{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart334.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart334.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart334.htm","text":"CHAPTER IX\nHow Dame Elaine was commanded by Queen Guenever to\navoid the court, and how Sir Launcelot became mad.\nNOW turn we unto Queen Guenever and to the fair\nLady Elaine, that when Dame Elaine heard the queen so\nto rebuke Sir Launcelot, and also she saw how he swooned,\nand how he leaped out at a bay window, then she said unto\nQueen Guenever: Madam, ye are greatly to blame for Sir\nLauncelot, for now have ye lost him, for I saw and heard\nby his countenance that he is mad for ever. Alas, madam,\nye do great sin, and to yourself great dishonour, for ye\nhave a lord of your own, and therefore it is your part to\nlove him; for there is no queen in this world hath such\nanother king as ye have. And, if ye were not, I might\nhave the love of my lord Sir Launcelot; and cause I have\nto love him for he had my maidenhood, and by him I have\nborne a fair son, and his name is Galahad, and he shall be\nin his time the best knight of the world. Dame Elaine,\nsaid the queen, when it is daylight I charge you and\ncommand you to avoid my court; and for the love ye owe\nunto Sir Launcelot discover not his counsel, for an ye do,\nit will be his death. As for that, said Dame Elaine, I dare\nundertake he is marred for ever, and that have ye made;\nfor ye, nor I, are like to rejoice him; for he made the most\npiteous groans when he leapt out at yonder bay window\nthat ever I heard man make. Alas, said fair Elaine, and\nalas, said the Queen Guenever, for now I wot well we\nhave lost him for ever.\nSo on the morn Dame Elaine took her leave to depart,\nand she would no longer abide. Then King Arthur\nbrought her on her way with mo than an hundred\nknights through a forest. And by the way she told Sir\nBors de Ganis all how it betid that same night, and how\nSir Launcelot leapt out at a window, araged out of his\nwit. Alas, said Sir Bors, where is my lord, Sir Launcelot,\nbecome? Sir, said Elaine, I wot ne'er. Alas, said Sir Bors,\nbetwixt you both ye have destroyed that good knight. As\nfor me, said Dame Elaine, I said never nor did never\nthing that should in any wise displease him, but with\nthe rebuke that Queen Guenever gave him I saw him\nswoon to the earth; and when he awoke he took his sword\nin his hand, naked save his shirt, and leapt out at a window\nwith the grisliest groan that ever I heard man make. Now\nfarewell, Dame Elaine, said Sir Bors, and hold my lord\nArthur with a tale as long as ye can, for I will turn again\nto Queen Guenever and give her a hete; and I require\nyou, as ever ye will have my service, make good watch and\nespy if ever ye may see my lord Sir Launcelot. Truly,\nsaid fair Elaine, I shall do all that I may do, for as fain\nwould I know and wit where he is become, as you, or any\nof his kin, or Queen Guenever; and cause great enough\nhave I thereto as well as any other. And wit ye well, said\nfair Elaine to Sir Bors, I would lose my life for him rather\nthan he should be hurt; but alas, I cast me never for to\nsee him, and the chief causer of this is Dame Guenever.\nMadam, said Dame Brisen, the which had made the\nenchantment before betwixt Sir Launcelot and her, I pray\nyou heartily, let Sir Bors depart, and hie him with all his\nmight as fast as he may to seek Sir Launcelot, for I warn\nyou he is clean out of his mind; and yet he shall be well\nholpen an but by miracle.\nThen wept Dame Elaine, and so did Sir Bors de Ganis;\nand so they departed, and Sir Bors rode straight unto\nQueen Guenever. And when she saw Sir Bors she wept\nas she were wood. Fie on your weeping, said Sir Bors de\nGanis, for ye weep never but when there is no bote. Alas,\nsaid Sir Bors, that ever Sir Launcelot's kin saw you, for\nnow have ye lost the best knight of our blood, and he\nthat was all our leader and our succour; and I dare say\nand make it good that all kings, christian nor heathen, may\nnot find such a knight, for to speak of his nobleness and\ncourtesy, with his beauty and his gentleness. Alas, said\nSir Bors, what shall we do that be of his blood? Alas,\nsaid Sir Ector de Maris. Alas, said Lionel.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XI CHAPTER IX","type":"page"}