e by a yard than any man that
ever he had seen, and all those grinned and gnashed at Sir Launcelot.
And when he saw their countenance he dreaded him sore, and so put
his shield afore him, and took his sword ready in his hand ready unto
battle, and they were all armed in black harness ready with their
shields and their swords drawn. And when Sir Launcelot would have gone
throughout them, they scattered on every side of him, and gave him the
way, and therewith he waxed all bold, and entered into the chapel, and
then he saw no light but a dim lamp burning, and then was he ware of a
corpse hilled with a cloth of silk. Then Sir Launcelot stooped down, and
cut a piece away of that cloth, and then it fared under him as the earth
had quaked a little; therewithal he feared. And then he saw a fair sword
lie by the dead knight, and that he gat in his hand and hied him out of
the chapel.

Anon as ever he was in the chapel yard all the knights spake to him with
a grimly voice, and said, Knight, Sir Launcelot, lay that sword from
thee or else thou shalt die. Whether that I live or die, said Sir
Launcelot, with no great word get ye it again, therefore fight for it an
ye list. Then right so he passed throughout them, and beyond the chapel
yard there met him a fair damosel, and said, Sir Launcelot, leave that
sword behind thee, or thou wilt die for it. I leave it not, said Sir
Launcelot, for no treaties. No, said she, an thou didst leave that
sword, Queen Guenever should thou never see. Then were I a fool an I
would leave this sword, said Launcelot. Now, gentle knight, said the
damosel, I require thee to kiss me but once. Nay, said Sir Launcelot,
that God me forbid. Well, sir, said she, an thou hadst kissed me thy
life days had been done, but now, alas, she said, I have lost all my
labour, for I ordained this chapel for thy sake, and for Sir Gawaine.
And once I had Sir Gawaine within me, and at that time he fought with
that knight that lieth there dead in yonder chapel, Sir Gilbert the
Bastard; and at that time he smote the left hand off of Sir Gilbert the
Bastard. And, Sir Launcelot, now I tell thee, I have loved thee this
seven year, but there may no woman have thy love but Queen Guenever. But
sithen I may not rejoice thee to have thy body alive, I had kept no more
joy in this world but to have thy body dead. Then would I have balmed it
and served it, and so have kept it my life days, and daily I should
have clipped thee, and kissed t