Then Launcelot looked about him to see how he might help himself in these straits, and espying above his head a great bare branch, he tote it down.  Then, ever watching his advantage, he sprang to the ground on the far side of his horse, so that the horse was between him and Sir Phelot.  Sir Phelot rushed upon him with his sword, but Sir Launcelot parried it with the bough, with which he dealt his enemy such a blow on the head that Sir Phelot sank to the ground in a swoon.  Then Sir Launcelot seized his sword where it lay beside his armour, and stooping over the fallen knight, unloosed his helm.  When the lady saw him do that, she shrieked and cried:  “Spare his life! spare his life, noble knight, I beseech you!” But Sir Launcelot answered sternly:  “A felon’s death for him who does felon’s deeds.  He has lived too long already,” and with one blow, he smote off his head.  Then he armed himself, and mounting upon his steed, rode away, leaving the lady to weep beside her lord.

BOOK III

SIR TRISTRAM

CHAPTER XI

OF THE BIRTH OF SIR TRISTRAM

In the days of Arthur, there ruled over the kingdom of Liones the good knight Sir Meliodas; and his Queen was the fair Elizabeth, sister of King Mark of Cornwall.

Now there was a lady, an enchantress, who had no good-will towards King Meliodas and his Queen; so one day, when the King was hunting, she brought it to pass by her charms that Meliodas chased a hart till he found himself, far from all his men, alone by an old castle, and there he was taken prisoner by the lady’s knights.

When King Meliodas did not return home, the Queen was nigh crazed with grief.  Attended only by one of the ladies of her court, she ran out into the forest to seek her lord.  Long and far she wandered, until she could go no further, but sank down at the foot of a great tree, and there, in the midst of the forest, was her little son born.  When the Queen knew that she must die, she kissed the babe and said:  “Ah! little son, sad has been thy birth, wherefore thy name shall be Tristram; but thou shalt grow to be a brave knight and a strong.”  Then she charged her gentlewoman to take care of the child and to commend her to King Meliodas; and after that she died.  All too late came many of the barons seeking their Queen, and sorrowfully they bore her back to the castle where presently the King arrived, released by the skill of Merlin from the evil spells of the enchantress.  Great indeed was his grief for the death of his Queen.  He caused her to be buried with all the pomp and reverence due to so good and fair a lady, and long and bitterly he mourned her loss and all the people with him.