الفصل الفصل 337 · How a servant of Sir Aglovale’s was slain, and what

. How a servant of Sir Aglovale’s was slain, and what

vengeance Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale did therefore.

And when she was awaked she sent a squire after them with spending

enough. And so when the squire had overtaken them, they would not

suffer him to ride with them, but sent him home again to comfort their

mother, praying her meekly of her blessing. And so this squire was

benighted, and by misfortune he happened to come to a castle where

dwelled a baron. And so when the squire was come into the castle, the

lord asked him from whence he came, and whom he served. My lord, said

the squire, I serve a good knight that is called Sir Aglovale: the

squire said it to good intent, weening unto him to have been more

forborne for Sir Aglovale’s sake, than he had said he had served the

queen, Aglovale’s mother. Well, my fellow, said the lord of that

castle, for Sir Aglovale’s sake thou shalt have evil lodging, for Sir

Aglovale slew my brother, and therefore thou shalt die on part of

payment. And then that lord commanded his men to have him away and slay

him; and so they did, and so pulled him out of the castle, and there

they slew him without mercy.

Right so on the morn came Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale riding by a

churchyard, where men and women were busy, and beheld the dead squire,

and they thought to bury him. What is there, said Sir Aglovale, that ye

behold so fast? A good man stert forth and said: Fair knight, here

lieth a squire slain shamefully this night. How was he slain, fair

fellow? said Sir Aglovale. My fair sir, said the man, the lord of this

castle lodged this squire this night; and because he said he was

servant unto a good knight that is with King Arthur, his name is Sir

Aglovale, therefore the lord commanded to slay him, and for this cause

is he slain. Gramercy, said Sir Aglovale, and ye shall see his death

revenged lightly; for I am that same knight for whom this squire was

slain.

Then Sir Aglovale called unto him Sir Percivale, and bade him alight

lightly; and so they alighted both, and betook their horses to their

men, and so they yede on foot into the castle. And all so soon as they

were within the castle gate Sir Aglovale bade the porter: Go thou unto

thy lord and tell him that I am Sir Aglovale for whom this squire was

slain this night. Anon the porter told this to his lord, whose name was

Goodewin. Anon he armed him, and then he came into the court and said:

Which of you is Sir Aglovale? Here I am, said Aglovale: for what cause

slewest thou this night my mother’s squire? I slew him, said Sir

Goodewin, because of thee, for thou slewest my brother, Sir Gawdelin.

As for thy brother, said Sir Aglovale, I avow it I slew him, for he was

a false knight and a betrayer of ladies and of good knights; and for

the death of my squire thou shalt die. I defy thee, said Sir Goodewin.

Then they lashed together as eagerly as it had been two lions, and Sir

Percivale he fought with all the remnant that would fight. And within a

while Sir Percivale had slain all that would withstand him; for Sir

Percivale dealt so his strokes that were so rude that there durst no

man abide him. And within a while Sir Aglovale had Sir Goodewin at the

earth, and there he unlaced his helm, and struck off his head. And then

they departed and took their horses; and then they let carry the dead

squire unto a priory, and there they interred him.