The mute boatman paused at the castle steps, and Arthur had the corpse borne into his presence.

The letter was found and read aloud in the midst of the awestruck court.

Arthur, touched by the girl's love, bade Lancelot fulfill her last request and lay her to rest.

Lancelot then related the brief story of the maiden, whose love he could not return, but whose death he sincerely mourned.
"'My lord liege Arthur, and all ye that hear, Know that for this most gentle maiden's death Right heavy am I; for good she was and true, But loved me with a love beyond all love In women, whomsoever I have known.
Yet to be loved makes not to love again; Not at my years, however it hold in youth.
I swear by truth and knighthood that I gave No cause, not willingly, for such a love: To this I call my friends in testimony, Her brethren, and her father, who himself Besought me to be plain and blunt, and use, To break her passion, some discourtesy Against my nature: what I could, I did.
I left her and I bade her no farewell; Tho', had I dreamt the damsel would have died, I might have put my wits to some rough use, And help'd her from herself.'" TENNYSON, _Lancelot and Elaine_.
Haunted by remorse for this involuntary crime, Lancelot again wandered away from Camelot, but returned in time to save Guinevere, who had again been falsely accused.

In his indignation at the treatment to which she had been exposed, Lancelot bore her off to Joyeuse Garde, where he swore he would defend her even against the king.