that Accolon was dead, she was so sorrowful
that near her heart to-brast. But because she would not it were known,
outward she kept her countenance, and made no semblant of sorrow. But
well she wist an she abode till her brother Arthur came thither, there
should no gold go for her life.

Then she went unto Queen Guenever, and asked her leave to ride into the
country. Ye may abide, said Queen Guenever, till your brother the king
come home. I may not, said Morgan le Fay, for I have such hasty tidings,
that I may not tarry. Well, said Guenever, ye may depart when ye will.
So early on the morn, or it was day, she took her horse and rode all
that day and most part of the night, and on the morn by noon she came to
the same abbey of nuns whereas lay King Arthur; and she knowing he was
there, she asked where he was. And they answered how he had laid him
in his bed to sleep, for he had had but little rest these three nights.
Well, said she, I charge you that none of you awake him till I do, and
then she alighted off her horse, and thought for to steal away Excalibur
his sword, and so she went straight unto his chamber, and no man durst
disobey her commandment, and there she found Arthur asleep in his bed,
and Excalibur in his right hand naked. When she saw that she was passing
heavy that she might not come by the sword without she had awaked him,
and then she wist well she had been dead. Then she took the scabbard and
went her way on horseback. When the king awoke and missed his scabbard,
he was wroth, and he asked who had been there, and they said his sister,
Queen Morgan had been there, and had put the scabbard under her mantle
and was gone. Alas, said Arthur, falsely ye have watched me. Sir, said
they all, we durst not disobey your sister's commandment. Ah, said the
king, let fetch the best horse may be found, and bid Sir Ontzlake arm
him in all haste, and take another good horse and ride with me. So anon
the king and Ontzlake were well armed, and rode after this lady, and so
they came by a cross and found a cowherd, and they asked the poor man if
there came any lady riding that way. Sir, said this poor man, right late
came a lady riding with a forty horses, and to yonder forest she rode.
Then they spurred their horses, and followed fast, and within a while
Arthur had a sight of Morgan le Fay; then he chased as fast as he might.
When she espied him following her, she rode a greater pace through the
forest till she came to a p