[Le morte darthur]

¶Capitulum xl

SOo torne we vnto sir Lamorak that rode toward Ar∣thurs courte / and sire Tristrams wyf and Kehydyus took a vessel and sailed in to Bretayne vnto kynge Howel where he was welcome / And whan he herd of these aduētures they merueilled of his noble dedes / Now torne we vnto sir La¦morak that whan he was departed from sire Tristram / he rode oute of the forest tyll he came to an hermytage / whan the here∣myte sawe hym / he asked hym from whens he came / sir said sir Lamorak I come fro this valey / sir said the hermyte therof I merueille / For this xx wynter I sawe neuer no knyght passe this countrey / but he was other slayne or vylaynously woun¦ded or passe as a poure prysoner / Tho ylle customs said sir la¦morak are fordone / for sir Tristram slewe your lord syr Nabon and his sone / thenne was the heremyte gladde and all his bre¦theren / for he said ther was neuer suche a tyraunt among cry∣s••en men / And therfor said the hermyte this valey and fraūceis

we wille holde of sire Tristram / Soo on the morowe sir Lamo¦rak departed / And as he rode he sawe four knyghtes fyghte a¦geynst one / and that one knyght defended hym wel but atte last the four knyghtes had hym doune / And thenne sir Lamo¦rak wente betwixe them / and asked them why they wold slee that one knyght / and said hit was shame four ageynst one / Thou shalt wel wete said the four knyghtes that he is fals / that is youre tale said sir Lamorak / And whanne I here hym also speke / I wille say as ye saye / ¶ Thenne said Lamorak / a knyght can ye not excuse you / but that ye are a fals knyghte / Syr said he yet can I excuse me both with my word & with my handes / that I wille make good vpon one of the best of them my body to his body / ¶Thenne spake they al attones / we wil not Ieopardy our bodyes as for the / But wete thou wel they saide and kynge Arthur were here hym self it shold not lye in his power to saue his lyf / That is to moche said / said sire La∣morak / but many speke ••••hynde a man more than they wylle saye to his face / And by cause of your wordes ye shalle vnder∣stande that I am one of the symplest of kynge Arthurs co∣urte / in the worship of my lord now doo your best / and in despy¦te of you I shalle rescowe hym / And thenne they lasshed alle at ones to sir Lamorak / but anone at two strokes syre Lamo∣rak had slayne two of them / and thenne the other two fledde ¶Soo thenne sire Lamorak torned ageyne to that knyghte / & asked hym his name / syre he sayde my name is sire Frolle of the oute Iles / thenne he rode with sire Lamorak and bare hym company / And as they rode by the waye / they sawe a semely knyght rydynge ageynst them / and all in whyte / A said Frol yonder knyght Iusted late with me and smote me doune / ther¦fore I wil Iuste with hym / ye shal not doo soo said sire Lamo¦rak by my counceil / and ye wille telle me your quarel whether ye Iusted at his request / or he at yours / Nay said sir Frol / I Iusted with hym at my request / Syr said Lamorak / thēne wil I coūceile you dele no more with hym / for me semeth by his co∣untenaunce he shold be a noble knyght / and no Iaper / for me thynketh / he shold be of the table round / therfor I wil not ••••a¦re said sir Frol / and thenne he cryed and said / sir knyʒt mak••

the redy to Iust / That nedeth not said the whyte knyghte / For I haue no luste to Iuste with the / but yet they feutryd theyr speres / and the whyte knyghte ouerthrewe sire Frol / and thē¦ne he rode his waye a softe paas / Thenne sir Lamorak rode af∣ter hym / and praid hym to telle hym his name / for me semeth ye shold be of the felauship of the round table / Vpon a coue∣naunt said ••e I wille telle you my name / soo that ye wylle not discouer my name / and also that ye wille telle me yours / Thenne said he my name is sir Lamorak de galys / And my name is sir Launcelot du lake / thenne they putte vp their suer¦des / and kyssed hertely to gyders / and eyder made grete Ioye of other / Syr said sir Lamorak and hit please you I wyll do you seruyse / God defende said Launcelot that ony of soo noble a blood as ye be shold doo me seruyse / Thenne he saide more I am in a quest that I must doo my self alone / Now god spede you said sir Lamorak / and so they departed / Thenne sir Lamo¦rak came to sir Frol and horsed hym ageyne / what knyght is that said sir Frol / sir he said it is not for you to knowe nor it is no poynte of my charge / ye are the more vncurteis saide sire Frol / and therfore I wille departe fro yow / ye may doo as ye lyst said sir Lamorak / and yet by my company ye haue saued the fayrest floure of your garland / soo they departed