บทที่ บทที่ 59 · How King Pellinore gat the lady and brought her to

. How King Pellinore gat the lady and brought her to

Camelot to the court of King Arthur.

And then he turned him to the other knight, that was sore wounded. But

when he saw the other’s buffet, he would not fight, but kneeled down

and said, Take my cousin the lady with you at your request, and I

require you, as ye be a true knight, put her to no shame nor villainy.

What, said King Pellinore, will ye not fight for her? No, sir, said the

knight, I will not fight with such a knight of prowess as ye be. Well,

said Pellinore, ye say well; I promise you she shall have no villainy

by me, as I am true knight; but now me lacketh an horse, said

Pellinore, but I will have Hontzlake’s horse. Ye shall not need, said

the knight, for I shall give you such an horse as shall please you, so

that you will lodge with me, for it is near night. I will well, said

King Pellinore, abide with you all night. And there he had with him

right good cheer, and fared of the best with passing good wine, and had

merry rest that night. And on the morn he heard a mass and dined; and

then was brought him a fair bay courser, and King Pellinore’s saddle

set upon him. Now, what shall I call you? said the knight, inasmuch as

ye have my cousin at your desire of your quest. Sir, I shall tell you,

my name is King Pellinore of the Isles and knight of the Table Round.

Now I am glad, said the knight, that such a noble man shall have the

rule of my cousin. Now, what is your name? said Pellinore, I pray you

tell me. Sir, my name is Sir Meliot of Logurs, and this lady my cousin

hight Nimue, and the knight that was in the other pavilion is my sworn

brother, a passing good knight, and his name is Brian of the Isles, and

he is full loath to do wrong, and full loath to fight with any man, but

if he be sore sought on, so that for shame he may not leave it. It is

marvel, said Pellinore, that he will not have ado with me. Sir, he will

not have ado with no man but if it be at his request. Bring him to the

court, said Pellinore, one of these days. Sir, we will come together.

And ye shall be welcome, said Pellinore, to the court of King Arthur,

and greatly allowed for your coming. And so he departed with the lady,

and brought her to Camelot.

So as they rode in a valley it was full of stones, and there the lady’s

horse stumbled and threw her down, that her arm was sore bruised and

near she swooned for pain. Alas! sir, said the lady, mine arm is out of

lithe, wherethrough I must needs rest me. Ye shall well, said King

Pellinore. And so he alighted under a fair tree where was fair grass,

and he put his horse thereto, and so laid him under the tree and slept

till it was nigh night. And when he awoke he would have ridden. Sir,

said the lady, it is so dark that ye may as well ride backward as

forward. So they abode still and made there their lodging. Then Sir

Pellinore put off his armour; then a little afore midnight they heard

the trotting of an horse. Be ye still, said King Pellinore, for we

shall hear of some adventure.