Chapter Chapter 262 · How Sir Lamorak visited King Lot’s wife, and how Sir

. How Sir Lamorak visited King Lot’s wife, and how Sir

Gaheris slew her which was his own mother.

Now turn we unto Sir Lamorak, that much was there praised. Then, by the

mean of Sir Gawaine and his brethren, they sent for their mother there

besides, fast by a castle beside Camelot; and all was to that intent to

slay Sir Lamorak. The Queen of Orkney was there but a while, but Sir

Lamorak wist of their being, and was full fain; and for to make an end

of this matter, he sent unto her, and there betwixt them was a night

assigned that Sir Lamorak should come to her. Thereof was ware Sir

Gaheris, and there he rode afore the same night, and waited upon Sir

Lamorak, and then he saw where he came all armed. And where Sir Lamorak

alighted he tied his horse to a privy postern, and so he went into a

parlour and unarmed him; and then he went unto the queen’s bed, and she

made of him passing great joy, and he of her again, for either loved

other passing sore. So when the knight, Sir Gaheris, saw his time, he

came to their bedside all armed, with his sword naked, and suddenly gat

his mother by the hair and struck off her head.

When Sir Lamorak saw the blood dash upon him all hot, the which he

loved passing well, wit you well he was sore abashed and dismayed of

that dolorous knight. And therewithal, Sir Lamorak leapt out of the bed

in his shirt as a knight dismayed, saying thus: Ah, Sir Gaheris, knight

of the Table Round, foul and evil have ye done, and to you great shame.

Alas, why have ye slain your mother that bare you? with more right ye

should have slain me. The offence hast thou done, said Gaheris,

notwithstanding a man is born to offer his service; but yet shouldst

thou beware with whom thou meddlest, for thou hast put me and my

brethren to a shame, and thy father slew our father; and thou to lie by

our mother is too much shame for us to suffer. And as for thy father,

King Pellinore, my brother Sir Gawaine and I slew him. Ye did him the

more wrong, said Sir Lamorak, for my father slew not your father, it

was Balin le Savage: and as yet my father’s death is not revenged.

Leave those words, said Sir Gaheris, for an thou speak feloniously I

will slay thee. But because thou art naked I am ashamed to slay thee.

But wit thou well, in what place I may get thee I shall slay thee; and

now my mother is quit of thee; and withdraw thee and take thine armour,

that thou were gone. Sir Lamorak saw there was none other bote, but

fast armed him, and took his horse and rode his way making great

sorrow. But for the shame and dolour he would not ride to King Arthur’s

court, but rode another way.

But when it was known that Gaheris had slain his mother the king was

passing wroth, and commanded him to go out of his court. Wit ye well

Sir Gawaine was wroth that Gaheris had slain his mother and let Sir

Lamorak escape. And for this matter was the king passing wroth, and so

was Sir Launcelot, and many other knights. Sir, said Sir Launcelot,

here is a great mischief befallen by felony, and by forecast treason,

that your sister is thus shamefully slain. And I dare say that it was

wrought by treason, and I dare say ye shall lose that good knight, Sir

Lamorak, the which is great pity. I wot well and am sure, an Sir

Tristram wist it, he would never more come within your court, the which

should grieve you much more and all your knights. God defend, said the

noble King Arthur, that I should lose Sir Lamorak or Sir Tristram, for

then twain of my chief knights of the Table Round were gone. Sir, said

Sir Launcelot, I am sure ye shall lose Sir Lamorak, for Sir Gawaine and

his brethren will slay him by one mean or other; for they among them

have concluded and sworn to slay him an ever they may see their time.

That shall I let, said Arthur.