thou seemest well to be a good knight, and if thou dare meet with
a good knight, I shall bring thee where is the best knight, and the
mightiest that ever thou found, so thou wilt tell me what is thy name,
and what knight thou art. Damosel, as for to tell thee my name I take no
great force; truly my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Sir, thou beseemest
well, here be adventures by that fall for thee, for hereby dwelleth a
knight that will not be overmatched for no man I know but ye overmatch
him, and his name is Sir Turquine. And, as I understand, he hath in his
prison, of Arthur's court, good knights three score and four, that he
hath won with his own hands. But when ye have done that journey ye shall
promise me as ye are a true knight for to go with me, and to help me and
other damosels that are distressed daily with a false knight. All your
intent, damosel, and desire I will fulfil, so ye will bring me unto this
knight. Now, fair knight, come on your way; and so she brought him unto
the ford and the tree where hung the basin.

So Sir Launcelot let his horse drink, and then he beat on the basin with
the butt of his spear so hard with all his might till the bottom fell
out, and long he did so, but he saw nothing. Then he rode endlong the
gates of that manor nigh half-an-hour. And then was he ware of a great
knight that drove an horse afore him, and overthwart the horse there
lay an armed knight bound. And ever as they came near and near, Sir
Launcelot thought he should know him. Then Sir Launcelot was ware that
it was Sir Gaheris, Gawaine's brother, a knight of the Table Round.
Now, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, I see yonder cometh a knight fast
bounden that is a fellow of mine, and brother he is unto Sir Gawaine.
And at the first beginning I promise you, by the leave of God, to rescue
that knight; but if his master sit better in the saddle I shall deliver
all the prisoners that he hath out of danger, for I am sure he hath two
brethren of mine prisoners with him. By that time that either had seen
other, they gripped their spears unto them. Now, fair knight, said
Sir Launcelot, put that wounded knight off the horse, and let him rest
awhile, and let us two prove our strengths; for as it is informed me,
thou doest and hast done great despite and shame unto knights of the
Round Table, and therefore now defend thee. An thou be of the Table
Round, said Turquine, I defy thee and all thy fellowship. That is
overmuch said, said