m afeard he hath betrayed
himself and us all. No force, said the queen, though he be destroyed,
for he is a false traitor-knight. Madam, said Sir Bors, I pray you say
ye not so, for wit you well I may not hear such language of him. Why
Sir Bors, said she, should I not call him traitor when he bare the red
sleeve upon his head at Winchester, at the great jousts? Madam, said Sir
Bors, that sleeve-bearing repenteth me sore, but I dare say he did it to
none evil intent, but for this cause he bare the red sleeve that none
of his blood should know him. For or then we, nor none of us all, never
knew that ever he bare token or sign of maid, lady, ne gentlewoman.
Fie on him, said the queen, yet for all his pride and bobaunce there ye
proved yourself his better. Nay madam, say ye never more so, for he beat
me and my fellows, and might have slain us an he had would. Fie on him,
said the queen, for I heard Sir Gawaine say before my lord Arthur that
it were marvel to tell the great love that is between the Fair Maiden of
Astolat and him. Madam, said Sir Bors, I may not warn Sir Gawaine to say
what it pleased him; but I dare say, as for my lord, Sir Launcelot,
that he loveth no lady, gentlewoman, nor maid, but all he loveth in like
much. And therefore madam, said Sir Bors, ye may say what ye will, but
wit ye well I will haste me to seek him, and find him wheresomever he
be, and God send me good tidings of him. And so leave we them there, and
speak we of Sir Launcelot that lay in great peril.

So as fair Elaine came to Winchester she sought there all about, and by
fortune Sir Lavaine was ridden to play him, to enchafe his horse. And
anon as Elaine saw him she knew him, and then she cried aloud until
him. And when he heard her anon he came to her, and then she asked her
brother how did my lord, Sir Launcelot. Who told you, sister, that my
lord's name was Sir Launcelot? Then she told him how Sir Gawaine by
his shield knew him. So they rode together till that they came to the
hermitage, and anon she alighted.

So Sir Lavaine brought her in to Sir Launcelot; and when she saw him lie
so sick and pale in his bed she might not speak, but suddenly she fell
to the earth down suddenly in a swoon, and there she lay a great
while. And when she was relieved, she shrieked and said: My lord, Sir
Launcelot, alas why be ye in this plight? and then she swooned again.
And then Sir Launcelot prayed Sir Lavaine to take her up: And bring her
to me. And wh