CHAPTER XLI

How Sir Lamorak slew Sir Frol, and of the courteous
fighting with Sir Belliance his brother.

THEN within two or three days Sir Lamorak found a knight at a
well sleeping, and his lady sat with him and waked.  Right so
came Sir Gawaine and took the knight's lady, and set her up
behind his squire.  So Sir Lamorak rode after Sir Gawaine, and
said:  Sir Gawaine, turn again.  And then said Sir Gawaine:  What
will ye do with me? for I am nephew unto King Arthur.  Sir, said
he, for that cause I will spare you, else that lady should abide
with me, or else ye should joust with me.  Then Sir Gawaine
turned him and ran to him that ought the lady, with his spear,
but the knight with pure might smote <349>down Sir Gawaine, and
took his lady with him.  All this Sir Lamorak saw, and said to
himself:  But I revenge my fellow he will say of me dishonour in
King Arthur's court.  Then Sir Lamorak returned and proffered
that knight to joust.  Sir, said he, I am ready.  And there they
came together with all their might, and there Sir Lamorak smote
the knight through both sides that he fell to the earth dead.

Then that lady rode to that knight's brother that hight Belliance
le Orgulus, that dwelt fast thereby, and then she told him how
his brother was slain.  Alas, said he, I will be revenged.  And
so he horsed him, and armed him, and within a while he overtook
Sir Lamorak, and bade him:  Turn and leave that lady, for thou
and I must play a new play; for thou hast slain my brother Sir
Frol, that was a better knight than ever wert thou.  It might
well be, said Sir Lamorak, but this day in the field I was found
the better.  So they rode together, and unhorsed other, and
turned their shields, and drew their swords, and fought mightily
as noble knights proved, by the space of two hours.  So then Sir
Belliance prayed him to tell him his name.  Sir, said he, my name
is Sir Lamorak de Galis.  Ah, said Sir Belliance, thou art the
man in the world that I most hate, for I slew my sons for thy
sake, where I saved thy life, and now thou hast slain my brother
Sir Frol.  Alas, how should I be accorded with thee; therefore
defend thee, for thou shalt die, there is none other remedy. 
Alas, said Sir Lamorak, full well me ought to know you, for ye
are the man that most have done for me.  And therewithal Sir
Lamorak kneeled down, and besought him of grace.  Arise, said Sir
Belliance, or else thereas thou kneelest I shall slay thee.  That
shall not need, said Sir Lamorak, for I will yield me unto you,
not for fear of you, nor for your strength, but your goodness
maketh me full loath to have ado with you; wherefore I require
you for God's sake, and for the honour of knighthood, forgive me
all that I have offended unto you.  Alas, said Belliance, leave
thy kneeling, or else I shall slay thee without mercy.

<350>
Then they yede again unto battle, and either wounded other, that
all the ground was bloody thereas they fought.  And at the last
Belliance withdrew him aback and set him down softly upon a
little hill, for he was so faint for bleeding that he might not
stand.  Then Sir Lamorak threw his shield upon his back, and
asked him what cheer.  Well, said Sir Belliance.  Ah, Sir, yet
shall I show you favour in your mal-ease.  Ah, Knight Sir
Belliance, said Sir Lamorak, thou art a fool, for an I had had
thee at such advantage as thou hast done me, I should slay thee;
but thy gentleness is so good and so large, that I must needs
forgive thee mine evil will.  And then Sir Lamorak kneeled down,
and unlaced first his umberere, and then his own, and then either
kissed other with weeping tears.  Then Sir Lamorak led Sir
Belliance to an abbey fast by, and there Sir Lamorak would not
depart from Belliance till he was whole.  And then they sware
together that none of them should never fight against other.  So
Sir Lamorak departed and went to the court of King Arthur.

Here leave we of Sir Lamorak and of Sir Tristram.
And here beginneth the history of La Cote Male Taile.