my
name, and require me of knighthood to help you, I will do what I may to
get your hawk, and yet God knoweth I am an ill climber, and the tree
is passing high, and few boughs to help me withal. And therewith Sir
Launcelot alighted, and tied his horse to the same tree, and prayed
the lady to unarm him. And so when he was unarmed, he put off all his
clothes unto his shirt and breech, and with might and force he clomb up
to the falcon, and tied the lines to a great rotten boyshe, and threw
the hawk down and it withal.

Anon the lady gat the hawk in her hand; and therewithal came out Sir
Phelot out of the groves suddenly, that was her husband, all armed and
with his naked sword in his hand, and said: O knight Launcelot, now have
I found thee as I would, and stood at the bole of the tree to slay him.
Ah, lady, said Sir Launcelot, why have ye betrayed me? She hath done,
said Sir Phelot, but as I commanded her, and therefore there nis none
other boot but thine hour is come that thou must die. That were shame
unto thee, said Sir Launcelot, thou an armed knight to slay a naked
man by treason. Thou gettest none other grace, said Sir Phelot, and
therefore help thyself an thou canst. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, that
shall be thy shame, but since thou wilt do none other, take mine harness
with thee, and hang my sword upon a bough that I may get it, and then do
thy best to slay me an thou canst. Nay, nay, said Sir Phelot, for I know
thee better than thou weenest, therefore thou gettest no weapon, an I
may keep you therefrom. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, that ever a knight
should die weaponless. And therewith he waited above him and under
him, and over his head he saw a rownsepyk, a big bough leafless, and
therewith he brake it off by the body. And then he came lower and
awaited how his own horse stood, and suddenly he leapt on the further
side of the horse, fro-ward the knight. And then Sir Phelot lashed at
him eagerly, weening to have slain him. But Sir Launcelot put away the
stroke with the rownsepyk, and therewith he smote him on the one side
of the head, that he fell down in a swoon to the ground. So then Sir
Launcelot took his sword out of his hand, and struck his neck from the
body. Then cried the lady, Alas! why hast thou slain my husband? I am
not causer, said Sir Launcelot, for with falsehood ye would have had
slain me with treason, and now it is fallen on you both. And then she
swooned as though she would die. And therewithal