Kabanata Kabanata 277 · How Alisander met with Alice la Beale Pilgrim, and how

. How Alisander met with Alice la Beale Pilgrim, and how

he jousted with two knights; and after of him and of Sir Mordred.

Then she unwimpled her visage. And when he saw her he said: Here have I

found my love and my lady. Truly, fair lady, said he, I promise you to

be your knight, and none other that beareth the life. Now, gentle

knight, said she, tell me your name. My name is, said he, Alisander le

Orphelin. Now, damosel, tell me your name, said he. My name is, said

she, Alice la Beale Pilgrim. And when we be more at our heart’s ease,

both ye and I shall tell other of what blood we be come. So there was

great love betwixt them. And as they thus talked there came a knight

that hight Harsouse le Berbuse, and asked part of Sir Alisander’s

spears. Then Sir Alisander encountered with him, and at the first Sir

Alisander smote him over his horse’s croup. And then there came another

knight that hight Sir Hewgon, and Sir Alisander smote him down as he

did that other. Then Sir Hewgon proffered to do battle on foot. Sir

Alisander overcame him with three strokes, and there would have slain

him had he not yielded him. So then Alisander made both those knights

to swear to wear none armour in a twelvemonth and a day.

Then Sir Alisander alighted down, and went to rest him and repose him.

Then the damosel that helped Sir Alisander out of the castle, in her

play told Alice all together how he was prisoner in the castle of La

Beale Regard, and there she told her how she got him out of prison.

Sir, said Alice la Beale Pilgrim, meseemeth ye are much beholding to

this maiden. That is truth, said Sir Alisander. And there Alice told

him of what blood she was come. Sir, wit ye well, she said, that I am

of the blood of King Ban, that was father unto Sir Launcelot. Y-wis,

fair lady, said Alisander, my mother told me that my father was brother

unto a king, and I nigh cousin unto Sir Tristram.

Then this while came there three knights, that one hight Vains, and the

other hight Harvis de les Marches, and the third hight Perin de la

Montaine. And with one spear Sir Alisander smote them down all three,

and gave them such falls that they had no list to fight upon foot. So

he made them to swear to wear none arms in a twelvemonth. So when they

were departed Sir Alisander beheld his lady Alice on horseback as he

stood in her pavilion. And then was he so enamoured upon her that he

wist not whether he were on horseback or on foot.

Right so came the false knight Sir Mordred, and saw Sir Alisander was

assotted upon his lady; and therewithal he took his horse by the

bridle, and led him here and there, and had cast to have led him out of

that place to have shamed him. When the damosel that helped him out of

that castle saw how shamefully he was led, anon she let arm her, and

set a shield upon her shoulder; and therewith she mounted upon his

horse, and gat a naked sword in her hand, and she thrust unto Alisander

with all her might, and she gave him such a buffet that he thought the

fire flew out of his eyen. And when Alisander felt that stroke he

looked about him, and drew his sword. And when she saw that, she fled,

and so did Mordred into the forest, and the damosel fled into the

pavilion. So when Alisander understood himself how the false knight

would have shamed him had not the damosel been then was he wroth with

himself that Sir Mordred was so escaped his hands. But then Sir

Alisander and Alice had good game at the damosel, how sadly she hit him

upon the helm.

Then Sir Alisander jousted thus day by day, and on foot he did many

battles with many knights of King Arthur’s court, and with many knights

strangers. Therefore to tell all the battles that he did it were

overmuch to rehearse, for every day within that twelvemonth he had ado

with one knight or with other, and some day he had ado with three or

with four; and there was never knight that put him to the worse. And at

the twelvemonth’s end he departed with his lady, Alice la Beale

Pilgrim. And the damosel would never go from him, and so they went into

their country of Benoye, and lived there in great joy.