upon Launcelot, cried:  “Ah!  Launcelot, Launcelot!  That ever there should be war between us two!” and tears stood in the King’s eyes.  “Ah! my Lord Arthur,” cried Sir Launcelot, “I pray you stay this war.”  As they spoke thus, Sir Gawain came upon them, and, miscalling Sir Launcelot traitor and coward, had almost ridden upon him before Launcelot could provide him of another horse.  Then the two hosts drew back, each on its own side, to see the battle between Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawain; for they wheeled their horses, and departing far asunder, rushed again upon each other with the noise of thunder, and each bore the other from his horse.  Then they put their shields before them and set on each other with their swords; but while ever Sir Gawain smote fiercely, Sir Launcelot was content only to ward off blows, because he would not, for Sir Gareth’s sake, do any harm to Sir Gawain.  But the more Sir Launcelot forbore him, the more furiously Sir Gawain struck, so that Sir Launcelot had much ado to defend himself, and at the last smote Gawain on the helm so mightily that he bore him to the ground.  Then Sir Launcelot stood back from Sir Gawain.  But Gawain cried:  “Why do ye draw back, traitor knight?  Slay me while ye may, for never will I cease to be your enemy while my life lasts.”  “Sir,” said Launcelot, “I shall withstand you as I may; but never will I smite a fallen knight.”  Then he spoke to King Arthur:  “My Lord, I pray you, if but for this day, draw off your men.  And think upon our former love if ye may; but, be ye friend or foe, God keep you.”  Thereupon Sir Launcelot drew off with his men into his castle, and King Arthur and his company to their tents.  As for Sir Gawain, his squires bore him to his tent where his wounds were dressed.

BOOK XI

THE MORTE D’ARTHUR

CHAPTER XXXV

MORDRED THE TRAITOR

So Sir Gawain lay healing of the grim wound which Sir Launcelot had given him, and there was peace between the two armies, when there came messengers from Britain bearing letters for King Arthur; and more evil news than they brought might not well be, for they told how Sir Mordred had usurped his uncle’s realm.  First, he had caused it to be noised abroad that King Arthur was slain in battle with Sir Launcelot, and, since there be many ever ready to believe any idle rumour and eager for any change, it had been no hard task for Sir Mordred to call the lords to a Parliament and persuade them to make him king.  But the Queen could not be brought to believe that her lord was dead, so she took refuge in the Tower of London from Sir Mordred’s violence, nor was she to be induced to leave her strong refuge for aught that Mordred could promise or threaten.

This was the news that came to Arthur as he lay encamped about Sir Launcelot’s castle of Benwick.  Forthwith he bade his host make ready to move, and when they had reached the coast, they embarked and made sail to reach Britain with all possible speed.