The news travelled in this kingdom until it came to a
seneschal of the faithless Meleagant may an evil fire burn
him! This seneschal had Lancelot in his keeping, for to him he
had been entrusted by his enemy Meleagant, who hated him with
deadly hate. Lancelot learned the hour and date of the
tournament, and as soon as he heard of it, his eyes were not
tearless nor was his heart glad. The lady of the house, seeing
Lancelot sad and pensive, thus spoke to him: "Sire, for God's
sake and for your own soul's good, tell me truly," the lady said,
"why you are so changed. You won't eat or drink anything, and I
see that you do not make merry or laugh. You can tell me with
confidence why you are so sad and troubled." "Ah, lady, for
God's sake, do not be surprised that I am sad! Truly, I am very
much downcast, since I cannot be present where all that is good
in the world will be assembled: that is, at the tournament where
there will be a gathering of the people who make the earth
tremble. Nevertheless, if it pleased you, and if God should
incline your heart to let me go thither, you might rest assured
that I should be careful to return to my captivity here." "I
would gladly do it," she replied, "if I did not see that my death
and destruction would result.
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