es, and
passing true of his promise, and never shall outrage. Wherethrough
Merlin's words King Arthur gave him an earldom of lands that fell unto
him. And here endeth the quest of Sir Tor, King Pellinore's son.

CHAPTER XII. How King Pellinore rode after the lady and the knight that
led her away, and how a lady desired help of him, and how he fought with
two knights for that lady, of whom he slew the one at the first stroke.

THEN King Pellinore armed him and mounted upon his horse, and rode more
than a pace after the lady that the knight led away. And as he rode in a
forest, he saw in a valley a damosel sit by a well, and a wounded knight
in her arms, and Pellinore saluted her. And when she was ware of him,
she cried overloud, Help me, knight; for Christ's sake, King Pellinore.
And he would not tarry, he was so eager in his quest, and ever she cried
an hundred times after help. When she saw he would not abide, she prayed
unto God to send him as much need of help as she had, and that he might
feel it or he died. So, as the book telleth, the knight there died that
there was wounded, wherefore the lady for pure sorrow slew herself with
his sword. As King Pellinore rode in that valley he met with a poor man,
a labourer. Sawest thou not, said Pellinore, a knight riding and leading
away a lady? Yea, said the man, I saw that knight, and the lady that
made great dole; and yonder beneath in a valley there shall ye see two
pavilions, and one of the knights of the pavilions challenged that lady
of that knight, and said she was his cousin near, wherefore he should
lead her no farther. And so they waged battle in that quarrel, the one
said he would have her by force, and the other said he would have the
rule of her, by cause he was her kinsman, and would lead her to her kin.
For this quarrel he left them fighting. And if ye will ride a pace ye
shall find them fighting, and the lady was beleft with the two squires
in the pavilions. God thank thee, said King Pellinore.

Then he rode a wallop till he had a sight of the two pavilions, and the
two knights fighting. Anon he rode unto the pavilions, and saw the lady
that was his quest, and said, Fair lady, ye must go with me unto the
court of King Arthur. Sir knight, said the two squires that were with
her, yonder are two knights that fight for this lady, go thither and
depart them, and be agreed with them, and then may ye have her at your
pleasure. Ye say well, said King Pellinore.