BALLAD XVIII.

SIR LANCELOT DU LAK E.*

W

HEN Arthur firft in court began,

And was approved king;

By force of arms great victories won,
And conqueft home did bring;

Then into Britain ftraight he came,
Where fifty good and able
Knights then repaired unto him,
Which were of the Round Table.

And many jufts and tournaments
Before him there were preft,
Wherein these knights did then excell,
And far furmount the reft.

But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,
Who was approved well,

He, in his fights and deeds of arms,
All others did excell.

When he had refted him a while,
To play, and game, and sport;
He thought he would approve himself

In fome advent'rous fort:

The title of the old copies is, but very improperly, "The noble atchievements of king Arthur, and his knights of the round table. To the tune of Flying Fame."

U 2

He

He armed rode in foreft wide,

And met a damfel fair,

Who told him of adventures great ;

Whereto he gave good ear.

Why should not I? quoth Lancelot tho,

For that cause came I hither.

Thou feem'ft, quoth fhe, a knight right good,
And I will bring thee thither,

Whereas the mightieft knight doth dwell,
That now is of great fame:
Wherefor tell me what knight thou art ;
And then what is thy name.

My name is Lancelot du Lake." Quoth fhe, It likes me, then ; Here dwells a kright that never was O'ermatch'd of any man ;

Who hath in prison threefcore knights
And four, that he hath bound;
Knights of King Arthurs court they be,
And of the Table Round.

She brought him to a river then,
And alfo to a tree,
Whereas a copper bafon hung,

His fellows fhields to fee.

He

He ftruck fo hard, the bason broke:
When Tarquin heard the found,
He drove a horse before him ftraight,
Whereon a knight was bound.

Sir knight, then faid Sir Lancelot,
Bring me that horse load hither,

And lay him down, and let him reft;
We'll try our force together:

For, as I understand, thou haft,
As far as thou art able,
Done great despite and shame unto
The knights of the Round Table.

If thou art of the Table Round,
Quoth Tarquin speedily,
Both thee, and all thy fellowship,
I utterly defy.

That's over much, quoth Lancelot tho ;

Defend thee by and by.

They put their spurs unto their steeds,

And each at other fly.

They couch'd their fpears, and horses run,

As though they had been thunder; And each ftruck then upon the shield,

Wherewith they brake asunder.

Their horses backs brake under them;
The knights they were aftound:
To avoid their horfes they made hafte
To light upon the ground.

They took them to their fhields full faft,
Their fwords they drew out then;
With mighty ftrokes moft eagerly
Each one at other run.

They wounded were, and bled full fore,
For breath they both did ftand;
And leaning on their fwords a while,
Quoth Tarquin, Hold thy hand;

And tell to me what I fhall ask.
Say on, quoth Lancelot tho.
Thou art, quoth Tarquin, the best knight
That ever I did know;

And like a knight that I did hate :

So that thou be not he,

I will deliver all the reft,

And eke accord with thee.

That is well faid, quoth Lancelot then
But fith it fo must be,

What is the knight thou hateft thus,
I pray thee fhow to me?

His name is Lancelot du Lake;

He flew my brother dear; Him I fufpect of all the reft: I would I had him here.

"Thy wish thou haft, but now unknown;

I am Lancelot du Lake,

Now knight of Arthurs table round,

King Hands fon of Benwake:

They hurled then together fast,

Like two wild boars fo rashing,
And with their swords and shields they ran
At one another flashing:

The ground befprinkled was with blood,
Tarquin began to faint ;

For he had back'd, and bore his shield
So low, he did repent.