_How Sir Launcelot’s horse was slain, and how Sir Launcelot rode in a
cart for to rescue the queen._
Then Sir Launcelot rode as fast as he might, and the book saith he took
the water at Westminster bridge, and made his horse to swim over Thames
to Lambeth. And then within a while he came to the place there as the
ten knights had fought with Sir Meliagrance, and then Sir Launcelot
followed that track until that he came to a wood, and there was a
strait way, and there the thirty archers bad Sir Launcelot turn again,
and follow no longer that track. What commandment have ye thereto, said
Sir Launcelot, to cause me, that am a knight of the Round Table, to
leave my right way? This way shalt thou leave, or else thou shalt go it
on thy foot, for wit thou well thy horse shall be slain. That is little
mastery, said Sir Launcelot, to slay my horse, but as for myself, when
my horse is slain, I give right nought for you, not and ye were five
hundred more. So then they shot Sir Launcelot’s horse, and smote him
with many arrows. And then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse, and went on
foot: but there were so many ditches and hedges betwixt them and him,
that he might not meddle with none of them. Alas, for shame, said
Launcelot, that ever one knight should betray another knight, but it is
an old saw, A good man is never in danger but when he is in the danger
of a coward. Then Sir Launcelot went a while, and then he was foul
cumbered of his armour, his shield, and his spear, and all that longed
unto him. Wit ye well he was full sore annoyed, and full loth he was to
leave any thing that longed unto him, for he drad sore the treason of
Sir Meliagrance. And then by fortune there came by a chariot, that came
thither for to fetch wood. Say me, carter, said Sir Launcelot, what
shall I give thee for to suffer me to leap into thy chariot, and that
thou bring me unto a castle within this two mile? Thou shalt not come
within my chariot, said the carter, for I am sent for to fetch wood for
my lord Sir Meliagrance.—With him would I speak.—Thou shalt not go
with me, said the carter. Then Sir Launcelot lept to him, and gave him
such a buffet that he fell to the earth stark dead. Then the other
carter his fellow was afeard, and wend to have gone the same way, and
then he cried, Fair lord, save my life, and I shall bring you where you
will. Then I charge thee, said Sir Launcelot, that thou drive me and
this chariot, even unto Sir Meliagrance’s gate. Leap up into the
chariot, said the carter, and ye shall be there anon. So the carter
drove on a great wallop, and Sir Launcelot’s horse followed the
chariot, with more than a forty arrows broad and rough in him: and more
than an hour and an half dame Guenever was in a bay window with her
ladies, and espied an armed knight standing in a chariot. See madam,
said a lady, where rideth in a chariot a goodly armed knight, I suppose
he rideth unto hanging. Where? said the queen. Then she espied by his
shield that he was there himself Sir Launcelot du Lake. And then she
was ware where came his horse ever after that chariot, and ever he trod
his entrails and his paunch under his feet. Alas, said the queen, now I
see well and prove that well is him that hath a trusty friend. Ha, a,
most noble knight, I see well thou art hard bestad when thou ridest in
a chariot. Then she rebuked that lady that likened Sir Launcelot to
ride in a chariot to hanging. It was foul mouthed, said the queen, and
evil likened, so for to liken the most noble knight of the world unto
such a shameful death. O Jesu defend him and keep him, said the queen,
from all mischievous end! By this was Sir Launcelot come to the gates
of that castle, and there he descended down, and cried, that all the
castle rang of it, Where art thou, false traitor Sir Meliagrance, and
knight of the Table Round? Now come forth here thou traitor knight,
thou and thy fellowship with thee: for here I am, Sir Launcelot du
Lake, that shall fight with you. And therewithal he bare the gate wide
open upon the porter, and smote him under his ear with his gauntlet
that his neck brast in sunder.