So as fair Elaine came to Winchester she sought there all about,and by fortune Sir Lavaine was ridden to play him,to enchafe his horse.And anon as Elaine saw him she knew him,and then she cried aloud until him.And when he heard her anon he came to her,and then she asked her brother how did my lord,Sir Launcelot.Who told you,sister,that my lord's name was Sir Launcelot?Then she told him how Sir Gawaine by his shield knew him.
So they rode together till that they came to the hermitage,and anon she alighted.
So Sir Lavaine brought her in to Sir Launcelot;and when she saw him lie so sick and pale in his bed she might not speak,but suddenly she fell to the earth down suddenly in a swoon,and there she lay a great while.And when she was relieved,she shrieked and said:My lord,Sir Launcelot,alas why be ye in this plight?and then she swooned again.And then Sir Launcelot prayed Sir Lavaine to take her up:And bring her to me.And when she came to herself Sir Launcelot kissed her,and said:Fair maiden,why fare ye thus?ye put me to pain;wherefore make ye no more such cheer,for an ye be come to comfort me ye be right welcome;and of this little hurt that I have I shall be right hastily whole by the grace of God.But I marvel,said Sir Launcelot,who told you my name?Then the fair maiden told him all how Sir Gawaine was lodged with her father:And there by your shield he discovered your name.Alas,said Sir Launcelot,that me repenteth that my name is known,for I am sure it will turn unto anger.And then Sir Launcelot compassed in his mind that Sir Gawaine would tell Queen Guenever how he bare the red sleeve,and for whom;that he wist well would turn into great anger.
So this maiden Elaine never went from Sir Launcelot,but watched him day and night,and did such attendance to him,that the French book saith there was never woman did more kindlier for man than she.Then Sir Launcelot prayed Sir Lavaine to make aspies in Winchester for Sir Bors if he came there,and told him by what tokens he should know him,by a wound in his forehead.For well I am sure,said Sir Launcelot,that Sir Bors will seek me,for he is the same good knight that hurt me.
CHAPTER XVI
How Sir Bors sought Launcelot and found him in the hermitage,and of the lamentation between them.
NOW turn we unto Sir Bors de Ganis that came unto Winchester to seek after his cousin Sir Launcelot.And so when he came to Winchester,anon there were men that Sir Lavaine had made to lie in a watch for such a man,and anon Sir Lavaine had warning;and then Sir Lavaine came to Winchester and found Sir Bors,and there he told him what he was,and with whom he was,and what was his name.Now fair knight,said Sir Bors,I require you that ye will bring me to my lord,Sir Launcelot.Sir,said Sir Lavaine,take your horse,and within this hour ye shall see him.And so they departed,and came to the hermitage.
And when Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot lie in his bed pale and discoloured,anon Sir Bors lost his countenance,and for kindness and pity he might not speak,but wept tenderly a great while.And then when he might speak he said thus:O my lord,Sir Launcelot,God you bless,and send you hasty recover;and full heavy am I of my misfortune and of mine unhappiness,for now I may call myself unhappy.And I dread me that God is greatly displeased with me,that he would suffer me to have such a shame for to hurt you that are all our leader,and all our worship;and therefore I call myself unhappy.Alas that ever such a caitiff-knight as I am should have power by unhappiness to hurt the most noblest knight of the world.
Where I so shamefully set upon you and overcharged you,and where ye might have slain me,ye saved me;and so did not I,for I and your blood did to you our utterance.
I marvel,said Sir Bors,that my heart or my blood would serve me,wherefore my lord,Sir Launcelot,I ask your mercy.Fair cousin,said Sir Launcelot,ye be right welcome;and wit ye well,overmuch ye say for to please me,the which pleaseth me not,for why I have the same Isought;for I would with pride have overcome you all,and there in my pride I was near slain,and that was in mine own default,for I might have given you warning of my being there.And then had I had no hurt,for it is an old said saw,there is hard battle thereas kin and friends do battle either against other,there may be no mercy but mortal war.Therefore,fair cousin,said Sir Launcelot,let this speech overpass,and all shall be welcome that God sendeth;and let us leave off this matter and let us speak of some rejoicing,for this that is done may not be undone;and let us find a remedy how soon that I may be whole.
Then Sir Bors leaned upon his bedside,and told Sir Launcelot how the queen was passing wroth with him,because he wore the red sleeve at the great jousts;and there Sir Bors told him all how Sir Gawaine discovered it:
By your shield that ye left with the Fair Maiden of Astolat.Then is the queen wroth,said Sir Launcelot and therefore am I right heavy,for I deserved no wrath,for all that I did was because I would not be known.
Right so excused I you,said Sir Bors,but all was in vain,for she said more largelier to me than I to you now.But is this she,said Sir Bors,that is so busy about you,that men call the Fair Maiden of Astolat?She it is,said Sir Launcelot,that by no means I cannot put her from me.
Why should ye put her from you?said Sir Bors,she is a passing fair damosel,and a well beseen,and well taught;and God would,fair cousin,said Sir Bors,that ye could love her,but as to that I may not,nor I dare not,counsel you.But I see well,said Sir Bors,by her diligence about you that she loveth you entirely.That me repenteth,said Sir Launcelot.Sir,said Sir Bors,she is not the first that hath lost her pain upon you,and that is the more pity:and so they talked of many more things.And so within three days or four Sir Launcelot was big and strong again.
CHAPTER XVII
How Sir Launcelot armed him to assay if he might bear arms,and how his wounds brast out again.