Chương Chương 432 · How at a dinner that the queen made there was a knight

. How at a dinner that the queen made there was a knight

enpoisoned, which Sir Mador laid on the queen.

And then the queen let make a privy dinner in London unto the knights

of the Round Table. And all was for to show outward that she had as

great joy in all other knights of the Table Round as she had in Sir

Launcelot. All only at that dinner she had Sir Gawaine and his

brethren, that is for to say Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir Gareth,

and Sir Mordred. Also there was Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Blamore de

Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Ector de

Maris, Sir Lionel, Sir Palomides, Safere his brother, Sir La Cote Male

Taile, Sir Persant, Sir Ironside, Sir Brandiles, Sir Kay le Seneschal,

Sir Mador de la Porte, Sir Patrise, a knight of Ireland, Aliduk, Sir

Astamore, and Sir Pinel le Savage, the which was cousin to Sir Lamorak

de Galis, the good knight that Sir Gawaine and his brethren slew by

treason. And so these four-and-twenty knights should dine with the

queen in a privy place by themself, and there was made a great feast of

all manner of dainties.

But Sir Gawaine had a custom that he used daily at dinner and at

supper, that he loved well all manner of fruit, and in especial apples

and pears. And therefore whosomever dined or feasted Sir Gawaine would

commonly purvey for good fruit for him, and so did the queen for to

please Sir Gawaine; she let purvey for him all manner of fruit, for Sir

Gawaine was a passing hot knight of nature. And this Pinel hated Sir

Gawaine because of his kinsman Sir Lamorak de Galis; and therefore for

pure envy and hate Sir Pinel enpoisoned certain apples for to enpoison

Sir Gawaine. And so this was well unto the end of the meat; and so it

befell by misfortune a good knight named Patrise, cousin unto Sir Mador

de la Porte, to take a poisoned apple. And when he had eaten it he

swelled so till he brast, and there Sir Patrise fell down suddenly dead

among them.

Then every knight leapt from the board ashamed, and araged for wrath,

nigh out of their wits. For they wist not what to say; considering

Queen Guenever made the feast and dinner, they all had suspicion unto

her. My lady, the queen, said Gawaine, wit ye well, madam, that this

dinner was made for me, for all folks that know my condition understand

that I love well fruit, and now I see well I had near been slain;

therefore, madam, I dread me lest ye will be shamed. Then the queen

stood still and was sore abashed, that she nist not what to say. This

shall not so be ended, said Sir Mador de la Porte, for here have I lost

a full noble knight of my blood; and therefore upon this shame and

despite I will be revenged to the utterance. And there openly Sir Mador

appealed the queen of the death of his cousin, Sir Patrise. Then stood

they all still, that none would speak a word against him, for they all

had great suspicion unto the queen because she let make that dinner.

And the queen was so abashed that she could none other ways do, but

wept so heartily that she fell in a swoon. With this noise and cry came

to them King Arthur, and when he wist of that trouble he was a passing

heavy man.