_How a knight found Sir Launcelot lying in his bed, and how Sir
Launcelot fought with the knight._
Then within an hour there came the knight to whom belonged the
pavilion, and so he laid him down beside Sir Launcelot. And when Sir
Launcelot felt him, he started out of the bed lightly, and the other
knight after him, and either of them gat their swords in their hands,
and out at the pavilion door went the knight of the pavilion, and Sir
Launcelot followed him, and there, by a little slake, Sir Launcelot
wounded him sore nigh unto the death. And then he yielded him unto Sir
Launcelot, and so he granted him, so that he would tell him why he came
into the bed. Sir, said the knight, the pavilion is mine own, and there
this night would I have slept, and now I am likely to die of this
wound. That me repenteth, said Sir Launcelot, of your hurt; but I was
adread of treason, for I was late beguiled; and therefore come on your
way into your pavilion, and take your rest, and as I suppose I shall
stanch your blood. So they went both into the pavilion, and anon Sir
Launcelot stanched his blood.
Therewithal came the knight’s lady, which was a passing fair lady. And
when she espied that her lord Belleus was so sore wounded, she cried
out on Sir Launcelot, and made great dole out of measure. Peace my lady
and my love, said Belleus, for this knight is a good man, and a knight
adventurous; and there he told her all the cause how he was wounded;
and when that I yielded me unto him, he left me goodly and hath
stanched my blood. Sir, said the lady, I require thee tell me what
knight ye be, and what is your name? Fair lady, said he, my name is Sir
Launcelot du Lake. So me thought ever by your speech, said the lady,
for I have seen you oft or this, and I know you better than ye ween.
But now and ye would promise me of your courtesy, for the harms that ye
have done to me and to my lord Belleus, that when he cometh unto
Arthur’s court for to cause him to be made knight of the Round Table,
for he is a passing good man of arms, and a mighty lord of lands of
many out isles. Fair lady, said Sir Launcelot, let him come unto the
court the next high feast, and look that ye come with him, and I shall
do my power, and ye prove you doughty of your hands, that ye shall have
your desire. So thus within awhile as they thus talked, the night
passed, and the day shone, and then Sir Launcelot armed him, and took
his horse, and they taught him to the abbey, and thither he rode within
the space of two hours.