ng at Carlisle, and told him
all how Sir Launcelot answered him; and then the tears brast out of the
king's eyen. Then Sir Launcelot purveyed him an hundred knights, and all
were clothed in green velvet, and their horses trapped to their heels;
and every knight held a branch of olive in his hand, in tokening of
peace. And the queen had four-and-twenty gentlewomen following her in
the same wise; and Sir Launcelot had twelve coursers following him, and
on every courser sat a young gentleman, and all they were arrayed in
green velvet, with sarps of gold about their quarters, and the horse
trapped in the same wise down to the heels, with many ouches, y-set with
stones and pearls in gold, to the number of a thousand. And she and Sir
Launcelot were clothed in white cloth of gold tissue; and right so as
ye have heard, as the French book maketh mention, he rode with the
queen from Joyous Gard to Carlisle. And so Sir Launcelot rode throughout
Carlisle, and so in the castle, that all men might behold; and wit
you well there was many a weeping eye. And then Sir Launcelot himself
alighted and avoided his horse, and took the queen, and so led her where
King Arthur was in his seat: and Sir Gawaine sat afore him, and many
other great lords. So when Sir Launcelot saw the king and Sir Gawaine,
then he led the queen by the arm, and then he kneeled down, and the
queen both. Wit you well then was there many bold knight there with King
Arthur that wept as tenderly as though they had seen all their kin afore
them. So the king sat still, and said no word. And when Sir Launcelot
saw his countenance, he arose and pulled up the queen with him, and thus
he spake full knightly.

CHAPTER XV. Of the deliverance of the queen to the king by Sir
Launcelot, and what language Sir Gawaine had to Sir Launcelot.

MY most redoubted king, ye shall understand, by the Pope's commandment
and yours, I have brought to you my lady the queen, as right requireth;
and if there be any knight, of whatsomever degree that he be, except
your person, that will say or dare say but that she is true and clean
to you, I here myself, Sir Launcelot du Lake, will make it good upon his
body, that she is a true lady unto you; but liars ye have listened, and
that hath caused debate betwixt you and me. For time hath been, my lord
Arthur, that ye have been greatly pleased with me when I did battle for
my lady, your queen; and full well ye know, my most noble king, that she
hath