Chapter Chapter 344 · How Sir Launcelot was known by Dame Elaine, and was borne

. How Sir Launcelot was known by Dame Elaine, and was borne

into a chamber and after healed by the Sangreal.

So it befell that King Pelles had a nephew, his name was Castor; and so

he desired of the king to be made knight, and so at the request of this

Castor the king made him knight at the feast of Candlemas. And when Sir

Castor was made knight, that same day he gave many gowns. And then Sir

Castor sent for the fool—that was Sir Launcelot. And when he was come

afore Sir Castor, he gave Sir Launcelot a robe of scarlet and all that

longed unto him. And when Sir Launcelot was so arrayed like a knight,

he was the seemliest man in all the court, and none so well made. So

when he saw his time he went into the garden, and there Sir Launcelot

laid him down by a well and slept. And so at-after noon Dame Elaine and

her maidens came into the garden to play them; and as they roamed up

and down one of Dame Elaine’s maidens espied where lay a goodly man by

the well sleeping, and anon showed him to Dame Elaine. Peace, said Dame

Elaine, and say no word: and then she brought Dame Elaine where he lay.

And when that she beheld him, anon she fell in remembrance of him, and

knew him verily for Sir Launcelot; and therewithal she fell a-weeping

so heartily that she sank even to the earth; and when she had thus wept

a great while, then she arose and called her maidens and said she was

sick.

And so she yede out of the garden, and she went straight to her father,

and there she took him apart by herself; and then she said: O father,

now have I need of your help, and but if that ye help me farewell my

good days for ever. What is that, daughter? said King Pelles. Sir, she

said, thus is it: in your garden I went for to sport, and there, by the

well, I found Sir Launcelot du Lake sleeping. I may not believe that,

said King Pelles. Sir, she said, truly he is there, and meseemeth he

should be distract out of his wit. Then hold you still, said the king,

and let me deal. Then the king called to him such as he most trusted, a

four persons, and Dame Elaine, his daughter. And when they came to the

well and beheld Sir Launcelot, anon Dame Brisen knew him. Sir, said

Dame Brisen, we must be wise how we deal with him, for this knight is

out of his mind, and if we awake him rudely what he will do we all know

not; but ye shall abide, and I shall throw such an enchantment upon him

that he shall not awake within the space of an hour; and so she did.

Then within a little while after, the king commanded that all people

should avoid, that none should be in that way thereas the king would

come. And so when this was done, these four men and these ladies laid

hand on Sir Launcelot, and so they bare him into a tower, and so into a

chamber where was the holy vessel of the Sangreal, and by force Sir

Launcelot was laid by that holy vessel; and there came an holy man and

unhilled that vessel, and so by miracle and by virtue of that holy

vessel Sir Launcelot was healed and recovered. And when that he was

awaked he groaned and sighed, and complained greatly that he was

passing sore.