_How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed out of the field, and in
what jeopardy Launcelot was._
Mercy, said Sir Gawaine to Arthur, I marvel what knight that he is with
the red sleeve. Sir, said king Arthur, he will be known or he depart.
And then the king blew unto lodging, and the prize was given by heralds
unto the knight with the white shield, that bare the red sleeve. Then
came the king with the hundred knights, the king of Northgalis, and the
king of Northumberland, and Sir Galahalt the haut prince, and said unto
Sir Launcelot, Fair knight, God thee bless, for much have ye done this
day for us, therefore we pray you that ye will come with us, that ye
may receive the honour and the prize as ye have worshipfully deserved
it. My fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, wit you well, if I have deserved
thank I have sore bought it, and that me repenteth, for I am like never
to escape with my life, therefore, fair lords, I pray you that ye will
suffer me to depart where me liketh, for I am sore hurt. I take none
force of none honour, for I had lever to repose me than to be lord of
all the world. And therewithal he groaned piteously, and rode a great
gallop away-ward from them, until he came under a wood’s side; and when
he saw that he was from the field nigh a mile, that he was sure he
might not be seen, then he said with an high voice, O gentle knight Sir
Lavaine, help me that this truncheon were out of my side, for it
sticketh so sore that it nigh slayeth me. O mine own lord, said Sir
Lavaine, I would fain do that might please you, but I dread me sore,
and I draw out the truncheon, that ye shall be in peril of death. I
charge you, said Sir Launcelot, as ye love me draw it out. And
therewithal he descended from his horse, and right so did Sir Lavaine,
and forthwith Sir Lavaine drew the truncheon out of his side. And he
gave a great shriek, and a marvellous grisly groan, and his blood brast
out nigh a pint at once, that at last he sank down, and so swooned pale
and deadly. Alas, said Sir Lavaine, what shall I do? And then he turned
Sir Launcelot into the wind, but so he lay there nigh half an hour as
he had been dead. And so at the last Sir Launcelot cast up his eyes,
and said, O Lavaine, help me that I were on my horse, for here is fast
by within this two mile a gentle hermit, that sometime was a full noble
knight and a great lord of possessions: and for great goodness he hath
taken him to wilful poverty, and forsaken many lands, and his name is
Sir Baudewin of Brittany, and he is a full noble surgeon, and a good
leech. Now let see, help me up that I were there. For ever my heart
giveth me that I shall never die of my cousin-german’s hands. And then
with great pain Sir Lavaine halp him upon his horse; and then they rode
a great gallop together, and ever Sir Launcelot bled that it ran down
to the earth. And so by fortune they came to that hermitage, which was
under a wood, and a great cliff on the other side, and a fair water
running under it. And then Sir Lavaine beat on the gate with the butt
of his spear, and cried fast, Let in for Jesu’s sake. And there came a
fair child to them, and asked them what they would? Fair son, said Sir
Lavaine, go and pray thy lord the hermit for God’s sake to let in here
a knight that is full sore wounded, and this day tell thy lord that I
saw him do more deeds of arms than ever I heard say that any man did.
So the child went in lightly, and then he brought the hermit, the which
was a passing good man. So when Sir Lavaine saw him, he prayed him for
God’s sake of succour. What knight is he? said the hermit, is he of the
house of king Arthur or not? I wot not, said Sir Lavaine, what is he,
nor what is his name, but well I wot I saw him do marvellously this
day, as of deeds of arms. On whose party was he? said the hermit. Sir,
said Sir Lavaine, he was this day against king Arthur, and there he wan
the prize of all the knights of the Round Table. I have seen the day,
said the hermit, I would have loved him the worse because he was
against my lord king Arthur, for sometime I was one of the fellowship
of the Round Table, but I thank God now I am otherwise disposed. But
where is he? let me see him. Then Sir Lavaine brought the hermit to him.