_How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred were busy upon Sir Gawaine for to
disclose the love between Sir Launcelot and queen Guenever._
In May, when every lusty heart flourisheth and burgeneth; for as the
season is lusty to behold and comfortable, so man and woman rejoice and
gladden of summer coming with his fresh flowers: for winter, with his
rough winds and blasts, causeth a lusty man and woman to cower and sit
fast by the fire. So in this season, as in the month of May, it befell
a great anger and unhap that stinted not till the flower of chivalry of
all the world was destroyed and slain: and all was long upon two
unhappy knights, the which were named Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred
that were brethren unto Sir Gawaine. For this Sir Agravaine and Sir
Mordred had ever a privy hate unto the queen dame Guenever, and to Sir
Launcelot, and daily and nightly they ever watched upon Sir Launcelot.
So it mis-happed Sir Gawaine and all his brethren were in king Arthur’s
chamber, and then Sir Agravaine said thus openly, and not in no
counsel, that many knights might hear it, I marvel that we all be not
ashamed both to see and to know how Sir Launcelot goeth with the queen,
and all we know it so, and it is shamefully suffered of us all, that we
all should suffer so noble a king as king Arthur is so to be shamed.
Then spake Sir Gawaine, and said, Brother, Sir Agravaine, I pray you,
and charge you, move no such matters no more afore me; for wit ye well,
said Sir Gawaine, I will not be of your counsel. Truly, said Sir
Gaheris and Sir Gareth, we will not be knowing, brother Agravaine, of
your deeds. Then will I, said Sir Mordred. I believe well that, said
Sir Gawaine, for ever, unto all unhappiness, brother Sir Mordred,
thereto will ye grant, and I would that ye left all this, and made you
not so busy, for I know, said Sir Gawaine, what will fall of it. Fall
of it what fall may, said Sir Agravaine, I will disclose it to the
king. Not by my counsel, said Sir Gawaine, for and there rise war and
wrake betwixt Sir Launcelot and us, wit you well, brother, there will
many kings and great lords hold with Sir Launcelot. Also, brother Sir
Agravaine, said Sir Gawaine, ye must remember how ofttimes Sir
Launcelot hath rescued the king and the queen, and the best of us all
had been full cold at the heart-root, had not Sir Launcelot been better
than we; and that hath he proved himself full oft. And as for my part,
said Sir Gawaine, I will never be against Sir Launcelot, for one day’s
deed, when he rescued me from king Carados of the dolorous tower, and
slew him, and saved my life. Also, brother Sir Agravaine, and Sir
Mordred, in likewise Sir Launcelot rescued you both, and three-score
and two, from Sir Turquin. Me thinketh, brother, such kind deeds and
kindness should be remembered. Do as ye list, said Sir Agravaine, for I
will hide it no longer. With these words came to them king Arthur. Now,
brother, stint your noise, said Sir Gawaine. We will not, said Sir
Agravaine and Sir Mordred. Will ye so? said Sir Gawaine, then God speed
you, for I will not hear your tales, nor be of your counsel. No more
will I, said Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris, for we will never say evil by
that man: for because, said Sir Gareth, Sir Launcelot made me knight,
by no manner ought I to say ill of him. And therewithal they three
departed, making great dole. Alas, said Sir Gawaine and Sir Gareth, now
is this realm wholly mischieved, and the noble fellowship of the Round
Table shall be dispersed. So they departed.