owards, pity and shame it is that any of you should take the high
order of knighthood. So Sir Lamorak departed from them, and within a
while he met with Sir Meliagaunce. And then Sir Lamorak asked him why he
loved Queen Guenever as he did: For I was not far from you when ye made
your complaint by the chapel. Did ye so? said Sir Meliagaunce, then will
I abide by it: I love Queen Guenever, what will ye with it? I will prove
and make good that she is the fairest lady and most of beauty in the
world. As to that, said Sir Lamorak, I say nay thereto, for Queen
Morgawse of Orkney, mother to Sir Gawaine, and his mother is the
fairest queen and lady that beareth the life. That is not so, said Sir
Meliagaunce, and that will I prove with my hands upon thy body. Will ye
so? said Sir Lamorak, and in a better quarrel keep I not to fight.
Then they departed either from other in great wrath. And then they came
riding together as it had been thunder, and either smote other so sore
that their horses fell backward to the earth. And then they avoided
their horses, and dressed their shields, and drew their swords. And then
they hurtled together as wild boars, and thus they fought a great while.
For Meliagaunce was a good man and of great might, but Sir Lamorak was
hard big for him, and put him always aback, but either had wounded other
sore.

And as they stood thus fighting, by fortune came Sir Launcelot and Sir
Bleoberis riding. And then Sir Launcelot rode betwixt them, and asked
them for what cause they fought so together: And ye are both knights of
King Arthur!

CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Meliagaunce told for what cause they fought, and
how Sir Lamorak jousted with King Arthur.

SIR, said Meliagaunce, I shall tell you for what cause we do this
battle. I praised my lady, Queen Guenever, and said she was the fairest
lady of the world, and Sir Lamorak said nay thereto, for he said Queen
Morgawse of Orkney was fairer than she and more of beauty. Ah, Sir
Lamorak, why sayest thou so? it is not thy part to dispraise thy
princess that thou art under her obeissance, and we all. And therewith
he alighted on foot, and said: For this quarrel, make thee ready, for I
will prove upon thee that Queen Guenever is the fairest lady and most of
bounty in the world. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I am loath to have ado with
you in this quarrel, for every man thinketh his own lady fairest; and
though I praise the lady that I love most ye should not be wroth; for
tho