_How king Pellinore rode after the lady and the knight that led her
away, and how a lady desired help of him, and how he fought with two
knights for that lady, of whom he slew the one at the first stroke._
Then king Pellinore armed him and mounted upon his horse, and rode more
than a pace after the lady that the knight led away. And as he rode in
a forest, he saw in a valley a damsel sit by a well, and a wounded
knight in her arms, and Pellinore saluted her. And when she was ware of
him, she cried over loud, Help me knight, for Christ’s sake, king
Pellinore! And he would not tarry he was so eager in his quest, and
ever she cried an hundred times after help. When she saw he would not
abide, she prayed unto God to send him as much need of help as she had,
and that he might feel it or he died. So as the book telleth, the
knight died that there was wounded, wherefore the lady for pure sorrow
slew herself with his sword. As king Pellinore rode in that valley he
met with a poor man, a labourer: Sawest thou not, said Pellinore, a
knight riding and leading away a lady? Yea, said the poor man, I saw
that knight, and the lady that made great dole. And yonder beneath in a
valley there shall ye see two pavilions, and one of the knights of the
pavilions challenged that lady of that knight, and said she was his
cousin near, wherefore he should lead her no farther. And so they waged
battle in that quarrel; the one said he would have her by force, and
the other said he would have the rule of her because he was her
kinsman, and would lead her to her kin. For this quarrel I left them
fighting, and if ye will ride a pace ye shall find them fighting, and
the lady was beleft with the two squires in the pavilions. I thank
thee, said king Pellinore. Then he rode a wallop till that he had a
sight of the two pavilions, and the two knights fighting. Anon he rode
unto the pavilions, and saw the lady that was his quest, and said, Fair
lady, ye must go with me unto the court of king Arthur. Sir knight,
said the two squires that were with her, yonder are two knights that
fight for this lady, go thither and depart them, and be agreed with
them, and then ye may have her at your pleasure. Ye say well, said king
Pellinore. And anon he rode betwixt them, and departed them, and asked
them the cause why that they fought. Sir knight, said the one, I shall
tell you. This lady is my kinswoman nigh, mine aunt’s daughter, and
when I heard her complain that she was with him maugre her head, I
waged battle to fight with him. Sir knight, said the other, whose name
was Hontzlake of Wentland, and this lady I gat by my prowess of arms
this day at Arthur’s court. That is untruly said, said king Pellinore,
for ye came in suddenly there as we were at the high feast, and took
away this lady or any man might him ready, and therefore it was my
quest for to bring her again and you both, or else the one of us to
abide in the field; therefore the lady shall go with me, or I will die
for it, for I have promised it king Arthur. And therefore fight ye no
more, for none of you shall have no part of her at this time, and if ye
list to fight for her, fight with me, and I will defend her. Well, said
the knights, make you ready, and we shall assail you with all our
power. And as king Pellinore would have put his horse from them, Sir
Hontzlake rove his horse through with a sword, and said: Now art thou
on foot as well we are. When king Pellinore espied that his horse was
slain, lightly he leapt from his horse and pulled out his sword, and
put his shield afore him, and said: Knight, keep well thy head, for
thou shalt have a buffet for the slaying of my horse. So king Pellinore
gave him such a stroke upon the helm that he clave the head down to the
chin, that he fell to the earth dead.