with many rich
clothes, and all was of cloth of gold, and she lay as though she had
smiled. Then the queen espied a letter in her right hand, and told it to
the king. Then the king took it and said: Now am I sure this letter will
tell what she was, and why she is come hither. So then the king and the
queen went out of the barget, and so commanded a certain man to wait
upon the barget.

And so when the king was come within his chamber, he called many knights
about him, and said that he would wit openly what was written within
that letter. Then the king brake it, and made a clerk to read it, and
this was the intent of the letter. Most noble knight, Sir Launcelot, now
hath death made us two at debate for your love. I was your lover, that
men called the Fair Maiden of Astolat; therefore unto all ladies I make
my moan, yet pray for my soul and bury me at least, and offer ye my
mass-penny: this is my last request. And a clean maiden I died, I take
God to witness: pray for my soul, Sir Launcelot, as thou art peerless.
This was all the substance in the letter. And when it was read, the
king, the queen, and all the knights wept for pity of the doleful
complaints. Then was Sir Launcelot sent for; and when he was come King
Arthur made the letter to be read to him.

And when Sir Launcelot heard it word by word, he said: My lord Arthur,
wit ye well I am right heavy of the death of this fair damosel: God
knoweth I was never causer of her death by my willing, and that will I
report me to her own brother: here he is, Sir Lavaine. I will not say
nay, said Sir Launcelot, but that she was both fair and good, and much
I was beholden unto her, but she loved me out of measure. Ye might have
shewed her, said the queen, some bounty and gentleness that might have
preserved her life. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, she would none other ways
be answered but that she would be my wife, outher else my paramour; and
of these two I would not grant her, but I proffered her, for her good
love that she shewed me, a thousand pound yearly to her, and to her
heirs, and to wed any manner knight that she could find best to love in
her heart. For madam, said Sir Launcelot, I love not to be constrained
to love; for love must arise of the heart, and not by no constraint.
That is truth, said the king, and many knight's love is free in himself,
and never will be bounden, for where he is bounden he looseth himself.

Then said the king unto Sir Launcelot: It will be yo