ou may well
understand that the land was much rejoiced thereof, and that all the
knights were greatly comforted, and knights came back to the court from
all parts. They that had been wounded were whole again. Briant of the
Isles stinted not of his pride nor of his outrage, but rather stirred
up the war the most he might, he and Meliant still more, and said that
never would he cease therefrom until death, nor never would he have
rest until such time as he should have vengeance of Lancelot. The King
was one day at Cardoil at meat, and there was in the hall great throng
of knights, and Messire Gawain sate beside the King. Lancelot sate at
the table, and Messire Ywain the son of King Urien, and Sagramors li
Desirous, and Ywain li Aoutres, and many more other knights round about
the table, but there were not so many as there wont to be. Messire
Lucan the Butler served before the King of the golden cup. The King
looked round about the table and remembered him of the Queen. He was
bent upon thinking rather than on eating, and saw that his court was
much wasted and worsened of her death. And what time the King was
musing in such sort, behold you a knight come into the hall all armed
before the King; and he leaneth on the staff of his spear.

"Sir," saith the knight, "Listen, so please you, to me, and all these
others, listen! Madeglant of Oriande sendeth me here to you, and
commandeth that you yield up the Table Round to him, for sith that the
Queen is dead, you have no right thereof, for he is her next of kin and
he that hath the best right to have and to hold it; and, so you do not
this, you he defieth as the man that disinheriteth him, for he is your
enemy in two manner of ways, for the Table Round that you hold by
wrong, and for the New Law that you hold. But he sendeth you word by
me, that so you will renounce your belief and take Queen Jandree his
sister, that he will cry you quit as of the Table Round and will be of
your aid everywhere. But and if you do not this, have never affiance
in him. And so sendeth he word to you by me!"

III.

Therewith the knight departeth, and the King remaineth all heavy in
thought, and when they had eaten, he rose from the tables and all the
knights. He speaketh to Messire Gawain and Lancelot, and taketh
counsel with all the others.

"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "You will defend yourself the best you
may, and we will help you to smite your enemies. Great Britain is all
a