heartily, let Sir Bors depart, and hie him with all his might as fast
as he may to seek Sir Launcelot, for I warn you he is clean out of his
mind; and yet he shall be well holpen an but by miracle.
Then wept Dame Elaine, and so did Sir Bors de Ganis; and so they
departed, and Sir Bors rode straight unto Queen Guenever. And when she
saw Sir Bors she wept as she were wood. Fie on your weeping, said Sir
Bors de Ganis, for ye weep never but when there is no bote. Alas, said
Sir Bors, that ever Sir Launcelot’s kin saw you, for now have ye lost
the best knight of our blood, and he that was all our leader and our
succour; and I dare say and make it good that all kings, christian nor
heathen, may not find such a knight, for to speak of his nobleness and
courtesy, with his beauty and his gentleness. Alas, said Sir Bors, what
shall we do that be of his blood? Alas, said Sir Ector de Maris. Alas,
said Lionel.
CHAPTER X. What sorrow Queen Guenever made for Sir Launcelot, and how
he was sought by knights of his kin.
And when the queen heard them say so she fell to the earth in a dead
swoon. And then Sir Bors took her up, and dawed her; and when she was
awaked she kneeled afore the three knights, and held up both her hands,
and besought them to seek him. And spare not for no goods but that he
be found, for I wot he is out of his mind. And Sir Bors, Sir Ector, and
Sir Lionel departed from the queen, for they might not abide no longer
for sorrow. And then the queen sent them treasure enough for their
expenses, and so they took their horses and their armour, and departed.
And then they rode from country to country, in forests, and in
wilderness, and in wastes; and ever they laid watch both at forests and
at all manner of men as they rode, to hearken and spere after him, as
he that was a naked man, in his shirt, with a sword in his hand. And
thus they rode nigh a quarter of a year, endlong and overthwart, in
many places, forests and wilderness, and oft-times were evil lodged for
his sake; and yet for all their labour and seeking could they never
hear word of him. And wit you well these three knights were passing
sorry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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