Kabanata Kabanata 445 · How Sir Bors sought Launcelot and found him in the

. How Sir Bors sought Launcelot and found him in the

hermitage, and of the lamentation between them.

Now turn we unto Sir Bors de Ganis that came unto Winchester to seek

after his cousin Sir Launcelot. And so when he came to Winchester, anon

there were men that Sir Lavaine had made to lie in a watch for such a

man, and anon Sir Lavaine had warning; and then Sir Lavaine came to

Winchester and found Sir Bors, and there he told him what he was, and

with whom he was, and what was his name. Now fair knight, said Sir

Bors, I require you that ye will bring me to my lord, Sir Launcelot.

Sir, said Sir Lavaine, take your horse, and within this hour ye shall

see him. And so they departed, and came to the hermitage.

And when Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot lie in his bed pale and

discoloured, anon Sir Bors lost his countenance, and for kindness and

pity he might not speak, but wept tenderly a great while. And then when

he might speak he said thus: O my lord, Sir Launcelot, God you bless,

and send you hasty recover; and full heavy am I of my misfortune and of

mine unhappiness, for now I may call myself unhappy. And I dread me

that God is greatly displeased with me, that he would suffer me to have

such a shame for to hurt you that are all our leader, and all our

worship; and therefore I call myself unhappy. Alas that ever such a

caitiff-knight as I am should have power by unhappiness to hurt the

most noblest knight of the world. Where I so shamefully set upon you

and overcharged you, and where ye might have slain me, ye saved me; and

so did not I, for I and your blood did to you our utterance. I marvel,

said Sir Bors, that my heart or my blood would serve me, wherefore my

lord, Sir Launcelot, I ask your mercy. Fair cousin, said Sir Launcelot,

ye be right welcome; and wit ye well, overmuch ye say for to please me,

the which pleaseth me not, for why I have the same I sought; for I

would with pride have overcome you all, and there in my pride I was

near slain, and that was in mine own default, for I might have given

you warning of my being there. And then had I had no hurt, for it is an

old said saw, there is hard battle thereas kin and friends do battle

either against other, there may be no mercy but mortal war. Therefore,

fair cousin, said Sir Launcelot, let this speech overpass, and all

shall be welcome that God sendeth; and let us leave off this matter and

let us speak of some rejoicing, for this that is done may not be

undone; and let us find a remedy how soon that I may be whole.

Then Sir Bors leaned upon his bedside, and told Sir Launcelot how the

queen was passing wroth with him, because he wore the red sleeve at the

great jousts; and there Sir Bors told him all how Sir Gawaine

discovered it: By your shield that ye left with the Fair Maiden of

Astolat. Then is the queen wroth, said Sir Launcelot and therefore am I

right heavy, for I deserved no wrath, for all that I did was because I

would not be known. Right so excused I you, said Sir Bors, but all was

in vain, for she said more largelier to me than I to you now. But is

this she, said Sir Bors, that is so busy about you, that men call the

Fair Maiden of Astolat? She it is, said Sir Launcelot, that by no means

I cannot put her from me. Why should ye put her from you? said Sir

Bors, she is a passing fair damosel, and a well beseen, and well

taught; and God would, fair cousin, said Sir Bors, that ye could love

her, but as to that I may not, nor I dare not, counsel you. But I see

well, said Sir Bors, by her diligence about you that she loveth you

entirely. That me repenteth, said Sir Launcelot. Sir, said Sir Bors,

she is not the first that hath lost her pain upon you, and that is the

more pity: and so they talked of many more things. And so within three

days or four Sir Launcelot was big and strong again.