And anon as he had unshut the window the enchantment was gone; then he
knew himself that he had done amiss. Alas, he said, that I have lived
so long; now I am shamed. So then he gat his sword in his hand and
said: Thou traitress, what art thou that I have lain by all this night?
thou shalt die right here of my hands. Then this fair lady Elaine
skipped out of her bed all naked, and kneeled down afore Sir Launcelot,
and said: Fair courteous knight, come of king’s blood, I require you
have mercy upon me, and as thou art renowned the most noble knight of
the world, slay me not, for I have in my womb him by thee that shall be
the most noblest knight of the world. Ah, false traitress, said Sir
Launcelot, why hast thou betrayed me? anon tell me what thou art. Sir,
she said, I am Elaine, the daughter of King Pelles. Well, said Sir
Launcelot, I will forgive you this deed; and therewith he took her up
in his arms, and kissed her, for she was as fair a lady, and thereto
lusty and young, and as wise, as any was that time living. So God me
help, said Sir Launcelot, I may not wite this to you; but her that made
this enchantment upon me as between you and me, an I may find her, that
same Lady Brisen, she shall lose her head for witchcrafts, for there
was never knight deceived so as I am this night. And so Sir Launcelot
arrayed him, and armed him, and took his leave mildly at that lady
young Elaine, and so he departed. Then she said: My lord Sir Launcelot,
I beseech you see me as soon as ye may, for I have obeyed me unto the
prophecy that my father told me. And by his commandment to fulfil this
prophecy I have given the greatest riches and the fairest flower that
ever I had, and that is my maidenhood that I shall never have again;
and therefore, gentle knight, owe me your good will.
And so Sir Launcelot arrayed him and was armed, and took his leave
mildly at that young lady Elaine; and so he departed, and rode till he
came to the Castle of Corbin, where her father was. And as fast as her
time came she was delivered of a fair child, and they christened him
Galahad; and wit ye well that child was well kept and well nourished,
and he was named Galahad because Sir Launcelot was so named at the
fountain stone; and after that the Lady of the Lake confirmed him Sir
Launcelot du Lake.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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