The Story of
Sir
LAUNCELOT
and his
Companions by
HOWARD PYLE.

NEW YORK:Dover Publications, Inc.[ii]

Published in Canada by General Publishing Company, Ltd., 30 Lesmill Road, DonMills, Toronto, Ontario.

Published in the United Kingdom by Constable and Company, Ltd., 3 The Lanchesters,162-164 Fulham Palace Road, London W6 9ER.

This Dover edition, first published in 1991, is an unabridged republication of thework originally published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, in 1907.

Manufactured in the United States of America.Dover Publications, Inc., 31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, N. Y. 11501

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Pyle, Howard, 1853-1911.

The story of Sir Launcelot and his companions / by Howard Pyle.

p. cm.

Reprint. Originally published: New York: Scribner, 1907.

Summary: Follows Sir Launcelot of the Round Table as he rescues QueenGuinevere, fights in the tournament at Astolat, and pursues other adventures.

ISBN 0-486-26701-6

1. Lancelot (Legendary character)—Romances. 2. Arthurian romances.[1. Lancelot (Legendary character) 2. Knights and knighthood—Folklore.3. Arthur, King. 4. Folklore—England.] 1. Title.

PZ8.1.P994Sr 1991
843'.1—dc20
[398.2] 90-22326
CIP
AC

With this begins the third of those books which I have setmyself to write concerning the history of King Arthurof Britain and of those puissant knights who were ofhis Court and of his Round Table.

In the Book which was written before this book you may thereread the Story of that very noble and worthy knight, Sir Launcelotof the Lake; of how he dwelt within a magic lake which wasthe enchanted habitation of the Lady Nymue of the Lake; of howhe was there trained in all the most excellent arts of chivalry bySir Pellias, the Gentle Knight—whilom a companion of the RoundTable, but afterward the Lord of the Lake; of how he came forthout of the Lake and became after that the chiefest knight of theRound Table of King Arthur. All of this was told in that bookand many other things concerning Sir Launcelot and several otherworthies who were Companions of the Round Table and who werevery noble and excellent knights both in battle and in court.

[iv]

So here followeth a further history of Sir Launcelot of the Lakeand the narrative of several of the notable adventures that he performedat this time of his life.

Wherefore if it will please you to read that which is hereinafterset forth, you will be told of how Sir Launcelot slew the greatWorm of Corbin; of the madness that afterward fell upon him,and of how a most noble, gentle, and beautiful lady, hight theLady Elaine the Fair, lent him aid and succor at a time of utmo