rath, and his heart pricketh to avenge him thereof
and he may get at him, for he is the knight of the court that most he
hateth. He is come back to the Castle of the Hard Rock. Briant of the
Isles asketh him who hath wounded him in such sort, and he telleth him
that he was bringing thither Ywain li Aoutres when Lancelot rescued him.

"And the King," saith Briant, "Is he repaired thither?"

"I have heard no tidings of him at all," saith Kay, "For no leisure had
I to ask of any."

Briant and his knights take much thought as concerning Lancelot's
coming, for they are well persuaded that Lancelot hath come for that
the King is dead and Messire Gawain, whereof they make right great joy.
Kay the Seneschal maketh him be disarmed and his wound searched. They
tell him he need not fear it shall be his death, but that he is right
sore wounded.

XVI.

Lancelot is entered into the castle of Cardoil, and his wounded knights
withal, and findeth the folk in sore dismay. Great dole make they in
many places and much lamentation for King Arthur, and say that now
nevermore may they look for succeur to none, and he be dead and Messire
Gawain. But they give Lancelot joy of that he hath rescued Messire
Ywain li Aoutres, and were so somewhat comforted and made great cheer.
The tidings thereof came to the knights that were in the castle, and
they all come forward to meet him save they that were wounded, and so
led him up to the castle, and Messire Ywain with him and the other
knight that was wounded. All the knights of the castle were right
glad, and ask him tidings of King Arthur, and whether he were dead or
no. And Lancelot telleth them that he was departed from him at the
Palace Meadow, where he won the white destrier and the crown of gold
there where the tidings were brought to him that Queen Guinievre was
dead.

XVII.

"Then you tell us of a truth that the King is on live, and Messire
Gawain?"

"Both, you may be certain!" saith Lancelot.

Thereupon were they gladder than before. They told him of their own
mischance, how Briant of the Isles had put them to the worse, and how
Kay the Seneschal was with him to do them hurt. For he it is that
taketh most pains to do them evil.

"By my head," saith Lancelot, "Kay the Seneschal ought of right to take
heed and with-hold him from doing you ill, but he departed from the
field with the point of my spear in him when I rescued Messire Ywain."

XVIII.

The knights are mu