knight, only that thou freely release
the queen for ever, and that no mention be made upon Sir Patrise's tomb
that ever Queen Guenever consented to that treason. All this shall be
done, said Sir Mador, I clearly discharge my quarrel for ever.

Then the knights parters of the lists took up Sir Mador, and led him to
his tent, and the other knight went straight to the stair-foot where sat
King Arthur; and by that time was the queen come to the king, and either
kissed other heartily. And when the king saw that knight, he stooped
down to him, and thanked him, and in likewise did the queen; and the
king prayed him to put off his helmet, and to repose him, and to take
a sop of wine. And then he put off his helm to drink, and then every
knight knew him that it was Sir Launcelot du Lake. Anon as the king wist
that, he took the queen in his hand, and yode unto Sir Launcelot, and
said: Sir, grant mercy of your great travail that ye have had this day
for me and for my queen. My lord, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well I
ought of right ever to be in your quarrel, and in my lady the queen's
quarrel, to do battle; for ye are the man that gave me the high order of
knighthood, and that day my lady, your queen, did me great worship, and
else I had been shamed; for that same day ye made me knight, through my
hastiness I lost my sword, and my lady, your queen, found it, and lapped
it in her train, and gave me my sword when I had need thereto, and else
had I been shamed among all knights; and therefore, my lord Arthur, I
promised her at that day ever to be her knight in right outher in wrong.
Grant mercy, said the king, for this journey; and wit ye well, said the
king, I shall acquit your goodness.

And ever the queen beheld Sir Launcelot, and wept so tenderly that she
sank almost to the ground for sorrow that he had done to her so great
goodness where she shewed him great unkindness. Then the knights of his
blood drew unto him, and there either of them made great joy of other.
And so came all the knights of the Table Round that were there at that
time, and welcomed him. And then Sir Mador was had to leech-craft, and
Sir Launcelot was healed of his wound. And then there was made great joy
and mirths in that court.

CHAPTER VIII. How the truth was known by the Maiden of the Lake, and of
divers other matters.

AND so it befell that the damosel of the lake, her name was Nimue, the
which wedded the good knight Sir Pelleas, and so she came