The Trial Of Lancelot

	  		

 



    C                     F                G 
King Arthur's knights they filled the table round, 
         F                G 
Save for one who stood before them. 
    C              G 
For once without a weapon, 
    F              G 
For once he stood in shame. 
    C                  F 
The trial's charge was treason, 
    Dm              G 
And betrayal of an oath. 
    C                   F 
And should his guilt be proven, 
            Dm              G 
Death would fall on traitors both. 
    C                 	  F                G 
The knights would counsel Arthur's hard decision. 

    C                            F 
And Lancelot, his head held high said, 
                Dm       G 
"I'm tried for love of Guinevere. 
             C 
My crime was love." 

    C                    F                G 
The first to speak was Kay with sharpest tongue: 
         F            G 
"He is a man like any other. 
     C              G 
The word of Kings command him, 
    F              G 
His heart does not obey. 
    C                  F 
For all his strength and boldness, 
     Dm                     F 
This knight's spirit is too weak. 
    C              F 
His crime has no excuses, 
       Dm              G 
And no favours may he seek. 
    C                   F                 G 
The laws of Kings don't bend and can't be broken." 

    C                            F 
And Lancelot, his head held high said, 
              Dm       G 
"I stand for love of Guinevere. 
             C 
For pride in love." 

    C                    F                G 
"I know this knight right well," spoke bold Gawain, 
             F            G 
"And he has ever stood beside me. 
     C                    G 
With steel he's answered insults, 
    F          G 
Defended chivalry. 
    C                  F 
And oft this man contended 
     Dm                  F 
For the honour of your wife. 
    C                  F 
His actions were not proper, 
           Dm                 G 
But should not cost him his life. 
    C                   F                 G 
His service past should earn of you some mercy." 

    C                            F 
And Lancelot his head held high said, 
              Dm       G 
"I fought for love of Guinevere. 
                C 
I'll fight for love." 

     C                  F                    G 
Sir Tristan spoke, "I love my uncle's wife. 
     C             F 
For her I gladly suffer, 
                    G 
She is my heart's delight. 
    F                 C 
Isolde, the one who tempts me, 
    F                 G 
And she for whom I'm pure. 
    F                C 
My love for her confounds me, 
        Dm                G 
And is all of which I'm sure. 
    C              F             G 
I understand my brother's contradictions." 

    C                            F 
And Lancelot, his head held high said, 
            Dm           G 
"I cry my love for Guinevere. 
                C 
I've cried for love." 

       C             F             G 
Spoke Galahad, the purest of them all: 
           F            G 
"Have no fear of predilection. 
     C                G 
For though he is my father, 
    F               G 
He is my source of shame. 
    C                  F 
He joined in sinful union 
         Dm           F 
With my unbeguiling mother. 
         C                  F 
And for all his claim at virtue, 
         Dm            G 
He has gone and bed another. 
     C              F                G  
The laws of God declare this act damnation." 

    C                            F 
And Lancelot, his head held high said, 
            Dm        G 
"I lie in love with Guinevere. 
                C 
I've lied for love." 

      C             F                   G 
As Arthur wept, he called the wrath of heaven 
         F              G 
On the lovers who'd betrayed him. 
         C                    G 
On the knight he had called 'brother' 
          F             G 
Thought worthy of his trust. 
         C               F 
On the queen who'd hid deception, 
           Dm                  F 
Yet could say she loved him still. 
         C              F 
For lost innocence and beauty, 
         Dm               G 
And in justice for their guilt. 
     C                F                G  
King Arthur knew the only price for treason. 

    C                            F 
And Lancelot, his head held high said, 
              Dm        G 
"I'll die in love with Guinevere. 
               C 
I'd die for love."