第 一百一十七 章 · How Sir Launcelot at the request of a lady recovered a

. How Sir Launcelot at the request of a lady recovered a

falcon, by which he was deceived.

And so Sir Launcelot rode through many strange countries, over marshes

and valleys, till by fortune he came to a fair castle, and as he passed

beyond the castle him thought he heard two bells ring. And then was he

ware of a falcon came flying over his head toward an high elm, and long

lunes about her feet, and as she flew unto the elm to take her perch

the lunes over-cast about a bough. And when she would have taken her

flight she hung by the legs fast; and Sir Launcelot saw how she hung,

and beheld the fair falcon perigot, and he was sorry for her.

The meanwhile came a lady out of the castle and cried on high: O

Launcelot, Launcelot, as thou art flower of all knights, help me to get

my hawk, for an my hawk be lost my lord will destroy me; for I kept the

hawk and she slipped from me, and if my lord my husband wit it he is so

hasty that he will slay me. What is your lord’s name? said Sir

Launcelot. Sir, she said, his name is Sir Phelot, a knight that longeth

unto the King of Northgalis. Well, fair lady, since that ye know my

name, and require me of knighthood to help you, I will do what I may to

get your hawk, and yet God knoweth I am an ill climber, and the tree is

passing high, and few boughs to help me withal. And therewith Sir

Launcelot alighted, and tied his horse to the same tree, and prayed the

lady to unarm him. And so when he was unarmed, he put off all his

clothes unto his shirt and breech, and with might and force he clomb up

to the falcon, and tied the lines to a great rotten boyshe, and threw

the hawk down and it withal.

Anon the lady gat the hawk in her hand; and therewithal came out Sir

Phelot out of the groves suddenly, that was her husband, all armed and

with his naked sword in his hand, and said: O knight Launcelot, now

have I found thee as I would, and stood at the bole of the tree to slay

him. Ah, lady, said Sir Launcelot, why have ye betrayed me? She hath

done, said Sir Phelot, but as I commanded her, and therefore there nis

none other boot but thine hour is come that thou must die. That were

shame unto thee, said Sir Launcelot, thou an armed knight to slay a

naked man by treason. Thou gettest none other grace, said Sir Phelot,

and therefore help thyself an thou canst. Truly, said Sir Launcelot,

that shall be thy shame, but since thou wilt do none other, take mine

harness with thee, and hang my sword upon a bough that I may get it,

and then do thy best to slay me an thou canst. Nay, nay, said Sir

Phelot, for I know thee better than thou weenest, therefore thou

gettest no weapon, an I may keep you therefrom. Alas, said Sir

Launcelot, that ever a knight should die weaponless. And therewith he

waited above him and under him, and over his head he saw a rownsepyk, a

big bough leafless, and therewith he brake it off by the body. And then

he came lower and awaited how his own horse stood, and suddenly he

leapt on the further side of the horse, fro-ward the knight. And then

Sir Phelot lashed at him eagerly, weening to have slain him. But Sir

Launcelot put away the stroke with the rownsepyk, and therewith he

smote him on the one side of the head, that he fell down in a swoon to

the ground. So then Sir Launcelot took his sword out of his hand, and

struck his neck from the body. Then cried the lady, Alas! why hast thou

slain my husband? I am not causer, said Sir Launcelot, for with

falsehood ye would have had slain me with treason, and now it is fallen

on you both. And then she swooned as though she would die. And

therewithal Sir Launcelot gat all his armour as well as he might, and

put it upon him for dread of more resort, for he dreaded that the

knight’s castle was so nigh. And so, as soon as he might, he took his

horse and departed, and thanked God that he had escaped that adventure.