Ballad IX: Sir Lancelot Du Lake

In the same play of 2 Hen. IV. Silence hums a scrap of one of theold ballads of Robin Hood. It is taken from the following stanza ofRobin Hood and the Pindar of Wakefield.

"All this beheard three wighty yeomen,Twas Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John:With that they espy'd the jolly PindàrAs he sate under a thorne."

The ballad appears to have been highly popular, and it is quotedby Marston in the Malcontent and by Beaumont and Fletcher in theLittle French Lawyer, as well as by Shakspere.

When Arthur first in court began,And was approved king,By force of armes great victorys wanne,And conquest home did bring.

Then into England straight he cameWith fifty good and ableKnights, that resorted unto him,And were of his round table:

And he had justs and turnaments,Whereto were many prest,Wherin some knights did farr excellAnd eke surmount the rest.

But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,Who was approved well,He for his deeds and feats of armes,All others did excell.

When he had rested him a while,In play, and game, and sportt,He said he wold goe prove himselfeIn some adventurous sort.

He armed rode in a forrest wide,And met a damsell faire,Who told him of adventures great,Wherto he gave great eare.

Such wold I find, quoth Lancelott:For that cause came I hither.Thou seemst, quoth shee, a knight full good,And I will bring thee thither.

Wheras a mighty knight doth dwell,That now is of great fame:Therfore tell me what wight thou art,And what may be thy name.

"My name is Lancelot du Lake."Quoth she, it likes me than:Here dwelles a knight who never wasYet matcht with any man:

Who has in prison threescore knightsAnd four, that he did wound;Knights of king Arthurs court they be,And of his table round.

She brought him to a river side.And also to a tree,Whereon a copper bason hung,And many shields to see.

He struck soe hard, the bason broke;And Tarquin soon he spyed:Who drove a horse before him fast,Whereon a knight lay tyed.

Sir knight, then sayd Sir Lancelôtt,Bring me that horse-load hither,And lay him downe, and let him rest:Weel try our force together:

For, as I understand, thou hast,Soe far as thou art able,Done great despite and shame untoThe knights of the Round Table.

If thou be of the Table Round,Quoth Tarquin speedilye,Both thee and all thy fellowshipI utterly defye.

That's over much, quoth Lancelott tho,Defend thee by and by.They sett their speares unto their steeds,And eache att other flie.

They coucht theire speares, (their horses ran,As though there had beene thunder)And strucke them each immidst their shields,Wherewith they broke in sunder.

Their horsses backes brake under them,The knights were both astound:To avoyd their horsses they made hasteAnd light upon the ground.

They tooke them to their shields full fast,Their swords they drew out than,With mighty strokes most eagerlyeEach at the other ran.

They wounded were, and bled full sore,They both for breath did stand,And leaning on their swords awhile,Quoth Tarquine, Hold thy hand,

And tell to me what I shall aske.Say on, quoth Lancelot tho.Thou art, quoth Tarquine, the best knightThat ever I did know;

And like a knight, that I did hate:Soe that thou be not hee,I will deliver all the rest,And eke accord with thee.

That is well said, quoth Lancelott;But sith it must be soe,What knight is that thou hatest thus?I pray thee to me show.

His name is Lancelot du Lake,He slew my brother deere;Him I suspect of all the rest:I would I had him here.

Thy wish thou hast, but yet unknowne,I am Lancelot du Lake,Now knight of Arthurs Table Round;King Hauds son of Schuwake;

And I desire thee do thy worst,Ho, ho, quoth Tarquin tho,One of us two shall end our livesBefore that we do go.

If thou be Lancelot du Lake,Then welcome shalt thou bee:Wherfore see thou thyself defend,For now defye I thee.

They buckled then together so,Like unto wild boares rashing;And with their swords and shields they ranAt one another slashing:

The ground besprinkled was with blood:Tarquin began to yield;For he gave backe for wearinesse,And lowe did beare his shield.

This soone Sir Lancelot espyde,He leapt upon him then,He pull'd him downe upon his knee,And rushing off his helm,

Forthwith he strucke his necke in two,And, when he had soe done,From prison threescore knights and fourDelivered everye one.