第 二百 章 · How Sir Launcelot came to the court and heard of La Cote

. How Sir Launcelot came to the court and heard of La Cote

Male Taile, and how he followed after him, and how La Cote Male Taile

was prisoner.

That when he was come to the court of King Arthur, then heard he tell

of the young knight La Cote Male Taile, how he slew the lion, and how

he took upon him the adventure of the black shield, the which was named

at that time the hardiest adventure of the world. So God me save, said

Sir Launcelot unto many of his fellows, it was shame to all the noble

knights to suffer such a young knight to take such adventure upon him

for his destruction; for I will that ye wit, said Sir Launcelot, that

that damosel Maledisant hath borne that shield many a day for to seek

the most proved knights, and that was she that Breuse Saunce Pité took

that shield from her, and after Tristram de Liones rescued that shield

from him and gave it to the damosel again, a little afore that time

that Sir Tristram fought with my nephew Sir Blamore de Ganis, for a

quarrel that was betwixt the King of Ireland and him. Then many knights

were sorry that Sir La Cote Male Taile was gone forth to that

adventure. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, I cast me to ride after him. And

within seven days Sir Launcelot overtook La Cote Male Taile, and then

he saluted him and the damosel Maledisant. And when Sir Mordred saw Sir

Launcelot, then he left their fellowship; and so Sir Launcelot rode

with them all a day, and ever that damosel rebuked La Cote Male Taile;

and then Sir Launcelot answered for him, then she left off, and rebuked

Sir Launcelot.

So this meantime Sir Tristram sent by a damosel a letter unto Sir

Launcelot, excusing him of the wedding of Isoud la Blanche Mains; and

said in the letter, as he was a true knight he had never ado fleshly

with Isoud la Blanche Mains; and passing courteously and gentily Sir

Tristram wrote unto Sir Launcelot, ever beseeching him to be his good

friend and unto La Beale Isoud of Cornwall, and that Sir Launcelot

would excuse him if that ever he saw her. And within short time by the

grace of God, said Sir Tristram, that he would speak with La Beale

Isoud, and with him right hastily. Then Sir Launcelot departed from the

damosel and from Sir La Cote Male Taile, for to oversee that letter,

and to write another letter unto Sir Tristram de Liones.

And in the meanwhile La Cote Male Taile rode with the damosel until

they came to a castle that hight Pendragon; and there were six knights

stood afore him, and one of them proffered to joust with La Cote Male

Taile. And there La Cote Male Taile smote him over his horse’s croup.

And then the five knights set upon him all at once with their spears,

and there they smote La Cote Male Taile down, horse and man. And then

they alighted suddenly, and set their hands upon him all at once, and

took him prisoner, and so led him unto the castle and kept him as

prisoner.

And on the morn Sir Launcelot arose, and delivered the damosel with

letters unto Sir Tristram, and then he took his way after La Cote Male

Taile; and by the way upon a bridge there was a knight proffered Sir

Launcelot to joust, and Sir Launcelot smote him down, and then they

fought upon foot a noble battle together, and a mighty; and at the last

Sir Launcelot smote him down grovelling upon his hands and his knees.

And then that knight yielded him, and Sir Launcelot received him fair.

Sir, said the knight, I require thee tell me your name, for much my

heart giveth unto you. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, as at this time I will

not tell you my name, unless then that ye tell me your name. Certainly,

said the knight, my name is Sir Nerovens, that was made knight of my

lord Sir Launcelot du Lake. Ah, Nerovens de Lile, said Sir Launcelot, I

am right glad that ye are proved a good knight, for now wit ye well my

name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Alas, said Sir Nerovens de Lile, what

have I done! And therewithal flatling he fell to his feet, and would

have kissed them, but Sir Launcelot would not let him; and then either

made great joy of other. And then Sir Nerovens told Sir Launcelot that

he should not go by the Castle of Pendragon: For there is a lord, a

mighty knight, and many knights with him, and this night I heard say

that they took a knight prisoner yesterday that rode with a damosel,

and they say he is a Knight of the Round Table.