The book of British ballads . and turnaments, Before him there were prest,Wherein these knights did then excell And far surmount the rest; But one Sir Lancelot du Lake, Who was approved well,Hee, in his fights and deeds of armes, All others did excell. When hee had rested him a while, To play, and game, and sport;Hee thought hee wold approve himselfe In some adventurous sort. Hee armed rode in forrest wide, And met a damsell faire,Who told him of adventures great, Wherto hee gave good eare. Such wold I find, quoth Lancelot: For that cause came I hither. Thou seemst, quoth shee, a knight full g
The book of British ballads . and turnaments, Before him there were prest,Wherein these knights did then excell And far surmount the rest; But one Sir Lancelot du Lake, Who was approved well,Hee, in his fights and deeds of armes, All others did excell. When hee had rested him a while, To play, and game, and sport;Hee thought hee wold approve himselfe In some adventurous sort. Hee armed rode in forrest wide, And met a damsell faire,Who told him of adventures great, Wherto hee gave good eare. Such wold I find, quoth Lancelot: For that cause came I hither. Thou seemst, quoth shee, a knight full good,And I will bring thee thither, Whereas a mighty knight doth dwell, That now is of great fame ;Therfore tell me what knight thou art, And what may bee thy name. My name is Lancelot du Lake. Quoth shee, it likes me, then ;Here dwelles a knight who never was Oer-matcht of any man : Who hath in prison threescore knightsAnd four, that hee hath bound; Knights of King Arthurs court they bee,And of the Table Round. Corbould, Shee brought him to a river then, And also to a treeWhereon a copper bason hung,His fellows shields to see. Hee struck soe hard, the bason broke :— When Tarquine heard the sound,Hee drove a horse before him straight,Whereon a knight was bound. Sir knight, then sayd Sir Lancelot, Bring me that horse-load hither,And lay him downe, and let him rest;We 11 try our force together; For, as I understand, thou hast, As far as thou art able,Done great despite and shame untoThe knights of the Round Table. If thou art of the Table Round, Quoth Tarquine speedilye,Both thee and all thy fellowshipI utterly defye. Thats over much, quoth Lancelot tho, Defend thee by and by !They sett their spurs unto their steeds,And each at other flie. They coucht their speares, (their horses ran, As though there had been thunder)And each struck then upon their shields,Wherewith they brake asunder. Their horses backes brake under them ; The knights they were astound :To avoyd their hor
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