Lancelot and the Chapel Perilous
1. Now on a day, as he rode through the forest, Sir Launcelot met a damsel weeping bitterly,
and seeing him, she cried, "Stay, Sir Knight! By your knighthood I require you to aid me
in my distress." Immediately Sir Launcelot checked his horse and asked in what she
needed his service.
2. "Sir," said the maiden, "And well I know you, my lord Sir Launcelot, and that, if ye will
not help me, none may."
3. ...riding through forest byeways, Sir Launcelot came presently upon a little ruined chapel,
standing in the midst of a churchyard, where the tombs showed broken and neglected
under the dark yews. In front of the porch, Sir Launcelot paused and looked, for thereon
hung, upside down, dishonoured, the shield of many a good knight whom Sir Launcelot
had known.
4. ...suddenly there pressed upon him from all sides thirty stout knights, all giants and fully
armed, their drawn swords in their hands and their shields advanced...
5. But, as he would have left the chapel, there stood before him in the doorway a lady, fair
to look upon and beautifully arrayed, who gazed earnestly upon him, and said: "Sir
Knight, put away from you that sword lest it be your death." But Sir Launcelot answered
her: "Lady, what I have said, I do; and what I have won, I keep." "It is well," said the
lady. "Had ye cast away the sword your life days were done. And now I make but one
request. Kiss me once." "That may I not do," said Sir Launcelot. Then said the lady: "Go
your way, Launcelot; ye have won, and I have lost. Know that, had ye kissed me, your
dead body had lain even now on the altar bier.
6. ...Back to Sir Meliot...Sir Launcelot searched his wounds with the sword, and bound them
up with the blood-stained cloth, and immediately Sir Meliot was sound and well,
7. As for the sorceress of the Chapel Perilous, it is said she died of grief that all her charms
had failed to win for her the good knight Sir Launcelot.
The Story of Sir Tristram
1. Tristram was born in a forest - his mother gave birth while searching
for his father, who'd been waylaid.
2. King Melodias (Tristram's Father) married again, and Tristram's
stepmother tried to kill him twice. Tristram forgave her.
3. King Anguish of Ireland demanded tribute and sent a champion.
4. Tristram was Wales' champion and their fight was quite a battle:
1. Then they rushed upon each other, and at the first encounter each unhorsed the
other, and Sir Marhaus' spear pierced Sir Tristram's side and made a grievous
wound. Drawing their swords, they lashed at each other, and the blows fell thick
as hail till the whole island re-echoed with the din of onslaught. So they fought
half a day, and ever it seemed that Sir Tristram grew fresher and nimbler while
Sir Marhaus became sore wearied. And at the last, Sir Tristram aimed a great
blow at the head of his enemy, and the sword crashed through the helmet and bit
into the skull so that a great piece was broken away from the edge of Tristram's
sword. Then Sir Marhaus flung away sword and shield, and when he might regain
his feet, fled shrieking to his ships. "Do ye flee?" cried Tristram. "I am but newly
made knight; but rather than flee, I would be hewn piecemeal."
5. Marhaus' spear had been poisoned, so Tristram was taken to Ireland to find its cure.
6. He claimed a different name and Princess Isolt was his doctor.
7. However, after he had returned to England, she was promised to King Mark as his wife.
(King Mark was Tristram's liege lord.) Tristram and Isolt ended up drinking a love potion
by accident and they fell in love.
8. Tristram and Isolt had to be near each other all the time, but never show their love for one
another.
9. Mark's son Andred was Tristram's biggest rival, and he plotted Tristram's downfall.
10. Tristram escaped for a while and visited Camelot.
11. Arthur attempted to reconcile Tristram with King Mark.
12. Mark pretended to love Tristram and then literally stabbed him in the back, killing him.