الفصل الفصل 56 · How Sir Tor found the brachet with a lady, and how a knight

. How Sir Tor found the brachet with a lady, and how a knight

assailed him for the said brachet.

Therewith Sir Tor alighted and took the dwarf his glaive, and so he

came to the white pavilion, and saw three damosels lie in it, on one

pallet, sleeping, and so he went to the other pavilion, and found a

lady lying sleeping therein, but there was the white brachet that bayed

at her fast, and therewith the lady yede out of the pavilion and all

her damosels. But anon as Sir Tor espied the white brachet, he took her

by force and took her to the dwarf. What, will ye so, said the lady,

take my brachet from me? Yea, said Sir Tor, this brachet have I sought

from King Arthur’s court hither. Well, said the lady, knight, ye shall

not go far with her, but that ye shall be met and grieved. I shall

abide what adventure that cometh by the grace of God, and so mounted

upon his horse, and passed on his way toward Camelot; but it was so

near night he might not pass but little further. Know ye any lodging?

said Tor. I know none, said the dwarf, but here beside is an hermitage,

and there ye must take lodging as ye find. And within a while they came

to the hermitage and took lodging; and was there grass, oats and bread

for their horses; soon it was sped, and full hard was their supper; but

there they rested them all night till on the morn, and heard a mass

devoutly, and took their leave of the hermit, and Sir Tor prayed the

hermit to pray for him. He said he would, and betook him to God. And so

mounted upon horseback and rode towards Camelot a long while.

With that they heard a knight call loud that came after them, and he

said, Knight, abide and yield my brachet that thou took from my lady.

Sir Tor returned again, and beheld him how he was a seemly knight and

well horsed, and well armed at all points; then Sir Tor dressed his

shield, and took his spear in his hands, and the other came fiercely

upon him, and smote both horse and man to the earth. Anon they arose

lightly and drew their swords as eagerly as lions, and put their

shields afore them, and smote through the shields, that the cantels

fell off both parties. Also they tamed their helms that the hot blood

ran out, and the thick mails of their hauberks they carved and rove in

sunder that the hot blood ran to the earth, and both they had many

wounds and were passing weary. But Sir Tor espied that the other knight

fainted, and then he sued fast upon him, and doubled his strokes, and

gart him go to the earth on the one side. Then Sir Tor bade him yield

him. That will I not, said Abelleus, while my life lasteth and the soul

is within my body, unless that thou wilt give me the brachet. That will

I not do, said Sir Tor, for it was my quest to bring again thy brachet,

thee, or both.