_How Sir Launcelot at the request of a lady recovered a falcon, by
which he was deceived._
And so Sir Launcelot rode through many strange countries, over marshes
and valleys, till by fortune he came to a fair castle, and as he passed
beyond the castle him thought he heard two bells ring. And then was he
ware of a falcon came flying over his head toward an high elm, and long
lines about her feet, and as she flew unto the elm to take her perch,
the lines overcast about a bough. And when she would have taken her
flight she hung by the legs fast, and Sir Launcelot saw how she hung,
and beheld the fair falcon perigot, and he was sorry for her. The
meanwhile came a lady out of the castle, and cried on high, O
Launcelot, Launcelot, as thou art flower of all knights help me to get
my hawk, for and my hawk be lost my lord will destroy me; for I kept
the hawk and she slipt from me, and if my lord my husband wit it, he is
so hasty that he will slay me. What is your lord’s name? said Sir
Launcelot. Sir, she said, his name is Sir Phelot, a knight that longeth
unto the king of Northgalis. Well, fair lady, since that ye know my
name, and require me of knighthood to help you, I will do what I may to
get your hawk, and yet truly I am an ill climber, and the tree is
passing high, and few boughs to help me withal. And therewith Sir
Launcelot alight, and tied his horse to the same tree, and prayed the
lady to unarm him. And so when he was unarmed, he put off all his
clothes unto his shirt and breeches, and with might and force he
climbed up to the falcon, and tied the lines to a great rotten branch,
and threw the hawk down and it withal. Anon the lady gat the hawk in
her hand, and therewithal came out Sir Phelot out of the groves
suddenly, that was her husband, all armed, and with his naked sword in
his hand, and said, O knight, Launcelot, now have I found thee as I
would: and stood at the bole of the tree to slay him. Ah lady, said Sir
Launcelot, why have ye betrayed me? She hath done, said Sir Phelot, but
as I commanded her, and therefore there is none other boot but thine
hour is come that thou must die. That were shame unto thee, said Sir
Launcelot, thou an armed knight to slay a naked man by treason. Thou
gettest none other grace, said Sir Phelot, and therefore help thyself
and thou canst. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, that shall be thy shame, but
since thou wilt do none other, take mine harness with thee, and hang my
sword upon a bough that I may get it, and then do thy best to slay me
and thou canst. Nay, nay, said Sir Phelot, for I know thee better than
thou weenest, therefore thou gettest no weapon and I may keep you
therefro. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, that ever knight should die
weaponless. And therewith he awaited above him and under him, and over
his head he saw a rounspik, a big bough leafless, and therewith he
brake it off by the body; and then he came lower, and awaited how his
own horse stood, and suddenly he lept on the farther side of the horse
from the knight. And then Sir Phelot lashed at him eagerly, weening to
have slain him; but Sir Launcelot put away the stroke with the
rounspik, and therewith he smote him on the one side of the head, that
he fell down in a swoon to the ground. So then Sir Launcelot took his
sword out of his hand, and struck his neck from the body. Then cried
the lady, Alas, why hast thou slain my husband? I am not causer, said
Sir Launcelot, for with falsehood ye would have had slain me with
treason, and now it is fallen on you both. And then she swooned as
though she would die. And therewithal Sir Launcelot gat all his armour
as well as he might, and put it upon him, for dread of more resort, for
he dread that the knight’s castle was so nigh. And so soon as he might
he took his horse and departed, and thanked God that he had escaped
that adventure.