Le Morte Darthur
horseback out of the wood, and his page with him, and there he put the
damsel from her horse, and then she cried. With that came Launcelot as
fast as he might, till he came to that knight, saying, Oh thou false
knight and traitor unto knighthood, who did learn thee to distress
ladies and gentlewomen? When the knight saw Sir Launcelot thus rebuking
him, he answered not, but drew his sword and rode unto Sir Launcelot.
And Sir Launcelot threw his spear from him, and drew out his sword, and
strake him such a buffet on the helmet that he clave his head and neck
unto the throat. Now hast thou thy payment that long thou hast
deserved. That is truth, said the damsel, for like as Turquine watched
to destroy knights, so did this knight attend to destroy and distress
ladies, damsels, and gentlewomen, and his name was Sir Peris de Forest
Savage. Now damsel, said Sir Launcelot, will ye any more service of me?
Nay sir, she said, at this time; but Almighty Jesu preserve you
wheresoever ye ride or go, for the courtiest knight thou art and
meekest unto all ladies and gentlewomen that now liveth. But one thing,
sir knight, me thinketh ye lack, ye that are a knight wifeless, that ye
will not love some maiden or gentlewoman, for I could never hear say
that ever ye loved any of no manner degree, and that is great pity; but
it is noised that ye love queen Guenever, and that she hath ordained by
enchantment that ye shall never love none other but her, nor none other
damsel nor lady shall rejoice you; wherefore many in this land, of high
estate and low, make great sorrow. Fair damsel, said Sir Launcelot, I
may not warn people to speak of me what it pleaseth them: but for to be
a wedded man I think it not, for then I must couch with her, and leave
arms and tournaments, battles and adventures. And as for to say for to
take my pleasance with paramours, that will I refuse in principal for
dread of God. For knights that be adulterous, or wanton, shall not be
happy nor fortunate unto the wars, for either they shall be overcome
with a simpler knight than they be themselves, or else they shall by
mishap and their cursedness slay better men than they be themselves;
and who that so useth shall be unhappy, and all thing is unhappy that
is about them. And so Sir Launcelot and she departed.
And then he rode in a deep forest two days and more, and had strait
lodging. So on the third day he rode over a long bridge, and there
start upon him suddenly a passing foul churl, and he smote his horse on
the nose that he turned about, and asked him why he rode over that
bridge without his licence. Why should I not ride this way? said Sir
Launcelot, I may not ride beside. Thou shalt not choose, said the
churl, and lashed at him with a great club shod with iron. Then Sir
Launcelot drew his sword, and put the stroke aback, and clave his head
unto the breast. At the end of the bridge was a fair village, and all
the people men and women cried on Sir Launcelot, and said, A worse deed
diddest thou never for thyself, for thou hast slain the chief porter of
our castle. Sir Launcelot let them say what they would, and straight he
went into the castle; and when he came into the castle he alight, and
tied his horse to a ring on the wall; and there he saw a fair green
court, and thither he dressed himself, for there him thought was a fair
place to fight in. So he looked about, and saw much people in doors and
windows, that said, Fair knight thou art unhappy.
CHAP. XI.
_How Sir Launcelot slew two giants, and made a castle free._
Anon withal came there upon him two great giants, well armed all save
the heads, with two horrible clubs in their hands. Sir Launcelot put
his shield afore him, and put the stroke away of the one giant, and
with his sword he clave his head asunder. When his fellow saw that, he
ran away as he were wood, for fear of the horrible strokes, and Sir
Launcelot after him with all his might, and smote him on the shoulder,
and clave him to the middle. Then Sir Launcelot went into the hall, and
there came afore him threescore ladies and damsels, and all kneeled
unto him, and thanked God and him of their deliverance. For, sir, said
they, the most part of us have been here this seven year their
prisoners, and we have worked all manner of silk works for our meat,
and we are all great gentlewomen born, and blessed be the time, knight,
that ever thou wert born; for thou hast done the most worship that ever
did knight in the world, that will we bear record, and we all pray you
to tell us your name, that we may tell our friends who delivered us out
of prison. Fair damsels, he said, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Ah,
sir, said they all, well mayest thou be he, for else save yourself, as
we deemed, there might never knight have the better of these two
giants, for many fair knights have assayed it, and here have ended, and
many times have we wished after you, and these two giants dread never
knight but you. Now may ye say, said Sir Launcelot, unto your friends,
how and who hath delivered you, and greet them all from me, and if that
I come in any of your marches, shew me such cheer as ye have cause; and
what treasure that there is in this castle I give it you for a reward
for your grievance: and the lord that is the owner of this castle I
would that he received it as is right. Fair sir, said they, the name of
this castle is Tintagil, and a duke owned it some time that had wedded
fair Igraine, and after wedded her Uther Pendragon and gat on her
Arthur. Well, said Sir Launcelot, I understand to whom this castle
belongeth. And so he departed from them and betaught them unto God. And
then he mounted upon his horse, and rode into many strange and wild
countries and through many waters and valleys, and evil was he lodged.
And at the last by fortune him happened against a night to come to a
fair courtelage, and therein he found an old gentlewoman that lodged
him with a good will, and there he had good cheer for him and his
horse. And when time was, his host brought him into a fair garret over
the gate to his bed. There Sir Launcelot unarmed him, and set his
harness by him, and went to bed, and anon he fell on sleep. So soon
after there came one on horseback, and knocked at the gate in great
haste. And when Sir Launcelot heard this he arose up, and looked out at
the window, and saw by the moon-light three knights came riding after
that one man, and all three lashed on him at once with swords, and that
one knight turned on them knightly again and defended him. Truly, said
Sir Launcelot, yonder one knight shall I help, for it were shame for me
to see three knights on one, and if he be slain I am partner of his
death. And therewith he took his harness and went out at a window by a
sheet down to the four knights, and then Sir Launcelot said on high,
Turn you knights unto me, and leave your fighting with that knight. And
then they all three left Sir Kay, and turned unto Sir Launcelot, and
there began great battle, for they alight all three, and strake many
great strokes at Sir Launcelot, and assailed him on every side. Then
Sir Kay dressed him for to have holpen Sir Launcelot. Nay, sir, said
he, I will none of your help, therefore as ye will have my help let me
alone with them. Sir Kay for the pleasure of the knight suffered him
for to do his will, and so stood aside. And then anon within six
strokes Sir Launcelot had stricken them to the earth.
And then they all three cried, Sir knight, we yield us unto you as man
of might matchless. As to that, said Sir Launcelot, I will not take
your yielding unto me, but so that ye yield you unto Sir Kay the
seneschal, on that covenant I will save your lives and else not. Fair
knight, said they, that were we loth to do; for as for Sir Kay we
chased him hither, and had overcome him had not ye been; therefore to
yield us unto him it were no reason. Well, as to that, said Sir
Launcelot, advise you well, for ye may choose whether ye will die or
live, for and ye be yielden it shall be unto Sir Kay. Fair knight, then
they said, in saving our lives we will do as thou commandest us. Then
shall ye, said Sir Launcelot, on Whitsunday next coming go unto the
court of king Arthur, and there shall ye yield you unto queen Guenever,
and put you all three in her grace and mercy, and say that Sir Kay sent
you thither to be her prisoners. Sir, they said, it shall done by the
faith of our bodies, and we be living. And there they swore, every
knight upon his sword. And so Sir Launcelot suffered them so to depart.
And then Sir Launcelot knocked at the gate with the pommel of his
sword, and with that came his host, and in they entered, Sir Kay and
he. Sir, said his host, I wend ye had been in your bed. So I was, said
Sir Launcelot, but I arose and lept out at my window for to help an old
fellow of mine. And so when they came nigh the light Sir Kay knew well
that it was Sir Launcelot, and therewith he kneeled down and thanked
him of all his kindness that he hath holpen him twice from the death.
Sir, he said, I have done nothing but that I ought to do, and ye are
welcome, and here shall ye repose you and take your rest. So when Sir
Kay was unarmed he asked after meat, so there was meat fetched him, and
he ate strongly. And when he had supped they went to their beds, and
were lodged together in one bed. On the morn Sir Launcelot arose early,
and left Sir Kay sleeping: and Sir Launcelot took Sir Kay’s armour and
his shield and armed him: and so he went to the stable and took his
horse, and took his leave of his host, and so he departed. Then soon
after arose Sir Kay and missed Sir Launcelot: and then he espied that
he had his armour and his horse. Now by my faith I know well that he
will grieve some of the court of king Arthur: for on him knights will
be bold, and deem that it is I, and that will beguile them: and because
of his armour and shield I am sure I shall ride in peace. And then soon
after departed Sir Kay, and thanked his host.
CHAP. XII.
_How Sir Launcelot rode disguised in Sir Kay’s harness, and how he
smote down a knight._
Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot that had ridden long in a great forest,
and at the last he came into a low country full of fair rivers and
meadows. And afore him he saw a long bridge, and three pavilions stood
thereon of silk and sandal of divers hue. And without the pavilions
hung three white shields on truncheons of spears, and great long spears
stood upright by the pavilions, and at every pavilion’s door stood
three fresh squires, and so Sir Launcelot passed by them, and spake no
word. When he was past the three knights said that it was the proud
Kay, he weeneth no knight so good as he, and the contrary is ofttime
proved. By my faith, said one of the knights, his name was Sir Gaunter,
I will ride after him and assay him for all his pride, and ye may
behold how that I speed. So this knight, Sir Gaunter, armed him, and
hung his shield upon his shoulder and mounted upon a great horse, and
gat his spear in his hand, and galloped after Sir Launcelot. And when
he came nigh him, he cried, Abide thou proud knight Sir Kay, for thou
shalt not pass quit. So Sir Launcelot turned him, and either fewtred
their spears, and came together with all their mights, and Sir
Gaunter’s spear brake, but Sir Launcelot smote him down, horse and man.
And when Sir Gaunter was at the earth his brethren said each one to
other, Yonder knight is not Sir Kay, for he is bigger than he. I dare
lay my head, said Sir Gilmere, yonder knight hath slain Sir Kay and
hath taken his horse and harness. Whether it be so or no, said Sir
Raynold the third brother, let us now go mount upon our horses and
rescue our brother Sir Gaunter upon pain of death. We all shall have