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III.
When hee had rested him a while in play, and game, and
sporte,
He said he wold go prove himself in some advent'rous
sorte;
He armed rode in forrest wyde, and met a damsell faire,
Who told him of adventures great, whereto he gave good
eare.
IV.
Such wold I find, quoth Lancelot, for that cause came I
hither.
Thou seem'st, quoth she, a Knight full good, and I will
bring thee thither
Whereas a mightye Knight doth dwell, that now is of great
fame,
Therefore tell me what wight thou art, and what might be thy
name.
V.
My name is Lancelot du Lake. Quoth she, It likes me than,
Here dwells a Knight who never was yet match'd with any
man,
Who has in prisonne threescore Knights, and four that he did
wound;
Knights of King Arthur's Court they be, and of his Table
Round.
VI.
She brought him to a river-side, and also to a tree,
Whereon a copper bason hung, and many a shield to see;
He struck so hard the bason brake, and Torquin soon he
spyed,
Who drove a horse before him fast, whereon a Knight was
tyed.
VII.
Sir Knight, then said Sir Lancelot, bring me that horse-load
hither,
And lay him downe, and let him rest, we'll try our force
together;
For as I understande thou hast, as far as thou art able,
Done great despite and shame unto the Knights of the Round
Table.
VIII.
If thou be of the Table-Round, quoth Torquin speedily,
Bothe thee and all thy fellowship I utterly defy.
That's over much, quoth Lancelot, defend thee by and by.
They set their spurs unto their steeds, and at each other
fly.
IX.
They coucht their spears, (their horses ran as tho' there
had been thunder,)
And strucke them each amidst their shield, wherewith they
brake in sunder;
Their horses backs brake under them, the Knights were both
astound;
T' avoid their horses they made haste, and light upon the
ground.
X.
They took them to their shields full fast, their swords they
drew out than,
With mighty strokes most eagerlye, eache at the other
ran:
They wounded were, and bled full sore, for breath they both
did stand,
And leaning on their swords a while, quoth Torquin, Hold thy
hand,
XI.
And tell to me what I do aske. Say on, quoth Lancelot.
Tho'
Thou art, quoth Torquin, the best Knight that ever I did
know,
And like a Knight that I do hate, so that thou be not
hee,
I will deliver all the rest, and eke accord with thee.
XII.
That is well said, quoth Lancelot, but sith it must be
so,
What Knight is that thou hatest thus, I pray thee to me
show.
His name is Lancelot du Lake, he slew my brother deare;
Him I suspect of all the rest, I would I had him here.
XIII.
Thy wish thou hast, but yet unknown, I'm Lancelot du
Lake,
Now Knight of Arthur's Table Round; --s son of Southake;
And I defye thee, do thy worst,- Ho! ho! quoth Torquin,
ho!
One of us two must end our lives before that we do go.
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