_How Sir Bors left to rescue his brother, and rescued the damsel; and
how it was told him that Lionel was dead._
Then dressed he him unto the knight the which had the gentlewoman, and
then he cried, Sir knight, let your hand off that maiden, or ye be but
dead. And then he set down the maiden and was armed at all pieces, save
he lacked his spear. Then he dressed his shield, and drew out his
sword, and Bors smote him so hard that it went through his shield and
haberjon on the left shoulder; and through great strength he beat him
down to the earth; and at the pulling out of Bors’ spear there he
swooned.
Then came Bors to the maid, and said, How seemeth it you? Of this
knight ye be delivered at this time. Now Sir, said she, I pray you lead
me there as this knight had me.—So shall I do gladly: and took the
horse of the wounded knight, and set the gentlewoman upon him, and so
brought her as she desired. Sir knight, said she, ye have better sped
than ye weened, for if ye had not saved me five hundred men should have
died for it.—What knight was he that had you in the forest?—By my
faith, said she, he is my cousin. So wot I never with what craft the
fiend enchafed him, for yesterday he took me from my father privily;
for I nor none of my father’s men mistrusted him not. And if he had
shamed me, he should have died for the sin, and his body shamed and
dishonoured for ever. Thus as she stood talking with him, there came
twelve knights seeking after her, and anon she told them all how Bors
had delivered her; then they made great joy, and besought him to come
to her father, a great lord, and he should be right welcome. Truly,
said Bors, that may not be at this time, for I have a great adventure
to do in this country. So he commended them unto God, and departed.
Then Sir Bors rode after Lionel his brother by the trace of their
horses. Thus he rode seeking a great while. Then he overtook a man
clothed in a religious clothing, and rode on a strong black horse,
blacker than a bery, and said, Sir knight, what seek you? Sir, said he,
I seek my brother, that I saw within a while beaten with two knights.
Ah Bors, discomfort you not, nor fall into no vain hope, for I shall
tell you tidings such as they be; for truly he is dead. Then shewed he
him a new slain body, lying in a bush, and it seemed him well that it
was the body of Lionel. And then he made such a sorrow that he fell to
the earth all in a swoon, and lay a great while there. And when he came
to himself he said, Fair brother, sith the company of you and me is
parted, shall I never have joy in my heart; and now He which I have
taken unto my Master, He be my help. And when he had said thus, he took
his body lightly in his arms, and put it upon the bow of his saddle.
And then he said to the man, Canst thou tell me unto some chapel, where
that I may bury this body? Come on, said he, here is one fast by. And
so long they rode till they saw a fair tower, and afore it there seemed
an old feeble chapel. And then they alight both, and put him into a
tomb of marble.