in Christendom; and there nis none of all these religious
places, but they shall be performed, furnished and garnished in all
things as an holy place ought to be, I promise you faithfully. And this,
Sir Gawaine, methinketh were more fairer, holier, and more better to
their souls, than ye, my most noble king, and you, Sir Gawaine, to war
upon me, for thereby shall ye get none avail.

Then all knights and ladies that were there wept as they were mad, and
the tears fell on King Arthur's cheeks. Sir Launcelot, said Sir Gawaine,
I have right well heard thy speech, and thy great proffers, but wit
thou well, let the king do as it pleased him, I will never forgive my
brothers' death, and in especial the death of my brother, Sir Gareth.
And if mine uncle, King Arthur, will accord with thee, he shall lose my
service, for wit thou well thou art both false to the king and to me.
Sir, said Launcelot he beareth not the life that may make that good and
if ye, Sir Gawaine, will charge me with so high a thing, ye must pardon
me, for then needs must I answer you. Nay, said Sir Gawaine, we are past
that at this time, and that caused the Pope, for he hath charged mine
uncle, the king, that he shall take his queen again, and to accord with
thee, Sir Launcelot, as for this season, and therefore thou shalt go
safe as thou camest. But in this land thou shalt not abide past fifteen
days, such summons I give thee: so the king and we were consented and
accorded or thou camest. And else, said Sir Gawaine, wit thou well thou
shouldst not have come here, but if it were maugre thy head. And if
it were not for the Pope's commandment, said Sir Gawaine, I should do
battle with mine own body against thy body, and prove it upon thee, that
thou hast been both false unto mine uncle King Arthur, and to me both;
and that shall I prove upon thy body, when thou art departed from hence,
wheresomever I find thee.

CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Launcelot departed from the king and from Joyous
Gard over seaward, and what knights went with him.

THEN Sir Launcelot sighed, and therewith the tears fell on his cheeks,
and then he said thus: Alas, most noble Christian realm, whom I have
loved above all other realms, and in thee I have gotten a great part of
my worship, and now I shall depart in this wise. Truly me repenteth
that ever I came in this realm, that should be thus shamefully banished,
undeserved and causeless; but fortune is so variant, and the wheel so
movea