_How Launcelot after that he was hurt of a gentlewoman came to an
hermit, and of other matters._
Now mercy, fair sir, said the lady, I am a gentlewoman that useth here
in this forest hunting, and truly I saw you not, but as here was a
barren hind at the soil in this well, and I wend to have done well, but
my hand swerved. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, ye have mischieved me. And
so the lady departed, and Sir Launcelot, as well as he might, pulled
out the arrow, and the head abode still in his thigh; and so he went
weakly to the hermitage, evermore bleeding as he went. And when Sir
Lavaine and the hermit espied that Sir Launcelot was hurt, wit you well
they were passing heavy: but Sir Lavaine nor the hermit wist not how he
was hurt, nor by whom. And then they were wroth out of measure. Then
with great pain the hermit gat out the arrow’s head out of Sir
Launcelot’s thigh, and much of his blood he shed, and the wound was
passing sore, and unhappily smitten; for it was in such a place that he
might not sit in no saddle. Ah, mercy, said Sir Launcelot, I call
myself the most unhappiest man that liveth; for ever when I would
fainest have worship, there befalleth me ever some unhappy thing. Now,
so heaven me help, I shall be in the field upon Candlemas day at the
justs, whatsoever fall of it. So all that might be gotten to heal Sir
Launcelot was had. So when the day was come, Sir Launcelot let devise
that he was arrayed, and Sir Lavaine, and their horses, as though they
had been Saracens. And so they departed, and came nigh to the field.
The king of Northgalis with an hundred knights with him, and the king
of Northumberland brought with him an hundred good knights, and king
Anguish of Ireland brought with him an hundred good knights ready to
just, and Sir Galahalt the haut prince brought with him an hundred good
knights, and the king with the hundred knights brought with him as
many; and all these were proved good knights. Then came in king
Arthur’s party, and there came in the king of Scots with an hundred
knights, and king Uriens of Gore brought with him an hundred good
knights, and king Howel of Britanny brought with him an hundred
knights. And Chalance of Clarance brought with him an hundred knights,
and king Arthur himself came into the field with two hundred knights,
and the most part were knights of the Table Round that were proved
noble knights. And there were old knights set in scaffolds, for to
judge with the queen who did best.