Within a fifteen days of that feast the king let cry a great jousts and a tournament that should be at that day at Camelot,that is Winchester;and the king let cry that he and the King of Scots would joust against all that would come against them.And when this cry was made,thither came many knights.So there came thither the King of Northgalis,and King Anguish of Ireland,and the King with the Hundred Knights,and Galahad,the haut prince,and the King of Northumberland,and many other noble dukes and earls of divers countries.So King Arthur made him ready to depart to these jousts,and would have had the queen with him,but at that time she would not,she said,for she was sick and might not ride at that time.
That me repenteth,said the king,for this seven year ye saw not such a noble fellowship together except at Whitsuntide when Galahad departed from the court.Truly,said the queen to the king,ye must hold me excused,Imay not be there,and that me repenteth.And many deemed the queen would not be there because of Sir Launcelot du Lake,for Sir Launcelot would not ride with the king,for he said that he was not whole of the wound the which Sir Mador had given him;wherefore the king was heavy and passing wroth.And so he departed toward Winchester with his fellowship;and so by the way the king lodged in a town called Astolat,that is now in English called Guildford,and there the king lay in the castle.
So when the king was departed the queen called Sir Launcelot to her,and said thus:Sir Launcelot,ye are greatly to blame thus to hold you behind my lord;what,trow ye,what will your enemies and mine say and deem?
nought else but,See how Sir Launcelot holdeth him ever behind the king,and so doth the queen,for that they would have their pleasure together.And thus will they say,said the queen to Sir Launcelot,have ye no doubt thereof.
CHAPTER IX
How Sir Launcelot rode to Astolat,and received a sleeve to wear upon his helm at the request of a maid.
MADAM,said Sir Launcelot,I allow your wit,it is of late come since ye were wise.And therefore,madam,at this time I will be ruled by your counsel,and this night I will take my rest,and to-morrow by time I will take my way toward Winchester.But wit you well,said Sir Launcelot to the queen,that at that jousts I will be against the king,and against all his fellowship.Ye may there do as ye list,said the queen,but by my counsel ye shall not be against your king and your fellowship.For therein be full many hard knights of your blood,as ye wot well enough,it needeth not to rehearse them.Madam,said Sir Launcelot,I pray you that ye be not displeased with me,for I will take the adventure that God will send me.
And so upon the morn early Sir Launcelot heard mass and brake his fast,and so took his leave of the queen and departed.And then he rode so much until he came to Astolat,that is Guildford;and there it happed him in the eventide he came to an old baron's place that hight Sir Bernard of Astolat.And as Sir Launcelot entered into his lodging,King Arthur espied him as he did walk in a garden beside the castle,how he took his lodging,and knew him full well.It is well,said King Arthur unto the knights that were with him in that garden beside the castle,I have now espied one knight that will play his play at the jousts to the which we be gone toward;I undertake he will do marvels.Who is that,we pray you tell us?said many knights that were there at that time.Ye shall not wit for me,said the king,as at this time.And so the king smiled,and went to his lodging.
So when Sir Launcelot was in his lodging,and unarmed him in his chamber,the old baron and hermit came to him making his reverence,and welcomed him in the best manner;but the old knight knew not Sir Launcelot.
Fair sir,said Sir Launcelot to his host,I would pray you to lend me a shield that were not openly known,for mine is well known.Sir,said his host,ye shall have your desire,for meseemeth ye be one of the likeliest knights of the world,and therefore I shall shew you friendship.Sir,wit you well I have two sons that were but late made knights,and the eldest hight Sir Tirre,and he was hurt that same day he was made knight,that he may not ride,and his shield ye shall have;for that is not known I dare say but here,and in no place else.And my youngest son hight Lavaine,and if it please you,he shall ride with you unto that jousts;and he is of his age strong and wight,for much my heart giveth unto you that ye should be a noble knight,therefore I pray you,tell me your name,said Sir Bernard.As for that,said Sir Launcelot,ye must hold me excused as at this time,and if God give me grace to speed well at the jousts I shall come again and tell you.But I pray you,said Sir Launcelot,in any wise let me have your son,Sir Lavaine,with me,and that Imay have his brother's shield.All this shall be done,said Sir Bernard.
This old baron had a daughter that was called that time the Fair Maiden of Astolat.And ever she beheld Sir Launcelot wonderfully;and as the book saith,she cast such a love unto Sir Launcelot that she could never withdraw her love,wherefore she died,and her name was Elaine le Blank.So thus as she came to and fro she was so hot in her love that she besought Sir Launcelot to wear upon him at the jousts a token of hers.Fair damosel,said Sir Launcelot,an if I grant you that,ye may say Ido more for your love than ever I did for lady or damosel.
Then he remembered him he would go to the jousts disguised.And because he had never fore that time borne no manner of token of no damosel,then he bethought him that he would bear one of her,that none of his blood thereby might know him,and then he said:
Fair maiden,I will grant you to wear a token of yours upon mine helmet,and therefore what it is,shew it me.
