en. So shall I, said Sir Lavaine, in the
defence of my lord, Sir Launcelot, an ye will give me leave. Now I give
you leave, said King Arthur, and do your best, for I dare well say there
is some treason done to Sir Launcelot.

Then was Sir Lavaine armed and horsed, and suddenly at the lists' end he
rode to perform this battle; and right as the heralds should cry: Lesses
les aler, right so came in Sir Launcelot driving with all the force of
his horse. And then Arthur cried: Ho! and Abide! Then was Sir Launcelot
called on horseback to-fore King Arthur, and there he told openly
to-fore the king and all, how Sir Meliagrance had served him first to
last. And when the king, and the queen, and all the lords, knew of the
treason of Sir Meliagrance they were all ashamed on his behalf. Then
was Queen Guenever sent for, and set by the king in great trust of her
champion. And then there was no more else to say, but Sir Launcelot and
Sir Meliagrance dressed them unto battle, and took their spears; and
so they came together as thunder, and there Sir Launcelot bare him
down quite over his horse's croup. And then Sir Launcelot alighted and
dressed his shield on his shoulder, with his sword in his hand, and Sir
Meliagrance in the same wise dressed him unto him, and there they smote
many great strokes together; and at the last Sir Launcelot smote him
such a buffet upon the helmet that he fell on the one side to the earth.
And then he cried upon him aloud: Most noble knight, Sir Launcelot du
Lake, save my life, for I yield me unto you, and I require you, as ye be
a knight and fellow of the Table Round, slay me not, for I yield me as
overcome; and whether I shall live or die I put me in the king's hands
and yours.

Then Sir Launcelot wist not what to do, for he had had liefer than all
the good of the world he might have been revenged upon Sir Meliagrance;
and Sir Launcelot looked up to the Queen Guenever, if he might espy by
any sign or countenance what she would have done. And then the queen
wagged her head upon Sir Launcelot, as though she would say: Slay him.
Full well knew Sir Launcelot by the wagging of her head that she would
have him dead; then Sir Launcelot bade him rise for shame and perform
that battle to the utterance. Nay, said Sir Meliagrance, I will never
arise until ye take me as yolden and recreant. I shall proffer you large
proffers, said Sir Launcelot, that is for to say, I shall unarm my head
and my left quarter of my bo