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Chapter XIII
ThenwasSirLancelotpassingheavyofheart,andsaidtoSirBernardandSirLavaine,“WhatshallIdoforher?”
“Alas!”saidSirBernard,“Iknowwellthatshewilldieforyoursake.”
AndSirLavainesaid,“Imarvelnotthatshesosorelymournethyourdeparture,fortrulyIdoasshedoth,andsinceIoncehaveseenyou,lord,Icannotleaveyou.”
Soanon,withafullsorrowfulheart,SirLancelottookhisleave,andSirLavainerodewithhimtothecourt.AndKingArthurandtheKnightsoftheRoundTablejoyedgreatlytoseehimwholeofhiswound,butQueenGuineverewassorelywroth,andneitherspakewithhimnorgreetedhim.
NowwhenSirLancelothaddeparted,theMaidofAstolatcouldneithereat,nordrink,notsleepforsorrow;andhavingthusenduredtendays,shefeltwithinherselfthatshemustdie.
Thensentsheforaholyman,andwasshrivenandreceivedthesacrament.Butwhenhetoldhershemustleaveherearthlythoughts,sheanswered,“AmInotanearthlywoman?Whatsinisittolovethenoblestknightofalltheworld?And,bymytruth,IamnotabletowithstandthelovewhereofIdie;wherefore,IpraytheHighFatherofHeaventohavemercyonmysoul.”
ThenshebesoughtSirBernardtoinditealetterassheshoulddevise,andsaid,“WhenIamdeadputthiswithinmyhand,anddressmeinmyfairestclothes,andlaymeinabargeallcoveredwithblacksamite,andsteeritdowntherivertillitreachthecourt.Thus,father,Ibeseechtheeletitbe.”
Then,fullofgrief,hepromisedheritshouldbeso.
