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Chapter IX
IwillabideheretillGodsendyehitheragain;forifyespeednot,thereisnolivingknightwhomayachievethatadventure.”
SoSirLancelotdeparted,andwhenhecametotheChapelPeriloushealighted,andtiedhishorsetothegate.Andassoonashewaswithinthechurchyard,hesawonthefrontofthechapelmanyshieldsofknightswhomhehadknown,turnedupsidedown.Thensawheinthepathwaythirtymightyknights,tallerthananymenwhomhehadeverseen,allarmedinblackarmour,withtheirswordsdrawn;andtheygnashedtheirteethuponhimashecame.Butheputhisshieldbeforehim,andtookhisswordinhand,readytodobattlewiththem.Andwhenhewouldhavecuthiswaythroughthem,theyscatteredoneverysideandlethimpass.Thenhewentintothechapel,andsawthereinnolightbutofadimlampburning.Thenhewasawareofacorpseinthemidstofthechapel,coveredwithasilkencloth,andsostoopeddownandcutoffapieceofthecloth,whereattheearthbeneathhimtrembled.Thensawheaswordlyingbythedeadknight,andtakingitinhishand,hehiedhimfromthechapel.Assoonashewasinthechurchyardagain,allthethirtyknightscriedouttohimwithfiercevoices,“SirLancelot!laythatswordfromthee,orthoudiest!”
“WhetherIliveordie,”saidhe,“yeshallfightforitereyetakeitfromme.”
Withthattheylethimpass.
Andfurtheron,beyondthechapel,hemetafairdamsel,whosaid,“SirLancelot,leavethatswordbehindthee,orthoudiest.”
“Iwillnotleaveit,”saidSirLancelot,“foranyasking.
