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twg_000012925800 | who for seven years had been prisoners of the two giants, working all manner of silk works for their food. "Show me such cheer as ye have," said Sir Launcelot, "and what treasure there is in this castle I give you for a reward for your grievance." Then soon he mounted his horse again, and rode away upon further adventure. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925801 | One night he came to the courtyard of an old gentleman, who lodged him with a good will, and there he had good cheer for himself and his horse. When time was his host brought him into a fair garret over the gate to his bed. There Sir Launcelot unarmed him, set his armour beside him, and went to bed, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925802 | and anon fell asleep. Soon afterward there came one on horseback, and knocked at the gate in great haste. When Sir Launcelot heard this, he arose up and looked out at the window, and saw by the moonlight three knights come after that one man; all three lashed on him at once with swords, and that one knight turned on | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925803 | them knightly again and defended himself. "Truly," said Sir Launcelot, "yonder one knight shall I help, for it were shame for me to see three knights on one, and if he be slain I am partner in his death." Therewith he took his armour and let himself down from the window by a sheet to the four knights. "Turn you | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925804 | knights unto me," cried Sir Launcelot aloud, "and leave your fighting with that knight." And then they all three left Sir Kay, for it was he who was so hard bestead, and turned unto Sir Launcelot. And there began great battle, for they alighted, all three, and struck many great strokes at Sir Launcelot, and assailed him on every side. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925805 | Sir Kay would have helped him, but Sir Launcelot suffered him not, and anon within six strokes he had struck all three to the earth. Sir Launcelot made them yield themselves to Sir Kay and promise to go next Whitsunday to the court as prisoners of Queen Guenever. So they were suffered to depart, and Sir Launcelot knocked at the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925806 | gate with the pommel of his sword. The host came, and they entered, Sir Kay and he. "Sir," said the host, "I thought you were in your bed." "So I was," said Sir Launcelot, "but I arose and leaped out at my window to help an old fellow of mine." When they came nigh the light, Sir Kay knew well | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925807 | that it was Sir Launcelot, and therewith he kneeled down and thanked him for all his kindness that he had holpen him from death. "Sir," said Sir Launcelot, "I have done nothing but that I ought to do, and ye are welcome, and here shall ye repose you and take your rest." So when Sir Kay was unarmed he asked | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925808 | for meat; there was meat fetched him, and he ate strongly. Then they went to their beds, and Sir Launcelot and Sir Kay were lodged together in one bed. On the morn Sir Launcelot arose early, and left Sir Kay sleeping. He put on Sir Kay's armour and took his shield, and so went to the stable. He here got | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925809 | Sir Kay's horse, took leave of his host, and so departed. Then soon afterward Sir Kay arose. He missed Sir Launcelot, and then he espied that his armour and his horse had been taken. "Now by my faith," said he, "I know well that he will grieve some of the court of King Arthur, for my armour and horse will | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925810 | beguile all knights; they will believe it is I, and will be bold to him. And because I have his armour and shield I am sure I shall ride in peace." Then soon afterward Sir Kay thanked his host and departed. So Sir Launcelot rode into a deep forest, and there in a dell he saw four knights standing under | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925811 | an oak, and they were of Arthur's court. Anon as they espied Sir Launcelot they thought by his arms it was Sir Kay. "Now by my faith," said Sir Sagramour, one of the four knights, "I will prove Sir Kay's might"; so he got his spear in his hand, and came toward Sir Launcelot. Therewith Sir Launcelot was ware, and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925812 | knew him well; and he smote Sir Sagramour so sore that horse and man fell both to the earth. "Lo, my fellows," said Sir Ector, another of the four, "yonder ye may see what a buffet he hath; that knight is much bigger than ever was Sir Kay. Now shall ye see what I may do to him." So Sir | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925813 | Ector got his spear in his hand and galloped toward Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot smote him through shield and shoulder so that horse and man went to the earth, and ever his spear held. "By my faith," said Sir Uwaine, "yonder is a strong knight, and I am sure he hath slain Sir Kay; and I see by his | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925814 | great strength it will be hard to match him." Therewithal Sir Uwaine gat his spear in his hand and rode toward Sir Launcelot. Sir Launcelot knew him well, and so he met him on the plain, and gave him such a buffet that he was stunned, and long he wist not where he was. "Now see I well," said Sir | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925815 | Gawaine, the last of the four knights, "I must encounter with that knight." Then he dressed his shield and gat a good spear in his hand, and then they let run their horses with all their mights, and either knight smote other in midst of the shield. But Sir Gawaine's spear brake, and Sir Launcelot charged so sore upon him | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925816 | that his horse reversed up-so-down. Much sorrow had Sir Gawaine to get clear of his horse, and so Sir Launcelot passed on a pace, and smiled, and said, "God give him joy that made this spear, for there came never a better in my hand." Then the four knights went each one to other and comforted each other. "What say | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925817 | ye to this deed?" said Sir Gawaine. "He is a man of great might, for that one spear hath felled us four. I dare lay my head it is Sir Launcelot; I know it by his riding." HOW SIR LAUNCELOT CAME INTO THE CHAPEL PERILOUS On a day as Sir Launcelot rode a great while in a deep forest, he | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925818 | was ware of an old manor beyond a bridge. And he passed over the bridge, that was old and feeble, and came into a great hall, where he saw lie a dead knight, that was a seemly man. And therewithal came out a lady weeping and wringing her hands, and she said: "Oh, knight, too much sorrow hast thou brought | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925819 | me." "Why say ye so?" said Sir Launcelot; "I did never this knight any harm; therefore, fair lady, be not displeased with me, for I am full sore aggrieved at your grievance." "Truly sir," she said, "I know it is not ye that have slain my husband, for he that did that deed is sore wounded, and he is never | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925820 | likely to recover; that I assure you." "What was your husband's name?" asked Sir Launcelot. "Sir," said she, "his name was Sir Gilbert, one of the best knights of the world, and he that hath slain him, I know not his name." "God send you better comfort," said Sir Launcelot, and so he departed and went into the forest again, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925821 | and there he met with a damsel who knew him well, and said aloud, "Well are ye come, my lord; and now I require thee on thy knighthood help my brother that is sore wounded, and never ceaseth bleeding, for this day fought he with Sir Gilbert and slew him in plain battle. My brother was sore wounded, and a | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925822 | sorceress that dwelleth in a castle hard by told me this day that my brother's wounds should never be whole till I could find a knight that would go into the Chapel Perilous where he should find a sword and a bloody cloth that the wounded knight was wrapped in. A piece of that cloth and the sword should heal | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925823 | my brother's wounds, if his wounds were searched with the sword and the cloth." "This is a marvellous thing," said Sir Launcelot, "but what is your brother's name?" "Sir," said she, "his name is Sir Meliot." "That me repenteth," said Sir Launcelot, "for he is a fellow of the Table Round, and to help him I will do all in | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925824 | my power." "Then, sir," said she, "follow this highway, and it will bring you into the Chapel Perilous, and here I shall wait till God send you again; except you I know no knight living that may achieve that adventure." So Launcelot departed, and when he came unto the Chapel Perilous, he alighted and tied his horse to the little | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925825 | gate of the churchyard. And soon he saw on the front of the chapel many fair rich shields turned up-so-down, and many of these shields he had seen borne by knights that he had known aforetime. Then he saw standing there by him thirty great knights, taller by a yard than any man that ever he had seen, all clad | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925826 | in black armour, ready with their shields, and their swords drawn. They all grinned and gnashed at Sir Launcelot, and when he saw their countenances, he put his shield afore him, and took his sword in his hand ready unto battle. He started to go right past the giants, and then they scattered on every side and gave him the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925827 | way. Therewith he waxed all bold and entered into the chapel, where he saw no light but a dim lamp burning, and soon became aware of a corpse covered with a cloth of silk. Sir Launcelot stooped down and cut off a piece of that cloth, whereupon the earth under him seemed to quake a little, and at this he | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925828 | feared. Then he saw a fair sword lying by the dead knight. This he gat into his hand and hied out of the chapel. As soon as ever he was in the chapel yard all the giants spake to him with a grimly voice, and said: "Knight, Sir Launcelot, lay that sword from thee, or else thou shalt die." "Whether | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925829 | I live or die," said Sir Launcelot, "no loud words will get it again; therefore fight for it if ye will." Then he immediately passed right through their midst, and beyond the chapel yard there met him a fair damsel, who said, "Sir Launcelot, leave that sword behind thee, or thou wilt die for it." "I leave it not," said | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925830 | Sir Launcelot, "for any entreaties." "It is well," said she. "If thou didst leave that sword thou shouldst never see Queen Guenever again. Now, gentle knight, I request one thing of thee. Kiss me but once." "Nay," said Sir Launcelot, "God forbid that I should do that." "It is well, sir," said she; "if thou hadst kissed me thy life | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925831 | days had been done. But now, alas, I have lost all my labour, for I ordained this chapel to win thee. Once I had Sir Gawaine well nigh within my power, but he fought with that knight that lieth there dead in yonder chapel, Sir Gilbert, and smote off his left hand and so escaped. Sir Launcelot, I have loved | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925832 | thee these seven years, but now I know no woman may have thy love but Queen Guenever." "Ye say well," said Sir Launcelot. "God preserve me from your subtile crafts." Thereupon he took his horse and so departed from her, and soon met the damsel, Sir Meliot's sister. Anon she led him to the castle where Sir Meliot lay, pale | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925833 | as the earth from bleeding. Sir Launcelot leaped unto him and touched his wounds with Sir Gilbert's sword, and then wiped his wounds with a part of the cloth that Sir Gilbert was wrapped in, and anon he was as whole a man as ever he had been in all his life. And then there was great joy between them. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925834 | They made Sir Launcelot all the cheer that they might, and on the morn he took his leave of Sir Meliot and his sister, and rode away. THE KNIGHT, THE LADY, AND THE FALCON And Sir Launcelot by fortune came to a fair castle, and as he passed by he was ware of a falcon that came flying over his | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925835 | head toward a high elm. As the bird flew into the tree to take her perch, the long lines about her feet caught on a bough, and when she would take flight again she hung fast by the legs. Sir Launcelot saw how the fair falcon hung there, and he was sorry for her. Meanwhile came a lady out of | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925836 | the castle and cried aloud, "O Launcelot, Launcelot, as thou art the flower of all knights, help me to get my hawk. I was holding my hawk and she slipped from me, and if my lord my husband knows that she is lost he will slay me." "What is your lord's name?" said Sir Launcelot. "Sir," said the lady, "his | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925837 | name is Sir Phelot, a knight of Northgalis." "Well, fair lady," said Launcelot, "since ye know my name, and request me as a courteous knight to help you, I will do what I may to get your hawk. And yet truly I am an ill climber, and the tree is passing high, with few boughs to cling to." Thereupon Sir | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925838 | Launcelot alighted, and tied his horse to the elm. Then the lady helped him to unarm, and with might and force he climbed up to the falcon. He tied the lines to a great rotten branch, brake it off, and threw it and the hawk down. Anon the lady gat the hawk in her hand, and thereupon came Sir Phelot | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925839 | suddenly out of the grove, all armed and with his naked sword in his hand. He called up to Sir Launcelot and said, "O knight, now have I found thee as I would"; and he stood at the foot of the tree to slay him. "Ah lady," said Sir Launcelot, "why have ye betrayed me?" "She hath done," said Sir | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925840 | Phelot, "but as I commanded her; there is no help for it; thine hour is come, and thou must die." "It were shame unto thee," said Sir Launcelot, "for thee, an armed knight, to slay an unarmed man by treason." "Thou gettest no other grace," said Sir Phelot; "therefore help thyself if thou canst." "Alas," said Sir Launcelot, "that ever | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925841 | knight should die weaponless." Then he looked above and below him, and saw a big leafless bough. This he brake off; then he climbed down with it in his hand, and, observing how his horse stood, he suddenly leaped down to the ground on the farther side of the horse from the knight. Then Sir Phelot lashed at him eagerly, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925842 | thinking to slay him. But Sir Launcelot put away the stroke with the branch, and then with it gave Sir Phelot such a blow on one side of the head that he fell down in a swoon to the ground. Then Sir Launcelot took his sword out of his hand and struck his head from his body. "Alas," cried the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925843 | lady, "why hast thou slain my husband?" "I am not the cause," said Sir Launcelot, "for with falsehood ye would have slain me by treason, and now it is fallen on you both." Thereupon Sir Launcelot gat all his armour as well as he might, and put it on for fear of further attack, since the knight's castle was so | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925844 | near. As soon as he might he took his horse, and, thanking God that he had escaped that adventure, he went on his adventures over many wild ways, through marsh and valley and forest. At Pentecost he returned home, and the King and all the court were passing glad of his coming. And ever now and now came all the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925845 | knights back, those that had encountered with Sir Launcelot, those that he had set free from prison, and all those that knew of his great deeds of arms. And they all bare record of Sir Launcelot's prowess, so at that time he had the greatest name of any knight of the world, and most he was honoured of high and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925846 | low. HOW A KITCHEN-PAGE CAME TO HONOUR Arthur was holding the high feast of Pentecost at a city and castle called in those days Kink-Kenadon, upon the sands nigh Wales, and he sat at meat with all the knights of the Round Table. Then came into the hall two men well beseen and richly, and upon their shoulders there leaned | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925847 | the goodliest young man and the fairest that ever any of the knights had seen. He was higher than the other two by a foot and a half, broad in the shoulders, well visaged, and the fairest and largest handed that ever man saw; but he acted as though he might not walk nor support himself unless he leaned upon | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925848 | their shoulders. They went with him right unto the high dais without saying of any words. Then this much young man pulled himself away, and easily stretched up straight, saying: "King Arthur, God you bless and all your fair fellowship of the Round Table. For this cause I am come hither, to pray you to give me three gifts. They | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925849 | shall not be so unreasonable but that ye may honourably grant them me, and to you no great hurt nor loss. The first I will ask now, and the other two gifts I will ask this day twelvemonth wheresoever ye hold your high feast." "Now ask," said Arthur, "and ye shall have your asking." "Now, sir, this is my petition | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925850 | for this feast, that you will give me meat and drink sufficiently for this twelve-month, and at that day I will ask mine other two gifts." "This is but a simple asking," said the King; "ye shall have meat and drink enough; I never refuse that to any, neither my friend nor my foe. But what is your name I | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925851 | would know?" "I cannot tell you," said he. The King marvelled at this answer, but took him to Sir Kay, the steward, and charged him that he should give the youth of all manner of meats and drinks of the best, and also that he should have all manner of finding as though he were a lord's son. "That need | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925852 | not be," said Sir Kay, "to do such cost upon him; for I dare undertake he is a villain born, and never will make a man, for had he come of gentlemen he would have asked of you horse and armour; but such as he is, so he asketh. And since he hath no name, I shall give him the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925853 | name Beaumains, that is Fair-hands, and into the kitchen I shall bring him, and there he shall have rich broth every day, so that he shall be as fat by the twelvemonth's end as a pork hog." So the two men departed, and left him to Sir Kay, who scorned him and mocked him. Thereat was Sir Gawaine wroth, and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925854 | especially Sir Launcelot bade Sir Kay leave off his mocking, "for," said he, "I dare wager he shall prove a man of great honour." "It may not be by any reason," said Sir Kay, "for as he is, so hath he asked." So Sir Kay ordered that a place be made for him, and Fair-hands went to the hall door, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925855 | and sat down among boys and lads, and there he ate sadly. After meat Sir Launcelot bade him come to his chamber, where he should have meat and drink enough, and so did Sir Gawaine; but he refused them all; he would do none other but as Sir Kay commanded him. As touching Sir Gawaine, he had reason to proffer | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925856 | him lodging, meat, and drink, for he was nearer kin to him than he knew. But what Sir Launcelot did was of his great gentleness and courtesy. Thus Fair-hands was put into the kitchen, and lay nightly as the boys of the kitchen did. And so he endured all that twelvemonth, and never displeased man nor child, but always he | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925857 | was meek and mild. But ever when there was any jousting of knights, that would he see if he could. And where were any masteries done, thereat would he be, and there might none cast bar nor stone to him by two yards. Then would Sir Kay say, "How like you my boy of the kitchen?" So it passed on | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925858 | till the least of Whitsuntide, which at that time the King held at Carlion in the most royal wise that might be, as he did every year. As he again sat at meat, there came a damsel into the hall and saluted the King, and prayed him for succour. "For whom?" said the King; "what is the adventure?" "Sir," she | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925859 | said, "I have a lady of great honour and renown, and she is besieged by a tyrant so that she may not out of her castle. And because your knights are called the noblest of the world, I come to you to pray you for succour." "What is the name of your lady? and where dwelleth she? and who is | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925860 | he, and what is his name, that hath besieged her?" "Sir King," she said, "as for my lady's name, that shall not ye know from me at this time, but I let you know she is a lady of great honour and of great lands. And as for the tyrant that besiegeth and destroyeth her lands, he is called the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925861 | Red Knight of the Red Lawns." "I know him not," said the King. "Sir," said Sir Gawaine, "I know him well, for he is one of the most dangerous knights of the world. Men say that he hath seven men's strength, and from him I escaped once full hard with my life." "Fair damsel," said the King, "there be knights | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925862 | here would do their best to rescue your lady, but because ye will not tell her name, nor where she dwelleth, therefore none of my knights that be here now shall go with you by my will." "Then must I speak further," said the damsel. With these words Fair-hands came before the King, while the damsel was there, and thus | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925863 | he said: "Sir King, God reward you, I have been these twelve months in your kitchen, and have had my full sustenance, and now I will ask my two gifts that be behind." "Ask upon my peril," said the King. "Sir, these shall be my two gifts. First, that ye will grant me this adventure of the damsel, and second, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925864 | that ye shall bid Launcelot of the Lake to make me knight, for of him I will be made knight, and else of none. I pray you let him ride after me, and make me knight when I request him." "All this shall be done," said the King. "Fie on thee," said the damsel, "shall I have none but one | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925865 | that is your kitchen-page?" Then was she wroth, and took her horse and departed. Thereupon there came one to Fair-hands, and told him that his horse and armour was come for him, with all things that he needed in the richest manner. Thereat all the court had much marvel from whence came all that gear. When he was armed and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925866 | came into the hall to take leave of King Arthur and Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot, there were but few so goodly knights as he was. He prayed Sir Launcelot that he would hie after him, and so departed and rode after the damsel. Many people followed after Fair-hands to behold how well he was horsed and trapped in cloth | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925867 | of gold, but he had neither shield nor spear. Then Sir Kay said all openly in the hall, "I will ride after my boy of the kitchen, to see whether he will know me for his better." Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine counselled him to abide at home; nevertheless he made ready and took his horse and his spear and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925868 | rode off. Just as Fair-hands overtook the damsel, Sir Kay came up, and said, "Fair-hands, what sir, know ye not me?" Then he turned his horse, and knew it was Sir Kay, that had done him all the despite, as we have heard afore. "Yea," said Fair-hands, "I know you for an ungentle knight of the court and therefore beware | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925869 | of me." Therewith Sir Kay put his spear in its rest, and ran straight upon him, and Fair-hands came on just as fast with his sword in his hand. And so he put away his spear with his sword, and with a foin[] thrust him through the side, so that Sir Kay fell down as if he were dead. Then | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925870 | Fair-hands alighted down and took Sir Kay's shield and his spear, had his dwarf mount upon Sir Kay's horse, and started upon his own horse and rode his way. All this Sir Launcelot saw, and so did the damsel. By this time Sir Launcelot had come up, and Fair-hands offered to joust with him. So they rushed together like boars, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925871 | and for upwards of an hour they had a hard fight, wherein Sir Launcelot had so much ado with Fair-hands that he feared himself to be shamed. At length he said, "Fair-hands, fight not so sore; your quarrel and mine is not so great but we may leave off." "That is truth," said Fair-hands, "but it doth me good to | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925872 | feel your might, and yet, my lord, I showed not my uttermost." "Well," said Sir Launcelot, "I promise you I had as much to do as I might to save myself from you unashamed; therefore ye need have no fear of any earthly knight." "Hope ye then," said Fair-hands, "that I may anywhere stand as a proved knight?" "Yea," said | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925873 | Launcelot, "do as ye have done, and I shall be your warrant." "Then I pray you give me the order of knighthood," said Fair-hands. "Then must ye tell me your name," said Launcelot, "and of what kin ye be born." "Sir, if ye will not make me known, I will," said Fair-hands. "That I promise you by the faith of | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925874 | my body, until it be openly known," said Sir Launcelot. "Then, sir," he said, "my name is Gareth; I am own brother unto Sir Gawaine." "Ah! sir," said Launcelot, "I am more glad of you than I was, for ever me thought ye should be of great blood, and that ye came not to the court either for meat or | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925875 | for drink." Then Sir Launcelot gave him the order of knighthood, and Sir Gareth went his way. Sir Launcelot now came to Sir Kay and had him carried home upon his shield. He was with difficulty healed of his wounds, and all men scorned him. In especial Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot said it was not for Sir Kay to | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925876 | rebuke the young man, for full little he knew of what birth he was and for what cause he came to this court. [] Foin: reach forth. HOW SIR GARETH FOUGHT FOR THE LADY OF CASTLE PERILOUS After the damsel rode Fair-hands, now well provided with shield and spear, and known to Sir Launcelot, at least, as Sir Gareth and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925877 | nephew to King Arthur. When he had overtaken the damsel, anon she said: "What dost thou here? Thou smellest all of the kitchen; thy clothes be foul with the grease and tallow that thou gainedst in King Arthur's kitchen; therefore turn again, foul kitchen-page. I know thee well, for Sir Kay named thee Fair-hands. What art thou but a lubber | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925878 | and a turner of spits, and a ladle washer?" "Damsel," said Fair-hands, "say to me what ye will, I will not go from you, for I have undertaken, in King Arthur's presence, to achieve your adventure, and so shall I finish it, or I shall die therefore." Thus as they rode along in the wood, there came a man flying | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925879 | all that ever he might. "Whither wilt thou?" said Fair-hands. "O lord," he said, "help me, for yonder in a dell are six thieves that have taken my lord and bound him, and I am afeard lest they will slay him." So Fair-hands rode with the man until they came to where the knight lay bound, and the thieves hard | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925880 | by. Fair-hands struck one unto the death, and then another, and at the third stroke he slew the third thief; and then the other three fled. He rode after them and overtook them, and then those three thieves turned again and assailed Fair-hands hard, but at the last he slew them also, and returned and unbound the knight. The knight | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925881 | thanked him, and prayed him to ride with him to his castle there a little beside, and he should honourably reward him for his good deeds. "Sir," said Fair-hands, "I will no reward have except as God reward me. And also I must follow this damsel." When he came nigh her, she bade him ride from her, "for," said she, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925882 | "thou smellest all of the kitchen; thinkest thou that I have joy of thee? All this deed thou hast done is but mishapped thee, but thou shalt see a sight that shall make thee turn again, and that lightly." Then the same knight who was rescued from the thieves rode after that damsel, and prayed her to lodge with him | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925883 | that night. And because it was near night the damsel rode with him to the castle, and there they had great cheer. At supper the knight set Sir Fair-hands afore the damsel. "Fie, fie," said she, "sir knight, ye are uncourteous to set a kitchen-page afore me; him beseemeth better to stick a swine than to sit afore a damsel | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925884 | of high parentage." Then the knight was ashamed at her words, and took Fair-hands up and set him at a sideboard, and seated himself afore him. So all that night they had good cheer and merry rest. On the morn the damsel and Fair-hands thanked the knight and took their leave, and rode on their way until they came to | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925885 | a great forest. Therein was a great river with but one passage, and there were ready two knights on the farther side, to prevent their crossing. Fair-hands would not have turned back had there been six more, and he rushed into the water. One of the two encountered with him in the midst of the stream, and both spears were | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925886 | broken. Then they drew their swords and smote eagerly at one another. At the last Sir Fair-hands smote the other upon the helm so that he fell down stunned in the water, and there was he drowned. Then Sir Fair-hands spurred his horse upon the land, where the other fell upon him, and they fought long together. At the last | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925887 | Sir Fair-hands clove his helm and his head, and so rode unto the damsel and bade her ride forth on her way. "Alas," she said, "that ever a kitchen-page should have that fortune to destroy two such doughty knights. Thou thinkest thou hast done doughtily, but that is not so, for the first knight's horse stumbled, and so he was | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925888 | drowned in the water; it was never by thy force or by thy might. And as for the second knight, by mishap thou camest behind him and slewest him." "Damsel," said Fair-hands, "ye may say what ye will, but whomsoever I have ado with I trust to God to serve him ere he depart, and therefore I reck not what | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925889 | ye say, provided I may win your lady." "Fie, fie, foul kitchen-knave, thou shalt see knights that shall abate thy boast. I see all that ever thou doest is but by misadventure, and not by prowess of thy hands." "Fair damsel," said he, "give me goodly language, and then my care is past. Ye may say what ye will; what | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925890 | knights soever I shall meet, I fear them not, and wheresoever ye go I will follow you." So they rode on till even-song time, and ever she chid him and would not cease. And then they came to a black lawn, and there was a black hawthorn, and thereon hung a black banner, and on the other side there hung | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925891 | a black shield, and by it stood a black spear great and long, and a great black horse covered with silk, and a black stone fast by, whereon sat a knight all armed in black harness, and his name was the Knight of the Black Lawns. The damsel, when she saw this knight, bade Fair-hands flee down the valley. "Grammercy," | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925892 | said he, "always ye would have me a coward." With that the Black Knight, when she came nigh him, spake and said, "Damsel, have ye brought this knight of King Arthur to be your champion?" "Nay, fair knight," said she, "this is but a kitchen-knave, that was fed in King Arthur's kitchen for alms. I cannot be rid of him, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925893 | for with me he rideth against my will. Would that ye should put him from me, or else slay him, if ye may, for he is a troublesome knave, and evilly he hath done this day." "Thus much shall I grant you," said the Black Knight: "I shall put him down upon one foot, and his horse and his harness | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925894 | he shall leave with me, for it were shame to me to do him any more harm." When Sir Fair-hands heard him say thus, he said, "Sir knight, thou art full generous with my horse and my harness; I let thee know it cost thee naught, and whether thou like it or not, this lawn will I pass, and neither | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925895 | horse nor harness gettest thou of me, except as thou win them with thy hands. I am no kitchen-page, as the damsel saith I am; I am a gentleman born, and of more high lineage than thou, and that will I prove on thy body." Then in great wrath they drew back with their horses, and rushed together as it | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925896 | had been the thunder. The Black Knight's spear brake, and Fair-hands thrust him through both his sides, whereupon his own spear brake also. Nevertheless the Black Knight drew his sword and smote many eager strokes of great might, and hurt Fair-hands full sore. But at the last he fell down off his horse in a swoon, and there he died. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925897 | When Fair-hands saw that the Black Knight had been so well horsed and armed, he alighted down and armed himself in the dead man's armour, took his horse, and rode after the damsel. When she saw him come nigh, she said, "Away, kitchen-knave, out of the wind, for the smell of thy foul clothes offendeth me. Alas that ever such | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925898 | a knave as thou art should by mishap slay so good a knight as thou hast done. All this is my ill luck, but hard by is one that shall requite thee, and therefore again I counsel thee, flee." "It may be my lot," said Fair-hands, "to be beaten or slain, but I warn you, fair damsel, I will not | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012925899 | flee away or leave your company for all that ye can say, for ever ye say that they will kill me or beat me, yet it happeneth that I escape and they lie on the ground. Therefore it were as good for you to stop thus all day rebuking me, for away will I not till I see the uttermost | 60 | gutenberg |
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