_How Sir Launcelot met with the damsel named Maledisant, and how he
named her the damsel Bienpensant._
So then they took their horses and rode forth a pace after Sir
Launcelot. And within two mile they overtook him, and saluted him, and
thanked him, and the damsel cried Sir Launcelot mercy of her evil deed,
and saying, For now I know the flower of all knighthood is parted even
between Sir Tristram and you. For I have sought you my lord Sir
Launcelot, and Sir Tristram, long, and now I thank God I have met with
you; and once at Camelot, I met with Sir Tristram, and there he rescued
this black shield with the white hand holding a naked sword, which Sir
Breuse Sance Pité had taken away from me. Now, fair damsel, said Sir
Launcelot, who told you my name? Sir, said she, there came a damsel
from a knight that ye fought withall at the bridge, and she told me
your name was Sir Launcelot du Lake. Blame have she then, said Sir
Launcelot, but her lord Sir Nerovens hath told her. But damsel, said
Sir Launcelot, upon this covenant I will ride with you, so that ye will
not rebuke this knight Sir La Cote Male Taile no more, for he is a good
knight, and I doubt not he shall prove a noble knight, and for his
sake, and pity that he should not be destroyed, I followed him to
succour him in this great need. Ah, God thank you, said the damsel, for
now I will say unto you and to him both, I rebuked him never for no
hate that I hated him, but for great love that I had to him: for ever I
supposed that he had been too young and too tender to take upon him
these adventures, and, therefore by my will I would have driven him
away for jealousy that I had of his life; for it may be no young
knight’s deed that shall achieve this adventure to the end. Perdy, said
Sir Launcelot, it is well said, and where ye are called the damsel
Maledisant, I will call you the damsel Bienpensant. And so they rode
forth a great while until they came to the border of the country of
Surluse, and there they found a fair village with a strong bridge like
a fortress. And when Sir Launcelot and they were at the bridge, there
start forth afore them of gentlemen and yeomen many that said, Fair
lords, ye may not pass this bridge and this fortress because of that
black shield that I see one of you bear, and therefore there shall not
pass but one of you at once; therefore choose which of you shall enter
within this bridge first. Then Sir Launcelot proffered himself first to
enter within this bridge. Sir, said La Cote Male Taile, I beseech you
let me enter first within this fortress, and if I may speed well I will
send for you, and if it happen that I be slain, there it goeth. And if
so be that I am a prisoner taken, then may ye rescue me. I am loth,
said Sir Launcelot, to let you pass this passage. Sir, said La Cote
Male Taile, I pray you let me put my body in this adventure. Now go
your way, said Sir Launcelot, and Jesu be your speed. So he entered,
and anon there met with him two brethren, the one hight Sir Plaine de
Force, and the other hight Sir Plaine de Amours; and anon they met with
Sir La Cote Male Taile, and first La Cote Male Taile smote down Sir
Plaine de Force, and soon after he smote down Plaine de Amours, and
then they dressed them to their shields and swords, and bad La Cote
Male Taile alight, and so he did, and there was dashing and foining
with swords, and so they began to assail full hard La Cote Male Taile,
and many great wounds they gave him upon his head and upon his breast
and upon his shoulders. And as he might ever among he gave sad strokes
again. And then the two brethren traced and traversed for to be of both
hands of Sir La Cote Male Taile, but he by fine force and knightly
prowess gat them afore him. And then when he felt himself so wounded
then he doubled his strokes and gave them so many wounds that he felled
them to the earth, and would have slain them had they not yielded them.
And right so Sir La Cote Male Taile took the best horse that there was
of them three, and so rode forth his way to the other fortress and
bridge, and there he met with the third brother, whose name was Sir
Plenorius, a full noble knight, and there they justed together, and
either smote other down horse and man to the earth. And then they
avoided their horses, and dressed their shields, and drew their swords,
and gave many sad strokes, and one while the one knight was afore on
the bridge, and another while the other. And thus they fought two hours
and more, and never rested, and ever Sir Launcelot and the damsel
beheld them. Alas, said the damsel, my knight fighteth passing sore and
over long. Now may ye see, said Sir Launcelot, that he is a noble
knight, for to consider his first battle, and his grievous wounds. And
even forth with all so wounded as he is, it is great marvel that he may
endure this long battle with that good knight.