Therefore
he was not at all worried, for he would rather have had both arms
dragged from his body than not enter through the window. But he
would have been very angry and distressed, if he had thus injured
and wounded himself under any other circumstances.
(Vv. 4755-5006.) In the morning, within her curtained room, the
Queen had fallen into a gentle sleep; she had not noticed that
her sheets were spotted with blood, but she supposed them to be
perfectly white and clean and presentable. Now Meleagant, as
soon as he was dressed and ready, went to the room where the
Queen lay. He finds her awake, and he sees the sheets spotted
with fresh drops of blood, whereupon he nudges his companions
and, suspicious of some mischief, looks at the bed of Kay the
seneschal, and sees that his sheets are blood-stained too, for
you must know that in the night his wounds had begun to bleed
afresh. Then he said: "Lady, now I have found the evidence that
I desired. It is very true that any man is a fool to try to
confine a woman: he wastes his efforts and his pains. He who
tries to keep her under guard loses her sooner than the man who
takes no thought of her. A fine watch, indeed, has been kept by
my father, who is guarding you on my behalf! He has succeeded in
keeping you from me, but, in spite of him, Kay the seneschal has
looked upon you last night, and has done what he pleased with
you, as can readily be proved.
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