_How at a dinner that the queen made there was a knight poisoned, which
Sir Mador laid on the queen._
And then the queen let make a privy dinner in London unto the knights
of the Round Table. And all was for to show outward that she had as
great joy in all other knights of the Table Round as she had in Sir
Launcelot. All only at that dinner she had Sir Gawaine and his
brethren, that is to say, Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir Gareth, and
Sir Mordred. Also there was Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Blamor de Ganis, Sir
Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir
Lionel, Sir Palamides, Sir Safere his brother, Sir La Cote Male Taile,
Sir Persant, Sir Ironside, Sir Brandiles, Sir Kay le Seneschal, Sir
Mador de la Porte, Sir Patrise, a knight of Ireland, Aliduk, Sir
Astomore, and Sir Pinel le Savage, the which was cousin to Sir Lamorak
de Galis, the good knight that Sir Gawaine and his brethren slew by
treason. And so these four and twenty knights should dine with the
queen in a privy place by themselves, and there was made a great feast
of all manner of dainties. But Sir Gawaine had a custom that he used
daily at dinner and at supper, that he loved well all manner of fruit,
and in especial apples and pears. And therefore, whosoever dined or
feasted Sir Gawaine would commonly purvey for good fruit for him; and
so did the queen for to please Sir Gawaine, she let purvey for him of
all manner of fruit, for Sir Gawaine was a passing hot knight of
nature. And this Pinel hated Sir Gawaine because of his kinsman Sir
Lamorak de Galis, and therefore for pure envy and hate Sir Pinel
enpoisoned certain apples, for to enpoison Sir Gawaine. And so this was
well unto the end of the meat: and so it befell by misfortune a good
knight named Patrise, cousin unto Sir Mador de la Porte, to take a
poisoned apple. And when he had eaten it he swelled so till he brast,
and there Sir Patrise fell down suddenly dead among them. Then every
knight lept from the board ashamed and araged for wrath, nigh out of
their wits. For they wist not what to say: considering queen Guenever
made the feast and dinner, they all had suspicion unto her. My lady,
the queen, said Gawaine, wit ye well, madam, that this dinner was made
for me: for all folks that know my conditions understand that I love
well fruit, and now I see well I had near been slain; therefore, madam,
I dread lest ye will be shamed. Then the queen stood still, and was
sore abashed, that he nist not what to say. This shall not so be ended,
said Sir Mador de la Porte, for here have I lost a full noble knight of
my blood, and therefore upon this shame and despite I will be revenged
to the utterance. And there openly Sir Mador appealed the queen of the
death of his cousin Sir Patrise. Then stood they all still, that none
of them would speak a word against him. For they had a great suspicion
unto the queen because she let make that dinner. And the queen was so
abashed that she could none other ways do but wept so heartily that she
fell in a swoon. With this noise and cry came to them king Arthur. And
when he wist of that trouble, he was a passing heavy man.