The Noble Acts Newly found, Of Arthur of the Table Round.
To the Tune of, Flying Fame.
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WHen Arthur first in Court began,
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and was approved King,
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By force of Arms great Victories won,
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and conquest home did bring,
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Then into Brittain straight he came,
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where fifty stout and able
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Knights, then repaired unto him
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which were of the round Table.
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And many Justs and Turnaments
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before him their were prest,
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Wherein these Knights did then excel,
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and far surmount the rest:
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But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,
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who was approved well,
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He in his fights and deeds of Arms,
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all others did excel.
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When he had rested him a while,
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to Play, and Game, and Sport,
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He thought he would approve himself
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in some adventurous sort:
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He armed rode in Forrest wide,
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and met a Damsel fair,
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Who told him of adventures great,
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whereto he gave good ear.
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Why should I not (quoth Lancelot tho)
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for that cause came I hither:
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Thou seemst, quod she, a Knight right good,
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and I will bring thee thither.
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Whereas the mightiest Knight doth dwell,
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that now is of great fame:
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Wherefore tell me what Knight thou art
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and then what is thy name.
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My name is Lancelot du Lake:
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quoth she, it likes me then:
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Here dwells a Knight that never was
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ore matcht of any man,
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Who hath in Prison threescore Knights,
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and some that he hath bound.
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Knights of King Arthurs Court they be,
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and of the Table round.
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She brought him to a River then
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and also to a Tree,
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Whereas a Copper Bason hung,
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his fellows shields to see:
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He struck so hard the Bason broke,
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when Tarquin heard the sound,
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He drove a horse before him straight,
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whereon a Knight was bound.
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Sir Knight (then said Sir Lancelot)
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bring me that horse-load hither,
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And lay him down and let him rest,
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wel try our force together:
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For as I understand thou hast,
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as far as thou art able,
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Done great despight and shame unto
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the Knights of the round Table.
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If thou art of the Table round,
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quoth Tarquin speedily,
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Both thee and all thy fellowship
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I utterly defie.
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Thats overmuch, quoth Lancelot tho,
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defend thee by and by,
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They put their Spurs unto their Steeds,
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and each at other flye;
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They couch their Spears, and Horses run,
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as though they had been thunder,
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And each struck then upon the Shield,
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wherewith they brake asunder,
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Their Horses backs brake under them,
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the Knights were both astoned,
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To void their Horses they made haste,
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to light upon the ground:
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They took them to their shields full fast,
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their swords they drew out then,
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With mighty strokes most eagerly
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each one at other ran:
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They wounded were, and bled full sore,
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for breath they both did stand,
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And leaning on their Swords a while,
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quoth Tarquin hold thy hand,
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And tell to me what I shall ask:
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Say on, quoth Lancelot tho,
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Thou art, quoth Tarquin, the best Knight
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that ever I did know;
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And like a Knight that I did hate,
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so that thou be not he,
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I will deliver all the rest,
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and eke accord with thee.
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That is well said, quoth Lancelot then,
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but sith it so must be,
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What is that Knight thou hatest so,
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I pray thee shew to me?
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His name is Sir Lancelot du Lake,
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he slew my brother dear,
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Him I suspect of all the rest,
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I would I had him here.
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Thy wish thou hast, but now unknown,
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I am Lancelot du Lake,
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Now Knight of Arthurs Table round,
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Kings Hands Son of Benwake;
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And I defie thee, do thy worst,
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Ha, ha, quoth Tarquin tho,
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One of us two shall end their lives
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before that we do go.
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If thou be Lancelot du Lake,
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then welcome shalt thou be,
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Wherefore see thou thy self defend
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for now I thee defie.
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They hurled then together fast,
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like two wild Boars so rashing,
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And with their Swords and Shields they ran
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at one another slashing:
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The ground besprinkled was with blood
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Tarquin began to faint,
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For he had hackt and bore his Shield
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so low he did repent;
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That soon espyed Sir Lancelot tho,
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he leapt upon him then,
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He pulld him down upon his knee,
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and rushed off his Helm;
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And then he struck his neck in two,
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and when he had done so,
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From Prison threescore Knights and four,
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Lancelot delivered tho.
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