So either party departed unto his own place, and Sir Launcelot rode
forth with King Bagdemagus unto his castle, and there he had passing
good cheer both with the king and with his daughter, and they proffered
him great gifts. And on the morn he took his leave, and told the king
that he would go and seek his brother Sir Lionel, that went from him
when that he slept, so he took his horse, and betaught them all to God.
And there he said unto the king’s daughter, If ye have need any time of
my service I pray you let me have knowledge, and I shall not fail you
as I am true knight. And so Sir Launcelot departed, and by adventure he
came into the same forest there he was taken sleeping. And in the midst
of a highway he met a damosel riding on a white palfrey, and there
either saluted other. Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, know ye in this
country any adventures? Sir knight, said that damosel, here are
adventures near hand, an thou durst prove them. Why should I not prove
adventures? said Sir Launcelot for that cause come I hither. Well, said
she, thou seemest well to be a good knight, and if thou dare meet with
a good knight, I shall bring thee where is the best knight, and the
mightiest that ever thou found, so thou wilt tell me what is thy name,
and what knight thou art. Damosel, as for to tell thee my name I take
no great force; truly my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Sir, thou
beseemest well, here be adventures by that fall for thee, for hereby
dwelleth a knight that will not be overmatched for no man I know but ye
overmatch him, and his name is Sir Turquine. And, as I understand, he
hath in his prison, of Arthur’s court, good knights three score and
four, that he hath won with his own hands. But when ye have done that
journey ye shall promise me as ye are a true knight for to go with me,
and to help me and other damosels that are distressed daily with a
false knight. All your intent, damosel, and desire I will fulfil, so ye
will bring me unto this knight. Now, fair knight, come on your way; and
so she brought him unto the ford and the tree where hung the basin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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