King Arthur and the Knights of the Round TableMalory, Thomas, Sir
General
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Malory, Thomas, Sir
Arthurian romances
But when Queen Guinevere heard it she was beside herself with wrath, and
sending privily for Sir Bors, who sorrowed sorely that through him Sir
Lancelot had been hurt--"Have ye now heard," said she, "how falsely Sir
Lancelot hath betrayed me?"
"I beseech thee, madam," said he, "speak not so, for else I may not hear
thee."
"Shall I not call him traitor," cried she, "who hath worn another lady's
token at the jousting?"
"Be sure he did it, madam, for no ill intent," replied Sir Bors, "but
that he might be better hidden, for never did he in that wise before."
"Now shame on him, and thee who wouldest help him," cried the queen.
"Madam, say what ye will," said he; "but I must haste to seek him, and
God send me soon good tidings of him."
So with that he departed to find Sir Lancelot.
Now Elaine had ridden with full haste from Astolat, and come to Camelot,
and there she sought throughout the country for any news of Lancelot.
And so it chanced that Sir Lavaine was riding near the hermitage to
exercise his horse, and when she saw him she ran up and cried aloud,
"How doth my lord Sir Lancelot fare?"
Then said Sir Lavaine, marveling greatly, "How know ye my lord's name,
fair sister?"
So she told him how Sir Gawain had lodged with Sir Bernard, and knew Sir
Lancelot's shield.
Then prayed she to see his lord forthwith, and when she came to the
hermitage and found him lying there sore sick and bleeding, she swooned
for sorrow. Anon, as she revived, Sir Lancelot kissed her, and said,
"Fair maid, I pray ye take comfort, for, by God's grace, I shall be
shortly whole of this wound, and if ye be come to tend me, I am heartily
bounden to your great kindness." Yet was he sore vexed to hear Sir
Gawain had discovered him, for he knew Queen Guinevere would be full
wroth because of the red sleeve.
So Elaine rested in the hermitage, and ever night and day she watched
and waited on Sir Lancelot, and would let none other tend him. And as
she saw him more, the more she set her love upon him, and could by no
means withdraw it. Then said Sir Lancelot to Sir Lavaine, "I pray thee
set some to watch for the good knight Sir Bors, for as he hurt me, so
will he surely seek for me."
Now Sir Bors by this time had come to Camelot, and was seeking for Sir
Lancelot everywhere, so Sir Lavaine soon found him, and brought him to
the hermitage.
And when he saw Sir Lancelot pale and feeble, he wept for pity and
sorrow that he had given him that grievous wound. "God send thee a right
speedy cure, dear lord," said he; "for I am of all men most unhappy to
have wounded thee, who art our leader, and the noblest knight in all the
world."
"Fair cousin," said Sir Lancelot, "be comforted, for I have but gained
what I sought, and it was through pride that I was hurt, for had I
warned ye of my coming it had not been; wherefore let us speak of other
things."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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