Chapter 6

CHAPTER VI.
LAUNCELOT OF THE LAKE. KING BAN, of Brittany, the faithful ally of Arthur, was attacked
by his enemy Claudas, and, after a long war, saw himself reduced to
the possession of a single fortress, where he was besieged by his
enemy. In this extremity he determined to solicit the assistance of
Arthur, and escaped in a dark night, with his wife Helen and his
infant son Launcelot, leaving his castle in the hands of his
seneschal, who immediately surrendered the place to Claudas. The
flames of his burning citadel reached the eyes of the unfortunate
monarch during his flight, and he expired with grief. The wretched
Helen, leaving her child on the brink of a lake, flew to receive the
last sighs of her husband, and on returning perceived the little
Launcelot in the arms of a nymph, who, on the approach of the queen,
threw herself into the lake with the child. This nymph was Viviane,
mistress of the enchanter Merlin, better known by the name of the Lady
of the Lake. Launcelot received his appellation from having been
educated at the court of this enchantress, whose palace was situated
in the midst, not of a real, but, like the appearance which deceives
the African traveller, of an imaginary lake, whose deluding
resemblance served as a barrier to her residence. Here she dwelt not
alone, but in the midst of a numerous retinue, and a splendid court of
knights and damsels.
The queen, after her double loss, retired to a convent, where she
was joined by the widow of Bohort, for this good king had died of
grief on hearing of the death of his brother Ban. His two sons, Lionel
and Bohort, were rescued by a faithful knight, and arrived in the
shape of greyhounds at the palace of the lake, where, having resumed
their natural form, they were educated along with their cousin
Launcelot.
The fairy, when her pupil had attained the age of eighteen, conveyed
him to the court of Arthur, for the purpose of demanding his admission
to the honor of knighthood; and at the first appearance of the
youthful candidate the graces of his person, which were not inferior
to his courage and skill in arms, made an instantaneous and
indelible impression on the heart of Guenever, while her charms
inspired him with an equally ardent and constant passion. The mutual
attachment of these lovers exerted, from that time forth, an influence
over the whole history of Arthur. For the sake of Guenever Launcelot
achieved the conquest of Northumberland, defeated Gallehaut, King of
the Marches, who afterwards become his most faithful friend and
ally, exposed himself in numberless encounters, and brought hosts of
prisoners to the feet of his sovereign.
After King Arthur was come from Rome into England all the knights of
the Table Round