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How King Pellinore gat the lady and brought her to Camelot
to the court of King Arthur.
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.
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.
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