Chương Chương 102 · How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel departed from the court,

. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel departed from the court,

and how Sir Lionel left him sleeping and was taken.

Soon after that King Arthur was come from Rome into England, then all

the knights of the Table Round resorted unto the king, and made many

jousts and tournaments, and some there were that were but knights,

which increased so in arms and worship that they passed all their

fellows in prowess and noble deeds, and that was well proved on many;

but in especial it was proved on Sir Launcelot du Lake, for in all

tournaments and jousts and deeds of arms, both for life and death, he

passed all other knights, and at no time he was never overcome but if

it were by treason or enchantment; so Sir Launcelot increased so

marvellously in worship, and in honour, therefore is he the first

knight that the French book maketh mention of after King Arthur came

from Rome. Wherefore Queen Guenever had him in great favour above all

other knights, and in certain he loved the queen again above all other

ladies and damosels of his life, and for her he did many deeds of arms,

and saved her from the fire through his noble chivalry.

Thus Sir Launcelot rested him long with play and game. And then he

thought himself to prove himself in strange adventures, then he bade

his nephew, Sir Lionel, for to make him ready; for we two will seek

adventures. So they mounted on their horses, armed at all rights, and

rode into a deep forest and so into a deep plain. And then the weather

was hot about noon, and Sir Launcelot had great lust to sleep. Then Sir

Lionel espied a great apple-tree that stood by an hedge, and said,

Brother, yonder is a fair shadow, there may we rest us [and] our

horses. It is well said, fair brother, said Sir Launcelot, for this

eight year I was not so sleepy as I am now; and so they there alighted

and tied their horses unto sundry trees, and so Sir Launcelot laid him

down under an appletree, and his helm he laid under his head. And Sir

Lionel waked while he slept. So Sir Launcelot was asleep passing fast.

And in the meanwhile there came three knights riding, as fast fleeing

as ever they might ride. And there followed them three but one knight.

And when Sir Lionel saw him, him thought he saw never so great a

knight, nor so well faring a man, neither so well apparelled unto all

rights. So within a while this strong knight had overtaken one of these

knights, and there he smote him to the cold earth that he lay still.

And then he rode unto the second knight, and smote him so that man and

horse fell down. And then straight to the third knight he rode, and

smote him behind his horse’s arse a spear length. And then he alighted

down and reined his horse on the bridle, and bound all the three

knights fast with the reins of their own bridles. When Sir Lionel saw

him do thus, he thought to assay him, and made him ready, and stilly

and privily he took his horse, and thought not for to awake Sir

Launcelot. And when he was mounted upon his horse, he overtook this

strong knight, and bade him turn, and the other smote Sir Lionel so

hard that horse and man he bare to the earth, and so he alighted down

and bound him fast, and threw him overthwart his own horse, and so he

served them all four, and rode with them away to his own castle. And

when he came there he gart unarm them, and beat them with thorns all

naked, and after put them in a deep prison where were many more

knights, that made great dolour.