_How Sir Launcelot was displeased when he knew that he had been
deceived, and how Galahad was born._
And anon as he had unshut the window, the enchantment was gone, then he
knew himself that he had been deceived. Alas, said he, that I have
lived so long; now am I shamed. So then he gat his sword in his hand,
and said, Thou traitress, who art thou? thou shalt die right here of my
hands. Then this fair lady, Elaine, kneeled down afore Sir Launcelot
and said, Fair courteous knight, come of king’s blood, I require you
have mercy upon me; and as thou art renowned the most noble knight of
the world, slay me not, for I shall have a son by thee that shall be
the most noblest knight of the world. Ah, false traitress, said Sir
Launcelot, why hast thou betrayed me? Anon tell me what thou art. Sir,
she said, I am Elaine, the daughter of king Pelles. Well, said Sir
Launcelot, I will forgive you this deed. And therewith he took her up
in his arms and kissed her, for she was as fair a lady, and thereto
young, and as wise as any was that time living. Truly, said Sir
Launcelot, I may not blame this to you, but her that made this
enchantment upon me, as between you and me; and I may find her, that
same lady Brisen, she shall lose her head for witchcraft, for there was
never knight deceived so as I am. And so Sir Launcelot armed him, and
took his leave mildly at that lady, young Elaine, and so he departed.
Then she said, My lord Sir Launcelot, I beseech you see me as soon as
you may, for I have obeyed me unto the prophecy that my father told me,
and by his commandment to fulfil this prophecy I have given the
greatest riches and the fairest flower that ever I had, and that is my
maiden love and faith, and therefore, gentle knight, owe me your good
will. And so Sir Launcelot arrayed him, and was armed, and took his
leave mildly of that young lady Elaine, and so he departed, and rode
till he came to the castle of Corbin where her father was. And as soon
as her time came she was delivered of a fair child, and they christened
him Galahad. And wit ye well that child was well kept and well
nourished, and he was named Galahad, because Sir Launcelot was so named
at the fontain stone; and after that, the Lady of the lake confirmed
him Sir Launcelot du Lake. Then after this lady was delivered and
churched there came a knight unto her, his name was Sir Bromel la
Pleche, the which was a great lord, and he had loved that lady long,
and he evermore desired her to wed her, and so by no means she could
put him off, till on a day she said to Sir Bromel, Wit thou well, sir
knight, I will not love you, for my love is set upon the best knight of
the world. Who is he? said Sir Bromel. Sir, said she, it is Sir
Launcelot du Lake that I love, and none other, and therefore woo me no
longer. Ye say well, said Sir Bromel, and since ye have told me so
much, ye shall have but little joy of Sir Launcelot, for I shall slay
him wheresoever I meet him. Sir, said the lady Elaine, do to him no
treason. Wit ye well, my lady, said Bromel, and I promise you this
twelvemonth I shall keep the bridge of Corbin for Sir Launcelot’s sake,
that he shall neither come nor go unto you but I shall meet with him.