with an equally ardent and constant passion.  The mutual attachment of these lovers exerted, from that time forth, an influence over the whole history of Arthur.  For the sake of Guenever, Launcelot achieved the conquest of Northumberland, defeated Gallehaut, King of the Marches, who afterwards became his most faithful friend and ally, exposed himself in numberless encounters, and brought hosts of prisoners to the feet of his sovereign.

SIR LAUNCELOT

After King Arthur was come from Rome into England all the knights of the Table Round resorted unto him and made him many justs and tournaments.  And in especial Sir Launcelot of the Lake in all tournaments and justs and deeds of arms, both for life and death, passed all other knights, and was never overcome, except it were by treason or enchantment; and he increased marvellously in worship, wherefore Queen Guenever had him in great favor, above all other knights.  And for certain he loved the queen again above all other ladies; and for her he did many deeds of arms, and saved her from peril, through his noble chivalry.  Thus Sir Launcelot rested him long with play and game, and then he thought to prove himself in strange adventures; so he bade his nephew, Sir Lionel, to make him ready,—­ “for we two will seek adventures.”  So they mounted on their horses, armed at all sights, and rode into a forest, and so into a deep plain.  And the weather was hot about noon, and Sir Launcelot had great desire to sleep.  Then Sir Lionel espied a great apple-tree that stood by a hedge, and he said:  “Brother, yonder is a fair shadow—­there may we rest us and our horses.”  “It is well said,” replied Sir Launcelot.  So they there alighted, and Sir Launcelot laid him down, and his helm under his head, and soon was asleep passing fast.  And Sir Lionel waked while he slept.  And presently there came three knights riding as fast as ever they might ride, and there followed them but one knight.  And Sir Lionel thought he never saw so great a knight before.  So within a while this great knight overtook one of those knights, and smote him so that he fell to the earth.  Then he rode to the second knight and smote him, and so he did to the third knight.  Then he alighted down and bound all the three knights fast with their own bridles.  When Sir Lionel saw him do thus, he thought to assay him, and made him ready silently, not to awake Sir Launcelot, and rode after the strong knight, and bade him turn.  And the other smote Sir Lionel so hard that horse and man fell to the earth; and then he alighted down and bound Sir Lionel, and threw him across his own horse; and so he served them all four, and rode with them away to his own castle.  And when he came there he put them in a deep prison, in which were many more knights in great distress.

Now while Sir Launcelot lay under the apple-tree sleeping, there came by him four queens of great estate.  And that the heat should not grieve them, there rode four knights about them, and bare a cloth of green silk on four spears, betwixt them and the sun.  And the queens rode on four white mules.