Bab Bab 106 · How a knight found Sir Launcelot lying in his leman’s bed,

. How a knight found Sir Launcelot lying in his leman’s bed,

and how Sir Launcelot fought with the knight.

Then within an hour there came the knight to whom the pavilion ought,

and he weened that his leman had lain in that bed, and so he laid him

down beside Sir Launcelot, and took him in his arms and began to kiss

him. And when Sir Launcelot felt a rough beard kissing him, he started

out of the bed lightly, and the other knight after him, and either of

them gat their swords in their hands, and out at the pavilion door went

the knight of the pavilion, and Sir Launcelot followed him, and there

by a little slake Sir Launcelot wounded him sore, nigh unto the death.

And then he yielded him unto Sir Launcelot, and so he granted him, so

that he would tell him why he came into the bed. Sir, said the knight,

the pavilion is mine own, and there this night I had assigned my lady

to have slept with me, and now I am likely to die of this wound. That

me repenteth, said Launcelot, of your hurt, but I was adread of

treason, for I was late beguiled, and therefore come on your way into

your pavilion and take your rest, and as I suppose I shall staunch your

blood. And so they went both into the pavilion, and anon Sir Launcelot

staunched his blood.

Therewithal came the knight’s lady, that was a passing fair lady, and

when she espied that her lord Belleus was sore wounded, she cried out

on Sir Launcelot, and made great dole out of measure. Peace, my lady

and my love, said Belleus, for this knight is a good man, and a knight

adventurous, and there he told her all the cause how he was wounded;

And when that I yielded me unto him, he left me goodly and hath

staunched my blood. Sir, said the lady, I require thee tell me what

knight ye be, and what is your name? Fair lady, he said, my name is Sir

Launcelot du Lake. So me thought ever by your speech, said the lady,

for I have seen you oft or this, and I know you better than ye ween.

But now an ye would promise me of your courtesy, for the harms that ye

have done to me and my Lord Belleus, that when he cometh unto Arthur’s

court for to cause him to be made knight of the Round Table, for he is

a passing good man of arms, and a mighty lord of lands of many out

isles.

Fair lady, said Sir Launcelot, let him come unto the court the next

high feast, and look that ye come with him, and I shall do my power, an

ye prove you doughty of your hands, that ye shall have your desire. So

thus within a while, as they thus talked, the night passed, and the day

shone, and then Sir Launcelot armed him, and took his horse, and they

taught him to the Abbey, and thither he rode within the space of two

hours.