Then that lady rode to that knight’s brother that hight Belliance le
Orgulus, that dwelt fast thereby, and then she told him how his brother
was slain. Alas, said he, I will be revenged. And so he horsed him, and
armed him, and within a while he overtook Sir Lamorak, and bade him:
Turn and leave that lady, for thou and I must play a new play; for thou
hast slain my brother Sir Frol, that was a better knight than ever wert
thou. It might well be, said Sir Lamorak, but this day in the field I
was found the better. So they rode together, and unhorsed other, and
turned their shields, and drew their swords, and fought mightily as
noble knights proved, by the space of two hours. So then Sir Belliance
prayed him to tell him his name. Sir, said he, my name is Sir Lamorak
de Galis. Ah, said Sir Belliance, thou art the man in the world that I
most hate, for I slew my sons for thy sake, where I saved thy life, and
now thou hast slain my brother Sir Frol. Alas, how should I be accorded
with thee; therefore defend thee, for thou shalt die, there is none
other remedy. Alas, said Sir Lamorak, full well me ought to know you,
for ye are the man that most have done for me. And therewithal Sir
Lamorak kneeled down, and besought him of grace. Arise, said Sir
Belliance, or else thereas thou kneelest I shall slay thee. That shall
not need, said Sir Lamorak, for I will yield me unto you, not for fear
of you, nor for your strength, but your goodness maketh me full loath
to have ado with you; wherefore I require you for God’s sake, and for
the honour of knighthood, forgive me all that I have offended unto you.
Alas, said Belliance, leave thy kneeling, or else I shall slay thee
without mercy.
Then they yede again unto battle, and either wounded other, that all
the ground was bloody thereas they fought. And at the last Belliance
withdrew him aback and set him down softly upon a little hill, for he
was so faint for bleeding that he might not stand. Then Sir Lamorak
threw his shield upon his back, and asked him what cheer. Well, said
Sir Belliance. Ah, Sir, yet shall I show you favour in your mal-ease.
Ah, Knight Sir Belliance, said Sir Lamorak, thou art a fool, for an I
had had thee at such advantage as thou hast done me, I should slay
thee; but thy gentleness is so good and so large, that I must needs
forgive thee mine evil will. And then Sir Lamorak kneeled down, and
unlaced first his umberere, and then his own, and then either kissed
other with weeping tears. Then Sir Lamorak led Sir Belliance to an
abbey fast by, and there Sir Lamorak would not depart from Belliance
till he was whole. And then they sware together that none of them
should never fight against other. So Sir Lamorak departed and went to
the court of King Arthur.
Here leave we of Sir Lamorak and of Sir Tristram. And here beginneth
the history of La Cote Male Taile.
BOOK IX.
CHAPTER I. How a young man came into the court of King Arthur, and how
Sir Kay called him in scorn La Cote Male Taile.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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