# Sir Agrivain's Treason explained — Bulfinch’s Mythology > Chapter companion for Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch. ## What happens Sir Perceval and Sir Bohort mourn Sir Galahad's death; Sir Perceval becomes a hermit and dies, and Sir Bohort returns to Camelot. Sir Launcelot resumes his affair with Queen Guenever, leading Sir Agrivain to plot their exposure. Sir Agrivain and Sir Modred attempt to trap them, but Sir Launcelot escapes, killing Sir Agrivain and wounding Sir Modred. Queen Guenever is condemned to death, but Sir Launcelot rescues her, accidentally killing Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth. This sparks a war between King Arthur and Sir Launcelot, which is temporarily resolved by the Pope's intervention. After a year of peace, King Arthur and Sir Gawain invade Sir Launcelot's lands. Sir Launcelot defeats Sir Gawain in single combat but spares his life. ## Themes in this chapter ### Jealousy and Revenge Sir Agrivain's jealousy of Sir Launcelot and the queen leads to a plot that results in war and personal vengeance, especially from Sir Gawain after his brothers' deaths. ### Love and Transformation Sir Launcelot's love for Queen Guenever drives his actions, leading to both rescue and tragedy, and ultimately to a transformation in his relationship with King Arthur. ### Hospitality and Its Violation The betrayal of trust within King Arthur's court, as Sir Agrivain and Sir Modred plot against Sir Launcelot and the queen, violates the bonds of hospitality and loyalty. ## Character check-ins ### Sir Perceval Retires to a hermitage after Sir Galahad's death, lives a holy life for a year and two months, then dies and is buried by Sir Bohort. ### Sir Bohort Buries Sir Perceval, returns to Camelot, and recounts the adventures of the Sangreal to King Arthur. ### Sir Galahad Dies and is buried; his death causes great sorrow to Sir Perceval and Sir Bohort. ### Sir Launcelot Resumes his affair with Queen Guenever, escapes Sir Agrivain's trap, rescues the queen from execution, accidentally kills Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, and later spares Sir Gawain's life in single combat. ### Queen Guenever Accused of adultery with Sir Launcelot, condemned to be burned, rescued by Sir Launcelot, and later restored to King Arthur by the Pope's intervention. ### Sir Agrivain Plots to expose Sir Launcelot and Queen Guenever, is slain by Sir Launcelot during the ambush. ### Sir Gawain Refuses to participate in the plot against Sir Launcelot and the queen, later becomes vengeful after his brothers' deaths, challenges Sir Launcelot to combat, and is defeated but spared. ### Sir Modred Supports Sir Agrivain's plot, is wounded by Sir Launcelot during the ambush. ## Key lines > When Sir Perceval and Sir Bohort saw Sir Galahad dead they made as much sorrow as ever did two men. Sir Perceval and Sir Bohort grieved deeply upon witnessing Sir Galahad's death. _Highlights the profound sorrow of the knights at the loss of Sir Galahad._ > Then Sir Launcelot began to resort unto Queen Guenever again, and forgot the promise that he made in the quest; so that many in the court spoke of it, and in especial Sir Agrivain, Sir Gawain's brother, for he was ever open-mouthed. Sir Launcelot resumed his visits to Queen Guenever, breaking his vow from the quest, which caused gossip in the court, particularly from the outspoken Sir Agrivain. _Sets the stage for the conflict by showing Launcelot's return to his affair and the court's awareness._ > Then said Sir Gawain, 'Brother, Sir Agrivain, I pray you and charge you move not such matters any more before me, for be ye assured I will not be of your counsel.' Sir Gawain urged his brother Sir Agrivain to stop discussing the matter, stating he would not support the plot. _Demonstrates Sir Gawain's initial reluctance to be involved in the conspiracy against Launcelot._ > 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. Sir Agrivain reported the court gossip about Sir Launcelot and the queen to King Arthur, causing the king great distress. _Shows how the accusation reaches King Arthur and his emotional response._ > So Sir Agrivain laid a plot to entrap Sir Launcelot and the queen, intending to take them together unawares. Sir Agrivain devised a plan to catch Sir Launcelot and the queen together by surprise. _Describes the scheme that leads to the confrontation._ > Sir Launcelot escaped from them, having slain Sir Agrivain and wounded Sir Modred. Sir Launcelot managed to flee, killing Sir Agrivain and injuring Sir Modred in the process. _Outcome of the ambush: Launcelot escapes but kills one attacker and wounds another._ > 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. According to the law of the time, anyone guilty of such a crime, regardless of rank, was to be burned alive, and this sentence was passed on Queen Guenever. _Explains the legal context for the queen's punishment._ > Then said Sir Gawain, '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 this matter.' Sir Gawain refused to participate in the queen's execution, saying his heart would not allow him to witness her death and he would not be associated with the decision. _Sir Gawain's refusal to take part in the queen's burning shows his loyalty and compassion._ > And Sir Gawain said, 'What cause hadst thou to slay my brother, Sir Gaheris, who bore no arms against thee, and Sir Gareth, whom thou madest knight, and who loved thee more than all my kin? Therefore know thou well I shall make war to thee all the while that I may live.' Sir Gawain demanded why Sir Launcelot killed his unarmed brother Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, whom Launcelot himself had knighted and who loved him, and vowed eternal war against Launcelot. _Sir Gawain's declaration of vengeance after the deaths of his brothers._ > Then Sir Bohort encountered with King Arthur, and smote him down; and he alighted and drew his sword, and said to Sir Launcelot, 'Shall I make an end of this war?' for he meant to have slain King Arthur. Sir Bohort knocked King Arthur from his horse and prepared to kill him, asking Sir Launcelot if he should end the war by slaying the king. _Shows the intensity of the battle and Launcelot's restraint in protecting Arthur._ > 'Not so,' said Sir Launcelot, 'touch him no more, for I will never see that most noble king that made me knight either slain or shamed;' and therewith Sir Launcelot alighted off his horse, and took up the king, and horsed him again. Sir Launcelot forbade Sir Bohort from harming King Arthur, dismounted, helped the king back onto his horse, and spared him. _Highlights Launcelot's loyalty and respect for King Arthur despite the conflict._ > Then Sir Launcelot spake on high unto King Arthur, and said, 'My lord Arthur, now I have forborne long, and suffered you and Sir Gawain to do what ye would, and now must I needs defend myself, inasmuch as Sir Gawain hath appealed me of treason.' Sir Launcelot declared to King Arthur that he had endured their attacks long enough and now had to defend himself since Sir Gawain had accused him of treason. _Launcelot's justification for finally engaging in combat against Sir Gawain._ > Now Sir Gawain had this gift from a holy man, that every day in the year, from morning to noon, his strength was increased threefold, and then it fell again to its natural measure. Sir Gawain possessed a gift from a holy man that tripled his strength from morning until noon each day, after which it returned to normal. _Explains Sir Gawain's supernatural strength and its limitation._ > Then, when it was past noon, Sir Gawain had only his own might; and when Sir Launcelot felt him so brought down he stretched himself up, and doubled his strokes, and gave Sir Gawain such a buffet that he fell down on his side; and Sir Launcelot drew back and would strike no more. After noon, Sir Gawain's strength waned, and Sir Launcelot intensified his attacks, striking Sir Gawain so hard that he fell, but then Launcelot withdrew and refused to strike again. _Climax of the duel: Launcelot defeats Gawain but spares his life._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xxii-sir-agrivain-s-treason - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters