Then at the last Sir Turquine waxed faint, and gave somewhat aback, and
bare his shield low for weariness. That espied Sir Launcelot, and leapt
upon him fiercely and gat him by the beaver of his helmet, and plucked
him down on his knees, and anon he raced off his helm, and smote his
neck in sunder. And when Sir Launcelot had done this, he yode unto the
damosel and said, Damosel, I am ready to go with you where ye will have
me, but I have no horse. Fair sir, said she, take this wounded knight’s
horse and send him into this manor, and command him to deliver all the
prisoners. So Sir Launcelot went unto Gaheris, and prayed him not to be
aggrieved for to lend him his horse. Nay, fair lord, said Gaheris, I
will that ye take my horse at your own commandment, for ye have both
saved me and my horse, and this day I say ye are the best knight in the
world, for ye have slain this day in my sight the mightiest man and the
best knight except you that ever I saw, and, fair sir, said Gaheris, I
pray you tell me your name. Sir, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake, that
ought to help you of right for King Arthur’s sake, and in especial for
my lord Sir Gawaine’s sake, your own dear brother; and when that ye
come within yonder manor, I am sure ye shall find there many knights of
the Round Table, for I have seen many of their shields that I know on
yonder tree. There is Kay’s shield, and Sir Brandel’s shield, and Sir
Marhaus’ shield, and Sir Galind’s shield, and Sir Brian de Listnois’
shield, and Sir Aliduke’s shield, with many more that I am not now
advised of, and also my two brethren’s shields, Sir Ector de Maris and
Sir Lionel; wherefore I pray you greet them all from me, and say that I
bid them take such stuff there as they find, and that in any wise my
brethren go unto the court and abide me there till that I come, for by
the feast of Pentecost I cast me to be there, for as at this time I
must ride with this damosel for to save my promise.
And so he departed from Gaheris, and Gaheris yede in to the manor, and
there he found a yeoman porter keeping there many keys. Anon withal Sir
Gaheris threw the porter unto the ground and took the keys from him,
and hastily he opened the prison door, and there he let out all the
prisoners, and every man loosed other of their bonds. And when they saw
Sir Gaheris, all they thanked him, for they weened that he was wounded.
Not so, said Gaheris, it was Launcelot that slew him worshipfully with
his own hands. I saw it with mine own eyes. And he greeteth you all
well, and prayeth you to haste you to the court; and as unto Sir Lionel
and Ector de Maris he prayeth you to abide him at the court. That shall
we not do, says his brethren, we will find him an we may live. So shall
I, said Sir Kay, find him or I come at the court, as I am true knight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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