igh a mile, that he was sure
he might not be seen, then he said with an high voice: O gentle knight,
Sir Lavaine, help me that this truncheon were out of my side, for it
sticketh so sore that it nigh slayeth me. O mine own lord, said Sir
Lavaine, I would fain do that might please you, but I dread me sore an I
pull out the truncheon that ye shall be in peril of death. I charge
you, said Sir Launcelot, as ye love me, draw it out. And therewithal he
descended from his horse, and right so did Sir Lavaine; and forthwithal
Sir Lavaine drew the truncheon out of his side, and he gave a great
shriek and a marvellous grisly groan, and the blood brast out nigh a
pint at once, that at the last he sank down upon his buttocks, and so
swooned pale and deadly. Alas, said Sir Lavaine, what shall I do? And
then he turned Sir Launcelot into the wind, but so he lay there nigh
half an hour as he had been dead.

And so at the last Sir Launcelot cast up his eyes, and said: O Lavaine,
help me that I were on my horse, for here is fast by within this two
mile a gentle hermit that sometime was a full noble knight and a great
lord of possessions. And for great goodness he hath taken him to
wilful poverty, and forsaken many lands, and his name is Sir Baudwin of
Brittany, and he is a full noble surgeon and a good leech. Now let see,
help me up that I were there, for ever my heart giveth me that I shall
never die of my cousin-germain's hands. And then with great pain Sir
Lavaine halp him upon his horse. And then they rode a great wallop
together, and ever Sir Launcelot bled that it ran down to the earth; and
so by fortune they came to that hermitage the which was under a wood,
and a great cliff on the other side, and a fair water running under it.
And then Sir Lavaine beat on the gate with the butt of his spear, and
cried fast: Let in for Jesu's sake.

And there came a fair child to them, and asked them what they would.
Fair son, said Sir Lavaine, go and pray thy lord, the hermit, for God's
sake to let in here a knight that is full sore wounded; and this day
tell thy lord I saw him do more deeds of arms than ever I heard say
that any man did. So the child went in lightly, and then he brought the
hermit, the which was a passing good man. When Sir Lavaine saw him
he prayed him for God's sake of succour. What knight is he? said the
hermit. Is he of the house of King Arthur, or not? I wot not, said Sir
Lavaine, what is he, nor what is his name, but well