Bab Bab 195 · How Sir Lamorak slew Sir Frol, and of the courteous

. How Sir Lamorak slew Sir Frol, and of the courteous

fighting with Sir Belliance his brother.

Then within two or three days Sir Lamorak found a knight at a well

sleeping, and his lady sat with him and waked. Right so came Sir

Gawaine and took the knight’s lady, and set her up behind his squire.

So Sir Lamorak rode after Sir Gawaine, and said: Sir Gawaine, turn

again. And then said Sir Gawaine: What will ye do with me? for I am

nephew unto King Arthur. Sir, said he, for that cause I will spare you,

else that lady should abide with me, or else ye should joust with me.

Then Sir Gawaine turned him and ran to him that ought the lady, with

his spear, but the knight with pure might smote down Sir Gawaine, and

took his lady with him. All this Sir Lamorak saw, and said to himself:

But I revenge my fellow he will say of me dishonour in King Arthur’s

court. Then Sir Lamorak returned and proffered that knight to joust.

Sir, said he, I am ready. And there they came together with all their

might, and there Sir Lamorak smote the knight through both sides that

he fell to the earth dead.

Then that lady rode to that knight’s brother that hight Belliance le

Orgulus, that dwelt fast thereby, and then she told him how his brother

was slain. Alas, said he, I will be revenged. And so he horsed him, and

armed him, and within a while he overtook Sir Lamorak, and bade him:

Turn and leave that lady, for thou and I must play a new play; for thou

hast slain my brother Sir Frol, that was a better knight than ever wert

thou. It might well be, said Sir Lamorak, but this day in the field I

was found the better. So they rode together, and unhorsed other, and

turned their shields, and drew their swords, and fought mightily as

noble knights proved, by the space of two hours. So then Sir Belliance

prayed him to tell him his name. Sir, said he, my name is Sir Lamorak

de Galis. Ah, said Sir Belliance, thou art the man in the world that I

most hate, for I slew my sons for thy sake, where I saved thy life, and

now thou hast slain my brother Sir Frol. Alas, how should I be accorded

with thee; therefore defend thee, for thou shalt die, there is none

other remedy. Alas, said Sir Lamorak, full well me ought to know you,

for ye are the man that most have done for me. And therewithal Sir

Lamorak kneeled down, and besought him of grace. Arise, said Sir

Belliance, or else thereas thou kneelest I shall slay thee. That shall

not need, said Sir Lamorak, for I will yield me unto you, not for fear

of you, nor for your strength, but your goodness maketh me full loath

to have ado with you; wherefore I require you for God’s sake, and for

the honour of knighthood, forgive me all that I have offended unto you.

Alas, said Belliance, leave thy kneeling, or else I shall slay thee

without mercy.

Then they yede again unto battle, and either wounded other, that all

the ground was bloody thereas they fought. And at the last Belliance

withdrew him aback and set him down softly upon a little hill, for he

was so faint for bleeding that he might not stand. Then Sir Lamorak

threw his shield upon his back, and asked him what cheer. Well, said

Sir Belliance. Ah, Sir, yet shall I show you favour in your mal-ease.

Ah, Knight Sir Belliance, said Sir Lamorak, thou art a fool, for an I

had had thee at such advantage as thou hast done me, I should slay

thee; but thy gentleness is so good and so large, that I must needs

forgive thee mine evil will. And then Sir Lamorak kneeled down, and

unlaced first his umberere, and then his own, and then either kissed

other with weeping tears. Then Sir Lamorak led Sir Belliance to an

abbey fast by, and there Sir Lamorak would not depart from Belliance

till he was whole. And then they sware together that none of them

should never fight against other. So Sir Lamorak departed and went to

the court of King Arthur.

Here leave we of Sir Lamorak and of Sir Tristram. And here beginneth

the history of La Cote Male Taile.

BOOK IX.