Le Morte Darthur
Arthur would not suffer Sir Gawaine to go from him, for never had Sir
Gawaine the better and Sir Launcelot were in the field; and many times
was Sir Gawaine rebuked when Launcelot came into any justs disguised.
Then some of the kings, as king Anguish of Ireland and the king of
Scotland, were that time turned upon the side of king Arthur. And then
on the other party was the king of Northgalis, and the king with the
hundred knights, and the king of Northumberland, and Sir Galahalt the
haut prince. But these three kings and this duke were passing weak to
hold against king Arthur’s party: for with him were the noblest knights
of the world. So then they withdrew them either party from other, and
every man made him ready in his best manner to do what he might. Then
Sir Launcelot made him ready, and put the red sleeve upon his head, and
fastened it fast; and so Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed out of
Winchester privily, and rode until a little leaved wood, behind the
party that held against king Arthur’s party, and there they held them
still till the parties smote together. And then came in the king of
Scots and the king of Ireland on Arthur’s party: and against them came
the king of Northumberland; and the king with the hundred knights smote
down the king of Northumberland, and the king with the hundred knights
smote down king Anguish of Ireland. Then Sir Palamides, that was on
Arthur’s party, encountered with Sir Galahalt, and either of them smote
down other, and either party halp their lords on horseback again. So
there began a strong assail upon both parties. And then there came in
Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramor le Desirous, Sir Dodinas le Savage, Sir Kay
le Seneschal, Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, Sir Mordred, Sir Meliot de
Logris, Sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy, Sir Safere, Sir Epinogris, and Sir
Galleron of Galway. All these fifteen knights were knights of the Table
Round. So these with more others came in together, and beat on back the
king of Northumberland, and the king of North Wales. When Sir Launcelot
saw this, as he hoved in a little leaved wood, then he said unto Sir
Lavaine, See yonder is a company of good knights, and they hold them
together as boars that were chafed with dogs. That is truth, said Sir
Lavaine.
CHAP. XI.
_How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine entered in the field against them of
king Arthur’s court, and how Launcelot was hurt._
Now, said Sir Launcelot, and ye will help me a little, ye shall see
yonder fellowship which chaseth now these men in our side, that they
shall go as fast backward as they went forward. Sir, spare not, said
Sir Lavaine, for I shall do what I may. Then Sir Launcelot and Sir
Lavaine came in at the thickest of the press, and there Sir Launcelot
smote down Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramor. Sir Dodinas, Sir Kay, Sir
Griflet, and all this he did with one spear. And Sir Lavaine smote down
Sir Lucan le Buttelere, and Sir Bedivere. And then Sir Launcelot gat
another spear, and there he smote down Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, and
Sir Mordred, and Sir Meliot de Logris. And Sir Lavaine smote down
Ozanna le Cure Hardy: and then Sir Launcelot drew his sword, and there
he smote on the right hand and on the left hand, and by great force he
unhorsed Sir Safere, Sir Epinogris, and Sir Galleron. And then the
knights of the Table Round withdrew them aback, after they had gotten
their horses as well as they might. O mercy, said Sir Gawaine, what
knight is yonder, that doth so marvellous deeds of arms in that field?
I wot what he is, said king Arthur. But as at this time I will not name
him. Sir, said Sir Gawaine, I would say it were Sir Launcelot, by his
riding and his buffets that I see him deal: but ever me seemeth it
should not be he, for that he beareth the red sleeve upon his head, for
I wist him never bear token, at no justs, of lady nor gentlewoman. Let
him be said king Arthur, he will be better known and do more or ever he
depart. Then the party that were against king Arthur were well
comforted, and then they held them together, that beforehand were sore
rebuked. Then Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir Lionel, called unto
them the knights of their blood, as Sir Blamor de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis,
Sir Aliduke, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Bellangere le Beuse, so
these nine knights of Sir Launcelot’s kin thrust in mightily, for they
were all noble knights. And they, of great hate and despite that they
had unto him, thought to rebuke that noble knight Sir Launcelot, and
Sir Lavaine, for they knew them not. And so they came hurtling
together, and smote down many knights of Northgalis and of
Northumberland. And when Sir Launcelot saw them fare so, he gat a spear
in his hand, and there encountered with him all at once Sir Bors, Sir
Ector, and Sir Lionel, and all they three smote him at once with their
spears. And with force of themselves they smote Sir Launcelot’s horse
to the earth. And by misfortune Sir Bors smote Sir Launcelot through
the shield into the side, and the spear brake, and the head left still
in his side. When Sir Lavaine saw his master lie on the ground, he ran
to the king of Scots, and smote him to the earth, and by great force he
took his horse and brought him to Sir Launcelot, and maugre them all he
made him to mount upon that horse. And then Launcelot gat a spear in
his hand, and there he smote Sir Bors horse and man to the earth, in
the same wise he served Sir Ector and Sir Lionel, and Sir Lavaine smote
down Sir Blamor de Ganis. And then Sir Launcelot drew his sword, for he
felt himself so sore and hurt that he wend there to have had his death.
And then he smote Sir Bleoberis such a buffet on the helmet that he
fell down to the earth in a swoon. And in the same wise he served Sir
Aliduke and Sir Galihud. And Sir Lavaine smote down Sir Bellangere,
that was the son of Alisander le Orphelin. And by this was Sir Bors
horsed, and then he came with Sir Ector and Sir Lionel, and all they
three smote with swords upon Sir Launcelot’s helmet. And when he felt
their buffets, and his wound the which was so grievous, then he thought
to do what he might while he might endure; and then he gave Sir Bors
such a buffet that he made him bow his head passing low, and
therewithal he rased off his helm, and might have slain him, and so
pulled him down. And in the same wise he served Sir Ector and Sir
Lionel. For, as the book saith, he might have slain them, but when he
saw their visages his heart might not serve him thereto, but left them
there.
And then afterward he hurled in the thickest press of them all, and did
there the marvellousest deeds of arms that ever man saw or heard speak
of; and ever Sir Lavaine the good knight with him. And there Sir
Launcelot with his sword smote and pulled down, as the French book
maketh mention, more than thirty knights, and the most party were of
the Table Round. And Sir Lavaine did full well that day, for he smote
down ten knights of the Table Round.
CHAP. XII.
_How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed out of the field, and in
what jeopardy Launcelot was._
Mercy, said Sir Gawaine to Arthur, I marvel what knight that he is with
the red sleeve. Sir, said king Arthur, he will be known or he depart.
And then the king blew unto lodging, and the prize was given by heralds
unto the knight with the white shield, that bare the red sleeve. Then
came the king with the hundred knights, the king of Northgalis, and the
king of Northumberland, and Sir Galahalt the haut prince, and said unto
Sir Launcelot, Fair knight, God thee bless, for much have ye done this
day for us, therefore we pray you that ye will come with us, that ye
may receive the honour and the prize as ye have worshipfully deserved
it. My fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, wit you well, if I have deserved
thank I have sore bought it, and that me repenteth, for I am like never
to escape with my life, therefore, fair lords, I pray you that ye will
suffer me to depart where me liketh, for I am sore hurt. I take none
force of none honour, for I had lever to repose me than to be lord of
all the world. And therewithal he groaned piteously, and rode a great
gallop away-ward from them, until he came under a wood’s side; and when
he saw that he was from the field nigh a mile, that he was sure he
might not be seen, then he said with an high voice, O gentle knight Sir
Lavaine, help me that this truncheon were out of my side, for it
sticketh so sore that it nigh slayeth me. O mine own lord, said Sir
Lavaine, I would fain do that might please you, but I dread me sore,
and I draw out the truncheon, that ye shall be in peril of death. I
charge you, said Sir Launcelot, as ye love me draw it out. And
therewithal he descended from his horse, and right so did Sir Lavaine,
and forthwith Sir Lavaine drew the truncheon out of his side. And he
gave a great shriek, and a marvellous grisly groan, and his blood brast
out nigh a pint at once, that at last he sank down, and so swooned pale
and deadly. Alas, said Sir Lavaine, what shall I do? And then he turned
Sir Launcelot into the wind, but so he lay there nigh half an hour as
he had been dead. And so at the last Sir Launcelot cast up his eyes,
and said, O Lavaine, help me that I were on my horse, for here is fast
by within this two mile a gentle hermit, that sometime was a full noble
knight and a great lord of possessions: and for great goodness he hath
taken him to wilful poverty, and forsaken many lands, and his name is
Sir Baudewin of Brittany, and he is a full noble surgeon, and a good
leech. Now let see, help me up that I were there. For ever my heart
giveth me that I shall never die of my cousin-german’s hands. And then
with great pain Sir Lavaine halp him upon his horse; and then they rode
a great gallop together, and ever Sir Launcelot bled that it ran down
to the earth. And so by fortune they came to that hermitage, which was
under a wood, and a great cliff on the other side, and a fair water
running under it. And then Sir Lavaine beat on the gate with the butt
of his spear, and cried fast, Let in for Jesu’s sake. And there came a
fair child to them, and asked them what they would? Fair son, said Sir
Lavaine, go and pray thy lord the hermit for God’s sake to let in here
a knight that is full sore wounded, and this day tell thy lord that I
saw him do more deeds of arms than ever I heard say that any man did.
So the child went in lightly, and then he brought the hermit, the which
was a passing good man. So when Sir Lavaine saw him, he prayed him for
God’s sake of succour. What knight is he? said the hermit, is he of the
house of king Arthur or not? I wot not, said Sir Lavaine, what is he,
nor what is his name, but well I wot I saw him do marvellously this
day, as of deeds of arms. On whose party was he? said the hermit. Sir,
said Sir Lavaine, he was this day against king Arthur, and there he wan
the prize of all the knights of the Round Table. I have seen the day,
said the hermit, I would have loved him the worse because he was
against my lord king Arthur, for sometime I was one of the fellowship
of the Round Table, but I thank God now I am otherwise disposed. But
where is he? let me see him. Then Sir Lavaine brought the hermit to him.
CHAP. XIII.
_How Launcelot was brought to an hermit for to be healed of his wound,
and of other matters._
And when the hermit beheld him as he sat leaning upon his saddle-bow,
ever bleeding piteously, and ever the knight hermit thought that he
should know him, but he could not bring him to knowledge, because he
was so pale for bleeding. What knight are ye? said the hermit, and
where were ye born? My fair lord, said Sir Launcelot, I am a stranger,