for shame\nbut I must joust with him. And at the first course he smote me down and\nmy horse to the earth. And there he had almost slain me, and from us he\ntook his horse and departed, and in an evil time we met with him. Fair\nknights, said Sir Tristram, so he met with me, and with another knight\nthat hight Palomides, and he smote us both down with one spear, and\nhurt us right sore. By my faith, said Sir Gawaine, by my counsel ye\nshall let him pass and seek him no further; for at the next feast of\nthe Round Table, upon pain of my head ye shall find him there. By my\nfaith, said Sir Tristram, I shall never rest till that I find him. And\nthen Sir Gawaine asked him his name. Then he said: My name is Sir\nTristram. And so either told other their names, and then departed Sir\nTristram and rode his way.\n\nAnd by fortune in a meadow Sir Tristram met with Sir Kay, the\nSeneschal, and Sir Dinadan. What tidings with you, said Sir Tristram,\nwith you knights? Not good, said these knights. Why so? said Sir\nTristram; I pray you tell me, for I ride to seek a knight. What\ncognisance beareth he? said Sir Kay. He beareth, said Sir Tristram, a\ncovered shield close with cloth. By my head, said Sir Kay, that is the\nsame knight that met with us, for this night we were lodged within a\nwidow\u2019s house, and there was that knight lodged; and when he wist we\nwere of Arthur\u2019s court he spoke great villainy by the king, and\nspecially by the Queen Guenever, and then on the morn was waged battle\nwith him for that cause. And at the first recounter, said Sir Kay, he\nsmote me down from my horse and hurt me passing sore; and when my\nfellow, Sir Dinadan, saw me smitten down and hurt he would not revenge\nme, but fled from me; and thus he departed. And then Sir Tristram asked\nthem their names, and so either told other their names. And so Sir\nTristram departed from Sir Kay, and from Sir Dinadan, and so he passed\nthrough a great forest into a plain, till he was ware of a priory, and\nthere he reposed him with a good man six days.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Sagramore le Desirous and\nSir Dodinas le Savage.\n\n\nAnd then he sent his man that hight Gouvernail, and commanded him to go\nto a city thereby to fetch him new harness; for it was long time afore\nthat that Sir Tristram had been refreshed, his harness was brised and\nbroken. And when Gouvernail, his servant, was come with his apparel, he\ntook his leave at the widow, and mounted upon his horse, and rode his\nway early on the morn. And by sudden adventure Sir Tristram met with\nSir Sagramore le Desirous, and with Sir Dodinas le Savage. And these\ntwo knights met with Sir Tristram and questioned with him, and asked\nhim if he would joust with them. Fair knights, said Sir Tristram, with\na good will I would joust with you, but I have promised at a day set,\nnear hand, to do battle with a strong knight; and therefore I am loath\nto have ado with you, for an it misfortuned me here to be hurt I should\nnot be able to do my battle which I promised. As for that, said\nSagramore, maugre your head, ye shall joust with us or ye pass from us.\nWell, said Sir Tristram, if ye enforce me thereto I must do what I may.\nAnd then they dressed their shields, and came running together with\ngreat ire. But through Sir Tristram\u2019s great force he struck Sir\nSagramore from his horse. Then he hurled his horse farther, and said to\nSir Dodinas: Knight, make thee ready; and so through fine force Sir\nTristram struck Dodinas from his horse. And when he saw them lie on the\nearth he took his bridle, and rode forth on his way, and his man\nGouvernail with him.\n\nAnon as Sir Tristram was passed, Sir Sagramore and Sir Dodinas gat\nagain their horses, and mounted up lightly and followed after Sir\nTristram. And when Sir Tristram saw them come so fast after him he\nreturned with his horse to them, and asked them what they would. It is\nnot long ago sithen I smote you to the earth at your own request and\ndesire: I would have ridden by you, but ye would not suffer me, and now\nmeseemeth ye would do more battle with me. That is truth, said Sir\nSagramore and Sir Dodinas, for we will be revenged of the despite ye\nhave done to us. Fair knights, said Sir Tristram, that shall little\nneed you, for all that I did to you ye caused it; wherefore I require\nyou of your knighthood leave me as at this time, for I am sure an I do\nbattle with you I shall not escape without great hurts, and as I\nsuppose ye shall not escape all lotless. And this is the cause why I am\nso loath to have ado with you; for I must fight within these three days\nwith a good knight, and as valiant as any is now living, and if I be\nhurt I shall not be able to do battle with him. What knight is that,\nsaid Sir Sagramore, that ye shall fight withal? Sirs, said he, it is a\ngood knight called Sir Palomides. By my head, said Sir Sagramore and\nSir Dodinas, ye have cause to dread him, for ye shall find him a\npassing good knight, and a valiant. And because ye shall have ado with\nhim we will forbear you as at this time, and else ye should not escape\nus lightly. But, fair knight, said Sir Sagramore, tell us your name.\nSir, said he, my name is Sir Tristram de Liones. Ah, said Sagramore and\nSir Dodinas, well be ye found, for much worship have we heard of you.\nAnd then either took leave of other, and departed on their way.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. How Sir Tristram met at the peron with Sir Launcelot, and\nhow they fought together unknown.\n\n\nThen departed Sir Tristram and rode straight unto Camelot, to the peron\nthat Merlin had made to-fore, where Sir Lanceor, that was the king\u2019s\nson of Ireland, was slain by the hands of Balin. And in that same place\nwas the fair lady Colombe slain, that was love unto Sir Lanceor; for\nafter he was dead she took his sword and thrust it through her body.\nAnd by the craft of Merlin he made to inter this knight, Lanceor, and\nhis lady, Colombe, under one stone. And at that time Merlin prophesied\nthat in that same place should fight two the best knights that ever\nwere in Arthur\u2019s days, and the best lovers. So when Sir Tristram came\nto the tomb where Lanceor and his lady were buried he looked about him\nafter Sir Palomides. Then was he ware of a seemly knight came riding\nagainst him all in white, with a covered shield. When he came nigh Sir\nTristram he said on high: Ye be welcome, sir knight, and well and truly\nhave ye holden your promise. And then they dressed their shields and\nspears, and came together with all their might of their horses; and\nthey met so fiercely that both their horses and knights fell to the\nearth, and as fast as they might avoided their horses, and put their\nshields afore them; and they struck together with bright swords, as men\nthat were of might, and either wounded other wonderly sore, that the\nblood ran out upon the grass. And thus they fought the space of four\nhours, that never one would speak to other one word, and of their\nharness they had hewn off many pieces. O Lord Jesu, said Gouvernail, I\nmarvel greatly of the strokes my master hath given to your master. By\nmy head, said Sir Launcelot\u2019s servant, your master hath not given so\nmany but your master has received as many or more. O Jesu, said\nGouvernail, it is too much for Sir Palomides to suffer or Sir\nLauncelot, and yet pity it were that either of these good knights\nshould destroy other\u2019s blood. So they stood and wept both, and made\ngreat dole when they saw the bright swords over-covered with blood of\ntheir bodies.\n\nThen at the last spake Sir Launcelot and said: Knight, thou fightest\nwonderly well as ever I saw knight, therefore, an it please you, tell\nme your name. Sir, said Sir Tristram, that is me loath to tell any man\nmy name. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, an I were required I was never\nloath to tell my name. It is well said, said Sir Tristram, then I\nrequire you to tell me your name? Fair knight, he said, my name is Sir\nLauncelot du Lake. Alas, said Sir Tristram, what have I done! for ye\nare the man in the world that I love best. Fair knight, said Sir\nLauncelot, tell me your name? Truly, said he, my name is Sir Tristram\nde Liones. O Jesu, said Sir Launcelot, what adventure is befallen me!\nAnd therewith Sir Launcelot kneeled down and yielded him up his sword.\nAnd therewith Sir Tristram kneeled adown, and yielded him up his sword.\nAnd so either gave other the degree. And then they both forthwithal\nwent to the stone, and set them down upon it, and took off their helms\nto cool them, and either kissed other an hundred times. And then anon\nafter they took off their helms and rode to Camelot. And there they met\nwith Sir Gawaine and with Sir Gaheris that had made promise to Arthur\nnever to come again to the court till they had brought Sir Tristram\nwith them.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tristram to the court, and of\nthe great joy that the king and other made for the coming of Sir\nTristram.\n\n\nReturn again, said Sir Launcelot, for your quest is done, for I have\nmet with Sir Tristram: lo, here is his own person! Then was Sir Gawaine\nglad, and said to Sir Tristram: Ye are welcome, for now have ye eased\nme greatly of my labour. For what cause, said Sir Gawaine, came ye into\nthis court? Fair sir, said Sir Tristram, I came into this country\nbecause of Sir Palomides; for he and I had assigned at this day to have\ndone battle together at the peron, and I marvel I hear not of him. And\nthus by adventure my lord, Sir Launcelot, and I met together. With this\ncame King Arthur, and when he wist that there was Sir Tristram, then he\nran unto him and took him by the hand and said: Sir Tristram, ye are as\nwelcome as any knight that ever came to this court. And when the king\nhad heard how Sir Launcelot and he had foughten, and either had wounded\nother wonderly sore, then the king made great dole. Then Sir Tristram\ntold the king how he came thither for to have had ado with Sir\nPalomides. And then he told the king how he had rescued him from the\nnine knights and Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9; and how he found a knight lying by\na well, and that knight smote down Sir Palomides and me, but his shield\nwas covered with a cloth. So Sir Palomides left me, and I followed\nafter that knight; and in many places I found where he had slain\nknights, and forjousted many. By my head, said Sir Gawaine, that same\nknight smote me down and Sir Bleoberis, and hurt us sore both, he with\nthe covered shield. Ah, said Sir Kay, that knight smote me adown and\nhurt me passing sore, and fain would I have known him, but I might not.\nJesu, mercy, said Arthur, what knight was that with the covered shield?\nI know not, said Sir Tristram; and so said they all. Now, said King\nArthur, then wot I, for it is Sir Launcelot. Then they all looked upon\nSir Launcelot and said: Ye have beguiled us with your covered shield.\nIt is not the first time, said Arthur, he hath done so. My lord, said\nSir Launcelot, truly wit ye well I was the same knight that bare the\ncovered shield; and because I would not be known that I was of your\ncourt I said no worship of your house. That is truth, said Sir Gawaine,\nSir Kay, and Sir Bleoberis.\n\nThen King Arthur took Sir Tristram by the hand and went to the Table\nRound. Then came Queen Guenever and many ladies with her, and all the\nladies said at one voice: Welcome, Sir Tristram! Welcome, said the\ndamosels. Welcome, said knights. Welcome, said Arthur, for one of the\nbest knights, and the gentlest of the world, and the man of most\nworship; for of all manner of hunting thou bearest the prize, and of\nall measures of blowing thou art the beginning, and of all the terms of\nhunting and hawking ye are the beginner, of all instruments of music ye\nare the best; therefore, gentle knight, said Arthur, ye are welcome to\nthis court. And also, I pray you, said Arthur, grant me a boon. It\nshall be at your commandment, said Tristram. Well, said Arthur, I will\ndesire of you that ye will abide in my court. Sir, said Sir Tristram,\nthereto is me loath, for I have ado in many countries. Not so, said\nArthur, ye have promised it me, ye may not say nay. Sir, said Sir\nTristram, I will as ye will. Then went Arthur unto the sieges about the\nRound Table, and looked in every siege the which were void that lacked\nknights. And then the king saw in the siege of Marhaus letters that\nsaid: This is the siege of the noble knight, Sir Tristram. And then\nArthur made Sir Tristram Knight of the Table Round, with great nobley\nand great feast as might be thought. For Sir Marhaus was slain afore by\nthe hands of Sir Tristram in an island; and that was well known at that\ntime in the court of Arthur, for this Marhaus was a worthy knight. And\nfor evil deeds that he did unto the country of Cornwall Sir Tristram\nand he fought. And they fought so long, tracing and traversing, till\nthey fell bleeding to the earth; for they were so sore wounded that\nthey might not stand for bleeding. And Sir Tristram by fortune\nrecovered, and Sir Marhaus died through the stroke on the head. So\nleave we of Sir Tristram and speak we of King Mark.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. How for the despite of Sir Tristram King Mark came with\ntwo knights into England, and how he slew one of the knights.\n\n\nThen King Mark had great despite of the renown of Sir Tristram, and\nthen he chased him out of Cornwall: yet was he nephew unto King Mark,\nbut he had great suspicion unto Sir Tristram because of his queen, La\nBeale Isoud; for him seemed that there was too much love between them\nboth. So when Sir Tristram departed out of Cornwall into England King\nMark heard of the great prowess that Sir Tristram did there, the which\ngrieved him sore. So he sent on his part men to espy what deeds he did.\nAnd the queen sent privily on her part spies to know what deeds he had\ndone, for great love was between them twain. So when the messengers\nwere come home they told the truth as they had heard, that he passed\nall other knights but if it were Sir Launcelot. Then King Mark was\nright heavy of these tidings, and as glad was La Beale Isoud. Then in\ngreat despite he took with him two good knights and two squires, and\ndisguised himself, and took his way into England, to the intent for to\nslay Sir Tristram. And one of these two knights hight Bersules, and the\nother knight was called Amant. So as they rode King Mark asked a knight\nthat he met, where he should find King Arthur. He said: At Camelot.\nAlso he asked that knight after Sir Tristram, whether he heard of him\nin the court of King Arthur. Wit you well, said that knight, ye shall\nfind Sir Tristram there for a man of as great worship as is now living;\nfor through his prowess he won the tournament of the Castle of Maidens\nthat standeth by the Hard Rock. And sithen he hath won with his own\nhands thirty knights that were men of great honour. And the last battle\nthat ever he did he fought with Sir Launcelot; and that was a\nmarvellous battle. And not by force Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tristram\nto the court, and of him King Arthur made passing great joy, and so\nmade him Knight of the Table Round; and his seat was where the good\nknight\u2019s, Sir Marhaus, seat was. Then was King Mark passing sorry when\nhe heard of the honour of Sir Tristram; and so they departed.\n\nThen said King Mark unto his two knights: Now will I tell you my\ncounsel: ye are the men that I trust most to alive, and I will that ye\nwit my coming hither is to this intent, for to destroy Sir Tristram by\nwiles or by treason; and it shall be hard if ever he escape our hands.\nAlas, said Sir Bersules, what mean you? for ye be set in such a way ye\nare disposed shamefully; for Sir Tristram is the knight of most worship\nthat we know living, and therefore I warn you plainly I will never\nconsent to do him to the death; and therefore I will yield my service,\nand forsake you. When King Mark heard him say so, suddenly he drew his\nsword and said: Ah, traitor; and smote Sir Bersules on the head, that\nthe sword went to his teeth. When Amant, the knight, saw him do that\nvillainous deed, and his squires, they said it was foul done, and\nmischievously: Wherefore we will do thee no more service, and wit ye\nwell, we will appeach thee of treason afore Arthur. Then was King Mark\nwonderly wroth and would have slain Amant; but he and the two squires\nheld them together, and set nought by his malice. When King Mark saw he\nmight not be revenged on them, he said thus unto the knight, Amant: Wit\nthou well, an thou appeach me of treason I shall thereof defend me\nafore King Arthur; but I require thee that thou tell not my name, that\nI am King Mark, whatsomever come of me. As for that, said Sir Amant, I\nwill not discover your name; and so they departed, and Amant and his\nfellows took the body of Bersules and buried it.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. How King Mark came to a fountain where he found Sir\nLamorak complaining for the love of King Lot\u2019s wife.\n\n\nThen King Mark rode till he came to a fountain, and there he rested\nhim, and stood in a doubt whether he would ride to Arthur\u2019s court or\nnone, or return again to his country. And as he thus rested him by that\nfountain there came by him a knight well armed on horseback; and he\nalighted, and tied his horse until a tree, and set him down by the\nbrink of the fountain; and there he made great languor and dole, and\nmade the dolefullest complaint of love that ever man heard; and all\nthis while was he not ware of King Mark. And this was a great part of\nhis complaint: he cried and wept, saying: O fair Queen of Orkney, King\nLot\u2019s wife, and mother of Sir Gawaine, and to Sir Gaheris, and mother\nto many other, for thy love I am in great pains. Then King Mark arose\nand went near him and said: Fair knight, ye have made a piteous\ncomplaint. Truly, said the knight, it is an hundred part more ruefuller\nthan my heart can utter. I require you, said King Mark, tell me your\nname. Sir, said he, as for my name I will not hide it from no knight\nthat beareth a shield, and my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. But when\nSir Lamorak heard King Mark speak, then wist he well by his speech that\nhe was a Cornish knight. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I understand by your\ntongue ye be of Cornwall, wherein there dwelleth the shamefullest king\nthat is now living, for he is a great enemy to all good knights; and\nthat proveth well, for he hath chased out of that country Sir Tristram,\nthat is the worshipfullest knight that now is living, and all knights\nspeak of him worship; and for jealousness of his queen he hath chased\nhim out of his country. It is pity, said Sir Lamorak, that ever any\nsuch false knight-coward as King Mark is, should be matched with such a\nfair lady and good as La Beale Isoud is, for all the world of him\nspeaketh shame, and of her worship that any queen may have. I have not\nado in this matter, said King Mark, neither nought will I speak\nthereof. Well said, said Sir Lamorak. Sir, can ye tell me any tidings?\nI can tell you, said Sir Lamorak, that there shall be a great\ntournament in haste beside Camelot, at the Castle of Jagent; and the\nKing with the Hundred Knights and the King of Ireland, as I suppose,\nmake that tournament.\n\nThen there came a knight that was called Sir Dinadan, and saluted them\nboth. And when he wist that King Mark was a knight of Cornwall he\nreproved him for the love of King Mark a thousand fold more than did\nSir Lamorak. Then he proffered to joust with King Mark. And he was full\nloath thereto, but Sir Dinadan edged him so, that he jousted with Sir\nLamorak. And Sir Lamorak smote King Mark so sore that he bare him on\nhis spear end over his horse\u2019s tail. And then King Mark arose again,\nand followed after Sir Lamorak. But Sir Dinadan would not joust with\nSir Lamorak, but he told King Mark that Sir Lamorak was Sir Kay, the\nSeneschal. That is not so, said King Mark, for he is much bigger than\nSir Kay; and so he followed and overtook him, and bade him abide. What\nwill you do? said Sir Lamorak. Sir, he said, I will fight with a sword,\nfor ye have shamed me with a spear; and therewith they dashed together\nwith swords, and Sir Lamorak suffered him and forbare him. And King\nMark was passing hasty, and smote thick strokes. Sir Lamorak saw he\nwould not stint, and waxed somewhat wroth, and doubled his strokes, for\nhe was one of the noblest knights of the world; and he beat him so on\nthe helm that his head hung nigh on the saddle bow. When Sir Lamorak\nsaw him fare so, he said: Sir knight, what cheer? meseemeth you have\nnigh your fill of fighting, it were pity to do you any more harm, for\nye are but a mean knight, therefore I give you leave to go where ye\nlist. Gramercy, said King Mark, for ye and I be not matches.\n\nThen Sir Dinadan mocked King Mark and said: Ye are not able to match a\ngood knight. As for that, said King Mark, at the first time I jousted\nwith this knight ye refused him. Think ye that it is a shame to me?\nsaid Sir Dinadan: nay, sir, it is ever worship to a knight to refuse\nthat thing that he may not attain, there fore your worship had been\nmuch more to have refused him as I did; for I warn you plainly he is\nable to beat such five as ye and I be; for ye knights of Cornwall are\nno men of worship as other knights are. And because ye are no men of\nworship ye hate all men of worship, for never was bred in your country\nsuch a knight as is Sir Tristram.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. How King Mark, Sir Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan came to a\ncastle, and how King Mark was known there.\n\n\nThen they rode forth all together, King Mark, Sir Lamorak, and Sir\nDinadan, till that they came to a bridge, and at the end thereof stood\na fair tower. Then saw they a knight on horseback well armed,\nbrandishing a spear, crying and proffering himself to joust. Now, said\nSir Dinadan unto King Mark, yonder are two brethren, that one hight\nAlein, and the other hight Trian, that will joust with any that passeth\nthis passage. Now proffer yourself, said Dinadan to King Mark, for ever\nye be laid to the earth. Then King Mark was ashamed, and therewith he\nfeutred his spear, and hurtled to Sir Trian, and either brake their\nspears all to pieces, and passed through anon. Then Sir Trian sent King\nMark another spear to joust more; but in no wise he would not joust no\nmore. Then they came to the castle all three knights, and prayed the\nlord of the castle of harbour. Ye are right welcome, said the knights\nof the castle, for the love of the lord of this castle, the which hight\nSir Tor le Fise Aries. And then they came into a fair court well\nrepaired, and they had passing good cheer, till the lieutenant of this\ncastle, that hight Berluse, espied King Mark of Cornwall. Then said\nBerluse: Sir knight, I know you better than you ween, for ye are King\nMark that slew my father afore mine own eyen; and me had ye slain had I\nnot escaped into a wood; but wit ye well, for the love of my lord of\nthis castle I will neither hurt you nor harm you, nor none of your\nfellowship. But wit ye well, when ye are past this lodging I shall hurt\nyou an I may, for ye slew my father traitorly. But first for the love\nof my lord, Sir Tor, and for the love of Sir Lamorak, the honourable\nknight that here is lodged, ye shall have none ill lodging; for it is\npity that ever ye should be in the company of good knights; for ye are\nthe most villainous knight or king that is now known alive, for ye are\na destroyer of good knights, and all that ye do is but treason.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. How Sir Berluse met with King Mark, and how Sir Dinadan took\nhis part.\n\n\nThen was King Mark sore ashamed, and said but little again. But when\nSir Lamorak and Sir Dinadan wist that he was King Mark they were sorry\nof his fellowship. So after supper they went to lodging. So on the morn\nthey arose early, and King Mark and Sir Dinadan rode together; and\nthree mile from their lodging there met with them three knights, and\nSir Berluse was one, and that other his two cousins. Sir Berluse saw\nKing Mark, and then he cried on high: Traitor, keep thee from me for\nwit thou well that I am Berluse. Sir knight, said Sir Dinadan, I\ncounsel you to leave off at this time, for he is riding to King Arthur;\nand because I have promised to conduct him to my lord King Arthur needs\nmust I take a part with him; howbeit I love not his condition, and fain\nI would be from him. Well, Dinadan, said Sir Berluse, me repenteth that\nye will take part with him, but now do your best. And then he hurtled\nto King Mark, and smote him sore upon the shield, that he bare him\nclean out of his saddle to the earth. That saw Sir Dinadan, and he\nfeutred his spear, and ran to one of Berluse\u2019s fellows, and smote him\ndown off his saddle. Then Dinadan turned his horse, and smote the third\nknight in the same wise to the earth, for Sir Dinadan was a good knight\non horseback; and there began a great battle, for Berluse and his\nfellows held them together strongly on foot. And so through the great\nforce of Sir Dinadan King Mark had Berluse to the earth, and his two\nfellows fled; and had not been Sir Dinadan King Mark would have slain\nhim. And so Sir Dinadan rescued him of his life, for King Mark was but\na murderer. And then they took their horses and departed and left Sir\nBerluse there sore wounded.\n\nThen King Mark and Sir Dinadan rode forth a four leagues English, till\nthat they came to a bridge where hoved a knight on horseback, armed and\nready to joust. Lo, said Sir Dinadan unto King Mark, yonder hoveth a\nknight that will joust, for there shall none pass this bridge but he\nmust joust with that knight. It is well, said King Mark, for this\njousts falleth with thee. Sir Dinadan knew the knight well that he was\na noble knight, and fain he would have jousted, but he had had liefer\nKing Mark had jousted with him, but by no mean King Mark would not\njoust. Then Sir Dinadan might not refuse him in no manner. And then\neither dressed their spears and their shields, and smote together, so\nthat through fine force Sir Dinadan was smitten to the earth; and\nlightly he rose up and gat his horse, and required that knight to do\nbattle with swords. And he answered and said: Fair knight, as at this\ntime I may not have ado with you no more, for the custom of this\npassage is such. Then was Sir Dinadan passing wroth that he might not\nbe revenged of that knight; and so he departed, and in no wise would\nthat knight tell his name. But ever Sir Dinadan thought he should know\nhim by his shield that it should be Sir Tor.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI. How King Mark mocked Sir Dinadan, and how they met with six\nknights of the Round Table.\n\n\nSo as they rode by the way King Mark then began to mock Sir Dinadan,\nand said: I weened you knights of the Table Round might not in no wise\nfind their matches. Ye say well, said Sir Dinadan; as for you, on my\nlife I call you none of the best knights; but sith ye have such a\ndespite at me I require you to joust with me to prove my strength. Not\nso, said King Mark, for I will not have ado with you in no manner; but\nI require you of one thing, that when ye come to Arthur\u2019s court\ndiscover not my name, for I am there so hated. It is shame to you, said\nSir Dinadan, that ye govern you so shamefully; for I see by you ye are\nfull of cowardice, and ye are a murderer, and that is the greatest\nshame that a knight may have; for never a knight being a murderer hath\nworship, nor never shall have; for I saw but late through my force ye\nwould have slain Sir Berluse, a better knight than ye, or ever ye shall\nbe, and more of prowess. Thus they rode forth talking till they came to\na fair place, where stood a knight, and prayed them to take their\nlodging with him. So at the request of that knight they reposed them\nthere, and made them well at ease, and had great cheer. For all\nerrant-knights were welcome to him, and specially all those of Arthur\u2019s\ncourt. Then Sir Dinadan demanded his host what was the knight\u2019s name\nthat kept the bridge. For what cause ask you it? said the host. For it\nis not long ago, said Sir Dinadan, sithen he gave me a fall. Ah, fair\nknight, said his host, thereof have ye no marvel, for he is a passing\ngood knight, and his name is Sir Tor, the son of Aries le Vaysher. Ah,\nsaid Sir Dinadan, was that Sir Tor? for truly so ever me thought.\n\nRight as they stood thus talking together they saw come riding to them\nover a plain six knights of the court of King Arthur, well armed at all\npoints. And there by their shields Sir Dinadan knew them well. The\nfirst was the good knight Sir Uwaine, the son of King Uriens, the\nsecond was the noble knight Sir Brandiles, the third was Ozana le Cure\nHardy, the fourth was Uwaine les Aventurous, the fifth was Sir\nAgravaine, the sixth Sir Mordred, brother to Sir Gawaine. When Sir\nDinadan had seen these six knights he thought in himself he would bring\nKing Mark by some wile to joust with one of them. And anon they took\ntheir horses and ran after these knights well a three mile English.\nThen was King Mark ware where they sat all six about a well, and ate\nand drank such meats as they had, and their horses walking and some\ntied, and their shields hung in divers places about them. Lo, said Sir\nDinadan, yonder are knights-errant that will joust with us. God forbid,\nsaid King Mark, for they be six and we but two. As for that, said Sir\nDinadan, let us not spare, for I will assay the foremost; and therewith\nhe made him ready. When King Mark saw him do so, as fast as Sir Dinadan\nrode toward them, King Mark rode froward them with all his menial\nmeiny. So when Sir Dinadan saw King Mark was gone, he set the spear out\nof the rest, and threw his shield upon his back, and came, riding to\nthe fellowship of the Table Round. And anon Sir Uwaine knew Sir\nDinadan, and welcomed him, and so did all his fellowship.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. How the six knights sent Sir Dagonet to joust with King\nMark, and how King Mark refused him.\n\n\nAnd then they asked him of his adventures, and whether he had seen Sir\nTristram or Sir Launcelot. So God me help, said Sir Dinadan, I saw none\nof them sithen I departed from Camelot. What knight is that, said Sir\nBrandiles, that so suddenly departed from you, and rode over yonder\nfield? Sir, said he, it was a knight of Cornwall, and the most horrible\ncoward that ever bestrode horse. What is his name? said all these\nknights. I wot not, said Sir Dinadan. So when they had reposed them,\nand spoken together, they took their horses and rode to a castle where\ndwelt an old knight that made all knights-errant good cheer. Then in\nthe meanwhile that they were talking came into the castle Sir Griflet\nle Fise de Dieu, and there was he welcome; and they all asked him\nwhether he had seen Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram. Sirs, he answered, I\nsaw him not sithen he departed from Camelot. So as Sir Dinadan walked\nand beheld the castle, thereby in a chamber he espied King Mark, and\nthen he rebuked him, and asked him why he departed so. Sir, said he,\nfor I durst not abide because they were so many. But how escaped ye?\nsaid King Mark. Sir, said Sir Dinadan, they were better friends than I\nweened they had been. Who is captain of that fellowship? said the king.\nThen for to fear him Sir Dinadan said that it was Sir Launcelot. O\nJesu, said the king, might I know Sir Launcelot by his shield? Yea,\nsaid Dinadan, for he beareth a shield of silver and black bends. All\nthis he said to fear the king, for Sir Launcelot was not in his\nfellowship. Now I pray you, said King Mark, that ye will ride in my\nfellowship. That is me loath to do, said Sir Dinadan, because ye\nforsook my fellowship.\n\nRight so Sir Dinadan went from King Mark, and went to his own\nfellowship; and so they mounted upon their horses, and rode on their\nways, and talked of the Cornish knight, for Dinadan told them that he\nwas in the castle where they were lodged. It is well said, said Sir\nGriflet, for here have I brought Sir Dagonet, King Arthur\u2019s fool, that\nis the best fellow and the merriest in the world. Will ye do well? said\nSir Dinadan: I have told the Cornish knight that here is Sir Launcelot,\nand the Cornish knight asked me what shield he bare. Truly, I told him\nthat he bare the same shield that Sir Mordred beareth. Will ye do well?\nsaid Sir Mordred; I am hurt and may not well bear my shield nor\nharness, and therefore put my shield and my harness upon Sir Dagonet,\nand let him set upon the Cornish knight. That shall be done, said Sir\nDagonet, by my faith. Then anon was Dagonet armed him in Mordred\u2019s\nharness and his shield, and he was set on a great horse, and a spear in\nhis hand. Now, said Dagonet, shew me the knight, and I trow I shall\nbear him down. So all these knights rode to a woodside, and abode till\nKing Mark came by the way. Then they put forth Sir Dagonet, and he came\non all the while his horse might run, straight upon King Mark. And when\nhe came nigh King Mark, he cried as he were wood, and said: Keep thee,\nknight of Cornwall, for I will slay thee. Anon, as King Mark beheld his\nshield, he said to himself: Yonder is Sir Launcelot; alas, now am I\ndestroyed; and therewithal he made his horse to run as fast as it might\nthrough thick and thin. And ever Sir Dagonet followed after King Mark,\ncrying and rating him as a wood man, through a great forest. When Sir\nUwaine and Sir Brandiles saw Dagonet so chase King Mark, they laughed\nall as they were wood. And then they took their horses, and rode after\nto see how Sir Dagonet sped, for they would not for no good that Sir\nDagonet were shent, for King Arthur loved him passing well, and made\nhim knight with his own hands. And at every tournament he began to make\nKing Arthur to laugh. Then the knights rode here and there, crying and\nchasing after King Mark, that all the forest rang of the noise.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. How Sir Palomides by adventure met King Mark flying, and\nhow he overthrew Dagonet and other knights.\n\n\nSo King Mark rode by fortune by a well, in the way where stood a\nknight-errant on horseback, armed at all points, with a great spear in\nhis hand. And when he saw King Mark coming flying he said: Knight,\nreturn again for shame and stand with me, and I shall be thy warrant.\nAh, fair knight, said King Mark, let me pass, for yonder cometh after\nme the best knight of the world, with the black bended shield. Fie, for\nshame, said the knight, he is none of the worthy knights, and if he\nwere Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram I should not doubt to meet the\nbetter of them both. When King Mark heard him say that word, he turned\nhis horse and abode by him. And then that strong knight bare a spear to\nDagonet, and smote him so sore that he bare him over his horse\u2019s tail,\nand nigh he had broken his neck. And anon after him came Sir Brandiles,\nand when he saw Dagonet have that fall he was passing wroth, and cried:\nKeep thee, knight, and so they hurtled together wonder sore. But the\nknight smote Sir Brandiles so sore that he went to the earth, horse and\nman. Sir Uwaine came after and saw all this. Jesu, said he, yonder is a\nstrong knight. And then they feutred their spears, and this knight came\nso eagerly that he smote down Sir Uwaine. Then came Ozana with the\nhardy heart, and he was smitten down. Now, said Sir Griflet, by my\ncounsel let us send to yonder errant-knight, and wit whether he be of\nArthur\u2019s court, for as I deem it is Sir Lamorak de Galis. So they sent\nunto him, and prayed the strange knight to tell his name, and whether\nhe were of Arthur\u2019s court or not. As for my name they shall not wit,\nbut tell them I am a knight-errant as they are, and let them wit that I\nam no knight of King Arthur\u2019s court; and so the squire rode again unto\nthem and told them his answer of him. By my head, said Sir Agravaine,\nhe is one of the strongest knights that ever I saw, for he hath\noverthrown three noble knights, and needs we must encounter with him\nfor shame. So Sir Agravaine feutred his spear, and that other was\nready, and smote him down over his horse to the earth. And in the same\nwise he smote Sir Uwaine les Avoutres and also Sir Griflet. Then had he\nserved them all but Sir Dinadan, for he was behind, and Sir Mordred was\nunarmed, and Dagonet had his harness.\n\nSo when this was done, this strong knight rode on his way a soft pace,\nand King Mark rode after him, praising him mickle; but he would answer\nno words, but sighed wonderly sore, hanging down his head, taking no\nheed to his words. Thus they rode well a three mile English, and then\nthis knight called to him a varlet, and bade him ride until yonder fair\nmanor, and recommend me to the lady of that castle and place, and pray\nher to send me refreshing of good meats and drinks. And if she ask thee\nwhat I am, tell her that I am the knight that followeth the glatisant\nbeast: that is in English to say the questing beast; for that beast\nwheresomever he yede he quested in the belly with such a noise as it\nhad been a thirty couple of hounds. Then the varlet went his way and\ncame to the manor, and saluted the lady, and told her from whence he\ncame. And when she understood that he came from the knight that\nfollowed the questing beast: O sweet Lord Jesu, she said, when shall I\nsee that noble knight, my dear son Palomides? Alas, will he not abide\nwith me? and therewith she swooned and wept, and made passing great\ndole. And then also soon as she might she gave the varlet all that he\nasked. And the varlet returned unto Sir Palomides, for he was a varlet\nof King Mark. And as soon as he came, he told the knight\u2019s name was Sir\nPalomides. I am well pleased, said King Mark, but hold thee still and\nsay nothing. Then they alighted and set them down and reposed them a\nwhile. Anon withal King Mark fell asleep. When Sir Palomides saw him\nsound asleep he took his horse and rode his way, and said to them: I\nwill not be in the company of a sleeping knight. And so he rode forth a\ngreat pace.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV. How King Mark and Sir Dinadan heard Sir Palomides making\ngreat sorrow and mourning for La Beale Isoud.\n\n\nNow turn we unto Sir Dinadan, that found these seven knights passing\nheavy. And when he wist how that they sped, as heavy was he. My lord\nUwaine, said Dinadan, I dare lay my head it is Sir Lamorak de Galis. I\npromise you all I shall find him an he may be found in this country.\nAnd so Sir Dinadan rode after this knight; and so did King Mark, that\nsought him through the forest. So as King Mark rode after Sir Palomides\nhe heard the noise of a man that made great dole. Then King Mark rode\nas nigh that noise as he might and as he durst. Then was he ware of a\nknight that was descended off his horse, and had put off his helm, and\nthere he made a piteous complaint and a dolorous, of love.\n\nNow leave we that, and talk we of Sir Dinadan, that rode to seek Sir\nPalomides. And as he came within a forest he met with a knight, a\nchaser of a deer. Sir, said Sir Dinadan, met ye with a knight with a\nshield of silver and lions\u2019 heads? Yea, fair knight, said the other,\nwith such a knight met I with but a while agone, and straight yonder\nway he yede. Gramercy, said Sir Dinadan, for might I find the track of\nhis horse I should not fail to find that knight. Right so as Sir\nDinadan rode in the even late he heard a doleful noise as it were of a\nman. Then Sir Dinadan rode toward that noise; and when he came nigh\nthat noise he alighted off his horse, and went near him on foot. Then\nwas he ware of a knight that stood under a tree, and his horse tied by\nhim, and the helm off his head; and ever that knight made a doleful\ncomplaint as ever made knight. And always he made his complaint of La\nBeale Isoud, the Queen of Cornwall, and said: Ah, fair lady, why love I\nthee! for thou art fairest of all other, and yet showest thou never\nlove to me, nor bounty. Alas, yet must I love thee. And I may not blame\nthee, fair lady, for mine eyes be cause of this sorrow. And yet to love\nthee I am but a fool, for the best knight of the world loveth thee, and\nye him again, that is Sir Tristram de Liones. And the falsest king and\nknight is your husband, and the most coward and full of treason, is\nyour lord, King Mark. Alas, that ever so fair a lady and peerless of\nall other should be matched with the most villainous knight of the\nworld. All this language heard King Mark, what Sir Palomides said by\nhim; wherefore he was adread when he saw Sir Dinadan, lest he espied\nhim, that he would tell Sir Palomides that he was King Mark; and\ntherefore he withdrew him, and took his horse and rode to his men,\nwhere he commanded them to abide. And so he rode as fast as he might\nunto Camelot; and the same day he found there Amant, the knight, ready\nthat afore Arthur had appealed him of treason; and so, lightly the king\ncommanded them to do battle. And by misadventure King Mark smote Amant\nthrough the body. And yet was Amant in the righteous quarrel. And right\nso he took his horse and departed from the court for dread of Sir\nDinadan, that he would tell Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides what he was.\nThen were there maidens that La Beale Isoud had sent to Sir Tristram,\nthat knew Sir Amant well.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV. How King Mark had slain Sir Amant wrongfully to-fore King\nArthur, and Sir Launcelot fetched King Mark to King Arthur.\n\n\nThen by the license of King Arthur they went to him and spake with him;\nfor while the truncheon of the spear stuck in his body he spake: Ah,\nfair damosels, said Amant, recommend me unto La Beale Isoud, and tell\nher that I am slain for the love of her and of Sir Tristram. And there\nhe told the damosels how cowardly King Mark had slain him, and Sir\nBersules, his fellow. And for that deed I appealed him of treason, and\nhere am I slain in a righteous quarrel; and all was because Sir\nBersules and I would not consent by treason to slay the noble knight,\nSir Tristram. Then the two maidens cried aloud that all the court might\nhear it, and said: O sweet Lord Jesu, that knowest all hid things, why\nsufferest Thou so false a traitor to vanquish and slay a true knight\nthat fought in a righteous quarrel? Then anon it was sprung to the\nking, and the queen, and to all the lords, that it was King Mark that\nhad slain Sir Amant, and Sir Bersules afore hand; wherefore they did\ntheir battle. Then was King Arthur wroth out of measure, and so were\nall the other knights. But when Sir Tristram knew all the matter he\nmade great dole and sorrow out of measure, and wept for sorrow for the\nloss of the noble knights, Sir Bersules and of Sir Amant.\n\nWhen Sir Launcelot espied Sir Tristram weep he went hastily to King\nArthur, and said: Sir, I pray you give me leave to return again to\nyonder false king and knight. I pray you, said King Arthur, fetch him\nagain, but I would not that ye slew him, for my worship. Then Sir\nLauncelot armed him in all haste, and mounted upon a great horse, and\ntook a spear in his hand and rode after King Mark. And from thence a\nthree mile English Sir Launcelot over took him, and bade him: Turn\nrecreant king and knight, for whether thou wilt or not thou shalt go\nwith me to King Arthur\u2019s court. King Mark returned and looked upon Sir\nLauncelot, and said: Fair sir, what is your name? Wit thou well, said\nhe, my name is Sir Launcelot, and therefore defend thee. And when King\nMark wist that it was Sir Launcelot, and came so fast upon him with a\nspear, he cried then aloud: I yield me to thee, Sir Launcelot,\nhonourable knight. But Sir Launcelot would not hear him, but came fast\nupon him. King Mark saw that, and made no defence, but tumbled adown\nout of his saddle to the earth as a sack, and there he lay still, and\ncried Sir Launcelot mercy. Arise, recreant knight and king. I will not\nfight, said King Mark, but whither that ye will I will go with you.\nAlas, alas, said Sir Launcelot, that I may not give thee one buffet for\nthe love of Sir Tristram and of La Beale Isoud, and for the two knights\nthat thou hast slain traitorly. And so he mounted upon his horse and\nbrought him to King Arthur; and there King Mark alighted in that same\nplace, and threw his helm from him upon the earth, and his sword, and\nfell flat to the earth of King Arthur\u2019s feet, and put him in his grace\nand mercy. So God me help, said Arthur, ye are welcome in a manner, and\nin a manner ye are not welcome. In this manner ye are welcome, that ye\ncome hither maugre thy head, as I suppose. That is truth, said King\nMark, and else I had not been here, for my lord, Sir Launcelot, brought\nme hither through his fine force, and to him am I yolden to as\nrecreant. Well, said Arthur, ye understand ye ought to do me service,\nhomage, and fealty. And never would ye do me none, but ever ye have\nbeen against me, and a destroyer of my knights; now, how will ye acquit\nyou? Sir, said King Mark, right as your lordship will require me, unto\nmy power, I will make a large amends. For he was a fair speaker, and\nfalse thereunder. Then for great pleasure of Sir Tristram, to make them\ntwain accorded, the king withheld King Mark as at that time, and made a\nbroken love-day between them.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI. How Sir Dinadan told Sir Palomides of the battle between\nSir Launcelot and Sir Tristam.\n\n\nNow turn we again unto Sir Palomides, how Sir Dinadan comforted him in\nall that he might, from his great sorrow. What knight are ye? said Sir\nPalomides. Sir, I am a knight-errant as ye be, that hath sought you\nlong by your shield. Here is my shield, said Sir Palomides, wit ye\nwell, an ye will ought, therewith I will defend it. Nay, said Sir\nDinadan, I will not have ado with you but in good manner. And if ye\nwill, ye shall find me soon ready. Sir, said Sir Dinadan, whitherward\nride you this way? By my head, said Sir Palomides, I wot not, but as\nfortune leadeth me. Heard ye or saw ye ought of Sir Tristram? So God me\nhelp, of Sir Tristram I both heard and saw, and not for then we loved\nnot inwardly well together, yet at my mischief Sir Tristram rescued me\nfrom my death; and yet, or he and I departed, by both our assents we\nassigned a day that we should have met at the stony grave that Merlin\nset beside Camelot, and there to have done battle together; howbeit I\nwas letted, said Sir Palomides, that I might not hold my day, the which\ngrieveth me sore; but I have a large excuse. For I was prisoner with a\nlord, and many other more, and that shall Sir Tristram right well\nunderstand, that I brake it not of fear of cowardice. And then Sir\nPalomides told Sir Dinadan the same day that they should have met. So\nGod me help, said Sir Dinadan, that same day met Sir Launcelot and Sir\nTristram at the same grave of stone. And there was the most mightiest\nbattle that ever was seen in this land betwixt two knights, for they\nfought more than two hours. And there they both bled so much blood that\nall men marvelled that ever they might endure it. And so at the last,\nby both their assents, they were made friends and sworn-brethren for\never, and no man can judge the better knight. And now is Sir Tristram\nmade a knight of the Round Table, and he sitteth in the siege of the\nnoble knight, Sir Marhaus. By my head, said Sir Palomides, Sir Tristram\nis far bigger than Sir Launcelot, and the hardier knight. Have ye\nassayed them both? said Sir Dinadan. I have seen Sir Tristram fight,\nsaid Sir Palomides, but never Sir Launcelot to my witting. But at the\nfountain where Sir Launcelot lay asleep, there with one spear he smote\ndown Sir Tristram and me, said Palomides, but at that time they knew\nnot either other. Fair knight, said Sir Dinadan, as for Sir Launcelot\nand Sir Tristram let them be, for the worst of them will not be lightly\nmatched of no knights that I know living. No, said Sir Palomides, God\ndefend, but an I had a quarrel to the better of them both I would with\nas good a will fight with him as with you. Sir, I require you tell me\nyour name, and in good faith I shall hold you company till that we come\nto Camelot; and there shall ye have great worship now at this great\ntournament; for there shall be the Queen Guenever, and La Beale Isoud\nof Cornwall. Wit you well, sir knight, for the love of La Beale Isoud I\nwill be there, and else not, but I will not have ado in King Arthur\u2019s\ncourt. Sir, said Dinadan, I shall ride with you and do you service, so\nyou will tell me your name. Sir, ye shall understand my name is Sir\nPalomides, brother to Safere, the good and noble knight. And Sir\nSegwarides and I, we be Saracens born, of father and mother. Sir, said\nSir Dinadan, I thank you much for the telling of your name. For I am\nglad of that I know your name, and I promise you by the faith of my\nbody, ye shall not be hurt by me by my will, but rather be advanced.\nAnd thereto will I help you with all my power, I promise you, doubt ye\nnot. And certainly on my life ye shall win great worship in the court\nof King Arthur, and be right welcome. So then they dressed on their\nhelms and put on their shields, and mounted upon their horses, and took\nthe broad way towards Camelot. And then were they ware of a castle that\nwas fair and rich, and also passing strong as any was within this\nrealm.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII. How Sir Lamorak jousted with divers knights of the castle\nwherein was Morgan le Fay.\n\n\nSir Palomides, said Dinadan, here is a castle that I know well, and\ntherein dwelleth Queen Morgan le Fay, King Arthur\u2019s sister; and King\nArthur gave her this castle, the which he hath repented him sithen a\nthousand times, for sithen King Arthur and she have been at debate and\nstrife; but this castle could he never get nor win of her by no manner\nof engine; and ever as she might she made war on King Arthur. And all\ndangerous knights she withholdeth with her, for to destroy all these\nknights that King Arthur loveth. And there shall no knight pass this\nway but he must joust with one knight, or with two, or with three. And\nif it hap that King Arthur\u2019s knight be beaten, he shall lose his horse\nand his harness and all that he hath, and hard, if that he escape, but\nthat he shall be prisoner. So God me help, said Palomides, this is a\nshameful custom, and a villainous usance for a queen to use, and namely\nto make such war upon her own lord, that is called the Flower of\nChivalry that is christian or heathen; and with all my heart I would\ndestroy that shameful custom. And I will that all the world wit she\nshall have no service of me. And if she send out any knights, as I\nsuppose she will, for to joust, they shall have both their hands full.\nAnd I shall not fail you, said Sir Dinadan, unto my puissance, upon my\nlife.\n\nSo as they stood on horseback afore the castle, there came a knight\nwith a red shield, and two squires after him; and he came straight unto\nSir Palomides, the good knight, and said to him: Fair and gentle\nknight-errant, I require thee for the love thou owest unto knighthood,\nthat ye will not have ado here with these men of this castle; for this\nwas Sir Lamorak that thus said. For I came hither to seek this deed,\nand it is my request; and therefore I beseech you, knight, let me deal,\nand if I be beaten revenge me. In the name of God, said Palomides, let\nsee how ye will speed, and we shall behold you. Then anon came forth a\nknight of the castle, and proffered to joust with the Knight with the\nRed Shield. Anon they encountered together, and he with the red shield\nsmote him so hard that he bare him over to the earth. Therewith anon\ncame another knight of the castle, and he was smitten so sore that he\navoided his saddle. And forthwithal came the third knight, and the\nKnight with the Red Shield smote him to the earth. Then came Sir\nPalomides, and besought him that he might help him to joust. Fair\nknight, said he unto him, suffer me as at this time to have my will,\nfor an they were twenty knights I shall not doubt them. And ever there\nwere upon the walls of the castle many lords and ladies that cried and\nsaid: Well have ye jousted, Knight with the Red Shield. But as soon as\nthe knight had smitten them down, his squire took their horses, and\navoided their saddles and bridles of the horses, and turned them into\nthe forest, and made the knights to be kept to the end of the jousts.\nRight so came out of the castle the fourth knight, and freshly\nproffered to joust with the Knight with the Red Shield: and he was\nready, and he smote him so hard that horse and man fell to the earth,\nand the knight\u2019s back brake with the fall, and his neck also. O Jesu,\nsaid Sir Palomides, that yonder is a passing good knight, and the best\njouster that ever I saw. By my head, said Sir Dinadan, he is as good as\never was Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram, what knight somever he be.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Palomides would have jousted for Sir Lamorak\nwith the knights of the castle.\n\n\nThen forthwithal came a knight out of the castle, with a shield bended\nwith black and with white. And anon the Knight with the Red Shield and\nhe encountered so hard that he smote the knight of the castle through\nthe bended shield and through the body, and brake the horse\u2019s back.\nFair knight, said Sir Palomides, ye have overmuch on hand, therefore I\npray you let me joust, for ye had need to be reposed. Why sir, said the\nknight, seem ye that I am weak and feeble? and sir, methinketh ye\nproffer me wrong, and to me shame, when I do well enough. I tell you\nnow as I told you erst; for an they were twenty knights I shall beat\nthem, and if I be beaten or slain then may ye revenge me. And if ye\nthink that I be weary, and ye have an appetite to joust with me, I\nshall find you jousting enough. Sir, said Palomides, I said it not\nbecause I would joust with you, but meseemeth that ye have overmuch on\nhand. And therefore, an ye were gentle, said the Knight with the Red\nShield, ye should not proffer me shame; therefore I require you to\njoust with me, and ye shall find that I am not weary. Sith ye require\nme, said Sir Palomides, take keep to yourself. Then they two knights\ncame together as fast as their horses might run, and the knight smote\nSir Palomides sore on the shield that the spear went into his side a\ngreat wound, and a perilous. And therewithal Sir Palomides avoided his\nsaddle. And that knight turned unto Sir Dinadan; and when he saw him\ncoming he cried aloud, and said: Sir, I will not have ado with you; but\nfor that he let it not, but came straight upon him. So Sir Dinadan for\nshame put forth his spear and all to-shivered it upon the knight. But\nhe smote Sir Dinadan again so hard that he smote him clean from his\nsaddle; but their horses he would not suffer his squires to meddle\nwith, and because they were knights-errant.\n\nThen he dressed him again to the castle, and jousted with seven knights\nmore, and there was none of them might withstand him, but he bare him\nto the earth. And of these twelve knights he slew in plain jousts four.\nAnd the eight knights he made them to swear on the cross of a sword\nthat they should never use the evil customs of the castle. And when he\nhad made them to swear that oath he let them pass. And ever stood the\nlords and the ladies on the castle walls crying and saying: Knight with\nthe Red Shield, ye have marvellously well done as ever we saw knight\ndo. And therewith came a knight out of the castle unarmed, and said:\nKnight with the Red Shield, overmuch damage hast thou done to us this\nday, therefore return whither thou wilt, for here are no more will have\nado with thee; for we repent sore that ever thou camest here, for by\nthee is fordone the old custom of this castle. And with that word he\nturned again into the castle, and shut the gates. Then the Knight with\nthe Red Shield turned and called his squires, and so passed forth on\nhis way, and rode a great pace.\n\nAnd when he was past Sir Palomides went to Sir Dinadan, and said: I had\nnever such a shame of one knight that ever I met; and therefore I cast\nme to ride after him, and to be revenged with my sword, for a-horseback\nI deem I shall get no worship of him. Sir Palomides, said Dinadan, ye\nshall not meddle with him by my counsel, for ye shall get no worship of\nhim; and for this cause, ye have seen him this day have had overmuch to\ndo, and overmuch travailed. By almighty Jesu, said Palomides, I shall\nnever be at ease till that I have had ado with him. Sir, said Dinadan,\nI shall give you my beholding. Well, said Palomides, then shall ye see\nhow we shall redress our mights. So they took their horses of their\nvarlets, and rode after the Knight with the Red Shield; and down in a\nvalley beside a fountain they were ware where he was alighted to repose\nhim, and had done off his helm for to drink at the well.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX. How Sir Lamorak jousted with Sir Palomides, and hurt him\ngrievously.\n\n\nThen Palomides rode fast till he came nigh him. And then he said:\nKnight, remember ye of the shame ye did to me right now at the castle,\ntherefore dress thee, for I will have ado with thee. Fair knight, said\nhe to Palomides, of me ye win no worship, for ye have seen this day\nthat I have been travailed sore. As for that, said Palomides, I will\nnot let, for wit ye well I will be revenged. Well, said the knight, I\nmay happen to endure you. And therewithal he mounted upon his horse,\nand took a great spear in his hand ready for to joust. Nay, said\nPalomides, I will not joust, for I am sure at jousting I get no prize.\nFair knight, said that knight, it would beseem a knight to joust and to\nfight on horseback. Ye shall see what I will do, said Palomides. And\ntherewith he alighted down upon foot, and dressed his shield afore him\nand pulled out his sword. Then the Knight with the Red Shield descended\ndown from his horse, and dressed his shield afore him, and so he drew\nout his sword. And then they came together a soft pace, and wonderly\nthey lashed together passing thick the mountenance of an hour or ever\nthey breathed. Then they traced and traversed, and waxed wonderly\nwroth, and either behight other death; they hewed so fast with their\nswords that they cut in down half their swords and mails, that the bare\nflesh in some place stood above their harness. And when Sir Palomides\nbeheld his fellow\u2019s sword over-hylled with his blood it grieved him\nsore: some while they foined, some while they struck as wild men. But\nat the last Sir Palomides waxed faint, because of his first wound that\nhe had at the castle with a spear, for that wound grieved him wonderly\nsore. Fair knight, said Palomides, meseemeth we have assayed either\nother passing sore, and if it may please thee, I require thee of thy\nknighthood tell me thy name. Sir, said the knight to Palomides, that is\nme loath to do, for thou hast done me wrong and no knighthood to\nproffer me battle, considering my great travail, but an thou wilt tell\nme thy name I will tell thee mine. Sir, said he, wit thou well my name\nis Palomides. Ah, sir, ye shall understand my name is Sir Lamorak de\nGalis, son and heir unto the good knight and king, King Pellinore, and\nSir Tor, the good knight, is my half brother. When Sir Palomides heard\nhim say so he kneeled down and asked mercy, For outrageously have I\ndone to you this day; considering the great deeds of arms I have seen\nyou do, shamefully and unknightly I have required you to do battle. Ah,\nSir Palomides, said Sir Lamorak, overmuch have ye done and said to me.\nAnd therewith he embraced him with his both hands, and said: Palomides,\nthe worthy knight, in all this land is no better than ye, nor more of\nprowess, and me repenteth sore that we should fight together. So it\ndoth not me, said Sir Palomides, and yet am I sorer wounded than ye be;\nbut as for that I shall soon thereof be whole. But certainly I would\nnot for the fairest castle in this land, but if thou and I had met, for\nI shall love you the days of my life afore all other knights except my\nbrother, Sir Safere. I say the same, said Sir Lamorak, except my\nbrother, Sir Tor. Then came Sir Dinadan, and he made great joy of Sir\nLamorak. Then their squires dressed both their shields and their\nharness, and stopped their wounds. And thereby at a priory they rested\nthem all night.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX. How it was told Sir Launcelot that Dagonet chased King\nMark, and how a knight overthrew him and six knights.\n\n\nNow turn we again. When Sir Ganis and Sir Brandiles with his fellows\ncame to the court of King Arthur they told the king, Sir Launcelot, and\nSir Tristram, how Sir Dagonet, the fool, chased King Mark through the\nforest, and how the strong knight smote them down all seven with one\nspear. There was great laughing and japing at King Mark and at Sir\nDagonet. But all these knights could not tell what knight it was that\nrescued King Mark. Then they asked King Mark if that he knew him, and\nhe answered and said: He named himself the Knight that followed the\nQuesting Beast, and on that name he sent one of my varlets to a place\nwhere was his mother; and when she heard from whence he came she made\npassing great dole, and discovered to my varlet his name, and said: Oh,\nmy dear son, Sir Palomides, why wilt thou not see me? And therefore,\nsir, said King Mark, it is to understand his name is Sir Palomides, a\nnoble knight. Then were all these seven knights glad that they knew his\nname.\n\nNow turn we again, for on the morn they took their horses, both Sir\nLamorak, Palomides, and Dinadan, with their squires and varlets, till\nthey saw a fair castle that stood on a mountain well closed, and\nthither they rode, and there they found a knight that hight Galahalt,\nthat was lord of that castle, and there they had great cheer and were\nwell eased. Sir Dinadan, said Sir Lamorak, what will ye do? Oh sir,\nsaid Dinadan, I will to-morrow to the court of King Arthur. By my head,\nsaid Sir Palomides, I will not ride these three days, for I am sore\nhurt, and much have I bled, and therefore I will repose me here. Truly,\nsaid Sir Lamorak, and I will abide here with you; and when ye ride,\nthen will I ride, unless that ye tarry over long; then will I take my\nhorse. Therefore I pray you, Sir Dinadan, abide and ride with us.\nFaithfully, said Dinadan, I will not abide, for I have such a talent to\nsee Sir Tristram that I may not abide long from him. Ah, Dinadan, said\nSir Palomides, now do I understand that ye love my mortal enemy, and\ntherefore how should I trust you. Well, said Dinadan, I love my lord\nSir Tristram, above all other, and him will I serve and do honour. So\nshall I, said Sir Lamorak, in all that may lie in my power.\n\nSo on the morn Sir Dinadan rode unto the court of King Arthur; and by\nthe way as he rode he saw where stood an errant knight, and made him\nready for to joust. Not so, said Dinadan, for I have no will to joust.\nWith me shall ye joust, said the knight, or that ye pass this way.\nWhether ask ye jousts, by love or by hate? The knight answered: Wit ye\nwell I ask it for love, and not for hate. It may well be so, said Sir\nDinadan, but ye proffer me hard love when ye will joust with me with a\nsharp spear. But, fair knight, said Sir Dinadan, sith ye will joust\nwith me, meet with me in the court of King Arthur, and there shall I\njoust with you. Well, said the knight, sith ye will not joust with me,\nI pray you tell me your name. Sir knight, said he, my name is Sir\nDinadan. Ah, said the knight, full well know I you for a good knight\nand a gentle, and wit you well I love you heartily. Then shall there be\nno jousts, said Dinadan, betwixt us. So they departed. And the same day\nhe came to Camelot, where lay King Arthur. And there he saluted the\nking and the queen, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Tristram; and all the court\nwas glad of Sir Dinadan, for he was gentle, wise, and courteous, and a\ngood knight. And in especial, the valiant knight Sir Tristram loved Sir\nDinadan passing well above all other knights save Sir Launcelot.\n\nThen the king asked Sir Dinadan what adventures he had seen. Sir, said\nDinadan, I have seen many adventures, and of some King Mark knoweth,\nbut not all. Then the king hearkened Sir Dinadan, how he told that Sir\nPalomides and he were afore the castle of Morgan le Fay, and how Sir\nLamorak took the jousts afore them, and how he forjousted twelve\nknights, and of them four he slew, and how after he smote down Sir\nPalomides and me both. t I may not believe that, said the king, for Sir\nPalomides is a passing good knight. That is very truth, said Sir\nDinadan, but yet I saw him better proved, hand for hand. And then he\ntold the king all that battle, and how Sir Palomides was more weaker,\nand more hurt, and more lost of his blood. And without doubt, said Sir\nDinadan, had the battle longer lasted, Palomides had been slain. O\nJesu, said King Arthur, this is to me a great marvel. Sir, said\nTristram, marvel ye nothing thereof, for at mine advice there is not a\nvalianter knight in the world living, for I know his might. And now I\nwill say you, I was never so weary of knight but if it were Sir\nLauncelot. And there is no knight in the world except Sir Launcelot\nthat did so well as Sir Lamorak. So God me help, said the king, I would\nthat knight, Sir Lamorak, came to this Court. Sir, said Dinadan, he\nwill be here in short space, and Sir Palomides both, but I fear that\nPalomides may not yet travel.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI. How King Arthur let do cry a jousts, and how Sir Lamorak\ncame in, and overthrew Sir Gawaine and many other.\n\n\nThen within three days after the king let make a jousting at a priory.\nAnd there made them ready many knights of the Round Table, for Sir\nGawaine and his brethren made them ready to joust; but Tristram,\nLauncelot, nor Dinadan, would not joust, but suffered Sir Gawaine, for\nthe love of King Arthur, with his brethren, to win the gree if they\nmight. Then on the morn they apparelled them to joust, Sir Gawaine and\nhis four brethren, and did there great deeds of arms. And Sir Ector de\nMaris did marvellously well, but Sir Gawaine passed all that\nfellowship; wherefore King Arthur and all the knights gave Sir Gawaine\nthe honour at the beginning.\n\nRight so King Arthur was ware of a knight and two squires, the which\ncame out of a forest side, with a shield covered with leather, and then\nhe came slyly and hurtled here and there, and anon with one spear he\nhad smitten down two knights of the Round Table. Then with his hurtling\nhe lost the covering of his shield, then was the king and all other\nware that he bare a red shield. O Jesu, said King Arthur, see where\nrideth a stout knight, he with the red shield. And there was noise and\ncrying: Beware the Knight with the Red Shield. So within a little while\nhe had overthrown three brethren of Sir Gawaine\u2019s. So God me help, said\nKing Arthur, meseemeth yonder is the best jouster that ever I saw. With\nthat he saw him encounter with Sir Gawaine, and he smote him down with\nso great force that he made his horse to avoid his saddle. How now,\nsaid the king, Sir Gawaine hath a fall; well were me an I knew what\nknight he were with the red shield. I know him well, said Dinadan, but\nas at this time ye shall not know his name. By my head, said Sir\nTristram, he jousted better than Sir Palomides, and if ye list to know\nhis name, wit ye well his name is Sir Lamorak de Galis.\n\nAs they stood thus talking, Sir Gawaine and he encountered together\nagain, and there he smote Sir Gawaine from his horse, and bruised him\nsore. And in the sight of King Arthur he smote down twenty knights,\nbeside Sir Gawaine and his brethren. And so clearly was the prize given\nhim as a knight peerless. Then slyly and marvellously Sir Lamorak\nwithdrew him from all the fellowship into the forest side. All this\nespied King Arthur, for his eye went never from him. Then the king, Sir\nLauncelot, Sir Tristram, and Sir Dinadan, took their hackneys, and rode\nstraight after the good knight, Sir Lamorak de Galis, and there found\nhim. And thus said the king: Ah, fair knight, well be ye found. When he\nsaw the king he put off his helm and saluted him, and when he saw Sir\nTristram he alighted down off his horse and ran to him to take him by\nthe thighs, but Sir Tristram would not suffer him, but he alighted or\nthat he came, and either took other in arms, and made great joy of\nother. The king was glad, and also was all the fellowship of the Round\nTable, except Sir Gawaine and his brethren. And when they wist that he\nwas Sir Lamorak, they had great despite at him, and were wonderly wroth\nwith him that he had put him to dishonour that day.\n\nThen Gawaine called privily in council all his brethren, and to them\nsaid thus: Fair brethren, here may ye see, whom that we hate King\nArthur loveth, and whom that we love he hateth. And wit ye well, my\nfair brethren, that this Sir Lamorak will never love us, because we\nslew his father, King Pellinore, for we deemed that he slew our father,\nKing of Orkney. And for the despite of Pellinore, Sir Lamorak did us a\nshame to our mother, therefore I will be revenged. Sir, said Sir\nGawaine\u2019s brethren, let see how ye will or may be revenged, and ye\nshall find us ready. Well, said Gawaine, hold you still and we shall\nespy our time.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII. How King Arthur made King Mark to be accorded with Sir\nTristram, and how they departed toward Cornwall.\n\n\nNow pass we our matter, and leave we Sir Gawaine, and speak of King\nArthur, that on a day said unto King Mark: Sir, I pray you give me a\ngift that I shall ask you. Sir, said King Mark, I will give you\nwhatsomever ye desire an it be in my power. Sir, gramercy, said Arthur.\nThis I will ask you, that ye will be good lord unto Sir Tristram, for\nhe is a man of great honour; and that ye will take him with you into\nCornwall, and let him see his friends, and there cherish him for my\nsake. Sir, said King Mark, I promise you by the faith of my body, and\nby the faith that I owe to God and to you, I shall worship him for your\nsake in all that I can or may. Sir, said Arthur, and I will forgive you\nall the evil will that ever I ought you, an so be that you swear that\nupon a book before me. With a good will, said King Mark; and so he\nthere sware upon a book afore him and all his knights, and therewith\nKing Mark and Sir Tristram took either other by the hands hard knit\ntogether. But for all this King Mark thought falsely, as it proved\nafter, for he put Sir Tristram in prison, and cowardly would have slain\nhim.\n\nThen soon after King Mark took his leave to ride into Cornwall, and Sir\nTristram made him ready to ride with him, whereof the most part of the\nRound Table were wroth and heavy, and in especial Sir Launcelot, and\nSir Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan, were wroth out of measure. For well they\nwist King Mark would slay or destroy Sir Tristram. Alas, said Dinadan,\nthat my lord, Sir Tristram, shall depart. And Sir Tristram took such\nsorrow that he was amazed like a fool. Alas, said Sir Launcelot unto\nKing Arthur, what have ye done, for ye shall lose the most man of\nworship that ever came into your court. It was his own desire, said\nArthur, and therefore I might not do withal, for I have done all that I\ncan and made them at accord. Accord, said Sir Launcelot, fie upon that\naccord, for ye shall hear that he shall slay Sir Tristram, or put him\nin a prison, for he is the most coward and the villainest king and\nknight that is now living.\n\nAnd therewith Sir Launcelot departed, and came to King Mark, and said\nto him thus: Sir king, wit thou well the good knight Sir Tristram shall\ngo with thee. Beware, I rede thee, of treason, for an thou mischief\nthat knight by any manner of falsehood or treason, by the faith I owe\nto God and to the order of knighthood, I shall slay thee with mine own\nhands. Sir Launcelot, said the king, overmuch have ye said to me, and I\nhave sworn and said over largely afore King Arthur in hearing of all\nhis knights, that I shall not slay nor betray him. It were to me\novermuch shame to break my promise. Ye say well, said Sir Launcelot,\nbut ye are called so false and full of treason that no man may believe\nyou. Forsooth it is known well wherefore ye came into this country, and\nfor none other cause but for to slay Sir Tristram. So with great dole\nKing Mark and Sir Tristram rode together, for it was by Sir Tristram\u2019s\nwill and his means to go with King Mark, and all was for the intent to\nsee La Beale Isoud, for without the sight of her Sir Tristram might not\nendure.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Percivale was made knight of King Arthur, and\nhow a dumb maid spake, and brought him to the Round Table.\n\n\nNow turn we again unto Sir Lamorak, and speak we of his brethren, Sir\nTor, which was King Pellinore\u2019s first son and begotten of Aryes, wife\nof the cowherd, for he was a bastard; and Sir Aglovale was his first\nson begotten in wedlock; Sir Lamorak, Dornar, Percivale, these were his\nsons too in wedlock. So when King Mark and Sir Tristram were departed\nfrom the court there was made great dole and sorrow for the departing\nof Sir Tristram. Then the king and his knights made no manner of joys\neight days after. And at the eight days\u2019 end there came to the court a\nknight with a young squire with him. And when this knight was unarmed,\nhe went to the king and required him to make the young squire a knight.\nOf what lineage is he come? said King Arthur. Sir, said the knight, he\nis the son of King Pellinore, that did you some time good service, and\nhe is a brother unto Sir Lamorak de Galis, the good knight. Well, said\nthe king, for what cause desire ye that of me that I should make him\nknight? Wit you well, my lord the king, that this young squire is\nbrother to me as well as to Sir Lamorak, and my name is Aglavale. Sir\nAglavale, said Arthur, for the love of Sir Lamorak, and for his\nfather\u2019s love, he shall be made knight to-morrow. Now tell me, said\nArthur, what is his name? Sir, said the knight, his name is Percivale\nde Galis. So on the morn the king made him knight in Camelot. But the\nking and all the knights thought it would be long or that he proved a\ngood knight.\n\nThen at the dinner, when the king was set at the table, and every\nknight after he was of prowess, the king commanded him to be set among\nmean knights; and so was Sir Percivale set as the king commanded. Then\nwas there a maiden in the queen\u2019s court that was come of high blood,\nand she was dumb and never spake word. Right so she came straight into\nthe hall, and went unto Sir Percivale, and took him by the hand and\nsaid aloud, that the king and all the knights might hear it: Arise, Sir\nPercivale, the noble knight and God\u2019s knight, and go with me; and so he\ndid. And there she brought him to the right side of the Siege Perilous,\nand said, Fair knight, take here thy siege, for that siege appertaineth\nto thee and to none other. Right so she departed and asked a priest.\nAnd as she was confessed and houselled then she died. Then the king and\nall the court made great joy of Sir Percivale.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Lamorak visited King Lot\u2019s wife, and how Sir\nGaheris slew her which was his own mother.\n\n\nNow turn we unto Sir Lamorak, that much was there praised. Then, by the\nmean of Sir Gawaine and his brethren, they sent for their mother there\nbesides, fast by a castle beside Camelot; and all was to that intent to\nslay Sir Lamorak. The Queen of Orkney was there but a while, but Sir\nLamorak wist of their being, and was full fain; and for to make an end\nof this matter, he sent unto her, and there betwixt them was a night\nassigned that Sir Lamorak should come to her. Thereof was ware Sir\nGaheris, and there he rode afore the same night, and waited upon Sir\nLamorak, and then he saw where he came all armed. And where Sir Lamorak\nalighted he tied his horse to a privy postern, and so he went into a\nparlour and unarmed him; and then he went unto the queen\u2019s bed, and she\nmade of him passing great joy, and he of her again, for either loved\nother passing sore. So when the knight, Sir Gaheris, saw his time, he\ncame to their bedside all armed, with his sword naked, and suddenly gat\nhis mother by the hair and struck off her head.\n\nWhen Sir Lamorak saw the blood dash upon him all hot, the which he\nloved passing well, wit you well he was sore abashed and dismayed of\nthat dolorous knight. And therewithal, Sir Lamorak leapt out of the bed\nin his shirt as a knight dismayed, saying thus: Ah, Sir Gaheris, knight\nof the Table Round, foul and evil have ye done, and to you great shame.\nAlas, why have ye slain your mother that bare you? with more right ye\nshould have slain me. The offence hast thou done, said Gaheris,\nnotwithstanding a man is born to offer his service; but yet shouldst\nthou beware with whom thou meddlest, for thou hast put me and my\nbrethren to a shame, and thy father slew our father; and thou to lie by\nour mother is too much shame for us to suffer. And as for thy father,\nKing Pellinore, my brother Sir Gawaine and I slew him. Ye did him the\nmore wrong, said Sir Lamorak, for my father slew not your father, it\nwas Balin le Savage: and as yet my father\u2019s death is not revenged.\nLeave those words, said Sir Gaheris, for an thou speak feloniously I\nwill slay thee. But because thou art naked I am ashamed to slay thee.\nBut wit thou well, in what place I may get thee I shall slay thee; and\nnow my mother is quit of thee; and withdraw thee and take thine armour,\nthat thou were gone. Sir Lamorak saw there was none other bote, but\nfast armed him, and took his horse and rode his way making great\nsorrow. But for the shame and dolour he would not ride to King Arthur\u2019s\ncourt, but rode another way.\n\nBut when it was known that Gaheris had slain his mother the king was\npassing wroth, and commanded him to go out of his court. Wit ye well\nSir Gawaine was wroth that Gaheris had slain his mother and let Sir\nLamorak escape. And for this matter was the king passing wroth, and so\nwas Sir Launcelot, and many other knights. Sir, said Sir Launcelot,\nhere is a great mischief befallen by felony, and by forecast treason,\nthat your sister is thus shamefully slain. And I dare say that it was\nwrought by treason, and I dare say ye shall lose that good knight, Sir\nLamorak, the which is great pity. I wot well and am sure, an Sir\nTristram wist it, he would never more come within your court, the which\nshould grieve you much more and all your knights. God defend, said the\nnoble King Arthur, that I should lose Sir Lamorak or Sir Tristram, for\nthen twain of my chief knights of the Table Round were gone. Sir, said\nSir Launcelot, I am sure ye shall lose Sir Lamorak, for Sir Gawaine and\nhis brethren will slay him by one mean or other; for they among them\nhave concluded and sworn to slay him an ever they may see their time.\nThat shall I let, said Arthur.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXV. How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred met with a knight\nfleeing, and how they both were overthrown, and of Sir Dinadan.\n\n\nNow leave we of Sir Lamorak, and speak of Sir Gawaine\u2019s brethren, and\nspecially of Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred. As they rode on their\nadventures they met with a knight fleeing, sore wounded; and they asked\nhim what tidings. Fair knights, said he, here cometh a knight after me\nthat will slay me. With that came Sir Dinadan riding to them by\nadventure, but he would promise them no help. But Sir Agravaine and Sir\nMordred promised him to rescue him. Therewithal came that knight\nstraight unto them, and anon he proffered to joust. That saw Sir\nMordred and rode to him, but he struck Mordred over his horse\u2019s tail.\nThat saw Sir Agravaine, and straight he rode toward that knight, and\nright so as he served Mordred so he served Agravaine, and said to them:\nSirs, wit ye well both that I am Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9, that hath done\nthis to you. And yet he rode over Agravaine five or six times. When\nDinadan saw this, he must needs joust with him for shame. And so\nDinadan and he encountered together, that with pure strength Sir\nDinadan smote him over his horse\u2019s tail. Then he took his horse and\nfled, for he was on foot one of the valiantest knights in Arthur\u2019s\ndays, and a great destroyer of all good knights.\n\nThen rode Sir Dinadan unto Sir Mordred and unto Sir Agravaine. Sir\nknight, said they all, well have ye done, and well have ye revenged us,\nwherefore we pray you tell us your name. Fair sirs, ye ought to know my\nname, the which is called Sir Dinadan. When they understood that it was\nDinadan they were more wroth than they were before, for they hated him\nout of measure because of Sir Lamorak. For Dinadan had such a custom\nthat he loved all good knights that were valiant, and he hated all\nthose that were destroyers of good knights. And there were none that\nhated Dinadan but those that ever were called murderers. Then spake the\nhurt knight that Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9 had chased, his name was Dalan, and\nsaid: If thou be Dinadan thou slewest my father. It may well be so,\nsaid Dinadan, but then it was in my defence and at his request. By my\nhead, said Dalan, thou shalt die therefore, and therewith he dressed\nhis spear and his shield. And to make the shorter tale, Sir Dinadan\nsmote him down off his horse, that his neck was nigh broken. And in the\nsame wise he smote Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine. And after, in the\nquest of the Sangreal, cowardly and feloniously they slew Dinadan, the\nwhich was great damage, for he was a great bourder and a passing good\nknight.\n\nAnd so Sir Dinadan rode to a castle that hight Beale-Valet. And there\nhe found Sir Palomides that was not yet whole of the wound that Sir\nLamorak gave him. And there Dinadan told Palomides all the tidings that\nhe heard and saw of Sir Tristram, and how he was gone with King Mark,\nand with him he hath all his will and desire. Therewith Sir Palomides\nwaxed wroth, for he loved La Beale Isoud. And then he wist well that\nSir Tristram enjoyed her.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXVI. How King Arthur, the Queen, and Launcelot received\nletters out of Cornwall, and of the answer again.\n\n\nNow leave we Sir Palomides and Sir Dinadan in the Castle of\nBeale-Valet, and turn we again unto King Arthur. There came a knight\nout of Cornwall, his name was Fergus, a fellow of the Round Table. And\nthere he told the king and Sir Launcelot good tidings of Sir Tristram,\nand there were brought goodly letters, and how he left him in the\ncastle of Tintagil. Then came the damosel that brought goodly letters\nunto King Arthur and unto Sir Launcelot, and there she had passing good\ncheer of the king, and of the Queen Guenever, and of Sir Launcelot.\nThen they wrote goodly letters again. But Sir Launcelot bade ever Sir\nTristram beware of King Mark, for ever he called him in his letters\nKing Fox, as who saith, he fareth all with wiles and treason. Whereof\nSir Tristram in his heart thanked Sir Launcelot. Then the damosel went\nunto La Beale Isoud, and bare her letters from the king and from Sir\nLauncelot, whereof she was in passing great joy. Fair damosel, said La\nBeale Isoud, how fareth my Lord Arthur, and the Queen Guenever, and the\nnoble knight, Sir Launcelot? She answered, and to make short tale: Much\nthe better that ye and Sir Tristram be in joy. God reward them, said La\nBeale Isoud, for Sir Tristram suffereth great pain for me, and I for\nhim.\n\nSo the damosel departed, and brought letters to King Mark. And when he\nhad read them, and understood them, he was wroth with Sir Tristram, for\nhe deemed that he had sent the damosel unto King Arthur. For Arthur and\nLauncelot in a manner threated King Mark. And as King Mark read these\nletters he deemed treason by Sir Tristram. Damosel, said King Mark,\nwill ye ride again and bear letters from me unto King Arthur? Sir, she\nsaid, I will be at your commandment to ride when ye will. Ye say well,\nsaid the king; come again, said the king, to-morn, and fetch your\nletters. Then she departed and told them how she should ride again with\nletters unto Arthur. Then we pray you, said La Beale Isoud and Sir\nTristram, that when ye have received your letters, that ye would come\nby us that we may see the privity of your letters. All that I may do,\nmadam, ye wot well I must do for Sir Tristram, for I have been long his\nown maiden.\n\nSo on the morn the damosel went to King Mark to have had his letters\nand to depart. I am not avised, said King Mark, as at this time to send\nmy letters. Then privily and secretly he sent letters unto King Arthur,\nand unto Queen Guenever, and unto Sir Launcelot. So the varlet\ndeparted, and found the king and the queen in Wales, at Carlion. And as\nthe king and the queen were at mass the varlet came with the letters.\nAnd when mass was done the king and the queen opened the letters\nprivily by themself. And the beginning of the king\u2019s letters spake\nwonderly short unto King Arthur, and bade him entermete with himself\nand with his wife, and of his knights; for he was able enough to rule\nand keep his wife.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Launcelot was wroth with the letter that he\nreceived from King Mark, and of Dinadan which made a lay of King Mark.\n\n\nWhen King Arthur understood the letter, he mused of many things, and\nthought on his sister\u2019s words, Queen Morgan le Fay, that she had said\nbetwixt Queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot. And in this thought he\nstudied a great while. Then he bethought him again how his sister was\nhis own enemy, and that she hated the queen and Sir Launcelot, and so\nhe put all that out of his thought. Then King Arthur read the letter\nagain, and the latter clause said that King Mark took Sir Tristram for\nhis mortal enemy; wherefore he put Arthur out of doubt he would be\nrevenged of Sir Tristram. Then was King Arthur wroth with King Mark.\nAnd when Queen Guenever read her letter and understood it, she was\nwroth out of measure, for the letter spake shame by her and by Sir\nLauncelot. And so privily she sent the letter unto Sir Launcelot. And\nwhen he wist the intent of the letter he was so wroth that he laid him\ndown on his bed to sleep, whereof Sir Dinadan was ware, for it was his\nmanner to be privy with all good knights. And as Sir Launcelot slept he\nstole the letter out of his hand, and read it word by word. And then he\nmade great sorrow for anger. And so Sir Launcelot awaked, and went to a\nwindow, and read the letter again, the which made him angry.\n\nSir, said Dinadan, wherefore be ye angry? discover your heart to me:\nforsooth ye wot well I owe you good will, howbeit I am a poor knight\nand a servitor unto you and to all good knights. For though I be not of\nworship myself I love all those that be of worship. It is truth, said\nSir Launcelot, ye are a trusty knight, and for great trust I will shew\nyou my counsel. And when Dinadan understood all, he said: This is my\ncounsel: set you right nought by these threats, for King Mark is so\nvillainous, that by fair speech shall never man get of him. But ye\nshall see what I shall do; I will make a lay for him, and when it is\nmade I shall make an harper to sing it afore him. So anon he went and\nmade it, and taught it an harper that hight Eliot. And when he could\nit, he taught it to many harpers. And so by the will of Sir Launcelot,\nand of Arthur, the harpers went straight into Wales, and into Cornwall,\nto sing the lay that Sir Dinadan made by King Mark, the which was the\nworst lay that ever harper sang with harp or with any other\ninstruments.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXVIII. How Sir Tristram was hurt, and of a war made to King\nMark; and of Sir Tristram how he promised to rescue him.\n\n\nNow turn we again unto Sir Tristram and to King Mark. As Sir Tristram\nwas at jousts and at tournament it fortuned he was sore hurt both with\na spear and with a sword, but yet he won always the degree. And for to\nrepose him he went to a good knight that dwelled in Cornwall, in a\ncastle, whose name was Sir Dinas le Seneschal. Then by misfortune there\ncame out of Sessoin a great number of men of arms, and an hideous host,\nand they entered nigh the Castle of Tintagil; and their captain\u2019s name\nwas Elias, a good man of arms. When King Mark understood his enemies\nwere entered into his land he made great dole and sorrow, for in no\nwise by his will King Mark would not send for Sir Tristram, for he\nhated him deadly.\n\nSo when his council was come they devised and cast many perils of the\nstrength of their enemies. And then they concluded all at once, and\nsaid thus unto King Mark: Sir, wit ye well ye must send for Sir\nTristram, the good knight, or else they will never be overcome. For by\nSir Tristram they must be foughten withal, or else we row against the\nstream. Well, said King Mark, I will do by your counsel; but yet he was\nfull loath thereto, but need constrained him to send for him. Then was\nhe sent for in all haste that might be, that he should come to King\nMark. And when he understood that King Mark had sent for him, he\nmounted upon a soft ambler and rode to King Mark. And when he was come\nthe king said thus: Fair nephew Sir Tristram, this is all. Here be come\nour enemies of Sessoin, that are here nigh hand, and without tarrying\nthey must be met with shortly, or else they will destroy this country.\nSir, said Sir Tristram, wit ye well all my power is at your\ncommandment. And wit ye well, sir, these eight days I may bear none\narms, for my wounds be not yet whole. And by that day I shall do what I\nmay. Ye say well, said King Mark; then go ye again and repose you and\nmake you fresh, and I shall go and meet the Sessoins with all my power.\n\nSo the king departed unto Tintagil, and Sir Tristram went to repose\nhim. And the king made a great host and departed them in three; the\nfirst part led Sir Dinas the Seneschal, and Sir Andred led the second\npart, and Sir Argius led the third part; and he was of the blood of\nKing Mark. And the Sessoins had three great battles, and many good men\nof arms. And so King Mark by the advice of his knights issued out of\nthe Castle of Tintagil upon his enemies. And Dinas, the good knight,\nrode out afore, and slew two knights with his own hands, and then began\nthe battles. And there was marvellous breaking of spears and smiting of\nswords, and slew down many good knights. And ever was Sir Dinas the\nSeneschal the best of King Mark\u2019s party. And thus the battle endured\nlong with great mortality. But at the last King Mark and Sir Dinas,\nwere they never so loath, they withdrew them to the Castle of Tintagil\nwith great slaughter of people; and the Sessoins followed on fast, that\nten of them were put within the gates and four slain with the\nportcullis.\n\nThen King Mark sent for Sir Tristram by a varlet, that told him all the\nmortality. Then he sent the varlet again, and bade him: Tell King Mark\nthat I will come as soon as I am whole, for erst I may do him no good.\nThen King Mark had his answer. Therewith came Elias and bade the king\nyield up the castle: For ye may not hold it no while. Sir Elias, said\nthe king, so will I yield up the castle if I be not soon rescued. Anon\nKing Mark sent again for rescue to Sir Tristram. By then Sir Tristram\nwas whole, and he had gotten him ten good knights of Arthur\u2019s; and with\nthem he rode unto Tintagil. And when he saw the great host of Sessoins\nhe marvelled wonder greatly. And then Sir Tristram rode by the woods\nand by the ditches as secretly as he might, till he came nigh the\ngates. And there dressed a knight to him when he saw that Sir Tristram\nwould enter; and Sir Tristram smote him down dead, and so he served\nthree more. And everych of these ten knights slew a man of arms. So Sir\nTristram entered into the Castle of Tintagil. And when King Mark wist\nthat Sir Tristram was come he was glad of his coming, and so was all\nthe fellowship, and of him they made great joy.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIX. How Sir Tristram overcame the battle, and how Elias\ndesired a man to fight body for body.\n\n\nSo on the morn Elias the captain came, and bade King Mark: Come out and\ndo battle; for now the good knight Sir Tristram is entered it will be\nshame to thee, said Elias, for to keep thy walls. When King Mark\nunderstood this he was wroth and said no word, but went unto Sir\nTristram and asked him his counsel. Sir, said Sir Tristram, will ye\nthat I give him his answer? I will well, said King Mark. Then Sir\nTristram said thus to the messenger: Bear thy lord word from the king\nand me, that we will do battle with him to-morn in the plain field.\nWhat is your name? said the messenger. Wit thou well my name is Sir\nTristram de Liones. Therewithal the messenger departed and told his\nlord Elias all that he had heard. Sir, said Sir Tristram unto King\nMark, I pray you give me leave to have the rule of the battle. I pray\nyou take the rule, said King Mark. Then Sir Tristram let devise the\nbattle in what manner that it should be. He let depart his host in six\nparties, and ordained Sir Dinas the Seneschal to have the foreward, and\nother knights to rule the remnant. And the same night Sir Tristram\nburnt all the Sessoins\u2019 ships unto the cold water. Anon, as Elias wist\nthat, he said it was of Sir Tristram\u2019s doing: For he casteth that we\nshall never escape, mother son of us. Therefore, fair fellows, fight\nfreely to-morrow, and miscomfort you nought; for any knight, though he\nbe the best knight in the world, he may not have ado with us all.\n\nThen they ordained their battle in four parties, wonderly well\napparelled and garnished with men of arms. Thus they within issued, and\nthey without set freely upon them; and there Sir Dinas did great deeds\nof arms. Not for then Sir Dinas and his fellowship were put to the\nworse. With that came Sir Tristram and slew two knights with one spear;\nthen he slew on the right hand and on the left hand, that men marvelled\nthat ever he might do such deeds of arms. And then he might see\nsometime the battle was driven a bow-draught from the castle, and\nsometime it was at the gates of the castle. Then came Elias the captain\nrushing here and there, and hit King Mark so sore upon the helm that he\nmade him to avoid the saddle. And then Sir Dinas gat King Mark again to\nhorseback. Therewithal came in Sir Tristram like a lion, and there he\nmet with Elias, and he smote him so sore upon the helm that he avoided\nhis saddle. And thus they fought till it was night, and for great\nslaughter and for wounded people everych party drew to their rest.\n\nAnd when King Mark was come within the Castle of Tintagil he lacked of\nhis knights an hundred, and they without lacked two hundred; and they\nsearched the wounded men on both parties. And then they went to\ncouncil; and wit you well either party were loath to fight more, so\nthat either might escape with their worship. When Elias the captain\nunderstood the death of his men he made great dole; and when he wist\nthat they were loath to go to battle again he was wroth out of measure.\nThen Elias sent word unto King Mark, in great despite, whether he would\nfind a knight that would fight for him body for body. And if that he\nmight slay King Mark\u2019s knight, he to have the truage of Cornwall\nyearly. And if that his knight slay mine, I fully release my claim\nforever. Then the messenger departed unto King Mark, and told him how\nthat his lord Elias had sent him word to find a knight to do battle\nwith him body for body. When King Mark understood the messenger, he\nbade him abide and he should have his answer. Then called he all the\nbaronage together to wit what was the best counsel. They said all at\nonce: To fight in a field we have no lust, for had not been Sir\nTristram\u2019s prowess it had been likely that we never should have\nescaped; and therefore, sir, as we deem, it were well done to find a\nknight that would do battle with him, for he knightly proffereth.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI. How Sir Elias and Sir Tristram fought together for the\ntruage, and how Sir Tristram slew Elias in the field.\n\n\nNot for then when all this was said, they could find no knight that\nwould do battle with him. Sir king, said they all, here is no knight\nthat dare fight with Elias. Alas, said King Mark, then am I utterly\nashamed and utterly destroyed, unless that my nephew Sir Tristram will\ntake the battle upon him. Wit you well, they said all, he had yesterday\novermuch on hand, and he is weary for travail, and sore wounded. Where\nis he? said King Mark. Sir, said they, he is in his bed to repose him.\nAlas, said King Mark, but I have the succour of my nephew Sir Tristram,\nI am utterly destroyed for ever.\n\nTherewith one went to Sir Tristram where he lay, and told him what King\nMark had said. And therewith Sir Tristram arose lightly, and put on him\na long gown, and came afore the king and all the lords. And when he saw\nthem all so dismayed he asked the king and the lords what tidings were\nwith them. Never worse, said the king. And therewith he told him all,\nhow he had word of Elias to find a knight to fight for the truage of\nCornwall, and none can I find. And as for you, said the king and all\nthe lords, we may ask no more of you for shame; for through your\nhardiness yesterday ye saved all our lives. Sir, said Sir Tristram, now\nI understand ye would have my succour, reason would that I should do\nall that lieth in my power to do, saving my worship and my life,\nhowbeit I am sore bruised and hurt. And sithen Sir Elias proffereth so\nlargely, I shall fight with him, or else I will be slain in the field,\nor else I will deliver Cornwall from the old truage. And therefore\nlightly call his messenger and he shall be answered, for as yet my\nwounds be green, and they will be sorer a seven night after than they\nbe now; and therefore he shall have his answer that I will do battle\nto-morn with him.\n\nThen was the messenger departed brought before King Mark. Hark, my\nfellow, said Sir Tristram, go fast unto thy lord, and bid him make true\nassurance on his part for the truage, as the king here shall make on\nhis part; and then tell thy lord, Sir Elias, that I, Sir Tristram, King\nArthur\u2019s knight, and knight of the Table Round, will as to-morn meet\nwith thy lord on horseback, to do battle as long as my horse may\nendure, and after that to do battle with him on foot to the utterance.\nThe messenger beheld Sir Tristram from the top to the toe; and\ntherewithal he departed and came to his lord, and told him how he was\nanswered of Sir Tristram. And therewithal was made hostage on both\nparties, and made it as sure as it might be, that whether party had the\nvictory, so to end. And then were both hosts assembled on both parts of\nthe field, without the Castle of Tintagil, and there was none but Sir\nTristram and Sir Elias armed.\n\nSo when the appointment was made, they departed in-sunder, and they\ncame together with all the might that their horses might run. And\neither knight smote other so hard that both horses and knights went to\nthe earth. Not for then they both lightly arose and dressed their\nshields on their shoulders, with naked swords in their hands, and they\ndashed together that it seemed a flaming fire about them. Thus they\ntraced, and traversed, and hewed on helms and hauberks, and cut away\nmany cantels of their shields, and either wounded other passing sore,\nso that the hot blood fell freshly upon the earth. And by then they had\nfoughten the mountenance of an hour Sir Tristram waxed faint and\nfor-bled, and gave sore aback. That saw Sir Elias, and followed\nfiercely upon him, and wounded him in many places. And ever Sir\nTristram traced and traversed, and went froward him here and there, and\ncovered him with his shield as he might all weakly, that all men said\nhe was overcome; for Sir Elias had given him twenty strokes against\none.\n\nThen was there laughing of the Sessoins\u2019 party, and great dole on King\nMark\u2019s party. Alas, said the king, we are ashamed and destroyed all for\never: for as the book saith, Sir Tristram was never so matched, but if\nit were Sir Launcelot. Thus as they stood and beheld both parties, that\none party laughing and the other party weeping, Sir Tristram remembered\nhim of his lady, La Beale Isoud, that looked upon him, and how he was\nlikely never to come in her presence. Then he pulled up his shield that\nerst hung full low. And then he dressed up his shield unto Elias, and\ngave him many sad strokes, twenty against one, and all to-brake his\nshield and his hauberk, that the hot blood ran down to the earth. Then\nbegan King Mark to laugh, and all Cornish men, and that other party to\nweep. And ever Sir Tristram said to Sir Elias: Yield thee.\n\nThen when Sir Tristram saw him so staggering on the ground, he said:\nSir Elias, I am right sorry for thee, for thou art a passing good\nknight as ever I met withal, except Sir Launcelot. Therewithal Sir\nElias fell to the earth, and there died. What shall I do, said Sir\nTristram unto King Mark, for this battle is at an end? Then they of\nElias\u2019 party departed, and King Mark took of them many prisoners, to\nredress the harms and the scathes that he had of them; and the remnant\nhe sent into their country to borrow out their fellows. Then was Sir\nTristram searched and well healed. Yet for all this King Mark would\nfain have slain Sir Tristram. But for all that ever Sir Tristram saw or\nheard by King Mark, yet would he never beware of his treason, but ever\nhe would be thereas La Beale Isoud was.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXXI. How at a great feast that King Mark made an harper came\nand sang the lay that Dinadan had made.\n\n\nNow will we pass of this matter, and speak we of the harpers that Sir\nLauncelot and Sir Dinadan had sent into Cornwall. And at the great\nfeast that King Mark made for joy that the Sessoins were put out of his\ncountry, then came Eliot the harper with the lay that Dinadan had made\nand secretly brought it unto Sir Tristram, and told him the lay that\nDinadan had made by King Mark. And when Sir Tristram heard it, he said:\nO Lord Jesu, that Dinadan can make wonderly well and ill, thereas it\nshall be. Sir, said Eliot, dare I sing this song afore King Mark? Yea,\non my peril, said Sir Tristram, for I shall be thy warrant. Then at the\nmeat came in Eliot the harper, and because he was a curious harper men\nheard him sing the same lay that Dinadan had made, the which spake the\nmost villainy by King Mark of his treason that ever man heard.\n\nWhen the harper had sung his song to the end King Mark was wonderly\nwroth, and said: Thou harper, how durst thou be so bold on thy head to\nsing this song afore me. Sir, said Eliot, wit you well I am a minstrel,\nand I must do as I am commanded of these lords that I bear the arms of.\nAnd sir, wit ye well that Sir Dinadan, a knight of the Table Round,\nmade this song, and made me to sing it afore you. Thou sayest well,\nsaid King Mark, and because thou art a minstrel thou shalt go quit, but\nI charge thee hie thee fast out of my sight. So the harper departed and\nwent to Sir Tristram, and told him how he had sped. Then Sir Tristram\nlet make letters as goodly as he could to Launcelot and to Sir Dinadan.\nAnd so he let conduct the harper out of the country. But to say that\nKing Mark was wonderly wroth, he was, for he deemed that the lay that\nwas sung afore him was made by Sir Tristram\u2019s counsel, wherefore he\nthought to slay him and all his well-willers in that country.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXXII. How King Mark slew by treason his brother Boudwin, for\ngood service that he had done to him.\n\n\nNow turn we to another matter that fell between King Mark and his\nbrother, that was called the good Prince Boudwin, that all the people\nof the country loved passing well. So it befell on a time that the\nmiscreant Saracens landed in the country of Cornwall soon after these\nSessoins were gone. And then the good Prince Boudwin, at the landing,\nhe raised the country privily and hastily. And or it were day he let\nput wildfire in three of his own ships, and suddenly he pulled up the\nsail, and with the wind he made those ships to be driven among the navy\nof the Saracens. And to make short tale, those three ships set on fire\nall the ships, that none were saved. And at point of the day the good\nPrince Boudwin with all his fellowship set on the miscreants with\nshouts and cries, and slew to the number of forty thousand, and left\nnone alive.\n\nWhen King Mark wist this he was wonderly wroth that his brother should\nwin such worship. And because this prince was better beloved than he in\nall that country, and that also Boudwin loved well Sir Tristram,\ntherefore he thought to slay him. And thus, hastily, as a man out of\nhis wit, he sent for Prince Boudwin and Anglides his wife, and bade\nthem bring their young son with them, that he might see him. All this\nhe did to the intent to slay the child as well as his father, for he\nwas the falsest traitor that ever was born. Alas, for his goodness and\nfor his good deeds this gentle Prince Boudwin was slain. So when he\ncame with his wife Anglides, the king made them fair semblant till they\nhad dined. And when they had dined King Mark sent for his brother and\nsaid thus: Brother, how sped you when the miscreants arrived by you?\nmeseemeth it had been your part to have sent me word, that I might have\nbeen at that journey, for it had been reason that I had had the honour\nand not you. Sir, said the Prince Boudwin, it was so that an I had\ntarried till that I had sent for you those miscreants had destroyed my\ncountry. Thou liest, false traitor, said King Mark, for thou art ever\nabout for to win worship from me, and put me to dishonour, and thou\ncherishest that I hate. And therewith he struck him to the heart with a\ndagger, that he never after spake word. Then the Lady Anglides made\ngreat dole, and swooned, for she saw her lord slain afore her face.\nThen was there no more to do but Prince Boudwin was despoiled and\nbrought to burial. But Anglides privily gat her husband\u2019s doublet and\nhis shirt, and that she kept secretly.\n\nThen was there much sorrow and crying, and great dole made Sir\nTristram, Sir Dinas, Sir Fergus, and so did all knights that were\nthere; for that prince was passingly well beloved. So La Beale Isoud\nsent unto Anglides, the Prince Boudwin\u2019s wife, and bade her avoid\nlightly or else her young son, Alisander le Orphelin, should be slain.\nWhen she heard this, she took her horse and her child; and rode with\nsuch poor men as durst ride with her.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXXIII. How Anglides, Boudwin\u2019s wife, escaped with her young\nson, Alisander le Orphelin, and came to the Castle of Arundel.\n\n\nNotwithstanding, when King Mark had done this deed, yet he thought to\ndo more vengeance; and with his sword in his hand, he sought from\nchamber to chamber, to seek Anglides and her young son. And when she\nwas missed he called a good knight that hight Sadok, and charged him by\npain of death to fetch Anglides again and her young son. So Sir Sadok\ndeparted and rode after Anglides. And within ten mile he overtook her,\nand bade her turn again and ride with him to King Mark. Alas, fair\nknight, she said, what shall ye win by my son\u2019s death or by mine? I\nhave had overmuch harm and too great a loss. Madam, said Sadok, of your\nloss is dole and pity; but madam, said Sadok, would ye depart out of\nthis country with your son, and keep him till he be of age, that he may\nrevenge his father\u2019s death, then would I suffer you to depart from me,\nso you promise me to revenge the death of Prince Boudwin. Ah, gentle\nknight, Jesu thank thee, and if ever my son, Alisander le Orphelin,\nlive to be a knight, he shall have his father\u2019s doublet and his shirt\nwith the bloody marks, and I shall give him such a charge that he shall\nremember it while he liveth. And therewithal Sadok departed from her,\nand either betook other to God. And when Sadok came to King Mark he\ntold him faithfully that he had drowned young Alisander her son; and\nthereof King Mark was full glad.\n\nNow turn we unto Anglides, that rode both night and day by adventure\nout of Cornwall, and little and in few places she rested; but ever she\ndrew southward to the seaside, till by fortune she came to a castle\nthat is called Magouns, and now it is called Arundel, in Sussex. And\nthe Constable of the castle welcomed her, and said she was welcome to\nher own castle; and there was Anglides worshipfully received, for the\nConstable\u2019s wife was nigh her cousin, and the Constable\u2019s name was\nBellangere; and that same Constable told Anglides that the same castle\nwas hers by right inheritance. Thus Anglides endured years and winters,\ntill Alisander was big and strong; there was none so wight in all that\ncountry, neither there was none that might do no manner of mastery\nafore him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXXIV. How Anglides gave the bloody doublet to Alisander, her\nson, the same day that he was made knight, and the charge withal.\n\n\nThen upon a day Bellangere the Constable came to Anglides and said:\nMadam, it were time my lord Alisander were made knight, for he is a\npassing strong young man. Sir, said she, I would he were made knight;\nbut then must I give him the most charge that ever sinful mother gave\nto her child. Do as ye list, said Bellangere, and I shall give him\nwarning that he shall be made knight. Now it will be well done that he\nmay be made knight at our Lady Day in Lent. Be it so, said Anglides,\nand I pray you make ready therefore. So came the Constable to\nAlisander, and told him that he should at our Lady Day in Lent be made\nknight. I thank God, said Alisander; these are the best tidings that\never came to me. Then the Constable ordained twenty of the greatest\ngentlemen\u2019s sons, and the best born men of the country, that should be\nmade knights that same day that Alisander was made knight. So on the\nsame day that Alisander and his twenty fellows were made knights, at\nthe offering of the mass there came Anglides unto her son and said\nthus: O fair sweet son, I charge thee upon my blessing, and of the high\norder of chivalry that thou takest here this day, that thou understand\nwhat I shall say and charge thee withal. Therewithal she pulled out a\nbloody doublet and a bloody shirt, that were be-bled with old blood.\nWhen Alisander saw this he stert aback and waxed pale, and said: Fair\nmother, what may this mean? I shall tell thee, fair son: this was thine\nown father\u2019s doublet and shirt, that he wore upon him that same day\nthat he was slain. And there she told him why and wherefore, and how\nfor his goodness King Mark slew him with his dagger afore mine own\neyen. And therefore this shall be your charge that I shall give thee.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXXV. How it was told to King Mark of Sir Alisander, and how he\nwould have slain Sir Sadok for saving his life.\n\n\nNow I require thee, and charge thee upon my blessing, and upon the high\norder of knighthood, that thou be revenged upon King Mark for the death\nof thy father. And therewithal she swooned. Then Alisander leapt to his\nmother, and took her up in his arms, and said: Fair mother, ye have\ngiven me a great charge, and here I promise you I shall be avenged upon\nKing Mark when that I may; and that I promise to God and to you. So\nthis feast was ended, and the Constable, by the advice of Anglides, let\npurvey that Alisander was well horsed and harnessed. Then he jousted\nwith his twenty fellows that were made knights with him, but for to\nmake a short tale, he overthrew all those twenty, that none might\nwithstand him a buffet.\n\nThen one of those knights departed unto King Mark, and told him all,\nhow Alisander was made knight, and all the charge that his mother gave\nhim, as ye have heard afore time. Alas, false treason, said King Mark,\nI weened that young traitor had been dead. Alas, whom may I trust? And\ntherewithal King Mark took a sword in his hand; and sought Sir Sadok\nfrom chamber to chamber to slay him. When Sir Sadok saw King Mark come\nwith his sword in his hand he said thus: Beware, King Mark, and come\nnot nigh me; for wit thou well that I saved Alisander his life, of\nwhich I never repent me, for thou falsely and cowardly slew his father\nBoudwin, traitorly for his good deeds; wherefore I pray Almighty Jesu\nsend Alisander might and strength to be revenged upon thee. And now\nbeware King Mark of young Alisander, for he is made a knight. Alas,\nsaid King Mark, that ever I should hear a traitor say so afore me. And\ntherewith four knights of King Mark\u2019s drew their swords to slay Sir\nSadok, but anon Sir Sadok slew them all in King Mark\u2019s presence. And\nthen Sir Sadok passed forth into his chamber, and took his horse and\nhis harness, and rode on his way a good pace. For there was neither Sir\nTristram, neither Sir Dinas, nor Sir Fergus, that would Sir Sadok any\nevil will. Then was King Mark wroth, and thought to destroy Sir\nAlisander and Sir Sadok that had saved him; for King Mark dreaded and\nhated Alisander most of any man living.\n\nWhen Sir Tristram understood that Alisander was made knight, anon\nforthwithal he sent him a letter, praying him and charging him that he\nwould draw him to the court of King Arthur, and that he put him in the\nrule and in the hands of Sir Launcelot. So this letter was sent to\nAlisander from his cousin, Sir Tristram. And at that time he thought to\ndo after his commandment. Then King Mark called a knight that brought\nhim the tidings from Alisander, and bade him abide still in that\ncountry. Sir, said that knight, so must I do, for in my own country I\ndare not come. No force, said King Mark, I shall give thee here double\nas much lands as ever thou hadst of thine own. But within short space\nSir Sadok met with that false knight, and slew him. Then was King Mark\nwood wroth out of measure. Then he sent unto Queen Morgan le Fay, and\nto the Queen of Northgalis, praying them in his letters that they two\nsorceresses would set all the country in fire with ladies that were\nenchantresses, and by such that were dangerous knights, as Malgrin,\nBreuse Saunce Pit\u00e9, that by no mean Alisander le Orphelin should\nescape, but either he should be taken or slain. This ordinance made\nKing Mark for to destroy Alisander.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXXVI. How Sir Alisander won the prize at a tournament, and of\nMorgan le Fay: and how he fought with Sir Malgrin, and slew him.\n\n\nNow turn we again unto Sir Alisander, that at his departing his mother\ntook with him his father\u2019s bloody shirt. So that he bare with him\nalways till his death day, in tokening to think of his father\u2019s death.\nSo was Alisander purposed to ride to London, by the counsel of Sir\nTristram, to Sir Launcelot. And by fortune he went by the seaside, and\nrode wrong. And there he won at a tournament the gree that King Carados\nmade. And there he smote down King Carados and twenty of his knights,\nand also Sir Safere, a good knight that was Sir Palomides\u2019 brother, the\ngood knight. All this saw a damosel, and saw the best knight joust that\never she saw. And ever as he smote down knights he made them to swear\nto wear none harness in a twelvemonth and a day. This is well said,\nsaid Morgan le Fay, this is the knight that I would fain see. And so\nshe took her palfrey, and rode a great while, and then she rested her\nin her pavilion. So there came four knights, two were armed, and two\nwere unarmed, and they told Morgan le Fay their names: the first was\nElias de Gomeret, the second was Cari de Gomeret, those were armed;\nthat other twain were of Camiliard, cousins unto Queen Guenever, and\nthat one hight Guy, and that other hight Garaunt, those were unarmed.\nThere these four knights told Morgan le Fay how a young knight had\nsmitten them down before a castle. For the maiden of that castle said\nthat he was but late made knight, and young. But as we suppose, but if\nit were Sir Tristram, or Sir Launcelot, or Sir Lamorak, the good\nknight, there is none that might sit him a buffet with a spear. Well,\nsaid Morgan le Fay, I shall meet that knight or it be long time, an he\ndwell in that country.\n\nSo turn we to the damosel of the castle, that when Alisander le\nOrphelin had forjousted the four knights, she called him to her, and\nsaid thus: Sir knight, wilt thou for my sake joust and fight with a\nknight, for my sake, of this country, that is and hath been long time\nan evil neighbour to me? His name is Malgrin, and he will not suffer me\nto be married in no manner wise for all that I can do, or any knight\nfor my sake. Damosel, said Alisander, an he come whiles I am here I\nwill fight with him, and my poor body for your sake I will jeopard. And\ntherewithal she sent for him, for he was at her commandment. And when\neither had a sight of other, they made them ready for to joust, and\nthey came together eagerly, and Malgrin brised his spear upon\nAlisander, and Alisander smote him again so hard that he bare him quite\nfrom his saddle to the earth. But this Malgrin arose lightly, and\ndressed his shield and drew his sword, and bade him alight, saying:\nThough thou have the better of me on horseback, thou shalt find that I\nshall endure like a knight on foot. It is well said, said Alisander;\nand so lightly he avoided his horse and betook him to his varlet. And\nthen they rushed together like two boars, and laid on their helms and\nshields long time, by the space of three hours, that never man could\nsay which was the better knight.\n\nAnd in the meanwhile came Morgan le Fay to the damosel of the castle,\nand they beheld the battle. But this Malgrin was an old roted knight,\nand he was called one of the dangerous knights of the world to do\nbattle on foot, but on horseback there were many better. And ever this\nMalgrin awaited to slay Alisander, and so wounded him wonderly sore,\nthat it was marvel that ever he might stand, for he had bled so much\nblood; for Alisander fought wildly, and not wittily. And that other was\na felonious knight, and awaited him, and smote him sore. And sometime\nthey rushed together with their shields, like two boars or rams, and\nfell grovelling both to the earth. Now knight, said Malgrin, hold thy\nhand a while, and tell me what thou art. I will not, said Alisander,\nbut if me list: but tell me thy name, and why thou keepest this\ncountry, or else thou shalt die of my hands. Wit thou well, said\nMalgrin, that for this maiden\u2019s love, of this castle, I have slain ten\ngood knights by mishap; and by outrage and orgulit\u00e9 of myself I have\nslain ten other knights. So God me help, said Alisander, this is the\nfoulest confession that ever I heard knight make, nor never heard I\nspeak of other men of such a shameful confession; wherefore it were\ngreat pity and great shame unto me that I should let thee live any\nlonger; therefore keep thee as well as ever thou mayest, for as I am\ntrue knight, either thou shalt slay me or else I shall slay thee, I\npromise thee faithfully.\n\nThen they lashed together fiercely, and at the last Alisander smote\nMalgrin to the earth. And then he raced off his helm, and smote off his\nhead lightly. And when he had done and ended this battle, anon he\ncalled to him his varlet, the which brought him his horse. And then he,\nweening to be strong enough, would have mounted. And so she laid Sir\nAlisander in an horse litter, and led him into the castle, for he had\nno foot nor might to stand upon the earth; for he had sixteen great\nwounds, and in especial one of them was like to be his death.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXXVII. How Queen Morgan le Fay had Alisander in her castle,\nand how she healed his wounds.\n\n\nThen Queen Morgan le Fay searched his wounds, and gave such an ointment\nunto him that he should have died. And on the morn when she came to him\nhe complained him sore; and then she put other ointments upon him, and\nthen he was out of his pain. Then came the damosel of the castle, and\nsaid unto Morgan le Fay: I pray you help me that this knight might wed\nme, for he hath won me with his hands. Ye shall see, said Morgan le\nFay, what I shall say. Then Morgan le Fay went unto Alisander, and bade\nin anywise that he should refuse this lady, an she desire to wed you,\nfor she is not for you. So the damosel came and desired of him\nmarriage. Damosel, said Orphelin, I thank you, but as yet I cast me not\nto marry in this country. Sir, she said, sithen ye will not marry me, I\npray you insomuch as ye have won me, that ye will give me to a knight\nof this country that hath been my friend, and loved me many years. With\nall my heart, said Alisander, I will assent thereto. Then was the\nknight sent for, his name was Gerine le Grose. And anon he made them\nhandfast, and wedded them.\n\nThen came Queen Morgan le Fay to Alisander, and bade him arise, and put\nhim in an horse litter, and gave him such a drink that in three days\nand three nights he waked never, but slept; and so she brought him to\nher own castle that at that time was called La Beale Regard. Then\nMorgan le Fay came to Alisander, and asked him if he would fain be\nwhole. Who would be sick, said Alisander, an he might be whole? Well,\nsaid Morgan le Fay, then shall ye promise me by your knighthood that\nthis day twelvemonth and a day ye shall not pass the compass of this\ncastle, and without doubt ye shall lightly be whole. I assent, said Sir\nAlisander. And there he made her a promise: then was he soon whole. And\nwhen Alisander was whole, then he repented him of his oath, for he\nmight not be revenged upon King Mark. Right so there came a damosel\nthat was cousin to the Earl of Pase, and she was cousin to Morgan le\nFay. And by right that castle of La Beale Regard should have been hers\nby true inheritance. So this damosel entered into this castle where lay\nAlisander, and there she found him upon his bed, passing heavy and all\nsad.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXXVIII. How Alisander was delivered from Queen Morgan le Fay\nby the means of a damosel.\n\n\nSir knight, said the damosel, an ye would be merry I could tell you\ngood tidings. Well were me, said Alisander, an I might hear of good\ntidings, for now I stand as a prisoner by my promise. Sir, she said,\nwit you well that ye be a prisoner, and worse than ye ween; for my\nlady, my cousin Queen Morgan le Fay, keepeth you here for none other\nintent but for to do her pleasure with you when it liketh her. O Jesu\ndefend me, said Alisander, from such pleasure; for I had liefer cut\naway my hangers than I would do her such pleasure. As Jesu help me,\nsaid the damosel, an ye would love me and be ruled by me, I shall make\nyour deliverance with your worship. Tell me, said Alisander, by what\nmeans, and ye shall have my love. Fair knight, said she, this castle of\nright ought to be mine, and I have an uncle the which is a mighty earl,\nhe is Earl of Pase, and of all folks he hateth most Morgan le Fay; and\nI shall send unto him and pray him for my sake to destroy this castle\nfor the evil customs that be used therein; and then will he come and\nset wild-fire on every part of the castle, and I shall get you out at a\nprivy postern, and there shall ye have your horse and your harness. Ye\nsay well, damosel, said Alisander. And then she said: Ye may keep the\nroom of this castle this twelvemonth and a day, then break ye not your\noath. Truly, fair damosel, said Alisander, ye say sooth. And then he\nkissed her, and did to her pleasaunce as it pleased them both at times\nand leisures.\n\nSo anon she sent unto her uncle and bade him come and destroy that\ncastle, for as the book saith, he would have destroyed that castle\nafore time had not that damosel been. When the earl understood her\nletters he sent her word again that on such a day he would come and\ndestroy that castle. So when that day came she showed Alisander a\npostern wherethrough he should flee into a garden, and there he should\nfind his armour and his horse. When the day came that was set, thither\ncame the Earl of Pase with four hundred knights, and set on fire all\nthe parts of the castle, that or they ceased they left not a stone\nstanding. And all this while that the fire was in the castle he abode\nin the garden. And when the fire was done he let make a cry that he\nwould keep that piece of earth thereas the castle of La Beale Regard\nwas a twelvemonth and a day, from all manner knights that would come.\n\nSo it happed there was a duke that hight Ansirus, and he was of the kin\nof Sir Launcelot. And this knight was a great pilgrim, for every third\nyear he would be at Jerusalem. And because he used all his life to go\nin pilgrimage men called him Duke Ansirus the Pilgrim. And this duke\nhad a daughter that hight Alice, that was a passing fair woman, and\nbecause of her father she was called Alice la Beale Pilgrim. And anon\nas she heard of this cry she went unto Arthur\u2019s court, and said openly\nin hearing of many knights, that what knight may overcome that knight\nthat keepeth that piece of earth shall have me and all my lands.\n\nWhen the knights of the Round Table heard her say thus many were glad,\nfor she was passing fair and of great rents. Right so she let cry in\ncastles and towns as fast on her side as Alisander did on his side.\nThen she dressed her pavilion straight by the piece of the earth that\nAlisander kept. So she was not so soon there but there came a knight of\nArthur\u2019s court that hight Sagramore le Desirous, and he proffered to\njoust with Alisander; and they encountered, and Sagramore le Desirous\nbrised his spear upon Sir Alisander, but Sir Alisander smote him so\nhard that he avoided his saddle. And when La Beale Alice saw him joust\nso well, she thought him a passing goodly knight on horseback. And then\nshe leapt out of her pavilion, and took Sir Alisander by the bridle,\nand thus she said: Fair knight, I require thee of thy knighthood show\nme thy visage. I dare well, said Alisander, show my visage. And then he\nput off his helm; and she saw his visage, she said: O sweet Jesu, thee\nI must love, and never other. Then show me your visage, said he.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXXIX. How Alisander met with Alice la Beale Pilgrim, and how\nhe jousted with two knights; and after of him and of Sir Mordred.\n\n\nThen she unwimpled her visage. And when he saw her he said: Here have I\nfound my love and my lady. Truly, fair lady, said he, I promise you to\nbe your knight, and none other that beareth the life. Now, gentle\nknight, said she, tell me your name. My name is, said he, Alisander le\nOrphelin. Now, damosel, tell me your name, said he. My name is, said\nshe, Alice la Beale Pilgrim. And when we be more at our heart\u2019s ease,\nboth ye and I shall tell other of what blood we be come. So there was\ngreat love betwixt them. And as they thus talked there came a knight\nthat hight Harsouse le Berbuse, and asked part of Sir Alisander\u2019s\nspears. Then Sir Alisander encountered with him, and at the first Sir\nAlisander smote him over his horse\u2019s croup. And then there came another\nknight that hight Sir Hewgon, and Sir Alisander smote him down as he\ndid that other. Then Sir Hewgon proffered to do battle on foot. Sir\nAlisander overcame him with three strokes, and there would have slain\nhim had he not yielded him. So then Alisander made both those knights\nto swear to wear none armour in a twelvemonth and a day.\n\nThen Sir Alisander alighted down, and went to rest him and repose him.\nThen the damosel that helped Sir Alisander out of the castle, in her\nplay told Alice all together how he was prisoner in the castle of La\nBeale Regard, and there she told her how she got him out of prison.\nSir, said Alice la Beale Pilgrim, meseemeth ye are much beholding to\nthis maiden. That is truth, said Sir Alisander. And there Alice told\nhim of what blood she was come. Sir, wit ye well, she said, that I am\nof the blood of King Ban, that was father unto Sir Launcelot. Y-wis,\nfair lady, said Alisander, my mother told me that my father was brother\nunto a king, and I nigh cousin unto Sir Tristram.\n\nThen this while came there three knights, that one hight Vains, and the\nother hight Harvis de les Marches, and the third hight Perin de la\nMontaine. And with one spear Sir Alisander smote them down all three,\nand gave them such falls that they had no list to fight upon foot. So\nhe made them to swear to wear none arms in a twelvemonth. So when they\nwere departed Sir Alisander beheld his lady Alice on horseback as he\nstood in her pavilion. And then was he so enamoured upon her that he\nwist not whether he were on horseback or on foot.\n\nRight so came the false knight Sir Mordred, and saw Sir Alisander was\nassotted upon his lady; and therewithal he took his horse by the\nbridle, and led him here and there, and had cast to have led him out of\nthat place to have shamed him. When the damosel that helped him out of\nthat castle saw how shamefully he was led, anon she let arm her, and\nset a shield upon her shoulder; and therewith she mounted upon his\nhorse, and gat a naked sword in her hand, and she thrust unto Alisander\nwith all her might, and she gave him such a buffet that he thought the\nfire flew out of his eyen. And when Alisander felt that stroke he\nlooked about him, and drew his sword. And when she saw that, she fled,\nand so did Mordred into the forest, and the damosel fled into the\npavilion. So when Alisander understood himself how the false knight\nwould have shamed him had not the damosel been then was he wroth with\nhimself that Sir Mordred was so escaped his hands. But then Sir\nAlisander and Alice had good game at the damosel, how sadly she hit him\nupon the helm.\n\nThen Sir Alisander jousted thus day by day, and on foot he did many\nbattles with many knights of King Arthur\u2019s court, and with many knights\nstrangers. Therefore to tell all the battles that he did it were\novermuch to rehearse, for every day within that twelvemonth he had ado\nwith one knight or with other, and some day he had ado with three or\nwith four; and there was never knight that put him to the worse. And at\nthe twelvemonth\u2019s end he departed with his lady, Alice la Beale\nPilgrim. And the damosel would never go from him, and so they went into\ntheir country of Benoye, and lived there in great joy.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XL. How Sir Galahalt did do cry a jousts in Surluse, and Queen\nGuenever\u2019s knights should joust against all that would come.\n\n\nBut as the book saith, King Mark would never stint till he had slain\nhim by treason. And by Alice he gat a child that hight Bellengerus le\nBeuse. And by good fortune he came to the court of King Arthur, and\nproved a passing good knight; and he revenged his father\u2019s death, for\nthe false King Mark slew both Sir Tristram and Alisander falsely and\nfeloniously. And it happed so that Alisander had never grace nor\nfortune to come to King Arthur\u2019s court. For an he had come to Sir\nLauncelot, all knights said that knew him, he was one of the strongest\nknights that was in Arthur\u2019s days, and great dole was made for him. So\nlet we of him pass, and turn we to another tale.\n\nSo it befell that Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, was lord of the\ncountry of Surluse, whereof came many good knights. And this noble\nprince was a passing good man of arms, and ever he held a noble\nfellowship together. And then he came to Arthur\u2019s court and told him\nhis intent, how this was his will, how he would let cry a jousts in the\ncountry of Surluse, the which country was within the lands of King\nArthur, and there he asked leave to let cry a jousts. I will give you\nleave, said King Arthur; but wit thou well, said King Arthur, I may not\nbe there. Sir, said Queen Guenever, please it you to give me leave to\nbe at that jousts. With right good will, said Arthur; for Sir Galahalt,\nthe haut prince, shall have you in governance. Sir, said Galahalt, I\nwill as ye will. Sir, then the queen, I will take with me [Sir\nLauncelot] and such knights as please me best. Do as ye list, said King\nArthur. So anon she commanded Sir Launcelot to make him ready with such\nknights as he thought best.\n\nSo in every good town and castle of this land was made a cry, that in\nthe country of Surluse Sir Galahalt should make a joust that should\nlast eight days, and how the haut prince, with the help of Queen\nGuenever\u2019s knights, should joust against all manner of men that would\ncome. When this cry was known, kings and princes, dukes and earls,\nbarons and noble knights, made them ready to be at that jousts. And at\nthe day of jousting there came in Sir Dinadan disguised, and did many\ngreat deeds of arms.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XLI. How Sir Launcelot fought in the tournament, and how Sir\nPalomides did arms there for a damosel.\n\n\nThen at the request of Queen Guenever and of King Bagdemagus Sir\nLauncelot came into the range, but he was disguised, and that was the\ncause that few folk knew him; and there met with him Sir Ector de\nMaris, his own brother, and either brake their spears upon other to\ntheir hands. And then either gat another spear. And then Sir Launcelot\nsmote down Sir Ector de Maris, his own brother. That saw Sir Bleoberis,\nand he smote Sir Launcelot such a buffet upon the helm that he wist not\nwell where he was. Then Sir Launcelot was wrothy and smote Sir\nBleoberis so sore upon the helm that his head bowed down backward. And\nhe smote eft another buffet, that he avoided his saddle; and so he rode\nby, and thrust forth to the thickest. When the King of Northgalis saw\nSir Ector and Bleoberis lie on the ground then was he wroth, for they\ncame on his party against them of Surluse. So the King of Northgalis\nran to Sir Launcelot, and brake a spear upon him all to pieces.\nTherewith Sir Launcelot overtook the King of Northgalis, and smote him\nsuch a buffet on the helm with his sword that he made him to avoid his\nhorse; and anon the king was horsed again. So both the King Bagdemagus\u2019\nand the King of Northgalis\u2019 party hurled to other; and then began a\nstrong medley, but they of Northgalis were far bigger.\n\nWhen Sir Launcelot saw his party go to the worst he thrang into the\nthickest press with a sword in his hand; and there he smote down on the\nright hand and on the left hand, and pulled down knights and raced off\ntheir helms, that all men had wonder that ever one knight might do such\ndeeds of arms. When Sir Meliagaunce, that was son unto King Bagdemagus,\nsaw how Sir Launcelot fared he marvelled greatly. And when he\nunderstood that it was he, he wist well that he was disguised for his\nsake. Then Sir Meliagaunce prayed a knight to slay Sir Launcelot\u2019s\nhorse, either with sword or with spear. At that time King Bagdemagus\nmet with a knight that hight Sauseise, a good knight, to whom he said:\nNow fair Sauseise, encounter with my son Meliagaunce and give him large\npayment, for I would he were well beaten of thy hands, that he might\ndepart out of this field. And then Sir Sauseise encountered with Sir\nMeliagaunce, and either smote other down. And then they fought on foot,\nand there Sauseise had won Sir Meliagaunce, had there not come rescues.\nSo then the haut prince blew to lodging, and every knight unarmed him\nand went to the great feast.\n\nThen in the meanwhile there came a damosel to the haut prince, and\ncomplained that there was a knight that hight Goneries that withheld\nher all her lands. Then the knight was there present, and cast his\nglove to her or to any that would fight in her name. So the damosel\ntook up the glove all heavily for default of a champion. Then there\ncame a varlet to her and said: Damosel, will ye do after me? Full fain,\nsaid the damosel. Then go you unto such a knight that lieth here beside\nin an hermitage, and that followeth the Questing Beast, and pray him to\ntake the battle upon him, and anon I wot well he will grant you.\n\nSo anon she took her palfrey, and within a while she found that knight,\nthat was Sir Palomides. And when she required him he armed him and rode\nwith her, and made her to go to the haut prince, and to ask leave for\nher knight to do battle. I will well, said the haut prince. Then the\nknights were ready in the field to joust on horseback; and either gat a\nspear in their hands, and met so fiercely together that their spears\nall to-shivered. Then they flang out swords, and Sir Palomides smote\nSir Goneries down to the earth. And then he raced off his helm and\nsmote off his head. Then they went to supper, and the damosel loved\nPalomides as paramour, but the book saith she was of his kin. So then\nPalomides disguised himself in this manner, in his shield he bare the\nQuesting Beast, and in all his trappings. And when he was thus ready,\nhe sent to the haut prince to give him leave to joust with other\nknights, but he was adoubted of Sir Launcelot. The haut prince sent him\nword again that he should be welcome, and that Sir Launcelot should not\njoust with him. Then Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, let cry what knight\nsomever he were that smote down Sir Palomides should have his damosel\nto himself.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XLII. How Sir Galahalt and Palomides fought together, and of\nSir Dinadan and Sir Galahalt.\n\n\nHere beginneth the second day. Anon as Sir Palomides came into the\nfield, Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, was at the range end, and met\nwith Sir Palomides, and he with him, with great spears. And then they\ncame so hard together that their spears all to-shivered, but Sir\nGalahalt smote him so hard that he bare him backward over his horse,\nbut yet he lost not his stirrups. Then they drew their swords and\nlashed together many sad strokes, that many worshipful knights left\ntheir business to behold them. But at the last Sir Galahalt, the haut\nprince, smote a stroke of might unto Palomides, sore upon the helm; but\nthe helm was so hard that the sword might not bite, but slipped and\nsmote off the head of the horse of Sir Palomides. When the haut prince\nwist and saw the good knight fall unto the earth he was ashamed of that\nstroke. And therewith he alighted down off his own horse, and prayed\nthe good knight, Palomides, to take that horse of his gift, and to\nforgive him that deed. Sir, said Palomides, I thank you of your great\ngoodness, for ever of a man of worship a knight shall never have\ndisworship; and so he mounted upon that horse, and the haut prince had\nanother anon. Now, said the haut prince, I release to you that maiden,\nfor ye have won her. Ah, said Palomides, the damosel and I be at your\ncommandment.\n\nSo they departed, and Sir Galahalt did great deeds of arms. And right\nso came Dinadan and encountered with Sir Galahalt, and either came to\nother so fast with their spears that their spears brake to their hands.\nBut Dinadan had weened the haut prince had been more weary than he was.\nAnd then he smote many sad strokes at the haut prince; but when Dinadan\nsaw he might not get him to the earth he said: My lord, I pray you\nleave me, and take another. The haut prince knew not Dinadan, and left\ngoodly for his fair words. And so they departed; but soon there came\nanother and told the haut prince that it was Dinadan. Forsooth, said\nthe prince, therefore am I heavy that he is so escaped from me, for\nwith his mocks and japes now shall I never have done with him. And then\nGalahalt rode fast after him, and bade him: Abide, Dinadan, for King\nArthur\u2019s sake. Nay, said Dinadan, so God me help, we meet no more\ntogether this day. Then in that wrath the haut prince met with\nMeliagaunce, and he smote him in the throat that an he had fallen his\nneck had broken; and with the same spear he smote down another knight.\nThen came in they of Northgalis and many strangers, and were like to\nhave put them of Surluse to the worse, for Sir Galahalt, the haut\nprince, had ever much in hand. So there came the good knight, Semound\nthe Valiant, with forty knights, and he beat them all aback. Then the\nQueen Guenever and Sir Launcelot let blow to lodging, and every knight\nunarmed him, and dressed him to the feast.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XLIII. How Sir Archade appealed Sir Palomides of treason, and\nhow Sir Palomides slew him.\n\n\nWhen Palomides was unarmed he asked lodging for himself and the\ndamosel. Anon the haut prince commanded them to lodging. And he was not\nso soon in his lodging but there came a knight that hight Archade, he\nwas brother unto Goneries that Palomides slew afore in the damosel\u2019s\nquarrel. And this knight, Archade, called Sir Palomides traitor, and\nappealed him for the death of his brother. By the leave of the haut\nprince, said Palomides, I shall answer thee. When Sir Galahalt\nunderstood their quarrel he bade them go to dinner: And as soon as ye\nhave dined look that either knight be ready in the field. So when they\nhad dined they were armed both, and took their horses, and the queen,\nand the prince, and Sir Launcelot, were set to behold them; and so they\nlet run their horses, and there Sir Palomides bare Archade on his spear\nover his horse\u2019s tail. And then Palomides alighted and drew his sword,\nbut Sir Archade might not arise; and there Sir Palomides raced off his\nhelm, and smote off his head. Then the haut prince and Queen Guenever\nwent unto supper. Then King Bagdemagus sent away his son Meliagaunce\nbecause Sir Launcelot should not meet with him, for he hated Sir\nLauncelot, and that knew he not.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XLIV. Of the third day, and how Sir Palomides jousted with Sir\nLamorak, and other things.\n\n\nNow beginneth the third day of jousting; and at that day King\nBagdemagus made him ready; and there came against him King Marsil, that\nhad in gift an island of Sir Galahalt the haut prince; and this island\nhad the name Pomitain. Then it befell that King Bagdemagus and King\nMarsil of Pomitain met together with spears, and King Marsil had such a\nbuffet that he fell over his horse\u2019s croup. Then came there in a knight\nof King Marsil to revenge his lord, and King Bagdemagus smote him down,\nhorse and man, to the earth. So there came an earl that hight Arrouse,\nand Sir Breuse, and an hundred knights with them of Pomitain, and the\nKing of Northgalis was with them; and all these were against them of\nSurluse. And then there began great battle, and many knights were cast\nunder horses\u2019 feet. And ever King Bagdemagus did best, for he first\nbegan, and ever he held on. Gaheris, Gawaine\u2019s brother, smote ever at\nthe face of King Bagdemagus; and at the last King Bagdemagus hurtled\ndown Gaheris, horse and man.\n\nThen by adventure Sir Palomides, the good knight, met with Sir Blamore\nde Ganis, Sir Bleoberis\u2019 brother. And either smote other with great\nspears, that both their horses and knights fell to the earth. But Sir\nBlamore had such a fall that he had almost broken his neck, for the\nblood brast out at nose, mouth, and his ears, but at the last he\nrecovered well by good surgeons. Then there came in the Duke Chaleins\nof Clarance; and in his governance there came a knight that hight Elis\nla Noire; and there encountered with him King Bagdemagus, and he smote\nElis that he made him to avoid his saddle. So the Duke Chaleins of\nClarance did there great deeds of arms, and of so late as he came in\nthe third day there was no man did so well except King Bagdemagus and\nSir Palomides, that the prize was given that day to King Bagdemagus.\nAnd then they blew unto lodging, and unarmed them, and went to the\nfeast. Right so came Dinadan, and mocked and japed with King Bagdemagus\nthat all knights laughed at him, for he was a fine japer, and well\nloving all good knights.\n\nSo anon as they had dined there came a varlet bearing four spears on\nhis back; and he came to Palomides, and said thus: Here is a knight by\nhath sent you the choice of four spears, and requireth you for your\nlady\u2019s sake to take that one half of these spears, and joust with him\nin the field. Tell him, said Palomides, I will not fail him. When Sir\nGalahalt wist of this, he bade Palomides make him ready. So the Queen\nGuenever, the haut prince, and Sir Launcelot, they were set upon\nscaffolds to give the judgment of these two knights. Then Sir Palomides\nand the strange knight ran so eagerly together that their spears brake\nto their hands. Anon withal either of them took a great spear in his\nhand and all to-shivered them in pieces. And then either took a greater\nspear, and then the knight smote down Sir Palomides, horse and man, to\nthe earth. And as he would have passed over him the strange knight\u2019s\nhorse stumbled and fell down upon Palomides. Then they drew their\nswords and lashed together wonderly sore a great while.\n\nThen the haut prince and Sir Launcelot said they saw never two knights\nfight better than they did; but ever the strange knight doubled his\nstrokes, and put Palomides aback; therewithal the haut prince cried:\nHo: and then they went to lodging. And when they were unarmed they knew\nit was the noble knight Sir Lamorak. When Sir Launcelot knew that it\nwas Sir Lamorak he made much of him, for above all earthly men he loved\nhim best except Sir Tristram. Then Queen Guenever commended him, and so\ndid all other good knights make much of him, except Sir Gawaine\u2019s\nbrethren. Then Queen Guenever said unto Sir Launcelot: Sir, I require\nyou that an ye joust any more, that ye joust with none of the blood of\nmy lord Arthur. So he promised he would not as at that time.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XLV. Of the fourth day, and of many great feats of arms.\n\n\nHere beginneth the fourth day. Then came into the field the King with\nthe Hundred Knights, and all they of Northgalis, and the Duke Chaleins\nof Clarance, and King Marsil of Pomitain, and there came Safere,\nPalomides\u2019 brother, and there he told him tidings of his mother. And\nhis name was called the Earl, and so he appealed him afore King Arthur:\nFor he made war upon our father and mother, and there I slew him in\nplain battle. So they went into the field, and the damosel with them;\nand there came to encounter again them Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, and Sir\nEctor de Maris. Sir Palomides encountered with Sir Bleoberis, and\neither smote other down. And in the same wise did Sir Safere and Sir\nEctor, and the two couples did battle on foot. Then came in Sir\nLamorak, and he encountered with the King with the Hundred Knights, and\nsmote him quite over his horse\u2019s tail. And in the same wise he served\nthe King of Northgalis, and also he smote down King Marsil. And so or\never he stint he smote down with his spear and with his sword thirty\nknights. When Duke Chaleins saw Lamorak do so great prowess he would\nnot meddle with him for shame; and then he charged all his knights in\npain of death that none of you touch him; for it were shame to all good\nknights an that knight were shamed.\n\nThen the two kings gathered them together, and all they set upon Sir\nLamorak; and he failed them not, but rushed here and there, smiting on\nthe right hand and on the left, and raced off many helms, so that the\nhaut prince and Queen Guenever said they saw never knight do such deeds\nof arms on horseback. Alas, said Launcelot to King Bagdemagus, I will\narm me and help Sir Lamorak. And I will ride with you, said King\nBagdemagus. And when they two were horsed they came to Sir Lamorak that\nstood among thirty knights; and well was him that might reach him a\nbuffet, and ever he smote again mightily. Then came there into the\npress Sir Launcelot, and he threw down Sir Mador de la Porte. And with\nthe truncheon of that spear he threw down many knights. And King\nBagdemagus smote on the left hand and on the right hand marvellously\nwell. And then the three kings fled aback. Therewithal then Sir\nGalahalt let blow to lodging, and all the heralds gave Sir Lamorak the\nprize. And all this while fought Palomides, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Safere,\nSir Ector on foot; never were there four knights evener matched. And\nthen they were departed, and had unto their lodging, and unarmed them,\nand so they went to the great feast.\n\nBut when Sir Lamorak was come into the court Queen Guenever took him in\nher arms and said: Sir, well have ye done this day. Then came the haut\nprince, and he made of him great joy, and so did Dinadan, for he wept\nfor joy; but the joy that Sir Launcelot made of Sir Lamorak there might\nno man tell. Then they went unto rest, and on the morn the haut prince\nlet blow unto the field.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XLVI. Of the Fifth day, and how Sir Lamorak behaved him.\n\n\nHere beginneth the fifth day. So it befell that Sir Palomides came in\nthe morntide, and proffered to joust thereas King Arthur was in a\ncastle there besides Surluse; and there encountered with him a\nworshipful duke, and there Sir Palomides smote him over his horse\u2019s\ncroup. And this duke was uncle unto King Arthur. Then Sir Elise\u2019s son\nrode unto Palomides, and Palomides served Elise in the same wise. When\nSir Uwaine saw this he was wroth. Then he took his horse and\nencountered with Sir Palomides, and Palomides smote him so hard that he\nwent to the earth, horse and man. And for to make a short tale, he\nsmote down three brethren of Sir Gawaine, that is for to say Mordred,\nGaheris, and Agravaine. O Jesu, said Arthur, this is a great despite of\na Saracen that he shall smite down my blood. And therewithal King\nArthur was wood wroth, and thought to have made him ready to joust.\n\nThat espied Sir Lamorak, that Arthur and his blood were discomfit; and\nanon he was ready, and asked Palomides if he would any more joust. Why\nshould I not? said Palomides. Then they hurtled together, and brake\ntheir spears, and all to-shivered them, that all the castle rang of\ntheir dints. Then either gat a greater spear in his hand, and they came\nso fiercely together; but Sir Palomides\u2019 spear all to-brast and Sir\nLamorak\u2019s did hold. Therewithal Sir Palomides lost his stirrups and lay\nupright on his horse\u2019s back. And then Sir Palomides returned again and\ntook his damosel, and Sir Safere returned his way.\n\nSo, when he was departed, King Arthur came to Sir Lamorak and thanked\nhim of his goodness, and prayed him to tell him his name. Sir, said\nLamorak, wit thou well, I owe you my service, but as at this time I\nwill not abide here, for I see of mine enemies many about me. Alas,\nsaid Arthur, now wot I well it is Sir Lamorak de Galis. O Lamorak,\nabide with me, and by my crown I shall never fail thee: and not so\nhardy in Gawaine\u2019s head, nor none of his brethren, to do thee any\nwrong. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, wrong have they done me, and to you both.\nThat is truth, said the king, for they slew their own mother and my\nsister, the which me sore grieveth: it had been much fairer and better\nthat ye had wedded her, for ye are a king\u2019s son as well as they. O\nJesu, said the noble knight Sir Lamorak unto Arthur, her death shall I\nnever forget. I promise you, and make mine avow unto God, I shall\nrevenge her death as soon as I see time convenable. And if it were not\nat the reverence of your highness I should now have been revenged upon\nSir Gawaine and his brethren. Truly, said Arthur, I will make you at\naccord. Sir, said Lamorak, as at this time I may not abide with you,\nfor I must to the jousts, where is Sir Launcelot, and the haut prince\nSir Galahalt.\n\nThen there was a damosel that was daughter to King Bandes. And there\nwas a Saracen knight that hight Corsabrin, and he loved the damosel,\nand in no wise he would suffer her to be married; for ever this\nCorsabrin noised her, and named her that she was out of her mind; and\nthus he let her that she might not be married.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XLVII. How Sir Palomides fought with Corsabrin for a lady, and\nhow Palomides slew Corsabrin.\n\n\nSo by fortune this damosel heard tell that Palomides did much for\ndamosels\u2019 sake; so she sent to him a pensel, and prayed him to fight\nwith Sir Corsabrin for her love, and he should have her and her lands\nof her father\u2019s that should fall to her. Then the damosel sent unto\nCorsabrin, and bade him go unto Sir Palomides that was a paynim as well\nas he, and she gave him warning that she had sent him her pensel, and\nif he might overcome Palomides she would wed him. When Corsabrin wist\nof her deeds then was he wood wroth and angry, and rode unto Surluse\nwhere the haut prince was, and there he found Sir Palomides ready, the\nwhich had the pensel. So there they waged battle either with other\nafore Galahalt. Well, said the haut prince, this day must noble knights\njoust, and at-after dinner we shall see how ye can speed.\n\nThen they blew to jousts; and in came Dinadan, and met with Sir Gerin,\na good knight, and he threw him down over his horse\u2019s croup; and Sir\nDinadan overthrew four knights more; and there he did great deeds of\narms, for he was a good knight, but he was a scoffer and a japer, and\nthe merriest knight among fellowship that was that time living. And he\nhad such a custom that he loved every good knight, and every good\nknight loved him again. So then when the haut prince saw Dinadan do so\nwell, he sent unto Sir Launcelot and bade him strike down Sir Dinadan:\nAnd when that ye have done so bring him afore me and the noble Queen\nGuenever. Then Sir Launcelot did as he was required. Then Sir Lamorak\nand he smote down many knights, and raced off helms, and drove all the\nknights afore them. And so Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Dinadan, and\nmade his men to unarm him, and so brought him to the queen and the haut\nprince, and they laughed at Dinadan so sore that they might not stand.\nWell, said Sir Dinadan, yet have I no shame, for the old shrew, Sir\nLauncelot, smote me down. So they went to dinner, [and] all the court\nhad good sport at Dinadan.\n\nThen when the dinner was done they blew to the field to behold Sir\nPalomides and Corsabrin. Sir Palomides pight his pensel in midst of the\nfield; and then they hurtled together with their spears as it were\nthunder, and either smote other to the earth. And then they pulled out\ntheir swords, and dressed their shields, and lashed together mightily\nas mighty knights, that well-nigh there was no piece of harness would\nhold them, for this Corsabrin was a passing felonious knight.\nCorsabrin, said Palomides, wilt thou release me yonder damosel and the\npensel? Then was Corsabrin wroth out of measure, and gave Palomides\nsuch a buffet that he kneeled on his knee. Then Palomides arose\nlightly, and smote him upon the helm that he fell down right to the\nearth. And therewith he raced off his helm and said: Corsabrin, yield\nthee or else thou shalt die of my hands. Fie on thee, said Corsabrin,\ndo thy worst. Then he smote off his head. And therewithal came a stink\nof his body when the soul departed, that there might nobody abide the\nsavour. So was the corpse had away and buried in a wood, because he was\na paynim. Then they blew unto lodging, and Palomides was unarmed.\n\nThen he went unto Queen Guenever, to the haut prince, and to Sir\nLauncelot. Sir, said the haut prince, here have ye seen this day a\ngreat miracle by Corsabrin, what savour there was when the soul\ndeparted from the body. Therefore, sir, we will require you to take the\nbaptism upon you, and I promise you all knights will set the more by\nyou, and say more worship by you. Sir, said Palomides, I will that ye\nall know that into this land I came to be christened, and in my heart I\nam christened and christened will I be. But I have made such an avow\nthat I may not be christened till I have done seven true battles for\nJesu\u2019s sake, and then will I be christened; and I trust God will take\nmine intent, for I mean truly. Then Sir Palomides prayed Queen Guenever\nand the haut prince to sup with him. And so they did, both Sir\nLauncelot and Sir Lamorak, and many other good knights. So on the morn\nthey heard their mass, and blew the field, and then knights made them\nready.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XLVIII. Of the sixth day, and what then was done.\n\n\nHere beginneth the sixth day. Then came therein Sir Gaheris, and there\nencountered with him Sir Ossaise of Surluse, and Sir Gaheris smote him\nover his horse\u2019s croup. And then either party encountered with other,\nand there were many spears broken, and many knights cast under feet. So\nthere came in Sir Dornard and Sir Aglovale, that were brethren unto Sir\nLamorak, and they met with other two knights, and either smote other so\nhard that all four knights and horses fell to the earth. When Sir\nLamorak saw his two brethren down he was wroth out of measure, and then\nhe gat a great spear in his hand, and therewithal he smote down four\ngood knights, and then his spear brake. Then he pulled out his sword,\nand smote about him on the right hand and on the left hand, and raced\noff helms and pulled down knights, that all men marvelled of such deeds\nof arms as he did, for he fared so that many knights fled. Then he\nhorsed his brethren again, and said: Brethren, ye ought to be ashamed\nto fall so off your horses! what is a knight but when he is on\nhorseback? I set not by a knight when he is on foot, for all battles on\nfoot are but pillers\u2019 battles. For there should no knight fight on foot\nbut if it were for treason, or else he were driven thereto by force;\ntherefore, brethren, sit fast on your horses, or else fight never more\nafore me.\n\nWith that came in the Duke Chaleins of Clarance, and there encountered\nwith him the Earl Ulbawes of Surluse, and either of them smote other\ndown. Then the knights of both parties horsed their lords again, for\nSir Ector and Bleoberis were on foot, waiting on the Duke Chaleins. And\nthe King with the Hundred Knights was with the Earl of Ulbawes. With\nthat came Gaheris and lashed to the King with the Hundred Knights, and\nhe to him again. Then came the Duke Chaleins and departed them.\n\nThen they blew to lodging, and the knights unarmed them and drew them\nto their dinner; and at the midst of their dinner in came Dinadan and\nbegan to rail. Then he beheld the haut prince, that seemed wroth with\nsome fault that he saw; for he had a custom he loved no fish, and\nbecause he was served with fish, the which he hated, therefore he was\nnot merry. When Sir Dinadan had espied the haut prince, he espied where\nwas a fish with a great head, and that he gat betwixt two dishes, and\nserved the haut prince with that fish. And then he said thus: Sir\nGalahalt, well may I liken you to a wolf, for he will never eat fish,\nbut flesh; then the haut prince laughed at his words. Well, well, said\nDinadan to Launcelot, what devil do ye in this country, for here may no\nmean knights win no worship for thee. Sir Dinadan, said Launcelot, I\nensure thee I shall no more meet with thee nor with thy great spear,\nfor I may not sit in my saddle when that spear hitteth me. And if I be\nhappy I shall beware of that boistous body that thou bearest. Well,\nsaid Launcelot, make good watch ever: God forbid that ever we meet but\nif it be at a dish of meat. Then laughed the queen and the haut prince,\nthat they might not sit at their table; thus they made great joy till\non the morn, and then they heard mass, and blew to field. And Queen\nGuenever and all the estates were set, and judges armed clean with\ntheir shields to keep the right.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XLIX. Of the seventh battle, and how Sir Launcelot, being\ndisguised like a maid, smote down Sir Dinadan.\n\n\nNow beginneth the seventh battle. There came in the Duke Cambines, and\nthere encountered with him Sir Aristance, that was counted a good\nknight, and they met so hard that either bare other down, horse and\nman. Then came there the Earl of Lambaile and helped the duke again to\nhorse. Then came there Sir Ossaise of Surluse, and he smote the Earl\nLambaile down from his horse. Then began they to do great deeds of\narms, and many spears were broken, and many knights were cast to the\nearth. Then the King of Northgalis and the Earl Ulbawes smote together\nthat all the judges thought it was like mortal death. This meanwhile\nQueen Guenever, and the haut prince, and Sir Launcelot, made there Sir\nDinadan make him ready to joust. I would, said Dinadan, ride into the\nfield, but then one of you twain will meet with me. Per dieu, said the\nhaut prince, ye may see how we sit here as judges with our shields, and\nalways mayest thou behold whether we sit here or not.\n\nSo Sir Dinadan departed and took his horse, and met with many knights,\nand did passing well. And as he was departed, Sir Launcelot disguised\nhimself, and put upon his armour a maiden\u2019s garment freshly attired.\nThen Sir Launcelot made Sir Galihodin to lead him through the range,\nand all men had wonder what damosel it was. And so as Sir Dinadan came\ninto the range, Sir Launcelot, that was in the damosel\u2019s array, gat\nGalihodin\u2019s spear, and ran unto Sir Dinadan. And always Sir Dinadan\nlooked up thereas Sir Launcelot was, and then he saw one sit in the\nstead of Sir Launcelot, armed. But when Dinadan saw a manner of a\ndamosel he dread perils that it was Sir Launcelot disguised, but Sir\nLauncelot came on him so fast that he smote him over his horse\u2019s croup;\nand then with great scorns they gat Sir Dinadan into the forest there\nbeside, and there they dispoiled him unto his shirt, and put upon him a\nwoman\u2019s garment, and so brought him into the field: and so they blew\nunto lodging. And every knight went and unarmed them. Then was Sir\nDinadan brought in among them all. And when Queen Guenever saw Sir\nDinadan brought so among them all, then she laughed that she fell down,\nand so did all that there were. Well, said Dinadan to Launcelot, thou\nart so false that I can never beware of thee. Then by all the assent\nthey gave Sir Launcelot the prize, the next was Sir Lamorak de Galis,\nthe third was Sir Palomides, the fourth was King Bagdemagus; so these\nfour knights had the prize, and there was great joy, and great nobley\nin all the court.\n\nAnd on the morn Queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot departed unto King\nArthur, but in no wise Sir Lamorak would not go with them. I shall\nundertake, said Sir Launcelot, that an ye will go with us King Arthur\nshall charge Sir Gawaine and his brethren never to do you hurt. As for\nthat, said Sir Lamorak, I will not trust Sir Gawaine nor none of his\nbrethren; and wit ye well, Sir Launcelot, an it were not for my lord\nKing Arthur\u2019s sake, I should match Sir Gawaine and his brethren well\nenough. But to say that I should trust them, that shall I never, and\ntherefore I pray you recommend me unto my lord Arthur, and unto all my\nlords of the Round Table. And in what place that ever I come I shall do\nyou service to my power: and sir, it is but late that I revenged that,\nwhen my lord Arthur\u2019s kin were put to the worse by Sir Palomides. Then\nSir Lamorak departed from Sir Launcelot, and either wept at their\ndeparting.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER L. How by treason Sir Tristram was brought to a tournament for\nto have been slain, and how he was put in prison.\n\n\nNow turn we from this matter, and speak we of Sir Tristram, of whom\nthis book is principally of, and leave we the king and the queen, Sir\nLauncelot, and Sir Lamorak, and here beginneth the treason of King\nMark, that he ordained against Sir Tristram. There was cried by the\ncoasts of Cornwall a great tournament and jousts, and all was done by\nSir Galahalt the haut prince and King Bagdemagus, to the intent to slay\nLauncelot, or else utterly destroy him and shame him, because Sir\nLauncelot had always the higher degree, therefore this prince and this\nking made this jousts against Sir Launcelot. And thus their counsel was\ndiscovered unto King Mark, whereof he was full glad.\n\nThen King Mark bethought him that he would have Sir Tristram unto that\ntournament disguised that no man should know him, to that intent that\nthe haut prince should ween that Sir Tristram were Sir Launcelot. So at\nthese jousts came in Sir Tristram. And at that time Sir Launcelot was\nnot there, but when they saw a knight disguised do such deeds of arms,\nthey weened it had been Sir Launcelot. And in especial King Mark said\nit was Sir Launcelot plainly. Then they set upon him, both King\nBagdemagus, and the haut prince, and their knights, that it was wonder\nthat ever Sir Tristram might endure that pain. Notwithstanding for all\nthe pain that he had, Sir Tristram won the degree at that tournament,\nand there he hurt many knights and bruised them, and they hurt him and\nbruised him wonderly sore. So when the jousts were all done they knew\nwell that it was Sir Tristram de Liones; and all that were on King\nMark\u2019s party were glad that Sir Tristram was hurt, and the remnant were\nsorry of his hurt; for Sir Tristram was not so behated as was Sir\nLauncelot within the realm of England.\n\nThen came King Mark unto Sir Tristram and said: Fair nephew, I am sorry\nof your hurts. Gramercy my lord, said Sir Tristram. Then King Mark made\nSir Tristram to be put in an horse bier in great sign of love, and\nsaid: Fair cousin, I shall be your leech myself. And so he rode forth\nwith Sir Tristram, and brought him to a castle by daylight. And then\nKing Mark made Sir Tristram to eat. And then after he gave him a drink,\nthe which as soon as he had drunk he fell asleep. And when it was night\nhe made him to be carried to another castle, and there he put him in a\nstrong prison, and there he ordained a man and a woman to give him his\nmeat and drink. So there he was a great while.\n\nThen was Sir Tristram missed, and no creature wist where he was become.\nWhen La Beale Isoud heard how he was missed, privily she went unto Sir\nSadok, and prayed him to espy where was Sir Tristram. Then when Sadok\nwist how Sir Tristram was missed, and anon espied that he was put in\nprison by King Mark and the traitors of Magouns, then Sadok and two of\nhis cousins laid them in an ambushment, fast by the Castle of Tintagil,\nin arms. And as by fortune, there came riding King Mark and four of his\nnephews, and a certain of the traitors of Magouns. When Sir Sadok\nespied them he brake out of the bushment, and set there upon them. And\nwhen King Mark espied Sir Sadok he fled as fast as he might, and there\nSir Sadok slew all the four nephews unto King Mark. But these traitors\nof Magouns slew one of Sadok\u2019s cousins with a great wound in the neck,\nbut Sadok smote the other to the death. Then Sir Sadok rode upon his\nway unto a castle that was called Liones, and there he espied of the\ntreason and felony of King Mark. So they of that castle rode with Sir\nSadok till that they came to a castle that hight Arbray, and there in\nthe town they found Sir Dinas the Seneschal, that was a good knight.\nBut when Sir Sadok had told Sir Dinas of all the treason of King Mark\nhe defied such a king, and said he would give up his lands that he held\nof him. And when he said these words all manner knights said as Sir\nDinas said. Then by his advice and of Sir Sadok\u2019s, he let stuff all the\ntowns and castles within the country of Liones, and assembled all the\npeople that they might make.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LI. How King Mark let do counterfeit letters from the Pope, and\nhow Sir Percivale delivered Sir Tristram out of prison.\n\n\nNow turn we unto King Mark, that when he was escaped from Sir Sadok he\nrode unto the Castle of Tintagil, and there he made great cry and\nnoise, and cried unto harness all that might bear arms. Then they\nsought and found where were dead four cousins of King Mark\u2019s, and the\ntraitor of Magouns. Then the king let inter them in a chapel. Then the\nking let cry in all the country that held of him, to go unto arms, for\nhe understood to the war he must needs. When King Mark heard and\nunderstood how Sir Sadok and Sir Dinas were arisen in the country of\nLiones he remembered of wiles and treason. Lo thus he did: he let make\nand counterfeit letters from the Pope, and did make a strange clerk to\nbear them unto King Mark; the which letters specified that King Mark\nshould make him ready, upon pain of cursing, with his host to come to\nthe Pope, to help to go to Jerusalem, for to make war upon the\nSaracens.\n\nWhen this clerk was come by the mean of the king, anon withal King Mark\nsent these letters unto Sir Tristram and bade him say thus: that an he\nwould go war upon the miscreants, he should be had out of prison, and\nto have all his power. When Sir Tristram understood this letter, then\nhe said thus to the clerk: Ah, King Mark, ever hast thou been a\ntraitor, and ever will be; but, Clerk, said Sir Tristram, say thou thus\nunto King Mark: Since the Apostle Pope hath sent for him, bid him go\nthither himself; for tell him, traitor king as he is, I will not go at\nhis commandment, get I out of prison as I may, for I see I am well\nrewarded for my true service. Then the clerk returned unto King Mark,\nand told him of the answer of Sir Tristram. Well, said King Mark, yet\nshall he be beguiled. So he went into his chamber, and counterfeit\nletters; and the letters specified that the Pope desired Sir Tristram\nto come himself, to make war upon the miscreants. When the clerk was\ncome again to Sir Tristram and took him these letters, then Sir\nTristram beheld these letters, and anon espied they were of King Mark\u2019s\ncounterfeiting. Ah, said Sir Tristram, false hast thou been ever, King\nMark, and so wilt thou end. Then the clerk departed from Sir Tristram\nand came to King Mark again.\n\nBy then there were come four wounded knights within the Castle of\nTintagil, and one of them his neck was nigh broken in twain. Another\nhad his arm stricken away, the third was borne through with a spear,\nthe fourth had his teeth stricken in twain. And when they came afore\nKing Mark they cried and said: King, why fleest thou not, for all this\ncountry is arisen clearly against thee? Then was King Mark wroth out of\nmeasure.\n\nAnd in the meanwhile there came into the country Sir Percivale de Galis\nto seek Sir Tristram. And when he heard that Sir Tristram was in\nprison, Sir Percivale made clearly the deliverance of Sir Tristram by\nhis knightly means. And when he was so delivered he made great joy of\nSir Percivale, and so each one of other. Sir Tristram said unto Sir\nPercivale: An ye will abide in these marches I will ride with you. Nay,\nsaid Percivale, in this country I may not tarry, for I must needs into\nWales. So Sir Percivale departed from Sir Tristram, and rode straight\nunto King Mark, and told him how he had delivered Sir Tristram; and\nalso he told the king that he had done himself great shame for to put\nSir Tristram in prison, for he is now the knight of most renown in this\nworld living. And wit thou well the noblest knights of the world love\nSir Tristram, and if he will make war upon you ye may not abide it.\nThat is truth, said King Mark, but I may not love Sir Tristram because\nhe loveth my queen and my wife, La Beale Isoud. Ah, fie for shame, said\nSir Percivale, say ye never so more. Are ye not uncle unto Sir\nTristram, and he your nephew? Ye should never think that so noble a\nknight as Sir Tristram is, that he would do himself so great a villainy\nto hold his uncle\u2019s wife; howbeit, said Sir Percivale, he may love your\nqueen sinless, because she is called one of the fairest ladies of the\nworld.\n\nThen Sir Percivale departed from King Mark. So when he was departed\nKing Mark bethought him of more treason: notwithstanding King Mark\ngranted Sir Percivale never by no manner of means to hurt Sir Tristram.\nSo anon King Mark sent unto Sir Dinas the Seneschal that he should put\ndown all the people that he had raised, for he sent him an oath that he\nwould go himself unto the Pope of Rome to war upon the miscreants; and\nthis is a fairer war than thus to arise the people against your king.\nWhen Sir Dinas understood that King Mark would go upon the miscreants,\nthen Sir Dinas in all the haste put down all the people; and when the\npeople were departed every man to his home, then King Mark espied where\nwas Sir Tristram with La Beale Isoud; and there by treason King Mark\nlet take him and put him in prison, contrary to his promise that he\nmade unto Sir Percivale.\n\nWhen Queen Isoud understood that Sir Tristram was in prison she made as\ngreat sorrow as ever made lady or gentlewoman. Then Sir Tristram sent a\nletter unto La Beale Isoud, and prayed her to be his good lady; and if\nit pleased her to make a vessel ready for her and him, he would go with\nher unto the realm of Logris, that is this land. When La Beale Isoud\nunderstood Sir Tristram\u2019s letters and his intent, she sent him another,\nand bade him be of good comfort, for she would do make the vessel\nready, and all thing to purpose.\n\nThen La Beale Isoud sent unto Sir Dinas, and to Sadok, and prayed them\nin anywise to take King Mark, and put him in prison, unto the time that\nshe and Sir Tristram were departed unto the realm of Logris. When Sir\nDinas the Seneschal understood the treason of King Mark he promised her\nagain, and sent her word that King Mark should be put in prison. And as\nthey devised it so it was done. And then Sir Tristram was delivered out\nof prison; and anon in all the haste Queen Isoud and Sir Tristram went\nand took their counsel with that they would have with them when they\ndeparted.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LII. How Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud came unto England, and\nhow Sir Launcelot brought them to Joyous Gard.\n\n\nThen La Beale Isoud and Sir Tristram took their vessel, and came by\nwater into this land. And so they were not in this land four days but\nthere came a cry of a jousts and tournament that King Arthur let make.\nWhen Sir Tristram heard tell of that tournament he disguised himself,\nand La Beale Isoud, and rode unto that tournament. And when he came\nthere he saw many knights joust and tourney; and so Sir Tristram\ndressed him to the range, and to make short conclusion, he overthrew\nfourteen knights of the Round Table. When Sir Launcelot saw these\nknights thus overthrown, Sir Launcelot dressed him to Sir Tristram.\nThat saw La Beale Isoud how Sir Launcelot was come into the field. Then\nLa Beale Isoud sent unto Sir Launcelot a ring, and bade him wit that it\nwas Sir Tristram de Liones. When Sir Launcelot under stood that there\nwas Sir Tristram he was full glad, and would not joust. Then Sir\nLauncelot espied whither Sir Tristram yede, and after him he rode; and\nthen either made of other great joy. And so Sir Launcelot brought Sir\nTristram and La Beale Isoud unto Joyous Gard, that was his own castle,\nthat he had won with his own hands. And there Sir Launcelot put them in\nto wield for their own. And wit ye well that castle was garnished and\nfurnished for a king and a queen royal there to have sojourned. And Sir\nLauncelot charged all his people to honour them and love them as they\nwould do himself.\n\nSo Sir Launcelot departed unto King Arthur; and then he told Queen\nGuenever how he that jousted so well at the last tournament was Sir\nTristram. And there he told her how he had with him La Beale Isoud\nmaugre King Mark, and so Queen Guenever told all this unto King Arthur.\nWhen King Arthur wist that Sir Tristram was escaped and come from King\nMark, and had brought La Beale Isoud with him, then was he passing\nglad. So because of Sir Tristram King Arthur let make a cry, that on\nMay Day should be a jousts before the castle of Lonazep; and that\ncastle was fast by Joyous Gard. And thus Arthur devised, that all the\nknights of this land, and of Cornwall, and of North Wales, should joust\nagainst all these countries, Ireland, Scotland, and the remnant of\nWales, and the country of Gore, and Surluse, and of Listinoise, and\nthey of Northumberland, and all they that held lands of Arthur on this\nhalf the sea. When this cry was made many knights were glad and many\nwere unglad. Sir, said Launcelot unto Arthur, by this cry that ye have\nmade ye will put us that be about you in great jeopardy, for there be\nmany knights that have great envy to us; therefore when we shall meet\nat the day of jousts there will be hard shift among us. As for that,\nsaid Arthur, I care not; there shall we prove who shall be best of his\nhands. So when Sir Launcelot understood wherefore King Arthur made this\njousting, then he made such purveyance that La Beale Isoud should\nbehold the jousts in a secret place that was honest for her estate.\n\nNow turn we unto Sir Tristram and to La Beale Isoud, how they made\ngreat joy daily together with all manner of mirths that they could\ndevise; and every day Sir Tristram would go ride a-hunting, for Sir\nTristram was that time called the best chaser of the world, and the\nnoblest blower of an horn of all manner of measures; for as books\nreport, of Sir Tristram came all the good terms of venery and hunting,\nand all the sizes and measures of blowing of an horn; and of him we had\nfirst all the terms of hawking, and which were beasts of chase and\nbeasts of venery, and which were vermins, and all the blasts that long\nto all manner of games. First to the uncoupling, to the seeking, to the\nrechate, to the flight, to the death, and to strake, and many other\nblasts and terms, that all manner of gentlemen have cause to the\nworld\u2019s end to praise Sir Tristram, and to pray for his soul.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LIII. How by the counsel of La Beale Isoud Sir Tristram rode\narmed, and how he met with Sir Palomides.\n\n\nSo on a day La Beale Isoud said unto Sir Tristram: I marvel me much,\nsaid she, that ye remember not yourself, how ye be here in a strange\ncountry, and here be many perilous knights; and well ye wot that King\nMark is full of treason; and that ye will ride thus to chase and to\nhunt unarmed ye might be destroyed. My fair lady and my love, I cry you\nmercy, I will no more do so. So then Sir Tristram rode daily a-hunting\narmed, and his men bearing his shield and his spear. So on a day a\nlittle afore the month of May, Sir Tristram chased an hart passing\neagerly, and so the hart passed by a fair well. And then Sir Tristram\nalighted and put off his helm to drink of that bubbly water. Right so\nhe heard and saw the Questing Beast come to the well. When Sir Tristram\nsaw that beast he put on his helm, for he deemed he should hear of Sir\nPalomides, for that beast was his quest. Right so Sir Tristram saw\nwhere came a knight armed, upon a noble courser, and he saluted him,\nand they spake of many things; and this knight\u2019s name was Breuse Saunce\nPit\u00e9. And right so withal there came unto them the noble knight Sir\nPalomides, and either saluted other, and spake fair to other.\n\nFair knights, said Sir Palomides, I can tell you tidings. What is that?\nsaid those knights. Sirs, wit ye well that King Mark is put in prison\nby his own knights, and all was for love of Sir Tristram; for King Mark\nhad put Sir Tristram twice in prison, and once Sir Percivale delivered\nthe noble knight Sir Tristram out of prison. And at the last time Queen\nLa Beale Isoud delivered him, and went clearly away with him into this\nrealm; and all this while King Mark, the false traitor, is in prison.\nIs this truth? said Palomides; then shall we hastily hear of Sir\nTristram. And as for to say that I love La Beale Isoud paramours, I\ndare make good that I do, and that she hath my service above all other\nladies, and shall have the term of my life.\n\nAnd right so as they stood talking they saw afore them where came a\nknight all armed, on a great horse, and one of his men bare his shield,\nand the other his spear. And anon as that knight espied them he gat his\nshield and his spear and dressed him to joust. Fair fellows, said Sir\nTristram, yonder is a knight will joust with us, let see which of us\nshall encounter with him, for I see well he is of the court of King\nArthur. It shall not be long or he be met withal, said Sir Palomides,\nfor I found never no knight in my quest of this glasting beast, but an\nhe would joust I never refused him. As well may I, said Breuse Saunce\nPit\u00e9, follow that beast as ye. Then shall ye do battle with me, said\nPalomides.\n\nSo Sir Palomides dressed him unto that other knight, Sir Bleoberis,\nthat was a full noble knight, nigh kin unto Sir Launcelot. And so they\nmet so hard that Sir Palomides fell to the earth, horse and all. Then\nSir Bleoberis cried aloud and said thus: Make thee ready thou false\ntraitor knight, Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9, for wit thou certainly I will have\nado with thee to the utterance for the noble knights and ladies that\nthou hast falsely betrayed. When this false knight and traitor, Breuse\nSaunce Pit\u00e9, heard him say so, he took his horse by the bridle and fled\nhis way as fast as ever his horse might run, for sore he was of him\nafeard. When Sir Bleoberis saw him flee he followed fast after, through\nthick and through thin. And by fortune as Sir Breuse fled, he saw even\nafore him three knights of the Table Round, of the which the one hight\nSir Ector de Maris, the other hight Sir Percivale de Galis, the third\nhight Sir Harry le Fise Lake, a good knight and an hardy. And as for\nSir Percivale, he was called that time of his time one of the best\nknights of the world, and the best assured. When Breuse saw these\nknights he rode straight unto them, and cried unto them and prayed them\nof rescues. What need have ye? said Sir Ector. Ah, fair knights, said\nSir Breuse, here followeth me the most traitor knight, and most coward,\nand most of villainy; his name is Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9, and if he may get\nme he will slay me without mercy and pity. Abide with us, said Sir\nPercivale, and we shall warrant you.\n\nThen were they ware of Sir Bleoberis that came riding all that he\nmight. Then Sir Ector put himself forth to joust afore them all. When\nSir Bleoberis saw that they were four knights and he but himself, he\nstood in a doubt whether he would turn or hold his way. Then he said to\nhimself: I am a knight of the Table Round, and rather than I should\nshame mine oath and my blood I will hold my way whatsoever fall\nthereof. And then Sir Ector dressed his spear, and smote either other\npassing sore, but Sir Ector fell to the earth. That saw Sir Percivale,\nand he dressed his horse toward him all that he might drive, but Sir\nPercivale had such a stroke that horse and man fell to the earth. When\nSir Harry saw that they were both to the earth then he said to himself:\nNever was Breuse of such prowess. So Sir Harry dressed his horse, and\nthey met together so strongly that both the horses and knights fell to\nthe earth, but Sir Bleoberis\u2019 horse began to recover again. That saw\nBreuse and he came hurtling, and smote him over and over, and would\nhave slain him as he lay on the ground. Then Sir Harry le Fise Lake\narose lightly, and took the bridle of Sir Breuse\u2019s horse, and said: Fie\nfor shame! strike never a knight when he is at the earth, for this\nknight may be called no shameful knight of his deeds, for yet as men\nmay see thereas he lieth on the ground he hath done worshipfully, and\nput to the worse passing good knights. Therefore will I not let, said\nSir Breuse. Thou shalt not choose, said Sir Harry, as at this time.\nThen when Sir Breuse saw that he might not choose nor have his will he\nspake fair. Then Sir Harry let him go. And then anon he made his horse\nto run over Sir Bleoberis, and rashed him to the earth like if he would\nhave slain him. When Sir Harry saw him do so villainously he cried:\nTraitor knight, leave off for shame. And as Sir Harry would have taken\nhis horse to fight with Sir Breuse, then Sir Breuse ran upon him as he\nwas half upon his horse, and smote him down, horse and man, to the\nearth, and had near slain Sir Harry, the good knight. That saw Sir\nPercivale, and then he cried: Traitor knight what dost thou? And when\nSir Percivale was upon his horse Sir Breuse took his horse and fled all\nthat ever he might, and Sir Percivale and Sir Harry followed after him\nfast, but ever the longer they chased the farther were they behind.\n\nThen they turned again and came to Sir Ector de Maris and to Sir\nBleoberis. Ah, fair knights, said Bleoberis, why have ye succoured that\nfalse knight and traitor? Why said Sir Harry, what knight is he? for\nwell I wot it is a false knight, said Sir Harry, and a coward and a\nfelonious knight. Sir, said Bleoberis, he is the most coward knight,\nand a devourer of ladies and a destroyer of good knights and especially\nof Arthur\u2019s. What is your name? said Sir Ector. My name is Sir\nBleoberis de Ganis. Alas, fair cousin, said Ector, forgive it me, for I\nam Sir Ector de Maris. Then Sir Percivale and Sir Harry made great joy\nthat they met with Bleoberis, but all they were heavy that Sir Breuse\nwas escaped them, whereof they made great dole.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LIV. Of Sir Palomides, and how he met with Sir Bleoberis and\nwith Sir Ector, and of Sir Pervivale.\n\n\nRight so as they stood thus there came Sir Palomides, and when he saw\nthe shield of Bleoberis lie on the earth, then said Palomides: He that\noweth that shield let him dress him to me, for he smote me down here\nfast by at a fountain, and therefore I will fight for him on foot. I am\nready, said Bleoberis, here to answer thee, for wit thou well, sir\nknight, it was I, and my name is Bleoberis de Ganis. Well art thou met,\nsaid Palomides, and wit thou well my name is Palomides the Saracen; and\neither of them hated other to the death. Sir Palomides, said Ector, wit\nthou well there is neither thou nor none knight that beareth the life\nthat slayeth any of our blood but he shall die for it; therefore an\nthou list to fight go seek Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram, and there\nshall ye find your match. With them have I met, said Palomides, but I\nhad never no worship of them. Was there never no manner of knight, said\nSir Ector, but they that ever matched with you? Yes, said Palomides,\nthere was the third, a good knight as any of them, and of his age he\nwas the best that ever I found; for an he might have lived till he had\nbeen an hardier man there liveth no knight now such, and his name was\nSir Lamorak de Galis. And as he had jousted at a tournament there he\noverthrew me and thirty knights more, and there he won the degree. And\nat his departing there met him Sir Gawaine and his brethren, and with\ngreat pain they slew him feloniously, unto all good knights\u2019 great\ndamage. Anon as Sir Percivale heard that his brother was dead, Sir\nLamorak, he fell over his horse\u2019s mane swooning, and there he made the\ngreatest dole that ever made knight. And when Sir Percivale arose he\nsaid: Alas, my good and noble brother Sir Lamorak, now shall we never\nmeet, and I trow in all the wide world a man may not find such a knight\nas he was of his age; and it is too much to suffer the death of our\nfather King Pellinore, and now the death of our good brother Sir\nLamorak.\n\nThen in the meanwhile there came a varlet from the court of King\nArthur, and told them of the great tournament that should be at\nLonazep, and how these lands, Cornwall and Northgalis, should be\nagainst all them that would come.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LV. How Sir Tristram met with Sir Dinadan, and of their\ndevices, and what he said to Sir Gawaine\u2019s brethren.\n\n\nNow turn we unto Sir Tristram, that as he rode a-hunting he met with\nSir Dinadan, that was come into that country to seek Sir Tristram. Then\nSir Dinadan told Sir Tristram his name, but Sir Tristram would not tell\nhim his name, wherefore Sir Dinadan was wroth. For such a foolish\nknight as ye are, said Sir Dinadan, I saw but late this day lying by a\nwell, and he fared as he slept; and there he lay like a fool grinning,\nand would not speak, and his shield lay by him, and his horse stood by\nhim; and well I wot he was a lover. Ah, fair sir, said Sir Tristram are\nye not a lover? Mary, fie on that craft! said Sir Dinadan. That is evil\nsaid, said Sir Tristram, for a knight may never be of prowess but if he\nbe a lover. It is well said, said Sir Dinadan; now tell me your name,\nsith ye be a lover, or else I shall do battle with you. As for that,\nsaid Sir Tristram, it is no reason to fight with me but I tell you my\nname; and as for that my name shall ye not wit as at this time. Fie for\nshame, said Dinadan, art thou a knight and durst not tell thy name to\nme? therefore I will fight with thee. As for that, said Sir Tristram, I\nwill be advised, for I will not do battle but if me list. And if I do\nbattle, said Sir Tristram, ye are not able to withstand me. Fie on\nthee, coward, said Sir Dinadan.\n\nAnd thus as they hoved still, they saw a knight come riding against\nthem. Lo, said Sir Tristram, see where cometh a knight riding will\njoust with you. Anon, as Sir Dinadan beheld him he said: That is the\nsame doted knight that I saw lie by the well, neither sleeping nor\nwaking. Well, said Sir Tristram, I know that knight well with the\ncovered shield of azure, he is the king\u2019s son of Northumberland, his\nname is Epinegris; and he is as great a lover as I know, and he loveth\nthe king\u2019s daughter of Wales, a full fair lady. And now I suppose, said\nSir Tristram, an ye require him he will joust with you, and then shall\nye prove whether a lover be a better knight, or ye that will not love\nno lady. Well, said Dinadan, now shalt thou see what I shall do.\nTherewithal Sir Dinadan spake on high and said: Sir knight, make thee\nready to joust with me, for it is the custom of errant knights one to\njoust with other. Sir, said Epinegris, is that the rule of you errant\nknights for to make a knight to joust, will he or nill? As for that,\nsaid Dinadan, make thee ready, for here is for me. And therewithal they\nspurred their horses and met together so hard that Epinegris smote down\nSir Dinadan. Then Sir Tristram rode to Sir Dinadan and said: How now,\nmeseemeth the lover hath well sped. Fie on thee, coward, said Sir\nDinadan, and if thou be a good knight revenge me. Nay, said Sir\nTristram, I will not joust as at this time, but take your horse and let\nus go hence. God defend me, said Sir Dinadan, from thy fellowship, for\nI never sped well since I met with thee: and so they departed. Well,\nsaid Sir Tristram, peradventure I could tell you tidings of Sir\nTristram. God defend me, said Dinadan, from thy fellowship, for Sir\nTristram were mickle the worse an he were in thy company; and then they\ndeparted. Sir, said Sir Tristram, yet it may happen I shall meet with\nyou in other places.\n\nSo rode Sir Tristram unto Joyous Gard, and there he heard in that town\ngreat noise and cry. What is this noise? said Sir Tristram. Sir, said\nthey, here is a knight of this castle that hath been long among us, and\nright now he is slain with two knights, and for none other cause but\nthat our knight said that Sir Launcelot were a better knight than Sir\nGawaine. That was a simple cause, said Sir Tristram, for to slay a good\nknight for to say well by his master. That is little remedy to us, said\nthe men of the town. For an Sir Launcelot had been here soon we should\nhave been revenged upon the false knights.\n\nWhen Sir Tristram heard them say so he sent for his shield and for his\nspear, and lightly within a while he had overtaken them, and bade them\nturn and amend that they had misdone. What amends wouldst thou have?\nsaid the one knight. And therewith they took their course, and either\nmet other so hard that Sir Tristram smote down that knight over his\nhorse\u2019s tail. Then the other knight dressed him to Sir Tristram, and in\nthe same wise he served the other knight. And then they gat off their\nhorses as well as they might, and dressed their shields and swords to\ndo their battle to the utterance. Knights, said Sir Tristram, ye shall\ntell me of whence ye are, and what be your names, for such men ye might\nbe ye should hard escape my hands; and ye might be such men of such a\ncountry that for all your evil deeds ye should pass quit. Wit thou\nwell, sir knight, said they, we fear not to tell thee our names, for my\nname is Sir Agravaine, and my name is Gaheris, brethren unto the good\nknight Sir Gawaine, and we be nephews unto King Arthur. Well, said Sir\nTristram, for King Arthur\u2019s sake I shall let you pass as at this time.\nBut it is shame, said Sir Tristram, that Sir Gawaine and ye be come of\nso great a blood that ye four brethren are so named as ye be, for ye be\ncalled the greatest destroyers and murderers of good knights that be\nnow in this realm; for it is but as I heard say that Sir Gawaine and ye\nslew among you a better knight than ever ye were, that was the noble\nknight Sir Lamorak de Galis. An it had pleased God, said Sir Tristram,\nI would I had been by Sir Lamorak at his death. Then shouldst thou have\ngone the same way, said Sir Gaheris. Fair knight, said Sir Tristram,\nthere must have been many more knights than ye are. And therewithal Sir\nTristram departed from them toward Joyous Gard. And when he was\ndeparted they took their horses, and the one said to the other: We will\novertake him and be revenged upon him in the despite of Sir Lamorak.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LVI. How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris,\nand how Sir Dinadan was sent for by La Beale Isoud.\n\n\nSo when they had overtaken Sir Tristram, Sir Agravaine bade him: Turn,\ntraitor knight. That is evil said, said Sir Tristram; and therewith he\npulled out his sword, and smote Sir Agravaine such a buffet upon the\nhelm that he tumbled down off his horse in a swoon, and he had a\ngrievous wound. And then he turned to Gaheris, and Sir Tristram smote\nhis sword and his helm together with such a might that Gaheris fell out\nof his saddle: and so Sir Tristram rode unto Joyous Gard, and there he\nalighted and unarmed him. So Sir Tristram told La Beale Isoud of all\nhis adventure, as ye have heard to-fore. And when she heard him tell of\nSir Dinadan: Sir, said she, is not that he that made the song by King\nMark? That same is he, said Sir Tristram, for he is the best bourder\nand japer, and a noble knight of his hands, and the best fellow that I\nknow, and all good knights love his fellowship. Alas, sir, said she,\nwhy brought ye not him with you? Have ye no care, said Sir Tristram,\nfor he rideth to seek me in this country; and therefore he will not\naway till he have met with me. And there Sir Tristram told La Beale\nIsoud how Sir Dinadan held against all lovers. Right so there came in a\nvarlet and told Sir Tristram how there was come an errant knight into\nthe town, with such colours upon his shield. That is Sir Dinadan, said\nSir Tristram; wit ye what ye shall do, said Sir Tristram: send ye for\nhim, my Lady Isoud, and I will not be seen, and ye shall hear the\nmerriest knight that ever ye spake withal, and the maddest talker; and\nI pray you heartily that ye make him good cheer.\n\nThen anon La Beale Isoud sent into the town, and prayed Sir Dinadan\nthat he would come into the castle and repose him there with a lady.\nWith a good will, said Sir Dinadan; and so he mounted upon his horse\nand rode into the castle; and there he alighted, and was unarmed, and\nbrought into the castle. Anon La Beale Isoud came unto him, and either\nsaluted other; then she asked him of whence that he was. Madam, said\nDinadan, I am of the court of King Arthur, and knight of the Table\nRound, and my name is Sir Dinadan. What do ye in this country? said La\nBeale Isoud. Madam, said he, I seek Sir Tristram the good knight, for\nit was told me that he was in this country. It may well be, said La\nBeale Isoud, but I am not ware of him. Madam, said Dinadan, I marvel of\nSir Tristram and mo other lovers, what aileth them to be so mad and so\nsotted upon women. Why, said La Beale Isoud, are ye a knight and be no\nlover? it is shame to you: wherefore ye may not be called a good knight\n[but] if ye make a quarrel for a lady. God defend me, said Dinadan, for\nthe joy of love is too short, and the sorrow thereof, and what cometh\nthereof, dureth over long. Ah, said La Beale Isoud, say ye not so, for\nhere fast by was the good knight Sir Bleoberis, that fought with three\nknights at once for a damosel\u2019s sake, and he won her afore the King of\nNorthumberland. It was so, said Sir Dinadan, for I know him well for a\ngood knight and a noble, and come of noble blood; for all be noble\nknights of whom he is come of, that is Sir Launcelot du Lake.\n\nNow I pray you, said La Beale Isoud, tell me will you fight for my love\nwith three knights that do me great wrong? and insomuch as ye be a\nknight of King Arthur\u2019s I require you to do battle for me. Then Sir\nDinadan said: I shall say you ye be as fair a lady as ever I saw any,\nand much fairer than is my lady Queen Guenever, but wit ye well at one\nword, I will not fight for you with three knights, Jesu defend me. Then\nIsoud laughed, and had good game at him. So he had all the cheer that\nshe might make him, and there he lay all that night. And on the morn\nearly Sir Tristram armed him, and La Beale Isoud gave him a good helm;\nand then he promised her that he would meet with Sir Dinadan, and they\ntwo would ride together into Lonazep, where the tournament should be:\nAnd there shall I make ready for you where ye shall see the tournament.\nThen departed Sir Tristram with two squires that bare his shield and\nhis spears that were great and long.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LVII. How Sir Dinadan met with Sir Tristram, and with jousting\nwith Sir Palomides, Sir Dinadan knew him.\n\n\nThen after that Sir Dinadan departed, and rode his way a great pace\nuntil he had overtaken Sir Tristram. And when Sir Dinadan had overtaken\nhim he knew him anon, and he hated the fellowship of him above all\nother knights. Ah, said Sir Dinadan, art thou that coward knight that I\nmet with yesterday? keep thee, for thou shalt joust with me maugre thy\nhead. Well, said Sir Tristram, and I am loath to joust. And so they let\ntheir horses run, and Sir Tristram missed of him a-purpose, and Sir\nDinadan brake a spear upon Sir Tristram, and therewith Sir Dinadan\ndressed him to draw out his sword. Not so, said Sir Tristram, why are\nye so wroth? I will not fight. Fie on thee, coward, said Dinadan, thou\nshamest all knights. As for that, said Sir Tristram, I care not, for I\nwill wait upon you and be under your protection; for because ye are so\ngood a knight ye may save me. The devil deliver me of thee, said Sir\nDinadan, for thou art as goodly a man of arms and of thy person as ever\nI saw, and the most coward that ever I saw. What wilt thou do with\nthose great spears that thou carriest with thee? I shall give them,\nsaid Sir Tristram, to some good knight when I come to the tournament;\nand if I see you do best, I shall give them to you.\n\nSo thus as they rode talking they saw where came an errant knight afore\nthem, that dressed him to joust. Lo, said Sir Tristram, yonder is one\nwill joust; now dress thee to him. Ah, shame betide thee, said Sir\nDinadan. Nay, not so, said Tristram, for that knight beseemeth a shrew.\nThen shall I, said Sir Dinadan. And so they dressed their shields and\ntheir spears, and they met together so hard that the other knight smote\ndown Sir Dinadan from his horse. Lo, said Sir Tristram, it had been\nbetter ye had left. Fie on thee, coward, said Sir Dinadan. Then Sir\nDinadan started up and gat his sword in his hand, and proffered to do\nbattle on foot. Whether in love or in wrath? said the other knight. Let\nus do battle in love, said Sir Dinadan. What is your name, said that\nknight, I pray you tell me. Wit ye well my name is Sir Dinadan. Ah,\nDinadan, said that knight, and my name is Gareth, the youngest brother\nunto Sir Gawaine. Then either made of other great cheer, for this\nGareth was the best knight of all the brethren, and he proved a good\nknight. Then they took their horses, and there they spake of Sir\nTristram, how such a coward he was; and every word Sir Tristram heard\nand laughed them to scorn.\n\nThen were they ware where came a knight afore them well horsed and well\narmed, and he made him ready to joust. Fair knights, said Sir Tristram,\nlook betwixt you who shall joust with yonder knight, for I warn you I\nwill not have ado with him. Then shall I, said Sir Gareth. And so they\nencountered together, and there that knight smote down Sir Gareth over\nhis horse\u2019s croup. How now, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Dinadan, dress\nthee now and revenge the good knight Gareth. That shall I not, said Sir\nDinadan, for he hath stricken down a much bigger knight than I am. Ah,\nsaid Sir Tristram, now Sir Dinadan, I see and feel well your heart\nfaileth you, therefore now shall ye see what I shall do. And then Sir\nTristram hurtled unto that knight, and smote him quite from his horse.\nAnd when Sir Dinadan saw that, he marvelled greatly; and then he deemed\nthat it was Sir Tristram.\n\nThen this knight that was on foot pulled out his sword to do battle.\nWhat is your name? said Sir Tristram. Wit ye well, said that knight, my\nname is Sir Palomides. What knight hate ye most? said Sir Tristram. Sir\nknight, said he, I hate Sir Tristram to the death, for an I may meet\nwith him the one of us shall die. Ye say well, said Sir Tristram, and\nwit ye well that I am Sir Tristram de Liones, and now do your worst.\nWhen Sir Palomides heard him say so he was astonied. And then he said\nthus: I pray you, Sir Tristram, forgive me all mine evil will, and if I\nlive I shall do you service above all other knights that be living; and\nwhereas I have owed you evil will me sore repenteth. I wot not what\naileth me, for meseemeth that ye are a good knight, and none other\nknight that named himself a good knight should not hate you; therefore\nI require you, Sir Tristram, take no displeasure at mine unkind words.\nSir Palomides, said Sir Tristram, ye say well, and well I wot ye are a\ngood knight, for I have seen ye proved; and many great enterprises have\nye taken upon you, and well achieved them; therefore, said Sir\nTristram, an ye have any evil will to me, now may ye right it, for I am\nready at your hand. Not so, my lord Sir Tristram, I will do you\nknightly service in all thing as ye will command. And right so I will\ntake you, said Sir Tristram. And so they rode forth on their ways\ntalking of many things. O my lord Sir Tristram, said Dinadan, foul have\nye mocked me, for God knoweth I came into this country for your sake,\nand by the advice of my lord Sir Launcelot; and yet would not Sir\nLauncelot tell me the certainty of you, where I should find you. Truly,\nsaid Sir Tristram, Sir Launcelot wist well where I was, for I abode\nwithin his own castle.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LVIII. How they approached the Castle Lonazep, and of other\ndevices of the death of Sir Lamorak.\n\n\nThus they rode until they were ware of the Castle Lonazep. And then\nwere they ware of four hundred tents and pavilions, and marvellous\ngreat ordinance. So God me help, said Sir Tristram, yonder I see the\ngreatest ordinance that ever I saw. Sir, said Palomides, meseemeth that\nthere was as great an ordinance at the Castle of Maidens upon the rock,\nwhere ye won the prize, for I saw myself where ye forjousted thirty\nknights. Sir, said Dinadan, and in Surluse, at that tournament that\nGalahalt of the Long Isles made, the which there dured seven days, was\nas great a gathering as is here, for there were many nations. Who was\nthe best? said Sir Tristram. Sir, it was Sir Launcelot du Lake and the\nnoble knight, Sir Lamorak de Galis, and Sir Launcelot won the degree. I\ndoubt not, said Sir Tristram, but he won the degree, so he had not been\novermatched with many knights; and of the death of Sir Lamorak, said\nSir Tristram, it was over great pity, for I dare say he was the\ncleanest mighted man and the best winded of his age that was alive; for\nI knew him that he was the biggest knight that ever I met withal, but\nif it were Sir Launcelot. Alas, said Sir Tristram, full woe is me for\nhis death. And if they were not the cousins of my lord Arthur that slew\nhim, they should die for it, and all those that were consenting to his\ndeath. And for such things, said Sir Tristram, I fear to draw unto the\ncourt of my lord Arthur; I will that ye wit it, said Sir Tristram unto\nGareth.\n\nSir, I blame you not, said Gareth, for well I understand the vengeance\nof my brethren Sir Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Mordred. But as for\nme, said Sir Gareth, I meddle not of their matters, therefore there is\nnone of them that loveth me. And for I understand they be murderers of\ngood knights I left their company; and God would I had been by, said\nGareth, when the noble knight, Sir Lamorak, was slain.\n\nNow as Jesu be my help, said Sir Tristram, it is well said of you, for\nI had liefer than all the gold betwixt this and Rome I had been there.\n\nIwis, said Palomides, and so would I had been there, and yet had I\nnever the degree at no jousts nor tournament thereas he was, but he put\nme to the worse, or on foot or on horseback; and that day that he was\nslain he did the most deeds of arms that ever I saw knight do in all my\nlife days. And when him was given the degree by my lord Arthur, Sir\nGawaine and his three brethren, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Sir Mordred,\nset upon Sir Lamorak in a privy place, and there they slew his horse.\nAnd so they fought with him on foot more than three hours, both before\nhim and behind him; and Sir Mordred gave him his death wound behind him\nat his back, and all to-hew him: for one of his squires told me that\nsaw it. Fie upon treason, said Sir Tristram, for it killeth my heart to\nhear this tale. So it doth mine, said Gareth; brethren as they be mine\nI shall never love them, nor draw in their fellowship for that deed.\n\nNow speak we of other deeds, said Palomides, and let him be, for his\nlife ye may not get again. That is the more pity, said Dinadan, for Sir\nGawaine and his brethren, except you Sir Gareth, hate all the good\nknights of the Round Table for the most part; for well I wot an they\nmight privily, they hate my lord Sir Launcelot and all his kin, and\ngreat privy despite they have at him; and that is my lord Sir Launcelot\nwell ware of, and that causeth him to have the good knights of his kin\nabout him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LIX. How they came to Humber bank, and how they found a ship\nthere, wherein lay the body of King Hermance.\n\n\nSir, said Palomides, let us leave of this matter, and let us see how we\nshall do at this tournament. By mine advice, said Palomides, let us\nfour hold together against all that will come. Not by my counsel, said\nSir Tristram, for I see by their pavilions there will be four hundred\nknights, and doubt ye not, said Sir Tristram, but there will be many\ngood knights; and be a man never so valiant nor so big, yet he may be\novermatched. And so have I seen knights done many times; and when they\nweened best to have won worship they lost it, for manhood is not worth\nbut if it be medled with wisdom. And as for me, said Sir Tristram, it\nmay happen I shall keep mine own head as well as another.\n\nSo thus they rode until that they came to Humber bank, where they heard\na cry and a doleful noise. Then were they ware in the wind where came a\nrich vessel hilled over with red silk, and the vessel landed fast by\nthem. Therewith Sir Tristram alighted and his knights. And so Sir\nTristram went afore and entered into that vessel. And when he came\nwithin he saw a fair bed richly covered, and thereupon lay a dead\nseemly knight, all armed save the head, was all be-bled with deadly\nwounds upon him, the which seemed to be a passing good knight. How may\nthis be, said Sir Tristram, that this knight is thus slain? Then Sir\nTristram was ware of a letter in the dead knight\u2019s hand. Master\nmariners, said Sir Tristram, what meaneth that letter? Sir, said they,\nin that letter ye shall hear and know how he was slain, and for what\ncause, and what was his name. But sir, said the mariners, wit ye well\nthat no man shall take that letter and read it but if he be a good\nknight, and that he will faithfully promise to revenge his death, else\nshall there be no knight see that letter open. Wit ye well, said Sir\nTristram, that some of us may revenge his death as well as other, and\nif it be so as ye mariners say his death shall be revenged. And\ntherewith Sir Tristram took the letter out of the knight\u2019s hand, and it\nsaid thus: Hermance, king and lord of the Red City, I send unto all\nknights errant, recommending unto you noble knights of Arthur\u2019s court.\nI beseech them all among them to find one knight that will fight for my\nsake with two brethren that I brought up of nought, and feloniously and\ntraitorly they have slain me; wherefore I beseech one good knight to\nrevenge my death. And he that revengeth my death I will that he have my\nRed City and all my castles.\n\nSir, said the mariners, wit ye well this king and knight that here\nlieth was a full worshipful man and of full great prowess, and full\nwell he loved all manner knights errants. So God me help, said Sir\nTristram, here is a piteous case, and full fain would I take this\nenterprise upon me; but I have made such a promise that needs I must be\nat this great tournament, or else I am shamed. For well I wot for my\nsake in especial my lord Arthur let make this jousts and tournament in\nthis country; and well I wot that many worshipful people will be there\nat that tournament for to see me; therefore I fear me to take this\nenterprise upon me that I shall not come again by time to this jousts.\nSir, said Palomides, I pray you give me this enterprise, and ye shall\nsee me achieve it worshipfully, other else I shall die in this quarrel.\nWell, said Sir Tristram, and this enterprise I give you, with this,\nthat ye be with me at this tournament that shall be as this day seven\nnight. Sir, said Palomides, I promise you that I shall be with you by\nthat day if I be unslain or unmaimed.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LX. How Sir Tristram with his fellowship came and were with an\nhost which after fought with Sir Tristram; and other matters.\n\n\nThen departed Sir Tristram, Gareth, and Sir Dinadan, and left Sir\nPalomides in the vessel; and so Sir Tristram beheld the mariners how\nthey sailed overlong Humber. And when Sir Palomides was out of their\nsight they took their horses and beheld about them. And then were they\nware of a knight that came riding against them unarmed, and nothing\nabout him but a sword. And when this knight came nigh them he saluted\nthem, and they him again. Fair knights, said that knight, I pray you\ninsomuch as ye be knights errant, that ye will come and see my castle,\nand take such as ye find there; I pray you heartily. And so they rode\nwith him until his castle, and there they were brought into the hall,\nthat was well apparelled; and so they were there unarmed, and set at a\nboard; and when this knight saw Sir Tristram, anon he knew him. And\nthen this knight waxed pale and wroth at Sir Tristram. When Sir\nTristram saw his host make such cheer he marvelled and said: Sir, mine\nhost, what cheer make you? Wit thou well, said he, I fare the worse for\nthee, for I know thee, Sir Tristram de Liones, thou slewest my brother;\nand therefore I give thee summons I will slay thee an ever I may get\nthee at large. Sir knight, said Sir Tristram, I am never advised that\never I slew any brother of yours; and if ye say that I did I will make\namends unto my power. I will none amends, said the knight, but keep\nthee from me.\n\nSo when he had dined Sir Tristram asked his arms, and departed. And so\nthey rode on their ways, and within a while Sir Dinadan saw where came\na knight well armed and well horsed, without shield. Sir Tristram, said\nSir Dinadan, take keep to yourself, for I dare undertake yonder cometh\nyour host that will have ado with you. Let him come, said Sir Tristram,\nI shall abide him as well as I may. Anon the knight, when he came nigh\nSir Tristram, he cried and bade him abide and keep him. So they hurtled\ntogether, but Sir Tristram smote the other knight so sore that he bare\nhim over his horse\u2019s croup. That knight arose lightly and took his\nhorse again, and so rode fiercely to Sir Tristram, and smote him twice\nhard upon the helm. Sir knight, said Sir Tristram, I pray you leave off\nand smite me no more, for I would be loath to deal with you an I might\nchoose, for I have your meat and your drink within my body. For all\nthat he would not leave; and then Sir Tristram gave him such a buffet\nupon the helm that he fell up-so-down from his horse, that the blood\nbrast out at the ventails of his helm, and so he lay still likely to be\ndead. Then Sir Tristram said: Me repenteth of this buffet that I smote\nso sore, for as I suppose he is dead. And so they left him and rode on\ntheir ways.\n\nSo they had not ridden but a while, but they saw riding against them\ntwo full likely knights, well armed and well horsed, and goodly\nservants about them. The one was Berrant le Apres, and he was called\nthe King with the Hundred Knights; and the other was Sir Segwarides,\nwhich were renowned two noble knights. So as they came either by other\nthe king looked upon Sir Dinadan, that at that time he had Sir\nTristram\u2019s helm upon his shoulder, the which helm the king had seen\nto-fore with the Queen of Northgalis, and that queen the king loved as\nparamour; and that helm the Queen of Northgalis had given to La Beale\nIsoud, and the queen La Beale Isoud gave it to Sir Tristram. Sir\nknight, said Berrant, where had ye that helm? What would ye? said Sir\nDinadan. For I will have ado with thee, said the king, for the love of\nher that owed that helm, and therefore keep you. So they departed and\ncame together with all their mights of their horses, and there the King\nwith the Hundred Knights smote Sir Dinadan, horse and all, to the\nearth; and then he commanded his servant: Go and take thou his helm\noff, and keep it. So the varlet went to unbuckle his helm. What helm,\nwhat wilt thou do? said Sir Tristram, leave that helm. To what intent,\nsaid the king, will ye, sir knight, meddle with that helm? Wit you\nwell, said Sir Tristram, that helm shall not depart from me or it be\ndearer bought. Then make you ready, said Sir Berrant unto Sir Tristram.\nSo they hurtled together, and there Sir Tristram smote him down over\nhis horse\u2019s tail; and then the king arose lightly, and gat his horse\nlightly again. And then he struck fiercely at Sir Tristram many great\nstrokes. And then Sir Tristram gave Sir Berrant such a buffet upon the\nhelm that he fell down over his horse sore stonied. Lo, said Dinadan,\nthat helm is unhappy to us twain, for I had a fall for it, and now, sir\nking, have ye another fall.\n\nThen Segwarides asked: Who shall joust with me? I pray thee, said Sir\nGareth unto Dinadan, let me have this jousts. Sir, said Dinadan, I pray\nyou take it as for me. That is no reason, said Tristram, for this\njousts should be yours. At a word, said Dinadan, I will not thereof.\nThen Gareth dressed him to Sir Segwarides, and there Sir Segwarides\nsmote Gareth and his horse to the earth. Now, said Sir Tristram to\nDinadan, joust with yonder knight. I will not thereof, said Dinadan.\nThen will I, said Sir Tristram. And then Sir Tristram ran to him, and\ngave him a fall; and so they left them on foot, and Sir Tristram rode\nunto Joyous Gard, and there Sir Gareth would not of his courtesy have\ngone into this castle, but Sir Tristram would not suffer him to depart.\nAnd so they alighted and unarmed them, and had great cheer. But when\nDinadan came afore La Beale Isoud he cursed the time that ever he bare\nSir Tristram\u2019s helm, and there he told her how Sir Tristram had mocked\nhim. Then was there laughing and japing at Sir Dinadan, that they wist\nnot what to do with him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXI. How Palomides went for to fight with two brethren for the\ndeath of King Hermance.\n\n\nNow will we leave them merry within Joyous Gard, and speak we of Sir\nPalomides. Then Sir Palomides sailed evenlong Humber to the coasts of\nthe sea, where was a fair castle. And at that time it was early in the\nmorning, afore day. Then the mariners went unto Sir Palomides that\nslept fast. Sir knight, said the mariners, ye must arise, for here is a\ncastle there ye must go into. I assent me, said Sir Palomides; and\ntherewithal he arrived. And then he blew his horn that the mariners had\ngiven him. And when they within the castle heard that horn they put\nforth many knights; and there they stood upon the walls, and said with\none voice: Welcome be ye to this castle. And then it waxed clear day,\nand Sir Palomides entered into the castle. And within a while he was\nserved with many divers meats. Then Sir Palomides heard about him much\nweeping and great dole. What may this mean? said Sir Palomides; I love\nnot to hear such a sorrow, and fain I would know what it meaneth. Then\nthere came afore him one whose name was Sir Ebel, that said thus: Wit\nye well, sir knight, this dole and sorrow is here made every day, and\nfor this cause: we had a king that hight Hermance, and he was King of\nthe Red City, and this king that was lord was a noble knight, large and\nliberal of his expense; and in the world he loved nothing so much as he\ndid errant knights of King Arthur\u2019s court, and all jousting, hunting,\nand all manner of knightly games; for so kind a king and knight had\nnever the rule of poor people as he was; and because of his goodness\nand gentleness we bemoan him, and ever shall. And all kings and\nestates may beware by our lord, for he was destroyed in his own\ndefault; for had he cherished them of his blood he had yet lived with\ngreat riches and rest: but all estates may beware by our king. But\nalas, said Ebel, that we shall give all other warning by his death.\n\nTell me, said Palomides, and in what manner was your lord slain, and by\nwhom. Sir, said Sir Ebel, our king brought up of children two men that\nnow are perilous knights; and these two knights our king had so in\ncharity, that he loved no man nor trusted no man of his blood, nor none\nother that was about him. And by these two knights our king was\ngoverned, and so they ruled him peaceably and his lands, and never\nwould they suffer none of his blood to have no rule with our king. And\nalso he was so free and so gentle, and they so false and deceivable,\nthat they ruled him peaceably; and that espied the lords of our king\u2019s\nblood, and departed from him unto their own livelihood. Then when these\ntwo traitors understood that they had driven all the lords of his blood\nfrom him, they were not pleased with that rule, but then they thought\nto have more, as ever it is an old saw: Give a churl rule and thereby\nhe will not be sufficed; for whatsomever he be that is ruled by a\nvillain born, and the lord of the soil to be a gentleman born, the same\nvillain shall destroy all the gentlemen about him: therefore all\nestates and lords, beware whom ye take about you. And if ye be a knight\nof King Arthur\u2019s court remember this tale, for this is the end and\nconclusion. My lord and king rode unto the forest hereby by the advice\nof these traitors, and there he chased at the red deer, armed at all\npieces full like a good knight; and so for labour he waxed dry, and\nthen he alighted, and drank at a well. And when he was alighted, by the\nassent of these two traitors, that one that hight Helius he suddenly\nsmote our king through the body with a spear, and so they left him\nthere. And when they were departed, then by fortune I came to the well,\nand found my lord and king wounded to the death. And when I heard his\ncomplaint, I let bring him to the water side, and in that same ship I\nput him alive; and when my lord King Hermance was in that vessel, he\nrequired me for the true faith I owed unto him for to write a letter in\nthis manner.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXII. The copy of the letter written for to revenge the king\u2019s\ndeath, and how Sir Palomides fought for to have the battle.\n\n\nRecommending unto King Arthur and to all his knights errant, beseeching\nthem all that insomuch as I, King Hermance, King of the Red City, thus\nam slain by felony and treason, through two knights of mine own, and of\nmine own bringing up and of mine own making, that some worshipful\nknight will revenge my death, insomuch I have been ever to my power\nwell willing unto Arthur\u2019s court. And who that will adventure his life\nwith these two traitors for my sake in one battle, I, King Hermance,\nKing of the Red City, freely give him all my lands and rents that ever\nI wielded in my life. This letter, said Ebel, I wrote by my lord\u2019s\ncommandment, and then he received his Creator; and when he was dead, he\ncommanded me or ever he were cold to put that letter fast in his hand.\nAnd then he commanded me to put forth that same vessel down Humber, and\nI should give these mariners in commandment never to stint until that\nthey came unto Logris, where all the noble knights shall assemble at\nthis time. And there shall some good knight have pity on me to revenge\nmy death, for there was never king nor lord falslier nor traitorlier\nslain than I am here to my death. Thus was the complaint of our King\nHermance. Now, said Sir Ebel, ye know all how our lord was betrayed, we\nrequire you for God\u2019s sake have pity upon his death, and worshipfully\nrevenge his death, and then may ye wield all these lands. For we all\nwit well that an ye may slay these two traitors, the Red City and all\nthose that be therein will take you for their lord.\n\nTruly, said Sir Palomides, it grieveth my heart for to hear you tell\nthis doleful tale; and to say the truth I saw the same letter that ye\nspeak of, and one of the best knights on the earth read that letter to\nme, and by his commandment I came hither to revenge your king\u2019s death;\nand therefore have done, and let me wit where I shall find those\ntraitors, for I shall never be at ease in my heart till I be in hands\nwith them. Sir, said Sir Ebel, then take your ship again, and that ship\nmust bring you unto the Delectable Isle, fast by the Red City, and we\nin this castle shall pray for you, and abide your again-coming. For\nthis same castle, an ye speed well, must needs be yours; for our King\nHermance let make this castle for the love of the two traitors, and so\nwe kept it with strong hand, and therefore full sore are we threated.\nWot ye what ye shall do, said Sir Palomides; whatsomever come of me,\nlook ye keep well this castle. For an it misfortune me so to be slain\nin this quest I am sure there will come one of the best knights of the\nworld for to revenge my death, and that is Sir Tristram de Liones, or\nelse Sir Launcelot du Lake.\n\nThen Sir Palomides departed from that castle. And as he came nigh the\ncity, there came out of a ship a goodly knight armed against him, with\nhis shield on his shoulder, and his hand upon his sword. And anon as he\ncame nigh Sir Palomides he said: Sir knight, what seek ye here? leave\nthis quest for it is mine, and mine it was or ever it was yours, and\ntherefore I will have it. Sir knight, said Palomides, it may well be\nthat this quest was yours or it was mine, but when the letter was taken\nout of the dead king\u2019s hand, at that time by likelihood there was no\nknight had undertaken to revenge the death of the king. And so at that\ntime I promised to revenge his death, and so I shall or else I am\nashamed. Ye say well, said the knight, but wit ye well then will I\nfight with you, and who be the better knight of us both, let him take\nthe battle upon hand. I assent me, said Sir Palomides. And then they\ndressed their shields, and pulled out their swords, and lashed together\nmany sad strokes as men of might; and this fighting was more than an\nhour, but at the last Sir Palomides waxed big and better winded, so\nthat then he smote that knight such a stroke that he made him to kneel\nupon his knees. Then that knight spake on high and said: Gentle knight,\nhold thy hand. Sir Palomides was goodly and withdrew his hand. Then\nthis knight said: Wit ye well, knight, that thou art better worthy to\nhave this battle than I, and require thee of knighthood tell me thy\nname. Sir, my name is Palomides, a knight of King Arthur\u2019s, and of the\nTable Round, that hither I came to revenge the death of this dead king.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXIII. Of the preparation of Sir Palomides and the two brethren\nthat should fight with him.\n\n\nWell be ye found, said the knight to Palomides, for of all knights that\nbe alive, except three, I had liefest have you. The first is Sir\nLauncelot du Lake, and Sir Tristram de Liones, the third is my nigh\ncousin, Sir Lamorak de Galis. And I am brother unto King Hermance that\nis dead, and my name is Sir Hermind. Ye say well, said Sir Palomides,\nand ye shall see how I shall speed; and if I be there slain go ye to my\nlord Sir Launcelot, or else to my lord Sir Tristram, and pray them to\nrevenge my death, for as for Sir Lamorak him shall ye never see in this\nworld. Alas, said Sir Hermind, how may that be? He is slain, said Sir\nPalomides, by Sir Gawaine and his brethren. So God me help, said\nHermind, there was not one for one that slew him. That is truth, said\nSir Palomides, for they were four dangerous knights that slew him, as\nSir Gawaine, Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, and Sir Mordred, but Sir\nGareth, the fifth brother was away, the best knight of them all. And so\nSir Palomides told Hermind all the manner, and how they slew Sir\nLamorak all only by treason.\n\nSo Sir Palomides took his ship, and arrived up at the Delectable Isle.\nAnd in the meanwhile Sir Hermind that was the king\u2019s brother, he\narrived up at the Red City, and there he told them how there was come a\nknight of King Arthur\u2019s to avenge King Hermance\u2019s death: And his name\nis Sir Palomides, the good knight, that for the most part he followeth\nthe beast Glatisant. Then all the city made great joy, for mickle had\nthey heard of Sir Palomides, and of his noble prowess. So let they\nordain a messenger, and sent unto the two brethren, and bade them to\nmake them ready, for there was a knight come that would fight with them\nboth. So the messenger went unto them where they were at a castle there\nbeside; and there he told them how there was a knight come of King\nArthur\u2019s court to fight with them both at once. He is welcome, said\nthey; but tell us, we pray you, if it be Sir Launcelot or any of his\nblood? He is none of that blood, said the messenger. Then we care the\nless, said the two brethren, for with none of the blood of Sir\nLauncelot we keep not to have ado withal. Wit ye well, said the\nmessenger, that his name is Sir Palomides, that yet is unchristened, a\nnoble knight. Well, said they, an he be now unchristened he shall never\nbe christened. So they appointed to be at the city within two days.\n\nAnd when Sir Palomides was come to the city they made passing great joy\nof him, and then they beheld him, and saw that he was well made,\ncleanly and bigly, and unmaimed of his limbs, and neither too young nor\ntoo old. And so all the people praised him; and though he was not\nchristened yet he believed in the best manner, and was full faithful\nand true of his promise, and well conditioned; and because he made his\navow that he would never be christened unto the time that he had\nachieved the beast Glatisant, the which was a full wonderful beast, and\na great signification; for Merlin prophesied much of that beast. And\nalso Sir Palomides avowed never to take full christendom unto the time\nthat he had done seven battles within the lists.\n\nSo within the third day there came to the city these two brethren, the\none hight Helius, the other hight Helake, the which were men of great\nprowess; howbeit that they were false and full of treason, and but poor\nmen born, yet were they noble knights of their hands. And with them\nthey brought forty knights, to that intent that they should be big\nenough for the Red City. Thus came the two brethren with great bobaunce\nand pride, for they had put the Red City in fear and damage. Then they\nwere brought to the lists, and Sir Palomides came into the place and\nsaid thus: Be ye the two brethren, Helius and Helake, that slew your\nking and lord, Sir Hermance, by felony and treason, for whom that I am\ncome hither to revenge his death? Wit thou well, said Sir Helius and\nSir Helake, that we are the same knights that slew King Hermance; and\nwit thou well, Sir Palomides Saracen, that we shall handle thee so or\nthou depart that thou shalt wish that thou wert christened. It may well\nbe, said Sir Palomides, for yet I would not die or I were christened;\nand yet so am I not afeard of you both, but I trust to God that I shall\ndie a better christian man than any of you both; and doubt ye not, said\nSir Palomides, either ye or I shall be left dead in this place.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXIV. Of the battle between Sir Palomides and the two brethren,\nand how the two brethren were slain.\n\n\nThen they departed, and the two brethren came against Sir Palomides,\nand he against them, as fast as their horses might run. And by fortune\nSir Palomides smote Helake through his shield and through the breast\nmore than a fathom. All this while Sir Helius held up his spear, and\nfor pride and orgulit\u00e9 he would not smite Sir Palomides with his spear;\nbut when he saw his brother lie on the earth, and saw he might not help\nhimself, then he said unto Sir Palomides: Help thyself. And therewith\nhe came hurtling unto Sir Palomides with his spear, and smote him quite\nfrom his saddle. Then Sir Helius rode over Sir Palomides twice or\nthrice. And therewith Sir Palomides was ashamed, and gat the horse of\nSir Helius by the bridle, and therewithal the horse areared, and Sir\nPalomides halp after, and so they fell both to the earth; but anon Sir\nHelius stert up lightly, and there he smote Sir Palomides a great\nstroke upon the helm, that he kneeled upon his own knee. Then they\nlashed together many sad strokes, and traced and traversed now\nbackward, now sideling, hurtling together like two boars, and that same\ntime they fell both grovelling to the earth.\n\nThus they fought still without any reposing two hours, and never\nbreathed; and then Sir Palomides waxed faint and weary, and Sir Helius\nwaxed passing strong, and doubled his strokes, and drove Sir Palomides\noverthwart and endlong all the field, that they of the city when they\nsaw Sir Palomides in this case they wept and cried, and made great\ndole, and the other party made as great joy. Alas, said the men of the\ncity, that this noble knight should thus be slain for our king\u2019s sake.\nAnd as they were thus weeping and crying, Sir Palomides that had\nsuffered an hundred strokes, that it was wonder that he stood on his\nfeet, at the last Sir Palomides beheld as he might the common people,\nhow they wept for him; and then he said to himself: Ah, fie for shame,\nSir Palomides, why hangest thou thy head so low; and therewith he bare\nup his shield, and looked Sir Helius in the visage, and he smote him a\ngreat stroke upon the helm, and after that another and another. And\nthen he smote Sir Helius with such a might that he fell to the earth\ngrovelling; and then he raced off his helm from his head, and there he\nsmote him such a buffet that he departed his head from the body. And\nthen were the people of the city the joyfullest people that might be.\nSo they brought him to his lodging with great solemnity, and there all\nthe people became his men. And then Sir Palomides prayed them all to\ntake keep unto all the lordship of King Hermance: For, fair sirs, wit\nye well I may not as at this time abide with you, for I must in all\nhaste be with my lord King Arthur at the Castle of Lonazep, the which I\nhave promised. Then was the people full heavy at his departing, for all\nthat city proffered Sir Palomides the third part of their goods so that\nhe would abide with them; but in no wise as at that time he would not\nabide.\n\nAnd so Sir Palomides departed, and so he came unto the castle thereas\nSir Ebel was lieutenant. And when they in the castle wist how Sir\nPalomides had sped, there was a joyful meiny; and so Sir Palomides\ndeparted, and came to the castle of Lonazep. And when he wist that Sir\nTristram was not there he took his way over Humber, and came unto\nJoyous Gard, whereas Sir Tristram was and La Beale Isoud. Sir Tristram\nhad commanded that what knight errant came within the Joyous Gard, as\nin the town, that they should warn Sir Tristram. So there came a man of\nthe town, and told Sir Tristram how there was a knight in the town, a\npassing goodly man. What manner of man is he, said Sir Tristram, and\nwhat sign beareth he? So the man told Sir Tristram all the tokens of\nhim. That is Palomides, said Dinadan. It may well be, said Sir\nTristram. Go ye to him, said Sir Tristram unto Dinadan. So Dinadan went\nunto Sir Palomides, and there either made other great joy, and so they\nlay together that night. And on the morn early came Sir Tristram and\nSir Gareth, and took them in their beds, and so they arose and brake\ntheir fast.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXV. How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides met Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9,\nand how Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud went unto Lonazep.\n\n\nAnd then Sir Tristram desired Sir Palomides to ride into the fields and\nwoods. So they were accorded to repose them in the forest. And when\nthey had played them a great while they rode unto a fair well; and anon\nthey were ware of an armed knight that came riding against them, and\nthere either saluted other. Then this armed knight spake to Sir\nTristram, and asked what were these knights that were lodged in Joyous\nGard. I wot not what they are, said Sir Tristram. What knights be ye?\nsaid that knight, for meseemeth ye be no knights errant, because ye\nride unarmed. Whether we be knights or not we list not to tell thee our\nname. Wilt thou not tell me thy name? said that knight; then keep thee,\nfor thou shalt die of my hands. And therewith he got his spear in his\nhands, and would have run Sir Tristram through. That saw Sir Palomides,\nand smote his horse traverse in midst of the side, that man and horse\nfell to the earth. And therewith Sir Palomides alighted and pulled out\nhis sword to have slain him. Let be, said Sir Tristram, slay him not,\nthe knight is but a fool, it were shame to slay him. But take away his\nspear, said Sir Tristram, and let him take his horse and go where that\nhe will.\n\nSo when this knight arose he groaned sore of the fall, and so he took\nhis horse, and when he was up he turned then his horse, and required\nSir Tristram and Sir Palomides to tell him what knights they were. Now\nwit ye well, said Sir Tristram, that my name is Sir Tristram de Liones,\nand this knight\u2019s name is Sir Palomides. When he wist what they were he\ntook his horse with the spurs, because they should not ask him his\nname, and so rode fast away through thick and thin. Then came there by\nthem a knight with a bended shield of azure, whose name was Epinogris,\nand he came toward them a great wallop. Whither are ye riding? said Sir\nTristram. My fair lords, said Epinogris, I follow the falsest knight\nthat beareth the life; wherefore I require you tell me whether ye saw\nhim, for he beareth a shield with a case of red over it. So God me\nhelp, said Tristram, such a knight departed from us not a quarter of an\nhour agone; we pray you tell us his name. Alas, said Epinogris, why let\nye him escape from you? and he is so great a foe unto all errant\nknights: his name is Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9. Ah, fie for shame, said Sir\nPalomides, alas that ever he escaped mine hands, for he is the man in\nthe world that I hate most. Then every knight made great sorrow to\nother; and so Epinogris departed and followed the chase after him.\n\nThen Sir Tristram and his three fellows rode unto Joyous Gard; and\nthere Sir Tristram talked unto Sir Palomides of his battle, how he sped\nat the Red City, and as ye have heard afore so was it ended. Truly,\nsaid Sir Tristram, I am glad ye have well sped, for ye have done\nworshipfully. Well, said Sir Tristram, we must forward to-morn. And\nthen he devised how it should be; and Sir Tristram devised to send his\ntwo pavilions to set them fast by the well of Lonazep, and therein\nshall be the queen La Beale Isoud. It is well said, said Sir Dinadan,\nbut when Sir Palomides heard of that his heart was ravished out of\nmeasure: notwithstanding he said but little. So when they came to\nJoyous Gard Sir Palomides would not have gone into the castle, but as\nSir Tristram took him by the finger, and led him into the castle. And\nwhen Sir Palomides saw La Beale Isoud he was ravished so that he might\nunnethe speak. So they went unto meat, but Palomides might not eat, and\nthere was all the cheer that might be had. And on the morn they were\napparelled to ride toward Lonazep.\n\nSo Sir Tristram had three squires, and La Beale Isoud had three\ngentlewomen, and both the queen and they were richly apparelled; and\nother people had they none with them, but varlets to bear their shields\nand their spears. And thus they rode forth. So as they rode they saw\nafore them a rout of knights; it was the knight Galihodin with twenty\nknights with him. Fair fellows, said Galihodin, yonder come four\nknights, and a rich and a well fair lady: I am in will to take that\nlady from them. That is not of the best counsel, said one of\nGalihodin\u2019s men, but send ye to them and wit what they will say; and so\nit was done. There came a squire unto Sir Tristram, and asked them\nwhether they would joust or else to lose their lady. Not so, said Sir\nTristram, tell your lord I bid him come as many as we be, and win her\nand take her. Sir, said Palomides, an it please you let me have this\ndeed, and I shall undertake them all four. I will that ye have it, said\nSir Tristram, at your pleasure. Now go and tell your lord Galihodin,\nthat this same knight will encounter with him and his fellows.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXVI. How Sir Palomides jousted with Sir Galihodin, and after\nwith Sir Gawaine, and smote them down.\n\n\nThen this squire departed and told Galihodin; and then he dressed his\nshield, and put forth a spear, and Sir Palomides another; and there Sir\nPalomides smote Galihodin so hard that he smote both horse and man to\nthe earth. And there he had an horrible fall. And then came there\nanother knight, and in the same wise he served him; and so he served\nthe third and the fourth, that he smote them over their horses\u2019 croups,\nand always Sir Palomides\u2019 spear was whole. Then came six knights more\nof Galihodin\u2019s men, and would have been avenged upon Sir Palomides. Let\nbe, said Sir Galihodin, not so hardy, none of you all meddle with this\nknight, for he is a man of great bount\u00e9 and honour, and if he would ye\nwere not able to meddle with him. And right so they held them still.\nAnd ever Sir Palomides was ready to joust; and when he saw they would\nno more he rode unto Sir Tristram. Right well have ye done, said Sir\nTristram, and worshipfully have ye done as a good knight should. This\nGalihodin was nigh cousin unto Galahalt, the haut prince; and this\nGalihodin was a king within the country of Surluse.\n\nSo as Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and La Beale Isoud rode together\nthey saw afore them four knights, and every man had his spear in his\nhand: the first was Sir Gawaine, the second Sir Uwaine, the third Sir\nSagramore le Desirous, and the fourth was Dodinas le Savage. When Sir\nPalomides beheld them, that the four knights were ready to joust, he\nprayed Sir Tristram to give him leave to have ado with them all so long\nas he might hold him on horseback. And if that I be smitten down I pray\nyou revenge me. Well, said Sir Tristram, I will as ye will, and ye are\nnot so fain to have worship but I would as fain increase your worship.\nAnd therewithal Sir Gawaine put forth his spear, and Sir Palomides\nanother; and so they came so eagerly together that Sir Palomides smote\nSir Gawaine to the earth, horse and all; and in the same wise he served\nUwaine, Sir Dodinas, and Sagramore. All these four knights Sir\nPalomides smote down with divers spears. And then Sir Tristram departed\ntoward Lonazep.\n\nAnd when they were departed then came thither Galihodin with his ten\nknights unto Sir Gawaine, and there he told him all how he had sped. I\nmarvel, said Sir Gawaine, what knights they be, that are so arrayed in\ngreen. And that knight upon the white horse smote me down, said\nGalihodin, and my three fellows. And so he did to me, said Gawaine; and\nwell I wot, said Sir Gawaine, that either he upon the white horse is\nSir Tristram or else Sir Palomides, and that gay beseen lady is Queen\nIsoud. Thus they talked of one thing and of other.\n\nAnd in the meanwhile Sir Tristram passed on till that he came to the\nwell where his two pavilions were set; and there they alighted, and\nthere they saw many pavilions and great array. Then Sir Tristram left\nthere Sir Palomides and Sir Gareth with La Beale Isoud, and Sir\nTristram and Sir Dinadan rode to Lonazep to hearken tidings; and Sir\nTristram rode upon Sir Palomides\u2019 white horse. And when he came into\nthe castle Sir Dinadan heard a great horn blow, and to the horn drew\nmany knights. Then Sir Tristram asked a knight: What meaneth the blast\nof that horn? Sir, said that knight, it is all those that shall hold\nagainst King Arthur at this tournament. The first is the King of\nIreland, and the King of Surluse, the King of Listinoise, the King of\nNorthumberland, and the King of the best part of Wales, with many other\ncountries. And these draw them to a council, to understand what\ngovernance they shall be of; but the King of Ireland, whose name was\nMarhalt, and father to the good knight Sir Marhaus that Sir Tristram\nslew, had all the speech that Sir Tristram might hear it. He said:\nLords and fellows, let us look to ourself, for wit ye well King Arthur\nis sure of many good knights, or else he would not with so few knights\nhave ado with us; therefore by my counsel let every king have a\nstandard and a cognisance by himself, that every knight draw to their\nnatural lord, and then may every king and captain help his knights if\nthey have need. When Sir Tristram had heard all their counsel he rode\nunto King Arthur for to hear of his counsel.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXVII. How Sir Tristram and his fellowship came into the\ntournament of Lonazep; and of divers jousts and matters.\n\n\nBut Sir Tristram was not so soon come into the place, but Sir Gawaine\nand Sir Galihodin went to King Arthur, and told him: That same green\nknight in the green harness with the white horse smote us two down, and\nsix of our fellows this same day. Well, said Arthur. And then he called\nSir Tristram and asked him what was his name. Sir, said Sir Tristram,\nye shall hold me excused as at this time, for ye shall not wit my name.\nAnd there Sir Tristram returned and rode his way. I have marvel, said\nArthur, that yonder knight will not tell me his name, but go thou,\nGriflet le Fise de Dieu, and pray him to speak with me betwixt us. Then\nSir Griflet rode after him and overtook him, and said him that King\nArthur prayed him for to speak with him secretly apart. Upon this\ncovenant, said Sir Tristram, I will speak with him; that I will turn\nagain so that ye will ensure me not to desire to hear my name. I shall\nundertake, said Sir Griflet, that he will not greatly desire it of you.\nSo they rode together until they came to King Arthur. Fair sir, said\nKing Arthur, what is the cause ye will not tell me your name? Sir, said\nSir Tristram, without a cause I will not hide my name. Upon what party\nwill ye hold? said King Arthur. Truly, my lord, said Sir Tristram, I\nwot not yet on what party I will be on, until I come to the field, and\nthere as my heart giveth me, there will I hold; but to-morrow ye shall\nsee and prove on what party I shall come. And therewithal he returned\nand went to his pavilions.\n\nAnd upon the morn they armed them all in green, and came into the\nfield; and there young knights began to joust, and did many worshipful\ndeeds. Then spake Gareth unto Sir Tristram, and prayed him to give him\nleave to break his spear, for him thought shame to bear his spear whole\nagain. When Sir Tristram heard him say so he laughed, and said: I pray\nyou do your best. Then Sir Gareth gat a spear and proffered to joust.\nThat saw a knight that was nephew unto the King of the Hundred Knights;\nhis name was Selises, and a good man of arms. So this knight Selises\nthen dressed him unto Sir Gareth, and they two met together so hard\nthat either smote other down, his horse and all, to the earth, so they\nwere both bruised and hurt; and there they lay till the King with the\nHundred Knights halp Selises up, and Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides\nhalp up Gareth again. And so they rode with Sir Gareth unto their\npavilions, and then they pulled off his helm.\n\nAnd when La Beale Isoud saw Sir Gareth bruised in the face she asked\nhim what ailed him. Madam, said Sir Gareth, I had a great buffet, and\nas I suppose I gave another, but none of my fellows, God thank them,\nwould not rescue me. Forsooth, said Palomides, it longed not to none of\nus as this day to joust, for there have not this day jousted no proved\nknights, and needly ye would joust. And when the other party saw ye\nproffered yourself to joust they sent one to you, a passing good knight\nof his age, for I know him well, his name is Selises; and worshipfully\nye met with him, and neither of you are dishonoured, and therefore\nrefresh yourself that ye may be ready and whole to joust to-morrow. As\nfor that, said Gareth, I shall not fail you an I may bestride mine\nhorse.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXVIII. How Sir Tristram and his fellowship jousted, and of the\nnoble feats that they did in that tourneying.\n\n\nNow upon what party, said Tristram, is it best we be withal as to-morn?\nSir, said Palomides, ye shall have mine advice to be against King\nArthur as to-morn, for on his party will be Sir Launcelot and many good\nknights of his blood with him. And the more men of worship that they\nbe, the more worship we shall win. That is full knightly spoken, said\nSir Tristram; and right so as ye counsel me, so will we do. In the name\nof God, said they all. So that night they were lodged with the best.\nAnd on the morn when it was day they were arrayed all in green\ntrappings, shields and spears, and La Beale Isoud in the same colour,\nand her three damosels. And right so these four knights came into the\nfield endlong and through. And so they led La Beale Isoud thither as\nshe should stand and behold all the jousts in a bay window; but always\nshe was wimpled that no man might see her visage. And then these three\nknights rode straight unto the party of the King of Scots.\n\nWhen King Arthur had seen them do all this he asked Sir Launcelot what\nwere these knights and that queen. Sir, said Launcelot, I cannot say\nyou in certain, but if Sir Tristram be in this country, or Sir\nPalomides, wit ye well it be they m certain, and La Beale Isoud. Then\nArthur called to him Sir Kay and said: Go lightly and wit how many\nknights there be here lacking of the Table Round, for by the sieges\nthou mayst know. So went Sir Kay and saw by the writings in the sieges\nthat there lacked ten knights. And these be their names that be not\nhere. Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, Sir Percivale, Sir Gaheris, Sir\nEpinogris, Sir Mordred, Sir Dinadan, Sir La Cote Male Taile, and Sir\nPelleas the noble knight. Well, said Arthur, some of these I dare\nundertake are here this day against us.\n\nThen came therein two brethren, cousins unto Sir Gawaine, the one hight\nSir Edward, that other hight Sir Sadok, the which were two good\nknights; and they asked of King Arthur that they might have the first\njousts, for they were of Orkney. I am pleased, said King Arthur. Then\nSir Edward encountered with the King of Scots, in whose party was Sir\nTristram and Sir Palomides; and Sir Edward smote the King of Scots\nquite from his horse, and Sir Sadok smote down the King of North Wales,\nand gave him a wonder great fall, that there was a great cry on King\nArthur\u2019s party, and that made Sir Palomides passing wroth. And so Sir\nPalomides dressed his shield and his spear, and with all his might he\nmet with Sir Edward of Orkney, that he smote him so hard that his horse\nmight not stand on his feet, and so they hurtled to the earth; and then\nwith the same spear Sir Palomides smote down Sir Sadok over his horse\u2019s\ncroup. O Jesu, said Arthur, what knight is that arrayed all in green?\nhe jousteth mightily. Wit you well, said Sir Gawaine, he is a good\nknight, and yet shall ye see him joust better or he depart. And yet\nshall ye see, said Sir Gawaine, another bigger knight, in the same\ncolour, than he is; for that same knight, said Sir Gawaine, that smote\ndown right now my four cousins, he smote me down within these two days,\nand seven fellows more.\n\nThis meanwhile as they stood thus talking there came into the place Sir\nTristram upon a black horse, and or ever he stint he smote down with\none spear four good knights of Orkney that were of the kin of Sir\nGawaine; and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan everych of them smote down a\ngood knight. Jesu, said Arthur, yonder knight upon the black horse doth\nmightily and marvellously well. Abide you, said Sir Gawaine; that\nknight with the black horse began not yet. Then Sir Tristram made to\nhorse again the two kings that Edward and Sadok had unhorsed at the\nbeginning. And then Sir Tristram drew his sword and rode into the\nthickest of the press against them of Orkney; and there he smote down\nknights, and rashed off helms, and pulled away their shields, and\nhurtled down many knights: he fared so that Sir Arthur and all knights\nhad great marvel when they saw one knight do so great deeds of arms.\nAnd Sir Palomides failed not upon the other side, but did so\nmarvellously well that all men had wonder. For there King Arthur\nlikened Sir Tristram that was on the black horse like to a wood lion,\nand likened Sir Palomides upon the white horse unto a wood leopard, and\nSir Gareth and Sir Dinadan unto eager wolves. But the custom was such\namong them that none of the kings would help other, but all the\nfellowship of every standard to help other as they might; but ever Sir\nTristram did so much deeds of arms that they of Orkney waxed weary of\nhim, and so withdrew them unto Lonazep.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXIX. How Sir Tristram was unhorsed and smitten down by Sir\nLauncelot, and after that Sir Tristram smote down King Arthur.\n\n\nThen was the cry of heralds and all manner of common people: The Green\nKnight hath done marvellously, and beaten all them of Orkney. And there\nthe heralds numbered that Sir Tristram that sat upon the black horse\nhad smitten down with spears and swords thirty knights; and Sir\nPalomides had smitten down twenty knights, and the most part of these\nfifty knights were of the house of King Arthur, and proved knights. So\nGod me help, said Arthur unto Sir Launcelot, this is a great shame to\nus to see four knights beat so many knights of mine; and therefore make\nyou ready, for we will have ado with them. Sir, said Launcelot, wit ye\nwell that there are two passing good knights, and great worship were it\nnot to us now to have ado with them, for they have this day sore\ntravailed. As for that, said Arthur, I will be avenged; and therefore\ntake with you Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector, and I will be the fourth,\nsaid Arthur. Sir, said Launcelot, ye shall find me ready, and my\nbrother Sir Ector, and my cousin Sir Bleoberis. And so when they were\nready and on horseback: Now choose, said Sir Arthur unto Sir Launcelot,\nwith whom that ye will encounter withal. Sir, said Launcelot, I will\nmeet with the green knight upon the black horse, that was Sir Tristram;\nand my cousin Sir Bleoberis shall match the green knight upon the white\nhorse, that was Sir Palomides; and my brother Sir Ector shall match\nwith the green knight upon the white horse, that was Sir Gareth. Then\nmust I, said Sir Arthur, have ado with the green knight upon the\ngrisled horse, and that was Sir Dinadan. Now every man take heed to his\nfellow, said Sir Launcelot. And so they trotted on together, and there\nencountered Sir Launcelot against Sir Tristram. So Sir Launcelot smote\nSir Tristram so sore upon the shield that he bare horse and man to the\nearth; but Sir Launcelot weened that it had been Sir Palomides, and so\nhe passed forth. And then Sir Bleoberis encountered with Sir Palomides,\nand he smote him so hard upon the shield that Sir Palomides and his\nwhite horse rustled to the earth. Then Sir Ector de Maris smote Sir\nGareth so hard that down he fell off his horse. And the noble King\nArthur encountered with Sir Dinadan, and he smote him quite from his\nsaddle. And then the noise turned awhile how the green knights were\nslain down.\n\nWhen the King of Northgalis saw that Sir Tristram had a fall, then he\nremembered him how great deeds of arms Sir Tristram had done. Then he\nmade ready many knights, for the custom and cry was such, that what\nknight were smitten down, and might not be horsed again by his fellows,\nouther by his own strength, that as that day he should be prisoner unto\nthe party that had smitten him down. So came in the King of Northgalis,\nand he rode straight unto Sir Tristram; and when he came nigh him he\nalighted down suddenly and betook Sir Tristram his horse, and said\nthus: Noble knight, I know thee not of what country that thou art, but\nfor the noble deeds that thou hast done this day take there my horse,\nand let me do as well I may; for, as Jesu me help, thou art better\nworthy to have mine horse than I myself. Gramercy, said Sir Tristram,\nand if I may I shall quite you: look that ye go not far from us, and as\nI suppose, I shall win you another horse. And therewith Sir Tristram\nmounted upon his horse, and there he met with King Arthur, and he gave\nhim such a buffet upon the helm with his sword that King Arthur had no\npower to keep his saddle. And then Sir Tristram gave the King of\nNorthgalis King Arthur\u2019s horse: then was there great press about King\nArthur for to horse him again; but Sir Palomides would not suffer King\nArthur to be horsed again, but ever Sir Palomides smote on the right\nhand and on the left hand mightily as a noble knight. And this\nmeanwhile Sir Tristram rode through the thickest of the press, and\nsmote down knights on the right hand and on the left hand, and raced\noff helms, and so passed forth unto his pavilions, and left Sir\nPalomides on foot; and Sir Tristram changed his horse and disguised\nhimself all in red, horse and harness.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXX. How Sir Tristram changed his harness and it was all red,\nand how he demeaned him, and how Sir Palomides slew Launcelot\u2019s horse.\n\n\nAnd when the queen La Beale Isoud saw that Sir Tristram was unhorsed,\nand she wist not where he was, then she wept greatly. But Sir Tristram,\nwhen he was ready, came dashing lightly into the field, and then La\nBeale Isoud espied him. And so he did great deeds of arms; with one\nspear, that was great, Sir Tristram smote down five knights or ever he\nstint. Then Sir Launcelot espied him readily, that it was Sir Tristram,\nand then he repented him that he had smitten him down; and so Sir\nLauncelot went out of the press to repose him and lightly he came\nagain. And now when Sir Tristram came into the press, through his great\nforce he put Sir Palomides upon his horse, and Sir Gareth, and Sir\nDinadan, and then they began to do marvellously; but Sir Palomides nor\nnone of his two fellows knew not who had holpen them on horseback\nagain. But ever Sir Tristram was nigh them and succoured them, and they\n[knew] not him, because he was changed into red armour: and all this\nwhile Sir Launcelot was away.\n\nSo when La Beale Isoud knew Sir Tristram again upon his horse-back she\nwas passing glad, and then she laughed and made good cheer. And as it\nhappened, Sir Palomides looked up toward her where she lay in the\nwindow, and he espied how she laughed; and therewith he took such a\nrejoicing that he smote down, what with his spear and with his sword,\nall that ever he met; for through the sight of her he was so enamoured\nin her love that he seemed at that time, that an both Sir Tristram and\nSir Launcelot had been both against him they should have won no worship\nof him; and in his heart, as the book saith, Sir Palomides wished that\nwith his worship he might have ado with Sir Tristram before all men,\nbecause of La Beale Isoud. Then Sir Palomides began to double his\nstrength, and he did so marvellously that all men had wonder of him,\nand ever he cast up his eye unto La Beale Isoud. And when he saw her\nmake such cheer he fared like a lion, that there might no man withstand\nhim; and then Sir Tristram beheld him, how that Sir Palomides bestirred\nhim; and then he said unto Sir Dinadan: So God me help, Sir Palomides\nis a passing good knight and a well enduring, but such deeds saw I him\nnever do, nor never heard I tell that ever he did so much in one day.\nIt is his day, said Dinadan; and he would say no more unto Sir\nTristram; but to himself he said: An if ye knew for whose love he doth\nall those deeds of arms, soon would Sir Tristram abate his courage.\nAlas, said Sir Tristram, that Sir Palomides is not christened. So said\nKing Arthur, and so said all those that beheld him. Then all people\ngave him the prize, as for the best knight that day, that he passed Sir\nLauncelot outher Sir Tristram. Well, said Dinadan to himself, all this\nworship that Sir Palomides hath here this day he may thank the Queen\nIsoud, for had she been away this day Sir Palomides had not gotten the\nprize this day.\n\nRight so came into the field Sir Launcelot du Lake, and saw and heard\nthe noise and cry and the great worship that Sir Palomides had. He\ndressed him against Sir Palomides, with a great mighty spear and a\nlong, and thought to smite him down. And when Sir Palomides saw Sir\nLauncelot come upon him so fast, he ran upon Sir Launcelot as fast with\nhis sword as he might; and as Sir Launcelot should have stricken him he\nsmote his spear aside, and smote it a-two with his sword. And Sir\nPalomides rushed unto Sir Launcelot, and thought to have put him to a\nshame; and with his sword he smote his horse\u2019s neck that Sir Launcelot\nrode upon, and then Sir Launcelot fell to the earth. Then was the cry\nhuge and great: See how Sir Palomides the Saracen hath smitten down Sir\nLauncelot\u2019s horse. Right then were there many knights wroth with Sir\nPalomides because he had done that deed; therefore many knights held\nthere against that it was unknightly done in a tournament to kill an\nhorse wilfully, but that it had been done in plain battle, life for\nlife.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXI. How Sir Launcelot said to Sir Palomides, and how the\nprize of that day was given unto Sir Palomides.\n\n\nWhen Sir Ector de Maris saw Sir Launcelot his brother have such a\ndespite, and so set on foot, then he gat a spear eagerly, and ran\nagainst Sir Palomides, and he smote him so hard that he bare him quite\nfrom his horse. That saw Sir Tristram, that was in red harness, and he\nsmote down Sir Ector de Maris quite from his horse. Then Sir Launcelot\ndressed his shield upon his shoulder, and with his sword naked in his\nhand, and so came straight upon Sir Palomides fiercely and said: Wit\nthou well thou hast done me this day the greatest despite that ever any\nworshipful knight did to me in tournament or in jousts, and therefore I\nwill be avenged upon thee, therefore take keep to yourself. Ah, mercy,\nnoble knight, said Palomides, and forgive me mine unkindly deeds, for I\nhave no power nor might to withstand you, and I have done so much this\nday that well I wot I did never so much, nor never shall in my\nlife-days; and therefore, most noble knight, I require thee spare me as\nat this day, and I promise you I shall ever be your knight while I\nlive: an ye put me from my worship now, ye put me from the greatest\nworship that ever I had or ever shall have in my life-days. Well, said\nSir Launcelot, I see, for to say thee sooth, ye have done marvellously\nwell this day; and I understand a part for whose love ye do it, and\nwell I wot that love is a great mistress. And if my lady were here as\nshe nis not, wit you well, said Sir Launcelot, ye should not bear away\nthe worship. But beware your love be not discovered, for an Sir\nTristram may know it ye will repent it; and sithen my quarrel is not\nhere, ye shall have this day the worship as for me; considering the\ngreat travail and pain that ye have had this day, it were no worship\nfor me to put you from it. And therewithal Sir Launcelot suffered Sir\nPalomides to depart.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot by great force and might gat his own horse maugre\ntwenty knights. So when Sir Launcelot was horsed he did many marvels,\nand so did Sir Tristram, and Sir Palomides in like wise. Then Sir\nLauncelot smote down with a spear Sir Dinadan, and the King of\nScotland, and the King of Wales, and the King of Northumberland, and\nthe King of Listinoise. So then Sir Launcelot and his fellows smote\ndown well a forty knights. Then came the King of Ireland and the King\nof the Straight Marches to rescue Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides. There\nbegan a great medley, and many knights were smitten down on both\nparties; and always Sir Launcelot spared Sir Tristram, and he spared\nhim. And Sir Palomides would not meddle with Sir Launcelot, and so\nthere was hurtling here and there. And then King Arthur sent out many\nknights of the Table Round; and Sir Palomides was ever in the foremost\nfront, and Sir Tristram did so strongly well that the king and all\nother had marvel. And then the king let blow to lodging; and because\nSir Palomides began first, and never he went nor rode out of the field\nto repose, but ever he was doing marvellously well either on foot or on\nhorseback, and longest during, King Arthur and all the kings gave Sir\nPalomides the honour and the gree as for that day.\n\nThen Sir Tristram commanded Sir Dinadan to fetch the queen La Beale\nIsoud, and bring her to his two pavilions that stood by the well. And\nso Dinadan did as he was commanded. But when Sir Palomides understood\nand wist that Sir Tristram was in the red armour, and on a red horse,\nwit ye well that he was glad, and so was Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan,\nfor they all weened that Sir Tristram had been taken prisoner. And then\nevery knight drew to his inn. And then King Arthur and every knight\nspake of those knights; but above all men they gave Sir Palomides the\nprize, and all knights that knew Sir Palomides had wonder of his deeds.\nSir, said Sir Launcelot unto Arthur, as for Sir Palomides an he be the\ngreen knight I dare say as for this day he is best worthy to have the\ndegree, for he reposed him never, nor never changed his weeds, and he\nbegan first and longest held on. And yet, well I wot, said Sir\nLauncelot, that there was a better knight than he, and that shall be\nproved or we depart, upon pain of my life. Thus they talked on either\nparty; and so Sir Dinadan railed with Sir Tristram and said: What the\ndevil is upon thee this day? for Sir Palomides\u2019 strength feebled never\nthis day, but ever he doubled his strength.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXII. How Sir Dinadan provoked Sir Tristram to do well.\n\n\nAnd thou, Sir Tristram, farest all this day as though thou hadst been\nasleep, and therefore I call thee coward. Well, Dinadan, said Sir\nTristram, I was never called coward or now of no earthly knight in my\nlife; and wit thou well, sir, I call myself never the more coward\nthough Sir Launcelot gave me a fall, for I outcept him of all knights.\nAnd doubt ye not Sir Dinadan, an Sir Launcelot have a quarrel good, he\nis too over good for any knight that now is living; and yet of his\nsufferance, largess, bounty, and courtesy, I call him knight peerless:\nand so Sir Tristram was in manner wroth with Sir Dinadan. But all this\nlanguage Sir Dinadan said because he would anger Sir Tristram, for to\ncause him to awake his spirits and to be wroth; for well knew Sir\nDinadan that an Sir Tristram were thoroughly wroth Sir Palomides should\nnot get the prize upon the morn. And for this intent Sir Dinadan said\nall this railing and language against Sir Tristram. Truly, said Sir\nPalomides, as for Sir Launcelot, of his noble knighthood, courtesy, and\nprowess, and gentleness, I know not his peer; for this day, said Sir\nPalomides, I did full uncourteously unto Sir Launcelot, and full\nunknightly, and full knightly and courteously he did to me again; for\nan he had been as ungentle to me as I was to him, this day I had won no\nworship. And therefore, said Palomides, I shall be Sir Launcelot\u2019s\nknight while my life lasteth. This talking was in the houses of kings.\nBut all kings, lords, and knights, said, of clear knighthood, and of\npure strength, of bounty, of courtesy, Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram\nbare the prize above all knights that ever were in Arthur\u2019s days. And\nthere were never knights in Arthur\u2019s days did half so many deeds as\nthey did; as the book saith, no ten knights did not half the deeds that\nthey did, and there was never knight in their days that required Sir\nLauncelot or Sir Tristram of any quest, so it were not to their shame,\nbut they performed their desire.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXIII. How King Arthur and Sir Lancelot came to see La Beale\nIsoud, and how Palomides smote down King Arthur.\n\n\nSo on the morn Sir Launcelot departed, and Sir Tristram was ready, and\nLa Beale Isoud with Sir Palomides and Sir Gareth. And so they rode all\nin green full freshly beseen unto the forest. And Sir Tristram left Sir\nDinadan sleeping in his bed. And so as they rode it happed the king and\nLauncelot stood in a window, and saw Sir Tristram ride and Isoud. Sir,\nsaid Launcelot, yonder rideth the fairest lady of the world except your\nqueen, Dame Guenever. Who is that? said Sir Arthur. Sir, said he, it is\nQueen Isoud that, out-taken my lady your queen, she is makeless. Take\nyour horse, said Arthur, and array you at all rights as I will do, and\nI promise you, said the king, I will see her. Then anon they were armed\nand horsed, and either took a spear and rode unto the forest. Sir, said\nLauncelot, it is not good that ye go too nigh them, for wit ye well\nthere are two as good knights as now are living, and therefore, sir, I\npray you be not too hasty. For peradventure there will be some knights\nbe displeased an we come suddenly upon them. As for that, said Arthur,\nI will see her, for I take no force whom I grieve. Sir, said Launcelot,\nye put yourself in great jeopardy. As for that, said the king, we will\ntake the adventure. Right so anon the king rode even to her, and\nsaluted her, and said: God you save. Sir, said she, ye are welcome.\nThen the king beheld her, and liked her wonderly well.\n\nWith that came Sir Palomides unto Arthur, and said: Uncourteous knight,\nwhat seekest thou here? thou art uncourteous to come upon a lady thus\nsuddenly, therefore withdraw thee. Sir Arthur took none heed of Sir\nPalomides\u2019 words, but ever he looked still upon Queen Isoud. Then was\nSir Palomides wroth, and therewith he took a spear, and came hurtling\nupon King Arthur, and smote him down with a spear. When Sir Launcelot\nsaw that despite of Sir Palomides, he said to himself: I am loath to\nhave ado with yonder knight, and not for his own sake but for Sir\nTristram. And one thing I am sure of, if I smite down Sir Palomides I\nmust have ado with Sir Tristram, and that were overmuch for me to match\nthem both, for they are two noble knights; notwithstanding, whether I\nlive or I die, needs must I revenge my lord, and so will I, whatsomever\nbefall of me. And therewith Sir Launcelot cried to Sir Palomides: Keep\nthee from me. And then Sir Launcelot and Sir Palomides rushed together\nwith two spears strongly, but Sir Launcelot smote Sir Palomides so hard\nthat he went quite out of his saddle, and had a great fall. When Sir\nTristram saw Sir Palomides have that fall, he said to Sir Launcelot:\nSir knight, keep thee, for I must joust with thee. As for to joust with\nme, said Sir Launcelot, I will not fail you, for no dread I have of\nyou; but I am loath to have ado with you an I might choose, for I will\nthat ye wit that I must revenge my special lord that was unhorsed\nunwarly and unknightly. And therefore, though I revenged that fall,\ntake ye no displeasure therein, for he is to me such a friend that I\nmay not see him shamed.\n\nAnon Sir Tristram understood by his person and by his knightly words\nthat it was Sir Launcelot du Lake, and verily Sir Tristram deemed that\nit was King Arthur, he that Sir Palomides had smitten down. And then\nSir Tristram put his spear from him, and put Sir Palomides again on\nhorseback, and Sir Launcelot put King Arthur on horseback and so\ndeparted. So God me help, said Sir Tristram unto Palomides, ye did not\nworshipfully when ye smote down that knight so suddenly as ye did. And\nwit ye well ye did yourself great shame, for the knights came hither of\ntheir gentleness to see a fair lady; and that is every good knight\u2019s\npart, to behold a fair lady; and ye had not ado to play such masteries\nafore my lady. Wit thou well it will turn to anger, for he that ye\nsmote down was King Arthur, and that other was the good knight Sir\nLauncelot. But I shall not forget the words of Sir Launcelot when that\nhe called him a man of great worship, thereby I wist that it was King\nArthur. And as for Sir Launcelot, an there had been five hundred\nknights in the meadow, he would not have refused them, and yet he said\nhe would refuse me. By that again I wist that it was Sir Launcelot, for\never he forbeareth me in every place, and showeth me great kindness;\nand of all knights, I out-take none, say what men will say, he beareth\nthe flower of all chivalry, say it him whosomever will. An he be well\nangered, and that him list to do his utterance without any favour, I\nknow him not alive but Sir Launcelot is over hard for him, be it on\nhorseback or on foot. I may never believe, said Palomides, that King\nArthur will ride so privily as a poor errant knight. Ah, said Sir\nTristram, ye know not my lord Arthur, for all knights may learn to be a\nknight of him. And therefore ye may be sorry, said Sir Tristram, of\nyour unkindly deeds to so noble a king. And a thing that is done may\nnot be undone, said Palomides. Then Sir Tristram sent Queen Isoud unto\nher lodging in the priory, there to behold all the tournament.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXIV. How the second day Palomides forsook Sir Tristram, and\nwent to the contrary part against him.\n\n\nThen there was a cry unto all knights, that when they heard an horn\nblow they should make jousts as they did the first day. And like as the\nbrethren Sir Edward and Sir Sadok began the jousts the first day, Sir\nUwaine the king\u2019s son Urien and Sir Lucanere de Buttelere began the\njousts the second day. And at the first encounter\n\nSir Uwaine smote down the King\u2019s son of Scots; and Sir Lucanere ran\nagainst the King of Wales, and they brake their spears all to pieces;\nand they were so fierce both, that they hurtled together that both fell\nto the earth. Then they of Orkney horsed again Sir Lucanere. And then\ncame in Sir Tristram de Liones; and then Sir Tristram smote down Sir\nUwaine and Sir Lucanere; and Sir Palomides smote down other two knights\nand Sir Gareth smote down other two knights. Then said Sir Arthur unto\nSir Launcelot: See yonder three knights do passingly well, and namely\nthe first that jousted. Sir, said Launcelot, that knight began not yet\nbut ye shall see him this day do marvellously. And then came into the\nplace the duke\u2019s son of Orkney, and then they began to do many deeds of\narms.\n\nWhen Sir Tristram saw them so begin, he said to Palomides: How feel ye\nyourself? may ye do this day as ye did yesterday? Nay, said Palomides,\nI feel myself so weary, and so sore bruised of the deeds of yesterday,\nthat I may not endure as I did yesterday. That me repenteth, said Sir\nTristram, for I shall lack you this day. Sir Palomides said: Trust not\nto me, for I may not do as I did. All these words said Palomides for to\nbeguile Sir Tristram. Sir, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Gareth, then must\nI trust upon you; wherefore I pray you be not far from me to rescue me.\nAn need be, said Sir Gareth, I shall not fail you in all that I may do.\nThen Sir Palomides rode by himself; and then in despite of Sir Tristram\nhe put himself in the thickest press among them of Orkney, and there he\ndid so marvellously deeds of arms that all men had wonder of him, for\nthere might none stand him a stroke.\n\nWhen Sir Tristram saw Sir Palomides do such deeds, he marvelled and\nsaid to himself: He is weary of my company. So Sir Tristram beheld him\na great while and did but little else, for the noise and cry was so\nhuge and great that Sir Tristram marvelled from whence came the\nstrength that Sir Palomides had there in the field. Sir, said Sir\nGareth unto Sir Tristram, remember ye not of the words that Sir Dinadan\nsaid to you yesterday, when he called you a coward; forsooth, sir, he\nsaid it for none ill, for ye are the man in the world that he most\nloveth, and all that he said was for your worship. And therefore, said\nSir Gareth to Sir Tristram, let me know this day what ye be; and wonder\nye not so upon Sir Palomides, for he enforceth himself to win all the\nworship and honour from you. I may well believe it, said Sir Tristram.\nAnd sithen I understand his evil will and his envy, ye shall see, if\nthat I enforce myself, that the noise shall be left that now is upon\nhim.\n\nThen Sir Tristram rode into the thickest of the press, and then he did\nso marvellously well, and did so great deeds of arms, that all men said\nthat Sir Tristram did double so much deeds of arms as Sir Palomides had\ndone aforehand. And then the noise went plain from Sir Palomides, and\nall the people cried upon Sir Tristram. O Jesu, said the people, see\nhow Sir Tristram smiteth down with his spear so many knights. And see,\nsaid they all, how many knights he smiteth down with his sword, and of\nhow many knights he rashed off their helms and their shields; and so he\nbeat them all of Orkney afore him. How now, said Sir Launcelot unto\nKing Arthur, I told you that this day there would a knight play his\npageant. Yonder rideth a knight ye may see he doth knightly, for he\nhath strength and wind. So God me help, said Arthur to Launcelot, ye\nsay sooth, for I saw never a better knight, for he passeth far Sir\nPalomides. Sir, wit ye well, said Launcelot, it must be so of right,\nfor it is himself, that noble knight Sir Tristram. I may right well\nbelieve it, said Arthur.\n\nBut when Sir Palomides heard the noise and the cry was turned from him,\nhe rode out on a part and beheld Sir Tristram. And when Sir Palomides\nsaw Sir Tristram do so marvellously well he wept passingly sore for\ndespite, for he wist well he should no worship win that day; for well\nknew Sir Palomides, when Sir Tristram would put forth his strength and\nhis manhood, be should get but little worship that day.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXV. How Sir Tristram departed of the field, and awaked Sir\nDinadan, and changed his array into black.\n\n\nThen came King Arthur, and the King of Northgalis, and Sir Launcelot du\nLake; and Sir Bleoberis, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, these\nthree knights came into the field with Sir Launcelot. And then Sir\nLauncelot with the three knights of his kin did so great deeds of arms\nthat all the noise began upon Sir Launcelot. And so they beat the King\nof Wales and the King of Scots far aback, and made them to avoid the\nfield; but Sir Tristram and Sir Gareth abode still in the field and\nendured all that ever there came, that all men had wonder that any\nknight might endure so many strokes. But ever Sir Launcelot, and his\nthree kinsmen by the commandment of Sir Launcelot, forbare Sir\nTristram. Then said Sir Arthur: Is that Sir Palomides that endureth so\nwell? Nay, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well it is the good knight Sir\nTristram, for yonder ye may see Sir Palomides beholdeth and hoveth, and\ndoth little or nought. And sir, ye shall understand that Sir Tristram\nweeneth this day to beat us all out of the field. And as for me, said\nSir Launcelot, I shall not beat him, beat him whoso will. Sir, said\nLauncelot unto Arthur, ye may see how Sir Palomides hoveth yonder, as\nthough he were in a dream; wit ye well he is full heavy that Tristram\ndoth such deeds of arms. Then is he but a fool, said Arthur, for never\nwas Sir Palomides, nor never shall be, of such prowess as Sir Tristram.\nAnd if he have any envy at Sir Tristram, and cometh in with him upon\nhis side he is a false knight.\n\nAs the king and Sir Launcelot thus spake, Sir Tristram rode privily out\nof the press, that none espied him but La Beale Isoud and Sir\nPalomides, for they two would not let off their eyes upon Sir Tristram.\nAnd when Sir Tristram came to his pavilions he found Sir Dinadan in his\nbed asleep. Awake, said Tristram, ye ought to be ashamed so to sleep\nwhen knights have ado in the field. Then Sir Dinadan arose lightly and\nsaid: What will ye that I shall do? Make you ready, said Sir Tristram,\nto ride with me into the field. So when Sir Dinadan was armed he looked\nupon Sir Tristram\u2019s helm and on his shield, and when he saw so many\nstrokes upon his helm and upon his shield he said: In good time was I\nthus asleep, for had I been with you I must needs for shame there have\nfollowed you; more for shame than any prowess that is in me; that I see\nwell now by those strokes that I should have been truly beaten as I was\nyesterday. Leave your japes, said Sir Tristram, and come off, that [we]\nwere in the field again. What, said Sir Dinadan, is your heart up?\nyesterday ye fared as though ye had dreamed. So then Sir Tristram was\narrayed in black harness. O Jesu, said Dinadan, what aileth you this\nday? meseemeth ye be wilder than ye were yesterday. Then smiled Sir\nTristram and said to Dinadan: Await well upon me; if ye see me\novermatched look that ye be ever behind me, and I shall make you ready\nway by God\u2019s grace. So Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan took their horses.\nAll this espied Sir Palomides, both their going and their coming, and\nso did La Beale Isoud, for she knew Sir Tristram above all other.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXVI. How Sir Palomides changed his shield and his armour for\nto hurt Sir Tristram, and how Sir Launcelot did to Sir Tristram.\n\n\nThen when Sir Palomides saw that Sir Tristram was disguised, then he\nthought to do him a shame. So Sir Palomides rode to a knight that was\nsore wounded, that sat under a fair well from the field. Sir knight,\nsaid Sir Palomides, I pray you to lend me your armour and your shield,\nfor mine is over-well known in this field, and that hath done me great\ndamage; and ye shall have mine armour and my shield that is as sure as\nyours. I will well, said the knight, that ye have mine armour and my\nshield, if they may do you any avail. So Sir Palomides armed him\nhastily in that knight\u2019s armour and his shield that shone as any\ncrystal or silver, and so he came riding into the field. And then there\nwas neither Sir Tristram nor none of King Arthur\u2019s party that knew Sir\nPalomides. And right so as Sir Palomides was come into the field Sir\nTristram smote down three knights, even in the sight of Sir Palomides.\nAnd then Sir Palomides rode against Sir Tristram, and either met other\nwith great spears, that they brast to their hands. And then they dashed\ntogether with swords eagerly. Then Sir Tristram had marvel what knight\nhe was that did battle so knightly with him. Then was Sir Tristram\nwroth, for he felt him passing strong, so that he deemed he might not\nhave ado with the remnant of the knights, because of the strength of\nSir Palomides. So they lashed together and gave many sad strokes\ntogether, and many knights marvelled what knight he might be that so\nencountered with the black knight, Sir Tristram. Full well knew La\nBeale Isoud that there was Sir Palomides that fought with Sir Tristram,\nfor she espied all in her window where that she stood, as Sir Palomides\nchanged his harness with the wounded knight. And then she began to weep\nso heartily for the despite of Sir Palomides that there she swooned.\n\nThen came in Sir Launcelot with the knights of Orkney. And when the\nother party had espied Sir Launcelot, they cried: Return, return, here\ncometh Sir Launcelot du Lake. So there came knights and said: Sir\nLauncelot, ye must needs fight with yonder knight in the black harness,\nthat was Sir Tristram, for he hath almost overcome that good knight\nthat fighteth with him with the silver shield, that was Sir Palomides.\nThen Sir Launcelot rode betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides, and Sir\nLauncelot said to Palomides: Sir knight, let me have the battle, for ye\nhave need to be reposed. Sir Palomides knew Sir Launcelot well, and so\ndid Sir Tristram, but because Sir Launcelot was far hardier knight than\nhimself therefore he was glad, and suffered Sir Launcelot to fight with\nSir Tristram. For well wist he that Sir Launcelot knew not Sir\nTristram, and there he hoped that Sir Launcelot should beat or shame\nSir Tristram, whereof Sir Palomides was full fain. And so Sir Launcelot\ngave Sir Tristram many sad strokes, but Sir Launcelot knew not Sir\nTristram, but Sir Tristram knew well Sir Launcelot. And thus they\nfought long together, that La Beale Isoud was well-nigh out of her mind\nfor sorrow.\n\nThen Sir Dinadan told Sir Gareth how that knight in the black harness\nwas Sir Tristram: And this is Launcelot that fighteth with him, that\nmust needs have the better of him, for Sir Tristram hath had too much\ntravail this day. Then let us smite him down, said Sir Gareth. So it is\nbetter that we do, said Sir Dinadan, than Sir Tristram be shamed, for\nyonder hoveth the strong knight with the silver shield to fall upon Sir\nTristram if need be. Then forthwithal Gareth rushed upon Sir Launcelot,\nand gave him a great stroke upon his helm so hard that he was astonied.\nAnd then came Sir Dinadan with a spear, and he smote Sir Launcelot such\na buffet that horse and all fell to the earth. O Jesu, said Sir\nTristram to Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan, fie for shame, why did ye smite\ndown so good a knight as he is, and namely when I had ado with him? now\nye do yourself great shame, and him no disworship; for I held him\nreasonable hot, though ye had not holpen me.\n\nThen came Sir Palomides that was disguised, and smote down Sir Dinadan\nfrom his horse. Then Sir Launcelot, because Sir Dinadan had smitten him\naforehand, then Sir Launcelot assailed Sir Dinadan passing sore, and\nSir Dinadan defended him mightily. But well understood Sir Tristram\nthat Sir Dinadan might not endure Sir Launcelot, wherefore Sir Tristram\nwas sorry. Then came Sir Palomides fresh upon Sir Tristram. And when\nSir Tristram saw him come, he thought to deliver him at once, because\nthat he would help Sir Dinadan, because he stood in great peril with\nSir Launcelot. Then Sir Tristram hurtled unto Sir Palomides and gave\nhim a great buffet, and then Sir Tristram gat Sir Palomides and pulled\nhim down underneath him. And so fell Sir Tristram with him; and Sir\nTristram leapt up lightly and left Sir Palomides, and went betwixt Sir\nLauncelot and Dinadan, and then they began to do battle together.\n\nRight so Sir Dinadan gat Sir Tristram\u2019s horse, and said on high that\nSir Launcelot might hear it: My lord Sir Tristram, take your horse. And\nwhen Sir Launcelot heard him name Sir Tristram: O Jesu, said Launcelot,\nwhat have I done? I am dishonoured. Ah, my lord Sir Tristram, said\nLauncelot, why were ye disguised? ye have put yourself in great peril\nthis day; but I pray you noble knight to pardon me, for an I had known\nyou we had not done this battle. Sir, said Sir Tristram, this is not\nthe first kindness ye showed me. So they were both horsed again.\n\nThen all the people on the one side gave Sir Launcelot the honour and\nthe degree, and on the other side all the people gave to the noble\nknight Sir Tristram the honour and the degree; but Launcelot said nay\nthereto: For I am not worthy to have this honour, for I will report me\nunto all knights that Sir Tristram hath been longer in the field than\nI, and he hath smitten down many more knights this day than I have\ndone. And therefore I will give Sir Tristram my voice and my name, and\nso I pray all my lords and fellows so to do. Then there was the whole\nvoice of dukes and earls, barons and knights, that Sir Tristram this\nday is proved the best knight.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXVII. How Sir Tristram departed with La Beale Isoud, and how\nPalomides followed and excused him.\n\n\nThen they blew unto lodging, and Queen Isoud was led unto her\npavilions. But wit you well she was wroth out of measure with Sir\nPalomides, for she saw all his treason from the beginning to the\nending. And all this while neither Sir Tristram, neither Sir Gareth nor\nDinadan, knew not of the treason of Sir Palomides; but afterward ye\nshall hear that there befell the greatest debate betwixt Sir Tristram\nand Sir Palomides that might be.\n\nSo when the tournament was done, Sir Tristram, Gareth, and Dinadan,\nrode with La Beale Isoud to these pavilions. And ever Sir Palomides\nrode with them in their company disguised as he was. But when Sir\nTristram had espied him that he was the same knight with the shield of\nsilver that held him so hot that day: Sir knight, said Sir Tristram,\nwit ye well here is none that hath need of your fellowship, and\ntherefore I pray you depart from us. Sir Palomides answered again as\nthough he had not known Sir Tristram: Wit you well, sir knight, from\nthis fellowship will I never depart, for one of the best knights of the\nworld commanded me to be in this company, and till he discharge me of\nmy service I will not be discharged. By that Sir Tristram knew that it\nwas Sir Palomides. Ah, Sir Palomides, said the noble knight Sir\nTristram, are ye such a knight? Ye have been named wrong, for ye have\nlong been called a gentle knight, and as this day ye have showed me\ngreat ungentleness, for ye had almost brought me unto my death. But, as\nfor you, I suppose I should have done well enough, but Sir Launcelot\nwith you was overmuch; for I know no knight living but Sir Launcelot is\nover good for him, an he will do his uttermost. Alas, said Sir\nPalomides, are ye my lord Sir Tristram? Yea, sir, and that ye know well\nenough. By my knighthood, said Palomides, until now I knew you not; I\nweened that ye had been the King of Ireland, for well I wot ye bare his\narms. His arms I bare, said Sir Tristram, and that will I stand by, for\nI won them once in a field of a full noble knight, his name was Sir\nMarhaus; and with great pain I won that knight, for there was none\nother recover, but Sir Marhaus died through false leeches; and yet was\nhe never yolden to me. Sir, said Palomides, I weened ye had been turned\nupon Sir Launcelot\u2019s party, and that caused me to turn. Ye say well,\nsaid Sir Tristram, and so I take you, and I forgive you.\n\nSo then they rode into their pavilions; and when they were alighted\nthey unarmed them and washed their faces and hands, and so yode unto\nmeat, and were set at their table. But when Isoud saw Sir Palomides she\nchanged then her colours, and for wrath she might not speak. Anon Sir\nTristram espied her countenance and said: Madam, for what cause make ye\nus such cheer? we have been sore travailed this day. Mine own lord,\nsaid La Beale Isoud, for God\u2019s sake be ye not displeased with me, for I\nmay none otherwise do; for I saw this day how ye were betrayed and nigh\nbrought to your death. Truly, sir, I saw every deal, how and in what\nwise, and therefore, sir, how should I suffer in your presence such a\nfelon and traitor as Sir Palomides; for I saw him with mine eyes, how\nhe beheld you when ye went out of the field. For ever he hoved still\nupon his horse till he saw you come in againward. And then forthwithal\nI saw him ride to the hurt knight, and changed harness with him, and\nthen straight I saw him how he rode into the field. And anon as he had\nfound you he encountered with you, and thus wilfully Sir Palomides did\nbattle with you; and as for him, sir, I was not greatly afraid, but I\ndread sore Launcelot, that knew you not. Madam, said Palomides, ye may\nsay whatso ye will, I may not contrary you, but by my knighthood I knew\nnot Sir Tristram. Sir Palomides, said Sir Tristram, I will take your\nexcuse, but well I wot ye spared me but little, but all is pardoned on\nmy part. Then La Beale Isoud held down her head and said no more at\nthat time.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXVIII. How King Arthur and Sir Launcelot came unto their\npavilions as they sat at supper, and of Sir Palomides.\n\n\nAnd therewithal two knights armed came unto the pavilion, and there\nthey alighted both, and came in armed at all pieces. Fair knights, said\nSir Tristram, ye are to blame to come thus armed at all pieces upon me\nwhile we are at our meat; if ye would anything when we were in the\nfield there might ye have eased your hearts. Not so, said the one of\nthose knights, we come not for that intent, but wit ye well Sir\nTristram, we be come hither as your friends. And I am come here, said\nthe one, for to see you, and this knight is come for to see La Beale\nIsoud. Then said Sir Tristram: I require you do off your helms that I\nmay see you. That will we do at your desire, said the knights. And when\ntheir helms were off, Sir Tristram thought that he should know them.\n\nThen said Sir Dinadan privily unto Sir Tristram: Sir, that is Sir\nLauncelot du Lake that spake unto you first, and the other is my lord\nKing Arthur. Then, said Sir Tristram unto La Beale Isoud, Madam arise,\nfor here is my lord, King Arthur. Then the king and the queen kissed,\nand Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram braced either other in arms, and\nthen there was joy without measure; and at the request of La Beale\nIsoud, King Arthur and Launcelot were unarmed, and then there was merry\ntalking. Madam, said Sir Arthur, it is many a day sithen that I have\ndesired to see you, for ye have been praised so far; and now I dare say\nye are the fairest that ever I saw, and Sir Tristram is as fair and as\ngood a knight as any that I know; therefore me beseemeth ye are well\nbeset together. Sir, God thank you, said the noble knight, Sir\nTristram, and Isoud; of your great goodness and largess ye are\npeerless. Thus they talked of many things and of all the whole jousts.\nBut for what cause, said King Arthur, were ye, Sir Tristram, against\nus? Ye are a knight of the Table Round; of right ye should have been\nwith us. Sir, said Sir Tristram, here is Dinadan, and Sir Gareth your\nown nephew, caused me to be against you. My lord Arthur, said Gareth, I\nmay well bear the blame, but it were Sir Tristram\u2019s own deeds. That may\nI repent, said Dinadan, for this unhappy Sir Tristram brought us to\nthis tournament, and many great buffets he caused us to have. Then the\nking and Launcelot laughed that they might not sit.\n\nWhat knight was that, said Arthur, that held you so short, this with\nthe shield of silver? Sir, said Sir Tristram, here he sitteth at this\nboard. What, said Arthur, was it Sir Palomides? Wit ye well it was he,\nsaid La Beale Isoud. So God me help, said Arthur, that was unknightly\ndone of you of so good a knight, for I have heard many people call you\na courteous knight. Sir, said Palomides, I knew not Sir Tristram, for\nhe was so disguised. So God me help, said Launcelot, it may well be,\nfor I knew not Sir Tristram; but I marvel why ye turned on our party.\nThat was done for the same cause, said Launcelot. As for that, said Sir\nTristram, I have pardoned him, and I would be right loath to leave his\nfellowship, for I love right well his company: so they left off and\ntalked of other things.\n\nAnd in the evening King Arthur and Sir Launcelot departed unto their\nlodging; but wit ye well Sir Palomides had envy heartily, for all that\nnight he had never rest in his bed, but wailed and wept out of measure.\nSo on the morn Sir Tristram, Gareth, and Dinadan arose early, and then\nthey went unto Sir Palomides\u2019 chamber, and there they found him fast\nasleep, for he had all night watched, and it was seen upon his cheeks\nthat he had wept full sore. Say nothing, said Sir Tristram, for I am\nsure he hath taken anger and sorrow for the rebuke that I gave to him,\nand La Beale Isoud.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXIX. How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides did the next day, and\nhow King Arthur was unhorsed.\n\n\nThen Sir Tristram let call Sir Palomides, and bade him make him ready,\nfor it was time to go to the field. When they were ready they were\narmed, and clothed all in red, both Isoud and all they; and so they led\nher passing freshly through the field, into the priory where was her\nlodging. And then they heard three blasts blow, and every king and\nknight dressed him unto the field. And the first that was ready to\njoust was Sir Palomides and Sir Kainus le Strange, a knight of the\nTable Round. And so they two encountered together, but Sir Palomides\nsmote Sir Kainus so hard that he smote him quite over his horse\u2019s\ncroup. And forthwithal Sir Palomides smote down another knight, and\nbrake then his spear, and pulled out his sword and did wonderly well.\nAnd then the noise began greatly upon Sir Palomides. Lo, said King\nArthur, yonder Palomides beginneth to play his pageant. So God me help,\nsaid Arthur, he is a passing good knight. And right as they stood\ntalking thus, in came Sir Tristram as thunder, and he encountered with\nSir Kay the Seneschal, and there he smote him down quite from his\nhorse; and with that same spear Sir Tristram smote down three knights\nmore, and then he pulled out his sword and did marvellously. Then the\nnoise and cry changed from Sir Palomides and turned to Sir Tristram,\nand all the people cried: O Tristram, O Tristram. And then was Sir\nPalomides clean forgotten.\n\nHow now, said Launcelot unto Arthur, yonder rideth a knight that\nplayeth his pageants. So God me help, said Arthur to Launcelot, ye\nshall see this day that yonder two knights shall here do this day\nwonders. Sir, said Launcelot, the one knight waiteth upon the other,\nand enforceth himself through envy to pass the noble knight Sir\nTristram, and he knoweth not of the privy envy the which Sir Palomides\nhath to him; for all that the noble Sir Tristram doth is through clean\nknighthood. And then Sir Gareth and Dinadan did wonderly great deeds of\narms, as two noble knights, so that King Arthur spake of them great\nhonour and worship; and the kings and knights of Sir Tristram\u2019s side\ndid passingly well, and held them truly together. Then Sir Arthur and\nSir Launcelot took their horses and dressed them, and gat into the\nthickest of the press. And there Sir Tristram unknowing smote down King\nArthur, and then Sir Launcelot would have rescued him, but there were\nso many upon Sir Launcelot that they pulled him down from his horse.\nAnd then the King of Ireland and the King of Scots with their knights\ndid their pain to take King Arthur and Sir Launcelot prisoner. When Sir\nLauncelot heard them say so, he fared as it had been an hungry lion,\nfor he fared so that no knight durst nigh him.\n\nThen came Sir Ector de Maris, and he bare a spear against Sir\nPalomides, and brast it upon him all to shivers. And then Sir Ector\ncame again and gave Sir Palomides such a dash with a sword that he\nstooped down upon his saddle bow. And forthwithal Sir Ector pulled down\nSir Palomides under his feet; and then Sir Ector de Maris gat Sir\nLauncelot du Lake an horse, and brought it to him, and bade him mount\nupon him; but Sir Palomides leapt afore and gat the horse by the\nbridle, and leapt into the saddle. So God me help, said Launcelot, ye\nare better worthy to have that horse than I. Then Sir Ector brought Sir\nLauncelot another horse. Gramercy, said Launcelot unto his brother. And\nso when he was horsed again, with one spear he smote down four knights.\nAnd then Sir Launcelot brought to King Arthur one of the best of the\nfour horses. Then Sir Launcelot with King Arthur and a few of his\nknights of Sir Launcelot\u2019s kin did marvellous deeds; for that time, as\nthe book recordeth, Sir Launcelot smote down and pulled down thirty\nknights. Notwithstanding the other party held them so fast together\nthat King Arthur and his knights were overmatched. And when Sir\nTristram saw that, what labour King Arthur and his knights, and in\nespecial the noble deeds that Sir Launcelot did with his own hands, he\nmarvelled greatly.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXX. How Sir Tristram turned to King Arthur\u2019s side, and how\nPalomides would not.\n\n\nThen Sir Tristram called unto him Sir Palomides, Sir Gareth, and Sir\nDinadan, and said thus to them: My fair fellows, wit ye well that I\nwill turn unto King Arthur\u2019s party, for I saw never so few men do so\nwell, and it will be shame unto us knights that be of the Round Table\nto see our lord King Arthur, and that noble knight Sir Launcelot, to be\ndishonoured. It will be well done, said Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan. Do\nyour best, said Palomides, for I will not change my party that I came\nin withal. That is for my sake, said Sir Tristram; God speed you in\nyour journey. And so departed Sir Palomides from them. Then Sir\nTristram, Gareth, and Dinadan, turned with Sir Launcelot. And then Sir\nLauncelot smote down the King of Ireland quite from his horse; and so\nSir Launcelot smote down the King of Scots, and the King of Wales; and\nthen Sir Arthur ran unto Sir Palomides and smote him quite from his\nhorse; and then Sir Tristram bare down all that he met. Sir Gareth and\nSir Dinadan did there as noble knights; then all the parties began to\nflee. Alas, said Palomides, that ever I should see this day, for now\nhave I lost all the worship that I won; and then Sir Palomides went his\nway wailing, and so withdrew him till he came to a well, and there he\nput his horse from him, and did off his armour, and wailed and wept\nlike as he had been a wood man. Then many knights gave the prize to Sir\nTristram, and there were many that gave the prize unto Sir Launcelot.\nFair lords, said Sir Tristram, I thank you of the honour ye would give\nme, but I pray you heartily that ye would give your voice to Sir\nLauncelot, for by my faith said Sir Tristram, I will give Sir Launcelot\nmy voice. But Sir Launcelot would not have it, and so the prize was\ngiven betwixt them both.\n\nThen every man rode to his lodging, and Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector\nrode with Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud unto their pavilions. Then as\nSir Palomides was at the well wailing and weeping, there came by him\nflying the kings of Wales and of Scotland, and they saw Sir Palomides\nin that arage. Alas, said they, that so noble a man as ye be should be\nin this array. And then those kings gat Sir Palomides\u2019 horse again, and\nmade him to arm him and mount upon his horse, and so he rode with them,\nmaking great dole. So when Sir Palomides came nigh the pavilions\nthereas Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud was in, then Sir Palomides\nprayed the two kings to abide him there the while that he spake with\nSir Tristram. And when he came to the port of the pavilions, Sir\nPalomides said on high: Where art thou, Sir Tristram de Liones? Sir,\nsaid Dinadan, that is Palomides. What, Sir Palomides, will ye not come\nin here among us? Fie on thee traitor, said Palomides, for wit you well\nan it were daylight as it is night I should slay thee, mine own hands.\nAnd if ever I may get thee, said Palomides, thou shalt die for this\nday\u2019s deed. Sir Palomides, said Sir Tristram, ye wite me with wrong,\nfor had ye done as I did ye had won worship. But sithen ye give me so\nlarge warning I shall be well ware of you. Fie on thee, traitor, said\nPalomides, and therewith departed.\n\nThen on the morn Sir Tristram, Bleoberis, and Sir Ector de Maris, Sir\nGareth, Sir Dinadan, what by water and what by land, they brought La\nBeale Isoud unto Joyous Gard, and there reposed them a seven night, and\nmade all the mirths and disports that they could devise. And King\nArthur and his knights drew unto Camelot, and Sir Palomides rode with\nthe two kings; and ever he made the greatest dole that any man could\nthink, for he was not all only so dolorous for the departing from La\nBeale Isoud, but he was a part as sorrowful to depart from the\nfellowship of Sir Tristram; for Sir Tristram was so kind and so gentle\nthat when Sir Palomides remembered him thereof he might never be merry.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXXI. How Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector reported to Queen\nGuenever of the beauty of La Beale Isoud.\n\n\nSo at the seven nights\u2019 end Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector departed from\nSir Tristram and from the queen; and these two good knights had great\ngifts; and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan abode with Sir Tristram. And when\nSir Bleoberis and Sir Ector were come there as the Queen Guenever was\nlodged, in a castle by the seaside, and through the grace of God the\nqueen was recovered of her malady, then she asked the two knights from\nwhence they came. They said that they came from Sir Tristram and from\nLa Beale Isoud. How doth Sir Tristram, said the queen, and La Beale\nIsoud? Truly, said those two knights, he doth as a noble knight should\ndo; and as for the Queen Isoud, she is peerless of all ladies; for to\nspeak of her beauty, bount\u00e9, and mirth, and of her goodness, we saw\nnever her match as far as we have ridden and gone. O mercy Jesu, said\nQueen Guenever, so saith all the people that have seen her and spoken\nwith her. God would that I had part of her conditions; and it is\nmisfortuned me of my sickness while that tournament endured. And as I\nsuppose I shall never see in all my life such an assembly of knights\nand ladies as ye have done.\n\nThen the knights told her how Palomides won the degree at the first day\nwith great noblesse; and the second day Sir Tristram won the degree;\nand the third day Sir Launcelot won the degree. Well, said Queen\nGuenever, who did best all these three days? So God me help, said these\nknights, Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram had least dishonour. And wit ye\nwell Sir Palomides did passing well and mightily; but he turned against\nthe party that he came in withal, and that caused him to lose a great\npart of his worship, for it seemed that Sir Palomides is passing\nenvious. Then shall he never win worship, said Queen Guenever, for an\nit happeth an envious man once to win worship he shall be dishonoured\ntwice therefore; and for this cause all men of worship hate an envious\nman, and will shew him no favour, and he that is courteous, and kind,\nand gentle, hath favour in every place.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXXII. How Epinogris complained by a well, and how Sir\nPalomides came and found him, and of their both sorrowing.\n\n\nNow leave we of this matter and speak we of Sir Palomides, that rode\nand lodged him with the two kings, whereof the kings were heavy. Then\nthe King of Ireland sent a man of his to Sir Palomides, and gave him a\ngreat courser, and the King of Scotland gave him great gifts; and fain\nthey would have had Sir Palomides to have abiden with them, but in no\nwise he would abide; and so he departed, and rode as adventures would\nguide him, till it was nigh noon. And then in a forest by a well Sir\nPalomides saw where lay a fair wounded knight and his horse bounden by\nhim; and that knight made the greatest dole that ever he heard man\nmake, for ever he wept, and therewith he sighed as though he would die.\nThen Sir Palomides rode near him and saluted him mildly and said: Fair\nknight, why wail ye so? let me lie down and wail with you, for doubt\nnot I am much more heavier than ye are; for I dare say, said Palomides,\nthat my sorrow is an hundred fold more than yours is, and therefore let\nus complain either to other. First, said the wounded knight, I require\nyou tell me your name, for an thou be none of the noble knights of the\nRound Table thou shalt never know my name, whatsomever come of me. Fair\nknight, said Palomides, such as I am, be it better or be it worse, wit\nthou well that my name is Sir Palomides, son and heir unto King\nAstlabor, and Sir Safere and Sir Segwarides are my two brethren; and\nwit thou well as for myself I was never christened, but my two brethren\nare truly christened. O noble knight, said that knight, well is me that\nI have met with you; and wit ye well my name is Epinogris, the king\u2019s\nson of Northumberland. Now sit down, said Epinogris, and let us either\ncomplain to other.\n\nThen Sir Palomides began his complaint. Now shall I tell you, said\nPalomides, what woe I endure. I love the fairest queen and lady that\never bare life, and wit ye well her name is La Beale Isoud, King Mark\u2019s\nwife of Cornwall. That is great folly, said Epinogris, for to love\nQueen Isoud, for one of the best knights of the world loveth her, that\nis Sir Tristram de Liones. That is truth, said Palomides, for no man\nknoweth that matter better than I do, for I have been in Sir Tristram\u2019s\nfellowship this month, and with La Beale Isoud together; and alas, said\nPalomides, unhappy man that I am, now have I lost the fellowship of Sir\nTristram for ever, and the love of La Beale Isoud for ever, and I am\nnever like to see her more, and Sir Tristram and I be either to other\nmortal enemies. Well, said Epinogris, sith that ye loved La Beale\nIsoud, loved she you ever again by anything that ye could think or wit,\nor else did ye rejoice her ever in any pleasure? Nay, by my knighthood,\nsaid Palomides, I never espied that ever she loved me more than all the\nworld, nor never had I pleasure with her, but the last day she gave me\nthe greatest rebuke that ever I had, the which shall never go from my\nheart. And yet I well deserved that rebuke, for I did not knightly, and\ntherefore I have lost the love of her and of Sir Tristram for ever; and\nI have many times enforced myself to do many deeds for La Beale Isoud\u2019s\nsake, and she was the causer of my worship-winning. Alas, said Sir\nPalomides, now have I lost all the worship that ever I won, for never\nshall me befall such prowess as I had in the fellowship of Sir\nTristram.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXXIII. How Sir Palomides brought Sir Epinogris his lady; and\nhow Sir Palomides and Sir Safere were assailed.\n\n\nNay, nay, said Epinogris, your sorrow is but japes to my sorrow; for I\nrejoiced my lady and won her with my hands, and lost her again: alas\nthat day! Thus first I won her, said Epinogris; my lady was an earl\u2019s\ndaughter, and as the earl and two knights came from the tournament of\nLonazep, for her sake I set upon this earl and on his two knights, my\nlady there being present; and so by fortune there I slew the earl and\none of the knights, and the other knight fled, and so that night I had\nmy lady. And on the morn as she and I reposed us at this well-side\nthere came there to me an errant knight, his name was Sir Helior le\nPreuse, an hardy knight, and this Sir Helior challenged me to fight for\nmy lady. And then we went to battle first upon horse and after on foot,\nbut at the last Sir Helior wounded me so that he left me for dead, and\nso he took my lady with him; and thus my sorrow is more than yours, for\nI have rejoiced and ye rejoiced never. That is truth, said Palomides,\nbut sith I can never recover myself I shall promise you if I can meet\nwith Sir Helior I shall get you your lady again, or else he shall beat\nme.\n\nThen Sir Palomides made Sir Epinogris to take his horse, and so they\nrode to an hermitage, and there Sir Epinogris rested him. And in the\nmeanwhile Sir Palomides walked privily out to rest him under the\nleaves, and there beside he saw a knight come riding with a shield that\nhe had seen Sir Ector de Maris bear beforehand; and there came after\nhim a ten knights, and so these ten knights hoved under the leaves for\nheat. And anon after there came a knight with a green shield and\ntherein a white lion, leading a lady upon a palfrey. Then this knight\nwith the green shield that seemed to be master of the ten knights, he\nrode fiercely after Sir Helior, for it was he that hurt Sir Epinogris.\nAnd when he came nigh Sir Helior he bade him defend his lady. I will\ndefend her, said Helior, unto my power. And so they ran together so\nmightily that either of these knights smote other down, horse and all,\nto the earth; and then they won up lightly and drew their swords and\ntheir shields, and lashed together mightily more than an hour. All this\nSir Palomides saw and beheld, but ever at the last the knight with Sir\nEctor\u2019s shield was bigger, and at the last this knight smote Sir Helior\ndown, and then that knight unlaced his helm to have stricken off his\nhead. And then he cried mercy, and prayed him to save his life, and\nbade him take his lady. Then Sir Palomides dressed him up, because he\nwist well that that same lady was Epinogris\u2019 lady, and he promised him\nto help him.\n\nThen Sir Palomides went straight to that lady, and took her by the\nhand, and asked her whether she knew a knight that hight Epinogris.\nAlas, she said, that ever he knew me or I him, for I have for his sake\nlost my worship, and also his life grieveth me most of all. Not so,\nlady, said Palomides, come on with me, for here is Epinogris in this\nhermitage. Ah! well is me, said the lady, an he be alive. Whither wilt\nthou with that lady? said the knight with Sir Ector\u2019s shield. I will do\nwith her what me list, said Palomides. Wit you well, said that knight,\nthou speakest over large, though thou seemest me to have at advantage,\nbecause thou sawest me do battle but late. Thou weenest, sir knight, to\nhave that lady away from me so lightly? nay, think it never not; an\nthou were as good a knight as is Sir Launcelot, or as is Sir Tristram,\nor Sir Palomides, but thou shalt win her dearer than ever did I. And so\nthey went unto battle upon foot, and there they gave many sad strokes,\nand either wounded other passing sore, and thus they fought still more\nthan an hour.\n\nThen Sir Palomides had marvel what knight he might be that was so\nstrong and so well breathed during, and thus said Palomides: Knight, I\nrequire thee tell me thy name. Wit thou well, said that knight, I dare\ntell thee my name, so that thou wilt tell me thy name. I will, said\nPalomides. Truly, said that knight, my name is Safere, son of King\nAstlabor, and Sir Palomides and Sir Segwarides are my brethren. Now,\nand wit thou well, my name is Sir Palomides. Then Sir Safere kneeled\ndown upon his knees, and prayed him of mercy; and then they unlaced\ntheir helms and either kissed other weeping. And in the meanwhile Sir\nEpinogris arose out of his bed, and heard them by the strokes, and so\nhe armed him to help Sir Palomides if need were.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXXIV. How Sir Palomides and Sir Safere conducted Sir\nEpinogris to his castle, and of other adventures.\n\n\nThen Sir Palomides took the lady by the hand and brought her to Sir\nEpinogris, and there was great joy betwixt them, for either swooned for\njoy. When they were met: Fair knight and lady, said Sir Safere, it were\npity to depart you; Jesu send you joy either of other. Gramercy, gentle\nknight, said Epinogris; and much more thanks be to my lord Sir\nPalomides, that thus hath through his prowess made me to get my lady.\nThen Sir Epinogris required Sir Palomides and Sir Safere, his brother,\nto ride with them unto his castle, for the safeguard of his person.\nSir, said Palomides, we will be ready to conduct you because that ye\nare sore wounded; and so was Epinogris and his lady horsed, and his\nlady behind him upon a soft ambler. And then they rode unto his castle,\nwhere they had great cheer and joy, as great as ever Sir Palomides and\nSir Safere had in their life-days.\n\nSo on the morn Sir Safere and Sir Palomides departed, day until after\nnoon. And at the last they heard a great weeping and a great noise down\nin a manor. Sir, said then Sir Safere, let us wit what noise this is. I\nwill well, said Sir Palomides. And so they rode forth till that they\ncame to a fair gate of a manor, and there sat an old man saying his\nprayers and beads. Then Sir Palomides and Sir Safere alighted and left\ntheir horses, and went within the gates, and there they saw full many\ngoodly men weeping. Fair sirs, said Palomides, wherefore weep ye and\nmake this sorrow? Anon one of the knights of the castle beheld Sir\nPalomides and knew him, and then went to his fellows and said: Fair\nfellows, wit ye well all, we have in this castle the same knight that\nslew our lord at Lonazep, for I know him well; it is Sir Palomides.\nThen they went unto harness, all that might bear harness, some on\nhorseback and some on foot, to the number of three score. And when they\nwere ready they came freshly upon Sir Palomides and upon Sir Safere\nwith a great noise, and said thus: Keep thee, Sir Palomides, for thou\nart known, and by right thou must be dead, for thou hast slain our\nlord; and therefore wit ye well we will slay thee, therefore defend\nthee.\n\nThen Sir Palomides and Sir Safere, the one set his back to the other,\nand gave many great strokes, and took many great strokes; and thus they\nfought with a twenty knights and forty gentlemen and yeomen nigh two\nhours. But at the last though they were loath, Sir Palomides and Sir\nSafere were taken and yolden, and put in a strong prison; and within\nthree days twelve knights passed upon them, and they found Sir\nPalomides guilty, and Sir Safere not guilty, of their lord\u2019s death. And\nwhen Sir Safere should be delivered there was great dole betwixt Sir\nPalomides and him, and many piteous complaints that Sir Safere made at\nhis departing, there is no maker can rehearse the tenth part. Fair\nbrother, said Palomides, let be thy dolour and thy sorrow. And if I be\nordained to die a shameful death, welcome be it; but an I had wist of\nthis death that I am deemed unto, I should never have been yolden. So\nSir Safere departed from his brother with the greatest dolour and\nsorrow that ever made knight.\n\nAnd on the morn they of the castle ordained twelve knights to ride with\nSir Palomides unto the father of the same knight that Sir Palomides\nslew; and so they bound his legs under an old steed\u2019s belly. And then\nthey rode with Sir Palomides unto a castle by the seaside, that hight\nPelownes, and there Sir Palomides should have justice. Thus was their\nordinance; and so they rode with Sir Palomides fast by the castle of\nJoyous Gard. And as they passed by that castle there came riding out of\nthat castle by them one that knew Sir Palomides. And when that knight\nsaw Sir Palomides bounden upon a crooked courser, the knight asked Sir\nPalomides for what cause he was led so. Ah, my fair fellow and knight,\nsaid Palomides, I ride toward my death for the slaying of a knight at a\ntournament of Lonazep; and if I had not departed from my lord Sir\nTristram, as I ought not to have done, now might I have been sure to\nhave had my life saved; but I pray you, sir knight, recommend me unto\nmy lord, Sir Tristram, and unto my lady, Queen Isoud, and say to them\nif ever I trespassed to them I ask them forgiveness. And also I beseech\nyou recommend me unto my lord, King Arthur, and to all the fellowship\nof the Round Table, unto my power. Then that knight wept for pity of\nSir Palomides; and therewithal he rode unto Joyous Gard as fast as his\nhorse might run, and lightly that knight descended down off his horse\nand went unto Sir Tristram, and there he told him all as ye have heard,\nand ever the knight wept as he had been mad.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXXV. How Sir Tristram made him ready to rescue Sir Palomides,\nbut Sir Launcelot rescued him or he came.\n\n\nWhen Sir Tristram heard how Sir Palomides went to his death, he was\nheavy to hear that, and said: Howbeit that I am wroth with Sir\nPalomides, yet will not I suffer him to die so shameful a death, for he\nis a full noble knight. And then anon Sir Tristram was armed and took\nhis horse and two squires with him, and rode a great pace toward the\ncastle of Pelownes where Sir Palomides was judged to death. And these\ntwelve knights that led Sir Palomides passed by a well whereas Sir\nLauncelot was, which was alighted there, and had tied his horse to a\ntree, and taken off his helm to drink of that well; and when he saw\nthese knights, Sir Launcelot put on his helm and suffered them to pass\nby him. And then was he ware of Sir Palomides bounden, and led\nshamefully to his death. O Jesu, said Launcelot, what misadventure is\nbefallen him that he is thus led toward his death? Forsooth, said\nLauncelot, it were shame to me to suffer this noble knight so to die an\nI might help him, therefore I will help him whatsomever come of it, or\nelse I shall die for Sir Palomides\u2019 sake. And then Sir Launcelot\nmounted upon his horse, and gat his spear in his hand, and rode after\nthe twelve knights that led Sir Palomides. Fair knights, said Sir\nLauncelot, whither lead ye that knight? it beseemeth him full ill to\nride bounden. Then these twelve knights suddenly turned their horses\nand said to Sir Launcelot: Sir knight, we counsel thee not to meddle\nwith this knight, for he hath deserved death, and unto death he is\njudged. That me repenteth, said Launcelot, that I may not borrow him\nwith fairness, for he is over good a knight to die such a shameful\ndeath. And therefore, fair knights, said Sir Launcelot, keep you as\nwell as ye can, for I will rescue that knight or die for it.\n\nThen they began to dress their spears, and Sir Launcelot smote the\nforemost down, horse and man, and so he served three more with one\nspear; and then that spear brast, and therewithal Sir Launcelot drew\nhis sword, and then he smote on the right hand and on the left hand.\nThen within a while he left none of those twelve knights, but he had\nlaid them to the earth, and the most part of them were sore wounded.\nAnd then Sir Launcelot took the best horse that he found, and loosed\nSir Palomides and set him upon that horse; and so they returned again\nunto Joyous Gard, and then was Sir Palomides ware of Sir Tristram how\nhe came riding. And when Sir Launcelot saw him he knew him well, but\nSir Tristram knew him not because Sir Launcelot had on his shoulder a\ngolden shield. So Sir Launcelot made him ready to joust with Sir\nTristram, that Sir Tristram should not ween that he were Sir Launcelot.\nThen Sir Palomides cried aloud to Sir Tristram: O my lord, I require\nyou joust not with this knight, for this good knight hath saved me from\nmy death. When Sir Tristram heard him say so he came a soft trotting\npace toward them. And then Sir Palomides said: My lord, Sir Tristram,\nmuch am I beholding unto you of your great goodness, that would proffer\nyour noble body to rescue me undeserved, for I have greatly offended\nyou. Notwithstanding, said Sir Palomides, here met we with this noble\nknight that worshipfully and manly rescued me from twelve knights, and\nsmote them down all and wounded them sore.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXXVI. How Sir Tristram and Launcelot, with Palomides, came to\njoyous Gard; and of Palomides and Sir Tristram.\n\n\nFair knight, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Launcelot, of whence be ye? I\nam a knight errant, said Sir Launcelot, that rideth to seek many\nadventures. What is your name? said Sir Tristram. Sir, at this time I\nwill not tell you. Then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Tristram and to\nPalomides: Now either of you are met together I will depart from you.\nNot so, said Sir Tristram; I pray you of knighthood to ride with me\nunto my castle. Wit you well, said Sir Launcelot, I may not ride with\nyou, for I have many deeds to do in other places, that at this time I\nmay not abide with you. Ah, mercy Jesu, said Sir Tristram, I require\nyou as ye be a true knight to the order of knighthood, play you with me\nthis night. Then Sir Tristram had a grant of Sir Launcelot: howbeit\nthough he had not desired him he would have ridden with them, outher\nsoon have come after them; for Sir Launcelot came for none other cause\ninto that country but for to see Sir Tristram. And when they were come\nwithin Joyous Gard they alighted, and their horses were led into a\nstable; and then they unarmed them. And when Sir Launcelot was\nunhelmed, Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides knew him. Then Sir Tristram\ntook Sir Launcelot in arms, and so did La Beale Isoud; and Palomides\nkneeled down upon his knees and thanked Sir Launcelot. When Sir\nLauncelot saw Sir Palomides kneel he lightly took him up and said thus:\nWit thou well, Sir Palomides, I and any knight in this land, of worship\nought of very right succour and rescue so noble a knight as ye are\nproved and renowned, throughout all this realm endlong and overthwart.\nAnd then was there joy among them, and the oftener that Sir Palomides\nsaw La Beale Isoud the heavier he waxed day by day.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot within three or four days departed, and with him\nrode Sir Ector de Maris; and Dinadan and Sir Palomides were there left\nwith Sir Tristram a two months and more. But ever Sir Palomides faded\nand mourned, that all men had marvel wherefore he faded so away. So\nupon a day, in the dawning, Sir Palomides went into the forest by\nhimself alone; and there he found a well, and then he looked into the\nwell, and in the water he saw his own visage, how he was disturbed and\ndefaded, nothing like that he was. What may this mean? said Sir\nPalomides, and thus he said to himself: Ah, Palomides, Palomides, why\nart thou defaded, thou that was wont to be called one of the fairest\nknights of the world? I will no more lead this life, for I love that I\nmay never get nor recover. And therewithal he laid him down by the\nwell. And then he began to make a rhyme of La Beale Isoud and him.\n\nAnd in the meanwhile Sir Tristram was that same day ridden into the\nforest to chase the hart of greese; but Sir Tristram would not ride\na-hunting never more unarmed, because of Sir Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9. And so\nas Sir Tristram rode into that forest up and down, he heard one sing\nmarvellously loud, and that was Sir Palomides that lay by the well. And\nthen Sir Tristram rode softly thither, for he deemed there was some\nknight errant that was at the well. And when Sir Tristram came nigh him\nhe descended down from his horse and tied his horse fast till a tree,\nand then he came near him on foot; and anon he was ware where lay Sir\nPalomides by the well and sang loud and merrily; and ever the\ncomplaints were of that noble queen, La Beale Isoud, the which was\nmarvellously and wonderfully well said, and full dolefully and\npiteously made. And all the whole song the noble knight, Sir Tristram,\nheard from the beginning to the ending, the which grieved and troubled\nhim sore.\n\nBut then at the last, when Sir Tristram had heard all Sir Palomides\u2019\ncomplaints, he was wroth out of measure, and thought for to slay him\nthereas he lay. Then Sir Tristram remembered himself that Sir Palomides\nwas unarmed, and of the noble name that Sir Palomides had, and the\nnoble name that himself had, and then he made a restraint of his anger;\nand so he went unto Sir Palomides a soft pace and said: Sir Palomides,\nI have heard your complaint, and of thy treason that thou hast owed me\nso long, and wit thou well therefore thou shalt die; and if it were not\nfor shame of knighthood thou shouldest not escape my hands, for now I\nknow well thou hast awaited me with treason. Tell me, said Sir\nTristram, how thou wilt acquit thee? Sir, said Palomides, thus I will\nacquit me: as for Queen La Beale Isoud, ye shall wit well that I love\nher above all other ladies in this world; and well I wot it shall\nbefall me as for her love as befell to the noble knight Sir Kehydius,\nthat died for the love of La Beale Isoud. And now, Sir Tristram, I will\nthat ye wit that I have loved La Beale Isoud many a day, and she hath\nbeen the causer of my worship, and else I had been the most simplest\nknight in the world. For by her, and because of her, I have won the\nworship that I have; for when I remembered me of La Beale Isoud I won\nthe worship wheresomever I came for the most part; and yet had I never\nreward nor bount\u00e9 of her the days of my life, and yet have I been her\nknight guerdonless. And therefore, Sir Tristram, as for any death I\ndread not, for I had as lief die as to live. And if I were armed as\nthou art, I should lightly do battle with thee. Well have ye uttered\nyour treason, said Tristram. I have done to you no treason, said\nPalomides, for love is free for all men, and though I have loved your\nlady, she is my lady as well as yours; howbeit I have wrong if any\nwrong be, for ye rejoice her, and have your desire of her, and so had I\nnever nor never am like to have, and yet shall I love her to the\nuttermost days of my life as well as ye.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXXVII. How there was a day set between Sir Tristram and Sir\nPalomides for to fight, and how Sir Tristram was hurt.\n\n\nThen said Sir Tristram: I will fight with you to the uttermost. I\ngrant, said Palomides, for in a better quarrel keep I never to fight,\nfor an I die of your hands, of a better knight\u2019s hands may I not be\nslain. And sithen I understand that I shall never rejoice La Beale\nIsoud, I have as good will to die as to live. Then set ye a day, said\nSir Tristram, that we shall do battle. This day fifteen days, said\nPalomides, will I meet with you hereby, in the meadow under Joyous\nGard. Fie for shame, said Sir Tristram, will ye set so long day? let us\nfight to-morn. Not so, said Palomides, for I am meagre, and have been\nlong sick for the love of La Beale Isoud, and therefore I will repose\nme till I have my strength again. So then Sir Tristram and Sir\nPalomides promised faith fully to meet at the well that day fifteen\ndays. I am remembered, said Sir Tristram to Palomides, that ye brake me\nonce a promise when that I rescued you from Breuse Saunce Pit\u00e9 and nine\nknights; and then ye promised me to meet me at the peron and the grave\nbeside Camelot, whereas at that time ye failed of your promise. Wit you\nwell, said Palomides unto Sir Tristram, I was at that day in prison, so\nthat I might not hold my promise. So God me help, said Sir Tristram, an\nye had holden your promise this work had not been here now at this\ntime.\n\nRight so departed Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides. And so Sir Palomides\ntook his horse and his harness, and he rode unto King Arthur\u2019s court;\nand there Sir Palomides gat him four knights and four\nsergeants-of-arms, and so he returned againward unto Joyous Gard. And\nin the meanwhile Sir Tristram chased and hunted at all manner of\nvenery; and about three days afore the battle should be, as Sir\nTristram chased an hart, there was an archer shot at the hart, and by\nmisfortune he smote Sir Tristram in the thick of the thigh, and the\narrow slew Sir Tristram\u2019s horse and hurt him. When Sir Tristram was so\nhurt he was passing heavy, and wit ye well he bled sore; and then he\ntook another horse, and rode unto Joyous Gard with great heaviness,\nmore for the promise that he had made with Sir Palomides, as to do\nbattle with him within three days after, than for any hurt of his\nthigh. Wherefore there was neither man nor woman that could cheer him\nwith anything that they could make to him, neither Queen La Beale\nIsoud; for ever he deemed that Sir Palomides had smitten him so that he\nshould not be able to do battle with him at the day set.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER LXXXVIII. How Sir Palomides kept his day to have foughten, but\nSir Tristram might not come; and other things.\n\n\nBut in no wise there was no knight about Sir Tristram that would\nbelieve that ever Sir Palomides would hurt Sir Tristram, neither by his\nown hands nor by none other consenting. Then when the fifteenth day was\ncome, Sir Palomides came to the well with four knights with him of\nArthur\u2019s court, and three sergeants-of-arms. And for this intent Sir\nPalomides brought the knights with him and the sergeants-of-arms, for\nthey should bear record of the battle betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir\nPalomides. And the one sergeant brought in his helm, the other his\nspear, the third his sword. So thus Palomides came into the field, and\nthere he abode nigh two hours; and then he sent a squire unto Sir\nTristram, and desired him to come into the field to hold his promise.\n\nWhen the squire was come to Joyous Gard, anon as Sir Tristram heard of\nhis coming he let command that the squire should come to his presence\nthereas he lay in his bed. My lord Sir Tristram, said Palomides\u2019\nsquire, wit you well my lord, Palomides, abideth you in the field, and\nhe would wit whether ye would do battle or not. Ah, my fair brother,\nsaid Sir Tristram, wit thou well that I am right heavy for these\ntidings; therefore tell Sir Palomides an I were well at ease I would\nnot lie here, nor he should have no need to send for me an I might\neither ride or go; and for thou shalt say that I am no liar\u2014Sir\nTristram showed him his thigh that the wound was six inches deep. And\nnow thou hast seen my hurt, tell thy lord that this is no feigned\nmatter, and tell him that I had liefer than all the gold of King Arthur\nthat I were whole; and tell Palomides as soon as I am whole I shall\nseek him endlong and overthwart, and that I promise you as I am true\nknight; and if ever I may meet with him, he shall have battle of me his\nfill. And with this the squire departed; and when Palomides wist that\nTristram was hurt he was glad and said: Now I am sure I shall have no\nshame, for I wot well I should have had hard handling of him, and by\nlikely I must needs have had the worse, for he is the hardest knight in\nbattle that now is living except Sir Launcelot.\n\nAnd then departed Sir Palomides whereas fortune led him, and within a\nmonth Sir Tristram was whole of his hurt. And then he took his horse,\nand rode from country to country, and all strange adventures he\nachieved wheresomever he rode; and always he enquired for Sir\nPalomides, but of all that quarter of summer Sir Tristram could never\nmeet with Sir Palomides. But thus as Sir Tristram sought and enquired\nafter Sir Palomides Sir Tristram achieved many great battles,\nwherethrough all the noise fell to Sir Tristram, and it ceased of Sir\nLauncelot; and therefore Sir Launcelot\u2019s brethren and his kinsmen would\nhave slain Sir Tristram because of his fame. But when Sir Launcelot\nwist how his kinsmen were set, he said to them openly: Wit you well,\nthat an the envy of you all be so hardy to wait upon my lord, Sir\nTristram, with any hurt, shame, or villainy, as I am true knight I\nshall slay the best of you with mine own hands. Alas, fie for shame,\nshould ye for his noble deeds await upon him to slay him. Jesu defend,\nsaid Launcelot, that ever any noble knight as Sir Tristram is should be\ndestroyed with treason. Of this noise and fame sprang into Cornwall,\nand among them of Liones, whereof they were passing glad, and made\ngreat joy. And then they of Liones sent letters unto Sir Tristram of\nrecommendation, and many great gifts to maintain Sir Tristram\u2019s estate;\nand ever, between, Sir Tristram resorted unto Joyous Gard whereas La\nBeale Isoud was, that loved him as her life.\n\n_Here endeth the tenth book which is of Sir Tristram. And here\nfolloweth the eleventh book which is of Sir Launcelot._\n\n\n\n\nBOOK XI.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. How Sir Launcelot rode on his adventure, and how he holp a\ndolorous lady from her pain, and how that he fought with a dragon.\n\n\nNow leave we Sir Tristram de Liones, and speak we of Sir Launcelot du\nLake, and of Sir Galahad, Sir Launcelot\u2019s son, how he was gotten, and\nin what manner, as the book of French rehearseth. Afore the time that\nSir Galahad was gotten or born, there came in an hermit unto King\nArthur upon Whitsunday, as the knights sat at the Table Round. And when\nthe hermit saw the Siege Perilous, he asked the king and all the\nknights why that siege was void. Sir Arthur and all the knights\nanswered: There shall never none sit in that siege but one, but if he\nbe destroyed. Then said the hermit: Wot ye what is he? Nay, said Arthur\nand all the knights, we wot not who is he that shall sit therein. Then\nwot I, said the hermit, for he that shall sit there is unborn and\nungotten, and this same year he shall be gotten that shall sit there in\nthat Siege Perilous, and he shall win the Sangreal. When this hermit\nhad made this mention he departed from the court of King Arthur.\n\nAnd then after this feast Sir Launcelot rode on his adventure, till on\na time by adventure he passed over the pont of Corbin; and there he saw\nthe fairest tower that ever he saw, and there-under was a fair town\nfull of people; and all the people, men and women, cried at once:\nWelcome, Sir Launcelot du Lake, the flower of all knighthood, for by\nthee all we shall be holpen out of danger. What mean ye, said Sir\nLauncelot, that ye cry so upon me? Ah, fair knight, said they all, here\nis within this tower a dolorous lady that hath been there in pains many\nwinters and days, for ever she boileth in scalding water; and but late,\nsaid all the people, Sir Gawaine was here and he might not help her,\nand so he left her in pain. So may I, said Sir Launcelot, leave her in\npain as well as Sir Gawaine did. Nay, said the people, we know well\nthat it is Sir Launcelot that shall deliver her. Well, said Launcelot,\nthen shew me what I shall do.\n\nThen they brought Sir Launcelot into the tower; and when he came to the\nchamber thereas this lady was, the doors of iron unlocked and unbolted.\nAnd so Sir Launcelot went into the chamber that was as hot as any stew.\nAnd there Sir Launcelot took the fairest lady by the hand that ever he\nsaw, and she was naked as a needle; and by enchantment Queen Morgan le\nFay and the Queen of Northgalis had put her there in that pains,\nbecause she was called the fairest lady of that country; and there she\nhad been five years, and never might she be delivered out of her great\npains unto the time the best knight of the world had taken her by the\nhand. Then the people brought her clothes. And when she was arrayed,\nSir Launcelot thought she was the fairest lady of the world, but if it\nwere Queen Guenever.\n\nThen this lady said to Sir Launcelot: Sir, if it please you will ye go\nwith me hereby into a chapel that we may give loving and thanking unto\nGod? Madam, said Sir Launcelot, come on with me, I will go with you. So\nwhen they came there and gave thankings to God all the people, both\nlearned and lewd, gave thankings unto God and him, and said: Sir\nknight, since ye have delivered this lady, ye shall deliver us from a\nserpent there is here in a tomb. Then Sir Launcelot took his shield and\nsaid: Bring me thither, and what I may do unto the pleasure of God and\nyou I will do. So when Sir Launcelot came thither he saw written upon\nthe tomb letters of gold that said thus: Here shall come a leopard of\nking\u2019s blood, and he shall slay this serpent, and this leopard shall\nengender a lion in this foreign country, the which lion shall pass all\nother knights. So then Sir Launcelot lift up the tomb, and there came\nout an horrible and a fiendly dragon, spitting fire out of his mouth.\nThen Sir Launcelot drew his sword and fought with the dragon long, and\nat the last with great pain Sir Launcelot slew that dragon. Therewithal\ncame King Pelles, the good and noble knight, and saluted Sir Launcelot,\nand he him again. Fair knight, said the king, what is your name? I\nrequire you of your knighthood tell me!\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. How Sir Launcelot came to Pelles, and of the Sangreal, and\nof Elaine, King Pelles\u2019 daughter.\n\n\nSir, said Launcelot, wit you well my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. And\nmy name is, said the king, Pelles, king of the foreign country, and\ncousin nigh unto Joseph of Armathie. And then either of them made much\nof other, and so they went into the castle to take their repast. And\nanon there came in a dove at a window, and in her mouth there seemed a\nlittle censer of gold. And herewithal there was such a savour as all\nthe spicery of the world had been there. And forthwithal there was upon\nthe table all manner of meats and drinks that they could think upon. So\ncame in a damosel passing fair and young, and she bare a vessel of gold\nbetwixt her hands; and thereto the king kneeled devoutly, and said his\nprayers, and so did all that were there. O Jesu, said Sir Launcelot,\nwhat may this mean? This is, said the king, the richest thing that any\nman hath living. And when this thing goeth about, the Round Table shall\nbe broken; and wit thou well, said the king, this is the holy Sangreal\nthat ye have here seen. So the king and Sir Launcelot led their life\nthe most part of that day. And fain would King Pelles have found the\nmean to have had Sir Launcelot to have lain by his daughter, fair\nElaine. And for this intent: the king knew well that Sir Launcelot\nshould get a child upon his daughter, the which should be named Sir\nGalahad the good knight, by whom all the foreign country should be\nbrought out of danger, and by him the Holy Greal should be achieved.\n\nThen came forth a lady that hight Dame Brisen, and she said unto the\nking: Sir, wit ye well Sir Launcelot loveth no lady in the world but\nall only Queen Guenever; and therefore work ye by counsel, and I shall\nmake him to lie with your daughter, and he shall not wit but that he\nlieth with Queen Guenever. O fair lady, Dame Brisen, said the king,\nhope ye to bring this about? Sir, said she, upon pain of my life let me\ndeal; for this Brisen was one of the greatest enchantresses that was at\nthat time in the world living. Then anon by Dame Brisen\u2019s wit she made\none to come to Sir Launcelot that he knew well. And this man brought\nhim a ring from Queen Guenever like as it had come from her, and such\none as she was wont for the most part to wear; and when Sir Launcelot\nsaw that token wit ye well he was never so fain. Where is my lady? said\nSir Launcelot. In the Castle of Case, said the messenger, but five mile\nhence. Then Sir Launcelot thought to be there the same might. And then\nthis Brisen by the commandment of King Pelles let send Elaine to this\ncastle with twenty-five knights unto the Castle of Case. Then Sir\nLauncelot against night rode unto that castle, and there anon he was\nreceived worshipfully with such people, to his seeming, as were about\nQueen Guenever secret.\n\nSo when Sir Launcelot was alighted, he asked where the queen was. So\nDame Brisen said she was in her bed; and then the people were avoided,\nand Sir Launcelot was led unto his chamber. And then Dame Brisen\nbrought Sir Launcelot a cup full of wine; and anon as he had drunken\nthat wine he was so assotted and mad that he might make no delay, but\nwithouten any let he went to bed; and he weened that maiden Elaine had\nbeen Queen Guenever. Wit you well that Sir Launcelot was glad, and so\nwas that lady Elaine that she had gotten Sir Launcelot in her arms. For\nwell she knew that same night should be gotten upon her Galahad that\nshould prove the best knight of the world; and so they lay together\nuntil underne of the morn; and all the windows and holes of that\nchamber were stopped that no manner of day might be seen. And then Sir\nLauncelot remembered him, and he arose up and went to the window.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. How Sir Launcelot was displeased when he knew that he had\nlain by Dame Elaine, and how she was delivered of Galahad.\n\n\nAnd anon as he had unshut the window the enchantment was gone; then he\nknew himself that he had done amiss. Alas, he said, that I have lived\nso long; now I am shamed. So then he gat his sword in his hand and\nsaid: Thou traitress, what art thou that I have lain by all this night?\nthou shalt die right here of my hands. Then this fair lady Elaine\nskipped out of her bed all naked, and kneeled down afore Sir Launcelot,\nand said: Fair courteous knight, come of king\u2019s blood, I require you\nhave mercy upon me, and as thou art renowned the most noble knight of\nthe world, slay me not, for I have in my womb him by thee that shall be\nthe most noblest knight of the world. Ah, false traitress, said Sir\nLauncelot, why hast thou betrayed me? anon tell me what thou art. Sir,\nshe said, I am Elaine, the daughter of King Pelles. Well, said Sir\nLauncelot, I will forgive you this deed; and therewith he took her up\nin his arms, and kissed her, for she was as fair a lady, and thereto\nlusty and young, and as wise, as any was that time living. So God me\nhelp, said Sir Launcelot, I may not wite this to you; but her that made\nthis enchantment upon me as between you and me, an I may find her, that\nsame Lady Brisen, she shall lose her head for witchcrafts, for there\nwas never knight deceived so as I am this night. And so Sir Launcelot\narrayed him, and armed him, and took his leave mildly at that lady\nyoung Elaine, and so he departed. Then she said: My lord Sir Launcelot,\nI beseech you see me as soon as ye may, for I have obeyed me unto the\nprophecy that my father told me. And by his commandment to fulfil this\nprophecy I have given the greatest riches and the fairest flower that\never I had, and that is my maidenhood that I shall never have again;\nand therefore, gentle knight, owe me your good will.\n\nAnd so Sir Launcelot arrayed him and was armed, and took his leave\nmildly at that young lady Elaine; and so he departed, and rode till he\ncame to the Castle of Corbin, where her father was. And as fast as her\ntime came she was delivered of a fair child, and they christened him\nGalahad; and wit ye well that child was well kept and well nourished,\nand he was named Galahad because Sir Launcelot was so named at the\nfountain stone; and after that the Lady of the Lake confirmed him Sir\nLauncelot du Lake.\n\nThen after this lady was delivered and churched, there came a knight\nunto her, his name was Sir Bromel la Pleche, the which was a great\nlord; and he had loved that lady long, and he evermore desired her to\nwed her; and so by no mean she could put him off, till on a day she\nsaid to Sir Bromel: Wit thou well, sir knight, I will not love you, for\nmy love is set upon the best knight of the world. Who is he? said Sir\nBromel. Sir, she said, it is Sir Launcelot du Lake that I love and none\nother, and therefore woo me no longer. Ye say well, said Sir Bromel,\nand sithen ye have told me so much, ye shall have but little joy of Sir\nLauncelot, for I shall slay him wheresomever I meet him. Sir, said the\nLady Elaine, do to him no treason. Wit ye well, my lady, said Bromel,\nand I promise you this twelvemonth I shall keep the pont of Corbin for\nSir Launcelot\u2019s sake, that he shall neither come nor go unto you, but I\nshall meet with him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. How Sir Bors came to Dame Elaine and saw Galahad, and how\nhe was fed with the Sangreal.\n\n\nThen as it fell by fortune and adventure, Sir Bors de Ganis, that was\nnephew unto Sir Launcelot, came over that bridge; and there Sir Bromel\nand Sir Bors jousted, and Sir Bors smote Sir Bromel such a buffet that\nhe bare him over his horse\u2019s croup. And then Sir Bromel, as an hardy\nknight, pulled out his sword, and dressed his shield to do battle with\nSir Bors. And then Sir Bors alighted and avoided his horse, and there\nthey dashed together many sad strokes; and long thus they fought, till\nat the last Sir Bromel was laid to the earth, and there Sir Bors began\nto unlace his helm to slay him. Then Sir Bromel cried Sir Bors mercy,\nand yielded him. Upon this covenant thou shalt have thy life, said Sir\nBors, so thou go unto Sir Launcelot upon Whitsunday that next cometh,\nand yield thee unto him as knight recreant. I will do it, said Sir\nBromel, and that he sware upon the cross of the sword. And so he let\nhim depart, and Sir Bors rode unto King Pelles, that was within Corbin.\n\nAnd when the king and Elaine his daughter wist that Sir Bors was nephew\nunto Sir Launcelot, they made him great cheer. Then said Dame Elaine:\nWe marvel where Sir Launcelot is, for he came never here but once.\nMarvel not, said Sir Bors, for this half year he hath been in prison\nwith Queen Morgan le Fay, King Arthur\u2019s sister. Alas, said Dame Elaine,\nthat me repenteth. And ever Sir Bors beheld that child in her arms, and\never him seemed it was passing like Sir Launcelot. Truly, said Elaine,\nwit ye well this child he gat upon me. Then Sir Bors wept for joy, and\nhe prayed to God it might prove as good a knight as his father was. And\nso came in a white dove, and she bare a little censer of gold in her\nmouth, and there was all manner of meats and drinks; and a maiden bare\nthat Sangreal, and she said openly: Wit you well, Sir Bors, that this\nchild is Galahad, that shall sit in the Siege Perilous, and achieve the\nSangreal, and he shall be much better than ever was Sir Launcelot du\nLake, that is his own father. And then they kneeled down and made their\ndevotions, and there was such a savour as all the spicery in the world\nhad been there. And when the dove took her flight, the maiden vanished\nwith the Sangreal as she came.\n\nSir, said Sir Bors unto King Pelles, this castle may be named the\nCastle Adventurous, for here be many strange adventures. That is sooth,\nsaid the king, for well may this place be called the adventures place,\nfor there come but few knights here that go away with any worship; be\nhe never so strong, here he may be proved; and but late Sir Gawaine,\nthe good knight, gat but little worship here. For I let you wit, said\nKing Pelles, here shall no knight win no worship but if he be of\nworship himself and of good living, and that loveth God and dreadeth\nGod, and else he getteth no worship here, be he never so hardy. That is\nwonderful thing, said Sir Bors. What ye mean in this country I wot not,\nfor ye have many strange adventures, and therefore I will lie in this\ncastle this night. Ye shall not do so, said King Pelles, by my counsel,\nfor it is hard an ye escape without a shame. I shall take the adventure\nthat will befall me, said Sir Bors. Then I counsel you, said the king,\nto be confessed clean. As for that, said Sir Bors, I will be shriven\nwith a good will. So Sir Bors was confessed, and for all women Sir Bors\nwas a virgin, save for one, that was the daughter of King Brangoris,\nand on her he gat a child that hight Elaine, and save for her Sir Bors\nwas a clean maiden.\n\nAnd so Sir Bors was led unto bed in a fair large chamber, and many\ndoors were shut about the chamber. When Sir Bors espied all those\ndoors, he avoided all the people, for he might have nobody with him;\nbut in no wise Sir Bors would unarm him, but so he laid him down upon\nthe bed. And right so he saw come in a light, that he might well see a\nspear great and long that came straight upon him pointling, and to Sir\nBors seemed that the head of the spear brent like a taper. And anon, or\nSir Bors wist, the spear head smote him into the shoulder an\nhand-breadth in deepness, and that wound grieved Sir Bors passing sore.\nAnd then he laid him down again for pain; and anon therewithal there\ncame a knight armed with his shield on his shoulder and his sword in\nhis hand, and he bade Sir Bors: Arise, sir knight, and fight with me. I\nam sore hurt, he said, but yet I shall not fail thee. And then Sir Bors\nstarted up and dressed his shield; and then they lashed together\nmightily a great while; and at the last Sir Bors bare him backward\nuntil that he came unto a chamber door, and there that knight yede into\nthat chamber and rested him a great while. And when he had reposed him\nhe came out freshly again, and began new battle with Sir Bors mightily\nand strongly.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. How Sir Bors made Sir Pedivere to yield him, and of\nmarvellous adventures that he had, and how he achieved them.\n\n\nThen Sir Bors thought he should no more go into that chamber to rest\nhim, and so Sir Bors dressed him betwixt the knight and that chamber\ndoor, and there Sir Bors smote him down, and then that knight yielded\nhim. What is your name? said Sir Bors. Sir, said he, my name is\nPedivere of the Straight Marches. So Sir Bors made him to swear at\nWhitsunday next coming to be at the court of King Arthur, and yield him\nthere as a prisoner as an overcome knight by the hands of Sir Bors. So\nthus departed Sir Pedivere of the Straight Marches. And then Sir Bors\nlaid him down to rest, and then he heard and felt much noise in that\nchamber; and then Sir Bors espied that there came in, he wist not\nwhether at the doors nor windows, shot of arrows and of quarrels so\nthick that he marvelled, and many fell upon him and hurt him in the\nbare places.\n\nAnd then Sir Bors was ware where came in an hideous lion; so Sir Bors\ndressed him unto the lion, and anon the lion bereft him his shield, and\nwith his sword Sir Bors smote off the lion\u2019s head. Right so Sir Bors\nforthwithal saw a dragon in the court passing horrible, and there\nseemed letters of gold written in his forehead; and Sir Bors thought\nthat the letters made a signification of King Arthur. Right so there\ncame an horrible leopard and an old, and there they fought long, and\ndid great battle together. And at the last the dragon spit out of his\nmouth as it had been an hundred dragons; and lightly all the small\ndragons slew the old dragon and tare him all to pieces.\n\nAnon withal there came an old man into the hall, and he sat him down in\na fair chair, and there seemed to be two adders about his neck; and\nthen the old man had an harp, and there he sang an old song how Joseph\nof Armathie came into this land. Then when he had sung, the old man\nbade Sir Bors go from thence. For here shall ye have no more\nadventures; and full worshipfully have ye done, and better shall ye do\nhereafter. And then Sir Bors seemed that there came the whitest dove\nwith a little golden censer in her mouth. And anon therewithal the\ntempest ceased and passed, that afore was marvellous to hear. So was\nall that court full of good savours. Then Sir Bors saw four children\nbearing four fair tapers, and an old man in the midst of the children\nwith a censer in his own hand, and a spear in his other hand, and that\nspear was called the Spear of Vengeance.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. How Sir Bors departed; and how Sir Launcelot was rebuked of\nQueen Guenever, and of his excuse.\n\n\nNow, said that old man to Sir Bors, go ye to your cousin, Sir\nLauncelot, and tell him of this adventure the which had been most\nconvenient for him of all earthly knights; but sin is so foul in him he\nmay not achieve such holy deeds, for had not been his sin he had passed\nall the knights that ever were in his days; and tell thou Sir\nLauncelot, of all worldly adventures he passeth in manhood and prowess\nall other, but in this spiritual matters he shall have many his better.\nAnd then Sir Bors saw four gentlewomen come by him, purely beseen: and\nhe saw where that they entered into a chamber where was great light as\nit were a summer light; and the women kneeled down afore an altar of\nsilver with four pillars, and as it had been a bishop kneeled down\nafore that table of silver. And as Sir Bors looked over his head he saw\na sword like silver, naked, hoving over his head, and the clearness\nthereof smote so in his eyes that as at that time Sir Bors was blind;\nand there he heard a voice that said: Go hence, thou Sir Bors, for as\nyet thou art not worthy for to be in this place. And then he yede\nbackward to his bed till on the morn. And on the morn King Pelles made\ngreat joy of Sir Bors; and then he departed and rode to Camelot, and\nthere he found Sir Launcelot du Lake, and told him of the adventures\nthat he had seen with King Pelles at Corbin.\n\nSo the noise sprang in Arthur\u2019s court that Launcelot had gotten a child\nupon Elaine, the daughter of King Pelles, wherefore Queen Guenever was\nwroth, and gave many rebukes to Sir Launcelot, and called him false\nknight. And then Sir Launcelot told the queen all, and how he was made\nto lie by her by enchantment in likeness of the queen. So the queen\nheld Sir Launcelot excused. And as the book saith, King Arthur had been\nin France, and had made war upon the mighty King Claudas, and had won\nmuch of his lands. And when the king was come again he let cry a great\nfeast, that all lords and ladies of all England should be there, but if\nit were such as were rebellious against him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. How Dame Elaine, Galahad\u2019s mother, came in great estate\nunto Camelot, and how Sir Launcelot behaved him there.\n\n\nAnd when Dame Elaine, the daughter of King Pelles, heard of this feast\nshe went to her father and required him that he would give her leave to\nride to that feast. The king answered: I will well ye go thither, but\nin any wise as ye love me and will have my blessing, that ye be well\nbeseen in the richest wise; and look that ye spare not for no cost; ask\nand ye shall have all that you needeth. Then by the advice of Dame\nBrisen, her maiden, all thing was apparelled unto the purpose, that\nthere was never no lady more richlier beseen. So she rode with twenty\nknights, and ten ladies, and gentlewomen, to the number of an hundred\nhorses. And when she came to Camelot, King Arthur and Queen Guenever\nsaid, and all the knights, that Dame Elaine was the fairest and the\nbest beseen lady that ever was seen in that court. And anon as King\nArthur wist that she was come he met her and saluted her, and so did\nthe most part of all the knights of the Round Table, both Sir Tristram,\nSir Bleoberis, and Sir Gawaine, and many more that I will not rehearse.\nBut when Sir Launcelot saw her he was so ashamed, and that because he\ndrew his sword on the morn when he had lain by her, that he would not\nsalute her nor speak to her; and yet Sir Launcelot thought she was the\nfairest woman that ever he saw in his life-days.\n\nBut when Dame Elaine saw Sir Launcelot that would not speak unto her\nshe was so heavy that she weened her heart would have to-brast; for wit\nyou well, out of measure she loved him. And then Elaine said unto her\nwoman, Dame Brisen: the unkindness of Sir Launcelot slayeth me near.\nAh, peace, madam, said Dame Brisen, I will undertake that this night he\nshall lie with you, an ye would hold you still. That were me liefer,\nsaid Dame Elaine, than all the gold that is above the earth. Let me\ndeal, said Dame Brisen. So when Elaine was brought unto Queen Guenever\neither made other good cheer by countenance, but nothing with hearts.\nBut all men and women spake of the beauty of Dame Elaine, and of her\ngreat riches.\n\nThen, at night, the queen commanded that Dame Elaine should sleep in a\nchamber nigh her chamber, and all under one roof; and so it was done as\nthe queen commanded. Then the queen sent for Sir Launcelot and bade him\ncome to her chamber that night: Or else I am sure, said the queen, that\nye will go to your lady\u2019s bed, Dame Elaine, by whom ye gat Galahad. Ah,\nmadam, said Sir Launcelot, never say ye so, for that I did was against\nmy will. Then, said the queen, look that ye come to me when I send for\nyou. Madam, said Launcelot, I shall not fail you, but I shall be ready\nat your commandment. This bargain was soon done and made between them,\nbut Dame Brisen knew it by her crafts, and told it to her lady, Dame\nElaine. Alas, said she, how shall I do? Let me deal, said Dame Brisen,\nfor I shall bring him by the hand even to your bed, and he shall ween\nthat I am Queen Guenever\u2019s messenger. Now well is me, said Dame Elaine,\nfor all the world I love not so much as I do Sir Launcelot.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. How Dame Brisen by enchantment brought Sir Launcelot to\nDame Elaine\u2019s bed, and how Queen Guenever rebuked him.\n\n\nSo when time came that all folks were abed, Dame Brisen came to Sir\nLauncelot\u2019s bed\u2019s side and said: Sir Launcelot du Lake, sleep you? My\nlady, Queen Guenever, lieth and awaiteth upon you. O my fair lady, said\nSir Launcelot, I am ready to go with you where ye will have me. So Sir\nLauncelot threw upon him a long gown, and his sword in his hand; and\nthen Dame Brisen took him by the finger and led him to her lady\u2019s bed,\nDame Elaine; and then she departed and left them in bed together. Wit\nyou well the lady was glad, and so was Sir Launcelot, for he weened\nthat he had had another in his arms.\n\nNow leave we them kissing and clipping, as was kindly thing; and now\nspeak we of Queen Guenever that sent one of her women unto Sir\nLauncelot\u2019s bed; and when she came there she found the bed cold, and he\nwas away; so she came to the queen and told her all. Alas, said the\nqueen, where is that false knight become? Then the queen was nigh out\nof her wit, and then she writhed and weltered as a mad woman, and might\nnot sleep a four or five hours. Then Sir Launcelot had a condition that\nhe used of custom, he would clatter in his sleep, and speak oft of his\nlady, Queen Guenever. So as Sir Launcelot had waked as long as it had\npleased him, then by course of kind he slept, and Dame Elaine both. And\nin his sleep he talked and clattered as a jay, of the love that had\nbeen betwixt Queen Guenever and him. And so as he talked so loud the\nqueen heard him thereas she lay in her chamber; and when she heard him\nso clatter she was nigh wood and out of her mind, and for anger and\npain wist not what to do. And then she coughed so loud that Sir\nLauncelot awaked, and he knew her hemming. And then he knew well that\nhe lay not by the queen; and therewith he leapt out of his bed as he\nhad been a wood man, in his shirt, and the queen met him in the floor;\nand thus she said: False traitor knight that thou art, look thou never\nabide in my court, and avoid my chamber, and not so hardy, thou false\ntraitor knight that thou art, that ever thou come in my sight. Alas,\nsaid Sir Launcelot; and therewith he took such an heartly sorrow at her\nwords that he fell down to the floor in a swoon. And therewithal Queen\nGuenever departed. And when Sir Launcelot awoke of his swoon, he leapt\nout at a bay window into a garden, and there with thorns he was all\nto-scratched in his visage and his body; and so he ran forth he wist\nnot whither, and was wild wood as ever was man; and so he ran two year,\nand never man might have grace to know him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. How Dame Elaine was commanded by Queen Guenever to avoid\nthe court, and how Sir Launcelot became mad.\n\n\nNow turn we unto Queen Guenever and to the fair Lady Elaine, that when\nDame Elaine heard the queen so to rebuke Sir Launcelot, and also she\nsaw how he swooned, and how he leaped out at a bay window, then she\nsaid unto Queen Guenever: Madam, ye are greatly to blame for Sir\nLauncelot, for now have ye lost him, for I saw and heard by his\ncountenance that he is mad for ever. Alas, madam, ye do great sin, and\nto yourself great dishonour, for ye have a lord of your own, and\ntherefore it is your part to love him; for there is no queen in this\nworld hath such another king as ye have. And, if ye were not, I might\nhave the love of my lord Sir Launcelot; and cause I have to love him\nfor he had my maidenhood, and by him I have borne a fair son, and his\nname is Galahad, and he shall be in his time the best knight of the\nworld. Dame Elaine, said the queen, when it is daylight I charge you\nand command you to avoid my court; and for the love ye owe unto Sir\nLauncelot discover not his counsel, for an ye do, it will be his death.\nAs for that, said Dame Elaine, I dare undertake he is marred for ever,\nand that have ye made; for ye, nor I, are like to rejoice him; for he\nmade the most piteous groans when he leapt out at yonder bay window\nthat ever I heard man make. Alas, said fair Elaine, and alas, said the\nQueen Guenever, for now I wot well we have lost him for ever.\n\nSo on the morn Dame Elaine took her leave to depart, and she would no\nlonger abide. Then King Arthur brought her on her way with mo than an\nhundred knights through a forest. And by the way she told Sir Bors de\nGanis all how it betid that same night, and how Sir Launcelot leapt out\nat a window, araged out of his wit. Alas, said Sir Bors, where is my\nlord, Sir Launcelot, become? Sir, said Elaine, I wot ne\u2019er. Alas, said\nSir Bors, betwixt you both ye have destroyed that good knight. As for\nme, said Dame Elaine, I said never nor did never thing that should in\nany wise displease him, but with the rebuke that Queen Guenever gave\nhim I saw him swoon to the earth; and when he awoke he took his sword\nin his hand, naked save his shirt, and leapt out at a window with the\ngrisliest groan that ever I heard man make. Now farewell, Dame Elaine,\nsaid Sir Bors, and hold my lord Arthur with a tale as long as ye can,\nfor I will turn again to Queen Guenever and give her a hete; and I\nrequire you, as ever ye will have my service, make good watch and espy\nif ever ye may see my lord Sir Launcelot. Truly, said fair Elaine, I\nshall do all that I may do, for as fain would I know and wit where he\nis become, as you, or any of his kin, or Queen Guenever; and cause\ngreat enough have I thereto as well as any other. And wit ye well, said\nfair Elaine to Sir Bors, I would lose my life for him rather than he\nshould be hurt; but alas, I cast me never for to see him, and the chief\ncauser of this is Dame Guenever. Madam, said Dame Brisen, the which had\nmade the enchantment before betwixt Sir Launcelot and her, I pray you\nheartily, let Sir Bors depart, and hie him with all his might as fast\nas he may to seek Sir Launcelot, for I warn you he is clean out of his\nmind; and yet he shall be well holpen an but by miracle.\n\nThen wept Dame Elaine, and so did Sir Bors de Ganis; and so they\ndeparted, and Sir Bors rode straight unto Queen Guenever. And when she\nsaw Sir Bors she wept as she were wood. Fie on your weeping, said Sir\nBors de Ganis, for ye weep never but when there is no bote. Alas, said\nSir Bors, that ever Sir Launcelot\u2019s kin saw you, for now have ye lost\nthe best knight of our blood, and he that was all our leader and our\nsuccour; and I dare say and make it good that all kings, christian nor\nheathen, may not find such a knight, for to speak of his nobleness and\ncourtesy, with his beauty and his gentleness. Alas, said Sir Bors, what\nshall we do that be of his blood? Alas, said Sir Ector de Maris. Alas,\nsaid Lionel.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. What sorrow Queen Guenever made for Sir Launcelot, and how\nhe was sought by knights of his kin.\n\n\nAnd when the queen heard them say so she fell to the earth in a dead\nswoon. And then Sir Bors took her up, and dawed her; and when she was\nawaked she kneeled afore the three knights, and held up both her hands,\nand besought them to seek him. And spare not for no goods but that he\nbe found, for I wot he is out of his mind. And Sir Bors, Sir Ector, and\nSir Lionel departed from the queen, for they might not abide no longer\nfor sorrow. And then the queen sent them treasure enough for their\nexpenses, and so they took their horses and their armour, and departed.\nAnd then they rode from country to country, in forests, and in\nwilderness, and in wastes; and ever they laid watch both at forests and\nat all manner of men as they rode, to hearken and spere after him, as\nhe that was a naked man, in his shirt, with a sword in his hand. And\nthus they rode nigh a quarter of a year, endlong and overthwart, in\nmany places, forests and wilderness, and oft-times were evil lodged for\nhis sake; and yet for all their labour and seeking could they never\nhear word of him. And wit you well these three knights were passing\nsorry.\n\nThen at the last Sir Bors and his fellows met with a knight that hight\nSir Melion de Tartare. Now fair knight, said Sir Bors, whither be ye\naway? for they knew either other afore time. Sir, said Melion, I am in\nthe way toward the court of King Arthur. Then we pray you, said Sir\nBors, that ye will tell my lord Arthur, and my lady, Queen Guenever,\nand all the fellowship of the Round Table, that we cannot in no wise\nhear tell where Sir Launcelot is become. Then Sir Melion departed from\nthem, and said that he would tell the king, and the queen, and all the\nfellowship of the Round Table, as they had desired him. So when Sir\nMelion came to the court of King Arthur he told the king, and the\nqueen, and all the fellowship of the Round Table, what Sir Bors had\nsaid of Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Gawaine, Sir Uwaine, Sir Sagramore le\nDesirous, Sir Aglovale, and Sir Percivale de Galis took upon them by\nthe great desire of King Arthur, and in especial by the queen, to seek\nthroughout all England, Wales, and Scotland, to find Sir Launcelot, and\nwith them rode eighteen knights mo to bear them fellowship; and wit ye\nwell, they lacked no manner of spending; and so were they three and\ntwenty knights.\n\nNow turn we to Sir Launcelot, and speak we of his care and woe, and\nwhat pain he there endured; for cold, hunger, and thirst, he had\nplenty. And thus as these noble knights rode together, they by one\nassent departed, and then they rode by two, by three, and by four, and\nby five, and ever they assigned where they should meet. And so Sir\nAglovale and Sir Percivale rode together unto their mother that was a\nqueen in those days. And when she saw her two sons, for joy she wept\ntenderly. And then she said: Ah, my dear sons, when your father was\nslain he left me four sons, of the which now be twain slain. And for\nthe death of my noble son, Sir Lamorak, shall my heart never be glad.\nAnd then she kneeled down upon her knees to-fore Aglovale and Sir\nPercivale, and besought them to abide at home with her. Ah, sweet\nmother, said Sir Percivale, we may not, for we be come of king\u2019s blood\nof both parties, and therefore, mother, it is our kind to haunt arms\nand noble deeds. Alas, my sweet sons, then she said, for your sakes I\nshall lose my liking and lust, and then wind and weather I may not\nendure, what for the death of your father, King Pellinore, that was\nshamefully slain by the hands of Sir Gawaine, and his brother, Sir\nGaheris: and they slew him not manly but by treason. Ah, my dear sons,\nthis is a piteous complaint for me of your father\u2019s death, considering\nalso the death of Sir Lamorak, that of knighthood had but few fellows.\nNow, my dear sons, have this in your mind. Then there was but weeping\nand sobbing in the court when they should depart, and she fell\na-swooning in midst of the court.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI. How a servant of Sir Aglovale\u2019s was slain, and what\nvengeance Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale did therefore.\n\n\nAnd when she was awaked she sent a squire after them with spending\nenough. And so when the squire had overtaken them, they would not\nsuffer him to ride with them, but sent him home again to comfort their\nmother, praying her meekly of her blessing. And so this squire was\nbenighted, and by misfortune he happened to come to a castle where\ndwelled a baron. And so when the squire was come into the castle, the\nlord asked him from whence he came, and whom he served. My lord, said\nthe squire, I serve a good knight that is called Sir Aglovale: the\nsquire said it to good intent, weening unto him to have been more\nforborne for Sir Aglovale\u2019s sake, than he had said he had served the\nqueen, Aglovale\u2019s mother. Well, my fellow, said the lord of that\ncastle, for Sir Aglovale\u2019s sake thou shalt have evil lodging, for Sir\nAglovale slew my brother, and therefore thou shalt die on part of\npayment. And then that lord commanded his men to have him away and slay\nhim; and so they did, and so pulled him out of the castle, and there\nthey slew him without mercy.\n\nRight so on the morn came Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale riding by a\nchurchyard, where men and women were busy, and beheld the dead squire,\nand they thought to bury him. What is there, said Sir Aglovale, that ye\nbehold so fast? A good man stert forth and said: Fair knight, here\nlieth a squire slain shamefully this night. How was he slain, fair\nfellow? said Sir Aglovale. My fair sir, said the man, the lord of this\ncastle lodged this squire this night; and because he said he was\nservant unto a good knight that is with King Arthur, his name is Sir\nAglovale, therefore the lord commanded to slay him, and for this cause\nis he slain. Gramercy, said Sir Aglovale, and ye shall see his death\nrevenged lightly; for I am that same knight for whom this squire was\nslain.\n\nThen Sir Aglovale called unto him Sir Percivale, and bade him alight\nlightly; and so they alighted both, and betook their horses to their\nmen, and so they yede on foot into the castle. And all so soon as they\nwere within the castle gate Sir Aglovale bade the porter: Go thou unto\nthy lord and tell him that I am Sir Aglovale for whom this squire was\nslain this night. Anon the porter told this to his lord, whose name was\nGoodewin. Anon he armed him, and then he came into the court and said:\nWhich of you is Sir Aglovale? Here I am, said Aglovale: for what cause\nslewest thou this night my mother\u2019s squire? I slew him, said Sir\nGoodewin, because of thee, for thou slewest my brother, Sir Gawdelin.\nAs for thy brother, said Sir Aglovale, I avow it I slew him, for he was\na false knight and a betrayer of ladies and of good knights; and for\nthe death of my squire thou shalt die. I defy thee, said Sir Goodewin.\nThen they lashed together as eagerly as it had been two lions, and Sir\nPercivale he fought with all the remnant that would fight. And within a\nwhile Sir Percivale had slain all that would withstand him; for Sir\nPercivale dealt so his strokes that were so rude that there durst no\nman abide him. And within a while Sir Aglovale had Sir Goodewin at the\nearth, and there he unlaced his helm, and struck off his head. And then\nthey departed and took their horses; and then they let carry the dead\nsquire unto a priory, and there they interred him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. How Sir Pervivale departed secretly from his brother, and\nhow he loosed a knight bound with a chain, and of other doings.\n\n\nAnd when this was done they rode into many countries, ever inquiring\nafter Sir Launcelot, but never they could hear of him; and at the last\nthey came to a castle that hight Cardican, and there Sir Percivale and\nSir Aglovale were lodged together. And privily about midnight Sir\nPercivale came to Aglovale\u2019s squire and said: Arise and make thee\nready, for ye and I will ride away secretly. Sir, said the squire, I\nwould full fain ride with you where ye would have me, but an my lord,\nyour brother, take me he will slay me. As for that care thou not, for I\nshall be thy warrant.\n\nAnd so Sir Percivale rode till it was after noon, and then he came upon\na bridge of stone, and there he found a knight that was bound with a\nchain fast about the waist unto a pillar of stone. O fair knight, said\nthat bound knight, I require thee loose me of my bonds. What knight are\nye, said Sir Percivale, and for what cause are ye so bound? Sir, I\nshall tell you, said that knight: I am a knight of the Table Round, and\nmy name is Sir Persides; and thus by adventure I came this way, and\nhere I lodged in this castle at the bridge foot, and therein dwelleth\nan uncourteous lady; and because she proffered me to be her paramour,\nand I refused her, she set her men upon me suddenly or ever I might\ncome to my weapon; and thus they bound me, and here I wot well I shall\ndie but if some man of worship break my bands. Be ye of good cheer,\nsaid Sir Percivale, and because ye are a knight of the Round Table as\nwell as I, I trust to God to break your bands. And therewith Sir\nPercivale pulled out his sword and struck at the chain with such a\nmight that he cut a-two the chain, and through Sir Persides\u2019 hauberk\nand hurt him a little. O Jesu, said Sir Persides, that was a mighty\nstroke as ever I felt one, for had not the chain been ye had slain me.\n\nAnd therewithal Sir Persides saw a knight coming out of a castle all\nthat ever he might fling. Beware, sir, said Sir Persides, yonder cometh\na man that will have ado with you. Let him come, said Sir Percivale.\nAnd so he met with that knight in midst of the bridge; and Sir\nPercivale gave him such a buffet that he smote him quite from his horse\nand over a part of the bridge, that, had not been a little vessel under\nthe bridge, that knight had been drowned. And then Sir Percivale took\nthe knight\u2019s horse and made Sir Persides to mount up him; and so they\nrode unto the castle, and bade the lady deliver Sir Persides\u2019 servants,\nor else he would slay all that ever he found; and so for fear she\ndelivered them all. Then was Sir Percivale ware of a lady that stood in\nthat tower. Ah, madam, said Sir Percivale, what use and custom is that\nin a lady to destroy good knights but if they will be your paramour?\nForsooth this is a shameful custom of a lady, and if I had not a great\nmatter in my hand I should fordo your evil customs.\n\nAnd so Sir Persides brought Sir Percivale unto his own castle, and\nthere he made him great cheer all that night. And on the morn, when Sir\nPercivale had heard mass and broken his fast, he bade Sir Persides ride\nunto King Arthur: And tell the king how that ye met with me; and tell\nmy brother, Sir Aglovale, how I rescued you; and bid him seek not after\nme, for I am in the quest to seek Sir Launcelot du Lake, and though he\nseek me he shall not find me; and tell him I will never see him, nor\nthe court, till I have found Sir Launcelot. Also tell Sir Kay the\nSeneschal, and to Sir Mordred, that I trust to Jesu to be of as great\nworthiness as either of them, for tell them I shall never forget their\nmocks and scorns that they did to me that day that I was made knight;\nand tell them I will never see that court till men speak more worship\nof me than ever men did of any of them both. And so Sir Persides\ndeparted from Sir Percivale, and then he rode unto King Arthur, and\ntold there of Sir Percivale. And when Sir Aglovale heard him speak of\nhis brother Sir Percivale, he said: He departed from me unkindly.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. How Sir Percivale met with Sir Ector, and how they fought\nlong, and each had almost slain other.\n\n\nSir, said Sir Persides, on my life he shall prove a noble knight as any\nnow is living. And when he saw Sir Kay and Sir Mordred, Sir Persides\nsaid thus: My fair lords both, Sir Percivale greeteth you well both,\nand he sent you word by me that he trusteth to God or ever he come to\nthe court again to be of as great noblesse as ever were ye both, and mo\nmen to speak of his noblesse than ever they did of you. It may well be,\nsaid Sir Kay and Sir Mordred, but at that time when he was made knight\nhe was full unlike to prove a good knight. As for that, said King\nArthur, he must needs prove a good knight, for his father and his\nbrethren were noble knights.\n\nAnd now will we turn unto Sir Percivale that rode long; and in a forest\nhe met a knight with a broken shield and a broken helm; and as soon as\neither saw other readily they made them ready to joust, and so hurtled\ntogether with all the might of their horses, and met together so hard,\nthat Sir Percivale was smitten to the earth. And then Sir Percivale\narose lightly, and cast his shield on his shoulder and drew his sword,\nand bade the other knight: Alight, and do we battle unto the uttermost.\nWill ye more? said that knight. And therewith he alighted, and put his\nhorse from him; and then they came together an easy pace, and there\nthey lashed together with noble swords, and sometime they struck and\nsometime they foined, and either gave other many great wounds. Thus\nthey fought near half a day, and never rested but right little, and\nthere was none of them both that had less wounds than fifteen, and they\nbled so much that it was marvel they stood on their feet. But this\nknight that fought with Sir Percivale was a proved knight and a\nwise-fighting knight, and Sir Percivale was young and strong, not\nknowing in fighting as the other was.\n\nThen Sir Percivale spoke first, and said: Sir knight, hold thy hand a\nwhile still, for we have fought for a simple matter and quarrel\noverlong, and therefore I require thee tell me thy name, for I was\nnever or this time matched. So God me help, said that knight, and never\nor this time was there never knight that wounded me so sore as thou\nhast done, and yet have I fought in many battles; and now shalt thou\nwit that I am a knight of the Table Round, and my name is Sir Ector de\nMaris, brother unto the good knight, Sir Launcelot du Lake. Alas, said\nSir Percivale, and my name is Sir Percivale de Galis that hath made my\nquest to seek Sir Launcelot, and now I am siker that I shall never\nfinish my quest, for ye have slain me with your hands. It is not so,\nsaid Sir Ector, for I am slain by your hands, and may not live.\nTherefore I require you, said Sir Ector unto Sir Percivale, ride ye\nhereby to a priory, and bring me a priest that I may receive my\nSaviour, for I may not live. And when ye come to the court of King\nArthur tell not my brother, Sir Launcelot, how that ye slew me, for\nthen he would be your mortal enemy, but ye may say that I was slain in\nmy quest as I sought him. Alas, said Sir Percivale, ye say that never\nwill be, for I am so faint for bleeding that I may unnethe stand, how\nshould I then take my horse?\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV. How by miracle they were both made whole by the coming of\nthe holy vessel of Sangreal.\n\n\nThen they made both great dole out of measure. This will not avail,\nsaid Sir Percivale. And then he kneeled down and made his prayer\ndevoutly unto Almighty Jesu, for he was one of the best knights of the\nworld that at that time was, in whom the very faith stood most in.\nRight so there came by the holy vessel of the Sangreal with all manner\nof sweetness and savour; but they could not readily see who that bare\nthat vessel, but Sir Percivale had a glimmering of the vessel and of\nthe maiden that bare it, for he was a perfect clean maiden; and\nforthwithal they both were as whole of hide and limb as ever they were\nin their life-days: then they gave thankings to God with great\nmildness. O Jesu, said Sir Percivale, what may this mean, that we be\nthus healed, and right now we were at the point of dying? I wot full\nwell, said Sir Ector, what it is; it is an holy vessel that is borne by\na maiden, and therein is part of the holy blood of our Lord Jesu\nChrist, blessed mote he be. But it may not be seen, said Sir Ector, but\nif it be by a perfect man. So God me help, said Sir Percivale, I saw a\ndamosel, as me thought, all in white, with a vessel in both her hands,\nand forthwithal I was whole.\n\nSo then they took their horses and their harness, and amended their\nharness as well as they might that was broken; and so they mounted upon\ntheir horses, and rode talking together. And there Sir Ector de Maris\ntold Sir Percivale how he had sought his brother, Sir Launcelot, long,\nand never could hear witting of him: In many strange adventures have I\nbeen in this quest. And so either told other of their adventures.\n\n_Here endeth the eleventh book. And here followeth the twelfth book._\n\n\n\n\nBOOK XII.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. How Sir Launcelot in his madness took a sword and fought\nwith a knight, and leapt in a bed.\n\n\nAnd now leave we of a while of Sir Ector and of Sir Percivale, and\nspeak we of Sir Launcelot that suffered and endured many sharp showers,\nthat ever ran wild wood from place to place, and lived by fruit and\nsuch as he might get, and drank water two year; and other clothing had\nhe but little but his shirt and his breech. Thus as Sir Launcelot\nwandered here and there he came in a fair meadow where he found a\npavilion; and there by, upon a tree, there hung a white shield, and two\nswords hung thereby, and two spears leaned there by a tree. And when\nSir Launcelot saw the swords, anon he leapt to the one sword, and took\nit in his hand, and drew it out. And then he lashed at the shield, that\nall the meadow rang of the dints, that he gave such a noise as ten\nknights had foughten together.\n\nThen came forth a dwarf, and leapt unto Sir Launcelot, and would have\nhad the sword out of his hand. And then Sir Launcelot took him by the\nboth shoulders and threw him to the ground upon his neck, that he had\nalmost broken his neck; and therewithal the dwarf cried help. Then came\nforth a likely knight, and well apparelled in scarlet furred with\nminever. And anon as he saw Sir Launcelot he deemed that he should be\nout of his wit. And then he said with fair speech: Good man, lay down\nthat sword, for as meseemeth thou hadst more need of sleep and of warm\nclothes than to wield that sword. As for that, said Sir Launcelot, come\nnot too nigh, for an thou do, wit thou well I will slay thee.\n\nAnd when the knight of the pavilion saw that, he stert backward within\nthe pavilion. And then the dwarf armed him lightly; and so the knight\nthought by force and might to take the sword from Sir Launcelot, and so\nhe came stepping out; and when Sir Launcelot saw him come so all armed\nwith his sword in his hand, then Sir Launcelot flew to him with such a\nmight, and hit him upon the helm such a buffet, that the stroke\ntroubled his brains, and therewith the sword brake in three. And the\nknight fell to the earth as he had been dead, the blood brasting out of\nhis mouth, the nose, and the ears. And then Sir Launcelot ran into the\npavilion, and rushed even into the warm bed; and there was a lady in\nthat bed, and she gat her smock, and ran out of the pavilion. And when\nshe saw her lord lie at the ground like to be dead, then she cried and\nwept as she had been mad. Then with her noise the knight awaked out of\nhis swoon, and looked up weakly with his eyes; and then he asked her,\nwhere was that mad man that had given him such a buffet: For such a\nbuffet had I never of man\u2019s hand. Sir, said the dwarf, it is not\nworship to hurt him, for he is a man out of his wit; and doubt ye not\nhe hath been a man of great worship, and for some heartly sorrow that\nhe hath taken, he is fallen mad; and me beseemeth, said the dwarf, he\nresembleth much unto Sir Launcelot, for him I saw at the great\ntournament beside Lonazep. Jesu defend, said that knight, that ever\nthat noble knight, Sir Launcelot, should be in such a plight; but\nwhatsomever he be, said that knight, harm will I none do him: and this\nknight\u2019s name was Bliant. Then he said unto the dwarf: Go thou fast on\nhorseback, unto my brother Sir Selivant, that is at the Castle Blank,\nand tell him of mine adventure, and bid him bring with him an horse\nlitter, and then will we bear this knight unto my castle.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. How Sir Lancelot was carried in an horse litter, and how\nSir Launcelot rescued Sir Bliant, his host.\n\n\nSo the dwarf rode fast, and he came again and brought Sir Selivant with\nhim, and six men with an horse litter; and so they took up the feather\nbed with Sir Launcelot, and so carried all away with them unto the\nCastle Blank, and he never awaked till he was within the castle. And\nthen they bound his hands and his feet, and gave him good meats and\ngood drinks, and brought him again to his strength and his fairness;\nbut in his wit they could not bring him again, nor to know himself.\nThus was Sir Launcelot there more than a year and a half, honestly\narrayed and fair faren withal.\n\nThen upon a day this lord of that castle, Sir Bliant, took his arms, on\nhorseback, with a spear, to seek adventures. And as he rode in a forest\nthere met with him two knights adventurous, the one was Breuse Saunce\nPit\u00e9, and his brother, Sir Bertelot; and these two ran both at once\nupon Sir Bliant, and brake their spears upon his body. And then they\ndrew out swords and made great battle, and fought long together. But at\nthe last Sir Bliant was sore wounded, and felt himself faint; and then\nhe fled on horseback toward his castle. And as they came hurling under\nthe castle whereas Sir Launcelot lay in a window, [he] saw how two\nknights laid upon Sir Bliant with their swords. And when Sir Launcelot\nsaw that, yet as wood as he was he was sorry for his lord, Sir Bliant.\nAnd then Sir Launcelot brake the chains from his legs and off his arms,\nand in the breaking he hurt his hands sore; and so Sir Launcelot ran\nout at a postern, and there he met with the two knights that chased Sir\nBliant; and there he pulled down Sir Bertelot with his bare hands from\nhis horse, and therewithal he wrothe his sword out of his hand; and so\nhe leapt unto Sir Breuse, and gave him such a buffet upon the head that\nhe tumbled backward over his horse\u2019s croup. And when Sir Bertelot saw\nthere his brother have such a fall, he gat a spear in his hand, and\nwould have run Sir Launcelot through: that saw Sir Bliant, and struck\noff the hand of Sir Bertelot. And then Sir Breuse and Sir Bertelot gat\ntheir horses and fled away.\n\nWhen Sir Selivant came and saw what Sir Launcelot had done for his\nbrother, then he thanked God, and so did his brother, that ever they\ndid him any good. But when Sir Bliant saw that Sir Launcelot was hurt\nwith the breaking of his irons, then was he heavy that ever he bound\nhim. Bind him no more, said Sir Selivant, for he is happy and gracious.\nThen they made great joy of Sir Launcelot, and they bound him no more;\nand so he abode there an half year and more. And on the morn early Sir\nLauncelot was ware where came a great boar with many hounds nigh him.\nBut the boar was so big there might no hounds tear him; and the hunters\ncame after, blowing their horns, both upon horseback and some upon\nfoot; and then Sir Launcelot was ware where one alighted and tied his\nhorse to a tree, and leaned his spear against the tree.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. How Sir Launcelot fought against a boar and slew him, and\nhow he was hurt, and brought unto an hermitage.\n\n\nSo came Sir Launcelot and found the horse bounden till a tree, and a\nspear leaning against a tree, and a sword tied to the saddle bow; and\nthen Sir Launcelot leapt into the saddle and gat that spear in his\nhand, and then he rode after the boar; and then Sir Launcelot was ware\nwhere the boar set his arse to a tree fast by an hermitage. Then Sir\nLauncelot ran at the boar with his spear, and therewith the boar turned\nhim nimbly, and rove out the lungs and the heart of the horse, so that\nLauncelot fell to the earth; and, or ever Sir Launcelot might get from\nthe horse, the boar rove him on the brawn of the thigh up to the hough\nbone. And then Sir Launcelot was wroth, and up he gat upon his feet,\nand drew his sword, and he smote off the boar\u2019s head at one stroke. And\ntherewithal came out the hermit, and saw him have such a wound. Then\nthe hermit came to Sir Launcelot and bemoaned him, and would have had\nhim home unto his hermitage; but when Sir Launcelot heard him speak, he\nwas so wroth with his wound that he ran upon the hermit to have slain\nhim, and the hermit ran away. And when Sir Launcelot might not overget\nhim, he threw his sword after him, for Sir Launcelot might go no\nfurther for bleeding; then the hermit turned again, and asked Sir\nLauncelot how he was hurt. Fellow, said Sir Launcelot, this boar hath\nbitten me sore. Then come with me, said the hermit, and I shall heal\nyou. Go thy way, said Sir Launcelot, and deal not with me.\n\nThen the hermit ran his way, and there he met with a good knight with\nmany men. Sir, said the hermit, here is fast by my place the goodliest\nman that ever I saw, and he is sore wounded with a boar, and yet he\nhath slain the boar. But well I wot, said the hermit, and he be not\nholpen, that goodly man shall die of that wound, and that were great\npity. Then that knight at the desire of the hermit gat a cart, and in\nthat cart that knight put the boar and Sir Launcelot, for Sir Launcelot\nwas so feeble that they might right easily deal with him; and so Sir\nLauncelot was brought unto the hermitage, and there the hermit healed\nhim of his wound. But the hermit might not find Sir Launcelot\u2019s\nsustenance, and so he impaired and waxed feeble, both of his body and\nof his wit: for the default of his sustenance he waxed more wooder than\nhe was aforehand.\n\nAnd then upon a day Sir Launcelot ran his way into the forest; and by\nadventure he came to the city of Corbin, where Dame Elaine was, that\nbare Galahad, Sir Launcelot\u2019s son. And so when he was entered into the\ntown he ran through the town to the castle; and then all the young men\nof that city ran after Sir Launcelot, and there they threw turves at\nhim, and gave him many sad strokes. And ever as Sir Launcelot might\noverreach any of them, he threw them so that they would never come in\nhis hands no more; for of some he brake the legs and the arms, and so\nfled into the castle; and then came out knights and squires and rescued\nSir Launcelot. And when they beheld him and looked upon his person,\nthey thought they saw never so goodly a man. And when they saw so many\nwounds upon him, all they deemed that he had been a man of worship. And\nthen they ordained him clothes to his body, and straw underneath him,\nand a little house. And then every day they would throw him meat, and\nset him drink, but there was but few would bring him meat to his hands.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. How Sir Launcelot was known by Dame Elaine, and was borne\ninto a chamber and after healed by the Sangreal.\n\n\nSo it befell that King Pelles had a nephew, his name was Castor; and so\nhe desired of the king to be made knight, and so at the request of this\nCastor the king made him knight at the feast of Candlemas. And when Sir\nCastor was made knight, that same day he gave many gowns. And then Sir\nCastor sent for the fool\u2014that was Sir Launcelot. And when he was come\nafore Sir Castor, he gave Sir Launcelot a robe of scarlet and all that\nlonged unto him. And when Sir Launcelot was so arrayed like a knight,\nhe was the seemliest man in all the court, and none so well made. So\nwhen he saw his time he went into the garden, and there Sir Launcelot\nlaid him down by a well and slept. And so at-after noon Dame Elaine and\nher maidens came into the garden to play them; and as they roamed up\nand down one of Dame Elaine\u2019s maidens espied where lay a goodly man by\nthe well sleeping, and anon showed him to Dame Elaine. Peace, said Dame\nElaine, and say no word: and then she brought Dame Elaine where he lay.\nAnd when that she beheld him, anon she fell in remembrance of him, and\nknew him verily for Sir Launcelot; and therewithal she fell a-weeping\nso heartily that she sank even to the earth; and when she had thus wept\na great while, then she arose and called her maidens and said she was\nsick.\n\nAnd so she yede out of the garden, and she went straight to her father,\nand there she took him apart by herself; and then she said: O father,\nnow have I need of your help, and but if that ye help me farewell my\ngood days for ever. What is that, daughter? said King Pelles. Sir, she\nsaid, thus is it: in your garden I went for to sport, and there, by the\nwell, I found Sir Launcelot du Lake sleeping. I may not believe that,\nsaid King Pelles. Sir, she said, truly he is there, and meseemeth he\nshould be distract out of his wit. Then hold you still, said the king,\nand let me deal. Then the king called to him such as he most trusted, a\nfour persons, and Dame Elaine, his daughter. And when they came to the\nwell and beheld Sir Launcelot, anon Dame Brisen knew him. Sir, said\nDame Brisen, we must be wise how we deal with him, for this knight is\nout of his mind, and if we awake him rudely what he will do we all know\nnot; but ye shall abide, and I shall throw such an enchantment upon him\nthat he shall not awake within the space of an hour; and so she did.\n\nThen within a little while after, the king commanded that all people\nshould avoid, that none should be in that way thereas the king would\ncome. And so when this was done, these four men and these ladies laid\nhand on Sir Launcelot, and so they bare him into a tower, and so into a\nchamber where was the holy vessel of the Sangreal, and by force Sir\nLauncelot was laid by that holy vessel; and there came an holy man and\nunhilled that vessel, and so by miracle and by virtue of that holy\nvessel Sir Launcelot was healed and recovered. And when that he was\nawaked he groaned and sighed, and complained greatly that he was\npassing sore.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. How Sir Launcelot, after that he was whole and had his mind,\nhe was ashamed, and how that Elaine desired a castle for him.\n\n\nAnd when Sir Launcelot saw King Pelles and Elaine, he waxed ashamed and\nsaid thus: O Lord Jesu, how came I here? for God\u2019s sake, my lord, let\nme wit how I came here. Sir, said Dame Elaine, into this country ye\ncame like a madman, clean out of your wit, and here have ye been kept\nas a fool; and no creature here knew what ye were, until by fortune a\nmaiden of mine brought me unto you whereas ye lay sleeping by a well,\nand anon as I verily beheld you I knew you. And then I told my father,\nand so were ye brought afore this holy vessel, and by the virtue of it\nthus were ye healed. O Jesu, mercy, said Sir Launcelot; if this be\nsooth, how many there be that know of my woodness! So God me help, said\nElaine, no more but my father, and I, and Dame Brisen. Now for Christ\u2019s\nlove, said Sir Launcelot, keep it in counsel, and let no man know it in\nthe world, for I am sore ashamed that I have been thus miscarried; for\nI am banished out of the country of Logris for ever, that is for to say\nthe country of England.\n\nAnd so Sir Launcelot lay more than a fortnight or ever that he might\nstir for soreness. And then upon a day he said unto Dame Elaine these\nwords: Lady Elaine, for your sake I have had much travail, care, and\nanguish, it needeth not to rehearse it, ye know how. Notwithstanding I\nknow well I have done foul to you when that I drew my sword to you, to\nhave slain you, upon the morn when I had lain with you. And all was the\ncause, that ye and Dame Brisen made me for to lie by you maugre mine\nhead; and as ye say, that night Galahad your son was begotten. That is\ntruth, said Dame Elaine. Now will ye for my love, said Sir Launcelot,\ngo unto your father and get me a place of him wherein I may dwell? for\nin the court of King Arthur may I never come. Sir, said Dame Elaine, I\nwill live and die with you, and only for your sake; and if my life\nmight not avail you and my death might avail you, wit you well I would\ndie for your sake. And I will go to my father and I am sure there is\nnothing that I can desire of him but I shall have it. And where ye be,\nmy lord Sir Launcelot, doubt ye not but I will be with you with all the\nservice that I may do. So forthwithal she went to her father and said,\nSir, my lord, Sir Launcelot, desireth to be here by you in some castle\nof yours. Well daughter, said the king, sith it is his desire to abide\nin these marches he shall be in the Castle of Bliant, and there shall\nye be with him, and twenty of the fairest ladies that be in the\ncountry, and they shall all be of the great blood, and ye shall have\nten knights with you; for, daughter, I will that ye wit we all be\nhonoured by the blood of Sir Launcelot.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot came into the joyous Isle, and there he\nnamed himself Le Chevaler Mal Fet.\n\n\nThen went Dame Elaine unto Sir Launcelot, and told him all how her\nfather had devised for him and her. Then came the knight Sir Castor,\nthat was nephew unto King Pelles, unto Sir Launcelot, and asked him\nwhat was his name. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, my name is Le Chevaler Mal\nFet, that is to say the knight that hath trespassed. Sir, said Sir\nCastor, it may well be so, but ever meseemeth your name should be Sir\nLauncelot du Lake, for or now I have seen you. Sir, said Launcelot, ye\nare not as a gentle knight: I put case my name were Sir Launcelot, and\nthat it list me not to discover my name, what should it grieve you here\nto keep my counsel, and ye be not hurt thereby? but wit thou well an\never it lie in my power I shall grieve you, and that I promise you\ntruly. Then Sir Castor kneeled down and besought Sir Launcelot of\nmercy: For I shall never utter what ye be, while that ye be in these\nparts. Then Sir Launcelot pardoned him.\n\nAnd then, after this, King Pelles with ten knights, and Dame Elaine,\nand twenty ladies, rode unto the Castle of Bliant that stood in an\nisland beclosed in iron, with a fair water deep and large. And when\nthey were there Sir Launcelot let call it the Joyous Isle; and there\nwas he called none otherwise but Le Chevaler Mal Fet, the knight that\nhath trespassed. Then Sir Launcelot let make him a shield all of sable,\nand a queen crowned in the midst, all of silver, and a knight clean\narmed kneeling afore her. And every day once, for any mirths that all\nthe ladies might make him, he would once every day look toward the\nrealm of Logris, where King Arthur and Queen Guenever was. And then\nwould he fall upon a weeping as his heart should to-brast.\n\nSo it fell that time Sir Launcelot heard of a jousting fast by his\ncastle, within three leagues. Then he called unto him a dwarf, and he\nbade him go unto that jousting. And or ever the knights depart, look\nthou make there a cry, in hearing of all the knights, that there is one\nknight in the Joyous Isle, that is the Castle of Bliant, and say his\nname is Le Chevaler Mal Fet, that will joust against knights that will\ncome. And who that putteth that knight to the worse shall have a fair\nmaid and a gerfalcon.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. Of a great tourneying in the Joyous Isle, and how Sir\nPervivale and Sir Ector came thither, and Sir Percivale fought with\nhim.\n\n\nSo when this cry was made, unto Joyous Isle drew knights to the number\nof five hundred; and wit ye well there was never seen in Arthur\u2019s days\none knight that did so much deeds of arms as Sir Launcelot did three\ndays together; for as the book maketh truly mention, he had the better\nof all the five hundred knights, and there was not one slain of them.\nAnd after that Sir Launcelot made them all a great feast.\n\nAnd in the meanwhile came Sir Percivale de Galis and Sir Ector de Maris\nunder that castle that was called the Joyous Isle. And as they beheld\nthat gay castle they would have gone to that castle, but they might not\nfor the broad water, and bridge could they find none. Then they saw on\nthe other side a lady with a sperhawk on her hand, and Sir Percivale\ncalled unto her, and asked that lady who was in that castle. Fair\nknights, she said, here within this castle is the fairest lady in this\nland, and her name is Elaine. Also we have in this castle the fairest\nknight and the mightiest man that is I dare say living, and he called\nhimself Le Chevaler Mal Fet. How came he into these marches? said Sir\nPercivale. Truly, said the damosel, he came into this country like a\nmad man, with dogs and boys chasing him through the city of Corbin, and\nby the holy vessel of the Sangreal he was brought into his wit again;\nbut he will not do battle with no knight, but by underne or by noon.\nAnd if ye list to come into the castle, said the lady, ye must ride\nunto the further side of the castle and there shall ye find a vessel\nthat will bear you and your horse. Then they departed, and came unto\nthe vessel. And then Sir Percivale alighted, and said to Sir Ector de\nMaris: Ye shall abide me here until that I wit what manner a knight he\nis; for it were shame unto us, inasmuch as he is but one knight, an we\nshould both do battle with him. Do ye as ye list, said Sir Ector, and\nhere I shall abide you until that I hear of you.\n\nThen passed Sir Percivale the water, and when he came to the castle\ngate he bade the porter: Go thou to the good knight within the castle,\nand tell him here is come an errant knight to joust with him. Sir, said\nthe porter, ride ye within the castle, and there is a common place for\njousting, that lords and ladies may behold you. So anon as Sir\nLauncelot had warning he was soon ready; and there Sir Percivale and\nSir Launcelot encountered with such a might, and their spears were so\nrude, that both the horses and the knights fell to the earth. Then they\navoided their horses, and flang out noble swords, and hewed away\ncantels of their shields, and hurtled together with their shields like\ntwo boars, and either wounded other passing sore. At the last Sir\nPercivale spake first when they had foughten there more than two hours.\nFair knight, said Sir Percivale, I require thee tell me thy name, for I\nmet never with such a knight. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, my name is Le\nChevaler Mal Fet. Now tell me your name, said Sir Launcelot, I require\nyou, gentle knight. Truly, said Sir Percivale, my name is Sir Percivale\nde Galis, that was brother unto the good knight, Sir Lamorak de Galis,\nand King Pellinore was our father, and Sir Aglovale is my brother.\nAlas, said Sir Launcelot, what have I done to fight with you that art a\nknight of the Round Table, that sometime was your fellow?\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIlI. How each of them knew other, and of their great courtesy,\nand how his brother Sir Ector came unto him, and of their joy.\n\n\nAnd therewithal Sir Launcelot kneeled down upon his knees, and threw\naway his shield and his sword from him. When Sir Percivale saw him do\nso he marvelled what he meant. And then thus he said: Sir knight,\nwhatsomever thou be, I require thee upon the high order of knighthood,\ntell me thy true name. Then he said: So God me help, my name is Sir\nLauncelot du Lake, King Ban\u2019s son of Benoy. Alas, said Sir Percivale,\nwhat have I done? I was sent by the queen for to seek you, and so I\nhave sought you nigh this two year, and yonder is Sir Ector de Maris,\nyour brother abideth me on the other side of the yonder water. Now for\nGod\u2019s sake, said Sir Percivale, forgive me mine offences that I have\nhere done. It is soon forgiven, said Sir Launcelot.\n\nThen Sir Percivale sent for Sir Ector de Maris, and when Sir Launcelot\nhad a sight of him, he ran unto him and took him in his arms; and then\nSir Ector kneeled down, and either wept upon other, that all had pity\nto behold them. Then came Dame Elaine and she there made them great\ncheer as might lie in her power; and there she told Sir Ector and Sir\nPercivale how and in what manner Sir Launcelot came into that country,\nand how he was healed; and there it was known how long Sir Launcelot\nwas with Sir Bliant and with Sir Selivant, and how he first met with\nthem, and how he departed from them because of a boar; and how the\nhermit healed Sir Launcelot of his great wound, and how that he came to\nCorbin.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. How Sir Bors and Sir Lionel came to King Brandegore, and\nhow Sir Bors took his son Helin le Blank, and of Sir Launcelot.\n\n\nNow leave we Sir Launcelot in the Joyous Isle with the Lady Dame\nElaine, and Sir Percivale and Sir Ector playing with them, and turn we\nto Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Lionel, that had sought Sir Launcelot nigh\nby the space of two year, and never could they hear of him. And as they\nthus rode, by adventure they came to the house of Brandegore, and there\nSir Bors was well known, for he had gotten a child upon the king\u2019s\ndaughter fifteen year to-fore, and his name was Helin le Blank. And\nwhen Sir Bors saw that child it liked him passing well. And so those\nknights had good cheer of the King Brandegore. And on the morn Sir Bors\ncame afore King Brandegore and said: Here is my son Helin le Blank,\nthat as it is said he is my son; and sith it is so, I will that ye wit\nthat I will have him with me unto the court of King Arthur. Sir, said\nthe king, ye may well take him with you, but he is over tender of age.\nAs for that, said Sir Bors, I will have him with me, and bring him to\nthe house of most worship of the world. So when Sir Bors should depart\nthere was made great sorrow for the departing of Helin le Blank, and\ngreat weeping was there made. But Sir Bors and Sir Lionel departed, and\nwithin a while they came to Camelot, where was King Arthur. And when\nKing Arthur understood that Helin le Blank was Sir Bors\u2019 son, and\nnephew unto King Brandegore, then King Arthur let him make knight of\nthe Round Table; and so he proved a good knight and an adventurous.\n\nNow will we turn to our matter of Sir Launcelot. It befell upon a day\nSir Ector and Sir Percivale came to Sir Launcelot and asked him what he\nwould do, and whether he would go with them unto King Arthur or not.\nNay, said Sir Launcelot, that may not be by no mean, for I was so\nentreated at the court that I cast me never to come there more. Sir,\nsaid Sir Ector, I am your brother, and ye are the man in the world that\nI love most; and if I understood that it were your disworship, ye may\nunderstand I would never counsel you thereto; but King Arthur and all\nhis knights, and in especial Queen Guenever, made such dole and sorrow\nthat it was marvel to hear and see. And ye must remember the great\nworship and renown that ye be of, how that ye have been more spoken of\nthan any other knight that is now living; for there is none that\nbeareth the name now but ye and Sir Tristram. Therefore brother, said\nSir Ector, make you ready to ride to the court with us, and I dare say\nthere was never knight better welcome to the court than ye; and I wot\nwell and can make it good, said Sir Ector, it hath cost my lady, the\nqueen, twenty thousand pound the seeking of you. Well brother, said Sir\nLauncelot, I will do after your counsel, and ride with you.\n\nSo then they took their horses and made them ready, and took their\nleave at King Pelles and at Dame Elaine. And when Sir Launcelot should\ndepart Dame Elaine made great sorrow. My lord, Sir Launcelot, said Dame\nElaine, at this same feast of Pentecost shall your son and mine,\nGalahad, be made knight, for he is fully now fifteen winter old. Do as\nye list, said Sir Launcelot; God give him grace to prove a good knight.\nAs for that, said Dame Elaine, I doubt not he shall prove the best man\nof his kin except one. Then shall he be a man good enough, said Sir\nLauncelot.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. How Sir Launcelot with Sir Percivale and Sir Ector came to\nthe court, and of the great joy of him.\n\n\nThen they departed, and within five days\u2019 journey they came to Camelot,\nthat is called in English, Winchester. And when Sir Launcelot was come\namong them, the king and all the knights made great joy of him. And\nthere Sir Percivale de Galis and Sir Ector de Maris began and told the\nwhole adventures: that Sir Launcelot had been out of his mind the time\nof his absence, and how he called himself Le Chevaler Mal Fet, the\nknight that had trespassed; and in three days Sir Launcelot smote down\nfive hundred knights. And ever as Sir Ector and Sir Percivale told\nthese tales of Sir Launcelot, Queen Guenever wept as she should have\ndied. Then the queen made great cheer. O Jesu, said King Arthur, I\nmarvel for what cause ye, Sir Launcelot, went out of your mind. I and\nmany others deem it was for the love of fair Elaine, the daughter of\nKing Pelles, by whom ye are noised that ye have gotten a child, and his\nname is Galahad, and men say he shall do marvels. My lord, said Sir\nLauncelot, if I did any folly I have that I sought. And therewithal the\nking spake no more. But all Sir Launcelot\u2019s kin knew for whom he went\nout of his mind. And then there were great feasts made and great joy;\nand many great lords and ladies, when they heard that Sir Launcelot was\ncome to the court again, they made great joy.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI. How La Beale Isoud counselled Sir Tristram to go unto the\ncourt, to the great feast of Pentecost.\n\n\nNow will we leave off this matter, and speak we of Sir Tristram, and of\nSir Palomides that was the Saracen unchristened. When Sir Tristram was\ncome home unto Joyous Gard from his adventures, all this while that Sir\nLauncelot was thus missed, two year and more, Sir Tristram bare the\nrenown through all the realm of Logris, and many strange adventures\nbefell him, and full well and manly and worshipfully he brought them to\nan end. So when he was come home La Beale Isoud told him of the great\nfeast that should be at Pentecost next following, and there she told\nhim how Sir Launcelot had been missed two year, and all that while he\nhad been out of his mind, and how he was holpen by the holy vessel, the\nSangreal. Alas, said Sir Tristram, that caused some debate betwixt him\nand Queen Guenever. Sir, said Dame Isoud, I know it all, for Queen\nGuenever sent me a letter in the which she wrote me all how it was, for\nto require you to seek him. And now, blessed be God, said La Beale\nIsoud, he is whole and sound and come again to the court.\n\nThereof am I glad, said Sir Tristram, and now shall ye and I make us\nready, for both ye and I will be at the feast. Sir, said Isoud, an it\nplease you I will not be there, for through me ye be marked of many\ngood knights, and that caused you to have much more labour for my sake\nthan needeth you. Then will I not be there, said Sir Tristram, but if\nye be there. God defend, said La Beale Isoud, for then shall I be\nspoken of shame among all queens and ladies of estate; for ye that are\ncalled one of the noblest knights of the world, and ye a knight of the\nRound Table, how may ye be missed at that feast? What shall be said\namong all knights? See how Sir Tristram hunteth, and hawketh, and\ncowereth within a castle with his lady, and forsaketh your worship.\nAlas, shall some say, it is pity that ever he was made knight, or that\never he should have the love of a lady. Also what shall queens and\nladies say of me? It is pity that I have my life, that I will hold so\nnoble a knight as ye are from his worship. So God me help, said Sir\nTristram unto La Beale Isoud, it is passing well said of you and nobly\ncounselled; and now I well understand that ye love me; and like as ye\nhave counselled me I will do a part thereafter. But there shall no man\nnor child ride with me, but myself. And so will I ride on Tuesday next\ncoming, and no more harness of war but my spear and my sword.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. How Sir Tristram departed unarmed and met with Sir\nPalomides, and how they smote each other, and how Sir Palomides forbare\nhim.\n\n\nAnd so when the day came Sir Tristram took his leave at La Beale Isoud,\nand she sent with him four knights, and within half a mile he sent them\nagain: and within a mile after Sir Tristram saw afore him where Sir\nPalomides had stricken down a knight, and almost wounded him to the\ndeath. Then Sir Tristram repented him that he was not armed, and then\nhe hoved still. With that Sir Palomides knew Sir Tristram, and cried on\nhigh: Sir Tristram, now be we met, for or we depart we will redress our\nold sores. As for that, said Sir Tristram, there was yet never\nChristian man might make his boast that ever I fled from him; and wit\nye well, Sir Palomides, thou that art a Saracen shall never make thy\nboast that Sir Tristram de Liones shall flee from thee. And therewith\nSir Tristram made his horse to run, and with all his might he came\nstraight upon Sir Palomides, and brast his spear upon him an hundred\npieces. And forthwithal Sir Tristram drew his sword. And then he turned\nhis horse and struck at Palomides six great strokes upon his helm; and\nthen Sir Palomides stood still, and beheld Sir Tristram, and marvelled\nof his woodness, and of his folly. And then Sir Palomides said to\nhimself: An Sir Tristram were armed, it were hard to cease him of this\nbattle, and if I turn again and slay him I am ashamed wheresomever that\nI go.\n\nThen Sir Tristram spake and said: Thou coward knight, what castest thou\nto do; why wilt thou not do battle with me? for have thou no doubt I\nshall endure all thy malice. Ah, Sir Tristram, said Palomides, full\nwell thou wottest I may not fight with thee for shame, for thou art\nhere naked and I am armed, and if I slay thee, dishonour shall be mine.\nAnd well thou wottest, said Sir Palomides to Sir Tristram, I know thy\nstrength and thy hardiness to endure against a good knight. That is\ntruth, said Sir Tristram, I understand thy valiantness well. Ye say\nwell, said Sir Palomides; now, I require you, tell me a question that I\nshall say to you. Tell me what it is, said Sir Tristram, and I shall\nanswer you the truth, as God me help. I put case, said Sir Palomides,\nthat ye were armed at all rights as well as I am, and I naked as ye be,\nwhat would you do to me now, by your true knighthood? Ah, said Sir\nTristram, now I understand thee well, Sir Palomides, for now must I say\nmine own judgment, and as God me bless, that I shall say shall not be\nsaid for no fear that I have of thee. But this is all: wit Sir\nPalomides, as at this time thou shouldest depart from me, for I would\nnot have ado with thee. No more will I, said Palomides, and therefore\nride forth on thy way. As for that I may choose, said Sir Tristram,\neither to ride or to abide. But Sir Palomides, said Sir Tristram, I\nmarvel of one thing, that thou that art so good a knight, that thou\nwilt not be christened, and thy brother, Sir Safere, hath been\nchristened many a day.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. How that Sir Tristram gat him harness of a knight which\nwas hurt, and how he overthrew Sir Palomides.\n\n\nAs for that, said Sir Palomides, I may not yet be christened for one\navow that I have made many years agone; howbeit in my heart I believe\nin Jesu Christ and his mild mother Mary; but I have but one battle to\ndo, and when that is done I will be baptised with a good will. By my\nhead, said Tristram, as for one battle thou shalt not seek it no\nlonger. For God defend, said Sir Tristram, that through my default thou\nshouldst longer live thus a Saracen, for yonder is a knight that ye,\nSir Palomides, have hurt and smitten down. Now help me that I were\narmed in his armour, and I shall soon fulfil thine avows. As ye will,\nsaid Palomides, so it shall be.\n\nSo they rode both unto that knight that sat upon a bank, and then Sir\nTristram saluted him, and he weakly saluted him again. Sir knight, said\nSir Tristram, I require you tell me your right name. Sir, he said, my\nname is Sir Galleron of Galway, and knight of the Table Round. So God\nme help, said Sir Tristram, I am right heavy of your hurts; but this is\nall, I must pray you to lend me all your whole armour, for ye see I am\nunarmed, and I must do battle with this knight. Sir, said the hurt\nknight, ye shall have it with a good will; but ye must beware, for I\nwarn you that knight is wight. Sir, said Galleron, I pray you tell me\nyour name, and what is that knight\u2019s name that hath beaten me. Sir, as\nfor my name it is Sir Tristram de Liones, and as for the knight\u2019s name\nthat hath hurt you is Sir Palomides, brother to the good knight Sir\nSafere, and yet is Sir Palomides unchristened. Alas, said Sir Galleron,\nthat is pity that so good a knight and so noble a man of arms should be\nunchristened. So God me help, said Sir Tristram, either he shall slay\nme or I him but that he shall be christened or ever we depart\nin-sunder. My lord Sir Tristram, said Sir Galleron, your renown and\nworship is well known through many realms, and God save you this day\nfrom shenship and shame.\n\nThen Sir Tristram unarmed Galleron, the which was a noble knight, and\nhad done many deeds of arms, and he was a large knight of flesh and\nbone. And when he was unarmed he stood upon his feet, for he was\nbruised in the back with a spear; yet so as Sir Galleron might, he\narmed Sir Tristram. And then Sir Tristram mounted upon his own horse,\nand in his hand he gat Sir Galleron\u2019s spear; and therewithal Sir\nPalomides was ready. And so they came hurtling together, and either\nsmote other in midst of their shields; and therewithal Sir Palomides\u2019\nspear brake, and Sir Tristram smote down the horse; and Sir Palomides,\nas soon as he might, avoided his horse, and dressed his shield, and\npulled out his sword. That saw Sir Tristram, and therewithal he\nalighted and tied his horse till a tree.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV. How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides fought long together,\nand after accorded, and how Sir Tristram made him to be christened.\n\n\nAnd then they came together as two wild boars, lashing together,\ntracing and traversing as noble men that oft had been well proved in\nbattle; but ever Sir Palomides dread the might of Sir Tristram, and\ntherefore he suffered him to breathe him. Thus they fought more than\ntwo hours, but often Sir Tristram smote such strokes at Sir Palomides\nthat he made him to kneel; and Sir Palomides brake and cut away many\npieces of Sir Tristram\u2019s shield; and then Sir Palomides wounded Sir\nTristram, for he was a well fighting man. Then Sir Tristram was wood\nwroth out of measure, and rushed upon Sir Palomides with such a might\nthat Sir Palomides fell grovelling to the earth; and therewithal he\nleapt up lightly upon his feet, and then Sir Tristram wounded Palomides\nsore through the shoulder. And ever Sir Tristram fought still in like\nhard, and Sir Palomides failed not, but gave him many sad strokes. And\nat the last Sir Tristram doubled his strokes, and by fortune Sir\nTristram smote Sir Palomides sword out of his hand, and if Sir\nPalomides had stooped for his sword he had been slain.\n\nThen Palomides stood still and beheld his sword with a sorrowful heart.\nHow now, said Sir Tristram unto Palomides, now have I thee at advantage\nas thou haddest me this day; but it shall never be said in no court,\nnor among good knights, that Sir Tristram shall slay any knight that is\nweaponless; and therefore take thou thy sword, and let us make an end\nof this battle. As for to do this battle, said Palomides, I dare right\nwell end it, but I have no great lust to fight no more. And for this\ncause, said Palomides: mine offence to you is not so great but that we\nmay be friends. All that I have offended is and was for the love of La\nBeale Isoud. And as for her, I dare say she is peerless above all other\nladies, and also I proffered her never no dishonour; and by her I have\ngotten the most part of my worship. And sithen I offended never as to\nher own person, and as for the offence that I have done, it was against\nyour own person, and for that offence ye have given me this day many\nsad strokes, and some I have given you again; and now I dare say I felt\nnever man of your might, nor so well breathed, but if it were Sir\nLauncelot du Lake; wherefore I require you, my lord, forgive me all\nthat I have offended unto you; and this same day have me to the next\nchurch, and first let me be clean confessed, and after see you now that\nI be truly baptised. And then will we all ride together unto the court\nof Arthur, that we be there at the high feast. Now take your horse,\nsaid Sir Tristram, and as ye say so it shall be, and all thine evil\nwill God forgive it you, and I do. And here within this mile is the\nSuffragan of Carlisle that shall give you the sacrament of baptism.\n\nThen they took their horses and Sir Galleron rode with them. And when\nthey came to the Suffragan Sir Tristram told him their desire. Then the\nSuffragan let fill a great vessel with water, and when he had hallowed\nit he then confessed clean Sir Palomides, and Sir Tristram and Sir\nGalleron were his godfathers. And then soon after they departed, riding\ntoward Camelot, where King Arthur and Queen Guenever was, and for the\nmost part all the knights of the Round Table. And so the king and all\nthe court were glad that Sir Palomides was christened. And at the same\nfeast in came Galahad and sat in the Siege Perilous. And so therewithal\ndeparted and dissevered all the knights of the Round Table. And Sir\nTristram returned again unto Joyous Gard, and Sir Palomides followed\nthe Questing Beast.\n\n_Here endeth the second book of Sir Tristram that was drawn out of\nFrench into English. But here is no rehersal of the third book. And\nhere followeth the noble tale of the Sangreal, that called is the Holy\nVessel; and the signification of the blessed blood of our Lord Jesus\nChrist, blessed mote it be, the which was brought into this land by\nJoseph Aramathie. Therefore on all sinful souls blessed Lord have thou\nmercy._\n\n_Explicit liber xii. Et incipit Decimustercius._\n\n\n\n\nBOOK XIII.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. How at the vigil of the Feast of Pentecost entered into the\nhall before King Arthur a damosel, and desired Sir Launcelot for to\ncome and dub a knight, and how he went with her.\n\n\nAt the vigil of Pentecost, when all the fellowship of the Round Table\nwere come unto Camelot and there heard their service, and the tables\nwere set ready to the meat, right so entered into the hall a full fair\ngentlewoman on horseback, that had ridden full fast, for her horse was\nall besweated. Then she there alighted, and came before the king and\nsaluted him; and he said: Damosel, God thee bless. Sir, said she, for\nGod\u2019s sake say me where Sir Launcelot is. Yonder ye may see him, said\nthe king. Then she went unto Launcelot and said: Sir Launcelot, I\nsalute you on King Pelles\u2019 behalf, and I require you come on with me\nhereby into a forest. Then Sir Launcelot asked her with whom she\ndwelled. I dwell, said she, with King Pelles. What will ye with me?\nsaid Launcelot. Ye shall know, said she, when ye come thither. Well,\nsaid he, I will gladly go with you. So Sir Launcelot bade his squire\nsaddle his horse and bring his arms; and in all haste he did his\ncommandment.\n\nThen came the queen unto Launcelot, and said: Will ye leave us at this\nhigh feast? Madam, said the gentlewoman, wit ye well he shall be with\nyou to-morn by dinner time. If I wist, said the queen, that he should\nnot be with us here to-morn he should not go with you by my good will.\nRight so departed Sir Launcelot with the gentlewoman, and rode until\nthat he came into a forest and into a great valley, where they saw an\nabbey of nuns; and there was a squire ready and opened the gates, and\nso they entered and descended off their horses; and there came a fair\nfellowship about Sir Launcelot, and welcomed him, and were passing glad\nof his coming. And then they led him unto the Abbess\u2019s chamber and\nunarmed him; and right so he was ware upon a bed lying two of his\ncousins, Sir Bors and Sir Lionel, and then he waked them; and when they\nsaw him they made great joy. Sir, said Sir Bors unto Sir Launcelot,\nwhat adventure hath brought you hither, for we weened to-morn to have\nfound you at Camelot? As God me help, said Sir Launcelot, a gentlewoman\nbrought me hither, but I know not the cause.\n\nIn the meanwhile that they thus stood talking together, therein came\ntwelve nuns that brought with them Galahad, the which was passing fair\nand well made, that unnethe in the world men might not find his match:\nand all those ladies wept. Sir, said they all, we bring you here this\nchild the which we have nourished, and we pray you to make him a\nknight, for of a more worthier man\u2019s hand may he not receive the order\nof knighthood. Sir Launcelot beheld the young squire and saw him seemly\nand demure as a dove, with all manner of good features, that he weened\nof his age never to have seen so fair a man of form. Then said Sir\nLauncelot: Cometh this desire of himself? He and all they said yea.\nThen shall he, said Sir Launcelot, receive the high order of knighthood\nas to-morn at the reverence of the high feast. That night Sir Launcelot\nhad passing good cheer; and on the morn at the hour of prime, at\nGalahad\u2019s desire, he made him knight and said: God make him a good man,\nfor of beauty faileth you not as any that liveth.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. How the letters were found written in the Siege Perilous\nand of the marvellous adventure of the sword in a stone.\n\n\nNow fair sir, said Sir Launcelot, will ye come with me unto the court\nof King Arthur? Nay, said he, I will not go with you as at this time.\nThen he departed from them and took his two cousins with him, and so\nthey came unto Camelot by the hour of underne on Whitsunday. By that\ntime the king and the queen were gone to the minster to hear their\nservice. Then the king and the queen were passing glad of Sir Bors and\nSir Lionel, and so was all the fellowship. So when the king and all the\nknights were come from service, the barons espied in the sieges of the\nRound Table all about, written with golden letters: Here ought to sit\nhe, and he ought to sit here. And thus they went so long till that they\ncame to the Siege Perilous, where they found letters newly written of\ngold which said: Four hundred winters and four and fifty accomplished\nafter the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ ought this siege to be\nfulfilled. Then all they said: This is a marvellous thing and an\nadventurous. In the name of God, said Sir Launcelot; and then accompted\nthe term of the writing from the birth of our Lord unto that day. It\nseemeth me said Sir Launcelot, this siege ought to be fulfilled this\nsame day, for this is the feast of Pentecost after the four hundred and\nfour and fifty year; and if it would please all parties, I would none\nof these letters were seen this day, till he be come that ought to\nenchieve this adventure. Then made they to ordain a cloth of silk, for\nto cover these letters in the Siege Perilous.\n\nThen the king bade haste unto dinner. Sir, said Sir Kay the Steward, if\nye go now unto your meat ye shall break your old custom of your court,\nfor ye have not used on this day to sit at your meat or that ye have\nseen some adventure. Ye say sooth, said the king, but I had so great\njoy of Sir Launcelot and of his cousins, which be come to the court\nwhole and sound, so that I bethought me not of mine old custom. So, as\nthey stood speaking, in came a squire and said unto the king: Sir, I\nbring unto you marvellous tidings. What be they? said the king. Sir,\nthere is here beneath at the river a great stone which I saw fleet\nabove the water, and therein I saw sticking a sword. The king said: I\nwill see that marvel. So all the knights went with him, and when they\ncame to the river they found there a stone fleeting, as it were of red\nmarble, and therein stuck a fair rich sword, and in the pommel thereof\nwere precious stones wrought with subtle letters of gold. Then the\nbarons read the letters which said in this wise: Never shall man take\nme hence, but only he by whose side I ought to hang, and he shall be\nthe best knight of the world.\n\nWhen the king had seen the letters, he said unto Sir Launcelot: Fair\nSir, this sword ought to be yours, for I am sure ye be the best knight\nof the world. Then Sir Launcelot answered full soberly: Certes, sir, it\nis not my sword; also, Sir, wit ye well I have no hardiness to set my\nhand to it, for it longed not to hang by my side. Also, who that\nassayeth to take the sword and faileth of it, he shall receive a wound\nby that sword that he shall not be whole long after. And I will that ye\nwit that this same day shall the adventures of the Sangreal, that is\ncalled the Holy Vessel, begin.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. How Sir Gawaine assayed to draw out the sword, and how an\nold man brought in Galahad.\n\n\nNow, fair nephew, said the king unto Sir Gawaine, assay ye, for my\nlove. Sir, he said, save your good grace I shall not do that. Sir, said\nthe king, assay to take the sword and at my commandment. Sir, said\nGawaine, your commandment I will obey. And therewith he took up the\nsword by the handles, but he might not stir it. I thank you, said the\nking to Sir Gawaine. My lord Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, now wit\nye well this sword shall touch you so sore that ye shall will ye had\nnever set your hand thereto for the best castle of this realm. Sir, he\nsaid, I might not withsay mine uncle\u2019s will and commandment. But when\nthe king heard this he repented it much, and said unto Sir Percivale\nthat he should assay, for his love. And he said: Gladly, for to bear\nSir Gawaine fellowship. And therewith he set his hand on the sword and\ndrew it strongly, but he might not move it. Then were there no more\nthat durst be so hardy to set their hands thereto. Now may ye go to\nyour dinner, said Sir Kay unto the king, for a marvellous adventure\nhave ye seen. So the king and all went unto the court, and every knight\nknew his own place, and set him therein, and young men that were\nknights served them.\n\nSo when they were served, and all sieges fulfilled save only the Siege\nPerilous, anon there befell a marvellous adventure, that all the doors\nand windows of the palace shut by themself. Not for then the hall was\nnot greatly darked; and therewith they were all abashed both one and\nother. Then King Arthur spake first and said: By God, fair fellows and\nlords, we have seen this day marvels, but or night I suppose we shall\nsee greater marvels.\n\nIn the meanwhile came in a good old man, and an ancient, clothed all in\nwhite, and there was no knight knew from whence he came. And with him\nhe brought a young knight, both on foot, in red arms, without sword or\nshield, save a scabbard hanging by his side. And these words he said:\nPeace be with you, fair lords. Then the old man said unto Arthur: Sir,\nI bring here a young knight, the which is of king\u2019s lineage, and of the\nkindred of Joseph of Aramathie, whereby the marvels of this court, and\nof strange realms, shall be fully accomplished.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. How the old man brought Galahad to the Siege Perilous and\nset him therein, and how all the knights marvelled.\n\n\nThe king was right glad of his words, and said unto the good man: Sir,\nye be right welcome, and the young knight with you. Then the old man\nmade the young man to unarm him, and he was in a coat of red sendal,\nand bare a mantle upon his shoulder that was furred with ermine, and\nput that upon him. And the old knight said unto the young knight: Sir,\nfollow me. And anon he led him unto the Siege Perilous, where beside\nsat Sir Launcelot; and the good man lift up the cloth, and found there\nletters that said thus: This is the siege of Galahad, the haut prince.\nSir, said the old knight, wit ye well that place is yours. And then he\nset him down surely in that siege. And then he said to the old man:\nSir, ye may now go your way, for well have ye done that ye were\ncommanded to do; and recommend me unto my grandsire, King Pelles, and\nunto my lord Petchere, and say them on my behalf, I shall come and see\nthem as soon as ever I may. So the good man departed; and there met him\ntwenty noble squires, and so took their horses and went their way.\n\nThen all the knights of the Table Round marvelled greatly of Sir\nGalahad, that he durst sit there in that Siege Perilous, and was so\ntender of age; and wist not from whence he came but all only by God;\nand said: This is he by whom the Sangreal shall be enchieved, for there\nsat never none but he, but he were mischieved. Then Sir Launcelot\nbeheld his son and had great joy of him. Then Bors told his fellows:\nUpon pain of my life this young knight shall come unto great worship.\nThis noise was great in all the court, so that it came to the queen.\nThen she had marvel what knight it might be that durst adventure him to\nsit in the Siege Perilous. Many said unto the queen he resembled much\nunto Sir Launcelot. I may well suppose, said the queen, that Sir\nLauncelot begat him on King Pelles\u2019 daughter, by the which he was made\nto lie by, by enchantment, and his name is Galahad. I would fain see\nhim, said the queen, for he must needs be a noble man, for so is his\nfather that him begat, I report me unto all the Table Round.\n\nSo when the meat was done that the king and all were risen, the king\nyede unto the Siege Perilous and lift up the cloth, and found there the\nname of Galahad; and then he shewed it unto Sir Gawaine, and said: Fair\nnephew, now have we among us Sir Galahad, the good knight that shall\nworship us all; and upon pain of my life he shall enchieve the\nSangreal, right as Sir Launcelot had done us to understand. Then came\nKing Arthur unto Galahad and said: Sir, ye be welcome, for ye shall\nmove many good knights to the quest of the Sangreal, and ye shall\nenchieve that never knights might bring to an end. Then the king took\nhim by the hand, and went down from the palace to shew Galahad the\nadventures of the stone.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. How King Arthur shewed the stone hoving on the water to\nGalahad, and how he drew out the sword.\n\n\nThe queen heard thereof, and came after with many ladies, and shewed\nthem the stone where it hoved on the water. Sir, said the king unto Sir\nGalahad, here is a great marvel as ever I saw, and right good knights\nhave assayed and failed. Sir, said Galahad, that is no marvel, for this\nadventure is not theirs but mine; and for the surety of this sword I\nbrought none with me, for here by my side hangeth the scabbard. And\nanon he laid his hand on the sword, and lightly drew it out of the\nstone, and put it in the sheath, and said unto the king: Now it goeth\nbetter than it did aforehand. Sir, said the king, a shield God shall\nsend you. Now have I that sword that sometime was the good knight\u2019s,\nBalin le Savage, and he was a passing good man of his hands; and with\nthis sword he slew his brother Balan, and that was great pity, for he\nwas a good knight, and either slew other through a dolorous stroke that\nBalin gave unto my grandfather King Pelles, the which is not yet whole,\nnor not shall be till I heal him.\n\nTherewith the king and all espied where came riding down the river a\nlady on a white palfrey toward them. Then she saluted the king and the\nqueen, and asked if that Sir Launcelot was there. And then he answered\nhimself: I am here, fair lady. Then she said all with weeping: How your\ngreat doing is changed sith this day in the morn. Damosel, why say you\nso? said Launcelot. I say you sooth, said the damosel, for ye were this\nday the best knight of the world, but who should say so now, he should\nbe a liar, for there is now one better than ye, and well it is proved\nby the adventures of the sword whereto ye durst not set to your hand;\nand that is the change and leaving of your name. Wherefore I make unto\nyou a remembrance, that ye shall not ween from henceforth that ye be\nthe best knight of the world. As touching unto that, said Launcelot, I\nknow well I was never the best. Yes, said the damosel, that were ye,\nand are yet, of any sinful man of the world. And, Sir king, Nacien, the\nhermit, sendeth thee word, that thee shall befall the greatest worship\nthat ever befell king in Britain; and I say you wherefore, for this day\nthe Sangreal appeared in thy house and fed thee and all thy fellowship\nof the Round Table. So she departed and went that same way that she\ncame.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. How King Arthur had all the knights together for to joust\nin the meadow beside Camelot or they departed.\n\n\nNow, said the king, I am sure at this quest of the Sangreal shall all\nye of the Table Round depart, and never shall I see you again whole\ntogether; therefore I will see you all whole together in the meadow of\nCamelot to joust and to tourney, that after your death men may speak of\nit that such good knights were wholly together such a day. As unto that\ncounsel and at the king\u2019s request they accorded all, and took on their\nharness that longed unto jousting. But all this moving of the king was\nfor this intent, for to see Galahad proved; for the king deemed he\nshould not lightly come again unto the court after his departing. So\nwere they assembled in the meadow, both more and less. Then Sir\nGalahad, by the prayer of the king and the queen, did upon him a noble\njesseraunce, and also he did on his helm, but shield would he take none\nfor no prayer of the king. And then Sir Gawaine and other knights\nprayed him to take a spear. Right so he did; and the queen was in a\ntower with all her ladies, for to behold that tournament. Then Sir\nGalahad dressed him in midst of the meadow, and began to break spears\nmarvellously, that all men had wonder of him; for he there surmounted\nall other knights, for within a while he had defouled many good knights\nof the Table Round save twain, that was Sir Launcelot and Sir\nPercivale.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. How the queen desired to see Galahad; and how after, all\nthe knights were replenished with the Holy Sangreal, and how they\navowed the enquest of the same.\n\n\nThen the king, at the queen\u2019s request, made him to alight and to unlace\nhis helm, that the queen might see him in the visage. When she beheld\nhim she said: Soothly I dare well say that Sir Launcelot begat him, for\nnever two men resembled more in likeness, therefore it nis no marvel\nthough he be of great prowess. So a lady that stood by the queen said:\nMadam, for God\u2019s sake ought he of right to be so good a knight? Yea,\nforsooth, said the queen, for he is of all parties come of the best\nknights of the world and of the highest lineage; for Sir Launcelot is\ncome but of the eighth degree from our Lord Jesu Christ, and Sir\nGalahad is of the ninth degree from our Lord Jesu Christ, therefore I\ndare say they be the greatest gentlemen of the world.\n\nAnd then the king and all estates went home unto Camelot, and so went\nto evensong to the great minster, and so after upon that to supper, and\nevery knight sat in his own place as they were toforehand. Then anon\nthey heard cracking and crying of thunder, that them thought the place\nshould all to-drive. In the midst of this blast entered a sunbeam more\nclearer by seven times than ever they saw day, and all they were\nalighted of the grace of the Holy Ghost. Then began every knight to\nbehold other, and either saw other, by their seeming, fairer than ever\nthey saw afore. Not for then there was no knight might speak one word a\ngreat while, and so they looked every man on other as they had been\ndumb. Then there entered into the hall the Holy Grail covered with\nwhite samite, but there was none might see it, nor who bare it. And\nthere was all the hall fulfilled with good odours, and every knight had\nsuch meats and drinks as he best loved in this world. And when the Holy\nGrail had been borne through the hall, then the holy vessel departed\nsuddenly, that they wist not where it became: then had they all breath\nto speak. And then the king yielded thankings to God, of His good grace\nthat he had sent them. Certes, said the king, we ought to thank our\nLord Jesu greatly for that he hath shewed us this day, at the reverence\nof this high feast of Pentecost.\n\nNow, said Sir Gawaine, we have been served this day of what meats and\ndrinks we thought on; but one thing beguiled us, we might not see the\nHoly Grail, it was so preciously covered. Wherefore I will make here\navow, that to-morn, without longer abiding, I shall labour in the quest\nof the Sangreal, that I shall hold me out a twelvemonth and a day, or\nmore if need be, and never shall I return again unto the court till I\nhave seen it more openly than it hath been seen here; and if I may not\nspeed I shall return again as he that may not be against the will of\nour Lord Jesu Christ.\n\nWhen they of the Table Round heard Sir Gawaine say so, they arose up\nthe most part and made such avows as Sir Gawaine had made. Anon as King\nArthur heard this he was greatly displeased, for he wist well they\nmight not again-say their avows. Alas, said King Arthur unto Sir\nGawaine, ye have nigh slain me with the avow and promise that ye have\nmade; for through you ye have bereft me the fairest fellowship and the\ntruest of knighthood that ever were seen together in any realm of the\nworld; for when they depart from hence I am sure they all shall never\nmeet more in this world, for they shall die many in the quest. And so\nit forthinketh me a little, for I have loved them as well as my life,\nwherefore it shall grieve me right sore, the departition of this\nfellowship: for I have had an old custom to have them in my fellowship.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. How great sorrow was made of the king and the queen and\nladies for the departing of the knights, and how they departed.\n\n\nAnd therewith the tears fell in his eyes. And then he said: Gawaine,\nGawaine, ye have set me in great sorrow, for I have great doubt that my\ntrue fellowship shall never meet here more again. Ah, said Sir\nLauncelot, comfort yourself; for it shall be unto us a great honour and\nmuch more than if we died in any other places, for of death we be\nsiker. Ah, Launcelot, said the king, the great love that I have had\nunto you all the days of my life maketh me to say such doleful words;\nfor never Christian king had never so many worthy men at his table as I\nhave had this day at the Round Table, and that is my great sorrow.\n\nWhen the queen, ladies, and gentlewomen, wist these tidings, they had\nsuch sorrow and heaviness that there might no tongue tell it, for those\nknights had held them in honour and chiert\u00e9. But among all other Queen\nGuenever made great sorrow. I marvel, said she, my lord would suffer\nthem to depart from him. Thus was all the court troubled for the love\nof the departition of those knights. And many of those ladies that\nloved knights would have gone with their lovers; and so had they done,\nhad not an old knight come among them in religious clothing; and then\nhe spake all on high and said: Fair lords, which have sworn in the\nquest of the Sangreal, thus sendeth you Nacien, the hermit, word, that\nnone in this quest lead lady nor gentlewoman with him, for it is not to\ndo in so high a service as they labour in; for I warn you plain, he\nthat is not clean of his sins he shall not see the mysteries of our\nLord Jesu Christ. And for this cause they left these ladies and\ngentlewomen.\n\nAfter this the queen came unto Galahad and asked him of whence he was,\nand of what country. He told her of whence he was. And son unto\nLauncelot, she said he was. As to that, he said neither yea nor nay. So\nGod me help, said the queen, of your father ye need not to shame you,\nfor he is the goodliest knight, and of the best men of the world come,\nand of the strain, of all parties, of kings. Wherefore ye ought of\nright to be, of your deeds, a passing good man; and certainly, she\nsaid, ye resemble him much. Then Sir Galahad was a little ashamed and\nsaid: Madam, sith ye know in certain, wherefore do ye ask it me? for he\nthat is my father shall be known openly and all betimes. And then they\nwent to rest them. And in the honour of the highness of Galahad he was\nled into King Arthur\u2019s chamber, and there rested in his own bed.\n\nAnd as soon as it was day the king arose, for he had no rest of all\nthat night for sorrow. Then he went unto Gawaine and to Sir Launcelot\nthat were arisen for to hear mass. And then the king again said: Ah\nGawaine, Gawaine, ye have betrayed me; for never shall my court be\namended by you, but ye will never be sorry for me as I am for you. And\ntherewith the tears began to run down by his visage. And therewith the\nking said: Ah, knight Sir Launcelot, I require thee thou counsel me,\nfor I would that this quest were undone, an it might be Sir, said Sir\nLauncelot, ye saw yesterday so many worthy knights that then were sworn\nthat they may not leave it in no manner of wise. That wot I well, said\nthe king, but it shall so heavy me at their departing that I wot well\nthere shall no manner of joy remedy me. And then the king and the queen\nwent unto the minster. So anon Launcelot and Gawaine commanded their\nmen to bring their arms. And when they all were armed save their\nshields and their helms, then they came to their fellowship, which were\nall ready in the same wise, for to go to the minster to hear their\nservice.\n\nThen after the service was done the king would wit how many had\nundertaken the quest of the Holy Grail; and to accompt them he prayed\nthem all. Then found they by the tale an hundred and fifty, and all\nwere knights of the Round Table. And then they put on their helms and\ndeparted, and recommended them all wholly unto the queen; and there was\nweeping and great sorrow. Then the queen departed into her chamber and\nheld her, so that no man should perceive her great sorrows. When Sir\nLauncelot missed the queen he went till her chamber, and when she saw\nhim she cried aloud: O Launcelot, Launcelot, ye have betrayed me and\nput me to the death, for to leave thus my lord. Ah, madam, I pray you\nbe not displeased, for I shall come again as soon as I may with my\nworship. Alas, said she, that ever I saw you; but he that suffered upon\nthe cross for all mankind, he be unto you good conduct and safety, and\nall the whole fellowship.\n\nRight so departed Sir Launcelot, and found his fellowship that abode\nhis coming. And so they mounted upon their horses and rode through the\nstreets of Camelot; and there was weeping of rich and poor, and the\nking turned away and might not speak for weeping. So within a while\nthey came to a city, and a castle that hight Vagon. There they entered\ninto the castle, and the lord of that castle was an old man that hight\nVagon, and he was a good man of his living, and set open the gates, and\nmade them all the cheer that he might. And so on the morn they were all\naccorded that they should depart everych from other; and on the morn\nthey departed with weeping cheer, and every knight took the way that\nhim liked best.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. How Galahad gat him a shield, and how they sped that\npresumed to take down the said shield.\n\n\nNow rideth Sir Galahad yet without shield, and so he rode four days\nwithout any adventure. And at the fourth day after evensong he came to\na White Abbey, and there he was received with great reverence, and led\nunto a chamber, and there was he unarmed; and then was he ware of two\nknights of the Table Round, one was Sir Bagdemagus, and Sir Uwaine.\n\nAnd when they saw him they went unto Galahad and made of him great\nsolace, and so they went unto supper. Sirs, said Sir Galahad, what\nadventure brought you hither? Sir, said they, it is told us that within\nthis place is a shield that no man may bear about his neck but he be\nmischieved outher dead within three days, or maimed for ever. Ah sir,\nsaid King Bagdemagus, I shall it bear to-morrow for to assay this\nadventure. In the name of God, said Sir Galahad. Sir, said Bagdemagus,\nan I may not enchieve the adventure of this shield ye shall take it\nupon you, for I am sure ye shall not fail. Sir, said Galahad, I right\nwell agree me thereto, for I have no shield. So on the morn they arose\nand heard mass. Then Bagdemagus asked where the adventurous shield was.\nAnon a monk led him behind an altar where the shield hung as white as\nany snow, but in the midst was a red cross. Sir, said the monk, this\nshield ought not to be hanged about no knight\u2019s neck but he be the\nworthiest knight of the world;\n\ntherefore I counsel you knights to be well advised. Well, said\nBagdemagus, I wot well that I am not the best knight of the world, but\nyet I shall assay to bear it, and so bare it out of the minster. And\nthen he said unto Galahad: An it please you abide here still, till ye\nwit how that I speed. I shall abide you, said Galahad. Then King\nBagdemagus took with him a good squire, to bring tidings unto Sir\nGalahad how he sped.\n\nThen when they had ridden a two mile and came to a fair valley afore an\nhermitage, then they saw a knight come from that part in white armour,\nhorse and all; and he came as fast as his horse might run, and his\nspear in his rest, and Bagdemagus dressed his spear against him and\nbrake it upon the white knight. But the other struck him so hard that\nhe brast the mails, and sheef him through the right shoulder, for the\nshield covered him not as at that time; and so he bare him from his\nhorse. And therewith he alighted and took the white shield from him,\nsaying: Knight, thou hast done thyself great folly, for this shield\nought not to be borne but by him that shall have no peer that liveth.\nAnd then he came to Bagdemagus\u2019 squire and said: Bear this shield unto\nthe good knight Sir Galahad, that thou left in the abbey, and greet him\nwell by me. Sir, said the squire, what is your name? Take thou no heed\nof my name, said the knight, for it is not for thee to know nor for\nnone earthly man. Now, fair sir, said the squire, at the reverence of\nJesu Christ, tell me for what cause this shield may not be borne but if\nthe bearer thereof be mischieved. Now sith thou hast conjured me so,\nsaid the knight, this shield behoveth unto no man but unto Galahad. And\nthe squire went unto Bagdemagus and asked whether he were sore wounded\nor not. Yea forsooth, said he, I shall escape hard from the death. Then\nhe fetched his horse, and brought him with great pain unto an abbey.\nThen was he taken down softly and unarmed, and laid in a bed, and there\nwas looked to his wounds. And as the book telleth, he lay there long,\nand escaped hard with the life.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. How Galahad departed with the shield, and how King Evelake\nhad received the shield of Joseph of Aramathie.\n\n\nSir Galahad, said the squire, that knight that wounded Bagdemagus\nsendeth you greeting, and bade that ye should bear this shield,\nwherethrough great adventures should befall. Now blessed be God and\nfortune, said Galahad. And then he asked his arms, and mounted upon his\nhorse, and hung the white shield about his neck, and commended them\nunto God. And Sir Uwaine said he would bear him fellowship if it\npleased him. Sir, said Galahad, that may ye not, for I must go alone,\nsave this squire shall bear me fellowship: and so departed Uwaine.\n\nThen within a while came Galahad thereas the White Knight abode him by\nthe hermitage, and everych saluted other courteously. Sir, said\nGalahad, by this shield be many marvels fallen. Sir, said the knight,\nit befell after the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ thirty-two year,\nthat Joseph of Aramathie, the gentle knight, the which took down our\nLord off the holy Cross, at that time he departed from Jerusalem with a\ngreat party of his kindred with him. And so he laboured till that they\ncame to a city that hight Sarras. And at that same hour that Joseph\ncame to Sarras there was a king that hight Evelake, that had great war\nagainst the Saracens, and in especial against one Saracen, the which\nwas King Evelake\u2019s cousin, a rich king and a mighty, which marched nigh\nthis land, and his name was called Tolleme la Feintes. So on a day\nthese two met to do battle. Then Joseph, the son of Joseph of\nAramathie, went to King Evelake and told him he should be discomfit and\nslain, but if he left his belief of the old law and believed upon the\nnew law. And then there he shewed him the right belief of the Holy\nTrinity, to the which he agreed unto with all his heart; and there this\nshield was made for King Evelake, in the name of Him that died upon the\nCross. And then through his good belief he had the better of King\nTolleme. For when Evelake was in the battle there was a cloth set afore\nthe shield, and when he was in the greatest peril he let put away the\ncloth, and then his enemies saw a figure of a man on the Cross,\nwherethrough they all were discomfit. And so it befell that a man of\nKing Evelake\u2019s was smitten his hand off, and bare that hand in his\nother hand; and Joseph called that man unto him and bade him go with\ngood devotion touch the Cross. And as soon as that man had touched the\nCross with his hand it was as whole as ever it was to-fore. Then soon\nafter there fell a great marvel, that the cross of the shield at one\ntime vanished away that no man wist where it became. And then King\nEvelake was baptised, and for the most part all the people of that\ncity. So, soon after Joseph would depart, and King Evelake would go\nwith him, whether he wold or nold. And so by fortune they came into\nthis land, that at that time was called Great Britain; and there they\nfound a great felon paynim, that put Joseph into prison. And so by\nfortune tidings came unto a worthy man that hight Mondrames, and he\nassembled all his people for the great renown he had heard of Joseph;\nand so he came into the land of Great Britain and disherited this felon\npaynim and consumed him, and therewith delivered Joseph out of prison.\nAnd after that all the people were turned to the Christian faith.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI. How Joseph made a cross on the white shield with his blood,\nand how Galahad was by a monk brought to a tomb.\n\n\nNot long after that Joseph was laid in his deadly bed. And when King\nEvelake saw that he made much sorrow, and said: For thy love I have\nleft my country, and sith ye shall depart out of this world, leave me\nsome token of yours that I may think on you. Joseph said: That will I\ndo full gladly; now bring me your shield that I took you when ye went\ninto battle against King Tolleme. Then Joseph bled sore at the nose, so\nthat he might not by no mean be staunched. And there upon that shield\nhe made a cross of his own blood. Now may ye see a remembrance that I\nlove you, for ye shall never see this shield but ye shall think on me,\nand it shall be always as fresh as it is now. And never shall man bear\nthis shield about his neck but he shall repent it, unto the time that\nGalahad, the good knight, bear it; and the last of my lineage shall\nhave it about his neck, that shall do many marvellous deeds. Now, said\nKing Evelake, where shall I put this shield, that this worthy knight\nmay have it? Ye shall leave it thereas Nacien, the hermit, shall be put\nafter his death; for thither shall that good knight come the fifteenth\nday after that he shall receive the order of knighthood: and so that\nday that they set is this time that he have his shield, and in the same\nabbey lieth Nacien, the hermit. And then the White Knight vanished\naway.\n\nAnon as the squire had heard these words, he alighted off his hackney\nand kneeled down at Galahad\u2019s feet, and prayed him that he might go\nwith him till he had made him knight.\n\nIf I would not refuse you.\n\nThen will ye make me a knight? said the squire, and that order, by the\ngrace of God, shall be well set in me.\n\nSo Sir Galahad granted him, and turned again unto the abbey where they\ncame from; and there men made great joy of Sir Galahad. And anon as he\nwas alighted there was a monk brought him unto a tomb in a churchyard,\nwhere there was such a noise that who that heard it should verily nigh\nbe mad or lose his strength: and sir, they said, we deem it is a fiend.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. Of the marvel that Sir Galahad saw and heard in the tomb,\nand how he made Melias knight.\n\n\nNow lead me thither, said Galahad. And so they did, all armed save his\nhelm. Now, said the good man, go to the tomb and lift it up. So he did,\nand heard a great noise; and piteously he said, that all men might hear\nit: Sir Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, come thou not nigh me, for\nthou shalt make me go again there where I have been so long. But\nGalahad was nothing afraid, but lifted up the stone; and there came out\nso foul a smoke, and after he saw the foulest figure leap thereout that\never he saw in the likeness of a man; and then he blessed him and wist\nwell it was a fiend. Then heard he a voice say Galahad, I see there\nenviron about thee so many angels that my power may not dere thee{sic}\nRight so Sir Galahad saw a body all armed lie in that tomb, and beside\nhim a sword. Now, fair brother, said Galahad, let us remove this body,\nfor it is not worthy to lie in this churchyard, for he was a false\nChristian man. And therewith they all departed and went to the abbey.\nAnd anon as he was unarmed a good man came and set him down by him and\nsaid: Sir, I shall tell you what betokeneth all that ye saw in the\ntomb; for that covered body betokeneth the duresse of the world, and\nthe great sin that Our Lord found in the world. For there was such\nwretchedness that the father loved not the son, nor the son loved not\nthe father; and that was one of the causes that Our Lord took flesh and\nblood of a clean maiden, for our sins were so great at that time that\nwell-nigh all was wickedness. Truly, said Galahad, I believe you right\nwell.\n\nSo Sir Galahad rested him there that night; and upon the morn he made\nthe squire knight, and asked him his name, and of what kindred he was\ncome. Sir, said he, men calleth me Melias de Lile, and I am the son of\nthe King of Denmark. Now, fair sir, said Galahad, sith that ye be come\nof kings and queens, now look that knighthood be well set in you, for\nye ought to be a mirror unto all chivalry. Sir, said Sir Melias, ye say\nsooth. But, sir, sithen ye have made me a knight ye must of right grant\nme my first desire that is reasonable. Ye say sooth, said Galahad.\nMelias said: Then that ye will suffer me to ride with you in this quest\nof the Sangreal, till that some adventure depart us. I grant you, sir.\n\nThen men brought Sir Melias his armour and his spear and his horse, and\nso Sir Galahad and he rode forth all that week or they found any\nadventure. And then upon a Monday in the morning, as they were departed\nfrom an abbey, they came to a cross which departed two ways, and in\nthat cross were letters written that said thus: Now, ye knights errant,\nthe which goeth to seek knights adventurous, see here two ways; that\none way defendeth thee that thou ne go that way, for he shall not go\nout of the way again but if he be a good man and a worthy knight; and\nif thou go on the left hand, thou shalt not lightly there win prowess,\nfor thou shalt in this way be soon assayed. Sir, said Melias to\nGalahad, if it like you to suffer me to take the way on the left hand,\ntell me, for there I shall well prove my strength. It were better, said\nGalahad, ye rode not that way, for I deem I should better escape in\nthat way than ye. Nay, my lord, I pray you let me have that adventure.\nTake it in God\u2019s name, said Galahad.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. Of the adventure that Melias had, and how Galahad\nrevenged him, and how Melias was carried into an abbey.\n\n\nAnd then rode Melias into an old forest, and therein he rode two days\nand more. And then he came into a fair meadow, and there was a fair\nlodge of boughs. And then he espied in that lodge a chair, wherein was\na crown of gold, subtly wrought. Also there were cloths covered upon\nthe earth, and many delicious meats set thereon. Sir Melias beheld this\nadventure, and thought it marvellous, but he had no hunger, but of the\ncrown of gold he took much keep; and therewith he stooped down and took\nit up, and rode his way with it. And anon he saw a knight came riding\nafter him that said: Knight, set down that crown which is not yours,\nand therefore defend you. Then Sir Melias blessed him and said: Fair\nlord of heaven, help and save thy new-made knight. And then they let\ntheir horses run as fast as they might, so that the other knight smote\nSir Melias through hauberk and through the left side, that he fell to\nthe earth nigh dead. And then he took the crown and went his way; and\nSir Melias lay still and had no power to stir.\n\nIn the meanwhile by fortune there came Sir Galahad and found him there\nin peril of death. And then he said: Ah Melias, who hath wounded you?\ntherefore it had been better to have ridden the other way. And when Sir\nMelias heard him speak: Sir, he said, for God\u2019s love let me not die in\nthis forest, but bear me unto the abbey here beside, that I may be\nconfessed and have my rights. It shall be done, said Galahad, but where\nis he that hath wounded you? With that Sir Galahad heard in the leaves\ncry on high: Knight, keep thee from me. Ah sir, said Melias, beware,\nfor that is he that hath slain me. Sir Galahad answered: Sir knight,\ncome on your peril. Then either dressed to other, and came together as\nfast as their horses might run, and Galahad smote him so that his spear\nwent through his shoulder, and smote him down off his horse, and in the\nfalling Galahad\u2019s spear brake.\n\nWith that came out another knight out of the leaves, and brake a spear\nupon Galahad or ever he might turn him. Then Galahad drew out his sword\nand smote off the left arm of him, so that it fell to the earth. And\nthen he fled, and Sir Galahad pursued fast after him. And then he\nturned again unto Sir Melias, and there he alighted and dressed him\nsoftly on his horse to-fore him, for the truncheon of his spear was in\nhis body; and Sir Galahad stert up behind him, and held him in his\narms, and so brought him to the abbey, and there unarmed him and\nbrought him to his chamber. And then he asked his Saviour. And when he\nhad received Him he said unto Sir Galahad: Sir, let death come when it\npleaseth him. And therewith he drew out the truncheon of the spear out\nof his body: and then he swooned.\n\nThen came there an old monk which sometime had been a knight, and\nbeheld Sir Melias. And anon he ransacked him; and then he said unto Sir\nGalahad: I shall heal him of his wound, by the grace of God, within the\nterm of seven weeks. Then was Sir Galahad glad, and unarmed him, and\nsaid he would abide there three days. And then he asked Sir Melias how\nit stood with him. Then he said he was turned unto helping, God be\nthanked.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV. How Sir Galahad departed, and how he was commanded to go\nto the Castle of Maidens to destroy the wicked custom.\n\n\nNow will I depart, said Galahad, for I have much on hand, for many good\nknights be full busy about it, and this knight and I were in the same\nquest of the Sangreal. Sir, said a good man, for his sin he was thus\nwounded; and I marvel, said the good man, how ye durst take upon you so\nrich a thing as the high order of knighthood without clean confession,\nand that was the cause ye were bitterly wounded. For the way on the\nright hand betokeneth the highway of our Lord Jesu Christ, and the way\nof a good true good liver. And the other way betokeneth the way of\nsinners and of misbelievers. And when the devil saw your pride and\npresumption, for to take you in the quest of the Sangreal, that made\nyou to be overthrown, for it may not be enchieved but by virtuous\nliving. Also, the writing on the cross was a signification of heavenly\ndeeds, and of knightly deeds in God\u2019s works, and no knightly deeds in\nworldly works. And pride is head of all deadly sins, that caused this\nknight to depart from Galahad. And where thou tookest the crown of gold\nthou sinnest in covetise and in theft: all this were no knightly deeds.\nAnd this Galahad, the holy knight, the which fought with the two\nknights, the two knights signify the two deadly sins which were wholly\nin this knight Melias; and they might not withstand you, for ye are\nwithout deadly sin.\n\nNow departed Galahad from thence, and betaught them all unto God. Sir\nMelias said: My lord Galahad, as soon as I may ride I shall seek you.\nGod send you health, said Galahad, and so took his horse and departed,\nand rode many journeys forward and backward, as adventure would lead\nhim. And at the last it happened him to depart from a place or a castle\nthe which was named Abblasoure; and he had heard no mass, the which he\nwas wont ever to hear or ever he departed out of any castle or place,\nand kept that for a custom. Then Sir Galahad came unto a mountain where\nhe found an old chapel, and found there nobody, for all, all was\ndesolate; and there he kneeled to-fore the altar, and besought God of\nwholesome counsel. So as he prayed he heard a voice that said: Go thou\nnow, thou adventurous knight, to the Castle of Maidens, and there do\nthou away the wicked customs.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV. How Sir Galahad fought with the knights of the castle, and\ndestroyed the wicked custom.\n\n\nWhen Sir Galahad heard this he thanked God, and took his horse; and he\nhad not ridden but half a mile, he saw in the valley afore him a strong\ncastle with deep ditches, and there ran beside it a fair river that\nhight Severn; and there he met with a man of great age, and either\nsaluted other, and Galahad asked him the castle\u2019s name. Fair sir, said\nhe, it is the Castle of Maidens. That is a cursed castle, said Galahad,\nand all they that be conversant therein, for all pity is out thereof,\nand all hardiness and mischief is therein. Therefore, I counsel you,\nsir knight, to turn again. Sir, said Galahad, wit you well I shall not\nturn again. Then looked Sir Galahad on his arms that nothing failed\nhim, and then he put his shield afore him; and anon there met him seven\nfair maidens, the which said unto him: Sir knight, ye ride here in a\ngreat folly, for ye have the water to pass over. Why should I not pass\nthe water? said Galahad. So rode he away from them and met with a\nsquire that said: Knight, those knights in the castle defy you, and\ndefenden you ye go no further till that they wit what ye would. Fair\nsir, said Galahad, I come for to destroy the wicked custom of this\ncastle. Sir, an ye will abide by that ye shall have enough to do. Go\nyou now, said Galahad, and haste my needs.\n\nThen the squire entered into the castle. And anon after there came out\nof the castle seven knights, and all were brethren. And when they saw\nGalahad they cried: Knight, keep thee, for we assure thee nothing but\ndeath. Why, said Galahad, will ye all have ado with me at once? Yea,\nsaid they, thereto mayst thou trust. Then Galahad put forth his spear\nand smote the foremost to the earth, that near he brake his neck. And\ntherewithal the other smote him on his shield great strokes, so that\ntheir spears brake. Then Sir Galahad drew out his sword, and set upon\nthem so hard that it was marvel to see it, and so through great force\nhe made them to forsake the field; and Galahad chased them till they\nentered into the castle, and so passed through the castle at another\ngate.\n\nAnd there met Sir Galahad an old man clothed in religious clothing, and\nsaid: Sir, have here the keys of this castle. Then Sir Galahad opened\nthe gates, and saw so much people in the streets that he might not\nnumber them, and all said: Sir, ye be welcome, for long have we abiden\nhere our deliverance. Then came to him a gentlewoman and said: These\nknights be fled, but they will come again this night, and here to begin\nagain their evil custom. What will ye that I shall do? said Galahad.\nSir, said the gentlewoman, that ye send after all the knights hither\nthat hold their lands of this castle, and make them to swear for to use\nthe customs that were used heretofore of old time. I will well, said\nGalahad. And there she brought him an horn of ivory, bounden with gold\nrichly, and said: Sir, blow this horn which will be heard two mile\nabout this castle. When Sir Galahad had blown the horn he set him down\nupon a bed.\n\nThen came a priest to Galahad, and said: Sir, it is past a seven year\nagone that these seven brethren came into this castle, and harboured\nwith the lord of this castle that hight the Duke Lianour, and he was\nlord of all this country. And when they espied the duke\u2019s daughter,\nthat was a full fair woman, then by their false covin they made debate\nbetwixt themself, and the duke of his goodness would have departed\nthem, and there they slew him and his eldest son. And then they took\nthe maiden and the treasure of the castle. And then by great force they\nheld all the knights of this castle against their will under their\nobeissance, and in great service and truage, robbing and pilling the\npoor common people of all that they had. So it happened on a day the\nduke\u2019s daughter said: Ye have done unto me great wrong to slay mine own\nfather, and my brother, and thus to hold our lands: not for then, she\nsaid, ye shall not hold this castle for many years, for by one knight\nye shall be overcome. Thus she prophesied seven years agone. Well, said\nthe seven knights, sithen ye say so, there shall never lady nor knight\npass this castle but they shall abide maugre their heads, or die\ntherefore, till that knight be come by whom we shall lose this castle.\nAnd therefore is it called the Maidens\u2019 Castle, for they have devoured\nmany maidens. Now, said Galahad, is she here for whom this castle was\nlost? Nay sir, said the priest, she was dead within these three nights\nafter that she was thus enforced; and sithen have they kept her younger\nsister, which endureth great pains with mo other ladies.\n\nBy this were the knights of the country come, and then he made them do\nhomage and fealty to the king\u2019s daughter, and set them in great ease of\nheart. And in the morn there came one to Galahad and told him how that\nGawaine, Gareth, and Uwaine, had slain the seven brethren. I suppose\nwell, said Sir Galahad, and took his armour and his horse, and\ncommended them unto God.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI. How Sir Gawaine came to the abbey for to follow Galahad,\nand how he was shriven to a hermit.\n\n\nNow, saith the tale, after Sir Gawaine departed, he rode many journeys,\nboth toward and froward. And at the last he came to the abbey where Sir\nGalahad had the white shield, and there Sir Gawaine learned the way to\nsewe after Sir Galahad; and so he rode to the abbey where Melias lay\nsick, and there Sir Melias told Sir Gawaine of the marvellous\nadventures that Sir Galahad did. Certes, said Sir Gawaine, I am not\nhappy that I took not the way that he went, for an I may meet with him\nI will not depart from him lightly, for all marvellous adventures Sir\nGalahad enchieveth. Sir, said one of the monks, he will not of your\nfellowship. Why? said Sir Gawaine. Sir, said he, for ye be wicked and\nsinful, and he is full blessed. Right as they thus stood talking there\ncame in riding Sir Gareth. And then they made joy either of other. And\non the morn they heard mass, and so departed. And by the way they met\nwith Sir Uwaine les Avoutres, and there Sir Uwaine told Sir Gawaine how\nhe had met with none adventure sith he departed from the court. Nor we,\nsaid Sir Gawaine. And either promised other of the three knights not to\ndepart while they were in that quest, but if fortune caused it.\n\nSo they departed and rode by fortune till that they came by the Castle\nof Maidens; and there the seven brethren espied the three knights, and\nsaid: Sithen, we be flemed by one knight from this castle, we shall\ndestroy all the knights of King Arthur\u2019s that we may overcome, for the\nlove of Sir Galahad. And therewith the seven knights set upon the three\nknights, and by fortune Sir Gawaine slew one of the brethren, and each\none of his fellows slew another, and so slew the remnant. And then they\ntook the way under the castle, and there they lost the way that Sir\nGalahad rode, and there everych of them departed from other; and Sir\nGawaine rode till he came to an hermitage, and there he found the good\nman saying his evensong of Our Lady; and there Sir Gawaine asked\nharbour for charity, and the good man granted it him gladly.\n\nThen the good man asked him what he was. Sir, he said, I am a knight of\nKing Arthur\u2019s that am in the quest of the Sangreal, and my name is Sir\nGawaine. Sir, said the good man, I would wit how it standeth betwixt\nGod and you. Sir, said Sir Gawaine, I will with a good will shew you my\nlife if it please you; and there he told the hermit how a monk of an\nabbey called me wicked knight. He might well say it, said the hermit,\nfor when ye were first made knight ye should have taken you to knightly\ndeeds and virtuous living, and ye have done the contrary, for ye have\nlived mischievously many winters; and Sir Galahad is a maid and sinned\nnever, and that is the cause he shall enchieve where he goeth that ye\nnor none such shall not attain, nor none in your fellowship, for ye\nhave used the most untruest life that ever I heard knight live. For\ncertes had ye not been so wicked as ye are, never had the seven\nbrethren been slain by you and your two fellows. For Sir Galahad\nhimself alone beat them all seven the day to-fore, but his living is\nsuch he shall slay no man lightly. Also I may say you the Castle of\nMaidens betokeneth the good souls that were in prison afore the\nIncarnation of Jesu Christ. And the seven knights betoken the seven\ndeadly sins that reigned that time in the world; and I may liken the\ngood Galahad unto the son of the High Father, that lighted within a\nmaid, and bought all the souls out of thrall, so did Sir Galahad\ndeliver all the maidens out of the woful castle.\n\nNow, Sir Gawaine, said the good man, thou must do penance for thy sin.\nSir, what penance shall I do? Such as I will give, said the good man.\nNay, said Sir Gawaine, I may do no penance; for we knights adventurous\noft suffer great woe and pain. Well, said the good man, and then he\nheld his peace. And on the morn Sir Gawaine departed from the hermit,\nand betaught him unto God. And by adventure he met with Sir Aglovale\nand Sir Griflet, two knights of the Table Round. And they two rode four\ndays without finding of any adventure, and at the fifth day they\ndeparted. And everych held as fell them by adventure. Here leaveth the\ntale of Sir Gawaine and his fellows, and speak we of Sir Galahad.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII. How Sir Galahad met with Sir Launcelot and Sir Percivale,\nand smote them down, and departed from them.\n\n\nSo when Sir Galahad was departed from the Castle of Maidens he rode\ntill he came to a waste forest, and there he met with Sir Launcelot and\nSir Percivale, but they knew him not, for he was new disguised. Right\nso Sir Launcelot, his father, dressed his spear and brake it upon Sir\nGalahad, and Galahad smote him so again that he smote down horse and\nman. And then he drew his sword, and dressed him unto Sir Percivale,\nand smote him so on the helm, that it rove to the coif of steel; and\nhad not the sword swerved Sir Percivale had been slain, and with the\nstroke he fell out of his saddle. This jousts was done to-fore the\nhermitage where a recluse dwelled. And when she saw Sir Galahad ride,\nshe said: God be with thee, best knight of the world. Ah certes, said\nshe, all aloud that Launcelot and Percivale might hear it: An yonder\ntwo knights had known thee as well as I do they would not have\nencountered with thee. Then Sir Galahad heard her say so he was adread\nto be known: therewith he smote his horse with his spurs and rode a\ngreat pace froward them. Then perceived they both that he was Galahad;\nand up they gat on their horses, and rode fast after him, but in a\nwhile he was out of their sight. And then they turned again with heavy\ncheer. Let us spere some tidings, said Percivale, at yonder recluse. Do\nas ye list, said Sir Launcelot.\n\nWhen Sir Percivale came to the recluse she knew him well enough, and\nSir Launcelot both. But Sir Launcelot rode overthwart and endlong in a\nwild forest, and held no path but as wild adventure led him. And at the\nlast he came to a stony cross which departed two ways in waste land;\nand by the cross was a stone that was of marble, but it was so dark\nthat Sir Launcelot might not wit what it was. Then Sir Launcelot looked\nby him, and saw an old chapel, and there he weened to have found\npeople; and Sir Launcelot tied his horse till a tree, and there he did\noff his shield and hung it upon a tree, and then went to the chapel\ndoor, and found it waste and broken. And within he found a fair altar,\nfull richly arrayed with cloth of clean silk, and there stood a fair\nclean candlestick, which bare six great candles, and the candlestick\nwas of silver. And when Sir Launcelot saw this light he had great will\nfor to enter into the chapel, but he could find no place where he might\nenter; then was he passing heavy and dismayed. Then he returned and\ncame to his horse and did off his saddle and bridle, and let him\npasture, and unlaced his helm, and ungirt his sword, and laid him down\nto sleep upon his shield to-fore the cross.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Launcelot, half sleeping and half waking, saw a\nsick man borne in a litter, and how he was healed with the Sangreal.\n\n\nAnd so he fell asleep; and half waking and sleeping he saw come by him\ntwo palfreys all fair and white, the which bare a litter, therein lying\na sick knight. And when he was nigh the cross he there abode still. All\nthis Sir Launcelot saw and beheld, for he slept not verily; and he\nheard him say: O sweet Lord, when shall this sorrow leave me? and when\nshall the holy vessel come by me, wherethrough I shall be blessed? For\nI have endured thus long, for little trespass. A full great while\ncomplained the knight thus, and always Sir Launcelot heard it. With\nthat Sir Launcelot saw the candlestick with the six tapers come before\nthe cross, and he saw nobody that brought it. Also there came a table\nof silver, and the holy vessel of the Sangreal, which Launcelot had\nseen aforetime in King Pescheour\u2019s house. And therewith the sick knight\nset him up, and held up both his hands, and said: Fair sweet Lord,\nwhich is here within this holy vessel; take heed unto me that I may be\nwhole of this malady. And therewith on his hands and on his knees he\nwent so nigh that he touched the holy vessel and kissed it, and anon he\nwas whole; and then he said: Lord God, I thank thee, for I am healed of\nthis sickness.\n\nSo when the holy vessel had been there a great while it went unto the\nchapel with the chandelier and the light, so that Launcelot wist not\nwhere it was become; for he was overtaken with sin that he had no power\nto rise again the holy vessel; wherefore after that many men said of\nhim shame, but he took repentance after that. Then the sick knight\ndressed him up and kissed the cross; anon his squire brought him his\narms, and asked his lord how he did. Certes, said he, I thank God right\nwell, through the holy vessel I am healed. But I have marvel of this\nsleeping knight that had no power to awake when this holy vessel was\nbrought hither. I dare right well say, said the squire, that he\ndwelleth in some deadly sin whereof he was never confessed. By my\nfaith, said the knight, whatsomever he be he is unhappy, for as I deem\nhe is of the fellowship of the Round Table, the which is entered into\nthe quest of the Sangreal. Sir, said the squire, here I have brought\nyou all your arms save your helm and your sword, and therefore by mine\nassent now may ye take this knight\u2019s helm and his sword: and so he did.\nAnd when he was clean armed he took Sir Launcelot\u2019s horse, for he was\nbetter than his; and so departed they from the cross.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX. How a voice spake to Sir Launcelot, and how he found his\nhorse and his helm borne away, and after went afoot.\n\n\nThen anon Sir Launcelot waked, and set him up, and bethought him what\nhe had seen there, and whether it were dreams or not. Right so heard he\na voice that said: Sir Launcelot, more harder than is the stone, and\nmore bitter than is the wood, and more naked and barer than is the leaf\nof the fig tree; therefore go thou from hence, and withdraw thee from\nthis holy place. And when Sir Launcelot heard this he was passing heavy\nand wist not what to do, and so departed sore weeping, and cursed the\ntime that he was born. For then he deemed never to have had worship\nmore. For those words went to his heart, till that he knew wherefore he\nwas called so. Then Sir Launcelot went to the cross and found his helm,\nhis sword, and his horse taken away. And then he called himself a very\nwretch, and most unhappy of all knights; and there he said: My sin and\nmy wickedness have brought me unto great dishonour. For when I sought\nworldly adventures for worldly desires, I ever enchieved them and had\nthe better in every place, and never was I discomfit in no quarrel,\nwere it right or wrong. And now I take upon me the adventures of holy\nthings, and now I see and understand that mine old sin hindereth me and\nshameth me, so that I had no power to stir nor speak when the holy\nblood appeared afore me. So thus he sorrowed till it was day, and heard\nthe fowls sing: then somewhat he was comforted. But when Sir Launcelot\nmissed his horse and his harness then he wist well God was displeased\nwith him.\n\nThen he departed from the cross on foot into a forest; and so by prime\nhe came to an high hill, and found an hermitage and a hermit therein\nwhich was going unto mass. And then Launcelot kneeled down and cried on\nOur Lord mercy for his wicked works. So when mass was done Launcelot\ncalled him, and prayed him for charity for to hear his life. With a\ngood will, said the good man. Sir, said he, be ye of King Arthur\u2019s\ncourt and of the fellowship of the Round Table? Yea forsooth, and my\nname is Sir Launcelot du Lake that hath been right well said of, and\nnow my good fortune is changed, for I am the most wretch of the world.\nThe hermit beheld him and had marvel how he was so abashed. Sir, said\nthe hermit, ye ought to thank God more than any knight living, for He\nhath caused you to have more worldly worship than any knight that now\nliveth. And for your presumption to take upon you in deadly sin for to\nbe in His presence, where His flesh and His blood was, that caused you\nye might not see it with worldly eyes; for He will not appear where\nsuch sinners be, but if it be unto their great hurt and unto their\ngreat shame; and there is no knight living now that ought to give God\nso great thank as ye, for He hath given you beauty, seemliness, and\ngreat strength above all other knights; and therefore ye are the more\nbeholding unto God than any other man, to love Him and dread Him, for\nyour strength and manhood will little avail you an God be against you.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX. How Sir Launcelot was shriven, and what sorrow he made and\nof the good ensamples which were shewed him.\n\n\nThen Sir Launcelot wept with heavy cheer, and said: Now I know well ye\nsay me sooth. Sir, said the good man, hide none old sin from me. Truly,\nsaid Sir Launcelot, that were me full loath to discover. For this\nfourteen year I never discovered one thing that I have used, and that\nmay I now wite my shame and my disadventure. And then he told there\nthat good man all his life. And how he had loved a queen unmeasurably\nand out of measure long. And all my great deeds of arms that I have\ndone, I did for the most part for the queen\u2019s sake, and for her sake\nwould I do battle were it right or wrong, and never did I battle all\nonly for God\u2019s sake, but for to win worship and to cause me to be the\nbetter beloved and little or nought I thanked God of it. Then Sir\nLauncelot said: I pray you counsel me. I will counsel you, said the\nhermit, if ye will ensure me that ye will never come in that queen\u2019s\nfellowship as much as ye may forbear. And then Sir Launcelot promised\nhim he nold, by the faith of his body. Look that your heart and your\nmouth accord, said the good man, and I shall ensure you ye shall have\nmore worship than ever ye had.\n\nHoly father, said Sir Launcelot, I marvel of the voice that said to me\nmarvellous words, as ye have heard to-forehand. Have ye no marvel, said\nthe good man thereof, for it seemeth well God loveth you; for men may\nunderstand a stone is hard of kind, and namely one more than another;\nand that is to understand by thee, Sir Launcelot, for thou wilt not\nleave thy sin for no goodness that God hath sent thee; therefore thou\nart more than any stone, and never wouldst thou be made nesh nor by\nwater nor by fire, and that is the heat of the Holy Ghost may not enter\nin thee. Now take heed, in all the world men shall not find one knight\nto whom Our Lord hath given so much of grace as He hath given you, for\nHe hath given you fairness with seemliness, He hath given thee wit,\ndiscretion to know good from evil, He hath given thee prowess and\nhardiness, and given thee to work so largely that thou hast had at all\ndays the better wheresomever thou came; and now Our Lord will suffer\nthee no longer, but that thou shalt know Him whether thou wilt or nylt.\nAnd why the voice called thee bitterer than wood, for where overmuch\nsin dwelleth, there may be but little sweetness, wherefore thou art\nlikened to an old rotten tree.\n\nNow have I shewed thee why thou art harder than the stone and bitterer\nthan the tree. Now shall I shew thee why thou art more naked and barer\nthan the fig tree. It befell that Our Lord on Palm Sunday preached in\nJerusalem, and there He found in the people that all hardness was\nharboured in them, and there He found in all the town not one that\nwould harbour him. And then He went without the town, and found in\nmidst of the way a fig tree, the which was right fair and well\ngarnished of leaves, but fruit had it none. Then Our Lord cursed the\ntree that bare no fruit; that betokeneth the fig tree unto Jerusalem,\nthat had leaves and no fruit. So thou, Sir Launcelot, when the Holy\nGrail was brought afore thee, He found in thee no fruit, nor good\nthought nor good will, and defouled with lechery. Certes, said Sir\nLauncelot, all that you have said is true, and from henceforward I cast\nme, by the grace of God, never to be so wicked as I have been, but as\nto follow knighthood and to do feats of arms.\n\nThen the good man enjoined Sir Launcelot such penance as he might do\nand to sewe knighthood, and so assoiled him, and prayed Sir Launcelot\nto abide with him all that day. I will well, said Sir Launcelot, for I\nhave neither helm, nor horse, nor sword. As for that, said the good\nman, I shall help you or to-morn at even of an horse, and all that\nlonged unto you. And then Sir Launcelot repented him greatly.\n\n_Here endeth off the history of Sir Launcelot. And here followeth of\nSir Percivale de Galis, which is the fourteenth book._\n\n\n\n\nBOOK XIV.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. How Sir Percivale came to a recluse and asked counsel, and\nhow she told him that she was his aunt.\n\n\nNow saith the tale, that when Sir Launcelot was ridden after Sir\nGalahad, the which had all these adventures above said, Sir Percivale\nturned again unto the recluse, where he deemed to have tidings of that\nknight that Launcelot followed. And so he kneeled at her window, and\nthe recluse opened it and asked Sir Percivale what he would. Madam, he\nsaid, I am a knight of King Arthur\u2019s court, and my name is Sir\nPercivale de Galis. When the recluse heard his name she had great joy\nof him, for mickle she had loved him to-fore any other knight, for she\nought to do so, for she was his aunt. And then she commanded the gates\nto be opened, and there he had all the cheer that she might make him,\nand all that was in her power was at his commandment.\n\nSo on the morn Sir Percivale went to the recluse and asked her if she\nknew that knight with the white shield. Sir, said she, why would ye\nwit? Truly, madam, said Sir Percivale, I shall never be well at ease\ntill that I know of that knight\u2019s fellowship, and that I may fight with\nhim, for I may not leave him so lightly, for I have the shame yet. Ah,\nPercivale, said she, would ye fight with him? I see well ye have great\nwill to be slain as your father was, through outrageousness. Madam,\nsaid Sir Percivale, it seemeth by your words that ye know me. Yea, said\nshe, I well ought to know you, for I am your aunt, although I be in a\npriory place. For some called me sometime the Queen of the Waste Lands,\nand I was called the queen of most riches in the world; and it pleased\nme never my riches so much as doth my poverty. Then Sir Percivale wept\nfor very pity when that he knew it was his aunt. Ah, fair nephew, said\nshe, when heard ye tidings of your mother? Truly, said he, I heard none\nof her, but I dream of her much in my sleep; and therefore I wot not\nwhether she be dead or alive. Certes, fair nephew, said she, your\nmother is dead, for after your departing from her she took such a\nsorrow that anon, after she was confessed, she died. Now, God have\nmercy on her soul, said Sir Percivale, it sore forthinketh me; but all\nwe must change the life. Now, fair aunt, tell me what is the knight? I\ndeem it be he that bare the red arms on Whitsunday. Wit you well, said\nshe, that this is he, for otherwise ought he not to do, but to go in\nred arms; and that same knight hath no peer, for he worketh all by\nmiracle, and he shall never be overcome of none earthly man\u2019s hand.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. How Merlin likened the Round Table to the world, and how\nthe knights that should achieve the Sangreal should be known.\n\n\nAlso Merlin made the Round Table in tokening of roundness of the world,\nfor by the Round Table is the world signified by right, for all the\nworld, Christian and heathen, repair unto the Round Table; and when\nthey are chosen to be of the fellowship of the Round Table they think\nthem more blessed and more in worship than if they had gotten half the\nworld; and ye have seen that they have lost their fathers and their\nmothers, and all their kin, and their wives and their children, for to\nbe of your fellowship. It is well seen by you; for since ye have\ndeparted from your mother ye would never see her, ye found such\nfellowship at the Round Table. When Merlin had ordained the Round Table\nhe said, by them which should be fellows of the Round Table the truth\nof the Sangreal should be well known. And men asked him how men might\nknow them that should best do and to enchieve the Sangreal? Then he\nsaid there should be three white bulls that should enchieve it, and the\ntwo should be maidens, and the third should be chaste. And that one of\nthe three should pass his father as much as the lion passeth the\nleopard, both of strength and hardiness.\n\nThey that heard Merlin say so said thus unto Merlin: Sithen there shall\nbe such a knight, thou shouldest ordain by thy crafts a siege, that no\nman should sit in it but he all only that shall pass all other knights.\nThen Merlin answered that he would do so. And then he made the Siege\nPerilous, in the which Galahad sat in at his meat on Whitsunday last\npast. Now, madam, said Sir Percivale, so much have I heard of you that\nby my good will I will never have ado with Sir Galahad but by way of\nkindness; and for God\u2019s love, fair aunt, can ye teach me some way where\nI may find him? for much would I love the fellowship of him. Fair\nnephew, said she, ye must ride unto a castle the which is called\nGoothe, where he hath a cousin-germain, and there may ye be lodged this\nnight. And as he teacheth you, seweth after as fast as ye can; and if\nhe can tell you no tidings of him, ride straight unto the Castle of\nCarbonek, where the maimed king is there lying, for there shall ye hear\ntrue tidings of him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. How Sir Percivale came into a monastery, where he found\nKing Evelake, which was an old man.\n\n\nThen departed Sir Percivale from his aunt, either making great sorrow.\nAnd so he rode till evensong time. And then he heard a clock smite; and\nthen he was ware of an house closed well with walls and deep ditches,\nand there he knocked at the gate and was let in, and he alighted and\nwas led unto a chamber, and soon he was unarmed. And there he had right\ngood cheer all that night; and on the morn he heard his mass, and in\nthe monastery he found a priest ready at the altar. And on the right\nside he saw a pew closed with iron, and behind the altar he saw a rich\nbed and a fair, as of cloth of silk and gold.\n\nThen Sir Percivale espied that therein was a man or a woman, for the\nvisage was covered; then he left off his looking and heard his service.\nAnd when it came to the sacring, he that lay within that parclos\ndressed him up, and uncovered his head; and then him beseemed a passing\nold man, and he had a crown of gold upon his head, and his shoulders\nwere naked and unhilled unto his navel. And then Sir Percivale espied\nhis body was full of great wounds, both on the shoulders, arms, and\nvisage. And ever he held up his hands against Our Lord\u2019s body, and\ncried: Fair, sweet Father, Jesu Christ, forget not me. And so he lay\ndown, but always he was in his prayers and orisons; and him seemed to\nbe of the age of three hundred winter. And when the mass was done the\npriest took Our Lord\u2019s body and bare it to the sick king. And when he\nhad used it he did off his crown, and commanded the crown to be set on\nthe altar.\n\nThen Sir Percivale asked one of the brethren what he was. Sir, said the\ngood man, ye have heard much of Joseph of Aramathie, how he was sent by\nJesu Christ into this land for to teach and preach the holy Christian\nfaith; and therefore he suffered many persecutions the which the\nenemies of Christ did unto him, and in the city of Sarras he converted\na king whose name was Evelake. And so this king came with Joseph into\nthis land, and ever he was busy to be thereas the Sangreal was; and on\na time he nighed it so nigh that Our Lord was displeased with him, but\never he followed it more and more, till God struck him almost blind.\nThen this king cried mercy, and said: Fair Lord, let me never die till\nthe good knight of my blood of the ninth degree be come, that I may see\nhim openly that he shall enchieve the Sangreal, that I may kiss him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. How Sir Percivale saw many men of arms bearing a dead\nknight, and how he fought against them.\n\n\nWhen the king thus had made his prayers he heard a voice that said:\nHeard be thy prayers, for thou shalt not die till he have kissed thee.\nAnd when that knight shall come the clearness of your eyes shall come\nagain, and thou shalt see openly, and thy wounds shall be healed, and\nerst shall they never close. And this befell of King Evelake, and this\nsame king hath lived this three hundred winters this holy life, and men\nsay the knight is in the court that shall heal him. Sir, said the good\nman, I pray you tell me what knight that ye be, and if ye be of King\nArthur\u2019s court and of the Table Round. Yea forsooth, said he, and my\nname is Sir Percivale de Galis. And when the good man understood his\nname he made great joy of him.\n\nAnd then Sir Percivale departed and rode till the hour of noon. And he\nmet in a valley about a twenty men of arms, which bare in a bier a\nknight deadly slain. And when they saw Sir Percivale they asked him of\nwhence he was. And he answered: Of the court of King Arthur. Then they\ncried all at once: Slay him. Then Sir Percivale smote the first to the\nearth and his horse upon him. And then seven of the knights smote upon\nhis shield all at once, and the remnant slew his horse so that he fell\nto the earth. So had they slain him or taken him had not the good\nknight, Sir Galahad, with the red arms come there by adventure into\nthose parts. And when he saw all those knights upon one knight he\ncried: Save me that knight\u2019s life. And then he dressed him toward the\ntwenty men of arms as fast as his horse might drive, with his spear in\nthe rest, and smote the foremost horse and man to the earth. And when\nhis spear was broken he set his hand to his sword, and smote on the\nright hand and on the left hand that it was marvel to see, and at every\nstroke he smote one down or put him to a rebuke, so that they would\nfight no more but fled to a thick forest, and Sir Galahad followed\nthem.\n\nAnd when Sir Percivale saw him chase them so, he made great sorrow that\nhis horse was away. And then he wist well it was Sir Galahad. And then\nhe cried aloud: Ah fair knight, abide and suffer me to do thankings\nunto thee, for much have ye done for me. But ever Sir Galahad rode so\nfast that at the last he passed out of his sight. And as fast as Sir\nPercivale might he went after him on foot, crying. And then he met with\na yeoman riding upon an hackney, the which led in his hand a great\nsteed blacker than any bear. Ah, fair friend, said Sir Percivale, as\never I may do for you, and to be your true knight in the first place ye\nwill require me, that ye will lend me that black steed, that I might\novertake a knight the which rideth afore me. Sir knight, said the\nyeoman, I pray you hold me excused of that, for that I may not do. For\nwit ye well, the horse is such a man\u2019s horse, that an I lent it you or\nany man, that he would slay me. Alas, said Sir Percivale, I had never\nso great sorrow as I have had for losing of yonder knight. Sir, said\nthe yeoman, I am right heavy for you, for a good horse would beseem you\nwell; but I dare not deliver you this horse but if ye would take him\nfrom me. That will I not do, said Sir Percivale. And so they departed;\nand Sir Percivale set him down under a tree, and made sorrow out of\nmeasure. And as he was there, there came a knight riding on the horse\nthat the yeoman led, and he was clean armed.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. How a yeoman desired him to get again an horse, and how Sir\nPercivale\u2019s hackney was slain, and how he gat an horse.\n\n\nAnd anon the yeoman came pricking after as fast as ever he might, and\nasked Sir Percivale if he saw any knight riding on his black steed.\nYea, sir, forsooth, said he; why, sir, ask ye me that? Ah, sir, that\nsteed he hath benome me with strength; wherefore my lord will slay me\nin what place he findeth me. Well, said Sir Percivale, what wouldst\nthou that I did? Thou seest well that I am on foot, but an I had a good\nhorse I should bring him soon again. Sir, said the yeoman, take mine\nhackney and do the best ye can, and I shall sewe you on foot to wit how\nthat ye shall speed. Then Sir Percivale alighted upon that hackney, and\nrode as fast as he might, and at the last he saw that knight. And then\nhe cried: Knight, turn again; and he turned and set his spear against\nSir Percivale, and he smote the hackney in the midst of the breast that\nhe fell down dead to the earth, and there he had a great fall, and the\nother rode his way. And then Sir Percivale was wood wroth, and cried:\nAbide, wicked knight; coward and false-hearted knight, turn again and\nfight with me on foot. But he answered not, but passed on his way.\n\nWhen Sir Percivale saw he would not turn he cast away his helm and\nsword, and said: Now am I a very wretch, cursed and most unhappy above\nall other knights. So in this sorrow he abode all that day till it was\nnight; and then he was faint, and laid him down and slept till it was\nmidnight; and then he awaked and saw afore him a woman which said unto\nhim right fiercely: Sir Percivale, what dost thou here? He answered, I\ndo neither good nor great ill. If thou wilt ensure me, said she, that\nthou wilt fulfil my will when I summon thee, I shall lend thee mine own\nhorse which shall bear thee whither thou wilt. Sir Percivale was glad\nof her proffer, and ensured her to fulfil all her desire. Then abide me\nhere, and I shall go and fetch you an horse. And so she came soon again\nand brought an horse with her that was inly black. When Percivale\nbeheld that horse he marvelled that it was so great and so well\napparelled; and not for then he was so hardy, and he leapt upon him,\nand took none heed of himself. And so anon as he was upon him he thrust\nto him with his spurs, and so he rode by a forest, and the moon shone\nclear. And within an hour and less he bare him four days\u2019 journey\nthence, until he came to a rough water the which roared, and his horse\nwould have borne him into it.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. Of the great danger that Sir Percivale was in by his horse,\nand how he saw a serpent and a lion fight.\n\n\nAnd when Sir Percivale came nigh the brim, and saw the water so\nboistous, he doubted to overpass it. And then he made a sign of the\ncross in his forehead. When the fiend felt him so charged he shook off\nSir Percivale, and he went into the water crying and roaring, making\ngreat sorrow, and it seemed unto him that the water brent. Then Sir\nPercivale perceived it was a fiend, the which would have brought him\nunto his perdition. Then he commended himself unto God, and prayed Our\nLord to keep him from all such temptations; and so he prayed all that\nnight till on the morn that it was day; then he saw that he was in a\nwild mountain the which was closed with the sea nigh all about, that he\nmight see no land about him which might relieve him, but wild beasts.\n\nAnd then he went into a valley, and there he saw a young serpent bring\na young lion by the neck, and so he came by Sir Percivale. With that\ncame a great lion crying and roaring after the serpent. And as fast as\nSir Percivale saw this he marvelled, and hied him thither, but anon the\nlion had overtaken the serpent and began battle with him. And then Sir\nPercivale thought to help the lion, for he was the more natural beast\nof the two; and therewith he drew his sword, and set his shield afore\nhim, and there he gave the serpent such a buffet that he had a deadly\nwound. When the lion saw that, he made no resemblaunt to fight with\nhim, but made him all the cheer that a beast might make a man. Then\nPercivale perceived that, and cast down his shield which was broken;\nand then he did off his helm for to gather wind, for he was greatly\nenchafed with the serpent: and the lion went alway about him fawning as\na spaniel. And then he stroked him on the neck and on the shoulders.\nAnd then he thanked God of the fellowship of that beast. And about noon\nthe lion took his little whelp and trussed him and bare him there he\ncame from.\n\nThen was Sir Percivale alone. And as the tale telleth, he was one of\nthe men of the world at that time which most believed in Our Lord Jesu\nChrist, for in those days there were but few folks that believed in God\nperfectly. For in those days the son spared not the father no more than\na stranger. And so Sir Percivale comforted himself in our Lord Jesu,\nand besought God no temptation should bring him out of God\u2019s service,\nbut to endure as his true champion. Thus when Sir Percivale had prayed\nhe saw the lion come toward him, and then he couched down at his feet.\nAnd so all that night the lion and he slept together; and when Sir\nPercivale slept he dreamed a marvellous dream, that there two ladies\nmet with him, and that one sat upon a lion, and that other sat upon a\nserpent, and that one of them was young, and the other was old; and the\nyoungest him thought said: Sir Percivale, my lord saluteth thee, and\nsendeth thee word that thou array thee and make thee ready, for to-morn\nthou must fight with the strongest champion of the world. And if thou\nbe overcome thou shall not be quit for losing of any of thy members,\nbut thou shalt be shamed for ever to the world\u2019s end. And then he asked\nher what was her lord. And she said the greatest lord of all the world:\nand so she departed suddenly that he wist not where.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. Of the vision that Sir Percivale saw, and how his vision\nwas expounded, and of his lion.\n\n\nThen came forth the other lady that rode upon the serpent, and she\nsaid: Sir Percivale, I complain me of you that ye have done unto me,\nand have not offended unto you. Certes, madam, he said, unto you nor no\nlady I never offended. Yes, said she, I shall tell you why. I have\nnourished in this place a great while a serpent, which served me a\ngreat while, and yesterday ye slew him as he gat his prey. Say me for\nwhat cause ye slew him, for the lion was not yours. Madam, said Sir\nPercivale, I know well the lion was not mine, but I did it for the lion\nis of more gentler nature than the serpent, and therefore I slew him;\nmeseemeth I did not amiss against you. Madam, said he, what would ye\nthat I did? I would, said she, for the amends of my beast that ye\nbecome my man. And then he answered: That will I not grant you. No,\nsaid she, truly ye were never but my servant sin ye received the homage\nof Our Lord Jesu Christ. Therefore, I ensure you in what place I may\nfind you without keeping I shall take you, as he that sometime was my\nman. And so she departed from Sir Percivale and left him sleeping, the\nwhich was sore travailed of his advision. And on the morn he arose and\nblessed him, and he was passing feeble.\n\nThen was Sir Percivale ware in the sea, and saw a ship come sailing\ntoward him; and Sir Percivale went unto the ship and found it covered\nwithin and without with white samite. And at the board stood an old man\nclothed in a surplice, in likeness of a priest. Sir, said Sir\nPercivale, ye be welcome. God keep you, said the good man. Sir, said\nthe old man, of whence be ye? Sir, said Sir Percivale, I am of King\nArthur\u2019s court, and a knight of the Table Round, the which am in the\nquest of the Sangreal; and here am I in great duresse, and never like\nto escape out of this wilderness. Doubt not, said the good man, an ye\nbe so true a knight as the order of chivalry requireth, and of heart as\nye ought to be, ye should not doubt that none enemy should slay you.\nWhat are ye? said Sir Percivale. Sir, said the old man, I am of a\nstrange country, and hither I come to comfort you.\n\nSir, said Sir Percivale, what signifieth my dream that I dreamed this\nnight? And there he told him altogether: She which rode upon the lion\nbetokeneth the new law of holy church, that is to understand, faith,\ngood hope, belief, and baptism. For she seemed younger than the other\nit is great reason, for she was born in the resurrection and the\npassion of Our Lord Jesu Christ. And for great love she came to thee to\nwarn thee of thy great battle that shall befall thee. With whom, said\nSir Percivale, shall I fight? With the most champion of the world, said\nthe old man; for as the lady said, but if thou quit thee well thou\nshalt not be quit by losing of one member, but thou shalt be shamed to\nthe world\u2019s end. And she that rode on the serpent signifieth the old\nlaw, and that serpent betokeneth a fiend. And why she blamed thee that\nthou slewest her servant, it betokeneth nothing; the serpent that thou\nslewest betokeneth the devil that thou rodest upon to the rock. And\nwhen thou madest a sign of the cross, there thou slewest him, and put\naway his power. And when she asked thee amends and to become her man,\nand thou saidst thou wouldst not, that was to make thee to believe on\nher and leave thy baptism. So he commanded Sir Percivale to depart, and\nso he leapt over the board and the ship, and all went away he wist not\nwhither. Then he went up unto the rock and found the lion which always\nkept him fellowship, and he stroked him upon the back and had great joy\nof him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. How Sir Percivale saw a ship coming to him-ward, and how\nthe lady of the ship told him of her disheritance.\n\n\nBy that Sir Percivale had abiden there till mid-day he saw a ship came\nrowing in the sea, as all the wind of the world had driven it. And so\nit drove under that rock. And when Sir Percivale saw this he hied him\nthither, and found the ship covered with silk more blacker than any\nbear, and therein was a gentlewoman of great beauty, and she was\nclothed richly that none might be better. And when she saw Sir\nPercivale she said: Who brought you in this wilderness where ye be\nnever like to pass hence, for ye shall die here for hunger and\nmischief? Damosel, said Sir Percivale, I serve the best man of the\nworld, and in his service he will not suffer me to die, for who that\nknocketh shall enter, and who that asketh shall have, and who that\nseeketh him he hideth him not. But then she said: Sir Percivale, wot ye\nwhat I am? Yea, said he. Now who taught you my name? said she. Now,\nsaid Sir Percivale, I know you better than ye ween. And I came out of\nthe waste forest where I found the Red Knight with the white shield,\nsaid the damosel. Ah, damosel, said he, with that knight would I meet\npassing fain. Sir knight, said she, an ye will ensure me by the faith\nthat ye owe unto knighthood that ye shall do my will what time I summon\nyou, and I shall bring you unto that knight. Yea, said he, I shall\npromise you to fulfil your desire. Well, said she, now shall I tell\nyou. I saw him in the forest chasing two knights unto a water, the\nwhich is called Mortaise; and they drove him into the water for dread\nof death, and the two knights passed over, and the Red Knight passed\nafter, and there his horse was drenched, and he, through great\nstrength, escaped unto the land: thus she told him, and Sir Percivale\nwas passing glad thereof.\n\nThen she asked him if he had ate any meat late. Nay, madam, truly I ate\nno meat nigh this three days, but late here I spake with a good man\nthat fed me with his good words and holy, and refreshed me greatly. Ah,\nsir knight, said she, that same man is an enchanter and a multiplier of\nwords. For an ye believe him ye shall plainly be shamed, and die in\nthis rock for pure hunger, and be eaten with wild beasts; and ye be a\nyoung man and a goodly knight, and I shall help you an ye will. What\nare ye, said Sir Percivale, that proffered me thus great kindness? I\nam, said she, a gentlewoman that am disherited, which was sometime the\nrichest woman of the world. Damosel, said Sir Percivale, who hath\ndisherited you? for I have great pity of you. Sir, said she, I dwelled\nwith the greatest man of the world, and he made me so fair and clear\nthat there was none like me; and of that great beauty I had a little\npride more than I ought to have had. Also I said a word that pleased\nhim not. And then he would not suffer me to be any longer in his\ncompany, and so drove me from mine heritage, and so disherited me, and\nhe had never pity of me nor of none of my council, nor of my court. And\nsithen, sir knight, it hath befallen me so, and through me and mine I\nhave benome him many of his men, and made them to become my men. For\nthey ask never nothing of me but I give it them, that and much more.\nThus I and all my servants were against him night and day. Therefore I\nknow now no good knight, nor no good man, but I get them on my side an\nI may. And for that I know that thou art a good knight, I beseech you\nto help me; and for ye be a fellow of the Round Table, wherefore ye\nought not to fail no gentlewoman which is disherited, an she besought\nyou of help.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. How Sir Percivale promised her help, and how he required\nher of love, and how he was saved from the fiend.\n\n\nThen Sir Percivale promised her all the help that he might; and then\nshe thanked him. And at that time the weather was hot. Then she called\nunto her a gentlewoman and bade her bring forth a pavilion; and so she\ndid, and pight it upon the gravel. Sir, said she, now may ye rest you\nin this heat of the day. Then he thanked her, and she put off his helm\nand his shield, and there he slept a great while. And then he awoke and\nasked her if she had any meat, and she said: Yea, also ye shall have\nenough. And so there was set enough upon the table, and thereon so much\nthat he had marvel, for there was all manner of meats that he could\nthink on. Also he drank there the strongest wine that ever he drank,\nhim thought, and therewith he was a little chafed more than he ought to\nbe; with that he beheld the gentlewoman, and him thought she was the\nfairest creature that ever he saw. And then Sir Percivale proffered her\nlove, and prayed her that she would be his. Then she refused him, in a\nmanner, when he required her, for the cause he should be the more\nardent on her, and ever he ceased not to pray her of love. And when she\nsaw him well enchafed, then she said: Sir Percivale, wit you well I\nshall not fulfil your will but if ye swear from henceforth ye shall be\nmy true servant, and to do nothing but that I shall command you. Will\nye ensure me this as ye be a true knight? Yea, said he, fair lady, by\nthe faith of my body. Well, said she, now shall ye do with me whatso it\nplease you; and now wit ye well ye are the knight in the world that I\nhave most desire to.\n\nAnd then two squires were commanded to make a bed in midst of the\npavilion. And anon she was unclothed and laid therein. And then Sir\nPercivale laid him down by her naked; and by adventure and grace he saw\nhis sword lie on the ground naked, in whose pommel was a red cross and\nthe sign of the crucifix therein, and bethought him on his knighthood\nand his promise made to-forehand unto the good man; then he made a sign\nof the cross in his forehead, and therewith the pavilion turned\nup-so-down, and then it changed unto a smoke, and a black cloud, and\nthen he was adread and cried aloud:\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. How Sir Percivale for penance rove himself through the\nthigh; and how she was known for the devil.\n\n\nFair sweet Father, Jesu Christ, ne let me not be shamed, the which was\nnigh lost had not thy good grace been. And then he looked into a ship,\nand saw her enter therein, which said: Sir Percivale, ye have betrayed\nme. And so she went with the wind roaring and yelling, that it seemed\nall the water brent after her. Then Sir Percivale made great sorrow,\nand drew his sword unto him, saying: Sithen my flesh will be my master\nI shall punish it; and therewith he rove himself through the thigh that\nthe blood stert about him, and said: O good Lord, take this in\nrecompensation of that I have done against thee, my Lord. So then he\nclothed him and armed him, and called himself a wretch, saying: How\nnigh was I lost, and to have lost that I should never have gotten\nagain, that was my virginity, for that may never be recovered after it\nis once lost. And then he stopped his bleeding wound with a piece of\nhis shirt.\n\nThus as he made his moan he saw the same ship come from Orient that the\ngood man was in the day afore, and the noble knight was ashamed with\nhimself, and therewith he fell in a swoon. And when he awoke he went\nunto him weakly, and there he saluted this good man. And then he asked\nSir Percivale: How hast thou done sith I departed? Sir, said he, here\nwas a gentlewoman and led me into deadly sin. And there he told him\naltogether. Knew ye not the maid? said the good man. Sir, said he, nay,\nbut well I wot the fiend sent her hither to shame me. O good knight,\nsaid he, thou art a fool, for that gentlewoman was the master fiend of\nhell, the which hath power above all devils, and that was the old lady\nthat thou sawest in thine advision riding on the serpent. Then he told\nSir Percivale how our Lord Jesu Christ beat him out of heaven for his\nsin, the which was the most brightest angel of heaven, and therefore he\nlost his heritage. And that was the champion that thou foughtest\nwithal, the which had overcome thee had not the grace of God been. Now\nbeware Sir Percivale, and take this for an ensample. And then the good\nman vanished away. Then Sir Percivale took his arms, and entered into\nthe ship, and so departed from thence.\n\n_Here endeth the fourteenth book, which is of Sir Percivale. And here\nfolloweth of Sir Launcelot, which is the fifteenth book._\n\n\n\n\nBOOK XV.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. How Sir Launcelot came to a chapel, where he found dead, in\na white shirt, a man of religion, of an hundred winter old.\n\n\nWhen the hermit had kept Sir Launcelot three days, the hermit gat him\nan horse, an helm, and a sword. And then he departed about the hour of\nnoon. And then he saw a little house. And when he came near he saw a\nchapel, and there beside he saw an old man that was clothed all in\nwhite full richly; and then Sir Launcelot said: God save you. God keep\nyou, said the good man, and make you a good knight. Then Sir Launcelot\nalighted and entered into the chapel, and there he saw an old man dead,\nin a white shirt of passing fine cloth.\n\nSir, said the good man, this man that is dead ought not to be in such\nclothing as ye see him in, for in that he brake the oath of his order,\nfor he hath been more than an hundred winter a man of a religion. And\nthen the good man and Sir Launcelot went into the chapel; and the good\nman took a stole about his neck, and a book, and then he conjured on\nthat book; and with that they saw in an hideous figure and horrible,\nthat there was no man so hard-hearted nor so hard but he should have\nbeen afeard. Then said the fiend: Thou hast travailed me greatly; now\ntell me what thou wilt with me. I will, said the good man, that thou\ntell me how my fellow became dead, and whether he be saved or damned.\nThen he said with an horrible voice: He is not lost but saved. How may\nthat be? said the good man; it seemed to me that he lived not well, for\nhe brake his order for to wear a shirt where he ought to wear none, and\nwho that trespasseth against our order doth not well. Not so, said the\nfiend, this man that lieth here dead was come of a great lineage. And\nthere was a lord that hight the Earl de Vale, that held great war\nagainst this man\u2019s nephew, the which hight Aguarus. And so this Aguarus\nsaw the earl was bigger than he. Then he went for to take counsel of\nhis uncle, the which lieth here dead as ye may see. And then he asked\nleave, and went out of his hermitage for to maintain his nephew against\nthe mighty earl; and so it happed that this man that lieth here dead\ndid so much by his wisdom and hardiness that the earl was taken, and\nthree of his lords, by force of this dead man.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. Of a dead man, how men would have hewn him, and it would\nnot be, and how Sir Launcelot took the hair of the dead man.\n\n\nThen was there peace betwixt the earl and this Aguarus, and great\nsurety that the earl should never war against him. Then this dead man\nthat here lieth came to this hermitage again; and then the earl made\ntwo of his nephews for to be avenged upon this man. So they came on a\nday, and found this dead man at the sacring of his mass, and they abode\nhim till he had said mass. And then they set upon him and drew out\nswords to have slain him; but there would no sword bite on him more\nthan upon a gad of steel, for the high Lord which he served He him\npreserved. Then made they a great fire, and did off all his clothes,\nand the hair off his back. And then this dead man hermit said unto\nthem: Ween you to burn me? It shall not lie in your power nor to perish\nme as much as a thread, an there were any on my body. No? said one of\nthem, it shall be assayed. And then they despoiled him, and put upon\nhim this shirt, and cast him in a fire, and there he lay all that night\ntill it was day in that fire, and was not dead, and so in the morn I\ncame and found him dead; but I found neither thread nor skin tamed, and\nso took him out of the fire with great fear, and laid him here as ye\nmay see. And now may ye suffer me to go my way, for I have said you the\nsooth. And then he departed with a great tempest.\n\nThen was the good man and Sir Launcelot more gladder than they were\nto-fore. And then Sir Launcelot dwelled with that good man that night.\nSir, said the good man, be ye not Sir Launcelot du Lake? Yea, sir, said\nhe. What seek ye in this country? Sir, said Sir Launcelot, I go to seek\nthe adventures of the Sangreal. Well, said he, seek it ye may well, but\nthough it were here ye shall have no power to see it no more than a\nblind man should see a bright sword, and that is long on your sin, and\nelse ye were more abler than any man living. And then Sir Launcelot\nbegan to weep. Then said the good man: Were ye confessed sith ye\nentered into the quest of the Sangreal? Yea, sir, said Sir Launcelot.\nThen upon the morn when the good man had sung his mass, then they\nburied the dead man. Then Sir Launcelot said: Father, what shall I do?\nNow, said the good man, I require you take this hair that was this holy\nman\u2019s and put it next thy skin, and it shall prevail thee greatly. Sir,\nand I will do it, said Sir Launcelot. Also I charge you that ye eat no\nflesh as long as ye be in the quest of the Sangreal, nor ye shall drink\nno wine, and that ye hear mass daily an ye may do it. So he took the\nhair and put it upon him, and so departed at evensong-time.\n\nAnd so rode he into a forest, and there he met with a gentlewoman\nriding upon a white palfrey, and then she asked him: Sir knight,\nwhither ride ye? Certes, damosel, said Launcelot, I wot not whither I\nride but as fortune leadeth me. Ah, Sir Launcelot, said she, I wot what\nadventure ye seek, for ye were afore time nearer than ye be now, and\nyet shall ye see it more openly than ever ye did, and that shall ye\nunderstand in short time. Then Sir Launcelot asked her where he might\nbe harboured that night. Ye shall not find this day nor night, but\nto-morn ye shall find harbour good, and ease of that ye be in doubt of.\nAnd then he commended her unto God. Then he rode till that he came to a\nCross, and took that for his host as for that night.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. Of an advision that Sir Launcelot had, and how he told it\nto an hermit, and desired counsel of him.\n\n\nAnd so he put his horse to pasture, and did off his helm and his\nshield, and made his prayers unto the Cross that he never fall in\ndeadly sin again. And so he laid him down to sleep. And anon as he was\nasleep it befell him there an advision, that there came a man afore him\nall by compass of stars, and that man had a crown of gold on his head\nand that man led in his fellowship seven kings and two knights. And all\nthese worshipped the Cross, kneeling upon their knees, holding up their\nhands toward the heaven. And all they said: Fair sweet Father of heaven\ncome and visit us, and yield unto us everych as we have deserved.\n\nThen looked Launcelot up to the heaven, and him seemed the clouds did\nopen, and an old man came down, with a company of angels, and alighted\namong them, and gave unto everych his blessing, and called them his\nservants, and good and true knights. And when this old man had said\nthus he came to one of those knights, and said: I have lost all that I\nhave set in thee, for thou hast ruled thee against me as a warrior, and\nused wrong wars with vain-glory, more for the pleasure of the world\nthan to please me, therefore thou shalt be confounded without thou\nyield me my treasure. All this advision saw Sir Launcelot at the Cross.\n\nAnd on the morn he took his horse and rode till mid-day; and there by\nadventure he met with the same knight that took his horse, helm, and\nhis sword, when he slept when the Sangreal appeared afore the Cross.\nWhen Sir Launcelot saw him he saluted hin not fair, but cried on high:\nKnight, keep thee, for thou hast done to me great unkindness. And then\nthey put afore them their spears, and Sir Launcelot came so fiercely\nupon him that he smote him and his horse down to the earth, that he had\nnigh broken his neck. Then Sir Launcelot took the knight\u2019s horse that\nwas his own aforehand, and descended from the horse he sat upon, and\nmounted upon his own horse, and tied the knight\u2019s own horse to a tree,\nthat he might find that horse when that he was arisen. Then Sir\nLauncelot rode till night, and by adventure he met an hermit, and each\nof them saluted other; and there he rested with that good man all\nnight, and gave his horse such as he might get. Then said the good man\nunto Launcelot: Of whence be ye? Sir, said he, I am of Arthur\u2019s court,\nand my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake that am in the quest of the\nSangreal, and therefore I pray you to counsel me of a vision the which\nI had at the Cross. And so he told him all.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. How the hermit expounded to Sir Launcelot his advision, and\ntold him that Sir Galahad was his son.\n\n\nLo, Sir Launcelot, said the good man, there thou mightest understand\nthe high lineage that thou art come of, and thine advision betokeneth.\nAfter the passion of Jesu Christ forty year, Joseph of Aramathie\npreached the victory of King Evelake, that he had in the battles the\nbetter of his enemies. And of the seven kings and the two knights: the\nfirst of them is called Nappus, an holy man; and the second hight\nNacien, in remembrance of his grandsire, and in him dwelled our Lord\nJesu Christ; and the third was called Helias le Grose; and the fourth\nhight Lisais; and the fifth hight Jonas, he departed out of his country\nand went into Wales, and took there the daughter of Manuel, whereby he\nhad the land of Gaul, and he came to dwell in this country. And of him\ncame King Launcelot thy grandsire, the which there wedded the king\u2019s\ndaughter of Ireland, and he was as worthy a man as thou art, and of him\ncame King Ban, thy father, the which was the last of the seven kings.\nAnd by thee, Sir Launcelot, it signifieth that the angels said thou\nwere none of the seven fellowships. And the last was the ninth knight,\nhe was signified to a lion, for he should pass all manner of earthly\nknights, that is Sir Galahad, the which thou gat on King Pelles\u2019\ndaughter; and thou ought to thank God more than any other man living,\nfor of a sinner earthly thou hast no peer as in knighthood, nor never\nshall be. But little thank hast thou given to God for all the great\nvirtues that God hath lent thee. Sir, said Launcelot, ye say that that\ngood knight is my son. That oughtest thou to know and no man better,\nsaid the good man, for thou knewest the daughter of King Pelles\nfleshly, and on her thou begattest Galahad, and that was he that at the\nfeast of Pentecost sat in the Siege Perilous; and therefore make thou\nit known openly that he is one of thy begetting on King Pelles\u2019\ndaughter, for that will be your worship and honour, and to all thy\nkindred. And I counsel you in no place press not upon him to have ado\nwith him. Well, said Launcelot, meseemeth that good knight should pray\nfor me unto the High Father, that I fall not to sin again. Trust thou\nwell, said the good man, thou farest mickle the better for his prayer;\nbut the son shall not bear the wickedness of the father, nor the father\nshall not bear the wickedness of the son, but everych shall bear his\nown burden. And therefore beseek thou only God, and He will help thee\nin all thy needs. And then Sir Launcelot and he went to supper, and so\nlaid him to rest, and the hair pricked so Sir Launcelot\u2019s skin which\ngrieved him full sore, but he took it meekly, and suffered the pain.\nAnd so on the morn he heard his mass and took his arms, and so took his\nleave.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. How Sir Launcelot jousted with many knights, and how he was\ntaken.\n\n\nAnd then mounted upon his horse, and rode into a forest, and held no\nhighway. And as he looked afore him he saw a fair plain, and beside\nthat a fair castle, and afore the castle were many pavilions of silk\nand of diverse hue. And him seemed that he saw there five hundred\nknights riding on horseback; and there were two parties: they that were\nof the castle were all on black horses and their trappings black, and\nthey that were without were all on white horses and trappings, and\neverych hurtled to other that it marvelled Sir Launcelot. And at the\nlast him thought they of the castle were put to the worse.\n\nThen thought Sir Launcelot for to help there the weaker party in\nincreasing of his chivalry. And so Sir Launcelot thrust in among the\nparty of the castle, and smote down a knight, horse and man, to the\nearth. And then he rashed here and there, and did marvellous deeds of\narms. And then he drew out his sword, and struck many knights to the\nearth, so that all those that saw him marvelled that ever one knight\nmight do so great deeds of arms.\n\nBut always the white knights held them nigh about Sir Launcelot, for to\ntire him and wind him. But at the last, as a man may not ever endure,\nSir Launcelot waxed so faint of fighting and travailing, and was so\nweary of his great deeds, but he might not lift up his arms for to give\none stroke, so that he weened never to have borne arms; and then they\nall took and led him away into a forest, and there made him to alight\nand to rest him.\n\nAnd then all the fellowship of the castle were overcome for the default\nof him.\n\nThen they said all unto Sir Launcelot: Blessed be God that ye be now of\nour fellowship, for we shall hold you in our prison; and so they left\nhim with few words.\n\nAnd then Sir Launcelot made great sorrow, For never or now was I never\nat tournament nor jousts but I had the best, and now I am shamed; and\nthen he said: Now I am sure that I am more sinfuller than ever I was.\n\nThus he rode sorrowing, and half a day he was out of despair, till that\nhe came into a deep valley. And when Sir Launcelot saw he might not\nride up into the mountain, he there alighted under an apple tree, and\nthere he left his helm and his shield, and put his horse unto pasture.\nAnd then he laid him down to sleep. And then him thought there came an\nold man afore him, the which said: Ah, Launcelot of evil faith and poor\nbelief, wherefore is thy will turned so lightly toward thy deadly sin?\nAnd when he had said thus he vanished away, and Launcelot wist not\nwhere he was become. Then he took his horse, and armed him; and as he\nrode by the way he saw a chapel where was a recluse, which had a window\nthat she might see up to the altar. And all aloud she called Launcelot,\nfor that he seemed a knight errant. And then he came, and she asked him\nwhat he was, and of what place, and where about he went to seek.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot told his advision to a woman, and how she\nexpounded it to him.\n\n\nAnd then he told her altogether word by word, and the truth how it\nbefell him at the tournament. And after told her his advision that he\nhad had that night in his sleep, and prayed her to tell him what it\nmight mean, for he was not well content with it. Ah, Launcelot, said\nshe, as long as ye were knight of earthly knighthood ye were the most\nmarvellous man of the world, and most adventurous. Now, said the lady,\nsithen ye be set among the knights of heavenly adventures, if adventure\nfell thee contrary at that tournament have thou no marvel, for that\ntournament yesterday was but a tokening of Our Lord. And not for then\nthere was none enchantment, for they at the tournament were earthly\nknights. The tournament was a token to see who should have most\nknights, either Eliazar, the son of King Pelles, or Argustus, the son\nof King Harlon. But Eliazar was all clothed in white, and Argustus was\ncovered in black, the which were [over]come.\n\nAll what this betokeneth I shall tell you. The day of Pentecost, when\nKing Arthur held his court, it befell that earthly kings and knights\ntook a tournament together, that is to say the quest of the Sangreal.\nThe earthly knights were they the which were clothed all in black, and\nthe covering betokeneth the sins whereof they be not confessed. And\nthey with the covering of white betokeneth virginity, and they that\nchose chastity. And thus was the quest begun in them. Then thou beheld\nthe sinners and the good men, and when thou sawest the sinners\novercome, thou inclinest to that party for bobaunce and pride of the\nworld, and all that must be left in that quest, for in this quest thou\nshalt have many fellows and thy betters. For thou art so feeble of evil\ntrust and good belief, this made it when thou were there where they\ntook thee and led thee into the forest. And anon there appeared the\nSangreal unto the white knights, but thou was so feeble of good belief\nand faith that thou mightest not abide it for all the teaching of the\ngood man, but anon thou turnest to the sinners, and that caused thy\nmisadventure that thou should\u2019st know good from evil and vain glory of\nthe world, the which is not worth a pear. And for great pride thou\nmadest great sorrow that thou hadst not overcome all the white knights\nwith the covering of white, by whom was betokened virginity and\nchastity; and therefore God was wroth with you, for God loveth no such\ndeeds in this quest. And this advision signifieth that thou were of\nevil faith and of poor belief, the which will make thee to fall into\nthe deep pit of hell if thou keep thee not. Now have I warned thee of\nthy vain glory and of thy pride, that thou hast many times erred\nagainst thy Maker. Beware of everlasting pain, for of all earthly\nknights I have most pity of thee, for I know well thou hast not thy\npeer of any earthly sinful man.\n\nAnd so she commended Sir Launcelot to dinner. And after dinner he took\nhis horse and commended her to God, and so rode into a deep valley, and\nthere he saw a river and an high mountain. And through the water he\nmust needs pass, the which was hideous; and then in the name of God he\ntook it with good heart. And when he came over he saw an armed knight,\nhorse and man black as any bear; without any word he smote Sir\nLauncelot\u2019s horse to the earth; and so he passed on, he wist not where\nhe was become. And then he took his helm and his shield, and thanked\nGod of his adventure.\n\n_Here leaveth off the story of Sir Launcelot, and speak we of Sir\nGawaine, the which is the sixteenth book._\n\n\n\n\nBOOK XVI.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. How Sir Gawaine was nigh weary of the quest of the Sangreal,\nand of his marvellous dream.\n\n\nWhen Sir Gawaine was departed from his fellowship he rode long without\nany adventure. For he found not the tenth part of adventure as he was\nwont to do. For Sir Gawaine rode from Whitsuntide until Michaelmas and\nfound none adventure that pleased him. So on a day it befell Gawaine\nmet with Sir Ector de Maris, and either made great joy of other that it\nwere marvel to tell. And so they told everych other, and complained\nthem greatly that they could find none adventure. Truly, said Sir\nGawaine unto Sir Ector, I am nigh weary of this quest, and loath I am\nto follow further in strange countries. One thing marvelled me, said\nSir Ector, I have met with twenty knights, fellows of mine, and all\nthey complain as I do. I have marvel, said Sir Gawaine, where that Sir\nLauncelot, your brother, is. Truly, said Sir Ector, I cannot hear of\nhim, nor of Sir Galahad, Percivale, nor Sir Bors. Let them be, said Sir\nGawaine, for they four have no peers. And if one thing were not in Sir\nLauncelot he had no fellow of none earthly man; but he is as we be, but\nif he took more pain upon him. But an these four be met together they\nwill be loath that any man meet with them; for an they fail of the\nSangreal it is in waste of all the remnant to recover it.\n\nThus Ector and Gawaine rode more than eight days, and on a Saturday\nthey found an old chapel, the which was wasted that there seemed no man\nthither repaired; and there they alighted, and set their spears at the\ndoor, and in they entered into the chapel, and there made their orisons\na great while, and set them down in the sieges of the chapel. And as\nthey spake of one thing and other, for heaviness they fell asleep, and\nthere befell them both marvellous adventures. Sir Gawaine him seemed he\ncame into a meadow full of herbs and flowers, and there he saw a rack\nof bulls, an hundred and fifty, that were proud and black, save three\nof them were all white, and one had a black spot, and the other two\nwere so fair and so white that they might be no whiter. And these three\nbulls which were so fair were tied with two strong cords. And the\nremnant of the bulls said among them: Go we hence to seek better\npasture. And so some went, and some came again, but they were so lean\nthat they might not stand upright; and of the bulls that were so white,\nthat one came again and no mo. But when this white bull was come again\namong these other there rose up a great cry for lack of wind that\nfailed them; and so they departed one here and another there: this\nadvision befell Gawaine that night.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. Of the advision of Sir Ector, and how he jousted with Sir\nUwaine les Avoutres, his sworn brother.\n\n\nBut to Ector de Maris befell another vision the contrary. For it seemed\nhim that his brother, Sir Launcelot, and he alighted out of a chair and\nleapt upon two horses, and the one said to the other: Go we seek that\nwe shall not find. And him thought that a man beat Sir Launcelot, and\ndespoiled him, and clothed him in another array, the which was all full\nof knots, and set him upon an ass, and so he rode till he came to the\nfairest well that ever he saw; and Sir Launcelot alighted and would\nhave drunk of that well. And when he stooped to drink of the water the\nwater sank from him. And when Sir Launcelot saw that, he turned and\nwent thither as the head came from. And in the meanwhile he trowed that\nhimself and Sir Ector rode till that they came to a rich man\u2019s house\nwhere there was a wedding. And there he saw a king the which said: Sir\nknight, here is no place for you. And then he turned again unto the\nchair that he came from.\n\nThus within a while both Gawaine and Ector awaked, and either told\nother of their advision, the which marvelled them greatly. Truly, said\nEctor, I shall never be merry till I hear tidings of my brother\nLauncelot. Now as they sat thus talking they saw an hand showing unto\nthe elbow, and was covered with red samite, and upon that hung a bridle\nnot right rich, and held within the fist a great candle which burned\nright clear, and so passed afore them, and entered into the chapel, and\nthen vanished away and they wist not where. And anon came down a voice\nwhich said: Knights of full evil faith and of poor belief, these two\nthings have failed you, and therefore ye may not come to the adventures\nof the Sangreal.\n\nThen first spake Gawaine and said: Ector, have ye heard these words?\nYea truly, said Sir Ector, I heard all. Now go we, said Sir Ector, unto\nsome hermit that will tell us of our advision, for it seemeth me we\nlabour all in vain. And so they departed and rode into a valley, and\nthere met with a squire which rode on an hackney, and they saluted him\nfair. Sir, said Gawaine, can thou teach us to any hermit? Here is one\nin a little mountain, but it is so rough there may no horse go thither,\nand therefore ye must go upon foot; there shall ye find a poor house,\nand there is Nacien the hermit, which is the holiest man in this\ncountry. And so they departed either from other.\n\nAnd then in a valley they met with a knight all armed, which proffered\nthem to joust as far as he saw them. In the name of God, said Sir\nGawaine, sith I departed from Camelot there was none proffered me to\njoust but once. And now, sir, said Ector, let me joust with him. Nay,\nsaid Gawaine, ye shall not but if I be beat; it shall not for-think me\nthen if ye go after me. And then either embraced other to joust and\ncame together as fast as their horses might run, and brast their\nshields and the mails, and the one more than the other; and Gawaine was\nwounded in the left side, but the other knight was smitten through the\nbreast, and the spear came out on the other side, and so they fell both\nout of their saddles, and in the falling they brake both their spears.\n\nAnon Gawaine arose and set his hand to his sword, and cast his shield\nafore him. But all for naught was it, for the knight had no power to\narise against him. Then said Gawaine: Ye must yield you as an overcome\nman, or else I may slay you. Ah, sir knight, said he, I am but dead,\nfor God\u2019s sake and of your gentleness lead me here unto an abbey that I\nmay receive my Creator. Sir, said Gawaine, I know no house of religion\nhereby. Sir, said the knight, set me on an horse to-fore you, and I\nshall teach you. Gawaine set him up in the saddle, and he leapt up\nbehind him for to sustain him, and so came to an abbey where they were\nwell received; and anon he was unarmed, and received his Creator. Then\nhe prayed Gawaine to draw out the truncheon of the spear out of his\nbody. Then Gawaine asked him what he was, that knew him not. I am, said\nhe, of King Arthur\u2019s court, and was a fellow of the Round Table, and we\nwere brethren sworn together; and now Sir Gawaine, thou hast slain me,\nand my name is Uwaine les Avoutres, that sometime was son unto King\nUriens, and was in the quest of the Sangreal; and now forgive it thee\nGod, for it shall ever be said that the one sworn brother hath slain\nthe other.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. How Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector came to an hermitage to be\nconfessed, and how they told to the hermit their advisions.\n\n\nAlas, said Gawaine, that ever this misadventure is befallen me. No\nforce, said Uwaine, sith I shall die this death, of a much more\nworshipfuller man\u2019s hand might I not die; but when ye come to the court\nrecommend me unto my lord, King Arthur, and all those that be left\nalive, and for old brotherhood think on me. Then began Gawaine to weep,\nand Ector also. And then Uwaine himself and Sir Gawaine drew out the\ntruncheon of the spear, and anon departed the soul from the body. Then\nSir Gawaine and Sir Ector buried him as men ought to bury a king\u2019s son,\nand made write upon his name, and by whom he was slain.\n\nThen departed Gawaine and Ector, as heavy as they might for their\nmisadventure, and so rode till that they came to the rough mountain,\nand there they tied their horses and went on foot to the hermitage. And\nwhen they were come up they saw a poor house, and beside the chapel a\nlittle courtelage, where Nacien the hermit gathered worts, as he which\nhad tasted none other meat of a great while. And when he saw the errant\nknights he came toward them and saluted them, and they him again. Fair\nlords, said he, what adventure brought you hither? Sir, said Gawaine,\nto speak with you for to be confessed. Sir, said the hermit, I am\nready. Then they told him so much that he wist well what they were. And\nthen he thought to counsel them if he might.\n\nThen began Gawaine first and told him of his advision that he had had\nin the chapel, and Ector told him all as it is afore rehearsed. Sir,\nsaid the hermit unto Sir Gawaine, the fair meadow and the rack therein\nought to be understood the Round Table, and by the meadow ought to be\nunderstood humility and patience, those be the things which be always\ngreen and quick; for men may no time overcome humility and patience,\ntherefore was the Round Table founded, and the chivalry hath been at\nall times so by the fraternity which was there that she might not be\novercome; for men said she was founded in patience and in humility. At\nthe rack ate an hundred and fifty bulls; but they ate not in the\nmeadow, for their hearts should be set in humility and patience, and\nthe bulls were proud and black save only three. By the bulls is to\nunderstand the fellowship of the Round Table, which for their sin and\ntheir wickedness be black. Blackness is to say without good or virtuous\nworks. And the three bulls which were white save only one that was\nspotted: the two white betoken Sir Galahad and Sir Percivale, for they\nbe maidens clean and without spot; and the third that had a spot\nsignifieth Sir Bors de Ganis, which trespassed but once in his\nvirginity, but sithen he kept himself so well in chastity that all is\nforgiven him and his misdeeds. And why those three were tied by the\nnecks, they be three knights in virginity and chastity, and there is no\npride smitten in them. And the black bulls which said: Go we hence,\nthey were those which at Pentecost at the high feast took upon them to\ngo in the quest of the Sangreal without confession: they might not\nenter in the meadow of humility and patience. And therefore they\nreturned into waste countries, that signifieth death, for there shall\ndie many of them: everych of them shall slay other for sin, and they\nthat shall escape shall be so lean that it shall be marvel to see them.\nAnd of the three bulls without spot, the one shall come again, and the\nother two never.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. How the hermit expounded their advision.\n\n\nThen spake Nacien unto Ector: Sooth it is that Launcelot and ye came\ndown off one chair: the chair betokeneth mastership and lordship which\nye came down from. But ye two knights, said the hermit, ye go to seek\nthat ye shall never find, that is the Sangreal; for it is the secret\nthing of our Lord Jesu Christ. What is to mean that Sir Launcelot fell\ndown off his horse: he hath left pride and taken him to humility, for\nhe hath cried mercy loud for his sin, and sore repented him, and our\nLord hath clothed him in his clothing which is full of knots, that is\nthe hair that he weareth daily. And the ass that he rode upon is a\nbeast of humility, for God would not ride upon no steed, nor upon no\npalfrey; so in ensample that an ass betokeneth meekness, that thou\nsawest Sir Launcelot ride on in thy sleep. And the well whereas the\nwater sank from him when he should have taken thereof, and when he saw\nhe might not have it, he returned thither from whence he came, for the\nwell betokeneth the high grace of God, the more men desire it to take\nit, the more shall be their desire. So when he came nigh the Sangreal,\nhe meeked him that he held him not a man worthy to be so nigh the Holy\nVessel, for he had been so defouled in deadly sin by the space of many\nyears; yet when he kneeled to drink of the well, there he saw great\nprovidence of the Sangreal. And for he had served so long the devil, he\nshall have vengeance four-and-twenty days long, for that he hath been\nthe devil\u2019s servant four-and-twenty years. And then soon after he shall\nreturn unto Camelot out of this country, and he shall say a part of\nsuch things as he hath found.\n\nNow will I tell you what betokeneth the hand with the candle and the\nbridle: that is to understand the Holy Ghost where charity is ever, and\nthe bridle signifieth abstinence. For when she is bridled in Christian\nman\u2019s heart she holdeth him so short that he falleth not in deadly sin.\nAnd the candle which sheweth clearness and sight signifieth the right\nway of Jesu Christ. And when he went and said: Knights of poor faith\nand of wicked belief, these three things failed, charity, abstinence,\nand truth; therefore ye may not attain that high adventure of the\nSangreal.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. Of the good counsel that the hermit gave to them.\n\n\nCertes, said Gawaine, soothly have ye said, that I see it openly. Now,\nI pray you, good man and holy father, tell me why we met not with so\nmany adventures as we were wont to do, and commonly have the better. I\nshall tell you gladly, said the good man; the adventure of the Sangreal\nwhich ye and many other have undertaken the quest of it and find it\nnot, the cause is for it appeareth not to sinners. Wherefore marvel not\nthough ye fail thereof, and many other. For ye be an untrue knight and\na great murderer, and to good men signifieth other things than murder.\nFor I dare say, as sinful as Sir Launcelot hath been, sith that he went\ninto the quest of the Sangreal he slew never man, nor nought shall,\ntill that he come unto Camelot again, for he hath taken upon him for to\nforsake sin. And nere that he nis not stable, but by his thought he is\nlikely to turn again, he should be next to enchieve it save Galahad,\nhis son. But God knoweth his thought and his unstableness, and yet\nshall he die right an holy man, and no doubt he hath no fellow of no\nearthly sinful man. Sir, said Gawaine, it seemeth me by your words that\nfor our sins it will not avail us to travel in this quest. Truly, said\nthe good man, there be an hundred such as ye be that never shall\nprevail, but to have shame. And when they had heard these voices they\ncommended him unto God.\n\nThen the good man called Gawaine, and said: It is long time passed sith\nthat ye were made knight, and never sithen thou servedst thy Maker, and\nnow thou art so old a tree that in thee is neither life nor fruit;\nwherefore bethink thee that thou yield to Our Lord the bare rind, sith\nthe fiend hath the leaves and the fruit. Sir, said Gawaine an I had\nleisure I would speak with you, but my fellow here, Sir Ector, is gone,\nand abideth me yonder beneath the hill. Well, said the good man, thou\nwere better to be counselled. Then departed Gawaine and came to Ector,\nand so took their horses and rode till they came to a forester\u2019s house,\nwhich harboured them right well. And on the morn they departed from\ntheir host, and rode long or they could find any adventure.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. How Sir Bors met with an hermit, and how he was confessed\nto him, and of his penance enjoined to him.\n\n\nWhen Bors was departed from Camelot he met with a religious man riding\non an ass, and Sir Bors saluted him. Anon the good man knew him that he\nwas one of the knights-errant that was in the quest of the Sangreal.\nWhat are ye? said the good man. Sir, said he, I am a knight that fain\nwould be counselled in the quest of the Sangreal, for he shall have\nmuch earthly worship that may bring it to an end. Certes, said the good\nman, that is sooth, for he shall be the best knight of the world, and\nthe fairest of all the fellowship. But wit you well there shall none\nattain it but by cleanness, that is pure confession.\n\nSo rode they together till that they came to an hermitage. And there he\nprayed Bors to dwell all that night with him. And so he alighted and\nput away his armour, and prayed him that he might be confessed; and so\nthey went into the chapel, and there he was clean confessed, and they\nate bread and drank water together. Now, said the good man, I pray thee\nthat thou eat none other till that thou sit at the table where the\nSangreal shall be. Sir, said he, I agree me thereto, but how wit ye\nthat I shall sit there. Yes, said the good man, that know I, but there\nshall be but few of your fellows with you. All is welcome, said Sir\nBors, that God sendeth me. Also, said the good man, instead of a shirt,\nand in sign of chastisement, ye shall wear a garment; therefore I pray\nyou do off all your clothes and your shirt: and so he did. And then he\ntook him a scarlet coat, so that should be instead of his shirt till he\nhad fulfilled the quest of the Sangreal; and the good man found in him\nso marvellous a life and so stable, that he marvelled and felt that he\nwas never corrupt in fleshly lusts, but in one time that he begat Elian\nle Blank.\n\nThen he armed him, and took his leave, and so departed. And so a little\nfrom thence he looked up into a tree, and there he saw a passing great\nbird upon an old tree, and it was passing dry, without leaves; and the\nbird sat above, and had birds, the which were dead for hunger. So smote\nhe himself with his beak, the which was great and sharp. And so the\ngreat bird bled till that he died among his birds. And the young birds\ntook the life by the blood of the great bird. When Bors saw this he\nwist well it was a great tokening; for when he saw the great bird arose\nnot, then he took his horse and yede his way. So by evensong, by\nadventure he came to a strong tower and an high, and there was he\nlodged gladly.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. How Sir Bors was lodged with a lady, and how he took upon\nhim for to fight against a champion for her land.\n\n\nAnd when he was unarmed they led him into an high tower where was a\nlady, young, lusty, and fair. And she received him with great joy, and\nmade him to sit down by her, and so was he set to sup with flesh and\nmany dainties. And when Sir Bors saw that, he bethought him on his\npenance, and bade a squire to bring him water. And so he brought him,\nand he made sops therein and ate them. Ah, said the lady, I trow ye\nlike not my meat. Yes, truly, said Sir Bors, God thank you, madam, but\nI may eat none other meat this day. Then she spake no more as at that\ntime, for she was loath to displease him. Then after supper they spake\nof one thing and other.\n\nWith that came a squire and said: Madam, ye must purvey you to-morn for\na champion, for else your sister will have this castle and also your\nlands, except ye can find a knight that will fight to-morn in your\nquarrel against Pridam le Noire. Then she made sorrow and said: Ah,\nLord God, wherefore granted ye to hold my land, whereof I should now be\ndisherited without reason and right? And when Sir Bors had heard her\nsay thus, he said: I shall comfort you. Sir, said she, I shall tell you\nthere was here a king that hight Aniause, which held all this land in\nhis keeping. So it mishapped he loved a gentlewoman a great deal elder\nthan I. So took he her all this land to her keeping, and all his men to\ngovern; and she brought up many evil customs whereby she put to death a\ngreat part of his kinsmen. And when he saw that, he let chase her out\nof this land, and betook it me, and all this land in my demesnes. But\nanon as that worthy king was dead, this other lady began to war upon\nme, and hath destroyed many of my men, and turned them against me, that\nI have well-nigh no man left me; and I have nought else but this high\ntower that she left me. And yet she hath promised me to have this\ntower, without I can find a knight to fight with her champion.\n\nNow tell me, said Sir Bors, what is that Pridam le Noire? Sir, said\nshe, he is the most doubted man of this land. Now may ye send her word\nthat ye have found a knight that shall fight with that Pridam le Noire\nin God\u2019s quarrel and yours. Then that lady was not a little glad, and\nsent word that she was purveyed, and that night Bors had good cheer;\nbut in no bed he would come, but laid him on the floor, nor never would\ndo otherwise till that he had met with the quest of the Sangreal.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. Of an advision which Sir Bors had that night, and how he\nfought and overcame his adversary.\n\n\nAnd anon as he was asleep him befell a vision, that there came to him\ntwo birds, the one as white as a swan, and the other was marvellous\nblack; but it was not so great as the other, but in the likeness of a\nRaven. Then the white bird came to him, and said: An thou wouldst give\nme meat and serve me I should give thee all the riches of the world,\nand I shall make thee as fair and as white as I am. So the white bird\ndeparted, and there came the black bird to him, and said: An thou wolt,\nserve me to-morrow and have me in no despite though I be black, for wit\nthou well that more availeth my blackness than the other\u2019s whiteness.\nAnd then he departed.\n\nAnd he had another vision: him thought that he came to a great place\nwhich seemed a chapel, and there he found a chair set on the left side,\nwhich was worm-eaten and feeble. And on the right hand were two flowers\nlike a lily, and the one would have benome the other\u2019s whiteness, but a\ngood man departed them that the one touched not the other; and then out\nof every flower came out many flowers, and fruit great plenty. Then him\nthought the good man said: Should not he do great folly that would let\nthese two flowers perish for to succour the rotten tree, that it fell\nnot to the earth? Sir, said he, it seemeth me that this wood might not\navail. Now keep thee, said the good man, that thou never see such\nadventure befall thee.\n\nThen he awaked and made a sign of the cross in midst of the forehead,\nand so rose and clothed him. And there came the lady of the place, and\nshe saluted him, and he her again, and so went to a chapel and heard\ntheir service. And there came a company of knights, that the lady had\nsent for, to lead Sir Bors unto battle. Then asked he his arms. And\nwhen he was armed she prayed him to take a little morsel to dine. Nay,\nmadam, said he, that shall I not do till I have done my battle, by the\ngrace of God. And so he leapt upon his horse, and departed, all the\nknights and men with him. And as soon as these two ladies met together,\nshe which Bors should fight for complained her, and said: Madam, ye\nhave done me wrong to bereave me of my lands that King Aniause gave me,\nand full loath I am there should be any battle. Ye shall not choose,\nsaid the other lady, or else your knight withdraw him.\n\nThen there was the cry made, which party had the better of the two\nknights, that his lady should rejoice all the land. Now departed the\none knight here, and the other there. Then they came together with such\na raundon that they pierced their shields and their hauberks, and the\nspears flew in pieces, and they wounded either other sore. Then hurtled\nthey together, so that they fell both to the earth, and their horses\nbetwixt their legs; and anon they arose, and set hands to their swords,\nand smote each one other upon the heads, that they made great wounds\nand deep, that the blood went out of their bodies. For there found Sir\nBors greater defence in that knight more than he weened. For that\nPridam was a passing good knight, and he wounded Sir Bors full evil,\nand he him again; but ever this Pridam held the stour in like hard.\nThat perceived Sir Bors, and suffered him till he was nigh attaint. And\nthen he ran upon him more and more, and the other went back for dread\nof death. So in his withdrawing he fell upright, and Sir Bors drew his\nhelm so strongly that he rent it from his head, and gave him great\nstrokes with the flat of his sword upon the visage, and bade him yield\nhim or he should slay him. Then he cried him mercy and said: Fair\nknight, for God\u2019s love slay me not, and I shall ensure thee never to\nwar against thy lady, but be alway toward her. Then Bors let him be;\nthen the old lady fled with all her knights.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. How the lady was returned to her lands by the battle of Sir\nBors, and of his departing, and how he met Sir Lionel taken and beaten\nwith thorns, and also of a maid which should have been devoured.\n\n\nSo then came Bors to all those that held lands of his lady, and said he\nshould destroy them but if they did such service unto her as longed to\ntheir lands. So they did their homage, and they that would not were\nchased out of their lands. Then befell that young lady to come to her\nestate again, by the mighty prowess of Sir Bors de Ganis. So when all\nthe country was well set in peace, then Sir Bors took his leave and\ndeparted; and she thanked him greatly, and would have given him great\nriches, but he refused it.\n\nThen he rode all that day till night, and came to an harbour to a lady\nwhich knew him well enough, and made of him great Joy. Upon the morn,\nas soon as the day appeared, Bors departed from thence, and so rode\ninto a forest unto the hour of midday, and there befell him a\nmarvellous adventure. So he met at the departing of the two ways two\nknights that led Lionel, his brother, all naked, bounden upon a strong\nhackney, and his hands bounden to-fore his breast. And everych of them\nheld in his hands thorns wherewith they went beating him so sore that\nthe blood trailed down more than in an hundred places of his body, so\nthat he was all blood to-fore and behind, but he said never a word; as\nhe which was great of heart he suffered all that ever they did to him,\nas though he had felt none anguish.\n\nAnon Sir Bors dressed him to rescue him that was his brother; and so he\nlooked upon the other side of him, and saw a knight which brought a\nfair gentlewoman, and would have set her in the thickest place of the\nforest for to have been the more surer out of the way from them that\nsought him. And she which was nothing assured cried with an high voice:\nSaint Mary succour your maid. And anon she espied where Sir Bors came\nriding. And when she came nigh him she deemed him a knight of the Round\nTable, whereof she hoped to have some comfort; and then she conjured\nhim: By the faith that he ought unto Him in whose service thou art\nentered in, and for the faith ye owe unto the high order of knighthood,\nand for the noble King Arthur\u2019s sake, that I suppose made thee knight,\nthat thou help me, and suffer me not to be shamed of this knight. When\nBors heard her say thus he had so much sorrow there he nist not what to\ndo. For if I let my brother be in adventure he must be slain, and that\nwould I not for all the earth. And if I help not the maid she is shamed\nfor ever, and also she shall lose her virginity the which she shall\nnever get again. Then lift he up his eyes and said weeping: Fair sweet\nLord Jesu Christ, whose liege man I am, keep Lionel, my brother, that\nthese knights slay him not, and for pity of you, and for Mary\u2019s sake, I\nshall succour this maid.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. How Sir Bors left to rescue his brother, and rescued the\ndamosel; and how it was told him that Lionel was dead.\n\n\nThen dressed he him unto the knight the which had the gentlewoman, and\nthen he cried: Sir knight, let your hand off that maiden, or ye be but\ndead. And then he set down the maiden, and was armed at all pieces save\nhe lacked his spear. Then he dressed his shield, and drew out his\nsword, and Bors smote him so hard that it went through his shield and\nhabergeon on the left shoulder. And through great strength he beat him\ndown to the earth, and at the pulling out of Bors\u2019 spear there he\nswooned. Then came Bors to the maid and said: How seemeth it you? of\nthis knight ye be delivered at this time. Now sir, said she, I pray you\nlead me thereas this knight had me. So shall I do gladly: and took the\nhorse of the wounded knight, and set the gentlewoman upon him, and so\nbrought her as she desired. Sir knight, said she, ye have better sped\nthan ye weened, for an I had lost my maidenhead, five hundred men\nshould have died for it. What knight was he that had you in the forest?\nBy my faith, said she, he is my cousin. So wot I never with what engine\nthe fiend enchafed him, for yesterday he took me from my father\nprivily; for I, nor none of my father\u2019s men, mistrusted him not, and if\nhe had had my maidenhead he should have died for the sin, and his body\nshamed and dishonoured for ever. Thus as she stood talking with him\nthere came twelve knights seeking after her, and anon she told them all\nhow Bors had delivered her; then they made great joy, and besought him\nto come to her father, a great lord, and he should be right welcome.\nTruly, said Bors, that may not be at this time, for I have a great\nadventure to do in this country. So he commended them unto God and\ndeparted.\n\nThen Sir Bors rode after Lionel, his brother, by the trace of their\nhorses, thus he rode seeking a great while. Then he overtook a man\nclothed in a religious clothing; and rode on a strong black horse\nblacker than a berry, and said: Sir knight, what seek you? Sir, said\nhe, I seek my brother that I saw within a while beaten with two\nknights. Ah, Bors, discomfort you not, nor fall into no wanhope; for I\nshall tell you tidings such as they be, for truly he is dead. Then\nshowed he him a new slain body lying in a bush, and it seemed him well\nthat it was the body of Lionel, and then he made such a sorrow that he\nfell to the earth all in a swoon, and lay a great while there. And when\nhe came to himself he said: Fair brother, sith the company of you and\nme is departed shall I never have joy in my heart, and now He which I\nhave taken unto my master, He be my help. And when he had said thus he\ntook his body lightly in his arms, and put it upon the arson of his\nsaddle. And then he said to the man: Canst thou tell me unto some\nchapel where that I may bury this body? Come on, said he, here is one\nfast by; and so long they rode till they saw a fair tower, and afore it\nthere seemed an old feeble chapel. And then they alighted both, and put\nhim into a tomb of marble.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI. How Sir Bors told his dream to a priest, which he had\ndreamed, and of the counsel that the priest gave to him.\n\n\nNow leave we him here, said the good man, and go we to our harbour till\nto-morrow; we will come here again to do him service. Sir, said Bors,\nbe ye a priest? Yea forsooth, said he. Then I pray you tell me a dream\nthat befell to me the last night. Say on, said he. Then he began so\nmuch to tell him of the great bird in the forest, and after told him of\nhis birds, one white, another black, and of the rotten tree, and of the\nwhite flowers. Sir, I shall tell you a part now, and the other deal\nto-morrow. The white fowl betokeneth a gentlewoman, fair and rich,\nwhich loved thee paramours, and hath loved thee long; and if thou warn\nher love she shall go die anon, if thou have no pity on her. That\nsignifieth the great bird, the which shall make thee to warn her. Now\nfor no fear that thou hast, ne for no dread that thou hast of God, thou\nshalt not warn her, but thou wouldst not do it for to be holden chaste,\nfor to conquer the loos of the vain glory of the world; for that shall\nbefall thee now an thou warn her, that Launcelot, the good knight, thy\ncousin, shall die. And therefore men shall now say that thou art a\nmanslayer, both of thy brother, Sir Lionel, and of thy cousin, Sir\nLauncelot du Lake, the which thou mightest have saved and rescued\neasily, but thou weenedst to rescue a maid which pertaineth nothing to\nthee. Now look thou whether it had been greater harm of thy brother\u2019s\ndeath, or else to have suffered her to have lost her maidenhood. Then\nasked he him: Hast thou heard the tokens of thy dream the which I have\ntold to you? Yea forsooth, said Sir Bors, all your exposition and\ndeclaring of my dream I have well understood and heard. Then said the\nman in this black clothing: Then is it in thy default if Sir Launcelot,\nthy cousin, die. Sir, said Bors, that were me loath, for wit ye well\nthere is nothing in the world but I had liefer do it than to see my\nlord, Sir Launcelot du Lake, to die in my default. Choose ye now the\none or the other, said the good man.\n\nAnd then he led Sir Bors into an high tower, and there he found knights\nand ladies: those ladies said he was welcome, and so they unarmed him.\nAnd when he was in his doublet men brought him a mantle furred with\nermine, and put it about him; and then they made him such cheer that he\nhad forgotten all his sorrow and anguish, and only set his heart in\nthese delights and dainties, and took no thought more for his brother,\nSir Lionel, neither of Sir Launcelot du Lake, his cousin. And anon came\nout of a chamber to him the fairest lady than ever he saw, and more\nricher beseen than ever he saw Queen Guenever or any other estate. Lo,\nsaid they, Sir Bors, here is the lady unto whom we owe all our service,\nand I trow she be the richest lady and the fairest of all the world,\nand the which loveth you best above all other knights, for she will\nhave no knight but you. And when he understood that language he was\nabashed. Not for then she saluted him, and he her; and then they sat\ndown together and spake of many things, in so much that she besought\nhim to be her love, for she had loved him above all earthly men, and\nshe should make him richer than ever was man of his age. When Bors\nunderstood her words he was right evil at ease, which in no manner\nwould not break chastity, so wist not he how to answer her.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. How the devil in a woman\u2019s likeness would have had Sir\nBors to have lain by her, and how by God\u2019s grace he escaped.\n\n\nAlas, said she, Bors, shall ye not do my will? Madam, said Bors, there\nis no lady in the world whose will I will fulfil as of this thing, for\nmy brother lieth dead which was slain right late. Ah Bors, said she, I\nhave loved you long for the great beauty I have seen in you, and the\ngreat hardiness that I have heard of you, that needs ye must lie by me\nthis night, and therefore I pray you grant it me. Truly, said he, I\nshall not do it in no manner wise. Then she made him such sorrow as\nthough she would have died. Well Bors, said she, unto this have ye\nbrought me, nigh to mine end. And therewith she took him by the hand,\nand bade him behold her. And ye shall see how I shall die for your\nlove. Ah, said then he, that shall I never see.\n\nThen she departed and went up into an high battlement, and led with her\ntwelve gentlewomen; and when they were above, one of the gentlewomen\ncried, and said: Ah, Sir Bors, gentle knight have mercy on us all, and\nsuffer my lady to have her will, and if ye do not we must suffer death\nwith our lady, for to fall down off this high tower, and if ye suffer\nus thus to die for so little a thing all ladies and gentlewomen will\nsay of you dishonour. Then looked he upward, they seemed all ladies of\ngreat estate, and richly and well beseen. Then had he of them great\npity; not for that he was uncounselled in himself that liefer he had\nthey all had lost their souls than he his, and with that they fell\nadown all at once unto the earth. And when he saw that, he was all\nabashed, and had thereof great marvel. With that he blessed his body\nand his visage. And anon he heard a great noise and a great cry, as\nthough all the fiends of hell had been about him; and therewith he saw\nneither tower, nor lady, nor gentlewoman, nor no chapel where he\nbrought his brother to. Then held he up both his hands to the heaven,\nand said: Fair Father God, I am grievously escaped; and then he took\nhis arms and his horse and rode on his way.\n\nThen he heard a clock smite on his right hand; and thither he came to\nan abbey on his right hand, closed with high walls, and there was let\nin. Then they supposed that he was one of the quest of the Sangreal, so\nthey led him into a chamber and unarmed him. Sirs, said Sir Bors, if\nthere be any holy man in this house I pray you let me speak with him.\nThen one of them led him unto the Abbot, which was in a chapel. And\nthen Sir Bors saluted him, and he him again. Sir, said Bors, I am a\nknight-errant; and told him all the adventure which he had seen. Sir\nKnight, said the Abbot, I wot not what ye be, for I weened never that a\nknight of your age might have been so strong in the grace of our Lord\nJesu Christ. Not for then ye shall go unto your rest, for I will not\ncounsel you this day, it is too late, and to-morrow I shall counsel you\nas I can.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. Of the holy communication of an Abbot to Sir Bors, and\nhow the Abbot counselled him.\n\n\nAnd that night was Sir Bors served richly; and on the morn early he\nheard mass, and the Abbot came to him, and bade him good morrow, and\nBors to him again. And then he told him he was a fellow of the quest of\nthe Sangreal, and how he had charge of the holy man to eat bread and\nwater. Then [said the Abbot]: Our Lord Jesu Christ showed him unto you\nin the likeness of a soul that suffered great anguish for us, since He\nwas put upon the cross, and bled His heart-blood for mankind: there was\nthe token and the likeness of the Sangreal that appeared afore you, for\nthe blood that the great fowl bled revived the chickens from death to\nlife. And by the bare tree is betokened the world which is naked and\nwithout fruit but if it come of Our Lord. Also the lady for whom ye\nfought for, and King Aniause which was lord there-to-fore, betokeneth\nJesu Christ which is the King of the world. And that ye fought with the\nchampion for the lady, this it betokeneth: for when ye took the battle\nfor the lady, by her shall ye understand the new law of Jesu Christ and\nHoly Church; and by the other lady ye shall understand the old law and\nthe fiend, which all day warreth against Holy Church, therefore ye did\nyour battle with right. For ye be Jesu Christ\u2019s knights, therefore ye\nought to be defenders of Holy Church. And by the black bird might ye\nunderstand Holy Church, which sayeth I am black, but he is fair. And by\nthe white bird might men understand the fiend, and I shall tell you how\nthe swan is white without-forth, and black within: it is hypocrisy\nwhich is without yellow or pale, and seemeth without-forth the servants\nof Jesu Christ, but they be within so horrible of filth and sin, and\nbeguile the world evil. Also when the fiend appeared to thee in\nlikeness of a man of religion, and blamed thee that thou left thy\nbrother for a lady, so led thee where thou seemed thy brother was\nslain, but he is yet alive; and all was for to put thee in error, and\nbring thee unto wanhope and lechery, for he knew thou were tender\nhearted, and all was for thou shouldst not find the blessed adventure\nof the Sangreal. And the third fowl betokeneth the strong battle\nagainst the fair ladies which were all devils. Also the dry tree and\nthe white lily: the dry tree betokeneth thy brother Lionel, which is\ndry without virtue, and therefore many men ought to call him the rotten\ntree, and the worm-eaten tree, for he is a murderer and doth contrary\nto the order of knighthood. And the two white flowers signify two\nmaidens, the one is a knight which was wounded the other day, and the\nother is the gentlewoman which ye rescued; and why the other flower\ndrew nigh the other, that was the knight which would have defouled her\nand himself both. And Sir Bors, ye had been a great fool and in great\nperil for to have seen those two flowers perish for to succour the\nrotten tree, for an they had sinned together they had been damned; and\nfor that ye rescued them both, men might call you a very knight and\nservant of Jesu Christ.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV. How Sir Bors met with his brother Sir Lionel, and how Sir\nLionel would have slain Sir Bors.\n\n\nThen went Sir Bors from thence and commended the Abbot unto God. And\nthen he rode all that day, and harboured with an old lady. And on the\nmorn he rode to a castle in a valley, and there he met with a yeoman\ngoing a great pace toward a forest. Say me, said Sir Bors, canst thou\ntell me of any adventure? Sir, said he, here shall be under this castle\na great and a marvellous tournament. Of what folks shall it be? said\nSir Bors. The Earl of Plains shall be in the one party, and the lady\u2019s\nnephew of Hervin on the other party. Then Bors thought to be there if\nhe might meet with his brother Sir Lionel, or any other of his\nfellowship, which were in the quest of the Sangreal. And then he turned\nto an hermitage that was in the entry of the forest.\n\nAnd when he was come thither he found there Sir Lionel, his brother,\nwhich sat all armed at the entry of the chapel door for to abide there\nharbour till on the morn that the tournament shall be. And when Sir\nBors saw him he had great joy of him, that it were marvel to tell of\nhis joy. And then he alighted off his horse, and said: Fair sweet\nbrother, when came ye hither? Anon as Lionel saw him he said: Ah Bors,\nye may not make none avaunt, but as for you I might have been slain;\nwhen ye saw two knights leading me away beating me, ye left me for to\nsuccour a gentlewoman, and suffered me in peril of death; for never\nerst ne did no brother to another so great an untruth. And for that\nmisdeed now I ensure you but death, for well have ye deserved it;\ntherefore keep thee from henceforward, and that shall ye find as soon\nas I am armed. When Sir Bors understood his brother\u2019s wrath he kneeled\ndown to the earth and cried him mercy, holding up both his hands, and\nprayed him to forgive him his evil will. Nay, said Lionel, that shall\nnever be an I may have the higher hand, that I make mine avow to God,\nthou shalt have death for it, for it were pity ye lived any longer.\n\nRight so he went in and took his harness, and mounted upon his horse,\nand came to-fore him and said: Bors, keep thee from me, for I shall do\nto thee as I would to a felon or a traitor, for ye be the untruest\nknight that ever came out of so worthy an house as was King Bors de\nGanis which was our father, therefore start upon thy horse, and so\nshall ye be most at your advantage. And but if ye will I will run upon\nyou thereas ye stand upon foot, and so the shame shall be mine and the\nharm yours, but of that shame ne reck I nought.\n\nWhen Sir Bors saw that he must fight with his brother or else to die,\nhe nist what to do; then his heart counselled him not thereto, inasmuch\nas Lionel was born or he, wherefore he ought to bear him reverence; yet\nkneeled he down afore Lionel\u2019s horse\u2019s feet, and said: Fair sweet\nbrother, have mercy upon me and slay me not, and have in remembrance\nthe great love which ought to be between us twain. What Sir Bors said\nto Lionel he rought not, for the fiend had brought him in such a will\nthat he should slay him. Then when Lionel saw he would none other, and\nthat he would not have risen to give him battle, he rashed over him so\nthat he smote Bors with his horse, feet upward, to the earth, and hurt\nhim so sore that he swooned of distress, the which he felt in himself\nto have died without confession. So when Lionel saw this, he alighted\noff his horse to have smitten off his head. And so he took him by the\nhelm, and would have rent it from his head. Then came the hermit\nrunning unto him, which was a good man and of great age, and well had\nheard all the words that were between them, and so fell down upon Sir\nBors.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV. How Sir Colgrevance fought against Sir Lionel for to save\nSir Bors, and how the hermit was slain.\n\n\nThen he said to Lionel: Ah gentle knight, have mercy upon me and on thy\nbrother, for if thou slay him thou shalt be dead of sin, and that were\nsorrowful, for he is one of the worthiest knights of the world, and of\nthe best conditions. So God help me, said Lionel, sir priest, but if ye\nflee from him I shall slay you, and he shall never the sooner be quit.\nCertes, said the good man, I have liefer ye slay me than him, for my\ndeath shall not be great harm, not half so much as of his. Well, said\nLionel, I am greed; and set his hand to his sword and smote him so hard\nthat his head yede backward. Not for that he restrained him of his evil\nwill, but took his brother by the helm, and unlaced it to have stricken\noff his head, and had slain him without fail. But so it happed,\nColgrevance a fellow of the Round Table, came at that time thither as\nOur Lord\u2019s will was. And when he saw the good man slain he marvelled\nmuch what it might be. And then he beheld Lionel would have slain his\nbrother, and knew Sir Bors which he loved right well. Then stert he\ndown and took Lionel by the shoulders, and drew him strongly aback from\nBors, and said: Lionel, will ye slay your brother, the worthiest knight\nof the world one? and that should no good man suffer. Why, said Lionel,\nwill ye let me? therefore if ye entermete you in this I shall slay you,\nand him after. Why, said Colgrevance, is this sooth that ye will slay\nhim? Slay him will I, said he, whoso say the contrary, for he hath done\nso much against me that he hath well deserved it. And so ran upon him,\nand would have smitten him through the head, and Sir Colgrevance ran\nbetwixt them, and said: An ye be so hardy to do so more, we two shall\nmeddle together.\n\nWhen Lionel understood his words he took his shield afore him, and\nasked him what that he was. And he told him, Colgrevance, one of his\nfellows. Then Lionel defied him, and gave him a great stroke through\nthe helm. Then he drew his sword, for he was a passing good knight, and\ndefended him right manfully. So long dured the battle that Bors rose up\nall anguishly, and beheld [how] Colgrevance, the good knight, fought\nwith his brother for his quarrel; then was he full sorry and heavy, and\nthought if Colgrevance slew him that was his brother he should never\nhave joy; and if his brother slew Colgrevance the shame should ever be\nmine. Then would he have risen to have departed them, but he had not so\nmuch might to stand on foot; so he abode him so long till Colgrevance\nhad the worse, for Lionel was of great chivalry and right hardy, for he\nhad pierced the hauberk and the helm, that he abode but death, for he\nhad lost much of his blood that it was marvel that he might stand\nupright. Then beheld he Sir Bors which sat dressing him upward and\nsaid: Ah, Bors, why come ye not to cast me out of peril of death,\nwherein I have put me to succour you which were right now nigh the\ndeath? Certes, said Lionel, that shall not avail you, for none of you\nshall bear others warrant, but that ye shall die both of my hand. When\nBors heard that, he did so much, he rose and put on his helm. Then\nperceived he first the hermit-priest which was slain, then made he a\nmarvellous sorrow upon him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI. How Sir Lionel slew Sir Colgrevance, and how after he\nwould have slain Sir Bors.\n\n\nThen oft Colgrevance cried upon Sir Bors: Why will ye let me die here\nfor your sake? if it please you that I die for you the death, it will\nplease me the better for to save a worthy man. With that word Sir\nLionel smote off the helm from his head. Then Colgrevance saw that he\nmight not escape; then he said: Fair sweet Jesu, that I have misdone\nhave mercy upon my soul, for such sorrow that my heart suffereth for\ngoodness, and for alms deed that I would have done here, be to me\naligement of penance unto my soul\u2019s health. At these words Lionel smote\nhim so sore that he bare him to the earth. So he had slain Colgrevance\nhe ran upon his brother as a fiendly man, and gave him such a stroke\nthat he made him stoop. And he that was full of humility prayed him for\nGod\u2019s love to leave this battle: For an it befell, fair brother, that I\nslew you or ye me, we should be dead of that sin. Never God me help but\nif I have on you mercy, an I may have the better hand. Then drew Bors\nhis sword, all weeping, and said: Fair brother, God knoweth mine\nintent. Ah, fair brother, ye have done full evil this day to slay such\nan holy priest the which never trespassed. Also ye have slain a gentle\nknight, and one of our fellows. And well wot ye that I am not afeard of\nyou greatly, but I dread the wrath of God, and this is an unkindly war,\ntherefore God show miracle upon us both. Now God have mercy upon me\nthough I defend my life against my brother: with that Bors lift up his\nhand and would have smitten his brother.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII. How there came a voice which charged Sir Bors to touch\nhim not, and of a cloud that came between them.\n\n\nAnd then he heard a voice that said: Flee Bors, and touch him not, or\nelse thou shalt slay him. Right so alighted a cloud betwixt them in\nlikeness of a fire and a marvellous flame, that both their two shields\nbrent. Then were they sore afraid, that they fell both to the earth,\nand lay there a great while in a swoon. And when they came to themself,\nBors saw that his brother had no harm; then he held up both his hands,\nfor he dread God had taken vengeance upon him. With that he heard a\nvoice say: Bors, go hence, and bear thy brother no longer fellowship,\nbut take thy way anon right to the sea, for Sir Percivale abideth thee\nthere. Then he said to his brother: Fair sweet brother, forgive me for\nGod\u2019s love all that I have trespassed unto you. Then he answered: God\nforgive it thee and I do gladly.\n\nSo Sir Bors departed from him and rode the next way to the sea. And at\nthe last by fortune he came to an abbey which was nigh the sea. That\nnight Bors rested him there; and in his sleep there came a voice to him\nand bade him go to the sea. Then he stert up and made a sign of the\ncross in the midst of his forehead, and took his harness, and made\nready his horse, and mounted upon him; and at a broken wall he rode\nout, and rode so long till that he came to the sea. And on the strand\nhe found a ship covered all with white samite, and he alighted, and\nbetook him to Jesu Christ. And as soon as he entered into the ship, the\nship departed into the sea, and went so fast that him seemed the ship\nwent flying, but it was soon dark so that he might know no man, and so\nhe slept till it was day. Then he awaked, and saw in midst of the ship\na knight lie all armed save his helm. Then knew he that it was Sir\nPercivale of Wales, and then he made of him right great joy; but Sir\nPercivale was abashed of him, and he asked him what he was. Ah, fair\nsir, said Bors, know ye me not? Certes, said he, I marvel how ye came\nhither, but if Our Lord brought ye hither Himself. Then Sir Bors smiled\nand did off his helm. Then Percivale knew him, and either made great\njoy of other, that it was marvel to hear. Then Bors told him how he\ncame into the ship, and by whose admonishment; and either told other of\ntheir temptations, as ye have heard to-forehand. So went they downward\nin the sea, one while backward, another while forward, and everych\ncomforted other, and oft were in their prayers. Then said Sir\nPercivale: We lack nothing but Galahad, the good knight.\n\n_And thus endeth the sixteenth book, which is of Sir Gawaine, Ector de\nMaris, and Sir Bors de Ganis, and Sir Percivale. And here followeth the\nseven-teenth book, which is of the noble knight Sir Galahad._\n\n\n\n\nBOOK XVII.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. How Sir Galahad fought at a tournament, and how he was known\nof Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector de Maris.\n\n\nNow saith this story, when Galahad had rescued Percivale from the\ntwenty knights, he yede tho into a waste forest wherein he rode many\njourneys; and he found many adventures the which he brought to an end,\nwhereof the story maketh here no mention. Then he took his way to the\nsea on a day, and it befell as he passed by a castle where was a wonder\ntournament, but they without had done so much that they within were put\nto the worse, yet were they within good knights enough. When Galahad\nsaw that those within were at so great a mischief that men slew them at\nthe entry of the castle, then he thought to help them, and put a spear\nforth and smote the first that he fell to the earth, and the spear\nbrake to pieces. Then he drew his sword and smote thereas they were\nthickest, and so he did wonderful deeds of arms that all they\nmarvelled. Then it happed that Gawaine and Sir Ector de Maris were with\nthe knights without. But when they espied the white shield with the red\ncross the one said to the other: Yonder is the good knight, Sir\nGalahad, the haut prince: now he should be a great fool which should\nmeet with him to fight. So by adventure he came by Sir Gawaine, and he\nsmote him so hard that he clave his helm and the coif of iron unto his\nhead, so that Gawaine fell to the earth; but the stroke was so great\nthat it slanted down to the earth and carved the horse\u2019s shoulder in\ntwo.\n\nWhen Ector saw Gawaine down he drew him aside, and thought it no wisdom\nfor to abide him, and also for natural love, that he was his uncle.\nThus through his great hardiness he beat aback all the knights without.\nAnd then they within came out and chased them all about. But when\nGalahad saw there would none turn again he stole away privily, so that\nnone wist where he was become. Now by my head, said Gawaine to Ector,\nnow are the wonders true that were said of Launcelot du Lake, that the\nsword which stuck in the stone should give me such a buffet that I\nwould not have it for the best castle in this world; and soothly now it\nis proved true, for never ere had I such a stroke of man\u2019s hand. Sir,\nsaid Ector, meseemeth your quest is done. And yours is not done, said\nGawaine, but mine is done, I shall seek no further. Then Gawaine was\nborne into a castle and unarmed him, and laid him in a rich bed, and a\nleech found that he might live, and to be whole within a month. Thus\nGawaine and Ector abode together, for Sir Ector would not away till\nGawaine were whole.\n\nAnd the good knight, Galahad, rode so long till he came that night to\nthe Castle of Carboneck; and it befell him thus that he was benighted\nin an hermitage. So the good man was fain when he saw he was a\nknight-errant. Tho when they were at rest there came a gentlewoman\nknocking at the door, and called Galahad, and so the good man came to\nthe door to wit what she would. Then she called the hermit: Sir Ulfin,\nI am a gentlewoman that would speak with the knight which is with you.\nThen the good man awaked Galahad, and bade him: Arise, and speak with a\ngentlewoman that seemeth hath great need of you. Then Galahad went to\nher and asked her what she would. Galahad, said she, I will that ye arm\nyou, and mount upon your horse and follow me, for I shall show you\nwithin these three days the highest adventure that ever any knight saw.\nAnon Galahad armed him, and took his horse, and commended him to God,\nand bade the gentlewoman go, and he would follow thereas she liked.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. How Sir Galahad rode with a damosel, and came to the ship\nwhereas Sir Bors and Sir Percivale were in.\n\n\nSo she rode as fast as her palfrey might bear her, till that she came\nto the sea, the which was called Collibe. And at the night they came\nunto a castle in a valley, closed with a running water, and with strong\nwalls and high; and so she entered into the castle with Galahad, and\nthere had he great cheer, for the lady of that castle was the damosel\u2019s\nlady. So when he was unarmed, then said the damosel: Madam, shall we\nabide here all this day? Nay, said she, but till he hath dined and till\nhe hath slept a little. So he ate and slept a while till that the maid\ncalled him, and armed him by torchlight. And when the maid was horsed\nand he both, the lady took Galahad a fair child and rich; and so they\ndeparted from the castle till they came to the seaside; and there they\nfound the ship where Bors and Percivale were in, the which cried on the\nship\u2019s board: Sir Galahad, ye be welcome, we have abiden you long. And\nwhen he heard them he asked them what they were. Sir, said she, leave\nyour horse here, and I shall leave mine; and took their saddles and\ntheir bridles with them, and made a cross on them, and so entered into\nthe ship. And the two knights received them both with great joy, and\neverych knew other; and so the wind arose, and drove them through the\nsea in a marvellous pace. And within a while it dawned.\n\nThen did Galahad off his helm and his sword, and asked of his fellows\nfrom whence came that fair ship. Truly, said they, ye wot as well as\nwe, but of God\u2019s grace; and then they told everych to other of all\ntheir hard adventures, and of their great temptations. Truly, said\nGalahad, ye are much bounden to God, for ye have escaped great\nadventures; and had not the gentlewoman been I had not come here, for\nas for you I weened never to have found you in these strange countries.\nAh Galahad, said Bors, if Launcelot, your father, were here then were\nwe well at ease, for then meseemed we failed nothing. That may not be,\nsaid Galahad, but if it pleased Our Lord.\n\nBy then the ship went from the land of Logris, and by adventure it\narrived up betwixt two rocks passing great and marvellous; but there\nthey might not land, for there was a swallow of the sea, save there was\nanother ship, and upon it they might go without danger. Go we thither,\nsaid the gentlewoman, and there shall we see adventures, for so is Our\nLord\u2019s will. And when they came thither they found the ship rich\nenough, but they found neither man nor woman therein. But they found in\nthe end of the ship two fair letters written, which said a dreadful\nword and a marvellous: Thou man, which shall enter into this ship,\nbeware thou be in steadfast belief, for I am Faith, and therefore\nbeware how thou enterest, for an thou fail I shall not help thee. Then\nsaid the gentlewoman: Percivale, wot ye what I am? Certes, said he,\nnay, to my witting. Wit ye well, said she, that I am thy sister, which\nam daughter of King Pellinore, and therefore wit ye well ye are the man\nin the world that I most love; and if ye be not in perfect belief of\nJesu Christ enter not in no manner of wise, for then should ye perish\nthe ship, for he is so perfect he will suffer no sinner in him. When\nPercivale understood that she was his very sister he was inwardly glad,\nand said: Fair sister, I shall enter therein, for if I be a miscreature\nor an untrue knight there shall I perish.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. How Sir Galahad entered into the ship, and of a fair bed\ntherein, with other marvellous things, and of a sword.\n\n\nIn the meanwhile Galahad blessed him, and entered therein; and then\nnext the gentlewoman, and then Sir Bors and Sir Percivale. And when\nthey were in, it was so marvellous fair and rich that they marvelled;\nand in midst of the ship was a fair bed, and Galahad went thereto, and\nfound there a crown of silk. And at the feet was a sword, rich and\nfair, and it was drawn out of the sheath half a foot and more; and the\nsword was of divers fashions, and the pommel was of stone, and there\nwas in him all manner of colours that any man might find, and everych\nof the colours had divers virtues; and the scales of the haft were of\ntwo ribs of divers beasts, the one beast was a serpent which was\nconversant in Calidone, and is called the Serpent of the fiend; and the\nbone of him is of such a virtue that there is no hand that handleth him\nshall never be weary nor hurt. And the other beast is a fish which is\nnot right great, and haunteth the flood of Euphrates; and that fish is\ncalled Ertanax, and his bones be of such a manner of kind that who that\nhandleth them shall have so much will that he shall never be weary, and\nhe shall not think on joy nor sorrow that he hath had but only that\nthing that he beholdeth before him. And as for this sword there shall\nnever man begrip him at the handles but one; but he shall pass all\nother. In the name of God, said Percivale, I shall assay to handle it.\nSo he set his hand to the sword, but he might not begrip it. By my\nfaith, said he, now have I failed. Bors set his hand thereto and\nfailed.\n\nThen Galahad beheld the sword and saw letters like blood that said: Let\nsee who shall assay to draw me out of my sheath, but if he be more\nhardier than any other; and who that draweth me, wit ye well that he\nshall never fail of shame of his body, or to be wounded to the death.\nBy my faith, said Galahad, I would draw this sword out of the sheath,\nbut the offending is so great that I shall not set my hand thereto. Now\nsirs, said the gentlewoman, wit ye well that the drawing of this sword\nis warned to all men save all only to you. Also this ship arrived in\nthe realm of Logris; and that time was deadly war between King Labor,\nwhich was father unto the maimed king, and King Hurlame, which was a\nSaracen. But then was he newly christened, so that men held him\nafterward one of the wittiest men of the world. And so upon a day it\nbefell that King Labor and King Hurlame had assembled their folk upon\nthe sea where this ship was arrived; and there King Hurlame was\ndiscomfit, and his men slain; and he was afeard to be dead, and fled to\nhis ship, and there found this sword and drew it, and came out and\nfound King Labor, the man in the world of all Christendom in whom was\nthen the greatest faith. And when King Hurlame saw King Labor he\ndressed this sword, and smote him upon the helm so hard that he clave\nhim and his horse to the earth with the first stroke of his sword. And\nit was in the realm of Logris; and so befell great pestilence and great\nharm to both realms. For sithen increased neither corn, nor grass, nor\nwell-nigh no fruit, nor in the water was no fish; wherefore men call it\nthe lands of the two marches, the waste land, for that dolorous stroke.\nAnd when King Hurlame saw this sword so carving, he turned again to\nfetch the scabbard, and so came into this ship and entered, and put up\nthe sword in the sheath. And as soon as he had done it he fell down\ndead afore the bed. Thus was the sword proved, that none ne drew it but\nhe were dead or maimed. So lay he there till a maiden came into the\nship and cast him out, for there was no man so hardy of the world to\nenter into that ship for the defence.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. Of the marvels of the sword and of the scabbard.\n\n\nAnd then beheld they the scabbard, it seemed to be of a serpent\u2019s skin,\nand thereon were letters of gold and silver. And the girdle was but\npoorly to come to, and not able to sustain such a rich sword. And the\nletters said: He which shall wield me sought to be more harder than any\nother, if he bear me as truly as me ought to be borne. For the body of\nhim which I ought to hang by, he shall not be shamed in no place while\nhe is girt with this girdle, nor never none be so hardy to do away this\ngirdle; for it ought not be done away but by the hands of a maid, and\nthat she be a king\u2019s daughter and queen\u2019s, and she must be a maid all\nthe days of her life, both in will and in deed. And if she break her\nvirginity she shall die the most villainous death that ever died any\nwoman. Sir, said Percivale, turn this sword that we may see what is on\nthe other side. And it was red as blood, with black letters as any\ncoal, which said: He that shall praise me most, most shall he find me\nto blame at a great need; and to whom I should be most debonair shall I\nbe most felon, and that shall be at one time.\n\nFair brother, said she to Percivale, it befell after a forty year after\nthe passion of Jesu Christ that Nacien, the brother-in-law of King\nMordrains, was borne into a town more than fourteen days\u2019 journey from\nhis country, by the commandment of Our Lord, into an isle, into the\nparts of the West, that men cleped the Isle of Turnance. So befell it\nthat he found this ship at the entry of a rock, and he found the bed\nand this sword as we have heard now. Not for then he had not so much\nhardiness to draw it; and there he dwelled an eight days, and at the\nninth day there fell a great wind which departed him out of the isle,\nand brought him to another isle by a rock, and there he found the\ngreatest giant that ever man might see. Therewith came that horrible\ngiant to slay him; and then he looked about him and might not flee, and\nhe had nothing to defend him with. So he ran to his sword, and when he\nsaw it naked he praised it much, and then he shook it, and therewith he\nbrake it in the midst. Ah, said Nacien, the thing that I most praised\nought I now most to blame, and therewith he threw the pieces of his\nsword over his bed. And after he leapt over the board to fight with the\ngiant, and slew him.\n\nAnd anon he entered into the ship again, and the wind arose, and drove\nhim through the sea, that by adventure he came to another ship where\nKing Mordrains was, which had been tempted full evil with a fiend in\nthe Port of Perilous Rock. And when that one saw the other they made\ngreat joy of other, and either told other of their adventure, and how\nthe sword failed him at his most need. When Mordrains saw the sword he\npraised it much: But the breaking was not to do but by wickedness of\nthy selfward, for thou art in some sin. And there he took the sword,\nand set the pieces together, and they soldered as fair as ever they\nwere to-fore; and there put he the sword in the sheath, and laid it\ndown on the bed. Then heard they a voice that said: Go out of this ship\na little while, and enter into the other, for dread ye fall in deadly\nsin, for and ye be found in deadly sin ye may not escape but perish:\nand so they went into the other ship. And as Nacien went over the board\nhe was smitten with a sword on the right foot, that he fell down\nnoseling to the ship\u2019s board; and therewith he said: O God, how am I\nhurt. And then there came a voice and said: Take thou that for thy\nforfeit that thou didst in drawing of this sword, therefore thou\nreceivest a wound, for thou were never worthy to handle it, as the\nwriting maketh mention. In the name of God, said Galahad, ye are right\nwise of these works.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. How King Pelles was smitten through both thighs because he\ndrew the sword, and other marvellous histories.\n\n\nSir, said she, there was a king that hight Pelles, the maimed king. And\nwhile he might ride he supported much Christendom and Holy Church. So\nupon a day he hunted in a wood of his which lasted unto the sea; and at\nthe last he lost his hounds and his knights save only one: and there he\nand his knight went till that they came toward Ireland, and there he\nfound the ship. And when he saw the letters and understood them, yet he\nentered, for he was right perfect of his life, but his knight had none\nhardiness to enter; and there found he this sword, and drew it out as\nmuch as ye may see. So therewith entered a spear wherewith he was\nsmitten him through both the thighs, and never sith might he be healed,\nnor nought shall to-fore we come to him. Thus, said she, was not King\nPelles, your grandsire, maimed for his hardiness? In the name of God,\ndamosel, said Galahad.\n\nSo they went toward the bed to behold all about it, and above the head\nthere hung two swords. Also there were two spindles which were as white\nas any snow, and other that were as red as blood, and other above green\nas any emerald: of these three colours were the spindles, and of\nnatural colour within, and without any painting. These spindles, said\nthe damosel, were when sinful Eve came to gather fruit, for which Adam\nand she were put out of paradise, she took with her the bough on which\nthe apple hung on. Then perceived she that the branch was fair and\ngreen, and she remembered her the loss which came from the tree. Then\nshe thought to keep the branch as long as she might. And for she had no\ncoffer to keep it in, she put it in the earth. So by the will of Our\nLord the branch grew to a great tree within a little while, and was as\nwhite as any snow, branches, boughs, and leaves: that was a token a\nmaiden planted it. But after God came to Adam, and bade him know his\nwife fleshly as nature required. So lay Adam with his wife under the\nsame tree; and anon the tree which was white was full green as any\ngrass, and all that came out of it; and in the same time that they\nmedled together there was Abel begotten: thus was the tree long of\ngreen colour. And so it befell many days after, under the same tree\nCaym slew Abel, whereof befell great marvel. For anon as Abel had\nreceived the death under the green tree, it lost the green colour and\nbecame red; and that was in tokening of the blood. And anon all the\nplants died thereof, but the tree grew and waxed marvellously fair, and\nit was the fairest tree and the most delectable that any man might\nbehold and see; and so died the plants that grew out of it to-fore that\nAbel was slain under it. So long dured the tree till that Solomon, King\nDavid\u2019s son, reigned, and held the land after his father. This Solomon\nwas wise and knew all the virtues of stones and trees, and so he knew\nthe course of the stars, and many other divers things. This Solomon had\nan evil wife, wherethrough he weened that there had been no good woman,\nand so he despised them in his books. So answered a voice him once:\nSolomon, if heaviness come to a man by a woman, ne reck thou never; for\nyet shall there come a woman whereof there shall come greater joy to\nman an hundred times more than this heaviness giveth sorrow; and that\nwoman shall be born of thy lineage. Tho when Solomon heard these words\nhe held himself but a fool, and the truth he perceived by old books.\nAlso the Holy Ghost showed him the coming of the glorious Virgin Mary.\nThen asked he of the voice, if it should be in the yerde of his\nlineage. Nay, said the voice, but there shall come a man which shall be\na maid, and the last of your blood, and he shall be as good a knight as\nDuke Josua, thy brother-in-law.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. How Solomon took David\u2019s sword by the counsel of his wife,\nand of other matters marvellous.\n\n\nNow have I certified thee of that thou stoodest in doubt. Then was\nSolomon glad that there should come any such of his lineage; but ever\nhe marvelled and studied who that should be, and what his name might\nbe. His wife perceived that he studied, and thought she would know it\nat some season; and so she waited her time, and asked of him the cause\nof his studying, and there he told her altogether how the voice told\nhim. Well, said she, I shall let make a ship of the best wood and most\ndurable that men may find. So Solomon sent for all the carpenters of\nthe land, and the best. And when they had made the ship the lady said\nto Solomon: Sir, said she, since it is so that this knight ought to\npass all knights of chivalry which have been to-fore him and shall come\nafter him, moreover I shall tell you, said she, ye shall go into Our\nLord\u2019s temple, where is King David\u2019s sword, your father, the which is\nthe marvelloust and the sharpest that ever was taken in any knight\u2019s\nhand. Therefore take that, and take off the pommel, and thereto make ye\na pommel of precious stones, that it be so subtly made that no man\nperceive it but that they be all one; and after make there an hilt so\nmarvellously and wonderly that no man may know it; and after make a\nmarvellous sheath. And when ye have made all this I shall let make a\ngirdle thereto, such as shall please me.\n\nAll this King Solomon did let make as she devised, both the ship and\nall the remnant. And when the ship was ready in the sea to sail, the\nlady let make a great bed and marvellous rich, and set her upon the\nbed\u2019s head, covered with silk, and laid the sword at the feet, and the\ngirdles were of hemp, and therewith the king was angry. Sir, wit ye\nwell, said she, that I have none so high a thing which were worthy to\nsustain so high a sword, and a maid shall bring other knights thereto,\nbut I wot not when it shall be, nor what time. And there she let make a\ncovering to the ship, of cloth of silk that should never rot for no\nmanner of weather. Yet went that lady and made a carpenter to come to\nthe tree which Abel was slain under. Now, said she, carve me out of\nthis tree as much wood as will make me a spindle. Ah madam, said he,\nthis is the tree the which our first mother planted. Do it, said she,\nor else I shall destroy thee. Anon as he began to work there came out\ndrops of blood; and then would he have left, but she would not suffer\nhim, and so he took away as much wood as might make a spindle: and so\nshe made him to take as much of the green tree and of the white tree.\nAnd when these three spindles were shapen she made them to be fastened\nupon the selar of the bed. When Solomon saw this, he said to his wife:\nYe have done marvellously, for though all the world were here right\nnow, he could not devise wherefore all this was made, but Our Lord\nHimself; and thou that hast done it wottest not what it shall betoken.\nNow let it be, said she, for ye shall hear tidings sooner than ye ween.\nNow shall ye hear a wonderful tale of King Solomon and his wife.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. A wonderful tale of King Solomon and his wife.\n\n\nThat night lay Solomon before the ship with little fellowship. And when\nhe was asleep him thought there came from heaven a great company of\nangels, and alighted into the ship, and took water which was brought by\nan angel, in a vessel of silver, and sprent all the ship. And after he\ncame to the sword, and drew letters on the hilt. And after went to the\nship\u2019s board, and wrote there other letters which said: Thou man that\nwilt enter within me, beware that thou be full within the faith, for I\nne am but Faith and Belief. When Solomon espied these letters he was\nabashed, so that he durst not enter, and so drew him aback; and the\nship was anon shoven in the sea, and he went so fast that he lost sight\nof him within a little while. And then a little voice said: Solomon,\nthe last knight of thy lineage shall rest in this bed. Then went\nSolomon and awaked his wife, and told her of the adventures of the\nship.\n\nNow saith the history that a great while the three fellows beheld the\nbed and the three spindles. Then they were at certain that they were of\nnatural colours without painting. Then they lift up a cloth which was\nabove the ground, and there found a rich purse by seeming. And\nPercivale took it, and found therein a writ and so he read it, and\ndevised the manner of the spindles and of the ship, whence it came, and\nby whom it was made. Now, said Galahad, where shall we find the\ngentlewoman that shall make new girdles to the sword? Fair sir, said\nPercivale\u2019s sister, dismay you not, for by the leave of God I shall let\nmake a girdle to the sword, such one as shall long thereto. And then\nshe opened a box, and took out girdles which were seemly wrought with\ngolden threads, and upon that were set full precious stones, and a rich\nbuckle of gold. Lo, lords, said she, here is a girdle that ought to be\nset about the sword. And wit ye well the greatest part of this girdle\nwas made of my hair, which I loved well while that I was a woman of the\nworld. But as soon as I wist that this adventure was ordained me I\nclipped off my hair, and made this girdle in the name of God. Ye be\nwell found, said Sir Bors, for certes ye have put us out of great pain,\nwherein we should have entered ne had your tidings been.\n\nThen went the gentlewoman and set it on the girdle of the sword. Now,\nsaid the fellowship, what is the name of the sword, and what shall we\ncall it? Truly, said she, the name of the sword is the Sword with the\nStrange Girdles; and the sheath, Mover of Blood; for no man that hath\nblood in him ne shall never see the one part of the sheath which was\nmade of the Tree of Life. Then they said to Galahad: In the name of\nJesu Christ, and pray you that ye gird you with this sword which hath\nbeen desired so much in the realm of Logris. Now let me begin, said\nGalahad, to grip this sword for to give you courage; but wit ye well it\nlongeth no more to me than it doth to you. And then he gripped about it\nwith his fingers a great deal; and then she girt him about the middle\nwith the sword. Now reck I not though I die, for now I hold me one of\nthe blessed maidens of the world, which hath made the worthiest knight\nof the world. Damosel, said Galahad, ye have done so much that I shall\nbe your knight all the days of my life.\n\nThen they went from that ship, and went to the other. And anon the wind\ndrove them into the sea a great pace, but they had no victuals: but it\nbefell that they came on the morn to a castle that men call Carteloise,\nthat was in the marches of Scotland. And when they had passed the port,\nthe gentlewoman said: Lords, here be men arriven that, an they wist\nthat ye were of King Arthur\u2019s court, ye should be assailed anon.\nDamosel, said Galahad, He that cast us out of the rock shall deliver us\nfrom them.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. How Galahad and his fellows came to a castle, and how\nthey were fought withal, and how they slew their adversaries, and other\nmatters.\n\n\nSo it befell as they spoke thus there came a squire by them, and asked\nwhat they were; and they said they were of King Arthur\u2019s house. Is that\nsooth? said he. Now by my head, said he, ye be ill arrayed; and then\nturned he again unto the cliff fortress. And within a while they heard\nan horn blow. Then a gentlewoman came to them, and asked them of whence\nthey were; and they told her. Fair lords, said she, for God\u2019s love turn\nagain if ye may, for ye be come unto your death. Nay, they said, we\nwill not turn again, for He shall help us in whose service we be\nentered in. Then as they stood talking there came knights well armed,\nand bade them yield them or else to die. That yielding, said they,\nshall be noyous to you. And therewith they let their horses run, and\nSir Percivale smote the foremost to the earth, and took his horse, and\nmounted thereupon, and the same did Galahad. Also Bors served another\nso, for they had no horses in that country, for they left their horses\nwhen they took their ship in other countries. And so when they were\nhorsed then began they to set upon them; and they of the castle fled\ninto the strong fortress, and the three knights after them into the\ncastle, and so alighted on foot, and with their swords slew them down,\nand gat into the hall.\n\nThen when they beheld the great multitude of people that they had\nslain, they held themself great sinners. Certes, said Bors, I ween an\nGod had loved them that we should not have had power to have slain them\nthus. But they have done so much against Our Lord that He would not\nsuffer them to reign no longer. Say ye not so, said Galahad, for if\nthey misdid against God, the vengeance is not ours, but to Him which\nhath power thereof.\n\nSo came there out of a chamber a good man which was a priest, and bare\nGod\u2019s body in a cup. And when he saw them which lay dead in the hall he\nwas all abashed; and Galahad did off his helm and kneeled down, and so\ndid his two fellows. Sir, said they, have ye no dread of us, for we be\nof King Arthur\u2019s court. Then asked the good man how they were slain so\nsuddenly, and they told it him. Truly, said the good man, an ye might\nlive as long as the world might endure, ne might ye have done so great\nan alms-deed as this. Sir, said Galahad, I repent me much, inasmuch as\nthey were christened. Nay, repent you not, said he, for they were not\nchristened, and I shall tell you how that I wot of this castle. Here\nwas Lord Earl Hernox not but one year, and he had three sons, good\nknights of arms, and a daughter, the fairest gentlewoman that men knew.\nSo those three knights loved their sister so sore that they brent in\nlove, and so they lay by her, maugre her head. And for she cried to her\nfather they slew her, and took their father and put him in prison, and\nwounded him nigh to the death, but a cousin of hers rescued him. And\nthen did they great untruth: they slew clerks and priests, and made\nbeat down chapels, that Our Lord\u2019s service might not be served nor\nsaid. And this same day her father sent to me for to be confessed and\nhouseled; but such shame had never man as I had this day with the three\nbrethren, but the earl bade me suffer, for he said they should not long\nendure, for three servants of Our Lord should destroy them, and now it\nis brought to an end. And by this may ye wit that Our Lord is not\ndispleased with your deeds. Certes, said Galahad, an it had not pleased\nOur Lord, never should we have slain so many men in so little a while.\n\nAnd then they brought the Earl Hernox out of prison into the midst of\nthe hall, that knew Galahad anon, and yet he saw him never afore but by\nrevelation of Our Lord.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. How the three knights, with Percivale\u2019s sister, came unto\nthe same forest, and of an hart and four lions, and other things.\n\n\nThen began he to weep right tenderly, and said: Long have I abiden your\ncoming, but for God\u2019s love hold me in your arms, that my soul may\ndepart out of my body in so good a man\u2019s arms as ye be. Gladly, said\nGalahad. And then one said on high, that all heard: Galahad, well hast\nthou avenged me on God\u2019s enemies. Now behoveth thee to go to the Maimed\nKing as soon as thou mayest, for he shall receive by thee health which\nhe hath abiden so long. And therewith the soul departed from the body,\nand Galahad made him to be buried as him ought to be.\n\nRight so departed the three knights, and Percivale\u2019s sister with them.\nAnd so they came into a waste forest, and there they saw afore them a\nwhite hart which four lions led. Then they took them to assent for to\nfollow after for to know whither they repaired; and so they rode after\na great pace till that they came to a valley, and thereby was an\nhermitage where a good man dwelled, and the hart and the lions entered\nalso. So when they saw all this they turned to the chapel, and saw the\ngood man in a religious weed and in the armour of Our Lord, for he\nwould sing mass of the Holy Ghost; and so they entered in and heard\nmass. And at the secrets of the mass they three saw the hart become a\nman, the which marvelled them, and set him upon the altar in a rich\nsiege; and saw the four lions were changed, the one to the form of a\nman, the other to the form of a lion, and the third to an eagle, and\nthe fourth was changed unto an ox. Then took they their siege where the\nhart sat, and went out through a glass window, and there was nothing\nperished nor broken; and they heard a voice say: In such a manner\nentered the Son of God in the womb of a maid Mary, whose virginity ne\nwas perished ne hurt. And when they heard these words they fell down to\nthe earth and were astonied; and therewith was a great clearness.\n\nAnd when they were come to theirself again they went to the good man\nand prayed him that he would say them truth. What thing have ye seen?\nsaid he. And they told him all that they had seen. Ah lords, said he,\nye be welcome; now wot I well ye be the good knights the which shall\nbring the Sangreal to an end; for ye be they unto whom Our Lord shall\nshew great secrets. And well ought Our Lord be signified to an hart,\nfor the hart when he is old he waxeth young again in his white skin.\nRight so cometh again Our Lord from death to life, for He lost earthly\nflesh that was the deadly flesh, which He had taken in the womb of the\nblessed Virgin Mary; and for that cause appeared Our Lord as a white\nhart without spot. And the four that were with Him is to understand the\nfour evangelists which set in writing a part of Jesu Christ\u2019s deeds\nthat He did sometime when He was among you an earthly man; for wit ye\nwell never erst ne might no knight know the truth, for ofttimes or this\nOur Lord showed Him unto good men and unto good knights, in likeness of\nan hart, but I suppose from henceforth ye shall see no more. And then\nthey joyed much, and dwelled there all that day. And upon the morrow\nwhen they had heard mass they departed and commended the good man to\nGod: and so they came to a castle and passed by. So there came a knight\narmed after them and said: Lords, hark what I shall say to you.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. How they were desired of a strange custom, the which they\nwould not obey; wherefore they fought and slew many knights.\n\n\nThis gentlewoman that ye lead with you is a maid? Sir, said she, a maid\nI am. Then he took her by the bridle and said: By the Holy Cross, ye\nshall not escape me to-fore ye have yolden the custom of this castle.\nLet her go, said Percivale, ye be not wise, for a maid in what place\nshe cometh is free. So in the meanwhile there came out a ten or twelve\nknights armed, out of the castle, and with them came gentlewomen which\nheld a dish of silver. And then they said: This gentlewoman must yield\nus the custom of this castle. Sir, said a knight, what maid passeth\nhereby shall give this dish full of blood of her right arm. Blame have\nye, said Galahad, that brought up such customs, and so God me save, I\nensure you of this gentlewoman ye shall fail while that I live. So God\nme help, said Percivale, I had liefer be slain. And I also, said Sir\nBors. By my troth, said the knight, then shall ye die, for ye may not\nendure against us though ye were the best knights of the world.\n\nThen let they run each to other, and the three fellows beat the ten\nknights, and then set their hands to their swords and beat them down\nand slew them. Then there came out of the castle a three score knights\narmed. Fair lords, said the three fellows, have mercy on yourself and\nhave not ado with us. Nay, fair lords, said the knights of the castle,\nwe counsel you to withdraw you, for ye be the best knights of the\nworld, and therefore do no more, for ye have done enough. We will let\nyou go with this harm, but we must needs have the custom. Certes, said\nGalahad, for nought speak ye. Well, said they, will ye die? We be not\nyet come thereto, said Galahad. Then began they to meddle together, and\nGalahad, with the strange girdles, drew his sword, and smote on the\nright hand and on the left hand, and slew what that ever abode him, and\ndid such marvels that there was none that saw him but weened he had\nbeen none earthly man, but a monster. And his two fellows halp him\npassing well, and so they held the journey everych in like hard till it\nwas night: then must they needs depart.\n\nSo came in a good knight, and said to the three fellows: If ye will\ncome in to-night and take such harbour as here is ye shall be right\nwelcome, and we shall ensure you by the faith of our bodies, and as we\nbe true knights, to leave you in such estate to-morrow as we find you,\nwithout any falsehood. And as soon as ye know of the custom we dare say\nye will accord therefore. For God\u2019s love, said the gentlewoman, go\nthither and spare not for me. Go we, said Galahad; and so they entered\ninto the chapel. And when they were alighted they made great joy of\nthem. So within a while the three knights asked the custom of the\ncastle and wherefore it was. What it is, said they, we will say you\nsooth.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI. How Sir Percivale\u2019s sister bled a dish full of blood for to\nheal a lady, wherefore she died; and how that the body was put in a\nship.\n\n\nThere is in this castle a gentlewoman which we and this castle is hers,\nand many other. So it befell many years agone there fell upon her a\nmalady; and when she had lain a great while she fell unto a measle, and\nof no leech she could have no remedy. But at the last an old man said\nan she might have a dish full of blood of a maid and a clean virgin in\nwill and in work, and a king\u2019s daughter, that blood should be her\nhealth, and for to anoint her withal; and for this thing was this\ncustom made. Now, said Percivale\u2019s sister, fair knights, I see well\nthat this gentlewoman is but dead. Certes, said Galahad, an ye bleed so\nmuch ye may die. Truly, said she, an I die for to heal her I shall get\nme great worship and soul\u2019s health, and worship to my lineage, and\nbetter is one harm than twain. And therefore there shall be no more\nbattle, but to-morn I shall yield you your custom of this castle. And\nthen there was great joy more than there was to-fore, for else had\nthere been mortal war upon the morn; notwithstanding she would none\nother, whether they wold or nold.\n\nThat night were the three fellows eased with the best; and on the morn\nthey heard mass, and Sir Percivale\u2019s sister bade bring forth the sick\nlady. So she was, the which was evil at ease. Then said she: Who shall\nlet me blood? So one came forth and let her blood, and she bled so much\nthat the dish was full. Then she lift up her hand and blessed her; and\nthen she said to the lady: Madam, I am come to the death for to make\nyou whole, for God\u2019s love pray for me. With that she fell in a swoon.\nThen Galahad and his two fellows start up to her, and lift her up and\nstaunched her, but she had bled so much that she might not live. Then\nshe said when she was awaked: Fair brother Percivale, I die for the\nhealing of this lady, so I require you that ye bury me not in this\ncountry, but as soon as I am dead put me in a boat at the next haven,\nand let me go as adventure will lead me; and as soon as ye three come\nto the City of Sarras, there to enchieve the Holy Grail, ye shall find\nme under a tower arrived, and there bury me in the spiritual place; for\nI say you so much, there Galahad shall be buried, and ye also, in the\nsame place.\n\nThen Percivale understood these words, and granted it her, weeping. And\nthen said a voice: Lords and fellows, to-morrow at the hour of prime ye\nthree shall depart everych from other, till the adventure bring you to\nthe Maimed King. Then asked she her Saviour; and as soon as she had\nreceived it the soul departed from the body. So the same day was the\nlady healed, when she was anointed withal. Then Sir Percivale made a\nletter of all that she had holpen them as in strange adventures, and\nput it in her right hand, and so laid her in a barge, and covered it\nwith black silk; and so the wind arose, and drove the barge from the\nland, and all knights beheld it till it was out of their sight. Then\nthey drew all to the castle, and so forthwith there fell a sudden\ntempest and a thunder, lightning, and rain, as all the earth would have\nbroken. So half the castle turned up-so-down. So it passed evensong or\nthe tempest was ceased.\n\nThen they saw afore them a knight armed and wounded hard in the body\nand in the head, that said: O God, succour me for now it is need. After\nthis knight came another knight and a dwarf, which cried to them afar:\nStand, ye may not escape. Then the wounded knight held up his hands to\nGod that he should not die in such tribulation. Truly, said Galahad, I\nshall succour him for His sake that he calleth upon. Sir, said Bors, I\nshall do it, for it is not for you, for he is but one knight. Sir, said\nhe, I grant. So Sir Bors took his horse, and commended him to God, and\nrode after, to rescue the wounded knight. Now turn we to the two\nfellows.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. How Galahad and Percivale found in a castle many tombs of\nmaidens that had bled to death.\n\n\nNow saith the story that all night Galahad and Percivale were in a\nchapel in their prayers, for to save Sir Bors. So on the morrow they\ndressed them in their harness toward the castle, to wit what was fallen\nof them therein. And when they came there they found neither man nor\nwoman that he ne was dead by the vengeance of Our Lord. With that they\nheard a voice that said: This vengeance is for blood-shedding of\nmaidens. Also they found at the end of the chapel a churchyard, and\ntherein might they see a three score fair tombs, and that place was so\nfair and so delectable that it seemed them there had been none tempest,\nfor there lay the bodies of all the good maidens which were martyred\nfor the sick lady\u2019s sake. Also they found the names of everych, and of\nwhat blood they were come, and all were of kings\u2019 blood, and twelve of\nthem were kings\u2019 daughters. Then they departed and went into a forest.\nNow, said Percivale unto Galahad, we must depart, so pray we Our Lord\nthat we may meet together in short time: then they did off their helms\nand kissed together, and wept at their departing.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. How Sir Launcelot entered into the ship where Sir\nPercivale\u2019s sister lay dead, and how he met with Sir Galahad, his son.\n\n\nNow saith the history, that when Launcelot was come to the water of\nMortoise, as it is rehearsed before, he was in great peril, and so he\nlaid him down and slept, and took the adventure that God would send\nhim. So when he was asleep there came a vision unto him and said:\nLauncelot, arise up and take thine armour, and enter into the first\nship that thou shalt find. And when he heard these words he start up\nand saw great clearness about him. And then he lift up his hand and\nblessed him, and so took his arms and made him ready; and so by\nadventure he came by a strand, and found a ship the which was without\nsail or oar. And as soon as he was within the ship there he felt the\nmost sweetness that ever he felt, and he was fulfilled with all thing\nthat he thought on or desired. Then he said: Fair sweet Father, Jesu\nChrist, I wot not in what joy I am, for this joy passeth all earthly\njoys that ever I was in. And so in this joy he laid him down to the\nship\u2019s board, and slept till day. And when he awoke he found there a\nfair bed, and therein lying a gentlewoman dead, the which was Sir\nPercivale\u2019s sister. And as Launcelot devised her, he espied in her\nright hand a writ, the which he read, the which told him all the\nadventures that ye have heard to-fore, and of what lineage she was\ncome. So with this gentlewoman Sir Launcelot was a month and more. If\nye would ask how he lived, He that fed the people of Israel with manna\nin the desert, so was he fed; for every day when he had said his\nprayers he was sustained with the grace of the Holy Ghost.\n\nSo on a night he went to play him by the water side, for he was\nsomewhat weary of the ship. And then he listened and heard an horse\ncome, and one riding upon him. And when he came nigh he seemed a\nknight. And so he let him pass, and went thereas the ship was; and\nthere he alighted, and took the saddle and the bridle and put the horse\nfrom him, and went into the ship. And then Launcelot dressed unto him,\nand said: Ye be welcome. And he answered and saluted him again, and\nasked him: What is your name? for much my heart giveth unto you. Truly,\nsaid he, my name is Launcelot du Lake. Sir, said he, then be ye\nwelcome, for ye were the beginner of me in this world. Ah, said he, are\nye Galahad? Yea, forsooth, said he; and so he kneeled down and asked\nhim his blessing, and after took off his helm and kissed him. And there\nwas great joy between them, for there is no tongue can tell the joy\nthat they made either of other, and many a friendly word spoken\nbetween, as kin would, the which is no need here to be rehearsed. And\nthere everych told other of their adventures and marvels that were\nbefallen to them in many journeys sith that they departed from the\ncourt.\n\nAnon, as Galahad saw the gentlewoman dead in the bed, he knew her well\nenough, and told great worship of her, that she was the best maid\nliving, and it was great pity of her death. But when Launcelot heard\nhow the marvellous sword was gotten, and who made it, and all the\nmarvels rehearsed afore, then he prayed Galahad, his son, that he would\nshow him the sword, and so he did; and anon he kissed the pommel, and\nthe hilt, and the scabbard. Truly, said Launcelot, never erst knew I of\nso high adventures done, and so marvellous and strange. So dwelt\nLauncelot and Galahad within that ship half a year, and served God\ndaily and nightly with all their power; and often they arrived in isles\nfar from folk, where there repaired none but wild beasts, and there\nthey found many strange adventures and perilous, which they brought to\nan end; but for those adventures were with wild beasts, and not in the\nquest of the Sangreal, therefore the tale maketh here no mention\nthereof, for it would be too long to tell of all those adventures that\nbefell them.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV. How a knight brought unto Sir Galahad a horse, and bade\nhim come from his father, Sir Launcelot.\n\n\nSo after, on a Monday, it befell that they arrived in the edge of a\nforest to-fore a cross; and then saw they a knight armed all in white,\nand was richly horsed, and led in his right hand a white horse; and so\nhe came to the ship, and saluted the two knights on the High Lord\u2019s\nbehalf, and said: Galahad, sir, ye have been long enough with your\nfather, come out of the ship, and start upon this horse, and go where\nthe adventures shall lead thee in the quest of the Sangreal. Then he\nwent to his father and kissed him sweetly, and said: Fair sweet father,\nI wot not when I shall see you more till I see the body of Jesu Christ.\nI pray you, said Launcelot, pray ye to the High Father that He hold me\nin His service. And so he took his horse, and there they heard a voice\nthat said: Think for to do well, for the one shall never see the other\nbefore the dreadful day of doom. Now, son Galahad, said Launcelot,\nsince we shall depart, and never see other, I pray to the High Father\nto conserve me and you both. Sir, said Galahad, no prayer availeth so\nmuch as yours. And therewith Galahad entered into the forest.\n\nAnd the wind arose, and drove Launcelot more than a month throughout\nthe sea, where he slept but little, but prayed to God that he might see\nsome tidings of the Sangreal. So it befell on a night, at midnight, he\narrived afore a castle, on the back side, which was rich and fair, and\nthere was a postern opened toward the sea, and was open without any\nkeeping, save two lions kept the entry; and the moon shone clear. Anon\nSir Launcelot heard a voice that said: Launcelot, go out of this ship\nand enter into the castle, where thou shalt see a great part of thy\ndesire. Then he ran to his arms, and so armed him, and so went to the\ngate and saw the lions. Then set he hand to his sword and drew it. Then\nthere came a dwarf suddenly, and smote him on the arm so sore that the\nsword fell out of his hand. Then heard he a voice say: O man of evil\nfaith and poor belief, wherefore trowest thou more on thy harness than\nin thy Maker, for He might more avail thee than thine armour, in whose\nservice that thou art set. Then said Launcelot: Fair Father Jesu\nChrist, I thank thee of Thy great mercy that Thou reprovest me of my\nmisdeed; now see I well that ye hold me for your servant. Then took he\nagain his sword and put it up in his sheath, and made a cross in his\nforehead, and came to the lions, and they made semblaunt to do him\nharm. Notwithstanding he passed by them without hurt, and entered into\nthe castle to the chief fortress, and there were they all at rest. Then\nLauncelot entered in so armed, for he found no gate nor door but it was\nopen. And at the last he found a chamber whereof the door was shut, and\nhe set his hand thereto to have opened it, but he might not.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV. How Sir Launcelot was to-fore the door of the chamber\nwherein the Holy Sangreal was.\n\n\nThen he enforced him mickle to undo the door. Then he listened and\nheard a voice which sang so sweetly that it seemed none earthly thing;\nand him thought the voice said: Joy and honour be to the Father of\nHeaven. Then Launcelot kneeled down to-fore the chamber, for well wist\nhe that there was the Sangreal within that chamber. Then said he: Fair\nsweet Father, Jesu Christ, if ever I did thing that pleased Thee, Lord\nfor Thy pity never have me not in despite for my sins done aforetime,\nand that Thou show me something of that I seek. And with that he saw\nthe chamber door open, and there came out a great clearness, that the\nhouse was as bright as all the torches of the world had been there.\n\nSo came he to the chamber door, and would have entered. And anon a\nvoice said to him: Flee, Launcelot, and enter not, for thou oughtest\nnot to do it; and if thou enter thou shalt for-think it. Then he\nwithdrew him aback right heavy. Then looked he up in the midst of the\nchamber, and saw a table of silver, and the Holy Vessel, covered with\nred samite, and many angels about it, whereof one held a candle of wax\nburning, and the other held a cross, and the ornaments of an altar. And\nbefore the Holy Vessel he saw a good man clothed as a priest. And it\nseemed that he was at the sacring of the mass. And it seemed to\nLauncelot that above the priest\u2019s hands were three men, whereof the two\nput the youngest by likeness between the priest\u2019s hands; and so he lift\nit up right high, and it seemed to show so to the people. And then\nLauncelot marvelled not a little, for him thought the priest was so\ngreatly charged of the figure that him seemed that he should fall to\nthe earth. And when he saw none about him that would help him, then\ncame he to the door a great pace, and said: Fair Father Jesu Christ, ne\ntake it for no sin though I help the good man which hath great need of\nhelp.\n\nRight so entered he into the chamber, and came toward the table of\nsilver; and when he came nigh he felt a breath, that him thought it was\nintermeddled with fire, which smote him so sore in the visage that him\nthought it brent his visage; and therewith he fell to the earth, and\nhad no power to arise, as he that was so araged, that had lost the\npower of his body, and his hearing, and his seeing. Then felt he many\nhands about him, which took him up and bare him out of the chamber\ndoor, without any amending of his swoon, and left him there, seeming\ndead to all people.\n\nSo upon the morrow when it was fair day they within were arisen, and\nfound Launcelot lying afore the chamber door. All they marvelled how\nthat he came in, and so they looked upon him, and felt his pulse to wit\nwhether there were any life in him; and so they found life in him, but\nhe might not stand nor stir no member that he had. And so they took him\nby every part of the body, and bare him into a chamber, and laid him in\na rich bed, far from all folk; and so he lay four days. Then the one\nsaid he was alive, and the other said, Nay. In the name of God, said an\nold man, for I do you verily to wit he is not dead, but he is so full\nof life as the mightiest of you all; and therefore I counsel you that\nhe be well kept till God send him life again.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI. How Sir launcelot had lain four-and-twenty days and as\nmany nights as a dead man, and other divers matters.\n\n\nIn such manner they kept Launcelot four-and-twenty days and all so many\nnights, that ever he lay still as a dead man; and at the twenty-fifth\nday befell him after midday that he opened his eyes. And when he saw\nfolk he made great sorrow, and said: Why have ye awaked me, for I was\nmore at ease than I am now. O Jesu Christ, who might be so blessed that\nmight see openly thy great marvels of secretness there where no sinner\nmay be! What have ye seen? said they about him. I have seen, said he,\nso great marvels that no tongue may tell, and more than any heart can\nthink, and had not my son been here afore me I had seen much more.\n\nThen they told him how he had lain there four-and-twenty days and\nnights. Then him thought it was punishment for the four-and-twenty\nyears that he had been a sinner, wherefore Our Lord put him in penance\nfour-and-twenty days and nights. Then looked Sir Launcelot afore him,\nand saw the hair which he had borne nigh a year, for that he\nfor-thought him right much that he had broken his promise unto the\nhermit, which he had avowed to do. Then they asked how it stood with\nhim. Forsooth, said he, I am whole of body, thanked be Our Lord;\ntherefore, sirs, for God\u2019s love tell me where I am. Then said they all\nthat he was in the castle of Carbonek.\n\nTherewith came a gentlewoman and brought him a shirt of small linen\ncloth, but he changed not there, but took the hair to him again. Sir,\nsaid they, the quest of the Sangreal is achieved now right in you, that\nnever shall ye see of the Sangreal no more than ye have seen. Now I\nthank God, said Launcelot, of His great mercy of that I have seen, for\nit sufficeth me; for as I suppose no man in this world hath lived\nbetter than I have done to enchieve that I have done. And therewith he\ntook the hair and clothed him in it, and above that he put a linen\nshirt, and after a robe of scarlet, fresh and new. And when he was so\narrayed they marvelled all, for they knew him that he was Launcelot,\nthe good knight. And then they said all: O my lord Sir Launcelot, be\nthat ye? And he said: Truly I am he.\n\nThen came word to King Pelles that the knight that had lain so long\ndead was Sir Launcelot. Then was the king right glad, and went to see\nhim. And when Launcelot saw him come he dressed him against him, and\nthere made the king great joy of him. And there the king told him\ntidings that his fair daughter was dead. Then Launcelot was right heavy\nof it, and said: Sir, me forthinketh the death of your daughter, for\nshe was a full fair lady, fresh and young. And well I wot she bare the\nbest knight that is now on the earth, or that ever was sith God was\nborn. So the king held him there four days, and on the morrow he took\nhis leave at King Pelles and at all the fellowship, and thanked them of\ntheir great labour.\n\nRight so as they sat at their dinner in the chief salle, then was so\nbefallen that the Sangreal had fulfilled the table with all manner of\nmeats that any heart might think. So as they sat they saw all the doors\nand the windows of the place were shut without man\u2019s hand, whereof they\nwere all abashed, and none wist what to do.\n\nAnd then it happed suddenly a knight came to the chief door and\nknocked, and cried: Undo the door. But they would not. And ever he\ncried: Undo; but they would not. And at last it noyed them so much that\nthe king himself arose and came to a window there where the knight\ncalled. Then he said: Sir knight, ye shall not enter at this time while\nthe Sangreal is here, and therefore go into another; for certes ye be\nnone of the knights of the quest, but one of them which hath served the\nfiend, and hast left the service of Our Lord: and he was passing wroth\nat the king\u2019s words. Sir knight, said the king, sith ye would so fain\nenter, say me of what country ye be. Sir, said he, I am of the realm of\nLogris, and my name is Ector de Maris, and brother unto my lord, Sir\nLauncelot. In the name of God, said the king, me for-thinketh of what I\nhave said, for your brother is here within. And when Ector de Maris\nunderstood that his brother was there, for he was the man in the world\nthat he most dread and loved, and then he said: Ah God, now doubleth my\nsorrow and shame. Full truly said the good man of the hill unto Gawaine\nand to me of our dreams. Then went he out of the court as fast as his\nhorse might, and so throughout the castle.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII. How Sir Launcelot returned towards Logris, and of other\nadventures which he saw in the way.\n\n\nThen King Pelles came to Sir Launcelot and told him tidings of his\nbrother, whereof he was sorry, that he wist not what to do. So Sir\nLauncelot departed, and took his arms, and said he would go see the\nrealm of Logris, which I have not seen in twelve months. And therewith\nhe commended the king to God, and so rode through many realms. And at\nthe last he came to a white abbey, and there they made him that night\ngreat cheer; and on the morn he rose and heard mass. And afore an altar\nhe found a rich tomb, which was newly made; and then he took heed, and\nsaw the sides written with gold which said: Here lieth King Bagdemagus\nof Gore, which King Arthur\u2019s nephew slew; and named him, Sir Gawaine.\nThen was not he a little sorry, for Launcelot loved him much more than\nany other, and had it been any other than Gawaine he should not have\nescaped from death to life; and said to himself: Ah Lord God, this is a\ngreat hurt unto King Arthur\u2019s court, the loss of such a man. And then\nhe departed and came to the abbey where Galahad did the adventure of\nthe tombs, and won the white shield with the red cross; and there had\nhe great cheer all that night.\n\nAnd on the morn he turned unto Camelot, where he found King Arthur and\nthe queen. But many of the knights of the Round Table were slain and\ndestroyed, more than half. And so three were come home, Ector, Gawaine,\nand Lionel, and many other that need not to be rehearsed. And all the\ncourt was passing glad of Sir Launcelot, and the king asked him many\ntidings of his son Galahad. And there Launcelot told the king of his\nadventures that had befallen him since he departed. And also he told\nhim of the adventures of Galahad, Percivale, and Bors, which that he\nknew by the letter of the dead damosel, and as Galahad had told him.\nNow God would, said the king, that they were all three here. That shall\nnever be, said Launcelot, for two of them shall ye never see, but one\nof them shall come again.\n\nNow leave we this story and speak of Galahad.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII. How Galahad came to King Mordrains, and of other matters\nand adventures.\n\n\nNow, saith the story, Galahad rode many journeys in vain. And at the\nlast he came to the abbey where King Mordrains was, and when he heard\nthat, he thought he would abide to see him. And upon the morn, when he\nhad heard mass, Galahad came unto King Mordrains, and anon the king saw\nhim, which had lain blind of long time. And then he dressed him against\nhim, and said: Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, whose coming I have\nabiden so long, now embrace me and let me rest on thy breast, so that I\nmay rest between thine arms, for thou art a clean virgin above all\nknights, as the flower of the lily in whom virginity is signified, and\nthou art the rose the which is the flower of all good virtues, and in\ncolour of fire. For the fire of the Holy Ghost is taken so in thee that\nmy flesh which was all dead of oldness is become young again. Then\nGalahad heard his words, then he embraced him and all his body. Then\nsaid he: Fair Lord Jesu Christ, now I have my will. Now I require thee,\nin this point that I am in, thou come and visit me. And anon Our Lord\nheard his prayer: therewith the soul departed from the body.\n\nAnd then Galahad put him in the earth as a king ought to be, and so\ndeparted and so came into a perilous forest where he found the well the\nwhich boileth with great waves, as the tale telleth to-fore. And as\nsoon as Galahad set his hand thereto it ceased, so that it brent no\nmore, and the heat departed. For that it brent it was a sign of\nlechery, the which was that time much used. But that heat might not\nabide his pure virginity. And this was taken in the country for a\nmiracle. And so ever after was it called Galahad\u2019s well.\n\nThen by adventure he came into the country of Gore, and into the abbey\nwhere Launcelot had been to-forehand, and found the tomb of King\nBagdemagus, but he was founder thereof, Joseph of Aramathie\u2019s son; and\nthe tomb of Simeon where Launcelot had failed. Then he looked into a\ncroft under the minster, and there he saw a tomb which brent full\nmarvellously. Then asked he the brethren what it was. Sir, said they, a\nmarvellous adventure that may not be brought unto none end but by him\nthat passeth of bounty and of knighthood all them of the Round Table. I\nwould, said Galahad, that ye would lead me thereto. Gladly, said they,\nand so led him till a cave. And he went down upon greses, and came nigh\nthe tomb. And then the flaming failed, and the fire staunched, the\nwhich many a day had been great. Then came there a voice that said:\nMuch are ye beholden to thank Our Lord, the which hath given you a good\nhour, that ye may draw out the souls of earthly pain, and to put them\ninto the joys of paradise. I am of your kindred, the which hath dwelled\nin this heat this three hundred winter and four-and-fifty to be purged\nof the sin that I did against Joseph of Aramathie. Then Galahad took\nthe body in his arms and bare it into the minster. And that night lay\nGalahad in the abbey; and on the morn he gave him service, and put him\nin the earth afore the high altar.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX. How Sir Percivale and Sir Bors met with Sir Galahad, and\nhow they came to the castle of Carbonek, and other matters.\n\n\nSo departed he from thence, and commended the brethren to God; and so\nhe rode five days till that he came to the Maimed King. And ever\nfollowed Percivale the five days, asking where he had been; and so one\ntold him how the adventures of Logris were enchieved. So on a day it\nbefell that they came out of a great forest, and there they met at\ntraverse with Sir Bors, the which rode alone. It is none need to tell\nif they were glad; and them he saluted, and they yielded him honour and\ngood adventure, and everych told other. Then said Bors: It is mo than a\nyear and an half that I ne lay ten times where men dwelled, but in wild\nforests and in mountains, but God was ever my comfort.\n\nThen rode they a great while till that they came to the castle of\nCarbonek. And when they were entered within the castle King Pelles knew\nthem; then there was great joy, for they wist well by their coming that\nthey had fulfilled the quest of the Sangreal. Then Eliazar, King\nPelles\u2019 son, brought to-fore them the broken sword wherewith Joseph was\nstricken through the thigh. Then Bors set his hand thereto, if that he\nmight have soldered it again; but it would not be. Then he took it to\nPercivale, but he had no more power thereto than he. Now have ye it\nagain, said Percivale to Galahad, for an it be ever enchieved by any\nbodily man ye must do it. And then he took the pieces and set them\ntogether, and they seemed that they had never been broken, and as well\nas it had been first forged. And when they within espied that the\nadventure of the sword was enchieved, then they gave the sword to Bors,\nfor it might not be better set; for he was a good knight and a worthy\nman.\n\nAnd a little afore even the sword arose great and marvellous, and was\nfull of great heat that many men fell for dread. And anon alighted a\nvoice among them, and said: They that ought not to sit at the table of\nJesu Christ arise, for now shall very knights be fed. So they went\nthence, all save King Pelles and Eliazar, his son, the which were holy\nmen, and a maid which was his niece; and so these three fellows and\nthey three were there, no mo. Anon they saw knights all armed came in\nat the hall door, and did off their helms and their arms, and said unto\nGalahad: Sir, we have hied right much for to be with you at this table\nwhere the holy meat shall be departed. Then said he: Ye be welcome, but\nof whence be ye? So three of them said they were of Gaul, and other\nthree said they were of Ireland, and the other three said they were of\nDenmark. So as they sat thus there came out a bed of tree, of a\nchamber, the which four gentlewomen brought; and in the bed lay a good\nman sick, and a crown of gold upon his head; and there in the midst of\nthe place they set him down, and went again their way. Then he lift up\nhis head, and said: Galahad, Knight, ye be welcome, for much have I\ndesired your coming, for in such pain and in such anguish I have been\nlong. But now I trust to God the term is come that my pain shall be\nallayed, that I shall pass out of this world so as it was promised me\nlong ago. Therewith a voice said: There be two among you that be not in\nthe quest of the Sangreal, and therefore depart ye.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX. How Galahad and his fellows were fed of the Holy Sangreal,\nand how Our Lord appeared to them, and other things.\n\n\nThen King Pelles and his son departed. And therewithal beseemed them\nthat there came a man, and four angels from heaven, clothed in likeness\nof a bishop, and had a cross in his hand; and these four angels bare\nhim up in a chair, and set him down before the table of silver where\nupon the Sangreal was; and it seemed that he had in midst of his\nforehead letters the which said: See ye here Joseph, the first bishop\nof Christendom, the same which Our Lord succoured in the city of Sarras\nin the spiritual place. Then the knights marvelled, for that bishop was\ndead more than three hundred year to-fore. O knights, said he, marvel\nnot, for I was sometime an earthly man. With that they heard the\nchamber door open, and there they saw angels; and two bare candles of\nwax, and the third a towel, and the fourth a spear which bled\nmarvellously, that three drops fell within a box which he held with his\nother hand. And they set the candles upon the table, and the third the\ntowel upon the vessel, and the fourth the holy spear even upright upon\nthe vessel. And then the bishop made semblaunt as though he would have\ngone to the sacring of the mass. And then he took an ubblie which was\nmade in likeness of bread. And at the lifting up there came a figure in\nlikeness of a child, and the visage was as red and as bright as any\nfire, and smote himself into the bread, so that they all saw it that\nthe bread was formed of a fleshly man; and then he put it into the Holy\nVessel again, and then he did that longed to a priest to do to a mass.\nAnd then he went to Galahad and kissed him, and bade him go and kiss\nhis fellows: and so he did anon. Now, said he, servants of Jesu Christ,\nye shall be fed afore this table with sweet meats that never knights\ntasted. And when he had said, he vanished away. And they set them at\nthe table in great dread, and made their prayers.\n\nThen looked they and saw a man come out of the Holy Vessel, that had\nall the signs of the passion of Jesu Christ, bleeding all openly, and\nsaid: My knights, and my servants, and my true children, which be come\nout of deadly life into spiritual life, I will now no longer hide me\nfrom you, but ye shall see now a part of my secrets and of my hidden\nthings: now hold and receive the high meat which ye have so much\ndesired. Then took he himself the Holy Vessel and came to Galahad; and\nhe kneeled down, and there he received his Saviour, and after him so\nreceived all his fellows; and they thought it so sweet that it was\nmarvellous to tell. Then said he to Galahad: Son, wottest thou what I\nhold betwixt my hands? Nay, said he, but if ye will tell me. This is,\nsaid he, the holy dish wherein I ate the lamb on Sheer-Thursday. And\nnow hast thou seen that thou most desired to see, but yet hast thou not\nseen it so openly as thou shalt see it in the city of Sarras in the\nspiritual place. Therefore thou must go hence and bear with thee this\nHoly Vessel; for this night it shall depart from the realm of Logris,\nthat it shall never be seen more here. And wottest thou wherefore? For\nhe is not served nor worshipped to his right by them of this land, for\nthey be turned to evil living; therefore I shall disherit them of the\nhonour which I have done them. And therefore go ye three to-morrow unto\nthe sea, where ye shall find your ship ready, and with you take the\nsword with the strange girdles, and no more with you but Sir Percivale\nand Sir Bors. Also I will that ye take with you of the blood of this\nspear for to anoint the Maimed King, both his legs and all his body,\nand he shall have his health. Sir, said Galahad, why shall not these\nother fellows go with us? For this cause: for right as I departed my\napostles one here and another there, so I will that ye depart; and two\nof you shall die in my service, but one of you shall come again and\ntell tidings. Then gave he them his blessing and vanished away.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI. How Galahad anointed with the blood of the spear the\nMaimed King, and of other adventures.\n\n\nAnd Galahad went anon to the spear which lay upon the table, and\ntouched the blood with his fingers, and came after to the Maimed King\nand anointed his legs.\n\nAnd therewith he clothed him anon, and start upon his feet out of his\nbed as an whole man, and thanked Our Lord that He had healed him. And\nthat was not to the worldward, for anon he yielded him to a place of\nreligion of white monks, and was a full holy man.\n\nThat same night about midnight came a voice among them which said: My\nsons and not my chief sons, my friends and not my warriors, go ye hence\nwhere ye hope best to do and as I bade you.\n\nAh, thanked be Thou, Lord, that Thou wilt vouchsafe to call us, Thy\nsinners. Now may we well prove that we have not lost our pains.\n\nAnd anon in all haste they took their harness and departed.\n\nBut the three knights of Gaul, one of them hight Claudine, King\nClaudas\u2019 son, and the other two were great gentlemen. Then prayed\nGalahad to everych of them, that if they come to King Arthur\u2019s court\nthat they should salute my lord, Sir Launcelot, my father, and all them\nof the Round Table; and prayed them if that they came on that part that\nthey should not forget it.\n\nRight so departed Galahad, Percivale and Bors with him; and so they\nrode three days, and then they came to a rivage, and found the ship\nwhereof the tale speaketh of to-fore. And when they came to the board\nthey found in the midst the table of silver which they had left with\nthe Maimed King, and the Sangreal which was covered with red samite.\n\nThen were they glad to have such things in their fellowship; and so\nthey entered and made great reverence thereto; and Galahad fell in his\nprayer long time to Our Lord, that at what time he asked, that he\nshould pass out of this world.\n\nSo much he prayed till a voice said to him: Galahad, thou shalt have\nthy request; and when thou askest the death of thy body thou shalt have\nit, and then shalt thou find the life of the soul.\n\nPercivale heard this, and prayed him, of fellowship that was between\nthem, to tell him wherefore he asked such things.\n\nThat shall I tell you, said Galahad; the other day when we saw a part\nof the adventures of the Sangreal I was in such a joy of heart, that I\ntrow never man was that was earthly. And therefore I wot well, when my\nbody is dead my soul shall be in great joy to see the blessed Trinity\nevery day, and the majesty of Our Lord, Jesu Christ.\n\nSo long were they in the ship that they said to Galahad: Sir, in this\nbed ought ye to lie, for so saith the scripture. And so he laid him\ndown and slept a great while; and when he awaked he looked afore him\nand saw the city of Sarras. And as they would have landed they saw the\nship wherein Percivale had put his sister in. Truly, said Percivale, in\nthe name of God, well hath my sister holden us covenant. Then took they\nout of the ship the table of silver, and he took it to Percivale and to\nBors, to go to-fore, and Galahad came behind. And right so they went to\nthe city, and at the gate of the city they saw an old man crooked. Then\nGalahad called him and bade him help to bear this heavy thing. Truly,\nsaid the old man, it is ten year ago that I might not go but with\ncrutches. Care thou not, said Galahad, and arise up and shew thy good\nwill. And so he assayed, and found himself as whole as ever he was.\nThan ran he to the table, and took one part against Galahad. And anon\narose there great noise in the city, that a cripple was made whole by\nknights marvellous that entered into the city.\n\nThen anon after, the three knights went to the water, and brought up\ninto the palace Percivale\u2019s sister, and buried her as richly as a\nking\u2019s daughter ought to be. And when the king of the city, which was\ncleped Estorause, saw the fellowship, he asked them of whence they\nwere, and what thing it was that they had brought upon the table of\nsilver. And they told him the truth of the Sangreal, and the power\nwhich that God had sent there. Then the king was a tyrant, and was come\nof the line of paynims, and took them and put them in prison in a deep\nhole.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII. How they were fed with the Sangreal while they were in\nprison, and how Galahad was made king.\n\n\nBut as soon as they were there Our Lord sent them the Sangreal, through\nwhose grace they were always fulfilled while that they were in prison.\n\nSo at the year\u2019s end it befell that this King Estorause lay sick, and\nfelt that he should die. Then he sent for the three knights, and they\ncame afore him; and he cried them mercy of that he had done to them,\nand they forgave it him goodly; and he died anon. When the king was\ndead all the city was dismayed, and wist not who might be their king.\nRight so as they were in counsel there came a voice among them, and\nbade them choose the youngest knight of them three to be their king:\nFor he shall well maintain you and all yours. So they made Galahad king\nby all the assent of the holy city, and else they would have slain him.\nAnd when he was come to behold the land, he let make above the table of\nsilver a chest of gold and of precious stones, that hilled the Holy\nVessel. And every day early the three fellows would come afore it, and\nmake their prayers.\n\nNow at the year\u2019s end, and the self day after Galahad had borne the\ncrown of gold, he arose up early and his fellows, and came to the\npalace, and saw to-fore them the Holy Vessel, and a man kneeling on his\nknees in likeness of a bishop, that had about him a great fellowship of\nangels, as it had been Jesu Christ himself; and then he arose and began\na mass of Our Lady. And when he came to the sacrament of the mass, and\nhad done, anon he called Galahad, and said to him: Come forth the\nservant of Jesu Christ, and thou shalt see that thou hast much desired\nto see. And then he began to tremble right hard when the deadly flesh\nbegan to behold the spiritual things. Then he held up his hands toward\nheaven and said: Lord, I thank thee, for now I see that that hath been\nmy desire many a day. Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it\nmight please thee, Lord. And therewith the good man took Our Lord\u2019s\nbody betwixt his hands, and proffered it to Galahad, and he received it\nright gladly and meekly. Now wottest thou what I am? said the good man.\nNay, said Galahad. I am Joseph of Aramathie, the which Our Lord hath\nsent here to thee to bear thee fellowship; and wottest thou wherefore\nthat he hath sent me more than any other? For thou hast resembled me in\ntwo things; in that thou hast seen the marvels of the Sangreal, in that\nthou hast been a clean maiden, as I have been and am.\n\nAnd when he had said these words Galahad went to Percivale and kissed\nhim, and commended him to God; and so he went to Sir Bors and kissed\nhim, and commended him to God, and said: Fair lord, salute me to my\nlord, Sir Launcelot, my father, and as soon as ye see him, bid him\nremember of this unstable world. And therewith he kneeled down to-fore\nthe table and made his prayers, and then suddenly his soul departed to\nJesu Christ, and a great multitude of angels bare his soul up to\nheaven, that the two fellows might well behold it. Also the two fellows\nsaw come from heaven an hand, but they saw not the body. And then it\ncame right to the Vessel, and took it and the spear, and so bare it up\nto heaven. Sithen was there never man so hardy to say that he had seen\nthe Sangreal.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIII. Of the sorrow that Percivale and Bors made when Galahad\nwas dead: and of Percivale how he died, and other matters.\n\n\nWhen Percivale and Bors saw Galahad dead they made as much sorrow as\never did two men. And if they had not been good men they might lightly\nhave fallen in despair. And the people of the country and of the city\nwere right heavy. And then he was buried; and as soon as he was buried\nSir Percivale yielded him to an hermitage out of the city, and took a\nreligious clothing. And Bors was alway with him, but never changed he\nhis secular clothing, for that he purposed him to go again into the\nrealm of Logris. Thus a year and two months lived Sir Percivale in the\nhermitage a full holy life, and then passed out of this world; and Bors\nlet bury him by his sister and by Galahad in the spiritualities.\n\nWhen Bors saw that he was in so far countries as in the parts of\nBabylon he departed from Sarras, and armed him and came to the sea, and\nentered into a ship; and so it befell him in good adventure he came\ninto the realm of Logris; and he rode so fast till he came to Camelot\nwhere the king was. And then was there great joy made of him in the\ncourt, for they weened all he had been dead, forasmuch as he had been\nso long out of the country. And when they had eaten, the king made\ngreat clerks to come afore him, that they should chronicle of the high\nadventures of the good knights. When Bors had told him of the\nadventures of the Sangreal, such as had befallen him and his three\nfellows, that was Launcelot, Percivale, Galahad, and himself, there\nLauncelot told the adventures of the Sangreal that he had seen. All\nthis was made in great books, and put up in almeries at Salisbury. And\nanon Sir Bors said to Sir Launcelot: Galahad, your own son, saluted you\nby me, and after you King Arthur and all the court, and so did Sir\nPercivale, for I buried them with mine own hands in the city of Sarras.\nAlso, Sir Launcelot, Galahad prayed you to remember of this unsiker\nworld as ye behight him when ye were together more than half a year.\nThis is true, said Launcelot; now I trust to God his prayer shall avail\nme.\n\nThen Launcelot took Sir Bors in his arms, and said: Gentle cousin, ye\nare right welcome to me, and all that ever I may do for you and for\nyours ye shall find my poor body ready at all times, while the spirit\nis in it, and that I promise you faithfully, and never to fail. And wit\nye well, gentle cousin, Sir Bors, that ye and I will never depart\nasunder whilst our lives may last. Sir, said he, I will as ye will.\n\n_Thus endeth the history of the Sangreal, that was briefly drawn out of\nFrench into English, the which is a story chronicled for one of the\ntruest and the holiest that is in this world, the which is the xvii\nbook._\n\n_And here followeth the eighteenth book._\n\n\n\n\nBOOK XVIII.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. Of the joy King Arthur and the queen had of the achievement\nof the Sangreal; and how Launcelot fell to his old love again.\n\n\nSo after the quest of the Sangreal was fulfilled, and all knights that\nwere left alive were come again unto the Table Round, as the book of\nthe Sangreal maketh mention, then was there great joy in the court; and\nin especial King Arthur and Queen Guenever made great joy of the\nremnant that were come home, and passing glad was the king and the\nqueen of Sir Launcelot and of Sir Bors, for they had been passing long\naway in the quest of the Sangreal.\n\nThen, as the book saith, Sir Launcelot began to resort unto Queen\nGuenever again, and forgat the promise and the perfection that he made\nin the quest. For, as the book saith, had not Sir Launcelot been in his\nprivy thoughts and in his mind so set inwardly to the queen as he was\nin seeming outward to God, there had no knight passed him in the quest\nof the Sangreal; but ever his thoughts were privily on the queen, and\nso they loved together more hotter than they did to-forehand, and had\nsuch privy draughts together, that many in the court spake of it, and\nin especial Sir Agravaine, Sir Gawaine\u2019s brother, for he was ever\nopen-mouthed.\n\nSo befell that Sir Launcelot had many resorts of ladies and damosels\nthat daily resorted unto him, that besought him to be their champion,\nand in all such matters of right Sir Launcelot applied him daily to do\nfor the pleasure of Our Lord, Jesu Christ. And ever as much as he might\nhe withdrew him from the company and fellowship of Queen Guenever, for\nto eschew the slander and noise; wherefore the queen waxed wroth with\nSir Launcelot. And upon a day she called Sir Launcelot unto her\nchamber, and said thus: Sir Launcelot, I see and feel daily that thy\nlove beginneth to slake, for thou hast no joy to be in my presence, but\never thou art out of this court, and quarrels and matters thou hast\nnowadays for ladies and gentlewomen more than ever thou wert wont to\nhave aforehand.\n\nAh madam, said Launcelot, in this ye must hold me excused for divers\ncauses; one is, I was but late in the quest of the Sangreal; and I\nthank God of his great mercy, and never of my desert, that I saw in\nthat my quest as much as ever saw any sinful man, and so was it told\nme. And if I had not had my privy thoughts to return to your love again\nas I do, I had seen as great mysteries as ever saw my son Galahad,\nouther Percivale, or Sir Bors; and therefore, madam, I was but late in\nthat quest. Wit ye well, madam, it may not be yet lightly forgotten the\nhigh service in whom I did my diligent labour. Also, madam, wit ye well\nthat there be many men speak of our love in this court, and have you\nand me greatly in await, as Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred; and madam,\nwit ye well I dread them more for your sake than for any fear I have of\nthem myself, for I may happen to escape and rid myself in a great need,\nwhere ye must abide all that will be said unto you. And then if that ye\nfall in any distress through wilful folly, then is there none other\nremedy or help but by me and my blood. And wit ye well, madam, the\nboldness of you and me will bring us to great shame and slander; and\nthat were me loath to see you dishonoured. And that is the cause I take\nupon me more for to do for damosels and maidens than ever I did\nto-fore, that men should understand my joy and my delight is my\npleasure to have ado for damosels and maidens.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. How the queen commanded Sir Launcelot to avoid the court,\nand of the sorrow that Launcelot made.\n\n\nAll this while the queen stood still and let Sir Launcelot say what he\nwould. And when he had all said she brast out a-weeping, and so she\nsobbed and wept a great while. And when she might speak she said:\nLauncelot, now I well understand that thou art a false recreant knight\nand a common lecher, and lovest and holdest other ladies, and by me\nthou hast disdain and scorn. For wit thou well, she said, now I\nunderstand thy falsehood, and therefore shall I never love thee no\nmore. And never be thou so hardy to come in my sight; and right here I\ndischarge thee this court, that thou never come within it; and I\nforfend thee my fellowship, and upon pain of thy head that thou see me\nno more. Right so Sir Launcelot departed with great heaviness, that\nunnethe he might sustain himself for great dole-making.\n\nThen he called Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir Lionel, and told\nthem how the queen had forfended him the court, and so he was in will\nto depart into his own country. Fair sir, said Sir Bors de Ganis, ye\nshall not depart out of this land by mine advice. Ye must remember in\nwhat honour ye are renowned, and called the noblest knight of the\nworld; and many great matters ye have in hand. And women in their\nhastiness will do ofttimes that sore repenteth them; and therefore by\nmine advice ye shall take your horse, and ride to the good hermitage\nhere beside Windsor, that sometime was a good knight, his name is Sir\nBrasias, and there shall ye abide till I send you word of better\ntidings. Brother, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well I am full loath to\ndepart out of this realm, but the queen hath defended me so highly,\nthat meseemeth she will never be my good lady as she hath been. Say ye\nnever so, said Sir Bors, for many times or this time she hath been\nwroth with you, and after it she was the first that repented it. Ye say\nwell, said Launcelot, for now will I do by your counsel, and take mine\nhorse and my harness, and ride to the hermit Sir Brasias, and there\nwill I repose me until I hear some manner of tidings from you; but,\nfair brother, I pray you get me the love of my lady, Queen Guenever, an\nye may. Sir, said Sir Bors, ye need not to move me of such matters, for\nwell ye wot I will do what I may to please you.\n\nAnd then the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, departed with right heavy\ncheer suddenly, that none earthly creature wist of him, nor where he\nwas become, but Sir Bors. So when Sir Launcelot was departed, the queen\noutward made no manner of sorrow in showing to none of his blood nor to\nnone other. But wit ye well, inwardly, as the book saith, she took\ngreat thought, but she bare it out with a proud countenance as though\nshe felt nothing nor danger.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. How at a dinner that the queen made there was a knight\nenpoisoned, which Sir Mador laid on the queen.\n\n\nAnd then the queen let make a privy dinner in London unto the knights\nof the Round Table. And all was for to show outward that she had as\ngreat joy in all other knights of the Table Round as she had in Sir\nLauncelot. All only at that dinner she had Sir Gawaine and his\nbrethren, that is for to say Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir Gareth,\nand Sir Mordred. Also there was Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Blamore de\nGanis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Ector de\nMaris, Sir Lionel, Sir Palomides, Safere his brother, Sir La Cote Male\nTaile, Sir Persant, Sir Ironside, Sir Brandiles, Sir Kay le Seneschal,\nSir Mador de la Porte, Sir Patrise, a knight of Ireland, Aliduk, Sir\nAstamore, and Sir Pinel le Savage, the which was cousin to Sir Lamorak\nde Galis, the good knight that Sir Gawaine and his brethren slew by\ntreason. And so these four-and-twenty knights should dine with the\nqueen in a privy place by themself, and there was made a great feast of\nall manner of dainties.\n\nBut Sir Gawaine had a custom that he used daily at dinner and at\nsupper, that he loved well all manner of fruit, and in especial apples\nand pears. And therefore whosomever dined or feasted Sir Gawaine would\ncommonly purvey for good fruit for him, and so did the queen for to\nplease Sir Gawaine; she let purvey for him all manner of fruit, for Sir\nGawaine was a passing hot knight of nature. And this Pinel hated Sir\nGawaine because of his kinsman Sir Lamorak de Galis; and therefore for\npure envy and hate Sir Pinel enpoisoned certain apples for to enpoison\nSir Gawaine. And so this was well unto the end of the meat; and so it\nbefell by misfortune a good knight named Patrise, cousin unto Sir Mador\nde la Porte, to take a poisoned apple. And when he had eaten it he\nswelled so till he brast, and there Sir Patrise fell down suddenly dead\namong them.\n\nThen every knight leapt from the board ashamed, and araged for wrath,\nnigh out of their wits. For they wist not what to say; considering\nQueen Guenever made the feast and dinner, they all had suspicion unto\nher. My lady, the queen, said Gawaine, wit ye well, madam, that this\ndinner was made for me, for all folks that know my condition understand\nthat I love well fruit, and now I see well I had near been slain;\ntherefore, madam, I dread me lest ye will be shamed. Then the queen\nstood still and was sore abashed, that she nist not what to say. This\nshall not so be ended, said Sir Mador de la Porte, for here have I lost\na full noble knight of my blood; and therefore upon this shame and\ndespite I will be revenged to the utterance. And there openly Sir Mador\nappealed the queen of the death of his cousin, Sir Patrise. Then stood\nthey all still, that none would speak a word against him, for they all\nhad great suspicion unto the queen because she let make that dinner.\nAnd the queen was so abashed that she could none other ways do, but\nwept so heartily that she fell in a swoon. With this noise and cry came\nto them King Arthur, and when he wist of that trouble he was a passing\nheavy man.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. How Sir Mador appeached the queen of treason, and there was\nno knight would fight for her at the first time.\n\n\nAnd ever Sir Mador stood still afore the king, and ever he appealed the\nqueen of treason; for the custom was such that time that all manner of\nshameful death was called treason. Fair lords, said King Arthur, me\nrepenteth of this trouble, but the case is so I may not have ado in\nthis matter, for I must be a rightful judge; and that repenteth me that\nI may not do battle for my wife, for as I deem this deed came never by\nher. And therefore I suppose she shall not be all distained, but that\nsome good knight shall put his body in jeopardy for my queen rather\nthan she shall be brent in a wrong quarrel. And therefore, Sir Mador,\nbe not so hasty, for it may happen she shall not be all friendless; and\ntherefore desire thou thy day of battle, and she shall purvey her of\nsome good knight that shall answer you, or else it were to me great\nshame, and to all my court.\n\nMy gracious lord, said Sir Mador, ye must hold me excused, for though\nye be our king in that degree, ye are but a knight as we are, and ye\nare sworn unto knighthood as well as we; and therefore I beseech you\nthat ye be not displeased, for there is none of the four-and-twenty\nknights that were bidden to this dinner but all they have great\nsuspicion unto the queen. What say ye all, my lords? said Sir Mador.\nThen they answered by and by that they could not excuse the queen; for\nwhy she made the dinner, and either it must come by her or by her\nservants. Alas, said the queen, I made this dinner for a good intent,\nand never for none evil, so Almighty God me help in my right, as I was\nnever purposed to do such evil deeds, and that I report me unto God.\n\nMy lord, the king, said Sir Mador, I require you as ye be a righteous\nking give me a day that I may have justice. Well, said the king, I give\nthe day this day fifteen days that thou be ready armed on horseback in\nthe meadow beside Westminster. And if it so fall that there be any\nknight to encounter with you, there mayst thou do the best, and God\nspeed the right. And if it so fall that there be no knight at that day,\nthen must my queen be burnt, and there she shall be ready to have her\njudgment. I am answered, said Sir Mador. And every knight went where it\nliked them.\n\nSo when the king and the queen were together the king asked the queen\nhow this case befell. The queen answered: So God me help, I wot not how\nor in what manner. Where is Sir Launcelot? said King Arthur; an he were\nhere he would not grudge to do battle for you. Sir, said the queen, I\nwot not where he is, but his brother and his kinsmen deem that he be\nnot within this realm. That me repenteth, said King Arthur, for an he\nwere here he would soon stint this strife. Then I will counsel you,\nsaid the king, and unto Sir Bors: That ye will do battle for her for\nSir Launcelot\u2019s sake, and upon my life he will not refuse you. For well\nI see, said the king, that none of these four-and-twenty knights that\nwere with you at your dinner where Sir Patrise was slain, that will do\nbattle for you, nor none of them will say well of you, and that shall\nbe a great slander for you in this court. Alas, said the queen, and I\nmay not do withal, but now I miss Sir Launcelot, for an he were here he\nwould put me soon to my heart\u2019s ease. What aileth you, said the king,\nye cannot keep Sir Launcelot upon your side? For wit ye well, said the\nking, who that hath Sir Launcelot upon his part hath the most man of\nworship in the world upon his side. Now go your way, said the king unto\nthe queen, and require Sir Bors to do battle for you for Sir\nLauncelot\u2019s sake.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. How the queen required Sir Bors to fight for her, and how he\ngranted upon condition; and how he warned Sir Launcelot thereof.\n\n\nSo the queen departed from the king, and sent for Sir Bors into her\nchamber. And when he was come she besought him of succour. Madam, said\nhe, what would ye that I did? for I may not with my worship have ado in\nthis matter, because I was at the same dinner, for dread that any of\nthose knights would have me in suspicion. Also, madam, said Sir Bors,\nnow miss ye Sir Launcelot, for he would not have failed you neither in\nright nor in wrong, as ye have well proved when ye have been in danger;\nand now ye have driven him out of this country, by whom ye and all we\nwere daily worshipped by; therefore, madam, I marvel how ye dare for\nshame require me to do any thing for you, in so much ye have chased him\nout of your country by whom we were borne up and honoured. Alas, fair\nknight, said the queen, I put me wholly in your grace, and all that is\ndone amiss I will amend as ye will counsel me. And therewith she\nkneeled down upon both her knees, and besought Sir Bors to have mercy\nupon her: Outher I shall have a shameful death, and thereto I never\noffended.\n\nRight so came King Arthur, and found the queen kneeling afore Sir Bors;\nthen Sir Bors pulled her up, and said: Madam, ye do me great dishonour.\nAh, gentle knight, said the king, have mercy upon my queen, courteous\nknight, for I am now in certain she is untruly defamed. And therefore,\ncourteous knight, said the king, promise her to do battle for her, I\nrequire you for the love of Sir Launcelot. My lord, said Sir Bors, ye\nrequire me the greatest thing that any man may require me; and wit ye\nwell if I grant to do battle for the queen I shall wrath many of my\nfellowship of the Table Round. But as for that, said Bors, I will grant\nmy lord that for my lord Sir Launcelot\u2019s sake, and for your sake I will\nat that day be the queen\u2019s champion unless that there come by adventure\na better knight than I am to do battle for her. Will ye promise me\nthis, said the king, by your faith? Yea sir, said Sir Bors, of that I\nwill not fail you, nor her both, but if there come a better knight than\nI am, and then shall he have the battle. Then was the king and the\nqueen passing glad, and so departed, and thanked him heartily.\n\nSo then Sir Bors departed secretly upon a day, and rode unto Sir\nLauncelot thereas he was with the hermit, Sir Brasias, and told him of\nall their adventure. Ah Jesu, said Sir Launcelot, this is come happily\nas I would have it, and therefore I pray you make you ready to do\nbattle, but look that ye tarry till ye see me come, as long as ye may.\nFor I am sure Mador is an hot knight when he is enchafed, for the more\nye suffer him the hastier will he be to battle. Sir, said Bors, let me\ndeal with him, doubt ye not ye shall have all your will. Then departed\nSir Bors from him and came to the court again. Then was it noised in\nall the court that Sir Bors should do battle for the queen; wherefore\nmany knights were displeased with him, that he would take upon him to\ndo battle in the queen\u2019s quarrel; for there were but few knights in all\nthe court but they deemed the queen was in the wrong, and that she had\ndone that treason.\n\nSo Sir Bors answered thus to his fellows of the Table Round: Wit ye\nwell, my fair lords, it were shame to us all an we suffered to see the\nmost noble queen of the world to be shamed openly, considering her lord\nand our lord is the man of most worship in the world, and most\nchristened, and he hath ever worshipped us all in all places. Many\nanswered him again: As for our most noble King Arthur, we love him and\nhonour him as well as ye do, but as for Queen Guenever we love her not,\nbecause she is a destroyer of good knights. Fair lords, said Sir Bors,\nmeseemeth ye say not as ye should say, for never yet in my days knew I\nnever nor heard say that ever she was a destroyer of any good knight.\nBut at all times as far as ever I could know she was a maintainer of\ngood knights; and ever she hath been large and free of her goods to all\ngood knights, and the most bounteous lady of her gifts and her good\ngrace, that ever I saw or heard speak of. And therefore it were shame,\nsaid Sir Bors, to us all to our most noble king\u2019s wife, an we suffered\nher to be shamefully slain. And wit ye well, said Sir Bors, I will not\nsuffer it, for I dare say so much, the queen is not guilty of Sir\nPatrise\u2019s death, for she owed him never none ill will, nor none of the\nfour-and-twenty knights that were at that dinner; for I dare say for\ngood love she bade us to dinner, and not for no mal engine, and that I\ndoubt not shall be proved hereafter, for howsomever the game goeth,\nthere was treason among us. Then some said to Sir Bors: We may well\nbelieve your words. And so some of them were well pleased, and some\nwere not so.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. How at the day Sir Bors made him ready for to fight for the\nqueen; and when he would fight how another discharged him.\n\n\nThe day came on fast until the even that the battle should be. Then the\nqueen sent for Sir Bors and asked him how he was disposed. Truly madam,\nsaid he, I am disposed in likewise as I promised you, that is for to\nsay I shall not fail you, unless by adventure there come a better\nknight than I am to do battle for you, then, madam, am I discharged of\nmy promise. Will ye, said the queen, that I tell my lord Arthur thus?\nDo as it shall please you, madam. Then the queen went unto the king and\ntold him the answer of Sir Bors. Have ye no doubt, said the king, of\nSir Bors, for I call him now one of the best knights of the world, and\nthe most profitablest man. And thus it passed on until the morn, and\nthe king and the queen and all manner of knights that were there at\nthat time drew them unto the meadow beside Westminster where the battle\nshould be. And so when the king was come with the queen and many\nknights of the Round Table, then the queen was put there in the\nConstable\u2019s ward, and a great fire made about an iron stake, that an\nSir Mador de la Porte had the better, she should be burnt: such custom\nwas used in those days, that neither for favour, neither for love nor\naffinity, there should be none other but righteous judgment, as well\nupon a king as upon a knight, and as well upon a queen as upon another\npoor lady.\n\nSo in this meanwhile came in Sir Mador de la Porte, and took his oath\nafore the king, that the queen did this treason until his cousin Sir\nPatrise, and unto his oath he would prove it with his body, hand for\nhand, who that would say the contrary. Right so came in Sir Bors de\nGanis, and said: That as for Queen Guenever she is in the right, and\nthat will I make good with my hands that she is not culpable of this\ntreason that is put upon her. Then make thee ready, said Sir Mador, and\nwe shall prove whether thou be in the right or I. Sir Mador, said Sir\nBors, wit thou well I know you for a good knight. Not for then I shall\nnot fear you so greatly, but I trust to God I shall be able to\nwithstand your malice. But this much have I promised my lord Arthur and\nmy lady the queen, that I shall do battle for her in this case to the\nuttermost, unless that there come a better knight than I am and\ndischarge me. Is that all? said Sir Mador, either come thou off and do\nbattle with me, or else say nay. Take your horse, said Sir Bors, and as\nI suppose, ye shall not tarry long but ye shall be answered.\n\nThen either departed to their tents and made them ready to horseback as\nthey thought best. And anon Sir Mador came into the field with his\nshield on his shoulder and his spear in his hand; and so rode about the\nplace crying unto Arthur: Bid your champion come forth an he dare. Then\nwas Sir Bors ashamed and took his horse and came to the lists\u2019 end. And\nthen was he ware where came from a wood there fast by a knight all\narmed, upon a white horse, with a strange shield of strange arms; and\nhe came riding all that he might run, and so he came to Sir Bors, and\nsaid thus: Fair knight, I pray you be not displeased, for here must a\nbetter knight than ye are have this battle, therefore I pray you\nwithdraw you. For wit ye well I have had this day a right great\njourney, and this battle ought to be mine, and so I promised you when I\nspake with you last, and with all my heart I thank you of your good\nwill. Then Sir Bors rode unto King Arthur and told him how there was a\nknight come that would have the battle for to fight for the queen. What\nknight is he? said the king. I wot not, said Sir Bors, but such\ncovenant he made with me to be here this day. Now my lord, said Sir\nBors, here am I discharged.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot fought against Sir Mador for the queen,\nand how he overcame Sir Mador, and discharged the queen.\n\n\nThen the king called to that knight, and asked him if he would fight\nfor the queen. Then he answered to the king: Therefore came I hither,\nand therefore, sir king, he said, tarry me no longer, for I may not\ntarry. For anon as I have finished this battle I must depart hence, for\nI have ado many matters elsewhere. For wit you well, said that knight,\nthis is dishonour to you all knights of the Round Table, to see and\nknow so noble a lady and so courteous a queen as Queen Guenever is,\nthus to be rebuked and shamed amongst you. Then they all marvelled what\nknight that might be that so took the battle upon him. For there was\nnot one that knew him, but if it were Sir Bors.\n\nThen said Sir Mador de la Porte unto the king: Now let me wit with whom\nI shall have ado withal. And then they rode to the lists\u2019 end, and\nthere they couched their spears, and ran together with all their might,\nand Sir Mador\u2019s spear brake all to pieces, but the other\u2019s spear held,\nand bare Sir Mador\u2019s horse and all backward to the earth a great fall.\nBut mightily and suddenly he avoided his horse and put his shield afore\nhim, and then drew his sword, and bade the other knight alight and do\nbattle with him on foot. Then that knight descended from his horse\nlightly like a valiant man, and put his shield afore him and drew his\nsword; and so they came eagerly unto battle, and either gave other many\ngreat strokes, tracing and traversing, racing and foining, and hurtling\ntogether with their swords as it were wild boars. Thus were they\nfighting nigh an hour, for this Sir Mador was a strong knight, and\nmightily proved in many strong battles. But at the last this knight\nsmote Sir Mador grovelling upon the earth, and the knight stepped near\nhim to have pulled Sir Mador flatling upon the ground; and therewith\nsuddenly Sir Mador arose, and in his rising he smote that knight\nthrough the thick of the thighs that the blood ran out fiercely. And\nwhen he felt himself so wounded, and saw his blood, he let him arise\nupon his feet. And then he gave him such a buffet upon the helm that he\nfell to the earth flatling, and therewith he strode to him to have\npulled off his helm off his head. And then Sir Mador prayed that knight\nto save his life, and so he yielded him as overcome, and released the\nqueen of his quarrel. I will not grant thee thy life, said that knight,\nonly that thou freely release the queen for ever, and that no mention\nbe made upon Sir Patrise\u2019s tomb that ever Queen Guenever consented to\nthat treason. All this shall be done, said Sir Mador, I clearly\ndischarge my quarrel for ever.\n\nThen the knights parters of the lists took up Sir Mador, and led him to\nhis tent, and the other knight went straight to the stair-foot where\nsat King Arthur; and by that time was the queen come to the king, and\neither kissed other heartily. And when the king saw that knight, he\nstooped down to him, and thanked him, and in likewise did the queen;\nand the king prayed him to put off his helmet, and to repose him, and\nto take a sop of wine. And then he put off his helm to drink, and then\nevery knight knew him that it was Sir Launcelot du Lake. Anon as the\nking wist that, he took the queen in his hand, and yode unto Sir\nLauncelot, and said: Sir, grant mercy of your great travail that ye\nhave had this day for me and for my queen. My lord, said Sir Launcelot,\nwit ye well I ought of right ever to be in your quarrel, and in my lady\nthe queen\u2019s quarrel, to do battle; for ye are the man that gave me the\nhigh order of knighthood, and that day my lady, your queen, did me\ngreat worship, and else I had been shamed; for that same day ye made me\nknight, through my hastiness I lost my sword, and my lady, your queen,\nfound it, and lapped it in her train, and gave me my sword when I had\nneed thereto, and else had I been shamed among all knights; and\ntherefore, my lord Arthur, I promised her at that day ever to be her\nknight in right outher in wrong. Grant mercy, said the king, for this\njourney; and wit ye well, said the king, I shall acquit your goodness.\n\nAnd ever the queen beheld Sir Launcelot, and wept so tenderly that she\nsank almost to the ground for sorrow that he had done to her so great\ngoodness where she shewed him great unkindness. Then the knights of his\nblood drew unto him, and there either of them made great joy of other.\nAnd so came all the knights of the Table Round that were there at that\ntime, and welcomed him. And then Sir Mador was had to leech-craft, and\nSir Launcelot was healed of his wound. And then there was made great\njoy and mirths in that court.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. How the truth was known by the Maiden of the Lake, and of\ndivers other matters.\n\n\nAnd so it befell that the damosel of the lake, her name was Nimue, the\nwhich wedded the good knight Sir Pelleas, and so she came to the court;\nfor ever she did great goodness unto King Arthur and to all his knights\nthrough her sorcery and enchantments. And so when she heard how the\nqueen was an-angered for the death of Sir Patrise, then she told it\nopenly that she was never guilty; and there she disclosed by whom it\nwas done, and named him, Sir Pinel; and for what cause he did it, there\nit was openly disclosed; and so the queen was excused, and the knight\nPinel fled into his country. Then was it openly known that Sir Pinel\nenpoisoned the apples at the feast to that intent to have destroyed Sir\nGawaine, because Sir Gawaine and his brethren destroyed Sir Lamorak de\nGalis, to the which Sir Pinel was cousin unto. Then was Sir Patrise\nburied in the church of Westminster in a tomb, and thereupon was\nwritten: Here lieth Sir Patrise of Ireland, slain by Sir Pinel le\nSavage, that enpoisoned apples to have slain Sir Gawaine, and by\nmisfortune Sir Patrise ate one of those apples, and then suddenly he\nbrast. Also there was written upon the tomb that Queen Guenever was\nappealed of treason of the death of Sir Patrise, by Sir Mador de la\nPorte; and there was made mention how Sir Launcelot fought with him for\nQueen Guenever, and overcame him in plain battle. All this was written\nupon the tomb of Sir Patrise in excusing of the queen. And then Sir\nMador sued daily and long, to have the queen\u2019s good grace; and so by\nthe means of Sir Launcelot he caused him to stand in the queen\u2019s good\ngrace, and all was forgiven.\n\nThus it passed on till our Lady Day, Assumption. Within a fifteen days\nof that feast the king let cry a great jousts and a tournament that\nshould be at that day at Camelot, that is Winchester; and the king let\ncry that he and the King of Scots would joust against all that would\ncome against them. And when this cry was made, thither came many\nknights. So there came thither the King of Northgalis, and King Anguish\nof Ireland, and the King with the Hundred Knights, and Galahad, the\nhaut prince, and the King of Northumberland, and many other noble dukes\nand earls of divers countries. So King Arthur made him ready to depart\nto these jousts, and would have had the queen with him, but at that\ntime she would not, she said, for she was sick and might not ride at\nthat time. That me repenteth, said the king, for this seven year ye saw\nnot such a noble fellowship together except at Whitsuntide when Galahad\ndeparted from the court. Truly, said the queen to the king, ye must\nhold me excused, I may not be there, and that me repenteth. And many\ndeemed the queen would not be there because of Sir Launcelot du Lake,\nfor Sir Launcelot would not ride with the king, for he said that he was\nnot whole of the wound the which Sir Mador had given him; wherefore the\nking was heavy and passing wroth. And so he departed toward Winchester\nwith his fellowship; and so by the way the king lodged in a town called\nAstolat, that is now in English called Guildford, and there the king\nlay in the castle.\n\nSo when the king was departed the queen called Sir Launcelot to her,\nand said thus: Sir Launcelot, ye are greatly to blame thus to hold you\nbehind my lord; what, trow ye, what will your enemies and mine say and\ndeem? nought else but, See how Sir Launcelot holdeth him ever behind\nthe king, and so doth the queen, for that they would have their\npleasure together. And thus will they say, said the queen to Sir\nLauncelot, have ye no doubt thereof.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. How Sir Launcelot rode to Astolat, and received a sleeve to\nwear upon his helm at the request of a maid.\n\n\nMadam, said Sir Launcelot, I allow your wit, it is of late come since\nye were wise. And therefore, madam, at this time I will be ruled by\nyour counsel, and this night I will take my rest, and to-morrow by time\nI will take my way toward Winchester. But wit you well, said Sir\nLauncelot to the queen, that at that jousts I will be against the king,\nand against all his fellowship. Ye may there do as ye list, said the\nqueen, but by my counsel ye shall not be against your king and your\nfellowship. For therein be full many hard knights of your blood, as ye\nwot well enough, it needeth not to rehearse them. Madam, said Sir\nLauncelot, I pray you that ye be not displeased with me, for I will\ntake the adventure that God will send me.\n\nAnd so upon the morn early Sir Launcelot heard mass and brake his fast,\nand so took his leave of the queen and departed. And then he rode so\nmuch until he came to Astolat, that is Guildford; and there it happed\nhim in the eventide he came to an old baron\u2019s place that hight Sir\nBernard of Astolat. And as Sir Launcelot entered into his lodging, King\nArthur espied him as he did walk in a garden beside the castle, how he\ntook his lodging, and knew him full well. It is well, said King Arthur\nunto the knights that were with him in that garden beside the castle, I\nhave now espied one knight that will play his play at the jousts to the\nwhich we be gone toward; I undertake he will do marvels. Who is that,\nwe pray you tell us? said many knights that were there at that time. Ye\nshall not wit for me, said the king, as at this time. And so the king\nsmiled, and went to his lodging.\n\nSo when Sir Launcelot was in his lodging, and unarmed him in his\nchamber, the old baron and hermit came to him making his reverence, and\nwelcomed him in the best manner; but the old knight knew not Sir\nLauncelot. Fair sir, said Sir Launcelot to his host, I would pray you\nto lend me a shield that were not openly known, for mine is well known.\nSir, said his host, ye shall have your desire, for meseemeth ye be one\nof the likeliest knights of the world, and therefore I shall shew you\nfriendship. Sir, wit you well I have two sons that were but late made\nknights, and the eldest hight Sir Tirre, and he was hurt that same day\nhe was made knight, that he may not ride, and his shield ye shall have;\nfor that is not known I dare say but here, and in no place else. And my\nyoungest son hight Lavaine, and if it please you, he shall ride with\nyou unto that jousts; and he is of his age strong and wight, for much\nmy heart giveth unto you that ye should be a noble knight, therefore I\npray you, tell me your name, said Sir Bernard. As for that, said Sir\nLauncelot, ye must hold me excused as at this time, and if God give me\ngrace to speed well at the jousts I shall come again and tell you. But\nI pray you, said Sir Launcelot, in any wise let me have your son, Sir\nLavaine, with me, and that I may have his brother\u2019s shield. All this\nshall be done, said Sir Bernard.\n\nThis old baron had a daughter that was called that time the Fair Maiden\nof Astolat. And ever she beheld Sir Launcelot wonderfully; and as the\nbook saith, she cast such a love unto Sir Launcelot that she could\nnever withdraw her love, wherefore she died, and her name was Elaine le\nBlank. So thus as she came to and fro she was so hot in her love that\nshe besought Sir Launcelot to wear upon him at the jousts a token of\nhers. Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, an if I grant you that, ye may\nsay I do more for your love than ever I did for lady or damosel. Then\nhe remembered him he would go to the jousts disguised. And because he\nhad never fore that time borne no manner of token of no damosel, then\nhe bethought him that he would bear one of her, that none of his blood\nthereby might know him, and then he said: Fair maiden, I will grant you\nto wear a token of yours upon mine helmet, and therefore what it is,\nshew it me. Sir, she said, it is a red sleeve of mine, of scarlet, well\nembroidered with great pearls: and so she brought it him. So Sir\nLauncelot received it, and said: Never did I erst so much for no\ndamosel. And then Sir Launcelot betook the fair maiden his shield in\nkeeping, and prayed her to keep that until that he came again; and so\nthat night he had merry rest and great cheer, for ever the damosel\nElaine was about Sir Launcelot all the while she might be suffered.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. How the tourney began at Winchester, and what knights were\nat the jousts; and other things.\n\n\nSo upon a day, on the morn, King Arthur and all his knights departed,\nfor their king had tarried three days to abide his noble knights. And\nso when the king was ridden, Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine made them\nready to ride, and either of them had white shields, and the red sleeve\nSir Launcelot let carry with him. And so they took their leave at Sir\nBernard, the old baron, and at his daughter, the Fair Maiden of\nAstolat. And then they rode so long till that they came to Camelot,\nthat time called Winchester; and there was great press of kings, dukes\nearls, and barons, and many noble knights. But there Sir Launcelot was\nlodged privily by the means of Sir Lavaine with a rich burgess, that no\nman in that town was ware what they were. And so they reposed them\nthere till our Lady Day, Assumption, as the great feast should be. So\nthen trumpets blew unto the field, and King Arthur was set on high upon\na scaffold to behold who did best. But as the French book saith, the\nking would not suffer Sir Gawaine to go from him, for never had Sir\nGawaine the better an Sir Launcelot were in the field; and many times\nwas Sir Gawaine rebuked when Launcelot came into any jousts disguised.\n\nThen some of the kings, as King Anguish of Ireland and the King of\nScots, were that time turned upon the side of King Arthur. And then on\nthe other party was the King of Northgalis, and the King with the\nHundred Knights, and the King of Northumberland, and Sir Galahad, the\nhaut prince. But these three kings and this duke were passing weak to\nhold against King Arthur\u2019s party, for with him were the noblest knights\nof the world. So then they withdrew them either party from other, and\nevery man made him ready in his best manner to do what he might.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot made him ready, and put the red sleeve upon his\nhead, and fastened it fast; and so Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine\ndeparted out of Winchester privily, and rode until a little leaved wood\nbehind the party that held against King Arthur\u2019s party, and there they\nheld them still till the parties smote together. And then came in the\nKing of Scots and the King of Ireland on Arthur\u2019s party, and against\nthem came the King of Northumberland, and the King with the Hundred\nKnights smote down the King of Northumberland, and the King with the\nHundred Knights smote down King Anguish of Ireland. Then Sir Palomides\nthat was on Arthur\u2019s party encountered with Sir Galahad, and either of\nthem smote down other, and either party halp their lords on horseback\nagain. So there began a strong assail upon both parties. And then came\nin Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramore le Desirous, Sir Dodinas le Savage, Sir\nKay le Seneschal, Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, Sir Mordred, Sir Meliot\nde Logris, Sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy, Sir Safere, Sir Epinogris, Sir\nGalleron of Galway. All these fifteen knights were knights of the Table\nRound. So these with more other came in together, and beat aback the\nKing of Northumberland and the King of Northgalis. When Sir Launcelot\nsaw this, as he hoved in a little leaved wood, then he said unto Sir\nLavaine: See yonder is a company of good knights, and they hold them\ntogether as boars that were chafed with dogs. That is truth, said Sir\nLavaine.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine entered in the field\nagainst them of King Arthur\u2019s court, and how Launcelot was hurt.\n\n\nNow, said Sir Launcelot, an ye will help me a little, ye shall see\nyonder fellowship that chaseth now these men in our side, that they\nshall go as fast backward as they went forward. Sir, spare not, said\nSir Lavaine, for I shall do what I may. Then Sir Launcelot and Sir\nLavaine came in at the thickest of the press, and there Sir Launcelot\nsmote down Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramore, Sir Dodinas, Sir Kay, Sir\nGriflet, and all this he did with one spear; and Sir Lavaine smote down\nSir Lucan le Butler and Sir Bedevere. And then Sir Launcelot gat\nanother spear, and there he smote down Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, and\nSir Mordred, and Sir Meliot de Logris; and Sir Lavaine smote Ozanna le\nCure Hardy. And then Sir Launcelot drew his sword, and there he smote\non the right hand and on the left hand, and by great force he unhorsed\nSir Safere, Sir Epinogris, and Sir Galleron; and then the knights of\nthe Table Round withdrew them aback, after they had gotten their horses\nas well as they might. O mercy Jesu, said Sir Gawaine, what knight is\nyonder that doth so marvellous deeds of arms in that field? I wot well\nwhat he is, said King Arthur, but as at this time I will not name him.\nSir, said Sir Gawaine, I would say it were Sir Launcelot by his riding\nand his buffets that I see him deal, but ever meseemeth it should not\nbe he, for that he beareth the red sleeve upon his head; for I wist him\nnever bear token at no jousts, of lady nor gentlewoman. Let him be,\nsaid King Arthur, he will be better known, and do more, or ever he\ndepart.\n\nThen the party that was against King Arthur were well comforted, and\nthen they held them together that beforehand were sore rebuked. Then\nSir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir Lionel called unto them the\nknights of their blood, as Sir Blamore de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis, Sir\nAliduke, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Bellangere le Beuse. So these\nnine knights of Sir Launcelot\u2019s kin thrust in mightily, for they were\nall noble knights; and they, of great hate and despite that they had\nunto him, thought to rebuke that noble knight Sir Launcelot, and Sir\nLavaine, for they knew them not; and so they came hurling together, and\nsmote down many knights of Northgalis and of Northumberland. And when\nSir Launcelot saw them fare so, he gat a spear in his hand; and there\nencountered with him all at once Sir Bors, Sir Ector, and Sir Lionel,\nand all they three smote him at once with their spears. And with force\nof themself they smote Sir Launcelot\u2019s horse to the earth; and by\nmisfortune Sir Bors smote Sir Launcelot through the shield into the\nside, and the spear brake, and the head left still in his side.\n\nWhen Sir Lavaine saw his master lie on the ground, he ran to the King\nof Scots and smote him to the earth; and by great force he took his\nhorse, and brought him to Sir Launcelot, and maugre of them all he made\nhim to mount upon that horse. And then Launcelot gat a spear in his\nhand, and there he smote Sir Bors, horse and man, to the earth. In the\nsame wise he served Sir Ector and Sir Lionel; and Sir Lavaine smote\ndown Sir Blamore de Ganis. And then Sir Launcelot drew his sword, for\nhe felt himself so sore y-hurt that he weened there to have had his\ndeath. And then he smote Sir Bleoberis such a buffet on the helm that\nhe fell down to the earth in a swoon. And in the same wise he served\nSir Aliduke and Sir Galihud. And Sir Lavaine smote down Sir Bellangere,\nthat was the son of Alisander le Orphelin.\n\nAnd by this was Sir Bors horsed, and then he came with Sir Ector and\nSir Lionel, and all they three smote with swords upon Sir Launcelot\u2019s\nhelmet. And when he felt their buffets and his wound, the which was so\ngrievous, then he thought to do what he might while he might endure.\nAnd then he gave Sir Bors such a buffet that he made him bow his head\npassing low; and therewithal he raced off his helm, and might have\nslain him; and so pulled him down, and in the same wise he served Sir\nEctor and Sir Lionel. For as the book saith he might have slain them,\nbut when he saw their visages his heart might not serve him thereto,\nbut left them there. And then afterward he hurled into the thickest\npress of them all, and did there the marvelloust deeds of arms that\never man saw or heard speak of, and ever Sir Lavaine, the good knight,\nwith him. And there Sir Launcelot with his sword smote down and pulled\ndown, as the French book maketh mention, mo than thirty knights, and\nthe most part were of the Table Round; and Sir Lavaine did full well\nthat day, for he smote down ten knights of the Table Round.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed out of the\nfield, and in what jeopardy Launcelot was.\n\n\nMercy Jesu, said Sir Gawaine to Arthur, I marvel what knight that he is\nwith the red sleeve. Sir, said King Arthur, he will be known or he\ndepart. And then the king blew unto lodging, and the prize was given by\nheralds unto the knight with the white shield that bare the red sleeve.\nThen came the King with the Hundred Knights, the King of Northgalis,\nand the King of Northumberland, and Sir Galahad, the haut prince, and\nsaid unto Sir Launcelot: Fair knight, God thee bless, for much have ye\ndone this day for us, therefore we pray you that ye will come with us\nthat ye may receive the honour and the prize as ye have worshipfully\ndeserved it. My fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, wit you well if I have\ndeserved thanks I have sore bought it, and that me repenteth, for I am\nlike never to escape with my life; therefore, fair lords, I pray you\nthat ye will suffer me to depart where me liketh, for I am sore hurt. I\ntake none force of none honour, for I had liefer to repose me than to\nbe lord of all the world. And therewithal he groaned piteously, and\nrode a great wallop away-ward from them until he came under a wood\u2019s\nside.\n\nAnd when he saw that he was from the field nigh a mile, that he was\nsure he might not be seen, then he said with an high voice: O gentle\nknight, Sir Lavaine, help me that this truncheon were out of my side,\nfor it sticketh so sore that it nigh slayeth me. O mine own lord, said\nSir Lavaine, I would fain do that might please you, but I dread me sore\nan I pull out the truncheon that ye shall be in peril of death. I\ncharge you, said Sir Launcelot, as ye love me, draw it out. And\ntherewithal he descended from his horse, and right so did Sir Lavaine;\nand forthwithal Sir Lavaine drew the truncheon out of his side, and he\ngave a great shriek and a marvellous grisly groan, and the blood brast\nout nigh a pint at once, that at the last he sank down upon his\nbuttocks, and so swooned pale and deadly. Alas, said Sir Lavaine, what\nshall I do? And then he turned Sir Launcelot into the wind, but so he\nlay there nigh half an hour as he had been dead.\n\nAnd so at the last Sir Launcelot cast up his eyes, and said: O Lavaine,\nhelp me that I were on my horse, for here is fast by within this two\nmile a gentle hermit that sometime was a full noble knight and a great\nlord of possessions. And for great goodness he hath taken him to wilful\npoverty, and forsaken many lands, and his name is Sir Baudwin of\nBrittany, and he is a full noble surgeon and a good leech. Now let see,\nhelp me up that I were there, for ever my heart giveth me that I shall\nnever die of my cousin-germain\u2019s hands. And then with great pain Sir\nLavaine halp him upon his horse. And then they rode a great wallop\ntogether, and ever Sir Launcelot bled that it ran down to the earth;\nand so by fortune they came to that hermitage the which was under a\nwood, and a great cliff on the other side, and a fair water running\nunder it. And then Sir Lavaine beat on the gate with the butt of his\nspear, and cried fast: Let in for Jesu\u2019s sake.\n\nAnd there came a fair child to them, and asked them what they would.\nFair son, said Sir Lavaine, go and pray thy lord, the hermit, for God\u2019s\nsake to let in here a knight that is full sore wounded; and this day\ntell thy lord I saw him do more deeds of arms than ever I heard say\nthat any man did. So the child went in lightly, and then he brought the\nhermit, the which was a passing good man. When Sir Lavaine saw him he\nprayed him for God\u2019s sake of succour. What knight is he? said the\nhermit. Is he of the house of King Arthur, or not? I wot not, said Sir\nLavaine, what is he, nor what is his name, but well I wot I saw him do\nmarvellously this day as of deeds of arms. On whose party was he? said\nthe hermit. Sir, said Sir Lavaine, he was this day against King Arthur,\nand there he won the prize of all the knights of the Round Table. I\nhave seen the day, said the hermit, I would have loved him the worse\nbecause he was against my lord, King Arthur, for sometime I was one of\nthe fellowship of the Round Table, but I thank God now I am otherwise\ndisposed. But where is he? let me see him. Then Sir Lavaine brought the\nhermit to him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. How Launcelot was brought to an hermit for to be healed\nof his wound, and of other matters.\n\n\nAnd when the hermit beheld him, as he sat leaning upon his saddle-bow\never bleeding piteously, and ever the knight-hermit thought that he\nshould know him, but he could not bring him to knowledge because he was\nso pale for bleeding. What knight are ye, said the hermit, and where\nwere ye born? My fair lord, said Sir Launcelot, I am a stranger and a\nknight adventurous, that laboureth throughout many realms for to win\nworship. Then the hermit advised him better, and saw by a wound on his\ncheek that he was Sir Launcelot. Alas, said the hermit, mine own lord\nwhy lain you your name from me? Forsooth I ought to know you of right,\nfor ye are the most noblest knight of the world, for well I know you\nfor Sir Launcelot. Sir, said he, sith ye know me, help me an ye may,\nfor God\u2019s sake, for I would be out of this pain at once, either to\ndeath or to life. Have ye no doubt, said the hermit, ye shall live and\nfare right well. And so the hermit called to him two of his servants,\nand so he and his servants bare him into the hermitage, and lightly\nunarmed him, and laid him in his bed. And then anon the hermit\nstaunched his blood, and made him to drink good wine, so that Sir\nLauncelot was well refreshed and knew himself; for in those days it was\nnot the guise of hermits as is nowadays, for there were none hermits in\nthose days but that they had been men of worship and of prowess; and\nthose hermits held great household, and refreshed people that were in\ndistress.\n\nNow turn we unto King Arthur, and leave we Sir Launcelot in the\nhermitage. So when the kings were come together on both parties, and\nthe great feast should be holden, King Arthur asked the King of\nNorthgalis and their fellowship, where was that knight that bare the\nred sleeve: Bring him afore me that he may have his laud, and honour,\nand the prize, as it is right. Then spake Sir Galahad, the haut prince,\nand the King with the Hundred Knights: We suppose that knight is\nmischieved, and that he is never like to see you nor none of us all,\nand that is the greatest pity that ever we wist of any knight. Alas,\nsaid Arthur, how may this be, is he so hurt? What is his name? said\nKing Arthur. Truly, said they all, we know not his name, nor from\nwhence he came, nor whither he would. Alas, said the king, this be to\nme the worst tidings that came to me this seven year, for I would not\nfor all the lands I wield to know and wit it were so that that noble\nknight were slain. Know ye him? said they all. As for that, said\nArthur, whether I know him or know him not, ye shall not know for me\nwhat man he is, but Almighty Jesu send me good tidings of him. And so\nsaid they all. By my head, said Sir Gawaine, if it so be that the good\nknight be so sore hurt, it is great damage and pity to all this land,\nfor he is one of the noblest knights that ever I saw in a field handle\na spear or a sword; and if he may be found I shall find him, for I am\nsure he nis not far from this town. Bear you well, said King Arthur, an\nye may find him, unless that he be in such a plight that he may not\nwield himself. Jesu defend, said Sir Gawaine, but wit I shall what he\nis, an I may find him.\n\nRight so Sir Gawaine took a squire with him upon hackneys, and rode all\nabout Camelot within six or seven mile, but so he came again and could\nhear no word of him. Then within two days King Arthur and all the\nfellowship returned unto London again. And so as they rode by the way\nit happed Sir Gawaine at Astolat to lodge with Sir Bernard thereas was\nSir Launcelot lodged. And so as Sir Gawaine was in his chamber to\nrepose him Sir Bernard, the old baron, came unto him, and his daughter\nElaine, to cheer him and to ask him what tidings, and who did best at\nthat tournament of Winchester. So God me help, said Sir Gawaine, there\nwere two knights that bare two white shields, but the one of them bare\na red sleeve upon his head, and certainly he was one of the best\nknights that ever I saw joust in field. For I dare say, said Sir\nGawaine, that one knight with the red sleeve smote down forty knights\nof the Table Round, and his fellow did right well and worshipfully. Now\nblessed be God, said the Fair Maiden of Astolat, that that knight sped\nso well, for he is the man in the world that I first loved, and truly\nhe shall be last that ever I shall love. Now, fair maid, said Sir\nGawaine, is that good knight your love? Certainly sir, said she, wit ye\nwell he is my love. Then know ye his name? said Sir Gawaine. Nay truly,\nsaid the damosel, I know not his name nor from whence he cometh, but to\nsay that I love him, I promise you and God that I love him. How had ye\nknowledge of him first? said Sir Gawaine.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV. How Sir Gawaine was lodged with the lord of Astolat, and\nthere had knowledge that it was Sir Launcelot that bare the red sleeve.\n\n\nThen she told him as ye have heard to-fore, and how her father betook\nhim her brother to do him service, and how her father lent him her\nbrother\u2019s, Sir Tirre\u2019s, shield: And here with me he left his own\nshield. For what cause did he so? said Sir Gawaine. For this cause,\nsaid the damosel, for his shield was too well known among many noble\nknights. Ah fair damosel, said Sir Gawaine, please it you let me have a\nsight of that shield. Sir, said she, it is in my chamber, covered with\na case, and if ye will come with me ye shall see it. Not so, said Sir\nBernard till his daughter, let send for it.\n\nSo when the shield was come, Sir Gawaine took off the case, and when he\nbeheld that shield he knew anon that it was Sir Launcelot\u2019s shield, and\nhis own arms. Ah Jesu mercy, said Sir Gawaine, now is my heart more\nheavier than ever it was to-fore. Why? said Elaine. For I have great\ncause, said Sir Gawaine. Is that knight that oweth this shield your\nlove? Yea truly, said she, my love he is, God would I were his love. So\nGod me speed, said Sir Gawaine, fair damosel ye have right, for an he\nbe your love ye love the most honourable knight of the world, and the\nman of most worship. So me thought ever, said the damosel, for never or\nthat time, for no knight that ever I saw, loved I never none erst. God\ngrant, said Sir Gawaine, that either of you may rejoice other, but that\nis in a great adventure. But truly, said Sir Gawaine unto the damosel,\nye may say ye have a fair grace, for why I have known that noble knight\nthis four-and-twenty year, and never or that day, I nor none other\nknight, I dare make good, saw nor heard say that ever he bare token or\nsign of no lady, gentlewoman, ne maiden, at no jousts nor tournament.\nAnd therefore fair maiden, said Sir Gawaine, ye are much beholden to\nhim to give him thanks. But I dread me, said Sir Gawaine, that ye shall\nnever see him in this world, and that is great pity that ever was of\nearthly knight. Alas, said she, how may this be, is he slain? I say not\nso, said Sir Gawaine, but wit ye well he is grievously wounded, by all\nmanner of signs, and by men\u2019s sight more likelier to be dead than to be\nalive; and wit ye well he is the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, for by\nthis shield I know him. Alas, said the Fair Maiden of Astolat, how may\nthis be, and what was his hurt? Truly, said Sir Gawaine, the man in the\nworld that loved him best hurt him so; and I dare say, said Sir\nGawaine, an that knight that hurt him knew the very certainty that he\nhad hurt Sir Launcelot, it would be the most sorrow that ever came to\nhis heart.\n\nNow fair father, said then Elaine, I require you give me leave to ride\nand to seek him, or else I wot well I shall go out of my mind, for I\nshall never stint till that I find him and my brother, Sir Lavaine. Do\nas it liketh you, said her father, for me sore repenteth of the hurt of\nthat noble knight. Right so the maid made her ready, and before Sir\nGawaine, making great dole.\n\nThen on the morn Sir Gawaine came to King Arthur, and told him how he\nhad found Sir Launcelot\u2019s shield in the keeping of the Fair Maiden of\nAstolat. All that knew I aforehand, said King Arthur, and that caused\nme I would not suffer you to have ado at the great jousts, for I\nespied, said King Arthur, when he came in till his lodging full late in\nthe evening in Astolat. But marvel have I, said Arthur, that ever he\nwould bear any sign of any damosel, for or now I never heard say nor\nknew that ever he bare any token of none earthly woman. By my head,\nsaid Sir Gawaine, the Fair Maiden of Astolat loveth him marvellously\nwell; what it meaneth I cannot say, and she is ridden after to seek\nhim. So the king and all came to London, and there Sir Gawaine openly\ndisclosed to all the court that it was Sir Launcelot that jousted best.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV. Of the sorrow that Sir Bors had for the hurt of Launcelot;\nand of the anger that the queen had because Launcelot bare the sleeve.\n\n\nAnd when Sir Bors heard that, wit ye well he was an heavy man, and so\nwere all his kinsmen. But when Queen Guenever wist that Sir Launcelot\nbare the red sleeve of the Fair Maiden of Astolat she was nigh out of\nher mind for wrath. And then she sent for Sir Bors de Ganis in all the\nhaste that might be. So when Sir Bors was come to-fore the queen, then\nshe said: Ah Sir Bors, have ye heard say how falsely Sir Launcelot hath\nbetrayed me? Alas madam, said Sir Bors, I am afeard he hath betrayed\nhimself and us all. No force, said the queen, though he be destroyed,\nfor he is a false traitor-knight. Madam, said Sir Bors, I pray you say\nye not so, for wit you well I may not hear such language of him. Why\nSir Bors, said she, should I not call him traitor when he bare the red\nsleeve upon his head at Winchester, at the great jousts? Madam, said\nSir Bors, that sleeve-bearing repenteth me sore, but I dare say he did\nit to none evil intent, but for this cause he bare the red sleeve that\nnone of his blood should know him. For or then we, nor none of us all,\nnever knew that ever he bare token or sign of maid, lady, ne\ngentlewoman. Fie on him, said the queen, yet for all his pride and\nbobaunce there ye proved yourself his better. Nay madam, say ye never\nmore so, for he beat me and my fellows, and might have slain us an he\nhad would. Fie on him, said the queen, for I heard Sir Gawaine say\nbefore my lord Arthur that it were marvel to tell the great love that\nis between the Fair Maiden of Astolat and him. Madam, said Sir Bors, I\nmay not warn Sir Gawaine to say what it pleased him; but I dare say, as\nfor my lord, Sir Launcelot, that he loveth no lady, gentlewoman, nor\nmaid, but all he loveth in like much. And therefore madam, said Sir\nBors, ye may say what ye will, but wit ye well I will haste me to seek\nhim, and find him wheresomever he be, and God send me good tidings of\nhim. And so leave we them there, and speak we of Sir Launcelot that lay\nin great peril.\n\nSo as fair Elaine came to Winchester she sought there all about, and by\nfortune Sir Lavaine was ridden to play him, to enchafe his horse. And\nanon as Elaine saw him she knew him, and then she cried aloud until\nhim. And when he heard her anon he came to her, and then she asked her\nbrother how did my lord, Sir Launcelot. Who told you, sister, that my\nlord\u2019s name was Sir Launcelot? Then she told him how Sir Gawaine by his\nshield knew him. So they rode together till that they came to the\nhermitage, and anon she alighted.\n\nSo Sir Lavaine brought her in to Sir Launcelot; and when she saw him\nlie so sick and pale in his bed she might not speak, but suddenly she\nfell to the earth down suddenly in a swoon, and there she lay a great\nwhile. And when she was relieved, she shrieked and said: My lord, Sir\nLauncelot, alas why be ye in this plight? and then she swooned again.\nAnd then Sir Launcelot prayed Sir Lavaine to take her up: And bring her\nto me. And when she came to herself Sir Launcelot kissed her, and said:\nFair maiden, why fare ye thus? ye put me to pain; wherefore make ye no\nmore such cheer, for an ye be come to comfort me ye be right welcome;\nand of this little hurt that I have I shall be right hastily whole by\nthe grace of God. But I marvel, said Sir Launcelot, who told you my\nname? Then the fair maiden told him all how Sir Gawaine was lodged with\nher father: And there by your shield he discovered your name. Alas,\nsaid Sir Launcelot, that me repenteth that my name is known, for I am\nsure it will turn unto anger. And then Sir Launcelot compassed in his\nmind that Sir Gawaine would tell Queen Guenever how he bare the red\nsleeve, and for whom; that he wist well would turn into great anger.\n\nSo this maiden Elaine never went from Sir Launcelot, but watched him\nday and night, and did such attendance to him, that the French book\nsaith there was never woman did more kindlier for man than she. Then\nSir Launcelot prayed Sir Lavaine to make aspies in Winchester for Sir\nBors if he came there, and told him by what tokens he should know him,\nby a wound in his forehead. For well I am sure, said Sir Launcelot,\nthat Sir Bors will seek me, for he is the same good knight that hurt\nme.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI. How Sir Bors sought Launcelot and found him in the\nhermitage, and of the lamentation between them.\n\n\nNow turn we unto Sir Bors de Ganis that came unto Winchester to seek\nafter his cousin Sir Launcelot. And so when he came to Winchester, anon\nthere were men that Sir Lavaine had made to lie in a watch for such a\nman, and anon Sir Lavaine had warning; and then Sir Lavaine came to\nWinchester and found Sir Bors, and there he told him what he was, and\nwith whom he was, and what was his name. Now fair knight, said Sir\nBors, I require you that ye will bring me to my lord, Sir Launcelot.\nSir, said Sir Lavaine, take your horse, and within this hour ye shall\nsee him. And so they departed, and came to the hermitage.\n\nAnd when Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot lie in his bed pale and\ndiscoloured, anon Sir Bors lost his countenance, and for kindness and\npity he might not speak, but wept tenderly a great while. And then when\nhe might speak he said thus: O my lord, Sir Launcelot, God you bless,\nand send you hasty recover; and full heavy am I of my misfortune and of\nmine unhappiness, for now I may call myself unhappy. And I dread me\nthat God is greatly displeased with me, that he would suffer me to have\nsuch a shame for to hurt you that are all our leader, and all our\nworship; and therefore I call myself unhappy. Alas that ever such a\ncaitiff-knight as I am should have power by unhappiness to hurt the\nmost noblest knight of the world. Where I so shamefully set upon you\nand overcharged you, and where ye might have slain me, ye saved me; and\nso did not I, for I and your blood did to you our utterance. I marvel,\nsaid Sir Bors, that my heart or my blood would serve me, wherefore my\nlord, Sir Launcelot, I ask your mercy. Fair cousin, said Sir Launcelot,\nye be right welcome; and wit ye well, overmuch ye say for to please me,\nthe which pleaseth me not, for why I have the same I sought; for I\nwould with pride have overcome you all, and there in my pride I was\nnear slain, and that was in mine own default, for I might have given\nyou warning of my being there. And then had I had no hurt, for it is an\nold said saw, there is hard battle thereas kin and friends do battle\neither against other, there may be no mercy but mortal war. Therefore,\nfair cousin, said Sir Launcelot, let this speech overpass, and all\nshall be welcome that God sendeth; and let us leave off this matter and\nlet us speak of some rejoicing, for this that is done may not be\nundone; and let us find a remedy how soon that I may be whole.\n\nThen Sir Bors leaned upon his bedside, and told Sir Launcelot how the\nqueen was passing wroth with him, because he wore the red sleeve at the\ngreat jousts; and there Sir Bors told him all how Sir Gawaine\ndiscovered it: By your shield that ye left with the Fair Maiden of\nAstolat. Then is the queen wroth, said Sir Launcelot and therefore am I\nright heavy, for I deserved no wrath, for all that I did was because I\nwould not be known. Right so excused I you, said Sir Bors, but all was\nin vain, for she said more largelier to me than I to you now. But is\nthis she, said Sir Bors, that is so busy about you, that men call the\nFair Maiden of Astolat? She it is, said Sir Launcelot, that by no means\nI cannot put her from me. Why should ye put her from you? said Sir\nBors, she is a passing fair damosel, and a well beseen, and well\ntaught; and God would, fair cousin, said Sir Bors, that ye could love\nher, but as to that I may not, nor I dare not, counsel you. But I see\nwell, said Sir Bors, by her diligence about you that she loveth you\nentirely. That me repenteth, said Sir Launcelot. Sir, said Sir Bors,\nshe is not the first that hath lost her pain upon you, and that is the\nmore pity: and so they talked of many more things. And so within three\ndays or four Sir Launcelot was big and strong again.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII. How Sir Launcelot armed him to assay if he might bear\narms, and how his wounds brast out again.\n\n\nThen Sir Bors told Sir Launcelot how there was sworn a great tournament\nand jousts betwixt King Arthur and the King of Northgalis, that should\nbe upon All Hallowmass Day, beside Winchester. Is that truth? said Sir\nLauncelot; then shall ye abide with me still a little while until that\nI be whole, for I feel myself right big and strong. Blessed be God,\nsaid Sir Bors. Then were they there nigh a month together, and ever\nthis maiden Elaine did ever her diligent labour night and day unto Sir\nLauncelot, that there was never child nor wife more meeker to her\nfather and husband than was that Fair Maiden of Astolat; wherefore Sir\nBors was greatly pleased with her.\n\nSo upon a day, by the assent of Sir Launcelot, Sir Bors, and Sir\nLavaine, they made the hermit to seek in woods for divers herbs, and so\nSir Launcelot made fair Elaine to gather herbs for him to make him a\nbain. In the meanwhile Sir Launcelot made him to arm him at all pieces;\nand there he thought to assay his armour and his spear, for his hurt or\nnot. And so when he was upon his horse he stirred him fiercely, and the\nhorse was passing lusty and fresh because he was not laboured a month\nafore. And then Sir Launcelot couched that spear in the rest. That\ncourser leapt mightily when he felt the spurs; and he that was upon\nhim, the which was the noblest horse of the world, strained him\nmightily and stably, and kept still the spear in the rest; and\ntherewith Sir Launcelot strained himself so straitly, with so great\nforce, to get the horse forward, that the button of his wound brast\nboth within and without; and therewithal the blood came out so fiercely\nthat he felt himself so feeble that he might not sit upon his horse.\nAnd then Sir Launcelot cried unto Sir Bors: Ah, Sir Bors and Sir\nLavaine, help, for I am come to mine end. And therewith he fell down on\nthe one side to the earth like a dead corpse. And then Sir Bors and Sir\nLavaine came to him with sorrow-making out of measure. And so by\nfortune the maiden Elaine heard their mourning, and then she came\nthither; and when she found Sir Launcelot there armed in that place she\ncried and wept as she had been wood; and then she kissed him, and did\nwhat she might to awake him. And then she rebuked her brother and Sir\nBors, and called them false traitors, why they would take him out of\nhis bed; there she cried, and said she would appeal them of his death.\n\nWith this came the holy hermit, Sir Baudwin of Brittany, and when he\nfound Sir Launcelot in that plight he said but little, but wit ye well\nhe was wroth; and then he bade them: Let us have him in. And so they\nall bare him unto the hermitage, and unarmed him, and laid him in his\nbed; and evermore his wound bled piteously, but he stirred no limb of\nhim. Then the knight-hermit put a thing in his nose and a little deal\nof water in his mouth. And then Sir Launcelot waked of his swoon, and\nthen the hermit staunched his bleeding. And when he might speak he\nasked Sir Launcelot why he put his life in jeopardy. Sir, said Sir\nLauncelot, because I weened I had been strong, and also Sir Bors told\nme that there should be at All Hallowmass a great jousts betwixt King\nArthur and the King of Northgalis, and therefore I thought to assay it\nmyself whether I might be there or not. Ah, Sir Launcelot, said the\nhermit, your heart and your courage will never be done until your last\nday, but ye shall do now by my counsel. Let Sir Bors depart from you,\nand let him do at that tournament what he may: And by the grace of God,\nsaid the knight-hermit, by that the tournament be done and ye come\nhither again, Sir Launcelot shall be as whole as ye, so that he will be\ngoverned by me.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Bors returned and told tidings of Sir Launcelot;\nand of the tourney, and to whom the prize was given.\n\n\nThen Sir Bors made him ready to depart from Sir Launcelot; and then Sir\nLauncelot said: Fair cousin, Sir Bors, recommend me unto all them unto\nwhom me ought to recommend me unto. And I pray you, enforce yourself at\nthat jousts that ye may be best, for my love; and here shall I abide\nyou at the mercy of God till ye come again. And so Sir Bors departed\nand came to the court of King Arthur, and told them in what place he\nhad left Sir Launcelot. That me repenteth, said the king, but since he\nshall have his life we all may thank God. And there Sir Bors told the\nqueen in what jeopardy Sir Launcelot was when he would assay his horse.\nAnd all that he did, madam, was for the love of you, because he would\nhave been at this tournament. Fie on him, recreant knight, said the\nqueen, for wit ye well I am right sorry an he shall have his life. His\nlife shall he have, said Sir Bors, and who that would otherwise, except\nyou, madam, we that be of his blood should help to short their lives.\nBut madam, said Sir Bors, ye have been oft-times displeased with my\nlord, Sir Launcelot, but at all times at the end ye find him a true\nknight: and so he departed.\n\nAnd then every knight of the Round Table that were there at that time\npresent made them ready to be at that jousts at All Hallowmass, and\nthither drew many knights of divers countries. And as All Hallowmass\ndrew near, thither came the King of Northgalis, and the King with the\nHundred Knights, and Sir Galahad, the haut prince, of Surluse, and\nthither came King Anguish of Ireland, and the King of Scots. So these\nthree kings came on King Arthur\u2019s party. And so that day Sir Gawaine\ndid great deeds of arms, and began first. And the heralds numbered that\nSir Gawaine smote down twenty knights. Then Sir Bors de Ganis came in\nthe same time, and he was numbered that he smote down twenty knights;\nand therefore the prize was given betwixt them both, for they began\nfirst and longest endured. Also Sir Gareth, as the book saith, did that\nday great deeds of arms, for he smote down and pulled down thirty\nknights. But when he had done these deeds he tarried not but so\ndeparted, and therefore he lost his prize. And Sir Palomides did great\ndeeds of arms that day, for he smote down twenty knights, but he\ndeparted suddenly, and men deemed Sir Gareth and he rode together to\nsome manner adventures.\n\nSo when this tournament was done Sir Bors departed and rode till he\ncame to Sir Launcelot, his cousin; and then he found him walking on his\nfeet, and there either made great joy of other; and so Sir Bors told\nSir Launcelot of all the Jousts like as ye have heard. I marvel, said\nSir Launcelot, that Sir Gareth, when he had done such deeds of arms,\nthat he would not tarry. Thereof we marvelled all, said Sir Bors, for\nbut if it were you, or Sir Tristram, or Sir Lamorak de Galis, I saw\nnever knight bear down so many in so little a while as did Sir Gareth:\nand anon he was gone we wist not where. By my head, said Sir Launcelot,\nhe is a noble knight, and a mighty man and well breathed; and if he\nwere well assayed, said Sir Launcelot I would deem he were good enough\nfor any knight that beareth the life; and he is a gentle knight,\ncourteous, true, and bounteous, meek, and mild, and in him is no manner\nof mal engin, but plain, faithful, and true.\n\nSo then they made them ready to depart from the hermit. And so upon a\nmorn they took their horses and Elaine le Blank with them; and when\nthey came to Astolat there were they well lodged, and had great cheer\nof Sir Bernard, the old baron, and of Sir Tirre, his son. And so upon\nthe morn when Sir Launcelot should depart, fair Elaine brought her\nfather with her, and Sir Lavaine, and Sir Tirre, and thus she said:\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX. Of the great lamentation of the Fair Maid of Astolat when\nLauncelot should depart, and how she died for his love.\n\n\nMy lord, Sir Launcelot, now I see ye will depart; now fair knight and\ncourteous knight, have mercy upon me, and suffer me not to die for thy\nlove. What would ye that I did? said Sir Launcelot. I would have you to\nmy husband, said Elaine. Fair damosel, I thank you, said Sir Launcelot,\nbut truly, said he, I cast me never to be wedded man. Then, fair\nknight, said she, will ye be my paramour? Jesu defend me, said Sir\nLauncelot, for then I rewarded your father and your brother full evil\nfor their great goodness. Alas, said she, then must I die for your\nlove. Ye shall not so, said Sir Launcelot, for wit ye well, fair\nmaiden, I might have been married an I had would, but I never applied\nme to be married yet; but because, fair damosel, that ye love me as ye\nsay ye do, I will for your good will and kindness show you some\ngoodness, and that is this, that wheresomever ye will beset your heart\nupon some good knight that will wed you, I shall give you together a\nthousand pound yearly to you and to your heirs; thus much will I give\nyou, fair madam, for your kindness, and always while I live to be your\nown knight. Of all this, said the maiden, I will none, for but if ye\nwill wed me, or else be my paramour at the least, wit you well, Sir\nLauncelot, my good days are done. Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, of\nthese two things ye must pardon me.\n\nThen she shrieked shrilly, and fell down in a swoon; and then women\nbare her into her chamber, and there she made over much sorrow; and\nthen Sir Launcelot would depart, and there he asked Sir Lavaine what he\nwould do. What should I do, said Sir Lavaine, but follow you, but if ye\ndrive me from you, or command me to go from you. Then came Sir Bernard\nto Sir Launcelot and said to him: I cannot see but that my daughter\nElaine will die for your sake. I may not do withal, said Sir Launcelot,\nfor that me sore repenteth, for I report me to yourself, that my\nproffer is fair; and me repenteth, said Sir Launcelot, that she loveth\nme as she doth; I was never the causer of it, for I report me to your\nson I early ne late proffered her bount\u00e9 nor fair behests; and as for\nme, said Sir Launcelot, I dare do all that a knight should do that she\nis a clean maiden for me, both for deed and for will. And I am right\nheavy of her distress, for she is a full fair maiden, good and gentle,\nand well taught. Father, said Sir Lavaine, I dare make good she is a\nclean maiden as for my lord Sir Launcelot; but she doth as I do, for\nsithen I first saw my lord Sir Launcelot, I could never depart from\nhim, nor nought I will an I may follow him.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot took his leave, and so they departed, and came unto\nWinchester. And when Arthur wist that Sir Launcelot was come whole and\nsound the king made great joy of him, and so did Sir Gawaine and all\nthe knights of the Round Table except Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred.\nAlso Queen Guenever was wood wroth with Sir Launcelot, and would by no\nmeans speak with him, but estranged herself from him; and Sir Launcelot\nmade all the means that he might for to speak with the queen, but it\nwould not be.\n\nNow speak we of the Fair Maiden of Astolat that made such sorrow day\nand night that she never slept, ate, nor drank, and ever she made her\ncomplaint unto Sir Launcelot. So when she had thus endured a ten days,\nthat she feebled so that she must needs pass out of this world, then\nshe shrived her clean, and received her Creator. And ever she\ncomplained still upon Sir Launcelot. Then her ghostly father bade her\nleave such thoughts. Then she said, why should I leave such thoughts?\nAm I not an earthly woman? And all the while the breath is in my body I\nmay complain me, for my belief is I do none offence though I love an\nearthly man; and I take God to my record I loved never none but Sir\nLauncelot du Lake, nor never shall, and a clean maiden I am for him and\nfor all other; and sithen it is the sufferance of God that I shall die\nfor the love of so noble a knight, I beseech the High Father of Heaven\nto have mercy upon my soul, and upon mine innumerable pains that I\nsuffered may be allegeance of part of my sins. For sweet Lord Jesu,\nsaid the fair maiden, I take Thee to record, on Thee I was never great\noffencer against thy laws; but that I loved this noble knight, Sir\nLauncelot, out of measure, and of myself, good Lord, I might not\nwithstand the fervent love wherefore I have my death.\n\nAnd then she called her father, Sir Bernard, and her brother, Sir\nTirre, and heartily she prayed her father that her brother might write\na letter like as she did indite it: and so her father granted her. And\nwhen the letter was written word by word like as she devised, then she\nprayed her father that she might be watched until she were dead. And\nwhile my body is hot let this letter be put in my right hand, and my\nhand bound fast with the letter until that I be cold; and let me be put\nin a fair bed with all the richest clothes that I have about me, and so\nlet my bed and all my richest clothes be laid with me in a chariot unto\nthe next place where Thames is; and there let me be put within a\nbarget, and but one man with me, such as ye trust to steer me thither,\nand that my barget be covered with black samite over and over: thus\nfather I beseech you let it be done. So her father granted it her\nfaithfully, all things should be done like as she had devised. Then her\nfather and her brother made great dole, for when this was done anon she\ndied. And so when she was dead the corpse and the bed all was led the\nnext way unto Thames, and there a man, and the corpse, and all, were\nput into Thames; and so the man steered the barget unto Westminster,\nand there he rowed a great while to and fro or any espied it.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX. How the corpse of the Maid of Astolat arrived to-fore King\nArthur, and of the burying, and how Sir Launcelot offered the\nmass-penny.\n\n\nSo by fortune King Arthur and the Queen Guenever were speaking together\nat a window, and so as they looked into Thames they espied this black\nbarget, and had marvel what it meant. Then the king called Sir Kay, and\nshowed it him. Sir, said Sir Kay, wit you well there is some new\ntidings. Go thither, said the king to Sir Kay, and take with you Sir\nBrandiles and Agravaine, and bring me ready word what is there. Then\nthese four knights departed and came to the barget and went in; and\nthere they found the fairest corpse lying in a rich bed, and a poor man\nsitting in the barget\u2019s end, and no word would he speak. So these four\nknights returned unto the king again, and told him what they found.\nThat fair corpse will I see, said the king. And so then the king took\nthe queen by the hand, and went thither.\n\nThen the king made the barget to be holden fast, and then the king and\nthe queen entered with certain knights with them; and there he saw the\nfairest woman lie in a rich bed, covered unto her middle with many rich\nclothes, and all was of cloth of gold, and she lay as though she had\nsmiled. Then the queen espied a letter in her right hand, and told it\nto the king. Then the king took it and said: Now am I sure this letter\nwill tell what she was, and why she is come hither. So then the king\nand the queen went out of the barget, and so commanded a certain man to\nwait upon the barget.\n\nAnd so when the king was come within his chamber, he called many\nknights about him, and said that he would wit openly what was written\nwithin that letter. Then the king brake it, and made a clerk to read\nit, and this was the intent of the letter. Most noble knight, Sir\nLauncelot, now hath death made us two at debate for your love. I was\nyour lover, that men called the Fair Maiden of Astolat; therefore unto\nall ladies I make my moan, yet pray for my soul and bury me at least,\nand offer ye my mass-penny: this is my last request. And a clean maiden\nI died, I take God to witness: pray for my soul, Sir Launcelot, as thou\nart peerless. This was all the substance in the letter. And when it was\nread, the king, the queen, and all the knights wept for pity of the\ndoleful complaints. Then was Sir Launcelot sent for; and when he was\ncome King Arthur made the letter to be read to him.\n\nAnd when Sir Launcelot heard it word by word, he said: My lord Arthur,\nwit ye well I am right heavy of the death of this fair damosel: God\nknoweth I was never causer of her death by my willing, and that will I\nreport me to her own brother: here he is, Sir Lavaine. I will not say\nnay, said Sir Launcelot, but that she was both fair and good, and much\nI was beholden unto her, but she loved me out of measure. Ye might have\nshewed her, said the queen, some bounty and gentleness that might have\npreserved her life. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, she would none other\nways be answered but that she would be my wife, outher else my\nparamour; and of these two I would not grant her, but I proffered her,\nfor her good love that she shewed me, a thousand pound yearly to her,\nand to her heirs, and to wed any manner knight that she could find best\nto love in her heart. For madam, said Sir Launcelot, I love not to be\nconstrained to love; for love must arise of the heart, and not by no\nconstraint. That is truth, said the king, and many knight\u2019s love is\nfree in himself, and never will be bounden, for where he is bounden he\nlooseth himself.\n\nThen said the king unto Sir Launcelot: It will be your worship that ye\noversee that she be interred worshipfully. Sir, said Sir Launcelot,\nthat shall be done as I can best devise. And so many knights yede\nthither to behold that fair maiden. And so upon the morn she was\ninterred richly, and Sir Launcelot offered her mass-penny; and all the\nknights of the Table Round that were there at that time offered with\nSir Launcelot. And then the poor man went again with the barget. Then\nthe queen sent for Sir Launcelot, and prayed him of mercy, for why that\nshe had been wroth with him causeless. This is not the first time, said\nSir Launcelot, that ye had been displeased with me causeless, but,\nmadam, ever I must suffer you, but what sorrow I endure I take no\nforce. So this passed on all that winter, with all manner of hunting\nand hawking, and jousts and tourneys were many betwixt many great\nlords, and ever in all places Sir Lavaine gat great worship, so that he\nwas nobly renowned among many knights of the Table Round.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI. Of great jousts done all a Christmas, and of a great\njousts and tourney ordained by King Arthur, and of Sir Launcelot.\n\n\nThus it passed on till Christmas, and then every day there was jousts\nmade for a diamond, who that jousted best should have a diamond. But\nSir Launcelot would not joust but if it were at a great jousts cried.\nBut Sir Lavaine jousted there all that Christmas passingly well, and\nbest was praised, for there were but few that did so well. Wherefore\nall manner of knights deemed that Sir Lavaine should be made knight of\nthe Table Round at the next feast of Pentecost. So at-after Christmas\nKing Arthur let call unto him many knights, and there they advised\ntogether to make a party and a great tournament and jousts. And the\nKing of Northgalis said to Arthur, he would have on his party King\nAnguish of Ireland, and the King with the Hundred Knights, and the King\nof Northumberland, and Sir Galahad, the haut prince. And so these four\nkings and this mighty duke took part against King Arthur and the\nknights of the Table Round. And the cry was made that the day of the\njousts should be beside Westminster upon Candlemas Day, whereof many\nknights were glad, and made them ready to be at that jousts in the\nfreshest manner.\n\nThen Queen Guenever sent for Sir Launcelot, and said thus: I warn you\nthat ye ride no more in no jousts nor tournaments but that your kinsmen\nmay know you. And at these jousts that shall be ye shall have of me a\nsleeve of gold; and I pray you for my sake enforce yourself there, that\nmen may speak of you worship; but I charge you as ye will have my love,\nthat ye warn your kinsmen that ye will bear that day the sleeve of gold\nupon your helmet. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, it shall be done. And so\neither made great joy of other. And when Sir Launcelot saw his time he\ntold Sir Bors that he would depart, and have no more with him but Sir\nLavaine, unto the good hermit that dwelt in that forest of Windsor; his\nname was Sir Brasias; and there he thought to repose him, and take all\nthe rest that he might, because he would be fresh at that day of\njousts.\n\nSo Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed, that no creature wist where\nhe was become, but the noble men of his blood. And when he was come to\nthe hermitage, wit ye well he had good cheer. And so daily Sir\nLauncelot would go to a well fast by the hermitage, and there he would\nlie down, and see the well spring and burble, and sometime he slept\nthere. So at that time there was a lady dwelt in that forest, and she\nwas a great huntress, and daily she used to hunt, and ever she bare her\nbow with her; and no men went never with her, but always women, and\nthey were shooters, and could well kill a deer, both at the stalk and\nat the trest; and they daily bare bows and arrows, horns and\nwood-knives, and many good dogs they had, both for the string and for a\nbait. So it happed this lady the huntress had abated her dog for the\nbow at a barren hind, and so this barren hind took the flight over\nhedges and woods. And ever this lady and part of her women costed the\nhind, and checked it by the noise of the hounds, to have met with the\nhind at some water; and so it happed, the hind came to the well whereas\nSir Launcelot was sleeping and slumbering. And so when the hind came to\nthe well, for heat she went to soil, and there she lay a great while;\nand the dog came after, and umbecast about, for she had lost the very\nperfect feute of the hind. Right so came that lady the huntress, that\nknew by the dog that she had, that the hind was at the soil in that\nwell; and there she came stiffly and found the hind, and she put a\nbroad arrow in her bow, and shot at the hind, and over-shot the hind;\nand so by misfortune the arrow smote Sir Launcelot in the thick of the\nbuttock, over the barbs. When Sir Launcelot felt himself so hurt, he\nhurled up woodly, and saw the lady that had smitten him. And when he\nsaw she was a woman, he said thus: Lady or damosel, what that thou be,\nin an evil time bear ye a bow; the devil made you a shooter.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII. How Launcelot after that he was hurt of a gentlewoman\ncame to an hermit, and of other matters.\n\n\nNow mercy, fair sir, said the lady, I am a gentlewoman that useth here\nin this forest hunting, and God knoweth I saw ye not; but as here was a\nbarren hind at the soil in this well, and I weened to have done well,\nbut my hand swerved. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, ye have mischieved me.\nAnd so the lady departed, and Sir Launcelot as he might pulled out the\narrow, and left that head still in his buttock, and so he went weakly\nto the hermitage ever more bleeding as he went. And when Sir Lavaine\nand the hermit espied that Sir Launcelot was hurt, wit you well they\nwere passing heavy, but Sir Lavaine wist not how that he was hurt nor\nby whom. And then were they wroth out of measure.\n\nThen with great pain the hermit gat out the arrow\u2019s head out of Sir\nLauncelot\u2019s buttock, and much of his blood he shed, and the wound was\npassing sore, and unhappily smitten, for it was in such a place that he\nmight not sit in no saddle. Have mercy, Jesu, said Sir Launcelot, I may\ncall myself the most unhappiest man that liveth, for ever when I would\nfainest have worship there befalleth me ever some unhappy thing. Now so\nJesu me help, said Sir Launcelot, and if no man would but God, I shall\nbe in the field upon Candlemas Day at the jousts, whatsomever fall of\nit: so all that might be gotten to heal Sir Launcelot was had.\n\nSo when the day was come Sir Launcelot let devise that he was arrayed,\nand Sir Lavaine, and their horses, as though they had been Saracens;\nand so they departed and came nigh to the field. The King of Northgalis\nwith an hundred knights with him, and the King of Northumberland\nbrought with him an hundred good knights, and King Anguish of Ireland\nbrought with him an hundred good knights ready to joust, and Sir\nGalahad, the haut prince, brought with him an hundred good knights, and\nthe King with the Hundred Knights brought with him as many, and all\nthese were proved good knights. Then came in King Arthur\u2019s party; and\nthere came in the King of Scots with an hundred knights, and King\nUriens of Gore brought with him an hundred knights, and King Howel of\nBrittany brought with him an hundred knights, and Chaleins of Clarance\nbrought with him an hundred knights, and King Arthur himself came into\nthe field with two hundred knights, and the most part were knights of\nthe Table Round, that were proved noble knights; and there were old\nknights set in scaffolds for to judge, with the queen, who did best.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Launcelot behaved him at the jousts, and other\nmen also.\n\n\nThen they blew to the field; and there the King of Northgalis\nencountered with the King of Scots, and there the King of Scots had a\nfall; and the King of Ireland smote down King Uriens; and the King of\nNorthumberland smote down King Howel of Brittany; and Sir Galahad, the\nhaut prince, smote down Chaleins of Clarance. And then King Arthur was\nwood wroth, and ran to the King with the Hundred Knights, and there\nKing Arthur smote him down; and after with that same spear King Arthur\nsmote down three other knights. And then when his spear was broken King\nArthur did passingly well; and so therewithal came in Sir Gawaine and\nSir Gaheris, Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred, and there everych of them\nsmote down a knight, and Sir Gawaine smote down four knights; and then\nthere began a strong medley, for then there came in the knights of\nLauncelot\u2019s blood, and Sir Gareth and Sir Palomides with them, and many\nknights of the Table Round, and they began to hold the four kings and\nthe mighty duke so hard that they were discomfit; but this Duke\nGalahad, the haut prince, was a noble knight, and by his mighty prowess\nof arms he held the knights of the Table Round strait enough.\n\nAll this doing saw Sir Launcelot, and then he came into the field with\nSir Lavaine as it had been thunder. And then anon Sir Bors and the\nknights of his blood espied Sir Launcelot, and said to them all: I warn\nyou beware of him with the sleeve of gold upon his head, for he is\nhimself Sir Launcelot du Lake; and for great goodness Sir Bors warned\nSir Gareth. I am well apaid, said Sir Gareth, that I may know him. But\nwho is he, said they all, that rideth with him in the same array? That\nis the good and gentle knight Sir Lavaine, said Sir Bors. So Sir\nLauncelot encountered with Sir Gawaine, and there by force Sir\nLauncelot smote down Sir Gawaine and his horse to the earth, and so he\nsmote down Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris, and also he smote down Sir\nMordred, and all this was with one spear. Then Sir Lavaine met with Sir\nPalomides, and either met other so hard and so fiercely that both their\nhorses fell to the earth. And then were they horsed again, and then met\nSir Launcelot with Sir Palomides, and there Sir Palomides had a fall;\nand so Sir Launcelot or ever he stint, as fast as he might get spears,\nhe smote down thirty knights, and the most part of them were knights of\nthe Table Round; and ever the knights of his blood withdrew them, and\nmade them ado in other places where Sir Launcelot came not.\n\nAnd then King Arthur was wroth when he saw Sir Launcelot do such deeds;\nand then the king called unto him Sir Gawaine, Sir Mordred, Sir Kay,\nSir Griflet, Sir Lucan the Butler, Sir Bedivere, Sir Palomides, Sir\nSafere, his brother; and so the king with these nine knights made them\nready to set upon Sir Launcelot, and upon Sir Lavaine. All this espied\nSir Bors and Sir Gareth. Now I dread me sore, said Sir Bors, that my\nlord, Sir Launcelot, will be hard matched. By my head, said Sir Gareth,\nI will ride unto my lord Sir Launcelot, for to help him, fall of him\nwhat fall may, for he is the same man that made me knight. Ye shall not\nso, said Sir Bors, by my counsel, unless that ye were disguised. Ye\nshall see me disguised, said Sir Gareth; and therewithal he espied a\nWelsh knight where he was to repose him, and he was sore hurt afore by\nSir Gawaine, and to him Sir Gareth rode, and prayed him of his\nknighthood to lend him his shield for his. I will well, said the Welsh\nknight. And when Sir Gareth had his shield, the book saith it was\ngreen, with a maiden that seemed in it.\n\nThen Sir Gareth came driving to Sir Launcelot all that he might and\nsaid: Knight, keep thyself, for yonder cometh King Arthur with nine\nnoble knights with him to put you to a rebuke, and so I am come to bear\nyou fellowship for old love ye have shewed me. Gramercy, said Sir\nLauncelot. Sir, said Sir Gareth, encounter ye with Sir Gawaine, and I\nshall encounter with Sir Palomides; and let Sir Lavaine match with the\nnoble King Arthur. And when we have delivered them, let us three hold\nus sadly together. Then came King Arthur with his nine knights with\nhim, and Sir Launcelot encountered with Sir Gawaine, and gave him such\na buffet that the arson of his saddle brast, and Sir Gawaine fell to\nthe earth. Then Sir Gareth encountered with the good knight Sir\nPalomides, and he gave him such a buffet that both his horse and he\ndashed to the earth. Then encountered King Arthur with Sir Lavaine, and\nthere either of them smote other to the earth, horse and all, that they\nlay a great while. Then Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Agravaine, and Sir\nGaheris, and Sir Mordred; and Sir Gareth smote down Sir Kay, and Sir\nSafere, and Sir Griflet. And then Sir Lavaine was horsed again, and he\nsmote down Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedevere and then there began\ngreat throng of good knights.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot hurtled here and there, and raced and pulled off\nhelms, so that at that time there might none sit him a buffet with\nspear nor with sword; and Sir Gareth did such deeds of arms that all\nmen marvelled what knight he was with the green shield, for he smote\ndown that day and pulled down mo than thirty knights. And, as the\nFrench book saith, Sir Launcelot marvelled; when he beheld Sir Gareth\ndo such deeds, what knight he might be; and Sir Lavaine pulled down and\nsmote down twenty knights. Also Sir Launcelot knew not Sir Gareth for\nan Sir Tristram de Liones, outher Sir Lamorak de Galis had been alive,\nSir Launcelot would have deemed he had been one of them twain. So ever\nas Sir Launcelot Sir Gareth, Sir Lavaine fought, and on the one side\nSir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Lionel, Sir Lamorak de Galis, Sir\nBleoberis, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Pelleas, and with mo other\nof King Ban\u2019s blood fought upon another party, and held the King with\nthe Hundred Knights and the King of Northumberland right strait.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIV. How King Arthur marvelled much of the jousting in the\nfield, and how he rode and found Sir Launcelot.\n\n\nSo this tournament and this jousts dured long, till it was near night,\nfor the knights of the Round Table relieved ever unto King Arthur; for\nthe king was wroth out of measure that he and his knights might not\nprevail that day. Then Sir Gawaine said to the king: I marvel where all\nthis day [be] Sir Bors de Ganis and his fellowship of Sir Launcelot\u2019s\nblood, I marvel all this day they be not about you: it is for some\ncause said Sir Gawaine. By my head, said Sir Kay, Sir Bors is yonder\nall this day upon the right hand of this field, and there he and his\nblood do more worshipfully than we do. It may well be, said Sir\nGawaine, but I dread me ever of guile; for on pain of my life, said Sir\nGawaine, this knight with the red sleeve of gold is himself Sir\nLauncelot, I see well by his riding and by his great strokes; and the\nother knight in the same colours is the good young knight, Sir Lavaine.\nAlso that knight with the green shield is my brother, Sir Gareth, and\nyet he hath disguised himself, for no man shall never make him be\nagainst Sir Launcelot, because he made him knight. By my head, said\nArthur, nephew, I believe you; therefore tell me now what is your best\ncounsel. Sir, said Sir Gawaine, ye shall have my counsel: let blow unto\nlodging, for an he be Sir Launcelot du Lake, and my brother, Sir\nGareth, with him, with the help of that good young knight, Sir Lavaine,\ntrust me truly it will be no boot to strive with them but if we should\nfall ten or twelve upon one knight, and that were no worship, but\nshame. Ye say truth, said the king; and for to say sooth, said the\nking, it were shame to us so many as we be to set upon them any more;\nfor wit ye well, said King Arthur, they be three good knights, and\nnamely that knight with the sleeve of gold.\n\nSo then they blew unto lodging; but forthwithal King Arthur let send\nunto the four kings, and to the mighty duke, and prayed them that the\nknight with the sleeve of gold depart not from them, but that the king\nmay speak with him. Then forthwithal King Arthur alighted and unarmed\nhim, and took a little hackney and rode after Sir Launcelot, for ever\nhe had a spy upon him. And so he found him among the four kings and the\nduke; and there the king prayed them all unto supper, and they said\nthey would with good will. And when they were unarmed then King Arthur\nknew Sir Launcelot, Sir Lavaine, and Sir Gareth. Ah, Sir Launcelot,\nsaid King Arthur, this day ye have heated me and my knights.\n\nSo they yede unto Arthur\u2019s lodging all together, and there was a great\nfeast and great revel, and the prize was given unto Sir Launcelot; and\nby heralds they named him that he had smitten down fifty knights, and\nSir Gareth five-and-thirty, and Sir Lavaine four-and-twenty knights.\nThen Sir Launcelot told the king and the queen how the lady huntress\nshot him in the forest of Windsor, in the buttock, with an broad arrow,\nand how the wound thereof was that time six inches deep, and in like\nlong. Also Arthur blamed Sir Gareth because he left his fellowship and\nheld with Sir Launcelot. My lord, said Sir Gareth, he made me a knight,\nand when I saw him so hard bestead, methought it was my worship to help\nhim, for I saw him do so much, and so many noble knights against him;\nand when I understood that he was Sir Launcelot du Lake, I shamed to\nsee so many knights against him alone. Truly, said King Arthur unto Sir\nGareth, ye say well, and worshipfully have ye done and to yourself\ngreat worship; and all the days of my life, said King Arthur unto Sir\nGareth, wit you well I shall love you, and trust you the more better.\nFor ever, said Arthur, it is a worshipful knight\u2019s deed to help another\nworshipful knight when he seeth him in a great danger; for ever a\nworshipful man will be loath to see a worshipful man shamed; and he\nthat is of no worship, and fareth with cowardice, never shall he show\ngentleness, nor no manner of goodness where he seeth a man in any\ndanger, for then ever will a coward show no mercy; and always a good\nman will do ever to another man as he would be done to himself. So then\nthere were great feasts unto kings and dukes, and revel, game, and\nplay, and all manner of noblesse was used; and he that was courteous,\ntrue, and faithful, to his friend was that time cherished.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXV. How true love is likened to summer.\n\n\nAnd thus it passed on from Candlemass until after Easter, that the\nmonth of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom, and\nto bring forth fruit; for like as herbs and trees bring forth fruit and\nflourish in May, in like wise every lusty heart that is in any manner a\nlover, springeth and flourisheth in lusty deeds. For it giveth unto all\nlovers courage, that lusty month of May, in something to constrain him\nto some manner of thing more in that month than in any other month, for\ndivers causes. For then all herbs and trees renew a man and woman, and\nlikewise lovers call again to their mind old gentleness and old\nservice, and many kind deeds that were forgotten by negligence. For\nlike as winter rasure doth alway arase and deface green summer, so\nfareth it by unstable love in man and woman. For in many persons there\nis no stability; for we may see all day, for a little blast of winter\u2019s\nrasure, anon we shall deface and lay apart true love for little or\nnought, that cost much thing; this is no wisdom nor stability, but it\nis feebleness of nature and great disworship, whosomever useth this.\nTherefore, like as May month flowereth and flourisheth in many gardens,\nso in like wise let every man of worship flourish his heart in this\nworld, first unto God, and next unto the joy of them that he promised\nhis faith unto; for there was never worshipful man or worshipful woman,\nbut they loved one better than another; and worship in arms may never\nbe foiled, but first reserve the honour to God, and secondly the\nquarrel must come of thy lady: and such love I call virtuous love.\n\nBut nowadays men can not love seven night but they must have all their\ndesires: that love may not endure by reason; for where they be soon\naccorded and hasty heat, soon it cooleth. Right so fareth love\nnowadays, soon hot soon cold: this is no stability. But the old love\nwas not so; men and women could love together seven years, and no\nlicours lusts were between them, and then was love, truth, and\nfaithfulness: and lo, in like wise was used love in King Arthur\u2019s days.\nWherefore I liken love nowadays unto summer and winter; for like as the\none is hot and the other cold, so fareth love nowadays; therefore all\nye that be lovers call unto your remembrance the month of May, like as\ndid Queen Guenever, for whom I make here a little mention, that while\nshe lived she was a true lover, and therefore she had a good end.\n\n_Explicit liber Octodecimus. And here followeth liber xix._\n\n\n\n\nBOOK XIX.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. How Queen Guenever rode a-Maying with certain knights of the\nRound Table and clad all in green.\n\n\nSo it befell in the month of May, Queen Guenever called unto her\nknights of the Table Round; and she gave them warning that early upon\nthe morrow she would ride a-Maying into woods and fields beside\nWestminster. And I warn you that there be none of you but that he be\nwell horsed, and that ye all be clothed in green, outher in silk outher\nin cloth; and I shall bring with me ten ladies, and every knight shall\nhave a lady behind him, and every knight shall have a squire and two\nyeomen; and I will that ye all be well horsed. So they made them ready\nin the freshest manner. And these were the names of the knights: Sir\nKay le Seneschal, Sir Agravaine, Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramore le\nDesirous, Sir Dodinas le Savage, Sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy, Sir Ladinas\nof the Forest Savage, Sir Persant of Inde, Sir Ironside, that was\ncalled the Knight of the Red Launds, and Sir Pelleas, the lover; and\nthese ten knights made them ready in the freshest manner to ride with\nthe queen. And so upon the morn they took their horses with the queen,\nand rode a-Maying in woods and meadows as it pleased them, in great joy\nand delights; for the queen had cast to have been again with King\nArthur at the furthest by ten of the clock, and so was that time her\npurpose.\n\nThen there was a knight that hight Meliagrance, and he was son unto\nKing Bagdemagus, and this knight had at that time a castle of the gift\nof King Arthur within seven mile of Westminster. And this knight, Sir\nMeliagrance, loved passing well Queen Guenever, and so had he done long\nand many years. And the book saith he had lain in await for to steal\naway the queen, but evermore he forbare for because of Sir Launcelot;\nfor in no wise he would meddle with the queen an Sir Launcelot were in\nher company, outher else an he were near-hand her. And that time was\nsuch a custom, the queen rode never without a great fellowship of men\nof arms about her, and they were many good knights, and the most part\nwere young men that would have worship; and they were called the\nQueen\u2019s Knights, and never in no battle, tournament, nor jousts, they\nbare none of them no manner of knowledging of their own arms, but plain\nwhite shields, and thereby they were called the Queen\u2019s Knights. And\nthen when it happed any of them to be of great worship by his noble\ndeeds, then at the next Feast of Pentecost, if there were any slain or\ndead, as there was none year that there failed but some were dead, then\nwas there chosen in his stead that was dead the most men of worship,\nthat were called the Queen\u2019s Knights. And thus they came up all first,\nor they were renowned men of worship, both Sir Launcelot and all the\nremnant of them.\n\nBut this knight, Sir Meliagrance, had espied the queen well and her\npurpose, and how Sir Launcelot was not with her, and how she had no men\nof arms with her but the ten noble knights all arrayed in green for\nMaying. Then he purveyed him a twenty men of arms and an hundred\narchers for to destroy the queen and her knights, for he thought that\ntime was best season to take the queen.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. How Sir Meliagrance took the queen and her knights, which\nwere sore hurt in fighting.\n\n\nSo as the queen had Mayed and all her knights, all were bedashed with\nherbs, mosses and flowers, in the best manner and freshest. Right so\ncame out of a wood Sir Meliagrance with an eight score men well\nharnessed, as they should fight in a battle of arrest, and bade the\nqueen and her knights abide, for maugre their heads they should abide.\nTraitor knight, said Queen Guenever, what cast thou for to do? Wilt\nthou shame thyself? Bethink thee how thou art a king\u2019s son, and knight\nof the Table Round, and thou to be about to dishonour the noble king\nthat made thee knight; thou shamest all knighthood and thyself, and me,\nI let thee wit, shalt thou never shame, for I had liefer cut mine own\nthroat in twain rather than thou shouldest dishonour me. As for all\nthis language, said Sir Meliagrance, be it as it be may, for wit you\nwell, madam, I have loved you many a year, and never or now could I get\nyou at such an advantage as I do now, and therefore I will take you as\nI find you.\n\nThen spake all the ten noble knights at once and said: Sir Meliagrance,\nwit thou well ye are about to jeopard your worship to dishonour, and\nalso ye cast to jeopard our persons howbeit we be unarmed. Ye have us\nat a great avail, for it seemeth by you that ye have laid watch upon\nus; but rather than ye should put the queen to a shame and us all, we\nhad as lief to depart from our lives, for an if we other ways did, we\nwere shamed for ever. Then said Sir Meliagrance: Dress you as well ye\ncan, and keep the queen. Then the ten knights of the Table Round drew\ntheir swords, and the other let run at them with their spears, and the\nten knights manly abode them, and smote away their spears that no spear\ndid them none harm. Then they lashed together with swords, and anon Sir\nKay, Sir Sagramore, Sir Agravaine, Sir Dodinas, Sir Ladinas, and Sir\nOzanna were smitten to the earth with grimly wounds. Then Sir\nBrandiles, and Sir Persant, Sir Ironside, Sir Pelleas fought long, and\nthey were sore wounded, for these ten knights, or ever they were laid\nto the ground, slew forty men of the boldest and the best of them.\n\nSo when the queen saw her knights thus dolefully wounded, and needs\nmust be slain at the last, then for pity and sorrow she cried Sir\nMeliagrance: Slay not my noble knights, and I will go with thee upon\nthis covenant, that thou save them, and suffer them not to be no more\nhurt, with this, that they be led with me wheresomever thou leadest me,\nfor I will rather slay myself than I will go with thee, unless that\nthese my noble knights may be in my presence. Madam, said Meliagrance,\nfor your sake they shall be led with you into mine own castle, with\nthat ye will be ruled, and ride with me. Then the queen prayed the four\nknights to leave their fighting, and she and they would not depart.\nMadam, said Sir Pelleas, we will do as ye do, for as for me I take no\nforce of my life nor death. For as the French book saith, Sir Pelleas\ngave such buffets there that none armour might hold him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. How Sir Launcelot had word how the queen was taken, and\nhow Sir Meliagrance laid a bushment for Launcelot.\n\n\nThen by the queen\u2019s commandment they left battle, and dressed the\nwounded knights on horseback, some sitting, some overthwart their\nhorses, that it was pity to behold them. And then Sir Meliagrance\ncharged the queen and all her knights that none of all her fellowship\nshould depart from her; for full sore he dread Sir Launcelot du Lake,\nlest he should have any knowledging. All this espied the queen, and\nprivily she called unto her a child of her chamber that was swiftly\nhorsed, to whom she said: Go thou, when thou seest thy time, and bear\nthis ring unto Sir Launcelot du Lake, and pray him as he loveth me that\nhe will see me and rescue me, if ever he will have joy of me; and spare\nnot thy horse, said the queen, neither for water, neither for land. So\nthe child espied his time, and lightly he took his horse with the\nspurs, and departed as fast as he might. And when Sir Meliagrance saw\nhim so flee, he understood that it was by the queen\u2019s commandment for\nto warn Sir Launcelot. Then they that were best horsed chased him and\nshot at him, but from them all the child went suddenly. And then Sir\nMeliagrance said to the queen: Madam, ye are about to betray me, but I\nshall ordain for Sir Launcelot that he shall not come lightly at you.\nAnd then he rode with her, and they all, to his castle, in all the\nhaste that they might. And by the way Sir Meliagrance laid in an\nembushment the best archers that he might get in his country, to the\nnumber of thirty, to await upon Sir Launcelot, charging them that if\nthey saw such a manner of knight come by the way upon a white horse,\nthat in any wise they slay his horse, but in no manner of wise have not\nado with him bodily, for he is over-hardy to be overcome.\n\nSo this was done, and they were come to his castle, but in no wise the\nqueen would never let none of the ten knights and her ladies out of her\nsight, but always they were in her presence; for the book saith, Sir\nMeliagrance durst make no masteries, for dread of Sir Launcelot,\ninsomuch he deemed that he had warning. So when the child was departed\nfrom the fellowship of Sir Meliagrance, within a while he came to\nWestminster, and anon he found Sir Launcelot. And when he had told his\nmessage, and delivered him the queen\u2019s ring: Alas, said Sir Launcelot,\nnow I am shamed for ever, unless that I may rescue that noble lady from\ndishonour. Then eagerly he asked his armour; and ever the child told\nSir Launcelot how the ten knights fought marvellously, and how Sir\nPelleas, and Sir Ironside, and Sir Brandiles, and Sir Persant of Inde,\nfought strongly, but namely Sir Pelleas, there might none withstand\nhim; and how they all fought till at the last they were laid to the\nearth; and then the queen made appointment for to save their lives, and\ngo with Sir Meliagrance.\n\nAlas, said Sir Launcelot, that most noble lady, that she should be so\ndestroyed; I had liefer, said Sir Launcelot, than all France, that I\nhad been there well armed. So when Sir Launcelot was armed and upon his\nhorse, he prayed the child of the queen\u2019s chamber to warn Sir Lavaine\nhow suddenly he was departed, and for what cause. And pray him as he\nloveth me, that he will hie him after me, and that he stint not until\nhe come to the castle where Sir Meliagrance abideth, or dwelleth; for\nthere, said Sir Launcelot, he shall hear of me an I am a man living,\nand rescue the queen and the ten knights the which he traitorously hath\ntaken, and that shall I prove upon his head, and all them that hold\nwith him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. How Sir Launcelot\u2019s horse was slain, and how Sir Launcelot\nrode in a cart for to rescue the queen.\n\n\nThen Sir Launcelot rode as fast as he might, and the book saith he took\nthe water at Westminster Bridge, and made his horse to swim over Thames\nunto Lambeth. And then within a while he came to the same place thereas\nthe ten noble knights fought with Sir Meliagrance. And then Sir\nLauncelot followed the track until that he came to a wood, and there\nwas a straight way, and there the thirty archers bade Sir Launcelot\nturn again, and follow no longer that track. What commandment have ye\nthereto, said Sir Launcelot, to cause me that am a knight of the Round\nTable to leave my right way? This way shalt thou leave, other-else thou\nshalt go it on thy foot, for wit thou well thy horse shall be slain.\nThat is little mastery, said Sir Launcelot, to slay mine horse; but as\nfor myself, when my horse is slain, I give right nought for you, not an\nye were five hundred more. So then they shot Sir Launcelot\u2019s horse, and\nsmote him with many arrows; and then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse,\nand went on foot; but there were so many ditches and hedges betwixt\nthem and him that he might not meddle with none of them. Alas for\nshame, said Launcelot, that ever one knight should betray another\nknight; but it is an old saw, A good man is never in danger but when he\nis in the danger of a coward. Then Sir Launcelot went a while, and then\nhe was foul cumbered of his armour, his shield, and his spear, and all\nthat longed unto him. Wit ye well he was full sore annoyed, and full\nloath he was for to leave anything that longed unto him, for he dread\nsore the treason of Sir Meliagrance.\n\nThen by fortune there came by him a chariot that came thither for to\nfetch wood. Say me, carter, said Sir Launcelot, what shall I give thee\nto suffer me to leap into thy chariot, and that thou bring me unto a\ncastle within this two mile? Thou shalt not come within my chariot,\nsaid the carter, for I am sent for to fetch wood for my lord, Sir\nMeliagrance. With him would I speak. Thou shalt not go with me, said\nthe carter. Then Sir Launcelot leapt to him, and gave him such a buffet\nthat he fell to the earth stark dead. Then the other carter, his\nfellow, was afeard, and weened to have gone the same way; and then he\ncried: Fair lord, save my life, and I shall bring you where ye will.\nThen I charge thee, said Sir Launcelot, that thou drive me and this\nchariot even unto Sir Meliagrance\u2019s gate. Leap up into the chariot,\nsaid the carter, and ye shall be there anon. So the carter drove on a\ngreat wallop, and Sir Launcelot\u2019s horse followed the chariot, with more\nthan a forty arrows broad and rough in him.\n\nAnd more than an hour and an half Dame Guenever was awaiting in a bay\nwindow with her ladies, and espied an armed knight standing in a\nchariot. See, madam, said a lady, where rideth in a chariot a goodly\narmed knight; I suppose he rideth unto hanging. Where? said the queen.\nThen she espied by his shield that he was there himself, Sir Launcelot\ndu Lake. And then she was ware where came his horse ever after that\nchariot, and ever he trod his guts and his paunch under his feet. Alas,\nsaid the queen, now I see well and prove, that well is him that hath a\ntrusty friend. Ha, ha, most noble knight, said Queen Guenever, I see\nwell thou art hard bestead when thou ridest in a chariot. Then she\nrebuked that lady that likened Sir Launcelot to ride in a chariot to\nhanging. It was foul mouthed, said the queen, and evil likened, so for\nto liken the most noble knight of the world unto such a shameful death.\nO Jesu defend him and keep him, said the queen, from all mischievous\nend. By this was Sir Launcelot come to the gates of that castle, and\nthere he descended down, and cried, that all the castle rang of it:\nWhere art thou, false traitor, Sir Meliagrance, and knight of the Table\nRound? now come forth here, thou traitor knight, thou and thy\nfellowship with thee; for here I am, Sir Launcelot du Lake, that shall\nfight with you. And therewithal he bare the gate wide open upon the\nporter, and smote him under his ear with his gauntlet, that his neck\nbrast a-sunder.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. How Sir Meliagrance required forgiveness of the queen, and\nhow she appeased Sir Launcelot; and other matters.\n\n\nWhen Sir Meliagrance heard that Sir Launcelot was there he ran unto\nQueen Guenever, and fell upon his knee, and said: Mercy, madam, now I\nput me wholly into your grace. What aileth you now? said Queen\nGuenever; forsooth I might well wit some good knight would revenge me,\nthough my lord Arthur wist not of this your work. Madam, said Sir\nMeliagrance, all this that is amiss on my part shall be amended right\nas yourself will devise, and wholly I put me in your grace. What would\nye that I did? said the queen. I would no more, said Meliagrance, but\nthat ye would take all in your own hands, and that ye will rule my lord\nSir Launcelot; and such cheer as may be made him in this poor castle ye\nand he shall have until to-morn, and then may ye and all they return\nunto Westminster; and my body and all that I have I shall put in your\nrule. Ye say well, said the queen, and better is peace than ever war,\nand the less noise the more is my worship.\n\nThen the queen and her ladies went down unto the knight, Sir Launcelot,\nthat stood wroth out of measure in the inner court, to abide battle;\nand ever he bade: Thou traitor knight come forth. Then the queen came\nto him and said: Sir Launcelot, why be ye so moved? Ha, madam, said Sir\nLauncelot, why ask ye me that question? Meseemeth, said Sir Launcelot,\nye ought to be more wroth than I am, for ye have the hurt and the\ndishonour, for wit ye well, madam, my hurt is but little for the\nkilling of a mare\u2019s son, but the despite grieveth me much more than all\nmy hurt. Truly, said the queen, ye say truth; but heartily I thank you,\nsaid the queen, but ye must come in with me peaceably, for all thing is\nput in my hand, and all that is evil shall be for the best, for the\nknight full sore repenteth him of the misadventure that is befallen\nhim. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, sith it is so that ye been accorded\nwith him, as for me I may not be again it, howbeit Sir Meliagrance hath\ndone full shamefully to me, and cowardly. Ah madam, said Sir Launcelot,\nan I had wist ye would have been so soon accorded with him I would not\nhave made such haste unto you. Why say ye so, said the queen, do ye\nforthink yourself of your good deeds? Wit you well, said the queen, I\naccorded never unto him for favour nor love that I had unto him, but\nfor to lay down every shameful noise. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, ye\nunderstand full well I was never willing nor glad of shameful slander\nnor noise; and there is neither king, queen, nor knight, that beareth\nthe life, except my lord King Arthur, and you, madam, should let me,\nbut I should make Sir Meliagrance\u2019s heart full cold or ever I departed\nfrom hence. That wot I well, said the queen, but what will ye more? Ye\nshall have all thing ruled as ye list to have it. Madam, said Sir\nLauncelot, so ye be pleased I care not, as for my part ye shall soon\nplease.\n\nRight so the queen took Sir Launcelot by the bare hand, for he had put\noff his gauntlet, and so she went with him till her chamber; and then\nshe commanded him to be unarmed. And then Sir Launcelot asked where\nwere the ten knights that were wounded sore; so she showed them unto\nSir Launcelot, and there they made great joy of the coming of him, and\nSir Launcelot made great dole of their hurts, and bewailed them\ngreatly. And there Sir Launcelot told them how cowardly and traitorly\nMeliagrance set archers to slay his horse, and how he was fain to put\nhimself in a chariot. Thus they complained everych to other; and full\nfain they would have been revenged, but they peaced themselves because\nof the queen. Then, as the French book saith, Sir Launcelot was called\nmany a day after le Chevaler du Chariot, and did many deeds, and great\nadventures he had. And so leave we of this tale le Chevaler du Chariot,\nand turn we to this tale.\n\nSo Sir Launcelot had great cheer with the queen, and then Sir Launcelot\nmade a promise with the queen that the same night Sir Launcelot should\ncome to a window outward toward a garden; and that window was y-barred\nwith iron, and there Sir Launcelot promised to meet her when all folks\nwere asleep. So then came Sir Lavaine driving to the gates, crying:\nWhere is my lord, Sir Launcelot du Lake? Then was he sent for, and when\nSir Lavaine saw Sir Launcelot, he said: My lord, I found well how ye\nwere hard bestead, for I have found your horse that was slain with\narrows. As for that, said Sir Launcelot, I pray you, Sir Lavaine, speak\nye of other matters, and let ye this pass, and we shall right it\nanother time when we best may.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot came in the night to the queen and lay\nwith her, and how Sir Meliagrance appeached the queen of treason.\n\n\nThen the knights that were hurt were searched, and soft salves were\nlaid to their wounds; and so it passed on till supper time, and all the\ncheer that might be made them there was done unto the queen and all her\nknights. Then when season was, they went unto their chambers, but in no\nwise the queen would not suffer the wounded knights to be from her, but\nthat they were laid within draughts by her chamber, upon beds and\npillows, that she herself might see to them, that they wanted nothing.\n\nSo when Sir Launcelot was in his chamber that was assigned unto him, he\ncalled unto him Sir Lavaine, and told him that night he must go speak\nwith his lady, Dame Guenever. Sir, said Sir Lavaine, let me go with you\nan it please you, for I dread me sore of the treason of Sir\nMeliagrance. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, I thank you, but I will have\nnobody with me. Then Sir Launcelot took his sword in his hand, and\nprivily went to a place where he had espied a ladder to-forehand, and\nthat he took under his arm, and bare it through the garden, and set it\nup to the window, and there anon the queen was ready to meet him. And\nthen they made either to other their complaints of many divers things,\nand then Sir Launcelot wished that he might have come into her. Wit ye\nwell, said the queen, I would as fain as ye, that ye might come in to\nme. Would ye, madam, said Sir Launcelot, with your heart that I were\nwith you? Yea, truly, said the queen. Now shall I prove my might, said\nSir Launcelot, for your love; and then he set his hands upon the bars\nof iron, and he pulled at them with such a might that he brast them\nclean out of the stone walls, and therewithal one of the bars of iron\ncut the brawn of his hands throughout to the bone; and then he leapt\ninto the chamber to the queen. Make ye no noise, said the queen, for my\nwounded knights lie here fast by me. So, to pass upon this tale, Sir\nLauncelot went unto bed with the queen, and he took no force of his\nhurt hand, but took his pleasaunce and his liking until it was in the\ndawning of the day; and wit ye well he slept not but watched, and when\nhe saw his time that he might tarry no longer he took his leave and\ndeparted at the window, and put it together as well as he might again,\nand so departed unto his own chamber; and there he told Sir Lavaine how\nhe was hurt. Then Sir Lavaine dressed his hand and staunched it, and\nput upon it a glove, that it should not be espied; and so the queen lay\nlong in her bed until it was nine of the clock.\n\nThen Sir Meliagrance went to the queen\u2019s chamber, and found her ladies\nthere ready clothed. Jesu mercy, said Sir Meliagrance, what aileth you,\nmadam, that ye sleep thus long? And right therewithal he opened the\ncurtain for to behold her; and then was he ware where she lay, and all\nthe sheet and pillow was bebled with the blood of Sir Launcelot and of\nhis hurt hand. When Sir Meliagrance espied that blood, then he deemed\nin her that she was false to the king, and that some of the wounded\nknights had lain by her all that night. Ah, madam, said Sir\nMeliagrance, now I have found you a false traitress unto my lord\nArthur; for now I prove well it was not for nought that ye laid these\nwounded knights within the bounds of your chamber; therefore I will\ncall you of treason before my lord, King Arthur. And now I have proved\nyou, madam, with a shameful deed; and that they be all false, or some\nof them, I will make good, for a wounded knight this night hath lain by\nyou. That is false, said the queen, and that I will report me unto them\nall. Then when the ten knights heard Sir Meliagrance\u2019s words, they\nspake all in one voice and said to Sir Meliagrance: Thou sayest\nfalsely, and wrongfully puttest upon us such a deed, and that we will\nmake good any of us; choose which thou list of us when we are whole of\nour wounds. Ye shall not, said Sir Meliagrance, away with your proud\nlanguage, for here ye may all see, said Sir Meliagrance, that by the\nqueen this night a wounded knight hath lain. Then were they all ashamed\nwhen they saw that blood; and wit you well Sir Meliagrance was passing\nglad that he had the queen at such an advantage, for he deemed by that\nto hide his treason. So with this rumour came in Sir Launcelot, and\nfound them all at a great array.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot answered for the queen, and waged battle\nagainst Sir Meliagrance; and how Sir Launcelot was taken in a trap.\n\n\nWhat array is this? said Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Meliagrance told them\nwhat he had found, and showed them the queen\u2019s bed. Truly, said Sir\nLauncelot, ye did not your part nor knightly, to touch a queen\u2019s bed\nwhile it was drawn, and she lying therein; for I dare say my lord\nArthur himself would not have displayed her curtains, she being within\nher bed, unless that it had pleased him to have lain down by her; and\ntherefore ye have done unworshipfully and shamefully to yourself. I wot\nnot what ye mean, said Sir Meliagrance, but well I am sure there hath\none of her wounded knights lain by her this night, and therefore I will\nprove with my hands that she is a traitress unto my lord Arthur. Beware\nwhat ye do, said Launcelot, for an ye say so, an ye will prove it, it\nwill be taken at your hands.\n\nMy lord, Sir Launcelot, said Sir Meliagrance, I rede you beware what ye\ndo; for though ye are never so good a knight, as ye wot well ye are\nrenowned the best knight of the world, yet should ye be advised to do\nbattle in a wrong quarrel, for God will have a stroke in every battle.\nAs for that, said Sir Launcelot, God is to be dread; but as to that I\nsay nay plainly, that this night there lay none of these ten wounded\nknights with my lady Queen Guenever, and that will I prove with my\nhands, that ye say untruly in that now. Hold, said Sir Meliagrance,\nhere is my glove that she is traitress unto my lord, King Arthur, and\nthat this night one of the wounded knights lay with her. And I receive\nyour glove, said Sir Launcelot. And so they were sealed with their\nsignets, and delivered unto the ten knights. At what day shall we do\nbattle together? said Sir Launcelot. This day eight days, said Sir\nMeliagrance, in the field beside Westminster. I am agreed, said Sir\nLauncelot. But now, said Sir Meliagrance, sithen it is so that we must\nfight together, I pray you, as ye be a noble knight, await me with no\ntreason, nor none villainy the meanwhile, nor none for you. So God me\nhelp, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall right well wit I was never of no\nsuch conditions, for I report me to all knights that ever have known\nme, I fared never with no treason, nor I loved never the fellowship of\nno man that fared with treason. Then let us go to dinner, said\nMeliagrance, and after dinner ye and the queen and ye may ride all to\nWestminster. I will well, said Sir Launcelot.\n\nThen Sir Meliagrance said to Sir Launcelot: Pleaseth it you to see the\nestures of this castle? With a good will, said Sir Launcelot. And then\nthey went together from chamber to chamber, for Sir Launcelot dread no\nperils; for ever a man of worship and of prowess dreadeth least always\nperils, for they ween every man be as they be; but ever he that fareth\nwith treason putteth oft a man in great danger. So it befell upon Sir\nLauncelot that no peril dread, as he went with Sir Meliagrance he trod\non a trap and the board rolled, and there Sir Launcelot fell down more\nthan ten fathom into a cave full of straw; and then Sir Meliagrance\ndeparted and made no fare as that he nist where he was.\n\nAnd when Sir Launcelot was thus missed they marvelled where he was\nbecome; and then the queen and many of them deemed that he was departed\nas he was wont to do suddenly. For Sir Meliagrance made suddenly to put\naway aside Sir Lavaine\u2019s horse, that they might all understand that Sir\nLauncelot was departed suddenly. So it passed on till after dinner; and\nthen Sir Lavaine would not stint until that he ordained litters for the\nwounded knights, that they might be laid in them; and so with the queen\nand them all, both ladies and gentlewomen and other, went unto\nWestminster; and there the knights told King Arthur how Meliagrance had\nappealed the queen of high treason, and how Sir Launcelot had received\nthe glove of him: And this day eight days they shall do battle afore\nyou. By my head, said King Arthur, I am afeard Sir Meliagrance hath\ntaken upon him a great charge; but where is Sir Launcelot? said the\nking. Sir, said they all, we wot not where he is, but we deem he is\nridden to some adventures, as he is ofttimes wont to do, for he hath\nSir Lavaine\u2019s horse. Let him be, said the king, he will be founden, but\nif he be trapped with some treason.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. How Sir Launcelot was delivered out of prison by a lady,\nand took a white courser and came for to keep his day.\n\n\nSo leave we Sir Launcelot lying within that cave in great pain; and\nevery day there came a lady and brought him his meat and his drink, and\nwooed him, to have lain by him; and ever the noble knight, Sir\nLauncelot, said her nay. Sir Launcelot, said she, ye are not wise, for\nye may never out of this prison, but if ye have my help; and also your\nlady, Queen Guenever, shall be brent in your default, unless that ye be\nthere at the day of battle. God defend, said Sir Launcelot, that she\nshould be brent in my default; and if it be so, said Sir Launcelot,\nthat I may not be there, it shall be well understanded, both at the\nking and at the queen, and with all men of worship, that I am dead,\nsick, outher in prison. For all men that know me will say for me that I\nam in some evil case an I be not there that day; and well I wot there\nis some good knight either of my blood, or some other that loveth me,\nthat will take my quarrel in hand; and therefore, said Sir Launcelot,\nwit ye well ye shall not fear me; and if there were no more women in\nall this land but ye, I will not have ado with you. Then art thou\nshamed, said the lady, and destroyed for ever. As for world\u2019s shame,\nJesu defend me, and as for my distress, it is welcome whatsoever it be\nthat God sendeth me.\n\nSo she came to him the same day that the battle should be, and said:\nSir Launcelot, methinketh ye are too hard-hearted, but wouldest thou\nbut kiss me once I should deliver thee, and thine armour, and the best\nhorse that is within Sir Meliagrance\u2019s stable. As for to kiss you, said\nSir Launcelot, I may do that and lose no worship; and wit ye well an I\nunderstood there were any disworship for to kiss you I would not do it.\nThen he kissed her, and then she gat him, and brought him to his\narmour. And when he was armed, she brought him to a stable, where stood\ntwelve good coursers, and bade him choose the best. Then Sir Launcelot\nlooked upon a white courser the which liked him best; and anon he\ncommanded the keepers fast to saddle him with the best saddle of war\nthat there was; and so it was done as he bade. Then gat he his spear in\nhis hand, and his sword by his side, and commended the lady unto God,\nand said: Lady, for this good deed I shall do you service if ever it be\nin my power.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. How Sir Launcelot came the same time that Sir Meliagrance\nabode him in the field and dressed him to battle.\n\n\nNow leave we Sir Launcelot wallop all that he might, and speak we of\nQueen Guenever that was brought to a fire to be brent; for Sir\nMeliagrance was sure, him thought, that Sir Launcelot should not be at\nthat battle; therefore he ever cried upon King Arthur to do him\njustice, other-else bring forth Sir Launcelot du Lake. Then was the\nking and all the court full sore abashed and shamed that the queen\nshould be brent in the default of Sir Launcelot. My lord Arthur, said\nSir Lavaine, ye may understand that it is not well with my lord Sir\nLauncelot, for an he were alive, so he be not sick outher in prison,\nwit ye well he would be here; for never heard ye that ever he failed\nhis part for whom he should do battle for. And therefore, said Sir\nLavaine, my lord, King Arthur, I beseech you give me license to do\nbattle here this day for my lord and master, and for to save my lady,\nthe queen. Gramercy gentle Sir Lavaine, said King Arthur, for I dare\nsay all that Sir Meliagrance putteth upon my lady the queen is wrong,\nfor I have spoken with all the ten wounded knights, and there is not\none of them, an he were whole and able to do battle, but he would prove\nupon Sir Meliagrance\u2019s body that it is false that he putteth upon my\nqueen. So shall I, said Sir Lavaine, in the defence of my lord, Sir\nLauncelot, an ye will give me leave. Now I give you leave, said King\nArthur, and do your best, for I dare well say there is some treason\ndone to Sir Launcelot.\n\nThen was Sir Lavaine armed and horsed, and suddenly at the lists\u2019 end\nhe rode to perform this battle; and right as the heralds should cry:\nLesses les aler, right so came in Sir Launcelot driving with all the\nforce of his horse. And then Arthur cried: Ho! and Abide! Then was Sir\nLauncelot called on horseback to-fore King Arthur, and there he told\nopenly to-fore the king and all, how Sir Meliagrance had served him\nfirst to last. And when the king, and the queen, and all the lords,\nknew of the treason of Sir Meliagrance they were all ashamed on his\nbehalf. Then was Queen Guenever sent for, and set by the king in great\ntrust of her champion. And then there was no more else to say, but Sir\nLauncelot and Sir Meliagrance dressed them unto battle, and took their\nspears; and so they came together as thunder, and there Sir Launcelot\nbare him down quite over his horse\u2019s croup. And then Sir Launcelot\nalighted and dressed his shield on his shoulder, with his sword in his\nhand, and Sir Meliagrance in the same wise dressed him unto him, and\nthere they smote many great strokes together; and at the last Sir\nLauncelot smote him such a buffet upon the helmet that he fell on the\none side to the earth. And then he cried upon him aloud: Most noble\nknight, Sir Launcelot du Lake, save my life, for I yield me unto you,\nand I require you, as ye be a knight and fellow of the Table Round,\nslay me not, for I yield me as overcome; and whether I shall live or\ndie I put me in the king\u2019s hands and yours.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot wist not what to do, for he had had liefer than all\nthe good of the world he might have been revenged upon Sir Meliagrance;\nand Sir Launcelot looked up to the Queen Guenever, if he might espy by\nany sign or countenance what she would have done. And then the queen\nwagged her head upon Sir Launcelot, as though she would say: Slay him.\nFull well knew Sir Launcelot by the wagging of her head that she would\nhave him dead; then Sir Launcelot bade him rise for shame and perform\nthat battle to the utterance. Nay, said Sir Meliagrance, I will never\narise until ye take me as yolden and recreant. I shall proffer you\nlarge proffers, said Sir Launcelot, that is for to say, I shall unarm\nmy head and my left quarter of my body, all that may be unarmed, and\nlet bind my left hand behind me, so that it shall not help me, and\nright so I shall do battle with you. Then Sir Meliagrance started up\nupon his legs, and said on high: My lord Arthur, take heed to this\nproffer, for I will take it, and let him be disarmed and bounden\naccording to his proffer. What say ye, said King Arthur unto Sir\nLauncelot, will ye abide by your proffer? Yea, my lord, said Sir\nLauncelot, I will never go from that I have once said.\n\nThen the knights parters of the field disarmed Sir Launcelot, first his\nhead, and sithen his left arm, and his left side, and they bound his\nleft arm behind his back, without shield or anything, and then they\nwere put together. Wit you well there was many a lady and knight\nmarvelled that Sir Launcelot would jeopardy himself in such wise. Then\nSir Meliagrance came with his sword all on high, and Sir Launcelot\nshowed him openly his bare head and the bare left side; and when he\nweened to have smitten him upon the bare head, then lightly he avoided\nthe left leg and the left side, and put his right hand and his sword to\nthat stroke, and so put it on side with great sleight; and then with\ngreat force Sir Launcelot smote him on the helmet such a buffet that\nthe stroke carved the head in two parts. Then there was no more to do,\nbut he was drawn out of the field. And at the great instance of the\nknights of the Table Round, the king suffered him to be interred, and\nthe mention made upon him, who slew him, and for what cause he was\nslain; and then the king and the queen made more of Sir Launcelot du\nLake, and more he was cherished, than ever he was aforehand.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. How Sir Urre came into Arthur\u2019s court for to be healed of\nhis wounds, and how King Arthur would begin to handle him.\n\n\nThen as the French book maketh mention, there was a good knight in the\nland of Hungary, his name was Sir Urre, and he was an adventurous\nknight, and in all places where he might hear of any deeds of worship\nthere would he be. So it happened in Spain there was an earl\u2019s son, his\nname was Alphegus, and at a great tournament in Spain this Sir Urre,\nknight of Hungary, and Sir Alphegus of Spain encountered together for\nvery envy; and so either undertook other to the utterance. And by\nfortune Sir Urre slew Sir Alphegus, the earl\u2019s son of Spain, but this\nknight that was slain had given Sir Urre, or ever he was slain, seven\ngreat wounds, three on the head, and four on his body and upon his left\nhand. And this Sir Alphegus had a mother, the which was a great\nsorceress; and she, for the despite of her son\u2019s death, wrought by her\nsubtle crafts that Sir Urre should never be whole, but ever his wounds\nshould one time fester and another time bleed, so that he should never\nbe whole until the best knight of the world had searched his wounds;\nand thus she made her avaunt, wherethrough it was known that Sir Urre\nshould never be whole.\n\nThen his mother let make an horse litter, and put him therein under two\npalfreys; and then she took Sir Urre\u2019s sister with him, a full fair\ndamosel, whose name was Felelolie; and then she took a page with him to\nkeep their horses, and so they led Sir Urre through many countries. For\nas the French book saith, she led him so seven year through all lands\nchristened, and never she could find no knight that might ease her son.\nSo she came into Scotland and into the lands of England, and by fortune\nshe came nigh the feast of Pentecost until King Arthur\u2019s court, that at\nthat time was holden at Carlisle. And when she came there, then she\nmade it openly to be known how that she was come into that land for to\nheal her son.\n\nThen King Arthur let call that lady, and asked her the cause why she\nbrought that hurt knight into that land. My most noble king, said that\nlady, wit you well I brought him hither for to be healed of his wounds,\nthat of all this seven year he might not be whole. And then she told\nthe king where he was wounded, and of whom; and how his mother had\ndiscovered in her pride how she had wrought that by enchantment, so\nthat he should never be whole until the best knight of the world had\nsearched his wounds. And so I have passed through all the lands\nchristened to have him healed, except this land. And if I fail to heal\nhim here in this land, I will never take more pain upon me, and that is\npity, for he was a good knight, and of great nobleness. What is his\nname? said Arthur. My good and gracious lord, she said, his name is Sir\nUrre of the Mount. In good time, said the king, and sith ye are come\ninto this land, ye are right welcome; and wit you well here shall your\nson be healed, an ever any Christian man may heal him. And for to give\nall other men of worship courage, I myself will assay to handle your\nson, and so shall all the kings, dukes, and earls that be here present\nwith me at this time; thereto will I command them, and well I wot they\nshall obey and do after my commandment. And wit you well, said King\nArthur unto Urre\u2019s sister, I shall begin to handle him, and search unto\nmy power, not presuming upon me that I am so worthy to heal your son by\nmy deeds, but I will courage other men of worship to do as I will do.\nAnd then the king commanded all the kings, dukes, and earls, and all\nnoble knights of the Round Table that were there that time present, to\ncome into the meadow of Carlisle. And so at that time there were but an\nhundred and ten of the Round Table, for forty knights were that time\naway; and so here we must begin at King Arthur, as is kindly to begin\nat him that was the most man of worship that was christened at that\ntime.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI. How King Arthur handled Sir Urre, and after him many other\nknights of the Round Table.\n\n\nThen King Arthur looked upon Sir Urre, and the king thought he was a\nfull likely man when he was whole; and then King Arthur made him to be\ntaken down off the litter and laid him upon the earth, and there was\nlaid a cushion of gold that he should kneel upon. And then noble Arthur\nsaid: Fair knight, me repenteth of thy hurt, and for to courage all\nother noble knights I will pray thee softly to suffer me to handle your\nwounds. Most noble christened king, said Urre, do as ye list, for I am\nat the mercy of God, and at your commandment. So then Arthur softly\nhandled him, and then some of his wounds renewed upon bleeding. Then\nthe King Clarence of Northumberland searched, and it would not be. And\nthen Sir Barant le Apres that was called the King with the Hundred\nKnights, he assayed and failed; and so did King Uriens of the land of\nGore; so did King Anguish of Ireland; so did King Nentres of Garloth;\nso did King Carados of Scotland; so did the Duke Galahad, the haut\nprince; so did Constantine, that was Sir Carados\u2019 son of Cornwall; so\ndid Duke Chaleins of Clarance; so did the Earl Ulbause; so did the Earl\nLambaile; so did the Earl Aristause.\n\nThen came in Sir Gawaine with his three sons, Sir Gingalin, Sir\nFlorence, and Sir Lovel, these two were begotten upon Sir Brandiles\u2019\nsister; and all they failed. Then came in Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris,\nSir Mordred, and the good knight, Sir Gareth, that was of very\nknighthood worth all the brethren. So came knights of Launcelot\u2019s kin,\nbut Sir Launcelot was not that time in the court, for he was that time\nupon his adventures. Then Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de\nGanis, Sir Blamore de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Gahalantine,\nSir Galihodin, Sir Menaduke, Sir Villiars the Valiant, Sir Hebes le\nRenoumes. All these were of Sir Launcelot\u2019s kin, and all they failed.\nThen came in Sir Sagramore le Desirous, Sir Dodinas le Savage, Sir\nDinadan, Sir Bruin le Noire, that Sir Kay named La Cote Male Taile, and\nSir Kay le Seneschal, Sir Kay de Stranges, Sir Meliot de Logris, Sir\nPetipase of Winchelsea, Sir Galleron of Galway, Sir Melion of the\nMountain, Sir Cardok, Sir Uwaine les Avoutres, and Sir Ozanna le Cure\nHardy.\n\nThen came in Sir Astamor, and Sir Gromere, Grummor\u2019s son, Sir Crosselm,\nSir Servause le Breuse, that was called a passing strong knight, for as\nthe book saith, the chief Lady of the Lake feasted Sir Launcelot and\nServause le Breuse, and when she had feasted them both at sundry times\nshe prayed them to give her a boon. And they granted it her. And then\nshe prayed Sir Servause that he would promise her never to do battle\nagainst Sir Launcelot du Lake, and in the same wise she prayed Sir\nLauncelot never to do battle against Sir Servause, and so either\npromised her. For the French book saith, that Sir Servause had never\ncourage nor lust to do battle against no man, but if it were against\ngiants, and against dragons, and wild beasts. So we pass unto them that\nat the king\u2019s request made them all that were there at that high feast,\nas of the knights of the Table Round, for to search Sir Urre: to that\nintent the king did it, to wit which was the noblest knight among them.\n\nThen came Sir Aglovale, Sir Durnore, Sir Tor, that was begotten upon\nAries, the cowherd\u2019s wife, but he was begotten afore Aries wedded her,\nand King Pellinore begat them all, first Sir Tor, Sir Aglovale, Sir\nDurnore, Sir Lamorak, the most noblest knight one that ever was in\nArthur\u2019s days as for a worldly knight, and Sir Percivale that was\npeerless except Sir Galahad in holy deeds, but they died in the quest\nof the Sangreal. Then came Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, Sir Lucan the\nButler, Sir Bedevere his brother, Sir Brandiles, Sir Constantine, Sir\nCador\u2019s son of Cornwall, that was king after Arthur\u2019s days, and Sir\nClegis, Sir Sadok, Sir Dinas le Seneschal of Cornwall, Sir Fergus, Sir\nDriant, Sir Lambegus, Sir Clarrus of Cleremont, Sir Cloddrus, Sir\nHectimere, Sir Edward of Carnarvon, Sir Dinas, Sir Priamus, that was\nchristened by Sir Tristram the noble knight, and these three were\nbrethren; Sir Hellaine le Blank that was son to Sir Bors, he begat him\nupon King Brandegoris\u2019 daughter, and Sir Brian de Listinoise; Sir\nGautere, Sir Reynold, Sir Gillemere, were three brethren that Sir\nLauncelot won upon a bridge in Sir Kay\u2019s arms. Sir Guyart le Petite,\nSir Bellangere le Beuse, that was son to the good knight, Sir Alisander\nle Orphelin, that was slain by the treason of King Mark. Also that\ntraitor king slew the noble knight Sir Tristram, as he sat harping\nafore his lady La Beale Isoud, with a trenchant glaive, for whose death\nwas much bewailing of every knight that ever were in Arthur\u2019s days;\nthere was never none so bewailed as was Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak,\nfor they were traitorously slain, Sir Tristram by King Mark, and Sir\nLamorak by Sir Gawaine and his brethren. And this Sir Bellangere\nrevenged the death of his father Alisander, and Sir Tristram slew King\nMark, and La Beale Isoud died swooning upon the corse of Sir Tristram,\nwhereof was great pity. And all that were with King Mark that were\nconsenting to the death of Sir Tristram were slain, as Sir Andred and\nmany other.\n\nThen came Sir Hebes, Sir Morganore, Sir Sentraile, Sir Suppinabilis,\nSir Bellangere le Orgulous, that the good knight Sir Lamorak won in\nplain battle; Sir Neroveus and Sir Plenorius, two good knights that Sir\nLauncelot won; Sir Darras, Sir Harry le Fise Lake, Sir Erminide,\nbrother to King Hermaunce, for whom Sir Palomides fought at the Red\nCity with two brethren; and Sir Selises of the Dolorous Tower, Sir\nEdward of Orkney, Sir Ironside, that was called the noble Knight of the\nRed Launds that Sir Gareth won for the love of Dame Liones, Sir Arrok\nde Grevaunt, Sir Degrane Saunce Velany that fought with the giant of\nthe black lowe, Sir Epinogris, that was the king\u2019s son of\nNorthumberland. Sir Pelleas that loved the lady Ettard, and he had died\nfor her love had not been one of the ladies of the lake, her name was\nDame Nimue, and she wedded Sir Pelleas, and she saved him that he was\nnever slain, and he was a full noble knight; and Sir Lamiel of Cardiff\nthat was a great lover. Sir Plaine de Fors, Sir Melleaus de Lile, Sir\nBohart le Cure Hardy that was King Arthur\u2019s son, Sir Mador de la Porte,\nSir Colgrevance, Sir Hervise de la Forest Savage, Sir Marrok, the good\nknight that was betrayed with his wife, for she made him seven year a\nwer-wolf, Sir Persaunt, Sir Pertilope, his brother, that was called the\nGreen Knight, and Sir Perimones, brother to them both, that was called\nthe Red Knight, that Sir Gareth won when he was called Beaumains. All\nthese hundred knights and ten searched Sir Urre\u2019s wounds by the\ncommandment of King Arthur.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. How Sir Launcelot was commanded by Arthur to handle his\nwounds, and anon he was all whole, and how they thanked God.\n\n\nMercy Jesu, said King Arthur, where is Sir Launcelot du Lake that he is\nnot here at this time? Thus, as they stood and spake of many things,\nthere was espied Sir Launcelot that came riding toward them, and told\nthe king. Peace, said the king, let no manner thing be said until he be\ncome to us. So when Sir Launcelot espied King Arthur, he descended from\nhis horse and came to the king, and saluted him and them all. Anon as\nthe maid, Sir Urre\u2019s sister, saw Sir Launcelot, she ran to her brother\nthereas he lay in his litter, and said: Brother, here is come a knight\nthat my heart giveth greatly unto. Fair sister, said Sir Urre, so doth\nmy heart light against him, and certainly I hope now to be healed, for\nmy heart giveth unto him more than to all these that have searched me.\n\nThen said Arthur unto Sir Launcelot: Ye must do as we have done; and\ntold Sir Launcelot what they had done, and showed him them all, that\nhad searched him. Jesu defend me, said Sir Launcelot, when so many\nkings and knights have assayed and failed, that I should presume upon\nme to enchieve that all ye, my lords, might not enchieve. Ye shall not\nchoose, said King Arthur, for I will command you for to do as we all\nhave done. My most renowned lord, said Sir Launcelot, ye know well I\ndare not nor may not disobey your commandment, but an I might or durst,\nwit you well I would not take upon me to touch that wounded knight in\nthat intent that I should pass all other knights; Jesu defend me from\nthat shame. Ye take it wrong, said King Arthur, ye shall not do it for\nno presumption, but for to bear us fellowship, insomuch ye be a fellow\nof the Table Round; and wit you well, said King Arthur, an ye prevail\nnot and heal him, I dare say there is no knight in this land may heal\nhim, and therefore I pray you, do as we have done.\n\nAnd then all the kings and knights for the most part prayed Sir\nLauncelot to search him; and then the wounded knight, Sir Urre, set him\nup weakly, and prayed Sir Launcelot heartily, saying: Courteous knight,\nI require thee for God\u2019s sake heal my wounds, for methinketh ever\nsithen ye came here my wounds grieve me not. Ah, my fair lord, said Sir\nLauncelot, Jesu would that I might help you; I shame me sore that I\nshould be thus rebuked, for never was I able in worthiness to do so\nhigh a thing. Then Sir Launcelot kneeled down by the wounded knight\nsaying: My lord Arthur, I must do your commandment, the which is sore\nagainst my heart. And then he held up his hands, and looked into the\neast, saying secretly unto himself: Thou blessed Father, Son, and Holy\nGhost, I beseech thee of thy mercy, that my simple worship and honesty\nbe saved, and thou blessed Trinity, thou mayst give power to heal this\nsick knight by thy great virtue and grace of thee, but, Good Lord,\nnever of myself. And then Sir Launcelot prayed Sir Urre to let him see\nhis head; and then devoutly kneeling he ransacked the three wounds,\nthat they bled a little, and forthwith all the wounds fair healed, and\nseemed as they had been whole a seven year. And in likewise he searched\nhis body of other three wounds, and they healed in likewise; and then\nthe last of all he searched the which was in his hand, and anon it\nhealed fair.\n\nThen King Arthur and all the kings and knights kneeled down and gave\nthankings and lovings unto God and to His Blessed Mother. And ever Sir\nLauncelot wept as he had been a child that had been beaten. Then King\nArthur let array priests and clerks in the most devoutest manner, to\nbring in Sir Urre within Carlisle, with singing and loving to God. And\nwhen this was done, the king let clothe him in the richest manner that\ncould be thought; and then were there but few better made knights in\nall the court, for he was passingly well made and bigly; and Arthur\nasked Sir Urre how he felt himself. My good lord, he said, I felt\nmyself never so lusty. Will ye joust and do deeds of arms? said King\nArthur. Sir, said Urre, an I had all that longed unto jousts I would be\nsoon ready.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. How there was a party made of an hundred knights against\nan hundred knights, and of other matters.\n\n\nThen Arthur made a party of hundred knights to be against an hundred\nknights. And so upon the morn they jousted for a diamond, but there\njousted none of the dangerous knights; and so for to shorten this tale,\nSir Urre and Sir Lavaine jousted best that day, for there was none of\nthem but he overthrew and pulled down thirty knights; and then by the\nassent of all the kings and lords, Sir Urre and Sir Lavaine were made\nknights of the Table Round. And Sir Lavaine cast his love unto Dame\nFelelolie, Sir Urre\u2019s sister, and then they were wedded together with\ngreat joy, and King Arthur gave to everych of them a barony of lands.\nAnd this Sir Urre would never go from Sir Launcelot, but he and Sir\nLavaine awaited evermore upon him; and they were in all the court\naccounted for good knights, and full desirous in arms; and many noble\ndeeds they did, for they would have no rest, but ever sought\nadventures.\n\nThus they lived in all that court with great noblesse and joy long\ntime. But every night and day Sir Agravaine, Sir Gawaine\u2019s brother,\nawaited Queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot du Lake to put them to a\nrebuke and shame. And so I leave here of this tale, and overskip great\nbooks of Sir Launcelot du Lake, what great adventures he did when he\nwas called Le Chevaler du Chariot. For as the French book saith,\nbecause of despite that knights and ladies called him the knight that\nrode in the chariot like as he were judged to the gallows, therefore in\ndespite of all them that named him so, he was carried in a chariot a\ntwelvemonth, for, but little after that he had slain Sir Meliagrance in\nthe queen\u2019s quarrel, he never in a twelvemonth came on horseback. And\nas the French book saith, he did that twelvemonth more than forty\nbattles. And because I have lost the very matter of Le Chevaier du\nChariot, I depart from the tale of Sir Launcelot, and here I go unto\nthe morte of King Arthur; and that caused Sir Agravaine.\n\n_Explicit liber xix. And hereafter followeth the most piteous history\nof the morte of King Arthur, the which is the twentieth book._\n\n\n\n\nBOOK XX.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred were busy upon Sir Gawaine\nfor to disclose the love between Sir Launcelot and Queen Guenever.\n\n\nIn May when every lusty heart flourisheth and bourgeoneth, for as the\nseason is lusty to behold and comfortable, so man and woman rejoice and\ngladden of summer coming with his fresh flowers: for winter with his\nrough winds and blasts causeth a lusty man and woman to cower and sit\nfast by the fire. So in this season, as in the month of May, it befell\na great anger and unhap that stinted not till the flower of chivalry of\nall the world was destroyed and slain; and all was long upon two\nunhappy knights the which were named Agravaine and Sir Mordred, that\nwere brethren unto Sir Gawaine. For this Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred\nhad ever a privy hate unto the queen Dame Guenever and to Sir\nLauncelot, and daily and nightly they ever watched upon Sir Launcelot.\n\nSo it mishapped, Sir Gawaine and all his brethren were in King Arthur\u2019s\nchamber; and then Sir Agravaine said thus openly, and not in no\ncounsel, that many knights might hear it: I marvel that we all be not\nashamed both to see and to know how Sir Launcelot lieth daily and\nnightly by the queen, and all we know it so; and it is shamefully\nsuffered of us all, that we all should suffer so noble a king as King\nArthur is so to be shamed.\n\nThen spake Sir Gawaine, and said: Brother Sir Agravaine, I pray you and\ncharge you move no such matters no more afore me, for wit you well,\nsaid Sir Gawaine, I will not be of your counsel. So God me help, said\nSir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, we will not be knowing, brother Agravaine,\nof your deeds. Then will I, said Sir Mordred. I lieve well that, said\nSir Gawaine, for ever unto all unhappiness, brother Sir Mordred,\nthereto will ye grant; and I would that ye left all this, and made you\nnot so busy, for I know, said Sir Gawaine, what will fall of it. Fall\nof it what fall may, said Sir Agravaine, I will disclose it to the\nking. Not by my counsel, said Sir Gawaine, for an there rise war and\nwrack betwixt Sir Launcelot and us, wit you well brother, there will\nmany kings and great lords hold with Sir Launcelot. Also, brother Sir\nAgravaine, said Sir Gawaine, ye must remember how ofttimes Sir\nLauncelot hath rescued the king and the queen; and the best of us all\nhad been full cold at the heart-root had not Sir Launcelot been better\nthan we, and that hath he proved himself full oft. And as for my part,\nsaid Sir Gawaine, I will never be against Sir Launcelot for one day\u2019s\ndeed, when he rescued me from King Carados of the Dolorous Tower, and\nslew him, and saved my life. Also, brother Sir Agravaine and Sir\nMordred, in like wise Sir Launcelot rescued you both, and threescore\nand two, from Sir Turquin. Methinketh brother, such kind deeds and\nkindness should be remembered. Do as ye list, said Sir Agravaine, for I\nwill lain it no longer. With these words came to them King Arthur. Now\nbrother, stint your noise, said Sir Gawaine. We will not, said Sir\nAgravaine and Sir Mordred. Will ye so? said Sir Gawaine; then God speed\nyou, for I will not hear your tales ne be of your counsel. No more will\nI, said Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris, for we will never say evil by that\nman; for because, said Sir Gareth, Sir Launcelot made me knight, by no\nmanner owe I to say ill of him: and therewithal they three departed,\nmaking great dole. Alas, said Sir Gawaine and Sir Gareth, now is this\nrealm wholly mischieved, and the noble fellowship of the Round Table\nshall be disparpled: so they departed.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. How Sir Agravaine disclosed their love to King Arthur, and\nhow King Arthur gave them licence to take him.\n\n\nAnd then Sir Arthur asked them what noise they made. My lord, said\nAgravaine, I shall tell you that I may keep no longer. Here is I, and\nmy brother Sir Mordred, brake unto my brothers Sir Gawaine, Sir\nGaheris, and to Sir Gareth, how this we know all, that Sir Launcelot\nholdeth your queen, and hath done long; and we be your sister\u2019s sons,\nand we may suffer it no longer, and all we wot that ye should be above\nSir Launcelot; and ye are the king that made him knight, and therefore\nwe will prove it, that he is a traitor to your person.\n\nIf it be so, said Sir Arthur, wit you well he is none other, but I\nwould be loath to begin such a thing but I might have proofs upon it;\nfor Sir Launcelot is an hardy knight, and all ye know he is the best\nknight among us all; and but if he be taken with the deed, he will\nfight with him that bringeth up the noise, and I know no knight that is\nable to match him. Therefore an it be sooth as ye say, I would he were\ntaken with the deed. For as the French book saith, the king was full\nloath thereto, that any noise should be upon Sir Launcelot and his\nqueen; for the king had a deeming, but he would not hear of it, for Sir\nLauncelot had done so much for him and the queen so many times, that\nwit ye well the king loved him passingly well. My lord, said Sir\nAgravaine, ye shall ride to-morn a-hunting, and doubt ye not Sir\nLauncelot will not go with you. Then when it draweth toward night, ye\nmay send the queen word that ye will lie out all that night, and so may\nye send for your cooks, and then upon pain of death we shall take him\nthat night with the queen, and outher we shall bring him to you dead or\nquick. I will well, said the king; then I counsel you, said the king,\ntake with you sure fellowship. Sir, said Agravaine, my brother, Sir\nMordred, and I, will take with us twelve knights of the Round Table.\nBeware, said King Arthur, for I warn you ye shall find him wight. Let\nus deal, said Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred.\n\nSo on the morn King Arthur rode a-hunting, and sent word to the queen\nthat he would be out all that night. Then Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred\ngat to them twelve knights, and hid themself in a chamber in the Castle\nof Carlisle, and these were their names: Sir Colgrevance, Sir Mador de\nla Porte, Sir Gingaline, Sir Meliot de Logris, Sir Petipase of\nWinchelsea, Sir Galleron of Galway, Sir Melion of the Mountain, Sir\nAstamore, Sir Gromore Somir Joure, Sir Curselaine, Sir Florence, Sir\nLovel. So these twelve knights were with Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine,\nand all they were of Scotland, outher of Sir Gawaine\u2019s kin, either\nwell-willers to his brethren.\n\nSo when the night came, Sir Launcelot told Sir Bors how he would go\nthat night and speak with the queen. Sir, said Sir Bors, ye shall not\ngo this night by my counsel. Why? said Sir Launcelot. Sir, said Sir\nBors, I dread me ever of Sir Agravaine, that waiteth you daily to do\nyou shame and us all; and never gave my heart against no going, that\never ye went to the queen, so much as now; for I mistrust that the king\nis out this night from the queen because peradventure he hath lain some\nwatch for you and the queen, and therefore I dread me sore of treason.\nHave ye no dread, said Sir Launcelot, for I shall go and come again,\nand make no tarrying. Sir, said Sir Bors, that me repenteth, for I\ndread me sore that your going out this night shall wrath us all. Fair\nnephew, said Sir Launcelot, I marvel much why ye say thus, sithen the\nqueen hath sent for me; and wit ye well I will not be so much a coward,\nbut she shall understand I will see her good grace. God speed you well,\nsaid Sir Bors, and send you sound and safe again.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. How Sir Launcelot was espied in the queen\u2019s chamber, and\nhow Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred came with twelve knights to slay him.\n\n\nSo Sir Launcelot departed, and took his sword under his arm, and so in\nhis mantle that noble knight put himself in great Jeopardy; and so he\npassed till he came to the queen\u2019s chamber, and then Sir Launcelot was\nlightly put into the chamber. And then, as the French book saith, the\nqueen and Launcelot were together. And whether they were abed or at\nother manner of disports, me list not hereof make no mention, for love\nthat time was not as is now-a-days. But thus as they were together,\nthere came Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred, with twelve knights with them\nof the Round Table, and they said with crying voice: Traitor-knight,\nSir Launcelot du Lake, now art thou taken. And thus they cried with a\nloud voice, that all the court might hear it; and they all fourteen\nwere armed at all points as they should fight in a battle. Alas said\nQueen Guenever, now are we mischieved both Madam, said Sir Launcelot,\nis there here any armour within your chamber, that I might cover my\npoor body withal? An if there be any give it me, and I shall soon stint\ntheir malice, by the grace of God. Truly, said the queen, I have none\narmour, shield, sword, nor spear; wherefore I dread me sore our long\nlove is come to a mischievous end, for I hear by their noise there be\nmany noble knights, and well I wot they be surely armed, and against\nthem ye may make no resistance. Wherefore ye are likely to be slain,\nand then shall I be brent. For an ye might escape them, said the queen,\nI would not doubt but that ye would rescue me in what danger that ever\nI stood in. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, in all my life thus was I never\nbestead, that I should be thus shamefully slain for lack of mine\narmour.\n\nBut ever in one Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred cried: Traitor-knight,\ncome out of the queen\u2019s chamber, for wit thou well thou art so beset\nthat thou shalt not escape. O Jesu mercy, said Sir Launcelot, this\nshameful cry and noise I may not suffer, for better were death at once\nthan thus to endure this pain. Then he took the queen in his arms, and\nkissed her, and said: Most noble Christian queen, I beseech you as ye\nhave been ever my special good lady, and I at all times your true poor\nknight unto my power, and as I never failed you in right nor in wrong\nsithen the first day King Arthur made me knight, that ye will pray for\nmy soul if that I here be slain; for well I am assured that Sir Bors,\nmy nephew, and all the remnant of my kin, with Sir Lavaine and Sir\nUrre, that they will not fail you to rescue you from the fire; and\ntherefore, mine own lady, recomfort yourself, whatsomever come of me,\nthat ye go with Sir Bors, my nephew, and Sir Urre, and they all will do\nyou all the pleasure that they can or may, that ye shall live like a\nqueen upon my lands. Nay, Launcelot, said the queen, wit thou well I\nwill never live after thy days, but an thou be slain I will take my\ndeath as meekly for Jesu Christ\u2019s sake as ever did any Christian queen.\nWell, madam, said I-auncelot, sith it is so that the day is come that\nour love must depart, wit you well I shall sell my life as dear as I\nmay; and a thousandfold, said Sir Launcelot, I am more heavier for you\nthan for myself. And now I had liefer than to be lord of all\nChristendom, that I had sure armour upon me, that men might speak of my\ndeeds or ever I were slain. Truly, said the queen, I would an it might\nplease God that they would take me and slay me, and suffer you to\nescape. That shall never be, said Sir Launcelot, God defend me from\nsuch a shame, but Jesu be Thou my shield and mine armour!\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. How Sir Launcelot slew Sir Colgrevance, and armed him in\nhis harness, and after slew Sir Agravaine, and twelve of his fellows.\n\n\nAnd therewith Sir Launcelot wrapped his mantle about his arm well and\nsurely; and by then they had gotten a great form out of the hall, and\ntherewithal they rashed at the door. Fair lords, said Sir Launcelot,\nleave your noise and your rashing, and I shall set open this door, and\nthen may ye do with me what it liketh you. Come off then, said they\nall, and do it, for it availeth thee not to strive against us all; and\ntherefore let us into this chamber, and we shall save thy life until\nthou come to King Arthur. Then Launcelot unbarred the door, and with\nhis left hand he held it open a little, so that but one man might come\nin at once; and so there came striding a good knight, a much man and\nlarge, and his name was Colgrevance of Gore, and he with a sword struck\nat Sir Launcelot mightily; and he put aside the stroke, and gave him\nsuch a buffet upon the helmet, that he fell grovelling dead within the\nchamber door. And then Sir Launcelot with great might drew that dead\nknight within the chamber door; and Sir Launcelot with help of the\nqueen and her ladies was lightly armed in Sir Colgrevance\u2019s armour.\n\nAnd ever stood Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred crying: Traitor-knight,\ncome out of the queen\u2019s chamber. Leave your noise, said Sir Launcelot\nunto Sir Agravaine, for wit you well, Sir Agravaine, ye shall not\nprison me this night; and therefore an ye do by my counsel, go ye all\nfrom this chamber door, and make not such crying and such manner of\nslander as ye do; for I promise you by my knighthood, an ye will depart\nand make no more noise, I shall as to-morn appear afore you all before\nthe king, and then let it be seen which of you all, outher else ye all,\nthat will accuse me of treason; and there I shall answer you as a\nknight should, that hither I came to the queen for no manner of mal\nengin, and that will I prove and make it good upon you with my hands.\nFie on thee, traitor, said Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred, we will have\nthee maugre thy head, and slay thee if we list; for we let thee wit we\nhave the choice of King Arthur to save thee or to slay thee. Ah sirs,\nsaid Sir Launcelot, is there none other grace with you? then keep\nyourself.\n\nSo then Sir Launcelot set all open the chamber door, and mightily and\nknightly he strode in amongst them; and anon at the first buffet he\nslew Sir Agravaine. And twelve of his fellows after, within a little\nwhile after, he laid them cold to the earth, for there was none of the\ntwelve that might stand Sir Launcelot one buffet. Also Sir Launcelot\nwounded Sir Mordred, and he fled with all his might. And then Sir\nLauncelot returned again unto the queen, and said: Madam, now wit you\nwell all our true love is brought to an end, for now will King Arthur\never be my foe; and therefore, madam, an it like you that I may have\nyou with me, I shall save you from all manner adventures dangerous.\nThat is not best, said the queen; meseemeth now ye have done so much\nharm, it will be best ye hold you still with this. And if ye see that\nas to-morn they will put me unto the death, then may ye rescue me as ye\nthink best. I will well, said Sir Launcelot, for have ye no doubt,\nwhile I am living I shall rescue you. And then he kissed her, and\neither gave other a ring; and so there he left the queen, and went\nuntil his lodging.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. How Sir Launcelot came to Sir Bors, and told him how he had\nsped, and in what adventure he had been, and how he had escaped.\n\n\nWhen Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot he was never so glad of his home-coming\nas he was then. Jesu mercy, said Sir Launcelot, why be ye all armed:\nwhat meaneth this? Sir, said Sir Bors, after ye were departed from us,\nwe all that be of your blood and your well-willers were so dretched\nthat some of us leapt out of our beds naked, and some in their dreams\ncaught naked swords in their hands; therefore, said Sir Bors, we deem\nthere is some great strife at hand; and then we all deemed that ye were\nbetrapped with some treason, and therefore we made us thus ready, what\nneed that ever ye were in.\n\nMy fair nephew, said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Bors, now shall ye wit all,\nthat this night I was more harder bestead than ever I was in my life,\nand yet I escaped. And so he told them all how and in what manner, as\nye have heard to-fore. And therefore, my fellows, said Sir Launcelot, I\npray you all that ye will be of good heart in what need somever I\nstand, for now is war come to us all. Sir, said Bors, all is welcome\nthat God sendeth us, and we have had much weal with you and much\nworship, and therefore we will take the woe with you as we have taken\nthe weal. And therefore, they said all (there were many good knights),\nlook ye take no discomfort, for there nis no bands of knights under\nheaven but we shall be able to grieve them as much as they may us. And\ntherefore discomfort not yourself by no manner, and we shall gather\ntogether that we love, and that loveth us, and what that ye will have\ndone shall be done. And therefore, Sir Launcelot, said they, we will\ntake the woe with the weal. Grant mercy, said Sir Launcelot, of your\ngood comfort, for in my great distress, my fair nephew, ye comfort me\ngreatly, and much I am beholding unto you. But this, my fair nephew, I\nwould that ye did in all haste that ye may, or it be forth days, that\nye will look in their lodging that be lodged here nigh about the king,\nwhich will hold with me, and which will not, for now I would know which\nwere my friends from my foes. Sir, said Sir Bors, I shall do my pain,\nand or it be seven of the clock I shall wit of such as ye have said\nbefore, who will hold with you.\n\nThen Sir Bors called unto him Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir\nBlamore de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Gahalantine, Sir\nGalihodin, Sir Galihud, Sir Menadeuke Sir Villiers the Valiant, Sir\nHebes le Renoumes, Sir Lavaine Sir Urre of Hungary, Sir Nerounes, Sir\nPlenorius. These two knights Sir Launcelot made, and the one he won\nupon a bridge, and therefore they would never be against him. And Harry\nle Fise du Lake, and Sir Selises of the Dolorous Tower, and Sir Melias\nde Lile, and Sir Bellangere le Beuse, that was Sir Alisander\u2019s son Le\nOrphelin, because his mother Alice le Beale Pellerin and she was kin\nunto Sir Launcelot, and he held with him. So there came Sir Palomides\nand Sir Safere, his brother, to hold with Sir Launcelot, and Sir Clegis\nof Sadok, and Sir Dinas, Sir Clarius of Cleremont. So these\ntwo-and-twenty knights drew them together, and by then they were armed\non horseback, and promised Sir Launcelot to do what he would. Then\nthere fell to them, what of North Wales and of Cornwall, for Sir\nLamorak\u2019s sake and for Sir Tristram\u2019s sake, to the number of a\nfourscore knights.\n\nMy lords, said Sir Launcelot, wit you well, I have been ever since I\ncame into this country well willed unto my lord, King Arthur, and unto\nmy lady, Queen Guenever, unto my power; and this night because my lady\nthe queen sent for me to speak with her, I suppose it was made by\ntreason, howbeit I dare largely excuse her person, notwithstanding I\nwas there by a forecast near slain, but as Jesu provided me I escaped\nall their malice and treason. And then that noble knight Sir Launcelot\ntold them all how he was hard bestead in the queen\u2019s chamber, and how\nand in what manner he escaped from them. And therefore, said Sir\nLauncelot, wit you well, my fair lords, I am sure there nis but war\nunto me and mine. And for because I have slain this night these\nknights, I wot well, as is Sir Agravaine Sir Gawaine\u2019s brother, and at\nthe least twelve of his fellows, for this cause now I am sure of mortal\nwar, for these knights were sent and ordained by King Arthur to betray\nme. And therefore the king will in his heat and malice judge the queen\nto the fire, and that may I not suffer, that she should be brent for my\nsake; for an I may be heard and suffered and so taken, I will fight for\nthe queen, that she is a true lady unto her lord; but the king in his\nheat I dread me will not take me as I ought to be taken.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. Of the counsel and advice that was taken by Sir Launcelot\nand his friends for to save the queen.\n\n\nMy lord, Sir Launcelot, said Sir Bors, by mine advice ye shall take the\nwoe with the weal, and take it in patience, and thank God of it. And\nsithen it is fallen as it is, I counsel you keep yourself, for an ye\nwill yourself, there is no fellowship of knights christened that shall\ndo you wrong. Also I will counsel you my lord, Sir Launcelot, than an\nmy lady, Queen Guenever, be in distress, insomuch as she is in pain for\nyour sake, that ye knightly rescue her; an ye did otherwise, all the\nworld will speak of you shame to the world\u2019s end. Insomuch as ye were\ntaken with her, whether ye did right or wrong, it is now your part to\nhold with the queen, that she be not slain and put to a mischievous\ndeath, for an she so die the shame shall be yours. Jesu defend me from\nshame, said Sir Launcelot, and keep and save my lady the queen from\nvillainy and shameful death, and that she never be destroyed in my\ndefault; wherefore my fair lords, my kin, and my friends, said Sir\nLauncelot, what will ye do? Then they said all: We will do as ye will\ndo. I put this to you, said Sir Launcelot, that if my lord Arthur by\nevil counsel will to-morn in his heat put my lady the queen to the fire\nthere to be brent, now I pray you counsel me what is best to do. Then\nthey said all at once with one voice: Sir, us thinketh best that ye\nknightly rescue the queen, insomuch as she shall be brent it is for\nyour sake; and it is to suppose, an ye might be handled, ye should have\nthe same death, or a more shamefuler death. And sir, we say all, that\nye have many times rescued her from death for other men\u2019s quarrels, us\nseemeth it is more your worship that ye rescue the queen from this\nperil, insomuch she hath it for your sake.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot stood still, and said: My fair lords, wit you well I\nwould be loath to do that thing that should dishonour you or my blood,\nand wit you well I would be loath that my lady, the queen, should die a\nshameful death; but an it be so that ye will counsel me to rescue her,\nI must do much harm or I rescue her; and peradventure I shall there\ndestroy some of my best friends, that should much repent me; and\nperadventure there be some, an they could well bring it about, or\ndisobey my lord King Arthur, they would soon come to me, the which I\nwere loath to hurt. And if so be that I rescue her, where shall I keep\nher? That shall be the least care of us all, said Sir Bors. How did the\nnoble knight Sir Tristram, by your good will? kept not he with him La\nBeale Isoud near three year in Joyous Gard? the which was done by your\nalther device, and that same place is your own; and in likewise may ye\ndo an ye list, and take the queen lightly away, if it so be the king\nwill judge her to be brent; and in Joyous Gard ye may keep her long\nenough until the heat of the king be past. And then shall ye bring\nagain the queen to the king with great worship; and then peradventure\nye shall have thank for her bringing home, and love and thank where\nother shall have maugre.\n\nThat is hard to do, said Sir Launcelot, for by Sir Tristram I may have\na warning, for when by means of treaties, Sir Tristram brought again La\nBeale Isoud unto King Mark from Joyous Gard, look what befell on the\nend, how shamefully that false traitor King Mark slew him as he sat\nharping afore his lady La Beale Isoud, with a grounden glaive he thrust\nhim in behind to the heart. It grieveth me, said Sir Launcelot, to\nspeak of his death, for all the world may not find such a knight. All\nthis is truth, said Sir Bors, but there is one thing shall courage you\nand us all, ye know well King Arthur and King Mark were never like of\nconditions, for there was never yet man could prove King Arthur untrue\nof his promise.\n\nSo to make short tale, they were all consented that for better outher\nfor worse, if so were that the queen were on that morn brought to the\nfire, shortly they all would rescue her. And so by the advice of Sir\nLauncelot, they put them all in an embushment in a wood, as nigh\nCarlisle as they might, and there they abode still, to wit what the\nking would do.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. How Sir Mordred rode hastily to the king, to tell him of\nthe affray and death of Sir Agravaine and the other knights.\n\n\nNow turn we again unto Sir Mordred, that when he was escaped from the\nnoble knight, Sir Launcelot, he anon gat his horse and mounted upon\nhim, and rode unto King Arthur, sore wounded and smitten, and all\nforbled; and there he told the king all how it was, and how they were\nall slain save himself all only. Jesu mercy, how may this be? said the\nking; took ye him in the queen\u2019s chamber? Yea, so God me help, said Sir\nMordred, there we found him unarmed, and there he slew Colgrevance, and\narmed him in his armour; and all this he told the king from the\nbeginning to the ending. Jesu mercy, said the king, he is a marvellous\nknight of prowess. Alas, me sore repenteth, said the king, that ever\nSir Launcelot should be against me. Now I am sure the noble fellowship\nof the Round Table is broken for ever, for with him will many a noble\nknight hold; and now it is fallen so, said the king, that I may not\nwith my worship, but the queen must suffer the death. So then there was\nmade great ordinance in this heat, that the queen must be judged to the\ndeath. And the law was such in those days that whatsomever they were,\nof what estate or degree, if they were found guilty of treason, there\nshould be none other remedy but death; and outher the men or the taking\nwith the deed should be causer of their hasty judgment. And right so\nwas it ordained for Queen Guenever, because Sir Mordred was escaped\nsore wounded, and the death of thirteen knights of the Round Table.\nThese proofs and experiences caused King Arthur to command the queen to\nthe fire there to be brent.\n\nThen spake Sir Gawaine, and said: My lord Arthur, I would counsel you\nnot to be over-hasty, but that ye would put it in respite, this\njudgment of my lady the queen, for many causes. One it is, though it\nwere so that Sir Launcelot were found in the queen\u2019s chamber, yet it\nmight be so that he came thither for none evil; for ye know my lord,\nsaid Sir Gawaine, that the queen is much beholden unto Sir Launcelot,\nmore than unto any other knight, for ofttimes he hath saved her life,\nand done battle for her when all the court refused the queen; and\nperadventure she sent for him for goodness and for none evil, to reward\nhim for his good deeds that he had done to her in times past. And\nperadventure my lady, the queen, sent for him to that intent that Sir\nLauncelot should come to her good grace privily and secretly, weening\nto her that it was best so to do, in eschewing and dreading of slander;\nfor ofttimes we do many things that we ween it be for the best, and yet\nperadventure it turneth to the worst. For I dare say, said Sir Gawaine,\nmy lady, your queen, is to you both good and true; and as for Sir\nLauncelot, said Sir Gawaine, I dare say he will make it good upon any\nknight living that will put upon himself villainy or shame, and in like\nwise he will make good for my lady, Dame Guenever.\n\nThat I believe well, said King Arthur, but I will not that way with Sir\nLauncelot, for he trusteth so much upon his hands and his might that he\ndoubteth no man; and therefore for my queen he shall never fight more,\nfor she shall have the law. And if I may get Sir Launcelot, wit you\nwell he shall have a shameful death. Jesu defend, said Sir Gawaine,\nthat I may never see it. Why say ye so? said King Arthur; forsooth ye\nhave no cause to love Sir Launcelot, for this night last past he slew\nyour brother, Sir Agravaine, a full good knight, and almost he had\nslain your other brother, Sir Mordred, and also there he slew thirteen\nnoble knights; and also, Sir Gawaine, remember you he slew two sons of\nyours, Sir Florence and Sir Lovel. My lord, said Sir Gawaine, of all\nthis I have knowledge, of whose deaths I repent me sore; but insomuch I\ngave them warning, and told my brethren and my sons aforehand what\nwould fall in the end, insomuch they would not do by my counsel, I will\nnot meddle me thereof, nor revenge me nothing of their deaths; for I\ntold them it was no boot to strive with Sir Launcelot. Howbeit I am\nsorry of the death of my brethren and of my sons, for they are the\ncausers of their own death; for ofttimes I warned my brother Sir\nAgravaine, and I told him the perils the which be now fallen.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. How Sir Launcelot and his kinsmen rescued the queen from\nthe fire, and how he slew many knights.\n\n\nThen said the noble King Arthur to Sir Gawaine: Dear nephew, I pray you\nmake you ready in your best armour, with your brethren, Sir Gaheris and\nSir Gareth, to bring my queen to the fire, there to have her judgment\nand receive the death. Nay, my most noble lord, said Sir Gawaine, that\nwill I never do; for wit you well I will never be in that place where\nso noble a queen as is my lady, Dame Guenever, shall take a shameful\nend. For wit you well, said Sir Gawaine, my heart will never serve me\nto see her die; and it shall never be said that ever I was of your\ncounsel of her death.\n\nThen said the king to Sir Gawaine: Suffer your brothers Sir Gaheris and\nSir Gareth to be there. My lord, said Sir Gawaine, wit you well they\nwill be loath to be there present, because of many adventures the which\nbe like there to fall, but they are young and full unable to say you\nnay. Then spake Sir Gaheris, and the good knight Sir Gareth, unto Sir\nArthur: Sir, ye may well command us to be there, but wit you well it\nshall be sore against our will; but an we be there by your strait\ncommandment ye shall plainly hold us there excused: we will be there in\npeaceable wise, and bear none harness of war upon us. In the name of\nGod, said the king, then make you ready, for she shall soon have her\njudgment anon. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, that ever I should endure to see\nthis woful day. So Sir Gawaine turned him and wept heartily, and so he\nwent into his chamber; and then the queen was led forth without\nCarlisle, and there she was despoiled into her smock. And so then her\nghostly father was brought to her, to be shriven of her misdeeds. Then\nwas there weeping, and wailing, and wringing of hands, of many lords\nand ladies, but there were but few in comparison that would bear any\narmour for to strength the death of the queen.\n\nThen was there one that Sir Launcelot had sent unto that place for to\nespy what time the queen should go unto her death; and anon as he saw\nthe queen despoiled into her smock, and so shriven, then he gave Sir\nLauncelot warning. Then was there but spurring and plucking up of\nhorses, and right so they came to the fire. And who that stood against\nthem, there were they slain; there might none withstand Sir Launcelot,\nso all that bare arms and withstood them, there were they slain, full\nmany a noble knight. For there was slain Sir Belliance le Orgulous, Sir\nSegwarides, Sir Griflet, Sir Brandiles, Sir Aglovale, Sir Tor; Sir\nGauter, Sir Gillimer, Sir Reynolds\u2019 three brethren; Sir Damas, Sir\nPriamus, Sir Kay the Stranger, Sir Driant, Sir Lambegus, Sir Herminde;\nSir Pertilope, Sir Perimones, two brethren that were called the Green\nKnight and the Red Knight. And so in this rushing and hurling, as Sir\nLauncelot thrang here and there, it mishapped him to slay Gaheris and\nSir Gareth, the noble knight, for they were unarmed and unware. For as\nthe French book saith, Sir Launcelot smote Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris\nupon the brain-pans, wherethrough they were slain in the field; howbeit\nin very truth Sir Launcelot saw them not, and so were they found dead\namong the thickest of the press.\n\nThen when Sir Launcelot had thus done, and slain and put to flight all\nthat would withstand him, then he rode straight unto Dame Guenever, and\nmade a kirtle and a gown to be cast upon her; and then he made her to\nbe set behind him, and prayed her to be of good cheer. Wit you well the\nqueen was glad that she was escaped from the death. And then she\nthanked God and Sir Launcelot; and so he rode his way with the queen,\nas the French book saith, unto Joyous Gard, and there he kept her as a\nnoble knight should do; and many great lords and some kings sent Sir\nLauncelot many good knights, and many noble knights drew unto Sir\nLauncelot. When this was known openly, that King Arthur and Sir\nLauncelot were at debate, many knights were glad of their debate, and\nmany were full heavy of their debate.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. Of the sorrow and lamentation of King Arthur for the death\nof his nephews and other good knights, and also for the queen, his\nwife.\n\n\nSo turn we again unto King Arthur, that when it was told him how and in\nwhat manner of wise the queen was taken away from the fire, and when he\nheard of the death of his noble knights, and in especial of Sir Gaheris\nand Sir Gareth\u2019s death, then the king swooned for pure sorrow. And when\nhe awoke of his swoon, then he said: Alas, that ever I bare crown upon\nmy head! for now have I lost the fairest fellowship of noble knights\nthat ever held Christian king together. Alas, my good knights be slain\naway from me: now within these two days I have lost forty knights, and\nalso the noble fellowship of Sir Launcelot and his blood, for now I may\nnever hold them together no more with my worship. Alas that ever this\nwar began. Now fair fellows, said the king, I charge you that no man\ntell Sir Gawaine of the death of his two brethren; for I am sure, said\nthe king, when Sir Gawaine heareth tell that Sir Gareth is dead he will\ngo nigh out of his mind. Mercy Jesu, said the king, why slew he Sir\nGareth and Sir Gaheris, for I dare say as for Sir Gareth he loved Sir\nLauncelot above all men earthly. That is truth, said some knights, but\nthey were slain in the hurtling as Sir Launcelot thrang in the thick of\nthe press; and as they were unarmed he smote them and wist not whom\nthat he smote, and so unhappily they were slain. The death of them,\nsaid Arthur, will cause the greatest mortal war that ever was; I am\nsure, wist Sir Gawaine that Sir Gareth were slain, I should never have\nrest of him till I had destroyed Sir Launcelot\u2019s kin and himself both,\nouther else he to destroy me. And therefore, said the king, wit you\nwell my heart was never so heavy as it is now, and much more I am\nsorrier for my good knights\u2019 loss than for the loss of my fair queen;\nfor queens I might have enow, but such a fellowship of good knights\nshall never be together in no company. And now I dare say, said King\nArthur, there was never Christian king held such a fellowship together;\nand alas that ever Sir Launcelot and I should be at debate. Ah\nAgravaine, Agravaine, said the king, Jesu forgive it thy soul, for\nthine evil will, that thou and thy brother Sir Mordred hadst unto Sir\nLauncelot, hath caused all this sorrow: and ever among these complaints\nthe king wept and swooned.\n\nThen there came one unto Sir Gawaine, and told him how the queen was\nled away with Sir Launcelot, and nigh a twenty-four knights slain. O\nJesu defend my brethren, said Sir Gawaine, for full well wist I that\nSir Launcelot would rescue her, outher else he would die in that field;\nand to say the truth he had not been a man of worship had he not\nrescued the queen that day, insomuch she should have been brent for his\nsake. And as in that, said Sir Gawaine, he hath done but knightly, and\nas I would have done myself an I had stood in like case. But where are\nmy brethren? said Sir Gawaine, I marvel I hear not of them. Truly, said\nthat man, Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris be slain. Jesu defend, said Sir\nGawaine, for all the world I would not that they were slain, and in\nespecial my good brother, Sir Gareth. Sir, said the man, he is slain,\nand that is great pity. Who slew him? said Sir Gawaine. Sir, said the\nman, Launcelot slew them both. That may I not believe, said Sir\nGawaine, that ever he slew my brother, Sir Gareth; for I dare say my\nbrother Gareth loved him better than me, and all his brethren, and the\nking both. Also I dare say, an Sir Launcelot had desired my brother Sir\nGareth, with him he would have been with him against the king and us\nall, and therefore I may never believe that Sir Launcelot slew my\nbrother. Sir, said this man, it is noised that he slew him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. How King Arthur at the request of Sir Gawaine concluded to\nmake war against Sir Launcelot, and laid siege to his castle called\nJoyous Gard.\n\n\nAlas, said Sir Gawaine, now is my joy gone. And then he fell down and\nswooned, and long he lay there as he had been dead. And then, when he\narose of his swoon, he cried out sorrowfully, and said: Alas! And right\nso Sir Gawaine ran to the king, crying and weeping: O King Arthur, mine\nuncle, my good brother Sir Gareth is slain, and so is my brother Sir\nGaheris, the which were two noble knights. Then the king wept, and he\nboth; and so they fell a-swooning. And when they were revived then\nspake Sir Gawaine: Sir, I will go see my brother, Sir Gareth. Ye may\nnot see him, said the king, for I caused him to be interred, and Sir\nGaheris both; for I well understood that ye would make over-much\nsorrow, and the sight of Sir Gareth should have caused your double\nsorrow. Alas, my lord, said Sir Gawaine, how slew he my brother, Sir\nGareth? Mine own good lord I pray you tell me. Truly, said the king, I\nshall tell you how it is told me, Sir Launcelot slew him and Sir\nGaheris both. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, they bare none arms against him,\nneither of them both. I wot not how it was, said the king, but as it is\nsaid, Sir Launcelot slew them both in the thickest of the press and\nknew them not; and therefore let us shape a remedy for to revenge their\ndeaths.\n\nMy king, my lord, and mine uncle, said Sir Gawaine, wit you well now I\nshall make you a promise that I shall hold by my knighthood, that from\nthis day I shall never fail Sir Launcelot until the one of us have\nslain the other. And therefore I require you, my lord and king, dress\nyou to the war, for wit you well I will be revenged upon Sir Launcelot;\nand therefore, as ye will have my service and my love, now haste you\nthereto, and assay your friends. For I promise unto God, said Sir\nGawaine, for the death of my brother, Sir Gareth, I shall seek Sir\nLauncelot throughout seven kings\u2019 realms, but I shall slay him or else\nhe shall slay me. Ye shall not need to seek him so far, said the king,\nfor as I hear say, Sir Launcelot will abide me and you in the Joyous\nGard; and much people draweth unto him, as I hear say. That may I\nbelieve, said Sir Gawaine; but my lord, he said, assay your friends,\nand I will assay mine. It shall be done, said the king, and as I\nsuppose I shall be big enough to draw him out of the biggest tower of\nhis castle.\n\nSo then the king sent letters and writs throughout all England, both in\nthe length and the breadth, for to assummon all his knights. And so\nunto Arthur drew many knights, dukes, and earls, so that he had a great\nhost. And when they were assembled, the king informed them how Sir\nLauncelot had bereft him his queen. Then the king and all his host made\nthem ready to lay siege about Sir Launcelot, where he lay within Joyous\nGard. Thereof heard Sir Launcelot, and purveyed him of many good\nknights, for with him held many knights; and some for his own sake, and\nsome for the queen\u2019s sake. Thus they were on both parties well\nfurnished and garnished of all manner of thing that longed to the war.\nBut King Arthur\u2019s host was so big that Sir Launcelot would not abide\nhim in the field, for he was full loath to do battle against the king;\nbut Sir Launcelot drew him to his strong castle with all manner of\nvictual, and as many noble men as he might suffice within the town and\nthe castle. Then came King Arthur with Sir Gawaine with an huge host,\nand laid a siege all about Joyous Gard, both at the town and at the\ncastle, and there they made strong war on both parties. But in no wise\nSir Launcelot would ride out, nor go out of his castle, of long time;\nneither he would none of his good knights to issue out, neither none of\nthe town nor of the castle, until fifteen weeks were past.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI. Of the communication between King Arthur and Sir Launcelot,\nand how King Arthur reproved him.\n\n\nThen it befell upon a day in harvest time, Sir Launcelot looked over\nthe walls, and spake on high unto King Arthur and Sir Gawaine: My lords\nboth, wit ye well all is in vain that ye make at this siege, for here\nwin ye no worship but maugre and dishonour; for an it list me to come\nmyself out and my good knights, I should full soon make an end of this\nwar. Come forth, said Arthur unto Launcelot, an thou durst, and I\npromise thee I shall meet thee in midst of the field. God defend me,\nsaid Sir Launcelot, that ever I should encounter with the most noble\nking that made me knight. Fie upon thy fair language, said the king,\nfor wit you well and trust it, I am thy mortal foe, and ever will to my\ndeath day; for thou hast slain my good knights, and full noble men of\nmy blood, that I shall never recover again. Also thou hast lain by my\nqueen, and holden her many winters, and sithen like a traitor taken her\nfrom me by force.\n\nMy most noble lord and king, said Sir Launcelot, ye may say what ye\nwill, for ye wot well with yourself will I not strive; but thereas ye\nsay I have slain your good knights, I wot well that I have done so, and\nthat me sore repenteth; but I was enforced to do battle with them in\nsaving of my life, or else I must have suffered them to have slain me.\nAnd as for my lady, Queen Guenever, except your person of your\nhighness, and my lord Sir Gawaine, there is no knight under heaven that\ndare make it good upon me, that ever I was a traitor unto your person.\nAnd where it please you to say that I have holden my lady your queen\nyears and winters, unto that I shall ever make a large answer, and\nprove it upon any knight that beareth the life, except your person and\nSir Gawaine, that my lady, Queen Guenever, is a true lady unto your\nperson as any is living unto her lord, and that will I make good with\nmy hands. Howbeit it hath liked her good grace to have me in chierte,\nand to cherish me more than any other knight; and unto my power I again\nhave deserved her love, for ofttimes, my lord, ye have consented that\nshe should be brent and destroyed, in your heat, and then it fortuned\nme to do battle for her, and or I departed from her adversary they\nconfessed their untruth, and she full worshipfully excused. And at such\ntimes, my lord Arthur, said Sir Launcelot, ye loved me, and thanked me\nwhen I saved your queen from the fire; and then ye promised me for ever\nto be my good lord; and now methinketh ye reward me full ill for my\ngood service. And my good lord, meseemeth I had lost a great part of my\nworship in my knighthood an I had suffered my lady, your queen, to have\nbeen brent, and insomuch she should have been brent for my sake. For\nsithen I have done battles for your queen in other quarrels than in\nmine own, meseemeth now I had more right to do battle for her in right\nquarrel. And therefore my good and gracious lord, said Sir Launcelot,\ntake your queen unto your good grace, for she is both fair, true, and\ngood.\n\nFie on thee, false recreant knight, said Sir Gawaine; I let thee wit my\nlord, mine uncle, King Arthur, shall have his queen and thee, maugre\nthy visage, and slay you both whether it please him. It may well be,\nsaid Sir Launcelot, but wit you well, my lord Sir Gawaine, an me list\nto come out of this castle ye should win me and the queen more harder\nthan ever ye won a strong battle. Fie on thy proud words, said Sir\nGawaine; as for my lady, the queen, I will never say of her shame. But\nthou, false and recreant knight, said Sir Gawaine, what cause hadst\nthou to slay my good brother Sir Gareth, that loved thee more than all\nmy kin? Alas thou madest him knight thine own hands; why slew thou him\nthat loved thee so well? For to excuse me, said Sir Launcelot, it\nhelpeth me not, but by Jesu, and by the faith that I owe to the high\norder of knighthood, I should with as good will have slain my nephew,\nSir Bors de Ganis, at that time. But alas that ever I was so unhappy,\nsaid Launcelot, that I had not seen Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris.\n\nThou liest, recreant knight, said Sir Gawaine, thou slewest him in\ndespite of me; and therefore, wit thou well I shall make war to thee,\nand all the while that I may live. That me repenteth, said Sir\nLauncelot; for well I understand it helpeth not to seek none accordment\nwhile ye, Sir Gawaine, are so mischievously set. And if ye were not, I\nwould not doubt to have the good grace of my lord Arthur. I believe it\nwell, false recreant knight, said Sir Gawaine; for thou hast many long\ndays overled me and us all, and destroyed many of our good knights. Ye\nsay as it pleaseth you, said Sir Launcelot; and yet may it never be\nsaid on me, and openly proved, that ever I by forecast of treason slew\nno good knight, as my lord, Sir Gawaine, ye have done; and so did I\nnever, but in my defence that I was driven thereto, in saving of my\nlife. Ah, false knight, said Sir Gawaine, that thou meanest by Sir\nLamorak: wit thou well I slew him. Ye slew him not yourself, said Sir\nLauncelot; it had been overmuch on hand for you to have slain him, for\nhe was one of the best knights christened of his age, and it was great\npity of his death.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. How the cousins and kinsmen of Sir Launcelot excited him\nto go out to battle, and how they made them ready.\n\n\nWell, well, said Sir Gawaine to Launcelot, sithen thou enbraidest me of\nSir Lamorak, wit thou well I shall never leave thee till I have thee at\nsuch avail that thou shalt not escape my hands. I trust you well\nenough, said Sir Launcelot, an ye may get me I get but little mercy.\nBut as the French book saith, the noble King Arthur would have taken\nhis queen again, and have been accorded with Sir Launcelot, but Sir\nGawaine would not suffer him by no manner of mean. And then Sir Gawaine\nmade many men to blow upon Sir Launcelot; and all at once they called\nhim false recreant knight.\n\nThen when Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir Lionel, heard\nthis outcry, they called to them Sir Palomides, Sir Safere\u2019s brother,\nand Sir Lavaine, with many more of their blood, and all they went unto\nSir Launcelot, and said thus: My lord Sir Launcelot, wit ye well we\nhave great scorn of the great rebukes that we heard Gawaine say to you;\nwherefore we pray you, and charge you as ye will have our service, keep\nus no longer within these walls; for wit you well plainly, we will ride\ninto the field and do battle with them; for ye fare as a man that were\nafeard, and for all your fair speech it will not avail you. For wit you\nwell Sir Gawaine will not suffer you to be accorded with King Arthur,\nand therefore fight for your life and your right, an ye dare. Alas,\nsaid Sir Launcelot, for to ride out of this castle, and to do battle, I\nam full loath.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot spake on high unto Sir Arthur and Sir Gawaine: My\nlords, I require you and beseech you, sithen that I am thus required\nand conjured to ride into the field, that neither you, my lord King\nArthur, nor you Sir Gawaine, come not into the field. What shall we do\nthen? said Sir Gawaine, [N]is this the king\u2019s quarrel with thee to\nfight? and it is my quarrel to fight with thee, Sir Launcelot, because\nof the death of my brother Sir Gareth. Then must I needs unto battle,\nsaid Sir Launcelot. Now wit you well, my lord Arthur and Sir Gawaine,\nye will repent it whensomever I do battle with you.\n\nAnd so then they departed either from other; and then either party made\nthem ready on the morn for to do battle, and great purveyance was made\non both sides; and Sir Gawaine let purvey many knights for to wait upon\nSir Launcelot, for to overset him and to slay him. And on the morn at\nunderne Sir Arthur was ready in the field with three great hosts. And\nthen Sir Launcelot\u2019s fellowship came out at three gates, in a full good\narray; and Sir Lionel came in the foremost battle, and Sir Launcelot\ncame in the middle, and Sir Bors came out at the third gate. Thus they\ncame in order and rule, as full noble knights; and always Sir Launcelot\ncharged all his knights in any wise to save King Arthur and Sir\nGawaine.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. How Sir Gawaine jousted and smote down Sir Lionel, and\nhow Sir Launcelot horsed King Arthur.\n\n\nThen came forth Sir Gawaine from the king\u2019s host, and he came before\nand proffered to joust. And Sir Lionel was a fierce knight, and lightly\nhe encountered with Sir Gawaine; and there Sir Gawaine smote Sir Lionel\nthrough out the body, that he dashed to the earth like as he had been\ndead; and then Sir Ector de Maris and other more bare him into the\ncastle. Then there began a great stour, and much people was slain; and\never Sir Launcelot did what he might to save the people on King\nArthur\u2019s party, for Sir Palomides, and Sir Bors, and Sir Safere,\noverthrew many knights, for they were deadly knights. And Sir Blamore\nde Ganis, and Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, with Sir Bellangere le Beuse,\nthese six knights did much harm; and ever King Arthur was nigh about\nSir Launcelot to have slain him, and Sir Launcelot suffered him, and\nwould not strike again. So Sir Bors encountered with King Arthur, and\nthere with a spear Sir Bors smote him down; and so he alighted and drew\nhis sword, and said to Sir Launcelot: Shall I make an end of this war?\nand that he meant to have slain King Arthur. Not so hardy, said Sir\nLauncelot, upon pain of thy head, that thou touch him no more, for I\nwill never see that most noble king that made me knight neither slain\nne shamed. And therewithal Sir Launcelot alighted off his horse and\ntook up the king and horsed him again, and said thus: My lord Arthur,\nfor God\u2019s love stint this strife, for ye get here no worship, and I\nwould do mine utterance, but always I forbear you, and ye nor none of\nyours forbeareth me; my lord, remember what I have done in many places,\nand now I am evil rewarded.\n\nThen when King Arthur was on horseback, he looked upon Sir Launcelot,\nand then the tears brast out of his eyen, thinking on the great\ncourtesy that was in Sir Launcelot more than in any other man; and\ntherewith the king rode his way, and might no longer behold him, and\nsaid: Alas, that ever this war began. And then either parties of the\nbattles withdrew them to repose them, and buried the dead, and to the\nwounded men they laid soft salves; and thus they endured that night\ntill on the morn. And on the morn by underne they made them ready to do\nbattle. And then Sir Bors led the forward.\n\nSo upon the morn there came Sir Gawaine as brim as any boar, with a\ngreat spear in his hand. And when Sir Bors saw him he thought to\nrevenge his brother Sir Lionel of the despite that Sir Gawaine did him\nthe other day. And so they that knew either other feutred their spears,\nand with all their mights of their horses and themselves, they met\ntogether so felonously that either bare other through, and so they fell\nboth to the earth; and then the battles joined, and there was much\nslaughter on both parties. Then Sir Launcelot rescued Sir Bors, and\nsent him into the castle; but neither Sir Gawaine nor Sir Bors died not\nof their wounds, for they were all holpen. Then Sir Lavaine and Sir\nUrre prayed Sir Launcelot to do his pain, and fight as they had done;\nFor we see ye forbear and spare, and that doth much harm; therefore we\npray you spare not your enemies no more than they do you. Alas, said\nSir Launcelot, I have no heart to fight against my lord Arthur, for\never meseemeth I do not as I ought to do. My lord, said Sir Palomides,\nthough ye spare them all this day they will never con you thank; and if\nthey may get you at avail ye are but dead. So then Sir Launcelot\nunderstood that they said him truth; and then he strained himself more\nthan he did aforehand, and because his nephew Sir Bors was sore\nwounded. And then within a little while, by evensong time, Sir\nLauncelot and his party better stood, for their horses went in blood\npast the fetlocks, there was so much people slain. And then for pity\nSir Launcelot withheld his knights, and suffered King Arthur\u2019s party\nfor to withdraw them aside. And then Sir Launcelot\u2019s party withdrew\nthem into his castle, and either parties buried the dead, and put salve\nunto the wounded men.\n\nSo when Sir Gawaine was hurt, they on King Arthur\u2019s party were not so\norgulous as they were toforehand to do battle. Of this war was noised\nthrough all Christendom, and at the last it was noised afore the Pope;\nand he considering the great goodness of King Arthur, and of Sir\nLauncelot, that was called the most noblest knights of the world,\nwherefore the Pope called unto him a noble clerk that at that time was\nthere present; the French book saith, it was the Bishop of Rochester;\nand the Pope gave him bulls under lead unto King Arthur of England,\ncharging him upon pain of interdicting of all England, that he take his\nqueen Dame Guenever unto him again, and accord with Sir Launcelot.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV. How the Pope sent down his bulls to make peace, and how\nSir Launcelot brought the queen to King Arthur.\n\n\nSo when this Bishop was come to Carlisle he shewed the king these\nbulls. And when the king understood these bulls he nist what to do:\nfull fain he would have been accorded with Sir Launcelot, but Sir\nGawaine would not suffer him; but as for to have the queen, thereto he\nagreed. But in nowise Sir Gawaine would not suffer the king to accord\nwith Sir Launcelot; but as for the queen he consented. And then the\nBishop had of the king his great seal, and his assurance as he was a\ntrue anointed king that Sir Launcelot should come safe, and go safe,\nand that the queen should not be spoken unto of the king, nor of none\nother, for no thing done afore time past; and of all these appointments\nthe Bishop brought with him sure assurance and writing, to shew Sir\nLauncelot.\n\nSo when the Bishop was come to Joyous Gard, there he shewed Sir\nLauncelot how the Pope had written to Arthur and unto him, and there he\ntold him the perils if he withheld the queen from the king. It was\nnever in my thought, said Launcelot, to withhold the queen from my lord\nArthur; but, insomuch she should have been dead for my sake, meseemeth\nit was my part to save her life, and put her from that danger, till\nbetter recover might come. And now I thank God, said Sir Launcelot,\nthat the Pope hath made her peace; for God knoweth, said Sir Launcelot,\nI will be a thousandfold more gladder to bring her again, than ever I\nwas of her taking away; with this, I may be sure to come safe and go\nsafe, and that the queen shall have her liberty as she had before; and\nnever for no thing that hath been surmised afore this time, she never\nfrom this day stand in no peril. For else, said Sir Launcelot, I dare\nadventure me to keep her from an harder shour than ever I kept her. It\nshall not need you, said the Bishop, to dread so much; for wit you\nwell, the Pope must be obeyed, and it were not the Pope\u2019s worship nor\nmy poor honesty to wit you distressed, neither the queen, neither in\nperil, nor shamed. And then he shewed Sir Launcelot all his writing,\nboth from the Pope and from King Arthur. This is sure enough, said Sir\nLauncelot, for full well I dare trust my lord\u2019s own writing and his\nseal, for he was never shamed of his promise. Therefore, said Sir\nLauncelot unto the Bishop, ye shall ride unto the king afore, and\nrecommend me unto his good grace, and let him have knowledging that\nthis same day eight days, by the grace of God, I myself shall bring my\nlady, Queen Guenever, unto him. And then say ye unto my most redoubted\nking, that I will say largely for the queen, that I shall none except\nfor dread nor fear, but the king himself, and my lord Sir Gawaine; and\nthat is more for the king\u2019s love than for himself.\n\nSo the Bishop departed and came to the king at Carlisle, and told him\nall how Sir Launcelot answered him; and then the tears brast out of the\nking\u2019s eyen. Then Sir Launcelot purveyed him an hundred knights, and\nall were clothed in green velvet, and their horses trapped to their\nheels; and every knight held a branch of olive in his hand, in tokening\nof peace. And the queen had four-and-twenty gentlewomen following her\nin the same wise; and Sir Launcelot had twelve coursers following him,\nand on every courser sat a young gentleman, and all they were arrayed\nin green velvet, with sarps of gold about their quarters, and the horse\ntrapped in the same wise down to the heels, with many ouches, y-set\nwith stones and pearls in gold, to the number of a thousand. And she\nand Sir Launcelot were clothed in white cloth of gold tissue; and right\nso as ye have heard, as the French book maketh mention, he rode with\nthe queen from Joyous Gard to Carlisle. And so Sir Launcelot rode\nthroughout Carlisle, and so in the castle, that all men might behold;\nand wit you well there was many a weeping eye. And then Sir Launcelot\nhimself alighted and avoided his horse, and took the queen, and so led\nher where King Arthur was in his seat: and Sir Gawaine sat afore him,\nand many other great lords. So when Sir Launcelot saw the king and Sir\nGawaine, then he led the queen by the arm, and then he kneeled down,\nand the queen both. Wit you well then was there many bold knight there\nwith King Arthur that wept as tenderly as though they had seen all\ntheir kin afore them. So the king sat still, and said no word. And when\nSir Launcelot saw his countenance, he arose and pulled up the queen\nwith him, and thus he spake full knightly.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV. Of the deliverance of the queen to the king by Sir\nLauncelot, and what language Sir Gawaine had to Sir Launcelot.\n\n\nMy most redoubted king, ye shall understand, by the Pope\u2019s commandment\nand yours, I have brought to you my lady the queen, as right requireth;\nand if there be any knight, of whatsomever degree that he be, except\nyour person, that will say or dare say but that she is true and clean\nto you, I here myself, Sir Launcelot du Lake, will make it good upon\nhis body, that she is a true lady unto you; but liars ye have listened,\nand that hath caused debate betwixt you and me. For time hath been, my\nlord Arthur, that ye have been greatly pleased with me when I did\nbattle for my lady, your queen; and full well ye know, my most noble\nking, that she hath been put to great wrong or this time; and sithen it\npleased you at many times that I should fight for her, meseemeth, my\ngood lord, I had more cause to rescue her from the fire, insomuch she\nshould have been brent for my sake. For they that told you those tales\nwere liars, and so it fell upon them; for by likelihood had not the\nmight of God been with me, I might never have endured fourteen knights,\nand they armed and afore purposed, and I unarmed and not purposed. For\nI was sent for unto my lady your queen, I wot not for what cause; but I\nwas not so soon within the chamber door, but anon Sir Agravaine and Sir\nMordred called me traitor and recreant knight. They called thee right,\nsaid Sir Gawaine. My lord Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, in their\nquarrel they proved themselves not in the right. Well well, Sir\nLauncelot, said the king, I have given thee no cause to do to me as\nthou hast done, for I have worshipped thee and thine more than any of\nall my knights.\n\nMy good lord, said Sir Launcelot, so ye be not displeased, ye shall\nunderstand I and mine have done you oft better service than any other\nknights have done, in many divers places; and where ye have been full\nhard bestead divers times, I have myself rescued you from many dangers;\nand ever unto my power I was glad to please you, and my lord Sir\nGawaine; both in jousts, and tournaments, and in battles set, both on\nhorseback and on foot, I have often rescued you, and my lord Sir\nGawaine, and many mo of your knights in many divers places. For now I\nwill make avaunt, said Sir Launcelot, I will that ye all wit that yet I\nfound never no manner of knight but that I was overhard for him, an I\nhad done my utterance, thanked be God; howbeit I have been matched with\ngood knights, as Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak, but ever I had a favour\nunto them and a deeming what they were. And I take God to record, said\nSir Launcelot, I never was wroth nor greatly heavy with no good knight\nan I saw him busy about to win worship; and glad I was ever when I\nfound any knight that might endure me on horseback and on foot: howbeit\nSir Carados of the Dolorous Tower was a full noble knight and a passing\nstrong man, and that wot ye, my lord Sir Gawaine; for he might well be\ncalled a noble knight when he by fine force pulled you out of your\nsaddle, and bound you overthwart afore him to his saddle bow; and\nthere, my lord Sir Gawaine, I rescued you, and slew him afore your\nsight. Also I found his brother, Sir Turquin, in likewise leading Sir\nGaheris, your brother, bounden afore him; and there I rescued your\nbrother and slew that Turquin, and delivered three-score-and-four of my\nlord Arthur\u2019s knights out of his prison. And now I dare say, said Sir\nLauncelot, I met never with so strong knights, nor so well fighting, as\nwas Sir Carados and Sir Turquin, for I fought with them to the\nuttermost. And therefore, said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Gawaine,\nmeseemeth ye ought of right to remember this; for, an I might have your\ngood will, I would trust to God to have my lord Arthur\u2019s good grace.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI. Of the communication between Sir Gawaine and Sir\nLauncelot, with much other language.\n\n\nThe king may do as he will, said Sir Gawaine, but wit thou well, Sir\nLauncelot, thou and I shall never be accorded while we live, for thou\nhast slain three of my brethren; and two of them ye slew traitorly and\npiteously, for they bare none harness against thee, nor none would\nbear. God would they had been armed, said Sir Launcelot, for then had\nthey been alive. And wit ye well Sir Gawaine, as for Sir Gareth, I love\nnone of my kinsmen so much as I did him; and ever while I live, said\nSir Launcelot, I will bewail Sir Gareth\u2019s death, not all only for the\ngreat fear I have of you, but many causes cause me to be sorrowful. One\nis, for I made him knight; another is, I wot well he loved me above all\nother knights; and the third is, he was passing noble, true, courteous,\nand gentle, and well conditioned; the fourth is, I wist well, anon as I\nheard that Sir Gareth was dead, I should never after have your love,\nbut everlasting war betwixt us; and also I wist well that ye would\ncause my noble lord Arthur for ever to be my mortal foe. And as Jesu be\nmy help, said Sir Launcelot, I slew never Sir Gareth nor Sir Gaheris by\nmy will; but alas that ever they were unarmed that unhappy day. But\nthus much I shall offer me, said Sir Launcelot, if it may please the\nking\u2019s good grace, and you, my lord Sir Gawaine, I shall first begin at\nSandwich, and there I shall go in my shirt, barefoot; and at every ten\nmiles\u2019 end I will found and gar make an house of religion, of what\norder that ye will assign me, with an whole convent, to sing and read,\nday and night, in especial for Sir Gareth\u2019s sake and Sir Gaheris. And\nthis shall I perform from Sandwich unto Carlisle; and every house shall\nhave sufficient livelihood. And this shall I perform while I have any\nlivelihood in Christendom; and there nis none of all these religious\nplaces, but they shall be performed, furnished and garnished in all\nthings as an holy place ought to be, I promise you faithfully. And\nthis, Sir Gawaine, methinketh were more fairer, holier, and more better\nto their souls, than ye, my most noble king, and you, Sir Gawaine, to\nwar upon me, for thereby shall ye get none avail.\n\nThen all knights and ladies that were there wept as they were mad, and\nthe tears fell on King Arthur\u2019s cheeks. Sir Launcelot, said Sir\nGawaine, I have right well heard thy speech, and thy great proffers,\nbut wit thou well, let the king do as it pleased him, I will never\nforgive my brothers\u2019 death, and in especial the death of my brother,\nSir Gareth. And if mine uncle, King Arthur, will accord with thee, he\nshall lose my service, for wit thou well thou art both false to the\nking and to me. Sir, said Launcelot, he beareth not the life that may\nmake that good; and if ye, Sir Gawaine, will charge me with so high a\nthing, ye must pardon me, for then needs must I answer you. Nay, said\nSir Gawaine, we are past that at this time, and that caused the Pope,\nfor he hath charged mine uncle, the king, that he shall take his queen\nagain, and to accord with thee, Sir Launcelot, as for this season, and\ntherefore thou shalt go safe as thou camest. But in this land thou\nshalt not abide past fifteen days, such summons I give thee: so the\nking and we were consented and accorded or thou camest. And else, said\nSir Gawaine, wit thou well thou shouldst not have come here, but if it\nwere maugre thy head. And if it were not for the Pope\u2019s commandment,\nsaid Sir Gawaine, I should do battle with mine own body against thy\nbody, and prove it upon thee, that thou hast been both false unto mine\nuncle King Arthur, and to me both; and that shall I prove upon thy\nbody, when thou art departed from hence, wheresomever I find thee.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII. How Sir Launcelot departed from the king and from Joyous\nGard over seaward, and what knights went with him.\n\n\nThen Sir Launcelot sighed, and therewith the tears fell on his cheeks,\nand then he said thus: Alas, most noble Christian realm, whom I have\nloved above all other realms, and in thee I have gotten a great part of\nmy worship, and now I shall depart in this wise. Truly me repenteth\nthat ever I came in this realm, that should be thus shamefully\nbanished, undeserved and causeless; but fortune is so variant, and the\nwheel so moveable, there nis none constant abiding, and that may be\nproved by many old chronicles, of noble Ector, and Troilus, and\nAlisander, the mighty conqueror, and many mo other; when they were most\nin their royalty, they alighted lowest. And so fareth it by me, said\nSir Launcelot, for in this realm I had worship, and by me and mine all\nthe whole Round Table hath been increased more in worship, by me and\nmine blood, than by any other. And therefore wit thou well, Sir\nGawaine, I may live upon my lands as well as any knight that here is.\nAnd if ye, most redoubted king, will come upon my lands with Sir\nGawaine to war upon me, I must endure you as well as I may. But as to\nyou, Sir Gawaine, if that ye come there, I pray you charge me not with\ntreason nor felony, for an ye do, I must answer you. Do thou thy best,\nsaid Sir Gawaine; therefore hie thee fast that thou were gone, and wit\nthou well we shall soon come after, and break the strongest castle that\nthou hast, upon thy head. That shall not need, said Sir Launcelot, for\nan I were as orgulous set as ye are, wit you well I should meet you in\nmidst of the field. Make thou no more language, said Sir Gawaine, but\ndeliver the queen from thee, and pike thee lightly out of this court.\nWell, said Sir Launcelot, an I had wist of this short coming, I would\nhave advised me twice or that I had come hither; for an the queen had\nbeen so dear to me as ye noise her, I durst have kept her from the\nfellowship of the best knights under heaven.\n\nAnd then Sir Launcelot said unto Guenever, in hearing of the king and\nthem all: Madam, now I must depart from you and this noble fellowship\nfor ever; and sithen it is so, I beseech you to pray for me, and say me\nwell; and if ye be hard bestead by any false tongues, lightly my lady\nsend me word, and if any knight\u2019s hands may deliver you by battle, I\nshall deliver you. And therewithal Sir Launcelot kissed the queen; and\nthen he said all openly. Now let see what he be in this place that dare\nsay the queen is not true unto my lord Arthur, let see who will speak\nan he dare speak. And therewith he brought the queen to the king, and\nthen Sir Launcelot took his leave and departed; and there was neither\nking, duke, nor earl, baron nor knight, lady nor gentlewoman, but all\nthey wept as people out of their mind, except Sir Gawaine. And when the\nnoble Sir Launcelot took his horse to ride out of Carlisle, there was\nsobbing and weeping for pure dole of his departing; and so he took his\nway unto Joyous Gard. And then ever after he called it the Dolorous\nGard. And thus departed Sir Launcelot from the court for ever.\n\nAnd so when he came to Joyous Gard he called his fellowship unto him,\nand asked them what they would do. Then they answered all wholly\ntogether with one voice they would as he would do. My fair fellows,\nsaid Sir Launcelot, I must depart out of this most noble realm, and now\nI shall depart it grieveth me sore, for I shall depart with no worship,\nfor a flemed man departed never out of a realm with no worship; and\nthat is my heaviness, for ever I fear after my days that men shall\nchronicle upon me that I was flemed out of this land; and else, my fair\nlords, be ye sure, an I had not dread shame, my lady, Queen Guenever,\nand I should never have departed.\n\nThen spake many noble knights, as Sir Palomides, Sir Safere his\nbrother, and Sir Bellingere le Beuse, and Sir Urre, with Sir Lavaine,\nwith many others: Sir, an ye be so disposed to abide in this land we\nwill never fail you; and if ye list not to abide in this land there nis\nnone of the good knights that here be will fail you, for many causes.\nOne is, all we that be not of your blood shall never be welcome to the\ncourt. And sithen it liked us to take a part with you in your distress\nand heaviness in this realm, wit you well it shall like us as well to\ngo in other countries with you, and there to take such part as ye do.\nMy fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, I well understand you, and as I can,\nthank you: and ye shall understand, such livelihood as I am born unto I\nshall depart with you in this manner of wise; that is for to say, I\nshall depart all my livelihood and all my lands freely among you, and I\nmyself will have as little as any of you, for have I sufficient that\nmay long to my person, I will ask none other rich array; and I trust to\nGod to maintain you on my lands as well as ever were maintained any\nknights. Then spake all the knights at once: He have shame that will\nleave you; for we all understand in this realm will be now no quiet,\nbut ever strife and debate, now the fellowship of the Round Table is\nbroken; for by the noble fellowship of the Round Table was King Arthur\nupborne, and by their noblesse the king and all his realm was in quiet\nand rest, and a great part they said all was because of your noblesse.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Launcelot passed over the sea, and how he made\ngreat lords of the knights that went with him.\n\n\nTruly, said Sir Launcelot, I thank you all of your good saying,\nhowbeit, I wot well, in me was not all the stability of this realm, but\nin that I might I did my devoir; and well I am sure I knew many\nrebellions in my days that by me were peaced, and I trow we all shall\nhear of them in short space, and that me sore repenteth. For ever I\ndread me, said Sir Launcelot, that Sir Mordred will make trouble, for\nhe is passing envious and applieth him to trouble. So they were\naccorded to go with Sir Launcelot to his lands; and to make short tale,\nthey trussed, and paid all that would ask them; and wholly an hundred\nknights departed with Sir Launcelot at once, and made their avows they\nwould never leave him for weal nor for woe.\n\nAnd so they shipped at Cardiff, and sailed unto Benwick: some men call\nit Bayonne, and some men call it Beaune, where the wine of Beaune is.\nBut to say the sooth, Sir Launcelot and his nephews were lords of all\nFrance, and of all the lands that longed unto France; he and his\nkindred rejoiced it all through Sir Launcelot\u2019s noble prowess. And then\nSir Launcelot stuffed and furnished and garnished all his noble towns\nand castles. Then all the people of those lands came to Sir Launcelot\non foot and hands. And so when he had stablished all these countries,\nhe shortly called a parliament; and there he crowned Sir Lionel, King\nof France; and Sir Bors [he] crowned him king of all King Claudas\u2019\nlands; and Sir Ector de Maris, that was Sir Launcelot\u2019s youngest\nbrother, he crowned him King of Benwick, and king of all Guienne, that\nwas Sir Launcelot\u2019s own land. And he made Sir Ector prince of them all,\nand thus he departed.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot advanced all his noble knights, and first he\nadvanced them of his blood; that was Sir Blamore, he made him Duke of\nLimosin in Guienne and Sir Bleoberis he made him Duke of Poictiers, and\nSir Gahalantine he made him Duke of Querne, and Sir Galihodin he made\nhim Duke of Sentonge, and Sir Galihud he made him Earl of Perigot, and\nSir Menadeuke he made him Earl of Roerge, and Sir Villiars the Valiant\nhe made him Earl of Bearn, and Sir Hebes le Renoumes he made him Earl\nof Comange, and Sir Lavaine he made him Earl of Arminak, and Sir Urre\nhe made him Earl of Estrake, and Sir Neroneus he made him Earl of\nPardiak, and Sir Plenorius he made Earl of Foise, and Sir Selises of\nthe Dolorous Tower he made him Earl of Masauke, and Sir Melias de Lile\nhe made him Earl of Tursauk, and Sir Bellangere le Beuse he made Earl\nof the Launds, and Sir Palomides he made him Duke of the Provence, and\nSir Safere he made him Duke of Landok, and Sir Clegis he gave him the\nEarldom of Agente, and Sir Sadok he gave the Earldom of Surlat, and Sir\nDinas le Seneschal he made him Duke of Anjou, and Sir Clarrus he made\nhim Duke of Normandy. Thus Sir Launcelot rewarded his noble knights and\nmany more, that meseemeth it were too long to rehearse.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX. How King Arthur and Sir Gawaine made a great host ready to\ngo over sea to make war on Sir Launcelot.\n\n\nSo leave we Sir Launcelot in his lands, and his noble knights with him,\nand return we again unto King Arthur and to Sir Gawaine, that made a\ngreat host ready, to the number of threescore thousand; and all thing\nwas made ready for their shipping to pass over the sea, and so they\nshipped at Cardiff. And there King Arthur made Sir Mordred chief ruler\nof all England, and also he put Queen Guenever under his governance;\nbecause Sir Mordred was King Arthur\u2019s son, he gave him the rule of his\nland and of his wife; and so the king passed the sea and landed upon\nSir Launcelot\u2019s lands, and there he brent and wasted, through the\nvengeance of Sir Gawaine, all that they might overrun.\n\nWhen this word came to Sir Launcelot, that King Arthur and Sir Gawaine\nwere landed upon his lands, and made a full great destruction and\nwaste, then spake Sir Bors, and said: My lord Sir Launcelot, it is\nshame that we suffer them thus to ride over our lands, for wit you\nwell, suffer ye them as long as ye will, they will do you no favour an\nthey may handle you. Then said Sir Lionel that was wary and wise: My\nlord Sir Launcelot, I will give this counsel, let us keep our strong\nwalled towns until they have hunger and cold, and blow on their nails;\nand then let us freshly set upon them, and shred them down as sheep in\na field, that aliens may take example for ever how they land upon our\nlands.\n\nThen spake King Bagdemagus to Sir Launcelot: Sir, your courtesy will\nshende us all, and thy courtesy hath waked all this sorrow; for an they\nthus over our lands ride, they shall by process bring us all to nought\nwhilst we thus in holes us hide. Then said Sir Galihud unto Sir\nLauncelot: Sir, here be knights come of kings\u2019 blood, that will not\nlong droop, and they are within these walls; therefore give us leave,\nlike as we be knights, to meet them in the field, and we shall slay\nthem, that they shall curse the time that ever they came into this\ncountry. Then spake seven brethren of North Wales, and they were seven\nnoble knights; a man might seek in seven kings\u2019 lands or he might find\nsuch seven knights. Then they all said at once: Sir Launcelot, for\nChrist\u2019s sake let us out ride with Sir Galihud, for we be never wont to\ncower in castles nor in noble towns.\n\nThen spake Sir Launcelot, that was master and governor of them all: My\nfair lords, wit you well I am full loath to ride out with my knights\nfor shedding of Christian blood; and yet my lands I understand be full\nbare for to sustain any host awhile, for the mighty wars that whilom\nmade King Claudas upon this country, upon my father King Ban, and on\nmine uncle King Bors; howbeit we will as at this time keep our strong\nwalls, and I shall send a messenger unto my lord Arthur, a treaty for\nto take; for better is peace than always war.\n\nSo Sir Launcelot sent forth a damosel and a dwarf with her, requiring\nKing Arthur to leave his warring upon his lands; and so she start upon\na palfrey, and the dwarf ran by her side. And when she came to the\npavilion of King Arthur, there she alighted; and there met her a gentle\nknight, Sir Lucan the Butler, and said: Fair damosel, come ye from Sir\nLauncelot du Lake? Yea sir, she said, therefore I come hither to speak\nwith my lord the king. Alas, said Sir Lucan, my lord Arthur would love\nLauncelot, but Sir Gawaine will not suffer him. And then he said: I\npray to God, damosel, ye may speed well, for all we that be about the\nking would Sir Launcelot did best of any knight living. And so with\nthis Lucan led the damosel unto the king where he sat with Sir Gawaine,\nfor to hear what she would say. So when she had told her tale, the\nwater ran out of the king\u2019s eyen, and all the lords were full glad for\nto advise the king as to be accorded with Sir Launcelot, save all only\nSir Gawaine, and he said: My lord mine uncle, what will ye do? Will ye\nnow turn again, now ye are passed thus far upon this journey? all the\nworld will speak of your villainy. Nay, said Arthur, wit thou well, Sir\nGawaine, I will do as ye will advise me; and yet meseemeth, said\nArthur, his fair proffers were not good to be refused; but sithen I am\ncome so far upon this journey, I will that ye give the damosel her\nanswer, for I may not speak to her for pity, for her proffers be so\nlarge.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX. What message Sir Gawaine sent to Sir Launcelot; and how\nKing Arthur laid siege to Benwick, and other matters.\n\n\nThen Sir Gawaine said to the damosel thus: Damosel, say ye to Sir\nLauncelot that it is waste labour now to sue to mine uncle; for tell\nhim, an he would have made any labour for peace, he should have made it\nor this time, for tell him now it is too late; and say that I, Sir\nGawaine, so send him word, that I promise him by the faith I owe unto\nGod and to knighthood, I shall never leave him till he have slain me or\nI him. So the damosel wept and departed, and there were many weeping\neyen; and so Sir Lucan brought the damosel to her palfrey, and so she\ncame to Sir Launcelot where he was among all his knights. And when Sir\nLauncelot had heard this answer, then the tears ran down by his cheeks.\nAnd then his noble knights strode about him, and said: Sir Launcelot,\nwherefore make ye such cheer, think what ye are, and what men we are,\nand let us noble knights match them in midst of the field. That may be\nlightly done, said Sir Launcelot, but I was never so loath to do\nbattle, and therefore I pray you, fair sirs, as ye love me, be ruled as\nI will have you, for I will always flee that noble king that made me\nknight. And when I may no further, I must needs defend me, and that\nwill be more worship for me and us all than to compare with that noble\nking whom we have all served. Then they held their language, and as\nthat night they took their rest.\n\nAnd upon the morn early, in the dawning of the day, as knights looked\nout, they saw the city of Benwick besieged round about; and fast they\nbegan to set up ladders, and then they defied them out of the town, and\nbeat them from the walls wightly. Then came forth Sir Gawaine well\narmed upon a stiff steed, and he came before the chief gate, with his\nspear in his hand, crying: Sir Launcelot, where art thou? is there none\nof you proud knights dare break a spear with me? Then Sir Bors made him\nready, and came forth out of the town, and there Sir Gawaine\nencountered with Sir Bors. And at that time he smote Sir Bors down from\nhis horse, and almost he had slain him; and so Sir Bors was rescued and\nborne into the town. Then came forth Sir Lionel, brother to Sir Bors,\nand thought to revenge him; and either feutred their spears, and ran\ntogether; and there they met spitefully, but Sir Gawaine had such grace\nthat he smote Sir Lionel down, and wounded him there passing sore; and\nthen Sir Lionel was rescued and borne into the town. And this Sir\nGawaine came every day, and he failed not but that he smote down one\nknight or other.\n\nSo thus they endured half a year, and much slaughter was of people on\nboth parties. Then it befell upon a day, Sir Gawaine came afore the\ngates armed at all pieces on a noble horse, with a great spear in his\nhand; and then he cried with a loud voice: Where art thou now, thou\nfalse traitor, Sir Launcelot? Why hidest thou thyself within holes and\nwalls like a coward? Look out now, thou false traitor knight, and here\nI shall revenge upon thy body the death of my three brethren. All this\nlanguage heard Sir Launcelot every deal; and his kin and his knights\ndrew about him, and all they said at once to Sir Launcelot: Sir\nLauncelot, now must ye defend you like a knight, or else ye be shamed\nfor ever; for, now ye be called upon treason, it is time for you to\nstir, for ye have slept over-long and suffered over-much. So God me\nhelp, said Sir Launcelot, I am right heavy of Sir Gawaine\u2019s words, for\nnow he charged me with a great charge; and therefore I wot it as well\nas ye, that I must defend me, or else to be recreant.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot bade saddle his strongest horse, and bade let fetch\nhis arms, and bring all unto the gate of the tower; and then Sir\nLauncelot spake on high unto King Arthur, and said: My lord Arthur, and\nnoble king that made me knight, wit you well I am right heavy for your\nsake, that ye thus sue upon me; and always I forbare you, for an I\nwould have been vengeable, I might have met you in midst of the field,\nand there to have made your boldest knights full tame. And now I have\nforborne half a year, and suffered you and Sir Gawaine to do what ye\nwould do; and now may I endure it no longer, for now must I needs\ndefend myself, insomuch Sir Gawaine hath appealed me of treason; the\nwhich is greatly against my will that ever I should fight against any\nof your blood, but now I may not forsake it, I am driven thereto as a\nbeast till a bay.\n\nThen Sir Gawaine said: Sir Launcelot, an thou durst do battle, leave\nthy babbling and come off, and let us ease our hearts. Then Sir\nLauncelot armed him lightly, and mounted upon his horse, and either of\nthe knights gat great spears in their hands, and the host without stood\nstill all apart, and the noble knights came out of the city by a great\nnumber, insomuch that when Arthur saw the number of men and knights, he\nmarvelled, and said to himself: Alas, that ever Sir Launcelot was\nagainst me, for now I see he hath forborne me. And so the covenant was\nmade, there should no man nigh them, nor deal with them, till the one\nwere dead or yelden.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine did battle together, and\nhow Sir Gawaine was overthrown and hurt.\n\n\nThen Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot departed a great way asunder, and\nthen they came together with all their horses\u2019 might as they might run,\nand either smote other in midst of their shields; but the knights were\nso strong, and their spears so big, that their horses might not endure\ntheir buffets, and so their horses fell to the earth; and then they\navoided their horses, and dressed their shields afore them. Then they\nstood together and gave many sad strokes on divers places of their\nbodies, that the blood brast out on many sides and places. Then had Sir\nGawaine such a grace and gift that an holy man had given to him, that\nevery day in the year, from underne till high noon, his might increased\nthose three hours as much as thrice his strength, and that caused Sir\nGawaine to win great honour. And for his sake King Arthur made an\nordinance, that all manner of battles for any quarrels that should be\ndone afore King Arthur should begin at underne; and all was done for\nSir Gawaine\u2019s love, that by likelihood, if Sir Gawaine were on the one\npart, he should have the better in battle while his strength endureth\nthree hours; but there were but few knights that time living that knew\nthis advantage that Sir Gawaine had, but King Arthur all only.\n\nThus Sir Launcelot fought with Sir Gawaine, and when Sir Launcelot felt\nhis might evermore increase, Sir Launcelot wondered and dread him sore\nto be shamed. For as the French book saith, Sir Launcelot weened, when\nhe felt Sir Gawaine double his strength, that he had been a fiend and\nnone earthly man; wherefore Sir Launcelot traced and traversed, and\ncovered himself with his shield, and kept his might and his braide\nduring three hours; and that while Sir Gawaine gave him many sad\nbrunts, and many sad strokes, that all the knights that beheld Sir\nLauncelot marvelled how that he might endure him; but full little\nunderstood they that travail that Sir Launcelot had for to endure him.\nAnd then when it was past noon Sir Gawaine had no more but his own\nmight. When Sir Launcelot felt him so come down, then he stretched him\nup and stood near Sir Gawaine, and said thus: My lord Sir Gawaine, now\nI feel ye have done; now my lord Sir Gawaine, I must do my part, for\nmany great and grievous strokes I have endured you this day with great\npain.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot doubled his strokes and gave Sir Gawaine such a\nbuffet on the helmet that he fell down on his side, and Sir Launcelot\nwithdrew him from him. Why withdrawest thou thee? said Sir Gawaine; now\nturn again, false traitor knight, and slay me, for an thou leave me\nthus, when I am whole I shall do battle with thee again. I shall endure\nyou, Sir, by God\u2019s grace, but wit thou well, Sir Gawaine, I will never\nsmite a felled knight. And so Sir Launcelot went into the city; and Sir\nGawaine was borne into King Arthur\u2019s pavilion, and leeches were brought\nto him, and searched and salved with soft ointments. And then Sir\nLauncelot said: Now have good day, my lord the king, for wit you well\nye win no worship at these walls; and if I would my knights outbring,\nthere should many a man die. Therefore, my lord Arthur, remember you of\nold kindness; and however I fare, Jesu be your guide in all places.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII. Of the sorrow that King Arthur made for the war, and of\nanother battle where also Sir Gawaine had the worse.\n\n\nAlas, said the king, that ever this unhappy war was begun; for ever Sir\nLauncelot forbeareth me in all places, and in likewise my kin, and that\nis seen well this day by my nephew Sir Gawaine. Then King Arthur fell\nsick for sorrow of Sir Gawaine, that he was so sore hurt, and because\nof the war betwixt him and Sir Launcelot. So then they on King Arthur\u2019s\npart kept the siege with little war withoutforth; and they withinforth\nkept their walls, and defended them when need was. Thus Sir Gawaine lay\nsick three weeks in his tents, with all manner of leech-craft that\nmight be had. And as soon as Sir Gawaine might go and ride, he armed\nhim at all points, and start upon a courser, and gat a spear in his\nhand, and so he came riding afore the chief gate of Benwick; and there\nhe cried on height: Where art thou, Sir Launcelot? Come forth, thou\nfalse traitor knight and recreant, for I am here, Sir Gawaine, will\nprove this that I say on thee.\n\nAll this language Sir Launcelot heard, and then he said thus: Sir\nGawaine, me repents of your foul saying, that ye will not cease of your\nlanguage; for you wot well, Sir Gawaine, I know your might and all that\nye may do; and well ye wot, Sir Gawaine, ye may not greatly hurt me.\nCome down, traitor knight, said he, and make it good the contrary with\nthy hands, for it mishapped me the last battle to be hurt of thy hands;\ntherefore wit thou well I am come this day to make amends, for I ween\nthis day to lay thee as low as thou laidest me. Jesu defend me, said\nSir Launcelot, that ever I be so far in your danger as ye have been in\nmine, for then my days were done. But Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot,\nye shall not think that I tarry long, but sithen that ye so unknightly\ncall me of treason, ye shall have both your hands full of me. And then\nSir Launcelot armed him at all points, and mounted upon his horse, and\ngat a great spear in his hand, and rode out at the gate. And both the\nhosts were assembled, of them without and of them within, and stood in\narray full manly. And both parties were charged to hold them still, to\nsee and behold the battle of these two noble knights. And then they\nlaid their spears in their rests, and they came together as thunder,\nand Sir Gawaine brake his spear upon Sir Launcelot in a hundred pieces\nunto his hand; and Sir Launcelot smote him with a greater might, that\nSir Gawaine\u2019s horse\u2019s feet raised, and so the horse and he fell to the\nearth. Then Sir Gawaine deliverly avoided his horse, and put his shield\nafore him, and eagerly drew his sword, and bade Sir Launcelot: Alight,\ntraitor knight, for if this mare\u2019s son hath failed me, wit thou well a\nking\u2019s son and a queen\u2019s son shall not fail thee.\n\nThen Sir Launcelot avoided his horse, and dressed his shield afore him,\nand drew his sword; and so stood they together and gave many sad\nstrokes, that all men on both parties had thereof passing great wonder.\nBut when Sir Launcelot felt Sir Gawaine\u2019s might so marvellously\nincrease, he then withheld his courage and his wind, and kept himself\nwonder covert of his might; and under his shield he traced and\ntraversed here and there, to break Sir Gawaine\u2019s strokes and his\ncourage; and Sir Gawaine enforced himself with all his might and power\nto destroy Sir Launcelot; for as the French book saith, ever as Sir\nGawaine\u2019s might increased, right so increased his wind and his evil\nwill. Thus Sir Gawaine did great pain unto Sir Launcelot three hours,\nthat he had right great pain for to defend him.\n\nAnd when the three hours were passed, that Sir Launcelot felt that Sir\nGawaine was come to his own proper strength, then Sir Launcelot said\nunto Sir Gawaine: Now have I proved you twice, that ye are a full\ndangerous knight, and a wonderful man of your might; and many wonderful\ndeeds have ye done in your days, for by your might increasing you have\ndeceived many a full noble and valiant knight; and, now I feel that ye\nhave done your mighty deeds, now wit you well I must do my deeds. And\nthen Sir Launcelot stood near Sir Gawaine, and then Sir Launcelot\ndoubled his strokes; and Sir Gawaine defended him mightily, but\nnevertheless Sir Launcelot smote such a stroke upon Sir Gawaine\u2019s helm,\nand upon the old wound, that Sir Gawaine sinked down upon his one side\nin a swoon. And anon as he did awake he waved and foined at Sir\nLauncelot as he lay, and said: Traitor knight, wit thou well I am not\nyet slain, come thou near me and perform this battle unto the\nuttermost. I will no more do than I have done, said Sir Launcelot, for\nwhen I see you on foot I will do battle upon you all the while I see\nyou stand on your feet; but for to smite a wounded man that may not\nstand, God defend me from such a shame. And then he turned him and went\nhis way toward the city. And Sir Gawaine evermore calling him traitor\nknight, and said: Wit thou well Sir Launcelot, when I am whole I shall\ndo battle with thee again, for I shall never leave thee till that one\nof us be slain. Thus as this siege endured, and as Sir Gawaine lay sick\nnear a month; and when he was well recovered and ready within three\ndays to do battle again with Sir Launcelot, right so came tidings unto\nArthur from England that made King Arthur and all his host to remove.\n\n_Here followeth the xxi. book._\n\n\n\n\nBOOK XXI.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. How Sir Mordred presumed and took on him to be King of\nEngland, and would have married the queen, his father\u2019s wife.\n\n\nAs Sir Mordred was ruler of all England, he did do make letters as\nthough that they came from beyond the sea, and the letters specified\nthat King Arthur was slain in battle with Sir Launcelot. Wherefore Sir\nMordred made a parliament, and called the lords together, and there he\nmade them to choose him king; and so was he crowned at Canterbury, and\nheld a feast there fifteen days; and afterward he drew him unto\nWinchester, and there he took the Queen Guenever, and said plainly that\nhe would wed her which was his uncle\u2019s wife and his father\u2019s wife. And\nso he made ready for the feast, and a day prefixed that they should be\nwedded; wherefore Queen Guenever was passing heavy. But she durst not\ndiscover her heart, but spake fair, and agreed to Sir Mordred\u2019s will.\nThen she desired of Sir Mordred for to go to London, to buy all manner\nof things that longed unto the wedding. And because of her fair speech\nSir Mordred trusted her well enough, and gave her leave to go. And so\nwhen she came to London she took the Tower of London, and suddenly in\nall haste possible she stuffed it with all manner of victual, and well\ngarnished it with men, and so kept it.\n\nThen when Sir Mordred wist and understood how he was beguiled, he was\npassing wroth out of measure. And a short tale for to make, he went and\nlaid a mighty siege about the Tower of London, and made many great\nassaults thereat, and threw many great engines unto them, and shot\ngreat guns. But all might not prevail Sir Mordred, for Queen Guenever\nwould never for fair speech nor for foul, would never trust to come in\nhis hands again.\n\nThen came the Bishop of Canterbury, the which was a noble clerk and an\nholy man, and thus he said to Sir Mordred: Sir, what will ye do? will\nye first displease God and sithen shame yourself, and all knighthood?\nIs not King Arthur your uncle, no farther but your mother\u2019s brother,\nand on her himself King Arthur begat you upon his own sister, therefore\nhow may you wed your father\u2019s wife? Sir, said the noble clerk, leave\nthis opinion or I shall curse you with book and bell and candle. Do\nthou thy worst, said Sir Mordred, wit thou well I shall defy thee. Sir,\nsaid the Bishop, and wit you well I shall not fear me to do that me\nought to do. Also where ye noise where my lord Arthur is slain, and\nthat is not so, and therefore ye will make a foul work in this land.\nPeace, thou false priest, said Sir Mordred, for an thou chafe me any\nmore I shall make strike off thy head. So the Bishop departed and did\nthe cursing in the most orgulist wise that might be done. And then Sir\nMordred sought the Bishop of Canterbury, for to have slain him. Then\nthe Bishop fled, and took part of his goods with him, and went nigh\nunto Glastonbury; and there he was as priest hermit in a chapel, and\nlived in poverty and in holy prayers, for well he understood that\nmischievous war was at hand.\n\nThen Sir Mordred sought on Queen Guenever by letters and sonds, and by\nfair means and foul means, for to have her to come out of the Tower of\nLondon; but all this availed not, for she answered him shortly, openly\nand privily, that she had liefer slay herself than to be married with\nhim. Then came word to Sir Mordred that King Arthur had araised the\nsiege for Sir Launcelot, and he was coming homeward with a great host,\nto be avenged upon Sir Mordred; wherefore Sir Mordred made write writs\nto all the barony of this land, and much people drew to him. For then\nwas the common voice among them that with Arthur was none other life\nbut war and strife, and with Sir Mordred was great joy and bliss. Thus\nwas Sir Arthur depraved, and evil said of. And many there were that\nKing Arthur had made up of nought, and given them lands, might not then\nsay him a good word. Lo ye all Englishmen, see ye not what a mischief\nhere was! for he that was the most king and knight of the world, and\nmost loved the fellowship of noble knights, and by him they were all\nupholden, now might not these Englishmen hold them content with him. Lo\nthus was the old custom and usage of this land; and also men say that\nwe of this land have not yet lost nor forgotten that custom and usage.\nAlas, this is a great default of us Englishmen, for there may no thing\nplease us no term. And so fared the people at that time, they were\nbetter pleased with Sir Mordred than they were with King Arthur; and\nmuch people drew unto Sir Mordred, and said they would abide with him\nfor better and for worse. And so Sir Mordred drew with a great host to\nDover, for there he heard say that Sir Arthur would arrive, and so he\nthought to beat his own father from his lands; and the most part of all\nEngland held with Sir Mordred, the people were so new-fangle.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II. How after that King Arthur had tidings, he returned and\ncame to Dover, where Sir Mordred met him to let his landing; and of the\ndeath of Sir Gawaine.\n\n\nAnd so as Sir Mordred was at Dover with his host, there came King\nArthur with a great navy of ships, and galleys, and carracks. And there\nwas Sir Mordred ready awaiting upon his landing, to let his own father\nto land upon the land that he was king over. Then there was launching\nof great boats and small, and full of noble men of arms; and there was\nmuch slaughter of gentle knights, and many a full bold baron was laid\nfull low, on both parties. But King Arthur was so courageous that there\nmight no manner of knights let him to land, and his knights fiercely\nfollowed him; and so they landed maugre Sir Mordred and all his power,\nand put Sir Mordred aback, that he fled and all his people.\n\nSo when this battle was done, King Arthur let bury his people that were\ndead. And then was noble Sir Gawaine found in a great boat, lying more\nthan half dead. When Sir Arthur wist that Sir Gawaine was laid so low;\nhe went unto him; and there the king made sorrow out of measure, and\ntook Sir Gawaine in his arms, and thrice he there swooned. And then\nwhen he awaked, he said: Alas, Sir Gawaine, my sister\u2019s son, here now\nthou liest; the man in the world that I loved most; and now is my joy\ngone, for now, my nephew Sir Gawaine, I will discover me unto your\nperson: in Sir Launcelot and you I most had my joy, and mine affiance,\nand now have I lost my joy of you both; wherefore all mine earthly joy\nis gone from me. Mine uncle King Arthur, said Sir Gawaine, wit you well\nmy death-day is come, and all is through mine own hastiness and\nwilfulness; for I am smitten upon the old wound the which Sir Launcelot\ngave me, on the which I feel well I must die; and had Sir Launcelot\nbeen with you as he was, this unhappy war had never begun; and of all\nthis am I causer, for Sir Launcelot and his blood, through their\nprowess, held all your cankered enemies in subjection and daunger. And\nnow, said Sir Gawaine, ye shall miss Sir Launcelot. But alas, I would\nnot accord with him, and therefore, said Sir Gawaine, I pray you, fair\nuncle, that I may have paper, pen, and ink, that I may write to Sir\nLauncelot a cedle with mine own hands.\n\nAnd then when paper and ink was brought, then Gawaine was set up weakly\nby King Arthur, for he was shriven a little to-fore; and then he wrote\nthus, as the French book maketh mention: Unto Sir Launcelot, flower of\nall noble knights that ever I heard of or saw by my days, I, Sir\nGawaine, King Lot\u2019s son of Orkney, sister\u2019s son unto the noble King\nArthur, send thee greeting, and let thee have knowledge that the tenth\nday of May I was smitten upon the old wound that thou gavest me afore\nthe city of Benwick, and through the same wound that thou gavest me I\nam come to my death-day. And I will that all the world wit, that I, Sir\nGawaine, knight of the Table Round, sought my death, and not through\nthy deserving, but it was mine own seeking; wherefore I beseech thee,\nSir Launcelot, to return again unto this realm, and see my tomb, and\npray some prayer more or less for my soul. And this same day that I\nwrote this cedle, I was hurt to the death in the same wound, the which\nI had of thy hand, Sir Launcelot; for of a more nobler man might I not\nbe slain. Also Sir Launcelot, for all the love that ever was betwixt\nus, make no tarrying, but come over the sea in all haste, that thou\nmayst with thy noble knights rescue that noble king that made thee\nknight, that is my lord Arthur; for he is full straitly bestead with a\nfalse traitor, that is my half-brother, Sir Mordred; and he hath let\ncrown him king, and would have wedded my lady Queen Guenever, and so\nhad he done had she not put herself in the Tower of London. And so the\ntenth day of May last past, my lord Arthur and we all landed upon them\nat Dover; and there we put that false traitor, Sir Mordred, to flight,\nand there it misfortuned me to be stricken upon thy stroke. And at the\ndate of this letter was written, but two hours and a half afore my\ndeath, written with mine own hand, and so subscribed with part of my\nheart\u2019s blood. And I require thee, most famous knight of the world,\nthat thou wilt see my tomb. And then Sir Gawaine wept, and King Arthur\nwept; and then they swooned both. And when they awaked both, the king\nmade Sir Gawaine to receive his Saviour. And then Sir Gawaine prayed\nthe king for to send for Sir Launcelot, and to cherish him above all\nother knights.\n\nAnd so at the hour of noon Sir Gawaine yielded up the spirit; and then\nthe king let inter him in a chapel within Dover Castle; and there yet\nall men may see the skull of him, and the same wound is seen that Sir\nLauncelot gave him in battle. Then was it told the king that Sir\nMordred had pight a new field upon Barham Down. And upon the morn the\nking rode thither to him, and there was a great battle betwixt them,\nand much people was slain on both parties; but at the last Sir Arthur\u2019s\nparty stood best, and Sir Mordred and his party fled unto Canterbury.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III. How after, Sir Gawaine\u2019s ghost appeared to King Arthur,\nand warned him that he should not fight that day.\n\n\nAnd then the king let search all the towns for his knights that were\nslain, and interred them; and salved them with soft salves that so sore\nwere wounded. Then much people drew unto King Arthur. And then they\nsaid that Sir Mordred warred upon King Arthur with wrong. And then King\nArthur drew him with his host down by the seaside, westward toward\nSalisbury; and there was a day assigned betwixt King Arthur and Sir\nMordred, that they should meet upon a down beside Salisbury, and not\nfar from the seaside; and this day was assigned on a Monday after\nTrinity Sunday, whereof King Arthur was passing glad, that he might be\navenged upon Sir Mordred. Then Sir Mordred araised much people about\nLondon, for they of Kent, Southsex, and Surrey, Estsex, and of\nSouthfolk, and of Northfolk, held the most part with Sir Mordred; and\nmany a full noble knight drew unto Sir Mordred and to the king: but\nthey that loved Sir Launcelot drew unto Sir Mordred.\n\nSo upon Trinity Sunday at night, King Arthur dreamed a wonderful dream,\nand that was this: that him seemed he sat upon a chaflet in a chair,\nand the chair was fast to a wheel, and thereupon sat King Arthur in the\nrichest cloth of gold that might be made; and the king thought there\nwas under him, far from him, an hideous deep black water, and therein\nwere all manner of serpents, and worms, and wild beasts, foul and\nhorrible; and suddenly the king thought the wheel turned up-so-down,\nand he fell among the serpents, and every beast took him by a limb; and\nthen the king cried as he lay in his bed and slept: Help. And then\nknights, squires, and yeomen, awaked the king; and then he was so\namazed that he wist not where he was; and then he fell a-slumbering\nagain, not sleeping nor thoroughly waking. So the king seemed verily\nthat there came Sir Gawaine unto him with a number of fair ladies with\nhim. And when King Arthur saw him, then he said: Welcome, my sister\u2019s\nson; I weened thou hadst been dead, and now I see thee alive, much am I\nbeholding unto Almighty Jesu. O fair nephew and my sister\u2019s son, what\nbe these ladies that hither be come with you? Sir, said Sir Gawaine,\nall these be ladies for whom I have foughten when I was man living, and\nall these are those that I did battle for in righteous quarrel; and God\nhath given them that grace at their great prayer, because I did battle\nfor them, that they should bring me hither unto you: thus much hath God\ngiven me leave, for to warn you of your death; for an ye fight as\nto-morn with Sir Mordred, as ye both have assigned, doubt ye not ye\nmust be slain, and the most part of your people on both parties. And\nfor the great grace and goodness that almighty Jesu hath unto you, and\nfor pity of you, and many more other good men there shall be slain, God\nhath sent me to you of his special grace, to give you warning that in\nno wise ye do battle as to-morn, but that ye take a treaty for a month\nday; and proffer you largely, so as to-morn to be put in a delay. For\nwithin a month shall come Sir Launcelot with all his noble knights, and\nrescue you worshipfully, and slay Sir Mordred, and all that ever will\nhold with him. Then Sir Gawaine and all the ladies vanished.\n\nAnd anon the king called upon his knights, squires, and yeomen, and\ncharged them wightly to fetch his noble lords and wise bishops unto\nhim. And when they were come, the king told them his avision, what Sir\nGawaine had told him, and warned him that if he fought on the morn he\nshould be slain. Then the king commanded Sir Lucan the Butler, and his\nbrother Sir Bedivere, with two bishops with them, and charged them in\nany wise, an they might, Take a treaty for a month day with Sir\nMordred, and spare not, proffer him lands and goods as much as ye think\nbest. So then they departed, and came to Sir Mordred, where he had a\ngrim host of an hundred thousand men. And there they entreated Sir\nMordred long time; and at the last Sir Mordred was agreed for to have\nCornwall and Kent, by Arthur\u2019s days: after, all England, after the days\nof King Arthur.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. How by misadventure of an adder the battle began, where\nMordred was slain, and Arthur hurt to the death.\n\n\nThen were they condescended that King Arthur and Sir Mordred should\nmeet betwixt both their hosts, and everych of them should bring\nfourteen persons; and they came with this word unto Arthur. Then said\nhe: I am glad that this is done: and so he went into the field. And\nwhen Arthur should depart, he warned all his host that an they see any\nsword drawn: Look ye come on fiercely, and slay that traitor, Sir\nMordred, for I in no wise trust him. In like wise Sir Mordred warned\nhis host that: An ye see any sword drawn, look that ye come on\nfiercely, and so slay all that ever before you standeth; for in no wise\nI will not trust for this treaty, for I know well my father will be\navenged on me. And so they met as their appointment was, and so they\nwere agreed and accorded thoroughly; and wine was fetched, and they\ndrank. Right soon came an adder out of a little heath bush, and it\nstung a knight on the foot. And when the knight felt him stung, he\nlooked down and saw the adder, and then he drew his sword to slay the\nadder, and thought of none other harm. And when the host on both\nparties saw that sword drawn, then they blew beams, trumpets, and\nhorns, and shouted grimly. And so both hosts dressed them together. And\nKing Arthur took his horse, and said: Alas this unhappy day! and so\nrode to his party. And Sir Mordred in like wise. And never was there\nseen a more dolefuller battle in no Christian land; for there was but\nrushing and riding, foining and striking, and many a grim word was\nthere spoken either to other, and many a deadly stroke. But ever King\nArthur rode throughout the battle of Sir Mordred many times, and did\nfull nobly as a noble king should, and at all times he fainted never;\nand Sir Mordred that day put him in devoir, and in great peril. And\nthus they fought all the long day, and never stinted till the noble\nknights were laid to the cold earth; and ever they fought still till it\nwas near night, and by that time was there an hundred thousand laid\ndead upon the down. Then was Arthur wood wroth out of measure, when he\nsaw his people so slain from him.\n\nThen the king looked about him, and then was he ware, of all his host\nand of all his good knights, were left no more alive but two knights;\nthat one was Sir Lucan the Butler, and his brother Sir Bedivere, and\nthey were full sore wounded. Jesu mercy, said the king, where are all\nmy noble knights become? Alas that ever I should see this doleful day,\nfor now, said Arthur, I am come to mine end. But would to God that I\nwist where were that traitor Sir Mordred, that hath caused all this\nmischief. Then was King Arthur ware where Sir Mordred leaned upon his\nsword among a great heap of dead men. Now give me my spear, said Arthur\nunto Sir Lucan, for yonder I have espied the traitor that all this woe\nhath wrought. Sir, let him be, said Sir Lucan, for he is unhappy; and\nif ye pass this unhappy day ye shall be right well revenged upon him.\nGood lord, remember ye of your night\u2019s dream, and what the spirit of\nSir Gawaine told you this night, yet God of his great goodness hath\npreserved you hitherto. Therefore, for God\u2019s sake, my lord, leave off\nby this, for blessed be God ye have won the field, for here we be three\nalive, and with Sir Mordred is none alive; and if ye leave off now this\nwicked day of destiny is past. Tide me death, betide me life, saith the\nking, now I see him yonder alone he shall never escape mine hands, for\nat a better avail shall I never have him. God speed you well, said Sir\nBedivere.\n\nThen the king gat his spear in both his hands, and ran toward Sir\nMordred, crying: Traitor, now is thy death-day come. And when Sir\nMordred heard Sir Arthur, he ran until him with his sword drawn in his\nhand. And there King Arthur smote Sir Mordred under the shield, with a\nfoin of his spear, throughout the body, more than a fathom. And when\nSir Mordred felt that he had his death wound he thrust himself with the\nmight that he had up to the bur of King Arthur\u2019s spear. And right so he\nsmote his father Arthur, with his sword holden in both his hands, on\nthe side of the head, that the sword pierced the helmet and the\nbrain-pan, and therewithal Sir Mordred fell stark dead to the earth;\nand the noble Arthur fell in a swoon to the earth, and there he swooned\nofttimes. And Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedivere ofttimes heaved him\nup. And so weakly they led him betwixt them both, to a little chapel\nnot far from the seaside. And when the king was there he thought him\nwell eased.\n\nThen heard they people cry in the field. Now go thou, Sir Lucan, said\nthe king, and do me to wit what betokens that noise in the field. So\nSir Lucan departed, for he was grievously wounded in many places. And\nso as he yede, he saw and hearkened by the moonlight, how that pillers\nand robbers were come into the field, to pill and to rob many a full\nnoble knight of brooches, and beads, of many a good ring, and of many a\nrich jewel; and who that were not dead all out, there they slew them\nfor their harness and their riches. When Sir Lucan understood this\nwork, he came to the king as soon as he might, and told him all what he\nhad heard and seen. Therefore by my rede, said Sir Lucan, it is best\nthat we bring you to some town. I would it were so, said the king.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. How King Arthur commanded to cast his sword Excalibur into\nthe water, and how he was delivered to ladies in a barge.\n\n\nBut I may not stand, mine head works so. Ah Sir Launcelot, said King\nArthur, this day have I sore missed thee: alas, that ever I was against\nthee, for now have I my death, whereof Sir Gawaine me warned in my\ndream. Then Sir Lucan took up the king the one part, and Sir Bedivere\nthe other part, and in the lifting the king swooned; and Sir Lucan fell\nin a swoon with the lift, that the part of his guts fell out of his\nbody, and therewith the noble knight\u2019s heart brast. And when the king\nawoke, he beheld Sir Lucan, how he lay foaming at the mouth, and part\nof his guts lay at his feet. Alas, said the king, this is to me a full\nheavy sight, to see this noble duke so die for my sake, for he would\nhave holpen me, that had more need of help than I. Alas, he would not\ncomplain him, his heart was so set to help me: now Jesu have mercy upon\nhis soul! Then Sir Bedivere wept for the death of his brother. Leave\nthis mourning and weeping, said the king, for all this will not avail\nme, for wit thou well an I might live myself, the death of Sir Lucan\nwould grieve me evermore; but my time hieth fast, said the king.\nTherefore, said Arthur unto Sir Bedivere, take thou Excalibur, my good\nsword, and go with it to yonder water side, and when thou comest there\nI charge thee throw my sword in that water, and come again and tell me\nwhat thou there seest. My lord, said Bedivere, your commandment shall\nbe done, and lightly bring you word again.\n\nSo Sir Bedivere departed, and by the way he beheld that noble sword,\nthat the pommel and the haft was all of precious stones; and then he\nsaid to himself: If I throw this rich sword in the water, thereof shall\nnever come good, but harm and loss. And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibur\nunder a tree. And so, as soon as he might, he came again unto the king,\nand said he had been at the water, and had thrown the sword in the\nwater. What saw thou there? said the king. Sir, he said, I saw nothing\nbut waves and winds. That is untruly said of thee, said the king,\ntherefore go thou lightly again, and do my commandment; as thou art to\nme lief and dear, spare not, but throw it in. Then Sir Bedivere\nreturned again, and took the sword in his hand; and then him thought\nsin and shame to throw away that noble sword, and so eft he hid the\nsword, and returned again, and told to the king that he had been at the\nwater, and done his commandment. What saw thou there? said the king.\nSir, he said, I saw nothing but the waters wap and waves wan. Ah,\ntraitor untrue, said King Arthur, now hast thou betrayed me twice. Who\nwould have weened that, thou that hast been to me so lief and dear? and\nthou art named a noble knight, and would betray me for the richness of\nthe sword. But now go again lightly, for thy long tarrying putteth me\nin great jeopardy of my life, for I have taken cold. And but if thou do\nnow as I bid thee, if ever I may see thee, I shall slay thee with mine\nown hands; for thou wouldst for my rich sword see me dead.\n\nThen Sir Bedivere departed, and went to the sword, and lightly took it\nup, and went to the water side; and there he bound the girdle about the\nhilts, and then he threw the sword as far into the water as he might;\nand there came an arm and an hand above the water and met it, and\ncaught it, and so shook it thrice and brandished, and then vanished\naway the hand with the sword in the water. So Sir Bedivere came again\nto the king, and told him what he saw. Alas, said the king, help me\nhence, for I dread me I have tarried over long. Then Sir Bedivere took\nthe king upon his back, and so went with him to that water side. And\nwhen they were at the water side, even fast by the bank hoved a little\nbarge with many fair ladies in it, and among them all was a queen, and\nall they had black hoods, and all they wept and shrieked when they saw\nKing Arthur. Now put me into the barge, said the king. And so he did\nsoftly; and there received him three queens with great mourning; and so\nthey set them down, and in one of their laps King Arthur laid his head.\nAnd then that queen said: Ah, dear brother, why have ye tarried so long\nfrom me? alas, this wound on your head hath caught over-much cold. And\nso then they rowed from the land, and Sir Bedivere beheld all those\nladies go from him. Then Sir Bedivere cried: Ah my lord Arthur, what\nshall become of me, now ye go from me and leave me here alone among\nmine enemies? Comfort thyself, said the king, and do as well as thou\nmayst, for in me is no trust for to trust in; for I will into the vale\nof Avilion to heal me of my grievous wound: and if thou hear never more\nof me, pray for my soul. But ever the queens and ladies wept and\nshrieked, that it was pity to hear. And as soon as Sir Bedivere had\nlost the sight of the barge, he wept and wailed, and so took the\nforest; and so he went all that night, and in the morning he was ware\nbetwixt two holts hoar, of a chapel and an hermitage.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. How Sir Bedivere found him on the morrow dead in an\nhermitage, and how he abode there with the hermit.\n\n\nThen was Sir Bedivere glad, and thither he went; and when he came into\nthe chapel, he saw where lay an hermit grovelling on all four, there\nfast by a tomb was new graven. When the hermit saw Sir Bedivere he knew\nhim well, for he was but little to-fore Bishop of Canterbury, that Sir\nMordred flemed. Sir, said Bedivere, what man is there interred that ye\npray so fast for? Fair son, said the hermit, I wot not verily, but by\ndeeming. But this night, at midnight, here came a number of ladies, and\nbrought hither a dead corpse, and prayed me to bury him; and here they\noffered an hundred tapers, and they gave me an hundred besants. Alas,\nsaid Sir Bedivere, that was my lord King Arthur, that here lieth buried\nin this chapel. Then Sir Bedivere swooned; and when he awoke he prayed\nthe hermit he might abide with him still there, to live with fasting\nand prayers. For from hence will I never go, said Sir Bedivere, by my\nwill, but all the days of my life here to pray for my lord Arthur. Ye\nare welcome to me, said the hermit, for I know ye better than ye ween\nthat I do. Ye are the bold Bedivere, and the full noble duke, Sir Lucan\nthe Butler, was your brother. Then Sir Bedivere told the hermit all as\nye have heard to-fore. So there bode Sir Bedivere with the hermit that\nwas to-fore Bishop of Canterbury, and there Sir Bedivere put upon him\npoor clothes, and served the hermit full lowly in fasting and in\nprayers.\n\nThus of Arthur I find never more written in books that be authorised,\nnor more of the very certainty of his death heard I never read, but\nthus was he led away in a ship wherein were three queens; that one was\nKing Arthur\u2019s sister, Queen Morgan le Fay; the other was the Queen of\nNorthgalis; the third was the Queen of the Waste Lands. Also there was\nNimue, the chief lady of the lake, that had wedded Pelleas the good\nknight; and this lady had done much for King Arthur, for she would\nnever suffer Sir Pelleas to be in no place where he should be in danger\nof his life; and so he lived to the uttermost of his days with her in\ngreat rest. More of the death of King Arthur could I never find, but\nthat ladies brought him to his burials; and such one was buried there,\nthat the hermit bare witness that sometime was Bishop of Canterbury,\nbut yet the hermit knew not in certain that he was verily the body of\nKing Arthur: for this tale Sir Bedivere, knight of the Table Round,\nmade it to be written.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII. Of the opinion of some men of the death of King Arthur;\nand how Queen Guenever made her a nun in Almesbury.\n\n\nYet some men say in many parts of England that King Arthur is not dead,\nbut had by the will of our Lord Jesu into another place; and men say\nthat he shall come again, and he shall win the holy cross. I will not\nsay it shall be so, but rather I will say: here in this world he\nchanged his life. But many men say that there is written upon his tomb\nthis verse: _Hic jacet Arthurus, Rex quondam, Rexque futurus._ Thus\nleave I here Sir Bedivere with the hermit, that dwelled that time in a\nchapel beside Glastonbury, and there was his hermitage. And so they\nlived in their prayers, and fastings, and great abstinence. And when\nQueen Guenever understood that King Arthur was slain, and all the noble\nknights, Sir Mordred and all the remnant, then the queen stole away,\nand five ladies with her, and so she went to Almesbury; and there she\nlet make herself a nun, and ware white clothes and black, and great\npenance she took, as ever did sinful lady in this land, and never\ncreature could make her merry; but lived in fasting, prayers, and\nalms-deeds, that all manner of people marvelled how virtuously she was\nchanged. Now leave we Queen Guenever in Almesbury, a nun in white\nclothes and black, and there she was Abbess and ruler as reason would;\nand turn we from her, and speak we of Sir Launcelot du Lake.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. How when Sir Lancelot heard of the death of King Arthur,\nand of Sir Gawaine, and other matters, he came into England.\n\n\nAnd when he heard in his country that Sir Mordred was crowned king in\nEngland, and made war against King Arthur, his own father, and would\nlet him to land in his own land; also it was told Sir Launcelot how\nthat Sir Mordred had laid siege about the Tower of London, because the\nqueen would not wed him; then was Sir Launcelot wroth out of measure,\nand said to his kinsmen: Alas, that double traitor Sir Mordred, now me\nrepenteth that ever he escaped my hands, for much shame hath he done\nunto my lord Arthur; for all I feel by the doleful letter that my lord\nSir Gawaine sent me, on whose soul Jesu have mercy that my lord Arthur\nis full hard bestead. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, that ever I should live\nto hear that most noble king that made me knight thus to be overset\nwith his subject in his own realm. And this doleful letter that my\nlord, Sir Gawaine, hath sent me afore his death, praying me to see his\ntomb, wit you well his doleful words shall never go from mine heart,\nfor he was a full noble knight as ever was born; and in an unhappy hour\nwas I born that ever I should have that unhap to slay first Sir\nGawaine, Sir Gaheris the good knight, and mine own friend Sir Gareth,\nthat full noble knight. Alas, I may say I am unhappy, said Sir\nLauncelot, that ever I should do thus unhappily, and, alas, yet might I\nnever have hap to slay that traitor, Sir Mordred.\n\nLeave your complaints, said Sir Bors, and first revenge you of the\ndeath of Sir Gawaine; and it will be well done that ye see Sir\nGawaine\u2019s tomb, and secondly that ye revenge my lord Arthur, and my\nlady, Queen Guenever. I thank you, said Sir Launcelot, for ever ye will\nmy worship.\n\nThen they made them ready in all the haste that might be, with ships\nand galleys, with Sir Launcelot and his host to pass into England. And\nso he passed over the sea till he came to Dover, and there he landed\nwith seven kings, and the number was hideous to behold. Then Sir\nLauncelot spered of men of Dover where was King Arthur become. Then the\npeople told him how that he was slain, and Sir Mordred and an hundred\nthousand died on a day; and how Sir Mordred gave King Arthur there the\nfirst battle at his landing, and there was good Sir Gawaine slain; and\non the morn Sir Mordred fought with the king upon Barham Down, and\nthere the king put Sir Mordred to the worse. Alas, said Sir Launcelot,\nthis is the heaviest tidings that ever came to me. Now, fair sirs, said\nSir Launcelot, shew me the tomb of Sir Gawaine. And then certain people\nof the town brought him into the castle of Dover, and shewed him the\ntomb. Then Sir Launcelot kneeled down and wept, and prayed heartily for\nhis soul. And that night he made a dole, and all they that would come\nhad as much flesh, fish, wine and ale, and every man and woman had\ntwelve pence, come who would. Thus with his own hand dealt he this\nmoney, in a mourning gown; and ever he wept, and prayed them to pray\nfor the soul of Sir Gawaine. And on the morn all the priests and clerks\nthat might be gotten in the country were there, and sang mass of\nRequiem; and there offered first Sir Launcelot, and he offered an\nhundred pound; and then the seven kings offered forty pound apiece; and\nalso there was a thousand knights, and each of them offered a pound;\nand the offering dured from morn till night, and Sir Launcelot lay two\nnights on his tomb in prayers and weeping.\n\nThen on the third day Sir Launcelot called the kings, dukes, earls,\nbarons, and knights, and said thus: My fair lords, I thank you all of\nyour coming into this country with me, but we came too late, and that\nshall repent me while I live, but against death may no man rebel. But\nsithen it is so, said Sir Launcelot, I will myself ride and seek my\nlady, Queen Guenever, for as I hear say she hath had great pain and\nmuch disease; and I heard say that she is fled into the west. Therefore\nye all shall abide me here, and but if I come again within fifteen\ndays, then take your ships and your fellowship, and depart into your\ncountry, for I will do as I say to you.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. How Sir Launcelot departed to seek the Queen Guenever, and\nhow he found her at Almesbury.\n\n\nThen came Sir Bors de Ganis, and said: My lord Sir Launcelot, what\nthink ye for to do, now to ride in this realm? wit ye well ye shall\nfind few friends. Be as be may, said Sir Launcelot, keep you still\nhere, for I will forth on my journey, and no man nor child shall go\nwith me. So it was no boot to strive, but he departed and rode\nwesterly, and there he sought a seven or eight days; and at the last he\ncame to a nunnery, and then was Queen Guenever ware of Sir Launcelot as\nhe walked in the cloister. And when she saw him there she swooned\nthrice, that all the ladies and gentlewomen had work enough to hold the\nqueen up. So when she might speak, she called ladies and gentlewomen to\nher, and said: Ye marvel, fair ladies, why I make this fare. Truly, she\nsaid, it is for the sight of yonder knight that yonder standeth;\nwherefore I pray you all call him to me.\n\nWhen Sir Launcelot was brought to her, then she said to all the ladies:\nThrough this man and me hath all this war been wrought, and the death\nof the most noblest knights of the world; for through our love that we\nhave loved together is my most noble lord slain. Therefore, Sir\nLauncelot, wit thou well I am set in such a plight to get my soul-heal;\nand yet I trust through God\u2019s grace that after my death to have a sight\nof the blessed face of Christ, and at domesday to sit on his right\nside, for as sinful as ever I was are saints in heaven. Therefore, Sir\nLauncelot, I require thee and beseech thee heartily, for all the love\nthat ever was betwixt us, that thou never see me more in the visage;\nand I command thee, on God\u2019s behalf, that thou forsake my company, and\nto thy kingdom thou turn again, and keep well thy realm from war and\nwrack; for as well as I have loved thee, mine heart will not serve me\nto see thee, for through thee and me is the flower of kings and knights\ndestroyed; therefore, Sir Launcelot, go to thy realm, and there take\nthee a wife, and live with her with joy and bliss; and I pray thee\nheartily, pray for me to our Lord that I may amend my misliving. Now,\nsweet madam, said Sir Launcelot, would ye that I should now return\nagain unto my country, and there to wed a lady? Nay, madam, wit you\nwell that shall I never do, for I shall never be so false to you of\nthat I have promised; but the same destiny that ye have taken you to, I\nwill take me unto, for to please Jesu, and ever for you I cast me\nspecially to pray. If thou wilt do so, said the queen, hold thy\npromise, but I may never believe but that thou wilt turn to the world\nagain. Well, madam, said he, ye say as pleaseth you, yet wist you me\nnever false of my promise, and God defend but I should forsake the\nworld as ye have done. For in the quest of the Sangreal I had forsaken\nthe vanities of the world had not your lord been. And if I had done so\nat that time, with my heart, will, and thought, I had passed all the\nknights that were in the Sangreal except Sir Galahad, my son. And\ntherefore, lady, sithen ye have taken you to perfection, I must needs\ntake me to perfection, of right. For I take record of God, in you I\nhave had mine earthly joy; and if I had found you now so disposed, I\nhad cast me to have had you into mine own realm.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. How Sir Launcelot came to the hermitage where the Archbishop\nof Canterbury was, and how he took the habit on him.\n\n\nBut sithen I find you thus disposed, I ensure you faithfully, I will\never take me to penance, and pray while my life lasteth, if I may find\nany hermit, either gray or white, that will receive me. Wherefore,\nmadam, I pray you kiss me and never no more. Nay, said the queen, that\nshall I never do, but abstain you from such works: and they departed.\nBut there was never so hard an hearted man but he would have wept to\nsee the dolour that they made; for there was lamentation as they had\nbeen stung with spears; and many times they swooned, and the ladies\nbare the queen to her chamber.\n\nAnd Sir Launcelot awoke, and went and took his horse, and rode all that\nday and all night in a forest, weeping. And at the last he was ware of\nan hermitage and a chapel stood betwixt two cliffs; and then he heard a\nlittle bell ring to mass, and thither he rode and alighted, and tied\nhis horse to the gate, and heard mass. And he that sang mass was the\nBishop of Canterbury. Both the Bishop and Sir Bedivere knew Sir\nLauncelot, and they spake together after mass. But when Sir Bedivere\nhad told his tale all whole, Sir Launcelot\u2019s heart almost brast for\nsorrow, and Sir Launcelot threw his arms abroad, and said: Alas, who\nmay trust this world. And then he kneeled down on his knee, and prayed\nthe Bishop to shrive him and assoil him. And then he besought the\nBishop that he might be his brother. Then the Bishop said: I will\ngladly; and there he put an habit upon Sir Launcelot, and there he\nserved God day and night with prayers and fastings.\n\nThus the great host abode at Dover. And then Sir Lionel took fifteen\nlords with him, and rode to London to seek Sir Launcelot; and there Sir\nLionel was slain and many of his lords. Then Sir Bors de Ganis made the\ngreat host for to go home again; and Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir\nBlamore, Sir Bleoberis, with more other of Sir Launcelot\u2019s kin, took on\nthem to ride all England overthwart and endlong, to seek Sir Launcelot.\nSo Sir Bors by fortune rode so long till he came to the same chapel\nwhere Sir Launcelot was; and so Sir Bors heard a little bell knell,\nthat rang to mass; and there he alighted and heard mass. And when mass\nwas done, the Bishop Sir Launcelot, and Sir Bedivere, came to Sir Bors.\nAnd when Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot in that manner clothing, then he\nprayed the Bishop that he might be in the same suit. And so there was\nan habit put upon him, and there he lived in prayers and fasting. And\nwithin half a year, there was come Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir\nBlamore, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Villiars, Sir Clarras, and Sir Gahalantine.\nSo all these seven noble knights there abode still. And when they saw\nSir Launcelot had taken him to such perfection, they had no lust to\ndepart, but took such an habit as he had.\n\nThus they endured in great penance six year; and then Sir Launcelot\ntook the habit of priesthood of the Bishop, and a twelvemonth he sang\nmass. And there was none of these other knights but they read in books,\nand holp for to sing mass, and rang bells, and did bodily all manner of\nservice. And so their horses went where they would, for they took no\nregard of no worldly riches. For when they saw Sir Launcelot endure\nsuch penance, in prayers, and fastings, they took no force what pain\nthey endured, for to see the noblest knight of the world take such\nabstinence that he waxed full lean. And thus upon a night, there came a\nvision to Sir Launcelot, and charged him, in remission of his sins, to\nhaste him unto Almesbury: And by then thou come there, thou shalt find\nQueen Guenever dead. And therefore take thy fellows with thee, and\npurvey them of an horse bier, and fetch thou the corpse of her, and\nbury her by her husband, the noble King Arthur. So this avision came to\nSir Launcelot thrice in one night.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI. How Sir Launcelot went with his seven fellows to Almesbury,\nand found there Queen Guenever dead, whom they brought to Glastonbury.\n\n\nThen Sir Launcelot rose up or day, and told the hermit. It were well\ndone, said the hermit, that ye made you ready, and that you disobey not\nthe avision. Then Sir Launcelot took his eight fellows with him, and on\nfoot they yede from Glastonbury to Almesbury, the which is little more\nthan thirty mile. And thither they came within two days, for they were\nweak and feeble to go. And when Sir Launcelot was come to Almesbury\nwithin the nunnery, Queen Guenever died but half an hour afore. And the\nladies told Sir Launcelot that Queen Guenever told them all or she\npassed, that Sir Launcelot had been priest near a twelvemonth, And\nhither he cometh as fast as he may to fetch my corpse; and beside my\nlord, King Arthur, he shall bury me. Wherefore the queen said in\nhearing of them all: I beseech Almighty God that I may never have power\nto see Sir Launcelot with my worldly eyen; and thus, said all the\nladies, was ever her prayer these two days, till she was dead. Then Sir\nLauncelot saw her visage, but he wept not greatly, but sighed. And so\nhe did all the observance of the service himself, both the dirige, and\non the morn he sang mass. And there was ordained an horse bier; and so\nwith an hundred torches ever brenning about the corpse of the queen,\nand ever Sir Launcelot with his eight fellows went about the horse\nbier, singing and reading many an holy orison, and frankincense upon\nthe corpse incensed. Thus Sir Launcelot and his eight fellows went on\nfoot from Almesbury unto Glastonbury.\n\nAnd when they were come to the chapel and the hermitage, there she had\na dirige, with great devotion. And on the morn the hermit that sometime\nwas Bishop of Canterbury sang the mass of Requiem with great devotion.\nAnd Sir Launcelot was the first that offered, and then also his eight\nfellows. And then she was wrapped in cered cloth of Raines, from the\ntop to the toe, in thirtyfold, and after she was put in a web of lead,\nand then in a coffin of marble. And when she was put in the earth Sir\nLauncelot swooned, and lay long still, while the hermit came and awaked\nhim, and said: Ye be to blame, for ye displease God with such manner of\nsorrow-making. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, I trust I do not displease\nGod, for He knoweth mine intent. For my sorrow was not, nor is not for\nany rejoicing of sin, but my sorrow may never have end. For when I\nremember of her beauty, and of her noblesse, that was both with her\nking and with her, so when I saw his corpse and her corpse so lie\ntogether, truly mine heart would not serve to sustain my careful body.\nAlso when I remember me how by my default, mine orgule and my pride,\nthat they were both laid full low, that were peerless that ever was\nliving of Christian people, wit you well, said Sir Launcelot, this\nremembered, of their kindness and mine unkindness, sank so to mine\nheart, that I might not sustain myself. So the French book maketh\nmention.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. How Sir Launcelot began to sicken, and after died, whose\nbody was borne to Joyous Gard for to be buried.\n\n\nThen Sir Launcelot never after ate but little meat, ne drank, till he\nwas dead. For then he sickened more and more, and dried, and dwined\naway. For the Bishop nor none of his fellows might not make him to eat,\nand little he drank, that he was waxen by a cubit shorter than he was,\nthat the people could not know him. For evermore, day and night, he\nprayed, but sometime he slumbered a broken sleep; ever he was lying\ngrovelling on the tomb of King Arthur and Queen Guenever. And there was\nno comfort that the Bishop, nor Sir Bors, nor none of his fellows,\ncould make him, it availed not. So within six weeks after, Sir\nLauncelot fell sick, and lay in his bed; and then he sent for the\nBishop that there was hermit, and all his true fellows. Then Sir\nLauncelot said with dreary steven: Sir Bishop, I pray you give to me\nall my rites that longeth to a Christian man. It shall not need you,\nsaid the hermit and all his fellows, it is but heaviness of your blood,\nye shall be well mended by the grace of God to-morn. My fair lords,\nsaid Sir Launcelot, wit you well my careful body will into the earth, I\nhave warning more than now I will say; therefore give me my rites. So\nwhen he was houseled and anealed, and had all that a Christian man\nought to have, he prayed the Bishop that his fellows might bear his\nbody to Joyous Gard. Some men say it was Alnwick, and some men say it\nwas Bamborough. Howbeit, said Sir Launcelot, me repenteth sore, but I\nmade mine avow sometime, that in Joyous Gard I would be buried. And\nbecause of breaking of mine avow, I pray you all, lead me thither. Then\nthere was weeping and wringing of hands among his fellows.\n\nSo at a season of the night they all went to their beds, for they all\nlay in one chamber. And so after midnight, against day, the Bishop\n[that] then was hermit, as he lay in his bed asleep, he fell upon a\ngreat laughter. And therewith all the fellowship awoke, and came to the\nBishop, and asked him what he ailed. Ah Jesu mercy, said the Bishop,\nwhy did ye awake me? I was never in all my life so merry and so well at\nease. Wherefore? said Sir Bors. Truly said the Bishop, here was Sir\nLauncelot with me with mo angels than ever I saw men in one day. And I\nsaw the angels heave up Sir Launcelot unto heaven, and the gates of\nheaven opened against him. It is but dretching of swevens, said Sir\nBors, for I doubt not Sir Launcelot aileth nothing but good. It may\nwell be, said the Bishop; go ye to his bed, and then shall ye prove the\nsooth. So when Sir Bors and his fellows came to his bed they found him\nstark dead, and he lay as he had smiled, and the sweetest savour about\nhim that ever they felt.\n\nThen was there weeping and wringing of hands, and the greatest dole\nthey made that ever made men. And on the morn the Bishop did his mass\nof Requiem, and after, the Bishop and all the nine knights put Sir\nLauncelot in the same horse bier that Queen Guenever was laid in\nto-fore that she was buried. And so the Bishop and they all together\nwent with the body of Sir Launcelot daily, till they came to Joyous\nGard; and ever they had an hundred torches brenning about him. And so\nwithin fifteen days they came to Joyous Gard. And there they laid his\ncorpse in the body of the quire, and sang and read many psalters and\nprayers over him and about him.\n\nAnd ever his visage was laid open and naked, that all folks might\nbehold him. For such was the custom in those days, that all men of\nworship should so lie with open visage till that they were buried. And\nright thus as they were at their service, there came Sir Ector de\nMaris, that had seven years sought all England, Scotland, and Wales,\nseeking his brother, Sir Launcelot.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. How Sir Ector found Sir Launcelot his brother dead, and\nhow Constantine reigned next after Arthur; and of the end of this book.\n\n\nAnd when Sir Ector heard such noise and light in the quire of Joyous\nGard, he alighted and put his horse from him, and came into the quire,\nand there he saw men sing and weep. And all they knew Sir Ector, but he\nknew not them. Then went Sir Bors unto Sir Ector, and told him how\nthere lay his brother, Sir Launcelot, dead; and then Sir Ector threw\nhis shield, sword, and helm from him. And when he beheld Sir\nLauncelot\u2019s visage, he fell down in a swoon. And when he waked it were\nhard any tongue to tell the doleful complaints that he made for his\nbrother. Ah Launcelot, he said, thou were head of all Christian\nknights, and now I dare say, said Sir Ector, thou Sir Launcelot, there\nthou liest, that thou were never matched of earthly knight\u2019s hand. And\nthou were the courteoust knight that ever bare shield. And thou were\nthe truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrad horse. And thou were\nthe truest lover of a sinful man that ever loved woman. And thou were\nthe kindest man that ever struck with sword. And thou were the\ngoodliest person that ever came among press of knights. And thou was\nthe meekest man and the gentlest that ever ate in hall among ladies.\nAnd thou were the sternest knight to thy mortal foe that ever put spear\nin the rest. Then there was weeping and dolour out of measure.\n\nThus they kept Sir Launcelot\u2019s corpse aloft fifteen days, and then they\nburied it with great devotion. And then at leisure they went all with\nthe Bishop of Canterbury to his hermitage, and there they were together\nmore than a month. Then Sir Constantine, that was Sir Cador\u2019s son of\nCornwall, was chosen king of England. And he was a full noble knight,\nand worshipfully he ruled this realm. And then this King Constantine\nsent for the Bishop of Canterbury, for he heard say where he was. And\nso he was restored unto his Bishopric, and left that hermitage. And Sir\nBedivere was there ever still hermit to his life\u2019s end. Then Sir Bors\nde Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Gahalantine, Sir Galihud, Sir\nGalihodin, Sir Blamore, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Villiars le Valiant, Sir\nClarrus of Clermont, all these knights drew them to their countries.\nHowbeit King Constantine would have had them with him, but they would\nnot abide in this realm. And there they all lived in their countries as\nholy men. And some English books make mention that they went never out\nof England after the death of Sir Launcelot, but that was but favour of\nmakers. For the French book maketh mention, and is authorised, that Sir\nBors, Sir Ector, Sir Blamore, and Sir Bleoberis, went into the Holy\nLand thereas Jesu Christ was quick and dead, and anon as they had\nstablished their lands. For the book saith, so Sir Launcelot commanded\nthem for to do, or ever he passed out of this world. And these four\nknights did many battles upon the miscreants or Turks. And there they\ndied upon a Good Friday for God\u2019s sake.\n\n_Here is the end of the book of King Arthur, and of his noble knights\nof the Round Table, that when they were whole together there was ever\nan hundred and forty. And here is the end of the death of Arthur. I\npray you all, gentlemen and gentlewomen that readeth this book of\nArthur and his knights, from the beginning to the ending, pray for me\nwhile I am alive, that God send me good deliverance, and when I am\ndead, I pray you all pray for my soul. For this book was ended the\nninth year of the reign of King Edward the Fourth, by Sir Thomas\nMaleore, knight, as Jesu help him for his great might, as he is the\nservant of Jesu both day and night._\n\n_Thus endeth this noble and joyous book entitled Le Morte Darthur.\nNotwithstanding it treateth of the birth, life, and acts of the said\nKing Arthur, of his noble knights of the Round Table, their marvellous\nenquests and adventures, the achieving of the Sangreal, and in the end\nthe dolorous death and departing out of this world of them all. Which\nbook was reduced into English by Sir Thomas Malory, knight, as afore is\nsaid, and by me divided into twenty-one books, chaptered and emprinted,\nand finished in the abbey, Westminster, the last day of July the year\nof our Lord MCCCCLXXXV._\n\n_Caxton me fieri fecit._\n\n\n\n\nGLOSSARY\n\n\nAbashed, abased, lowered,\nAbate, depress, calm,\nAbought, paid for,\nAbraid, started,\nAccompted, counted,\nAccorded, agreed,\nAccordment, agreement,\nAcquit, repay,\nActually, actively,\nAdoubted, afraid,\nAdvision, vision,\nAfeard, afraid,\nAfterdeal, disadvantage,\nAgainsay, retract,\nAknown, known,\nAligement, alleviation,\nAllegeance, alleviation,\nAllow, approve,\nAlmeries, chests,\nAlther, gen. pl., of all,\nAmounted, mounted,\nAnealed, anointed,\nAnguishly, in pain,\nAnon, at once,\nApair, weaken,\nApparelled, fitted up,\nAppeach, impeach,\nAppealed, challenged, accused,\nAppertices, displays,\nAraged, enraged, ; confused,\nAraised, raised,\nArase, obliterate,\nAreared, reared,\nArmyvestal, martial,\nArray, plight, state of affairs,\nArrayed, situated,\nArson, saddle-bow,\nAskance, casually,\nAssoiled, absolved,\nAssotted, infatuated,\nAssummon, summon,\nAstonied, amazed, stunned,\nAt, of, by,\nAt-after, after,\nAttaint, overcome,\nAumbries, chests,\nAvail (at), at an advantage,\nAvaled, lowered,\nAvaunt, boast,\nAventred, couched,\nAvised, be advised, take thought,\nAvision, vision,\nAvoid, quit,\nAvoided, got clear off,\nAvow, vow,\nAwait of (in), in watch for,\nAwayward, away,\nAwke, sideways,\n\nBachelors, probationers for knighthood\nBain, bath,\nBarbican, gate-tower,\nBarget, little ship,\nBattle, division of an army,\nBawdy, dirty,\nBeams, trumpets,\nBe-closed, enclosed,\nBecome, pp., befallen, gone to,\nBedashed, splashed,\nBehests, promises,\nBehight, promised,\nBeholden (beholding) to, obliged to,\nBehote, promised,\nBenome, deprived, taken away,\nBesants, gold coins,\nBeseek, beseech,\nBeseen, appointed, arrayed,\nBeskift, shove off,\nBested, beset,\nBetaken, entrusted,\nBetaught, entrusted, recommended,\nBetid, happened,\nBetook, committed, entrusted,\nBevered, quivered,\nBoard, sb., deck,\nBobaunce, boasting, pride,\nBoishe, bush, branch of a tree,\nBoistous, rough,\nBole, trunk of a tree,\nBoot, remedy,\nBorrow out, redeem,\nBorrows, pledges,\nBote, remedy,\nBound, ready,\nBourded, jested,\nBourder, jester,\nBraced, embraced,\nBrachet, little hound,\nBraide, quick movement,\nBrast, burst, break,\nBreaths, breathing holes,\nBrief, shorten,\nBrim, fierce, furious,\nBrised, broke,\nBroached, pierced,\nBroaches, spits,\nBur, hand-guard of a spear,\nBurble, bubble,\nBurbling, bubbling,\nBurgenetts, buds, blossoms,\nBushment, ambush,\nBy and by, immediately,\nBywaryed, expended, bestowed,\n\nCanel bone, collar bone,\nCankered, inveterate,\nCantel, slice, strip,\nCareful, sorrowful, full of troubles,\nCast (of bread), loaves baked at the same time,\nCast, ref: v., propose,\nCedle, schedule, note,\nCere, wax over, embalm,; cerel,\nCertes, certainly,\nChafe, heat, decompose,; chafed, heated,\nChaflet, platform, scaffold,\nChampaign, open country,\nChariot (Fr charette), cart,\nCheer, countenance, entertainment,\nChierte, dearness,\nChrism, anointing oil,\nClatter, talk confusedly,\nCleight, clutched,\nCleped, called,\nClipping, embracing,\nCog, small boat,\nCognisance, badge, mark of distinction,\nCoif, head-piece,\nComfort, strengthen, help,\nCominal, common,\nComplished, complete,\nCon, know, be able, ; con thanlt, be grateful,\nConserve, preserve,\nConversant, abiding in,\nCording, agreement,\nCoronal, circlet,\nCost, side,\nCosted, kept up with,\nCouched, lay,\nCourage, encourage,\nCourtelage, courtyard,\nCovert, sheltered,\nCovetise, covetousness,\nCovin, deceit,\nCream, oil,\nCredence, faith,\nCroup, crupper,\nCurteist, most courteous,\n\nDaffish, foolish,\nDanger (in), under obligation to, in the power of,\nDawed, v tr., revived, intr. dawned,\nDeadly, mortal, human,\nDeal, part, portion,\nDebate, quarrel, strife,\nDebonair, courteous,\nDeceivable, deceitful,\nDefaded, faded,\nDefault, fault,\nDefend, forbid,; defended,; forbidden,\nDefoiled, trodden down, fouled, deflowered,\nDegree (win the), rank, superiority,\nDelibered, determined,\nDeliverly, adroitly,\nDeparted, divided,\nDepartition, departure,\nDere, harm,\nDescrive, describe,\nDespoiled, stripped,\nDetrenched, cut to pieces,\nDevised, looked carefully at,\nDevoir, duty, service,\nDid off, doffed,\nDight, prepared,\nDindled, trembled,\nDisadventure, misfortune,\nDiscover, reveal,\nDisherited, disinherited,\nDisparpled, scattered,\nDispenses, expenses,\nDisperplyd, scattered,\nDispoiled, stripped,\nDistained, sullied, dishonoured,\nDisworship, shame,\nDole, gift of alms,\nDole, sorrow,\nDomineth, dominates, rules,\nDon, gift,\nDoted, foolish,\nDoubted, redoubtable,\nDraughts, privities, secret interviews, recesses,\nDrenched, drowned,\nDress, make ready,\nDressed up, raised,\nDretched, troubled in sleep,\nDretching, being troubled in sleep,\nDromounds, war vessels,\nDure, endure, last,; dured,; during,\nDuresse, bondage, hardship,\nDwined, dwindled,\n\nEased, entertained,\nEft, after, again,\nEftures, passages,\nEmbattled, ranged for battle,\nEmbushed, concealed in the woods,\nEme, uncle,\nEmpoison, poison,\nEmprised, undertook,\nEnbraid,\nEnchafe, heat,; enchafed, heated,\nEnchieve, achieve,\nEndlong, alongside of,\nEnewed, painted,\nEnforce, constrain,\nEngine, device,\nEnow, enough,\nEnquest, enterprise,\nEnsured, assured,\nEntermete, intermeddle,\nErrant, wandering,\nEstates, ranks,\nEven hand, at an equality,\nEvenlong, along,\nEverych, each, every one,\n\nFaiter, vagabond,\nFare, sb., ado, commotion,\nFaren, pp., treated,\nFaute, lack,; fauted, lacked,\nFealty, oath of fidelity,\nFear, frighten,\nFeute, trace, track,\nFeuter, set in rest, couch,\nFeutred, set in socket,\nFiaunce, affiance, promise,\nFlang, flung,; rushed,\nFlatling, prostrate,\nFleet, float,\nFlemed, put to flight,\nFlittered, fluttered,\nFoiled, defeated, shamed,\nFoined, thrust,\nFoining, thrusting,\nFoins, thrusts,\nFoot-hot, hastily,\nFor-bled, spent with bleeding,\nForce (no), no concern,\nFordeal, advantage,\nFordo, destroy,; fordid,\nForecast, preconcerted plot,\nFor-fared, worsted,\nForfend, forbid,\nForfoughten, weary with fighting,\nForhewn, hewn to pieces,\nForjousted, tired with jousting,\nForthinketh, repents,\nFortuned, happened,\nForward, vanguard,\nForwowmded, sorely wounded,\nFree, noble,\nFreshed,\nFroward, away from,\n\nGad, wedge or spike of iron,\nGainest, readiest,\nGar, cause,\nGart, compelled,\nGentily, like a gentleman,\nGerfalcon, a fine hawk,\nGermane, closely allied,\nGest, deed, story,\nGisarm, halberd, battle-axe,\nGlaive, sword,\nGlasting, barking,\nGlatisant, barking, yelping,\nGobbets, lumps,\nGraithed, made ready,\nGree, degree, superiority,\nGreed, pp., pleased, content,\nGrescs, steps,\nGrimly, ugly,\nGrovelling, on his face,\nGuerdonless, without reward,\nGuise, fashion,\n\nHabergeon, hauberk with leggings attached,\nHair, a hair-shirt,\nHale and how, a sailor's cry,\nHalp, helped,\nHalsed, embraced,\nHalsing, embracing,\nHandfast, betrothed,\nHandsel, earnest-money,\nHangers, testicles,\nHarbingers, messengers sent to prepare lodgings,\nHarness, armour,\nHart of greese, fat deer,\nHauberk, coat of mail,\nHaut, high, noble,\nHauteyn, haughty,\nHeavy, sad,\nHete, command,\nHide, skin,\nHied, hurried,\nHigh (on), aloud,\nHigher hand, the uppermost,\nHight, called,\nHilled, covered, concealed,\nHolden, held,\nHolp, helped,\nHolts, woods,\nHough-bone, back part of kneejoint,\nHouselled, to be given the Eucharist,\nHoved, hovered, waited about,\nHurled, dashed, staggered,; hurling,\nHurtle, dash,\n\nIncontinent, forthwith,\nInd, dark blue,\nInfellowship, join in fellowship,\nIn like, alike,\nIntermit, interpose,\n\nJaper, jester,\nJapes, jests,\nJesseraunt, a short cuirass,\n\nKeep, sb., care,\nKeep, s., care, reck,\nKemps, champions,\nKind, nature,\nKindly, natural,\nKnights parters, marshals,\nKnow, acknowledge,\nKnowledging, acknowledgment, confession,\n\nLain, conceal,\nLangering, sauntering,\nLapped, took in her lap,\nLarge, generous,\nLargeness, liberality,\nLaton, latten, brass,\nLaund, waste plain,\nLayne, conceal,\nLazar-cot, leper-house,\nLearn, teach,\nLears, cheeks,\nLeaved, leafy,\nLecher, fornicator,\nLeech, physician,\nLeman, lover,\nLet, caused to,\nLet, hinder,\nLewdest, most ignorant,\nLicours lecherous,\nLief, dear,\nLiefer, more gladly,\nLieve, believe,\nLimb-meal, limb from limb,\nList, desire, pleasure,\nLithe, joint,\nLonging unto, belonging to,\nLong on (upon), because of,\nLoos, praise,\nLotless, without a share,\nLoveday, day for. settling disputes,\nLoving, praising,\nLunes, leashes, strings,\nLusk, lubber,\nLusts, inclinations,\n\nMaims, wounds,\nMakeless, matchless,\nMakers, authors, poets,\nMas,ease, discomfort,\nMal engine, evil design,\nMal-fortune, ill-luck, mishap,\nMarches, borders,\nMass-penny, offering at mass for the dead,\nMatche old, machicolated, with holes for defence,\nMaugre, sb., despite,\nMeasle, disease,\nMedled, mingled,\nMedley, melee, general encounter,\nMeiny, retinue,\nMickle, much,\nMinever, ermine,\nMischieved, hurt,\nMischievous, painful,\nMiscorr fort, discomfort,\nMiscreature, unbeliever,\nMissay, revile,; missaid,\nMo, more,\nMore and less, rich and poor,\nMotes, notes on a horn,\nMount~ lance, amount of, extent,\nMuch, great,\n\nNaked, unarmed,\nNamely, especially,\nNe, nor,\nNear-hand, nearly,; near,\nNeedly, needs, on your own compulsion,\nNesh, soft, tender,\nNigh-hand, nearly,\nNill, will not,\nNilt, will not,\nNis, ne is, is not,\nNist, ne wist, knew not,\nNoblesse, nobleness,\nNobley, nobility, splendour,\nNoised, reported,\nNold, would not,\nNoseling, on his nose,\nNot for then, nevertheless,\nNotoyrly, notoriously,\nNoyous, hurtful,\n\nObeissance, obedience,\nOr, before,\nOrgule, haughtiness,\nOrgulist, haughtiest,\nOrgulite, pride, arrogance,\nOrgulous, proud,\nOther, or,\nOuches, jewels,\nOught, owned,\nOutcept, except,\nOuther, or,\nOut-taken, except,\nOver-evening, last night,\nOverget, overtake,\nOverhylled, covered,\nOver-led, domineered over,\nOverlong, the length of,\nOverslip, pass,\nOverthwart, adj., cross,\nOverthwart, sb., mischance,\nOverthwart and endlong, by the breadth and length,\n\nPainture, painting,\nPaitrelles, breastplate of a horse,\nPaltocks, short coats,\nParage, descent,\nPareil, like,\nPassing, surpassingly,\nPaynim, pagan,\nPensel, pennon,\nPerclos, partition,\nPerdy, par Dieu,\nPerigot, falcon,\nPerish, destroy,\nPeron, tombstone,\nPight, pitched,\nPike, steal away,\nPiked, stole,\nPillers, plunderers,\nPilling, plundering,\nPleasaunce, pleasure,\nPlenour, complete,\nPlump, sb., cluster,\nPointling, aiming,\nPont, bridge,\nPort, gate,\nPosseded, possessed,\nPotestate, governor,\nPrecessours, predecessors,\nPress, throng,\nPretendeth, belongs to,\nPricker, hard rider,\nPricking, spurring,\nPrime, A.M.,\nPrise, capture,\nPuissance, power,\nPurfle, trimming,\nPurfled, embroidered,\nPurvey, provide,\n\nQuarrels, arrowheads,\nQuesting, barking,\nQuick, alive,\nQuit, repaid,; acquitted, behaved,\n\nRaced (rased), tore,\nRack (of bulls), herd,\nRaines, a town in Brittany famous for its cloth,\nRamping, raging,\nRange, rank, station,\nRansacked, searched,\nRashed, fell headlong,\nRashing, rushing,\nRasing, rushing,\nRasure,\nRaundon, impetuosity,\nRear, raise,\nRechate, note of recall,\nRecomforted, comforted, cheered,\nRecounter, rencontre, encounter,\nRecover, rescue,\nRede, advise, ; sb., counsel,\nRedounded, glanced back,\nReligion, religious order,\nReneye, deny,\nReport, refer,\nResemblaunt; semblance,\nRetrayed, drew back,\nRightwise, rightly,\nRivage, shore,\nRomed, roared,\nRoted, practised,\nRove, cleft,\nRownsepyk, a branch,\n\nSacring, consecrating,\nSad, serious,\nSadly, heartily, earnestly,\nSalle, room,\nSamite, silk stuff with gold or silver\nthreads,\nSangreal, Holy Grail,\nSarps, girdles,\nSaw, proverb,\nScathes, harms, hurts,\nScripture, writing,\nSearch, probe wounds,\nSelar, canopy,\nSemblable, like,\nSemblant, semblance,\nSendal, fine cloth,\nSennight, week,\nServage, slavery,\nSewer, officer who set on dishes and tasted them,\nShaft-mon, handbreadth,\nShaw, thicket,\nSheef, thrust,\nSheer-Thursday, Thursday in Holy Week,\nShend, harm,\nShenship, disgrace,\nShent, undone, blamed,\nShour, attack,\nShrew, rascal,\nShrewd, knavish,\nSib, akin to,\nSideling, sideways,\nSiege, seat,\nSignified, likened,\nSiker, sure,\nSikerness, assurance,\nSith, since,\nSithen, afterwards, since,\nSkift, changed,\nSlade, valley,\nSlake, glen,\nSoil (to go to), hunting term for taking the water,\nSonds, messages,\nSort, company,\nSperd, bolted,\nSpere, ask, inquire,\nSpered, asked,\nSperhawk, sparrowhawk,\nSprent, sprinkled,\nStale, station,\nStark, thoroughly,\nStead, place,\nStert, started, rose quickly,\nSteven, appointment,; steven ser. appointment made,\nSteven, voice,\nStigh, path,\nStilly, silently,\nStint, fixed revenue,\nStonied, astonished,; became confused,\nStour, battle,\nStrain, race, descent,\nStrait, narrow,\nStraked, blew a horn,\nSue, pursue,\nSued, pursued,\nSurcingles, saddle girths,\nSwang, swung,\nSweven, dream,\nSwough, sound of wind,\n\nTalent, desire,\nTallages, taxes,\nTallies, taxes,\nTamed, crushed,\nTatches, qualities,\nTene, sorrow,\nTerm, period of time,\nThilk, that same,\nTho, then,\nThrang, pushed,\nThrulled, pushed,\nTill, to,\nTo-brast, burst,\nTo-fore, before,\nTo-morn, to-morrow,\nTook, gave,\nTo-rove, broke up,\nTo-shivered, broken to pieces,\nTraced, advanced and retreated,\nTrains, devices, wiles,\nTrasing, pressing forward,\nTravers (met at), came across,\nTraverse, slantwise,\nTraversed, moved sideways,\nTray, grief,\nTreatise, treaty,\nTree, timber,\nTrenchant, cutting, sharp,\nTres:, hunting term,\nTruage, tribute,\nTrussed, packed,\n\nUbblie, wafer, Host,\nUmbecast, cast about,\nUmberere, the part of the helmet which shaded the eyes,\nUmbre, shade,\nUnavised, thoughtlessly,\nUncouth, strange,\nUnderne, - A.M.,\nUngoodly, rudely,\nUnhappy, unlucky,\nUnhilled, uncovered,\nUnr the, scarcely,\nUnsicker, unstable,\nUnwimpled, uncovered,\nUnwrast, untwisted, unbound,\nUpright, flat on the back,\nUp-so-down, upside down,\nUre, usage,\nUtas, octave of a festival,\nUtterance, uttermost,\n\nVarlet, servant,\nVenery, hunting,\nVen ails, breathing holes,\nVillain, man of low birth,\nVisors, the perforated parts of helmets,\nVoided, slipped away from,\n\nWagging, shaking,\nWaited, watched,\nWaits, watches,\nWallop, gallop,\nWanhope, despair,\nWap, ripple,\nWare, aware,\nWarison, reward,\nWarn, forbid, refuse,\nWeeds, garments,\nWeltered, rolled about,\nWend, thought,\nWer-wolf, a man turned into a wolf by magic,\nWhere, whereas,\nWide-where, over wide space,\nWield, possess, have power over,\nWield himself, come to himself,\nWight, brave, strong,\nWightly, swiftly,\nWildsome, desolate,\nWimpled, with the head covered,\nWin, make way,\nWite, v., blame,\nWithin-forth, on the inside,\nWithout-forth, on the outside,\nWittiest, cleverest,\nWittily, cleverly,\nWitting, knowledge,\nWold or nold, would or would not,\nWonder, adj., wondrous,\nWonder, adv., wondrously,\nWonderly, wonderfully,\nWood, mad,\nWoodness, madness,\nWood shaw, thicket of the wood,\nWorship, honour,\nWorshipped, cause to be honoured,\nWorts, roots,\nWot, know,\nWrack, destruction,\nWroken, wreaked,\nWrothe, twisted,\n\nYede, ran,\nYelden, yielded,\nYerde, stick, stem,\nYode, went,\nYolden, yielded,\nY-wis, certainly,","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur: Volume 2","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":193300}