Kabanata Kabanata 470 · How Sir Launcelot was espied in the queen’s chamber, and

. How Sir Launcelot was espied in the queen’s chamber, and

how Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred came with twelve knights to slay him.

So Sir Launcelot departed, and took his sword under his arm, and so in

his mantle that noble knight put himself in great Jeopardy; and so he

passed till he came to the queen’s chamber, and then Sir Launcelot was

lightly put into the chamber. And then, as the French book saith, the

queen and Launcelot were together. And whether they were abed or at

other manner of disports, me list not hereof make no mention, for love

that time was not as is now-a-days. But thus as they were together,

there came Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred, with twelve knights with them

of the Round Table, and they said with crying voice: Traitor-knight,

Sir Launcelot du Lake, now art thou taken. And thus they cried with a

loud voice, that all the court might hear it; and they all fourteen

were armed at all points as they should fight in a battle. Alas said

Queen Guenever, now are we mischieved both Madam, said Sir Launcelot,

is there here any armour within your chamber, that I might cover my

poor body withal? An if there be any give it me, and I shall soon stint

their malice, by the grace of God. Truly, said the queen, I have none

armour, shield, sword, nor spear; wherefore I dread me sore our long

love is come to a mischievous end, for I hear by their noise there be

many noble knights, and well I wot they be surely armed, and against

them ye may make no resistance. Wherefore ye are likely to be slain,

and then shall I be brent. For an ye might escape them, said the queen,

I would not doubt but that ye would rescue me in what danger that ever

I stood in. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, in all my life thus was I never

bestead, that I should be thus shamefully slain for lack of mine

armour.

But ever in one Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred cried: Traitor-knight,

come out of the queen’s chamber, for wit thou well thou art so beset

that thou shalt not escape. O Jesu mercy, said Sir Launcelot, this

shameful cry and noise I may not suffer, for better were death at once

than thus to endure this pain. Then he took the queen in his arms, and

kissed her, and said: Most noble Christian queen, I beseech you as ye

have been ever my special good lady, and I at all times your true poor

knight unto my power, and as I never failed you in right nor in wrong

sithen the first day King Arthur made me knight, that ye will pray for

my soul if that I here be slain; for well I am assured that Sir Bors,

my nephew, and all the remnant of my kin, with Sir Lavaine and Sir

Urre, that they will not fail you to rescue you from the fire; and

therefore, mine own lady, recomfort yourself, whatsomever come of me,

that ye go with Sir Bors, my nephew, and Sir Urre, and they all will do

you all the pleasure that they can or may, that ye shall live like a

queen upon my lands. Nay, Launcelot, said the queen, wit thou well I

will never live after thy days, but an thou be slain I will take my

death as meekly for Jesu Christ’s sake as ever did any Christian queen.

Well, madam, said I-auncelot, sith it is so that the day is come that

our love must depart, wit you well I shall sell my life as dear as I

may; and a thousandfold, said Sir Launcelot, I am more heavier for you

than for myself. And now I had liefer than to be lord of all

Christendom, that I had sure armour upon me, that men might speak of my

deeds or ever I were slain. Truly, said the queen, I would an it might

please God that they would take me and slay me, and suffer you to

escape. That shall never be, said Sir Launcelot, God defend me from

such a shame, but Jesu be Thou my shield and mine armour!