Le Morte Darthur
And here foloweth the Enleuenth book whiche is of sir launcelot.
The Eleventh Book.
CHAP. I.
_How Sir Launcelot rode on his adventure, and how he holpe a dolorous
lady from her pain, and how that he fought with a dragon._
Now leave we Sir Tristram de Liones, and speak we of Sir Launcelot du
Lake, and Sir Galahad, Sir Launcelot’s son, how he was born, and in
what manner, as the book of French rehearseth. Afore the time that Sir
Galahad was born, there came in an hermit unto king Arthur, upon
Whitsunday, as the knights sat at the Table Round. And when the hermit
saw the siege perilous, he asked the king and all the knights why that
siege was void. Sir Arthur and all the knights answered, There shall
never none sit in that siege but one, but if he be destroyed. Then,
said the hermit, wot ye what is he? Nay, said Arthur and all the
knights, we wot not who is he that shall sit therein. Then wot I, said
the hermit, for he that shall sit there is unborn, and this same year
he shall be born that shall sit there in that siege perilous, and he
shall win the Sangreal. When this hermit had made this mention he
departed from the court of king Arthur. And then after this feast Sir
Launcelot rode on his adventures, till on a time by adventure he passed
over the bridge of Corbin, and there he saw the fairest tower that ever
he saw, and thereunder was a fair town full of people, and all the
people, men and women, cried at once. Welcome Sir Launcelot du Lake,
the flower of all knighthood, for by thee all we shall be holpen out of
danger. What mean ye, said Sir Launcelot, that ye cry so upon me? Ah,
fair knight, said they all, here is within this tower a dolorous lady
that hath been there in pains many winters: for ever she boileth in
scalding water. And but late, said all the people, Sir Gawaine was
here, and he might not help her, and so he left her in pain. So may I,
said Sir Launcelot, leave her in pain as well as Sir Gawaine did. Nay,
said the people, we know well that it is Sir Launcelot that shall
deliver her. Well, said Launcelot, then show me what I shall do. Then
they brought Sir Launcelot into the tower. And when he came to the
chamber there as this lady was, the doors of iron unlocked and
unbolted. And so Sir Launcelot went into the chamber that was as hot as
any stew, and there Sir Launcelot took the fairest lady by the hand
that ever he saw, and she was naked as a needle, and by enchantment
queen Morgan le Fay and the queen of Northgalis had put her there in
that pains because she was called the fairest lady of that country. And
there she had been five years, and never might she be delivered out of
her great pains unto the time the best knight of the world had taken
her by the hand. Then the people brought her clothes. And when she was
arrayed, Sir Launcelot thought she was the fairest lady of the world,
but if it were queen Guenever. Then this lady said to Sir Launcelot,
Sir, if it please you will ye go with me hereby into a chapel that we
may give loving and thanking to God? Madam, said Sir Launcelot, cometh
on with me, I will go with you. So when they came there, and gave
thankings to God, all the people, both learned and lay, gave thankings
unto God and him, and said, Sir knight, since ye have delivered this
lady, ye shall deliver us from a serpent that is here in a tomb. Then
Sir Launcelot took his shield, and said, Bring me thither, and what I
may do unto the pleasure of God and you, I will do. So when Sir
Launcelot came thither, he saw written upon the tomb letters of gold
that said thus: Here shall come a libbard of king’s blood and he shall
slay this serpent, and this libbard shall engender a lion in this
foreign country, the which lion shall pass all other knights. So then
Sir Launcelot lift up the tomb, and there came out an horrible and a
fiendly dragon spitting fire out of his mouth. Then Sir Launcelot drew
out his sword and fought with the dragon long, and at last with great
pain Sir Launcelot slew that dragon. Therewithal came king Pelles, the
good and noble knight, and saluted Sir Launcelot, and he him again.
Fair knight, said the king, what is your name? I require you of your
knighthood tell me.
CHAP. II.
_How Sir Launcelot came to Pelles, and of the Sangreal, and of Elaine,
king Pelles’ daughter._
Sir, said Launcelot, wit you well my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. And
my name is, said the king, Pelles, king of the foreign country, and
cousin nigh unto Joseph of Arimathie. And then either of them made much
of other, and so they went into the castle to take their repast. And
anon there came in a dove at a window, and in her mouth there seemed a
little censer of gold. And therewithal there was such a savour as all
the spicery of the world had been there. And forthwithal there was upon
the table all manner of meats and drinks that they could think upon. So
came in a damsel passing fair and young, and she bare a vessel of gold
betwixt her hands, and thereto the king kneeled devoutly, and said his
prayers, and so did all that were there. Then said Sir Launcelot, What
may this mean? This is, said the king, the richest thing that any man
hath living. And when this thing goeth about, the Round Table shall be
broken. And wit thou well, said the king, this is the holy Sancgreal
that ye have here seen. So the king and Sir Launcelot led their life
the most part of that day. And fain would king Pelles have found the
mean to have had Sir Launcelot to love his daughter fair Elaine, and
for this intent: the king knew well that Sir Launcelot should have a
child by his daughter, the which should be named Sir Galahad, the good
knight, by whom all the foreign country should be brought out of
danger, and by him the holy Graale should be achieved. Then came forth
a lady that hight dame Brisen, and she said unto the king, Sir, wit ye
well, Sir Launcelot loveth no lady in the world but all only queen
Guenever, and therefore work ye by counsel, and I shall make him to see
your daughter Elaine, and he shall not wit but that he seeth queen
Guenever. Oh, fair lady, dame Brisen, said the king, hope ye to bring
this about? Sir, said she, upon pain of my life let me deal. For this
Brisen was one of the greatest enchantresses that was that time in the
world living.
Then anon by dame Brisen’s wit she made one to come to Sir Launcelot
that he knew well. And this man brought him a ring from queen Guenever
like as it had come from her, and such one as she was wont for the most
part to wear. And when Sir Launcelot saw that token, wit ye well he was
never so fain. Where is my lady? said Sir Launcelot. She is in the
castle of Case, said the messager, but five mile hence. Then Sir
Launcelot thought to be there the same night. And then this Brisen, by
the commandment of king Pelles, let send Elaine to this castle with
twenty-five knights unto the castle of Case. Then Sir Launcelot rode
unto that castle, and there anon he was received worshipfully with such
people to his seeming as were about queen Guenever. So when Sir
Launcelot was alight, then dame Brisen brought him a cup full of wine,
and as soon as he had drank that wine he was so assotted that he wend
that maiden Elaine had been queen Guenever. Wit ye well that Sir
Launcelot was glad, and so was that lady Elaine, for well she knew that
of them should be born Sir Galahad, that should prove the best knight
of the world. And then Sir Launcelot remembered him, and he arose up
and went to the window.
CHAP. III.
_How Sir Launcelot was displeased when he knew that he had been
deceived, and how Galahad was born._
And anon as he had unshut the window, the enchantment was gone, then he
knew himself that he had been deceived. Alas, said he, that I have
lived so long; now am I shamed. So then he gat his sword in his hand,
and said, Thou traitress, who art thou? thou shalt die right here of my
hands. Then this fair lady, Elaine, kneeled down afore Sir Launcelot
and said, Fair courteous knight, come of king’s blood, I require you
have mercy upon me; and as thou art renowned the most noble knight of
the world, slay me not, for I shall have a son by thee that shall be
the most noblest knight of the world. Ah, false traitress, said Sir
Launcelot, why hast thou betrayed me? Anon tell me what thou art. Sir,
she said, I am Elaine, the daughter of king Pelles. Well, said Sir
Launcelot, I will forgive you this deed. And therewith he took her up
in his arms and kissed her, for she was as fair a lady, and thereto
young, and as wise as any was that time living. Truly, said Sir
Launcelot, I may not blame this to you, but her that made this
enchantment upon me, as between you and me; and I may find her, that
same lady Brisen, she shall lose her head for witchcraft, for there was
never knight deceived so as I am. And so Sir Launcelot armed him, and
took his leave mildly at that lady, young Elaine, and so he departed.
Then she said, My lord Sir Launcelot, I beseech you see me as soon as
you may, for I have obeyed me unto the prophecy that my father told me,
and by his commandment to fulfil this prophecy I have given the
greatest riches and the fairest flower that ever I had, and that is my
maiden love and faith, and therefore, gentle knight, owe me your good
will. And so Sir Launcelot arrayed him, and was armed, and took his
leave mildly of that young lady Elaine, and so he departed, and rode
till he came to the castle of Corbin where her father was. And as soon
as her time came she was delivered of a fair child, and they christened
him Galahad. And wit ye well that child was well kept and well
nourished, and he was named Galahad, because Sir Launcelot was so named
at the fontain stone; and after that, the Lady of the lake confirmed
him Sir Launcelot du Lake. Then after this lady was delivered and
churched there came a knight unto her, his name was Sir Bromel la
Pleche, the which was a great lord, and he had loved that lady long,
and he evermore desired her to wed her, and so by no means she could
put him off, till on a day she said to Sir Bromel, Wit thou well, sir
knight, I will not love you, for my love is set upon the best knight of
the world. Who is he? said Sir Bromel. Sir, said she, it is Sir
Launcelot du Lake that I love, and none other, and therefore woo me no
longer. Ye say well, said Sir Bromel, and since ye have told me so
much, ye shall have but little joy of Sir Launcelot, for I shall slay
him wheresoever I meet him. Sir, said the lady Elaine, do to him no
treason. Wit ye well, my lady, said Bromel, and I promise you this
twelvemonth I shall keep the bridge of Corbin for Sir Launcelot’s sake,
that he shall neither come nor go unto you but I shall meet with him.
CHAP. IV.
_How Sir Bors came to dame Elaine, and saw Galahad, and how he was fed
with the Sangreal._
Then, as it befel by fortune and adventure, Sir Bors de Ganis, that was
nephew unto Sir Launcelot, came over that bridge, and there Sir Bromel
and Sir Bors justed, and Sir Bors smote Sir Bromel such a buffet that
he bare him over his horse croup. And then Sir Bromel, as an hardy
knight, pulled out his sword and dressed his shield, to do battle with
Sir Bors. And then Sir Bors alight and avoided his horse, and there
they dashed together many sad strokes, and long thus they fought, till
at the last Sir Bromel was laid to the earth, and there Sir Bors began
to unlace his helm to slay him. Then Sir Bromel cried Sir Bors’ mercy,
and yielded him. Upon this covenant thou shalt have thy life, said Sir
Bors, so thou go unto Sir Launcelot upon Whitsunday that next cometh,