He did a very courteous thing in going at once to appraise the
Queen. And she replies: "Fair sire, since you say so, I believe
it is true, but I assure you that, if he were dead, I should
never be happy again. All my joy would be cut off, if a knight
had been killed in my service."
(Vv. 4441-4530.) Then the king leaves her, and the Queen yearns
ardently for the arrival of her lover and her joy. She has no
desire this time to bear him any grudge. But rumour, which never
rests but runs always unceasingly, again reaches the Queen to the
effect that Lancelot would have killed himself for her sake, if
he had had the chance. She is happy at the thought that this is
true, but she would not have had it happen so for anything, for
her sorrow would have been too great. Thereupon Lancelot arrived
in haste. (22) As soon as the king sees him, he runs to kiss and
embrace him. He feels as if he ought to fly, borne along by the
buoyancy of his joy. But his satisfaction is cut short by those
who had taken and bound his guest, and the king tells them they
have come in an evil hour, for they shall all be killed and
confounded. Then they made answer that they thought he would
have it so. "It is I whom you have insulted in doing your
pleasure. He has no reason to complain," the king replies; "you
have not shamed him at all, but only me who was protecting him.
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