<P> The action centers on Lancelot's rescue of the queen after she has been abducted by Meleagant, the son of Bademagu . The abduction of Guinevere is one of the oldest motifs in Arthurian legend, appearing also in Caradoc of Llancarfan's Life of Gildas, and carved on the archivolt in Modena Cathedral . After Chrétien's version became popular, it was incorporated into the Lancelot - Grail Cycle and eventually into Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur . The story deals with Lancelot's trials rescuing Guinevere, and his struggles to balance his duties both as a warrior and a lover bound by the conventions of courtly love . </P> <P> Lancelot, The Knight of the Cart, begins with Guinevere being abducted by Meleagant, who tricked Arthur into allowing him to do so . After Gawain protests Arthur's decision to let them go, Arthur allows Gawain to go after them . While Gawain is looking for the pair, he runs into the (then unnamed) Lancelot who, after riding his horse to death, convinces Gawain to lend him a horse in pursuit of the queen . Lancelot then speeds after Guinevere . When Gawain catches up to him, Lancelot has worn out his new horse to death just as he did his previous one . </P> <P> Lancelot encounters a cart - driving dwarf, who says he will tell Lancelot where Guinevere and her captor went if Lancelot agrees to ride in his cart . Lancelot boards the cart reluctantly since this is a dishonorable form of transport for a knight . Gawain, not about to demean himself, chooses to follow them on horseback . Along this journey they encounter many obstacles, the most prominent one arising because of other people being unwilling to talk to Lancelot since he is thought to be of a lowly status because he is riding in the cart . His first trial comes when a maiden offers a bed for the knights, but refuses to let Lancelot lie on it . It is then revealed to be a trap to kill the knights, but it does not faze Lancelot . </P> <P> After many more encounters with beautiful women and rude knights, Lancelot and Gawain decide to part so that they may cover more ground . Lancelot finds Guinevere in the castle of Gorre, but is then driven away by her coldness, which is later revealed to be because of his initial hesitation to enter the cart . Lancelot leaves to find Gawain but is then drawn back and Guinevere apologizes to him . </P>

Chrétien de troyes lancelot the knight of the cart summary