The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott ... Notes & life of the author.

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CANTO FIRST.
NOTE.I.
As when the Champion of the Lake
Enters Morgana's fated house,
Or in the Chapel Perilous,
Despising spells and demons' force,
Holds converse with the unburied corse.
The Romance of the Morte Arthur contains a sort of abridgment of
the most celebrated adventures of the Round Table. It has the merit of
being written in pure old English, and many of the wild adventures which
it contains, are told with a simplicity bordering on the sublime. As this
curious work is about to be republished, I confine myself to the tale of th6
Chapel Perilous, and of the quest of Sir Launcelot after the Sangreall.
" Right so Sir Launcelot departed; and when he came to the Chapell
Perilous he alighted downe, and tied his horse to a little gate. And as soon
as he was within the church-yard, hee saw, on the front of the chapell, many
faire rich shields turned upside downe, and many of the shields, Sir Laun.
celot had seene knights have before; with that hee saw stand by him thirtie
great knights, more, by a yard, than any man that ever bhee had seene, and,
all those grinned and gnashed at Sir Launcelot; and when he saw their
countenance he dread them sore, and so put his shield afore him, and
tooke his sword in his hand, ready to doe battaile; and they were all
armed in black harneis, ready with their shields and swords drawen. And
when Sir Launcelot Would have gone through them, they scattered on
every side of. him and gave him the way, and therewith bhee waxed all
bold, and entered into the chapell, and then hee saw no light but a dim
lamp burning, and then was he ware of a corps covered with a cloath
of silke; then Sir Launcelot stooped down, and cut a peece of that cloth
away, and then it fared under him as the earth had quaked a little,
whereof he was afeard, and then hee saw afaire sword lye bythe dead knight,
and that he gat in his hand, and hied him out of the chappell. As soon i
as he was in the chappell-yerd, all the knights spoke to him with a
grimly voice, and said,' Knight Sir Launcelot, lay that sword from thee,
or else thou shalt die.?' V hether I live or die,' said Sir Launcelot,'with no great words get.ee it againe, therefore fight for it and yee list.' i
Therewith he passed through them; and beyond the chappell-yard there
met him a fair damosell, and said,'Sir Launcelot, leave that sword be.
hind thee, or thou wilt die for it.'' I will -not leave it,' said Sir Launcelot,
for no threats.'' No,' said she,'and ye did leave that sword, Queene
Guenever should ye never see.'' Then were I a foole and I would leave
this sword,' said Sir Launcelot.' Now, gentle knight.' said the damosell,'I require thee to kisse me once more,''Nay,' said Sir Launcelot,'that God forbid!'' Well, sir,' said she,' and thou haddest kissed me,
thy life days had been done; but now, alasl' said she,' I have lost all m
labour; for I ordeined this chappell for thy sake, and for Sir Gawainet
and once I had Sir Gawaine within it; and at that time he fought with
that knight which there lieth dead in yonderchappell, Sir Gilbertthe bastard,
and at that time' hee smote off Sir Gilbert the bastard's left hand.
And so, Sir Launcelot, now I tell thee, that I have loved thee this seven
yeare; but there may no woman have thy love but Queene Guenever; but
sithen I may not rejoice to have thy body alive, I had' kept no more joy
in this world but to have thy dead body; and I would have balmed it
and served, and so have kept it my life dales, and daily I should have
clipped thee, and kissed thee in the despite of Queene Guenever.'' Ye
say well;' said Sir Launcelot,'Jesus preserve me from your subtill
crafts i' And therewith he took his'horse and departed from her."
60.
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