Saith King Arthur, "Whose was the land, and what was the name of the
Queen whose crown I see?"
"Sir, the King's name was Arthur, and the best king in the world was
he; but in his kingdom the more part say that he is dead. And this
crown was the crown of Queen Guenievre that is dead and buried, whereof
is sore sorrow. The knights that may not leave Cardoil lest Briant of
the Isles should seize the city, they sent me to the kingdom of Logres
and charged me with the crown and destrier for that I have knowledge of
the isles and foreign lands; wherefore they prayed me I should go among
the assemblies of knights, that so I might hear tidings of my Lord King
Arthur and my Lord Gawain and Lancelot, and, so I might find them, that
I should tell them how the land hath fallen into this grievous sorrow."
King Arthur heareth tidings whereof he is full sorrowful. He draweth
on one side, and the knights make the most grievous dole in the world.
Lancelot knoweth not what he may do, and saith between his teeth that
now hath his joy come to an end and his knighthood is of no avail, for
that he hath lost the high Queen, the valiant, that heart and comfort
gave him and encouragement to do well. The tears ran down from his
comely eyes right amidst his face and through the ventail, and, had he
durst make other dole, yet greater would it have been. Of the mourning
the King made is there nought to speak, for this sorrow resembleth none
other. He holdeth the crown of gold, and looketh full oft at the
destrier for love of her, for he had given it her; and Messire Gawain
may not stint of making dole.