l to
depart into his own country. Fair sir, said Sir Bors de Ganis, ye shall
not depart out of this land by mine advice. Ye must remember in what
honour ye are renowned, and called the noblest knight of the world; and
many great matters ye have in hand. And women in their hastiness will do
ofttimes that sore repenteth them; and therefore by mine advice ye shall
take your horse, and ride to the good hermitage here beside Windsor,
that sometime was a good knight, his name is Sir Brasias, and there
shall ye abide till I send you word of better tidings. Brother, said Sir
Launcelot, wit ye well I am full loath to depart out of this realm, but
the queen hath defended me so highly, that meseemeth she will never be
my good lady as she hath been. Say ye never so, said Sir Bors, for many
times or this time she hath been wroth with you, and after it she was
the first that repented it. Ye say well, said Launcelot, for now will I
do by your counsel, and take mine horse and my harness, and ride to the
hermit Sir Brasias, and there will I repose me until I hear some manner
of tidings from you; but, fair brother, I pray you get me the love of my
lady, Queen Guenever, an ye may Sir, said Sir Bors, ye need not to move
me of such matters, for well ye wot I will do what I may to please you.

And then the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, departed with right heavy
cheer suddenly, that none earthly creature wist of him, nor where he
was become, but Sir Bors. So when Sir Launcelot was departed, the queen
outward made no manner of sorrow in showing to none of his blood nor to
none other. But wit ye well, inwardly, as the book saith, she took great
thought, but she bare it out with a proud countenance as though she felt
nothing nor danger.

CHAPTER III. How at a dinner that the queen made there was a knight
enpoisoned, which Sir Mador laid on the queen.

AND then the queen let make a privy dinner in London unto the knights of
the Round Table. And all was for to show outward that she had as great
joy in all other knights of the Table Round as she had in Sir Launcelot.
All only at that dinner she had Sir Gawaine and his brethren, that is
for to say Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir Gareth, and Sir Mordred.
Also there was Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Blamore de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de
Ganis, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Lionel, Sir
Palomides, Safere his brother, Sir La Cote Male Taile, Sir Persant, Sir
Ironside, Sir Brandiles, Si