第 二百六十四 章 · How King Arthur, the Queen, and Launcelot received

. How King Arthur, the Queen, and Launcelot received

letters out of Cornwall, and of the answer again.

Now leave we Sir Palomides and Sir Dinadan in the Castle of

Beale-Valet, and turn we again unto King Arthur. There came a knight

out of Cornwall, his name was Fergus, a fellow of the Round Table. And

there he told the king and Sir Launcelot good tidings of Sir Tristram,

and there were brought goodly letters, and how he left him in the

castle of Tintagil. Then came the damosel that brought goodly letters

unto King Arthur and unto Sir Launcelot, and there she had passing good

cheer of the king, and of the Queen Guenever, and of Sir Launcelot.

Then they wrote goodly letters again. But Sir Launcelot bade ever Sir

Tristram beware of King Mark, for ever he called him in his letters

King Fox, as who saith, he fareth all with wiles and treason. Whereof

Sir Tristram in his heart thanked Sir Launcelot. Then the damosel went

unto La Beale Isoud, and bare her letters from the king and from Sir

Launcelot, whereof she was in passing great joy. Fair damosel, said La

Beale Isoud, how fareth my Lord Arthur, and the Queen Guenever, and the

noble knight, Sir Launcelot? She answered, and to make short tale: Much

the better that ye and Sir Tristram be in joy. God reward them, said La

Beale Isoud, for Sir Tristram suffereth great pain for me, and I for

him.

So the damosel departed, and brought letters to King Mark. And when he

had read them, and understood them, he was wroth with Sir Tristram, for

he deemed that he had sent the damosel unto King Arthur. For Arthur and

Launcelot in a manner threated King Mark. And as King Mark read these

letters he deemed treason by Sir Tristram. Damosel, said King Mark,

will ye ride again and bear letters from me unto King Arthur? Sir, she

said, I will be at your commandment to ride when ye will. Ye say well,

said the king; come again, said the king, to-morn, and fetch your

letters. Then she departed and told them how she should ride again with

letters unto Arthur. Then we pray you, said La Beale Isoud and Sir

Tristram, that when ye have received your letters, that ye would come

by us that we may see the privity of your letters. All that I may do,

madam, ye wot well I must do for Sir Tristram, for I have been long his

own maiden.

So on the morn the damosel went to King Mark to have had his letters

and to depart. I am not avised, said King Mark, as at this time to send

my letters. Then privily and secretly he sent letters unto King Arthur,

and unto Queen Guenever, and unto Sir Launcelot. So the varlet

departed, and found the king and the queen in Wales, at Carlion. And as

the king and the queen were at mass the varlet came with the letters.

And when mass was done the king and the queen opened the letters

privily by themself. And the beginning of the king’s letters spake

wonderly short unto King Arthur, and bade him entermete with himself

and with his wife, and of his knights; for he was able enough to rule

and keep his wife.