So on the morn the damosel went to King Mark to have had his letters
and to depart. I am not avised, said King Mark, as at this time to send
my letters. Then privily and secretly he sent letters unto King Arthur,
and unto Queen Guenever, and unto Sir Launcelot. So the varlet
departed, and found the king and the queen in Wales, at Carlion. And as
the king and the queen were at mass the varlet came with the letters.
And when mass was done the king and the queen opened the letters
privily by themself. And the beginning of the king’s letters spake
wonderly short unto King Arthur, and bade him entermete with himself
and with his wife, and of his knights; for he was able enough to rule
and keep his wife.
CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Launcelot was wroth with the letter that he
received from King Mark, and of Dinadan which made a lay of King Mark.
When King Arthur understood the letter, he mused of many things, and
thought on his sister’s words, Queen Morgan le Fay, that she had said
betwixt Queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot. And in this thought he
studied a great while. Then he bethought him again how his sister was
his own enemy, and that she hated the queen and Sir Launcelot, and so
he put all that out of his thought. Then King Arthur read the letter
again, and the latter clause said that King Mark took Sir Tristram for
his mortal enemy; wherefore he put Arthur out of doubt he would be
revenged of Sir Tristram. Then was King Arthur wroth with King Mark.
And when Queen Guenever read her letter and understood it, she was
wroth out of measure, for the letter spake shame by her and by Sir
Launcelot. And so privily she sent the letter unto Sir Launcelot. And
when he wist the intent of the letter he was so wroth that he laid him
down on his bed to sleep, whereof Sir Dinadan was ware, for it was his
manner to be privy with all good knights. And as Sir Launcelot slept he
stole the letter out of his hand, and read it word by word. And then he
made great sorrow for anger. And so Sir Launcelot awaked, and went to a
window, and read the letter again, the which made him angry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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