บทที่ บทที่ 399 · How Sir Bors left to rescue his brother, and rescued the

. How Sir Bors left to rescue his brother, and rescued the

damosel; and how it was told him that Lionel was dead.

Then dressed he him unto the knight the which had the gentlewoman, and

then he cried: Sir knight, let your hand off that maiden, or ye be but

dead. And then he set down the maiden, and was armed at all pieces save

he lacked his spear. Then he dressed his shield, and drew out his

sword, and Bors smote him so hard that it went through his shield and

habergeon on the left shoulder. And through great strength he beat him

down to the earth, and at the pulling out of Bors’ spear there he

swooned. Then came Bors to the maid and said: How seemeth it you? of

this knight ye be delivered at this time. Now sir, said she, I pray you

lead me thereas this knight had me. So shall I do gladly: and took the

horse of the wounded knight, and set the gentlewoman upon him, and so

brought her as she desired. Sir knight, said she, ye have better sped

than ye weened, for an I had lost my maidenhead, five hundred men

should have died for it. What knight was he that had you in the forest?

By my faith, said she, he is my cousin. So wot I never with what engine

the fiend enchafed him, for yesterday he took me from my father

privily; for I, nor none of my father’s men, mistrusted him not, and if

he had had my maidenhead he should have died for the sin, and his body

shamed and dishonoured for ever. Thus as she stood talking with him

there came twelve knights seeking after her, and anon she told them all

how Bors had delivered her; then they made great joy, and besought him

to come to her father, a great lord, and he should be right welcome.

Truly, said Bors, that may not be at this time, for I have a great

adventure to do in this country. So he commended them unto God and

departed.

Then Sir Bors rode after Lionel, his brother, by the trace of their

horses, thus he rode seeking a great while. Then he overtook a man

clothed in a religious clothing; and rode on a strong black horse

blacker than a berry, and said: Sir knight, what seek you? Sir, said

he, I seek my brother that I saw within a while beaten with two

knights. Ah, Bors, discomfort you not, nor fall into no wanhope; for I

shall tell you tidings such as they be, for truly he is dead. Then

showed he him a new slain body lying in a bush, and it seemed him well

that it was the body of Lionel, and then he made such a sorrow that he

fell to the earth all in a swoon, and lay a great while there. And when

he came to himself he said: Fair brother, sith the company of you and

me is departed shall I never have joy in my heart, and now He which I

have taken unto my master, He be my help. And when he had said thus he

took his body lightly in his arms, and put it upon the arson of his

saddle. And then he said to the man: Canst thou tell me unto some

chapel where that I may bury this body? Come on, said he, here is one

fast by; and so long they rode till they saw a fair tower, and afore it

there seemed an old feeble chapel. And then they alighted both, and put

him into a tomb of marble.