King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

ights thereof resorted to the court, and held many games and jousts. And therein Sir Lancelot increased in fame and w

m tell of his birth and strange adventures: how he was only son of great King Ban of Brittany, and how, one night, his father, with his mother Helen and himself, fled from his burning castle; how his father, groaning deeply, fell to the ground and died of grief and wounds, and how his mother, running to her husband, left h

of all the knights of the Round Table at Caerleon, or such other place as he should choose. And at

Lionel make ready, "for," said he, "we two will seek adventure." So they mounted their horses-armed at all points-and rode into a vast forest; and when they had passed through it, they came to a great plain, and the wea

Lancelot, "for all these seven

sundry trees; and Sir Lionel waked and watched whi

a man, or so well furnished and appareled. Anon he saw him overtake the last of those who fled, and smite him to the ground; then came he to the second, and smote him such a stroke that horse and man went to t

e did, and smote Sir Lionel so hard that horse and man went down forthwith. Then took he up Sir Lionel, and threw him bound over his own horse's back; and so he served the three other knights, and rode them away to his own castle. There they were disarmed, stripped nak

four white mules, under four canopies of green silk borne on spears, to keep them from the sun. As they rode thus, they heard a great horse grimly neigh, and

ot strive for him, I have enchanted him, so that for six hours more he shall not wake. Let us take him to my castle, and, when he wakes, himself shall choose which one of us he wo

damsel, bearing his supper,

"for I know not how I came into this

heart, and to-morrow at daw

ir Lancelot du Lake. And though we know full well there is one lady only in this world may have thy love, and she Queen Guinevere-King Arthur's wife-yet now are we resolved to have thee to serve one of us; choose, therefore, of us four which thou wi

any living creature against my will. So take this for my answer. I will serve none of ye, for ye be false enchantresses. And as for my lady, Queen Gui

"is this your answer,

said Lancelot, "r

reat wrath, and left him sorro

and brought his dinner, and ask

aid Sir Lancelot, "in a

f ye do as I advise, I can help ye out of this di

it thee, for sorely do I dread these four witch-queens, who have

the King of Northgales, and last Tuesday lost the field through three knights of King Arthur's court, who came aga

elot, "tell me thy father's

King Bagdema

king and a good knight; and by the faith of my body

hou art delivered from this place, ride ten miles hence unto an abb

ir Lancelot, "as I

m to his armor; and when he was all armed, she brought him his horse also, and lightly he saddled him, and took a great sp

saw King Bagdemagus and his daughter waiting for him. So when they were together in a chamber, Sir Lancelot told the king how he had been betrayed by an enchantment, and how his brother Lionel

id," said the king, "on

t; "but what knights were they who last week defeat

ir Modred, and Sir Gahal

hree knights of thine, the best thou hast, and let them all have plain white shields, such as I also will; then will we four come su

ty helms, and the three knights of King Arthur's court, who stood apart by themselves. And when King Bagdemagus had arrived, with eighty helms, both companies set all their spears in

his, they rode at Sir Lancelot, and each after other attacked him; but he overthrew them all, and smote them nigh to death. Then, taking a new spear, he bore down to the ground sixteen more knights, and hurt them all so sorely, that they could carry arms no more

ere he feasted with great cheer and welcome, and received many royal gi

and there he met a damsel riding on a white palfrey. When they had saluted each other, Sir

are adventures great enough clo

aid he, "since for th

ir Turquine, and in the prisons of his castle lie three score knights and four, mostly from King Arthur's court, whom he hath taken with his own hands. But

e," quoth Sir Lancelot, "and I will

aw nothing. Then he rode to and fro before the castle gates for wellnigh half an hour, and anon saw a great knight riding from the distance, driving a horse before him, across which hung an armed man bound. And when

m rest while thou and I shall prove our strength upon each other; for, as I am told, thou doest, and hast

Table," answered Turquine, "I

overmuch," sai

cks brake under them. As soon as they could clear their saddles, they took their shields before them, and drew their swords, and came together eagerly, and fought with great and grievo

reathless, and stood l

ne, "let us wait awhile, and an

" said L

e; but if thou be not he, I will make peace with thee, and for sake of thy great valor, will deliver all the three sco

r Lancelot; "but who is he tho

wo shall slay the other; and thereto I have sworn by a great oath. And to discover and destroy him I have slain a hundred knights, and crippled utterly as many more, and

of King Ban of Benwick, and Knight of the Ro

Thou art more welcome to my sword than ever knight or lady w

they fought so, and at the last Sir Turquine grew very faint, and gave a little back, and bare his shield full low for weariness. When Sir Lancelot saw him thus, he

him to Sir Turquine, and said, "I am ready, fair lady,

night whom Turquine but just now was carrying to his priso

he knight and prayed him

my horse; and I see that ye are the best knight in all the world, for in my sigh

arhaus', Sir Galind's, and Sir Aliduke's, and many more; and also my two kinsmen's shields, Sir Ector de Maris' and Sir Lionel's. And I pray you greet them all from me, Sir Lancelot of the Lake, and tell them that I bid them help themselves to any treasure

ere the foul knight haunteth, who robbeth and distresseth all ladies and

d if he saw her come to any mishap, he should ride forth and deal with him that troubled her. And as the damsel rode on at a sof

e branches of the trees crackled and waved around him. "O thou false knight and tra

r away and drew his own sword likewise, and struck him such a mighty blow as clave his head down to t

over a long bridge, when suddenly there started up a passing foul churl, and smote his horse across the nose,

d Sir Lancelot; "there

at him with a great club full of iron spikes, till Sir Lancel

a worse deed for thyself thou never didst, for thou hast slain the chief porter of the cas

ning, and saying, "Fair knight, thou art unhappy." In the next moment came upon him two great giants, well armed save their heads, and with two horrible clubs in their hands. Then he put his shield before him, and with it warded off one giant's strok

rn our meat, though we be all great gentlewomen born. Blessed be the time that thou wast born, for never did a knight a deed of greater worship than thou hast this day, and thereto will we all bear witness in all times and places! Tell us, therefore, noble knight, thy name and court, th

d wild countries. And at last, after many days, by chance he came, near the night time, to a fair mansion, wherein he found an old gentlewoman, who gave hi

ancelot heard, he rose and looked out of the window, and, by the moonlight, saw three knights come riding fierc

, and leave fighting with that knight!" Then they all left Sir Key, for the first knight was he, and began to fall upon Sir Lancelot furiously. And when Sir Key wo

knight, we yield us unto t

id he; "yield ye to Sir Key, the se

thing, for we have chased Sir Key thus far,

ill, for ye may live or die; but, if y

g Arthur's court at the next Pentecost, and say, Sir Key had sent them p

And when the light came, Sir Key knew Sir Lancelot, and knelt and thanked him for his courtesy, and gentleness, and kind

nd set forth. When Sir Key arose, he found Sir Lancelot's armor by his bedside, and his own arms gone. "Now, by my faith," thought he, "I know that he will grieve some knig

m, whereon were three silk tents of divers colors, and to each tent was hung a white shield, and by each shield stood a knight. So Sir Lancelot went by without speaking a w

ter, "I will ride after and attack him for

de after Sir Lancelot, and cried, "Abide, proud

me with all his might against the other. And Sir Gaunter's spear

his, they said, "Yonder is n

mere, "yonder knight hath slain Sir

o our brother Gaunter's rescue; we shall have enough to do to match that

"Sir knight, thou art a strong man, and, I believe, hast slain my two brothers, wherefore my heart is sore against thee; yet, if I might with honor, I would avoid thee. Nevertheless,

down at full tilt upon Sir Lancelot. But, when he saw them coming, he put forth all his strength,

ancelot. "It is enough," said Lancelot, "I was not far from thee when thou wast made a kni

my brethren will straightway yield to thee when we kno

ye shall yield to Queen Guinevere at the next Feast of

nded. And so Sir Lancelot passed on, and the three b

ree-Sir Sagramour, Sir Ector, Sir Gawain, and Sir Ewaine. And when they spied him, they thought he was Sir Key. "Now

etting his spear in rest, smote him so so

ll I try what I can do against him!" So Sir Ector took his spear, and galloped at Sir Lancelot; and Sir Lancelot

en his armor! By his strength, I see it will be hard to match him." So saying he rode towards Sir

ncelot rode against each other, with their horses at full speed, and furiously smote each other on the middle of their shields; but Sir Gaw

rom the four knights, "heaven give joy to him who m

to each other, "Truly one

ir Gawain, "it is Sir Lancel

departed f

f blood. But the hound, ever and anon looking behind, ran through a great marsh, and over a bridge, towards an old manor house. So Sir Lancelot followed, and went into the hall, and saw a d

"for I never harmed this knight, and am

st slain my husband, for he that truly did that dee

band's name?" sa

one of the best knights in all the world; b

aid Sir Lancelot, and depa

e fought this day with Sir Gilbert, and slew him, but was himself well nigh slain. And there is a sorceress, who dwelleth in a castle hard by, and she this day hath told me that my bro

" said Sir Lancelot; "but w

he replied, "is Si

le," said Sir Lancelot, "and tru

apel Perilous. I will abide here till God send ye hither again; for if

rds drawn; and they gnashed their teeth upon him as he came. But he put his shield before him, and took his sword in hand, ready to do battle with them. And when he would have cut his way through them, they scattered on every side and let him pass. Then he went into the chapel, and saw therein no light but of a dim lamp burning. Then he was aware of a corpse in the midst of the chape

id he, "ye shall fight for

they let

a fair damsel, who said, "Sir Lancelot, le

t," said Sir Lancel

said the damsel, "I p

r Lancelot, "t

my labor! but hadst thou kissed me

ts!" said Sir Lancelot; and therewit

rrowed greatly, and died in fifteen day

the castle hard by, where Sir Meliot was. And when Sir Lancelot saw Sir Meliot, he knew him, though he was pale as ashes f

s though he had been never wounded. Then was there great joy between him and Sir Meliot; and his sister made Sir Lancelot good cheer. So on the morrow, he took

rd two little bells ringing, and looking up, he saw a falcon flying overhead, with bells tied to her feet, and long strings da

the flower of all knights in the world, help me to get my hawk, for she hath slipped aw

rd's name?" sai

s Sir Phelot, a knight o

my name, and require me, on my knighthood, to

and prayed the lady to unarm him. So when he was unarmed, h

with a drawn sword in his hand, and said, "Oh, Sir Lancelot! now have I foun

ir Lancelot, "why h

r," said Sir Phelot, "and thine

ancelot, "for an armed

er favor from me,

y, thinking to have slain him, but Sir Lancelot put aside the stroke with the bough, and therewith smote him on the side of the head, till he fell swooning to the ground. And tearing his sword from out his hands, he shore his

night, with a drawn sword, chasing a lady to slay her. And seeing

knight! why wilt thou slay this lady? Th

nd my wife?" replied the knight. "

said Lancelot, "till we h

t, "thou doest ill, for t

shall answer before Heaven; but as thou art named the most worshipful knight in t

Lancelot; "it shall not lie w

ht, "I will be ruled

suddenly to Sir Lancelot to turn and see what men they were who came riding after them; and while Sir Lanc

his sword to have slain him instantly; but the knight fell on the ground and clasped Sir Lancelot's knees, and cried out for mercy

"I will not rise till th

ill unarm me to my shirt, and have my sword only in my ha

never do," sa

head, and bear it with thee, and swear to me upon thy s

ll I do,

Lancelot, "tel

ere," answer

r wert thou born,"

came to Winchester, where the Queen was with King Arthur, he told them all the trut

aken prisoners, and gave worship and honor to Sir Lancelot. Then Sir Key told the King how Sir Lancelot had rescued him when he was in near danger of his death; "and," said Sir Key, "he made the knights yield, not to himself, but me. And by Heaven! because Sir Lancelot took my armor and left me his, I rode in peace, and no man wou

y the daughter of King Bagdemagus, and what deeds of arms he did at the tournament between the King of North Wales and King Bagdemagus. And s