Launcelot's
skin which grieved him full sore, but he took it meekly, and suffered
the pain. And so on the morn he heard his mass and took his arms, and so
took his leave.

CHAPTER V. How Sir Launcelot jousted with many knights, and how he was
taken.

AND then mounted upon his horse, and rode into a forest, and held no
highway. And as he looked afore him he saw a fair plain, and beside that
a fair castle, and afore the castle were many pavilions of silk and
of diverse hue. And him seemed that he saw there five hundred knights
riding on horseback; and there were two parties: they that were of the
castle were all on black horses and their trappings black, and they that
were without were all on white horses and trappings, and everych hurtled
to other that it marvelled Sir Launcelot. And at the last him thought
they of the castle were put to the worse.

Then thought Sir Launcelot for to help there the weaker party in
increasing of his chivalry. And so Sir Launcelot thrust in among the
party of the castle, and smote down a knight, horse and man, to the
earth. And then he rashed here and there, and did marvellous deeds of
arms. And then he drew out his sword, and struck many knights to the
earth, so that all those that saw him marvelled that ever one knight
might do so great deeds of arms. But always the white knights held them
nigh about Sir Launcelot, for to tire him and wind him. But at the last,
as a man may not ever endure, Sir Launcelot waxed so faint of fighting
and travailing, and was so weary of his great deeds, that[1] he might
not lift up his arms for to give one stroke, so that he weened never to
have borne arms; and then they all took and led him away into a
forest, and there made him to alight and to rest him. And then all the
fellowship of the castle were overcome for the default of him. Then
they said all unto Sir Launcelot: Blessed be God that ye be now of our
fellowship, for we shall hold you in our prison; and so they left

[1] So W. de Worde; Caxton "but."

him with few words. And then Sir Launcelot made great sorrow, For never
or now was I never at tournament nor jousts but I had the best, and now
I am shamed; and then he said: Now I am sure that I am more sinfuller
than ever I was.

Thus he rode sorrowing, and half a day he was out of despair, till that
he came into a deep valley. And when Sir Launcelot saw he might not ride
up into the mountain, he there alighted under an apple tree, and