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21 - Part 3 Story 2 The Fair Maid Of Astolat · Tales Of King Arthur And The Round Table

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  Speaker 1: Part three, Story two of Tales of King Arthur and
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  Speaker 1: the Round Table by Andrew Lang. This LibriVox recording is
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  Speaker 1: in the public domain. Part three, Story two, The Fair
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  Speaker 1: Maid of Astolat. Soon after this, it befell that the
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  Speaker 1: Damsel of the Lake, called by some Mimui and by
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  Speaker 1: others Vivian, wedded Sir Pelleas and came to the court
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  Speaker 1: of King Arthur. And when she heard the talk of
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  Speaker 1: the death of Sir Patrice and how the Queen had
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  Speaker 1: been accused of it, she found out by means of
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  Speaker 1: her magic, that the tale was false, and told it
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  Speaker 1: openly that the Queen was innocent, and that it was
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  Speaker 1: Sir Pinnell who had poisoned the apple. Then he fled
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  Speaker 1: into his own country, where none might lay hands on him.
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  Speaker 1: So Sir Patrice was buried in the Church of Westminster,
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  Speaker 1: and on his tomb was written herelieth Sir Patrice of Ireland,
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  Speaker 1: slain by Sir pinell Le Savage, that impoisoned apples to
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  Speaker 1: have slain Sir Gawaine, And by misfortune Sir Petrice ate
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  Speaker 1: one of those apples, and then suddenly he burst. Also
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  Speaker 1: there was put upon the tomb that Queen Guinevere was
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  Speaker 1: accused of the death of Sir Patrice by Sir Madoor
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  Speaker 1: de Laporte, and how Sir Launcelot fought with him and
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  Speaker 1: overcame him in battle. All this was written on the tomb,
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  Speaker 1: and daily Sir Mador prayed to have the Queen's grace
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  Speaker 1: once more, and by means of Sir Launcelot he was forgiven.
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  Speaker 1: It was now the middle of the summer, and King
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  Speaker 1: Arthur proclaimed that in fifteen days a great tourney should
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  Speaker 1: be held at Camelot, which is now called Winchester. And
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  Speaker 1: many knights and kings made ready to do themselves honor.
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  Speaker 1: But the Queen said she would stay behind, for she
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  Speaker 1: was sick and did not care for the noise and
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  Speaker 1: hustle of attorney. It grieves me. You should say, that,
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  Speaker 1: said the King, for you will not have seen so
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  Speaker 1: noble a company gathered together this seven years past, save
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  Speaker 1: at the Whitsuntide, when Galahad departed from the court. Truly
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  Speaker 1: answered the Queen, the sight will be grand. Nevertheless, you
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  Speaker 1: must hold me excused, for I cannot be there. Sir
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  Speaker 1: Launcelot likewise declared that his wounds were not healed, and
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  Speaker 1: that he could not bear himself an attorney, as he
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  Speaker 1: was wont to do. At this, the King was wroth
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  Speaker 1: that he might not have either his queen or his
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  Speaker 1: best knight with him, and he departed towards Winchester, and
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  Speaker 1: by the way lodged in a town now called Guildford,
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  Speaker 1: but then Astolot. And when the king had set forth,
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  Speaker 1: the queen sent for Sir Launcelot and told him he
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  Speaker 1: was to blame for having excused himself from going with
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  Speaker 1: the King, who set such store by his company. And
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  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot said he would be ruled by her, and
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  Speaker 1: would ride forth that morning on his way to Winchester.
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  Speaker 1: But I should have you know, said he, that at
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  Speaker 1: the tourney I shall be against the King and his knights.
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  Speaker 1: You must do as you please, replied the Queen. But
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  Speaker 1: if you will be ruled by my counsel, you will
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  Speaker 1: fight on his side, Madam, said Sir Launcelot, I pray
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  Speaker 1: you not to be displeased with me. I will take
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  Speaker 1: the adventure as it comes. And early next morning he
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  Speaker 1: rode away till at eventide he reached Astolot. He went
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  Speaker 1: through the town till he stopped before the house of
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  Speaker 1: an old baron Sir Bernard of Astelot, and as he
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  Speaker 1: dismounted from his horse, the king spied him from the
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  Speaker 1: gardens of the castle. It is well, he said, smiling
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  Speaker 1: to the knights that were beside him, I see one
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  Speaker 1: man who will play his part in the jousts, and
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  Speaker 1: I will undertake that he will do marvels. Who is that?
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  Speaker 1: Asked they all you must wait to know that, replied
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  Speaker 1: the king, and went into the castle. Meantime, Sir Launcelot
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  Speaker 1: had entered his lodging, and the old baron bade him welcome,
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  Speaker 1: but he knew not it was Sir Launcelot. Fair sir,
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  Speaker 1: said Sir Launcelot, I pray you lend me, if you can,
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  Speaker 1: a shield with a device which no man knows for
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  Speaker 1: mine they know well, sir, answered Sir Bernard. You shall
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  Speaker 1: have your wish, for you seem one of the goodliest
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  Speaker 1: knights in the world. And Sir, I have two sons,
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  Speaker 1: both but lately knighted Sir Tyr, who was wounded on
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  Speaker 1: the day of his knighthood. And his shield you shall have.
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  Speaker 1: My youngest son, Sir Lavaine, shall ride with you, if
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  Speaker 1: you will have his company to the jousts, for my
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  Speaker 1: heart is much drawn to you. And tell me. I
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  Speaker 1: beseech you what name I shall call you by. You
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  Speaker 1: must hold me excused as to that just now, said
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  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot. But if I speed well at the jousts,
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  Speaker 1: I will come again and tell you. But let me
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  Speaker 1: have Sir Lavaine with me and lend me as you
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  Speaker 1: have offered his brother's shield. This shall be done, replied
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  Speaker 1: Sir Bernard. Besides these two sons, Sir Bernard had a
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  Speaker 1: daughter whom every one called the fair Maid of Astelot,
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  Speaker 1: though her real name was Alain LeBlanc. And when she
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  Speaker 1: looked on Sir Launcelot, her love went forth to him,
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  Speaker 1: and she could never take it back, and in the
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  Speaker 1: end it killed her. As soon as her father told
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  Speaker 1: her that Sir Launcelot was going to the tourney, she
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  Speaker 1: besought him to wear her token in the jousts. But
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  Speaker 1: he was not willing, Fair Damsel. He said, if I
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  Speaker 1: did that, I should have done more for your sake
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  Speaker 1: than ever I did for lady or damsel. But then
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  Speaker 1: he remembered that he was to go disguised to the tourney,
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  Speaker 1: and because he had before never worn any manner of
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  Speaker 1: token of any damsel. He bethought him that if he
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  Speaker 1: should take one of hers, none would know him. So
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  Speaker 1: he said to her, fair damsel, I will wear your
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  Speaker 1: token on my helmet if you will show me what
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  Speaker 1: it is. Sir. She replied, it is a red sleeve
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  Speaker 1: embroidered in great pearls, and she brought it to him.
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  Speaker 1: Never have I done so much for any damsel, said he,
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  Speaker 1: and gave his own shield into her keeping till he
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  Speaker 1: came again. Sir Arthur had waited three days at Astalot
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  Speaker 1: for some knights who were long on the road, and
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  Speaker 1: when they had arrived, they all set forth and were
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  Speaker 1: followed by Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine, both with white shields,
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  Speaker 1: and Sir Launcelot bore besides the red sleeve that was
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  Speaker 1: a token. Now Camelot was filled with a great number
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  Speaker 1: of kings and lords and knights, but Sir Lavaine found
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  Speaker 1: means to lodge both himself and Sir Launcelot secretly with
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  Speaker 1: a rich burgess, and no man knew who they were
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  Speaker 1: or whence they came. And there they stayed till the
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  Speaker 1: day of the tourney. At earlyest dawn, the trumpets blew
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  Speaker 1: and King Arthur took his seat upon a high scaffold,
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  Speaker 1: so that he might see who had done best. But
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  Speaker 1: he would not suffer Sir Gawaine to go from his side,
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  Speaker 1: for Sir Gawaine never won the prize when Sir Launcelot
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  Speaker 1: was in the field, and as King Arthur knew, Sir
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  Speaker 1: Launcelot oftentimes disguised himself. Then the knights formed into two parties,
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  Speaker 1: and Sir Launcelot made him ready, and Elaine fastened the
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  Speaker 1: red sleeve upon his helmet. Then he and Sir Lavaine
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  Speaker 1: rode into a little wood that lay behind the knights
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  Speaker 1: who should fight against those of the round table? Sir,
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  Speaker 1: said Sir Launcelot. Yonder is a company of good knights,
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  Speaker 1: and they hold together as boars that are vexed with dogs.
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  Speaker 1: That is true, said Sir Lavaine. Now said Sir Launcelot,
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  Speaker 1: if you will help me a little, you shall see
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  Speaker 1: King Arthur's side, which is winning. Driven back as fast
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  Speaker 1: as they came, spare not, Sir and Sir Sir Lavaine,
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  Speaker 1: for I shall do what I may. So they rode
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  Speaker 1: into the thickest of the press and smote so hard
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  Speaker 1: with both spear and sword that the knights of the
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  Speaker 1: round table fell back. Oh mercy, cried Sir Gawaine, What
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  Speaker 1: knight is that yonder who does such marvelous deeds? I
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  Speaker 1: know well who it is, said King Arthur, but I
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  Speaker 1: will not tell you yet, Sir answered Sir Gawaine. I
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  Speaker 1: should say it was Sir Launcelot by the blows he
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  Speaker 1: deals and the manner that he rides. But it cannot
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  Speaker 1: be he, for this man has a red sleeve upon
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  Speaker 1: his helmet, and Sir Launcelot has never borne the token
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  Speaker 1: of any lady. Let him be, said Sir Arthur, and
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  Speaker 1: you will find out his name and see him do
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  Speaker 1: greater deeds yet before he departs, and the knights that
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  Speaker 1: were fighting against the King's party took heart again, for
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  Speaker 1: before they feared they would be beaten. But when Sir
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  Speaker 1: Bors saw this, he called unto him the knights that
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  Speaker 1: were kin to Sir Launcelot, and they banded together to
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  Speaker 1: make a great charge, and threw Sir Launcelot's horse to
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  Speaker 1: the ground, and by misfortune, the spear of Sir Bors
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  Speaker 1: broke and its head was left in Sir Launcelot's side.
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  Speaker 1: When Sir Lavaine saw that, he unhorsed the King of Scots,
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  Speaker 1: and brought his horse to Sir Launcelot, and helped him
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  Speaker 1: to mount thereon, and gave him a spear with which
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  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot smote sir Bors to the earth, and Sir
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  Speaker 1: Ector Demadus, the foster father of King Arthur, and buffeted
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  Speaker 1: sorely the knights that were with them. Afterward, he hurled
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  Speaker 1: himself into the thick melee of them all and did
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  Speaker 1: the most wonderful deeds that ever were heard of. And
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  Speaker 1: Sir Lavaine likewise did well that day, for he smote
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  Speaker 1: down full two knights of the round table. Mercy again
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  Speaker 1: cried Sir Gawaine to Arthur, I, marvel, what knight that
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  Speaker 1: is with the red sleeve? That you shall know? Soon?
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  Speaker 1: Said King Arthur, and the man that the trumpet should
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  Speaker 1: be blown, and declared that the prize belonged to the
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  Speaker 1: knight with the white shield who bare the red sleeve,
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  Speaker 1: For he had unhorsed more than thirty knights. And the
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  Speaker 1: kings and lords who were of his party came round
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  Speaker 1: him and thanked him for the help he had given them,
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  Speaker 1: by which means the honors of the day had been theirs.
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  Speaker 1: Fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, if I have deserved thanks,
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  Speaker 1: I have paid for them sorely, for I shall hardly
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  Speaker 1: escape with my life. Therefore, I pray you let me depart,
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  Speaker 1: for my hurt is grievous. Then he groaned piteously and
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  Speaker 1: galloped from them to a wood side, followed by Sir Lavaine.
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  Speaker 1: Oh help me, Sir Lavaine said he to get this
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  Speaker 1: spear's head out of my side, for it is killing me.
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  Speaker 1: But Sir Lavaine feared to touch it lest Sir Launcelot
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  Speaker 1: should bleed to death. I charge you, said Sir Launcelot,
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  Speaker 1: if you love me, draw out the head. So Sir
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  Speaker 1: Lavaine drew it out, and Sir Launcelot gave a great
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  Speaker 1: shriek and a marvelous, grisly groan, and his blood flowed
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  Speaker 1: out so fast that he fell into a swoon. Oh
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  Speaker 1: what shall I do, cried Sir Lavaine, And he loosed
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  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot's helm and coat of mail, and turned him
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  Speaker 1: so that the wind might blow on him. But for
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  Speaker 1: full half an hour he lay as if he had
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  Speaker 1: been dead. At last, Sir Launcelot opened his eyes and said, oh, Lavain,
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  Speaker 1: help me on my horse. For two miles from this
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  Speaker 1: place there lives a hermit who once was a knight
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  Speaker 1: of the round Table, and he can heal my wounds.
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  Speaker 1: Then Sir Lavaine, with much ado, helped him on his
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  Speaker 1: horse and brought him, bleeding to the hermit. The hermit
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  Speaker 1: looked at him as he rode up, leaning piteously on
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  Speaker 1: his saddle bow, and he thought that he should know him,
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  Speaker 1: but could not tell who he was for the paleness
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  Speaker 1: of his face, till he saw by a wound on
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  Speaker 1: his cheek that it was Sir Launcelot. You cannot hide
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  Speaker 1: your name from me, said the hermit, for you are
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  Speaker 1: the noblest knight in the world. And well I know
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  Speaker 1: you to be, Sir Launcelot. Since you know me, sir said,
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  Speaker 1: he help me for God's sake, and for death or life.
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  Speaker 1: Put me out of this pain. Fear nothing, answered the hermit.
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  Speaker 1: Your pain will soon be gone. And he called his
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  Speaker 1: servants to take the armor off the knight and laid
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  Speaker 1: him in bed. After that, he dressed the wound and
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  Speaker 1: gave him good wine to drink, and Sir Launcelot slept
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  Speaker 1: and awoke free of his pain. So we will leave
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  Speaker 1: him to be healed of his wound under the care
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  Speaker 1: of the hermit, and go back to King Arthur. Now
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  Speaker 1: twas the custom in those days that after attorney was finished,
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  Speaker 1: a great feast should be held, at which both parties
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  Speaker 1: were assembled. So King Arthur sent to ask the King
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  Speaker 1: of Northgalise, where was the Knight with the red sleeve
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  Speaker 1: who had fought on his side? Bring him before me?
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  Speaker 1: He said, that he may have the prize he has won,
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  Speaker 1: which is his right. Then answered the King with the
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  Speaker 1: hundred Knights, we fear the Knight must have been sore hurt,
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  Speaker 1: and that neither you nor we are ever like to
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  Speaker 1: see him again, Which is grievous to think of Alas
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  Speaker 1: said King Arthur, is he then so badly wounded? What
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  Speaker 1: is his name? Truly? Said they all. We know not
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  Speaker 1: his name, nor whence he came, nor whither he went.
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  Speaker 1: As for me, answered King Arthur, these tidings are the
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  Speaker 1: worst that I have heard these seven years, For I
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  Speaker 1: would give all the lands I hold that no harm
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  Speaker 1: had befallen this knight. Do you know him? Asked they all,
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  Speaker 1: Whether I know him or not, said King Arthur, I
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  Speaker 1: shall not tell you, but may Heaven send me good
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  Speaker 1: news of him? Amen, answered they, by my head, said
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  Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine. If this good knight is really wounded unto death,
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  Speaker 1: it is a great evil for all this land. For
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  Speaker 1: he is one of the noblest that ever I saw
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  Speaker 1: for handling a sword or spear. And if he may
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  Speaker 1: be found, I shall find him, for I am sure
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  Speaker 1: that he is not far from this town. So he
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  Speaker 1: took his squire with him, and they rode all round Camelot,
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  Speaker 1: six or seven miles on every side, but nothing could
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  Speaker 1: they hear of him, and he returned heavily to the
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  Speaker 1: court of King Arthur. Two days after the King and
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  Speaker 1: all his company set out for London. And by the way,
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  Speaker 1: it happened to Sir Gawaine to lodge with Sir Bernard
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  Speaker 1: at Astealat, And when he was in his chamber, Sir
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  Speaker 1: Bernard and his daughter Elaine came unto Sir Gawaine to
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  Speaker 1: ask him tidings of the court and who did best
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  Speaker 1: in the tourney at Winchester. Truly, said Sir Gawaine, there
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  Speaker 1: were two knights that bare white shields, but one of
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  Speaker 1: them had a red sleeve upon his helm, and he
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  Speaker 1: was one of the best knights that ever I saw
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  Speaker 1: joust in the field. For I dare say he smote
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  Speaker 1: down forty knights of the table round. Now, blessed be God,
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  Speaker 1: said the maid of Astelot, that that knight sped so well,
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  Speaker 1: For he is the man in the world that I
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  Speaker 1: loved first, and he will also be the last man
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  Speaker 1: that ever I shall love, fair maid asked Sir Gawaine,
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  Speaker 1: Is that knight your love? Certainly he is my love,
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  Speaker 1: said she. Then you know his name, asked Sir Gawaine.
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  Speaker 1: Nay truly, answered the damsel. I know neither his name
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  Speaker 1: nor whence he cometh, but I love him for all that.
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  Speaker 1: How did you meet him first, asked Sir Gawaine. At
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  Speaker 1: that she told him the whole story, and how her
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  Speaker 1: brother went with Sir Launcelot to do him service and
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  Speaker 1: lent him the white shield of her brother, Sir Tyr,
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  Speaker 1: and left his own with her. Why did he do that,
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  Speaker 1: asked Sir Gawaine. For this cause, said the damsel. His
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  Speaker 1: shield was too well known among many noble knights. Ah,
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  Speaker 1: fair damsel, said Sir Gawaine, I beg of you to
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  Speaker 1: let me have a sight of that shield, Sir answered she.
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  Speaker 1: It is in my chamber, covered with a case. And
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  Speaker 1: if you will come with me, you shall see it.
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  Speaker 1: Not so, said Sir Bernard, and sent his squire for it.
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  Speaker 1: And when Sir Gawaine took off the case and beheld
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  Speaker 1: the shield and saw the arms, he knew it to
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  Speaker 1: be Sir Launcelot's ah Mercy, cried he. My heart is
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  Speaker 1: heavier than ever it was before. Why, asked Elaine, I
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  Speaker 1: have great cause, answered Sir Gawaine. Is that knight who
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  Speaker 1: owns this shield your love? Yes, truly, said she. I
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  Speaker 1: would I were his love. You are right, fair, Damsel,
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  Speaker 1: replied Gawaine, For if you love him, you love the
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  Speaker 1: most honorable knight in the world. I have known him
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  Speaker 1: for four and twenty years, and never did I or
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  Speaker 1: any other knight see him where a token of either
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  Speaker 1: lady or damsel at a tournament. Therefore, Damsel, he has
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  Speaker 1: paid you great honor. But I fear that I may
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  Speaker 1: never behold him again upon earth, and that is grievous
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  Speaker 1: to think of alas said she, how may this be?
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  Speaker 1: Is he slain? I did not say that, replied Sir Gawaine.
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  Speaker 1: But he is sorely wounded, and is more likely to
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  Speaker 1: be dead than alive, and maiden by this shield. I
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  Speaker 1: know that he is Sir Launcelot. How can this be,
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  Speaker 1: said the Maid of Astalot. And what was his hurt? Truly,
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  Speaker 1: answered Sir Gawaine. It was the man that loved him
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  Speaker 1: best to hurt him so, and I am sure that
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  Speaker 1: if that man knew that it was Sir Launcelot whom
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  Speaker 1: he had wounded, he would think it was the darkest
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  Speaker 1: deed that ever he did. Now, dear father, said Elaine,
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  Speaker 1: give me leave to ride and seek him, for I
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  Speaker 1: shall go out of my mind unless I find him
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  Speaker 1: and my brother. Do as you will, answered her father,
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  Speaker 1: for I am grieved to hear of the hurt of
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  Speaker 1: that noble knight. So the damsel made ready. On the morn,
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  Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine came to King Arthur and told him how
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  Speaker 1: he had found the shield in the keeping of the
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  Speaker 1: Maid of Asterlot. All that I knew beforehand, said the King,
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  Speaker 1: And that was why I would not suffer you to
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  Speaker 1: fight in the tourney. For I had espied him when
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  Speaker 1: he entered his lodging the night before. But this is
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  Speaker 1: the first time that ever I heard of his bearing
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  Speaker 1: the token of some lady, and much I marvel at
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  Speaker 1: it by my head, answered Sir Gawaine, the fair Maiden
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  Speaker 1: of Astealot, loves him wondrous. Well what it all means
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  Speaker 1: or what will be the end, I cannot say, but
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: she has ridden after him to seek him. So the
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: King and his company came to London, and everyone in
• 18:31
  Speaker 1: the court knew that it was Sir Launcelot who had
• 18:33
  Speaker 1: jousted the best, And when the tidings came to Sir Bors,
• 18:37
  Speaker 1: his heart grew heavy, and also the hearts of his kinsman.
• 18:41
  Speaker 1: But when the Queen heard that Sir Launcelot bore the
• 18:44
  Speaker 1: red sleeve of the fair Maid of Astelot, she was
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: nearly mad with wrath and summoned Sir Bors before her
• 18:50
  Speaker 1: in haste. Ah, Sir Bors, she cried, when he was come.
• 18:54
  Speaker 1: Have the tidings reached you that Sir Launcelot has been
• 18:57
  Speaker 1: a false knight to me? Madam answered Sir Bors, I
• 19:01
  Speaker 1: pray you say not so, for I cannot hear such
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: language of him. Why is he not false and a traitor?
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: When after swearing that for right or wrong, he would
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: be my knight and mine only, he bore the red
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: sleeve upon his helm at the great jousts at Camelot,
• 19:19
  Speaker 1: Madam said Sir bors, I grieve bitterly as to that
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: sleeve bearing, But I think he did it that none
• 19:25
  Speaker 1: of his kin should know him, for no man before
• 19:28
  Speaker 1: that had seen him bear the token of any lady.
• 19:31
  Speaker 1: Be she what she may fie on him, said the Queen.
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: I myself heard Sir Gawaine tell my Lord Arthur of
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: the great love that is between the fair Maiden of
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: Asterlot and him. Madam answered Sir bors, I cannot hinder
• 19:46
  Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine from saying what he pleases. But as for
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, I am sure that he loves no one
• 19:53
  Speaker 1: lady or maiden better than another, and therefore I will
• 19:57
  Speaker 1: hasten to seek him wherever he be. Meanwhile, Fair Elaine
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: came to Winchester to find Sir Launcelot, who lay in
• 20:04
  Speaker 1: peril of his life in the hermit's dwelling. And when
• 20:08
  Speaker 1: she was riding hither and thither, not knowing where she
• 20:11
  Speaker 1: should turn, she fell on her brother, Sir Lavaine, who
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: was exercising his horse. How doth my lord Sir Launcelot,
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: asked she who told you, sister, that my lord's name
• 20:22
  Speaker 1: was Sir Launcelot? Answered Sir Lavaine, Sir Gawaine, who came
• 20:27
  Speaker 1: to my father's house to rest after the tourney, knew
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: him by his shield, said she. And they rode on
• 20:33
  Speaker 1: till they reached the hermitage, and Sir Lavaine brought her
• 20:36
  Speaker 1: to Sir Launcelot. And when she saw him so pale
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: and in such a plight, she fell to the earth
• 20:42
  Speaker 1: in a swoon. But by and bye she opened her
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: eyes and said, my lord, Sir Launcelot, what has brought
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: you to this? And swooned again. When she came to
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: herself and stood up, Sir Launcelot prayed her to be
• 20:55
  Speaker 1: of good cheer, for if she had come to comfort him,
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: she was right well come, and that his wound would
• 21:01
  Speaker 1: soon heal. But I marvel, said he, how you know
• 21:05
  Speaker 1: my name? Then the maiden told him how Sir Gawaine
• 21:09
  Speaker 1: had been at Astolot and had seen his shield alas
• 21:13
  Speaker 1: sighed Sir Launcelot, it greeves me that my name is known,
• 21:17
  Speaker 1: for trouble will come of it. For he knew full
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: well that Sir Gawaine would tell Queen Guinevere and that
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: she would be wroth. And Elaine stayed intended him, and
• 21:27
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot begged Sir Lavaine to ride to Winchester and
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: ask if Sir Bors was there, and said that he
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: should know him by token of a wound which Sir
• 21:36
  Speaker 1: Bors had on his forehead. For well, I am sure,
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: said Sir Launcelot, that Sir Bors will seek me, as
• 21:43
  Speaker 1: he is the same good knight that hurt me. Therefore,
• 21:47
  Speaker 1: as Sir Launcelot commanded, Sir Lavaine rode to Winchester and
• 21:51
  Speaker 1: inquired if Sir Bors had been seen there, so that
• 21:54
  Speaker 1: when he entered the town, Sir Lavaine readily found him.
• 21:57
  Speaker 1: Sir Bors was overjoyed to hear good tidy of Sir Launcelot,
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: and they rode back together to the hermitage. At the
• 22:04
  Speaker 1: sight of Sir Launcelot lying in his bed, pale and thin,
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: Sir Bor's heart gave way and he wept long without speaking. Oh,
• 22:13
  Speaker 1: my lord, Sir Launcelot, he said, at last, God send
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: you hasty recovery. Great is my shame for having wounded you. Thus, you,
• 22:22
  Speaker 1: who are the noblest knight in the world, I wonder
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: that my arm would lift itself against you, And I
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: ask your mercy, fair cousin, answered Sir Launcelot, such words,
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: please me not at all, for it is the fault
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: of my pride which would overcome you all that I
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: lie here to day. We will not speak of it
• 22:43
  Speaker 1: any more, for what is done cannot be undone. But
• 22:46
  Speaker 1: let us find a cure so that I may soon
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: be whole. Then Sir Bors leaned upon his bed and
• 22:52
  Speaker 1: told him how the Queen was filled with anger against
• 22:55
  Speaker 1: him because he wore the red sleeve at the jousts.
• 22:59
  Speaker 1: I am so sorrowful at what you tell me, replied
• 23:02
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, for all I did was to hinder my
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: being known that I said to excuse you, answered Sir Bors,
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: though it was all in vain. But is this damsel
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: that is so busy about you, the fair maid of Asterlot?
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: She it is, and she will not go from me.
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: Why should she go from you, asked Sir Bors. She
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: is a passing, fair damsel and of gentle breeding. And
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: I would that you could love her, for it is
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: easy to see by her bearing that she loves you entirely.
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: It grieves me to hear that, said Sir Launcelot. After
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: this they talked of other things till in a few
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: days Sir Launcelot's wounds were whole again. When Sir Launcelot
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: felt his strength return, Sir Bors made him ready and
• 23:47
  Speaker 1: departed for the court of King Arthur, and told him
• 23:50
  Speaker 1: how he had left Sir Launcelot. And there was on
• 23:53
  Speaker 1: all hallows a great tournament, and Sir Bors won the
• 23:56
  Speaker 1: prize for the unhorsing of twenty knights, and Sir Gareth
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: did great deeds also, but vanished suddenly from the field,
• 24:04
  Speaker 1: and no man knew where he had gone. After the
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: tourney was over, Sir Bores rode to the hermitage to
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: see Sir Launcelot, whom he found walking on his feet,
• 24:14
  Speaker 1: And on the next morning they bade farewell to the
• 24:16
  Speaker 1: hermit taking with them Elaine le Blanc. They went first
• 24:20
  Speaker 1: to Astalot, where they were well lodged in the house
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: of Sir Bernard. But when the morrow came and Sir
• 24:26
  Speaker 1: Launcelot would have departed from them, Elaine called to her
• 24:30
  Speaker 1: father and to her brothers, Sir Tyr and Sir Lavaine.
• 24:33
  Speaker 1: And thus she said, my lord, Sir Launcelot, fair knight,
• 24:37
  Speaker 1: leave me not, I pray you, but have mercy upon
• 24:40
  Speaker 1: me and suffer me not to die of love of thee.
• 24:44
  Speaker 1: What do you wish me to do, asked Sir Launcelot.
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: I would have you for my husband, answered she, fair damsel.
• 24:52
  Speaker 1: I thank you, said Sir Launcelot, but truly I shall
• 24:55
  Speaker 1: never have a wife. But in token and thanks of
• 24:58
  Speaker 1: all your good will towards me, gladly, will I give
• 25:01
  Speaker 1: a thousand pounds yearly when you set your heart upon
• 25:05
  Speaker 1: some other night. Of such gifts, I will have none,
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: answered Elaine. And I would have you know, Sir Launcelot,
• 25:12
  Speaker 1: that if you refuse to wed to me, my good
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: days are done, fair Damsel, said Sir Launcelot, I cannot
• 25:19
  Speaker 1: do the thing that you ask. At these words, she
• 25:22
  Speaker 1: fell down in a swoon, and her maids bore her
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: to her chamber, where she made bitter sorrow. Sir Launcelot
• 25:29
  Speaker 1: thought it would be well for him to depart before
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: she came to her senses again, and he asked Sir
• 25:35
  Speaker 1: Lavaine what he would do. What should I do, asked
• 25:39
  Speaker 1: Sir Lavaine, But follow you if you will have me.
• 25:42
  Speaker 1: Then Sir Bernard came and said to Sir Launcelot, I
• 25:45
  Speaker 1: see well that my daughter Elaine will die for your sake.
• 25:49
  Speaker 1: I cannot marry her, answered sir Launcelot, and agrees me sorely,
• 25:54
  Speaker 1: for she is a good maiden, fair and gentle. Father,
• 25:58
  Speaker 1: said Sir Lavaine. He is as pure and good as
• 26:01
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot has said, and she is like me, for
• 26:05
  Speaker 1: since first I saw him, I can never leave him.
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: And after that they bade the old man farewell and
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: came unto Winchester, where the King and all the knights
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: of the round Table made great joy of him, save
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: only Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred. But the Queen was
• 26:21
  Speaker 1: angry and would not speak to him, though he tried
• 26:24
  Speaker 1: by all means to make her. Now, when the fair
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: Maid of Astelot knew he was gone, she would neither
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: eat nor sleep, but cried after Sir Launcelot all the
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: day long. And when she had spent ten days in
• 26:37
  Speaker 1: this manner, she grew so weak that they thought her
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: soul must quit this world. And the priest came to
• 26:43
  Speaker 1: her and bade her dwell no more on earthly things.
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: She would not listen to him, but cried ever after
• 26:50
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, and how she had loved none other, no
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: nor ever would, and that her love would be her death.
• 26:59
  Speaker 1: Then she called her father Sir Bernard, and her brother
• 27:02
  Speaker 1: Sir Tyr, and begged her brother to write her a letter,
• 27:06
  Speaker 1: as she should tell him and her father that he
• 27:09
  Speaker 1: would have her watched till she was dead. And while
• 27:12
  Speaker 1: my body is warm, said she, let this letter be
• 27:15
  Speaker 1: put in my right hand, and my hand bound fast
• 27:19
  Speaker 1: with the letter until I be cold. And let me
• 27:22
  Speaker 1: be dressed in my richest clothes, and be lain on
• 27:25
  Speaker 1: a fair bed and driven in a chariot to the Thames. There,
• 27:30
  Speaker 1: let me be put on a barge, and a dumb
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: man with me to steer the bards, which shall be
• 27:35
  Speaker 1: covered over with black samite. Thus, Father, I beseech you
• 27:40
  Speaker 1: let it be done. And her father promised her faithfully
• 27:43
  Speaker 1: that so it should be done to her when she
• 27:45
  Speaker 1: was dead. Next day she died, and her body was
• 27:50
  Speaker 1: lain on the bed and placed in a chariot and
• 27:52
  Speaker 1: driven to the Thames, where the man awaited her with
• 27:55
  Speaker 1: the barge. When she was put on board, he steered
• 27:58
  Speaker 1: the barge to Westminster and rode a great while to
• 28:01
  Speaker 1: and fro before they espied it. At last, King Arthur
• 28:05
  Speaker 1: and Queen Guinevere withdrew into a window to speak together,
• 28:09
  Speaker 1: and espied the black barge and wondered greatly what it meant.
• 28:13
  Speaker 1: The King summoned Sir Kay and bade him take Sir
• 28:16
  Speaker 1: Brandilis and Sir Agravaine and find out who was lying there.
• 28:20
  Speaker 1: And they ran down to the river side and came
• 28:23
  Speaker 1: and told the King that fair corpse will I see.
• 28:27
  Speaker 1: Returned the King, and he took the queen's hand and
• 28:29
  Speaker 1: led her thither. Then he ordered the barge to be
• 28:32
  Speaker 1: made fast, and he entered it, and the queen likewise,
• 28:36
  Speaker 1: and certain knights with them, And there he saw a
• 28:39
  Speaker 1: fair woman on a rich bed, and her clothing was
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: of cloth of gold, and she lay smiling while they looked,
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: all being silent. The queen spied a letter in her
• 28:51
  Speaker 1: right hand and pointed it out to the King, who
• 28:54
  Speaker 1: took it, saying, now, I am sure this letter will
• 28:57
  Speaker 1: tell us what she was and why she came hither. So,
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: leaving the barge in charge of a trusty man, they
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: went into the King's chamber, followed by many knights, for
• 29:07
  Speaker 1: the King would have the letter read openly. He then
• 29:11
  Speaker 1: broke the seal himself and bad a clerk read it.
• 29:14
  Speaker 1: And this is what it said, most noble knight, Sir
• 29:18
  Speaker 1: Launcelot I was your lover, whom men called the fair
• 29:21
  Speaker 1: maid of Astalot. Therefore, unto all ladies, I make my
• 29:25
  Speaker 1: moan yet, pray for my soul and bury me. This
• 29:29
  Speaker 1: is my last request. Pray for my soul, Sir Launcelot,
• 29:33
  Speaker 1: as thou art peerless. This was all the letter, and
• 29:37
  Speaker 1: the King and Queen and all the knights wept when
• 29:40
  Speaker 1: they heard it. Let Sir Launcelot be sent for presently,
• 29:44
  Speaker 1: said the King, And when Sir Launcelot came, the letter
• 29:47
  Speaker 1: was read to him. Also. My Lord Arthur, said he,
• 29:51
  Speaker 1: after he had heard it all. I am right grieved
• 29:54
  Speaker 1: at the death of this damsel. God knows I was
• 29:57
  Speaker 1: not of my own will guilty of her death, and
• 30:00
  Speaker 1: that I will call on her brother, Sir Lavaine, to witness.
• 30:04
  Speaker 1: She was both fair and good, and much was I
• 30:07
  Speaker 1: beholden to her, But she loved me out of measure.
• 30:11
  Speaker 1: You might have been a little gentle with her, answered
• 30:13
  Speaker 1: the Queen, and have found some way to save her life. Madam,
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: said Sir Launcelot. She would have nothing but my love,
• 30:21
  Speaker 1: and that I could not give her, though I offered
• 30:23
  Speaker 1: her a thousand pounds yearly if she should set her
• 30:26
  Speaker 1: heart on any other night. For Madam I loved not
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: to be forced to love. Love must arise of itself,
• 30:33
  Speaker 1: and not by command. That is true, replied the King.
• 30:38
  Speaker 1: Love is free in himself and never will be bounden.
• 30:41
  Speaker 1: For where he is bounden, he luseth himself. But Sir Launcelot,
• 30:46
  Speaker 1: let it be your care to see that the damsel
• 30:48
  Speaker 1: is buried as is fitting. End of Part three, Story
• 30:53
  Speaker 1: two