eir power. Of these two manner of folk, whose names and
records you have heard, Josephus the good clerk telleth us was come the
Good Knight of whom you shall well hear the name and the manner
presently.

II.

The authority of the scripture telleth us that after the crucifixion of
Our Lord, no earthly King set forward the Law of Jesus Christ so much
as did King Arthur of Britain, both by himself and by the good knights
that made repair to his court. Good King Arthur after the crucifixion
of Our Lord, was such as I tell you, and was a puissant King, and one
that well believed in God, and many were the good adventures that befel
at his court. And he had in his court the Table Round that was
garnished of the best knights in the world. King Arthur after the
death of his father led the highest life and most gracious that ever
king led, in such sort that all the princes and all the barons took
ensample of him in well-doing. For ten years was King Arthur in such
estate as I have told you, nor never was earthly king so praised as he,
until that a slothful will came upon him and he began to lose the
pleasure in doing largesse that he wont to have, nor was he minded to
hold court neither at Christmas-tide nor at Easter nor at Pentecost.
The knights of the Table Round when they saw his well-doing wax slack
departed thence and began to hold aloof from his court, insomuch as
that of three hundred and three-score knights and six that he wont to
have of his household, there were now not more than a five-and-twenty
at most, nor did no adventure befal any more at his court. All the
other princes had slackened of their well-doing for that they saw King
Arthur maintain so feebly. Queen Guenievre was so sorrowful thereof
that she knew not what counsel to take with herself, nor how she might
so deal as to amend matters so God amended them not. From this time
beginneth the history.

III.

It was one Ascension Day that the King was at Cardoil. He was risen
from meat and went through the hall from one end to the other, and
looked and saw the Queen that was seated at a window. The King went to
sit beside her, and looked at her in the face and saw that the tears
were falling from her eyes.

"Lady," saith the King, "What aileth you, and wherefore do you weep?"

"Sir," saith she, "And I weep, good right have I; and you yourself have
little right to make joy."

"Certes, Lady, I do not."

"Sir," saith she, "You are right. I hav