he slew
two of the knights, and the other fled; and so he won his horse and rode
from them. And all as it was it was rehearsed in King Arthur's court,
how he slew twelve knights within the Castle Orgulous; and so he rode on
his way.

And in the meanwhile the damosel said to Sir Mordred: I ween my foolish
knight be either slain or taken prisoner: then were they ware where he
came riding. And when he was come unto them he told all how he had sped
and escaped in despite of them all: And some of the best of them will
tell no tales. Thou liest falsely, said the damosel, that dare I make
good, but as a fool and a dastard to all knighthood they have let thee
pass. That may ye prove, said La Cote Male Taile. With that she sent a
courier of hers, that rode alway with her, for to know the truth of this
deed; and so he rode thither lightly, and asked how and in what manner
that La Cote Male Taile was escaped out of the castle. Then all the
knights cursed him, and said that he was a fiend and no man: For he hath
slain here twelve of our best knights, and we weened unto this day that
it had been too much for Sir Launcelot du Lake or for Sir Tristram de
Liones. And in despite of us all he is departed from us and maugre our
heads.

With this answer the courier departed and came to Maledisant his lady,
and told her all how Sir La Cote Male Taile had sped at the Castle
Orgulous. Then she smote down her head, and said little. By my head,
said Sir Mordred to the damosel, ye are greatly to blame so to rebuke
him, for I warn you plainly he is a good knight, and I doubt not but
he shall prove a noble knight; but as yet he may not yet sit sure on
horseback, for he that shall be a good horseman it must come of usage
and exercise. But when he cometh to the strokes of his sword he is then
noble and mighty, and that saw Sir Bleoberis and Sir Palomides, for wit
ye well they are wily men of arms, and anon they know when they see a
young knight by his riding, how they are sure to give him a fall from
his horse or a great buffet. But for the most part they will not light
on foot with young knights, for they are wight and strongly armed. For
in likewise Sir Launcelot du Lake, when he was first made knight, he was
often put to the worse upon horseback, but ever upon foot he recovered
his renown, and slew and defoiled many knights of the Round Table. And
therefore the rebukes that Sir Launcelot did unto many knights causeth
them that be men of prowes