Kabanata Kabanata 346 · How Sir Launcelot came into the joyous Isle, and there he

. How Sir Launcelot came into the joyous Isle, and there he

named himself Le Chevaler Mal Fet.

Then went Dame Elaine unto Sir Launcelot, and told him all how her

father had devised for him and her. Then came the knight Sir Castor,

that was nephew unto King Pelles, unto Sir Launcelot, and asked him

what was his name. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, my name is Le Chevaler Mal

Fet, that is to say the knight that hath trespassed. Sir, said Sir

Castor, it may well be so, but ever meseemeth your name should be Sir

Launcelot du Lake, for or now I have seen you. Sir, said Launcelot, ye

are not as a gentle knight: I put case my name were Sir Launcelot, and

that it list me not to discover my name, what should it grieve you here

to keep my counsel, and ye be not hurt thereby? but wit thou well an

ever it lie in my power I shall grieve you, and that I promise you

truly. Then Sir Castor kneeled down and besought Sir Launcelot of

mercy: For I shall never utter what ye be, while that ye be in these

parts. Then Sir Launcelot pardoned him.

And then, after this, King Pelles with ten knights, and Dame Elaine,

and twenty ladies, rode unto the Castle of Bliant that stood in an

island beclosed in iron, with a fair water deep and large. And when

they were there Sir Launcelot let call it the Joyous Isle; and there

was he called none otherwise but Le Chevaler Mal Fet, the knight that

hath trespassed. Then Sir Launcelot let make him a shield all of sable,

and a queen crowned in the midst, all of silver, and a knight clean

armed kneeling afore her. And every day once, for any mirths that all

the ladies might make him, he would once every day look toward the

realm of Logris, where King Arthur and Queen Guenever was. And then

would he fall upon a weeping as his heart should to-brast.

So it fell that time Sir Launcelot heard of a jousting fast by his

castle, within three leagues. Then he called unto him a dwarf, and he

bade him go unto that jousting. And or ever the knights depart, look

thou make there a cry, in hearing of all the knights, that there is one

knight in the Joyous Isle, that is the Castle of Bliant, and say his

name is Le Chevaler Mal Fet, that will joust against knights that will

come. And who that putteth that knight to the worse shall have a fair

maid and a gerfalcon.