Sir Launcelot awoke his brain was clear of
madness and he was himself again, though weak, like to a little child
who hath been ill abed.

[Sidenote: _How Sir Launcelot awoke from his madness._]

That time the Lady Elaine was kneeling beside Sir Launcelot's couch and
hers was the face he first beheld. Then Sir Launcelot said, speaking
very faint and weak, "Where am I?" and the Lady Elaine wept and said,
"Lord, you are safe with those who hold you very dear." Sir Launcelot
said, "What has befallen me?" She said: "Lord, thou hast been bedazed in
thy mind and hast been sorely hurt with grievous wounds, wherefore thou
hast been upon the very edge of death. But now thou art safe with those
who love thee."

He said, "Have I then been mad?" And to that they who were there said
naught. Then Sir Launcelot said again, "Have I been mad?" and thereupon
King Pelles said, "Yea, Messire."

Then Sir Launcelot groaned as from his soul, and he covered his face
with one hand (for the Lady Elaine held the other hand in hers) and he
said, "What shame! What shame!" And therewith he groaned again.

[Sidenote: _How Sir Launcelot was cherished._]

Then, ever weeping, the Lady Elaine said, "No shame, Lord, but only very
great pity!" and she kissed his hand and washed it with her tears. And
Sir Launcelot wept also because of his great weakness, and by and by he
said, "Elaine, meseems I have no hope or honor save in thee," and she
said, "Take peace, Sir, for in my heart there is indeed both honor for
you and hope for your great happiness." And so Sir Launcelot did take
peace.

Then after a while Sir Launcelot said, "Who here knoweth of my madness?"
and King Pelles said, "Only a very few in this castle, Messire."

Then Sir Launcelot said: "I pray you that this be all as secret as
possible, and that no word concerning me goes beyond these walls." And
King Pelles said, "It shall be as you would have it, Messire."

So it was that the news of Sir Launcelot's madness and of his recovery
was not carried beyond those walls.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot and Elaine commune together._]

Now after a fortnight had passed, Sir Launcelot was fast becoming cured
in body and mind. And one day he and the Lady Elaine were alone in that
room where he lay and he said, "Lady, meseems you have had great cause
to hate me." At this she looked upon him and smiled, and she said, "How
could I hate thee, Launcelot?" Sir Launcelot said, "Elaine, I have done
thee grea