الفصل الفصل 449 · How the corpse of the Maid of Astolat arrived to-fore King

. How the corpse of the Maid of Astolat arrived to-fore King

Arthur, and of the burying, and how Sir Launcelot offered the

mass-penny.

So by fortune King Arthur and the Queen Guenever were speaking together

at a window, and so as they looked into Thames they espied this black

barget, and had marvel what it meant. Then the king called Sir Kay, and

showed it him. Sir, said Sir Kay, wit you well there is some new

tidings. Go thither, said the king to Sir Kay, and take with you Sir

Brandiles and Agravaine, and bring me ready word what is there. Then

these four knights departed and came to the barget and went in; and

there they found the fairest corpse lying in a rich bed, and a poor man

sitting in the barget’s end, and no word would he speak. So these four

knights returned unto the king again, and told him what they found.

That fair corpse will I see, said the king. And so then the king took

the queen by the hand, and went thither.

Then the king made the barget to be holden fast, and then the king and

the queen entered with certain knights with them; and there he saw the

fairest woman lie in a rich bed, covered unto her middle with many rich

clothes, and all was of cloth of gold, and she lay as though she had

smiled. Then the queen espied a letter in her right hand, and told it

to the king. Then the king took it and said: Now am I sure this letter

will tell what she was, and why she is come hither. So then the king

and the queen went out of the barget, and so commanded a certain man to

wait upon the barget.

And so when the king was come within his chamber, he called many

knights about him, and said that he would wit openly what was written

within that letter. Then the king brake it, and made a clerk to read

it, and this was the intent of the letter. Most noble knight, Sir

Launcelot, now hath death made us two at debate for your love. I was

your lover, that men called the Fair Maiden of Astolat; therefore unto

all ladies I make my moan, yet pray for my soul and bury me at least,

and offer ye my mass-penny: this is my last request. And a clean maiden

I died, I take God to witness: pray for my soul, Sir Launcelot, as thou

art peerless. This was all the substance in the letter. And when it was

read, the king, the queen, and all the knights wept for pity of the

doleful complaints. Then was Sir Launcelot sent for; and when he was

come King Arthur made the letter to be read to him.

And when Sir Launcelot heard it word by word, he said: My lord Arthur,

wit ye well I am right heavy of the death of this fair damosel: God

knoweth I was never causer of her death by my willing, and that will I

report me to her own brother: here he is, Sir Lavaine. I will not say

nay, said Sir Launcelot, but that she was both fair and good, and much

I was beholden unto her, but she loved me out of measure. Ye might have

shewed her, said the queen, some bounty and gentleness that might have

preserved her life. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, she would none other

ways be answered but that she would be my wife, outher else my

paramour; and of these two I would not grant her, but I proffered her,

for her good love that she shewed me, a thousand pound yearly to her,

and to her heirs, and to wed any manner knight that she could find best

to love in her heart. For madam, said Sir Launcelot, I love not to be

constrained to love; for love must arise of the heart, and not by no

constraint. That is truth, said the king, and many knight’s love is

free in himself, and never will be bounden, for where he is bounden he

looseth himself.

Then said the king unto Sir Launcelot: It will be your worship that ye

oversee that she be interred worshipfully. Sir, said Sir Launcelot,

that shall be done as I can best devise. And so many knights yede

thither to behold that fair maiden. And so upon the morn she was

interred richly, and Sir Launcelot offered her mass-penny; and all the

knights of the Table Round that were there at that time offered with

Sir Launcelot. And then the poor man went again with the barget. Then

the queen sent for Sir Launcelot, and prayed him of mercy, for why that

she had been wroth with him causeless. This is not the first time, said

Sir Launcelot, that ye had been displeased with me causeless, but,

madam, ever I must suffer you, but what sorrow I endure I take no

force. So this passed on all that winter, with all manner of hunting

and hawking, and jousts and tourneys were many betwixt many great

lords, and ever in all places Sir Lavaine gat great worship, so that he

was nobly renowned among many knights of the Table Round.