Chapter Chapter 463 · How Sir Launcelot came the same time that Sir Meliagrance

. How Sir Launcelot came the same time that Sir Meliagrance

abode him in the field and dressed him to battle.

Now leave we Sir Launcelot wallop all that he might, and speak we of

Queen Guenever that was brought to a fire to be brent; for Sir

Meliagrance was sure, him thought, that Sir Launcelot should not be at

that battle; therefore he ever cried upon King Arthur to do him

justice, other-else bring forth Sir Launcelot du Lake. Then was the

king and all the court full sore abashed and shamed that the queen

should be brent in the default of Sir Launcelot. My lord Arthur, said

Sir Lavaine, ye may understand that it is not well with my lord Sir

Launcelot, for an he were alive, so he be not sick outher in prison,

wit ye well he would be here; for never heard ye that ever he failed

his part for whom he should do battle for. And therefore, said Sir

Lavaine, my lord, King Arthur, I beseech you give me license to do

battle here this day for my lord and master, and for to save my lady,

the queen. Gramercy gentle Sir Lavaine, said King Arthur, for I dare

say all that Sir Meliagrance putteth upon my lady the queen is wrong,

for I have spoken with all the ten wounded knights, and there is not

one of them, an he were whole and able to do battle, but he would prove

upon Sir Meliagrance’s body that it is false that he putteth upon my

queen. So shall I, said Sir Lavaine, in the defence of my lord, Sir

Launcelot, an ye will give me leave. Now I give you leave, said King

Arthur, and do your best, for I dare well say there is some treason

done to Sir Launcelot.

Then was Sir Lavaine armed and horsed, and suddenly at the lists’ end

he rode to perform this battle; and right as the heralds should cry:

Lesses les aler, right so came in Sir Launcelot driving with all the

force of his horse. And then Arthur cried: Ho! and Abide! Then was Sir

Launcelot called on horseback to-fore King Arthur, and there he told

openly to-fore the king and all, how Sir Meliagrance had served him

first to last. And when the king, and the queen, and all the lords,

knew of the treason of Sir Meliagrance they were all ashamed on his

behalf. Then was Queen Guenever sent for, and set by the king in great

trust of her champion. And then there was no more else to say, but Sir

Launcelot and Sir Meliagrance dressed them unto battle, and took their

spears; and so they came together as thunder, and there Sir Launcelot

bare him down quite over his horse’s croup. And then Sir Launcelot

alighted and dressed his shield on his shoulder, with his sword in his

hand, and Sir Meliagrance in the same wise dressed him unto him, and

there they smote many great strokes together; and at the last Sir

Launcelot smote him such a buffet upon the helmet that he fell on the

one side to the earth. And then he cried upon him aloud: Most noble

knight, Sir Launcelot du Lake, save my life, for I yield me unto you,

and I require you, as ye be a knight and fellow of the Table Round,

slay me not, for I yield me as overcome; and whether I shall live or

die I put me in the king’s hands and yours.

Then Sir Launcelot wist not what to do, for he had had liefer than all

the good of the world he might have been revenged upon Sir Meliagrance;

and Sir Launcelot looked up to the Queen Guenever, if he might espy by

any sign or countenance what she would have done. And then the queen

wagged her head upon Sir Launcelot, as though she would say: Slay him.

Full well knew Sir Launcelot by the wagging of her head that she would

have him dead; then Sir Launcelot bade him rise for shame and perform

that battle to the utterance. Nay, said Sir Meliagrance, I will never

arise until ye take me as yolden and recreant. I shall proffer you

large proffers, said Sir Launcelot, that is for to say, I shall unarm

my head and my left quarter of my body, all that may be unarmed, and

let bind my left hand behind me, so that it shall not help me, and

right so I shall do battle with you. Then Sir Meliagrance started up

upon his legs, and said on high: My lord Arthur, take heed to this

proffer, for I will take it, and let him be disarmed and bounden

according to his proffer. What say ye, said King Arthur unto Sir

Launcelot, will ye abide by your proffer? Yea, my lord, said Sir

Launcelot, I will never go from that I have once said.

Then the knights parters of the field disarmed Sir Launcelot, first his

head, and sithen his left arm, and his left side, and they bound his

left arm behind his back, without shield or anything, and then they

were put together. Wit you well there was many a lady and knight

marvelled that Sir Launcelot would jeopardy himself in such wise. Then

Sir Meliagrance came with his sword all on high, and Sir Launcelot

showed him openly his bare head and the bare left side; and when he

weened to have smitten him upon the bare head, then lightly he avoided

the left leg and the left side, and put his right hand and his sword to

that stroke, and so put it on side with great sleight; and then with

great force Sir Launcelot smote him on the helmet such a buffet that

the stroke carved the head in two parts. Then there was no more to do,

but he was drawn out of the field. And at the great instance of the

knights of the Table Round, the king suffered him to be interred, and

the mention made upon him, who slew him, and for what cause he was

slain; and then the king and the queen made more of Sir Launcelot du

Lake, and more he was cherished, than ever he was aforehand.