but dretching of swevens, said Sir
Bors, for I doubt not Sir Launcelot aileth nothing but good. It may
well be, said the Bishop; go ye to his bed, and then shall ye prove the
sooth. So when Sir Bors and his fellows came to his bed they found him
stark dead, and he lay as he had smiled, and the sweetest savour about
him that ever they felt.

Then was there weeping and wringing of hands, and the greatest dole
they made that ever made men. And on the morn the Bishop did his mass
of Requiem, and after, the Bishop and all the nine knights put Sir
Launcelot in the same horse bier that Queen Guenever was laid in to-fore
that she was buried. And so the Bishop and they all together went with
the body of Sir Launcelot daily, till they came to Joyous Gard; and ever
they had an hundred torches brenning about him. And so within fifteen
days they came to Joyous Gard. And there they laid his corpse in the
body of the quire, and sang and read many psalters and prayers over him
and about him.

And ever his visage was laid open and naked, that all folks might behold
him. For such was the custom in those days, that all men of worship
should so lie with open visage till that they were buried. And right
thus as they were at their service, there came Sir Ector de Maris, that
had seven years sought all England, Scotland, and Wales, seeking his
brother, Sir Launcelot.

CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Ector found Sir Launcelot his brother dead, and
how Constantine reigned next after Arthur; and of the end of this book.

AND when Sir Ector heard such noise and light in the quire of Joyous
Gard, he alighted and put his horse from him, and came into the quire,
and there he saw men sing and weep. And all they knew Sir Ector, but he
knew not them. Then went Sir Bors unto Sir Ector, and told him how
there lay his brother, Sir Launcelot, dead; and then Sir Ector threw
his shield, sword, and helm from him. And when he beheld Sir Launcelot's
visage, he fell down in a swoon. And when he waked it were hard any
tongue to tell the doleful complaints that he made for his brother. Ah
Launcelot, he said, thou were head of all Christian knights, and now
I dare say, said Sir Ector, thou Sir Launcelot, there thou liest, that
thou were never matched of earthly knight's hand. And thou were the
courteoust knight that ever bare shield. And thou were the truest friend
to thy lover that ever bestrad horse. And thou were the truest lover of
a sinful man that ever loved