Now leave we Sir Launcelot in the Joyous Isle with the Lady Dame
Elaine, and Sir Percivale and Sir Ector playing with them, and turn we
to Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Lionel, that had sought Sir Launcelot nigh
by the space of two year, and never could they hear of him. And as they
thus rode, by adventure they came to the house of Brandegore, and there
Sir Bors was well known, for he had gotten a child upon the king’s
daughter fifteen year to-fore, and his name was Helin le Blank. And
when Sir Bors saw that child it liked him passing well. And so those
knights had good cheer of the King Brandegore. And on the morn Sir Bors
came afore King Brandegore and said: Here is my son Helin le Blank,
that as it is said he is my son; and sith it is so, I will that ye wit
that I will have him with me unto the court of King Arthur. Sir, said
the king, ye may well take him with you, but he is over tender of age.
As for that, said Sir Bors, I will have him with me, and bring him to
the house of most worship of the world. So when Sir Bors should depart
there was made great sorrow for the departing of Helin le Blank, and
great weeping was there made. But Sir Bors and Sir Lionel departed, and
within a while they came to Camelot, where was King Arthur. And when
King Arthur understood that Helin le Blank was Sir Bors’ son, and
nephew unto King Brandegore, then King Arthur let him make knight of
the Round Table; and so he proved a good knight and an adventurous.
Now will we turn to our matter of Sir Launcelot. It befell upon a day
Sir Ector and Sir Percivale came to Sir Launcelot and asked him what he
would do, and whether he would go with them unto King Arthur or not.
Nay, said Sir Launcelot, that may not be by no mean, for I was so
entreated at the court that I cast me never to come there more. Sir,
said Sir Ector, I am your brother, and ye are the man in the world that
I love most; and if I understood that it were your disworship, ye may
understand I would never counsel you thereto; but King Arthur and all
his knights, and in especial Queen Guenever, made such dole and sorrow
that it was marvel to hear and see. And ye must remember the great
worship and renown that ye be of, how that ye have been more spoken of
than any other knight that is now living; for there is none that
beareth the name now but ye and Sir Tristram. Therefore brother, said
Sir Ector, make you ready to ride to the court with us, and I dare say
there was never knight better welcome to the court than ye; and I wot
well and can make it good, said Sir Ector, it hath cost my lady, the
queen, twenty thousand pound the seeking of you. Well brother, said Sir
Launcelot, I will do after your counsel, and ride with you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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