Monday, February 8, 2016

The mighty knight Lancelot!!!

The tales of Sir Lancelot’s travel to rescue Queen Guinevere are truly amazing. Sir Lancelot is a true knight that does not falter in the face of adversity. Alas, how I wish I could have been there to witness this tale first hand. I still cannot believe the feats he achieved on his journey, and how I enjoyed listening to his tale.
As great a knight as Lancelot is, I was astonished to discover that he willingly stepped into the cart that would surely bring him ultimate disgrace. For what is a knight without his reputation? Sir Gawain thought this was madness, as would I! The choice between riding slowly in a cart of disgrace and that of my trusted war-horse is simple. Sir Lancelot almost slew the guardian of the ford for disgracefully unhorsing him, but with only slight hesitation he entered the cart. His love for Guinevere must surpass the love that even God has for those who keep faith in him. Yet my Queen treated him with such resentment.
And despite his perilous journey in the shameful cart and his battles with countless knights, he still sought to obey the queen, even if it brought him struggle and turmoil. Perhaps, this is what it means to truly be a knight. Lancelot was able to fulfill any task assigned by those who gave it to him. While tasks completed for Lady Guinevere were more for romance that duty, Lancelot never forgot that he is also a knight, and tasks accepted from any lady is a task that must be completed. Lancelot even went so far as to keep his promise to the lady with whom he lodged after defeated the guardian of the ford by sleeping with her as much as it pained him to do so. He knew he wasted time spending the night with this maiden, yet he still fought to protect her from her assailants and would even sleep with her.
How confused I was to find out that through all that Lady Guinevere still resented Sir Lancelot in the slightest. A man who could move a stone slab so heavy that more that seven men together could not, or purposefully lose publicly simply because it pleased his lady. I have much to learn about the chivalry and duty that comes with truly being a knight!

I also wonder who the lady that asked Lancelot to spare the guardian was…and why she feared Lancelot would recognize her. Minor details for another day I suppose.

Sir Percivale

The Romance of Arthur



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2 comments:

  1. Heather MBFebruary 8, 2016 at 6:57 AM

    Sir Percival - methinks something went amiss with your images. They all show as broken. Perhaps you can try to attach them again? It's best not to "copy and paste" but to use the image button to do this task.

    Helpfully,
    Morgan le Fay

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  2. UnknownFebruary 9, 2016 at 8:35 PM

    Sir I think you misjudge Her Highness, the Lady Guinevere. I believe her love for Lancelot is true, although it may not always seem so. It would benefit you to remember that Lady Guinevere is wed to King Arthur and should ever the hint of any relationship between Lady Guinevere and Sir Lancelot come to light, there would be grave consequences for them both. By initially refusing to see him when he came to rescue her,for instance, perhaps Her Highness was planting the idea of that she was more than indifferent to Lancelot. She acted as though she hated him. No one would dare suspect any relationship between her and a man she hated even after he risked life and limb for her.
    Perhaps Lady Guinevere was harsh in her treatment of Lancelot, but remember that Guinevere is Queen. She is not someone to be overlooked as a mere woman, as many of us, even Ladies of noble birth, often are. It is well within her ability as a sovereign to command Lancelot and direct their relationship. Just as it is a Knight’s honor to serve the whims of his ladylove. For what is love if it is so weak that it cannot bear even the thought of being tested? You are a true friend to defend Lancelot, but does he need defending?
    And a lady always has the right to change her mind. No matter how many large rocks her suitor moves.

    -Lady Bertilak de Hautdesert

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