_How Sir Launcelot came to Sir Bors and told him how he had sped, and
in what adventure he had been, and how he escaped._
When Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot, he was never so glad of his home
coming as he was then. Mercy, said Sir Launcelot, why be ye all armed?
What meaneth this? Sir, said Sir Bors, after that ye were departed from
us, we all that be of your blood, and your well willers, were so
troubled, that some of us lept out of our beds naked, and some in their
dreams caught naked swords in their hands, therefore, said Sir Bors, we
deem there is some great strife at hand; and then we all deemed that ye
were betrapped with some treason, and therefore we made us thus ready,
what need that ever ye were in. My fair nephew, said Sir Launcelot unto
Sir Bors, now shall ye wit all, that this night I was more harder
bested than ever I was in my life, and yet I escaped. And so he told
them all how, and in what manner, as ye have heard tofore. And
therefore my fellows, said Sir Launcelot, I pray you all that ye will
be of good heart in what need soever I stand, for now is war come to us
all. Sir, said Sir Bors, all is welcome that God sendeth us, and we
have had much weal with you and much worship, and therefore we will
take the woe with you as we have taken the weal. And therefore they
said all, there were many good knights, Look ye take no discomfort, for
there nis no band of knights under heaven but that we shall be able to
grieve them as much as they may us. And therefore discomfort not
yourself by no manner, and ye shall gather together that we love, and
that loveth us, and what that ye will have done shall be done. And
therefore, Sir Launcelot, said they, we will take the woe with the
weal. Gramercy, said Sir Launcelot, of your good comfort, for in my
great distress, my fair nephew, ye comfort me greatly, and much I am
beholden unto you. But this, my fair nephew, I would that ye did in all
haste that ye may, or it be forth-days, that ye will look in their
lodging that been lodged here nigh about the king, which will hold with
me, and which will not, for now I would know which were my friends from
my foes. Sir, said Sir Bors, I shall do my pain, and, or it be seven of
the clock, I shall wit of such as ye have said before, who will hold
with you.
Then Sir Bors called unto him Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir
Blamor de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Gahalantine, Sir
Galihodin, Sir Galihud, Sir Menadeuke, with Sir Villiers the Valiant,
Sir Hebes le Renoumes, Sir Lavaine, Sir Urre of Hungary, Sir Nerouneus,
Sir Plenorius: these two knights Sir Launcelot made, and the one he wan
upon a bridge, and therefore they would never be against him. And Sir
Harry le Fise du Lake and Sir Selises of the dolorous tower, and Sir
Melias de Lile, and Sir Bellangere le Beuse, which was Sir Alisaunder’s
le Orphelin’s son, because his mother, dame Alis le Beale Pilgrim, and
she was kin unto Sir Launcelot, and he held with him. So there came Sir
Palamides, and Sir Safere his brother, to hold with Sir Launcelot, and
Sir Clegis of Sadok, and Sir Dinas, Sir Clarius of Cleremont. So these
two and twenty knights drew them together; and by then they were armed
on horseback, and promised Sir Launcelot to do what he would. Then
there fell to them, what of Northgalis and of Cornwall, for Sir
Lamorak’s sake and for Sir Tristram’s sake, to the number of a
fourscore knights.
My lords, said Sir Launcelot, wit you well I have been, ever since I
came into this country, well willed unto my lord king Arthur, and unto
my lady queen Guenever, unto my power, and this night, because my lady
the queen sent for me to speak with her, I suppose it was made by
treason, howbeit I dare largely excuse her person, notwithstanding I
was there by a forecast nigh slain, but, as God provided me, I escaped
all their malice and treason. And then that noble knight, Sir
Launcelot, told them all how he was hard bested in the queen’s chamber,
and how and in what manner he escaped from them. And therefore, said
Sir Launcelot, wit you well, my fair lords, I am sure there nis but war
unto me and mine. And for because I have slain this night these
knights, I wot well as is Sir Agravaine Sir Gawaine’s brother, and at
the least twelve of his fellows, for this cause now I am sure of mortal
war, for these knights were sent and ordained by king Arthur to betray
me, and therefore the king will in this heat and malice judge the queen
to the fire, and that may I not suffer, that she should be burnt for my
sake. For, and I may be heard and suffered, and so taken, I will fight
for the queen, that she is a true lady unto her lord. But the king in
his heat I dread me will not take me as I ought to be taken.