CHAPTER XV

How Morgan le Fay saved a knight that should have been
drowned, and how King Arthur returned home again.

THEN said Morgan, Saw ye Arthur, my brother?  Yea, said her
knights, right well, and that ye should have found an we might
have stirred from one stead, for by his armyvestal countenance he
would have caused us to have fled.  I believe you, said Morgan. 
Anon after as she rode she met a knight leading another knight on
his horse before him, bound hand and foot, blindfold, to have
<125>drowned him in a fountain.  When she saw this knight so
bound, she asked him, What will ye do with that knight?  Lady,
said he, I will drown him.  For what cause? she asked.  For I
found him with my wife, and she shall have the same death anon. 
That were pity, said Morgan le Fay.  Now, what say ye, knight, is
it truth that he saith of you? she said to the knight that should
be drowned.  Nay truly, madam, he saith not right on me.  Of
whence be ye, said Morgan le Fay, and of what country?  I am of
the court of King Arthur, and my name is Manassen, cousin unto
Accolon of Gaul.  Ye say well, said she, and for the love of him
ye shall be delivered, and ye shall have your adversary in the
same case ye be in.  So Manassen was loosed and the other knight
bound.  And anon Manassen unarmed him, and armed himself in his
harness, and so mounted on horseback, and the knight afore him,
and so threw him into the fountain and drowned him.  And then he
rode unto Morgan again, and asked if she would anything unto King
Arthur.  Tell him that I rescued thee, not for the love of him
but for the love of Accolon, and tell him I fear him not while I
can make me and them that be with me in likeness of stones; and
let him wit I can do much more when I see my time.  And so she
departed into the country of Gore, and there was she richly
received, and made her castles and towns passing strong, for
always she dreaded much King Arthur.

When the king had well rested him at the abbey, he rode unto
Camelot, and found his queen and his barons right glad of his
coming.  And when they heard of his strange adventures as is
afore rehearsed, then all had marvel of the falsehood of Morgan
le Fay; many knights wished her burnt.  Then came Manassen to
court and told the king of his adventure.  Well, said the king,
she is a kind sister; I shall so be avenged on her an I live,
that all Christendom shall speak of it.  So on the morn there
came a damosel from Morgan to the king, and she brought with her
the richest mantle that ever was seen in that court, for it was
set as full of precious stones as one might stand by another, and
there were the richest stones <126>that ever the king saw.  And
the damosel said, Your sister sendeth you this mantle, and
desireth that ye should take this gift of her; and in what thing
she hath offended you, she will amend it at your own pleasure. 
When the king beheld this mantle it pleased him much, but he said
but little.