Lancelot understandeth that the knight is not overburdened of courtesy,
and he seeth the table garnished of good meat, and bethinketh him he
will not do well to lose such ease, for misease enough had they the
night before. He maketh the King take water of the lady, and the same
service did she for all of them. The knight biddeth them be seated.
The King would have made the lady sit beside him at the table, but the
knight said that there she should not sit. She goeth to sit among the
squires as she was wont to do. The knights are sorry enough thereof,
but they durst not gainsay the will of her lord. When they had eaten,
the knight said to Lancelot, "Now may you see what she hath gained of
me by your making me take her perforce, nor never, so help me God, so
long as I live shall she be honoured otherwise by me, for so have I
promised her that I love far more."
"Sir," saith Lancelot, "To my thinking you do ill herein and a sin, and
meseemeth you should have great blame thereof of them that know it, and
may your churlishness be your own, for nought thereof take I to myself."