s the
cause, that ye and Dame Brisen made me for to lie by you maugre mine
head; and as ye say, that night Galahad your son was begotten. That is
truth, said Dame Elaine. Now will ye for my love, said Sir Launcelot, go
unto your father and get me a place of him wherein I may dwell? for in
the court of King Arthur may I never come. Sir, said Dame Elaine, I will
live and die with you, and only for your sake; and if my life might not
avail you and my death might avail you, wit you well I would die for
your sake. And I will go to my father and I am sure there is nothing
that I can desire of him but I shall have it. And where ye be, my lord
Sir Launcelot, doubt ye not but I will be with you with all the service
that I may do. So forthwithal she went to her father and said, Sir, my
lord, Sir Launcelot, desireth to be here by you in some castle of yours.
Well daughter, said the king, sith it is his desire to abide in these
marches he shall be in the Castle of Bliant, and there shall ye be with
him, and twenty of the fairest ladies that be in the country, and they
shall all be of the great blood, and ye shall have ten knights with you;
for, daughter, I will that ye wit we all be honoured by the blood of Sir
Launcelot.

CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot came into the joyous Isle, and there he
named himself Le Chevaler Mal Fet.

THEN went Dame Elaine unto Sir Launcelot, and told him all how her
father had devised for him and her. Then came the knight Sir Castor,
that was nephew unto Kong Pelles, unto Sir Launcelot, and asked him what
was his name. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, my name is Le Chevaler Mal Fet,
that is to say the knight that hath trespassed. Sir, said Sir Castor, it
may well be so, but ever meseemeth your name should be Sir Launcelot du
Lake, for or now I have seen you. Sir, said Launcelot, ye are not as a
gentle knight: I put case my name were Sir Launcelot, and that it list
me not to discover my name, what should it grieve you here to keep my
counsel, and ye be not hurt thereby? but wit thou well an ever it lie
in my power I shall grieve you, and that I promise you truly. Then Sir
Castor kneeled down and besought Sir Launcelot of mercy: For I shall
never utter what ye be, while that ye be in these parts. Then Sir
Launcelot pardoned him.

And then, after this, King Pelles with ten knights, and Dame Elaine, and
twenty ladies, rode unto the Castle of Bliant that stood in an island
beclosed in iron, with a fair water