When as they were in their first sleep, come four robber-knights of the
forest that knew how a knight was lodged therewithin, and had coveted
his horse and his arms. The hermit that was in his chapel saw them
first, and awoke his squire and made him bring his arms all secretly;
then he made his squire arm. "Sir," saith the squire, "Shall I waken
the knight?"
"In nowise," saith the hermit, "until such time as we shall know
wherefore."
He maketh open the door of the chapel and taketh a great coil of rope,
and they issue forth, he and his squire, and they perceived the robbers
in the stable where Lancelot's horse was. The hermit crieth out: the
squire cometh forward and thereupon beareth one to the ground with his
spear. The hermit seizeth him and bindeth him to a tree so strait that
he may not move. The other three think to defend them and to rescue
their fellow. Lancelot leapeth up all startled when he heareth the
noise and armeth himself as quickly as he may, albeit not so quickly
but that or ever he come, the hermit hath taken the other three and
bound them with the fourth. But of them were some that were wounded
right sore.
"Sir," saith the hermit to Lancelot, "It grieveth me that you have been
awakened."
"Rather," saith Lancelot, "have you done me great wrong for that you
ought to have awakened me sooner."
"Sir," saith the hermit, "We have assaults such as this often enough."
The four robbers cry mercy of Lancelot that he will pray the hermit to
have pity upon them. And Lancelot saith God help not him that shall
have pity on thieves! As soon as it was daylight, Lancelot and the
squire led them into the forest, their hands all tied behind their
backs, and have hanged them in a waste place far away from the
hermitage. Lancelot cometh back again and taketh leave of Joseus the
young hermit, and saith it is great loss to the world that he is not
knight.
"Sir," saith the squire, "to me is it great joy, for many a man should
suffer thereby."
Lancelot is mounted, and Joseus commendeth him to God, praying him much
that he salute his father and cousin on his behalf, and Messire Gawain
likewise that he met in the forest what time he came all weeping to the
hermitage.