Chapter XIV

           Withinawhilethereafterwasajoustingatthecourt,whereinSirLancelotwontheprize.AndtwoofthosehesmotedownwereSirAgravaine,thebrotherofSirGawain,andSirModred,hisfalsebrother—KingArthur’ssonbyBelisent.AndbecauseofhisvictorytheyhatedSirLancelot,andsoughthowtheymightinjurehim.

           Soonanight,whenKingArthurwashuntingintheforest,andthequeensentforSirLancelottoherchamber,theytwoespiedhim;andthinkingnowtomakeascandalandaquarrelbetweenLancelotandtheking,theyfoundtwelveothers,andsaidSirLancelotwasevernowinthequeen’schamber,andKingArthurwasdishonoured.

           Then,allarmed,theycamesuddenlyroundthequeen’sdoor,andcried,“Traitor!nowartthoutaken.”

           “Madam,webebetrayed,”saidSirLancelot;“yetshallmylifecostthesemendear.”

           Thendidthequeenweepsore,anddismallyshecried,“Alas!thereisnoarmourherewherebyyemightwithstandsomany;whereforeyewillbeslain,andIbeburntforthedreadcrimetheywillchargeonme.”

           Butwhileshespaketheshoutingoftheknightswasheardwithout,“Traitor,comeforth,fornowthouartsnared!”

           “Betterweretwentydeathsatoncethanthisvileoutcry,”saidSirLancelot.

           Thenhekissedherandsaid,“Mostnoblelady,Ibeseechye,asIhaveeverbeenyourowntrueknight,takecourage;prayformysoulifIbenowslain,andtrustmyfaithfulfriends,SirBorsandSirLavaine,tosaveyoufromthefire.”

           Buteverbitterlysheweptandmoaned,andcried,“WouldGodthattheywouldtakeandslayme,andthatthoucouldestescape.