_How the queen commanded Sir Launcelot to avoid the court, and of the
sorrow that Launcelot made._
All this while the queen stood still, and let Sir Launcelot say what he
would. And when he had all said, she brast out on weeping, and so she
sobbed and wept a great while: and when she might speak, she said,
Launcelot, now I well understand that thou art a false recreant knight,
and lovest and holdest other ladies, and by me thou hast disdain and
scorn. For wit thou well, she said, now I understand thy falsehood, and
therefore shall I never love thee no more, and never be thou so hardy
to come in my sight; and right here I discharge thee this court, that
thou never come within it, and I forfend thee my fellowship, and upon
pain of thy head that thou see me no more. Right so Sir Launcelot
departed with great heaviness, that hardly he might sustain himself for
great dole making. Then he called Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir
Lionel, and told them how the queen had forfend him the court, and so
he was in will to depart into his own country. Fair sir, said Sir Bors
de Ganis, ye shall not depart out of this land by mine advice; ye must
remember in what honour ye are renowned, and called the noblest knight
of the world, and many great matters ye have in hand, and women in
their hastiness will do oftimes that sore repenteth them, and therefore
by mine advice ye shall take your horse, and ride to the good hermitage
here beside Windsor, that sometime was a good knight, his name is Sir
Brasias, and there shall ye abide till I send you word of better
tidings. Brother, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well I am full loth to
depart out of this realm, but the queen hath defended me so highly that
me seemeth she will never be my good lady as she hath been. Say ye
never so, said Sir Bors, for many times or this time she hath been
wroth with you, and after it she was the first that repented it. Ye say
well, said Launcelot, for now will I do by your counsel, and take mine
horse and my harness, and ride to the hermit Sir Brasias, and there
will I repose me until I hear some manner of tidings from you. But,
fair brother, I pray you get me the love of my lady queen Guenever, and
ye may. Sir, said Sir Bors, ye need not to move me of such matters, for
well ye wot I will do what I may to please you. And then the noble
knight Sir Launcelot departed with right heavy cheer, suddenly, that
none earthly creature wist of him, nor where he was become, but Sir
Bors. So when Sir Launcelot was departed, the queen made no manner of
sorrow in shewing, to none of his blood, nor to none other: but, wit ye
well, inwardly, as the book saith, she took great thought, but she bare
it out with a proud countenance, as though she felt nothing nor danger.