Chapter Chapter 444 · Of the sorrow that Sir Bors had for the hurt of Launcelot;

. Of the sorrow that Sir Bors had for the hurt of Launcelot;

and of the anger that the queen had because Launcelot bare the sleeve.

And when Sir Bors heard that, wit ye well he was an heavy man, and so

were all his kinsmen. But when Queen Guenever wist that Sir Launcelot

bare the red sleeve of the Fair Maiden of Astolat she was nigh out of

her mind for wrath. And then she sent for Sir Bors de Ganis in all the

haste that might be. So when Sir Bors was come to-fore the queen, then

she said: Ah Sir Bors, have ye heard say how falsely Sir Launcelot hath

betrayed me? Alas madam, said Sir Bors, I am afeard he hath betrayed

himself and us all. No force, said the queen, though he be destroyed,

for he is a false traitor-knight. Madam, said Sir Bors, I pray you say

ye not so, for wit you well I may not hear such language of him. Why

Sir Bors, said she, should I not call him traitor when he bare the red

sleeve upon his head at Winchester, at the great jousts? Madam, said

Sir Bors, that sleeve-bearing repenteth me sore, but I dare say he did

it to none evil intent, but for this cause he bare the red sleeve that

none of his blood should know him. For or then we, nor none of us all,

never knew that ever he bare token or sign of maid, lady, ne

gentlewoman. Fie on him, said the queen, yet for all his pride and

bobaunce there ye proved yourself his better. Nay madam, say ye never

more so, for he beat me and my fellows, and might have slain us an he

had would. Fie on him, said the queen, for I heard Sir Gawaine say

before my lord Arthur that it were marvel to tell the great love that

is between the Fair Maiden of Astolat and him. Madam, said Sir Bors, I

may not warn Sir Gawaine to say what it pleased him; but I dare say, as

for my lord, Sir Launcelot, that he loveth no lady, gentlewoman, nor

maid, but all he loveth in like much. And therefore madam, said Sir

Bors, ye may say what ye will, but wit ye well I will haste me to seek

him, and find him wheresomever he be, and God send me good tidings of

him. And so leave we them there, and speak we of Sir Launcelot that lay

in great peril.

So as fair Elaine came to Winchester she sought there all about, and by

fortune Sir Lavaine was ridden to play him, to enchafe his horse. And

anon as Elaine saw him she knew him, and then she cried aloud until

him. And when he heard her anon he came to her, and then she asked her

brother how did my lord, Sir Launcelot. Who told you, sister, that my

lord’s name was Sir Launcelot? Then she told him how Sir Gawaine by his

shield knew him. So they rode together till that they came to the

hermitage, and anon she alighted.

So Sir Lavaine brought her in to Sir Launcelot; and when she saw him

lie so sick and pale in his bed she might not speak, but suddenly she

fell to the earth down suddenly in a swoon, and there she lay a great

while. And when she was relieved, she shrieked and said: My lord, Sir

Launcelot, alas why be ye in this plight? and then she swooned again.

And then Sir Launcelot prayed Sir Lavaine to take her up: And bring her

to me. And when she came to herself Sir Launcelot kissed her, and said:

Fair maiden, why fare ye thus? ye put me to pain; wherefore make ye no

more such cheer, for an ye be come to comfort me ye be right welcome;

and of this little hurt that I have I shall be right hastily whole by

the grace of God. But I marvel, said Sir Launcelot, who told you my

name? Then the fair maiden told him all how Sir Gawaine was lodged with

her father: And there by your shield he discovered your name. Alas,

said Sir Launcelot, that me repenteth that my name is known, for I am

sure it will turn unto anger. And then Sir Launcelot compassed in his

mind that Sir Gawaine would tell Queen Guenever how he bare the red

sleeve, and for whom; that he wist well would turn into great anger.

So this maiden Elaine never went from Sir Launcelot, but watched him

day and night, and did such attendance to him, that the French book

saith there was never woman did more kindlier for man than she. Then

Sir Launcelot prayed Sir Lavaine to make aspies in Winchester for Sir

Bors if he came there, and told him by what tokens he should know him,

by a wound in his forehead. For well I am sure, said Sir Launcelot,

that Sir Bors will seek me, for he is the same good knight that hurt

me.