Heather Dale - Trial of Lancelot

Capo on the 2nd fret

    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."