CHAPTER I
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 bourgeoneth,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 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 mishapped,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 lieth daily and nightly by 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 you well,said Sir Gawaine,Iwill not be of your counsel.So God me help,said Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth,we will not be knowing,brother Agravaine,of your deeds.Then will I,said Sir Mordred.
I lieve 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 an there rise war and wrack 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,Iwill 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 like wise Sir Launcelot rescued you both,and threescore and two,from Sir Turquin.Methinketh brother,such kind deeds and kindness should be remembered.Do as ye list,said Sir Agravaine,for I will lain 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 ne 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 owe 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 disparpled:
so they departed.
CHAPTER II
How Sir Agravaine disclosed their love to King Arthur,and how King Arthur gave them licence to take him AND then Sir Arthur asked them what noise they made.
My lord,said Agravaine,I shall tell you that I may keep no longer.Here is I,and my brother Sir Mordred,brake unto my brothers Sir Gawaine,Sir Gaheris,and to Sir Gareth,how this we know all,that Sir Launcelot holdeth your queen,and hath done long;and we be your sister's sons,and we may suffer it no longer,and all we wot that ye should be above Sir Launcelot;and ye are the king that made him knight,and therefore we will prove it,that he is a traitor to your person.
If it be so,said Sir Arthur,wit you well he is none other,but I would be loath to begin such a thing but Imight have proofs upon it;for Sir Launcelot is an hardy knight,and all ye know he is the best knight among us all;and but if he be taken with the deed,he will fight with him that bringeth up the noise,and I know no knight that is able to match him.Therefore an it be sooth as ye say,I would he were taken with the deed.
For as the French book saith,the king was full loath thereto,that any noise should be upon Sir Launcelot and his queen;for the king had a deeming,but he would not hear of it,for Sir Launcelot had done so much for him and the queen so many times,that wit ye well the king loved him passingly well.My lord,said Sir Agravaine,ye shall ride to-morn a-hunting,and doubt ye not Sir Launcelot will not go with you.Then when it draweth toward night,ye may send the queen word that ye will lie out all that night,and so may ye send for your cooks,and then upon pain of death we shall take him that night with the queen,and outher we shall bring him to you dead or quick.I will well,said the king;then I counsel you,said the king,take with you sure fellowship.Sir,said Agravaine,my brother,Sir Mordred,and I,will take with us twelve knights of the Round Table.Beware,said King Arthur,for I warn you ye shall find him wight.
Let us deal,said Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred.
So on the morn King Arthur rode a-hunting,and sent word to the queen that he would be out all that night.
