Roman van Lancelot

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Capitulum IX.

Now leve we sire launcelot in the Joyous yle with the lady dame Elayne and syr Percyval and sir Ector playenge with hem, and torne we to syr Bors de Ganys and sire

[p. LXV]

Lyonel that had soughte sire launcelot nygh by the space of two yere, and never coude they here of hym, and as they thus rode by adventure they cam to the hous of Brandegore, and there syr Bors was wel knowen, for he had geten a child upon the kynges doughter fyflen yere to forne, and his name was Helyn le-blank. And whanne syre Bors sawe that child hit lyked hym passynge wel. And so the knyghtes had good chere of the kynge Brandegore. And on the morne syr Bors came afore kynge Brandegore and said, Here is my sone Helyn le blanck, that as it is sayd he is my sone. And sythe hit is soo, I wille that ye wete that I wil have him with me unto the courte of kynge Arthur. Sir said the kynge, ye maye wel take hym with you, but he is over tender of age. As for that sayd syre Bors I wille have hym with me, and brynge hym to the hows of most worship of the world. Soo whanne syre Boors shold departe, there was made grete sorowe for the departynge of Helyn le blanck, and grete wepynge was there made. But syre Bors and syre Lyonel departed. And within a whyle they came to Camelot, where was kynge Arthur. And whanne kynge Arthur understood that Helyn le blank was kynge Bors sone, and nevewe nnto kynge Brandegore, Thenne kynge Arthur lete hym make knyghte of the round table, and soo he preved a good knyght, and an adventurons.

Now wille we torne to our mater of sire launcelot. Hit befelle upon a day syr Ector and syr Percyval cam to syr Launcelot and asked hym what he wold doo, and whether he wold goo with them unto kynge Arthur or not. Nay sayd syr Launcelot that may not be by no meane, for I was so venetreted at the courte that I cast me never to come there more. Sir said syr Ector I am youre broder and ye are the man in the world that I love moost. And yf I understode that it were your disworship, ye may understande I wold never counceyle yow ther to, but kynge Arthur and al his knyghtes, and in especial Quene Guenever maade suche dole and sorowe that hit was merveyle to here and see. And ye muste remembre the grete worship and renoume that ye be of, how that ye have ben more spoken of than ony other knyghte that is now lyvynge, for there is none that bereth the name now but ye and syr Tristram, therfore broder sayd syre Ector make yow redy to ryde to the Courte with us, and I dar say, there was never knygte better welcome to the court than ye, and I wote wel and can make it good said syr Ector it hath coste my lady the Quene twenty thowsand pound the sekynge of yow. Wel broder said sire launcelot I wil doo after your counceil and ryde with yow. Soo thenne they tooke their horses and made them redy and took their leve at kyng Pelles and at dame Elayne. And whanne syre launcelot shold departe, dame Elayne made grete sorowe. My lord syr Launcelot said dame Elayne at this same feest of Pentecost shall your sone and myn Galahalt be made knyghte, for he is fully now xv wynter old. Doo as ye lyst said sir Launcelot, god gyve hym grace to preve a

[p. LXVI]

good knyghte. As for that sayd dame Elayne I doubte not he shal preve the best man of his kyn excepte one, thenne shalle he be a man good ynough said syre launcelot.