on
pain of death never to distress knights-errant that ride on their
adventures, and then was carried off to a near-by abbey, and Sir
Accolon with him, to have their wounds searched.

Within four days Sir Accolon died from loss of blood during the fight,
but King Arthur was well recovered. When Accolon was dead the King let
send him on a horse-bier with six knights unto Camelot and said, "Bear
him to my sister Morgan le Fay, and say that I send him to her as a
present, and tell her that I have my sword Excalibur again and the
scabbard."

So they departed with the body.

[1] Hard bestead: in a bad plight.

[2] Prize: death note.

[3] Dight: dressed.

[4] Beseen: of good appearance.

CHAPTER IX

THE TREACHERY OF MORGAN LE FAY

The meanwhile Morgan le Fay thought that King Arthur was slain, and
that she might now be queen of the land, with Sir Accolon as King.
Then came tidings unto her that Accolon was dead and King Arthur had
his sword again. When Queen Morgan wist all this she was so sorrowful
that near her heart brake, but because she would not it were known,
outward she kept her countenance, and made no semblance of sorrow. But
well she wist, if she remained till her brother Arthur came thither,
there should no gold go for her life. Then she went unto Queen
Guenever, and asked her leave to ride into the country.

"Ye may abide," said Queen Guenever, "till your brother the King come
home."

"I may not," said Morgan le Fay, "for I have such hasty tidings that I
may not tarry."

"Well," said Guenever, "ye may depart when ye will."

So early on the morn, ere it was day, she took her horse and rode all
that day and most part of the night, and on the morn by noon she came
to the abbey of nuns where lay King Arthur. Knowing he was there, she
asked where he was at that time; and they answered how he had laid him
in his bed to sleep, for he had had but little rest these three nights.

Then she alighted off her horse, and thought for to steal away
Excalibur his sword. So she went straight unto his chamber, and no man
durst disobey her commandment. There she found Arthur asleep in his
bed, and Excalibur in his right hand naked. When she saw that, she was
passing heavy that she might not come by the sword without awaking him,
and that she wist well would be her death. Then she took the scabbard,
and went her way on horseback.

When the King a woke and missed his scabbard, he was wroth, and