Bab Bab 472 · How Sir Launcelot came to Sir Bors, and told him how he had

. How Sir Launcelot came to Sir Bors, and told him how he had

sped, and in what adventure he had been, and how he had escaped.

When Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot he was never so glad of his home-coming

as he was then. Jesu mercy, said Sir Launcelot, why be ye all armed:

what meaneth this? Sir, said Sir Bors, after ye were departed from us,

we all that be of your blood and your well-willers were so dretched

that some of us leapt out of our beds naked, and some in their dreams

caught naked swords in their hands; therefore, said Sir Bors, we deem

there is some great strife at hand; and then we all deemed that ye were

betrapped with some treason, and therefore we made us thus ready, what

need that ever ye were in.

My fair nephew, said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Bors, now shall ye wit all,

that this night I was more harder bestead than ever I was in my life,

and yet I escaped. And so he told them all how and in what manner, as

ye have heard to-fore. And therefore, my fellows, said Sir Launcelot, I

pray you all that ye will be of good heart in what need somever I

stand, for now is war come to us all. Sir, said Bors, all is welcome

that God sendeth us, and we have had much weal with you and much

worship, and therefore we will take the woe with you as we have taken

the weal. And therefore, they said all (there were many good knights),

look ye take no discomfort, for there nis no bands of knights under

heaven but we shall be able to grieve them as much as they may us. And

therefore discomfort not yourself by no manner, and we shall gather

together that we love, and that loveth us, and what that ye will have

done shall be done. And therefore, Sir Launcelot, said they, we will

take the woe with the weal. Grant mercy, said Sir Launcelot, of your

good comfort, for in my great distress, my fair nephew, ye comfort me

greatly, and much I am beholding unto you. But this, my fair nephew, I

would that ye did in all haste that ye may, or it be forth days, that

ye will look in their lodging that be lodged here nigh about the king,

which will hold with me, and which will not, for now I would know which

were my friends from my foes. Sir, said Sir Bors, I shall do my pain,

and or it be seven of the clock I shall wit of such as ye have said

before, who will hold with you.

Then Sir Bors called unto him Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir

Blamore de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Gahalantine, Sir

Galihodin, Sir Galihud, Sir Menadeuke Sir Villiers the Valiant, Sir

Hebes le Renoumes, Sir Lavaine Sir Urre of Hungary, Sir Nerounes, Sir

Plenorius. These two knights Sir Launcelot made, and the one he won

upon a bridge, and therefore they would never be against him. And Harry

le Fise du Lake, and Sir Selises of the Dolorous Tower, and Sir Melias

de Lile, and Sir Bellangere le Beuse, that was Sir Alisander’s son Le

Orphelin, because his mother Alice le Beale Pellerin and she was kin

unto Sir Launcelot, and he held with him. So there came Sir Palomides

and Sir Safere, his brother, to hold with Sir Launcelot, and Sir Clegis

of Sadok, and Sir Dinas, Sir Clarius of Cleremont. So these

two-and-twenty knights drew them together, and by then they were armed

on horseback, and promised Sir Launcelot to do what he would. Then

there fell to them, what of North Wales and of Cornwall, for Sir

Lamorak’s sake and for Sir Tristram’s sake, to the number of a

fourscore knights.

My lords, said Sir Launcelot, wit you well, I have been ever since I

came into this country well willed unto my lord, King Arthur, and unto

my lady, Queen Guenever, unto my power; and this night because my lady

the queen sent for me to speak with her, I suppose it was made by

treason, howbeit I dare largely excuse her person, notwithstanding I

was there by a forecast near slain, but as Jesu provided me I escaped

all their malice and treason. And then that noble knight Sir Launcelot

told them all how he was hard bestead in the queen’s chamber, and how

and in what manner he escaped from them. And therefore, said Sir

Launcelot, wit you well, my fair lords, I am sure there nis but war

unto me and mine. And for because I have slain this night these

knights, I wot well, as is Sir Agravaine Sir Gawaine’s brother, and at

the least twelve of his fellows, for this cause now I am sure of mortal

war, for these knights were sent and ordained by King Arthur to betray

me. And therefore the king will in his heat and malice judge the queen

to the fire, and that may I not suffer, that she should be brent for my

sake; for an I may be heard and suffered and so taken, I will fight for

the queen, that she is a true lady unto her lord; but the king in his

heat I dread me will not take me as I ought to be taken.