_How Sir Tor found the brachet with a lady, and how a knight assailed
him for the said brachet._
Therewith Sir Tor alighted and gave the dwarf his glaive, and so came
to the white pavilion, and saw three damsels lie in it on one pallet
sleeping. And so he went to the other pavilion, and there he found a
lady lying sleeping therein. But there was the white brachet, that
bayed at her fast, and therewith the lady awoke and went out of the
pavilion, and all her damsels. But anon as Sir Tor espied the white
brachet he took her by force, and took her to the dwarf. What, will ye
so, said the lady, take my brachet from me? Yea, said Sir Tor, this
brachet have I sought from king Arthur’s court hither. Well, said the
lady, knight, ye shall not go far with her but that ye shall be met,
and grieved. I shall abide what adventure that cometh, by the grace of
God, and so mounted upon his horse and passed on his way toward
Camelot; but it was so near night he might not pass but little farther.
Know ye any lodging? said Tor. I know none, said the dwarf, but here
beside is an hermitage, and there ye must take lodging as ye find. And
within awhile they came to the hermitage and took lodging; and was
there grass, oats, and bread, for their horses; soon it was sped, and
full hard was their supper; but there they rested them all the night
till on the morn, and heard a mass devoutly, and took their leave of
the hermit, and Sir Tor prayed the hermit to pray for him. He said he
would, and betook him to God: and so he mounted on horseback, and rode
towards Camelot a long while. With that they heard a knight call loud
that came after them, and he said, Knight, abide and yield my brachet
that thou tookest from my lady. Sir Tor returned again and beheld him
how he was a seemly knight and well horsed, and well armed at all
points; then Sir Tor dressed his shield, and took his spear in his
hands, and the other came fiercely upon him and smote both horse and
man to the earth. Anon they arose lightly and drew their swords as
eagerly as lions, and put their shields afore them, and smote through
the shields, and the cantels fell off of both parts. Also they hewed
their helms, that the hot blood ran out, and the thick mails of their
hauberks they carved and rove in sunder, that the hot blood ran to the
earth, and both they had many wounds and were passing weary. But Sir
Tor espied that the other knight fainted, and then he sued fast upon
him, and doubled his strokes, and made him go to the earth on the one
side. Then Sir Tor bad him yield him. That will I not, said Abelleus,
while my life lasteth and the soul is within my body, unless that thou
wilt give me the brachet. That will I not do, said Sir Tor, for it was
my quest to bring again thy brachet, thee, or both.