And then upon a day Sir Launcelot ran his way into the forest; and by
adventure he came to the city of Corbin, where Dame Elaine was, that
bare Galahad, Sir Launcelot’s son. And so when he was entered into the
town he ran through the town to the castle; and then all the young men
of that city ran after Sir Launcelot, and there they threw turves at
him, and gave him many sad strokes. And ever as Sir Launcelot might
overreach any of them, he threw them so that they would never come in
his hands no more; for of some he brake the legs and the arms, and so
fled into the castle; and then came out knights and squires and rescued
Sir Launcelot. And when they beheld him and looked upon his person,
they thought they saw never so goodly a man. And when they saw so many
wounds upon him, all they deemed that he had been a man of worship. And
then they ordained him clothes to his body, and straw underneath him,
and a little house. And then every day they would throw him meat, and
set him drink, but there was but few would bring him meat to his hands.
CHAPTER IV. How Sir Launcelot was known by Dame Elaine, and was borne
into a chamber and after healed by the Sangreal.
So it befell that King Pelles had a nephew, his name was Castor; and so
he desired of the king to be made knight, and so at the request of this
Castor the king made him knight at the feast of Candlemas. And when Sir
Castor was made knight, that same day he gave many gowns. And then Sir
Castor sent for the fool—that was Sir Launcelot. And when he was come
afore Sir Castor, he gave Sir Launcelot a robe of scarlet and all that
longed unto him. And when Sir Launcelot was so arrayed like a knight,
he was the seemliest man in all the court, and none so well made. So
when he saw his time he went into the garden, and there Sir Launcelot
laid him down by a well and slept. And so at-after noon Dame Elaine and
her maidens came into the garden to play them; and as they roamed up
and down one of Dame Elaine’s maidens espied where lay a goodly man by
the well sleeping, and anon showed him to Dame Elaine. Peace, said Dame
Elaine, and say no word: and then she brought Dame Elaine where he lay.
And when that she beheld him, anon she fell in remembrance of him, and
knew him verily for Sir Launcelot; and therewithal she fell a-weeping
so heartily that she sank even to the earth; and when she had thus wept
a great while, then she arose and called her maidens and said she was
sick.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account