Kabanata Kabanata 431 · How the queen commanded Sir Launcelot to avoid the court,

. How the queen commanded Sir Launcelot to avoid the court,

and of the sorrow that Launcelot made.

All this while the queen stood still and let Sir Launcelot say what he

would. And when he had all said she brast out a-weeping, and so she

sobbed and wept a great while. And when she might speak she said:

Launcelot, now I well understand that thou art a false recreant knight

and a common lecher, and lovest and holdest other ladies, and by me

thou hast disdain and scorn. For wit thou well, she said, now I

understand thy falsehood, and therefore shall I never love thee no

more. And never be thou so hardy to come in my sight; and right here I

discharge thee this court, that thou never come within it; and I

forfend thee my fellowship, and upon pain of thy head that thou see me

no more. Right so Sir Launcelot departed with great heaviness, that

unnethe he might sustain himself for great dole-making.

Then he called Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir Lionel, and told

them how the queen had forfended him the court, and so he was in will

to depart into his own country. Fair sir, said Sir Bors de Ganis, ye

shall not depart out of this land by mine advice. Ye must remember in

what honour ye are renowned, and called the noblest knight of the

world; and many great matters ye have in hand. And women in their

hastiness will do ofttimes that sore repenteth them; and therefore by

mine advice ye shall take your horse, and ride to the good hermitage

here beside Windsor, that sometime was a good knight, his name is Sir

Brasias, and there shall ye abide till I send you word of better

tidings. Brother, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well I am full loath to

depart out of this realm, but the queen hath defended me so highly,

that meseemeth she will never be my good lady as she hath been. Say ye

never so, said Sir Bors, for many times or this time she hath been

wroth with you, and after it she was the first that repented it. Ye say

well, said Launcelot, for now will I do by your counsel, and take mine

horse and my harness, and ride to the hermit Sir Brasias, and there

will I repose me until I hear some manner of tidings from you; but,

fair brother, I pray you get me the love of my lady, Queen Guenever, an

ye may. Sir, said Sir Bors, ye need not to move me of such matters, for

well ye wot I will do what I may to please you.

And then the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, departed with right heavy

cheer suddenly, that none earthly creature wist of him, nor where he

was become, but Sir Bors. So when Sir Launcelot was departed, the queen

outward made no manner of sorrow in showing to none of his blood nor to

none other. But wit ye well, inwardly, as the book saith, she took

great thought, but she bare it out with a proud countenance as though

she felt nothing nor danger.