So on the morrow Sir Lamorak departed; and as he rode he saw four
knights fight against one, and that one knight defended him well, but
at the last the four knights had him down. And then Sir Lamorak went
betwixt them, and asked them why they would slay that one knight, and
said it was shame, four against one. Thou shalt well wit, said the four
knights, that he is false. That is your tale, said Sir Lamorak, and
when I hear him also speak, I will say as ye say. Then said Lamorak:
Ah, knight, can ye not excuse you, but that ye are a false knight. Sir,
said he, yet can I excuse me both with my word and with my hands, that
I will make good upon one of the best of them, my body to his body.
Then spake they all at once: We will not jeopardy our bodies as for
thee. But wit thou well, they said, an King Arthur were here himself,
it should not lie in his power to save his life. That is too much said,
said Sir Lamorak, but many speak behind a man more than they will say
to his face; and because of your words ye shall understand that I am
one of the simplest of King Arthur’s court; in the worship of my lord
now do your best, and in despite of you I shall rescue him. And then
they lashed all at once to Sir Lamorak, but anon at two strokes Sir
Lamorak had slain two of them, and then the other two fled. So then Sir
Lamorak turned again to that knight, and asked him his name. Sir, he
said, my name is Sir Frol of the Out Isles. Then he rode with Sir
Lamorak and bare him company.
And as they rode by the way they saw a seemly knight riding against
them, and all in white. Ah, said Frol, yonder knight jousted late with
me and smote me down, therefore I will joust with him. Ye shall not do
so, said Sir Lamorak, by my counsel, an ye will tell me your quarrel,
whether ye jousted at his request, or he at yours. Nay, said Sir Frol,
I jousted with him at my request. Sir, said Lamorak, then will I
counsel you deal no more with him, for meseemeth by his countenance he
should be a noble knight, and no japer; for methinketh he should be of
the Table Round. Therefore I will not spare, said Sir Frol. And then he
cried and said: Sir knight, make thee ready to joust. That needeth not,
said the White Knight, for I have no lust to joust with thee; but yet
they feutred their spears, and the White Knight overthrew Sir Frol, and
then he rode his way a soft pace. Then Sir Lamorak rode after him, and
prayed him to tell him his name: For meseemeth ye should be of the
fellowship of the Round Table. Upon a covenant, said he, I will tell
you my name, so that ye will not discover my name, and also that ye
will tell me yours. Then, said he, my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. And
my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Then they put up their swords, and
kissed heartily together, and either made great joy of other. Sir, said
Sir Lamorak, an it please you I will do you service. God defend, said
Launcelot, that any of so noble a blood as ye be should do me service.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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