_How Sir Launcelot answered for the queen, and waged battle against Sir
Meliagraunce. And how Sir Launcelot was taken in a trap._
What array is this? said Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Meliagrance told him
what he had found, and shewed him the blood. Truly, said Sir Launcelot,
ye did not your part nor knightly toward the queen, and therefore have
ye done unworshipfully and shamefully to yourself. I wot not what ye
mean, said Sir Meliagrance, but well I am sure there hath been one of
her wounded knights here, and therefore I will prove with my hands that
she is a traitress unto my lord Arthur. Beware what ye do, said Sir
Launcelot, for and ye say so, and that ye will prove it, it will be
taken at your hands. My lord Sir Launcelot, said Sir Meliagrance, I
rede you beware what ye do, for though ye are never so good a knight,
as ye wot well that ye are renowned the best knight of the world, yet
should ye be advised to do battle in a wrong quarrel, for God will have
a stroke in every battle. As for that, said Sir Launcelot, God is to be
dread. But as to that I say nay plainly, that this night none of these
ten wounded knights was here with my lady queen Guenever, and that will
I prove with my hands, that ye say untruly in that now. Hold, said Sir
Meliagrance, here is my glove, that she is traitress unto my lord king
Arthur, and that one of the wounded knights was here. And I receive
your glove, said Sir Launcelot. And so they were sealed with their
signets, and delivered unto the ten knights. At what day shall we do
battle together? said Sir Launcelot. This day eight days, said Sir
Meliagrance, in the field beside Westminster. I am agreed, said Sir
Launcelot. But now, said Sir Meliagrance, sithen it is that we must
fight together, I beseech you, as ye are a noble knight, await me with
no treason, nor none villainy the meanwhile, nor none for you. So God
me help, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall right well wit I was never of no
such conditions, for I report me to all knights that ever have known
me, I fared never with no treason, nor I loved never the fellowship of
no man that fared with treason. Then let us go to dinner, said
Meliagrance, and after dinner ye and the queen and ye may ride all to
Westminster. I will well, said Sir Launcelot. And Sir Meliagrance said
to Sir Launcelot, Pleaseth it you to see the eftures of this castle?
With a good will, said Sir Launcelot. And then they went together from
chamber to chamber, for Sir Launcelot dread no perils. For ever a man
of worship and of prowess dreadeth least always perils: for they ween
every man be as they be. But ever he that fareth with treason putteth
oft a man in great danger. So it befell upon Sir Launcelot that no
peril dread. As he went with Sir Meliagrance, he trod on a trap, and
the board rolled, and therewith Sir Launcelot fell down more than ten
fathom into a cave full of straw. And then Sir Meliagrance departed,
and made no fare as that he nist where he was. And when Sir Launcelot
was thus missed, they marvelled where he was become. And then queen
Guenever and many of them deemed that he was departed as he was wont to
do, suddenly. For Sir Meliagrance made suddenly to put away on side Sir
Lavaine’s horse, that they might all understand that Sir Launcelot was
departed suddenly. So it past on till after dinner, and then Sir
Lavaine would not stint until that he ordained litters for the wounded
knights, that they might be laid in them, and so with the queen and
them all, both ladies and gentlewomen and other, went unto Westminster,
and there the knights told king Arthur how Meliagrance had appealed the
queen of high treason, and how Sir Launcelot had received the glove of
him, and this day eight days they shall do battle afore you. By my
head, said king Arthur, I am afeard Sir Meliagrance hath taken upon him
a great charge. But where is Sir Launcelot? said the king. Sir, said
they all, we wot not where he is, but we deem he is ridden to some
adventures, as he is ofttimes wont to do, for he hath Sir Lavaine’s
horse. Let him be, said the king, he will be founden, but if he be
trapped with some treason.