The Sankgreal

Summary

AT THE VIGYL OF PENTECOSTE, whan all the felyship of the Table Rownde were com unto Camelot and there harde hir servyse, so at the laste the tablys were sette redy to the meete. Ryght so entird into the halle a full fayre jantillwoman on horsebacke that had ryddyn full faste, for hir horse was all beswette. Than she there alyght and com before the kynge and salewed hym, and he seyde, “Damesell, God you blysse.”

“Sir,” seyde she, “for Goddis sake telle me where ys Sir Launcelot.”

“He ys yondir, ye may se hym,” seyde the kynge.

Than she wente unto Sir Launcelot and seyde, “Sir Launcelot I salew you on Kynge Pelles behalff, and I also requyre you to com with me hereby into a foreste.”

Than Sir Launcelot asked her with whom she dwelled.

“I dwelle,” she seyde, “with Kynge Pelles.”

“What woll ye with me?” seyde Sir Launcelot.

“Ye shall know,” she seyde, “whan ye com thydir.”

“Well,” seyde he, “I woll gladly go with you.”

So Sir Launcelot bade hys squyre sadyll hys horse and brynge hys armys in all haste. So he ded hys commandemente. Than com the quene unto Sir Launcelot and seyde, “Woll ye leve us now alone at thys hyghe feste?”

“Madam,” seyde the jantyllwoman, “wyte you well he shall be with you to-morne by dyner tyme.”

“If I wyste,” seyde the quene, “that he sholde nat be here with us to-morne, he sholde nat go with you be my good wyll.”

Ryght so departed Sir Launcelot with the jantyllwoman, and rode untyll that he com into a foreste and into a grete valey where they sye an abbey of nunnys. And there was a squyre redy, and opened the gatis, and so they entird and descended of theire horsys. And anone there cam a fayre felyship aboute Sir Launcelot and wellcomed hym, and than they ladde hym unto the abbas chambir and unarmed hym.

And ryght so he was ware uppon a bed lyynge of too of hys cosyns, Sir Bors and Sir Lyonell. And anone he waked them, and whan they syghe hym they made grete joy.

“Sir,” seyde Sir Bors unto Sir Launcelot, “what adventure hath brought you hidir? For we wende to have founde you to-morne at Camelot.”