aid
Sir Gawaine and Sir Gareth, now is this realm wholly mischieved, and
the noble fellowship of the Round Table shall be disparpled: so they
departed.

CHAPTER II. How Sir Agravaine disclosed their love to King Arthur, and
how King Arthur gave them licence to take him.

AND then Sir Arthur asked them what noise they made. My lord, said
Agravaine, I shall tell you that I may keep no longer. Here is I, and
my brother Sir Mordred, brake unto my brothers Sir Gawaine, Sir Gaheris,
and to Sir Gareth, how this we know all, that Sir Launcelot holdeth
your queen, and hath done long; and we be your sister's sons, and we
may suffer it no longer, and all we wot that ye should be above Sir
Launcelot; and ye are the king that made him knight, and therefore we
will prove it, that he is a traitor to your person.

If it be so, said Sir Arthur, wit you well he is none other, but I would
be loath to begin such a thing but I might have proofs upon it; for
Sir Launcelot is an hardy knight, and all ye know he is the best knight
among us all; and but if he be taken with the deed, he will fight with
him that bringeth up the noise, and I know no knight that is able to
match him. Therefore an it be sooth as ye say, I would he were taken
with the deed. For as the French book saith, the king was full loath
thereto, that any noise should be upon Sir Launcelot and his queen; for
the king had a deeming, but he would not hear of it, for Sir Launcelot
had done so much for him and the queen so many times, that wit ye well
the king loved him passingly well. My lord, said Sir Agravaine, ye shall
ride to-morn a-hunting, and doubt ye not Sir Launcelot will not go with
you. Then when it draweth toward night, ye may send the queen word that
ye will lie out all that night, and so may ye send for your cooks, and
then upon pain of death we shall take him that night with the queen, and
outher we shall bring him to you dead or quick. I will well, said the
king; then I counsel you, said the king, take with you sure fellowship.
Sir, said Agravaine, my brother, Sir Mordred, and I, will take with us
twelve knights of the Round Table. Beware, said King Arthur, for I warn
you ye shall find him wight. Let us deal, said Sir Agravaine and Sir
Mordred.

So on the morn King Arthur rode a-hunting, and sent word to the queen
that he would be out all that night. Then Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred
gat to them twelve knights, and hid themself in a chamber in the Castle