Le Morte Darthur: Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur and his Noble; Knights of the Round TableMalory, Thomas, Sir
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Le Morte Darthur: Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur and his Noble; Knights of the Round Table
Malory, Thomas, Sir
Arthurian romances
And so Sir Launcelot departed, and by adventure he came into the same
forest where he was taken sleeping. And in the midst of an highway he
met a damsel riding on a white palfrey, and there either saluted other.
Fair damsel, said Sir Launcelot, know ye in this country any
adventures? Sir knight, said that damsel, here are adventures near
hand, and thou durst prove them. Why should I not prove adventures?
said Sir Launcelot; for that cause came I hither. Well, said she, thou
seemest well to be a good knight, and if thou dare meet with a good
knight, I shall bring thee where is the best knight and the mightiest
that ever thou found, so thou wilt tell me what is thy name, and what
knight thou art. Damsel, as for to tell thee my name, I take no great
force: truly, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Sir, thou beseemest
well, here be adventures by that fall for thee, for hereby dwelleth a
knight that will not be overmatched for no man that I know, unless ye
overmatch him, and his name is Sir Turquine. And, as I understand, he
hath in his prison of Arthur’s court good knights threescore and four
that he hath won with his own hands. But when ye have done that day’s
work ye shall promise me as ye are a true knight for to go with me, and
to help me and other damsels that are distressed daily with a false
knight. All your intent, damsel, and desire I will fulfil, so ye will
bring me unto this knight. Now, fair knight, come on your way. And so
she brought him unto the ford, and unto the tree where hung the basin.
So Sir Launcelot let his horse drink, and then he beat on the basin
with the butt of his spear so hard with all his might till the bottom
fell out, and long he did so, but he saw nothing. Then he rode endlong
the gates of that manor nigh half an hour. And then was he ware of a
great knight that drove an horse afore him, and overthwart the horse
there lay an armed knight bound. And ever as they came near and near,
Sir Launcelot thought he should know him; then Sir Launcelot was ware
that it was Sir Gaheris, Gawaine’s brother, a knight of the Table
Round. Now fair damsel, said Sir Launcelot, I see yonder cometh a
knight fast bound that is a fellow of mine, and brother he is unto Sir
Gawaine. And at the first beginning I promise you, by the leave of God,
to rescue that knight; and unless his master sit better in the saddle I
shall deliver all the prisoners that he hath out of danger, for I am
sure that he hath two brethren of mine prisoners with him. By that time
that either had seen other they gripped their spears unto them. Now
fair knight, said Sir Launcelot, put that wounded knight off the horse,
and let him rest awhile, and let us two prove our strengths. For as it
is informed me, thou doest and hast done great despite and shame unto
knights of the Round Table, and therefore now defend thee. And thou be
of the Table Round, said Turquine, I defy thee and all thy fellowship.
That is over much said, said Sir Launcelot.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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