_How Sir Launcelot came in the night to the queen, and how Sir
Meliagraunce appeached the queen of treason._
Then the knights that were hurt were searched, and soft salves were
laid to their wounds, and so it passed on till supper time; and all the
cheer that might be made them there was done unto the queen and all her
knights. Then when season was they went unto their chambers. But in no
wise the queen would not suffer the wounded knights to be from her, but
that they were laid within draughts by her chamber, upon beds and
pillows, that she herself might see to them, that they wanted nothing.
So when Launcelot was in his chamber that was assigned unto him, he
called unto Sir Lavaine, and told him that he must go speak with his
lady, dame Guenever. Sir, said Sir Lavaine, let me go with you, and it
please you, for I dread me sore of the treason of Sir Meliagrance. Nay,
said Sir Launcelot, I thank you, but I will have nobody with me. Then
Sir Launcelot took his sword in his hand, and privily went unto a place
whereas he had espied a ladder toforehand, and that he took under his
arm and bare it through the garden, and set it up to the window. And
there anon the queen was ready to meet him. And then they made either
to other their complaints of many divers things. And then Sir Launcelot
wished that he might have come in to her. Wit ye well, said the queen,
I would as fain as ye that ye might come in to me. Would ye, madam,
said Sir Launcelot, with your heart that I were with you? Yea truly,
said the queen. Now shall I prove my might, said Sir Launcelot, for
your love. And then he set his hands upon the bars of iron, and pulled
at them with such a might that he brast them clean out of the stone
walls. And therewithal one of the bars of iron cut the brawn of his
hands throughout to the bone, and then he lept into the chamber to the
queen. Make ye no noise, said the queen, for my wounded knights lie
here fast by me. And when he saw his time that he might tarry no
longer, he took his leave and departed at the window, and put it
together as well as he might again, and so departed unto his own
chamber; and there he told Sir Lavaine how he was hurt; then Sir
Lavaine dressed his hand, and staunched it, and put upon it a glove,
that it should not be espied. And so the queen lay long in her bed,
until it was nine of the clock. Then Sir Meliagrance went to the
queen’s chamber, and found her ladies there ready clothed. Mercy, said
Sir Meliagrance, what aileth you, madam, that ye sleep thus long? And
then was he ware of the blood of Sir Launcelot’s hurt hand. And when
Sir Meliagrance espied that blood, then he deemed in himself that she
was false unto the king, and that it was the blood of some of the
wounded knights. Ah, madam, said Sir Meliagrance, now I have founden
you a false traitress unto my lord Arthur; for now I prove well it was
not for nought that ye laid these wounded knights within the bounds of
your chamber: therefore I will call you of treason before my lord king
Arthur, and now I have proved you, madam, with a shameful deed, and
that they be all false, or some of them, I will make good, for a
wounded knight hath been here. That is false, said the queen, and that
I will report me to them all. Then when the ten knights heard Sir
Meliagrance’s words, they spake all in one voice and said unto Sir
Meliagrance, Thou sayest falsely, and wrongfully puttest upon us such a
deed, and that we will make good any of us, choose which thou list of
us, when we are whole of our wounds. Ye shall not, said Sir
Meliagrance, away with your proud language, for here ye may all see
that a wounded knight hath been here. Then were they all ashamed when
they saw that blood, and wit you well Sir Meliagrance was passing glad
that he had the queen at such an advantage, for he deemed by that to
hide his treason. So with this rumour came in Sir Launcelot, and found
them all at a great array.