الفصل الفصل 481 · How the Pope sent down his bulls to make peace, and how

. How the Pope sent down his bulls to make peace, and how

Sir Launcelot brought the queen to King Arthur.

So when this Bishop was come to Carlisle he shewed the king these

bulls. And when the king understood these bulls he nist what to do:

full fain he would have been accorded with Sir Launcelot, but Sir

Gawaine would not suffer him; but as for to have the queen, thereto he

agreed. But in nowise Sir Gawaine would not suffer the king to accord

with Sir Launcelot; but as for the queen he consented. And then the

Bishop had of the king his great seal, and his assurance as he was a

true anointed king that Sir Launcelot should come safe, and go safe,

and that the queen should not be spoken unto of the king, nor of none

other, for no thing done afore time past; and of all these appointments

the Bishop brought with him sure assurance and writing, to shew Sir

Launcelot.

So when the Bishop was come to Joyous Gard, there he shewed Sir

Launcelot how the Pope had written to Arthur and unto him, and there he

told him the perils if he withheld the queen from the king. It was

never in my thought, said Launcelot, to withhold the queen from my lord

Arthur; but, insomuch she should have been dead for my sake, meseemeth

it was my part to save her life, and put her from that danger, till

better recover might come. And now I thank God, said Sir Launcelot,

that the Pope hath made her peace; for God knoweth, said Sir Launcelot,

I will be a thousandfold more gladder to bring her again, than ever I

was of her taking away; with this, I may be sure to come safe and go

safe, and that the queen shall have her liberty as she had before; and

never for no thing that hath been surmised afore this time, she never

from this day stand in no peril. For else, said Sir Launcelot, I dare

adventure me to keep her from an harder shour than ever I kept her. It

shall not need you, said the Bishop, to dread so much; for wit you

well, the Pope must be obeyed, and it were not the Pope’s worship nor

my poor honesty to wit you distressed, neither the queen, neither in

peril, nor shamed. And then he shewed Sir Launcelot all his writing,

both from the Pope and from King Arthur. This is sure enough, said Sir

Launcelot, for full well I dare trust my lord’s own writing and his

seal, for he was never shamed of his promise. Therefore, said Sir

Launcelot unto the Bishop, ye shall ride unto the king afore, and

recommend me unto his good grace, and let him have knowledging that

this same day eight days, by the grace of God, I myself shall bring my

lady, Queen Guenever, unto him. And then say ye unto my most redoubted

king, that I will say largely for the queen, that I shall none except

for dread nor fear, but the king himself, and my lord Sir Gawaine; and

that is more for the king’s love than for himself.

So the Bishop departed and came to the king at Carlisle, and told him

all how Sir Launcelot answered him; and then the tears brast out of the

king’s eyen. Then Sir Launcelot purveyed him an hundred knights, and

all were clothed in green velvet, and their horses trapped to their

heels; and every knight held a branch of olive in his hand, in tokening

of peace. And the queen had four-and-twenty gentlewomen following her

in the same wise; and Sir Launcelot had twelve coursers following him,

and on every courser sat a young gentleman, and all they were arrayed

in green velvet, with sarps of gold about their quarters, and the horse

trapped in the same wise down to the heels, with many ouches, y-set

with stones and pearls in gold, to the number of a thousand. And she

and Sir Launcelot were clothed in white cloth of gold tissue; and right

so as ye have heard, as the French book maketh mention, he rode with

the queen from Joyous Gard to Carlisle. And so Sir Launcelot rode

throughout Carlisle, and so in the castle, that all men might behold;

and wit you well there was many a weeping eye. And then Sir Launcelot

himself alighted and avoided his horse, and took the queen, and so led

her where King Arthur was in his seat: and Sir Gawaine sat afore him,

and many other great lords. So when Sir Launcelot saw the king and Sir

Gawaine, then he led the queen by the arm, and then he kneeled down,

and the queen both. Wit you well then was there many bold knight there

with King Arthur that wept as tenderly as though they had seen all

their kin afore them. So the king sat still, and said no word. And when

Sir Launcelot saw his countenance, he arose and pulled up the queen

with him, and thus he spake full knightly.