Chapter Chapter 341 · How Sir Launcelot in his madness took a sword and fought

. How Sir Launcelot in his madness took a sword and fought

with a knight, and leapt in a bed.

And now leave we of a while of Sir Ector and of Sir Percivale, and

speak we of Sir Launcelot that suffered and endured many sharp showers,

that ever ran wild wood from place to place, and lived by fruit and

such as he might get, and drank water two year; and other clothing had

he but little but his shirt and his breech. Thus as Sir Launcelot

wandered here and there he came in a fair meadow where he found a

pavilion; and there by, upon a tree, there hung a white shield, and two

swords hung thereby, and two spears leaned there by a tree. And when

Sir Launcelot saw the swords, anon he leapt to the one sword, and took

it in his hand, and drew it out. And then he lashed at the shield, that

all the meadow rang of the dints, that he gave such a noise as ten

knights had foughten together.

Then came forth a dwarf, and leapt unto Sir Launcelot, and would have

had the sword out of his hand. And then Sir Launcelot took him by the

both shoulders and threw him to the ground upon his neck, that he had

almost broken his neck; and therewithal the dwarf cried help. Then came

forth a likely knight, and well apparelled in scarlet furred with

minever. And anon as he saw Sir Launcelot he deemed that he should be

out of his wit. And then he said with fair speech: Good man, lay down

that sword, for as meseemeth thou hadst more need of sleep and of warm

clothes than to wield that sword. As for that, said Sir Launcelot, come

not too nigh, for an thou do, wit thou well I will slay thee.

And when the knight of the pavilion saw that, he stert backward within

the pavilion. And then the dwarf armed him lightly; and so the knight

thought by force and might to take the sword from Sir Launcelot, and so

he came stepping out; and when Sir Launcelot saw him come so all armed

with his sword in his hand, then Sir Launcelot flew to him with such a

might, and hit him upon the helm such a buffet, that the stroke

troubled his brains, and therewith the sword brake in three. And the

knight fell to the earth as he had been dead, the blood brasting out of

his mouth, the nose, and the ears. And then Sir Launcelot ran into the

pavilion, and rushed even into the warm bed; and there was a lady in

that bed, and she gat her smock, and ran out of the pavilion. And when

she saw her lord lie at the ground like to be dead, then she cried and

wept as she had been mad. Then with her noise the knight awaked out of

his swoon, and looked up weakly with his eyes; and then he asked her,

where was that mad man that had given him such a buffet: For such a

buffet had I never of man’s hand. Sir, said the dwarf, it is not

worship to hurt him, for he is a man out of his wit; and doubt ye not

he hath been a man of great worship, and for some heartly sorrow that

he hath taken, he is fallen mad; and me beseemeth, said the dwarf, he

resembleth much unto Sir Launcelot, for him I saw at the great

tournament beside Lonazep. Jesu defend, said that knight, that ever

that noble knight, Sir Launcelot, should be in such a plight; but

whatsomever he be, said that knight, harm will I none do him: and this

knight’s name was Bliant. Then he said unto the dwarf: Go thou fast on

horseback, unto my brother Sir Selivant, that is at the Castle Blank,

and tell him of mine adventure, and bid him bring with him an horse

litter, and then will we bear this knight unto my castle.