"Lady," the
seneschal replies, "you could truly have done nothing worse than
that. Doubtless, I shall smart for this, for my lord Meleagant
will treat me worse than the beach-combers' law would treat me
were I a mariner in distress. I shall be killed or banished the
moment he hears the news, and he will have no pity for me."
"Fair sire, be not now dismayed," the lady said; "there is no
occasion for the fear you feel. There is no possibility of his
detention, for he swore to me by the saints that he would return
as soon as possible."
(Vv. 6105-6166.) (25) Then the seneschal mounts, and coming to
his lord, tells him the whole story of the episode; but at the
same time, he emphatically reassures him, telling how his wife
had received his oath that he would return to his prison. "He
will not break his word, I know," says Meleagant: "and yet I am
very much displeased at what your wife has done. Not for any
consideration would I have had him present at that tournament.
But return now, and see to it that, when he comes back, he be so
strictly guarded that he shall not escape from his prison or have
any freedom of body: and send me word at once." "Your orders
shall be obeyed," says the seneschal. Then he goes away and
finds Lancelot returned as prisoner in his yard.
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