her when all the court refused the queen; and peradventure she sent for
him for goodness and for none evil, to reward him for his good deeds
that he had done to her in times past. And peradventure my lady, the
queen, sent for him to that intent that Sir Launcelot should come to her
good grace privily and secretly, weening to her that it was best so to
do, in eschewing and dreading of slander; for ofttimes we do many things
that we ween it be for the best, and yet peradventure it turneth to the
worst. For I dare say, said Sir Gawaine, my lady, your queen, is to you
both good and true; and as for Sir Launcelot, said Sir Gawaine, I dare
say he will make it good upon any knight living that will put upon
himself villainy or shame, and in like wise he will make good for my
lady, Dame Guenever.

That I believe well, said King Arthur, but I will not that way with Sir
Launcelot, for he trusteth so much upon his hands and his might that he
doubteth no man; and therefore for my queen he shall never fight more,
for she shall have the law. And if I may get Sir Launcelot, wit you well
he shall have a shameful death. Jesu defend, said Sir Gawaine, that I
may never see it. Why say ye so? said King Arthur; forsooth ye have
no cause to love Sir Launcelot, for this night last past he slew your
brother, Sir Agravaine, a full good knight, and almost he had slain
your other brother, Sir Mordred, and also there he slew thirteen noble
knights; and also, Sir Gawaine, remember you he slew two sons of yours,
Sir Florence and Sir Lovel. My lord, said Sir Gawaine, of all this I
have knowledge, of whose deaths I repent me sore; but insomuch I gave
them warning, and told my brethren and my sons aforehand what would fall
in the end, insomuch they would not do by my counsel, I will not meddle
me thereof, nor revenge me nothing of their deaths; for I told them
it was no boot to strive with Sir Launcelot. Howbeit I am sorry of the
death of my brethren and of my sons, for they are the causers of their
own death; for ofttimes I warned my brother Sir Agravaine, and I told
him the perils the which be now fallen.

CHAPTER VIII. How Sir Launcelot and his kinsmen rescued the queen from
the fire, and how he slew many knights.

THEN said the noble King Arthur to Sir Gawaine: Dear nephew, I pray you
make you ready in your best armour, with your brethren, Sir Gaheris and
Sir Gareth, to bring my queen to the fire, there to have her judgment
and receive the