Lancelot seeth them coming towards him with their keen swords and
saith, "By my head, an evil guerdon do you return me of the services I
have done for you."
The knights come to him all together swords drawn, and run upon him all
at once. He goeth defending himself, as far as the wall of the hall,
whereof he maketh a castle to his back, but before he cometh thither he
hath slain or wounded seven. He began to defend himself right stoutly
on all sides, but they gave him great buffets of their swords, and no
fair play is it of thirty or forty blows to one. Nor ought none
believe that one single knight might deliver himself from so many men,
seeing that they were eager to take him and do him a hurt. Lancelot
defended him the best he might, but the numbers were against him, and,
anyway, or ever he let himself be taken he sold himself right dear, for
of the forty knights he harmed at least a score, and of them was none
that was not sore wounded and the most part killed; and he caught
Briant of the Isles, that was helping to take him, so sore that he made
his sword drink the blood of his body, in such sort that the wound was
right wide. The knights laid hold on Lancelot on all sides, and the
King commanded that none should harm him, but that they should bring
him to his dungeon in the prison. Lancelot marvelled him much wherefore
the King should do this, nor might he understand wherefore this hatred
was come so lately. He is put in the prison so as the King hath
commanded. All they of the court are sorry thereof, save Briant and
his knights, but well may he yet aby it dear, so God bring Lancelot out
or prison. Some say, "Now is the King's court lost, sith that Messire
Gawain and the other knights have thus forsaken it, and Lancelot is put
in prison for doing well, ill trust may the others have therein."
They pray God yet grant Briant of the Isles an evil guerdon, for well
know they that all this is of his procurement. And of an evil guerdon
shall he not fail so God protect Lancelot and bring him forth of prison.