. The book of romance; . minster and rowed a great while to andfro, before any espied it. At last King Arthur and QueenGuenevere withdrew into a window to speak together,and espied the black barge, and wondered greatly what itmeant. The King summoned Sir Kay, and bade him takeSir Brandiles and Sir Agrawaine, and find out who waslying there, and they ran down to the river side, and cameand told the King. That fair corpse will I see, returnedthe King, and he took the Queens hand and led herthither. Then he ordered the barge to be made fast,and he entered it, and the Queen likewise, and certainKn
. The book of romance; . minster and rowed a great while to andfro, before any espied it. At last King Arthur and QueenGuenevere withdrew into a window to speak together,and espied the black barge, and wondered greatly what itmeant. The King summoned Sir Kay, and bade him takeSir Brandiles and Sir Agrawaine, and find out who waslying there, and they ran down to the river side, and cameand told the King. That fair corpse will I see, returnedthe King, and he took the Queens hand and led herthither. Then he ordered the barge to be made fast,and he entered it, and the Queen likewise, and certainKnights with them. And there he saw a fair woman ona rich bed, and her clothing was of cloth of gold, and shelay smiling. While they looked, all being silent, theQueen spied a letter in her right hand, and pointed it outto the King, who took it saying, Now I am sure thisletter will tell us what she was, and why she camehither. So leaving the barge in charge of a trusty man,they went into the Kings chamber, followed by many. THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT 131 Knights, for the King would have the letter read then broke the seal himself, and bade a clerk read it,and this was what it said: ^Most noble Knight Sir Lancelot, I was your lover,whom men called the Fair Maid of Astolat: thereforeunto all ladies I make my moan; yet pray for my soul,and bury me. This is my last request. Pray for mysoul, Sir Lancelot, as thou art peerless. This was all the letter, and the King and Queen andall the Knights wept when they heard it. Let Sir Lancelot be sent for, presently said the King,and when Sir Lancelot came the letter was read to himalso. My lord Arthur, said he, after he had heard it all, I am right grieved at the death of this damsel. Godknows I was not, of my own will, guilty of her death,and that I will call on her brother. Sir Lavaine, towitness. She was both fair and good, and much was Ibeholden to her, but she loved me out of measure. You might have been a little gentle with her,a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectarthurk, bookyear1902
