aid the other, there have I been and espied the court of King Arthur,
and there is such a fellowship they may never be broken, and well-nigh
all the world holdeth with Arthur, for there is the flower of chivalry.
Now for this cause I am riding into the north, to tell our chieftains
of the fellowship that is withholden with King Arthur. As for that, said
the other knight, I have brought a remedy with me, that is the greatest
poison that ever ye heard speak of, and to Camelot will I with it, for
we have a friend right nigh King Arthur, and well cherished, that shall
poison King Arthur; for so he hath promised our chieftains, and received
great gifts for to do it. Beware, said the other knight, of Merlin, for
he knoweth all things by the devil's craft. Therefore will I not let it,
said the knight. And so they departed asunder. Anon after Pellinore made
him ready, and his lady, [and] rode toward Camelot; and as they came by
the well there as the wounded knight was and the lady, there he found
the knight, and the lady eaten with lions or wild beasts, all save the
head, wherefore he made great sorrow, and wept passing sore, and said,
Alas! her life might I have saved; but I was so fierce in my quest,
therefore I would not abide. Wherefore make ye such dole? said the lady.
I wot not, said Pellinore, but my heart mourneth sore of the death of
her, for she was a passing fair lady and a young. Now, will ye do by
mine advice? said the lady, take this knight and let him be buried in
an hermitage, and then take the lady's head and bear it with you unto
Arthur. So King Pellinore took this dead knight on his shoulders, and
brought him to the hermitage, and charged the hermit with the corpse,
that service should be done for the soul; and take his harness for your
pain. It shall be done, said the hermit, as I will answer unto God.

CHAPTER XV. How when he was come to Camelot he was sworn upon a book to
tell the truth of his quest.

AND therewith they departed, and came there as the head of the lady lay
with a fair yellow hair that grieved King Pellinore passingly sore when
he looked on it, for much he cast his heart on the visage. And so by
noon they came to Camelot; and the king and the queen were passing fain
of his coming to the court. And there he was made to swear upon the Four
Evangelists, to tell the truth of his quest from the one to the other.
Ah! Sir Pellinore, said Queen Guenever, ye were greatly to blame that
ye saved no