_How Sir Lamorak slew Sir Frol, and of the courteous fighting with Sir
Belliance his brother._
Then within two or three days Sir Lamorak found a knight at a well
sleeping, and his lady sat with him and waked. Right so came Sir
Gawaine and took the knight’s lady, and set her up behind his squire.
So Sir Lamorak rode after Sir Gawaine, and said, Sir Gawaine, turn
again. And then said Sir Gawaine, What will ye do with me? for I am
nephew to king Arthur. Sir, said he, for that cause I will spare you,
else that lady should abide with me, or else ye should just with me.
Then Sir Gawaine turned him and ran to him that owned the lady with his
spear. But the knight with pure might smote down Sir Gawaine, and took
his lady with him. All this Sir Lamorak saw, and said to himself, But I
revenge my fellow, he will say of me dishonour in king Arthur’s court.
Then Sir Lamorak returned and proffered that knight to just. Sir, said
he, I am ready. And so they came together with all their might, and
there Sir Lamorak smote the knight through both sides, that he fell to
the earth dead. Then the lady rode to that knight’s brother that hight
Sir Belliance le Orgulous, that dwelled fast thereby, and then she told
him how his brother was slain. Alas, said he, I will be revenged. And
so horsed him and armed him, and within a while he overtook Sir
Lamorak, and bad him, Turn, and leave that lady, for thou and I must
play a new play, for thou hast slain my brother Sir Frol, that was a
better knight than ever were thou. It might well be, said Sir Lamorak,
but this day in the field I was found the better. So they rode
together, and unhorsed other, and turned their shields and drew their
swords, and fought mightily as noble knights proved by the space of two
hours. So then Sir Belliance prayed him to tell his name. Sir, said he,
my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. Ah, said Sir Belliance, thou art the
man in the world that I most hate, for I slew my sons for thy sake,
where I saved thy life, and now thou hast slain my brother Sir Frol.
Alas, how should I be accorded with thee? therefore defend thee, for
thou shalt die: there is none other remedy. Alas, said Sir Lamorak,
full well me ought to know you, for ye are the man that most have done
for me. And therewithal Sir Lamorak kneeled down and besought him of
grace. Arise, said Sir Belliance, or else there as thou kneelest I
shall slay thee. That shall not need, said Sir Lamorak, for I will
yield me unto you, not for fear of you, nor for your strength, but your
goodness maketh me full loth to have ado with you; wherefore I require
you, for God’s sake, and for the honour of knighthood, forgive me all
that I have offended unto you. Alas, said Belliance, leave thy
kneeling, or else I shall slay thee without mercy. Then they went again
unto battle, and either wounded other, that all the ground was bloody
there as they fought. And at the last Belliance withdrew him aback and
set him down softly upon a little hill, for he was so faint for
bleeding that he might not stand. Then Sir Lamorak threw his shield
upon his back, and asked him, What cheer? Well, said Sir Belliance. Ah
sir, yet shall I shew you favour in your mal-ease. Ah knight, Sir
Belliance said, Sir Lamorak thou art a fool, for and I had thee at such
advantage as thou hast done me I should slay thee, but thy gentleness
is so good and large that I must needs forgive thee mine evil will. And
then Sir Lamorak kneeled down and unlaced first his umberere, and then
his own. And then either kissed other with weeping tears. Then Sir
Lamorak led Sir Belliance to an abbey fast by, and there Sir Lamorak
would not depart from Belliance till he was whole. And then they swore
together that none of them should never fight against other. So Sir
Lamorak departed and went to the court of king Arthur.
Here leue we of sire Lamorak and of sir Tristram. And here begynneth the
historye of La cote male tayle.
The Ninth Book.