Chương Chương 208 · How Sir Lamorak met with Sir Meliagaunce, and fought

. How Sir Lamorak met with Sir Meliagaunce, and fought

together for the beauty of Dame Guenever.

Right so as they stood talking thus Sir Lamorak was ware how Sir

Launcelot came riding straight toward them; then Sir Lamorak saluted

him, and he him again. And then Sir Lamorak asked Sir Launcelot if

there were anything that he might do for him in these marches. Nay,

said Sir Launcelot, not at this time I thank you. Then either departed

from other, and Sir Lamorak rode again thereas he left the two knights,

and then he found them hid in the leaved wood. Fie on you, said Sir

Lamorak, false cowards, pity and shame it is that any of you should

take the high order of knighthood. So Sir Lamorak departed from them,

and within a while he met with Sir Meliagaunce. And then Sir Lamorak

asked him why he loved Queen Guenever as he did: For I was not far from

you when ye made your complaint by the chapel. Did ye so? said Sir

Meliagaunce, then will I abide by it: I love Queen Guenever, what will

ye with it? I will prove and make good that she is the fairest lady and

most of beauty in the world. As to that, said Sir Lamorak, I say nay

thereto, for Queen Morgawse of Orkney, mother to Sir Gawaine, and his

mother is the fairest queen and lady that beareth the life. That is not

so, said Sir Meliagaunce, and that will I prove with my hands upon thy

body. Will ye so? said Sir Lamorak, and in a better quarrel keep I not

to fight. Then they departed either from other in great wrath. And then

they came riding together as it had been thunder, and either smote

other so sore that their horses fell backward to the earth. And then

they avoided their horses, and dressed their shields, and drew their

swords. And then they hurtled together as wild boars, and thus they

fought a great while. For Meliagaunce was a good man and of great

might, but Sir Lamorak was hard big for him, and put him always aback,

but either had wounded other sore.

And as they stood thus fighting, by fortune came Sir Launcelot and Sir

Bleoberis riding. And then Sir Launcelot rode betwixt them, and asked

them for what cause they fought so together: And ye are both knights of

King Arthur!

Sir, said Meliagaunce, I shall tell you for what cause we do this

battle. I praised my lady, Queen Guenever, and said she was the fairest

lady of the world, and Sir Lamorak said nay thereto, for he said Queen

Morgawse of Orkney was fairer than she and more of beauty. Ah, Sir

Lamorak, why sayest thou so? it is not thy part to dispraise thy

princess that thou art under her obeissance, and we all. And therewith

he alighted on foot, and said: For this quarrel, make thee ready, for I

will prove upon thee that Queen Guenever is the fairest lady and most

of bounty in the world. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I am loath to have ado

with you in this quarrel, for every man thinketh his own lady fairest;

and though I praise the lady that I love most ye should not be wroth;

for though my lady, Queen Guenever, be fairest in your eye, wit ye well

Queen Morgawse of Orkney is fairest in mine eye, and so every knight

thinketh his own lady fairest; and wit ye well, sir, ye are the man in

the world except Sir Tristram that I am most loathest to have ado

withal, but, an ye will needs fight with me I shall endure you as long

as I may. Then spake Sir Bleoberis and said: My lord Sir Launcelot, I

wist you never so misadvised as ye are now, for Sir Lamorak sayeth you

but reason and knightly; for I warn you I have a lady, and methinketh

that she is the fairest lady of the world. Were this a great reason

that ye should be wroth with me for such language? And well ye wot,

that Sir Lamorak is as noble a knight as I know, and he hath ought you

and us ever good will, and therefore I pray you be good friends. Then

Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Lamorak. I pray you forgive me mine evil

will, and if I was misadvised I will amend it. Sir, said Sir Lamorak,

the amends is soon made betwixt you and me. And so Sir Launcelot and

Sir Bleoberis departed, and Sir Meliagaunce and Sir Lamorak took their

horses, and either departed from other.

And within a while came King Arthur, and met with Sir Lamorak, and

jousted with him; and there he smote down Sir Lamorak, and wounded him

sore with a spear, and so he rode from him; wherefore Sir Lamorak was

wroth that he would not fight with him on foot, howbeit that Sir

Lamorak knew not King Arthur.