Lords and Ladies of the Court,
I see that my love of Lancelot has been made known and ye seek to judge me. Ye say "Guinevere, she hath loved too much, and her marriage vows are naught!" or "Guinevere, she hath loved too little and gives Lancelot less than he deserves!" Give ye no thought as to what is in my heart and mind? Nay, I am only a woman. And yet, I am Arthur's Queen and if ever there was a woman to hear, it is I! So hear me now. For those who say I am a vow-breaker, what claim has Arthur on me? King Arthur, who would sacrifice his own wife to keep Sir Kay in his court! Noble King Arthur, who could not be bothered to rescue his queen when she is taken! I ask ye, Lords and Ladies, what is there in such a man to love, and does he truly deserve to lay claim upon me?
And to those who say that I love Lancelot too little: Ye say that he hath ridden in a cart for me and endured all manner of shame and hardship that we might be united, yet I have sacrificed nothing and let reason rule me. Oh ye fools! Can ye not see that, were I to show Lancelot the full measure of love I feel for him publicly, our love would be short-lived and end in tragedy? Lancelot can do whatever he likes, say it is for love of the Queen, and none would suspect that it is out of love for Guinevere; would my husband honestly believe that my attentions are for 'love of the Knight?' No, all would be for Lancelot and all would immediately perceive it. Lancelot and I would find ourselves in mortal peril for my husband is, even with all his shortcomings, a great warrior and a man of greater power. And so I let Reason rule my public actions, that Love might continue to rule my private meetings. Can it truly be called an act of Reason? Nay, my heart tells me that it is an act of Love.
My heart is laid bare for all to see, though it belongs only to Lancelot. Judge me as you will.
- Queen Guinevere
I see that my love of Lancelot has been made known and ye seek to judge me. Ye say "Guinevere, she hath loved too much, and her marriage vows are naught!" or "Guinevere, she hath loved too little and gives Lancelot less than he deserves!" Give ye no thought as to what is in my heart and mind? Nay, I am only a woman. And yet, I am Arthur's Queen and if ever there was a woman to hear, it is I! So hear me now. For those who say I am a vow-breaker, what claim has Arthur on me? King Arthur, who would sacrifice his own wife to keep Sir Kay in his court! Noble King Arthur, who could not be bothered to rescue his queen when she is taken! I ask ye, Lords and Ladies, what is there in such a man to love, and does he truly deserve to lay claim upon me?
And to those who say that I love Lancelot too little: Ye say that he hath ridden in a cart for me and endured all manner of shame and hardship that we might be united, yet I have sacrificed nothing and let reason rule me. Oh ye fools! Can ye not see that, were I to show Lancelot the full measure of love I feel for him publicly, our love would be short-lived and end in tragedy? Lancelot can do whatever he likes, say it is for love of the Queen, and none would suspect that it is out of love for Guinevere; would my husband honestly believe that my attentions are for 'love of the Knight?' No, all would be for Lancelot and all would immediately perceive it. Lancelot and I would find ourselves in mortal peril for my husband is, even with all his shortcomings, a great warrior and a man of greater power. And so I let Reason rule my public actions, that Love might continue to rule my private meetings. Can it truly be called an act of Reason? Nay, my heart tells me that it is an act of Love.
My heart is laid bare for all to see, though it belongs only to Lancelot. Judge me as you will.
- Queen Guinevere