at I had unto him, but for to lay down every
shameful noise. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, ye understand full well I
was never willing nor glad of shameful slander nor noise; and there is
neither king, queen, nor knight, that beareth the life, except my
lord King Arthur, and you, madam, should let me, but I should make Sir
Meliagrance's heart full cold or ever I departed from hence. That wot
I well, said the queen, but what will ye more? Ye shall have all thing
ruled as ye list to have it. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, so ye be pleased
I care not, as for my part ye shall soon please.

Right so the queen took Sir Launcelot by the bare hand, for he had put
off his gauntlet, and so she went with him till her chamber; and then
she commanded him to be unarmed. And then Sir Launcelot asked where
were the ten knights that were wounded sore; so she showed them unto Sir
Launcelot, and there they made great joy of the coming of him, and Sir
Launcelot made great dole of their hurts, and bewailed them greatly. And
there Sir Launcelot told them how cowardly and traitorly Meliagrance
set archers to slay his horse, and how he was fain to put himself in a
chariot. Thus they complained everych to other; and full fain they would
have been revenged, but they peaced themselves because of the queen.
Then, as the French book saith, Sir Launcelot was called many a day
after le Chevaler du Chariot, and did many deeds, and great adventures
he had. And so leave we of this tale le Chevaler du Chariot, and turn we
to this tale.

So Sir Launcelot had great cheer with the queen, and then Sir Launcelot
made a promise with the queen that the same night Sir Launcelot should
come to a window outward toward a garden; and that window was y-barred
with iron, and there Sir Launcelot promised to meet her when all folks
were asleep. So then came Sir Lavaine driving to the gates, crying:
Where is my lord, Sir Launcelot du Lake? Then was he sent for, and when
Sir Lavaine saw Sir Launcelot, he said: My lord, I found well how ye
were hard bestead, for I have found your horse that was slain with
arrows. As for that, said Sir Launcelot, I pray you, Sir Lavaine, speak
ye of other matters, and let ye this pass, and we shall right it another
time when we best may.

CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot came in the night to the queen and lay
with her, and how Sir Meliagrance appeached the queen of treason.

THEN the knights that were hurt were searched, and soft salves were