Bab Bab 436 · How Sir Launcelot fought against Sir Mador for the queen,

. How Sir Launcelot fought against Sir Mador for the queen,

and how he overcame Sir Mador, and discharged the queen.

Then the king called to that knight, and asked him if he would fight

for the queen. Then he answered to the king: Therefore came I hither,

and therefore, sir king, he said, tarry me no longer, for I may not

tarry. For anon as I have finished this battle I must depart hence, for

I have ado many matters elsewhere. For wit you well, said that knight,

this is dishonour to you all knights of the Round Table, to see and

know so noble a lady and so courteous a queen as Queen Guenever is,

thus to be rebuked and shamed amongst you. Then they all marvelled what

knight that might be that so took the battle upon him. For there was

not one that knew him, but if it were Sir Bors.

Then said Sir Mador de la Porte unto the king: Now let me wit with whom

I shall have ado withal. And then they rode to the lists’ end, and

there they couched their spears, and ran together with all their might,

and Sir Mador’s spear brake all to pieces, but the other’s spear held,

and bare Sir Mador’s horse and all backward to the earth a great fall.

But mightily and suddenly he avoided his horse and put his shield afore

him, and then drew his sword, and bade the other knight alight and do

battle with him on foot. Then that knight descended from his horse

lightly like a valiant man, and put his shield afore him and drew his

sword; and so they came eagerly unto battle, and either gave other many

great strokes, tracing and traversing, racing and foining, and hurtling

together with their swords as it were wild boars. Thus were they

fighting nigh an hour, for this Sir Mador was a strong knight, and

mightily proved in many strong battles. But at the last this knight

smote Sir Mador grovelling upon the earth, and the knight stepped near

him to have pulled Sir Mador flatling upon the ground; and therewith

suddenly Sir Mador arose, and in his rising he smote that knight

through the thick of the thighs that the blood ran out fiercely. And

when he felt himself so wounded, and saw his blood, he let him arise

upon his feet. And then he gave him such a buffet upon the helm that he

fell to the earth flatling, and therewith he strode to him to have

pulled off his helm off his head. And then Sir Mador prayed that knight

to save his life, and so he yielded him as overcome, and released the

queen of his quarrel. I will not grant thee thy life, said that knight,

only that thou freely release the queen for ever, and that no mention

be made upon Sir Patrise’s tomb that ever Queen Guenever consented to

that treason. All this shall be done, said Sir Mador, I clearly

discharge my quarrel for ever.

Then the knights parters of the lists took up Sir Mador, and led him to

his tent, and the other knight went straight to the stair-foot where

sat King Arthur; and by that time was the queen come to the king, and

either kissed other heartily. And when the king saw that knight, he

stooped down to him, and thanked him, and in likewise did the queen;

and the king prayed him to put off his helmet, and to repose him, and

to take a sop of wine. And then he put off his helm to drink, and then

every knight knew him that it was Sir Launcelot du Lake. Anon as the

king wist that, he took the queen in his hand, and yode unto Sir

Launcelot, and said: Sir, grant mercy of your great travail that ye

have had this day for me and for my queen. My lord, said Sir Launcelot,

wit ye well I ought of right ever to be in your quarrel, and in my lady

the queen’s quarrel, to do battle; for ye are the man that gave me the

high order of knighthood, and that day my lady, your queen, did me

great worship, and else I had been shamed; for that same day ye made me

knight, through my hastiness I lost my sword, and my lady, your queen,

found it, and lapped it in her train, and gave me my sword when I had

need thereto, and else had I been shamed among all knights; and

therefore, my lord Arthur, I promised her at that day ever to be her

knight in right outher in wrong. Grant mercy, said the king, for this

journey; and wit ye well, said the king, I shall acquit your goodness.

And ever the queen beheld Sir Launcelot, and wept so tenderly that she

sank almost to the ground for sorrow that he had done to her so great

goodness where she shewed him great unkindness. Then the knights of his

blood drew unto him, and there either of them made great joy of other.

And so came all the knights of the Table Round that were there at that

time, and welcomed him. And then Sir Mador was had to leech-craft, and

Sir Launcelot was healed of his wound. And then there was made great

joy and mirths in that court.