t manner. Where is Sir Launcelot? said King Arthur; an he were
here he would not grudge to do battle for you. Sir, said the queen, I
wot not where he is, but his brother and his kinsmen deem that he be not
within this realm. That me repenteth, said King Arthur, for an he were
here he would soon stint this strife. Then I will counsel you, said
the king, and unto Sir Bors: That ye will do battle for her for Sir
Launcelot's sake, and upon my life he will not refuse you. For well I
see, said the king, that none of these four-and-twenty knights that were
with you at your dinner where Sir Patrise was slain, that will do battle
for you, nor none of them will say well of you, and that shall be a
great slander for you in this court. Alas, said the queen, and I may not
do withal, but now I miss Sir Launcelot, for an he were here he would
put me soon to my heart's ease. What aileth you, said the king, ye
cannot keep Sir Launcelot upon your side? For wit ye well, said the
king, who that hath Sir Launcelot upon his part hath the most man of
worship in the world upon his side. Now go your way, said the king unto
the queen, and require Sir Bors to do battle for you for Sir Launcelot's
sake.

CHAPTER V. How the queen required Sir Bors to fight for her, and how he
granted upon condition; and how he warned Sir Launcelot thereof.

SO the queen departed from the king, and sent for Sir Bors into her
chamber. And when he was come she besought him of succour. Madam, said
he, what would ye that I did? for I may not with my worship have ado
in this matter, because I was at the same dinner, for dread that any of
those knights would have me in suspicion. Also, madam, said Sir Bors,
now miss ye Sir Launcelot, for he would not have failed you neither in
right nor in wrong, as ye have well proved when ye have been in danger;
and now ye have driven him out of this country, by whom ye and all we
were daily worshipped by; therefore, madam, I marvel how ye dare for
shame require me to do any thing for you, in so much ye have chased him
out of your country by whom we were borne up and honoured. Alas, fair
knight, said the queen, I put me wholly in your grace, and all that is
done amiss I will amend as ye will counsel me. And therewith she kneeled
down upon both her knees, and besought Sir Bors to have mercy upon her:
Outher I shall have a shameful death, and thereto I never offended.

Right so came King Arthur, and found the queen kneeling afore S