was silent, and men looked upon him with awe
and compassion. His mane of hair, grizzled and wild, was thrown back
upon his shoulders, and his eyes flamed with a glowing light as of
fire. Suddenly he stepped up to the king, and lifting his right hand
said, in a voice that trembled With rage:

'My lord, my king, and mine uncle, wit you well that now I make oath by
my knighthood, that from this day I will seek Sir Lancelot and never
rest till he be slain or he slay me. Therefore, my lord king, and you,
my fellow knights and lords, I require you all to prepare yourselves
for war; for, know you, though I ravage this land and all the lands of
Christendom, I will not rest me nor slake my revenge until I come up to
Lancelot and drive my sword into his evil heart.'

With that Sir Gawaine strode from the room, and for a space all men
were silent, so fierce and full of hatred had been his words.

'I see well,' said the king, 'that the death of these twain knights
will cause the deadliest war that hath ever raged, and never shall we
have rest until Gawaine do slay Lancelot or is slain by him. O
Lancelot! Lancelot! my peerless knight, that ever thou shouldst be the
cause of the ruin of this my fair kingdom!'

None that heard the king could keep from tears; and many felt that in
this quarrel the king's heart was not set, except for the sake of Sir
Gawaine, his nephew, and all his kin.

Then there were made great preparations in London and all the lands
south of Trent, with sharpening of swords and spears, making of harness
and beating of smiths' hammers on anvils.

Men's minds were in sore distress, and the faces of the citizens were
long and white with dismay. Daily the quarrel caused other quarrels.
Many a group of knights came to high words, some taking the side of
Lancelot and the queen, and others that of the king and Sir Gawaine.
Often they came to blows, and one or other of their number would be
left writhing and groaning on the ground.

Families broke up in bad blood by reason of it, for the sons would avow
their intent to go and enlist with Lancelot, while the fathers, in high
anger at such disloyalty to Arthur, would send their tall sons away,
bidding them never to look upon their faces again.

Women sorrowed and wept, for whichever side they took, it meant that
one or other of their dear ones was opposed to them, and would go to
battle, fighting against those of their own kin and of their own
hearths.

Towards m