Arthur came forth from the Queen’s chamber, and called to him three of his lords.  These he sent to seek the knight who so evilly had entreated the Queen.  Launfal, for his part, had returned to his lodging, in a sad and sorrowful case.  He saw very clearly that he had lost his friend, since he had declared their love to men.  Launfal sat within his chamber, sick and heavy of thought.  Often he called upon his friend, but the lady would not hear his voice.  He bewailed his evil lot, with tears; for grief he came nigh to swoon; a hundred times he implored the Maiden that she would deign to speak with her knight.  Then, since the lady yet refrained from speech, Launfal cursed his hot and unruly tongue.  Very near he came to ending all this trouble with his knife.  Naught he found to do but to wring his hands, and call upon the Maiden, begging her to forgive his trespass, and to talk with him again, as friend to friend.

But little peace is there for him who is harassed by a King.  There came presently to Launfal’s hostel those three barons from the Court.  These bade the knight forthwith to go with them to Arthur’s presence, to acquit him of this wrong against the Queen.  Launfal went forth, to his own deep sorrow.  Had any man slain him on the road, he would have counted him his friend.  He stood before the King, downcast and speechless, being dumb by reason of that great grief, of which he showed the picture and image.

Arthur looked upon his captive very evilly.

“Vassal,” said he, harshly, “you have done me a bitter wrong.  It was a foul deed to seek to shame me in this ugly fashion, and to smirch the honour of the Queen.  Is it folly or lightness which leads you to boast of that lady, the least of whose maidens is fairer, and goes more richly, than the Queen?”

Launfal protested that never had he set such shame upon his lord.  Word by word he told the tale of how he denied the Queen, within the orchard.  But concerning that which he had spoken of the lady, he owned the truth, and his folly.  The love of which he bragged was now lost to him, by his own exceeding fault.  He cared little for his life, and was content to obey the judgment of the Court.

Right wrathful was the King at Launfal’s words.  He conjured his barons to give him such wise counsel herein, that wrong might be done to none.  The lords did the King’s bidding, whether good came of the matter, or evil.  They gathered themselves together, and appointed a certain day that Launfal should abide the judgment of his peers.  For his part Launfal must give pledge and surety to his lord, that he would come before this judgment in his own body.  If he might not give such surety then he should be held captive till the appointed day.  When the lords of the King’s household returned to tell him of their counsel, Arthur demanded that Launfal should put such pledge in his hand, as they had said.  Launfal was altogether mazed and bewildered