been put to great wrong or this time; and sithen it pleased you at
many times that I should fight for her, meseemeth, my good lord, I had
more cause to rescue her from the fire, insomuch she should have been
brent for my sake. For they that told you those tales were liars, and so
it fell upon them; for by likelihood had not the might of God been with
me, I might never have endured fourteen knights, and they armed and
afore purposed, and I unarmed and not purposed. For I was sent for unto
my lady your queen, I wot not for what cause; but I was not so soon
within the chamber door, but anon Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred called
me traitor and recreant knight. They called thee right, said Sir
Gawaine. My lord Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, in their quarrel they
proved themselves not in the right. Well well, Sir Launcelot, said the
king, I have given thee no cause to do to me as thou hast done, for I
have worshipped thee and thine more than any of all my knights.

My good lord, said Sir Launcelot, so ye be not displeased, ye shall
understand I and mine have done you oft better service than any other
knights have done, in many divers places; and where ye have been full
hard bestead divers times, I have myself rescued you from many dangers;
and ever unto my power I was glad to please you, and my lord Sir
Gawaine; both in jousts, and tournaments, and in battles set, both
on horseback and on foot, I have often rescued you, and my lord Sir
Gawaine, and many mo of your knights in many divers places. For now I
will make avaunt, said Sir Launcelot, I will that ye all wit that yet
I found never no manner of knight but that I was overhard for him, an I
had done my utterance, thanked be God; howbeit I have been matched with
good knights, as Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak, but ever I had a favour
unto them and a deeming what they were. And I take God to record, said
Sir Launcelot, I never was wroth nor greatly heavy with no good knight
an I saw him busy about to win worship; and glad I was ever when I found
any knight that might endure me on horseback and on foot: howbeit Sir
Carados of the Dolorous Tower was a full noble knight and a passing
strong man, and that wot ye, my lord Sir Gawaine; for he might well
be called a noble knight when he by fine force pulled you out of your
saddle, and bound you overthwart afore him to his saddle bow; and there,
my lord Sir Gawaine, I rescued you, and slew him afore your sight. Also
I found his brothe