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Chapter IX
ThenSirPhelotstruckathimeagerly,thinkingtohaveslainhim,butSirLancelotputasidethestrokewiththebough,andtherewithsmotehimonthesideofthehead,tillhefellswooningtotheground.Andtearinghisswordfromouthishands,heshorehisneckthroughfromthebody.Thendidtheladyshriekdismally,andswoonedasthoughshewoulddie.ButSirLancelotputonhisarmour,andwithhastetookhishorseanddepartedthence,thankingGodhehadescapedthatperil.
Andasherodethroughavalley,amongmanywildways,hesawaknight,withadrawnsword,chasingaladytoslayher.AndseeingSirLancelot,shecriedandprayedtohimtocomeandrescueher.
Atthathewentup,saying,“Fieonthee,knight!whywiltthouslaythislady?Thoudoestshametothyselfandallknights.”
“Whathastthoutodobetweenmeandmywife?”repliedtheknight.“Iwillslayherinspiteofthee.”
“Thoushallnotharmher,”saidSirLancelot,“tillwehavefirstfoughttogether.”
“Sir,”answeredtheknight,“thoudoestill,forthisladyhathbetrayedme.”
“Hespeakethfalsely,”saidthelady,“forheisjealousofmewithoutcause,asIshallanswerbeforeHeaven;butasthouartnamedthemostworshipfulknightintheworld,Ipraytheeofthytrueknighthoodtosaveme,forheiswithoutmercy.”
“Beofgoodcheer,”saidSirLancelot;“itshallnotliewithinhispowertoharmthee.”
“Sir,”saidtheknight,“Iwillberuledasyewillhaveme.”
SoSirLancelotrodebetweentheknightandthelady.
