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He was very angry at Sir Malgrace's accusation, but he was sure that Sir Lancelot would punish Sir Malgrace, and so vindicate Queen Guinevere. Meantime, the unhappy Sir Lancelot lay bruised in the dungeon, feeling very sure that Sir Malgrace meant to starve him to death. He lay hungry and thirsty for nearly two days. Then Sir Malgrace peeped in to see if he were dead.
Sir Lancelot was unwilling, for he knew that Sir Malgrace was a traitor, deserving punishment. Still, he could not refuse the queen anything she asked him, and, therefore, he entered the castle. Sir Malgrace greeted him with politeness, and served to him and to the others of Arthur's Court, a great banquet. After that, to the surprise of everyone, he rose and accused the queen of treason.
They were sitting on a little hill, with wreaths of flowers and leaves on their arms and necks. Before they could rise to their feet, Sir Malgrace and his men dashed upon them. "Traitor!" cried the queen. "What would you do?" "I will carry you to my castle, fair queen," he said. "And never again shall you go free." "I will not go with you," said the queen.
"Now do your worst." Then they fought, but at the first stroke Sir Malgrace fell to the earth. "Mercy!" he cried, "I yield to you, Sir Knight. Do not slay me. I put myself in the king's hands and yours." Sir Lancelot was much vexed. He wanted to kill Sir Malgrace for his treachery, and yet, since the man had asked for mercy, he could not. So he said: "What, coward, would you stop already?
She was overjoyed, and waved him a glad greeting as he came up to the castle gate. Sir Lancelot beat on the gate with his shield, and cried: "Come out, false traitor, Sir Malgrace; come out and fight. If you do not, you will be branded as a coward forever." At first Sir Malgrace thought that he would keep his gates shut fast and not answer the challenge.
They rode off very happily, telling the king that they would return before noon. Now the good King Bagdemagus, for whom Sir Lancelot had fought, had a bad son named Sir Malgrace. For a long time he had wanted to capture the queen and carry her off to his castle. He had been afraid to try, however, because of her large bodyguard.
Then Queen Guinevere rose with all her attendants and went into the courtyard. Their horses were brought them and they mounted. Sir Lancelot was the last to pass out of the banquet hall. As he was going through the door he stepped upon a trap which Sir Malgrace had prepared for him. The trapdoor fell and dropped him into a dark dungeon.
When next Sir Malgrace looked into the dungeon he heard no movement. Then he rejoiced greatly, for he thought Sir Lancelot was dead. They all thought he would surely come. But Sir Malgrace rode jauntily about the field. Many of the knights wondered at his courage, not knowing the reason for his confidence.
Shame upon you! Get up and fight." "I shall not rise unless you take me as one who has yielded," answered the knight. Then Sir Lancelot said: "Traitor, I make you this offer: I will take off my helmet, unarm my left side, and tie my left hand behind my back. In that way I will fight with you." Upon hearing this, Sir Malgrace rose to his feet, sure now of killing Sir Lancelot.
May these not see in us some malgrace which it needs the gentleness of Christ to get over and forget, some savagery of which we are not aware, some gaucherie that repels though it cannot estrange them? Casting from us our own faults first, let us cast from us and from him our neighbor's also.
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