eir adventures.

_Here endeth the eleventh book. And here followeth the twelfth book._

BOOK XII.

CHAPTER I. How Sir Launcelot in his madness took a sword and fought with
a knight, and leapt in a bed.

AND now leave we of a while of Sir Ector and of Sir Percivale, and speak
we of Sir Launcelot that suffered and endured many sharp showers, that
ever ran wild wood from place to place, and lived by fruit and such as
he might get, and drank water two year; and other clothing had he but
little but his shirt and his breech. Thus as Sir Launcelot wandered here
and there he came in a fair meadow where he found a pavilion; and there
by, upon a tree, there hung a white shield, and two swords hung thereby,
and two spears leaned there by a tree. And when Sir Launcelot saw the
swords, anon he leapt to the one sword, and took it in his hand, and
drew it out. And then he lashed at the shield, that all the meadow rang
of the dints, that he gave such a noise as ten knights had foughten
together.

Then came forth a dwarf, and leapt unto Sir Launcelot, and would have
had the sword out of his hand. And then Sir Launcelot took him by the
both shoulders and threw him to the ground upon his neck, that he had
almost broken his neck; and therewithal the dwarf cried help. Then
came forth a likely knight, and well apparelled in scarlet furred with
minever. And anon as he saw Sir Launcelot he deemed that he should be
out of his wit. And then he said with fair speech: Good man, lay down
that sword, for as meseemeth thou hadst more need of sleep and of warm
clothes than to wield that sword. As for that, said Sir Launcelot, come
not too nigh, for an thou do, wit thou well I will slay thee.

And when the knight of the pavilion saw that, he stert backward within
the pavilion. And then the dwarf armed him lightly; and so the knight
thought by force and might to take the sword from Sir Launcelot, and so
he came stepping out; and when Sir Launcelot saw him come so all armed
with his sword in his hand, then Sir Launcelot flew to him with such a
might, and hit him upon the helm such a buffet, that the stroke troubled
his brains, and therewith the sword brake in three. And the knight fell
to the earth as he had been dead, the blood brasting out of his mouth,
the nose, and the ears. And then Sir Launcelot ran into the pavilion,
and rushed even into the warm bed; and there was a lady in that bed,
and she gat her smock, and ran out of the p