This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 Excerpt:...and pitied her; but Arthur, spying the letter, took it gently from the cold, white hand, broke the seal, and thus he read: 'Most noble lord, Sir Lancelot of the Lake, I, whom folk called the Maid of Astolat, am come to bid farewell to you, since you left taking no farewell of me. I loved you, and you loved not me, and therefore my love has been my death. And therefore to our Queen and to all ladies I make moan, that ye will pray for my soul and give me burial. Pray for my soul, thou, too, Sir Lancelot, as thou art a knight peerless.' This was all the letter, and while Arthur read, those who heard it wept for pity. And Sir Lancelot spake, and said, 'My lord King Arthur, know that 1 am right heavy for this gentle maiden's death, for good she was and true, but loved me with a love passing all love in women. God knows I gave no cause willingly for such love, and to that I may call her father and brethren to witness. Nay, more, at her father's request, to break or blunt her love, I used some discourtesy towards her against my will, for, as her letter saith, I took no farewell of her when I departed.' Then said the Queen, 'Ye might have shown her so much grace, Sir Knight, as would have saved her from her death.' 'Queen,' he answered, 'she would not be content save to be my wife or my love, and neither of these two could be. But I made offer to her that when she should have put aside her thought of me, and wedded someone of her own youth and worthier of her, then 1 would endow them with land and goods in my own realm. More than this I could not, and this she would not, and she died.' Then King Arthur said, 'It will be to thy worship, O friend, and to minej to see that she be buried worshipfully.' So on the morrow the lily-maid was buried with all honour in the gr...