_How Sir Launcelot was espied in the queen’s chamber, and how Sir
Agravaine and Sir Mordred came with twelve knights to slay him._
So Sir Launcelot departed, and took his sword under his arm, and so in
his mantle that noble knight put himself in great jeopardy, and so he
passed till he came to the queen’s chamber. And then, as the French
book saith, there came Sir Agravaine, and Sir Mordred, with twelve
knights with them of the Round Table, and they said with crying voice,
Traitor knight, Sir Launcelot du Lake, now art thou taken. And thus
they cried with a loud voice that all the court might hear it: and they
all fourteen were armed at all points as they should fight in a battle.
Alas, said queen Guenever, now are we mischieved both. Madam, said Sir
Launcelot, is there here any armour within your chamber that I might
cover my poor body withal, and if there be any, give it me, and I shall
soon stint their malice. Truly, said the queen, I have none armour,
shield, sword, nor spear, wherefore I dread me sore our long love is
come to a mischievous end; for, I hear by their noise, there be many
noble knights, and well I wot they be surely armed, against them ye may
make no resistance; wherefore ye are likely to be slain, and then shall
I be burnt. For, and ye might escape them, said the queen, I would not
doubt but that ye would rescue me in what danger that ever I stood in.
Alas, said Sir Launcelot, in all my life was I never bested that I
should be thus shamefully slain for lack of mine armour. But ever in
one Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred cried, Traitor knight, come out of
the queen’s chamber, for wit thou well thou art so beset that thou
shalt not escape. Oh mercy, said Sir Launcelot, this shameful cry and
noise I may not suffer, for better were death at once, than thus to
endure this pain. Then he took the queen in his arms, and kissed her,
and said, Most noble christian queen, I beseech you, as ye have ever
been my special good lady, and I at all times your true poor knight
unto my power, and as I never failed you in right nor in wrong, since
the first day that king Arthur made me knight, that ye will pray for my
soul if that I here be slain. For well I am well assured that Sir Bors
my nephew and all the remnant of my kin, with Sir Lavaine and Sir Urre,
that they will not fail you to rescue you from the fire, and therefore,
mine own lady, recomfort yourself whatsoever come of me, that ye go
with Sir Bors my nephew, and Sir Urre, and they all will do you all the
pleasure that they can or may, that ye shall live like a queen upon my
lands. Nay, Launcelot, said the queen, wit thou well I will never live
after thy days, but, and thou be slain, I will take my death as meekly
for Jesu Christ’s sake, as ever did any Christian queen. Well, madam,
said Launcelot, sith it is so that the day is come that our love must
depart, wit you well I shall sell my life as dear as I may, and a
thousand fold, said Sir Launcelot, I am more heavier for you than for
myself. And now I had lever than to be lord of all Christendom, that I
had sure armour upon me, that men might speak of my deeds or ever I
were slain. Truly, said the queen, I would and it might please God that
they would take me and slay me, and suffer you to escape. That shall
never be, said Sir Launcelot. God defend me from such a shame, but Jesu
be thou my shield and mine armour.