[Dillo-dev] it were mine, for I have lost my sword.' 'Tha

[Lompa <ve...@pa...>]

, and full many a Knight and lady marvelled that Sir Lancelot would risk
himself so. And Sir Meliagraunce lifted his sword on high and would have
smitten Sir Lancelot on his bare head, had he not leapt lightly to one
side, and, before Sir Meliagraunce could right himself, Sir Lancelot had
struck him so hard upon his helmet that his skull split in two, and
there was nothing left to do but to carry his dead body from the field.
And because the Knights of the Round Table begged to have him honourably
buried, the King agreed thereto, and on his tomb mention was made of how
he came by his death, and who slew him. After this Sir Lancelot was more
cherished by the King and Queen than ever he was before. Among the many
Knights at Arthur's Court who owned kings for their fathers were Sir
Mordred and Sir Agrawaine, who had for brothers, Sir Gawaine, Sir
Gaheris and Sir Gareth. And their mother was Queen of Orkney, sister to
King Arthur. Now Sir Agrawaine and Sir Mordred had evil natures, and
loved both to invent slanders and to repeat them. And at this time they
were full of envy of the noble deeds Sir Lancelot had done, and how men
called him the bravest Knight of the Table Round, and said that he was
the friend of the King, and the sworn defender of the Queen. So they
cast about how they might ruin him, and found the way by putting jealous
thoughts into the mind of Arthur. As was told in the tale of the
marriage of Arthur, Queen Guenevere's heart had gone out to Lancelot, on
the journey to the Court, and ever she loved to have him with her. This
was known well to Sir Mordred, who watched eagerly for a chance to work
her ill. It came one day when Arthur proclaimed a hunt, and Sir Mordred
guessed that Sir Lancelot, who did not love hunting, would stay behind,
and would spend the time holding talk with the Queen. Therefore he went
to the King and began to speak evil of the Queen and Sir Lancelot. At
first King Arthur would listen to nothing, but slowly his jealousy
burned within him, and he let the ill words that accused the Queen of
loving Sir Lancelot the best, sink into his mind, and told Sir Mordred
and Sir Agrawaine that they might do th