AndwhenSrLauncelotheardtwordbyword,hesad:MylordArthur,wtyewellamrghtheavyofthedeathofthsfardamosel:Godknowethwasnevercauserofherdeathbymywllng,andthatwllreportmetoherownbrother:herehes,SrLavane。wllnotsaynay,sadSrLauncelot,butthatshewasbothfarandgood,andmuchwasbeholdenuntoher,butshelovedmeoutofmeasure。Yemghthaveshewedher,sadthequeen,somebountyandgentlenessthatmghthavepreservedherlfe。Madam,sadSrLauncelot,shewouldnoneotherwaysbeansweredbutthatshewouldbemywfe,outherelsemyparamour;andofthesetwowouldnotgranther,butprofferedher,forhergoodlovethatsheshewedme,athousandpoundyearlytoher,andtoherhers,andtowedanymannerknghtthatshecouldfndbesttolovenherheart。Formadam,sadSrLauncelot,lovenottobeconstranedtolove;forlovemustarseoftheheart,andnotbynoconstrant。Thatstruth,sadthekng,andmanyknght’slovesfreenhmself,andneverwllbebounden,forwherehesboundenheloosethhmself。
ThensadtheknguntoSrLauncelot:twllbeyourworshpthatyeoverseethatshebenterredworshpfully。
Sr,sadSrLauncelot,thatshallbedoneascanbestdevse。Andsomanyknghtsyedeththertobeholdthatfarmaden。Andsouponthemornshewasnterredrchly,andSrLauncelotofferedhermass-penny;andalltheknghtsoftheTableRoundthatwerethereatthattmeofferedwthSrLauncelot。Andthenthepoormanwentaganwththebarget。ThenthequeensentforSrLauncelot,andprayedhmofmercy,forwhythatshehadbeenwrothwthhmcauseless。Thssnotthefrsttme,sadSrLauncelot,thatyehadbeendspleasedwthmecauseless,but,madam,evermustsufferyou,butwhatsorrowenduretakenoforce。Sothspassedonallthatwnter,wthallmannerofhuntngandhawkng,andjoustsandtourneysweremanybetwxtmanygreatlords,andevernallplacesSrLavanegatgreatworshp,sothathewasnoblyrenownedamongmanyknghtsoftheTableRound。
OfgreatjoustsdoneallaChrstmas,andofagreatjoustsandtourneyordanedbyKngArthur,andofSrLauncelot。
THUStpassedontllChrstmas,andtheneverydaytherewasjoustsmadeforadamond,whothatjoustedbestshouldhaveadamond。ButSrLauncelotwouldnotjoustbutftwereatagreatjoustscred。ButSrLavanejoustedthereallthatChrstmaspassnglywell,andbestwasprased,fortherewerebutfewthatddsowell。WhereforeallmannerofknghtsdeemedthatSrLavaneshouldbemadeknghtoftheTableRoundatthenextfeastofPentecost。Soat-afterChrstmasKngArthurletcalluntohmmanyknghts,andtheretheyadvsedtogethertomakeapartyandagreattournamentandjousts。AndtheKngofNorthgalssadtoArthur,hewouldhaveonhspartyKngAngushofreland,andtheKngwththeHundredKnghts,andtheKngofNorthumberland,andSrGalahad,thehautprnce。AndsothesefourkngsandthsmghtyduketookpartaganstKngArthurandtheknghtsoftheTableRound。AndthecrywasmadethatthedayofthejoustsshouldbebesdeWestmnsteruponCandlemasDay,whereofmanyknghtswereglad,andmadethemreadytobeatthatjoustsnthefreshestmanner。
ThenQueenGueneversentforSrLauncelot,andsadthus:warnyouthatyerdenomorennojoustsnortournamentsbutthatyourknsmenmayknowyou。Andatthesejouststhatshallbeyeshallhaveofmeasleeveofgold;andprayyouformysakeenforceyourselfthere,thatmenmayspeakofyouworshp;butchargeyouasyewllhavemylove,thatyewarnyourknsmenthatyewllbearthatdaythesleeveofgolduponyourhelmet。
Madam,sadSrLauncelot,tshallbedone。Andsoethermadegreatjoyofother。AndwhenSrLauncelotsawhstmehetoldSrBorsthathewoulddepart,andhavenomorewthhmbutSrLavane,untothegoodhermtthatdweltnthatforestofWndsor;hsnamewasSrBrasas;andtherehethoughttoreposehm,andtakealltherestthathemght,becausehewouldbefreshatthatdayofjousts。
SoSrLauncelotandSrLavanedeparted,thatnocreaturewstwherehewasbecome,butthenoblemenofhsblood。Andwhenhewascometothehermtage,wtyewellhehadgoodcheer。AndsodalySrLauncelotwouldgotoawellfastbythehermtage,andtherehewouldledown,andseethewellsprngandburble,andsometmehesleptthere。Soatthattmetherewasaladydweltnthatforest,andshewasagreathuntress,anddalysheusedtohunt,andevershebareherbowwthher;andnomenwentneverwthher,butalwayswomen,andtheywereshooters,andcouldwellklladeer,bothatthestalkandatthetrest;andtheydalybarebowsandarrows,hornsandwood-knves,andmanygooddogstheyhad,bothforthestrngandforabat。Sothappedthsladythehuntresshadabatedherdogforthebowatabarrenhnd,andsothsbarrenhndtooktheflghtoverhedgesandwoods。Andeverthsladyandpartofherwomencostedthehnd,andcheckedtbythenoseofthehounds,tohavemetwththehndatsomewater;
andsothapped,thehndcametothewellwhereasSrLauncelotwassleepngandslumberng。Andsowhenthehndcametothewell,forheatshewenttosol,andthereshelayagreatwhle;andthedogcameafter,andumbecastabout,forshehadlosttheveryperfectfeuteofthehnd。Rghtsocamethatladythehuntress,thatknewbythedogthatshehad,thatthehndwasatthesolnthatwell;andthereshecamestfflyandfoundthehnd,andsheputabroadarrownherbow,andshotatthehnd,andover-shotthehnd;andsobymsfortunethearrowsmoteSrLauncelotnthethckofthebuttock,overthebarbs。WhenSrLauncelotfelthmselfsohurt,hehurledupwoodly,andsawtheladythathadsmttenhm。Andwhenhesawshewasawoman,hesadthus:
Ladyordamosel,whatthatthoube,nanevltmebearyeabow;thedevlmadeyouashooter。
HowLauncelotafterthathewashurtofagentlewomancametoanhermt,andofothermatters。
NOWmercy,farsr,sadthelady,amagentlewomanthatusethherenthsforesthuntng,andGodknoweth
sawyenot;butasherewasabarrenhndatthesolnthswell,andweenedtohavedonewell,butmyhandswerved。Alas,sadSrLauncelot,yehavemschevedme。Andsotheladydeparted,andSrLauncelotashemghtpulledoutthearrow,andleftthatheadstllnhsbuttock,andsohewentweaklytothehermtageevermorebleedngashewent。AndwhenSrLavaneandthehermtespedthatSrLauncelotwashurt,wtyouwelltheywerepassngheavy,butSrLavanewstnothowthathewashurtnorbywhom。Andthenweretheywrothoutofmeasure。
Thenwthgreatpanthehermtgatoutthearrow’sheadoutofSrLauncelot’sbuttock,andmuchofhsbloodheshed,andthewoundwaspassngsore,andunhapplysmtten,fortwasnsuchaplacethathemghtnotstnnosaddle。Havemercy,Jesu,sadSrLauncelot,maycallmyselfthemostunhappestmanthatlveth,foreverwhenwouldfanesthaveworshptherebefallethmeeversomeunhappythng。NowsoJesumehelp,sadSrLauncelot,andfnomanwouldbutGod,shallbenthefelduponCandlemasDayatthejousts,whatsomeverfalloft:soallthatmghtbegottentohealSrLauncelotwashad。
SowhenthedaywascomeSrLauncelotletdevsethathewasarrayed,andSrLavane,andtherhorses,asthoughtheyhadbeenSaracens;andsotheydepartedandcamenghtothefeld。TheKngofNorthgalswthanhundredknghtswthhm,andtheKngofNorthumberlandbroughtwthhmanhundredgoodknghts,andKngAngushofrelandbroughtwthhmanhundredgoodknghtsreadytojoust,andSrGalahad,thehautprnce,broughtwthhmanhundredgoodknghts,andtheKngwththeHundredKnghtsbroughtwthhmasmany,andallthesewereprovedgoodknghts。ThencamenKngArthur’sparty;andtherecamentheKngofScotswthanhundredknghts,andKngUrensofGorebroughtwthhmanhundredknghts,andKngHowelofBrttanybroughtwthhmanhundredknghts,andChalensofClarancebroughtwthhmanhundredknghts,andKngArthurhmselfcamentothefeldwthtwohundredknghts,andthemostpartwereknghtsoftheTableRound,thatwereprovednobleknghts;andtherewereoldknghtssetnscaffoldsfortojudge,wththequeen,whoddbest。
HowSrLauncelotbehavedhmatthejousts,andothermenalso。
THENtheyblewtothefeld;andtheretheKngofNorthgalsencounteredwththeKngofScots,andtheretheKngofScotshadafall;andtheKngofrelandsmotedownKngUrens;andtheKngofNorthumberlandsmotedownKngHowelofBrttany;andSrGalahad,thehautprnce,smotedownChalensofClarance。
AndthenKngArthurwaswoodwroth,andrantotheKngwththeHundredKnghts,andthereKngArthursmotehmdown;andafterwththatsamespearKngArthursmotedownthreeotherknghts。AndthenwhenhsspearwasbrokenKngArthurddpassnglywell;andsotherewthalcamenSrGawaneandSrGahers,SrAgravaneandSrMordred,andthereeverychofthemsmotedownaknght,andSrGawanesmotedownfourknghts;andthentherebeganastrongmedley,forthentherecamentheknghtsofLauncelot’sblood,andSrGarethandSrPalomdeswththem,andmanyknghtsoftheTableRound,andtheybegantoholdthefourkngsandthemghtydukesohardthattheyweredscomft;
butthsDukeGalahad,thehautprnce,wasanobleknght,andbyhsmghtyprowessofarmsheheldtheknghtsoftheTableRoundstratenough。
AllthsdongsawSrLauncelot,andthenhecamentothefeldwthSrLavaneasthadbeenthunder。
AndthenanonSrBorsandtheknghtsofhsbloodespedSrLauncelot,andsadtothemall:warnyoubewareofhmwththesleeveofgolduponhshead,forheshmselfSrLauncelotduLake;andforgreatgoodnessSrBorswarnedSrGareth。amwellapad,sadSrGareth,thatmayknowhm。Butwhoshe,sadtheyall,thatrdethwthhmnthesamearray?ThatsthegoodandgentleknghtSrLavane,sadSrBors。SoSrLauncelotencounteredwthSrGawane,andtherebyforceSrLauncelotsmotedownSrGawaneandhshorsetotheearth,andsohesmotedownSrAgravaneandSrGahers,andalsohesmotedownSrMordred,andallthswaswthonespear。ThenSrLavanemetwthSrPalomdes,andethermetothersohardandsofercelythatboththerhorsesfelltotheearth。Andthenweretheyhorsedagan,andthenmetSrLauncelotwthSrPalomdes,andthereSrPalomdeshadafall;andsoSrLauncelotoreverhestnt,asfastashemghtgetspears,hesmotedownthrtyknghts,andthemostpartofthemwereknghtsoftheTableRound;andevertheknghtsofhsbloodwthdrewthem,andmadethemadonotherplaceswhereSrLauncelotcamenot。
AndthenKngArthurwaswrothwhenhesawSrLauncelotdosuchdeeds;andthenthekngcalleduntohmSrGawane,SrMordred,SrKay,SrGrflet,SrLucantheButler,SrBedvere,SrPalomdes,SrSafere,hsbrother;andsothekngwththesenneknghtsmadethemreadytosetuponSrLauncelot,anduponSrLavane。AllthsespedSrBorsandSrGareth。Nowdreadmesore,sadSrBors,thatmylord,SrLauncelot,wllbehardmatched。Bymyhead,sadSrGareth,wllrdeuntomylordSrLauncelot,fortohelphm,fallofhmwhatfallmay,forhesthesamemanthatmademeknght。Yeshallnotso,sadSrBors,bymycounsel,unlessthatyeweredsgused。Yeshallseemedsgused,sadSrGareth;andtherewthalheespedaWelshknghtwherehewastoreposehm,andhewassorehurtaforebySrGawane,andtohmSrGarethrode,andprayedhmofhsknghthoodtolendhmhssheldforhs。wllwell,sadtheWelshknght。AndwhenSrGarethhadhssheld,thebooksathtwasgreen,wthamadenthatseemednt。
ThenSrGarethcamedrvngtoSrLauncelotallthathemghtandsad:Knght,keepthyself,foryondercomethKngArthurwthnnenobleknghtswthhmtoputyoutoarebuke,andsoamcometobearyoufellowshpforoldloveyehaveshewedme。Gramercy,sadSrLauncelot。Sr,sadSrGareth,encounteryewthSrGawane,andshallencounterwthSrPalomdes;
andletSrLavanematchwththenobleKngArthur。Andwhenwehavedelveredthem,letusthreeholdussadlytogether。ThencameKngArthurwthhsnneknghtswthhm,andSrLauncelotencounteredwthSrGawane,andgavehmsuchabuffetthatthearsonofhssaddlebrast,andSrGawanefelltotheearth。ThenSrGarethencounteredwththegoodknghtSrPalomdes,andhegavehmsuchabuffetthatbothhshorseandhedashedtotheearth。ThenencounteredKngArthurwthSrLavane,andthereetherofthemsmoteothertotheearth,horseandall,thattheylayagreatwhle。ThenSrLauncelotsmotedownSrAgravane,andSrGahers,andSrMordred;andSrGarethsmotedownSrKay,andSrSafere,andSrGrflet。AndthenSrLavanewashorsedagan,andhesmotedownSrLucantheButlerandSrBedevereandthentherebegangreatthrongofgoodknghts。
ThenSrLauncelothurtledhereandthere,andracedandpulledoffhelms,sothatatthattmetheremghtnonesthmabuffetwthspearnorwthsword;andSrGarethddsuchdeedsofarmsthatallmenmarvelledwhatknghthewaswththegreensheld,forhesmotedownthatdayandpulleddownmothanthrtyknghtsAnd,astheFrenchbooksath,SrLauncelotmarvelled;