Chapter Chapter 469 · How Sir Agravaine disclosed their love to King Arthur, and

. How Sir Agravaine disclosed their love to King Arthur, and

how King Arthur gave them licence to take him.

And then Sir Arthur asked them what noise they made. My lord, said

Agravaine, I shall tell you that I may keep no longer. Here is I, and

my brother Sir Mordred, brake unto my brothers Sir Gawaine, Sir

Gaheris, and to Sir Gareth, how this we know all, that Sir Launcelot

holdeth your queen, and hath done long; and we be your sister’s sons,

and we may suffer it no longer, and all we wot that ye should be above

Sir Launcelot; and ye are the king that made him knight, and therefore

we will prove it, that he is a traitor to your person.

If it be so, said Sir Arthur, wit you well he is none other, but I

would be loath to begin such a thing but I might have proofs upon it;

for Sir Launcelot is an hardy knight, and all ye know he is the best

knight among us all; and but if he be taken with the deed, he will

fight with him that bringeth up the noise, and I know no knight that is

able to match him. Therefore an it be sooth as ye say, I would he were

taken with the deed. For as the French book saith, the king was full

loath thereto, that any noise should be upon Sir Launcelot and his

queen; for the king had a deeming, but he would not hear of it, for Sir

Launcelot had done so much for him and the queen so many times, that

wit ye well the king loved him passingly well. My lord, said Sir

Agravaine, ye shall ride to-morn a-hunting, and doubt ye not Sir

Launcelot will not go with you. Then when it draweth toward night, ye

may send the queen word that ye will lie out all that night, and so may

ye send for your cooks, and then upon pain of death we shall take him

that night with the queen, and outher we shall bring him to you dead or

quick. I will well, said the king; then I counsel you, said the king,

take with you sure fellowship. Sir, said Agravaine, my brother, Sir

Mordred, and I, will take with us twelve knights of the Round Table.

Beware, said King Arthur, for I warn you ye shall find him wight. Let

us deal, said Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred.

So on the morn King Arthur rode a-hunting, and sent word to the queen

that he would be out all that night. Then Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred

gat to them twelve knights, and hid themself in a chamber in the Castle

of Carlisle, and these were their names: Sir Colgrevance, Sir Mador de

la Porte, Sir Gingaline, Sir Meliot de Logris, Sir Petipase of

Winchelsea, Sir Galleron of Galway, Sir Melion of the Mountain, Sir

Astamore, Sir Gromore Somir Joure, Sir Curselaine, Sir Florence, Sir

Lovel. So these twelve knights were with Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine,

and all they were of Scotland, outher of Sir Gawaine’s kin, either

well-willers to his brethren.

So when the night came, Sir Launcelot told Sir Bors how he would go

that night and speak with the queen. Sir, said Sir Bors, ye shall not

go this night by my counsel. Why? said Sir Launcelot. Sir, said Sir

Bors, I dread me ever of Sir Agravaine, that waiteth you daily to do

you shame and us all; and never gave my heart against no going, that

ever ye went to the queen, so much as now; for I mistrust that the king

is out this night from the queen because peradventure he hath lain some

watch for you and the queen, and therefore I dread me sore of treason.

Have ye no dread, said Sir Launcelot, for I shall go and come again,

and make no tarrying. Sir, said Sir Bors, that me repenteth, for I

dread me sore that your going out this night shall wrath us all. Fair

nephew, said Sir Launcelot, I marvel much why ye say thus, sithen the

queen hath sent for me; and wit ye well I will not be so much a coward,

but she shall understand I will see her good grace. God speed you well,

said Sir Bors, and send you sound and safe again.