“Modred’s narrow foxy face,
    Heart-hiding smile, and gray persistent eye: 
    Henceforward, too, the Powers that tend the soul
    To help it from the death that cannot die,
    And save it even in extremes, began
    To vex and plague.”

—­Guinevere.

“Fall of it what fall may,” said Sir Agrivain, “I will disclose it to the king.”  With that came to them King Arthur.  “Now, brothers, hold your peace,” said Sir Gawain.  “We will not,” said Sir Agrivain.  Then said Sir Gawain, “I will not hear your tales nor be of your counsel.”  “No more will I,” said Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris, and therewith they departed, making great sorrow.

Then Sir Agrivain told the king all that was said in the court of the conduct of Sir Launcelot and the queen, and it grieved the king very much.  But he would not believe it to be true without proof.  So Sir Agrivain laid a plot to entrap Sir Launcelot and the queen, intending to take them together unawares.  Sir Agrivain and Sir Modred led a party for this purpose, but Sir Launcelot escaped from them, having slain Sir Agrivain and wounded Sir Modred.  Then Sir Launcelot hastened to his friends, and told them what had happened, and withdrew with them to the forest; but he left spies to bring him tidings of whatever might be done.

So Sir Launcelot escaped, but the queen remained in the king’s power, and Arthur could no longer doubt of her guilt.  And the law was such in those days that they who committed such crimes, of what estate or condition soever they were, must be burned to death, and so it was ordained for Queen Guenever.  Then said King Arthur to Sir Gawain, “I pray you make you ready, in your best armor, with your brethren, Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, to bring my queen to the fire, there to receive her death.”  “Nay, my most noble lord,” said Sir Gawain, “that will I never do; for know thou well, my heart will never serve me to see her die, and it shall never be said that I was of your counsel in her death.”  Then the king commanded Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth to be there, and they said, “We will be there, as ye command us, sire, but in peaceable wise, and bear no armor upon us.”

So the queen was led forth, and her ghostly father was brought to her to shrive her, and there was weeping and wailing of many lords and ladies.  And one went and told Sir Launcelot that the queen was led forth to her death.  Then Sir Launcelot and the knights that were with him fell upon the troop that guarded the queen, and dispersed them, and slew all who withstood them.  And in the confusion Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris were slain, for they were unarmed and defenceless.  And Sir Launcelot carried away the queen to his castle of La Joyeuse Garde.

Then there came one to Sir Gawain and told him how that Sir Launcelot had slain the knights and carried away the queen.  “O Lord, defend my brethren!” said Sir Gawain.  “Truly,” said the man, “Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris are slain.”  “Alas!” said Sir Gawain, “now is my joy gone.”  And then he fell down and swooned, and long he lay there as he had been dead.