whenhebeheldSrGarethdosuchdeeds，whatknghthemghtbe；andSrLavanepulleddownandsmotedowntwentyknghts。AlsoSrLauncelotknewnotSrGarethforanSrTrstramdeLones，outherSrLamorakdeGalshadbeenalve，SrLauncelotwouldhavedeemedhehadbeenoneofthemtwan。SoeverasSrLauncelotSrGareth，SrLavanefought，andontheonesdeSrBors，SrEctordeMars，SrLonel，SrLamorakdeGals，SrBleobers，SrGalhud，SrGalhodn，SrPelleas，andwthmootherofKngBan’sbloodfoughtuponanotherparty，andheldtheKngwththeHundredKnghtsandtheKngofNorthumberlandrghtstrat。
　　X
　　HowKngArthurmarvelledmuchofthejoustngnthefeld，andhowherodeandfoundSrLauncelot。
　　SOthstournamentandthsjoustsduredlong，tlltwasnearnght，fortheknghtsoftheRoundTablerelevedeveruntoKngArthur；forthekngwaswrothoutofmeasurethatheandhsknghtsmghtnotprevalthatday。ThenSrGawanesadtothekng：marvelwhereallthsday[be]SrBorsdeGansandhsfellowshpofSrLauncelot’sblood，marvelallthsdaytheybenotaboutyou：tsforsomecausesadSrGawane。Bymyhead，sadSrKay，SrBorssyonderallthsdayupontherghthandofthsfeld，andthereheandhsblooddomoreworshpfullythanwedo。tmaywellbe，sadSrGawane，butdreadmeeverofgule；foronpanofmylfe，sadSrGawane，thsknghtwththeredsleeveofgoldshmselfSrLauncelot，seewellbyhsrdngandbyhsgreatstrokes；andtheotherknghtnthesamecolourssthegoodyoungknght，SrLavane。Alsothatknghtwththegreensheldsmybrother，SrGareth，andyethehathdsgusedhmself，fornomanshallnevermakehmbeaganstSrLauncelot，becausehemadehmknght。Bymyhead，sadArthur，nephew，beleveyou；thereforetellmenowwhatsyourbestcounsel。
　　Sr，sadSrGawane，yeshallhavemycounsel：letblowuntolodgng，foranhebeSrLauncelotduLake，andmybrother，SrGareth，wthhm，wththehelpofthatgoodyoungknght，SrLavane，trustmetrulytwllbenoboottostrvewththembutfweshouldfalltenortwelveupononeknght，andthatwerenoworshp，butshame。Yesaytruth，sadthekng；andfortosaysooth，sadthekng，twereshametoussomanyaswebetosetuponthemanymore；forwtyewell，sadKngArthur，theybethreegoodknghts，andnamelythatknghtwththesleeveofgold。
　　Sothentheyblewuntolodgng；butforthwthalKngArthurletsenduntothefourkngs，andtothemghtyduke，andprayedthemthattheknghtwththesleeveofgolddepartnotfromthem，butthatthekngmayspeakwthhm。ThenforthwthalKngArthuralghtedandunarmedhm，andtookalttlehackneyandrodeafterSrLauncelot，foreverhehadaspyuponhm。Andsohefoundhmamongthefourkngsandtheduke；andtherethekngprayedthemalluntosupper，andtheysadtheywouldwthgoodwll。AndwhentheywereunarmedthenKngArthurknewSrLauncelot，SrLavane，andSrGareth。Ah，SrLauncelot，sadKngArthur，thsdayyehaveheatedmeandmyknghts。
　　SotheyyedeuntoArthur’slodgngalltogether，andtherewasagreatfeastandgreatrevel，andtheprzewasgvenuntoSrLauncelot；andbyheraldstheynamedhmthathehadsmttendownfftyknghts，andSrGarethfve-and-thrty，andSrLavanefour-and-twentyknghts。ThenSrLauncelottoldthekngandthequeenhowtheladyhuntressshothmntheforestofWndsor，nthebuttock，wthanbroadarrow，andhowthewoundthereofwasthattmesnchesdeep，andnlkelong。AlsoArthurblamedSrGarethbecausehelefthsfellowshpandheldwthSrLauncelot。Mylord，sadSrGareth，hemademeaknght，andwhensawhmsohardbestead，methoughttwasmyworshptohelphm，forsawhmdosomuch，andsomanynobleknghtsagansthm；andwhenunderstoodthathewasSrLauncelotduLake，shamedtoseesomanyknghtsagansthmalone。Truly，sadKngArthuruntoSrGareth，yesaywell，andworshpfullyhaveyedoneandtoyourselfgreatworshp；andallthedaysofmylfe，sadKngArthuruntoSrGareth，wtyouwellshallloveyou，andtrustyouthemorebetter。Forever，sadArthur，tsaworshpfulknght’sdeedtohelpanotherworshpfulknghtwhenheseethhmnagreatdanger；
　　foreveraworshpfulmanwllbeloathtoseeaworshpfulmanshamed；andhethatsofnoworshp，andfarethwthcowardce，nevershallheshowgentleness，nornomannerofgoodnesswhereheseethamannanydanger，fortheneverwllacowardshownomercy；andalwaysagoodmanwlldoevertoanothermanashewouldbedonetohmself。Sothenthereweregreatfeastsuntokngsanddukes，andrevel，game，andplay，andallmannerofnoblessewasused；andhethatwascourteous，true，andfathful，tohsfrendwasthattmechershed。
　　Howtrueloveslkenedtosummer。
　　ANDthustpassedonfromCandlemassuntlafterEaster，thatthemonthofMaywascome，wheneverylustyheartbegnnethtoblossom，andtobrngforthfrut；forlkeasherbsandtreesbrngforthfrutandflourshnMay，nlkewseeverylustyheartthatsnanymanneralover，sprngethandflourshethnlustydeeds。Fortgvethuntoallloverscourage，thatlustymonthofMay，nsomethngtoconstranhmtosomemannerofthngmorenthatmonththannanyothermonth，fordverscauses。Forthenallherbsandtreesrenewamanandwoman，andlkewseloverscallagantothermndoldgentlenessandoldservce，andmanyknddeedsthatwereforgottenbyneglgence。Forlkeaswnterrasuredothalwayaraseanddefacegreensummer，sofarethtbyunstablelovenmanandwoman。Fornmanypersonstheresnostablty；forwemayseeallday，foralttleblastofwnter’srasure，anonweshalldefaceandlayaparttrueloveforlttleornought，thatcostmuchthng；thssnowsdomnorstablty，buttsfeeblenessofnatureandgreatdsworshp，whosomeverusethths。Therefore，lkeasMaymonthflowerethandflourshethnmanygardens，sonlkewseleteverymanofworshpflourshhsheartnthsworld，frstuntoGod，andnextuntothejoyofthemthathepromsedhsfathunto；fortherewasneverworshpfulmanorworshpfulwoman，buttheylovedonebetterthananother；andworshpnarmsmayneverbefoled，butfrstreservethehonourtoGod，andsecondlythequarrelmustcomeofthylady：andsuchlovecallvrtuouslove。
　　Butnowadaysmencannotlovesevennghtbuttheymusthavealltherdesres：thatlovemaynotendurebyreason；forwheretheybesoonaccordedandhastyheat，soontcooleth。Rghtsofarethlovenowadays，soonhotsooncold：thssnostablty。Buttheoldlovewasnotso；menandwomencouldlovetogethersevenyears，andnolcourslustswerebetweenthem，andthenwaslove，truth，andfathfulness：andlo，nlkewsewasusedlovenKngArthur’sdays。Whereforelkenlovenowadaysuntosummerandwnter；forlkeastheoneshotandtheothercold，sofarethlovenowadays；thereforeallyethatbeloverscalluntoyourremembrancethemonthofMay，lkeasddQueenGuenever，forwhommakeherealttlementon，thatwhleshelvedshewasatruelover，andthereforeshehadagoodend。
　　ExplctlberOctodecmus。
　　Andherefollowethlber。
　　BOOK
　　HowQueenGueneverrodea-MayngwthcertanknghtsoftheRoundTableandcladallngreen。
　　SOtbefellnthemonthofMay，QueenGuenevercalleduntoherknghtsoftheTableRound；andshegavethemwarnngthatearlyuponthemorrowshewouldrdea-MayngntowoodsandfeldsbesdeWestmnster。And
　　warnyouthattherebenoneofyoubutthathebewellhorsed，andthatyeallbeclothedngreen，outhernslkoutherncloth；andshallbrngwthmetenlades，andeveryknghtshallhavealadybehndhm，andeveryknghtshallhaveasqureandtwoyeomen；andwllthatyeallbewellhorsed。Sotheymadethemreadynthefreshestmanner。Andthesewerethenamesoftheknghts：SrKayleSeneschal，SrAgravane，SrBrandles，SrSagramoreleDesrous，SrDodnasleSavage，SrOzannaleCureHardy，SrLadnasoftheForestSavage，SrPersantofnde，Srronsde，thatwascalledtheKnghtoftheRedLaunds，andSrPelleas，thelover；andthesetenknghtsmadethemreadynthefreshestmannertordewththequeen。Andsouponthemorntheytooktherhorseswththequeen，androdea-Mayngnwoodsandmeadowsastpleasedthem，ngreatjoyanddelghts；forthequeenhadcasttohavebeenaganwthKngArthuratthefurthestbytenoftheclock，andsowasthattmeherpurpose。
　　ThentherewasaknghtthathghtMelagrance，andhewassonuntoKngBagdemagus，andthsknghthadatthattmeacastleofthegftofKngArthurwthnsevenmleofWestmnster。Andthsknght，SrMelagrance，lovedpassngwellQueenGuenever，andsohadhedonelongandmanyyears。Andthebooksathhehadlannawatfortostealawaythequeen，butevermoreheforbareforbecauseofSrLauncelot；fornnowsehewouldmeddlewththequeenanSrLauncelotwerenhercompany，outherelseanhewerenear-handher。Andthattmewassuchacustom，thequeenrodeneverwthoutagreatfellowshpofmenofarmsabouther，andtheyweremanygoodknghts，andthemostpartwereyoungmenthatwouldhaveworshp；andtheywerecalledtheQueen’sKnghts，andnevernnobattle，tournament，norjousts，theybarenoneofthemnomannerofknowledgngoftherownarms，butplanwhteshelds，andtherebytheywerecalledtheQueen’sKnghts。Andthenwhenthappedanyofthemtobeofgreatworshpbyhsnobledeeds，thenatthenextFeastofPentecost，ftherewereanyslanordead，astherewasnoneyearthattherefaledbutsomeweredead，thenwastherechosennhssteadthatwasdeadthemostmenofworshp，thatwerecalledtheQueen’sKnghts。Andthustheycameupallfrst，ortheywererenownedmenofworshp，bothSrLauncelotandalltheremnantofthem。
　　Butthsknght，SrMelagrance，hadespedthequeenwellandherpurpose，andhowSrLauncelotwasnotwthher，andhowshehadnomenofarmswthherbutthetennobleknghtsallarrayedngreenforMayng。Thenhepurveyedhmatwentymenofarmsandanhundredarchersfortodestroythequeenandherknghts，forhethoughtthattmewasbestseasontotakethequeen。
　　HowSrMelagrancetookthequeenandherknghts，whchweresorehurtnfghtngSOasthequeenhadMayedandallherknghts，allwerebedashedwthherbs，mossesandflowers，nthebestmannerandfreshest。RghtsocameoutofawoodSrMelagrancewthaneghtscoremenwellharnessed，astheyshouldfghtnabattleofarrest，andbadethequeenandherknghtsabde，formaugretherheadstheyshouldabde。Tratorknght，sadQueenGuenever，whatcastthoufortodo？Wltthoushamethyself？Bethnktheehowthouartakng’sson，andknghtoftheTableRound，andthoutobeabouttodshonourthenoblekngthatmadetheeknght；thoushamestallknghthoodandthyself，andme，lettheewt，shaltthounevershame，forhadlefercutmneownthroatntwanratherthanthoushouldestdshonourme。Asforallthslanguage，sadSrMelagrance，betastbemay，forwtyouwell，madam，havelovedyoumanyayear，andneverornowcould
　　getyouatsuchanadvantageasdonow，andtherefore
　　wlltakeyouasfndyou。
　　Thenspakeallthetennobleknghtsatonceandsad：
　　SrMelagrance，wtthouwellyeareabouttojeopardyourworshptodshonour，andalsoyecasttojeopardourpersonshowbetwebeunarmed。Yehaveusatagreataval，fortseemethbyyouthatyehaveladwatchuponus；butratherthanyeshouldputthequeentoashameandusall，wehadasleftodepartfromourlves，foranfweotherwaysdd，wewereshamedforever。ThensadSrMelagrance：Dressyouaswellyecan，andkeepthequeen。ThenthetenknghtsoftheTableRounddrewtherswords，andtheotherletrunatthemwththerspears，andthetenknghtsmanlyabodethem，andsmoteawaytherspearsthatnospearddthemnoneharm。Thentheylashedtogetherwthswords，andanonSrKay，SrSagramore，SrAgravane，SrDodnas，SrLadnas，andSrOzannaweresmttentotheearthwthgrmlywounds。
　　ThenSrBrandles，andSrPersant，Srronsde，SrPelleasfoughtlong，andtheyweresorewounded，forthesetenknghts，orevertheywereladtotheground，slewfortymenoftheboldestandthebestofthem。
　　Sowhenthequeensawherknghtsthusdolefullywounded，andneedsmustbeslanatthelast，thenforptyandsorrowshecredSrMelagrance：Slaynotmynobleknghts，andwllgowththeeuponthscovenant，thatthousavethem，andsufferthemnottobenomorehurt，wthths，thattheybeledwthmewheresomeverthouleadestme，forwllratherslaymyselfthanwllgowththee，unlessthatthesemynobleknghtsmaybenmypresence。Madam，sadMelagrance，foryoursaketheyshallbeledwthyountomneowncastle，wththatyewllberuled，andrdewthme。Thenthequeenprayedthefourknghtstoleavetherfghtng，andsheandtheywouldnotdepart。Madam，sadSrPelleas，wewlldoasyedo，forasformetakenoforceofmylfenordeath。
　　ForastheFrenchbooksath，SrPelleasgavesuchbuffetstherethatnonearmourmghtholdhm。