Sir Launcelot Du Lake

Summary

SONE AFTIR THAT Kynge Arthure was com from Rome into Ingelonde, than all the Knyghtys of the Rounde Table resorted unto the kynge and made many joustys and turnementes. And som there were that were but knyghtes whiche encresed in armys and worshyp that they passed all other of her felowys in prouesse and noble dedys, and that was well proved on many. But in especiall hit was prevyd on Sir Launcelot de Lake, for in all turnementes, justys, and dedys of armys, both for lyff and deth, he passed all other knyghtes, and at no tyme was he ovircom but yf hit were by treson other inchauntement.

So this Sir Launcelot encresed so mervaylously in worship and honoure, therefore he is the fyrste knyght that the Freynsh booke makyth mencion of aftir Kynge Arthure com frome Rome. Wherefore Quene Gwenyvere had hym in grete favoure aboven all other knyghtis, and so he loved the quene agayne aboven all other ladyes dayes of his lyff, and for hir he dud many dedys of armys and saved her frome the fyre thorow his noble chevalry.

Thus Sir Launcelot rested hym longe with play and game, and than he thought hymself to preve in straunge adventures, and bade his nevew Sir Lyonell for to make hym redy, “for we too muste go seke adventures.” So they mounted on theire horses, armed at all ryghtes, and rode into a depe foreste and so into a playne.

So the wedir was hote aboute noone, and Sir Launcelot had grete luste to slepe. Than Sir Lyonell aspyed a grete appyll-tre that stoode by an hedge, and seyde, “Sir, yondir is a fayre shadow, there may we reste us and oure horsys.”

“Hit is trouthe,” seyde Sir Launcelot, “for this seven yere I was not so slepy as I am nowe.”

So there they alyted and tyed there horsys unto sondry treis and Sir Launcelot layde hym downe undir this appyll-tre, and his helmet undir his hede, and Sir Lyonell waked whyles he slepte. So Sir Launcelot slepte passynge faste.