But on my lord
Gawain's account, whose arrival is expected, the Queen keeps
them, saying that she will never stir until she has news of him.
(Vv. 4125-4262.) The news spreads everywhere that the Queen is
free to go, and that all the other prisoners have been set at
liberty and are free to go whenever it suits and pleases them.
Wherever the people of the land gather together, they ask each
other about the truth of this report, and never talk of anything
else. They are very much enraged that all the dangerous passes
have been overcome, and that any one may come and go as he
pleases. But when the natives of the country, who had not been
present at the battle, learned how Lancelot had been the victor,
they all betook themselves to the place where they knew he must
pass by, thinking that the king would be well pleased if they
should seize Lancelot and hale him back to him. All of his own
men were without their arms, and therefore they were at a
disadvantage when they saw the natives of the country coming
under arms. It was not strange that they seized Lancelot, who
was without his arms. They lead him back prisoner, his feet
lashed together beneath his horse. Then his own men say:
"Gentlemen, this is an evil deed; for the king has given us his
safe-conduct, and we are under his protection.
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