Kabanata Kabanata 265 · How Sir Launcelot was wroth with the letter that he

. How Sir Launcelot was wroth with the letter that he

received from King Mark, and of Dinadan which made a lay of King Mark.

When King Arthur understood the letter, he mused of many things, and

thought on his sister’s words, Queen Morgan le Fay, that she had said

betwixt Queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot. And in this thought he

studied a great while. Then he bethought him again how his sister was

his own enemy, and that she hated the queen and Sir Launcelot, and so

he put all that out of his thought. Then King Arthur read the letter

again, and the latter clause said that King Mark took Sir Tristram for

his mortal enemy; wherefore he put Arthur out of doubt he would be

revenged of Sir Tristram. Then was King Arthur wroth with King Mark.

And when Queen Guenever read her letter and understood it, she was

wroth out of measure, for the letter spake shame by her and by Sir

Launcelot. And so privily she sent the letter unto Sir Launcelot. And

when he wist the intent of the letter he was so wroth that he laid him

down on his bed to sleep, whereof Sir Dinadan was ware, for it was his

manner to be privy with all good knights. And as Sir Launcelot slept he

stole the letter out of his hand, and read it word by word. And then he

made great sorrow for anger. And so Sir Launcelot awaked, and went to a

window, and read the letter again, the which made him angry.

Sir, said Dinadan, wherefore be ye angry? discover your heart to me:

forsooth ye wot well I owe you good will, howbeit I am a poor knight

and a servitor unto you and to all good knights. For though I be not of

worship myself I love all those that be of worship. It is truth, said

Sir Launcelot, ye are a trusty knight, and for great trust I will shew

you my counsel. And when Dinadan understood all, he said: This is my

counsel: set you right nought by these threats, for King Mark is so

villainous, that by fair speech shall never man get of him. But ye

shall see what I shall do; I will make a lay for him, and when it is

made I shall make an harper to sing it afore him. So anon he went and

made it, and taught it an harper that hight Eliot. And when he could

it, he taught it to many harpers. And so by the will of Sir Launcelot,

and of Arthur, the harpers went straight into Wales, and into Cornwall,

to sing the lay that Sir Dinadan made by King Mark, the which was the

worst lay that ever harper sang with harp or with any other

instruments.