ed and dreaded of all lands
and of his own land like as he wont to be. Briant hath forgotten all
that is past, and is obedient to the King's commands and more privy is
he of his counsel than ever another of the knights, insomuch that he
put the others somewhat back, whereof had they much misliking. The
felony of Kay the Seneschal lay very nigh the King's heart, and he said
that and any would take vengeance upon him for the same, greatly would
he love him thereof, for so disloyally hath he wrought against him that
he durst not let the matter be slurred over; and a sore misfortune is
it for the world when a man of so poor estate hath slain so high a man
as his son for no misdeed, and that strangers ought by as good right as
they that knew him or himself take vengeance upon him thereof, so that
others might be adread of doing such disloyalty.

VII.

Briant was feared and redoubted throughout all Great Britain. King
Arthur had told them that they were all to be at his commandment. And
one day while the King was at Cardoil, behold you a damsel that cometh
into the hail and saith unto him: "Sir, Queen Jandree hath sent me over
to you, and biddeth you do that whereof her brother sent you word by
his knight. She is minded to be Lady and Queen of your land, and that
you take her to wife, for of high lineage is she and of great power,
wherefore she biddeth you by me that you renounce the New Law and that
you believe in the God in whom she believeth, and, so you do not this,
you may not have affiance in your land, for King Madeglant hath as now
made ready his host to enter into the chief of your land, and hath
sworn his oath that he will not end until he shall have passed all the
borders of the isles that march upon your land, and shall come upon
Great Britain with all his strength, and so seize the Table Round that
ought to be his own of right. And my Lady herself would come hither but
for one thing, to wit, that she hath in her such disdain of them that
believe in the New Law, that she deigneth not behold none of them, for,
so soon as she was stablished Queen, made she her eyes be covered for
that she would not look upon none that were of that believe. But the
Gods wherein she believeth did so much for her, for that she loveth and
worshippeth them, that she may discover her eyes and her face, and yet
see not at all, whereof is she right glad, for that the eyes in her
head are beautiful and gentle. But great affiance hat