บทที่ บทที่ 201 · How Sir Launcelot fought with six knights, and after with

. How Sir Launcelot fought with six knights, and after with

Sir Brian, and how he delivered the prisoners.

Ah, said Sir Launcelot, that knight is my fellow, and him shall I

rescue or else I shall lose my life therefore. And therewithal he rode

fast till he came before the Castle of Pendragon; and anon therewithal

there came six knights, and all made them ready to set upon Sir

Launcelot at once; then Sir Launcelot feutred his spear, and smote the

foremost that he brake his back in-sunder, and three of them hit and

three failed. And then Sir Launcelot passed through them, and lightly

he turned in again, and smote another knight through the breast and

throughout the back more than an ell, and therewithal his spear brake.

So then all the remnant of the four knights drew their swords and

lashed at Sir Launcelot. And at every stroke Sir Launcelot bestowed so

his strokes that at four strokes sundry they avoided their saddles,

passing sore wounded; and forthwithal he rode hurling into that castle.

And anon the lord of the castle, that was that time cleped Sir Brian de

les Isles, the which was a noble man and a great enemy unto King

Arthur, within a while he was armed and upon horseback. And then they

feutred their spears and hurled together so strongly that both their

horses rashed to the earth. And then they avoided their saddles, and

dressed their shields, and drew their swords, and flang together as

wood men, and there were many strokes given in a while. At the last Sir

Launcelot gave to Sir Brian such a buffet that he kneeled upon his

knees, and then Sir Launcelot rashed upon him, and with great force he

pulled off his helm; and when Sir Brian saw that he should be slain he

yielded him, and put him in his mercy and in his grace. Then Sir

Launcelot made him to deliver all his prisoners that he had within his

castle, and therein Sir Launcelot found of Arthur’s knights thirty, and

forty ladies, and so he delivered them; and then he rode his way. And

anon as La Cote Male Taile was delivered he gat his horse, and his

harness, and his damosel Maledisant.

The meanwhile Sir Nerovens, that Sir Launcelot had foughten withal

afore at the bridge, he sent a damosel after Sir Launcelot to wit how

he sped at the Castle of Pendragon. And then they within the castle

marvelled what knight he was, when Sir Brian and his knights delivered

all those prisoners. Have ye no marvel, said the damosel, for the best

knight in this world was here, and did this journey, and wit ye well,

she said, it was Sir Launcelot. Then was Sir Brian full glad, and so

was his lady, and all his knights, that such a man should win them. And

when the damosel and La Cote Male Taile understood that it was Sir

Launcelot du Lake that had ridden with them in fellowship, and that she

remembered her how she had rebuked him and called him coward, then was

she passing heavy.