And whan the kynge saw that knyght he stowped downe to hym and thanked hym, and in lyke wyse ded the quene. And the kynge prayde hym to put of his helmet and to repose hym and to take a soppe of wyne.
And than he putte of hys helmette to drynke, and than every knyght knew hym that hit was sir Launcelot. And anone as the kyng wyst that, he toke the quene in hys honde and yode unto sir Launcelot and seyde, ‘Sir, grauntemercy of youre grete travayle that ye have had this day for me and for my quyene.’
‘My lorde,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘wytte you well y ought of ryght ever to be in youre quarell and in my ladyes the quenys quarell to do batayle, for ye ar the man that gaff me the hygh Order of Knyghthode, and that day my lady, youre quene, ded me worshyp. And ellis had I bene shamed, for that same day that ye made me knyght, thorow my hastynes I loste my swerde, and my lady, youre quene, founde hit, and lapped hit in her trayne, and gave me my swerde whan I had nede thereto; and ells had I bene shamed amonge all knyghtes. And therefore, my lorde Arthure, I promysed her at that day ever to be her knyght in ryght othir in wronge.’
‘Grauntemercy,’ seyde the kynge, ‘for this journey. And wete you well,’ seyde the kynge, ‘I shall acquyte youre goodnesse.’
And evermore the quene behylde sir Launcelot, and wepte so tendirly that she sanke allmoste to the grownde for sorow, that he had done to her so grete kyndenes where she shewed hym grete unkyndenesse. Than the knyghtes of hys bloode drew unto hym, and there aythir of them made grete joy of othir. And so cam all the knyghtes of the Table Rounde that were there at that tyme and wellcommed hym.
And than sir Madore was healed of hys lechecrauffte, and sir Launcelot was heled of hys play. And so there was made grete joy, and many merthys there was made in that courte.
[8] And so hit befelle that the Damesell of the Lake that hyght Nynyve, whych wedded the good knyght sir Pelleas, and so she cam to the courte, for ever she ded grete goodnes unto kynge Arthure and to all hys knyghtes thorow her sorsery and enchauntementes. And so whan she herde how the quene was greved for the dethe of sir Patryse, than she tolde hit opynly that she was never gylty, and there she disclosed by whom hit was done, and named hym sir Pynel, and for what cause he ded hit. There hit was opynly knowyn and disclosed, and so the quene was excused. And thys knyght sir Pynell fledde unto hys contrey, and was opynly knowyn that he enpoysynde the appyls at that feste to that entente to have destroyed sir Gawayne, bycause sir Gawayne and hys brethirne destroyed sir Lamerok de Galys which sir Pynell was cosyn unto.
Than was sir Patryse buryed in the chirche of Westemynster in a towmbe, and thereuppon was wrytten: HERE LYETH SIR PATRYSE OF IRELONDE, SLAYNE BY SIR PYNELL LE SAVEAIGE THAT ENPOYSYNDE APPELIS TO HAVE SLAYNE SIR GAWAYNE, AND BY MYSSEFORTUNE SIR PATRYSE ETE ONE OF THE APPLIS, AND THAN SUDDEYNLY HE BRASTE. Also there was wrytyn uppon the tombe that quene Gwenyvere was appeled of treson of the deth of sir Patryse by sir Madore de la Porte, and there was made the mencion how sir Launcelot fought with hym for quene Gwenyvere and overcom hym in playne batayle. All thys was wretyn uppon the tombe of sir Patryse in excusyng of the quene.
And than sir Madore sewed dayly and longe to have the quenys good grace, and so by the meanys of sir Launcelot he caused hym to stonde in the quenys good grace, and all was forgyffyn.
II. THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT
THUS hit passed untyll oure Lady day of the Assumption. Within a fiftene dayes of that feste the kyng lete cry a grete justyse and a turnement that sholde be at that day at Camelott, otherwyse called Wynchester. And the kyng lete cry that he and the kynge of Scottes wolde juste ayenst all that wolde com ageynst them.
And whan thys cry was made, thydir cam many good knyghtes, that ys to sey the kynge of North Galis, and kynge Angwysh of Irelonde, and the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes, and syr Galahalte the Haute Prynce, and the kynge of Northumbirlonde, and many other noble deukes and erlis of other dyverse contreyes.
So kynge Arthure made hym redy to departe to hys justis, and wolde have had the quene with hym; but at that tyme she wolde nat, she seyde, for she was syke and myght nat ryde.
‘That me repentith,’ seyde the kynge, ‘for thys seven yere ye saw nat such a noble felyship togydirs excepte the Whytsontyde whan sir Galahad departed frome the courte.’
‘Truly,’ seyde the quene, ‘ye muste holde me excused. Y may nat be there.’
And many demed the quene wolde nat be there because of sir Launcelot, for he wolde nat ryde with the kynge: for he seyde he was nat hole of the play of sir Madore. Wherefore the kynge was hevy and passynge wroth, and so he departed towarde Wynchestir with hys felyship.
And so by the way the kynge lodged at a towne that was called Astolot, that ys in Englysh Gylforde, and there the kynge lay in the castell. So whan the kynge was departed the quene called sir Launcelot unto her and seyde thus:
‘Sir, ye ar gretly to blame thus to holde you behynde my lorde. What woll youre enemyes and myne sey and deme? “Se how sir Launcelot holdith hym ever behynde the kynge, and so the quene doth also, for that they wolde have their plesure togydirs.” And thus woll they sey,’ seyde the quene.
‘Have ye no doute, madame,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘I alow youre [9] witte. Hit ys of late com syn ye were woxen so wyse! And therefore, madam, at thys tyme I woll be ruled by youre counceyle, and thys nyght I woll take my reste, and to-morow betyme I woll take my way towarde Wynchestir. But wytte you well,” seyde sir Launcelot unto the quene, ‘at that justys I woll be ayenste the kynge and ayenst all hys felyship.’
‘Sir, ye may there do as ye lyste,’ seyde the quene, ‘but be my counceyle ye shall nat be ayenst youre kynge and your felyshyp, for there bene full many hardé knyghtes of youre bloode.’
‘Madame,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘I shall take the adventure that God woll gyff me.’
And so uppon the morne erly he harde masse and dyned, and so he toke hys leve of the quene and departed. And than he rode so muche unto the tyme he com to Astolott, and there hit happynd hym that in the evenyng-tyde he com to an olde barownes place that hyght sir Barnarde of Astolot. And as sir Launcelot entird into hys lodgynge, kynge Arthure aspyed hym as he dud walke in a gardeyne besyde the castell: he knew hym welle inow.
‘Well, sirs,’ seyde kyng Arthure unto hys knyghtes that were by hym besyde the castell, “I have now aspyed one knyght,’ he seyde, ‘that woll play hys play at the justys, I undirtake.’
‘Who ys that?’ seyde the knyghtes.
‘At thys tyme ye shall nate wyte for me!’ seyde the kynge and smyled, and wente to hys lodgynge.
So whan sir Launcelot was in hys lodgyng and unarmed in hys chambir, the olde barown, sir Barnarde, com to hym and wellcomed hym in the beste maner. But he knew nat sir Launcelot.
‘Fayre sir,’ seyde sir Launcelot tylle hys oste, ‘I wolde pray you to lende me a shylde that were nat opynly knowyn, for myne ys well knowyn.’
‘Sir,’ seyde hys oste, ‘ye shall have youre desire, for mesemyth ye bene one of the lyklyest knyghtes that ever y sawe, and therefore, sir, I shall shew you freynship.’ And seyde, ‘Sir, wyte you well I have two sunnes that were but late made knyghtes. And the eldist hyght sir Tirry, and he was hurte that same day he was made knyght, and he may nat ryde; and hys shylde ye shalle have, for that ys nat knowyn, I dare sey, but here and in no place else.’ And hys yonger sonne hyght sir Lavayne. ‘And if hit please you, he shall ryde with you unto that justis, for he ys of hys ayge stronge and wyght. For much my herte gyvith unto you, that ye sholde be a noble knyght. And therefore I praye you to telle me youre name,” seyde sir Barnarde.
‘As for that,’ seyd sir Launcelot, ‘ye muste holde me excused as at thys tyme. And if God gyff me grace to spede well at the justis I shall com agayne and telle you my name. But I pray you in ony wyse lete me have your sonne sir Lavayne with me, and that I may have hys brothers shylde.’
‘Sir, all thys shall be done,’ seyde sir Barnarde.
So thys olde barown had a doughtir that was called that tyme the Fayre Maydyn off Astolot,
and ever she behylde sir Launcelot wondirfully. And, as the booke sayth, she keste such a love unto sir Launcelot that she cowde never withdraw hir loove, wherefore she dyed. And her name was Elayne le Blanke. So thus as she cam to and fro, she was so hote in love that she besought sir Launcelot to were uppon hym at the justis a tokyn of hers.
‘Damesell,’ seyde sir Launcelot, and if I graunte you that, ye may sey that I do more for youre love than ever y ded for lady or jantillwoman.’
Than he remembird hymselff that he wolde go to the justis disgysed, and because he had never aforne borne no maner of tokyn of no damesell, he bethought hym to bere a tokyn of hers, that none of hys bloode thereby myght know hym. And than he seyde, ‘Fayre maydyn, I woll graunte you to were a tokyn of youres uppon myne helmet. And therefore what ys hit? Shewe ye hit me.”Sir,’ she seyde, ‘hit ys a rede sieve of myne, of scarlet, well enbrowdred with grete perelles.’
And so she brought hit hym. So sir Launcelot resseyved hit and seyde, ‘Never dud I erste so much for no damesell.’
Than sir Launcelot betoke the fayre mayden hys shylde in kepynge, and prayde her to kepe hit untill tyme that he com agayne. And so that nyght he had myrry reste and grete chere, for thys damesell Elayne was ever aboute sir Launcelot all the whyle she myght be suffirde.
So uppon a day, on the morne, kynge Arthure and all hys [10] knyghtis departed, for there the kyng had tarryed three dayes to abyde hys noble knyghtes. And so whan the kynge was rydden, sir Launcelot and sir Lavayne made them redy to ryde, and aythir of them had whyght shyldis, and the rede sieve sir Launcelot lete cary with hym.
And so they toke their leve at sir Barnarde, the olde barowne, and at hys doughtir, the fayre mayden, and than they rode so longe tylle that they cam to Camelot, that tyme called Wynchester. And there was grete pres of kyngis, deukes, erlis, and barownes, and many noble knyghtes. But sir Launcelot was lodged pryvaly by the meanys of sir Lavayne with a ryche burgeyse, that no man in that towne was ware what they were. And so they reposed them there tyll oure Lady day of the Assumpcion that the grete justes sholde be.
So whan trumpettis blew unto the fylde and kynge Arthur was sette on hyght uppon a chafflet to beholde who ded beste but, as the Freynshe booke seyth, the kynge wold nat suffir sir Gawayne to go frome hym, for never had sir Gawayne the bettir and sir Launcelot were in the fylde, and many tymes was sir Gawayne rebuked so whan sir Launcelot was in the fylde in ony justis dysgysed, than som of the kyngis, as kynge Angwysh of Irelonde and the kynge of Scottis, were that tyme turned to be uppon the syde of kynge Arthur. And than the othir party was the kynge of North Galis, and the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtis, and the kynge of Northumbirlonde, and sir Galahalte the Halte Prynce. But thes three kingis and thys duke was passynge wayke to holde ayenste Arthurs party, for with hym were die nobelyst knyghtes of the worlde.
So than they withdrew them, aythir party frome othir, and every man made hym redy in his beste maner to do what he myght. Than sir Launcelot made hym redy and put the rede slyeve uppon hys helmette and fastened hit faste. And so sir Launcelot and sir Lavayne departed oute of Wynchestir pryvayly and rode untyll a litill leved woode behynde the party that hylde ayenste kynge Arthure party. And there they hylde hem stylle tylle the partyes smote togydirs. And than cam in the kynge of Scottis and the kynge of Irelonde on kynge Arthurs party, and ayenste them cam in the kynge of Northumbirlonde and the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes.
And there began a grete medlé, and there the kynge of Scottis smote downe the kynge of Northumbirlonde, and the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes smote downe kynge Angwysh of Irelonde. Than sir Palamydes, that was one Arthurs party, he encountird with sir Galahalte, and ayther of hem smote downe othir, and aythir party halpe their lordys on horseback agayne. So there began a stronge assayle on bothe partyes.
And than com in sir Braundyles, sir Sagramoure le Desyrous, sir Dodynas le Saveayge, sir Kay la Senesciall, sir Gryffelet le Fyze de Dielu, sir Lucan de Butlere, sir Bedwere, sir Aggravayne, sir Gaherys, sir Mordred, sir Melyot de Logrys, sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy, sir Saphyr, sir Epynogrys, sir Gallerowne of Galeway. Alle thes fiftene knyghtes, that were knyghtes of the Rounde Table, so thes with me other cam in togydir and bete abacke the kynge off Northumbirlonde and the kynge of North Walys.
Whan sir Launcelot saw thys, as he hoved in the lytyll leved wood, than he seyde unto sir Lavayne, ‘Se yondir ys a company of good knyghtes, and they holde them togydirs as borys that were chaced with doggis.’
‘That ys trouth,’ seyde sir Lavayne.
‘Now,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘and ye woll helpe a lityll, ye shall se [11] the yonder felyship that chacith now thes men on oure syde, that they shall go as faste backwarde as they wente forewarde.’
‘Sir, spare ye nat for my parte,’ seyde sir Lavayne, ‘for I shall do what I may.’
Than sir Launcelot and sir Lavayne cam in at the thyckyst of the prees, and there sir Launcelot smote downe sir Brandeles, sir Sagramour, sir Dodynas, sir Kay, sir Gryfflet, and all thys he ded with one speare. And sir Lavayne smote downe sir Lucan de Butlere and sir Bedwere. And than sir Launcelot gate another grete speare, and there he smote downe sir Aggravayne and sir Gaherys, sir Mordred, sir Melyot de Logrys; and sir Lavayne smote downe sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy. And than sir Launcelot drew hys swerde, and there he smote on the ryght honde and on the lyft honde, and by grete forse he unhorsed sir Safir, sir Epynogrys, and sir Galleron.
And than the knyghtes of the Table Rounde withdrew them abacke aftir they had gotyn their horsys as well as they myght.
‘A, mercy Jesu!’ seyde sir Gawayne. ‘What knyght ys yondir that doth so mervaylous dedys in that fylde?’
‘I wote what he ys,’ seyde the kyng, ‘but as at thys tyme I woll nat name hym.’
‘Sir,’ seyde sir Gawayne, ‘I wolde sey hit were sir Launcelot by hys rydynge and hys buffettis that I se hym deale. But ever mesemyth hit sholde nat be he, for that he beryth the rede slyve uppon hys helmet; for I wyst hym never beare tokyn at no justys of lady ne jantillwoman.’
‘Lat hym be,’ seyde kynge Arthure, ‘for he woll be bettir knowyn and do more or ever he departe.’
Than the party that was ayenst kynge Arthur were well comforted, and than they hylde hem togydirs that befornhande were sore rebuked. Than sir Bors, sir Ector de Marys and sir Lyonell, they called unto them the knyghtes of their blood, as sir Blamour de Ganys, sir Bleoberys, sir Alyduke, sir Galyhud, sir Galyhodyn, sir Bellyngere le Bewse. So thes nine knyghtes of sir Launcelottis kynne threst in myghtyly, for they were all noble knyghtes, and they of grete hate and despite thought to rebuke sir Launcelot and sir Lavayne, for they knew hem nat.
And so they cam hurlyng togydirs and smote downe many knyghtes of North Walys and of Northumbirlonde. And whan sir Launcelot saw them fare so, he gate a grete speare in hys honde; and they encountird with hym all at onys, sir Bors, sir Ector, and sir Lyonell. And they three smote hym at onys with their spearys, and with fors of themselff they smote sir Launcelottis horse revers to the erthe. And by myssefortune sir Bors smote sir Launcelot thorow the shylde into the syde, and the speare brake and the hede leffte stylle in the syde.
Whan sir Lavayne saw hys mayster lye on the grounde he ran to the kynge of Scottis and smote hym to the erthe; and by grete forse he toke hys horse and brought hym to sir Launcelot, and magré them all he made hym to mownte uppon that horse. And than sir Launcelot gate a speare in hys honde, and there he smote sir Bors, horse and man, to the erthe; and in the same wyse he served sir Ector and sir Lyonell, and sir Lavayne smote downe sir Blamor de Ganys. And than sir Launcelot drew hys swerde, for he felte hymselff so sore hurte that he wente there to have had hys deth. And than he smote sir Bleoberis such a buffet on the helmet that he felle downe to the erthe in a sowne, and in the same wyse he served sir Alyduke and sir Galyhud. And sir Lavayne smote down sir Bellyngere that was sone to Alysaunder le Orphelyn.
And by thys was done, was sir Bors horsed agayne and in cam with sir Ector and sir Lyonell, and all they three smote w
ith their swerdis uppon sir Launcelottis helmet. And whan he felte their buffettis, and with that hys wounde greved hym grevously, than he thought to do what he myght whyle he cowde endure. And than he gaff sir Bors such a buffette that he made hym bowghe hys hede passynge lowe; and therewithall he raced of hys helme, and myght have slayne hym, but whan he saw their vysayges so pulde hym downe. And in the same wyse he served sir Ector and sir Lyonell; for, as the booke seyth, he myght have slayne them, but whan he saw their visages hys herte myght nat serve hym thereto, but leffte hem there.
And than afterward he hurled into the thyckest prees of them alle, and dyd there the merveyloust dedes of armes that ever man sawe, and ever sir Lavayne with hym. And there sir Launcelot with hys swerde smote downe and pulled downe, as the Freynsh booke seyth, me than thirty knyghtes, and the moste party were of the Table Rounde. And there sir Lavayne dud full well that day, for he smote downe ten knyghtes of the Table Rounde.
‘Mercy Jesu,’ seyde sir Gawayne unto kynge Arthur, ‘I mervayle [12] what knyght that he ys with the rede sieve.’
‘Sir,’ seyde kyng Arthure, ‘he woll be knowyn or ever he departe.
And than the kynge blew unto lodgynge, and the pryce was gyvyn by herowdis unto the knyght with the whyght shylde that bare the rede slyve. Than cam the kynge of North Galys, and the kynge of Northumbirlonde, and the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes, and sir Galahalte the Haute Prince, and seyde unto sir Launcelot, ‘Fayre knyght, God you blysse, for muche have ye done for us thys day. And therefore we pray you that ye woll com with us, that ye may resceyve the honour and the pryce as ye have worshypfully deserved hit.’
‘Fayre lordys,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘wete you well, gyff I have deserved thanke I have sore bought hit, and that me repentith hit, for I am never lyke to ascape with the lyff. Therefore, my fayre lordys, I pray you that ye woll suffir me to departe where me lykith, for I am sore hurte. And I take no forse of none honoure, for I had levir repose me than to be lorde of all the worlde.’
Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory Page 86