Chapter 16 - Page 2

"Now," said she,
"I pray you lead me there where this knight took me." "I shall
gladly do it," said Sir Bohort. So he took the horse of the wounded
knight and set the gentlewoman upon it, and brought her there where
she desired to be. And there he found twelve knights seeking after
her; and when she told them how Sir Bohort had delivered her, they
made great joy, and besought him to come to her father, a great
lord, and he should be right welcome. "Truly," said Sir Bohort,
"that may not be; for I have a great adventure to do." So he commended
them to God and departed.
Then Sir Bohort rode after Sir Lionel, his brother, by the trace
of their horses. Thus he rode, seeking, a great while. Then he
overtook a man clothed in a religious clothing, who said, "Sir knight,
what seek ye?" "Sir," said Sir Bohort, "I seek my brother, that I
saw within a little space beaten of two knights." "Ah, Sir Bohort,
trouble not thyself to seek for him, for truly he is dead." Then he
showed him a new-slain body, lying in a thick bush; and it seemed
him that it was the body of Sir Lionel. And then he made such sorrow
that he fell to the ground in a swoon, and lay there long. And when he
came to himself again he said, "Fair brother, since the fellowship
of you and me is sundered, shall I never have joy again; and now He
that I have taken for my master He be my help!" And when he had said
thus, he took up the body in his arms, and put it upon the horse.
And then he said to the man, "Canst thou tell me the way to some
chapel, where I may bury this body?" "Come on," said the man, "here is
one fast by." And so they rode till they saw a fair tower, and
beside it a chapel. Then they alighted both, and put the body into a
tomb of marble.
Then Sir Bohort commended the good man unto God, and departed. And
he rode all that day, and harbored with an old lady. And on the morrow
he rode unto the castle in a valley, and there he met with a yeoman.
"Tell me," said Sir Bohort, "knowest thou of any adventure?" "Sir,"
said he, "here shall be, under this castle, a great and marvellous
tournament." Then Sir Bohort thought to be there, if he might meet
with any of the fellowship that were in quest of the Sangreal; so he
turned to a hermitage that was on the border of the forest. And when
he was come thither, he found there Sir Lionel his brother, who sat
all armed at the entry of the chapel door. And when Sir Bohort saw
him, he had great joy, and he alighted off his horse, and said,
"Fair brother, when came ye hither?" As soon as Sir Lionel saw him, he
said, "Ah, Sir Bohort, make ye no false show, for, as for you, I might
have been slain, for ye left me in peril of death to go succor a
gentlewoman; and for that misdeed I now insure you but death,