And on the morn Sir Launcelot arose,and delivered the damosel with letters unto Sir Tristram,and then he took his way after La Cote Male Taile;and by the way upon a bridge there was a knight proffered Sir Launcelot to joust,and Sir Launcelot smote him down,and then they fought upon foot a noble battle together,and a mighty;and at the last Sir Launcelot smote him down grovelling upon his hands and his knees.And then that knight yielded him,and Sir Launcelot received him fair.Sir,said the knight,I require thee tell me your name,for much my heart giveth unto you.Nay,said Sir Launcelot,as at this time I will not tell you my name,unless then that ye tell me your name.Certainly,said the knight,my name is Sir Nerovens,that was made knight of my lord Sir Launcelot du Lake.Ah,Nerovens de Lile,said Sir Launcelot,I am right glad that ye are proved a good knight,for now wit ye well my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake.Alas,said Sir Nerovens de Lile,what have I done!And therewithal flatling he fell to his feet,and would have kissed them,but Sir Launcelot would not let him;and then either made great joy of other.And then Sir Nerovens told Sir Launcelot that he should not go by the Castle of Pendragon:For there is a lord,a mighty knight,and many knights with him,and this night I heard say that they took a knight prisoner yesterday that rode with a damosel,and they say he is a Knight of the Round Table.
CHAPTER VI
How Sir Launcelot fought with six knights,and after with Sir Brian,and how he delivered the prisoners.
AH,said Sir Launcelot,that knight is my fellow,and him shall Irescue or else I shall lose my life therefore.And therewithal he rode fast till he came before the Castle of Pendragon;and anon therewithal there came six knights,and all made them ready to set upon Sir Launcelot at once;then Sir Launcelot feutred his spear,and smote the foremost that he brake his back in-sunder,and three of them hit and three failed.And then Sir Launcelot passed through them,and lightly he turned in again,and smote another knight through the breast and throughout the back more than an ell,and therewithal his spear brake.So then all the remnant of the four knights drew their swords and lashed at Sir Launcelot.And at every stroke Sir Launcelot bestowed so his strokes that at four strokes sundry they avoided their saddles,passing sore wounded;and forthwithal he rode hurling into that castle.
And anon the lord of the castle,that was that time cleped Sir Brian de les Isles,the which was a noble man and a great enemy unto King Arthur,within a while he was armed and upon horseback.
And then they feutred their spears and hurled together so strongly that both their horses rashed to the earth.And then they avoided their saddles,and dressed their shields,and drew their swords,and flang together as wood men,and there were many strokes given in a while.At the last Sir Launcelot gave to Sir Brian such a buffet that he kneeled upon his knees,and then Sir Launcelot rashed upon him,and with great force he pulled off his helm;and when Sir Brian saw that he should be slain he yielded him,and put him in his mercy and in his grace.Then Sir Launcelot made him to deliver all his prisoners that he had within his castle,and therein Sir Launcelot found of Arthur's knights thirty,and forty ladies,and so he delivered them;and then he rode his way.And anon as La Cote Male Taile was delivered he gat his horse,and his harness,and his damosel Maledisant.
The meanwhile Sir Nerovens,that Sir Launcelot had foughten withal afore at the bridge,he sent a damosel after Sir Launcelot to wit how he sped at the Castle of Pendragon.And then they within the castle marvelled what knight he was,when Sir Brian and his knights delivered all those prisoners.Have ye no marvel,said the damosel,for the best knight in this world was here,and did this journey,and wit ye well,she said,it was Sir Launcelot.Then was Sir Brian full glad,and so was his lady,and all his knights,that such a man should win them.
And when the damosel and La Cote Male Taile understood that it was Sir Launcelot du Lake that had ridden with them in fellowship,and that she remembered her how she had rebuked him and called him coward,then was she passing heavy.
CHAPTER VII
How Sir Launcelot met with the damosel named Male disant,and named her the Damosel Bienpensant.
SO then they took their horses and rode forth a pace after Sir Launcelot.And within two mile they overtook him,and saluted him,and thanked him,and the damosel cried Sir Launcelot mercy of her evil deed and saying:For now I know the flower of all knighthood is departed even between Sir Tristram and you.For God knoweth,said the damosel,that I have sought you my lord,Sir Launcelot,and Sir Tristram long,and now I thank God I have met with you;and once at Camelot I met with Sir Tristram,and there he rescued this black shield with the white hand holding a naked sword that Sir Breuse Saunce Pite had taken from me.Now,fair damosel,said Sir Launcelot,who told you my name?Sir,said she,there came a damosel from a knight that ye fought withal at the bridge,and she told me your name was Sir Launcelot du Lake.Blame have she then,said Sir Launcelot,but her lord,Sir Nerovens,hath told her.But,damosel,said Sir Launcelot,upon this covenant I will ride with you,so that ye will not rebuke this knight Sir La Cote Male Taile no more;for he is a good knight,and I doubt not he shall prove a noble knight,and for his sake and pity that he should not be destroyed I followed him to succour him in this great need.Ah,Jesu thank you,said the damosel,for now I will say unto you and to him both,Irebuked him never for no hate that I hated him,but for great love that I had to him.For ever I supposed that he had been too young and too tender to take upon him these adventures.
