North Wales and the King of Northumberland and the King of an Hundred
Knights and these say to him: "Sir, may God bless you, for without your
aid, and that of your companion this day had certes been lost to us."
And then they said: "Now we pray you that you will come with us to King
Arthur so that you may receive at his hands the prize you have so
worshipfully deserved." Thus they spake very cheerfully, for not one of
those worthies knew that Sir Launcelot had been so sorely wounded in the
battle he had fought.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot would fain depart._]

Then Sir Launcelot spake in a very weak voice, so that it sounded like
to one speaking from a very great distance away. And he said: "Fair
lords, if I have won credit in this I have paid a fair price for it, for
I am sore hurt and wist not what to do. Now this I pray of you that you
will suffer me to depart from this place, for I am in great pain and
would fain go away from here to somewhere I may have aid and comforts."

Then those three kings would have had him go to a fair pavilion for to
have his wound searched and dressed, but ever he besought them to suffer
him to depart. So they suffered him, and he rode very slowly away from
that place, and Sir Lavaine rode with him.

* * * * *

So it was that Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine did battle at that famous
tournament at Astolat as I have told you.

And now if you would know how it fared with Sir Launcelot after he rode
away from that place, wounded as aforesaid, you shall immediately hear
of it in that which followeth.

[Illustration: Sir Gawaine knoweth the shield of Sir Launcelot]

[Illustration]

Chapter Fifth

_How Sir Launcelot escaped wounded into the forest, and how Sir Gawaine
discovered to the court of King Pelles who was le Chevalier Malfait._

So Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine rode away from that field of battle.
And they rode together into the forest, and all that while Sir Launcelot
contained his suffering to himself so that Sir Lavaine wist not how
grievous was his wound nor how great was the passion of agony that he
then endured because of that hurt. But after they had ridden a mile or
two or three into the woodland, Sir Launcelot could no longer thus
contain himself, wherefore he let droop his head very low and he groaned
with great dolor. Then Sir Lavaine was aware that some grievous hurt
must have befallen Sir Launcelot. Wherefore he cried out: "