<p><SPAN name="link2HCH0055" id="link2HCH0055"></SPAN></p>
<h2> CHAPTER IX. How Sir Tor rode after the knight with the brachet, and of his adventure by the way. </h2>
<p>WHEN Sir Tor was ready, he mounted upon his horseback, and rode after the
knight with the brachet. So as he rode he met with a dwarf suddenly that
smote his horse on the head with a staff, that he went backward his spear
length. Why dost thou so? said Sir Tor. For thou shalt not pass this way,
but if thou joust with yonder knights of the pavilions. Then was Tor ware
where two pavilions were, and great spears stood out, and two shields hung
on trees by the pavilions. I may not tarry, said Sir Tor, for I am in a
quest that I must needs follow. Thou shalt not pass, said the dwarf, and
therewithal he blew his horn. Then there came one armed on horseback, and
dressed his shield, and came fast toward Tor, and he dressed him against
him, and so ran together that Tor bare him from his horse. And anon the
knight yielded him to his mercy. But, sir, I have a fellow in yonder
pavilion that will have ado with you anon. He shall be welcome, said Sir
Tor. Then was he ware of another knight coming with great raundon, and
each of them dressed to other, that marvel it was to see; but the knight
smote Sir Tor a great stroke in midst of the shield that his spear all
to-shivered. And Sir Tor smote him through the shield below of the shield
that it went through the cost of the knight, but the stroke slew him not.
And therewith Sir Tor alighted and smote him on the helm a great stroke,
and therewith the knight yielded him and besought him of mercy. I will
well, said Sir Tor, but thou and thy fellow must go unto King Arthur, and
yield you prisoners unto him. By whom shall we say are we thither sent? Ye
shall say by the knight that went in the quest of the knight that went
with the brachet. Now, what be your two names? said Sir Tor. My name is,
said the one, Sir Felot of Langduk; and my name is, said the other, Sir
Petipase of Winchelsea. Now go ye forth, said Sir Tor, and God speed you
and me. Then came the dwarf and said unto Sir Tor, I pray you give me a
gift. I will well, said Sir Tor, ask. I ask no more, said the dwarf, but
that ye will suffer me to do you service, for I will serve no more
recreant knights. Take an horse, said Sir Tor, and ride on with me. I wot
ye ride after the knight with the white brachet, and I shall bring you
where he is, said the dwarf. And so they rode throughout a forest, and at
the last they were ware of two pavilions, even by a priory, with two
shields, and the one shield was enewed with white, and the other shield
was red.</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2HCH0056" id="link2HCH0056"></SPAN></p>
<h2> CHAPTER X. How Sir Tor found the brachet with a lady, and how a knight assailed him for the said brachet. </h2>
<p>THEREWITH Sir Tor alighted and took the dwarf his glaive, and so he came
to the white pavilion, and saw three damosels lie in it, on one pallet,
sleeping, and so he went to the other pavilion, and found a lady lying
sleeping therein, but there was the white brachet that bayed at her fast,
and therewith the lady yede out of the pavilion and all her damosels. But
anon as Sir Tor espied the white brachet, he took her by force and took
her to the dwarf. What, will ye so, said the lady, take my brachet from
me? Yea, said Sir Tor, this brachet have I sought from King Arthur's court
hither. Well, said the lady, knight, ye shall not go far with her, but
that ye shall be met and grieved. I shall abide what adventure that cometh
by the grace of God, and so mounted upon his horse, and passed on his way
toward Camelot; but it was so near night he might not pass but little
further. Know ye any lodging? said Tor. I know none, said the dwarf, but
here beside is an hermitage, and there ye must take lodging as ye find.
And within a while they came to the hermitage and took lodging; and was
there grass, oats and bread for their horses; soon it was sped, and full
hard was their supper; but there they rested them all night till on the
morn, and heard a mass devoutly, and took their leave of the hermit, and
Sir Tor prayed the hermit to pray for him. He said he would, and betook
him to God. And so mounted upon horseback and rode towards Camelot a long
while.</p>
<p>With that they heard a knight call loud that came after them, and he said,
Knight, abide and yield my brachet that thou took from my lady. Sir Tor
returned again, and beheld him how he was a seemly knight and well horsed,
and well armed at all points; then Sir Tor dressed his shield, and took
his spear in his hands, and the other came fiercely upon him, and smote
both horse and man to the earth. Anon they arose lightly and drew their
swords as eagerly as lions, and put their shields afore them, and smote
through the shields, that the cantels fell off both parties. Also they
tamed their helms that the hot blood ran out, and the thick mails of their
hauberks they carved and rove in sunder that the hot blood ran to the
earth, and both they had many wounds and were passing weary. But Sir Tor
espied that the other knight fainted, and then he sued fast upon him, and
doubled his strokes, and gart him go to the earth on the one side. Then
Sir Tor bade him yield him. That will I not, said Abelleus, while my life
lasteth and the soul is within my body, unless that thou wilt give me the
brachet. That will I not do, said Sir Tor, for it was my quest to bring
again thy brachet, thee, or both.</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2HCH0057" id="link2HCH0057"></SPAN></p>
<h2> CHAPTER XI. How Sir Tor overcame the knight, and how he lost his head at the request of a lady. </h2>
<p>WITH that came a damosel riding on a palfrey as fast as she might drive,
and cried with a loud voice unto Sir Tor. What will ye with me? said Sir
Tor. I beseech thee, said the damosel, for King Arthur's love, give me a
gift; I require thee, gentle knight, as thou art a gentleman. Now, said
Tor, ask a gift and I will give it you. Gramercy, said the damosel; now I
ask the head of the false knight Abelleus, for he is the most outrageous
knight that liveth, and the greatest murderer. I am loath, said Sir Tor,
of that gift I have given you; let him make amends in that he hath
trespassed unto you. Now, said the damosel, he may not, for he slew mine
own brother before mine own eyes, that was a better knight than he, an he
had had grace; and I kneeled half an hour afore him in the mire for to
save my brother's life, that had done him no damage, but fought with him
by adventure of arms, and so for all that I could do he struck off his
head; wherefore I require thee, as thou art a true knight, to give me my
gift, or else I shall shame thee in all the court of King Arthur; for he
is the falsest knight living, and a great destroyer of good knights. Then
when Abelleus heard this, he was more afeard, and yielded him and asked
mercy. I may not now, said Sir Tor, but if I should be found false of my
promise; for while I would have taken you to mercy ye would none ask, but
if ye had the brachet again, that was my quest. And therewith he took off
his helm, and he arose and fled, and Sir Tor after him, and smote off his
head quite.</p>
<p>Now sir, said the damosel, it is near night; I pray you come and lodge
with me here at my place, it is here fast by. I will well, said Sir Tor,
for his horse and he had fared evil since they departed from Camelot, and
so he rode with her, and had passing good cheer with her; and she had a
passing fair old knight to her husband that made him passing good cheer,
and well eased both his horse and him. And on the morn he heard his mass,
and brake his fast, and took his leave of the knight and of the lady, that
besought him to tell them his name. Truly, he said, my name is Sir Tor
that was late made knight, and this was the first quest of arms that ever
I did, to bring again that this knight Abelleus took away from King
Arthur's court. O fair knight, said the lady and her husband, an ye come
here in our marches, come and see our poor lodging, and it shall be always
at your commandment. So Sir Tor departed and came to Camelot on the third
day by noon, and the king and the queen and all the court was passing fain
of his coming, and made great joy that he was come again; for he went from
the court with little succour, but as King Pellinore his father gave him
an old courser, and King Arthur gave him armour and a sword, and else had
he none other succour, but rode so forth himself alone. And then the king
and the queen by Merlin's advice made him to swear to tell of his
adventures, and so he told and made proofs of his deeds as it is afore
rehearsed, wherefore the king and the queen made great joy. Nay, nay, said
Merlin, these be but japes to that he shall do; for he shall prove a noble
knight of prowess, as good as any is living, and gentle and courteous, and
of good tatches, and passing true of his promise, and never shall outrage.
Wherethrough Merlin's words King Arthur gave him an earldom of lands that
fell unto him. And here endeth the quest of Sir Tor, King Pellinore's son.</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2HCH0058" id="link2HCH0058"></SPAN></p>
<h2> CHAPTER XII. How King Pellinore rode after the lady and the knight that led her away, and how a lady desired help of him, and how he fought with two </h2>
<p>knights for that lady, of whom he slew the one at the first stroke.</p>
<p>THEN King Pellinore armed him and mounted upon his horse, and rode more
than a pace after the lady that the knight led away. And as he rode in a
forest, he saw in a valley a damosel sit by a well, and a wounded knight
in her arms, and Pellinore saluted her. And when she was ware of him, she
cried overloud, Help me, knight; for Christ's sake, King Pellinore. And he
would not tarry, he was so eager in his quest, and ever she cried an
hundred times after help. When she saw he would not abide, she prayed unto
God to send him as much need of help as she had, and that he might feel it
or he died. So, as the book telleth, the knight there died that there was
wounded, wherefore the lady for pure sorrow slew herself with his sword.
As King Pellinore rode in that valley he met with a poor man, a labourer.
Sawest thou not, said Pellinore, a knight riding and leading away a lady?
Yea, said the man, I saw that knight, and the lady that made great dole;
and yonder beneath in a valley there shall ye see two pavilions, and one
of the knights of the pavilions challenged that lady of that knight, and
said she was his cousin near, wherefore he should lead her no farther. And
so they waged battle in that quarrel, the one said he would have her by
force, and the other said he would have the rule of her, by cause he was
her kinsman, and would lead her to her kin. For this quarrel he left them
fighting. And if ye will ride a pace ye shall find them fighting, and the
lady was beleft with the two squires in the pavilions. God thank thee,
said King Pellinore.</p>
<p>Then he rode a wallop till he had a sight of the two pavilions, and the
two knights fighting. Anon he rode unto the pavilions, and saw the lady
that was his quest, and said, Fair lady, ye must go with me unto the court
of King Arthur. Sir knight, said the two squires that were with her,
yonder are two knights that fight for this lady, go thither and depart
them, and be agreed with them, and then may ye have her at your pleasure.
Ye say well, said King Pellinore. And anon he rode betwixt them, and
departed them, and asked them the causes why that they fought? Sir knight,
said the one, I shall tell you, this lady is my kinswoman nigh, mine
aunt's daughter, and when I heard her complain that she was with him
maugre her head, I waged battle to fight with him. Sir knight, said the
other, whose name was Hontzlake of Wentland, and this lady I gat by my
prowess of arms this day at Arthur's court. That is untruly said, said
King Pellinore, for ye came in suddenly there as we were at the high
feast, and took away this lady or any man might make him ready; and
therefore it was my quest to bring her again and you both, or else the one
of us to abide in the field; therefore the lady shall go with me, or I
will die for it, for I have promised it King Arthur. And therefore fight
ye no more, for none of you shall have no part of her at this time; and if
ye list to fight for her, fight with me, and I will defend her. Well, said
the knights, make you ready, and we shall assail you with all our power.
And as King Pellinore would have put his horse from them, Sir Hontzlake
rove his horse through with a sword, and said: Now art thou on foot as
well as we are. When King Pellinore espied that his horse was slain,
lightly he leapt from his horse and pulled out his sword, and put his
shield afore him, and said, Knight, keep well thy head, for thou shalt
have a buffet for the slaying of my horse. So King Pellinore gave him such
a stroke upon the helm that he clave the head down to the chin, that he
fell to the earth dead.</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2HCH0059" id="link2HCH0059"></SPAN></p>
<h2> CHAPTER XIII. How King Pellinore gat the lady and brought her to Camelot to the court of King Arthur. </h2>
<p>AND then he turned him to the other knight, that was sore wounded. But
when he saw the other's buffet, he would not fight, but kneeled down and
said, Take my cousin the lady with you at your request, and I require you,
as ye be a true knight, put her to no shame nor villainy. What, said King
Pellinore, will ye not fight for her? No, sir, said the knight, I will not
fight with such a knight of prowess as ye be. Well, said Pellinore, ye say
well; I promise you she shall have no villainy by me, as I am true knight;
but now me lacketh an horse, said Pellinore, but I will have Hontzlake's
horse. Ye shall not need, said the knight, for I shall give you such an
horse as shall please you, so that you will lodge with me, for it is near
night. I will well, said King Pellinore, abide with you all night. And
there he had with him right good cheer, and fared of the best with passing
good wine, and had merry rest that night. And on the morn he heard a mass
and dined; and then was brought him a fair bay courser, and King
Pellinore's saddle set upon him. Now, what shall I call you? said the
knight, inasmuch as ye have my cousin at your desire of your quest. Sir, I
shall tell you, my name is King Pellinore of the Isles and knight of the
Table Round. Now I am glad, said the knight, that such a noble man shall
have the rule of my cousin. Now, what is your name? said Pellinore, I pray
you tell me. Sir, my name is Sir Meliot of Logurs, and this lady my cousin
hight Nimue, and the knight that was in the other pavilion is my sworn
brother, a passing good knight, and his name is Brian of the Isles, and he
is full loath to do wrong, and full loath to fight with any man, but if he
be sore sought on, so that for shame he may not leave it. It is marvel,
said Pellinore, that he will not have ado with me. Sir, he will not have
ado with no man but if it be at his request. Bring him to the court, said
Pellinore, one of these days. Sir, we will come together. And ye shall be
welcome, said Pellinore, to the court of King Arthur, and greatly allowed
for your coming. And so he departed with the lady, and brought her to
Camelot.</p>
<p>So as they rode in a valley it was full of stones, and there the lady's
horse stumbled and threw her down, that her arm was sore bruised and near
she swooned for pain. Alas! sir, said the lady, mine arm is out of lithe,
wherethrough I must needs rest me. Ye shall well, said King Pellinore. And
so he alighted under a fair tree where was fair grass, and he put his
horse thereto, and so laid him under the tree and slept till it was nigh
night. And when he awoke he would have ridden. Sir, said the lady, it is
so dark that ye may as well ride backward as forward. So they abode still
and made there their lodging. Then Sir Pellinore put off his armour; then
a little afore midnight they heard the trotting of an horse. Be ye still,
said King Pellinore, for we shall hear of some adventure.</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2HCH0060" id="link2HCH0060"></SPAN></p>
<h2> CHAPTER XIV. How on the way he heard two knights, as he lay by night in a valley, and of their adventures. </h2>
<p>AND therewith he armed him. So right even afore him there met two knights,
the one came froward Camelot, and the other from the north, and either
saluted other. What tidings at Camelot? said the one. By my head, said the
other, there have I been and espied the court of King Arthur, and there is
such a fellowship they may never be broken, and well-nigh all the world
holdeth with Arthur, for there is the flower of chivalry. Now for this
cause I am riding into the north, to tell our chieftains of the fellowship
that is withholden with King Arthur. As for that, said the other knight, I
have brought a remedy with me, that is the greatest poison that ever ye
heard speak of, and to Camelot will I with it, for we have a friend right
nigh King Arthur, and well cherished, that shall poison King Arthur; for
so he hath promised our chieftains, and received great gifts for to do it.
Beware, said the other knight, of Merlin, for he knoweth all things by the
devil's craft. Therefore will I not let it, said the knight. And so they
departed asunder. Anon after Pellinore made him ready, and his lady, [and]
rode toward Camelot; and as they came by the well there as the wounded
knight was and the lady, there he found the knight, and the lady eaten
with lions or wild beasts, all save the head, wherefore he made great
sorrow, and wept passing sore, and said, Alas! her life might I have
saved; but I was so fierce in my quest, therefore I would not abide.
Wherefore make ye such dole? said the lady. I wot not, said Pellinore, but
my heart mourneth sore of the death of her, for she was a passing fair
lady and a young. Now, will ye do by mine advice? said the lady, take this
knight and let him be buried in an hermitage, and then take the lady's
head and bear it with you unto Arthur. So King Pellinore took this dead
knight on his shoulders, and brought him to the hermitage, and charged the
hermit with the corpse, that service should be done for the soul; and take
his harness for your pain. It shall be done, said the hermit, as I will
answer unto God.</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2HCH0061" id="link2HCH0061"></SPAN></p>
<h2> CHAPTER XV. How when he was come to Camelot he was sworn upon a book to tell the truth of his quest. </h2>
<p>AND therewith they departed, and came there as the head of the lady lay
with a fair yellow hair that grieved King Pellinore passingly sore when he
looked on it, for much he cast his heart on the visage. And so by noon
they came to Camelot; and the king and the queen were passing fain of his
coming to the court. And there he was made to swear upon the Four
Evangelists, to tell the truth of his quest from the one to the other. Ah!
Sir Pellinore, said Queen Guenever, ye were greatly to blame that ye saved
not this lady's life. Madam, said Pellinore, ye were greatly to blame an
ye would not save your own life an ye might, but, save your pleasure, I
was so furious in my quest that I would not abide, and that repenteth me,
and shall the days of my life. Truly, said Merlin, ye ought sore to repent
it, for that lady was your own daughter begotten on the lady of the Rule,
and that knight that was dead was her love, and should have wedded her,
and he was a right good knight of a young man, and would have proved a
good man, and to this court was he coming, and his name was Sir Miles of
the Launds, and a knight came behind him and slew him with a spear, and
his name is Loraine le Savage, a false knight and a coward; and she for
great sorrow and dole slew herself with his sword, and her name was
Eleine. And because ye would not abide and help her, ye shall see your
best friend fail you when ye be in the greatest distress that ever ye were
or shall be. And that penance God hath ordained you for that deed, that he
that ye shall most trust to of any man alive, he shall leave you there ye
shall be slain. Me forthinketh, said King Pellinore, that this shall me
betide, but God may fordo well destiny.</p>
<p>Thus, when the quest was done of the white hart, the which followed Sir
Gawaine; and the quest of the brachet, followed of Sir Tor, Pellinore's
son; and the quest of the lady that the knight took away, the which King
Pellinore at that time followed; then the king stablished all his knights,
and them that were of lands not rich he gave them lands, and charged them
never to do outrageousity nor murder, and always to flee treason; also, by
no means to be cruel, but to give mercy unto him that asketh mercy, upon
pain of forfeiture of their worship and lordship of King Arthur for
evermore; and always to do ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen succour, upon
pain of death. Also, that no man take no battles in a wrongful quarrel for
no law, nor for no world's goods. Unto this were all the knights sworn of
the Table Round, both old and young. And every year were they sworn at the
high feast of Pentecost.</p>
<p>Explicit the Wedding of King Arthur. Sequitur quartus liber.</p>
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