In the evening Launcelot was magnificently entertained at the neighboring castle of Shalott. The lord of this castle had a daughter of exquisite beauty, and 2 sons. one of the sons was time ill in bed, and could not attend the tournament. Launcelot offered to attend the for the other and borrow the armor to represent him. It was most thankfully accepted. In the meantime the young lady, who had been much struck by his first appearance continued to survey him with increased attention, and before the end of supper, became so deeply enamored of him, that, after frequent changes of color, and other messages which Sir Launcelot could not possibly mistake. She retired to her chamber, and seek relief in tears. Sir Launcelot sent her brother to tell her that his heart was already disposed of, but that it would be his pride and pleasure to act as her knight at the approaching tournament. The lady, obliged to be satisfied with that courtesy, presented him her scarf to be worn at the tournament.

Launcelot put on his armor, which was perfectly plain, without any ornaments. Launcelot wore on his crest the scarf of the maid of Shalott, and proceeded to the tournament, where the knights were in two companies, the one commanded by Sir Galehaut, the other by King Arthur. The astonished spectators thought that no one but Launcelot could possess such invincible force; but Launcelot had never been known to wear the badge of any but his sovereign lady.

Launcelot received a head wound in the battle. They returned to the castle of Shalott, where Launcelot was attended with the greatest care by the earl his two sons, and, above all, by his fair daughter, whose medical skill probably much hastened the period of his recovery. His health was almost completely restored, and he stayed 3 days Launcelot, though he began by vowing vengeance against the author of his wound, yet ended by declaring that he felt rewarded for the pain by the pride he took in witnessing his brother's extraordinary prowess. It was necessary to take a formal leave of his hosts, as well as of the fair maid of Shalott.

The young lady, after vainly attempting to detain him by her tears and solicitations, saw him depart without leaving her any ground for hope. It was early summer when the tournament took place; but some months had passed since Launcelot's departure. The health and strength of the Lady of Shalott had gradually sunk, and she felt that she could not live apart from the object of her affections. She left the castle, and, descending to the river's brink, placed herself in a boat, which she loosed from its moorings, and suffered to bear her down the current toward Camelot.

Arthur and Sir Lionel looked from the tower washed by a river, they seen a boat richly ornamented, and covered with an awning of cloth of gold, floating down the stream without human guidance. It struck the shore and they examined it. Under awning they found the dead body of a beautiful woman, easily recognized the lovely maid of Shalott, Found purse richly embroidered with gold and jewels, and in the purse a letter to Arthur and all the knights of the Round Table It said Launcelot of the Lake, the most accomplished of knights and most beautiful of men, but at the same time the most cruel and inflexible, had by his rigor produced the death of the wretched maiden, whose love was no less invincible than his cruelty.