Sir knight, said the damosel, an ye would be merry I could tell you
good tidings. Well were me, said Alisander, an I might hear of good
tidings, for now I stand as a prisoner by my promise. Sir, she said,
wit you well that ye be a prisoner, and worse than ye ween; for my
lady, my cousin Queen Morgan le Fay, keepeth you here for none other
intent but for to do her pleasure with you when it liketh her. O Jesu
defend me, said Alisander, from such pleasure; for I had liefer cut
away my hangers than I would do her such pleasure. As Jesu help me,
said the damosel, an ye would love me and be ruled by me, I shall make
your deliverance with your worship. Tell me, said Alisander, by what
means, and ye shall have my love. Fair knight, said she, this castle of
right ought to be mine, and I have an uncle the which is a mighty earl,
he is Earl of Pase, and of all folks he hateth most Morgan le Fay; and
I shall send unto him and pray him for my sake to destroy this castle
for the evil customs that be used therein; and then will he come and
set wild-fire on every part of the castle, and I shall get you out at a
privy postern, and there shall ye have your horse and your harness. Ye
say well, damosel, said Alisander. And then she said: Ye may keep the
room of this castle this twelvemonth and a day, then break ye not your
oath. Truly, fair damosel, said Alisander, ye say sooth. And then he
kissed her, and did to her pleasaunce as it pleased them both at times
and leisures.
So anon she sent unto her uncle and bade him come and destroy that
castle, for as the book saith, he would have destroyed that castle
afore time had not that damosel been. When the earl understood her
letters he sent her word again that on such a day he would come and
destroy that castle. So when that day came she showed Alisander a
postern wherethrough he should flee into a garden, and there he should
find his armour and his horse. When the day came that was set, thither
came the Earl of Pase with four hundred knights, and set on fire all
the parts of the castle, that or they ceased they left not a stone
standing. And all this while that the fire was in the castle he abode
in the garden. And when the fire was done he let make a cry that he
would keep that piece of earth thereas the castle of La Beale Regard
was a twelvemonth and a day, from all manner knights that would come.
So it happed there was a duke that hight Ansirus, and he was of the kin
of Sir Launcelot. And this knight was a great pilgrim, for every third
year he would be at Jerusalem. And because he used all his life to go
in pilgrimage men called him Duke Ansirus the Pilgrim. And this duke
had a daughter that hight Alice, that was a passing fair woman, and
because of her father she was called Alice la Beale Pilgrim. And anon
as she heard of this cry she went unto Arthur’s court, and said openly
in hearing of many knights, that what knight may overcome that knight
that keepeth that piece of earth shall have me and all my lands.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account