_How four queens found Sir Launcelot sleeping, and how by enchantment
he was taken and led into a castle._
Now leave we these knights prisoners, and speak we of Sir Launcelot du
Lake that lieth under the apple tree sleeping. Even about the noon
there came by him four queens of great estate; and, for the heat of the
sun should not annoy them, there rode four knights about them and bare
a cloth of green silk on four spears, betwixt them and the sun, and the
queens rode on four white mules.
Thus as they rode they heard by them a great horse grimly neigh, and
then were they ware of a sleeping knight that lay all armed under an
apple tree; anon as these queens looked on his face they knew that it
was Sir Launcelot. Then they began for to strive for that knight; every
one said she would have him to her love. We shall not strive, said
Morgan le Fay, that was king Arthur’s sister; I shall put an
enchantment upon him that he shall not awake in six hours, and then I
will lead him away unto my castle, and when he is surely within my hold
I shall take the enchantment from him, and then let him choose which of
us he will have for his love. So this enchantment was cast upon Sir
Launcelot, and then they laid him upon his shield, and bare him so on
horseback betwixt two knights, and brought him unto the castle Chariot,
and there they laid him in a chamber cold, and at night they sent unto
him a fair damsel with his supper ready dight. By that the enchantment
was past, and when she came she saluted him, and asked him what cheer?
I cannot say, fair damsel, said Sir Launcelot, for I wot not how I came
into this castle but it be by an enchantment. Sir, said she, ye must
make good cheer, and if ye be such a knight as is said ye be, I shall
tell you more tomorn by prime of the day. Gramercy, fair damsel, said
Sir Launcelot, of your good will I require you. And so she departed.
And there he lay all that night without comfort of any body.
And on the morn early came these four queens, passingly well beseen,
all they bidding him good morn, and he them again. Sir knight, the four
queens said, thou must understand thou art our prisoner, and we here
know thee well, that thou art Sir Launcelot du Lake, king Ban’s son.
And truly we understand your worthiness that thou art the noblest
knight living; and, as we know well, there can no lady have thy love
but one, and that is queen Guenever, and now thou shalt lose her for
ever, and she thee, and therefore thee behoveth now to choose one of us
four. I am the queen Morgan le Fay, queen of the land of Gore, and here
is the queen of Northgalis, and the queen of Eastland, and the queen of
the Out Isles; now choose ye one of us which thou wilt have to thy love
for thou mayst not choose or else in this prison to die. This is an
hard case, said Sir Launcelot, that either I must die or else choose
one of you, yet had I lever to die in this prison with worship, than to
have one of you to my love maugre my head. And therefore ye be
answered, for I will have none of you, for ye be false enchantresses.
And as for my lady dame Guenever, were I at my liberty as I was, I
would prove it on you or upon yours, that she is the truest lady unto
her lord living. Well, said the queens, is this your answer, that you
will refuse us? Yea, on my life, said Sir Launcelot, refused ye be of
me. So they departed and left him there alone that made great sorrow.