The Noble Atchievements of King Arthur, and his Knights of the Round Table.
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 Britain 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 there 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 advent'rous 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 not I? (quoth Lancelot tho')
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for that cause came I hither.
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Thou seem'st, quoth she, a Knight right good,
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and I will bring thee thither.
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Whereas the mighty Knight doth dwell
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that now is to 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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o'er-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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we'll 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 despite 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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That's over-much, 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 their shields,
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wherewith they break asunder:
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Their horses backs break under them,
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the Knights they were aston'd;
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To avoid their horses they made haste,
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to fight 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 stroaks most eagerly,
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each one at other run:
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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 the 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 of King Arthurs Table round,
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King 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 our 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 thou thyself defend,
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for now I do defie thee.
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They hurled then together fast,
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like two wild boars so rushing,
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And with their swords and shields they ran
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at one another flashing.
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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 backt and bore his shield
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so low he did repent;
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Which soon espy'd Lancelot tho',
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he leapt upon him then,
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He pull'd 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 deliver'd tho'.
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