cart,' and she rebuked the lady who had declared he
was going to his hanging. 'It was foul talking, to liken the noblest
Knight in the world to one going to a shameful death.' By this Sir
Lancelot had come to the gate of the castle, and he got down and
called till the castle rang with his voice. 'Where is that false
traitor Sir Meliagraunce, Knight of the Round Table? Come forth, you
and your company, for I, Sir Lancelot du Lake, am here to do battle
with you.' Then he burst the gate open wide, and smote the porter who
tried to hold it against him. When Sir Meliagraunce heard Sir
Lancelot's voice, he ran into Queen Guenevere's chamber, and fell on
his knees before her: 'Mercy, Madam, mercy! I throw myself upon your
grace.'

'What ails you now?' said she; 'of a truth I might well expect some
good Knight to avenge me, though my lord Arthur knew not of your
work.'

[Illustration: THE ARCHERS THREATEN LANCELOT]

'Madam, I will make such amends as you yourself may desire,' pleaded
Sir Meliagraunce, 'and I trust wholly to your grace.'

'What would you have me do?' asked the Queen.

'Rule in this castle as if it were your own, and give Sir Lancelot
cheer till to-morrow, and then you shall all return to Westminster.'

'You say well,' answered the Queen. 'Peace is ever better than war,
and I take no pleasure in fighting.' So she went down with her ladies
to Sir Lancelot, who still stood full of rage in the inner court,
calling as before, 'Traitor Knight, come forth!'

'Sir Lancelot,' asked the Queen, 'what is the cause of all this
wrath?'

'Madam,' replied Sir Lancelot, 'does such a question come from you?
Methinks your wrath should be greater than mine, for all the hurt and
the dishonour have fallen upon you. My own hurt is but little, but the
shame is worse than any hurt.'

'You say truly,' replied the Queen, 'but you must come in with me
peaceably, as all is put into my hand, and the Knight repents bitterly
of his adventure.'

'Madam,' said Sir Lancelot, 'since you have made agreement with him,
it is not my part to say nay, although Sir Meliagraunce has borne
himself both shamefully and cowardly towards me. But had I known you
would have pardoned him so soon, I should not have made such haste to
come to you.'

'Why do you say that?' asked the Queen; 'do you repent yourself of
your good deeds? I only made peace with him to have done with all this
noise of slanderous talk, and for the sake of my Knights.'

'Ma