Chapter Chapter 451 · How Launcelot after that he was hurt of a gentlewoman

. How Launcelot after that he was hurt of a gentlewoman

came to an hermit, and of other matters.

Now mercy, fair sir, said the lady, I am a gentlewoman that useth here

in this forest hunting, and God knoweth I saw ye not; but as here was a

barren hind at the soil in this well, and I weened to have done well,

but my hand swerved. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, ye have mischieved me.

And so the lady departed, and Sir Launcelot as he might pulled out the

arrow, and left that head still in his buttock, and so he went weakly

to the hermitage ever more bleeding as he went. And when Sir Lavaine

and the hermit espied that Sir Launcelot was hurt, wit you well they

were passing heavy, but Sir Lavaine wist not how that he was hurt nor

by whom. And then were they wroth out of measure.

Then with great pain the hermit gat out the arrow’s head out of Sir

Launcelot’s buttock, and much of his blood he shed, and the wound was

passing sore, and unhappily smitten, for it was in such a place that he

might not sit in no saddle. Have mercy, Jesu, said Sir Launcelot, I may

call myself the most unhappiest man that liveth, for ever when I would

fainest have worship there befalleth me ever some unhappy thing. Now so

Jesu me help, said Sir Launcelot, and if no man would but God, I shall

be in the field upon Candlemas Day at the jousts, whatsomever fall of

it: so all that might be gotten to heal Sir Launcelot was had.

So when the day was come Sir Launcelot let devise that he was arrayed,

and Sir Lavaine, and their horses, as though they had been Saracens;

and so they departed and came nigh to the field. The King of Northgalis

with an hundred knights with him, and the King of Northumberland

brought with him an hundred good knights, and King Anguish of Ireland

brought with him an hundred good knights ready to joust, and Sir

Galahad, the haut prince, brought with him an hundred good knights, and

the King with the Hundred Knights brought with him as many, and all

these were proved good knights. Then came in King Arthur’s party; and

there came in the King of Scots with an hundred knights, and King

Uriens of Gore brought with him an hundred knights, and King Howel of

Brittany brought with him an hundred knights, and Chaleins of Clarance

brought with him an hundred knights, and King Arthur himself came into

the field with two hundred knights, and the most part were knights of

the Table Round, that were proved noble knights; and there were old

knights set in scaffolds for to judge, with the queen, who did best.