Kabanata Kabanata 276 · How Alisander was delivered from Queen Morgan le Fay

. How Alisander was delivered from Queen Morgan le Fay

by the means of a damosel.

Sir knight, said the damosel, an ye would be merry I could tell you

good tidings. Well were me, said Alisander, an I might hear of good

tidings, for now I stand as a prisoner by my promise. Sir, she said,

wit you well that ye be a prisoner, and worse than ye ween; for my

lady, my cousin Queen Morgan le Fay, keepeth you here for none other

intent but for to do her pleasure with you when it liketh her. O Jesu

defend me, said Alisander, from such pleasure; for I had liefer cut

away my hangers than I would do her such pleasure. As Jesu help me,

said the damosel, an ye would love me and be ruled by me, I shall make

your deliverance with your worship. Tell me, said Alisander, by what

means, and ye shall have my love. Fair knight, said she, this castle of

right ought to be mine, and I have an uncle the which is a mighty earl,

he is Earl of Pase, and of all folks he hateth most Morgan le Fay; and

I shall send unto him and pray him for my sake to destroy this castle

for the evil customs that be used therein; and then will he come and

set wild-fire on every part of the castle, and I shall get you out at a

privy postern, and there shall ye have your horse and your harness. Ye

say well, damosel, said Alisander. And then she said: Ye may keep the

room of this castle this twelvemonth and a day, then break ye not your

oath. Truly, fair damosel, said Alisander, ye say sooth. And then he

kissed her, and did to her pleasaunce as it pleased them both at times

and leisures.

So anon she sent unto her uncle and bade him come and destroy that

castle, for as the book saith, he would have destroyed that castle

afore time had not that damosel been. When the earl understood her

letters he sent her word again that on such a day he would come and

destroy that castle. So when that day came she showed Alisander a

postern wherethrough he should flee into a garden, and there he should

find his armour and his horse. When the day came that was set, thither

came the Earl of Pase with four hundred knights, and set on fire all

the parts of the castle, that or they ceased they left not a stone

standing. And all this while that the fire was in the castle he abode

in the garden. And when the fire was done he let make a cry that he

would keep that piece of earth thereas the castle of La Beale Regard

was a twelvemonth and a day, from all manner knights that would come.

So it happed there was a duke that hight Ansirus, and he was of the kin

of Sir Launcelot. And this knight was a great pilgrim, for every third

year he would be at Jerusalem. And because he used all his life to go

in pilgrimage men called him Duke Ansirus the Pilgrim. And this duke

had a daughter that hight Alice, that was a passing fair woman, and

because of her father she was called Alice la Beale Pilgrim. And anon

as she heard of this cry she went unto Arthur’s court, and said openly

in hearing of many knights, that what knight may overcome that knight

that keepeth that piece of earth shall have me and all my lands.

When the knights of the Round Table heard her say thus many were glad,

for she was passing fair and of great rents. Right so she let cry in

castles and towns as fast on her side as Alisander did on his side.

Then she dressed her pavilion straight by the piece of the earth that

Alisander kept. So she was not so soon there but there came a knight of

Arthur’s court that hight Sagramore le Desirous, and he proffered to

joust with Alisander; and they encountered, and Sagramore le Desirous

brised his spear upon Sir Alisander, but Sir Alisander smote him so

hard that he avoided his saddle. And when La Beale Alice saw him joust

so well, she thought him a passing goodly knight on horseback. And then

she leapt out of her pavilion, and took Sir Alisander by the bridle,

and thus she said: Fair knight, I require thee of thy knighthood show

me thy visage. I dare well, said Alisander, show my visage. And then he

put off his helm; and she saw his visage, she said: O sweet Jesu, thee

I must love, and never other. Then show me your visage, said he.