Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK IX CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XIV

How Sir Meliagaunce told for what cause they fought,
and how Sir Lamorak jousted with King Arthur.

SIR, said Meliagaunce, I shall tell you for what cause we do this
battle.  I praised my lady, Queen Guenever, and said she was the
fairest lady of the world, and Sir Lamorak said nay thereto, for
he said Queen Morgawse of Orkney was fairer than she and more of
beauty.  Ah, Sir Lamorak, why sayest thou so? it is not thy part
to dispraise thy princess that thou art under her obeissance, and
we all.  And therewith he alighted on foot, and said:  For this
quarrel, make thee ready, for I will prove upon thee that Queen
Guenever is the fairest lady and most of bounty in the world. 
Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I am loath to have ado with you in this
quarrel, for every man thinketh his own lady fairest; and though
I praise the lady that I love most ye should not be wroth; for
though my lady Queen Guenever, be fairest in your eye, wit ye
well Queen Morgawse of Orkney is fairest in mine eye, and so
every knight thinketh his own lady fairest; and wit ye well, sir,
ye are the man in the world except Sir Tristram that I am most
loathest to have ado withal, but, an ye will needs fight with me
I shall endure you as long as I may.  Then spake Sir Bleoberis
and said:  My lord Sir Launcelot, I wist you never so misadvised
as ye are now, for Sir Lamorak sayeth you but reason and
knightly; for I warn you I have a lady, and methinketh that she
is the fairest lady of the world.  Were this a great reason that
ye <374>should be wroth with me for such language?  And well ye
wot, that Sir Lamorak is as noble a knight as I know, and he hath
ought you and us ever good will, and therefore I pray you be good
friends.  Then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Lamorak.  I pray you
forgive me mine evil will, and if I was misadvised I will amend
it.  Sir, said Sir Lamorak, the amends is soon made betwixt you
and me.  And so Sir Launcelot and Sir Bleoberis departed, and Sir
Meliagaunce and Sir Lamorak took their horses, and either
departed from other.

And within a while came King Arthur, and met with Sir Lamorak,
and jousted with him; and there he smote down Sir Lamorak, and
wounded him sore with a spear, and so he rode from him; wherefore
Sir Lamorak was wroth that he would not fight with him on foot,
howbeit that Sir Lamorak knew not King Arthur.