第68章 BOOK VI(7)

Nay,sir,she said,at this time,but almighty Jesu preserve you wheresomever ye ride or go,for the curteist knight thou art,and meekest unto all ladies and gentlewomen,that now liveth.But one thing,sir knight,methinketh ye lack,ye that are a knight wifeless,that he will not love some maiden or gentlewoman,for Icould 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 damosel nor lady shall rejoice you;wherefore many in this land,of high estate and low,make great sorrow.

Fair damosel,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 pleasaunce with paramours,that will I refuse in principal for dread of God;for knights that be adventurous or lecherous shall not be happy nor fortunate unto the wars,for other they shall be overcome with a simpler knight than they be themselves,other else they shall by unhap and their cursedness slay better men than they be themselves.And so who that useth paramours 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 stert 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 paps.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 didst 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 alighted,and tied his horse to a ring on the wall and there he saw a fair green court,and thither he dressed him,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.

CHAPTER 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 Launcelot after him with all his might,and smote him on the shoulder,and clave him to the navel.

Then Sir Launcelot went into the hall,and there came afore him three score ladies and damosels,and all kneeled unto him,and thanked God and him of their deliverance;For sir,said they,the most party 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 be born,for thou hast done the most worship that ever did knight in this 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 damosel,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,show me such cheer as ye have cause,and what treasure that there in this castle is I give it you for a reward for your grievance,and the lord that is owner of this castle I would he received it as is right.Fair sir,said they,the name of this castle is Tintagil,and a duke ought it sometime 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 longeth;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 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 asleep.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 moonlight 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 alighted all three,and struck many great strokes at Sir Launcelot,and assailed him on every side.