Then within an hour there came the knight to whom the pavilion ought,
and he weened that his leman had lain in that bed, and so he laid him
down beside Sir Launcelot, and took him in his arms and began to kiss
him. And when Sir Launcelot felt a rough beard kissing him, he started
out of the bed lightly, and the other knight after him, and either of
them gat their swords in their hands, and out at the pavilion door went
the knight of the pavilion, and Sir Launcelot followed him, and there
by a little slake Sir Launcelot wounded him sore, nigh unto the death.
And then he yielded him unto Sir Launcelot, and so he granted him, so
that he would tell him why he came into the bed. Sir, said the knight,
the pavilion is mine own, and there this night I had assigned my lady
to have slept with me, and now I am likely to die of this wound. That
me repenteth, said Launcelot, of your hurt, but I was adread of
treason, for I was late beguiled, and therefore come on your way into
your pavilion and take your rest, and as I suppose I shall staunch your
blood. And so they went both into the pavilion, and anon Sir Launcelot
staunched his blood.
Therewithal came the knight’s lady, that was a passing fair lady, and
when she espied that her lord Belleus was sore wounded, she cried out
on Sir Launcelot, and made great dole out of measure. Peace, my lady
and my love, said Belleus, for this knight is a good man, and a knight
adventurous, and there he told her all the cause how he was wounded;
And when that I yielded me unto him, he left me goodly and hath
staunched my blood. Sir, said the lady, I require thee tell me what
knight ye be, and what is your name? Fair lady, he said, my name is Sir
Launcelot du Lake. So me thought ever by your speech, said the lady,
for I have seen you oft or this, and I know you better than ye ween.
But now an ye would promise me of your courtesy, for the harms that ye
have done to me and my Lord Belleus, that when he cometh unto Arthur’s
court for to cause him to be made knight of the Round Table, for he is
a passing good man of arms, and a mighty lord of lands of many out
isles.
Fair lady, said Sir Launcelot, let him come unto the court the next
high feast, and look that ye come with him, and I shall do my power, an
ye prove you doughty of your hands, that ye shall have your desire. So
thus within a while, as they thus talked, the night passed, and the day
shone, and then Sir Launcelot armed him, and took his horse, and they
taught him to the Abbey, and thither he rode within the space of two
hours.
CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot was received of King Bagdemagus’
daughter, and how he made his complaint to her father.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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