第 一百一十一 章 · How Sir Launcelot rode with a damosel and slew a knight that

. How Sir Launcelot rode with a damosel and slew a knight that

distressed all ladies and also a villain that kept a bridge.

Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot, that rode with the damosel in a fair

highway. Sir, said the damosel, here by this way haunteth a knight that

distressed all ladies and gentlewomen, and at the least he robbeth them

or lieth by them. What, said Sir Launcelot, is he a thief and a knight

and a ravisher of women? he doth shame unto the order of knighthood,

and contrary unto his oath; it is pity that he liveth. But, fair

damosel, ye shall ride on afore, yourself, and I will keep myself in

covert, and if that he trouble you or distress you I shall be your

rescue and learn him to be ruled as a knight.

So the maid rode on by the way a soft ambling pace, and within a while

came out that knight on horseback out of the wood, and his page with

him, and there he put the damosel from her horse, and then she cried.

With that came Launcelot as fast as he might till he came to that

knight, saying, O thou false knight and traitor unto knighthood, who

did learn thee to distress ladies and gentlewomen? When the knight saw

Sir Launcelot thus rebuking him he answered not, but drew his sword and

rode unto Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot threw his spear from him,

and drew out his sword, and struck him such a buffet on the helmet that

he clave his head and neck unto the throat. Now hast thou thy payment

that long thou hast deserved! That is truth, said the damosel, for like

as Sir Turquine watched to destroy knights, so did this knight attend

to destroy and distress ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen, and his name

was Sir Peris de Forest Savage. Now, damosel, said Sir Launcelot, will

ye any more service of me? Nay, sir, she said, at this time, but

almighty Jesu preserve you wheresomever ye ride or go, for the curteist

knight thou art, and meekest unto all ladies and gentlewomen, that now

liveth. But one thing, sir knight, methinketh ye lack, ye that are a

knight wifeless, that he will not love some maiden or gentlewoman, for

I could never hear say that ever ye loved any of no manner degree, and

that is great pity; but it is noised that ye love Queen Guenever, and

that she hath ordained by enchantment that ye shall never love none

other but her, nor none other damosel nor lady shall rejoice you;

wherefore many in this land, of high estate and low, make great sorrow.

Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, I may not warn people to speak of me

what it pleaseth them; but for to be a wedded man, I think it not; for

then I must couch with her, and leave arms and tournaments, battles,

and adventures; and as for to say for to take my pleasaunce with

paramours, that will I refuse in principal for dread of God; for

knights that be adventurous or lecherous shall not be happy nor

fortunate unto the wars, for other they shall be overcome with a

simpler knight than they be themselves, other else they shall by unhap

and their cursedness slay better men than they be themselves. And so

who that useth paramours shall be unhappy, and all thing is unhappy

that is about them.

And so Sir Launcelot and she departed. And then he rode in a deep

forest two days and more, and had strait lodging. So on the third day

he rode over a long bridge, and there stert upon him suddenly a passing

foul churl, and he smote his horse on the nose that he turned about,

and asked him why he rode over that bridge without his licence. Why

should I not ride this way? said Sir Launcelot, I may not ride beside.

Thou shalt not choose, said the churl, and lashed at him with a great

club shod with iron. Then Sir Launcelot drew his sword and put the

stroke aback, and clave his head unto the paps. At the end of the

bridge was a fair village, and all the people, men and women, cried on

Sir Launcelot, and said, A worse deed didst thou never for thyself, for

thou hast slain the chief porter of our castle. Sir Launcelot let them

say what they would, and straight he went into the castle; and when he

came into the castle he alighted, and tied his horse to a ring on the

wall and there he saw a fair green court, and thither he dressed him,

for there him thought was a fair place to fight in. So he looked about,

and saw much people in doors and windows that said, Fair knight, thou

art unhappy.