_How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel departed from the court for to seek
adventures, and how Sir Lionel left him sleeping, and was taken._
Soon after that king Arthur was come from Rome into England, then all
the knights of the Table Round resorted unto the king, and made many
justs and tournaments; and some there were that were but knights which
increased so in arms and worship that they passed all their fellows in
prowess and noble deeds, and that was well proved on many. But in
especial it was proved on Sir Launcelot du Lake; for in all tournaments
and justs and deeds of arms, both for life and death, he passed all
other knights, and at no time he was never overcome but if it were by
treason or enchantment. So Sir Launcelot increased so marvellously in
worship and honour; therefore he is the first knight that the French
book maketh mention of after king Arthur came from Rome. Wherefore
queen Guenever had him in great favour above all other knights, and in
certain he loved the queen again above all other ladies and damsels all
his life, and for her he did many deeds of arms, and saved her from the
fire through his noble chivalry. Thus Sir Launcelot rested him long
with play and game. And then he thought himself to prove himself in
strange adventures: then he bad his nephew Sir Lionel for to make him
ready, for we two will seek adventures. So they mounted on their
horses, armed at all rights, and rode into a deep forest, and so into a
deep plain. And then the weather was hot about noon, and Sir Launcelot
had great lust to sleep. Then Sir Lionel espied a great apple tree that
stood by an hedge, and said, Brother, yonder is a fair shadow, there
may we rest us and our horses. It is well said, fair brother, said Sir
Launcelot, for this seven year I was not so sleepy as I am now. And so
they there alighted, and tied their horses unto sundry trees, and so
Sir Launcelot laid him down under an apple tree, and his helm he laid
under his head. And Sir Lionel waked while he slept. So Sir Launcelot
was asleep passing fast. And in the meanwhile there came three knights
riding, as fast fleeing as ever they might ride. And there followed
them three but one knight. And when Sir Lionel saw him, him thought he
saw never so great a knight nor so well faring a man, neither so well
apparelled unto all rights. So within a while this strong knight had
overtaken one of these knights, and there he smote him to the cold
earth that he lay still. And then he rode unto the second knight, and
smote him so that man and horse fell down. And then straight to the
third knight he rode, and he smote him behind his horse tail a spear’s
length. And then he alight down, and reined his horse on the bridle,
and bound all the three knights fast with the reins of their own
bridles. When Sir Lionel saw him do thus, he thought to assay him, and
made him ready, and stilly and privily he took his horse, and thought
not for to awake Sir Launcelot. And when he was mounted upon his horse
he overtook this strong knight and bad him turn: and the other smote
Sir Lionel so hard that horse and man he bare to the earth, and so he
alight down and bound him fast, and threw him overthwart his own horse,
and so he served them all four, and rode with them away to his own
castle. And when he came there, he made unarm them, and beat them with
thorns all naked, and after put them in a deep prison where there were
many more knights that made great dolour.