_How Sir Mordred rode hastily to the king to tell him of the affray and
death of Sir Agravaine and the other knights._
Now turn we again unto Sir Mordred, that when he was escaped from the
noble knight Sir Launcelot, he anon gat his horse and mounted upon him,
and rode unto king Arthur, sore wounded and smitten, and all for-bled.
And there he told the king all how it was, and how they were all slain
save himself all only. Mercy, how may this be, said the king; took ye
him in the queen’s chamber? Yea, truly, said Sir Mordred, there we
found him unarmed, and there he slew Colgrevance, and armed him in his
armour. And all this he told the king, from the beginning to the
ending. Ah, mercy, said the king, he is a marvellous knight of prowess.
Alas, me sore repenteth, said the king, that ever Sir Launcelot should
be against me. Now I am sure the noble fellowship of the Round Table is
broken for ever, for with him will many a noble knight hold: and now it
is fallen so, said the king, that I may not with my worship but the
queen must suffer the death. So then there was made great ordinance in
this heat, that the queen must be judged to the death. And the law was
such in those days, that whatsoever they were, of what estate or
degree, if they were found guilty of treason, there should be none
other remedy but death, and either the men or the taking with the deed
should be causer of their hasty judgment. And right so was it ordained
for queen Guenever, because Sir Mordred was escaped sore wounded, and
the death of thirteen knights of the Round Table:—these proofs and
experiences caused king Arthur to command the queen to the fire, there
to be burnt. Then spake Sir Gawaine and said: My lord Arthur, I would
counsel you not to be over hasty, but that ye would put it in respite,
this judgment of my lady the queen, for many causes. One it is, though
it were so that Sir Launcelot were found in the queen’s chamber, yet it
might be that he came thither for none evil, for ye know, my lord, said
Sir Gawaine, that the queen is much beholden unto Sir Launcelot, more
than unto any other knight, for oft-times he hath saved her life, and
done battle for her when all the court refused the queen, and,
peradventure, she sent for him for goodness and for none evil, to
reward him for his good deeds that he had done to her in time past.
And, peradventure, my lady the queen sent for him to that intent that
Sir Launcelot should come to her good grace privily and secretly,
weening to her that it was best so to do, in eschewing and dreading of
slander. For oft-times we do many things that we ween it be for the
best, and yet, peradventure, it turneth to the worst. For I dare say,
said Sir Gawaine, that my lady your queen is to you both good and true.
And as for Sir Launcelot, said Sir Gawaine, I dare say he will make it
good upon any knight living that will put upon himself villainy or
shame, and in likewise he will make good for my lady dame Guenever.
That I believe well, said king Arthur, but I will not that way with Sir
Launcelot, for he trusteth so much upon his hands and his might that he
doubteth no man, and therefore for my queen he shall never fight more,
for she shall have the law. And if I may get Sir Launcelot, wit ye well
he shall have a shameful death. Jesu defend, said Sir Gawaine, that I
may never see it. Why say ye so? said king Arthur, for sooth ye have no
cause to love Sir Launcelot, for this night last past he slew your
brother Sir Agravaine, a full good knight, and also almost he had slain
your other brother Sir Mordred; and also there he slew thirteen noble
knights; and also, Sir Gawaine, remember ye he slew two sons of yours,
Sir Florence and Sir Lovel. My lord, said Sir Gawaine, of all this I
have knowledge, of whose deaths I repent me sore, but insomuch I gave
them warning, and told my brethren and my sons aforehand, what would
fall in the end, insomuch they would not do by my counsel I will not
meddle me thereof, nor revenge me nothing of their deaths, for I told
them it was no bote to strive with Sir Launcelot; howbeit I am sorry of
the death of my brethren and of my sons, for they are the causers of
their own death. For oft-times I warned my brother Sir Agravaine, and I
told him the perils the which be now fallen.