_How Alisander was delivered from the queen Morgan le Fay by the means
of a damsel._
Sir knight, said the damsel, and ye would be merry, I could tell you
good tidings. Well were me, said Alisander, and I might hear of good
tidings, for now I stand as a prisoner by my promise. Sir, said she,
wit you well that ye be a prisoner, and worse than ye ween. For my
lady, my cousin queen Morgan le Fay, keepeth you here for none other
intent but for to do her pleasure with you, when it liketh her. Defend
me, said Alisander, from such pleasure, for I had lever die than I
would do her such pleasure. Truly, said the damsel, and ye would love
me and be ruled by me, I shall make your deliverance with your worship.
Tell me, said Alisander, by what mean, and ye shall have my love. Fair
knight, said she, this castle of right ought to be mine, and I have an
uncle the which is a mighty earl, he is earl of Pase, and of all folks
he hateth most Morgan le Fay, and I shall send unto him, and pray him
for my sake to destroy this castle for the evil customs that be used
therein; and then will he come and set wild fire on every part of the
castle, and I shall get you out at a privy postern, and there shall ye
have your horse and your harness. Ye say well, damsel, said Alisander.
And then she said, Ye may keep the room of this castle this twelvemonth
and a day, then break ye not your oath. Truly, fair damsel, said
Alisander, ye say sooth. And then he kissed her. So anon she sent unto
her uncle, and bad him come and destroy that castle; for as the book
saith, he would have destroyed that castle afore time, had not that
damsel been. When the earl understood her letters he sent her word
again, that on such a day he would come and destroy that castle. So
when that day came, she shewed Alisander a postern where through he
should flee into a garden, and there he should find his armour and his
horse. When the day came that was set, thither came the earl of Pase
with four hundred knights, and set on fire all the parts of the castle,
that, or they ceased, they left not a stone standing. And all this
while that the fire was in the castle, he abode in the garden. And when
the fire was done, he let make a cry that he would keep that piece of
earth, there as the castle of La Beale Regard was, a twelvemonth and a
day, from all manner knights that would come.
So it happed there was a duke that hight Ansirus, and he was of the kin
of Sir Launcelot. And this knight was a great pilgrim, for every third
year he would be at Jerusalem. And because he used all his life to go
in pilgrimage, men called him duke Ansirus the pilgrim. And this duke
had a daughter that hight Alice, that was a passing fair woman, and
because of her father she was called Alice La Beale Pilgrim. And anon
as she heard of this cry, she went unto Arthur’s court, and said openly
in hearing of many knights, That what knight may overcome that knight
that keepeth that piece of earth shall have me and all my lands. When
the knights of the Round Table heard her say thus, many were glad, for
she was passing fair, and of great rents. Right so she let cry in
castles and towns as fast on her side as Sir Alisander did on his side.
Then she dressed her pavilion straight by the piece of earth that
Alisander kept. So she was not so soon there but there came a knight of
Arthur’s court, that hight Sagramor le Desirous, and he proffered to
just with Alisander, and they encountered, and Sagramor le Desirous
bruised his spear upon Sir Alisander, but Sir Alisander smote him so
hard that he avoided his saddle. And when La Beale Alice saw him just
so well, she thought him a passing goodly knight on horseback. And then
she lept out of her pavilion and took Sir Alisander by the bridle, and
thus she said: Fair knight, I require thee of thy knighthood, shew me
thy visage. I dare well, said Alisander, shew my visage. And then he
put off his helm; and when she saw his visage she said, Truly, thee I
must love and never other. Then shew me your visage, said he.