Bab Bab 116 · How Sir Launcelot came into the Chapel Perilous and gat

. How Sir Launcelot came into the Chapel Perilous and gat

there of a dead corpse a piece of the cloth and a sword.

Right so Sir Launcelot departed, and when he came unto the Chapel

Perilous he alighted down, and tied his horse unto a little gate. And

as soon as he was within the churchyard he saw on the front of the

chapel many fair rich shields turned up-so-down, and many of the

shields Sir Launcelot had seen knights bear beforehand. With that he

saw by him there stand a thirty great knights, more by a yard than any

man that ever he had seen, and all those grinned and gnashed at Sir

Launcelot. And when he saw their countenance he dreaded him sore, and

so put his shield afore him, and took his sword ready in his hand ready

unto battle, and they were all armed in black harness ready with their

shields and their swords drawn. And when Sir Launcelot would have gone

throughout them, they scattered on every side of him, and gave him the

way, and therewith he waxed all bold, and entered into the chapel, and

then he saw no light but a dim lamp burning, and then was he ware of a

corpse hilled with a cloth of silk. Then Sir Launcelot stooped down,

and cut a piece away of that cloth, and then it fared under him as the

earth had quaked a little; therewithal he feared. And then he saw a

fair sword lie by the dead knight, and that he gat in his hand and hied

him out of the chapel.

Anon as ever he was in the chapel yard all the knights spake to him

with a grimly voice, and said, Knight, Sir Launcelot, lay that sword

from thee or else thou shalt die. Whether that I live or die, said Sir

Launcelot, with no great word get ye it again, therefore fight for it

an ye list. Then right so he passed throughout them, and beyond the

chapel yard there met him a fair damosel, and said, Sir Launcelot,

leave that sword behind thee, or thou wilt die for it. I leave it not,

said Sir Launcelot, for no treaties. No, said she, an thou didst leave

that sword, Queen Guenever should thou never see. Then were I a fool an

I would leave this sword, said Launcelot. Now, gentle knight, said the

damosel, I require thee to kiss me but once. Nay, said Sir Launcelot,

that God me forbid. Well, sir, said she, an thou hadst kissed me thy

life days had been done, but now, alas, she said, I have lost all my

labour, for I ordained this chapel for thy sake, and for Sir Gawaine.

And once I had Sir Gawaine within me, and at that time he fought with

that knight that lieth there dead in yonder chapel, Sir Gilbert the

Bastard; and at that time he smote the left hand off of Sir Gilbert the

Bastard. And, Sir Launcelot, now I tell thee, I have loved thee this

seven year, but there may no woman have thy love but Queen Guenever.

But sithen I may not rejoice thee to have thy body alive, I had kept no

more joy in this world but to have thy body dead. Then would I have

balmed it and served it, and so have kept it my life days, and daily I

should have clipped thee, and kissed thee, in despite of Queen

Guenever. Ye say well, said Sir Launcelot, Jesu preserve me from your

subtle crafts. And therewithal he took his horse and so departed from

her. And as the book saith, when Sir Launcelot was departed she took

such sorrow that she died within a fourteen night, and her name was

Hellawes the sorceress, Lady of the Castle Nigramous.

Anon Sir Launcelot met with the damosel, Sir Meliot’s sister. And when

she saw him she clapped her hands, and wept for joy. And then they rode

unto a castle thereby where lay Sir Meliot. And anon as Sir Launcelot

saw him he knew him, but he was passing pale, as the earth, for

bleeding. When Sir Meliot saw Sir Launcelot he kneeled upon his knees

and cried on high: O lord Sir Launcelot, help me! Anon Sir Launcelot

leapt unto him and touched his wounds with Sir Gilbert’s sword. And

then he wiped his wounds with a part of the bloody cloth that Sir

Gilbert was wrapped in, and anon an wholer man in his life was he

never. And then there was great joy between them, and they made Sir

Launcelot all the cheer that they might, and so on the morn Sir

Launcelot took his leave, and bade Sir Meliot hie him to the court of

my lord Arthur, for it draweth nigh to the Feast of Pentecost, and

there by the grace of God ye shall find me. And therewith they

departed.