Le Morte Darthur
And in the mean while La Cote Male Taile rode with the damsel until
they came unto a castle that hight Pendragon, and there were six
knights stood afore him, and one of them proffered to just with La Cote
Male Taile. And there La Cote Male Taile smote him over his horse
croup. And then the five knights set upon him all at once with their
spears, and there they smote La Cote Male Taile down, horse and man,
and then they alight suddenly, and set their hands upon him all at once
and took him prisoner, and so led him unto the castle and kept him as
prisoner. And on the morn Sir Launcelot arose and delivered the damsel
with letters unto Sir Tristram, and then he took his way after La Cote
Male Taile, and by the way upon a bridge there was a knight proffered
Sir Launcelot to just, and Sir Launcelot smote him down, and then they
fought upon foot a noble battle together, and a mighty. And at the last
Sir Launcelot smote him down groveling upon his hands and his knees;
and then that knight yielded him, and Sir Launcelot received him fair.
Sir, said the knight, I require thee tell me your name, for much my
heart giveth unto you. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, as at this time I will
not tell you my name, unless then that ye tell me your name. Certainly,
said the knight, my name is Sir Nerovens, that was made knight of my
lord Sir Launcelot du Lake. Ah, Nerovens de Lile, said Sir Launcelot, I
am right glad that ye are proved a good knight, for now wit ye well my
name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Alas, said Nerovens de Lile, what have I
done. And therewithall flatling he fell to his feet, and would have
kissed them, but Sir Launcelot would not let him; and then either made
great joy of other. And then Sir Nerovens told Sir Launcelot that he
should not go by the castle of Pendragon, For there is a lord, a mighty
knight, and many knights with him, and this night I heard say that they
took a knight prisoner yesterday that rode with a damsel, and they say
he is a knight of the Round Table.
CHAP. VI.
_How Sir Launcelot fought with six knights, and after with Sir Brian,
and how he delivered the prisoners._
Ah, said Sir Launcelot, that knight is my fellow, and him shall I
rescue, or else I shall lose my life therefore. And therewithal he rode
fast till he came before the castle of Pendragon, and anon therewithal
there came six knights, and all made them ready to set upon Sir
Launcelot at once. Then Sir Launcelot feutred his spear, and smote the
foremost that he brake his back in sunder, and three of them hit and
three failed. And then Sir Launcelot past through them, and lightly he
turned in again, and smote another knight through the breast and
throughout the back, and more than an ell, and therewithal his spear
brake. So then all the remnant of the four knights drew their swords,
and lashed at Sir Launcelot, and at every stroke Sir Launcelot bestowed
so his strokes that at four strokes sundry they avoided their saddles,
passing sore wounded, and forthwithal he rode hurling into that castle.
And, anon the lord of the castle that was that time called Sir Brian de
les isles, the which was a noble man, and a great enemy unto king
Arthur, within awhile he was armed and upon horseback: and then they
feutred their spears, and hurled together so strongly that both their
horses rashed to the earth. And then they avoided their saddles, and
dressed their shields, and drew their swords, and flung together as
wood men, and there were many strokes given in a while. At the last Sir
Launcelot gave to Sir Brian such a buffet that he kneeled upon his
knees, and then Sir Launcelot rashed upon him, and with great force he
pulled him off his helm, and when Sir Brian saw that he should be
slain, he yielded him, and put him in his mercy and in his grace. Then
Sir Launcelot made him to deliver all his prisoners that he had within
his castle, and therein Sir Launcelot found of Arthur’s knights thirty,
and forty ladies, and so he delivered them and then he rode his way.
And anon as La Cote Male Taile was delivered he gat his horse and his
harness, and his damsel Maledisant. The mean while Sir Nerovens, that
Sir Launcelot had fought withall afore at the bridge, he sent a damsel
after Sir Launcelot for to wit how he sped at the castle of Pendragon.
And then they within the castle marvelled what knight he was when Sir
Brian and his knights delivered all those prisoners. Have ye no marvel,
said the damsel, for the best knight in this world was here, and did
this tourney, and wit ye well, she said, it was Sir Launcelot. Then was
Sir Brian full glad, and so was his lady and all his knights that such
a man should win them. And when the damsel and La Cote Male Taile
understood that it was Sir Launcelot du Lake that had ridden with them
in fellowship, and that she remembered her how she had rebuked him and
called him coward, then was she passing heavy.
CHAP. VII.
_How Sir Launcelot met with the damsel named Maledisant, and how he
named her the damsel Bienpensant._
So then they took their horses and rode forth a pace after Sir
Launcelot. And within two mile they overtook him, and saluted him, and
thanked him, and the damsel cried Sir Launcelot mercy of her evil deed,
and saying, For now I know the flower of all knighthood is parted even
between Sir Tristram and you. For I have sought you my lord Sir
Launcelot, and Sir Tristram, long, and now I thank God I have met with
you; and once at Camelot, I met with Sir Tristram, and there he rescued
this black shield with the white hand holding a naked sword, which Sir
Breuse Sance Pité had taken away from me. Now, fair damsel, said Sir
Launcelot, who told you my name? Sir, said she, there came a damsel
from a knight that ye fought withall at the bridge, and she told me
your name was Sir Launcelot du Lake. Blame have she then, said Sir
Launcelot, but her lord Sir Nerovens hath told her. But damsel, said
Sir Launcelot, upon this covenant I will ride with you, so that ye will
not rebuke this knight Sir La Cote Male Taile no more, for he is a good
knight, and I doubt not he shall prove a noble knight, and for his
sake, and pity that he should not be destroyed, I followed him to
succour him in this great need. Ah, God thank you, said the damsel, for
now I will say unto you and to him both, I rebuked him never for no
hate that I hated him, but for great love that I had to him: for ever I
supposed that he had been too young and too tender to take upon him
these adventures, and, therefore by my will I would have driven him
away for jealousy that I had of his life; for it may be no young
knight’s deed that shall achieve this adventure to the end. Perdy, said
Sir Launcelot, it is well said, and where ye are called the damsel
Maledisant, I will call you the damsel Bienpensant. And so they rode
forth a great while until they came to the border of the country of
Surluse, and there they found a fair village with a strong bridge like
a fortress. And when Sir Launcelot and they were at the bridge, there
start forth afore them of gentlemen and yeomen many that said, Fair
lords, ye may not pass this bridge and this fortress because of that
black shield that I see one of you bear, and therefore there shall not
pass but one of you at once; therefore choose which of you shall enter
within this bridge first. Then Sir Launcelot proffered himself first to
enter within this bridge. Sir, said La Cote Male Taile, I beseech you
let me enter first within this fortress, and if I may speed well I will
send for you, and if it happen that I be slain, there it goeth. And if
so be that I am a prisoner taken, then may ye rescue me. I am loth,
said Sir Launcelot, to let you pass this passage. Sir, said La Cote
Male Taile, I pray you let me put my body in this adventure. Now go
your way, said Sir Launcelot, and Jesu be your speed. So he entered,
and anon there met with him two brethren, the one hight Sir Plaine de
Force, and the other hight Sir Plaine de Amours; and anon they met with
Sir La Cote Male Taile, and first La Cote Male Taile smote down Sir
Plaine de Force, and soon after he smote down Plaine de Amours, and
then they dressed them to their shields and swords, and bad La Cote
Male Taile alight, and so he did, and there was dashing and foining
with swords, and so they began to assail full hard La Cote Male Taile,
and many great wounds they gave him upon his head and upon his breast
and upon his shoulders. And as he might ever among he gave sad strokes
again. And then the two brethren traced and traversed for to be of both
hands of Sir La Cote Male Taile, but he by fine force and knightly
prowess gat them afore him. And then when he felt himself so wounded
then he doubled his strokes and gave them so many wounds that he felled
them to the earth, and would have slain them had they not yielded them.
And right so Sir La Cote Male Taile took the best horse that there was
of them three, and so rode forth his way to the other fortress and
bridge, and there he met with the third brother, whose name was Sir
Plenorius, a full noble knight, and there they justed together, and
either smote other down horse and man to the earth. And then they
avoided their horses, and dressed their shields, and drew their swords,
and gave many sad strokes, and one while the one knight was afore on
the bridge, and another while the other. And thus they fought two hours
and more, and never rested, and ever Sir Launcelot and the damsel
beheld them. Alas, said the damsel, my knight fighteth passing sore and
over long. Now may ye see, said Sir Launcelot, that he is a noble
knight, for to consider his first battle, and his grievous wounds. And
even forth with all so wounded as he is, it is great marvel that he may
endure this long battle with that good knight.
CHAP. VIII.
_How La Cote Male Taile was taken prisoner, and after rescued by Sir
Launcelot, and how Sir Launcelot overcame four brethren._
This mean while Sir La Cote Male Taile sank right down upon the earth,
what for-wounded and what for-bled he might not stand. Then the other
knight had pity of him, and said, Fair young knight, dismay you not,
for had ye been fresh when ye met with me, as I was, I well wot that I
should not have endured so long as ye have done, and therefore for your
noble deeds of arms I shall shew to you kindness and gentleness in all
that I may. And forth withal this noble knight Sir Plenorius took him
up in his arms, and led him into his tower. And then he commanded him
the wine, and made to search him, and to stop his bleeding wounds. Sir,
said La Cote Male Taile, withdraw you from me, and hie you to yonder
bridge again, for there will meet you another manner knight than ever I
was. Why, said Sir Plenorius, is there another manner knight behind of
your fellowship? Yea, said La Cote Male Taile, there is a much better
knight than I am. What is his name? said Plenorius. Ye shall not know
for me, said La Cote Male Taile. Well, said the knight, he shall be
encountered withal, whatsoever he be. Then Sir Plenorius heard a knight
call that said, Sir Plenorius, where art thou? either thou must deliver
me the prisoner that thou hast led unto thy tower, or else come and do
battle with me. Then Sir Plenorius gat his horse, and came with a spear
in his hand, galloping towards Sir Launcelot, and then they began to
feutre their spears, and came together as thunder, and smote either
other so mightily that their horses fell down under them. And then they
avoided their horses, and pulled out their swords, and like two bulls
they lashed together with great strokes and foins, but ever Sir
Launcelot recovered ground upon him, and Sir Plenorius traced to have