_How dame Elaine was commanded by queen Guenever to avoid the court,
and how Sir Launcelot became mad._
Now turn we unto queen Guenever and to the fair lady Elaine. When dame
Elaine heard the queen so to rebuke Sir Launcelot, and also she saw how
he swooned, and how he lept out at a bay window, then she said unto
queen Guenever, Madam, ye are greatly to blame for Sir Launcelot, for
now ye have lost him; for I saw and heard by his countenance that he is
mad for ever. Alas, madam, ye do great sin, and to yourself great
dishonour, for ye have a lord of your own, and therefore it is your
part to love him; for there is no queen in this world hath such another
king as ye have. And if ye were not, I might have the love of my lord
Sir Launcelot; and cause I have to love him, for I am his, and by him I
have borne a fair son, and his name is Galahad, and he shall be in his
time the best knight of the world. Dame Elaine, said the queen, I
charge you and command you to avoid my court; and for the love ye owe
unto Sir Launcelot discover not his counsel, for and ye do it will be
his death. As for that, said dame Elaine, I dare undertake he is marred
for ever, and that have ye made, for ye nor I are like to rejoice him;
for he made the most piteous groans when he lept out at yonder bay
window that ever I heard man make. Alas! said fair Elaine, and alas!
said the queen Guenever, for now I wot well we have lost him for ever.
So on the morn dame Elaine took her leave to depart, and she would no
longer abide. Then king Arthur brought her on her way with more than an
hundred knights through a forest. And by the way she told Sir Bors de
Ganis all how it betid, and how Sir Launcelot lept out at a bay window
araged out of his wit. Alas, said Sir Bors, where is my lord Sir
Launcelot become? Sir, said Elaine, I wot never. Alas, said Sir Bors,
betwixt you both ye have destroyed that good knight. As for me, said
dame Elaine, I said never nor did never thing that should in any wise
displease him; but with the rebuke that queen Guenever gave him I saw
him swoon to the earth; and when he awoke he took his sword in his
hand, and lept out at a window, with the grisliest groan that ever I
heard man make. Now farewell, dame Elaine, said Sir Bors, and hold my
lord Arthur with a tale as long as ye can, for I will turn again unto
queen Guenever and give her a heat: and I require you as ever ye will
have my service, make good watch, and espy if ever ye may see my lord
Sir Launcelot. Truly, said fair Elaine, I shall do all that I may do,
for as fain would I know and wit where he is become as you or any of
his kin, or queen Guenever, and cause great enough have I thereto as
well as any other. And wit ye well, said fair Elaine to Sir Bors, I
would lose my life for him rather than he should be hurt: but alas, I
cast me never for to see him; and the chief causer of this is dame
Guenever. Madam, said dame Brisen, the which had made the enchantment
before betwixt Sir Launcelot and her, I pray you heartily let Sir Bors
depart and hie him with all his might, as fast as he may, to seek Sir
Launcelot. For I warn you he is clean out of his mind, and yet he shall
be well holpen, and but by miracle. Then wept dame Elaine, and so did
Sir Bors de Ganis, and so they departed; and Sir Bors rode straight
unto queen Guenever, and when she saw Sir Bors she wept as she were
wood. Fie on your weeping, said Sir Bors, for ye weep never but when
there is no boot. Alas, said Sir Bors, that ever Sir Launcelot’s kin
saw you. For now have ye lost the best knight of our blood, and he that
was all our leader and our succour. And I dare say and make it good,
that all kings, christian nor heathen, may not find such a knight, for
to speak of his nobleness and courtesy with his beauty and his
gentleness. Alas, said Sir Bors, what shall we do that be of his blood?
Alas, said Ector de Maris. Alas, said Lionel.