So on the morn Dame Elaine took her leave to depart,and she would no longer abide.Then King Arthur brought her on her way with mo than an hundred knights through a forest.And by the way she told Sir Bors de Ganis all how it betid that same night,and how Sir Launcelot leapt out at a window,araged out of his wit.Alas,said Sir Bors,where is my lord,Sir Launcelot,become?Sir,said Elaine,I wot ne'er.Alas,said Sir Bors,betwixt you both ye have destroyed that good knight.As for me,said Dame Elaine,I said never nor did never thing that should in any wise displease him,but with the rebuke that Queen Guenever gave him I saw him swoon to the earth;and when he awoke he took his sword in his hand,naked save his shirt,and leapt out at a window with the grisliest groan that ever I heard man make.Now farewell,Dame Elaine,said Sir Bors,and hold my lord Arthur with a tale as long as ye can,for I will turn again to Queen Guenever and give her a hete;and I require you,as ever ye will have my service,make good watch and espy if ever ye may see my lord Sir Launcelot.Truly,said fair Elaine,I shall do all that I may do,for as fain would I know and wit where he is become,as you,or any of his kin,or Queen Guenever;and cause great enough have I thereto as well as any other.And wit ye well,said fair Elaine to Sir Bors,I would lose my life for him rather than he should be hurt;but alas,I cast me never for to see him,and the chief causer of this is Dame Guenever.
Madam,said Dame Brisen,the which had made the enchantment before betwixt Sir Launcelot and her,I pray you heartily,let Sir Bors depart,and hie him with all his might as fast as he may to seek Sir Launcelot,for I warn you he is clean out of his mind;and yet he shall be well holpen an but by miracle.
Then wept Dame Elaine,and so did Sir Bors de Ganis;and so they departed,and Sir Bors rode straight unto Queen Guenever.And when she saw Sir Bors she wept as she were wood.Fie on your weeping,said Sir Bors de Ganis,for ye weep never but when there is no bote.Alas,said Sir Bors,that ever Sir Launcelot's kin saw you,for now have ye lost the best knight of our blood,and he that was all our leader and our succour;and I dare say and make it good that all kings,christian nor heathen,may not find such a knight,for to speak of his nobleness and courtesy,with his beauty and his gentleness.Alas,said Sir Bors,what shall we do that be of his blood?Alas,said Sir Ector de Maris.Alas,said Lionel.
CHAPTER X
What sorrow Queen Guenever made for Sir Launcelot,and how he was sought by knights of his kin.
AND when the queen heard them say so she fell to the earth in a dead swoon.And then Sir Bors took her up,and dawed her;and when she was awaked she kneeled afore the three knights,and held up both her hands,and besought them to seek him.And spare not for no goods but that he be found,for I wot he is out of his mind.And Sir Bors,Sir Ector,and Sir Lionel departed from the queen,for they might not abide no longer for sorrow.
And then the queen sent them treasure enough for their expenses,and so they took their horses and their armour,and departed.And then they rode from country to country,in forests,and in wilderness,and in wastes;and ever they laid watch both at forests and at all manner of men as they rode,to hearken and spere after him,as he that was a naked man,in his shirt,with a sword in his hand.And thus they rode nigh a quarter of a year,endlong and overthwart,in many places,forests and wilderness,and oft-times were evil lodged for his sake;and yet for all their labour and seeking could they never hear word of him.And wit you well these three knights were passing sorry.
Then at the last Sir Bors and his fellows met with a knight that hight Sir Melion de Tartare.Now fair knight,said Sir Bors,whither be ye away?for they knew either other afore time.Sir,said Melion,I am in the way toward the court of King Arthur.Then we pray you,said Sir Bors,that ye will tell my lord Arthur,and my lady,Queen Guenever,and all the fellowship of the Round Table,that we cannot in no wise hear tell where Sir Launcelot is become.Then Sir Melion departed from them,and said that he would tell the king,and the queen,and all the fellowship-of the Round Table,as they had desired him.So when Sir Melion came to the court of King Arthur he told the king,and the queen,and all the fellowship of the Round Table,what Sir Bors had said of Sir Launcelot.Then Sir Gawaine,Sir Uwaine,Sir Sagramore le Desirous,Sir Aglovale,and Sir Percivale de Galis took upon them by the great desire of King Arthur,and in especial by the queen,to seek throughout all England,Wales,and Scotland,to find Sir Launcelot,and with them rode eighteen knights mo to bear them fellowship;and wit ye well,they lacked no manner of spending;and so were they three and twenty knights.
Now turn we to Sir Launcelot,and speak we of his care and woe,and what pain he there endured;for cold,hunger,and thirst,he had plenty.And thus as these noble knights rode together,they by one assent departed,and then they rode by two,by three,and by four,and by five,and ever they assigned where they should meet.And so Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale rode together unto their mother that was a queen in those days.And when she saw her two sons,for joy she wept tenderly.And then she said:Ah,my dear sons,when your father was slain he left me four sons,of the which now be twain slain.
