und would soon heal. 'But I marvel,' said he, 'how you know
my name.' Then the maiden told him how Sir Gawaine had been at Astolat
and had seen his shield.

'Alas!' sighed Sir Lancelot, 'it grieves me that my name is known, for
trouble will come of it.' For he knew full well that Sir Gawaine would
tell Queen Guenevere, and that she would be wroth. And Elaine stayed
and tended him, and Sir Lancelot begged Sir Lavaine to ride to
Winchester and ask if Sir Bors was there, and said that he should know
him by token of a wound which Sir Bors had on his forehead. 'For well
I am sure,' said Sir Lancelot, 'that Sir Bors will seek me, as he is
the same good Knight that hurt me.'

Therefore as Sir Lancelot commanded, Sir Lavaine rode to Winchester
and inquired if Sir Bors had been seen there, so that when he entered
the town Sir Lavaine readily found him. Sir Bors was overjoyed to hear
good tidings of Sir Lancelot, and they rode back together to the
hermitage. At the sight of Sir Lancelot lying in his bed, pale and
thin, Sir Bors' heart gave way, and he wept long without speaking.
'Oh, my lord Sir Lancelot,' he said at last, 'God send you hasty
recovery; great is my shame for having wounded you thus, you who are
the noblest Knight in the world. I wonder that my arm would lift
itself against you, and I ask your mercy.'

'Fair cousin,' answered Sir Lancelot, 'such words please me not at
all, for it is the fault of my pride which would overcome you all,
that I lie here to-day. We will not speak of it any more, for what is
done cannot be undone, but let us find a cure so that I may soon be
whole.' Then Sir Bors leaned upon his bed, and told him how the Queen
was filled with anger against him, because he wore the red sleeve at
the jousts.

'I am sorrowful at what you tell me,' replied Sir Lancelot, 'for all I
did was to hinder my being known.'

'That I said to excuse you,' answered Sir Bors, 'though it was all in
vain. But is this damsel that is so busy about you the Fair Maid of
Astolat?'

'She it is, and she will not go from me!'

'Why should she go from you?' asked Sir Bors. 'She is a passing fair
damsel, and of gentle breeding, and I would that you could love her,
for it is easy to see by her bearing that she loves you entirely.'

'It grieves me to hear that,' said Sir Lancelot.

After this they talked of other things, till in a few days Sir
Lancelot's wounds were whole again. When Sir Lancelot felt his
strength return,