With that, they go on their way together, and the knight comforteth him
much of that which Lancelot hath said to him, but of the death of his
brother was he right sorrowful. And they ride until they come to the
land of the Moors; then espy they a castle upon a rock, and below was a
broad meadow-land.
"Sir," saith the Knight of the Green Shield to Lancelot, "This castle
was my brother's and is now mine, and much it misliketh me that it hath
fallen to me on this wise. And the knight that reft it of my brother
is of so great hardihood that he feareth no knight on live, and you
will presently see him issue forth of this castle so soon as he shall
perceive you."
Lancelot and the knight ride until they draw nigh the castle. And the
knight looketh in the way before him, and seeth a squire coming on a
hackney, that was carrying before him a wild boar dead. The Knight of
the Green Shield asketh him whose man he is, and the squire maketh
answer: "I am man of the Lord of the Rock Gladoens, that cometh there
behind, and my lord cometh all armed, he and others, for the brother of
Gladoens hath defied him on behalf of his brother, but right little
recketh my lord of his defiance."
III.
Lancelot heareth how he that is coming is the enemy of him to whom had
he been alive, his love most was due. The Knight of the Green Shield
pointed him out so soon as he saw him.
"Sir," saith he to Lancelot, "Behold him by whom I am disherited, and
yet worse would he do to me and he knew that my brother were dead."
Lancelot, without saving more, so soon as he had espied the Knight of
the Rock, smiteth his horse with his spurs and cometh toward him. The
Lord of the Rock, that was proud and hardy, seeth Lancelot coming and
smiteth with his spurs the horse whereon he sitteth. They come with so
swift an onset either upon other that they break their spears upon
their shields, and hurtle together so sore that the Knight of the Rock
Gladoens falleth over the croup of his horse. Lancelot draweth his
sword and cometh above him, and he crieth him mercy and asketh him
wherefore he wisheth to slay him? Lancelot saith for the sake of
Gladoens from whom he hath reft his land and his castle. "And what is
that to you?" saith the knight. "Behoveth his brother challenge me
thereof."
"As much it behoveth me as his brother," saith Lancelot.
"Wherefore you?"
"For this," saith Lancelot, "That as much as he did for me will I do to
you."
He cutteth off his head and giveth it incontinent to the Knight of the
Green Shield.
"Now tell me," saith Lancelot, "Sith that he is dead, is he purged of
that whereof you appeached him?"
"Sir," saith the knight, "I hold him rightly quit thereof, for, sith
that he is dead, all claim on behalf of his kindred is abated by his
death."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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