ith, he
fareth all with wiles and treason. Whereof Sir Tristram in his heart
thanked Sir Launcelot. Then the damosel went unto La Beale Isoud, and
bare her letters from the king and from Sir Launcelot, whereof she was
in passing great joy. Fair damosel, said La Beale Isoud, how fareth
my Lord Arthur, and the Queen Guenever, and the noble knight, Sir
Launcelot? She answered, and to make short tale: Much the better that
ye and Sir Tristram be in joy. God reward them, said La Beale Isoud, for
Sir Tristram suffereth great pain for me, and I for him.

So the damosel departed, and brought letters to King Mark. And when he
had read them, and understood them, he was wroth with Sir Tristram, for
he deemed that he had sent the damosel unto King Arthur. For Arthur and
Launcelot in a manner threated King Mark. And as King Mark read these
letters he deemed treason by Sir Tristram. Damosel, said King Mark, will
ye ride again and bear letters from me unto King Arthur? Sir, she said,
I will be at your commandment to ride when ye will. Ye say well, said
the king; come again, said the king, to-morn, and fetch your letters.
Then she departed and told them how she should ride again with letters
unto Arthur. Then we pray you, said La Beale Isoud and Sir Tristram,
that when ye have received your letters, that ye would come by us that
we may see the privity of your letters. All that I may do, madam, ye wot
well I must do for Sir Tristram, for I have been long his own maiden.

So on the morn the damosel went to King Mark to have had his letters and
to depart. I am not avised, said King Mark, as at this time to send my
letters. Then privily and secretly he sent letters unto King Arthur, and
unto Queen Guenever, and unto Sir Launcelot. So the varlet departed, and
found the king and the queen in Wales, at Carlion. And as the king and
the queen were at mass the varlet came with the letters. And when mass
was done the king and the queen opened the letters privily by themself.
And the beginning of the king's letters spake wonderly short unto King
Arthur, and bade him entermete with himself and with his wife, and of
his knights; for he was able enough to rule and keep his wife.

CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Launcelot was wroth with the letter that he
received from King Mark, and of Dinadan which made a lay of King Mark.

WHEN King Arthur understood the letter, he mused of many things, and
thought on his sister's words, Queen Morgan le Fay, that she