_Of the deliverance of the queen to the king by Sir Launcelot, and what
language Sir Gawaine had to Sir Launcelot._
My most redoubted king, ye shall understand, by the Pope’s commandment,
and yours, I have brought to you my lady the queen, as right requireth;
and if there be any knight, of whatsoever degree that he be, except
your person, that will say or dare say but that she is true to you, I
here myself, Sir Launcelot du Lake, will make it good upon his body
that she is a true lady unto you: but liars ye have listened, and that
has caused debate betwixt you and me. For time hath been, my lord
Arthur, that ye have been greatly pleased with me, when I did battle
for my lady your queen; and full well ye know my most noble king, that
she hath been put to great wrong or this time, and sithen it pleased
you at many times that I should fight for her, me seemeth, my good
lord, I had more cause to rescue her from the fire, insomuch she should
have been burnt for my sake. For they that told you those tales were
liars, and so it fell upon them. For, by likelihood, had not the might
of God been with me, I might never have endured fourteen knights, and
they armed and afore purposed, and I unarmed and not purposed; for I
was sent for unto my lady your queen, I wot not for what cause, but I
was not so soon within the chamber door, but anon Sir Agravaine and Sir
Mordred called me traitor and recreant knight. They called thee right,
said Sir Gawaine. My lord Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, in their
quarrel they proved themselves not in the right. Well, well, Sir
Launcelot, said king Arthur, I have given thee no cause to do to me as
thou hast done, for I have worshipped thee and thine more than any of
all my knights. My good lord, said Sir Launcelot, so ye be not
displeased, ye shall understand I and mine have done you oft better
service than any other knights have done in many divers places; and
where ye have been full hard bested divers times, I have myself rescued
you from many dangers, and ever unto my power I was glad to please you,
and my lord Sir Gawaine both, in justs and tournaments, and in battles
set, both on horseback and on foot, I have often rescued you, and my
lord Sir Gawaine, and many more of your knights in many divers places.
For now I will make avaunt, said Sir Launcelot, I will that ye all wit
that yet I found never no manner of knight, but that I was over-hard
for him, and I had done my utterance, thanked be God; howbeit I have
been matched with good knights, as Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak, but
ever I had a favour unto them, and a deeming what they were; and I take
God to record, said Sir Launcelot, I never was wroth nor greatly heavy
with no good knight, and I saw him busy about to win worship: and full
glad I was ever when I found any knight that might endure me on
horseback and on foot. Howbeit, Sir Carados of the dolorous tower was a
full noble knight, and a passing strong man, and that wot ye, my lord
Sir Gawaine; for he might well be called a noble knight, when he by
fine force pulled you out of your saddle, and bound you overthwart
afore him to his saddle bow; and there, my lord Sir Gawaine, I rescued
you, and slew him afore your sight. Also I found his brother, Sir
Turquin, in like wise leading Sir Gaheris your brother bounden afore
him, and there I rescued your brother, and slew that Sir Turquin, and
delivered threescore and four of my lord Arthur’s knights out of his
prison. And now I dare say, said Sir Launcelot, I met never with so
strong knights, nor so well fighting, as was Sir Carados and Sir
Turquin, for I fought with them to the uttermost; and therefore, said
Sir Launcelot unto Sir Gawaine, me seemeth ye ought of right for to
remember this: for and I might have your good will, I would trust to
God to have my lord Arthur’s good grace.