BOOK III.

THE PEERLESS KNIGHT LANCELOT

CHAPTER I.

THE TOURNAMENT AT WINCHESTER.

King Arthur proclaimed a great joust and a tournament that should be held at Camelot, that is Winchester; and the king said that he and the King of Scots would joust against all that would come against them. And when this proclamation was made, 5 thither came many knights.

So King Arthur made him ready to depart to these jousts but Sir Lancelot would not ride with the king, for he said he was suffering from a grievous wound. And so the king departed toward Winchester with his fellowship and by the way he lodged 10 in a town called Astolat.

And upon the morn early Sir Lancelot departed and rode until he came to Astolat and there it happened in the evening, he came to an old baron's place who was called Sir Bernard of Astolat. As Sir Lancelot entered into his lodging, King Arthur 15 saw him and knew him full well.

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"It is well," said King Arthur unto the knights that were with him, “I have now seen one knight that will play his play at the jousts to which we are going. I undertake he will do marvels."

"Who is that, we pray you tell us?" said many knights that were there at that time.

"Ye shall not know from me," said the king, "at this time." And so the king smiled and went to his lodging.

So when Sir Lancelot was in his lodging and unarmed him in 25 his chamber, the old baron came to him and welcomed him in the best manner, but the old knight knew not Sir Lancelot.

"Fair sir," said Sir Lancelot to his host, "I would pray you to lend me a shield that were not openly known, for mine is well known."

"Sir," said his host, "ye shall have your desire for meseemeth 5 ye be one of the likeliest knights of the world and therefore I shall show you friendship. Sir, I have two sons that were but late made knights and the elder is called Sir Torre and he was hurt that same day he was made knight, that he may not ride and his shield ye shall have, for that is not known, I dare say, 10 but here, and in no place else. And my younger son is called Lavaine and if it please you, he shall ride with you unto the jousts and he is of age and strong and brave; for much my heart giveth unto you that ye be a noble knight. Therefore, I pray you tell me your name," said Sir Bernard.

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"As for that," said Sir Lancelot, "ye must hold me excused at this time and if God give me grace to speed well at the jousts, I shall come again and tell you. But, I pray you, in any wise, let me have your son, Sir Lavaine, with me and that I may have his brother's shield."

"All this shall be done," said Sir Bernard.

This old baron had a daughter that was called at that time the fair maiden of Astolat and her name was Elaine. So this maiden besought Sir Lancelot to wear upon him at the jousts a token of hers.

"Fair damsel," said Sir Lancelot, "if I grant you that, I will do more for you than ever I did for lady."

Then he remembered him he would go to the jousts disguised. And because he had never before that time borne the token of any lady, then he bethought him that he would wear 30 one of hers, that none of his blood thereby might know him. And then he said, "Fair maiden, I will grant you to wear a token of yours upon mine helmet and therefore what it is, show it me." "Sir," she said, "it is a sleeve of mine, of scarlet, well embroidered with great pearls."

tor're or tōr

la vāne'

e låne'

And so she brought it him. So Sir Lancelot received it and gave the maiden his shield in keeping, and he prayed her to keep that until he came again.

So upon a day, on the morn, King Arthur and all his knights departed, for the king had tarried three days to abide his noble knights. And so when the king had gone, Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine made them ready to ride and either of them had white shields and the red sleeve, Sir Lancelot carried with him. So they took their leave of Sir Bernard, the old 10 baron, and of his daughter the fair maiden of Astolat.

And then they rode till they came to Camelot and there was a great press of kings, dukes, earls and barons and many noble knights. But there Sir Lancelot was lodged by means of Sir Lavaine with a rich burgess that no man in that town 15 knew who they were. And so they reposed them there, till the day of the tournament.

So the trumpets blew unto the field and set on a high place to behold who did best.

King Arthur was Then some of the kings were that time turned upon the side of King Arthur. 20 And then on the other party were the King of Northgalis and

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the King of the Hundred Knights and the King of Northumberland and Sir Galahad, the noble 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 Lancelot made him ready and put the red sleeve upon his head and fastened it fast; and so Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine departed out of Winchester and rode into a 30 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 35 Northumberland, and the King with the Hundred Knights

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smote down the King of Ireland. So there began a strong assail upon both parties. And there came in together many knights of the Table Round and beat back the King of Northumberland and the King of Northgalis.

When Sir Lancelot saw this, he said unto Sir Lavaine, "See, yonder is a company of good knights and they hold them together as boars that were chased with dogs."

"That is truth," said Sir Lavaine.

"Now," said Sir Lancelot, "if ye will help me a little, ye 10 shall see yonder fellowship that chaseth now these men on 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 Lancelot and Sir Lavaine came in at the thickest 15 of the press and there Sir Lancelot smote down five knights and all this he did with one spear; and Sir Lavaine smote down two knights. And then Sir Lancelot got another spear and there he smote down four knights and Sir Lavaine smote one.

And then Sir Lancelot drew his sword and there he smote 20 on the right hand and on the left hand and by great force he

unhorsed three knights; and then the knights of the Table Round withdrew them aback, after they had gotten their horses as well as they might.

"O," said Sir Gawain, "what knight is yonder that doth 25 such marvelous deeds of arms in that field?"

"I know well who he is," said King Arthur, "but at this time I will not name him.”

"Sir," said Sir Gawain, "I would say it were Sir Lancelot by his riding and the blows I see him deal, but ever meseemeth 30 it should not be he, for that he beareth the red sleeve upon his head, for I know he never wore token of lady at a joust."

"Let him be," said King Arthur, "he will be better known and do more, or ever he depart.”

Then the party that was against King Arthur was well com 35 forted and then they held them together that beforehand were

sore pressed. So nine knights of Lancelot's kin thrust in mightily, for they were all noble knights; and they, of great hate that they had unto him, thought to rebuke that noble knight, Sir Lancelot, and Sir Lavaine, for they knew them not. 5 And so they came charging together and smote down many knights of Northgalis and Northumberland.

And when Sir Lancelot saw them fare so, he took 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 10 at once with their spears.

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And with force of themselves they smote Sir Lancelot's horse to the earth and by misfortune Sir Bors smote Sir Lancelot through the shield into the side and the spear broke and the head was left 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 Lancelot and in spite of them all, he made him to mount upon that horse. And then Sir Lancelot took a spear in his hand and there he 20 smote Sir Bors, horse and man to the earth. In the same wise he served Sir Ector and Sir Lionel.

And then Sir Lancelot drew his sword, for he felt himself so sore and hurt that he thought there to have had his death. And he smote down three knights more, but by this was Sir 25 Bors horsed and then he came with Sir Ector and Sir Lionel

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and all they three smote with swords upon Sir Lancelot's helmet. And when he felt their buffets and his wound, 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 therewith he smote off his helmet and might have slain him; and so pulled him down, and in the same wise he served Sir Ector and Sir Lionel. For he might have slain them, but when he saw their faces his heart 35 might not serve him thereto, but left them there.