Then I will counsel you,” said the King, “that ye go unto Sir Bors, and pray him to do that battle for you for Sir Launcelot`s sake: and, upon my life, he will not refuse you. For right well I perceive,” said King Arthur, “that none of all those twenty knights, without more, that were with you in fellowship together at your dinner, where Sir Patrice was so traitorously slain, that will do battle for you, nor none of them will say well of you; and that shall be great slander for you in this court.” “Alas!” said the Queen, “I cannot do withal: but now I miss Sir Launcelot; for, an he were here, he would put me full soon unto my heart`s ease.” “What aileth you,” said King Arthur, “that ye cannot keep Sir Launcelot on your side? For wit ye well,” said King Arthur, “whosoever hath the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, on his part, hath the most man of worship in the world on his side. Now, go your way,” said the King unto the Queen, “and require Sir Bors to do battle for you for Sir Launcelot`s sake.”
Knights suspicion
So the Queen departed from the King, and sent for Sir Bors into her chamber; and when he was come, she besought him of succor. “Madam,” said he, “what would ye that I do? for I may not which my worship have to do in this matter, because I was at the same dinner, for dread that any of those knights would have me in suspicion. Also, madam,” said Sir Bors, “now miss ye Sir Launcelot; for he would not have failed you, neither in right, nor yet in wrong, as ye have well proved when ye have been in danger; and now have ye driven him out of this country, by whom ye and we all were daily worshiped. Therefore, madam, I greatly marvel me how ye dare for shame require me to do any thing for you, insomuch as ye have chased him out of your country, by whom I was borne up and honored.” “Alas! fair knight,” said the Queen, “I put me wholly in your grace; and all that is done amiss I will amend, as ye will counsel me.” And therewith she kneeled down upon both her knees, and besought Sir Bors to have mercy upon her, “for I shall have a shameful death, and thereto I never offended.” Right so came King Arthur, and found the Queen kneeling before Sir Bors. Then Sir Bors took her up, and said, “Madam, ye do to me great dishonor.” “Ah! gentle knight,” said King Arthur, “have mercy upon my Queen, for I am now in a certain that she is now untruly defamed; and, therefore, courteous knight,” said the King, “promise her to do battle for her: I require you for the love of Sir Launcelot.”
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