ho had deeply wronged you." "Sire, truly he has made
poor use of his time. I shall never deny that I feel no gratitude toward
him." Now Lancelot is dumbfounded; but he replies very humbly like a
polished lover: "Lady, certainly I am grieved at this, but I dare
not ask your reason." The Queen listened as Lancelot voiced his
disappointment, but in order to grieve and confound him, she would not
answer a single word, but returned to her room. And Lancelot followed
her with his eyes and heart until she reached the door; but she was not
long in sight, for the room was close by. His eyes would gladly have
followed her, had that been possible; but the heart, which is more
lordly and masterful in its strength, went through the door after her,
while the eyes remained behind weeping with the body. And the king said
privily to him: "Lancelot, I am amazed at what this means: and how it
comes about that the Queen cannot endure the sight of you, and that she
is so unwilling to speak with you. If she is ever accustomed to speak
with you, she ought not to be niggardly now or avoid conversation with
you, after what you have done for her. Now tell me, if you know, why and
for what misdeed she has shown you such a countenance." "Sire, I did not
notice that just now; but she will not look at me or hear my words, and
that distresses and grieves me much." "Surely," says the king, "she is
in the wrong, for you have risked your life for her. Come away now, fair
sweet friend, and we shall go to speak with the seneschal." "I shall be
glad to do so," he replies. Then they both go to the seneschal. As soon
as Lancelot came where he was, the seneschal's first exclamation was:
"How thou hast shamed me!" "I? How so?" Lancelot inquires; "tell me what
disgrace have I brought upon you?" "A very great disgrace, for thou hast
carried out what I could not accomplish, and thou hast done what I could
not do."

(Vv. 4031-4124.) Then the king left them together in the room, and went
out alone. And Lancelot inquires of the seneschal if he has been badly
off. "Yes," he answers, "and I still am so. I was never more wretched
than I am now. And I should have died a long time ago, had it not been
for the king, who in his compassion has shown me so much gentleness and
kindness that he willingly let me lack nothing of which I stood in need;
but I was furnished at once with everything that I desired. But opposed
to the kindness which he showed me, was Meleagant his son,