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Chapter XIII
ButSirBorsrodeinsecrettothehermitagewhereSirLancelotwas,andtoldhimallthesetidings.
“IthaschancedasIwouldhaveit,”saidSirLancelot;“yetmakeyereadyforthebattle,buttarrytillyeseemecome.”
“Sir,”saidSirBors,“doubtnotbutyeshallhaveyourwill.”
Butmanyoftheknightsweregreatlywrothwithhimwhentheyheardhewastobethequeen’schampion,fortherewerefewinthecourtbutdeemedherguilty.
ThensaidSirBors,“Wityewell,fairlords,itwereashametousalltosuffersofairandnoblealadytobeburntforlackofachampion,foreverhathsheprovedherselfaloverofgoodknights;whereforeIdoubtnotsheisguiltlessofthistreason.”
Atthatweresomewellpleased,butothersrestedpassingwroth.
Andwhenthedaywascome,thekingandqueenandalltheknightswenttothemeadowbesideWestminster,wherethebattleshouldbefought.Thenthequeenwasputinward,andagreatfirewasmaderoundtheironstake,whereshemustbeburntifSirMadorwontheday.
Sowhentheheraldsblew,SirMadorrodeforth,andtookoaththatQueenGuineverewasguiltyofSirPatrice’sdeath,andhisoathhewouldprovewithhisbodyagainstanywhowouldsaythecontrary.ThencameforthSirBors,andsaid,“QueenGuinevereisintheright,andthatwillIprovewithmyhands.”
Withthattheybothdepartedtotheirtentstomakereadyforthebattle.ButSirBorstarriedlong,hopingSirLancelotwouldcome,tillSirMadorcriedouttoKingArthur,“Bidthychampioncomeforth,unlesshedarenot.
