_How dame Elaine, Galahad’s mother, came in great estate unto Camelot,
and how Sir Launcelot behaved him there._
And when dame Elaine, the daughter of king Pelles, heard of this feast,
she went to her father, and required him that he would give her leave
to ride to that feast. The king answered, I will well ye go thither;
but in any wise, as ye love me and will have my blessing, that ye be
well beseen in the richest wise; and look that ye spare not for no
cost; ask, and ye shall have all that you needeth. Then, by the advice
of dame Brisen her maiden, all thing was apparelled unto the purpose,
and there was never no lady more richlier beseen. So she rode with
twenty knights and ten ladies and gentlewomen to the number of an
hundred horses. And when she came to Camelot, king Arthur and queen
Guenever said, and all the knights, that dame Elaine was the fairest
and the best beseen lady that ever was seen in that court.
And anon as king Arthur wist that she was come, he met her and saluted
her, and so did the most part of all the knights of the Round Table,
both Sir Tristram, Sir Bleoberis, and Sir Gawaine, and many more that I
will not rehearse. But when Sir Launcelot saw her he was so ashamed,
and that because he drew his sword on her, that he would not salute her
nor speak to her, and yet Sir Launcelot thought she was the fairest
woman that ever he saw in his life days. But when dame Elaine saw Sir
Launcelot that would not speak to her, she was so heavy that she wend
her heart would have to-brast. For wit ye well, out of measure she
loved him. And then Elaine said unto her woman dame Brisen, The
unkindness of Sir Launcelot slayeth me near. Ah peace, madam, said dame
Brisen, I will undertake that he shall come to you, and ye would hold
you still. That were me lever, said dame Elaine, than all the gold that
is above the earth. Let me deal, said dame Brisen. So when Elaine was
brought unto queen Guenever, either made other good cheer by
countenance, but nothing with hearts. But all men and women spake of
the beauty of dame Elaine, and of her great riches. Then the queen
commanded that dame Elaine should sleep in a chamber nigh unto her
chamber, and all under one roof. And so it was done as the queen had
commanded. Then the queen sent for Sir Launcelot, and bid him come to
her, or else, I am sure, said the queen, that ye will go to your lady,
dame Elaine, by whom ye had Galahad. Ah, madam, said Sir Launcelot,
never say ye so; for that was against my will. Then, said the queen,
look that ye come to me when I send for you. Madam, said Sir Launcelot,
I shall not fail you, but I shall be ready at your commandment. This
bargain was soon done and made between them, but dame Brisen knew it by
her crafts, and told it to her lady dame Elaine. Alas, said she, how
shall I do. Let me deal, said dame Brisen, for I shall bring him by the
hand, even to you, and he shall ween that I am queen Guenever’s
messager. Now well is me, said dame Elaine, for all the world I love
not so much as I do Sir Launcelot.