now you that to be so?"

"I have loved her long, and know her purposes well, nor shall I longer
keep them secret. If by craft she could slay Arthur, she would quickly
dispose of her husband, King Uriens. Then it was her intent to make me
king of this realm, and to reign herself as its queen. But all this now
is at an end, for death is upon me."

"It would have been great wrong in you to destroy your lord," said
Arthur.

"That I never could have had the heart to do," said Accolan. "But I pray
you to tell me your name, and from what court you come?"

"I am from Camelot, and men know me as King Arthur. I am he against whom
you plotted such deep treason."

Then Accolan cried out in anguish,--

"My fair, sweet lord, have mercy on me, for I knew you not."

"You knew me not at this time, Accolan, but you have confessed that you
plotted treason against me, and laid plans to compass my death. Yet I
blame you the less that Morgan le Fay has worked on you with her false
arts. I have honored and loved her most of all my kin, and have trusted
her as I would my wife, and this is how she repays me. By the faith of
my body, if I live I shall be deeply revenged upon her for this."

Then he called to the keepers of the field, and said,--

"Here, fair sirs, are two knights who have fought nearly to the death
through ignorance of each other. For had either of us known the other
you would have seen no battle to-day, and no stroke given or returned."

Then Accolan called out to those who had gathered around,--

"Lords and knights, this noble warrior with whom I have fought is the
man of most valor, manhood, and worship on English soil, for he is no
less than our liege lord, King Arthur. Had I but dreamed it was he, I
would have killed myself rather than have drawn sword against him."

At this surprising news the people fell upon their knees before the king
and begged mercy and pardon.

"Pardon you shall have," said the king, "for you were ignorant of my
person. It is my fault if harm came to me in disguise. And here you may
all see what adventures and dangers knights-errant are exposed to; for,
unknown to each other, I and one of my own knights have fought for
hours, to the great damage of us both. We are both sorely hurt, but
before seeking rest it is my duty to settle the dispute which gave rise
to this combat. I have been your champion, Sir Damas, and have won your
cause. But as the victor I claim the right to give judgment,