When Sir Gawaine and Ettard awoke of their sleep, and found the naked
sword overthwart their throats, then she knew well it was Sir Pelleas’
sword. Alas! said she to Sir Gawaine, ye have betrayed me and Sir
Pelleas both, for ye told me ye had slain him, and now I know well it
is not so, he is alive. And if Sir Pelleas had been as uncourteous to
you as ye have been to him ye had been a dead knight; but ye have
deceived me and betrayed me falsely, that all ladies and damosels may
beware by you and me. And therewith Sir Gawaine made him ready, and
went into the forest. So it happed then that the Damosel of the Lake,
Nimue, met with a knight of Sir Pelleas, that went on his foot in the
forest making great dole, and she asked him the cause. And so the woful
knight told her how his master and lord was betrayed through a knight
and lady, and how he will never arise out of his bed till he be dead.
Bring me to him, said she anon, and I will warrant his life he shall
not die for love, and she that hath caused him so to love, she shall be
in as evil plight as he is or it be long to, for it is no joy of such a
proud lady that will have no mercy of such a valiant knight. Anon that
knight brought her unto him, and when she saw him lie in his bed, she
thought she saw never so likely a knight; and therewith she threw an
enchantment upon him, and he fell asleep. And therewhile she rode unto
the Lady Ettard, and charged no man to awake him till she came again.
So within two hours she brought the Lady Ettard thither, and both
ladies found him asleep: Lo, said the Damosel of the Lake, ye ought to
be ashamed for to murder such a knight. And therewith she threw such an
enchantment upon her that she loved him sore, that well-nigh she was
out of her mind. O Lord Jesu, said the Lady Ettard, how is it befallen
unto me that I love now him that I have most hated of any man alive?
That is the righteous judgment of God, said the damosel. And then anon
Sir Pelleas awaked and looked upon Ettard; and when he saw her he knew
her, and then he hated her more than any woman alive, and said: Away,
traitress, come never in my sight. And when she heard him say so, she
wept and made great sorrow out of measure.
CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Pelleas loved no more Ettard by means of the
Damosel of the Lake, whom he loved ever after.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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