第 二百零二 章 · How Sir Launcelot met with the damosel named Male disant,

. How Sir Launcelot met with the damosel named Male disant,

and named her the Damosel Bienpensant.

So then they took their horses and rode forth a pace after Sir

Launcelot. And within two mile they overtook him, and saluted him, and

thanked him, and the damosel cried Sir Launcelot mercy of her evil deed

and saying: For now I know the flower of all knighthood is departed

even between Sir Tristram and you. For God knoweth, said the damosel,

that I have sought you my lord, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Tristram long,

and now I thank God I have met with you; and once at Camelot I met with

Sir Tristram, and there he rescued this black shield with the white

hand holding a naked sword that Sir Breuse Saunce Pité had taken from

me. Now, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, who told you my name? Sir,

said she, there came a damosel from a knight that ye fought withal at

the bridge, and she told me your name was Sir Launcelot du Lake. Blame

have she then, said Sir Launcelot, but her lord, Sir Nerovens, hath

told her. But, damosel, said Sir Launcelot, upon this covenant I will

ride with you, so that ye will not rebuke this knight Sir La Cote Male

Taile no more; for he is a good knight, and I doubt not he shall prove

a noble knight, and for his sake and pity that he should not be

destroyed I followed him to succour him in this great need. Ah, Jesu

thank you, said the damosel, for now I will say unto you and to him

both, I rebuked him never for no hate that I hated him, but for great

love that I had to him. For ever I supposed that he had been too young

and too tender to take upon him these adventures. And therefore by my

will I would have driven him away for jealousy that I had of his life,

for it may be no young knight’s deed that shall enchieve this adventure

to the end. Pardieu, said Sir Launcelot, it is well said, and where ye

are called the Damosel Maledisant I will call you the Damosel

Bienpensant.

And so they rode forth a great while unto they came to the border of

the country of Surluse, and there they found a fair village with a

strong bridge like a fortress. And when Sir Launcelot and they were at

the bridge there stert forth afore them of gentlemen and yeomen many,

that said: Fair lords, ye may not pass this bridge and this fortress

because of that black shield that I see one of you bear, and therefore

there shall not pass but one of you at once; therefore choose you which

of you shall enter within this bridge first. Then Sir Launcelot

proffered himself first to enter within this bridge. Sir, said La Cote

Male Taile, I beseech you let me enter within this fortress, and if I

may speed well I will send for you, and if it happened that I be slain,

there it goeth. And if so be that I am a prisoner taken, then may ye

rescue me. I am loath, said Sir Launcelot, to let you pass this

passage. Sir, said La Cote Male Taile, I pray you let me put my body in

this adventure. Now go your way, said Sir Launcelot, and Jesu be your

speed.

So he entered, and anon there met with him two brethren, the one hight

Sir Plaine de Force, and the other hight Sir Plaine de Amours. And anon

they met with Sir La Cote Male Taile; and first La Cote Male Taile

smote down Plaine de Force, and after he smote down Plaine de Amours;

and then they dressed them to their shields and swords, and bade La

Cote Male Taile alight, and so he did; and there was dashing and

foining with swords, and so they began to assail full hard La Cote Male

Taile, and many great wounds they gave him upon his head, and upon his

breast, and upon his shoulders. And as he might ever among he gave sad

strokes again. And then the two brethren traced and traversed for to be

of both hands of Sir La Cote Male Taile, but he by fine force and

knightly prowess gat them afore him. And then when he felt himself so

wounded, then he doubled his strokes, and gave them so many wounds that

he felled them to the earth, and would have slain them had they not

yielded them. And right so Sir La Cote Male Taile took the best horse

that there was of them three, and so rode forth his way to the other

fortress and bridge; and there he met with the third brother whose name

was Sir Plenorius, a full noble knight, and there they jousted

together, and either smote other down, horse and man, to the earth. And

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

their swords, and gave many sad strokes, and one while the one knight

was afore on the bridge, and another while the other. And thus they

fought two hours and more, and never rested. And ever Sir Launcelot and

the damosel beheld them. Alas, said the damosel, my knight fighteth

passing sore and over long. Now may ye see, said Sir Launcelot, that he

is a noble knight, for to consider his first battle, and his grievous

wounds; and even forthwithal so wounded as he is, it is marvel that he

may endure this long battle with that good knight.