And groaned at being slain so young?'at least.'
5. The False Castle (French); a term expressing her contempt. Launcelot's castle is named the Joyous Garde. 6. In an earlier episode in Malory's narrative, Guenevere and some of her young knights who have been wounded in a skirmish are confined for a night in a room in Mellyagraunce's castle. Discovering bloodstains on her bedclothes the following morning, Mellyagraunce accuses her of adulterous relations with one of the wounded knights. Actually her visiting bedfellow had been Launcelot, who had cut his hand on the window bars as he climbed into her room.
7. Mellyagraunce discovers the bloodstains on Guenevere's bedclothes by pulling open her bed- curtains; he had intended to rape the queen. 'Setter of traps': Mellyagraunce tried to prevent Launcelot from coming to defend the queen's honor by making him fall through a trapdoor into a dungeon.
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THE DEFENCE OF GUENEVERE / 1489
'My knight said, 'Rise you, sir, who are so fleet
200 At catching ladies, half-armed will I fight, My left side all uncovered!' then I weet,0 know
'Up sprang Sir Mellyagraunce with great delight
Upon his knave's face; not until just then
Did I quite hate him, as I saw my knight 205 'Along the lists look to my stake and pen?
prison
With such a joyous smile, it made me sigh
From agony beneath my waist-chain,8 when
'The fight began, and to me they drew nigh;
Ever Sir Launcelot kept him on the right,
210 And traversed warily, and ever high 'And fast leaped caitiff's sword, until my knight
Sudden threw up his sword to his left hand,
Caught it, and swung it; that was all the fight.
'Except a spout of blood on the hot land;
215 For it was hottest summer; and I know
I wondered how the fire, while I should stand,
'And burn, against the heat, would quiver so,
Yards above my head; thus these matters went:
Which things were only warnings of the woe
220 'That fell on me. Yet Mellyagraunce was shent,? destroyedFor Mellyagraunce had fought against the Lord; Therefore, my lords, take heed lest you be blent0 blinded
'With all this wickedness; say no rash word
Against me, being so beautiful; my eyes,
225 Wept all away to gray, may bring some sword 'To drown you in your blood; see my breast rise,
Like waves of purple sea, as here I stand;
And how my arms are moved in wonderful wise,
'Yea also at my full heart's strong command,
230 See through my long throat how the words go up
In ripples to my mouth; how in my hand
'The shadow lies like wine within a cup
Of marvelously colored gold; yea now
This little wind is rising, look you up, 235 'And wonder how the light is falling so
Within my moving tresses: will you dare,
When you have looked a little on my brow,
8. She is chained to a stake, at which she will be burned if Launcelot fails to overcome her accuser.
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1490 / WILLIAM MORRIS
'To say this thing is vile? or will you care
For any plausible lies of cunning woof,9
240 When you can see my face with no lie there 'Forever? am I not a gracious proof?
'But in your chamber Launcelot was found'?
Is there a good knight then would stand aloof,
