withal he raced off his helm, and might have slain him; and so pulled him down, and in the same wise he served Sir Ector and Sir Lionel. For, as the book saith, he might have slain them, but when he saw their visages his heart might not serve him thereto, but left them there.

And then afterwards he hurled into 10 the thickest press of them all, and did there the marveloust deeds of arms that ever man saw or heard speak of, and ever Sir Lavaine, the good knight, with him. And there Sir Lancelot with his sword smote down and pulled down, as the French book maketh mention, more than thirty knights, and the most part were of the Table Round; and Sir Lavaine did full well 20 that day, for he smote down ten knights of the Table Round.

V

HOW SIR LANCELOT AND SIR LAVAINE
DEPARTED OUT OF THE FIELD, AND
IN WHAT JEOPARDY LANCELOT WAS

"Mercy Jesu," said Sir Gawain to Arthur, “I marvel what knight that he is with the red sleeve."

"Sir," said King Arthur, "he will be known or he depart." And then the King blew unto lodging, and the prize was given by heralds unto the knight with the white shield that bare the red 30 sleeve. Then came the King with the Hundred Knights, the King of Northgalis, and the King of Northumberland, and Sir Galahad, the haut prince, and said unto Sir Lancelot:

"Fair knight, God thee bless, for much have ye done this day for us. Therefore we pray you that ye will come with us that ye may receive the honor and the prize as ye have wor40 shipfully deserved it."

"My fair lords," said Sir Lancelot,

1. raced, struck. 27. blew unto lodging, declared the contest at an end.

And therewithal he groaned piteously, and rode a great wallop away-ward from them until he came under a wood's side. And when he saw that he was from the field nigh a mile, that he was sure he might not be seen, he said with an high voice to Sir Lavaine: "O gentle knight, help me that this truncheon were out of my side, for it sticketh so sore that it nigh slayeth me." 60

"O mine own lord," said Sir Lavaine, "I would fain do that might please you, but I dread me sore an I pull out the truncheon that ye shall be in peril of death." "I charge you," said Sir Lancelot, love me, draw it out."

"as

ye And therewithal he descended from his horse, and right so did Sir Lavaine; and forthwithal Sir Lavaine drew the truncheon out of his side, and he gave 70 a great shriek and a marvelous grisly groan, and the blood brast out nigh a pint at once, that at the last he sank down, and so swooned pale and deadly. "Alas," said Sir Lavaine, "what shall I do?"

And then he turned Sir Lancelot into the wind, but so he lay there nigh half an hour as he had been dead. And so at the last Sir Lancelot cast up his 80 eyes, and said:

"O Lavaine, help me that I were on my horse, for here is fast by within this two mile a gentle hermit that sometime was a full noble knight and a great lord of possessions. And for great goodness he hath taken him to

48. take none force of none honor, care not for 52. 49. any honor. lever, rather. wallop, gallop. 71. grisly, terrible. 72. brast. burst.

willful poverty, and forsaken many lands, and his name is Sir Baudwin of Brittany, and he is a full noble surgeon and a good leech. Now let see, help me up that I were there, for ever my heart giveth me that I shall never die of my cousin-germain's hands."

And then with great pain Sir Lavaine halp him upon his horse. And 10 then they rode a great wallop together,

and ever Sir Lancelot bled that it ran down to the earth; and so by fortune they came to that hermitage the which was under a wood, and a great cliff on the other side, and a fair water running under it. And then Sir Lavaine beat on the gate with the butt of his spear, and cried fast, "Let in for Jesu's sake." And there came a fair child to them, 20 and asked them what they would.

"Fair son," said Sir Lavaine, "go and pray thy lord, the hermit, for God's sake to let in here a knight that is full sore wounded; and this day, tell thy lord, I saw him do more deeds of arms than ever I heard say that any man did."

So the child went in lightly, and then he brought the hermit, the which was 30 a passing good man. When Sir Lavaine saw him he prayed him for God's sake of succor.

40

"What knight is he?" said the hermit. "Is he of the house of King Arthur, or not?"

worse by cause he was against my lord, King Arthur, for sometime I was one of the fellowship of the Round 50 Table, but I thank God now I am otherwise disposed. But where is he? Let me see him."

Then Sir Lavaine brought the hermit to him.

VI

HOW LANCELOT WAS BROUGHT TO AN
HERMIT то BE HEALED OF HIS
WOUND, AND OF OTHER MATTERS

And when the hermit beheld him, as he sat leaning upon his saddlebow ever bleeding piteously, then ever the knight hermit thought that he should know him, but he could not bring him 60 to knowledge by cause he was so pale for bleeding.

"What knight are ye," said the hermit, "and where were ye born?"

"My fair lord," said Sir Lancelot, "I am a stranger and a knight adventurous, that laboreth throughout many realms for to win worship."

Then the hermit advised him better, and saw by a wound on his cheek 70 that he was Sir Lancelot. "Alas," said the hermit, "mine own lord, why layne you your name from me? Forsooth I ought to know you of right, for ye are the most noblest knight of the world, for well I know you for Sir Lancelot."

"Sir," said he, "sith ye know me, help me an ye may, for God's sake, for I would be out of this pain at once, either to death or to life."

hermit.

"Sir," said Sir Lavaine, "he was this day against King Arthur, and there he won the prize of all the knights of the Round Table."

"I have seen the day," said the hermit, "I would have loved him the

4. leech, doctor. 7. cousin-germain, first-cousin. 28. lightly, quickly. 36. wot, know.

"Have ye no doubt," said the her

And so the hermit called to him two of his servants, and so he and his servants bare him into the hermitage, and lightly unarmed him, and laid him in his bed. And then anon the hermit stanched his blood, and made him to drink good wine, so that Sir Lancelot

68. worship, renown. 69. advised him better, deliberated with himself. 72 layne, conceal.

80

was well refreshed and knew himself; for in these days hermits held great household, and refreshed people that were in distress.

Now turn we unto King Arthur, and leave we Sir Lancelot in the hermitage. So when the kings were come together on both parties, and the great feast should be holden, King Arthur asked 10 the King of Northgalis and their fellowship:

"Where is that knight that bare the red sleeve? Bring him afore me that he may have his laud, and honor, and the prize, as it is right."

Then spake Sir Galahad, the haut prince, and the King with the Hundred Knights: "We suppose that knight is mischieved, and that he is never like 20 to see you nor none of us all, and that is the greatest pity that ever we wist of any knight."

"Alas," said Arthur, “how may this be? Is he so hurt? What is his name?"

"Truly," said they all, "we know not his name, nor from whence he came, nor whither he would.”

"Alas," said the King, "this be to me the worst tidings that came to me 30 this seven year, for I would not for all the lands I welde to know it were so that that noble knight were slain." "Know ye him?" said they all.

40

"As for that," said Arthur, "whether I know him or know him not, ye shall not know for me what man he is, but Almighty Jesu send me good tidings of him."

And so said they all.

"By my head," said Sir Gawain, "if it so be that the good knight be so sore hurt, it is great damage and pity to all this land, for he is one of the noblest knights that ever I saw in a field handle a spear or a sword; and if he may be found I shall find him, for I am sure he nys not far from this town."

19. mischieved, mortally wounded. 21. wist, knew. 31. welde, possess. 47. nys, is.

"Bear you well," said King Arthur, "an ye may find him, unless that he be in such a plight that he may not welde 50 himself."

"Jesu defend," said Sir Gawain, "but wit I shall what he is, an I may find him.”

Right so Sir Gawain took a squire with him upon hackneys, and rode all about Camelot within six or seven mile, but so he came again and could hear no word of him. Then within two days King Arthur and all the fel- so lowship returned unto London again. And as they rode by the way, it happed Sir Gawain at Astolat to lodge with Sir Bernard thereas was Sir Lancelot lodged. And so as Sir Gawain was in his chamber to repose him, Sir Bernard, the old baron, came unto him, and his daughter Elaine, to cheer him and to ask him what tidings, and who did best at that tournament of Win- 70 chester.

"So God me help," said Sir Gawain, "there were two knights that bare two white shields, but the one of them bare a red sleeve upon his head, and certainly he was one of the best knights that ever I saw just in field. For I dare say," said Sir Gawain, "that one knight with the red sleeve smote down forty knights of the Table Round, and so his fellow did right well and worshipfully."

"Now blessed be God," said the fair maiden of Astolat, "that that knight sped so well, for he is the man in the world that I first loved, and truly he shall be last that ever I shall love."

"Now, fair maid," said Sir Gawain, "is that good knight your love?"

"Certainly, sir," said she, "wit ye 90 well he is my love."

"Then know ye his name?" said Sir Gawain.

"Nay truly," said the damosel, "I

and to seek him, or else I wot well I shall go out of my mind, for I shall never stint till that I find him and my brother, Sir Lavaine."

"Do as it liketh you," said her father, "for me sore repenteth of the hurt of that noble knight."

So the maid made her ready, and before Sir Gawain, making great dole. 10 Then on the morn Sir Gawain came to King Arthur, and told him how he had found Sir Lancelot's shield in the keeping of the fair maiden of Astolat.

"All that knew I aforehand," said King Arthur, "and that caused me I would not suffer you to have ado at the great justs, for I espied," said King Arthur, "when he came in till his lodging full late in the evening in 20 Astolat. But marvel have I that ever he would bear any sign of any damosel; for or now I never heard say nor knew that ever he bare any token of none earthly woman."

30.

"By my head," said Sir Gawain, "the fair maiden of Astolat loveth him marvelously well; what it meaneth I cannot say, and she is ridden after to seek him."

So the King and all came to London, and there Sir Gawain openly disclosed to all the Court that it was Sir Lancelot that justed best.

VIII

OF THE SORROW THAT SIR BORS HAD FOR
THE HURT OF LANCELOT; AND OF THE
ANGER THAT THE QUEEN HAD BE-
CAUSE LANCELOT BARE THE SLEEVE

And when Sir Bors heard that, wit ye well he was an heavy man, and so were all his kinsmen. But when Queen Guinevere wist that Sir Lancelot bare the red sleeve of the fair maiden of Astolat she was nigh out of her mind 40 for wrath. And then she sent for Sir Bors de Ganis in all the haste that

3. stint, stop.

might be. So when Sir Bors was come tofore the Queen, then she said:

"Ah, Sir Bors, have ye heard how falsely Sir Lancelot hath betrayed me?"

"Alas, madam," said Sir Bors, "T am afeared he hath betrayed himself and us all."

"No force," said the Queen, "though 50 he be destroyed, for he is a false traitor knight."

"Madam," said Sir Bors, "I pray you say ye not so, for wit you well I may not hear such language of him."

"Why, Sir Bors," said she, "should I not call him traitor when he bare the red sleeve upon his head at Winchester, at the great justs?"

"Madam," said Sir Bors, "that so sleeve-bearing repenteth me sore, but I dare say he did it to none evil intent, but for this cause he bare the red sleeve, that none of his blood should know him. For or then we nor none of us all never knew that ever he bare token or sign of maid, lady, ne gentlewoman."

"Fie on him," said the Queen, "yet for all his pride and bobaunce 70 there ye proved yourself his better."

"Nay, madam, say ye never more so, for he beat me and my fellows, and might have slain us an he had would."

"Fie on him," said the Queen, "for I heard Sir Gawain say before my lord Arthur that it were marvel to tell the great love that is between the fair maiden of Astolat and him."

"Madam," said Sir Bors, "I may so not warn Sir Gawain to say what it pleased him; but I dare say, as for my lord, Sir Lancelot, that he loveth no lady, gentlewoman, nor maid, but all he loveth in like much. And, therefore, madam," said Sir Bors, "ye may say what ye will, but wit ye well I