_How Alisander met with Alice la Beale Pilgrim, and how he justed with
two knights; and after of him and of Sir Mordred._
Then she unwimpled her visage. And when he saw her he said, Here have I
found my love and my lady. Truly, fair lady, said he, I promise you to
be your knight, and none other that beareth the life. Now, gentle
knight, said she, tell me your name. My name is, said he, Alisander le
Orphelin. Now, damsel, tell me your name, said he. My name is, said
she, Alice la Beale Pilgrim. And when we be more at our heart’s ease,
both ye and I shall tell each other of what blood we be come. So there
was great love betwixt them. And as they thus talked, there came a
knight that hight Harsouse le Berbuse, and asked part of Sir
Alisander’s spears. Then Sir Alisander encountered with him, and at the
first Sir Alisander smote him over his horse croup. And then there came
another knight that hight Sir Hewgon. And Sir Alisander smote him down
as he did that other. Then Sir Hewgon proffered to do battle on foot.
Sir Alisander overcame him with three strokes, and there would have
slain him had he not yielded him. So then Alisander made both those
knights to swear to wear none armour in a twelvemonth and a day. Then
Sir Alisander alight down, and went to rest him and repose him. Then
the damsel that halp Sir Alisander out of the castle, in her play told
dame Alice altogether how he was prisoner of the castle of La Beale
Regard: and there she told her how she gat him out of prison. Sir, said
Alice la Beale Pilgrim, me seemeth ye are much beholden to this maiden.
That is truth, said Sir Alisander. And there Alice told him of what
blood she was come. Sir, wit ye well, she said, that I am of the blood
of king Ban, that was father unto Sir Launcelot. Ye wis, fair lady,
said Alisander, my mother told me that my father was brother unto a
king, and I am nigh cousin to Sir Tristram. Then this while came there
three knights, that one hight Vains, and that other hight Harvis de les
Marches, and the third hight Perin de la Montaine. And with one spear
Sir Alisander smote them down all three, and gave them such falls that
they had no list to fight upon foot. So he made them to swear to wear
no arms in a twelvemonth. So when they were departed, Sir Alisander
beheld his lady Alice on horseback as he stood in her pavilion. And
then he was so enamoured upon her, that he wist not whether he were on
horseback or on foot. Right so came the false knight Sir Mordred, and
saw Sir Alisander was assotted upon his lady: and therewithal he took
his horse by the bridle and led him here and there, and had cast to
have led him out of that place to have shamed him. When the damsel that
halp him out of that castle saw how shamefully he was led, anon she let
arm her, and set a shield upon her shoulder. And therewith she mounted
upon his horse, and gat a naked sword in her hand, and she thrust unto
Alisander with all her might, and she gave him such a buffet that he
thought the fire flew out of his eyes. And when Alisander felt that
stroke he looked about him, and drew his sword. And when she saw that,
she fled, and so did Mordred into the forest, and the damsel fled into
the pavilion. So when Sir Alisander understood himself how the false
knight would have shamed him, had not the damsel been, then was he
wroth with himself that Sir Mordred was so escaped his hands. But then
Sir Alisander and dame Alice had good game at the damsel, how sadly she
hit him upon the helm. Then Sir Alisander justed thus day by day, and
on foot he did many battles with many knights of king Arthur’s court,
and with many knights strangers. Therefore to tell all the battles that
he did it were overmuch to rehearse, for every day within that
twelvemonth he had ado with one knight or with other, and some day he
had ado with three or with four. And there was never knight that put
him to the worse. And at the twelvemonth’s end he departed with his
lady Alice la Beale Pilgrim. And the damsel would never go from him:
and so they went into their country of Benoye, and lived there in great
joy.