The Noble Acts n [...]wly found, of Arthur of the Table round.
To th
[...] tune of
flying Fame.
WH
[...]n
Arthur first in Court b
[...]gan,
and was approued King:
By force of Armes great Victories won,
and conquest home did bring:
Then into
Brittaine straight he came,
where fiftie good and able
Knights then repaired vnto him,
which were of the Round-table.
And many Iustes and Turnaments,
before him there were brest:
Wherein both Knights did then excell,
and far surmount the rest:
But one Sir
Lancelot du Lake,
who was approoued we
[...]:
He in his sight and deeds of Armes,
all other did excell.
When he had rested him a while,
to play and game and sport;
He thought he would approue himselfe,
in some aduenturous sort:
He armed rode in Forest wide, and met a Damsell faire,
Who told him of aduentures great: wherto he gaue good eare.
Why should I not (quoth
Lancelot tho)
for that cause came I hither.
Thou seemist (quoth she)
[...] Knight right good
and I will bring thee thither,
Whereas the mightiest Knights doth dwell
that now is of great fame:
Wherefore tell me what Knight thou art,
and then what is thy name:
My name is
Lancelot du Lake.
Quoth shee, it likes me than:
Here dwels a Knight that neuer was
e're matcht of any man:
Who hath in Prison threescore Knights
and foure, that he hath won?
Knights of King
Arthurs Court they be,
and of the Table-round;
She brought him to a riuer then,
and also to a tree,
Whereas acopper Bason hung,
his fellowes Shields to see,
He stroke so hard, the Bason broke;
When
Tarquin heard the sound,
He droue a Horse before him straight,
whereon a Knight lay bound,
Sir Knight (then said Sir
Lancelot tho)
bring me that Horse-load hither,
And lay him downe, and let him rest,
weele try our force togeather:
For as I vnderstand, thou hast,
as farre as thou art able,
Done great despight and shame vnto
the Knights of the Round-table,
If thou be of the Table-round,
(quoth
Tarquin speedily)
Both thee and all thy fellowship,
I vtterly defie.
Thats ouermuch (quoth
Lancelot tho)
defend thee by and by,
They put their spurs, vnto their Steeds,
and each at other fly:
They couch their Speares, and Horses run,
as though there had bene thunder,
And each stroke there amidst the shield,
wherewith they brake in sunder:
Their Horses backs brake vnder them,
the Knights were both astound:
To voide their horses they made great haste
to light vpon the ground:
They tooke them to their Shields full fast,
their Swords they drue out then:
With mighty stroakes most eagerly,
each one to other can,
They wounded were, and bled full sore,
for breath they both did stand;
And leaning on their Swords a while,
quoth
Tarquin hold thy hand
And tell to mee what I shall aske.
say on quoth
Lancelot tho.
Thou art (quoth
Tarquin) the best Knight
that euer I did know,
And like a Knight tha
[...] did hate:
so that that thou be not he,
I will deliuer all the rest,
and eke accord with thee.
That is
[...] (quoth
Lancelot then)
but sith it so must be,
What is that Knight thou hatest so,
I pray thee shew to mee:
His name's Sir
Lancelot du Lake,
He slew my brother deare:
Him I suspect of all the rest,
I would I had him here.
Thy Wish thou hast, but now vnknowne▪
I am
Lancelot du Lake,
Now Knight of
Arthurs Table-round,
King
Hand
[...]onne of
Benwake:
And I defie thee doe thy worst,
Ha, ha, (quoth
Tarquin tho)
One of vs two shall end our liues,
before that we doe goe:
If thou be
Lancelot du Lake,
then welcome thou shalt be:
Wherefore, see thou thy selfe defend,
for now I thee defie.
They hurled them togeather so,
like two wild Bores, so rashing:
And with their Swords & Shields they ran
at one another lashing.
The ground
[...]s
[...]rinkled was with Blood:
Tarquin began to faint,
For he gaue backe, and bore his Shield
so low he did repent.
That soonee spide Sir
Lancelot tho,
he lept vpon him then:
He puld him downe vpon his knee,
and rushed-off his Helmne:
And then he strooke his necke in two,
And when he had done so.
From prison threescore Knight and
[...],
Lancelot deliuered tho.