第 四百七十四 章 · How Sir Mordred rode hastily to the king, to tell him of

. How Sir Mordred rode hastily to the king, to tell him of

the affray and death of Sir Agravaine and the other knights.

Now turn we again unto Sir Mordred, that when he was escaped from the

noble knight, Sir Launcelot, he anon gat his horse and mounted upon

him, and rode unto King Arthur, sore wounded and smitten, and all

forbled; and there he told the king all how it was, and how they were

all slain save himself all only. Jesu mercy, how may this be? said the

king; took ye him in the queen’s chamber? Yea, so God me help, said Sir

Mordred, there we found him unarmed, and there he slew Colgrevance, and

armed him in his armour; and all this he told the king from the

beginning to the ending. Jesu mercy, said the king, he is a marvellous

knight of prowess. Alas, me sore repenteth, said the king, that ever

Sir Launcelot should be against me. Now I am sure the noble fellowship

of the Round Table is broken for ever, for with him will many a noble

knight hold; and now it is fallen so, said the king, that I may not

with my worship, but the queen must suffer the death. So then there was

made great ordinance in this heat, that the queen must be judged to the

death. And the law was such in those days that whatsomever they were,

of what estate or degree, if they were found guilty of treason, there

should be none other remedy but death; and outher the men or the taking

with the deed should be causer of their hasty judgment. And right so

was it ordained for Queen Guenever, because Sir Mordred was escaped

sore wounded, and the death of thirteen knights of the Round Table.

These proofs and experiences caused King Arthur to command the queen to

the fire there to be brent.

Then spake Sir Gawaine, and said: My lord Arthur, I would counsel you

not to be over-hasty, but that ye would put it in respite, this

judgment of my lady the queen, for many causes. One it is, though it

were so that Sir Launcelot were found in the queen’s chamber, yet it

might be so that he came thither for none evil; for ye know my lord,

said Sir Gawaine, that the queen is much beholden unto Sir Launcelot,

more than unto any other knight, for ofttimes he hath saved her life,

and done battle for her when all the court refused the queen; and

peradventure she sent for him for goodness and for none evil, to reward

him for his good deeds that he had done to her in times past. And

peradventure my lady, the queen, sent for him to that intent that Sir

Launcelot should come to her good grace privily and secretly, weening

to her that it was best so to do, in eschewing and dreading of slander;

for ofttimes we do many things that we ween it be for the best, and yet

peradventure it turneth to the worst. For I dare say, said Sir Gawaine,

my lady, your queen, is to you both good and true; and as for Sir

Launcelot, said Sir Gawaine, I dare say he will make it good upon any

knight living that will put upon himself villainy or shame, and in like

wise he will make good for my lady, Dame Guenever.

That I believe well, said King Arthur, but I will not that way with Sir

Launcelot, for he trusteth so much upon his hands and his might that he

doubteth no man; and therefore for my queen he shall never fight more,

for she shall have the law. And if I may get Sir Launcelot, wit you

well he shall have a shameful death. Jesu defend, said Sir Gawaine,

that I may never see it. Why say ye so? said King Arthur; forsooth ye

have no cause to love Sir Launcelot, for this night last past he slew

your brother, Sir Agravaine, a full good knight, and almost he had

slain your other brother, Sir Mordred, and also there he slew thirteen

noble knights; and also, Sir Gawaine, remember you he slew two sons of

yours, Sir Florence and Sir Lovel. My lord, said Sir Gawaine, of all

this I have knowledge, of whose deaths I repent me sore; but insomuch I

gave them warning, and told my brethren and my sons aforehand what

would fall in the end, insomuch they would not do by my counsel, I will

not meddle me thereof, nor revenge me nothing of their deaths; for I

told them it was no boot to strive with Sir Launcelot. Howbeit I am

sorry of the death of my brethren and of my sons, for they are the

causers of their own death; for ofttimes I warned my brother Sir

Agravaine, and I told him the perils the which be now fallen.