CLIV
SIR LANCELOT DU LAKE
When Arthur first in court began,
And was approved king,
By force of arms great victories wan
And conquest home did bring,
Then into England straight he came
With fifty good and able
Knights, that resorted unto him,
And were of his round table:
And he had jousts and tournaments,
Whereto were many prest,
Wherein some knights did far excel
And eke surmount the rest.
But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,
Who was approved well,
He for his deeds and feats of arms
All others did excel.
When he had rested him awhile,
In play, and game, and sport,
He said he would go prove himself
In some adventurous sort.
He armed rode in a forest wide,
And met a damsel fair
Who told him of adventures great,
Whereto he gave great ear.
'Such would I find,' quoth Lancelot:
'For that cause came I hither.'
'Thou seem'st,' quoth she, 'a knight full good.
And I will bring thee thither,
'Whereas a mighty knight doth dwell,
That now is of great fame:
Therefore tell me what wight thou art,
And what may be thy name.'