บทที่ บทที่ 482 · Of the deliverance of the queen to the king by Sir

. Of the deliverance of the queen to the king by Sir

Launcelot, and what language Sir Gawaine had to Sir Launcelot.

My most redoubted king, ye shall understand, by the Pope’s commandment

and yours, I have brought to you my lady the queen, as right requireth;

and if there be any knight, of whatsomever degree that he be, except

your person, that will say or dare say but that she is true and clean

to you, I here myself, Sir Launcelot du Lake, will make it good upon

his body, that she is a true lady unto you; but liars ye have listened,

and that hath caused debate betwixt you and me. For time hath been, my

lord Arthur, that ye have been greatly pleased with me when I did

battle for my lady, your queen; and full well ye know, my most noble

king, that she hath been put to great wrong or this time; and sithen it

pleased you at many times that I should fight for her, meseemeth, my

good lord, I had more cause to rescue her from the fire, insomuch she

should have been brent for my sake. For they that told you those tales

were liars, and so it fell upon them; for by likelihood had not the

might of God been with me, I might never have endured fourteen knights,

and they armed and afore purposed, and I unarmed and not purposed. For

I was sent for unto my lady your queen, I wot not for what cause; but I

was not so soon within the chamber door, but anon Sir Agravaine and Sir

Mordred called me traitor and recreant knight. They called thee right,

said Sir Gawaine. My lord Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, in their

quarrel they proved themselves not in the right. Well well, Sir

Launcelot, said the king, I have given thee no cause to do to me as

thou hast done, for I have worshipped thee and thine more than any of

all my knights.

My good lord, said Sir Launcelot, so ye be not displeased, ye shall

understand I and mine have done you oft better service than any other

knights have done, in many divers places; and where ye have been full

hard bestead divers times, I have myself rescued you from many dangers;

and ever unto my power I was glad to please you, and my lord Sir

Gawaine; both in jousts, and tournaments, and in battles set, both on

horseback and on foot, I have often rescued you, and my lord Sir

Gawaine, and many mo of your knights in many divers places. For now I

will make avaunt, said Sir Launcelot, I will that ye all wit that yet I

found never no manner of knight but that I was overhard for him, an I

had done my utterance, thanked be God; howbeit I have been matched with

good knights, as Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak, but ever I had a favour

unto them and a deeming what they were. And I take God to record, said

Sir Launcelot, I never was wroth nor greatly heavy with no good knight

an I saw him busy about to win worship; and glad I was ever when I

found any knight that might endure me on horseback and on foot: howbeit

Sir Carados of the Dolorous Tower was a full noble knight and a passing

strong man, and that wot ye, my lord Sir Gawaine; for he might well be

called a noble knight when he by fine force pulled you out of your

saddle, and bound you overthwart afore him to his saddle bow; and

there, my lord Sir Gawaine, I rescued you, and slew him afore your

sight. Also I found his brother, Sir Turquin, in likewise leading Sir

Gaheris, your brother, bounden afore him; and there I rescued your

brother and slew that Turquin, and delivered three-score-and-four of my

lord Arthur’s knights out of his prison. And now I dare say, said Sir

Launcelot, I met never with so strong knights, nor so well fighting, as

was Sir Carados and Sir Turquin, for I fought with them to the

uttermost. And therefore, said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Gawaine,

meseemeth ye ought of right to remember this; for, an I might have your

good will, I would trust to God to have my lord Arthur’s good grace.