and this likewise was written and placed
with the other in almonries at Salisbury. And by and by Sir Bors said
to Sir Lancelot, 'Galahad your son saluteth you by me, and after you
King Arthur and all the Court, and so did Sir Percivale; for I buried
them with mine own hands in the City of Sarras. Also, Sir Lancelot,
Galahad prayeth you to remember of this uncertain world, as you
promised when you were together!' 'That is true,' said Sir Lancelot,
'and I trust his prayer may avail me.' But the prayer but little
availed Sir Lancelot, for he fell to his old sins again. And now the
Knights were few that survived the search for the Graal, and the evil
days of Arthur began.

THE FIGHT FOR THE QUEEN

So the quest of the Holy Graal had been fulfilled, and the few Knights
that had been left alive returned to the Round Table, and there was
great joy in the Court. To do them honour the Queen made them a
dinner; and there were four and twenty Knights present, and among them
Sir Patrise of Ireland, and Sir Gawaine and his brethren, the King's
nephews, which were Sir Agrawaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir Gareth, and Sir
Mordred. Now it was the custom of Sir Gawaine daily at dinner and
supper to eat all manner of fruit, and especially pears and apples,
and this the Queen knew, and set fruit of all sorts before him. And
there was present at the dinner one Sir Pinel le Savage, who hated Sir
Gawaine because he and his brethren had slain Sir Lamorak du Galis,
cousin to Sir Pinel; so he put poison into some of the apples, hoping
that Sir Gawaine would eat one and die. But by ill fortune it befell
that the good Knight Sir Patrise took a poisoned apple, and in a few
moments he lay dead and stark in his seat. At this sight all the
Knights leapt to their feet, but said nothing, for they bethought them
that Queen Guenevere had made them the dinner, and feared that she had
poisoned the fruit.

'My lady, the Queen,' said Sir Gawaine, who was the first to speak,
'this fruit was brought for me, for all know how well I love it;
therefore, Madam, the shame of this ill deed is yours.' The Queen
stood still, pale and trembling, but kept silence, and next spoke Sir
Mador de la Porte.

'This shall not be ended so,' said he, 'for I have lost a noble Knight
of my blood, and I will be avenged of the person who has wrought this
evil.' And he turned to the Queen and said 'Madam, it is you who have
brought about the death of my cousin Sir Patrise!' The Kni