_What sorrow queen Guenever made for Sir Launcelot, and how he was
sought by knights of his kin._
And when the queen heard them say so, she fell to the earth in a dead
swoon. And then Sir Bors took her up, and roused her, and when she was
awaked she kneeled afore the three knights, and held up both her hands,
and besought them to seek him, and spare not for no goods but that he
be founden, for I wot he is out of his mind. And Sir Bors, Sir Ector,
and Sir Lionel departed from the queen, for they might not abide no
longer for sorrow. And then the queen sent them treasure enough for
their expenses, and so they took their horses and their armour, and
departed. And then they rode from country to country, in forests and in
wildernesses and in wastes, and ever they laid watch as well both at
forests and at all manner of men as they rode, to hearken and enquire
after him, as he that was a naked man in his shirt, with a sword in his
hand. And thus they rode nigh a quarter of a year, endlong and
overthwart, in many places, forests and wildernesses, and ofttimes were
evil lodged for his sake, and yet for all their labour and seeking
could they never hear word of him. And wit you well these three knights
were passing sorry. Then at the last Sir Bors and his fellows met with
a knight, that hight Sir Melion de Tartare. Now, fair knight, said Sir
Bors, whither be ye away? for they knew either other aforetime. Sir,
said Sir Melion, I am in the way toward the court of king Arthur. Then
we pray you, said Sir Bors, that ye will tell my lord Arthur, and my
lady queen Guenever, and all the fellowship of the Round Table, that we
cannot in no wise hear tell where Sir Launcelot is become. Then Sir
Melion departed from them, and said that he would tell the king and the
queen and all the fellowship of the Round Table, as they had desired
him. So when Sir Melion came to the court of king Arthur, he told the
king and the queen and all the fellowship of the Round Table, what Sir
Bors had said of Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Gawaine, Sir Uwaine, Sir
Sagramor le Desirous, Sir Aglovale, and Sir Percivale de Galis, took
upon them by the great desire of king Arthur, and in especial by the
queen, to seek throughout all England, Wales, and Scotland, to find Sir
Launcelot. And with them rode eighteen knights more to bear them
fellowship. And wit ye well they lacked no manner of spending: and so
were they three and twenty knights.
Now turn we to Sir Launcelot, and speak we of his care and woe and what
pain he there endured, for cold, hunger, and thirst he had plenty. And
thus as these noble knights rode together, they by one assent departed,
and then they rode by two, by three, and by four, and by five; and ever
they assigned where they should meet. And so Sir Aglovale and Sir
Percivale rode together unto their mother that was a queen in those
days. And when she saw her two sons, for joy she wept tenderly. And
then she said, Ah, my dear sons, when your father was slain he left me
four sons, of the which now be twain slain; and for the death of my
noble son Sir Lamorak shall my heart never be glad. And then she
kneeled down upon her knees tofore Aglovale and Sir Percivale, and
besought them to abide at home with her. Ah, sweet mother, said Sir
Percivale, we may not; for we be come of king’s blood of both parties,
and therefore, mother, it is our kind to haunt arms and noble deeds.
Alas, my sweet sons, then she said, for your sakes I shall lose my
liking and joy, and then wind and weather I may not endure, what for
the death of your father king Pellinore, that was shamefully slain by
the hands of Sir Gawaine and his brother Sir Gaheris, and they slew him
not manly, but by treason. Ah, my dear sons, this is a piteous
complaint for me of your father’s death, considering also the death of
Sir Lamorak, that of knighthood had but few fellows. Now, my dear sons,
have this in your mind. Then there was but weeping and sobbing in the
court when they should depart, and she fell in swooning in midst of the
court.