_How king Pellinore gat the lady and brought her to Camelot to the
court of king Arthur._
And then he turned him to the other knight that was sore wounded. But
when he saw the other’s buffet he would not fight, but kneeled down and
said, Take my cousin, the lady, with you at your request, and I require
you, as ye be a true knight, put her to no shame nor villainy. What,
said king Pellinore, will ye not fight for her? No, sir, said the
knight. I will not fight with such a knight of prowess as ye be. Well,
said Pellinore, ye say well, I promise you she shall have no villainy
by me, as I am true knight; but now me lacketh an horse, said
Pellinore, but I will have Hontzlake’s horse. Ye shall not need, said
the knight, for I shall give you such a horse as shall please you, so
that ye will lodge with me, for it is near night. I will well, said
king Pellinore, abide with you all night. And there he had with him
right good cheer, and fared of the best with passing good wine, and had
merry rest that night. And on the morrow he heard a mass, and dined:
and then was brought him a fair bay courser, and king Pellinore’s
saddle set upon him. Now, what shall I call you? said the knight,
inasmuch as ye have my cousin at your desire of your quest. Sir, I
shall tell you; my name is king Pellinore, of the Isles, and knight of
the Table Round. Now I am glad, said the knight, that such a noble man
shall have the rule of my cousin. What is now your name? said
Pellinore, I pray you tell me. Sir, my name is Sir Meliot of Logurs,
and this lady my cousin, hight Nimue, and the knight that was in the
other pavilion is my sworn brother, a passing good knight, and his name
is Brian of the Isles, and he is full loth to do wrong, and full loth
to fight with any man, but if he be sore sought on, so that for shame
he may not leave it. It is marvel, said Pellinore, that he will not
have ado with me. Sir, he will not have ado with no man but if it be at
his request. Bring him to the court, said Pellinore, one of these days.
Sir, we will come together. And ye shall be welcome, said king
Pellinore, to the court of king Arthur, and greatly allowed for your
coming. And so he departed with the lady, and brought her to Camelot.
So as they rode in a valley it was full of stones, and there the lady’s
horse stumbled and threw her down, wherewith her arm was sore bruised,
and near she swooned for pain. Alas! sir, said the lady, mine arm is
out of joint, where through I must needs rest me. Ye shall well, said
king Pellinore. And so he alighted under a fair tree where was fair
grass, and he put his horse thereto, and so laid him under the tree and
slept till it was nigh night. And when he awoke he would have ridden.
Sir, said the lady, it is so dark that ye may as well ride backward as
forward. So they abode still and made there their lodging. Then Sir
Pellinore put off his armour; then a little afore midnight they heard
the trotting of an horse. Be ye still, said king Pellinore, for we
shall hear of some adventure.