]
Lynette led them into a glen and a cave where they found pleasant drinks
and meat, and where Gareth fell asleep.
Lynette led them into a glen and a cave where they found pleasant drinks
and meat, and where Gareth fell asleep.
Tennyson
"
Gareth turned, and in a thrice had closed in upon the stranger, but when
he felt the touch of the stranger knight's magical spear, which was the
wonder of the world he fell to the earth. As he felt the grass in his
hands he burst into laughter.
[Illustration: TOSSED HIS FOE OVER THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. ]
"Why do you laugh? " asked Lynette.
"Because here am I, the son of old King Lot and good Queen Bellicent,
the victor of the three bridges, and a knight of Arthur's thrown by no
one knows whom. "
"I have come to help you and not harm you," said the strange knight,
revealing himself. It was Lancelot, whom King Arthur had sent to keep a
guardian eye upon young Gareth in this his first quest, to prevent him
from being killed or taken away.
"And why did you refuse to come when I wanted you, and now come just in
time to shame my poor defender just when I was beginning to feel proud
of him? " asked Lynette.
"But he isn't shamed," Lancelot answered. "What knight is not overthrown
sometimes? By being defeated we learn to overcome, so hail Prince and
Knight of our Round Table! " "You did well Gareth, only you and your
horse were a little weary. "
[Illustration: SHE TENDED HIM AS GENTLY AS A MOTHER.
]
Lynette led them into a glen and a cave where they found pleasant drinks
and meat, and where Gareth fell asleep.
"You have good reason to feel sleepy," cried Lynette. "Sleep soundly and
wake strong. " _And she tended him as gently as a mother_, and watched
over him carefully as he slept.
When Gareth woke Lancelot gave him his own horse and shield to use in
fighting the last awful outlaw, but as they drew near Lynette clutched
at the shield and pleaded with him: "Give it back to Lancelot," said
she. "O curse my tongue that was reviling you so today. He must do the
fighting now. You have done wonders, but you cannot do miracles. You
have thrown three men today and that is glory enough. You will get all
maimed and mangled if you go on now when you are tired. There, I vow you
must not try the fourth. "
But Gareth told her that her sharp words during the day had just spurred
him on to do his best and he said he must not now leave his quest until
he had finished. So Lancelot advised him how best to manage his horse
and his lance, his sword and his shield when meeting a foe that was
stouter than himself, winning with fineness and skill where he lacked in
strength.
But Gareth replied that he knew but one rule in fighting and that was to
dash against his foe and overcome him.
"Heaven help you," cried Lynette, and she made her palfrey halt.
"There!
Gareth turned, and in a thrice had closed in upon the stranger, but when
he felt the touch of the stranger knight's magical spear, which was the
wonder of the world he fell to the earth. As he felt the grass in his
hands he burst into laughter.
[Illustration: TOSSED HIS FOE OVER THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. ]
"Why do you laugh? " asked Lynette.
"Because here am I, the son of old King Lot and good Queen Bellicent,
the victor of the three bridges, and a knight of Arthur's thrown by no
one knows whom. "
"I have come to help you and not harm you," said the strange knight,
revealing himself. It was Lancelot, whom King Arthur had sent to keep a
guardian eye upon young Gareth in this his first quest, to prevent him
from being killed or taken away.
"And why did you refuse to come when I wanted you, and now come just in
time to shame my poor defender just when I was beginning to feel proud
of him? " asked Lynette.
"But he isn't shamed," Lancelot answered. "What knight is not overthrown
sometimes? By being defeated we learn to overcome, so hail Prince and
Knight of our Round Table! " "You did well Gareth, only you and your
horse were a little weary. "
[Illustration: SHE TENDED HIM AS GENTLY AS A MOTHER.
]
Lynette led them into a glen and a cave where they found pleasant drinks
and meat, and where Gareth fell asleep.
"You have good reason to feel sleepy," cried Lynette. "Sleep soundly and
wake strong. " _And she tended him as gently as a mother_, and watched
over him carefully as he slept.
When Gareth woke Lancelot gave him his own horse and shield to use in
fighting the last awful outlaw, but as they drew near Lynette clutched
at the shield and pleaded with him: "Give it back to Lancelot," said
she. "O curse my tongue that was reviling you so today. He must do the
fighting now. You have done wonders, but you cannot do miracles. You
have thrown three men today and that is glory enough. You will get all
maimed and mangled if you go on now when you are tired. There, I vow you
must not try the fourth. "
But Gareth told her that her sharp words during the day had just spurred
him on to do his best and he said he must not now leave his quest until
he had finished. So Lancelot advised him how best to manage his horse
and his lance, his sword and his shield when meeting a foe that was
stouter than himself, winning with fineness and skill where he lacked in
strength.
But Gareth replied that he knew but one rule in fighting and that was to
dash against his foe and overcome him.
"Heaven help you," cried Lynette, and she made her palfrey halt.
"There!
