Bab Bab 336 · What sorrow Queen Guenever made for Sir Launcelot, and how

. What sorrow Queen Guenever made for Sir Launcelot, and how

he was sought by knights of his kin.

And when the queen heard them say so she fell to the earth in a dead

swoon. And then Sir Bors took her up, and dawed her; and when she was

awaked she kneeled afore the three knights, and held up both her hands,

and besought them to seek him. And spare not for no goods but that he

be found, for I wot he is out of his mind. And Sir Bors, Sir Ector, and

Sir Lionel departed from the queen, for they might not abide no longer

for sorrow. And then the queen sent them treasure enough for their

expenses, and so they took their horses and their armour, and departed.

And then they rode from country to country, in forests, and in

wilderness, and in wastes; and ever they laid watch both at forests and

at all manner of men as they rode, to hearken and spere after him, as

he that was a naked man, in his shirt, with a sword in his hand. And

thus they rode nigh a quarter of a year, endlong and overthwart, in

many places, forests and wilderness, and oft-times were evil lodged for

his sake; and yet for all their labour and seeking could they never

hear word of him. And wit you well these three knights were passing

sorry.

Then at the last Sir Bors and his fellows met with a knight that hight

Sir Melion de Tartare. Now fair knight, said Sir Bors, whither be ye

away? for they knew either other afore time. Sir, said Melion, I am in

the way toward the court of King Arthur. Then we pray you, said Sir

Bors, that ye will tell my lord Arthur, and my lady, Queen Guenever,

and all the fellowship of the Round Table, that we cannot in no wise

hear tell where Sir Launcelot is become. Then Sir Melion departed from

them, and said that he would tell the king, and the queen, and all the

fellowship of the Round Table, as they had desired him. So when Sir

Melion came to the court of King Arthur he told the king, and the

queen, and all the fellowship of the Round Table, what Sir Bors had

said of Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Gawaine, Sir Uwaine, Sir Sagramore le

Desirous, Sir Aglovale, and Sir Percivale de Galis took upon them by

the great desire of King Arthur, and in especial by the queen, to seek

throughout all England, Wales, and Scotland, to find Sir Launcelot, and

with them rode eighteen knights mo to bear them fellowship; and wit ye

well, they lacked no manner of spending; and so were they three and

twenty knights.

Now turn we to Sir Launcelot, and speak we of his care and woe, and

what pain he there endured; for cold, hunger, and thirst, he had

plenty. And thus as these noble knights rode together, they by one

assent departed, and then they rode by two, by three, and by four, and

by five, and ever they assigned where they should meet. And so Sir

Aglovale and Sir Percivale rode together unto their mother that was a

queen in those days. And when she saw her two sons, for joy she wept

tenderly. And then she said: Ah, my dear sons, when your father was

slain he left me four sons, of the which now be twain slain. And for

the death of my noble son, Sir Lamorak, shall my heart never be glad.

And then she kneeled down upon her knees to-fore Aglovale and Sir

Percivale, and besought them to abide at home with her. Ah, sweet

mother, said Sir Percivale, we may not, for we be come of king’s blood

of both parties, and therefore, mother, it is our kind to haunt arms

and noble deeds. Alas, my sweet sons, then she said, for your sakes I

shall lose my liking and lust, and then wind and weather I may not

endure, what for the death of your father, King Pellinore, that was

shamefully slain by the hands of Sir Gawaine, and his brother, Sir

Gaheris: and they slew him not manly but by treason. Ah, my dear sons,

this is a piteous complaint for me of your father’s death, considering

also the death of Sir Lamorak, that of knighthood had but few fellows.

Now, my dear sons, have this in your mind. Then there was but weeping

and sobbing in the court when they should depart, and she fell

a-swooning in midst of the court.