A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court | Page 2

was so little interested--just as when people speak of the
weather--that he did not notice whether I made him any answer or not. There was half a
moment of silence, immediately interrupted by the droning voice of the salaried cicerone:
"Ancient hauberk, date of the sixth century, time of King Arthur and the Round Table;
said to have belonged to the knight Sir Sagramor le Desirous; observe the round hole
through the chain-mail in the left breast; can't be accounted for; supposed to have been
done with a bullet since invention of firearms--perhaps maliciously by Cromwell's
soldiers."
My acquaintance smiled--not a modern smile, but one that must have gone out of general
use many, many centuries ago--and muttered apparently to himself:
"Wit ye well, I saw it done." Then, after a pause, added: "I did it myself."
By the time I had recovered from the electric surprise of this remark, he was gone.
All that evening I sat by my fire at the Warwick Arms, steeped in a dream of the olden
time, while the rain beat upon the windows, and the wind roared about the eaves and
corners. From time to time I dipped into old Sir Thomas Malory's enchanting book, and
fed at its rich feast of prodigies and adventures, breathed in the fragrance of its obsolete
names, and dreamed again. Midnight being come at length, I read another tale, for a
nightcap--this which here follows, to wit:
HOW SIR LAUNCELOT SLEW TWO GIANTS, AND MADE A CASTLE FREE

Anon withal came there upon him two great giants, well armed, all save the heads, with
two horrible clubs in their hands. Sir Launcelot put his shield afore him, and put the
stroke away of the one giant, and with his sword he clave his head asunder. When his
fellow saw that, he ran away as he were wood [*demented], for fear of the horrible
strokes, and Sir Launcelot after him with all his might, and smote him on the shoulder,
and clave him to the middle. Then Sir Launcelot went into the hall, and there came afore
him three score ladies and damsels, and all kneeled unto him, and thanked God and him
of their deliverance. For, sir, said they, the most part of us have been here this seven year
their prisoners, and we have worked all manner of silk works for our meat, and we are all
great gentle-women born, and blessed be the time, knight, that ever thou wert born; for
thou hast done the most worship that ever did knight in the world, that will we bear
record, and we all pray you to tell us your name, that we may tell our friends who
delivered us out of prison. Fair damsels, he said, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. And
so he departed from them and betaught them unto God. And then he mounted upon his
horse, and rode into many strange and wild countries, and through many waters and
valleys, and evil was he lodged. And at the last by fortune him happened against a night
to come to a fair courtilage, and therein he found an old gentle-woman that lodged him
with a good-will, and there he had good cheer for him and his horse. And when time was,
his host brought him into a fair garret over the gate to his bed. There Sir Launcelot
unarmed him, and set his harness by him, and went to bed, and anon he fell on sleep. So,
soon after there came one on horseback, and knocked at the gate in great haste. And when
Sir Launcelot heard this he rose up, and looked out at the window, and saw by the
moonlight three knights come riding after that one man, and all three lashed on him at
once with swords, and that one knight turned on them knightly again and defended him.
Truly, said Sir Launcelot, yonder one knight shall I help, for it were shame for me to see
three knights on one, and if he be slain I am partner of his death. And therewith he took
his harness and went out at a window by a sheet down to the four knights, and then Sir
Launcelot said on high, Turn you knights unto me, and leave your fighting with that
knight. And then they all three left Sir Kay, and turned unto Sir Launcelot, and there
began great battle, for they alight all three, and strake many strokes at Sir Launcelot, and
assailed him on every side. Then Sir Kay dressed him for to have holpen Sir Launcelot.
Nay, sir, said he, I will none of your help, therefore as ye will have my help let me alone
with them. Sir Kay for the pleasure of the knight suffered him