and if you wish to say that Lancelot hath not slain him with
reason, howsoever he may have wrought aforetime in respect of his
father, I am ready to maintain his right by my body on behalf of his."

VII.

"Messire Gawain," saith Briant of the Isles, "You will not as at this
time find none that will take up your gage on account of this affair,
nor ought any to make enemies of his friends, nor ought you to counsel
me so to do. King Madeglant warreth upon him and King Claudas maketh
war upon him also. They will deliver attacks enough. But I should
well allow, for the sake of saving his land and keeping his friends,
that the King should suffer Lancelot to remain at a distance from his
court for one year, until tidings should have come to King Claudas that
he had been bidden leave thereof, so as that King Arthur might have his
good will and his love."

Sagramors li Desirous leapeth forward. "Briant of the Isles," saith
Sagramors, "Ill befall him that shall give such counsel to a lord or
his knight, and the knight have well served his lord, albeit he may
have slain in his wars a knight without murder and without treason,
that he should give him his leave! Right ill will Lancelot hitherto
have bestowed his services, and the King on this account give him his
leave! After that, let King Claudas come! Let him lay waste and slay,
and right great worship shall King Arthur have thereof! I say not this
for that Lancelot hath need be afeared of King Claudas body to body,
nor of the best knight in his land, but many things befall whereof one
taketh no heed; and so King Arthur give leave to Lancelot from his
court, it will be counted unto him for cowardize, and neither I nor you
nor other knight ought never more to have affiance in him."

"Lord," saith Briant of the Isles, "Better would it avail the King to
give Lancelot leave for one year, than it would to fight for him ten
years and have his land wasted and put to the worse."

VIII.

Thereupon, behold you! Orguelleux of the Launde come, that had not
been at the court of a long time, and it had been told him whereof
these words were.

"Briant," saith Orguelleux of the Launde, "Evil fare the knight that
would fain grieve and harm with their lord them that have served him
well! Sith that Lancelot is not here, say nought of him that ought not
to be said. The court of King Arthur hath been as much renowned and
made honoured by Lancelot as by ever another knight that