Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, I may not warn people to speak of me
what it pleaseth them; but for to be a wedded man, I think it not; for
then I must couch with her, and leave arms and tournaments, battles,
and adventures; and as for to say for to take my pleasaunce with
paramours, that will I refuse in principal for dread of God; for
knights that be adventurous or lecherous shall not be happy nor
fortunate unto the wars, for other they shall be overcome with a
simpler knight than they be themselves, other else they shall by unhap
and their cursedness slay better men than they be themselves. And so
who that useth paramours shall be unhappy, and all thing is unhappy
that is about them.
And so Sir Launcelot and she departed. And then he rode in a deep
forest two days and more, and had strait lodging. So on the third day
he rode over a long bridge, and there stert upon him suddenly a passing
foul churl, and he smote his horse on the nose that he turned about,
and asked him why he rode over that bridge without his licence. Why
should I not ride this way? said Sir Launcelot, I may not ride beside.
Thou shalt not choose, said the churl, and lashed at him with a great
club shod with iron. Then Sir Launcelot drew his sword and put the
stroke aback, and clave his head unto the paps. At the end of the
bridge was a fair village, and all the people, men and women, cried on
Sir Launcelot, and said, A worse deed didst thou never for thyself, for
thou hast slain the chief porter of our castle. Sir Launcelot let them
say what they would, and straight he went into the castle; and when he
came into the castle he alighted, and tied his horse to a ring on the
wall and there he saw a fair green court, and thither he dressed him,
for there him thought was a fair place to fight in. So he looked about,
and saw much people in doors and windows that said, Fair knight, thou
art unhappy.
CHAPTER XI. How Sir Launcelot slew two giants, and made a castle free.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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