e the Queen
cried out in a voice very harsh and loud: "Where is that false traitor
knight, Sir Launcelot! Bring him hither!" And then she said: "Let no one
else come in to me but him, and when he comes let us be alone together!"

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot standeth before the Queen._]

So anon came Sir Launcelot conducted to that place where the Queen was,
and then all those who were there withdrew, and no one was left in that
apartment but Sir Launcelot and the Queen herself. So Sir Launcelot
stood before the Queen and he said, "Here am I."

Then the Lady Guinevere looked for a long time upon Sir Launcelot, and
her eyes were very wide as she stared upon him and her face was white
like to wax. Anon she said, speaking in a voice that was very harsh but
not loud: "Is it true that thou camest to this part of the castle last
night?" and Sir Launcelot said, "Yea, lady." Then the Queen ground her
white teeth together, and she said, still speaking in that same voice
that was not loud: "Traitor! Traitor! how didst thou dare to come hither
without my permission?"

Then Sir Launcelot looked very long into the Queen's face, and at last
he said, "I am betrayed, it seems." "Yea," said the Queen, "thou art
betrayed indeed, but it is thou who hast betrayed thyself."

Sir Launcelot said: "In what way have I betrayed myself, and in what way
am I a traitor to thee or to anyone? Is not my duty first of all toward
that lady to whom I have sworn my duty? What treason did I then do in
cherishing her who is sick and weak and sad and helpless in this place
where thou keepest her prisoner?"

So said Sir Launcelot and after that those two, to wit, the Queen and
the knight champion, stared very fiercely at one another for a while.
Then by and by the Queen's eyes fell before his eyes, and anon she fell
to trembling. Then, of a sudden, she cried out in a very bitter voice:
"Ah, Launcelot, Launcelot! May God have pity upon me for I am most
unhappy!" Therewith she lifted her handkerchief to her eyes and so
covered her face with it. And that while her face was altogether hidden
excepting her lips which were all writhed and twisted with her passion.
And yet she wept not, but ever her bosom rose and fell very violently as
with a convulsion.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot pitieth the Queen._]

Then Sir Launcelot wist not what to do, albeit his heart was rent with
love and pity. Then by and by he came close to her and he said: "Lady,
lady! What is thi