ghts round
listened in silence, for they too thought Sir Mador spake truth. And
the Queen still said nothing, but fell to weeping bitterly, till King
Arthur heard and came to look into the matter. And when they told him
of their trouble his heart was heavy within him.

'Fair lords,' said the King at last, 'I grieve for this ill deed; but
I cannot meddle therein, or do battle for my wife, for I have to judge
justly. Sure I am that this deed is none of hers, therefore many a
good Knight will stand her champion that she be not burned to death in
a wrong quarrel. And, Sir Mador, hold not your head so high, but fix
the day of battle, when you shall find a Knight to answer you, or else
it were great shame to all my Court.'

'My gracious lord,' said Sir Mador, 'you must hold me excused. But
though you are a King you are also a Knight, and must obey the laws of
Knighthood. Therefore I beseech your forgiveness if I declare that
none of the four and twenty Knights here present will fight that
battle. What say you, my lords?' Then the Knights answered that they
could not hold the Queen guiltless, for as the dinner was made by her
either she or her servants must have done this thing.

'Alas!' said the Queen, 'no evil was in my heart when I prepared this
feast, for never have I done such foul deeds.'

'My lord the King,' cried Sir Mador, 'I require of you, as you are a
just King, to fix a day that I may get ready for the fight!'

'Well,' answered the King, 'on the fifteenth day from this come on
horseback to the meadow that is by Westminster. And if it happens that
there be a Knight to fight with you, strike as hard as you will, God
will speed the right. But if no Knight is there, then must my Queen be
burned, and a fire shall be made in the meadow.'

[Illustration: SIR MADOR ACCUSES GUENEVERE]

'I am answered,' said Sir Mador, and he and the rest of the Knights
departed.

When the King and Queen were left alone he asked her what had brought
all this about. 'God help me, that I know not,' said the Queen, 'nor
how it was done.'

'Where is Sir Lancelot?' said King Arthur, looking round. 'If he were
here he would not grudge to do battle for you.'

'Sir,' replied the Queen, 'I know not where he is, but his brother and
his kinsmen think he is not in this realm.'

'I grieve for that,' said the King, 'for he would soon stop this
strife. But I counsel you, ask Sir Bors, and he will not refuse you.
For well I see that none of t