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lightly swerved； and with one stroke cut in twain the young
fir…tree； so that not above an ell was left in the youth's
hand。
Then was the youth full of fire； and he also drew sword
and made at Sir Lancelot； lashing heavily as； he would hew
down a tree。 But the knight guarded and warded without
distress； until the other breathed hard and was blind with
sweat。 Then Lancelot smote him with a mighty stroke upon the
head； but with the flat of his sword； so that Martimor's breath
went clean out of him； and the blood gushed from his mouth； and
he fell over the croup of his horse as he were a man slain。
Then Sir Lancelot laughed no more； but grieved； for he
weened that he had harmed the youth； and he liked him passing
well。 So he ran to him and held him in his arms fast and
tended him。 And when the breath came again into his body；
Lancelot was glad； and desired the youth that he would pardon
him of that unequal joust and of the stroke too heavy。
At this Martimor sat up and took him by the hand。
〃Pardon？〃 he cried。 〃No talk of pardon between thee and me；
my Lord Lancelot！ Thou hast given me such joy of my life as
never I had before。 It made me glad to feel thy might。 And
now am I delibred and fully concluded that I also will become
a knight； and thou shalt instruct me how and in what land I
shall seek great adventure。〃
II
How Martimor was Instructed of Sir Lancelot to
Set Forth Upon His Quest
So right gladly did Sir Lancelot advise the young Martimor of
all the customs and vows of the noble order of knighthood； and
shew how he might become a well…ruled and a hardy knight to
win good fame and renown。 For between these two from the
first there was close brotherhood and affiance； though in
years and in breeding they were so far apart； and this
brotherhood endured until the last； as ye shall see； nor was
the affiance broken。
Thus willingly learned the youth of his master； being
instructed first in the art and craft to manage and guide a
horse； then to handle the shield and the spear； and both to
cut and to foin with the sword； and last of all in the laws of
honour and courtesy； whereby a man may rule his own spirit and
so obtain grace of God； praise of princes； and favour of fair
ladies。
〃For this I tell thee；〃 said Sir Lancelot； as they sat
together under an apple…tree； 〃there be many good fighters
that are false knights； breaking faith with man and woman；
envious； lustful and orgulous。 In them courage is cruel； and
love is lecherous。 And in the end they shall come to shame
and shall be overcome by a simpler knight than themselves； or
else they shall win sorrow and despite by the slaying of
better men than they be； and with their paramours they shall
have weary dole and distress of soul and body； for he that is
false； to him shall none be true； but all things shall be
unhappy about him。〃
〃But how and if a man be true in heart；〃 said Martimor；
〃yet by some enchantment； or evil fortune； he may do an ill
deed and one that is harmful to his lord or to his friend；
even as Balin and his brother Balan slew each the other
unknown？〃
〃That is in God's hand；〃 said Lancelot。 〃Doubtless he may
pardon and assoil all such in their unhappiness； forasmuch as
the secret of it is with him。〃
〃And how if a man be entangled in love；〃 said Martimor； 〃Yet
his love be set upon one that is not lawful for him to have？ For
either he must deny his love； which is great shame； or else he
must do dishonour to the law。 What shall he then do？〃
At this Sir Lancelot was silent； and heaved a great sigh。
Then said he： 〃Rest assured that this man shall have sorrow
enough。 For out of this net he may not escape； save by
falsehood on the one side； or by treachery on the other。
Therefore say I that he shall not assay to escape； but rather
right manfully to bear the bonds with which he is bound； and
to do honour to them。〃'
〃How may this be？〃 said Martimor。
〃By clean living；〃 said Lancelot； 〃and by keeping himself
from wine which heats the blood； and by quests and labours and
combats wherein the fierceness of the heart is spent and
overcome； and by inward joy in the pure worship of his lady；
whereat none may take offence。〃
〃How then shall a man bear himself in the following of a
quest？〃 said Martimor。 〃Shall he set his face ever forward；
and turn not to right； or left； whatever meet him by the way？
Or shall he hold himself ready to answer them that call to him；
and to succour them that ask help of him； and to turn aside from
his path for rescue and good service？〃
〃Enough of questions！〃 said Lancelot。 〃These are things
whereto each man must answer for himself； and not for other。
True knight taketh counsel of the time。 Every day his own
deed。 And the winning of a quest is not by haste； nor by hap；
but what needs to be done； that must ye do while ye are in the
way。〃
Then because of the love that Sir Lancelot bore to
Martimor he gave him his own armour； and the good spear
wherewith he had unhorsed many knights； and the sword that he
took from Sir Peris de Forest Savage that distressed all
ladies； but his shield he gave not； for therein his own
remembrance was blazoned。 So he let make a new shield； and in
the corner was painted a Blue Flower that was nameless； and this
he gave to Martimor； saying： 〃Thou shalt name it when thou
hast found it； and so shalt thou have both crest and motto。〃
〃Now am I well beseen；〃 cried Martimor； 〃and my adventures are
before me。 Which way shall I ride； and where shall I find them？〃
〃Ride into the wind；〃 said Lancelot； 〃and what chance
soever it blows thee； thereby do thy best； as it were the
first and the last。 Take not thy hand from it until it be
fulfilled。 So shalt thou most quickly and worthily achieve
knighthood。〃
Then they embraced like brothers； and each bade other keep
him well； and Sir Lancelot in leather jerkin； with naked head；
but with his shield and sword； rode to the south toward
Camelot； and Martimor rode into the wind； westward； over the
hill。
III
How Martimor Came to the Mill a
Stayed in a Delay
So by wildsome ways in strange countries and through many
waters and valleys rode Martimor forty days； but adventure met
him none； blow the wind never so fierce or fickle。 Neither
dragons； nor giants； nor false knights； nor distressed ladies；
nor fays； nor kings imprisoned could he find。
〃These are ill times for adventure；〃 said he； 〃the world
is full of meat and sleepy。 Now must I ride farther afield
and undertake some ancient； famous quest wherein other knights
have failed and fallen。 Either I shall follow the Questing
Beast with Sir Palamides； or I shall find Merlin at the great
stone whereunder the Lady of the Lake enchanted him and
deliver him from that enchantment； or I shall assay the
cleansing of the Forest Perilous； or I shall win the favour of
La Belle Dame Sans Merci； or mayhap I shall adventure the
quest of the Sangreal。 One or other of these will I achieve；
or bleed the best blood of my body。〃 Thus pondering and
dreaming he came by the road down a gentle hill with close
woods on either hand； and so into a valley with a swift ri