And so Sir Launcelot lay more than a fortnight or ever that he might
stir for soreness. And then upon a day he said unto Dame Elaine these
words: Lady Elaine, for your sake I have had much travail, care, and
anguish, it needeth not to rehearse it, ye know how. Notwithstanding I
know well I have done foul to you when that I drew my sword to you, to
have slain you, upon the morn when I had lain with you. And all was the
cause, that ye and Dame Brisen made me for to lie by you maugre mine
head; and as ye say, that night Galahad your son was begotten. That is
truth, said Dame Elaine. Now will ye for my love, said Sir Launcelot,
go unto your father and get me a place of him wherein I may dwell? for
in the court of King Arthur may I never come. Sir, said Dame Elaine, I
will live and die with you, and only for your sake; and if my life
might not avail you and my death might avail you, wit you well I would
die for your sake. And I will go to my father and I am sure there is
nothing that I can desire of him but I shall have it. And where ye be,
my lord Sir Launcelot, doubt ye not but I will be with you with all the
service that I may do. So forthwithal she went to her father and said,
Sir, my lord, Sir Launcelot, desireth to be here by you in some castle
of yours. Well daughter, said the king, sith it is his desire to abide
in these marches he shall be in the Castle of Bliant, and there shall
ye be with him, and twenty of the fairest ladies that be in the
country, and they shall all be of the great blood, and ye shall have
ten knights with you; for, daughter, I will that ye wit we all be
honoured by the blood of Sir Launcelot.
CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot came into the joyous Isle, and there he
named himself Le Chevaler Mal Fet.
Then went Dame Elaine unto Sir Launcelot, and told him all how her
father had devised for him and her. Then came the knight Sir Castor,
that was nephew unto King Pelles, unto Sir Launcelot, and asked him
what was his name. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, my name is Le Chevaler Mal
Fet, that is to say the knight that hath trespassed. Sir, said Sir
Castor, it may well be so, but ever meseemeth your name should be Sir
Launcelot du Lake, for or now I have seen you. Sir, said Launcelot, ye
are not as a gentle knight: I put case my name were Sir Launcelot, and
that it list me not to discover my name, what should it grieve you here
to keep my counsel, and ye be not hurt thereby? but wit thou well an
ever it lie in my power I shall grieve you, and that I promise you
truly. Then Sir Castor kneeled down and besought Sir Launcelot of
mercy: For I shall never utter what ye be, while that ye be in these
parts. Then Sir Launcelot pardoned him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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