第 四百五十八 章 · How Sir Launcelot’s horse was slain, and how Sir Launcelot

. How Sir Launcelot’s horse was slain, and how Sir Launcelot

rode in a cart for to rescue the queen.

Then Sir Launcelot rode as fast as he might, and the book saith he took

the water at Westminster Bridge, and made his horse to swim over Thames

unto Lambeth. And then within a while he came to the same place thereas

the ten noble knights fought with Sir Meliagrance. And then Sir

Launcelot followed the track until that he came to a wood, and there

was a straight way, and there the thirty archers bade Sir Launcelot

turn again, and follow no longer that track. What commandment have ye

thereto, said Sir Launcelot, to cause me that am a knight of the Round

Table to leave my right way? This way shalt thou leave, other-else thou

shalt go it on thy foot, for wit thou well thy horse shall be slain.

That is little mastery, said Sir Launcelot, to slay mine horse; but as

for myself, when my horse is slain, I give right nought for you, not an

ye were five hundred more. So then they shot Sir Launcelot’s horse, and

smote him with many arrows; and then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse,

and went on foot; but there were so many ditches and hedges betwixt

them and him that he might not meddle with none of them. Alas for

shame, said Launcelot, that ever one knight should betray another

knight; but it is an old saw, A good man is never in danger but when he

is in the danger of a coward. Then Sir Launcelot went a while, and then

he was foul cumbered of his armour, his shield, and his spear, and all

that longed unto him. Wit ye well he was full sore annoyed, and full

loath he was for to leave anything that longed unto him, for he dread

sore the treason of Sir Meliagrance.

Then by fortune there came by him a chariot that came thither for to

fetch wood. Say me, carter, said Sir Launcelot, what shall I give thee

to suffer me to leap into thy chariot, and that thou bring me unto a

castle within this two mile? Thou shalt not come within my chariot,

said the carter, for I am sent for to fetch wood for my lord, Sir

Meliagrance. With him would I speak. Thou shalt not go with me, said

the carter. Then Sir Launcelot leapt to him, and gave him such a buffet

that he fell to the earth stark dead. Then the other carter, his

fellow, was afeard, and weened to have gone the same way; and then he

cried: Fair lord, save my life, and I shall bring you where ye will.

Then I charge thee, said Sir Launcelot, that thou drive me and this

chariot even unto Sir Meliagrance’s gate. Leap up into the chariot,

said the carter, and ye shall be there anon. So the carter drove on a

great wallop, and Sir Launcelot’s horse followed the chariot, with more

than a forty arrows broad and rough in him.

And more than an hour and an half Dame Guenever was awaiting in a bay

window with her ladies, and espied an armed knight standing in a

chariot. See, madam, said a lady, where rideth in a chariot a goodly

armed knight; I suppose he rideth unto hanging. Where? said the queen.

Then she espied by his shield that he was there himself, Sir Launcelot

du Lake. And then she was ware where came his horse ever after that

chariot, and ever he trod his guts and his paunch under his feet. Alas,

said the queen, now I see well and prove, that well is him that hath a

trusty friend. Ha, ha, most noble knight, said Queen Guenever, I see

well thou art hard bestead when thou ridest in a chariot. Then she

rebuked that lady that likened Sir Launcelot to ride in a chariot to

hanging. It was foul mouthed, said the queen, and evil likened, so for

to liken the most noble knight of the world unto such a shameful death.

O Jesu defend him and keep him, said the queen, from all mischievous

end. By this was Sir Launcelot come to the gates of that castle, and

there he descended down, and cried, that all the castle rang of it:

Where art thou, false traitor, Sir Meliagrance, and knight of the Table

Round? now come forth here, thou traitor knight, thou and thy

fellowship with thee; for here I am, Sir Launcelot du Lake, that shall

fight with you. And therewithal he bare the gate wide open upon the

porter, and smote him under his ear with his gauntlet, that his neck

brast a-sunder.