Sir Lancelot was the finest knight in the court of King Arthur, a bravest and most skillful fighter. He often fought in disguise, but he was always recognized because no other knight had as much courage and skill as he. Lancelot was brought up by the Lady of the Lake, a woman with magic powers, who took him as an infant to her castle at the bottom of a lake. After he reached manhood, the Lady of the Lake brought him to Arthur’s court, where he proved is courage and was made one of te Knight of the Round Table. Lancelot and Guenevere, the queen, fell in love at Arthur’s court. Lancelot was also loved by Elanine, a beautiful girl, but he soon deserted her and she died of a broken heart. After Arthur discovered the love affair between Lancelot and his wife, the lovers fled to Lancelot’s castle. Lancelot killed several of his fellow knights after they found him with the queen. Later, Lancelot returned Guenevere to Arthur and left Britain. Arthur pursued Lancelot to France but went back to Britain after learning that Modred had seized his kingdom. Lancelot returned to Britain after Arthur’s death and learned that Guenevere had become a nun. He became a religious hermit and died shortly after Guenevere did. Lancelot and Elaine had an illegitimate son, Galahad, who became a famous knight of the Round Table.
Along with many other knights, Lancelot searched for the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus Christ used at the Last Supper. Because he had moral defects, he did not find the Holy Grail. But his son, Sir Galahad, did.
译文：
（4）朗斯洛爵士
朗斯洛爵士是亚瑟王朝廷中最骁勇善战的圆桌骑士。他常常化装出战，但总能让人识破，因为他的胆量和武艺无人能比。朗斯洛是仙女湖夫人养大的。他出生时，湖夫人将他偷去，带到湖底的宫殿里。朗斯洛成人后，湖夫人把他送到亚瑟的宫廷，由于他的勇敢而被封为圆桌骑士。在亚瑟的宫廷里，朗斯洛开始与王后圭内维尔相爱。一个叫做伊莲的美丽姑娘也爱上了朗斯洛，但朗斯洛很快抛弃了她。伊莲由于失恋，郁郁而终。亚瑟王发现朗斯洛与妻子私通后，这对情人仓皇逃到朗斯洛的城堡。朗斯洛还杀死了几个反对他诱拐王后的骑士。后来朗斯洛被迫交还圭内维尔，离开不列颠。亚瑟一直追到法国，但听到莫德雷德反叛的消息，匆忙返回。亚瑟死后，朗斯洛去找圭内维尔，得知她已经进了修道院。朗斯洛心灰意冷，做了隐士。不久，圭内维尔与他先后死去。朗斯洛与伊莲有一私生子名叫加拉哈德，后来成了最著名的圆桌骑士之一。
朗斯洛也曾参与寻找圣杯的历险，但由于本身的道德缺陷，未能成功。但这一伟业由他的儿子加拉哈德完成了。
题外话：朗斯洛虽英雄虎胆、武艺超凡，但不是完人。西方文学中，凡描写得活灵活现的，少有完人。完人虽可敬，但不可信，也未必可爱。有一部法国影片《湖中的朗斯洛（Lancelot of the Lake）》（1974,讲朗斯洛与圭内维尔的恋情，曾在戛纳电影节获奖，值得一看。
