_How Sir Launcelot rode on his adventure, and how he holpe a dolorous
lady from her pain, and how that he fought with a dragon._
Now leave we Sir Tristram de Liones, and speak we of Sir Launcelot du
Lake, and Sir Galahad, Sir Launcelot’s son, how he was born, and in
what manner, as the book of French rehearseth. Afore the time that Sir
Galahad was born, there came in an hermit unto king Arthur, upon
Whitsunday, as the knights sat at the Table Round. And when the hermit
saw the siege perilous, he asked the king and all the knights why that
siege was void. Sir Arthur and all the knights answered, There shall
never none sit in that siege but one, but if he be destroyed. Then,
said the hermit, wot ye what is he? Nay, said Arthur and all the
knights, we wot not who is he that shall sit therein. Then wot I, said
the hermit, for he that shall sit there is unborn, and this same year
he shall be born that shall sit there in that siege perilous, and he
shall win the Sangreal. When this hermit had made this mention he
departed from the court of king Arthur. And then after this feast Sir
Launcelot rode on his adventures, till on a time by adventure he passed
over the bridge of Corbin, and there he saw the fairest tower that ever
he saw, and thereunder was a fair town full of people, and all the
people, men and women, cried at once. Welcome Sir Launcelot du Lake,
the flower of all knighthood, for by thee all we shall be holpen out of
danger. What mean ye, said Sir Launcelot, that ye cry so upon me? Ah,
fair knight, said they all, here is within this tower a dolorous lady
that hath been there in pains many winters: for ever she boileth in
scalding water. And but late, said all the people, Sir Gawaine was
here, and he might not help her, and so he left her in pain. So may I,
said Sir Launcelot, leave her in pain as well as Sir Gawaine did. Nay,
said the people, we know well that it is Sir Launcelot that shall
deliver her. Well, said Launcelot, then show me what I shall do. Then
they brought Sir Launcelot into the tower. And when he came to the
chamber there as this lady was, the doors of iron unlocked and
unbolted. And so Sir Launcelot went into the chamber that was as hot as
any stew, and there Sir Launcelot took the fairest lady by the hand
that ever he saw, and she was naked as a needle, and by enchantment
queen Morgan le Fay and the queen of Northgalis had put her there in
that pains because she was called the fairest lady of that country. And
there she had been five years, and never might she be delivered out of
her great pains unto the time the best knight of the world had taken
her by the hand. Then the people brought her clothes. And when she was
arrayed, Sir Launcelot thought she was the fairest lady of the world,
but if it were queen Guenever. Then this lady said to Sir Launcelot,
Sir, if it please you will ye go with me hereby into a chapel that we
may give loving and thanking to God? Madam, said Sir Launcelot, cometh
on with me, I will go with you. So when they came there, and gave
thankings to God, all the people, both learned and lay, gave thankings
unto God and him, and said, Sir knight, since ye have delivered this
lady, ye shall deliver us from a serpent that is here in a tomb. Then
Sir Launcelot took his shield, and said, Bring me thither, and what I
may do unto the pleasure of God and you, I will do. So when Sir
Launcelot came thither, he saw written upon the tomb letters of gold
that said thus: Here shall come a libbard of king’s blood and he shall
slay this serpent, and this libbard shall engender a lion in this
foreign country, the which lion shall pass all other knights. So then
Sir Launcelot lift up the tomb, and there came out an horrible and a
fiendly dragon spitting fire out of his mouth. Then Sir Launcelot drew
out his sword and fought with the dragon long, and at last with great
pain Sir Launcelot slew that dragon. Therewithal came king Pelles, the
good and noble knight, and saluted Sir Launcelot, and he him again.
Fair knight, said the king, what is your name? I require you of your
knighthood tell me.