_How Sir Meliagaunce told for what cause they fought, and how Sir
Lamorak justed with king Arthur._
Sir, said Meliagaunce, I shall tell you for what cause we do this
battle. I praised my lady queen Guenever, and said she was the fairest
lady of the world, and Sir Lamorak said nay thereto, for he said queen
Morgause of Orkney was fairer than she, and more of beauty. Ah Sir
Lamorak, why sayest thou so? It is not thy part to dispraise thy
princess that thou art under her obeisance and we all. And therewith he
alight on foot, and said, For this quarrel make thee ready, for I will
prove upon thee that queen Guenever is the fairest lady and most of
bounty in the world. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I am loth to have ado with
you in this quarrel. For every man thinketh his own lady fairest; and
though I praise the lady that I love most, ye should not be wroth. For
though my lady queen Guenever be fairest in your eye, wit ye well queen
Morgause of Orkney is fairest in mine eye, and so every knight thinketh
his own lady fairest; and, wit ye well, Sir, ye are the man in the
world, except Sir Tristram, that I am most lothest to have ado withal.
But and ye will needs fight with me, I shall endure you as long as I
may. Then spake Sir Bleoberis, and said, My lord Sir Launcelot, I wist
you never so misadvised as ye are now. For Sir Lamorak saith you but
reason and knightly. For I warn you I have a lady, and me thinketh that
she is the fairest lady of the world. Were this a great reason that ye
should be wroth with me for such language? And well ye wot that Sir
Lamorak is as noble a knight as I know, and he hath owed you and us
ever good will, and therefore I pray you be good friends. Then Sir
Launcelot said unto Sir Lamorak: I pray you forgive me mine evil will;
and if I was misadvised I will amend it. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, the
amends is soon made betwixt you and me. And so Sir Launcelot and Sir
Bleoberis departed. And Sir Meliagaunce and Sir Lamorak took their
horses, and either departed from other. And within a while came king
Arthur, and met with Sir Lamorak, and justed with him, and there he
smote down Sir Lamorak, and wounded him sore with a spear, and so he
rode from him, wherefore Sir Lamorak was wroth that he would not fight
with him on foot; how be it that Sir Lamorak knew not king Arthur.