he four and twenty Knights who were with
you at dinner will be your champion, and none will say well of you,
but men will speak evil of you at the Court.'

'Alas!' sighed the Queen, 'I do indeed miss Sir Lancelot, for he would
soon ease my heart.'

'What ails you?' asked the King, 'that you cannot keep Sir Lancelot at
your side, for well you know that he who Sir Lancelot fights for has
the best Knight in the world for his champion. Now go your way, and
command Sir Bors to do battle with you for Sir Lancelot's sake.' So
the Queen departed from the King, and sent for Sir Bors into her
chamber, and when he came she besought his help.

'Madam,' said he, 'what can I do? for I may not meddle in this matter
lest the Knights who were at the dinner have me in suspicion, for I
was there also. It is now, Madam, that you miss Sir Lancelot, whom you
have driven away, as he would have done battle for you were you right
or wrong, and I wonder how for shame's sake you can ask me, knowing
how I love and honour him.'

'Alas,' said the Queen, 'I throw myself on your grace,' and she went
down on her knees and besought Sir Bors to have mercy on her, 'else I
shall have a shameful death, and one I have never deserved.' At that
King Arthur came in, and found her kneeling before Sir Bors. 'Madam!
you do me great dishonour,' said Sir Bors, raising her up.

'Ah, gentle Knight,' cried the King, 'have mercy on my Queen, for I am
sure that they speak falsely. And I require by the love of Sir
Lancelot that you do battle for her instead of him.'

'My lord,' answered Sir Bors, 'you require of me the hardest thing
that ever anyone asked of me, for well you know that if I fight for
the Queen I shall anger all my companions of the Round Table; but I
will not say nay, my lord, for Sir Lancelot's sake and for your sake!
On that day I will be the Queen's champion, unless a better Knight is
found to do battle for her.'

'Will you promise me this?' asked the King.

'Yes,' answered Sir Bors, 'I will not fail you nor her, unless there
should come a better Knight than I, then he shall have the battle.'
Then the King and Queen rejoiced greatly, and thanked Sir Bors with
all their hearts.

So Sir Bors departed and rode unto Sir Lancelot, who was with the
hermit Sir Brasias, and told him of this adventure. 'Ah,' said Sir
Lancelot, 'this has befallen as I would have it, and therefore I pray
you make ready to do battle, but delay the fight as long as you ca