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LE MORTE DARTHUR
MACMILLAN AND CO., Limited
LONDON BOMBAY CALCUTTA
• •
MADRAS MELBOURNE
•
DALLAS •
SAN FRANCISCO
THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, Ltd.
TORONTO
LE MORTE DARTHUR
Sir Thomas Malory s Book
BY
1919
XH (82-9
//lAw
•10
FRANCES STRACHEY
HER FATHER INSCRIBES THIS BOOK
THE INTRODUCTION TO WHICH
11105
INTRODUCTION.
---
We owe our English Epic of Le Morte Darthur to Sir Thomas Malory, and
this
to William Caxton the first English printer. Caxton's Preface shows (what indeed
'
would have been certain from his appeal to the Knights of England at the end
'
of 'The Order of Chivalry') that however strongly he, 'William Caxton, simple
ever estate or degree.'But to Sir Thomas Malory he gives all the honour of
having provided him with the copy which he printed. And ever since, for more
than four hundred years, successive generations have approved the fitness of
Caxton's choice. For it is Malory's book, and not the older forms of King
Arthur's story which we still read for enjoyment, and for the illustration of which
scholars edit those earlier books. Only a true poem, the offspring of genius, could
have so held, and be still holding its ground, ago after age. It may be said that it
is chiefly with
boys, and with men who have formed the taste by their boyish read-
ing, that the book is so popukir. But is not this so with the Iliad too ? Men of
mature intellect and taste read and re-read the Iliad with ever new discoveries,
appreciation, and enjoyment but it may be questioned whether there are many, or
;
even any, of them who did not begin those studies at school, and learn to love Homer
before they knew that he was worthy of their love. And they who have given
most of such reading, in youth and in manhood, to Malory's Morte Darthur will
be the most able and ready to recognise its claim to the character of an Epic
poem.
Malory a Poet.
Malory wrote he had 'the vision and the faculty divine' of the
in prose, but
' '
poet, though wanting the accomplishment of verse and, great as that want is,
;
we may apply Milton's test of simple, sensuous, and passionate,' and we shall find
'
no right to these names more real than is Malory's. Every incident, the descrip-
THE BOOK A POEM:
'
tion of every event, is simple,' that is to say, complete in while making itself,
a part of the whole story. The story is sensuous,' like that of Homer, and
•
as every true poem must be, it is a living succession of concrete images and
the days ofUtherPendragon,' down to the death of the last four remaining knights
who ' went into the Holy Land, there as Jesus Christ was quick and dead,' and
upon the miscreants or Turks, and there they died on
'
there did many battles
a Good Friday for God's sake.' And for passion,' for that emotion which the '
poet first feels' in a special manner, and then awakens in his hearers, though they
could not have originated it in themselves, with the adventures of the Round
Table and the San Greal, or the deaths of Arthur, of Gnenever, and of Launcelot,
we may compare the wrath of Achilles, its eause and its consequences, or the
leave-taking of Hector and Andromache. It would, indeed, be hard to find any-
'
where a pathos greater than that of Malory's description of the death or ' passing
of Arthur, the penitence of Guenever, and her parting with Launcelot, or the
lament of Launcelot over the King and Queen, and of Sir Ector over Launcelot
himself. The first is loo long to quote, but I may say that Malory has re-cast the
old story, and all the poetry is his own. I give the two last :
—
Truly, said Sir Launcelot, I trust I do not displease God, for He knoweth mine
'
intent, for my sorrow was not, nor is not, for any rejoicing of sin, but my sorrow
may never have end. For when I remember of her beauty, and of her noblesse,
that was both with her king and with her so when I saw his corpse and her ;
corpse so lie together, truly mine heart would not serve to sustain my careful body.
Also when I remember me, how by my default, mine orgule, and my pride, that they
were both laid low, that were peerless that ever was living of christian people,
full
wit you well, said Sir Launcelot, this remembered, of. their kindness and mine
And again :
—
'
Ah, Launcelot, he said, thou were head of all christian knights ;
and now
thou Sir Launcelot, there thou liest, that thou were never
I dare say, said Sir Ector,
matched of earthly knight's hand and thou were the courtiest knight that ever
;
bare shield and thou were the truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrode horse
; ;
and thou were the truest lover of a sinful man that ever loved woman ;
and thou
were the kindest man that ever strake with sword and thou were the goodliest
;
The former passage is all Malory's own : the beauty of the latter is enhanced, if
J
The beste knight his life hath lorn,
That ever in stoure [fight] bestrode a steed,
Jesu, that crowned was with thorn.
l
In heaven his soul foster and feed ,
Humour akin to passion and it may not be out of place to notice here
is ;
Malory's vein of humour, as shown, for' instance, in trie way in which he tells the
adventures of La Cote Male Taiie, and of Beaumains the pranks of the braver ;
knights with Dinadan and Dagonet ; the story of Arthur's wedding feast, when
a lady who ' cried and made great dole,' was forcibly carried out of the hall by
a strange knight, and Arthur was glad, for she made such a noise,' and was there-
'
upon rebuked by Merlin for thinking so lightly of his royal and knightly duties ;
or that of the usurper Mordred and the Bishop of Canterbury, when after each
had defied the did the curse in the most orgulous wise that
other, the bishop
*
'
might be done,' and then retired to live in poverty and holy prayers, for well he
understood that mischievous war was at hand.'
In the Drama the action is present, actually unwinding itself and going on before
our eyes. The Epic is the story of the past, a cycle of events completed, while
through the one and the other be traced a thread of destiny and providence,
may
leading either to a happy triumph over circumstances, or to a tragic doom, which,
too, is in the end, a triumph also. Thomas Hughes, the early Elizabethan
dramatist, in hisMisfortunes of Arthur,' concentrated and deepened the horror of
'
such a tragedy by transferring the guilt of Launcelot to Mordred the son of Arthur
and his unknown sister. He would better have recognised and followed the finer
art of Malory. For though the motive of Malory's epic is less gross and
exaggerated than that of Hughes's drama, the thread of guilt and doom which runs
from first to last through the former is not less real than in the latter. The crime of
Uther Pendragon, with which the story opens, leads to the concealment of Arthur's
parentage from himself, and this to his illicit love for her whom he does not know
to be his sister, and so to the birth of Mordred. Then comes the prophetic
doom :
— '
Ye have done displeased with you and your
of late a thing that God is :
sister shall have a child that shall destroy you and all the knights of your realm.'
Arthur tries in vain to prevent the fulfilment of this doom by the only cruel deed
of his life : and then — after another warning of the woe which his marriage with
1
Le Morte Darthur, edited from the Harleian MS. 2252, in the British Museum,
by F. T. Furnivall, 1864.
xii ITS PLAN EPIC :
Guinevere will bring on him, through her guilty love for Launcelot these germs of —
tragic destiny remain hidden through long years of prosperity. Arthur, aided by
his fellowship of the Round Table, reduces universal anarchy into order and not :
'
Rome makes himself emperor, and the head of all the kingdoms as well as of all
the chivalry of Christendom. Still the fame and the honour of the king and his
knights of the Round Table open continually into new and brighter forms,
which seem above the reach of any adverse fate, till the coming of the Sancgreal,
into the quest knights enter with that self-reliance which
of which all the
had become them so well in the field of worldly chivalry, but which would
be of no avail now. They are now to be tried by other tests than those by
which they had been proved as earthly knights and lovers,' tests which even
'
Launcelot, Ector de Maris, Gawaine, and the other chiefest of the fellowship
could not stand. The quest is achieved by the holy knights alone two depart :
from this life to a higher, while Sir Bors, not <}uite spotless, yet forgiven and
sanctified, the link between the earthly and the spiritual worlds, returns to aid
in restoring the glory of the feasts and tournaments at Camelot and Westminster.
But the curse is at work the severance between good and evil which had been
:
declared through the Sancgreal cannot be closed again and the tragic end comes ;
bears him to the Holy Isle ; Guenever, the nun of Almesbury, living in fasting;
prayers, and almsdeeds ; and Launcelot with his fellowship, once knights but
now hermit-priests, doing bodily all manner
'
of service.'
Nor are the marks of harmony and unity less plain in the several characters
than in the events of the story. Arthur is a true knight, sharing the characteristics
of his nobler knights, yet he differs from them
showing also that he is,all in
—
and feels himself to be, a king as when with an imperiousness which reminds
;
knight whom not willing to see victorious over the whole field or as when he
he is ;
sadly regrets that he cannot do battle for his wife, though he believes her innocent,
but must be a rightful judge according to the laws. There are many others of the
Round Table who very perfect gentle knights,' yet we feel that Launcelot
'
are
stands distinct among them all in the pre-eminence of his knightliness, notwith-
standing his one great sin. Thus, to take one of many instances, who but
Launcelot would have borne the taunts and the violence of Gawaine with his
humble patience and ever-renewed efforts for a reconciliation, when he was leaving
the realm, and when he was besieged in Joyous Gard. Modern critics of great
DISTINCTNESS OF THE CHARACTERS. xiii
name agree in censuring Sir Thomas Malory for departing from the old authorities
who represented Gawaine as the very counterpart of Launcelot in knightly cha-
racter but I rather see a proof of Malory's art in giving us a new Gawaine with
:
a strongly individual character of his own. Gawaine's regard for his mother's
honour, his passion for Ettard, and his affection for his brothers, are fierce
impulses driving him to unknightly and unworthy deeds, yet he is far from being
represented as a mere savage. If Malory depicts him thirsting to revenge upon
Launcelot the unintentional killing of Gaheris and Gareth, he depicts also his long
previous affection for Launcelot and his opposition to the hostility of his other
brother, Mordred, against him; his devotion to his uncle Arthur; his hearty re-
pentance towards Launcelot at the last ; and his entreaty that he would '
see his
tomb, and pray some prayer more or less for his soul/ Nor must we forget that
it was by the prayer of those Jadies for whom Gawaine had done battle in a right-
'
wise quarrel,' that his ghost was permitted to give Arthur a last warning. Distinct
again from the character of this fierce knight is that of the Saracen Palamides,
whose unquestionable courage and skill in deeds of chivalry also want though —
in another way than Gawaine's
— the gentleness, the meekness, and the delicate
sense of honour of the Christian knight. Dinadan again, who can give and
Sir
take hard knocks if need be, though he has no great bodily strength, and who is
always bantering the good knights who know and esteem him with his humorous
protests against love and arms, is a distinctly drawn character. So is Merlin,
half Christian, half magician, but always with dog-like loyalty to the house of
Uther Pendragon. So is the Bishop of Canterbury, who appears at intervals in
the story. So are many others whose names I might recite. The dignity of
queen Guenever towards her husband and her court is not less marked than her
guilty passion for Launcelot, and the unreasoning jealousy it excites in her. The
wife-like simplicity of Igraine, the self-surrender beyond though from
all limit,
different impulses, of the two Elaines, the pertness of the damsel Linet, and the
piety and self-sacrifice of Sir Percivale's sister, will occur to the reader among the
distinctive characteristics of the different ladies and damsels who live and move,
each in own proper form, in the story. Sir Thomas Malory, as we know, found
her
many of these men and women already existing in the old romances as he repre-
sents them to us but we may believe that those earlier books were to him
;
Malory took his work out of certain books of French and reduced it into English,'
'
he was a mere compiler and translator. But the book itself shows that he was its
author — '
maker,' as he would have called it. Notwithstanding his occasionally
its
inartificial manner of connecting the materials drawn from the old romances, there
epic unity and harmony, a beginning, a middle, and an end,' which, if they
*
is an
xiv MA LOR^S USE OF THE OLD ROMANCES.
have come by chance and not of design, have come by that chance which only
befalls an Homeric or a Shakespeare-like man. If more instances and proofs are
needed than have been already given, let us turn to the opening chapters of the
book. If we compare these with the old romances which supplied the materials
forthem, we see at once how Malory has converted prose into poetry, giving life
and beauty to the clods of earth, and transmuting by his art the legends which he
1
yet faithfully preserves. For the long and repulsive narrative of Merlin's origin he
substitutes a slight allusion to it without disguising what he probably believed to
:
be at least an half historical record of Arthur's birth, he gives a grace and dignity
to the story by the charms of the mother's character, the finer touches of which are
wanting in the original : and so through the whole ofof the story.this part
and now this claim may be farther tested, and as I think, established, by help of the
learned researches of Dr. Sommer. Of these I shall state some details, in speaking
of the text and its several editions, here giving the result so far as it bears on the
present point. We
may now see how Malory's Morte Darthur' was fused into
'
its actual form out of crude materials of ten times its bulk, and that while he often
translated or transcribed the French or English romances as they lay before him,
on the other hand he not only re-wrote, in order to bring into its present shape the
whole story, but also varied both the order and the substance of the incidents that
so he might give them that epic character, and that beauty in the details, which
his book shows throughout. Malory was no doubt a 'finder' as well as a 'maker,'
but so, I repeat, was Shakespeare, and so was every other great poet. But the quarry
and the building are not the same thing, though the one supplies the rough stones
with which the other is raised up. We see that there is much that is rude and
inartificial in Malory's art. He
has built a great, rambling, mediaeval castle, the
walls of which enclose rude and even ruinous work of earlier times, and not a Greek
Parthenon nor even an Italian palace of the Renaissance. Still, it is a grand pile,
and tells everywhere of the genius of its builder. And I ask, as Carlyle once asked
me, Who built St. Paul'sWas it Wren, or the hodman who carried up the
?
may have judged rightly, for his own purpose, when he did not take that form of
a legend which was in itself the most beautiful.
1
The council of devils seems to have suggested that in Paradise Lost.
HIS HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY. xv
march to Rome are so accurate that I think that Malory may have had actual
knowledge of the road, which indeed must have been familiar to many men
—
soldiers, priests, and merchants
—
in the days of Edward IV. But of the rest of
the history and the geography of the book before us we can only say that they
are something
history the events which here succeed each other, when the Lords and Commons
of England, after the death of King Uther at St. Alban's, assembled at the
greatest church of London, guided by the joint policy of the magician Merlin and
the Christian bishop of Canterbury, and elected Arthur to the throne ; when
Arthur made Carlion, or Camelot, or both, his head-quarters in a war against
Cornwall, Wales, and the North, in which he was victorious by help of the
king of France when he met the demand for tribute by the Roman emperor
;
Lucius with a counter-claim to the empire for himself as the real representative of
Constantine, held a parliament at York to make the necessary arrangements,
crossed the aea from Sandwich to Barflete in Flanders, met the united forces of
the Romans and Saracens in Burgundy, slew the emperor
a great battle, in
together with his allies, the Sowdan of Syria, the king of Egypt, and the king of
Ethiopia, sent their bodies to the Senate and Podesta of Rome as the only tribute
he would pay, and then followed over the mountains through Lombardy and
Tuscany to Rome, where he was crowned emperor by the Pope, sojourned there
'
a time, established all his lands from Rome unto France, and gave lands and realms
unto his servants and knights,' and so returned home to England, where he
seems thenceforth to have devoted himself wholly to his duties as the head of
Christian knighthood.
With the exception just mentioned, the geography is fanciful enough and
;
Winchester, London, St. Alban's, and Camelot. The story opens within a
night's ride of the castle of Tintagil. Thence we pass to St. Alban's, to Lon-
don, and to Carlion. This last is, no doubt, Caerleon-upon-Usk but it seems ;
that of the 1727 edition of Camden's Magna Britannica, the text of which says 'the
inhabitants call it King Arthur's Palace.' But soon after that date a learned
2
antiquarian writes that the name had been superseded by that of Cadbury Castle,
which trilingual appellation may seem to indicate the Roman, British, and Saxon
possessors by whom it was probably held in succession. The neighbouring
villages which, according to Leland, bore 'the name of Camalat with an addition,
as Queen-Camel,' still exist as Queen-Camel, or East Camel, and West Camel,
and near by runs the river Camel, crossed by Arthur's Bridge. Arthur's well still
springs from the hill side and if Arthur's Hunting Causeway in the field below,
;
Arthur's Round Table and Arthur's Palace within the camp, cannot still, as of old,
be pointed out to the visitor, the peasant girl will still tell him that within that
charmed circle they who look may see through golden gates a king sitting in the ,
'
The nearest neighbouring flood to Arthur's ancient seat,
Which made the Britaines name thro' all the world so great.
Like Camelot what place was ever yet renown'd?
Where, as at Caerleon, oft he kept the Table Round,
Most famous for the sports at Pentecost so long,
From whence all knightly deeds and brave atchievements sprong 3 .'
These old legendary traditions, pleasant to hear or to know of, have been
collected by another Somersetshire antiquarian, the late Rev. J. H. Bennett,
1
Itinerary, ii. pp. 38, 39; Hearne, 171T.
2
Somersetshire Illustrated, by John Strachey, MS. 1
736.
3
Polyolbion, 3rd Song.
ACTUAL AND LEGEND A RF. xvii
Rector of South
Cadbury *, Together with the legends told by Leland
and others, and those which he himself gathered on the spot, Mr. Bennett
has given a carefully detailed topographical description of the old town and
fortress of Camelot, strong by nature and strengthened by art, where the
Britons made their last stand against the Saxons and he has shewn how its
;
strategical position was connected, in fact as well as in romance, with the Isle of
Avallon, the Monastery of Glastonbury, and the Nunnery of Almesbury. He
thinks that during the hundred years which followed the taking of Sarum by the
Saxons A. D. 551, during which (except in the capture of Bath in 577 A. D.) they
made no further progress in the conquest of Somersetshire, Camelot became the
capital of the South British kingdoms, and stemmed the tide of war in this
direction by its great line of strongholds ; and he thus suggests that we may have
here the historical circumstances which connected or helped to connect, the legends
of the great British hero with Camelot. Leland, who wrote his Itinerary early in
Henry VIII's reign, mentions, among other relics found at Camelot, a silver horse-
shoe, and Mr. Bennett gives us the words of one of the Cadbury peasants who told
him '
folks do say that on the night of the full moon King Arthur and his men ride
round the hill, and their horses are shod with silver, and a silver shoe has been
found in the track where they do ride, and when they have ridden round the hill
they stop to water their horses at the wishing well.' But more than three hundred
years before Leland wrote, this still living legend had been recorded by Gervase of
Tilbury, who, in his Otia Imperialia (date about 1 2 1 2) says that in the woods of
Britain the foresters, as the common
people call the keepers of the woods and wild
game, tell that on alternate days, about noon, or at midnight when the moon is full
and shining, they often see an array of hunters with dogs and sound of horns,
who, in answer to the enquirers, say that they are of the household and fellowship
of Arthur. And, what is still more curious, Gervase, in the same
place, gives
a legend of Arthur, of Mount Etna, which singularly corresponds with that just
mentioned as still living among the mounds of ancient Camelot. He tells that the
horse of the Bishop of Catania had run away from his groom, and when the
groom was following him up the precipitous side of the mountain, he came upon
an open place where was the Great Arthur, resting upon a couch. Arthur ordered
the horse to be brought back and restored to the bishop, sent him presents, and
related how he had lain there, all those years, suffering from wounds he had
I
received in the battle with his nephew Mordred, and Childeric the leader of the
Saxons 2
. The British story of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table had
1
Camelot: a Lecture delivered in 1889 Cura G. G. Leib-
Illustrationi inservientes :
by the Rev. J. H. Bennett. See also Pro- nitzii, Hanov. mdccvsi.' Gervase of Til-
ceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological bury wrote about the beginning of the thir-
>ciety, 1890. teenth century. He was at the Peace of
2
Gervasii Tilburiensis Otia Imperialia, Venice in 1 1 77 A. D. : was Chancellor and
)ecisioii. cap. xii, delimilis Mediterranean Marshall of the kingdom of Aries about
fo\. I of *
Scriptores Rerum Brunsvicensium the year 1 200; and died in 1235.
xviii GLASTONBURY, ALMESBURY, AND JOYOUS GARB.
spread through Italy by the side of the French romances of Roland and Charlemagne
1
colouring to the story in its new home as the bee carries fertility from oncgarden
to another. Scotland, too, among the stories by which she claimed her part in
Arthur and his knights, had a tale how ' Arthour Knycht he raid on nycht with
gylten spur and candel lycht V
Legend tells that Glastonbury— founded by Joseph of Arimathea, and his burial-
place, though hisbody was vainly sought in Edward Ill's reign possesses the coffin —
of Arthur. It is said that Henry II found the bodies of Arthur and Guenever there,
and that Guenever had yellow hair. Their skulls were afterwards taken for relics
by Edward Longshanks and Eleanor.
Almesbury, where Guenever died a nun, is a town in Wiltshire, seven and a half
miles from Salisbury, where may still be seen the ruins of its celebrated abbey.
The name was originally Ambrosebury, then Ambresbury, and lastly Amesbury,
as it is now spelt.
The ruins of the castle of Tintagil, too, may still be seen in Cornwall.
Joyous Gard, Launcelot's favourite sometimes identified with Berwick.
castle, is
The names of some other places in this book are given in the Glossary.
The Sangreal.
Let us turn to the Sangreal, or Holy Grail, the Quest of which forms so impor-
'
tant a part of Malory's book. The word Grail means a dish, a drinking vessel,
'
1 '
Renaissance in Italy,' by J. A. selves with telling a number of stories,
Symonds, iv. 1 7. classical and romantic, of which he
gives
2
The passage, which also recounts the the names. It is a prose
idyll, which
names of Ewaine, Gawaine, and Launcelot reminds us of the Canterbury Tales, and
du Lac, is found in a charming episode the Vision of Piers Plowman, in the love
in The Complaynt of Scotland (written
' '
of nature and the love of story-telling
in 1548, and edited in 1 801 by G. J. which it
displays. Here, and in the pas-
weary mind and body, and there fell in directed to these by Sir George Webb
with a party of shepherds and shepherds' Dasent's quotations in his '
Popular Tales
wives and servants, who amused them- from the Norse,' p. xxix.
THE HOLY GRAIL. xix
cup
1
. The legend of the Grail is traced back to Pagan times, where it appears
a miraculously food-producing vessel, of which we perhaps see a survival in the
Is oming of the Sangreal to Launcelot and King Pelles, and at the feast of Pentecost
which led to the Quest :
—
Then
there entered into the hall the holy Grail covered with white samite, but
1
there was none might see it, nor who bare it. And there was all the hall full
filledwith good odours, and every knight had such meats and drinks as he best
loved in this world and when the holy Grail had been borne through the hall,
:
then the holy vessel departed suddenly, that they wist not where it became.'
But form into which the legend passed, the Grail became either
in the Christian
the dish which held the paschal lamb at the Last Supper, the vessel in which
Joseph of Arimathea had received the Saviour's blood, or the sacramental cup
itself. Mr. Alfred Nutt has treated the whole subject with exhaustive learning in
' '
his Studies of the Legend of the Holy Grail,' and his article Grail, the Holy in
'
Chambers' Encyclopaedia. But when I say that one only of the many stories of
which Mr. Nutt gives an account is a poem of 60,000 verses, I shall not be
expected to attempt any summary of his book. I shall content myself with the
more popular account of the Sangreal, in its immediate relation to Malory's
Morte Darthur. According to the romances of Le S. Graal, Lancelot du Lac,
Perceforest,and Morte Arthur, the Sangreal, or Holy Graal, was the dish which
held the paschal lamb of the Last Supper. Joseph of Arimathea having gone into
the house where the Supper had been eaten, took away the dish, and in it received
'
the blood from the wounds of Jesus; and this dish, with part of the blood of our
Lord,' he brought with him into England, and with it converted many heathens ;
and it was kept in a tower expressly built for it at Corbenicy. The romance of
erlin says that this vessel was brought to this said knight [Joseph of Arimathea]
'
)y our Lord Jesu Christ while he was in prison xl. winter, him to comfort,' but
loes not mention its earlier history.
When Caxton replied to the
'
noble and divers gentlemen of this realm of
'
England who urged him to print the history of Arthur, that many persons held
'
le opinion that there was no such Arthur, one in special insisted that this was
'
[oly Grail itself was to be seen in the Cathedral Church of Genoa. There it is
till shewn. It is an hexagonal dish, about seventeen inches across, and was long
under Guglielmo Embriaco in iioi a. d. Like the other plunder of Italian cities
it was taken to Paris by Napoleon I, and restored after the
peace of 1 815, but was
broken in pieces on the road from careless packing. It is now kept together by a
wire frame and when I saw it in the Cathedral treasury a few
years since I was
:
'
gravely told that it was broken in its return from the Paris
'
Exposition of
1
Napoleon III .
The influence of Sir Thomas Malory's book upon English and so literature,
upon English life, upon our thoughts, morals, and manners, has been great and
I have spoken of its claims to be considered an
important. Epic poem but it is ;
not the less true, that it is our first great work of English prose, the first in which
the writing of prose was shown to be one of the fine arts for England. Malory's
materials, and fails to fuse and mould them into a perfect whole. But we must
confess the like of Milton,whose grand periods of magnificent English are often
followed by others which are confused and cumbrous in form, if not in thought.
It has taken many workmen, through many generations, to make our
prose writing
what it is but there is an infant beauty in Malory's style which is full of promise
:
of the perfect manly form that is to be. The passages which I have already
quoted are instances of this inartificial beauty of style. The thoughts and images
spontaneously utter themselves in words without any attempt at rhetorical balance
and arrangement. Thus in the lament of Sir Ector over Sir Launcelot, Malory
does not ask himself whether there a logical connection between courtesy and
is
though more monotonous correspondence with the rest. The flow of feeling is
true, direct, and simple, and that is enough. Dr. Sommer, in his notes on the
language of Le Morte Darthur,' points to the indications, in grammar, spelling,
'
and other usages of words, of its transitional place between the language of
Chaucer and that of Shakespeare while Southey says that it was composed in
;
the best possible time for making it what it is and Mr. J. A. Symonds (whom I :
moment in our literary history, when the old Saxon fountain of speech was yet
1
Caffari Annales Genuenses in Mura- of Fiction, edited by H. Wilson, Vol. I,
tori's Italicarum Rerum Scriptores, Tom. Supplementary Note on the Sangreal.
VI : Bent's Genoa ; and Dunlop's History
ON ENGLISH LETTERS AND LIFE. xxi
—
English rich in French and Latin words, as well as Saxon, and not so archaic as
to be grotesque or repulsive *.
And if in these things Malory was happy in the opportuneness of the times in
which he wrote, not less was he so in that he lived in a day in which (as we see
from Caxton's Preface) men could still believe in the marvellous adventures of
knight-errantry. A hundred years later, the spirit of chivalry had so departed
from the old forms that Spenser could only use them as materials for allegory,
while Cervantes, himself full of the old spirit, could only treat the belief in knight-
errantry as the fantasy of a crazed though generous mind. But Malory was still
able to the ideals of chivalry in actual and serious personages, and so to
embody
influence the national character and manners of his countrymen in the best way.
His book is a possession for all times. The old stock is still putting out new
leaves and fruits for ourselves.
must, in the days of Edward IV, in which Malory wrote, have cut the moral and
social life of the country down to its roots. Yet even in Malory's book there are
signs of the new moral which was coming, and which in the days of the Refor-
life
mation reached a power and expansion never before known. It would be absurd to
pretend that Malory had greatly advanced in morality from the position of Chaucer
and his age towards that of the Elizabethan period. Roger Ascham, indeed, while
admitting that Morte Arthurs do not the tenth part so much harm as one of
'
ten
these books made in Italy and translated in England,' protests against the de-
moralising effect of the literature of which he takes this book as the example, the
'
whole pleasure of which/ he says, ' standeth in two special points in open man- —
slaughter and bold bawdray. In which book those be counted the noblest knights
that do kill most men without any quarrel, and commit foulest adulteries by
2
subtlest shifts .' I remember Dante's story of the sin and doom of Paolo and
Francesca —
'
Galeotto fu il
libro, e chi lo scrisse
'
—
and recognise a real though only half truth in Ascham's strictures. But he
greatly over-states the evil, while he altogether omits to recognise the good
1
'Pall Mall Gazette' of June 23, 1868. Book I. The Schoolmaster was published
2
-
'The Schoolmaster,' by Roger Ascham; by his widow, in 157°'
xxii MORALITY OF THE BOOK.
in the book. Caxton's estimate of the moral
purport of the whole book,
gives not merely the other side, but both sides of the case. Much more than
'
open manslaughter is done in putting down cruel oppressors and
'
half the
bringing back kingdoms from anarchy to law and good government and the ;
occasions call forth all the knightly virtues of gentleness, forbearance, and self-
sacrifice, aswell as those of courage and hardihood. And though it is far from
possible to deny the weight of Ascham's other charge, yet we must not, in form-
ing our estimate of the book, forget the silent yet implied judgment which is
passed upon lawless love by its tragic end, nor the ideal presented in the lives
of the maiden knights, Sir Galahad and Sir Percivale. For the purpose of a due
estimate of Malory's ' Morte Darthur,' we may fairly take Caxton's Preface as an
integral part of the book. The Preface gives the tone, the motive, to the whole
book. The morality '
of Morte Darthur
'
low in one essential thing, and
is this alike
in what says and in what it omits
it : and Lord Tennyson shows us how
it should
be raised. The ideal of marriage, in its relation and its contrast with
all other
forms of love and chastity, is brought out in every form, rising at last to tragic
grandeur, in the Idylls of the King. It is not in celibacy, though spiritual and
holy as that of Galahad or Percivale, but in marriage, as the highest and purest
realisation of the ideal of human conditions and relations, that we are to rise above
the temptations of a love like that of Launcelot or even of Elaine ; and Malory's
book does not set this ideal of life before us with any power or clearness. In no
age or country has the excellence of marriage, as the highest condition of man's
life, been wholly unknown but Luther and the Reformation brought it first into
:
the full light of day, when he, a monk, married a nun, and thus in the name of
God, declared that the vows of marriage were more sacred and more binding than
those of the convent, and that the one might be lawfully set aside by the other.
And we know how this ideal of love in worked out by Shakespeare.
marriage is
the love of Elaine, touching as its self-surrender is, cannot do it secures forgive- :
ness to the weak and foolish Leontes, and even to the worthless Angelo ; it is to
the husband of Desdemona that we find ourselves constrained to accord the
pardon
and the sympathy which she herself had given him. And no one will know
Hamlet as he is, nor fully understand his tragic destiny, unless he sees what it
might have been, as his mother saw it, when she exclaims :
—
'
Sweets to the sweet, farewell !
I
thought thy bridal bed to have deck'd, sweet maid,
And not have strew'd thy grave.'
PROGRESS FROM THE TIME OF CHAUCER. xxiii
and Goethe, who should have been warned by Polonius not to cast beyond them- '
the nobler elements of the social state in which he lived, and to carry them towards
new triumphs over the And
even where, as in the story of Tristram, there is
evil.
palliation rather than reprobation of what Sir Walter Scott justly calls 'the extreme
ingratitude and profligacy of the hero,' still the fact that such palliation, by repre-
senting King Mark as the most worthless of men, was thought necessary in the
later,though not in the earlier, romance on the same subject, shows an upward
must hold him to be to Chaucer, the brutish vice has dwindled to half its former
size, and is far more clearly seen to be vice, while the virtue, if not more elevated
in itself, ismore avowedly triumphant over the evil, we find the same upward
progress. And I cannot doubt that it was helped on by this book, and tjiat
notwithstanding Ascham's condemnation of Morte Arthur, Caxton was right in
believing that he was serving God and his countrymen by printing it and ;
that he justly estimated its probable effect when he says, Herein may be seen noble '
It can hardly be doubted that Spenser, while drawing largely from Geoffrey of
Monmouth, was acquainted with Malory's story of Arthur, if not with the earlier
romances also. We might have known this with certainty, if Spenser had com-
pleted his great design which he sketched in his letter to Sir Walter Raleigh,
prefixed to the first three books of the Faerie Queene, and after labouring 'to
pourtrait in Arthur before he was king, the image of a brave knight, perfected
in the twelve Morall Vertues,' he might have been *
perhaps encouraged to frame
the other part of Politick Vertues in his person, after that he came to be King/
He farther identifies his hero as the son of the Lady Igraine, and the infant
charge of Merlin, and his description of the Redcross Knight and his claim
to the adventure of Una, must forcibly recall Malory's story of Eeaumains and
the lady Linet, notwithstanding the differences between the two. Beyond this,
there isthe evidence of general literary probability. Spenser's ideals of knight-
hood and knight-errantry are so much in harmony with those of Malory, while
they rise into a far higher moral life, that it does not seem unreasonable to sup-
pose a relation between the two, and to believe that we owe to Malory the trans-
mission from the earlier romances of all that was worth preserving in these to
taking that hold on his imagination, and exercising that influence in the formation
of his character and life, of which he himself tells us. In his poem addressed to
Giovanni Battista Manso, Marquis of Villa, the friend of Tasso, and of himself
when he visited Naples, he says :
—
*0 mihi si mea sors talem concedat amicum;
Phoebaeos decorasse viros qui tarn bene norit,
Si quando indigenas revocabo in carmina reges,
The hope and purpose of writing an Epic poem of British story is to be found
like
in the Epitaphium Damonis. And in his defence of his life in the Apology for '
Smectymnuus,' he says :
—
'Next, (for hear me out now, readers), that I may tell ye whither my younger feet
wandered I betook me among those lofty fables and romances, which recount in
;
solemn cantos the deeds of knighthood founded by our victorious kings, and from
thence had in renown over all Christendom. There I read it in the oath of every
knight, that he should defend to the expence of his best blood, or of his life, if it
so befel him, the honour and chastity of virgin or matron; from whence even then
I learned what a noble virtue chastity sure must be, to the defence of which so
spirit, without that oath, ought to be born a knight, nor needed to expect the gilt
spur, or the laying of a sword upon his shoulder to stir him up both by his coun-
sel and his arms, to secure and protect the weakness of any attempted chastity.
So that even these books, which to many others have been the fuel of wantonness
and loose living cannot think how, unless by divine indulgence, proved to me
; I
so many incitements, as you have heard, to the love and steadfast observation of
virtue.'
In a word, not the fears of Ascham but the hopes of Caxton were now fulfilled
the Death of Arthur rather than Paradise Lost, the lovers of the story of the Round
Table may be forgiven if they wish it were possible to call up him who left
untold that story as it would have been seen in the light of his genius.
It is curious to note that Milton with all Scotch complain they are called English
if
least remember, some old house, with its tower and turret stairs, its hall with
the screen, and the minstrel's gallery, and the armour where it was hung up by
him who last wore it the panelled chambers, the lady's bower, and the chapel,
:
and all the quaint rambling passages and steps which lead from one to another of
these. And when in after years he comes to this same house, and finds that it has
all been remodelled, enlarged, furnished and beautified to meet the needs and the
tastes of modern life, he feels that this is not the very home of his childhood, and
that a glory has departed from the scenes he once knew and yet, if the changes
:
have been made with true judgment, and only with a rightful recognition of the
claim that the modern life should have full scope for itself while preserving all
that was possible of the old, though not letting itself be sacrificed or even cramped
and limited, for its sake if he is thus reasonable, he will acknowledge that it was
:
well that the old order should yield place to the new, or at least make room for it
at its side. And such are the thoughts and sentiments with which the lover of the
old Morte Arthur will, if he be also a student of the growth of our national character
and life, read the new Idylls of the King.
Of Sir Thomas Malory himself we know nothing more than can be inferred by
probable conjecture from his book. His name occurs in it three times, and with
the three variations of Malorye, Malory, and Maleore. These variations are not
singular, for the spelling of proper as well as of common names was very much at
the fancy of the writer and we know that Shakespeare. Marvell, and Pym, wrote
;
their own names in various forms. Sir Thomas Malory tells us that his book was
ended in the ninth year of the reign of Edward IV, or 1470 a. d. and at that time ;
there was an old and important Yorkshire family of the name at Hutton Coniers
and High Studley, near Ripon for Leland, early in the next century, speaks of the
;
ancestors of Malory ', and in 1427 and 1472 the death or burial of two persons of
1 '
There be 2 Lordshipps lyenge not of that Coniers. Malory hath another
very far from Ripon . Malory hath
. .
place caullyd Highe Studly, a litle from
Hutton Cottiers. Thes Lands cam to their Fountaines.' Leland's Itinerary, viii. 2. p.
Aunciters by two Dowghtars, Heirs generall 55. Hearne, 1712.
SIR THOMAS MALORY. xxvii
among the contributors to the funds for defence against the Spanish Armada
2
(1588) At the beginning of the seventeenth century we find Sir John Mallory
.
of Studlcy, and son of Sir William Mallory, M.P. for Thirsk and Ripon, and a sub-
3
scriber to the second Virginia Charter in 1622 Burton speaks of the pedigree,
:
arms, and lands of Sir Thomas Malory in Kirby-Malory, Winwiek, Newbould, and
Swinford in Leicestershire 4 and about the same time two scholars of the name
;
were elected to Winchester College 5 and reasonable conjecture may connect our
;
author with these Malorys, although no links of actual pedigree have been found.
The Biographia Britannica (article Caxton ') says '
:
—
If this Sir Thomas Malory was a Welshman, as Leland and others after him
'
assert, he was probably a Welsh Priest as appears not only by the legendary vein
;
which runs through all the stories he has thus extracted and wove together, but
"
by his conclusion of the work itself, in these words Pray for me, whyle I am on :
lyve, that God sende me good delyveraunce and when I am deed, I praye you all,
;
praye for my soule for this booke was ended the 9th yeer of the reygne of Kyng
;
Edward the Fourth, by Syr Thomas Maleore, Knyght, as Jesu helpe him for his
'
writings. And the origin of the statement remained an unexplained puzzle, until
Dr. Sommer has now apparently discovered the key to it in a
passage which he
quotes from Bale's Illustriiini Maioris Britanniie Scriptornm, &c, first edition,
folio 208. In this passage, Bale, after praising Thomas Mailorius and his history
of King Arthur, goes on to say, l Est Mailoria in finibus Cambria regio? on the
6
authority of Leland I have not myself verified these references, but I infer from
.
what Dr. Sommer that Bale, perhaps writing from an imperfect recollec-
tells us,
tion, supposed that he had the authority of Leland for a connection between
Mailorius, and the Welsh place of the like name and then the writer of the :
suppose from Malory's own book that he was a Welshman. Though Caxton tells
us that there were books in Welsh about Arthur and his Knights, Malory never
1 4
These two dates are obligingly given Burton's Description of Leicestershire,
me by G. W. Tomlinson, Esq., Secretary pp. 140, 262.
5
of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society. Kirby's Register of the Wardens, Fel-
2
Noble's Spanish Armada List, 1 886, lows, and Scholars of Winchester, 18S8,
p. 42. quoted by Mr. L. Johnson in the Academy,
3
Brown's Genesis of the United States, September 20th, 1 890.
6
1890. Vol. I, p. 211; Vol. II, p. Le Morte Darthur, edited by H. Oskar
94O. Sommer, Ph.D. Vol. Ill, p. 335.
xxviii WILLIAM CAXTON,
quotes any but the French and English books. He shows no acquaintance with
Welsh legends or traditions, unless it be with those in Geoffrey of Monmouth,
who wrote in Latin, nor of any local knowledge of Welsh places. Then as to the
fanciful and inconsequent conjecture that he was a priest, he himself tells us that
he was a knight, and thus implies that he was not a priest, while the words that
'
he is the servant of Jesu by day and by night,' which suggested the notion that he
was a priest, are evidently put into that form in order to give a rhythmical ending
'
to the book. Nor did the priest's usual title of '
a knight.
Sir What make him
we may say of Sir Thomas Malory is that he was probably of an old English
family : that he was a knight both in rank and in temper and spirit, and a lover
alike of the gentle and the soldierly virtues of knighthood. He was a man of
genius, and a devout Christian he wrote for gentlewomen as well as gentlemen,
:
'
believing that they would read his book from the beginning to the ending,' and
that it would call forth in them a sympathy which would properly express itself in
William Caxton.
Of William Caxton we know more. A native of Kent, he became an apprentice,
freeman, and livery man of the London Guild of Mercers, and was for many years
resident in the English factory at Bruges, which was under their chief authority,
though represented and controlled all English trading interests in the Low
it
Countries. Such factories were the usual, and indeed essential means of carrying
on trade with foreign nations in the Middle Ages. Thus charters were granted by
'
which, in giving them a corporate character, enabled them to treat with the
authorities of the country more effectually than would have been possible to
to, their own countrymen in the place. Though these Merchant Adventurers
included many of the City Guilds, the majority were Mercers, and the factory at
Bruges, while called the English Nation,' and its house the English House,' was
' i
practically under the management of the London Mercers' Guild. Mr. Blades has
given an engraving from Flandria Illustrata of the Domus Anglorum
' '
at Bruges
as it was in Caxton's time and he thus describes the mode of
;
life of its
inhabitants :
—
1
A management of al! foreign guilds, arising
great similarity prevailed in the internal
from the fact that foreigners were regarded by the natives with jealousy and suspicion.
The laws which governed the Esterlings in London, who lived in a strongly-built
enclosure, called the Steel Yard, the site of which is now occupied by the City station
of the South Eastern Railway Company, were much the same as those under which the
English Nation lived in Bruges and other cities. The foreign merchant had, in
Caxton's
time, to brave a large amount of popular dislike, and to put up with great restraints on
his liberty. Not only did he trade under harassing restrictions, but he resigned all hopes
of domestic ties and family life. As in a monastery, each member had his own dormitory,
PRINTER AND PUBLISHER. xxix
whilst at meal-times there was a common table. Marriage was out of the question, and
concubinage was followed by expulsion. Every member was bound to sleep in the
house, and to be in-doors by a fixed time in the evening, and for the sake of good order
no woman of any description was allowed within the walls V
To house of the English in Bruges Caxton \vent to live in the year 1441,
this
being then probably about twenty years of age. In 1462 he was acting as
'
Governor of the English Nation in the Low Countries,' and certainly in full
possession of that office and two or three years later. And in 1465 he was
title
and wife of the Duke of Burgundy, he completed his translation of the Recuyell of
the Histories of Troye which he had begun, but laid aside unfinished some time
before. And then, in order to meet the desire of many friends to have copies of
this translation, he printed such copies for their use.
He was now in the service of Margaret, and married
and about the year 1476,
;
the Printing Press, and to make himself famous to all ages by so doing. Caxton
was not only a printer, but a translator, an editor, and the publisher of the books
which he printed in unfailing succession, during the remaining fifteen years of his
life. He was the first of that honourable order of publishers who from his day to
our own share with authors the gratitude of men for that inestimable boon,
still
the Printed Book. There are still publishers among us who, like Caxton, are
themselves authors and editors of no unimportant ability and not only to them, but
:
also to those who aspire only to be the publishers of other men's books, do we
owe — what even the art of printing could have done little towards giving us — that
broad spreading of knowledge which has become to us like the common light of
2
day in which we live and move, only half conscious of its blessings. Mr. Blades
justly defends Caxton against Gibbon's censure of him because he did not print the
ancient classics. He did far better. He printed and published translations from
those classics for men who could not read the originals and it was surely no loss,
;
but the greatest gain, to Englishmen that he enabled them to read Chaucer's
Canterbury Tales and the Polychronicon of English History (whicli latter he
carried down to his own time) rather than if he had printed Virgil and Livy in the
original Latin. He laid the foundations of popular English literature in the best
judiciously selected succession, year by year, of books which they could and would
read. He
gave them books of piety and devotion, poetry and history, of chivalry
and romance, of morals and manners, including his own translations of Cicero's Old
Age and Friendship of proverbs, fables, and classical legends ; of statutes of the
;
realm ;
and the Game of Chess, an allegory of civil government. cannot read We
down the of ninety-nine books, including several second and third editions,
list
which Caxton printed, without wonder and respect for the genius and the judgment
of the man whose
choice of subjects was so wide, so high-minded, moral, religious,
and generous, and at the same time so popular. He was indeed, in all senses, the
first of English publishers. He died in 1491, occupied (as his chief workman and
successor, de Worde, tells us) on the last day of his life in finishing his
Wynkyn
translation of the Lives of the Fathers from the French. Mr. Blades conjectures,
with apparent probability, that his wife was the Mawde Caxton whose burial is
The operation of the silent but never-failing laws which govern the growth and
progress of our national life, seems to be sustained and directed in certain epochs
of our history by great men who have yet themselves been made what they are by
those very laws. Among such laws are the ideals of chivalry in its twofold aspect
of self-sacrifice and of self-assertion. And not least among the men who have
given to the of chivalry its special English forms in which the sense of duty
spirit
and zeal in the redress of wrongs are characteristic, stand Sir Thomas Malory and
William Caxton.
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE BOOK. XXXI
§
2. The Text, and its several Editions.
folio, black letter, with wide margin, and among the finest specimens of Caxton's
autograph Oxford on the first leaf; it was sold with the Harleian Library to
Osborne the bookseller, and apparently bought of him for £5 5^. by Bryan Fairfax,
who sold his library to Mr. Child, maternal ancestor of the Earl of Jersey 2 . The
Althorp copy, which was bought at Mr. Lloyd's sale in 18 16 for £320, had
but these were supplied by Mr. Whittaker in fac-simile
eleven leaves deficient ;
from the Osterley copy with remarkable skill , though on collation with the :!
original I have found many mistakes. This edition, like all Caxton's books
but one, has no title-page ;
the Prohem or Preface begins at the top of the
4
firstpage .
The two next editions of Morte Arthur were printed by Wynkyn de Worde, the
chief workman and successor of Caxton, in 1498 and 1529. Only one copy of each
is known. That of 1498 is in the Althorp Library it wants some pages, but :
contains the Preface, which a reprint of that of Caxton, though it here follows
is
instead of preceding the Table of Contents. This edition, which has numerous
1
Englishmen, who feel shame and sor- Caxton, and his unique copy of Wynkyn
row for the loss of the only perfect first copy de Worde's first edition of Morte Darthur,
of our National Epic, may yet be glad to as also for favouring me with details of
know it has an honoured place with our information respecting the former and to ;
worthier kinsfolk across the Atlantic, in the the Earl of Jersey for permitting me to
rich library and museum of Mr. and Mrs. examine his Caxton at Osterley.
4
Abby Pope : 'Caxton followed the usage of the
'And, so sepulchred, doth lie,
in such pomp scribes in this particular; for, with one
That kings, for such a tomb, would wish exception only, and at the very end of his
to die.' career, where the of the book is
title
2
Dibdin's .
Typographical Antiquities, printed alone in the centre of the first
1810, vol.
i, pp. 242, 254. page, his books appear without any title page
Wynkyn de Worde adopted
3
Dibdin's Supplement to the Biblio- whatever.
theca Spenceriana, vol. ii. p. 213 or iEdes ;
the use of title-pages immediately after
Althorpianae, vol. vi.p. 213. I would here the death of his master.' Biography and
express my thanks to Earl Spencer for send- Typography of William Caxton, England's
ing to the British Museum for my use his first printer, p.
45. By William Blades, 1 877.
xxxii THE SUCCESSIVE EDITIONS.
woodcuts, not an exact reprint of Caxton's ; there are differences of spelling and
is
occasionally of a word ; and the passage in the last chapter but one, beginning
1
Oh ye mighty and pompous lords,' and ending with ' turn again to my matter,'
which not in Caxton's edition, appears here, as in all later editions 1
is The .
edition of 1529 is in the British Museum, and wants the Title, Preface, and part of
the Table of Contents.
In 1557 the book was reprinted by William Copland, with the title of 'The
story of the most noble and worthy kynge Arthur, the whiche was one of the
worthyes chrysten, and also of his noble and valiaute knyghtes of the rounde
Table. Newly imprynted and corrected mccccclvij. TT Imprynted at London by
Wyllyam Copland.' And on the title-page, above the last line, is a woodcut of
St. George and the Dragon, of which that on the title-page of Southey's edition is
a bad copy. A copy of this edition is in the British Museum, with a note that this
is the only one with a title which the annotator has seen.
A and a quarto edition were published by Thomas East, without date, but
folio
almost Besides remodelling the preface, dividing the book into three
infinite.
parts, and modernising the spelling and many of the words, there are a number of
more or less considerable variations and additions, of which Mr. Wright has given
some of the more important in his notes, but which I estimate at above twenty
thousand in the whole and which have probably arisen in the minor instances from
;
the printer reading a sentence and then printing it from recollection, without
'
farther reference to his copy,' but in the others from a desire to improve the
by what the editor a more eloquent and ornated style and
'
original simplicity calls
phrase.'
No new edition seems to have been published till 181 6, when two independent
editions appeared, one in two, and the other in three 24m© volumes. Both are
modernised for popular use, and are probably the volumes through which most of
my own generation made their first acquaintance with King Arthur and his
knights but neither has any merit as to its editing.
;
1
As the passage is worth preserving I have given it at the end of the volume,
Note A, p. 488.
THE SOUTHEV-UPCOTT EDITION. xxxiii
with an introduction and notes by Soiithey, who says, The present edition is a '
reprint with scrupulous exactness from the first edition by Caxton, in Earl
Spencer's library .' As it appears from a note that he had nothing to do with
1 2
the superintendence of the press, which was undertaken by Mr. Upcott, he was
probably unaware that eleven leaves were, as I have mentioned above, then
wanting in the copy from which this reprint was made. These had not then
been restored in fac-simile for Earl Spencer's copy contains a note, signed by
;
Messrs. Longmans and dated 1816, which gives a list of the pages then wanting;
and, in fact, the substitutes for them which
actually appear in Southey's edition
differ widely from the restored, or the Thus in chapter xii. of the
original, text.
last book, besides the interpolation of the long passage O ye myghty and '
pompous lordes,' &c, which is not in Caxton, there are in the first eleven lines
thirty-five variations of spelling and punctuation, besides the introduction of the
words 'but continually mourned un — '
and 'needfully as nature required,' which
arc not in Caxton, and the change of Caxton's on the tombe of kyng Arthur '
& quene Guenever' into 'on kynge Arthur's & quene Gvvenever's tombe.' And
thus throughout the pages in question —
seventeen in number 3 the spelling con- —
stantly, and words and even sentences occasionally, differ from the real text of
4
Caxton .
When page 113 of volume i. the editor introduces the words certayne cause
at ' '
to complete the sense, he is careful to call attention, in a foot-note, to the fact that
these words are not in the original, but taken from the '
second edition,' by which
I presume he means that of 140,8. But when he subsequently supplies seventeen
pages which were also not in his original, he gives no hint of the fact and his ;
reticence was so successful that for fifty years the interpolations passed as genuine
collating them with the Osterley text itself I found the like result. It remained to
tracethem to their real sources. This was not so easy as might be supposed, for
though it was evident that Mr. Upcott must have had recourse to one or other of
the existing editions, the interpolated passages in fact agree exactly with none of
them. But a careful collation of the last four chapters of the book (which include
more than half the interpolations, and may be taken as a fair specimen of the
whole) with the old texts, leaves no doubt that, with the exception of the first
1
Vol. i, p. xxviii. vol. p. 202, line 13, to p. 204, line
ii, 14 ;
2
Ibid. p. lviii. p. 446, line 5, to end of 455.
4
3
The
pages are vol. i, p. 167, line 18, An
account of these interpolations was
to p. 169, line 17; p. 275, third line from given by me in the Athenaeum of Sept. 7
bottom, to p. 279, line 5 from bottom; and Dec. 10, 1867, and Feb. 10, 186S.
xxxiv UPCOTT* S TREATMENT OF THE TEXT.
thirty-six lines of chapter x, they were taken, like the two words mentioned above,
from the first edition of Wynkyn de Worde, but with the spelling occasionally
altered, and here and there a small word put in, left out, or changed. These
alterations throw an ingenious disguise over the whole but if we penetrate through
;
this we find that in these four chapters there are only thirteen words differing from
those in Wynkyn de Worde's first edition, and these unimportant; while in his
second edition, and in those of Copland and East, the variations from Mr. Upcott's
same chapters are
text of the respectively fifty-seven, fifty-six, and fifty in number,
and many of them important in kind : and if we go to the edition of 1634 we find
and in fact did, supply at least one or two of the first words, the latter part of his
colophon relates to his own edition, and departs widely from that of Caxton,
while those in the later editions are still more unlike and yet Mr. Upcott's colophon
;
is a tolerable, though not an exact, representation of that of Caxton. But his other
materials can be ascertained beyond a doubt. They are, the colophon as given by
Ames, and repeated by Dibdin in a modernised and otherwise inexact form ', and
2
that which appeared in the Catalogue of the Harleian Library
first and was ,
thence copied in the article on Caxton in the Biographic/, Britannica, and also in
Herbert's Additions to Ames. The colophons of Ames and of the Harleian Cata-
logue have important variations from each other and from that of Caxton ; and as
Mr. Upcott adopts some portions of each which are not found either in the other,
or in Caxton, we see the which the paragraph in question was com-
manner in
pounded. Each stone of the ingeniously fitted mosaic may be referred to the place
from which it was taken. We cannot indeed choose positively between Ames and
Dibdin, or among the Harleian Catalogue, the Biographia, and Herbert but as ;
the two paragraphs which are required in addition to that of Wynkyn de Worde
are both found in Herbert's seems most probable that Mr. Upcott had
Ames, it
recourse to that work, though another combination would have served the purpose
equally well. That the interpolated passages are not taken from the Osterley
Caxton even in the roughest and most careless manner, is quite evident 3
itself, .
In 1858 and 1866 Mr. Wright published successive editions reprinted from that
of 1634. His learned introduction and notes are of considerable interest; but
nothing can justify the reprinting the most corrupt of all the old editions when, the
first and best was within reach, though perhaps at greater cost.
2
1
Typographical Antiquities, by Ames Catalogus Bibl. Harleianae, 1744, vol.
and Herbert, 1 785, vol. i, p. 61 ; Ibid. iii, no. 372.
enlarged by Dibdin, 1 810, vol. i, p. 253.
3
See note B at the end of the volume,
'
The ' Additions are at the end of vol. iii. p. 488.
of Herbert's edition.
THE PRESENT EDITION. xxxv
In 1868 was published the edition of the present volume, with the purpose
first
of giving the original text in a form available for ordinary readers, and especially
for boys, from whom the chief demand for this book will always come. It is a
reprint of the originalCaxton with the spelling modernised, and those few words
which are unintelligibly obsolete replaced by others which, though not necessarily
unknown to Caxton, are still in use, yet with all old forms retained which do not
interfere requirement of being readable. For when, as indeed is oftenest
with this
the case, the context makes even an obsolete phrase probably, if not precisely,
known, I have left it in the text, and given its meaning in the Glossary, in which I
have chiefly followed Roquefort, Halliwell, and Wright. In the Glossary I have
also ^added a few geographical notes for those readers who may care for them.
And for the like reason — of making the book readable — such phrases
or passages
as are not in accordance with modern manners have been also omitted or replaced
by others which either actually occur or might have occurred in Caxton's text else-
where. I say manners, not morals, because I do not profess to have remedied the
moral defects of the book which I have already spoken of. Lord Tennyson has
shown us how we may deal best with this matter, in so far as Sir Thomas Malory
has himself failed to treat it rightly and I do not believe that when we have
;
practically injurious to the morals of English boys, for whom I have chiefly under-
taken this work, while there is much of moral worth which I know not where
they can learn so well as from the ideals of magnanimity, courage, courtesy,
reverence for women, gentleness, self-sacrifice, chastity, and other manly virtues,
exhibited in these pages.
The omissions, not many, nor in any sense constituting an abridgment of the
original, were thought desirable to fit the book for popular reading. And if any
one blames the other departures from the exact form of that original, I would ask
him to judge from the specimens of the old type and spelling which I have given
at the end of each book, and of the volume, whether a literal and verbal repro-
duction of the whole would not be simply unreadable except by students of old
English And if some departure from the original was necessary, it was reason-
1
.
by occasional collation with the Althorp and Osterley Caxtons that it is a sufficiently
v accurate reprint excepting as to the passages above mentioned ;
and these have
been taken by me from the original in the way I have said.
1
Even the learned M.M. Gaston Paris lire, parce que le langage y est discretement
and Ulrich, say, in reference to editions of rajeuni, est l'edition donnee chez Mac-
Le Morte Darthur, '
La plus commode a millan en 1868 par Sir Edw. Strachey.'
c 2
xxxvi DR. SOMMER'S EDITION.
worthy representatives of Sir Thomas Malory and William Caxton. The first
volume gives the text of the Althorp copy, page for page, line for line, word for
word, and letter for letter, with no change but that of Roman for black letter type.
It indeed, too scrupulously exact, for it reproduces the mistakes in WhittaKer's
is,
fac-simile pages which now form part of the Althorp copy, only correcting these
by collations with the Osterley original, given in the second volume. Whittaker
has no more authority than any other mere copyist ; and the direct correction of
his mistakes would have made Dr. Sommer's reprint a perfect representation of
the original while making a reprint of the collations unnecessary. Besides these
'
the only two of those ' sources which had not been so made accessible already,
either by ancient or modern editors. Into this hitherto chaotic mass of mediaeval
romances, French and English, prose or verse, Dr. Sommer has now first brought
light and order. With an almost inconceivable amount of thoughtful and learned
labour, he has collated the various manuscripts with the printed editions and with
Malory's book, in a detail which, great as it is, represents, as he tells us, a still more
minute investigation of which he only gives the main results. With the exception
of the story of Beaumains, which is an enlarged narration of that of La Cote Male
Taile,and subject to the changes made by Malory's own genius, all the adventures
and incidents of Malory's Morte Darthur are now shown to be found in one or more
of these '
from French, or transferred word for
sources,' often translated literally
word from the English, yet still oftener so compressed and fused into a new shape
that the finished work is but a tenth of the bulk of the original matter. Dr.
Sommer arranges these sources into the four groups of the Merlin, the Lancelot,
the Tristan, and the Prophecies of Merlin, and shows the relations of each group
to the corresponding portions of Malory. He thinks, with M. Gaston Paris,
that Malory had a now lost form of the ' Lancelot,' comparable to the ' Suite de
THE TITLE OF THE BOOK.' xxxvii
Merlin' disoovered only fifteen years since; and indeed believes that he has found
'
some pages of this missing ' Lancelot imbedded in a Tristan MS. in the British
' '
Museum. But the work of this learned critic must be studied in itself, not in a
summary. Of the light which these investigations throw upon the genius of
Malory, and on the character of his art, I have already spoken.
There is no title-page, as I have already mentioned, to the Caxton, that which
isgiven by several bibliographers being only an extract, not very critically selected,
from Caxton's preface. But it is stated in Caxton's colophon that the book was
' '
to the same title. It was indeed before Malory's time, and has been ever since,
the traditional title of this story. We have Mort Artus and Morte Arthure in the
earlier times Ascham, in Henry VIII's reign, calls this book La Morte d' Arthure ;
;
§ 3. An Essay on Chivalry.
St. Augustine replied to the enquiry, What is time ? by saying, 'I know when
'
be not deceived how : can that which dissolves all things be itself contained in a
'
ladle ? And how shall chivalry, sparkling and flashing everywhere as it runs
through that great complicated tissue of human life which we call modern civilisa-
tion,
—
how shall chivalry, the humaniser of society, be brought within the limits
of a definition ?
Chivalry, indeed, exists for us in spirit rather than in outward and visible form.
It no longer comes to us with the outward symbols of war-horse, and armour,
and noble and strength of arm, and high-flown protestations of love and
birth,
gallantry yet we never fail to know and feel its presence, silent and unobtrusive
;
as it now is we recognise the lady and the gentleman not less surely now than
:
they did in old times and we acknowledge their rights and their power over us
;
now no less than then. And if the spirit of chivalry does live among us still, we
may read its past history by its present light, and say in Spenser's words,
—
1
By infusion s\^eete
Of thine own spirit which doth in me survive,
I follow the footing of thy feete,
still
Let us then look back to those times when chivalry had an outward, visible form,
and was embodied in its own proper institutions, with orders, and statutes, and
courts of its own jurisdiction, and rituals, and customs, like those of other great
clear head, the noble heart and conscience, and the strong arm of an Alfred, a
Charlemagne, or an Otho, might bring a temporary calm and order into the storm ;
but when the personal influences of such great men were withdrawn, society relapsed
—
again and again into ever new anarchy, and war at once the effect and the cause
of anarchy — savage, cruel war became the business of all men throughout Europe.
The the rapacious, and the unscrupulous fought for power, and plunder, and
selfish,
love of fighting and while violence could only be resisted by violence, and each
;
man had to defend himself, his family, and his possessions as best he could, with no
from law and government, there was a constant tendency to increasing
effectual aid
barbarism and brutish, or worse than brutish, instead of human, existence.
But man differs from the brutes in this, that while he can fall lower than they,
he can also and that even the passions and the impulses which he has
rise higher,
in common with them may be subdued, and refined, and modified, till
they become
the servants and instruments of his human life, and the means by which all that
is properly spiritual in his being may be reflected and symbolised upon this earth
in outward, visible form. —
The nobler races of men the historical races, as they
have been called — constantly show contending with these down-
this aptitude for
ward tendencies of our nature, and for advancing, through the conquest of them,
to new and higher life.
And so it was
the Middle Ages.
in The Church was, no doubt, the great
civiliser of the nations still, whatever aid the State derived from the Church, it
:
then, no less than now, had a position and processes of its own, by which it did
its own work of civilisation too. And
great work for controlling the
its first
universal anarchy of which I have spoken was the extension and firm establishment
of that half-patriarchal, half-military organisation which we call the Feudal
System. Every man who was not rich and powerful enough to be a lord became —
—
willingly or unwillingly a vassal; and all men, from the king downwards, were
—
bound to each other for reciprocal service and protection a service and protec-
tion partly military, but partly patriarchal, since they were rendered not by men
'
strangers to each other except for what Mr. Carlyle calls the nexus of cash pay-
ment,' but united by ties of family, and neighbourhood, and clanship, and by the
interests and sympathies that grow out of these. But the protector of his own
vassals easily became the invader of the rights and ravager of the possessions of
his neighbour and so the old evils of anarchy and violence grew
and his vassals ;
afresh out of the remedy which had been devised to meet them. The monarchies '
sank into impotence; petty, lawless tyrants trampled all social order under foot/
says a learned historian of this period, and all attempts after scientific instruction
'
as the external well-being and material life of the people. This was a dark and
stormy period for Europe, merciless, arbitrary, and violent. It is a sign of the
prevailing feeling of misery and hopelessness that, when the first thousand years
of our sera were drawing to their close, the people in every country in Europe
xl
'
THE TRUCE OF GOD.'
looked with certainty for the destruction of the world. Some squandered their
wealth in riotous living, others bestowed it for the good of their souls on churches
and convents weeping multitudes lay day and night around the altars some
; ;
looked forward with dread, but most with secret hope, towards the burning of
the earth and the falling in of heaven. Their actual condition was so miserable
that the idea of destruction was relief, spite of all its horrors V .
The palliatives with which men tried to meet the evils of the times indicate
the greatness of the evils, but also the moral feeling which was the promise of
better things. Such was the so-called ' Peace of the King,' by which private wars
were not to be entered on till forty days after the committal of the alleged crime
which was to be avenged and the Truce of God,' by which all these acts of
;
'
private hostility were suspended from Thursday to Monday in each week. And at
the Council of Cleremont, held by Urban II in November, 1095, a severe censure
was pronounced against the licence of private war the Truce of God was con- ;
firmed ;
women and were placed under the safeguard of the Church and
priests ;
a protection of three years was extended to husbandmen and merchants, the de-
fenceless victims of military rapine. We are reminded of the law of Moses, which
provided Cities of Refuge for the man who accidentally and without malice killed
his neighbour, but who could not look for protection from the vengeance of the
family of the slain man except within those special safeguards. In each case there
is same unreasoning rage of the half-civilised man brought face to face with
the
the demands of religion and civil law and each is obliged to yield something to
:
the other till the better cause has had time to prepare and strengthen itself for
a more complete triumph.
Chivalry, then, offspring of the same spirit which dictated the Peace of
was the
the King, the Truce of God, and the decrees of the Council of Cleremont. Chivalry
— —
has another name Knighthood and the two are wanted to express all that we
mean by either
2
. The chevalier was the soldier who rode the war-horse : he whose
birth entitled him,and whose wealth gave him the means, to ride at the head of
his vassals and retainers to the war all ideas of lordship, and mastery, and out-
:
ward dignity and power, embodied before us. But this chevalier/ this
are here
'
'
ritter,' or rider of the war-horse, was also to be a knecht,' or servant He that
'
:
'
will be chief among you, let him be your servant.' The knight was to obey, no
less than to command he was to exert his strength and power, not for selfish ends,
;
but in the service of others; and especially in the service of the poor, the weak, and
the oppressed, who could not help or defend themselves. It was, indeed, no new
discovery in the world, that such are the duties of him who possesses power, and
above all the power of the sword and they who have tried
;
to trace the origin
of chivalry to some particular place and time have had to go to the Germans of
1
Sybel's History of the Crusades, English my friend the late Rev. F. D. Maurice,
Translation, p. 11. whose genius lights up every subject
it
2
For this distinction I am indebted to approaches.
THE NORMANS. xli
Tacitus, to the Crusaders, to the Saracens, to the Romans, the Greeks, the Trojans,
the Hebrews, only to come to the conclusion that chivalry belongs in its spirit to
man as man
though the form in which that spirit was clothed in Europe in the
;
Middle Ages has an individuality of which some of the sources may be ascertained,
and though from that time forward its power has been established, and extended,
in a manner, and with a greatness unknown to the ancients.
In those days society was essentially military. In this our own time the main
offices, interests, and occupations of the great body politic are non-military, and
the army but a small portion of the nation, specially trained for a minor,
is
though
indispensable, function therein. Peace, for its own sake, and for the sake of the
objects which can only be obtained by the arts and with the opportunities of peace,
is the end and aim of every civilised nation now and war is only an occasional
;
possessed rank, and wealth, and power, and were in fact the leaders of the nation.
And therefore chivalry, the spirit which was to humanise those warriors, needed to
be warlike too, and thus to sympathise with those to whom it addressed itself.
Much, too, of its special form it no doubt owed to that wonderful race of heroes,
the Normans. The romantic love of adventure the religious and the martial en-
;
thusiasm the desire to revenge injuries, and to win wealth and power the delight
; ;
need was they could endure the inclemency of every climate, and the toil and
abstinence of a military life and the gentleness, the affability and the gallantry,
;
which were the characteristics of the Norman race these must have been more or
;
the presence of women in the hour of battle with their husbands, brothers, and
victory, which (as they boasted) their Roman foes were unable to appeal to
for
lantry which forms so large a part, not only of the romance, but of the actual
history, of chivalry.
But Christianity exercised not only an indirect, but also a direct and avowed
action upon the forms of chivalry, as they attained to their full proportions.
Knighthood was certainly a feature and distinction of society before the days of
Charlemagne, who in permitting the governor of Friesland to make knights by
'
girding them with a sword, and giving them a blow, adds as is the custom.'
But no ritual of the Church as yet consecrated that custom. Charlemagne girt the
sword on his son Louis the Good without religious ceremonies; and a century later
the Saxon king of England, Edward the Elder, clothed Athelstan in a soldier's dress
of scarlet, and girded him with a girdle ornamented with precious stones and a
sword with sheath of gold, but without religious rites. But in the next century, in
the reign of Edward we
read that Hereward, a noble Anglo-Saxon
the Confessor,
times limited indeed to a single lock) were the symbols of the new and holy state
of life to which he was now next morning he heard mass, offered bj$ sword
called :
on the altar, where it was blessed by the priest ; and he was created a knight —
either by the priest of highest rank present, or by some knight, who, in virtue of his
knighthood, was qualified to confer the sacred office he had himself received in —
the name of God, of St. George, and of Saint Michael the Archangel. He swore,
and received the holy communion in confirmation of his oath, to fulfil the duties of
his profession ;
to speak the truth ;
to maintain the right to protect women, the
;
allurements of ease and safety, and to maintain his honour in even' perilous adven-
EDUCATION OF THE KNIGHT. xliii
the whole face of Christendom, in order to check the barbarism and ferocity of the
times. While the form of chivalry was martial, its objects became to a great extent
religious and social from a mere military array chivalry obtained the name of the
:
Order, the Holy Order, and a character of seriousness and solemnity was given to
it; and it was accounted an honourable office above all offices, orders, and acts of
the world, except the order of priesthood.
The education for knighthood usually began at a still age than that men-
earlier
tioned in the Canons of Cleremont. The castles of the princes and nobles were the
schools of those days, at least for the youth of their own class. Every feudal lord
had his court, to which he drew the sons and daughters of the poorer gentry of his
domains; and he were a knight distinguished for his merits, his castle was also
if
frequented by the children of men of equal rank and reputation with himself for :
the prudent and careful father would often have some brother in arms whom he
thought better fitted than himself to educate his children in the accomplishments
and duties of So, long after, Ben Jonson, looking back on those old.
his station.
times, and picturing them in their ideal aspect, says, that then
4
Goodness gave the greatness,
And greatness worship :
every house became
An academy of honour.'
The boy of gentle birth, when he thus began his education, was called by the
xliv DUTIES OF THE CHILDE OR DAMOISEAU.
names of Childe, or Damoiseau, or Valet, said to be a contraction of Vassalet or
little Vassal, and also Page, though this last name was originally appropriated to
the youths of inferior rank. He usually entered the castle which was to be his
school about the age of seven or eight. He was to learn modesty, obedience, and
address in arms and horsemanship, and was duly exercised in the use of his weapons,
beginning with such as were suited to his strength. He was instructed how to
guide a horse with grace and dexterity, how to use
the bow and the sword, and how
offices which we should now call menial, but which were then held to be the proper
symbols of modesty and obedience for the youth of highest birth and rank. Thus
the Black Prince was held to show the highest respect to the French king, his pri-
soner, by personal attendance on him. In the words of Froissart The same day :
•
of the battle, at night, the prince made a supper in his lodging to the French king,
and to the most part of the great lords that were prisoners .... and always the
prince served before the king as humbly as he could,
and would not sit at the king's
board for any desire that the king could make but he said he was not sufficient to
;
And not the least important ofthe youth's duties were those towards the ladies
of the house in which he lived. He was to wait
on them rather as attending a sort
of superior beings to whom adoration and obsequious service were due, than as
ministering to the convenience of human creatures like himself. The most modest
demeanour, the most profound respect, were to be observed in the presence of these
fair idols. —
And as not only the youths, but the maidens the damoiselles no less
than the damoiseaux —were sent to the courts of the barons and their ladies for
education, it wouldhappen that this veneration in which the boy was so early
often
trained towards the ladies of maturer years, would find an object in some young
maiden whose more suitable age might lead him, as he grew up, from mere boyish
regard to that passionate and abiding devotion which was the duty of every
true
knight to his lady, and by the strength of which he held that all his power
for good
find it in the pages of a romance, we cannot doubt is a picture of actual life and
Oriana,' says the old book, was about ten years old, the fairest creature
' '
manners.
" without a
that ever was seen ; wherefore she was called the one peer" .... The
child of the sea (that is, Amadis) was now twelve years old, but in stature and size
he seemed fifteen, and he served the queen ; but, now that Oriana was there, the
queen gave her the child of the sea, that he should serve her, and Oriana said that
it pleased her ;" and that word which she said, the child kept in his heart, so that
(i
he never lost it from his memory, and in all his life he was never weary of serving
AMADIS AND OR IANA. xlv
her, and his heart was surrendered to her; and this love lasted as long as they
lasted, for as well as he loved her did she also love him. But the child of the sea,
who knew nothing of her love, thought himself presumptuous to have placed his
thoughts on her, and dared not speak to her and she, who loved him in her heart,
;
was careful not to speak more with him than with another but their eyes delighted :
to reveal to the heart what was the thing on earth that they loved best. And now
the time came that he thought he could take arms if he were knighted; and this
he greatly desired, thinking that he would do such things that, if he lived, his mis-
tress should esteem him.'
Such was the beginning of the loves of Amadis and Oriana, so famous in
romance, and so generally held by knights and ladies to be a model for them-
selves. Constancy, such as that of Amadis, was a virtue of the true lover which
those times of long inevitable separations and absences demanded in forms hardly
known in our days ;
and in proportion was it insisted upon, and held in honour.
So Spenser says :
*
Young knight whatever, that dost arms profess,
And through long labours huntest after fame,
Beware of fraud, beware of fickleness,
In choice and change of thy dear loved dame;
Lest thou of her believe too lightly blame,
And rash misweening do thy heart remove ;
The Amadis passed with more than ordinary rapidity to the rank of
peerless
knighthood. The youth more usually remained an esquire the next step to that of
—
—
page till he was twenty. He attended the knight to whose person he was attached,
dressed and undressed him, trained his horses, kept his arms bright and burnished,
and did the honours of the household to the strangers who visited it ; so that
Spenser takes the squire as the type of such courtesy. Here is Chaucer's descrip-
ion of the squire :
*
With him was his son, a younge squire,
there
A iover and a lusty bachelor,
With lockes curl'd as they were laid in press;
Of twenty years of age he was, I guess.
Of his stature he was of even length,
And wonderly deliver, and great of strength ;
have already spoken of the religious rites with which the esquire was admitted
I
into the order of knighthood, and of the solemn and noble engagements into which
he then entered. He had
next to 'win his spurs/ as it was called; a phrase
happily illustrated in the story of Edward III and the Black Prince, which
Proissart thus relates :
—
This battle between Broy and Cressy, this Saturday, was right cruel and fell, and
''
many a feat of arms done that day came not to my knowledge. ... In the morning,
the day of the battle, certain Frenchmen and Almagnes perforce opened the archers
of the prince's battle {division as we should now say), and came and fought with
the menof arms, hand to hand. Then the second battle of the Englishmen came
.to succour the prince's battle, the which was time, for they had as then much ado.
And they with the prince sent a messenger to the king, who was on a little wind-
mill hill then the knight said to the king, " Sir, the earl of Warwick, and the earl
:
of Oxford, Sir Reynold Cobham, and other, such as lie about the prince your son,
are fiercely fought withal, and are sore handled, w herefore they desire you that you
r
and your battle will come and aid them, for if the Frenchmen increase, as they
doubt they your son and they shall have much ado." Then the king said,
will,
" son dead, or hurt, or on the earth felled?" " No, sir," quoth the knight,
Is my
" but he is hardly matched, wherefore he hath need of your aid." "Well," said
the king, * return to him, and to them that sent you hither, and say to them, that
they send no more to me for any adventure that falleth, as long as my son is alive :
and also say to them, that they him this day to win his spurs for, if God be
suffer ;
pleased, I will this day's work be his, and the honour thereof, and to them that be
about him." Then the knight returned again to them, and showed the king's
words, the which greatly encouraged them, and repented in that they had sent to
'
the king as they did.' Brave knights, to be greatly encouraged by such stern
*
though manly words. We are reminded of the not less brave and knightly
demeanour of Sir Colin Halket and his men at Waterloo, when the Duke of
Wellington rode up and asked how they were, and the general replied that two-
thirds of the brigade were down, and the remainder so exhausted that the relief of
fresh troops, for however short a time, was most desirable. But when the duke
said that no relief, was possible, that all depended on them, the answer which the
officer made for himself and his men was,
'
Enough, my lord, we stand here till the
last man falls.'
Thenceforth the knight's career depended, he would not have said on himself,
but on God and his lady and if we may judge by the ordinary language of the
:
CHIVALROUS IDEAL OF LOVE. xlvii
romances, his lady was often the object of actual adoration, little differing from
that he would have addressed to the saints in the hour of danger or of triumph.
Philosophic divines teach us that although the worship of the saints may become
in practice a gross and degrading superstition, it has in it an element of true, and
in itself ennobling, faith in ideals of humanity more or less perfectly revealed in
human form and so while we smile at the fictions of extravagant fancy in which
:
the mediseval knight was wont to clothe his love, and his professions of love, for
his mistress, we cannot reasonably doubt that in the main, and for that time of
youthful imaginations rather than of sober^reasonings, the knight was right. When
I think of what society was, and what it would still be, without the humanizing in-
fluences ofwomanhood and ladyhood, and what it is by means of these, I say that
the tree may be judged by its fruits, and that it is from a right noble stock, rightly
and wisely cultivated in the main, in those old days, that we are still gathering
such noble fruits. Much evil there was along with the good and, what is worse,
;
much confusion between good and evil. I need not tell the reader of chivalry
romances, or of Lord Tennyson's reproductions of some of their incidents in
modern form of thought as well as language, how painfully this confusion defaces
many of the fairest characters and most interesting tales of chivalry, while the
historical records of the times in which those romances were written and read
show that the actual state of morals and manners exhibited the like confusions
of good and evil, in the ideals as well as in the conduct of life. But, as I have
already observed, we see, at least in the romance before us, the good contending
with, and mastering the evil, and this not least in the end of the story of the
guilty loves of Guenever and Latmcelot, the knight whose fame in romance
perhaps surpasses that of Amadis, though even mediaeval morality was obliged
to censure the constancy of Launcelot' s love, while it might unhesitatingly extol
that of Amadis.
Lord Tennyson has, Iassume, made every one familiar with the retirement
may
of queen Guenever to the nunnery of Almesbury, and with the death of Arthur;
and I venture for the completion of this sketch to show, though from the present
volume, how the old story which the poet chiefly follows relates the death and
draws the character of Launcelot. Launcelot, when he heard of those events, went
to Almesbury, and after taking leave of the queen, resolved to follow her example ;
and became a hermit and penitent, taking up his abode in a forest where was an
hermitage and a chapel that stood between two cliffs; and there he served God
day and night with prayers and fastings. Thus he, and other knights who followed
his example, 'endured great penance six years, and then Sir Launcelot took the
habit of priesthood, and a twelvemonth he sang mass.' At the end of that time a
vision directed him to take the body of queen Guenever, now dead at Almesbury,
and bury her with king Arthur at Glastonbury. Then the story goes on: 'And —
when she was put in the earth Sir Launcelot swooned and lay long still, while the
hermit came out and awaked him, and said, Ye be to blame, for ye displease God
xlviii THE DEATH OF LA UN CE LOT.
with such manner of sorrow making. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, I trust I do not
displease God, for He knoweth mine intent, for my sorrow was not, nor is not, for
any rejoicing of sin, but my sorrow may never have end. For when I remember
of her beauty, and of her noblesse, that was both with her king and with her; so
when I saw his corpse and her corpse so lie together, truly mine heart would not
serve to sustain my careful body. Also when I remember me how by my default,
and mine orgule, and pride, that they were both laid full low, that were peer-
my
less that ever was living of christian people, wit ye well, said Sir Launcelot, this
remembered, of their kindness and mine unkindness, sank so to my heart, that all
my natural strength failed me, so that I might not sustain myself.' The story goes
on to say that there he wasted away, praying night and day at the tomb of the
king and queen. He died, and was taken to his own
Joyous Gard to be
castle of
buried. 'And right thus as they were at their service there came Sir Ector de
Maris, that had seven year sought all England, Scotland, and Wales, seeking his
brother Sir Launcelot. And when Sir Ector heard such noise and light in the
quire of Joyous Gard he alight, and put his horse from him, and came into the
quire, and there he saw men sing and weep. And all they knew Sir Ector, but he
knew not them. Then went Sir Bors unto Sir Ector, and told him how there lay
his brother Sir Launcelot dead. And
then Sir Ector threw his shield, sword, and
helm from him ;
and when he beheld Sir Launcelot's visage he fell down in a swoon ;
and when he awaked it were hard for any tongue to tell the doleful complaints that
he made for his brother. Ah, Launcelot, he said, thou were head of all Christian
Let me compare with this Chaucer's description of the knight of his times: —
'
A knight theie was, and that a worthy
l
man,
That from the time that he first began
To riden out, he loved chivalry,
Truth and honour, freedom and courtesy.
Full worthy was he in his lordes war,
And thereto had he ridden, no man farre,
As well in Christendom as in Heatheness,
And ever honoured for his worthiness.
At Alisandre he was when it was won:
Valiant.
CHAUCER'S KNIGHT. xlix
2
In Lethowe had he reys^d and , in Russe,
No Christian man
so oft, of his degree :
In an age when all men, not of the clergy, were divided between the two classes
of freemen or gentlemen, and serfs or villains, and the villains were in habits and
in human culture little better than the domestic animals of which they shared the
labours, the knight almost inevitably belonged to the class of free, or gentle, birth.
Still, in theory always, and to a great extent in practice, it was not his birth, but
his personal merit, which him for knighthood. The personal merit would
qualified
oftener exist, and still oftener come to light, where it had the advantages and aids *
of education and general social culture. But if it was recognised in the villain, or
man of no rights of birth, he might be, and often was, knighted, and was thereby
immediately enfranchised, and accounted a gentleman, in law no less than in name.
Thus Froissart tells us of Sir Robert Sale, the .governor of Norwich, that he was '
no gentleman born, but he had the grace to be reputed sage and valiant in arms,
and for his valiantness King Edward made him knight.' He was governor during
the popular insurrection of which Wat Tyler and Jack Straw were the London
leaders ; and he was invited to put himself at the head of one of the risings by men
who urged upon him — '
Sir Robert, ye are a knight and a man greatly beloved in
this country, and renowned a valiant man ; and though ye be thus, yet we know
you well ye be no gentleman born, but son to a villain, such as we be: therefore
:
come you with us, and be our master, and we shall make you so great a lord that
one quarter of England shall be tinder your obeisance.' He refused, and they killed
1
Having gone to find adventures in head of the table above the like adven-
Prussia with the Teutonic knights who turers from other nations, in compliment
carried on war with the still Pagan Li- to his especial merit,
2 3
thuania, he had been often placed at the Ridden in arms. Praise.
1 THE GENTLEMAN AND THE CHURL,
him. The same king also knighted the man-at-arms, son of a tanner, who was
afterwards famous as Sir John Hawkwood. And the courtly as well as knightly
Chaucer, who must more or less have reflected the feeling of the royal and noble
personages among whom he lived, goes farther, and asserts that not only does
virtue make the gentleman, but also baseness of mind the villain or churl :
—
'
But understand in thine intent,
That this is not mine intendement,
To clepen no wight in no. age
Only gentle tor his lineage ;
Akin to this recognition of gentleness of mind and manners, as that which made
a gentleman, was the sense of brotherhood among knights and gentlemen, which
led them to trust in each other's honour, even when they were fighting under the
banners of hostile kings. The chronicles are full of the instances of such con-
sideration of the English and French knights for each other in the wars between
the two nations ;
and not without probability that to these and suchlike mani-
it is
festations of the spirit of chivalry have been traced the courtesy and humanity which
characterise modern warfare in a degree unknown to the ancients.
Muchindeed of barbarism and cruelty there was in the usages of war in the best
times of chivalry, even of the knights among themselves, and still more when they
came, with passions infuriated by resistance, upon the people of lower rank than
themselves. III of England, and the knights whom he gathered round
Edward
him, are held alike by contemporary historians and romance writers, and by those
of modern times,to have best exhibited the characteristics of chivalry in its day of
greatest refinement as well as splendour ; yet no one can read the chronicles of
even the admiring Froissart without seeing how much savage passion and cruelty
was often mingled with their better dispositions though we do see also that the
:
cruelty was not because, but in spite of their chivalry. Froissart laments bitterly
the iniquity of the massacre by the Black Prince of the people of Limoges, men,
women, and children, more than three thousand. And when Edward III, before
him, intended, as would seem, to have treated the town of Calais in like manner,
not only did the French knights who had offered to surrender declare that they
would endure as much pain
•
as knights ever did, rather than the poorest lad in the
town should have any more evil than the greatest of us all
'
—showing that they
THE LADY OF CHIVALRY. fi
made no between the noble and the villain— but the English
selfish distinction
not a thing that should blemish your renown, nor to give cause to some to speak
of you villaifty [to charge you with conduct unworthy of a knight and gentleman] ;
every man will say it is a great cruelty to put to death such honest persons, who by
their own wills put themselves into your grace to save their company. Then the
king wryed away from him, and commanded to send for the hangman, and said,
"
They of Calais had caused many of my men to be slain, wherefore these shall
'
die in likewise."
It needed a stronger influence than that of Sir Walter of Manny to save their
lives : and this brings me to speak of the Lady of the mediaeval times ;
the Lady,
who was Knight, and without whom he could never have
the counterpart of the
existed. Here, indeed, I meet a difficulty which reminds me of what Coleridge
says of the female characters of Shakspeare, that their truth to nature, and therefore
absence of strongly marked features. It is impossible
their beauty, consists in the
to read the poems, romances, or chronicles of the mediaeval times, without feeling
all through how
important a part the lady plays everywhere and yet it is far from ;
easy to draw her from her retirement and bring distinctly before ourselves what she
did, and get a picture of her as definite as we can do of the knight. Still I must
presentative of the lady, in the highest and best sense, in an age in which the
ladies —
such as the princess Blanche, the good queen Ann, the countess of Salis-
bury, Jane de Montfort, and the wife of Charles de Blois
—were renowned for their
his love and company on Philippa and also the young lady in all honour was
;
more conversant with him than any of her sisters.' Queen Isabel had come to ask
for aid against her enemies, and Froissart gives an account of the discussion be-
tween the earl and his council, who objected on prudential grounds to interfering
with the quarrels of the English, and the earl's brother, Sir John Hainault, who
maintained that all knights ought to aid to their powers all ladies and damsels
'
chased out of their own countries, being without counsel or comfort.' The earl
tin
lii
QUEEN PHIL1PPA,
straining him by the hand in sign of great love.' The whole passage is too long
to quote, but thus much gives a lively picture of the temper of the home and court
in which the young Philippa was brought up.
Her marriage with Edward, then only was agreed on, and
fifteen years old,
sanctioned by the Pope. I am sorry to say that the chronicler gives no account of
1
the lady's bridal outfit , except in the general terms, that there was devised and *
purveyed for their apparel, and for all things honourable that belonged to such a
lady, who
should be queen of England.' They were married, and sh% arrived in
England and was crowned, 'with great justs, tourneys, dancing, carolling, and
great feasts, the which endured the space of three weeks.' And then this young
'
queen Philippa abode still in England, with small company of any persons of her
own country, saving one who was named Walter of Manny, who was her carver,
and after did so many great prowesses in divers places, that it were hard to make
mention of them.' If we couple this statement, that she retained hardly any of her
own people, with that which Froissart makes in reviewing her whole life, that she
'
loved always her own nation where she was born,' we have pleasing thoughts sug-
gested of the cheerful acceptance of new duties in a foreign land by the young
wife ;
had space to describe in detail the noble life of Sir Walter of
while, if I
Manny, the reader would agree with me that his habitual presence in the Eng-
lish court must have done much to make both Edward and the Black Prince,
as well as the rest of the princes and nobles, what they were, as knights and
gentlemen.
The next glimpse we
get of the queen is when she appears, accompanied with
three hundred ladies and damsels ' of noble lineage, and apparelled accordingly, at
the yearly feast at Windsor, in honour of the order and brotherhood of the Knights
of the Blue Garter, there established on St. George's day.' Again, when the king
of Scots had advanced to Newcastle, while king Edward lay before Calais, we see
the queen arriving to meet the English army, and going from division to division,
1
desiring them to do their devoir
'
— duty was
then, as now, the English soldier's
word — '
to defend the honour of her lord the king of England, and, in the name of
God, every man to be of good heart and courage promising them that to her ;
power she would remember them as well or better as though her lord the king
were there personally. Then the queen departed from them, recommending them
to God and St. George.' She does not seem, like some of the ladies of that
generation, to have considered the field to be her place while the battle was going
on ;
was won she returned, and with her council made all necessary
but after it
arrangements and plans. Shortly after she joined her husband while he lay before
Calais, bringing many ladies and damsels with her, as well to accompany her, as
'
to see their husbands, fathers, brethren, and other friends that lay at siege there
before Calais, and had done a long time.' And I think we may attribute it as well
1
appears from Morte Arthur, p. 474,
It to, 'to buy all manner of things that
that London was the proper place to go longed unto a wedding.'
IN LIFE AND IN DEATH. liii
nothing of you ; therefore now require you, in the honour of the Son of
I.
humbly
the Virgin Mary, and for the love of me, that ye will take mercy of these six
burgesses." The king beheld the queen, and stood still in a study a space, and
then said, " Ah dame, I would ye had been as now in some other place ye make ;
when she knew that there was no remedy but death, she desired to speak with the
king her husband, and when he was before her, she put out of her bed her right
hand, and took the king by his right hand, who was right sorrowful at his heart.
Then she " we have in peace, joy, and great prosperity, used all our time
said, Sir,
the churches where she had * had her devotion," and that ** it might please him to
take none other sepulture, whensoever it should please God to call him out of this
transitory life, but beside her in Westminster." The king, all weeping, said,
*
Madam, your desire." Then the good lady and queen made on her
I grant all
the sign of the cross, and commended the king her husband to God, and her
youngest son Thomas, who was there beside her and anon after she yielded up ;
the spirit, which I believe surely the holy angels received with great joy up to
heaven ;
for in all her life she did neither in thought nor deed thing to lose her
any creature could know. Thus the good queen of England died in
soul, as far as
the year of our Lord 1369, in the vigil of our Lady, in the midst of August.'
We have all pictured to ourselves, again and again, how the lady sat in her
bower with her embroidery and her missal or romance, and saw from her lattice
liv 'THE CRUSADES.
window her knight going from the castle with lance and pennon, hoping to meet
his foe : how the minstrel recited in the castle hall the feats of arms of this or
that hero in some distant battle-field ;
and how the matron or the maiden heard
those feats, and thought with silent joy that it was her lord, her husband, or her
lover, whose deeds were thus winning the praises of the troubadour, and the
favour which was their highest incentive to distinguish themselves ; and from whose
hands the conqueror received the prize of skill and bravery while the honourably:
vanquished might be sure that he would have the hardly less welcome lot of being
cared for by the same ladies, who never shrank from this their acknowledged and
well-fulfilled duty of tending the wounded knight.
Perhaps too we have listened in fancy to the proceedings of the so-called Courts
of Parliaments of Love, in which the ladies were wont to hear questions of gallantry
gravely argued on both sides by poets pleading in verse, and then to give their
judgments according to the logical and metaphysical rules which the schoolmen
applied to theological enquiries. But I can now but remind my reader that such
things were and must hasten forward, leaving ungathered flowers that
;
would make
many a wreath and nosegay.
The golden age of
chivalry was the period from about the middle of the eleventh
to the end of the fourteenth century. We
may say with Gibbon, that the Crusades
were at once a caus? and an of chivalry. In the Crusades the spirit of
effect
knighthood, with all its characteristic features, actuated vast bodies of men of every
rank and nation, and found a foe believed by all Christendom to be to it what the
individual robber and plunderer was to the knight errant who went forth in his own
country to defend or rescue the widow and orphan and their possessions, or the
traveller along the road which passed the castle of some powerful though unworthy
baron. The chivalry at home was kept alive, and raised to its highest energy,
both in man and woman, by the chivalry in the Holy Land. It is in this period
that the chief institutions of chivalry took their rise, or reached their full form ;
while their ruder features were gradually softened with the increasing refinement of
the times, till they presented that aspect with' which we find them in the days of
Edward and the Black Prince, as drawn by Froissart or Chaucer, or in the
III
romances which were then written or remodelled out of older materials, and which
show that even in the estimation of other nations the English court then afforded
the pattern of knighthood for Christendom.
Thenceforward the outward forms of chivalry began to decay; very gradually
indeed, and not without apparent resuscitations from time to time. But no real
revival was possible ; for the immortal spirit was seeking new habitations for itself,
DECAF OF THE OLD FORMS. lv
more fitted to the new world which was succeeding to that of the Middle Ages.
And perhaps Cervantes, by helping to tear up with his merciless satire the last
remnants of an honest faith in the old forms of chivalry, did as real, though we
cannot say as genial, a service to the cause of chivalry itself, as Spenser did in
and, with food and clothing and medicines, and the consolations of their faith, were
speedily seen, in their half-military, half-priestly garb
—
the armour covered by the
black robe with the white cross — at the bedsides of the wounded and the dying, as
they lay amid the still tottering ruins of their devastated houses. In a very few
years, in that same generation, the Order had passed away for ever but it is
;
pleasant to him who stands in the palace of the Grand Masters among the trophies
of their former greatness, or treads the aisles of the cathedral of St. John, where
every step is upon the emblazoned gravestone of a knight, to think of this, and not
of any less worthy deed, as their last act.
<
The knight's bones are dust,
And his good sword rust :
And it was the transference of these Christian ethics, into the practice of common
daily, worldly life, in which we owe to the knights and
rude, half-barbarous times,
ladies of the Middle Ages a transference effected slowly, and with much mixture
;
of evil with the good nor is the work nearly completed yet ; but the worth of
:
makyth man. Manners, like laws, create a region and atmosphere of virtue within
lvi THE SPIRIT OF CHIVALRY STILL LIVES.
which all good more easily lives and grows, and evil finds it harder to maintain
itself. How
large a portion of the small, spontaneous kindnesses of hourly life, in
which, after all, so much of our happiness consists, are not only unknown, but
impossible, where habitual, unaffected politeness is wanting.
But manners are good, not only as affording a fairer field for the exercise of the
higher virtues, but good in themselves. They are a real part of the beauty and grace
of our human Courtesy, and self-possession, and deference and respect for
life.
others ; modesty and gentleness towards all men, and recognition in all of the true
gold of humanity, whether it bear the guinea stamp or no ; love of truth and
honour; and not only readiness, but eagerness to help the weak, and defend their
cause against the strong ; and all these irradiated and glorified, as often as may be,
bv that sentiment which
morally poor, and weak, and oppressed, who, but for such deliverers, must remain
in a house of bondage darker than can be built or barred by earthly hands.
But whether we are content with the chivalry of manners, or aspire to a place in
the brotherhood of the chivalry of action, our principles, our maxims, and our
1
For facts my principal authorities — Roman Empire Godwin's Life of Chaucer;
;
whose words I have frequently availed Scott's Essay on Chivalry ; Lord Berner's
myself of
— are Mills's History of Chi- Froissart; and Southev's Introduction to
valrv, which alone almost exhausts the Amadis of Gaul,
subject Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the
;
THE BOOK OF
KING ARTHUR
AND OF HIS NOBLE
After that I had accomplished and universal world into the number of the
finished divers histories, as well of con- nine best and worthy. Of whom was
historial and the noble Arthur, whose noble acts
templation as of other
first
comen both in ballad and in prose, the French divers and many noble volumes
second Alexander the Great, and the of his acts, and also of his knights. To
third Julius Crcsar, Emperor of Rome, whom I answered that divers men hold
of whom the histories be well known opinion that there was no such Arthur,
and had. And as for the three Jews, and that all such books as been made of
which also were tofore the incarnation him, be but feigned and fables, because
of our Lord, of whom the first was duke that some chronicles make of him no men-
Joshua which brought the children of tion, nor remember him nothing, nor of
Israel into the land of behest, the second his knights. Whereto
they answered, and
David king of Jerusalem, and the third one in special said, that in him that should
Judas Machabeus. Of these three the say or think that there was never such
Bible rehearseth all their noble histories a king called Arthur,
might well be
and acts. And since the said incarna- aretted great folly and blindness. For
tion have been three noble Christian he said that there were evidences
many
men, stalled and admitted through the of the contrary. First ye may see his
PREFACE OF
sepulchre in the monastery of Glasting- seen and read beyond the sea, which be
bury. And also in Policronicon, in the not had in our maternal tongue. But in
fifth book the sixth chapter, and in the Welsh be many and also in French, and
seventh book the twenty-third chapter, some in English but no where nigh
where his body was buried, and after all. Wherefore, such as have late
found, and translated into the said been drawn out briefly into English
monastery. Ye shall see also in the I have after the simple conning that
history of Bochas in his book De Casu God hath sent to me, under the favour
Principum part of his noble acts, and and correction of all noble lords
also of his fall. Also Galfridus in his and gentlemen, enprised to imprint
British book recounteth his life and in : a book of the noble histories of the
divers places of England many remem- said king Arthur, and of certain of his
brances be yet of him, and shall remain knights, after a copy unto me delivered,
perpetually, and also of his knights. which copy Sir Thomas Malorye did
First in the abbey of Westminster, at take out of certain books of French,
St. Edward's shrine, remaineth the print and reduced it into English. And I,
of his seal in red wax closed in beryl, according to my copy, have down set
in which is written, Patricias Arthurus it in print, to the intent that noble men
Britannie, Gallie, Germanie, Dacie, Im- may see and learn the noble acts of
perator. Item in the castle of Dover ye chivalry, the gentle and virtuous deeds
may see Gawaine's scull, and Cradok's that some knights used in those days,
mantle at Winchester the
: Round by which they came to honour, and how
Table : in other places Launcelot's they that were vicious were punished and
sword and many other things. Then oft put to shame and rebuke humbly be- ;
all these things considered, there can no seeching all noble lords and ladies, with
man reasonably gainsay but that there allother estates of what estate or degree
was a king of this land named Arthur. they been of, that shall see and read in
For in all places, Christian and hea- this said book and work, that they
then, he is reputed and taken for one of take the good and honest acts in their
the nine worthy, and the first of the three remembrance, and to follow the same.
Christian men. And also, he is more Wherein they shall find many joyous
spoken of beyond the sea, more books and pleasant histories, and noble and
made of his noble acts, than there be renowned acts of humanity, gentle-
in England, as well in Dutch, Italian, ness, and chivalry. For herein may be
Spanish, and Greekish, as in French. And seen noble chivalry, courtesy, humanity,
yet of record remain in witness of him friendliness, hardiness, love, friendship,
in Wales, in the town of Camelot, the cowardice, murder, hate, virtue, and
great stones and the marvellous works sin. Do after the good and leave the
of iron lying under the ground, and evil, and it shall bring you to good
royal vaults, which divers now living fame and renommee. And for to pass
have seen. Wherefore it is a marvel the time this book shall be pleasant to
why he is no more renowned in his read in, but for to give faith and belief
own country, save only it accordeth to that all is true that is contained herein,
the Word of God, which saith that no ye be at your liberty : but all is written
man is accepted for a prophet in his for our doctrine, and for to beware that
own country. Then all these things we fall not to vice nor sin, but to exer-
aforesaid alleged, I could not well deny cise and follow virtue, by the which we
but that there was such a noble king may come and attain to good fame
named Arthur, and reputed one of and renown in this life, and after this
the nine worthy, and first and chief of short and transitoiy life to come unto
the Christian men. And many noble everlasting bliss in heaven; the which
volumes be made of him and of his He grant us that reigneth in heaven,
noble knights in French, which I have the blessed Trinity. Amen.
WILLIAM CAXTON. 3
Then to proceed forth in this said the noble knight, and of his acts, and
book, the which I direct unto all noble containeth xli chapters. The Ninth
princes,
lords and ladies, gentlemen or Book treateth of a knight named by
gentlewomen, that desire to read or hear Sir Kay Le Cote male taille, and also
read of the noble and joyous history of of Sir and containeth xliv
Tristram,
the great conqueror and excellent king, chapters. The Tenth Book treateth of
King Arthur, sometime king of this Sir Tristram, and other marvellous ad-
noble realm, then called Britain I,
; ventures, and containeth lxxxviii chap-
William Caxton, simple person, present ters. The Eleventh Book treateth of Sir
this book following, which I have en- Launcelot and Sir Galahad, and con-
prised to imprint: and treateth of the taineth xiv chapters. The Twelfth
noble acts, feats of arms of chivalry, Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and his
prowess, hardiness, humanity, love, madness, and containeth xiv chapters.
courtesy, andvery gentleness, with The Thirteenth Book treateth how Gala-
many wonderful histories and adven- had came first to king Arthur's court,
tures. And for to understand briefly and the quest how the Sangreal was
the content of this volume, I have begun, and containeth xx chapters. The
divided it into XXI Books, and every Fourteenth Book treateth of the quest
book chaptered, as hereafter shall by of the Sangreal, and containeth x chap-
God's grace follow. The First Book ters. The Fifteenth Book treateth of
shall treat how Uther Pendragon gat Sir Launcelot, and containeth vi chap-
the noble conqueror king Arthur, and ters. The Sixteenth Book treateth of
containeth xxviii chapters. The Second Sir Bors and Sir Lionel his brother, and
Book treateth of Balin the noble knight, containeth xvii chapters. The Seven-
and containeth xix chapters. The Third teenth Book treateth of the Sangreal,
Book treateth of the marriage of king and containeth xxiii chapters. The
Arthur to queen Guenever, with other Eighteenth Book treateth of Sir Laun-
matters, and containeth xv chapters. The celot and the queen, and containeth
Fourth Book, how Merlin was assotted, xxv chapters. The Nineteenth Book
and of war made to king Arthur, and treateth of queen Guenever and Laun-
containeth xxix chapters. The Fifth celot, and containeth xiii chapters. The
Book treateth of the conquest of Lucius Twentieth Book treateth of the piteous
the emperor, and containeth xii chap- death of Arthur, and containeth xxii chap-
ters. The Sixth Book treateth of Sir ters. The Twenty-first Book treateth of
Launcelot and Sir Lionel, and marvel- his last departing, and how Sir Launcelot
lous adventures, and containeth xviii came to revenge his death, and containeth
chapters. The Seventh Book treateth xiii
chapters. The sum is tWenty-orie
of a noble knight called Sir Gareth, and books, which contain the sum of five
named by Sir Kay Beaumains, and hundred and seven chapters, as more
containeth xxxvi chapters. The Eighth plainly shall follow hereafter.
Book treateth of the birth of Sir Tristram
Xi)e Xable or 3&ttbtpssljc
Of tl)f
Content of Chapters.
First how Uther Pendragon sent for the How eleven kings gathered a great host
duke of Cornwall and Igraine his against king Arthur. Chap. x.
wife, and of their departing sud- Of a dream of the king with the hundred
denly again. Chap. i. knights. Chap. xi.
How Uther Pendragon made war on How the eleven kings with their host
the duke of Cornwall, and how by fought against Arthur and his host,
the means of Merlin he made the and many great feats of the war.
duchess his queen. Chap. ii. Chap. xii.
Of the birth of king Arthur, and of his Yet of the same battle. Chap. xiii.
nouriture, and of the death of king Yet more of the same battle. Chap. xiv.
Uther Pendragon; and how Arthur Yet more of the said battle, and how it
was chosen king and of wonders and
;
was ended by Merlin. Chap. xv.
marvels of a sword that was taken How king Arthur, king Ban, and king
out of a stone by the said Arthur. Bors rescued king Leodegrance, and
Chap. iii. other incidents. Chap. xvi.
How king Arthur pulled out the sword How king Arthur rode to Carlion, and
divers times. Chap. iv. of his dream, and how he saw the
How king Arthur was crowned and how questing beast. Chap. xvii.
he made officers. Chap. v. How king Pellinore took Arthur's horse
How king Arthur held in Wales, at a and followed the questing beast, and
Pentecost, a great feast, and what how Merlin met with Arthur.
kings and lords came to his feast. Chap, xviii.
Chap. vi. How Ulfius appeached queen Igraine,
Of the first war
that king Arthur had, mother, of treason
Arthur's and
;
How Merlin saved Arthur's life, and How came to Arthur that king
tidings
threw an enchantment upon king Pel- Ryons had overcome eleven kings,
linore, and made him to sleep. and how he desired Arthur's beard to
Chap. xxii. trim his mantle. Chap. xxiv.
How Arthur by the mean of Merlin How all the children were sent for that
got Excalibur his sword of the Lady were born on May-day, and how
of the Lake. Chap, xxiii. Mordred was saved. Chap. xxv.
Of a damsel which came girded with a Of the interment of twelve kings, and of
sword, for to find a man of such the prophecy of Merlin how Balin
virtue to draw it out of the scabbard. should give the dolorous stroke.
Chap. i. Chap. xi.
How Balin, arrayed likea poor knight, How a sorrowful knight came tofore
pulled out the sword, which afterward Arthur, and how Balin fetched him,
was cause of his death. Chap. ii. and how that knight was slain by a
How the Lady of the Lake demanded knight invisible. Chap. xii.
the knight's head that had won the How Balin and the damsel met with a
sword, or the maiden's head. knight which was in like wise slain,
Chap. iii. and how the damsel bled for the
How Merlin told the adventure of this custom of a castle. Chap. xiii.
damsel. Chap. iv. How Balin met with that knight named
How Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor, Garlon at a feast, and there he slew
knight of Ireland, and how he justed him to have his blood to heal there-
and slew him. Chap. v. with the son of his host.
How a damsel which was love to
Chap. xiv.
Lanceor, slew herself for love, and How Balin fought with king Pellam,
how Balin met with his brother Balan. and how his sword brake, and how he
Chap. vi. gat a spear, wherewith he smote the
How a dwarf reproved Balin for the dolorous stroke. Chap. xv.
death of Lanceor, and how king How Balin was delivered by Merlin,
Mark of Cornwall found them, and and saved a knight that would have
made a tomb over them. Chap. vii. slain himself for love.
Chap. xvi.
How Merlin prophesied that two the How that knight slew his love, and a
best knights of the world should fight knight with her; and after how he
there, which were Sir Launcelot and slew himself with his own sword,
Sir Tristram. Chap. viii. and how Balin rode toward a castle
How Balin and his brother, by the where he lost his life. Chap. xvii.
counsel of Merlin, took king Ryons How Balin met with his brother Balan,
and brought him to king Arthur. and how each of them slew other un-
Chap. ix. known, till
they were wounded to
How king Arthur had a battle against death. Chap, xviii.
Nero and king Lot of Orkney and ;
How Merlin buried them both in one
how king Lot was deceived by Merlin, tomb, and of Balin's sword.
and how twelve Icings were slain. Chap. xix.
Chap. x.
CONTENTS.
How king Arthur took a wife, and Gawaine and Gaheris, and how they
wedded Guenever daughter to Leode- were overcome and their lives saved
grance, king of the land of Cameliard, at the request of four ladies.
with whom he had the Round Table. Chap. viii.
the hart, which was taken away. How king Pellinore gat the lady, and
Chap. v. brought her to Camelot to the court
How Sir Gawaine rode for to fetch of king Arthur. Chap. xiii.
again the hart, and how two brethren How on the way he heard two knights
fought each against other for the as he lay by night in a valley, and of
hart. Chap. vi. other adventures. Chap. xiv.
How the hart was chased into a castle, How when he was come to Camelot he
and there slain and how Gawaine
;
was sworn upon a book to tell the
slew a lady. Chap. vii. truth of his quest. Chap. xv.
How four knights fought against Sir
How Merlin was assotted, and doted Round Table, and how Bagdemagus
on one of the ladies of the lake, and was displeased. Chap. v.
how he was shut in a rock under a How king Arthur, king andUriens,
stone, and there died. Chap. i. Sir Accolon of Gaul chased an hart,
How five kings came into this land to and of their marvellous adventure.
war against king Arthur, and what Chap. vi.
counsel Arthur had against them. How Arthur took upon him to fight,
Chap. ii. tobe delivered out of prison, and also
How king Arthur had ado with them, for to deliver twenty knights that were
and overthrew them, and slew the five in prison. Chap. vii.
kings, and made the remnant to flee. How Accolon found himself by a well,
Chap. iii. and he took upon him to do battle
How the battle was finished or he came, against Arthur. Chap. viii.
and how the king founded an abbey Of the battle between king Arthur and
where the battle was. Chap. iv. Accolon. Chap. ix.
How Sir Tor was made knight of the How king Arthur's sword that he fought
CO'NTENTS.
with brake, andhow he recovered of How Sir Marhaus, Sir Gawaine, and Sir
Accolon his own sword Excalibur, Ewain met three damsels, and each
and overcame his enemy. Chap. x. of them took one. Chap. xix.
How Accolon confessed the treason of How a knight and a dwarf strove for a
Morgan le fay, king Arthur's sister, lady. Chap. xx.
and how she would have done slay How king Pelleas suffered himself to be
him. Chap. xi. taken prisoner because he would have
How Arthur accorded the two brethren, a sight of his lady, and how Sir Ga-
and delivered the twenty knights, and waine promised him for to get to hir.
how Sir Accolon died. Chap. xii. the love of his lady. Chap. ,;xi.
How Morgan would have slain Sir How Gawaine came to the lady
Sir
Uriens her husband, and how Sir Ettard, and how Sir Pelleas found
Ewain her son saved him. them sleeping. Chap. xxii.
Chap. xiii. How Sir Pelleas loved nc mere Ettard,
How queen Morgan le fay made great by the mean of the damsel of the
sorrow for the death of Accolon, and lake, whom he loved ever after.
how she stole away the scabbard Chap, xxiii.
from Arthur. Chap. xiv. How Sir Marhaus rode with the damsel,
How Morgan le fay saved a knight that and how he came to the duke of the
should have been drowned, and how South Marches. Chap. xxiv.
king Arthur returned home again. How Sir Marhaus fought with the duke
Cnap. xv. and his six sons, and made them to
How the damsel of the lake saved king yield them. Chap. xxv.
Arthur from a mantle which should How Sir Ewain rode with the damsel
have burnt him. Chap. xvi. of sixty year of age, and how he
How Sir Gawaine and Ewain met
Sir gat the prize at tourneying.
with twelve fair damsels, and how Chap. xxvi.
they complained on Sir Marhaus. How Sir Ewain fought with two knights,
Chap. xvii. and overcame them. Chap, xxvii.
How Sir Marhaus justed with Sir Ga- How at the year's end all three knights
waine and Sir Ewain, and overthrew with their three damsels met at the
them both. Chap, xviii. fountain. Chap, xxviii.
How twelve aged ambassadors of Rome How king Arthur sent Sir Gawaine and
came Arthur to demand truage
to king other to Lucius, and how they were
for Britain. Chap. i. assailed and escaped with worship.
How the kings and lords promised to Chap. vi.
king Arthur aid and help against the How Lucius sent certain spies in a bush-
Romans. Chap. ii. ment, for to have taken his knights,
How king Arthur held a parliament at being prisoners, and how they were
York, and how he ordained how the letted. Chap. vii.
realm should be governed in his ab- How a senator told to Lucius of their
sence. Chap. iii. discomfiture, and also of the great
How king Arthur being shipped, and battle between Arthur and Lucius.
lying in his cabin, had a marvellous Chap. viii.
dream, and of the exposition thereof. How Arthur, after he had achieved the
Chap. iv. battle against the Romans, entered
How a man of the country told to him into Almaine, and so into Italy.
of a marvellous giant, and how he Chap. ix.
fought and conquered him. Chap. v. Of a battle done by Gawaine against
8 CONTENTS.
a Saracen, which after was yielden How Sir Gawaine returned to king
and became Christian. Chap. x. Arthur with his prisoners, and how
How the Saracens came out of a wood the king won a city, and how he was
for to rescue their beasts, and of a crowned emperor. Chap. xii.
great battle. Chap. xi.
sleeping, and how by enchantment How Sir Launcelot jousted against four
he was taken and led into a castle. knights of the Round Table, and over-
Chap. iii. threw them. Chap. xiii.
How Sir Launcelot was delivered by How Sir Launcelot followed a brachet
the mean of a damsel.
Chap. iv. into a castle, where he found a dead
How a knight found Sir Launcelot, and knight, and how he after was required
how Sir Launcelot fought with the of a damsel to heal her brother.
knight. Chap. v. Chap. xiv.
How Sir Launcelot was received of king How Sir Launcelot came into the Chapel
Bagdemagus's daughter, and he made Perilous, and gat there of a dead
his complaint to her father. corpse a piece of the cloth and a
Chap. vi. sword. Chap. xv.
How behaved him in a
Sir Launcelot How Sir Launcelot, at the request of a
tournament, and how he met with Sir lady, recovered a falcon, by which he
Turquine leading Sir Gaheris. was deceived. Chap. xvi.
How Beaumains came to king Arthur's How Beaumains desired the battle, and
and demanded three petitions
court, how it was granted to him, and how
of king Arthur. Chap. i. he desired to be made knight of Sir
How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine Launcelot. Chap. iii.
were wroth because Sir Kay mocked How Beaumains departed, and how he
Beaumains, and of a damsel which gat of Sir Kay a spear and a shield,
desired a knight for to fight for a and how he justed and fought with
lady. Chap. ii. Sir Launcelot. Chap. iv.
CONTENTS.
How Beaumains told to Sir Launcelot Arthur's court, and to cry Sir Laun-
his name, and how he was dubbed celot mercy. Chap, xviii.
knight of Sir Launcelot, and after How Beaumains came to the lady, and
overtook the damsel. Chap. v. when he came to the castle the gates
How Sir Beaumains fought and slew were closed against him, and of the
two knights at a passage. Chap. vi. words that the lady said to him.
How Beaumains fought with the knight Chap. xix.
of the black lands, and fought with How Beaumains rode after to rescue
Sir
him till he fell down and died. his dwarf, and came into the castle
Chap. vii. where he was. Chap. xx.
How the brother of the knight that was How Sir Gareth, otherwise called Beau-
slain met with Beaumains, and fought mains, came to the presence of his
with Beaumains till he was yielden. lady, and how they took acquaint-
Chap. viii. ance, and of their love. Chap. xxi.
How the damsel ever rebuked Beau- How at night came an armed knight,
mains, and would not suffer him to and fought with Sir Gareth, and he,
sit at her table, but called him kitchen sore hurt in the thigh, smote off the
boy. Chap. ix. knight's head. Chap. xxii.
How the third brother, called the red How the said knight came again the
knight, jousted and fought against next night, and was beheaded again.
Beaumains, and how Beaumains over- And how at the feast of Pentecost all
came him. Chap. x. the knights that Sir Gareth had over-
How Sir Beaumains suffered great re- come came and yielded them to king
bukes of the damsel, and he suffered Arthur. Chap, xxiii.
it
patiently. Chap. xi. How king Arthur pardoned them, and
How Sir Beaumains fought with Sir demanded of them where Sir Gareth
Peisant of inde, and made him to be was. Chap. xxiv.
yielden. Chap. xii. How the queen of Orkney came to this
Of the goodly communication between feast of Pentecost, and Sir Gawaine
Sir Peisant and Beaumains, and how and his brethren came to ask her
he told him that his name was Sir blessing. Chap. xxv.
Gareth. Chap. xiii. How king Arthur sent for the lady
How the lady that was besieged had Liones, and how she let cry a tourney
word from her sister how she had at her castle, where as came many
brought a knight to fight for her, and knights. Chap. xxvi.
what battles he had achieved. How king Arthur went to the tourna-
Chap. xiv. ment with his knights, and how the
How the damsel and Beaumains came lady received him worshipfully, and
to the siege, and came to a sycamore how the knights encountered.
tree, and there Beaumains blew an' Chap, xxvii.
horn, and then the knight of the red How the knights bare them in battle.
lands came to fight with him. Chap, xxviii.
Chap. xv. Yet of the said tournament. Chap. xxix.
How the two knights met together, and How Sir Gareth was espied by the
of their talking, and how they began heralds, and how he escaped out of
their battle. Chap. xvi. the field. Chap xxx.
How after long fighting Beaumains over- How Gareth came to a castle where
Sir
came the height and would have slain he was well lodged, and how he
him, but at the request of the lords justed with a knight and slew him.
he saved his life, and made him to Chap. xxxi.
yield him to the lady. Chap. xvii. How Sir Gareth fought with a knight
How the knight yielded him, and how that held within his castle thirty ladies,
Beaumains made him to go unto king and how he slew him. Chap, xxxii.
10 CONTENTS.
How Sir Gavvaine and Sir Gareth fought and of the appointment of their wed-
each against other, and how they knew ding. Chap, xxxiv.
each other by the damsel Linet. Of the great royalty, and what officers
Chap, xxxiii. were made at the feast of the wed-
How Sir Gareth acknowledged that ding, and of the justs at the feast.
they loved each other to king Arthur, Chap. xxxv.
How Sir Tristram de Liones was born, king and La Beale Isoud out of Ire-
and how his mother died at his birth, land for to come into Cornwall.
wherefore she named him Tristram. Chap. xii.
Chap. i. How Sir Tristram and king Mark hurt
How the step-mother of Sir Tristram each other for the love of a knight's
had ordained poison for to have poi- wife. Chap. xiii.
soned Sir Tristram. Chap. ii. How Sir Tristram came to the lady,
How Sir Tristram was sent into France, and how her husband fought with
and had one to govern him named Sir Tristram. Chap. xiv.
Gouvernail, and how he learned to How Sir Bleoberis demanded the fairest
harp, hawk, and hunt. Chap. iii. lady in king Mark's court, whom he
How Sir Marhaus came out of Ireland took away, and how he was fought
for to ask truage of Cornwall, or else with. Chap. xv.
he would fight therefore. Chap. iv. How Sir Tristram fought with two
How Tristram enterprized the battle to knights of the Round Table.
truage of Cornwall, and
fight for the Chap. xvi.
how he was madeknight. Chap. v. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Bleo-
How Sir Tristram arrived into the beris for a lady, and how the lady
island for to furnish the battle with was put to choice to whom she
SirMarhaus. Chap. vi. would go. Chap. xvii.
How Sir Tristram fought against Sir How the lady forsook Sir Tristram and
Marhaus, and achieved his battle, and abode with Sir Bleoberis, and how
how Sir Marhaus fled to his ship. she desired to go to her husband.
Chap. vii. Chap, xviii.
How Sir Marhaus, after that he was How king Mark sent Sir Tristram for
arrived in Ireland, died of the stroke La Beale Isoud toward Ireland, and
that Tristram had given to him, and how by fortune he arrived into Eng-
how
Tristram was hurt. Chap. viii. land. Chap. xix.
How Sir Tristram was put the keep-
to How king Anguish of Ireland was sum-
ing of La Beale Isoud, for to be healed moned to come to king Arthur's court
of his wound. ix. for treason. Chap. xx.
Chap.
How Sir Tristram won the degree at How Sir Tristram rescued a child from
a tournament in Ireland, and there a knight, and how Gouvernail told
made Palamides to bear no harness him of king Anguish. Chap. xxi.
in a year. Chap. x. How Sir Tristram fought for Sir Anguish
How the queen espied that Sir Tristram and overcame his adversary, and how
had slain her brother, Sir Marhaus, his adversary would never yield him.
by his sword,what jeopardy
and in Chap. xxii.
he was. Chap. xi. How Sir Blamor desired Tristram to
How Sir Tristram departed from the slay him and how Sir Tristram spared
:
CONTENTS. II
him, and how they took appoint- home, and of the debate of king Mark
ment. Chap, xxiii. and Sir Tristram. Chap, xxxii.
How Sir Tristram demanded La Beale How Sir Lamorak justed with thirty
Isoud for king Mark, and how Sir knights, and Sir Tristram at the re-
Tristram and Isoud drank the love quest of king Mark smote his horse
drink. Chap. xxiv. down. Chap, xxxiii.
How and Isoud were in
Sir Tristram How Lamorak sent an horn to
Sir
prison, and how he fought for her king Mark in despite of Sir Tristram,
beauty, and smote off another lady's and how Sir Tristram was driven into
head. Chap. xxv. a chapel. Chap, xxxiv.
How Sir Tristram
fought with Sir How Sir Tristram was holpen by his
Breunor, and at the last smote off men, and of queen Isoud, which was
his head. Chap. xxvi. put in a lazarcote, and how Tristram
How Sir Galahad fought with Sir Tris- was hurt. Chap. xxxv.
tram, and how Sir Tristram yielded How Sir Tristram served in war the
him and promised to fellowship with king Howell of Britain and slew his
Launcelot. Chap, xxvii. adversary in the field. Chap, xxxvi.
How Sir Launcelot met with Sir Carados How Sir Suppinabiles told Sir Tristram
bearing away Sir Gawaine, and of the how he was defamed in the court of
rescue of Sir Gawaine. king Arthur, and of Sir Lamorak.
Chap, xxviii. Chap, xxxvii.
Of wedding of king Mark to La
the How and his wife arrived
Sir Tristram
Beale Isoud, and of Bragwaine her in Wales, and how he met there with
maid, and of Palamides. Sir Lamorak. Chap, xxxviii.
Chap. xxix. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Na-
How Palamides demanded queen Isoud, bon and overcame him, and made Sir
and how Lambegus rode after to Lamorak lord of the isle. Chap, xxxix.
rescue her, and of the escape of How Sir Lamorak departed from Sir
Isoud. Chap. xxx. Tristram, and how he met with Sir
How Sir Tristram rode after Palamides, Frol, and after with Sir Launcelot.
and how he found him and fought Chap. xl.
with him, and by the mean of Isoud How Sir Lamorak slew and
Sir Frol,
the battle ceased. Chap. xxxi. of the courteous fighting with Sir
|
How Sir Tristram brought queen Isoud Belliance his brother. Chap. xli.
How a young man came into the court an hundred knights, and how he es-
of king Arthur, and how Sir Kay caped by the mean of a lady.
called him in scorn La Cote Male Chap. iv.
Taile. Chap. i. How Sir Launcelot came to the court
How a damsel came unto the court and and heard of La Cote Male Taile,
desired a knight to take on him an and how he followed after him, and
inquest, which La Cote Male Taile how La Cote Male Taile was prisoner.
emprized. Chap. ii. Chap. v.
How La Cote Male Taile overthrew How SirLauncelot fought with six
Sir Dagonet the king's fool, and of knights, and after with Sir Brian, and
the rebuke that he had of the damsel. how he delivered the prisoners.
Chap. iii.
Chap. vi.
How La Cote Male Taile fought against How Sir Launcelot met with the damsel
12 CONTENTS.
named Maledisant, and named her the How king Mark found Sir Tristram
damsel Bienpensant. Chap. vii. naked, and made him to be borne
How La Cote Male Taile was taken home to Tintagil, and how he was
prisoner, and after rescued by Sir there known by
a brachet. Chap. xxi.
Launcelot, and how Sir Launcelot How king Mark, by the advice of his
overcame four brethren. Chap. viii. council, banished Sir Tristram out of
How Sir Launcelot made La Cote Male Cornwall the term of ten year.
Taile lord of the castle of Pendragon, Chap. xxii.
and after was made knight of the How a damsel sought help to help Sir
Round Table. Chap. ix. Launcelot against thirty knights, and
How La Beale Isoud sent letters unto how Sir Tristram fought with them.
Sir Tristramby her maid Bragwaine, Chap, xxiii.
and of divers adventures of Sir Tris- How Tristram and Sir Dinadan
Sir
tram. Chap. x. came to a lodging where they must
How Sir Tristram met with Sir Lamo- just with two knights. Chap. xxiv.
rak de Galis, and how they fought, How Sir Tristram justed with Sir Kay
and after accorded never to fight to- and Sir Sagramor le Desirous, and
gether. Chap. xi. how Sir Gawaine turned Sir Tristram
How Sir Palamides followed the quest- from Morgan le Fay. Chap. xxv.
ing beast, and how he smote down How Sir Tristram and Sir Gawaine rode
both Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak to have fought against the thirty
with one spear. Chap. xii. knights, but they durst not come out.
How Sir Lamorak met with Sir Me- Chap. xxvi.
liagance, and fought together for the How damsel Bragwaine found Tristram
beauty of queen Guenever. sleeping by a well, and how she de-
Chap. xiii. livered letters to him from Beale Isoud.
How Sir Meliagance told for what Chap, xxvii.
cause they fought, and how Sir La- How Sir Tristram had a fall of Sir Pala-
morak justed with king Arthur. mides, and how Launcelot overthrew
Chap. xiv. two knights. Chap, xxviii.
How Sir Kay met with Sir Tristram, How Sir Launcelot justed with Pala-
and shame spoken of the
after of the mides and overthrew him, and after
knights of Cornwall, and how they he was assailed with twelve knights.
justed. Chap. xv. Chap. xxix.
How king Arthur was brought into the How Sir Tristram behaved him the first
Forest Perilous, and how Sir Tristram day of the tournament, and there he
saved his life. Chap. xvi. had the prize. Chap. xxx.
How Sir Tristram came to La Beale How Sir Tristram returned against king
Isoud, and how Kehydius began to Arthur's party, because he saw Sir
love La Beale Isoud, and of a letter Palamides on that party. Chap. xxxi.
that Tristram found. Chap. xvii. How Sir Tristram found Palamides by
How Sir Tristram departed from Tin- a well, and brought him with him to
tagil, and how he sorrowed, and was his lodging. Chap, xxxii.
so long in a forest till he was out of How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Pa-
hismind. Chap, xviii. lamides, and how he justed with king
How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in Arthur, and other feats. Chap, xxxiii.
a well, and how Palamides sent a How Sir Launcelot hurt Sir Tristram,
damsel to seek Tristram, and how and how after Sir Tristram smote
Palamides met with king Mark. down Sir Palamides. Chap, xxxiv.
Chap. xix. How the prize of the third day was
How was noised how Sir Tristram
it
given to Sir Launcelot, and Sir Laun-
was dead, and how La Beale Isoud celot gave it unto Sir Tristram.
would have slain herself. Chap. xx. Chap. xxxv.
CONTENTS. 13
knights made for Sir Tristram. How Sir Dinadan rescued a lady from
Chap, xxxvi. Sir Breuse Saunce Pite, and how Sir
How Sir Tristram, Sir Palamides, and Tristram received a shield of Morgan
Sir Dinadan were taken and put in le Pay. Chap. xli.
prison. Chap, xxxvii. Plow Sir Tristram took with him the
How king Mark was sorry for the good shield, and also how he slew the
renown of Tristram
Sir some of :
paramour of Morgan le Fay.
Arthur's knights justed with knights Chap. xlii.
of Cornwall. Chap, xxxvi ii. How Morgan le Fay buried her para-
Of the king Mark, and
treason of mour, and how Sir Tristram praised
how Sir Gaheris smote him down, Sir Launcelot and his kin. Chap, xliii.
and Andred his cousin. How Sir Tristram at a tournament bare
Chap, xxxix. the shield that Morgan le Fay had
How after that Sir Tristram, Sir Pala- delivered him. Chap. xliv.
knight that had smitten him down, Plow the six knights sent Sir Dagonet
and many other knights of the Round to just with king Mark, and how king
Table. Chap. iii. Mark refused him. Chap. xii.
How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Sa- How Sir Palamides by adventure met
gramor le Desirous, and Sir Dodinas king Mark flying, and how he over-
le Savage. Chap. iv. threw Dagonet and other knights.
How Sir Tristram met at the perron Chap. xiii.
with Sir Launcelot, and how they How king Mark and Dinadan heard
Sir
fought together unknown. Chap. v. Sir Palamides making great sorrow
How Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tris- and mourning for La Beale Isoud.
tram to the court, and of the great Chap. xiv.
joy that the king and other made for How king Mark had slain Sir Amant
the coming of Sir Tristram. Chap. vi. wrongfully tofore king Arthur, and
How for despite of Sir Tristram king Sir Launcelot fetched king Mark to
Mark came with two knights into king Arthur. Chap. xv.
England, and how he slew one of How Sir Dinadan told Sir Palamides of
the knights. Chap. vii. the battle between Sir Launcelot and
How king Mark came to a fountain Sir Tristram. Chap. xvi.
where he found Sir Lamorak com- How Sir Lamorak justed with divers
plaining for the love of king Lot's knights of the castle, wherein was
wife. Chap. viii. Morgan le Fay. Chap. xvii.
How king Mark, Sir Lamorak, and Sir How Sir Palamides would have justed
14 CONTENTS.
for Sir Lamorak with the knights of brother Boudwin, for good service
the castle. Chap, xviii. that he had done to him.
How SirLamorak justed with Sir Pala- Chap, xxxii.
mides and hurt him grievously. How Anglides, Boudwin's wife, escaped
Chap. xix. with her young son, Alisander le
How itwas told Sir Launcelot that Orphelin, and came to the castle of
Dagonet chased king Mark, and how Arundel. Chap, xxxiii.
a knight overthrew him and six How Anglides gave the bloody doublet
knights. Chap. xx. to Alisander her son the same day
How king Arthur do cry a justs,
let that he was made knight, and the
and how Sir Lamorak came in and charge withal. Chap, xxxiv.
overthrew Sir Gawaine and many How it was told to king Mark of
other. Chap. xxi. Alisander, and how he would have
How king Arthur made king Mark to slain Sir Sadok for saving of his life.
How Sir Percivale was made knight of and how he fought with Sir Malgrin
king Arthur, and how a dumb maid and slew him. Chap, xxxvi.
spake, and brought him to the Round How queen Morgan le Fay had Ali-
Table. Chap, xxiii. sander in her castle, and how she
How Sir Lamorak king Lot's
visited healed his wounds. Chap, xxxvii.
wife, and how Sir Gaheris slew her How Alisander was delivered from the
which was his own mother. queen Morgan le Fay by the means of
Chap. xxiv. a damsel. Chap, xxxviii.
How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred How Alisander met with Alice la Beale
met with a knight fleeing, and how Pilgrim, and how he justed with two
they both were overthrown, and of knights ;
and after of him and of Sir
Sir Dinadan. Chap. xxv. Mordred. Chap, xxxix.
How king Arthur, the queen, and Laun- How Sir Galahalt did do cry a justs in
celot received letters out of Cornwall, Surluse, and queen Guenever's knights
and of the answer again. should just against all that would
Chap. xxvi. come. Chap. xl.
How Sir Launcelot was wroth with the How Sir Launcelot fought in the tour-
letter he received from king
that nament, and how Sir Palamides did
Mark, and of Dinadan, which made arms there for a damsel.
a lay of king Mark. Chap, xxvii. Chap. xli.
How Sir Tristram was hurt, and of a How Sir Galahalt and Palamides fought
war made to king Mark and of Sir ; together, and of Sir Dinadan and Sir
Tristram, how he promised to rescue Galahalt. Chap. xlii.
him. Chap, xxviii. How Archad appealed Sir Palamides
Sir
How Sir Tristram overcame the battle, of treason, and how Sir Palamides slew
and how Elias desired a man to fight him. Chap, xliii.
body for body. Chap. xxix. Of the third day, and how Sir Palamides
How Sir Elias and Sir Tristram fought justed with Sir Lamorak, and other
together for the truage, and how Sir Chap. xliv.
things.
Tristram slew Elias in the field. Of the fourth day, and of many great
Chap. xxx. feats of arms. Chap. xlv.
How at a great feast that king Mark Of the fifth day, and how Sir Lamorak
made, an harper came and sang the behaved him. Chap. xlvi.
lay that Dinadan had made. How Sir Palamides fought with Corsa-
Chap. xxxi. brin for a lady, and how Palamides
How king Mark slew by treason his slew Corsabrin. Chap, xlvii.
CONTENTS. 15
Of the sixth day, and what then was Of the preparation of Sir Palamides
done. Chap, xlviii. and the two brethren that should
Of the seventh battle, and how Sir Laun- fight with him. Chap, lxiii.
celot, being disguised like a maid, Of the battle between Sir Palamides
smote down Sir Dinadan. Chap. xlix. and the two brethren, and how the
How by treason Sir Tristram was two brethren were slain.
brought to a tournament for to have Chap. lxiv.
been and how he was put in
slain, How Sir Tristramand Sir Palamides
prison. Chap. 1. met Breuse Saunce Pite, and how Sir
How king Mark let do counterfeit letters Tristram and La Beale Isoud went
from the Pope, and how Sir Percivale unto Lonazep. Chap. lxv.
delivered Sir Tristram out of prison. How Sir Palamides justed with Sir Ga-
Chap. li. lihodin and after with Sir Gawaine,
How and
Sir Tristram La Beale Isoud and smote them down. Chap. lxvi.
came into England, and how Sir How Sir Tristram and his fellowship
Launcelot brought them to Joyous came unto the tournament of Lona-
Gard. Chap. lii. zep and of divers justs and matters.
;
How Sir Launcelot rodeon his adven- How dame Brisen enchantment
by
ture, and how he helped a dolorous brought Sir Launcelot to Elaine,
and
lady from her pain, and how that how queen Guenever rebuked him.
he fought with a dragon. Chap. i. Chap. viii.
How Sir Launcelot came to Pelles, and How dame Elaine was commanded by
of the Sangreal, and how he begat queen Guenever to avoid the court,
Galahad on Elaine, king Pelles' and how Sir Launcelot became mad.
daughter. Chap. ii.
Chap. ix.
How Sir Launcelotwas displeased when What sorrow queen Guenever made
he knew that he had been deceived, for Sir Launcelot, and how he was
and how Galahad was born. Chap. iii. sought by knights of his kin.
How Sir Bors came to dame Elaine and Chap. x.
saw Galahad, and how he was fed with How a servant of Sir Aglovale's was
the Sangreal. Chap. iv. slain, and what vengeance Sir Agio-
How Sir Bors made Sir Pedivere to yield vale and Sir Percivale did therefore.
him, and of marvellous adventures Chap. xi.
that he had, and how he achieved How Sir Percivale departed secretly
them. Chap. v. from his brother, and how he loosed
How Sir Bors departed and how Sir
;
a knight bound with a chain and of ;
Guenever, and of his excuse. How Sir Percivale met with Sir Ector,
Chap. vi. and how they fought long, and each
How dame Elaine, Galahad's mother, had almost slain other. Chap. xiii.
came in great estate to Camelot, and How by miracle they were both made
how Sir Launcelot behaved him there. whole by the coming of the holy
Chap. vii. vessel of Sangreal. Chap. xiv.
COxVTFNTS. 17
How Sir Launcelot in his madness took How knew other, and of
each of them
a sword and fought with a knight, their courtesy;and how his brother
and after lept into a bed. Chap. i. Ector came unto him, and of their joy.
How Sir Launcelot was carried in an Chap. viii.
horse-litter, and how Sir Launcelot How Bors and Sir Lionel came to
Sir
rescued Sir Bliaunt his host. Chap. ii. king Brandegore, and how Sir Bors
How Sir Launcelot fought against a took his son Heline le Blank, and
boar and slew him, and how he was of Sir Launcelot. Chap. ix.
hurt and brought to an hermitage. How Sir Launcelot, with Sir Percivale
Chap. iii. and Sir Ector, came to the court, and
How Sir Launcelot was known by dame of the great joy of him. Chap. x.
Elaine, and was borne into a chamber, How La Beale Iscud counselled Sir
and after healed by the Sangreal. Tristram to go unto the court to the
Chap. iv. great feast of Pentecost. Chap. xi.
How Sir Launcelot, after that he was How Tristram departed unarmed
Sir
whole and had his mind, he was and met with Sir Palamides, and how
ashamed, and how that Elaine desired thev smote each other, and how Pala-
a castle for him. Chap. v. mides forbare him. Chap. xii.
How Sir Launcelot came into the Joy- How Sir Tristram gat hin. harness of a
ous Isle, and there he named himself knight which was hurt, and how he
le Chevalier Mai Fet. Chap. vi. overthrew Sir Palamides. Chap. xiii.
Of a great tourneying in the Joyous Isle, How Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides
and how Sir Percivale and Sir Ector fought long together, and after ac-
came thither and Sir Percivale fought corded and how Sir Tristram made
;
How at the Vigil of the feast of Pente- hoving on the water to Galahad, and
cost entered into the hall before king how he drew out the sword. Chap. v.
Arthur a damsel, and desired Sir How king Arthur had all the knights
Launcelot for to come and dub a together for to just in the meadow
knight, and how he went with her. beside Winchester or they departed.
Chap. i.
Chap. vi.
How the letters were found written in How the queen desired to see Galahad ;
the Siege Perilous, and of the mar- and after all the knights were re-
vellous adventure of the sword in a plenished with the holy Sangreal, and
stone. Chap. ii. how all they avowed the cnquest of
How Sir Gawaine assayed to draw the same. Chap. vii.
out the sword, and how an old man How great sorrow was made of the king
brought in Galahad. Chap. iii. and ladies for the departing of the
How the old man brought Galahad to knights, and how they departed.
the Siege Perilous, and set him therein, Chap. viii.
and how all the knights marvelled. How Galahad gat him a shield, and
Chap. iv. how they sped that presumed to take
How king Arthur shewed the stone down the said shield. Chap. ix.
18 CONTENTS.
How Galahad departed with the shield, How Sir Gawaine came to the abbey
and how king Evelake had received for to follow Galahad, and how he
Joseph of Aramathye.
this shield of was shriven to a hermit.
Chap. x. Chap. xvi.
How Joseph made a cross on the white How Sir Galahad met with Launce-
Sir
shield with his blood, and how Gala- lot and with Sir Percivale, and smote
had was by a monk brought to a tomb. them down, and departed from them.
Chap. xi. Chap. xvii.
Of the marvel that Sir Galahad saw and How Sir Launcelot, half sleeping
heard in the tomb, and how he made and half waking, saw a sick man
Melias knight. Chap. xii. borne in a litter, and how he was
Of the adventure that Melias had, and healed with the Sangreal.
how Galahad revenged him, and how Chap, xviii.
Melias was carried into an abbey. How a voice spake to Sir Launcelot,
Chap. xiii. and how he found his horse and his
How Galahad departed, and how he helm borne away, and after went
was commanded to go to the castle afoot. Chap. xix.
of maidens to destroy the wicked How Sir Launcelot was shriven, and
custom. Chap. xiv. what sorrow he made and of good
;
How Sir Galahad fought wit# the ensamples which were shewed to him.
knights of the castle, and destroyed Chap. xx.
the wicked custom. Chap. xv.
How Merlin likened the Round Table to Of the vision that Sir Percivale saw,
the world, and how the knights that and how his vision was expounded,
should achieve the Sangreal should and of his lion. Chap. vii.
be known. Chap. ii. How Sir Percivale saw a ship coming
How Sir Percivale came into a monas- to him-ward, and how the lady of the
tery where he found king Evelake, ship told him of her disheritance.
which was an old man. Chap. iii. Chap. viii.
How Sir Percivale saw many men How promised her help,
Sir Percivale
of arms bearing a dead knight, and and how he required her of love, and
how he fought against them. how he was saved from the fiend.
Chap. iv. Chap. ix.
How a yeoman desired him to get again How Sir Percivale for penance rove
an horse, and how Sir Percivale's himself through the thigh and how ;
hackney was slain, and how he gat she was known for the devil.
an horse. Chap. x.
Chap. v.
CONTENTS. *9
How Sir Launcelot came into a chapel, How thehermit expounded to Sir
where he found dead, in a white shirt, Launcelot his vision, and told him
a man of religion of an hundred win- that Sir Galahad was his son.
ter old. Chap. i.
Chap. iv.
Of a dead man, how men would have How Sir Launcelot justed with many
hewen him, and it would not be ; and knights, and he was taken.
how Sir Launcelot took the hair of Chap. v.
the dead man. Chap. ii. How Sir Launcelot told his vision unto
Of a vision that Sir Launcelot had, and a woman, and how she expounded it
How Sir Gawaine was nigh weary of and also of a maid which should have
the quest of Sangreal, and of his mar- been dishonoured. Chap. ix.
vellous dream. Chap. i. How Sir Bors left to rescue his brother,
Of the vision of Sir Ector, and how he and rescued the damsel and how it ;
justed with Sir Uwaine les Avoutres, was told him that Lionel was dead.
hissworn brother. Chap. ii. Chap. x.
How Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector came How Sir Bois told his dream to a priest
to an hermitage to be confessed, and which he had dreamed, and of the
how they told to the hermit their counsel that the priest gave to him.
visions. Chap. iii.
Chap. xi.
How the hermit expounded their vision. How the devil in a woman's likeness
Chap. iv. would have tempted Sir Bors, and
Of good counsel that the hermit
the how by God's grace he escaped.
gave to them. Chap. v. Chap. xii.
How Sir Bors met with an hermit, and Of the holy communication of an abbot
how he was confessed to him, and to Sir Bors, and how the abbot coun-
of his penance enjoined to him. selled him. Chap. xiii.
Chap. vi. How Sir Bors met with his brother Sir
How Bors was lodged with a lady,
Sir Lionel, and how Sir Lionel would
and how he took on him for to fight have slain Sir Bors. Chap. xiv.
against a champion for her land. How Sir Colgrevance fought against
Chap. vii. Sir Lionel for to save Sir Bors, and
Of a which Sir Bors had that
vision how the hermit was slain. Chap. xv.
night, and how he fought and over- How Sir Lionel slew Sir Colgrevance,
came his adversary. Chap. viii. and how after he would have slain
How the lady was restored to her lands Sir Bors. Chap. xvi.
by the battle of Sir Bors, and of How there came a voice which charged
his departing, and how he met Sir Sir Bors to touch not him, and of a cloud
Lionel taken and beaten with thorns, that came between them. Chap, xvii.
20 CONTENTS.
How Sir Galahad rode with a damsel, and how he met with Sir Galahad
and came to the ship whereas Sir Bors his son.
Chap. xiii.
and Sir Percivale were in. Chap. ii. How a knight brought unto Sir Galahad
How Sir Galahad entered into the ship, an horse, and bad him come from his
and of a fair bed therein, with other father Sir Launcelot. Chap. xiv.
marvellous things, and of a sword. How Sir Launcelot was tofore the door
Of the joy of king Arthur and the queen How Launcelot was brought to an
had of the achievement of the San- hermit for to be healed of his wound,
greal and how Launcelot fell to his
;
and of other matters. Chap. xiii.
old love again. Chap. i. How Sir Gawaine was lodged with the
How the queen commanded Sir Launce- lord of Astolat, and there had know-
lot to avoid the court, and of the sor- ledge that it was Sir Launcelot that
row that Launcelot made. bare the red sleeve. Chap. xiv.
Chap. ii. Of the sorrow that Sir Bors had for the
How at a dinner that the queen made hurt of Launcelot and of the anger
;
there was a knight poisoned, which that the queen had because Launcelot
Sir Mador laid on the queen. bore the sleeve. Chap. xv.
Chap. iii. How Sir Bors sought Launcelot and
How Sir Mador appeached the queen of found him in the hermitage, and of
treason, and there was no knight the lamentation between them.
would fight for her at the first time. Chap. xvi.
How queen Guenever rode on Maying Meliagraunce. And how Sir Launce-
with certain knights of the Round was taken in a trap.
lot Chap. vii.
Table and clad all in green. How Sir Launcelot was delivered out of
Chap. i. prison by a lady, and took a white
How Sir Meliagraunce took the queen courser, and came for to keep his day.
all her knights, which were sore
and Chap. viii.
hurt in fighting. Chap. ii. Plow Sir Launcelot came the same time
How Sir Launcelot had word how the that Sir Meliagraunce abode him in
queen was taken, and how Sir Melia- the field, and dressed him to battle.
graunce laid a bushment for Launce- Chap. ix.
lot. Chap. hi. How Urre came into Arthur's court
Sir
How Sir Launcelot's horse was slain, for to be healed of his wounds, and
and how Sir Launcelot rode in a how king Arthur would begin to
cart for to rescue the queen. handle him. Chap. x.
Chap. iv. How king Arthur handled Sir Urre, and
How Sir Meliagraunce required forgive- him many other knights of the
after
ness of the queen, and how she ap- Round Table. Chap. xi.
peased Sir Launcelot, and other mat- How Sir Launcelot was commanded by
ters. Chap. v. Arthur to handle his wounds, and
How Sir Launcelot came in the night anon he was all whole, and how they
to the queen, and how Sir Melia- thanked God. Chap. xii.
graunce appeached the queen of trea- How there was a party made of an
son. Chap. vi. hundred knights against an hundred
How Sir Launcelot answered for the knights, and of other matters.
queen, and waged battle against Sir Chap. xiii.
How Sir Mordred presumed and took his sword Excalibur into the water,
on him to be king of England, and and how he was delivered to ladies in
would have married the queen, his a barge. Chap. v.
uncle's wife. Chap. i. How Sir Bedivere found him on the
How after that king Arthur had tidings morrow dead in an hermitage, and
he returned and came to Dover, where how he abode there with the hermit.
Sir Mordred met him to let his land- Chap. vi.
ing, and of the death of Sir Gawaine. Of the opinion of some men of the
Chap. ii. death of king Arthur and how queen
;
How after Sir Gawaine's ghost appeared Guenever made her a nun in Almes-
to king Arthur, and warned him that bury. Chap. vii.
he should not fight that day. How when Sir Launcelot heard of the
Chap. iii. death of king Arthur, and of Sir Ga-
How by misadventure of an adder the waine, and other matters, came into
battle began, where Mordred was England. Chap. viii.
slain, and Arthur hurt to the death. How Sir Launcelot departed to seek the
Chap. iv. queen Guenever, and how lie found
How king Arthur commanded to cast her at Almcsbury. Chap. ix.
24 CONTENTS.
How Sir Launcelot came to the hermit- How Sir Launcelotbegan to sicken,
age wheie the archbishop of Canter- and whose body was borne
after died,
bury was, and how he took the habit to Joyous Gard for to be buried.
on him. Chap. x. Chap. xii.
How Sir Launcelot went with his seven How Sir Ector found Sir Launcelot his
fellows to Almesbury, and found there brother dead. And how Constantine
queen Guenever dead, whom they reigned next after Arthur, and of the
brought to Glastonbury. Chap. xi. end of this Book. Chap. xiii.
KING ARTHUR
AND OF HIS NOBLE
was a mighty duke in Cornwall that not come at your summons, then may
held war against him long time. And ye do your best then have ye cause to
;
the duke was named the duke of Tin- make mighty war upon him. So that
tagil. And so by means king Uther was done, and the messengers had their
sent for this duke, charging him to answers, and that was this, shortly,
bring his wife with him, for she was that neither he nor his wife would not
called a fair lady, and a passing wise, come at him. Then was the king
and her name was called Igraine. So wonderly wroth. And then the king
when the duke and his wife were come sent him
plain word again, and bade him
unto the king, by the means of great be ready and stuff him and garnish him,
lords they were accorded both the : for within forty days he would fetch
king liked and loved this lady well, and him out of the biggest castle that he
he made them great cheer out of mea- hath. When the duke had this warning,
sure, and desired to have had her love. anon he went and furnished and gar-
But she was a passing good woman, nished two strong castles of his, of the
and would not assent unto the king. which the one hight Tintagil and the
And then she told the duke her hus- other castle hight Terrabil. So his
band, and said, I suppose that we were wife, dame Igraine, he put in the castle
sent for that I should be dishonoured, of Tintagil, and himself he put in the
wherefore, husband, I counsel you that castle of Terrabil, the which had many
we depart from hence suddenly, that issues and posterns out. Then in all
we may ride all night to our own haste came Uther with a great host,
castle. And in like wise as she said so and a siege about the castle of
laid
they departed, that neither the king nor Terrabil. And there he pight many
"26 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK I.
pavilions,and there was great war the four Evangelists. Sir, said Merlin,
made on both parties, and much people this is desire: after ye shall win
my
slain. Then for pure anger and for Igraine ye shall have a child by her,
great love of fair Igraine the king and when that is born that it shall be
Uther fell sick. So came to the king delivered to me for to nourish there as
Uther Sir Ulfius, a noble knight, and I will have it for it shall be your
;
asked the king why he was sick. I worship and the child's avail, as mickle
shall tell thee, said the king I am sick
; as the child is worth. I will well, said
for anger and for love of fair Igraine, the king, as thou wilt have it. Now
that I may not be whole. Well, my make you ready, said Merlin : this night
lord, said Sir Ulfius, I shall seek shall you see Igraine in the castle of
Merlin, and he shall do
you remedy Tintagil, and ye shall be like the duke
that your heart shall be pleased. So her husband, Ulfius shall be like Sir
Ulfius departed, and by adventure he Brastias, a knight of the duke's,,and I
met Merlin in a beggar's array, and will be like a knight that hight Sir
there Merlin asked Ulfius whom he Jordanus, a knight of the duke's. But
sought? and he said he had little ado wait ye make not many questions with
to tell him. Well, said Merlin, I know her nor with her men, but say you are
whom thou seekest, for thou seekest diseased, and so hie you to bed, and rise
Merlin therefore seek no further, for I
;
not on the morn till I come to you,
am he, and if king Uther will well for the castle of Tintagil is but ten
reward me, and be sworn unto me to mile hence. So this was done as they
fulfil my desire, that shall be his honour had devised. But the duke of Tintagil
and profit more than mine, for I shall espied how the king rode from the siege
cause him to have all his desire. All this of Terrabil, and therefore that night he
will I undertake, said Ulfius, that there issued out of the castle at a postern, for
shall be nothing reasonable but thou to have distressed the king's host. And
shalt have thy desire. Weft, said Merlin, so, through his own issue, the duke
he shall have his intent and desire. And himself was slain or ever the king came
therefore, said Merlin, ride on your at the castle of Tintagil. So after the
way, for I will not be long behind. death of the duke king Uther came to
the castle, more than three hours after his
death and there he found Igraine. And
;
CHAP. II.
or day came Merlin came to the king
How Uther Pendragon made war on the and bade him make him ready, and so
duke of Cornwall, and how by the means he kissed the lady Igraine and departed
in all haste. But when the lady heard
of Merlin he made the duchess his queen.
tell of the duke her husband, and by all
Then Ulfius was glad, and rode on record he was dead or ever king Uther
more than a pace till that he came to came to her, then she marvelled who
Uther Pendragon, and told him he had that might be that came to her in like-
met with Merlin. Where is he? said ness of her lord; so she mourned
the king. Sir, said Ulfius, he will not privily and held her peace. Then all
dwell long. Therewithal Ulfius was the barons by one assent prayed the
ware where Merlin stood at the porch king of accord between the lady Igraine
of the pavilion's door. And then Merlin and him. The king gave them leave,
was bound to come to the king. When for fain would he have been accorded
king Uther saw him he said he was wel- with her. So the king put all the trust
come. Sir, said Merlin, I know all your in Ulfius to entreat between them so, ;
that they were all well accorded, and was by Merlin's counsel. Then the
moved it to the king and anon, like a
:
Queen made great joy when she knew
lusty knight, he assented thereto with who was the father of her child. Soon
good will, and so in all haste they were came Merlin unto the king and said,
married in a morning with great mirth Sir, ye must purvey you for the nourish-
and joy. ing of your child. As thou wilt, said
And king Lot of Lothian and of the king, be it. Well, said Merlin, I
Orkney then wedded Margawse that know a lord of yours in this land, that
was Gawaine's mother and king : is a passing true man and a faithful, and
Nentres of the land of Garlot wedded he shall have the nourishing of your
Elaine. All this was done at the request child, raid his name is Sir Ector, and he
of king Uther. And the third sister, is a lord of fair livelihood in many parts
Morgan le Fay, was put to school in a in England and Wales. And this lord,
nunnery and there she learned so much
: Sir Ector, let him be sent for, for to
that she was a great clerk of nigro- come and speak with you, and desire
mancy. And after she was wedded to him yourself, as he loveth you, that he
king Uriens of the land of Gore, that will put his own child to
nourishing to
was Sir Ewaine's le Blanchemains another woman, and that his wife nour-
father. ish yours. And when the child isborn
let it be delivered unto me at yonder
CHAP. III.
privy postern unchristened. So like as
Merlin devised it was done. And
Of of king Arthur, and of his
the birth
nouriture ; and of the death of king when Sir Ector was come he made
affiance to the king for to nourish the
Uther Pendragon ; and how Arthur
child like as the king desired and there
was chosen king; and of wonders and ;
and Jordans, and so I welcomed him as I never have the better of your enemies
ought to welcome my lord: and thus, as but if your person be there, and then
1 shall answer unto God, this child was shall ye have the victory. So it was
begotten. That is truth, said the king, as done as Merlin had devised, and they
you say, for it was I myself that came carried the king forth in a horse-litter
28 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK I.
with a great host towards his enemies. mas even unto London. And many of
And at St. Albans there met with the them made them clean of their life, that
king a great host of the North. And their prayer might be the more accept-
that day Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias did able unto God. So in the greatest church
great deeds of arms, and king Uther's of London (whether it were Paul's or
men overcame the Northern battle, not, the French book maketh no men^
and slew many people, and put the tion) all the estates were long or
remnant to flight. And then the king day in the church for to pray. And
returned unto London, and made great when matins and the first mass was
joy of his victory. And then he done, there was seen in the churchyard
fell sore sick, so that three
passing against the high altar a great stone four
days and three nights he was speech- square, like unto a marble stone, and in
less wherefore all the barons made
; the midst thereof was like an anvil of
great sorrow, and asked Merlin what steel a foot on high, and therein stack
counsel were best. There is none other a fair sword naked by the point, and
remedy, said Merlin, but God will have letters there were written in gold about
his will. But look ye all barons be be- the sword that said thus : Whoso pulleth
fore king Uther to-morn, and God and out this sword of this stone and anvil
I shall make him
to speak. So on the is rightwise king born of all England.
morn the barons with Merlin came
all Then the people marvelled, and told it
tofore the king then Merlin said aloud
: to the archbishop. I command, said
unto king Uther, Sir, shall your son the archbishop, that ye keep you
Arthur be king after your days, of this within your church, and pray unto God
realm, with all the appurtenance ? still ? that no man touch the sword till
Then Uther Pendragon turned him and the high mass be all done. So when
said in hearing of them all, I give him all masses were done all the lords went
God's blessing and mine, and bid him to behold the stone and the sword.
pray for my soul, and righteously and And when they saw the scripture, some
worshipfully that he claim the crown
—
assayed such as would have been king.
upon forfeiture of my blessing. And But none might stir the sword nor move
therewith he yielded up the ghost. it. He is not here, said the arch-
And then was he interred as longed bishop, that shall achieve the sword, but
to a king. Wherefore the queen, fair doubt not God will make him known.
Igraine, made great sorrow and all the But this is my counsel, said the arch-
barons. Then stood the realm in great bishop, that we let purvey ten knights,
jeopardy long while, for every lord men of good fame, and they to keep
that was mighty of men made him this sword. So it was ordained, and
strong, and many wend to have been then there was made a cry, that every
king. Then Merlin went to the arch- man should assay that would, for to
bishop of Canterbury, and counselled win the sword. And upon New Year's
him for to send for all the lords of the Day the barons let make a justs and a
realm, and all the gentlemen of arms, tournament, that all knights that would
that they should to London come just or tourney there might play :and
by Christmas upon pain of cursing all this was ordained for to keep the
—
:
and for this cause that Jesus, that was lords together and the commons, ibr
born on that night, that he would of the archbishop trusted that God would
his great mercy shew some miracle, as make him known that should win the
he was come to be king of mankind, sword. So upon New Year's Day when
for to shew some miracle who should
. the service was done the barons rode
be rightwise king of this realm. So to the field, some to just, and some to
the archbishop by the advice of Merlin tourney; and so it happed that Sir Ector,
sent for all the lords and gentlemen of that had great livelihood about London,
arms, that they should come by Christ- rode unto the justs, and with him rode
chap. iv. HOW KING ARTHUR PULLED OUT THE SWORD. ?()
young Arthur to ride for his sword. I stone. Therewith Sir Ector assayed to
will well, said Arthur, and rode fast after pull out the sword and failed.
the sword; and when he came home
the lady and all were out to see CHAP. IV.
the justing. Then was Arthur wroth,
and said to himself, I will ride to the
How king Arthur pulled out the sword
divers times.
churchyard and take the sword with
me that sticketh in the stone, for my Now assay, said Sir Ector to Sir
brother Sir Kay shall not be without Kay. And anon he pulled at the sword
a sword this day. So when he came to with all his might, but it would not be.
the churchyard Sir Arthur alighted, Now shall ye assay, said Sir Ector to
and tied his horse to the stile, and so Arthur. I will well, said Arthur, and
he went to the tent, and found no pulled out easily.
it And therewithal
knights there, for they were at the Sir Ector kneeled down to the earth,
justing and so he handled the sword
; and Kay. Alas, said Arthur, mine
Sir
by the handles, and lightly and fiercely own dear father and brother, why kneel
pulled it out of the stone, and took ye to me. Nay, nay, my lord Arthur,
his horse and rode his way till he came it is not so I was never your father
:
to his brother Sir Kay, and delivered nor of your blood, but I wote well ye
him the sword. And as soon as Sir are of an higher blood than I wend ye
Kay saw the sword he wist well it was were. And then Sir Ector told him all,
the sword of the stone, and so he rode how he was betaken him for to nourish
to his father Sir Ector, and said Sir, lo :
him, and by whose commandment,
here is the sword of the stone where- ; and by Merlin's deliverance. Then
fore I must be king of this land. When Arthur made great dole when he un-
Sir Ector beheld the sword he returned derstood that Sir Ector was not his
again and came to the church, and there father. Sir, said Ector unto Arthur,
they alighted all three and went into will ye be and gracious lord
my good
the church, and anon he made Sir Kay when ye are king? Else were I to
to swear upon a book how he came to blame, said Arthur, for ye are the man
that sword. Sir, said Sir Kay, by my in the world that I am most beholding
brother Arthur, for he brought it to to, and my good lady and mother your
me. How gat ye this sword? said wife, that as well as her own hath
Sir Ector to Arthur. Sir, I will tell fostered me and kept. And if ever it
thought my brother Sir Kay should should fail you. Sir, said Sir Ector,
not be swordless, and so I came hither I will ask no more of you but that you
eagerly and pulled it out of the stone will make my son, your foster-brother
without any pain. Found ye any knights Sir Kay, seneschal of all your lands.
about this sword ? said Sir Ector. Nay, That shall be done, said Arthur, and
said Arthur. Now, said Sir Ector to more by the faith of my body, that
Arthur, I understand ye must be king never man shall have that office but he
of this land. Wherefore I, said Arthur, while he and I live. Therewithal they
and for what cause? Sir, said Ector, went unto the archbishop, and told him
for God will have it so for there should
: how the sword was achieved, and by
3° MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK I.
whom. And on
Twelfth Day all the no more in delay, for we all see that it
barons came thither, and to assay to is God's will that he shall be our king,
take the sword who that would assay. and who that holdeth against it we will
But there afore them all there might slay him. And therewithal they kneeled
none take it out but Arthur, wherefore down all at once, both rich and poor,
there were many lords wroth, and said and cried Arthur mercy, because they
it was great shame unto them all and had delayed him so long. And Arthur
the realm, to be over governed with a forgave them, and took the sword be-
boy of no high blood born. And so tween both his hands, and offered it up-
they fell out at that time that it was on the altar where the archbishop was,
put off till Candlemas, and then all the and so was he made knight of the best
barons should meet there again. But man that was there. And so anon was
always the ten knights were ordained the coronation made, and there was he
to watch the sword day and night, and sworn unto his lords and the commons
so they set a pavilion over the stone for to be a true king, to stand with true
and the sword, and five always watched. justice from thenceforth the days of this
So at Candlemas many more great lords life. Also then he made all lords that
came thither for to have won the sword, held of the crown to come in, and to do
but there might none prevail. And service as they ought to do. An:! many
right as Arthur did at Christmas he did complaints were made unto Sir Arthur
at Candlemas, and pulled out the sword of great wrongs that were done since
easily, whereof the barons were sore the death of king Uther, of many lands
aggrieved, and put it off in delay till the that were bereaved lords, knights,
high feast of Easter. And as Arthur ladies,and gentlemen. Wherefore king
sped afore, so did he at Easter: yet Arthur made the lands to be given again
there were some o.T the great lords had unto them that owned them. When
indignation that Arthur should be their this was done that the king had sta-
king, and put it off in a delay till the blished all the countries about London,
feast of Pentecost. Then the arch- then he let make Sir Kay seneschal of
bishop of Canterbury by Merlin's pro- England; and Sir Baudwin of Britain
vidence let purvey then of the best was made constable and Sir Ulfius was
;
knights that they might get, and such made chamberlain and Sir Brastias
;
knights as king Uther Pendragon loved was made warden to wait upon the
best and most trusted in his days, and north from Trent forwards, for it was
such knights were put about Arthur, as that time for the most part the king's
Sir Baud win of Britain, Sir Kay, Sir enemies. But within few years after,
Ulfius, Sir Brastias. All these, with Arthur won all the north, Scotland,
many other, were always about Arthur, and all that were under their obeisance.
day and night, till the feast of Pente- Also Wales, a part of it held against
cost. Arthur, but he overcame them all as
he did the remnant through, the noble
CHAP. V.
prowess of himself and his knights of
How King Arthur was crowned, and how
the Round Table.
he made officers.
CHAP. VI.
And at the feast of Pentecost all
manner of men assayed to pull at the How Icing Arthur held in Wales at a
Pentecost a great feast, and what kings
sword that would assay, but none
and lords came to his feast.
might prevail but Arthur and he pulled ;
it out afore all the lords and commons Thenthe king removed into Wales,
that were there, wherefore all the com- and let cry a great feast, that it should
mons cried at once, We will have be holden at Pentecost, after the incoro-
Arthur unto our king ; we will put him nation of him at the city of Carlion.
CHAP. VI. HOW KING ARTHUR HELD A GREAT FEAST. 3i
Unto the feast came king Lot of Lothian who saith nay, he
be king, and
shall
and of Orkney with five hundred knights overcome all his enemies and, or ;
with him. Also there came to the feast he die, he shall be long king of all
king Uriens of Gore with four hundred England, and have under his obeisance
knights with him. Also there came to Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, and more
that feast king Nentres of Garloth with realms than I will now rehearse. Some
seven hundred knights with him. Also of the kings had marvel of Merlin's
there came to the feast the king of Scot- words, and deemed well that it should be
land with six hundred knights with him, as he said: and some of them laughed him
and he was but a young man. Also to scorn, as king Lot and more other
:
there came to the feast a king that was called him a witch. But then were they
called the king with the hundred knights, accorded with Merlin that king Arthur
but he and his men was passing well be- should come out and speak with the
seen at all points. Also there came the kings, and to come safe and go safe,
king of Carados with five hundred such assurance was there made. So
knights. And king Arthur was glad of Merlin went unto king Arthur and told
their coming, for he wend that all the him how he had done, and bade him
kings and knights had come for great fear not, but come out boldly and
love, and for to have done him worship speak with them, and spare them not,
at his feast, wherefore the king made but answer them as their king and
great joy, and sent the kings and knights chieftain, for ye shall overcome them
great presents. But the kings would all whether they will or nill.
none receive, but rebuked the messen-
gers shamefully, and said they had no CHAP. VII.
joy to receive no gifts of a beardless boy Of thefirst war that king Arthur had, and
that was come of low blood, and sent
how he won the field.
him word they would have none of his
gifts, but that they
were come to give Then king Arthur came out of his
him gifts with hard swords betwixt the tower, and had
under his gown a
neck and the shoulders and therefore
:
jesseraunt of double
mail, and there
they came thither, so they told to the mes- went with him the archbishop of Can-
sengers plainly, for it was great shame terbury, and Sir Baudwin of Britain, and
to all them to see such a boy to have Sir Kay, and Sir Brastias these were;
a rule of so noble a realm as this land the men of most worship that were
was. With this answer the messengers with him. And when they were met
departed, and told to king Arthur this there was no meekness, but stout words
answer. Wherefore, by the advice of on both sides but always king Arthur
:
his barons, he took him to a strong answered them, and said that he would
tower with five hundred good men with make them to bow and he lived.
him and all the kings aforesaid in
: Wherefore they departed with wrath,
a manner laid a siege tofore him, but and king Arthur bade keep them well,
king Arthur was well victualled. And and they bade the king keep him well.
within fifteen days there came Merlin So the king returned him to the tower
among them into the city of Carlion. again, and armed him and all his
Then all the kings were passing glad of knights. What will ye do ? said Merlin
Merlin, and asked him, For what cause to the kings ye were better for to stint,
;
is that boy Arthur made your king? for ye shall not here prevail though ye
Sirs, said Merlin, I shall tell you the were ten so many. Be we well advised
cause. For he is king Uther Pendragon's to be afraid of a dream-reader? said
son, born in wedlock of Igraine, the king Lot. With that Merlin vanished
duke's wife of Tintagil. After the death away, and came to king Arthur, and
of the duke thirteen days king Uther bade him set on them fiercely and in ;
Pendragon wedded fair Igraine. And the meanwhile there were three hundred
32 MORTE T)ARTHUR. BOOK I.
good men of the best that were with them all. They could no counsel give,
the kings that went straight unto king but said they were big enough. Ye say
Arthur, and that comforted him greatly. well, said Arthur I thank you for
;
Sir, said Merlin to Arthur, tight not your good courage but
;
will ye all that
with the sword that ye had by miracle, love me speak with Merlin ye know
:
With that Sir Arthur turned with his more chivalry with him than he may
knights and smote behind and before, make within the bounds of his own
and ever Sir Arthur was in the foremost realm, and he fight with them in battle
press till his horse was slain underneath he shall be overcome and slain.
him. And therewith king Lot smote What were best to do in this cause ?
down king Arthur. With that his four said the barons.
all I shall tell
you,
knights received him, and set him on said Merlin, mine advice There are
:
horseback. Then he drew his sword two brethren beyond the sea, and they
Excalibur, but it was so bright in his be kings both, and marvellous gcod
enemies' eyes, that it gave light like men of their hands and that one hight
:
thirty torches. And therewith he put •king Ban of Benwick, and that other
them on back, and slew much people. hight king Bors of Gaul, that is France.
And then the commons of Carlion arose And on these two kings warreth a
with clubs and staves, and slew many mighty man of men, the king Claudas,
knights ;
but all the kings held them and striveth with then) for a castle and
;
together with their knights that were great war is betwixt them but this
:
left alive, and so fled and departed. Claudas is so mighty of goods, whereof
And Merlin came unto Arthur, and he getteth good knights, that he putteth
counselled him to follow them no farther. these two kings the most part to
the worse. Wherefore this is my coun-
sel, that our king and sovereign lord
CHAP. VIII. send unto the kings Ban and Bors by
How Merlin counselled kmg Arthur to two trusty knights with letters well de-
send for king Ban and king Bors, and vised, that if they will come and see
of their counsel taken for the war. king Arthur and his court, and so help
him in his wars, that he will be sworn
So after the feastand tourney king unto them to help them in their wars
Arthur drew him unto London, and so against king Claudas. Now what say
by the counsel of Merlin the king let call ye unto this counsel? said Merlin. This
his barons to council. For Merlin had is well counselled, said the king and all
told the king that the six kings that the barons. Right so in all haste there
made war upon him would in all haste were ordained to go two knights on the
be awroke on him and on his lands. message unto the two kings. So were
Wherefore the king asked counsel at there made letters in the pleasant wise
CHAP. VIII. OF KING BAN AND KING BORS. 33
according unto king Arthur's desire. letters,then were they more welcome
Ulfius and Brastias were made the mes- than they were before. And after the
sengers, and rode forth well horsed and haste of the letters they gave them this
well armed, and as the guise was that answer, that they would fulfil the desire
time, and so passed the sea and rode of king Arthur's writing, and let Ulfius
toward the city of Benwick. And and Brastias tarry there as long as
there besides were eight knights who they would, they should have such
espied them, and at a straight passage cheer as might be made them in those
they met with Ulfius and Brastias, and marches. Then Ulfius and Brastias told
v/ould have taken them prisoners. So the king of the adventure at their pas-
they prayed them that they might pass, sages of the eight knights. Ha, ha, said
for they were messengers unto king Ban and Bors, they were my good
Ban and Bors sent from king Arthur. friends. I would I had wist of them,
Therefore, said the eight knights, ye shall they should not have escaped so. So
die, or be prisoners, for we be knights Ulfius and Brastias had good cheer and
of king Claudas. And therewith two of great gifts as much as they might bear
them dressed their spears, and Ulfius away, and had their answer by mouth
and Brastias dressed their spears, and and by writing, that those two kings
ran together with great might, and would come unto Arthur in all the
Claudas's knights brake their spears, haste that they might.
and theirs to-held, and bare the two So the two knights rode on afore,
knights out of their saddles to the and passed the sea, and came to their
earth, and so left them lying, and rode lord and told him how they had sped,
their ways. And the other six knights whereof king Arthur was passing glad.
"
rode afore to a passage to meet with At what time suppose ye the two kings
them again, and so Ulfius and Brastias will be here ? Sir", said they, afore All-
smote other two down, and so passed hallowmas. Then the king let purvey
on their ways. And at the fourth pas- for a great feast, and let cry a great
sage there met two for two, and both justs. And by Allhallowmas the two
were laid to the earth: so there was kings were come over the sea with three
none of the eight knights but he was hundred knights well arrayed both for
sore hurt or bruised. And when they the peace and for the war. And king
came to Benwick it fortuned there were Arthur met with them ten mile out of
both kings Ban and Bors. And when London, and there was great joy as
it was told the kings that there were could be thought or made. And on
come messengers, there were sent to Allhallowmas at the great feast sat in
them two knights of worship, the one the hall the three kings, and Sir Kay
hight Lionses, lord of the country of the seneschal served in the hall, and
Payarne, and Sir Phariance a worship- Sir Lucas the butler, that was duke
ful knight. Anon they asked from Corneus's son, and Sir Griflet that was
whence they came, and they said from the son of Cardol, these three knights
king Arthur king of England so they: had the rule of all the service that
took them in arms, and made
their served the kings. And anon as they
great joy each of other. But anon as had washed and risen, all knights that
the two kings wist they were messen- would just made them ready. By then
gers of Arthur's, there was made no they were ready on horseback there were
tarrying, but forthwith they spake with seven hundred knights. And Arthur,
the knights and welcomed them in the Ban, and Bors, with the archbishop of
wise, and said they were
faithfullest Canterbury, and Sir Ector, Kay's father,
most welcome unto them before all the they were in a place covered with cloth
kings living. And therewith they kissed of gold, like an hall, with ladies and
the letters and delivered them and ; gentlewomen, for to behold who did
when Ban and Bors understood the best, and thereon to give judgment.
34 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK I.
began to couch their spears many good Gracian and Piacidas should go again
knights. So Griflet was the first and keep their castles and their coun-
that met with a knight, one Ladinas, tries, as king Ban of Benwick and king
and they met so eagerly that all men Bors of Gaul had ordained them and ;
had wonder; and they so fought that so they passed the sea and came to
their shields fell to pieces, and horse Benwick. And when the people saw
and man fell to the earth, and both the king Ban's ring, and Gracian and Pia-
French knight and the English knight cidas, they were glad, and asked how
lay so long, that all men wend they the kings fared, and made great joy
had been dead. When Lucas the but- of their welfare and according. And
ler saw Griflet so lie, he horsed him according unto the sovereign lords'
again anon, and they two did marvel- desire, the men of war made them ready
lous deeds of arms with many bachelors. in all haste possible, so that they were
Also Sir Kay came out of an embush- thousand on horse and foot, and
fifteen
ment with five knights with him, and they had great plenty of victual with
thev
r
six smote other six down. But them by Merlin's provision. But Gra-
Sir Kay did that day marvellous deeds cian and Piacidas were left to furnish
of arms, that there was none did so and garnish the castles for dread of
well as he that day. Then there came king Claudas. Right so Merlin passed
Ladinas and Grastian, two knights of the sea, well victualled both by water
France, and did passing well, that all and by land. And when he came to
men praised them. Then came there the sea he sent home the footmen
Sir Piacidas, a good knight, and met again, and took no more with him but
with Sir Kay and smote him down, ten thousand men on horseback, the
horse and man, wherefore Sir Griflet most part men of arms, and so shipped
was wroth, and met with Sir Piacidas and passed the sea into England, and
so nard that horse and man fell to the landed at Dover and through the wit
:
earth. But when the five knights wist of Merlin he led the host north-
that Sir Kay had a fall they were wroth ward, the priviest way that could be
out of wit, and therewith each of them thought, unto the forest of Bedegraine,
five bare down a knight. When king and there in a valley he lodged them
Arthur and the two kings saw them secretly.
begin to wax wroth on both parts, they Then rode Merlin unto king Arthur
leapt on small hackneys, and let cry and the two kings and told them how
that all men should depart unto their he had sped, whereof they had great
lodging. And so they went home and marvel, that man on earth might speed
unarmed them, and so to even-song and so soon, and go and come. So Merlin
supper. And after the three kings went told them ten thousand were in the
into a garden, and gave the prize unto forest of Bedegraine, wellarmed at all
Sir Kay, and to Lucas the butler, and points. Then was there no more to
unto Sir Griflet. And then they went unto say, but to horseback went all the host
CHAP. X. HOW ELEVEN KINGS WARRED WITH ARTHUR. 35
Then sware king Brandegoris of Strang- counsel they let burn and destroy all
gore that he would bring five thousand the country afore them where they
men of arms on horseback. Then sware should ride.
king Clariance of Northumberland that The king with the hundred knights
he would bring three thousand men of dreamed a wonder dream two nights afore
arms. Then sware the king of the the battle, that there blew a great wind,
hundred knights, that was a passing and blew down their castles and their
good man and a young, that he would towns, and after that came a water and
bring four thousand men on horseback. bare it all
away. All that heard of the
Then there swore king Lot, a passing dream said it was a token of great battle.
good knight and Sir Gawaine's father, Then, by counsel of Merlin, when they
that he would bring five thousand men wist which way the eleven kings would
of arms on horseback. Also there swore ride and lodge that night, at midnight
king Urience, that was Sir Uwaine's they set upon them, as they were in their
father, of the land of Gore, and he pavilions. But the scout-watch by their
would bring six thousand men of arms host cried, Lords at arms for here be
! !
the host of the north was well com- Gwimiart de Bloi, and smote him down
forted. Then to Ulfius and Brastias horse and man, and gave king Idres the
were delivered three thousand men of horse and horsed him again and king
;
arms, and they set on them fiercely in Lot smote down Clariance de la Forest
the passage, and slew on the right hand Savage, and gave the horse unto duke
and on the left hand, that it was wonder Eustace. And so when they had horsed
to tell. "When that the eleven knights saw the kings again they drew them all
that there was so few a fellowship did eleven kings together, and said they
such deeds of arms, they were ashamed, would be revenged of the damage they
and set on them again fiercely, and there had taken that day. The meanwhile
was Sir Ulfius's horse slain under him, came in Sir Ector with an eager counte-
but he did marvellously well on foot. nance, and found Ulfius and Brastias
But the duke Eustace of Cambenet, and on foot in great peril of death, that
king Clariance of Northumberland, were were foul bruised under the horse feet.
alway grievous on Sir Ulfius. When Then kins Arthur as a lion ran unto
CHAP. XIII. YET OF THE SAME BATTLE. 37
the eleven kings, But if ye will do as I will do all that we may. Then king
devise we shall be slain and destroyed : Carados and his host rode on a soft pace
let me have the king with the hundred till that they came
as nigh king Bors
knights, and king Agwisance, and king as a bow draught then either battle let
:
Idres, and the duke of Cambenet, and their horses run as fast as
they might.
we five kings will have fifteen thousand And Bleoberis that was god-son unto
men of arms with us, and we will go king Bors he bare his chief standard,
apart while ye six kings hold the meddle that was a passing good
knight. Now
with twelve thousand, and when we see shall we see, said king Bors, how these
that ye have foughten with them northern Britons can bear their arms.
long
then will we come on fiercely, and else And king Bors encountered with a
shall we never match them, said
king knight, and smote him throughout with
Lot, but by this mean. So they de- a spear that he fell dead unto the earth,
parted as they here devised, and six and after drew his sword and did mar-
kings made their party strong against vellous deeds of arms, that all parties had
Arthur, and made great war long. In great wonder thereof; and his knights
the meanwhile brake the embushment failed not but did their part, and king
of king Ban and Bors, and Lionses and Carados was smitten to the earth.
Phariance had the advant guard, and With that came the king with the
they two knights met with king Idres hundred knights and rescued king
and his fellowship, and there began a Carados mightily by force of arms, for
great meddle of breaking of spears and he was a passing good knight of a king,
smiting of swords with slaying of men and but a young man.
and horses, and king Idres was near at
discomfiture. CHAP. XIV.
That saw Agwisance the king, and
Yet more of the same battle.
put Lionses and Phariance in point of
death for the duke of Cambenet came
: By then came into field king Ban as
on withal with a great fellowship, so a lion, with bands of green and
fierce as
these two knights were in great danger thereupon gold. Ha, ha, said king Lot,
of their lives that they were fain to we must be discomfited, for yonder I see
return, but always they rescued them- the most valiant knight of the world,
selves and their fellowship marvellously. and the man of the most renown for :
When king Bors saw those knights put such two brethren as is king Ban and
aback grieved him sore then he came
it ; king Bors are not living, wherefore we
on so fast that his fellowshipseemed as must needs void or die and but if we
;
black as Inde. When king Lot had avoid manly and wisely there is but
espied king Bors he knew him well; death. When king Ban came into the
then he said, O defend us from death battle, he came in so fiercely that the
and horrible maims, for I see well we strokes resounded again from the wood
be in great peril of death; for I see and the water; wherefore king Lot
yonder a king, one of the most worship- wept for pity and dole that he saw so
fiilest men, and one of the best
knights many good knights take their end. But
of the world, is inclined unto his fel- through the great force of king Ban
lowship. What is he? said the king they made both the northern battles
with the hundred knights. It is, said that were parted to hurtle together for
king Lot, king Bors of Gaul I marvel ; great dread, and the three kings with
how they came into this country with- their knights slew on ever, that it was
out witting of us all. It was by Mer- pity to behold that multitude of the
lin's ad Wee, said the
knight. As for people that fled. But king Lot and the
him, said king Carados, I will encoun- king of the hundred knights and king
ter with king Bors, if ye will rescue me Morganore gathered the people together
when need is. Go on,' said they all, we passing knightly, and did great prowess
CHAP. XIV. VET OF THE SAME BATTLE. 39
of arms, and held the battle all that day not come at you at that time. But
like hard. When the king of the hundred when king Ban was mounted on horse-
knights beheld the great damage that back, then there began new battle the
king Ban did, he thrust unto him with his which was sore and hard, and passing
horse, and smote him on high upon the great slaughter. And so through great
helmagreat stroke, andastonied him sore. force king Arthur, and king Ban, and
Then king Ban was wroth with him, and king Bors made their knights a little to
followed on him fiercely the other saw
: withdraw them. But always the eleven
that, and cast up his shield and spurred kings with their chivalry never turned
his horse forward, but the stroke of back, and so withdrew them to a little
king Ban fell down and carved a cantel wood, and so over a little river, and
of the shield, and the sword slid down there they rested them, for on the night
by the hauberk behind his back, and they might have no rest in the field.
cut through the trapping of steel, and And then the eleven kings and knights
the horse even in two pieces, that the put them on a heap all together, as
sword felt the earth. Then the king of men adread and out of all comfort. But
the hundred knights voided the horse there was no man might pass them,
lightly, and withsword he broched
his they held them so hard together, both
the horse of king Ban through and behind and before, that king Arthur
through. that king Ban voided
With had marvel of their deeds of arms, and
lightly from the dead horse, and then
was passing wroth. Ah, Sir Arthur, said
king Ban smote at the other so eagerly king Ban and king Bors, blame them
and smote him on the helm, that he fell not, for they do as good men ought to
to the earth.Also in that ire he felled do. For by my faith, said king Ban,
king Morganore, and there was great they are the best fighting men and
slaughter of good knights and much knights of most prowess that ever I
saw or heard speak of, and those eleven
people. By then came into the press
king Arthur, and found king Ban stand- kings are men of great worship, and if
ing among dead men and dead horses, they were belonging unto you there were
no king under the heaven had such
fighting on foot as a wood lion, that
there came none nigh him as far as he eleven knights, and of such worship. I
might reach with his sword but that he may not love them, said Arthur, they
would destroy me. That wot we well,
caught a grievous buffet whereof king
;
Arthur had great pity. And Arthur said king Ban and king Bors, for they
was so bloody that by his shield there are your mortal enemies, and that hath
been proved aforehand, and this day
might no man know him, for all was
blood and brains on his sword. And they have done their part, and that is
as Arthur looked by him he saw a great pity of their wilfulness.
Then all the eleven kings drew them
knight that was passing well horsed,
and therewith Sir Arthur ran to him together, and then said king Lot Lords,
:
and smote him on the helm that his ye must other ways than ye do, or else
sword went unto his teeth, and the the great loss is behind ye may see
:
of you kings let make such ordinance there they did on both parties mar-
that none break upon pain of death. vellous deeds of arms. So came into
And who that seeth any man dress him the thick of the press Arthur, Ban, and
to flee, lightly that he be slain, for Bors, and slew down right on both
it is better that we slay a coward than hands, that their horses went in blood
through a coward all we to be slain. up to the fetlocks. But ever the eleven
How say ye ? said king Lot, answer kings and their host were ever in the
me, all ye kings. It is well said, quoth visage of Arthur. Wherefore Ban and
king Nentres so said the king of the
; Bors had great marvel, considering the
hundred knights the same said the
;
great slaughter that there was, but at
king Carados, and king Uriens so did ; the last they were driven aback over a
king Idres, and king Brandegoris and ; little river. With that came Merlin on
so did king Cradelmas, and the duke a great black horse, and said unto
of Cambenet the same said king Cla-
; Arthur Thou hast never done hast
: :
Graciens le Castlein, one Bloise de la therefore dread you not this three year.
Case, and Sir Colgrevaunce de Gorre. Also Sir, all the goods that be gotten
All these knights rode on afore with at this battle let it be searched and :
spears on their thighs, and spurred their when ye have it in your hands let it be
horses mightily as the horses might run. given freely unto these two kings, Ban and
And the eleven kings with part of their Bors, that they may reward their knights
knights rushed with their horses as fast withal ;
and that shall cause strangers
as they might with their spears, and to be of better will to do you sen-ice at
CHAP. XV. OF MERLIN'S MASTER, BLEISE. 41
need. Also ye be able to reward your so had king Ban and king Bors, and so
own knights of your own goods when- they had great disport at him.
soever it liketh you. It is well said, So, in the mean while, there came a
quoth Arthur, and as thou hast de- damsel which was an earl's daughter,
vised so shall it be done. When it was and his name was Sanam, and her
delivered to Ban and Bors, they gave name was Lionors, a passing fair dam-
the goods as freely to their knights as it sel, and so she came thither for to do
was given them. homage, as other lords did after the
Then Merlin took his leave of Arthur great battle. And king Arthur set his
and of the two kings, for to go and see love greatlyupon and so did she
her,
Northum-
his master Bleise that dwelt in upon him, and she bare a child and
berland, and so he departed and came to his name was Borre, that was after a
his master, that was passing glad of his good knight, and of the Table Round.
coming. And there he told how Arthur Then there came word that the king
and the two kings had sped at the great Rience of North Wales made great war
battle, and how it was ended, and told upon king Leodegrance of Cameliard,
the names of every king and knight of for the which thing Arthur was wroth,
worship that was there. And so Bleise for he loved him well and hated king
wrote the battle, word by word, as Rience, for he was always against him.
Merlin told him, how it began, and by So by ordinance of the three kings that
whom, and in likewise how it was was sent home to Benwick, all they
ended, and who had the worse. All the would depart for dread of king Claudas ;
battles that were done in Arthur's days Phariance, and Antemes, and Gratian,
Merlin did his master Bleise do write. and Lionses of Payarne, with the leaders
Also, he did do write all the battles of those that should keep the kings'
that every worthy knight did of Arthur's lands.
court. After this Merlin departed from CHAP. XVI.
his master and came to king Arthur, that
was in the castle of Bedegraine, that was How king Arthur, king Ban, and king
Bors rescued king Leodegrance, and
one of the castles that stood in the
other incidents.
forest of Sherwood. And Merlin was
so disguised that king Arthur knew him And then king Arthur and king Ban
not, for he was all befurred in black and king Bors departed with their fel-
sheepskins, and a great pair of boots, lowship, a twenty thousand, and came
and a bow and arrows, in a russet gown, within six days into the country of Ca-
and brought wild geese in his hand, and meliard, and there rescued king Leode-
it was on the morn after Candlemas grance and slew there much people of
Day, but king Arthur knew him not. king Rience unto the number of ten
Sir, Merlin unto the king, will
said thousand men, and put him to flight.
ye give me
a gift? Wherefore said And then had these three kings great
king Arthur should I give thee a gift, cheer of king Leodegrance that thanked
churl ? Sir, said Merlin, ye were better them of their great goodness, that they
to give me a gift that is not in your would revenge him of his enemies. And
hand, than to lose great riches for ;
there had Arthur the first sight of
here, in the same place where the great Guenever, the king's daughter of Ca-
battle was, is great treasure hid in the meliard, and ever after he loved her.
earth. Who told thee so, churl? said After they were wedded, as it telleth
Arthur. Merlin told me so, said he. in the book. So, briefly to make an
Then Ulnus and Brastias knew him well end, they took their leave to go into
enough, and smiled. Sir, said these two their own countries, for king Claudas
knights, it is Merlin that so speaketh did great destruction on their lands.
unto you. Then king Arthur was greatly Then said Arthur, I will go with you.
abashed, and had marvel of Merlin, and Nay, said the kings, ye shall not at this
42 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK I.
time, for ye have much to do yet in both on water and on land. Also they
these lands, therefore we will depart, had of other men of war more than
and with the great goods that we have eight thousand, for to fortify all the
gotten in these lands by your gifts, we fortresses in the marches of Cornwall.
shall wage good knights, and withstand Also they put more knights in all the
the king Claudas's malice, for, by the marches of Wales and Scotland with
grace of God, and we have need we many good men of arms. And so they
will send to you for your succour and
; kept them together the space of three
if ye have need, send for us, and we will years, and ever allied them with mighty
not tarry, by the faith of our bodies. It kings, and dukes, and lords. And to
shall not, said Merlin, need that these them fell king Rience of North Wales,
two kings come again in the way of the which was a mighty man of men,
war but I know well king Arthur may
: and Nero that was a mighty man of
not be long from you, for within a year men. And all this while they furnished
or two ye shall have great need, and them and garnished them of good men
then shall he revenge you on your ene- of arms and victual, and of all manner
mies, as ye have done on his. For these of habiliment that pretendeth to the
eleven kings shall die all in a day, by war, to avenge them for the battle of
the great might and prowess of arms of Bedegraine, as it telleth in the book of
two valiant knights (as it telleth after) adventures following.
their names being Balin le Savage, and
Ealan his brother, which be marvellous
CHAP. XVII.
good knights as be any living.
How king Arthur rode to Carlion, and of
Now turn we to the eleven kings, that his dream, and how he saw the
questing
returned unto a city that hight Sorhaute, beast.
the which city was within king Uriens, Then king Ban
after the departing of
and there they refreshed them as well as and of king Bors king Arthur rode unto
they might, and made leeches search Carlion. And thither came to him
their wounds, and sorrowed greatly for Lot's wife of Orkney, in manner of a
the death of their people. With that messenger, but she was sent thither to
there came a messager and told how espy the court of king Arthur and she ;
there was come into their lands people came richly beseen with her four sons,
that were lawless as well as Saracens a Gawaine, Gaheris, Agravaine, and Ga-
forty thousand, and have burnt and slain reth, with many other knights and
all the people that
they may come by ladies, and she was a passing fair lady,
without mercy and have laid siege on wherefore the king cast great love unto
the castle of Wandesborow. Alas said !
her, and so was Mordred born, and she
the eleven kings, here is sorrow on sor- was his sister, on the mother side Igraine.
row, and we had not warred against
if So there she rested her a month, and at
Arthur as we had done, he would soon the last departed. Then the king
revenge us as for king Leodegrance, he
: dreamed a marvellous dream whereof
loveth king Arthur better than us, and he was sore adread. But all this time
as for king Rience he hath enough to do king Arthur knew not that king Lot's
with king Leodegrance, for he hath laid wife was his sister. Thus was the
siege unto him. So they consented to- dream of Arthur. Him thought that
gether to keep all the marches of Corn- there was come into this land griffons
wall, of Wales, and of the North. So and serpents, and him thought they
they put king Idres in the city of
first burnt and slew all the people in the
Nauntes in Britain with four thousand land, and then him thought he fought
men of arms, to watch both the water with them, and they did him passing
and the land. Also they put in the city great harm and wounded him
full sore,
of Windesan king Nentres of Garlot but at the he slew them. When
last
with four thousand knights, to watch the king awaked he was passing heavy
chap. xvih. OF THE QUESTING BEAST AND PELL1N0RE. 43
of his dream, and so to put it out of quest and me to have it, and I
suffer
thoughts he made him ready with many will follow itanother twelve month.
knights to ride on hunting. As soon as Ah fool, said the knight unto Arthur,
he was in the forest the king saw a great it is in vain thy desire, for it shall never
hart afore him. This hart will I chase, be achieved but by me, or my next kin.
said king Arthur, and so he spurred the Therewith he stert unto the king's horse,
horse and rode after long, and so by fine and mounted into the saddle, and said,
force oft he was like to have smitten the Gramercy, this horse is mine own. Well,
hart, till the king had chased the hart so said the king, thou mayest take my horse
long that his horse had lost his breath, by force, but and I might prove thee
and fell down dead. Then a yeoman whether thou wert better on horseback
fetched the king another horse. So the or I. Well, said the knight, seek me
king saw the hart embushed and his here when thou wilt, and here nigh this
horse dead he sat him down by a foun-
; well thou shalt find me and so passed
;
tain, and there he fell in great thoughts ; on his way. Then the king sat in a
and as he sat so him thought he heard study, and bad his men fetch his horse
a noise of hounds, to the sum of thirty. as fast as ever they might. Right so
And with that the king saw coming came by him Merlin like a child of
toward him the strangest beast that ever fourteen year of age, and saluted the
he saw or heard of; so the beast went king, and asked him why he was so
to the well and drank, and the noise was pensive? I may well be pensive, said
in the beast's belly like unto the quest- the king, for I have seen the mar-
ing of thirty couple hounds but all the
; vellest sight that ever I saw. That
while the beast drank there was no know I well, said Merlin, as well as
noise in the beast's belly, and therewith thyself, and of all thy thoughts; but
the beast departed with a great noise, thou art but a fool to take thought, for
whereof the king had great marvel. And it will not amend thee. Also I know
so he was in great thought, and there- what thou art, and who was thy father,
with he fell on sleep. Right so there and of whom thou wert born king ;
came a knight afoot unto Arthur, and Uther Pendragon was thy father, and
said, Knight, full of thought and sleepy, had thee of Igraine. That is false, said
tell me if thou sawest a strange beast
king Arthur how shouldest thou know
;
pass thisway. Such one saw I, said it ? for thou art not so old of years to
king Arthur, that is past two miles: know my father. Yes, said Merlin, I
what would you with the beast? said know it better than ye or any man
Arthur. have followed that beast
Sir, I living. I not believe thee, said
will
long time, and have killed my horse so ; Arthur, and was wroth with the child.
would I had another to follow my quest. So departed Merlin and came again
;
Right so came one with the king's horse, in the likeness ofan old man of four-
and when the knight saw the horse he score years of age, whereof the king
'
prayed the king to give him the horse, was right glad, for he seemed to be
For I have followed this quest this right wise.
twelvemonth, and either I shall achieve Then said the old man, Why are ye
him or bleed of the best blood of my so sad ? I may well be heavy, said
body. Pellinore that time king followed Arthur, for many
things. Also here
the questing beast, and after his death was a child, and told me many things
Sir Palomides followed it. that me seemeth he should not know,
for he was not of age to know my
CHAP. XVIII.
father. Yes, said the old man, the
How king Pellinore took Arthurs horse child told you truth, and more would
and followed the questing beast, and he have told you and ye would have
how Merlin met with Arthur. suffered him. But ye have done a thing
Sir knight, said the king, leave that late that God is displeased with you,
44 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK I.
and your sister shall have a child that mortal wars that ye have had for the :
shall destroy you and all the knights of most part of your barons of your realm
What are ye, said Arthur, knew never whose son ye were, nor of
your realm.
that tell these tidings? I am Mer-
me whom ye were born. And she that bear
lin, and I was he in
the child's likeness. you should have made it known openly
in excusing of her worship and yours,
Ah, said king Arthur, ye are a mar-
vellous man, but I marvel much of thy
and in likewise to all the realm where- ;
must die in battle. Marvel fore I prove her false to God and to
words that I
not, said Merlin, for it is God's will you and to all your realm, and who will
your body to be punished for your foul say the contrary I will prove it upon his
deeds. But I may well be sorry, said body.
Merlin, for I shall die a shameful death,
Then spake Igraine and said, I am
to be put in the earth quick, and ye a woman, and I may not fight, but
shall die a worshipful death. And as rather than I should be dishonoured
talked this, came one with the there would some good man take my
they
and so the king mounted quarrel. More she said, Merlin knoweth
king's horse,
on his horse and Merlin on another, and well, and ye Sir Ulfius, how king Uther
so rode unto Carlion. And anon the came to me in the castle of Tintagel, in
the likeness of my lord that was dead
king asked Ector and Ulfius how he
was born. And they told him that three hours tofore. And after my lord
Uther Pendragon was his father, and was dead king Uther wedded me. and by
his commandment when the child was
queen Igraine his mother then he said
:
and she came and brought with her And there Ulfius said to the queen,
Merlin is more to blame than ye. Well
Morgan le Fay her daughter, that was I wot, said the queen, that I bare
as fair a lady as any might be. And
the king welcomed Igraine in the best a child by my lord king Uther, but
I wot not where he is become. Then
manner.
Merlin took the king by the hand,
CHAP. XIX. saying, This is your mother. And
therewith Sir Ector bare witness how
How Ulfius appeached queen Igraine, he nourished him by Uther's com-
Arthur's mother, of treason : and how
mandment. And, therewith king Arthur
a knight came and desired to have the
took his mother queen Igraine in his
death of his master revenged.
arms and kissed her and either wept
Right so came Ulfius and said upon other. And then the king let
openly, that the king and all might make a feast that lasted eight days.
hear that were* feasted that day, Ye are Then on a day there came into the
the falsest lady of the world, and the court a squire on horseback, leading
most unto the king's person.
traitress a knight before him wounded to the
Beware, said Arthur, what thou sayest ; death, and told him how there was
thou speakest a great word. I am well a knight in the forest had reared up
ware, said Sir Ulfius, what I speak, a pavilion by a well, and hath slain my
and here is my glove to prove it upon master, a good knight, his name was
any man that will say the contrary, that Miles wherefore I beseech you that
;
this queen Igraine is causer of your great my master may be buried, and that
damage, and of your great war. For, some knight may revenge my master's
and she would have uttered it in the death. Then the noise was great of that
life of
king Uther Pendragon of the knight's death in the court, and every
birth of you. ye had never had half the man said his advice then came Griflet
:
CHAP. XXI. THE ROMAN EMPEROR ASKS TRUAGE. 4*
and on a tree a shield of divers colours, on a fair field I shall give him my
and a great spear. Then Griflet smote truage, that shall be with a sharp spear
on the shield with the butt of his spear or else with a sharp sword, and that
that the shield fell down to the ground. shall not be long, by my father's soul,
With that the knight came out of the Uther Pendragon. And therewith the
pavilion and said, Fair knight, why messagers departed passingly wroth, and
smote ye down my shield ? For I will king Arthur as wroth, for in evil time
just with you, said Griflet. It is better came they then, for the king was pass-
ye do not, said the knight, for ye are ingly wroth for the hurt of Sir Griflet.
but young, and late made knight, and And so he commanded a privyman of
your might is nothing to mine. As for his chamber, that or it be day his best
46 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK i.
of his wrath, and heaved up his sword, What damsel is that ? said Arthur.
and therewith Merlin cast an enchant- That is the Lady of the lake, said
ment to the knight, that he fell to the Merlin ; and within that lake is a rock,
earth in a great sleep. Then Merlin and therein is as fair a place as any on
took up king Arthur, and rode forth on earth, and richly beseen, and this damsel
the knight's horse. Alas, said Arthur, will come to you anon, and then speak
what hast thou done, Merlin ? hast thou ye fair to her that she will give you
slain this good knight by thy crafts ? that sword. Anon
withal came the
There lived not so worshipful a knight damsel unto Arthur and saluted him,
as he was; I had lever than the stint and he her again. Damsel, said Arthur,
of my land a year that he were onlive. what sword is that, that yonder the arm
Care ye not, said Merlin, for he is holdeth above the water? I would it
ivholer than ye, for he is but on sleep, were mine, for I have no sword. Sir Ar-
and will awake within three hours. I thur king, said the damsel, that sword is
told you, said Merlin, what a knight he mine, and if ye will give me a gift when
was; here had ye be slain had I not I ask it you, ye shall have it. By my
been. Also there liveth not a bigger faith, said Arthur, I will give you what
knight than, he is one, and he shall here- gift ye will ask. Well, said the damsel,
after do you right good service, and his go ye into yonder barge and row your-
name is Pellinore, and he shall have two self to thesword, and take it and the
sons that shall be passing good men ;
scabbard with you, and I will ask my
save one, they shall have no fellow of gift when I see mySo Sir
time.
prowess and of good living; and their Arthur and alight, and tied
Merlin
names shall be Percivale of Wales and their horses to two trees, and so they
Lamerake of Wales: and he shall tell went into the ship, and when they came
you the name of your sister's son that to the sword that the hand held, Sir
shall be the destruction of all this Arthur took it up by the handles, and
realm. took it with him. And the arm and
the hand went under the water and so ;
CHAP. XXIII. they came unto the land and rode forth.
How Arthur by the mean of Merlin gat
And then Sir Arthur saw a rich pavilion :
and went until an hermit that was a a knight of yours, that hight Egglame,
good man and a great leach. So the and they have fought together, but
hermit searched all his wounds and at the last Egglame fled, and else he
gave him good salves so the king was
;
had been dead, and he hath chased him
48 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK I.
even to Carlion, and we shall meet with king he was of all Ireland, and of many
him anon in the high way. That is well Isles. And was
his message, greet-
this
said, said Arthur, now have I a sword, ing well king Arthur in this manner
now will I wage battle with him and be wise, saying that king Ryons had dis-
avenged on him. Sir, ye shall not so, comfited and overcome eleven kings,
said Merlin, for the knight is weary of and every each of them did him homage,
fighting and chasing, so that ye shall and that was this — they gave him their
have no worship to have ado with him ; beards clean flayed off, as much as there
also he will not lightly be matched of was wherefore the messager came for
;
scabbard ? Me liketh better the sword, mayest see my beard is full young yet
said Arthur. Ye are more unwise, said to make a trimming of it. But tell
Merlin, for the scabbard is worth ten thou thy king this: I owe him none
of the sword, for while ye have the homage, nor none of mine elders but or ;
no blood, be ye never so sore wounded, both his knees, or else he shall lose his
therefore keep well the scabbard always head, by the faith of my body, for this is
with you. So they rode unto Carlion, the most shamefulest message that ever
and by the way they met with Sir Pelli- I heard speak of. I see well thy king
nore but Merlin had done such a craft
;
met never yet with worshipful man, but
that Pellinore saw not Arthur, and tell him I will have his head without he
he passed by without any words. I do me homage. Then the messager
marvel, said Arthur, that the knight departed. Now is there any here, said
would not speak. Sir, said Merlin, he Arthur, that knoweth king Ryons?
saw you not, for and he had seen you Then answered a knight that hight
ye had not lightly departed. So they Naram, Sir, I know the king well he ;
came unto Carlion, whereof his knights is a passing good man of his body as
were passing glad. And when they heard few be living, and a passing proud
of his adventures they marvelled that he man; and, Sir, doubt ye not he will
would jeopardhis person so alone. But make war on you with a mighty puis-
all men
of worship said it was merry to sance. Well, said Arthur, I shall ordain
be under such a chieftain that would for him in short time.
put his person in adventure as other
poor knights did. CHAP. XXV.
How all the children were sent for that
CHAP. XXIV. were born on May-day, and bow Mor-
How came to Arthur that king
tidings dred was saved.
Ryons had overcome eleven kings, and
Then king Arthur send for all the
let
how be desired Arthur's beard to trim
children born on May-day of lords and
his mantle.
ladies, for Merlin told king Arthur that he
This meanwhile came a messager that should destroy him should be born
from king Ryons of North Wales, and on May-day, wherefore he sent for them
CHAP. XXV. OF A DAMSEL WITH A SWORD. 49
all upon pain of death. And so there toward the end of the Death of Arthur.
were found many lords' sons, and all So many lords and barons of this realm
were sent unto the king, and so was were displeased, for their children
Mordred sent by king Lot's wife, and all were so lost, and many put the blame
were put in a ship to the sea, and some on Merlin more than on Arthur; so
were four weeks old, and some less. what for dread and for love they held
And so by fortune the ship drove unto their peace. But when the messager
a castle, and was all to-riven, and de- came to king Ryons then was he wood
stroyed the most part, save that Mordred out of measure, and purveyed him for
was cast up, and a good man found him, a great host, as it rehearseth after in
and nourished him till he was fourteen the book of Balin le Savage that fol-
year old, and then he brought him to loweth next after, how by adventure
the* court, as it rehearseth afterward Balin gat the sword.
Arthur was at London, there came a shall I tell you, said the damsel this :
cnight and told the king tidings how sword that I am girt withal doth me
that the king Ryons of North Wales great sorrow and cumberance, for I may
lad reared a great number of people, not be delivered of this sword but by a
ind were entered into the land, and knight, but he must be a passing good
)urnt and slew the king's true liege man of his hands and of his deeds, and
people. If this be true, said Arthur, it without villainy or treachery, and with-
rere great shame unto mine estate but out treason. And if I may find such a
that he were mightily withstood. It knight that hath all these virtues, he
truth, said the knight, for I saw the may draw out this sword out of the.
lost myself. Well, said the king, let sheath. For I have been at king Ryons' ;
lake a cry, that all the lords, knights, it was told me there were passing
and gentlemen of arms, should draw good knights, and he and all his knights
unto a castle, called Camelot in those have assayed it, and none can speed.
days, and there the king would let make This is a great marvel, said Arthur if ;
a council general, and a great justs. this be sooth, I will myself assay to draw
So when the king was come thither out the sword, not presuming upon my-
with all his baronage, and lodged as self that I am the best
knight, but that
4
50 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK II.
I will begin to draw at your sword in parting, this knight Balin called unto her
giving example to all the barons, that and said, Damsel, I pray you of your
they shall assay every one after other courtesy suffer me as well to assay as
when I have assayed it. Then Arthur these lords;
though that I be so poorly
took the sword by the sheath and by clothed, in mine heart me seemeth I am
the girdle, and pulled at it eagerly, but fully assured as some of these other, and
the sword would not out. Sir, said the me seemeth in my heart to speed right
damsel, ye need not to pull half so hard, well. The damsel beheld the poor
for he that shall pull it out, shall do it knight, and saw he was a likely man,
with little might. Ye say well, said but for of his poor arrayment she
Arthur: now assay ye, all my barons, thought he should be of no worship
but beware ye be not denied with shame, without villainy or treachery. And then
treachery, nor guile. Then it will not she said unto the knight, Sir, it needeth
avail, said the damsel, for he must be a not to put me to more pain or labour,
clean knight without villainy, and of a for it seemeth not you to speed there as
gentle stock of father side and mother other have failed. Ah, fair damsel, said
side. Most of all the barons of the Balin, worthiness and good qualities
Round Table that were there at that and good deeds are not all only in
time assayed all by row, but there might arrayment, but manhood and worship is
none speed wherefore the damsel made
;
hid within man's person, and many a
great sorrow out of measure, and said, worshipful knight is not known unto all
Alas I wend in this court had been the
!
people, and therefore worship and hardi-
best knights, without treachery or trea- ness is not in arrayment. Ye say sooth,
son. By my faith, saith Arthur, here said the damsel, therefore ye shall assay
are good knights as I deem any been to do what ye may. Then Balin took the
in the world, but their grace is not to sword by the girdle and sheath and drew
help you, wherefore I am displeased. it out easily, and when he looked on the
shall be your destruction, and that is have it, and it lie in my power to give it.
great pity. With that the damsel de- Well, said the lady, I ask the head of
parted, making great sorrow. the knight that hath won the sword, or
Anon after Balin sent for his horse else the damsel's head that brought it ;
and his armour, and so would depart I take no force though I have both
from the court, and took his leave of their heads, for he slew my brother, a
king Arthur. Nay, said the king, I good knight and a true, and that gentle-
suppose ye will not depart so lightly woman was causer of my father's death.
from this fellowship. I suppose that ye Truly, king Arthur, I may not
said
are displeased that I have shewed you grant neither of their heads with my
unkindness blame me the less, for I was
;
worship, therefore ask what ye will else,
misinformed against you, but I wend and I shall fulfil your desire. I will ask
you had not been such a knight as ye none other thing, said the lady. When
are of worship and prowess, and if ye Balin was ready to depart he saw the
will abide in this court among my fel- Lady of the lake that by her means had
lowship, I shall so advance you as ye slain Balin's mother, and he had sought
shall be pleased. God thank your high- her three years, and when it was told
ness, said Balin, for your bounty and him that she asked his head of king
highness may no man praise half to the Arthur he went to her straight and said,
value ; but at this time I must needs Evil be you found, ye would have my
depart, beseeching you alway of your head and therefore ye shall lose yours.
good grace. Truly, said the king, I am And with his sword lightly he smote off
right wroth for your departing I pray : her head before king Arthur. Alas for !
you, fair knight, that ye tarry not long, shame, said Arthur, why have you done
and ye shall be right welcome to me and so ? ye have shamed me and all my
to my barons, and I shall amend all court, for this was a lady that I was
amiss that I have done against you. beholden to, and hither she came under
God thank your great lordship, said my safe conduct ; I shall never forgive
Balin, and therewith made him ready to you that trespass. Sir, said Balin, me
depart. Then
most part of the
the forthinketh of your displeasure, for this
knights of the Round Table said that same lady was the untruest lady living,
Balin did not this adventure all only by and by enchantment and sorcery she
might, but by witchcraft. hath been the destroyer of many good
knights, and she was causer that my
CHAP. III. mother was burnt through her falsehood
and treachery. What cause so ever ye
How the Lady of the lake demanded the
had, said Arthur, ye should have for-
knight's head that had won the sword,
borne her in my presence therefore, ;
the maiden's head.
think not the contrary, ye shall repent
The meanwhile that was for such another despite had I never
»or this knight it,
making him ready to depart, there came in my court : therefore withdraw you
to the court a lady that hight the out of my court in all haste that ye
.dy of the lake. And she came on may. Then Balin took up the head of
rseback, richly beseen, and saluted the lady, and bare it with him to his
ng Arthur and there asked him a
; hostry, and there he met with his squire,
ft that he
promised her when she gave that was sorry he had displeased king
him the sword. That is sooth, said Arthur, and so they rode forth out of the
Arthur, a gift I promised you, but I town. Now, said Balin, we must part ;
have forgotten the name of my sword take thou this head and bear it to my
at ye gave me. The name of it, said friends, them how I have sped,
and tell
e lady, is Excalibur, that is as much and tell my friends in Northumberland
say as Cut-steel. Ye
say well, said that my most foe is dead. Also tell
e king, ask what ye will and ye shall them how I am out of prison, and also
4. — 2
52 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK II.
what adventure befel me at the getting and slew him by force of his hands.
of this sword. Alas, said the squire, ye When this false damsel understood this
are greatly to blame for to displease she went to the lady Lile of Avelion,
king Arthur. As for that, said Balin, I and besought her of help, to be avenged
will hie me in all the haste that I may, on her own brother. And so this lady
to meet with king Ryons and destroy Lile of Avelion took her this sword, that
him, or else to die therefore and if it; she brought with her, and told there
may hap me to win him, then will king should no man pull it out of the sheath
Arthur be my good and gracious lord. but if he be one of the best knights of
Where shall I meet with you ? said the this realm, and he should be hardy and
squire. In king Arthur's court, said full of prowess, and with that sword he
Balin. So his squire and he departed at should slay her brother. This was the
that time. Then king Arthur and all the cause that the damsel came into this
court made great dole, and had shame of court. I know it as well as ye. Would
the death of the Lady of the lake. Then she had not come into this court, but
the king buried her richly. she came never in fellowship of worship
to do good, but alway great harm. And
CHAP. IV. that knight that hath achieved the sword
shall be destroyed by that sword, for the
How Merlin told the adventure of this
which will be great damage, for there
damsel.
liveth not a knight of more prowess
At that time there was a knight the than he is, and he shall do unto you, my
which was the king's son of Ireland, lord Arthur, great honour and kindness,
and his name was Lanceor, the which and it is great pity he shall not endure
was an orgulous knight, and counted but a while, for of his strength and hardi-
himself one of the best of the court, ness I know not his match living.
and he had great despite at Balin for
the achieving of the sword, that any CHAP. V.
should be accounted more hardy, or How Balin was pursued hy Sir Lanceor,
of more prowess and he asked king
knight of Ireland, and how he justed
;
from the court of king Arthur, said the was passing heavy in his heart, and
knight of Ireland, that come hither for ashamed that so fair a damsel had de-
to revenge the despite ye did this day stroyed herself for the love of his death.
to king Arthur and to his court. Well, Alas, said Balin, me repenteth sore the
said Balin, I see well I must have ado death of this knight for the love of this
with you, that me forthinketh for to damsel, for there was much true love
grieve king Arthur, or any of his court ; betwixt them both. And for sorrow
and your quarrel is full simple, said he might no longer hold him, but
Balin, unto me, for the lady that is turned his horse and looked towards
dead did me great damage, and else a great forest, and there he was ware,
would I have been loth as any knight by the arms, of his brother Balan. And
that liveth for to slay a lady. Make when they were met they put off their
you ready, said the knight Lanceor, and helms and kissed together, and wept for
dress you unto me, for that one joy and pity. Then Balan said, I little
shall abide in the field. Then they wend to have met with you at this
took their spears, and came together as sudden adventure; I am right glad of
much as their horses might drive, and the your deliverance out of your dolorous
Irish knight smote Balin on the shield, prisonment, for a man told me in the
that all went shivers of his spear, and castle of Four Stones that ye were de-
Balin hit him through the shield, and livered, and that man had seen you in
the hauberk perished, and so pierced the court of king Arthur, and therefore
through his body and the horse croup, I came hither into this
country, for here
and anon turned his horse fiercely and I supposed to find you. Anon the knight
drew out his sword, and wist not that Balin told his brother of his adventure of
he had slain him, and then he saw him the sword, and of the death of the Lady
lie as a dead
corpse. of the lake, and how king Arthur was
displeased with him Wherefore he
:
of measure, and said, O Balin, two the king Ryons lieth at a siege at the
bodies thou hast slain and one heart, castle Terrabil, and thither will we draw
md two hearts in one body, and two in all haste, to prove our worship and
souls thou hast lost. And therewith prowess upon him. I will well, said
she took the sword from her love that Balan, that we do, and we will help
lay dead, and fell to the ground in a each other as brethren ought to do.
swoon. And when she arose she made
CHAP. VII.
preat dole out of measure, the which
sorrow grieved Balin passingly sore, and Hoiu a dwarf reproved Balin for the death
ie went unto her for to have taken the of Lanceor, and how king Mark of Corn-
sword out of her hand, but she held it wall found them, and made a tomb over
so fast he might not take it out of her the?n.
land unless he should have hurt her, Now go we hence, said Balin, and
md suddenly she set the pommel to the well be we met. The meanwhile as
ground, and rove herself through the they talked there came a dwarf from
)ody. When Balin espied her deeds, he the city of Camelot on horseback, as
54 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK II.
much as he might, and found the dead all his doing said, Here shall be in this
bodies, wherefore he made great dole, same place the greatest battle betwixt
and pulled out his hair for sorrow, and two knights that was or ever shall be,
said, Which of you knights have done and the truest lovers, and yet none of
this deed ? Wherebv askest thou it, them shall slay other. And there Merlin
said Balan. For I would wit it, said wrote their names upon the tomb with
the dwarf. It was I, said Balin, that letters of gold that should fight in that
slew this
knight my defence,
in for place, whose names were Launcelot de
hither came he to chase me, and either Lake, and Tristram. Thou art a mar-
I must slay him or he me and this ;
vellous man, said king Mark unto
damsel slew herself for his love, which Merlin, that speakest of such marvels,
repenteth me, and for her sake I shall thou art a rude man and an unlikely
owe all women the better love. Alas, to tell of such deeds; what is thy
said the dwarf, thou hast done great name? said king Mark. At this time,
damage unto thyself, for
knight this said Merlin, I will not tell, but at that
that is here dead was one of the most time when Sir Tristram is taken with his
valiantest men that
lived, and trust sovereign lady, then ye shall hear and
well, Balin, the kin of this
knight will know my name, and at that time ye
chase you through the world till they shall hear tidings that shall not please
have slain you. As for that, said Balin, you. Then said Merlin to Balin, Thou
I fear not greatly, but I am right heavy hast done thyself great hurt, because
that I have displeased my lord king thou savedst not this lady that slew her-
Arthur for the death of this knight. So self, that might have saved her and thou
as they talked together there came a wouldest. By the faith of my body,
king of Cornwall riding, the which hight said Balin, I might not save her, for she
king Mark. And when he saw these slew herself suddenly. Me repenteth,
two bodies dead, and understood how said Merlin, because of the death of that
they were dead by the two knights lady thou shalt strike a stroke the most
above said, then made the king great dolorous that ever man struck, except
sorrow for the true love that was betwixt the stroke of our Lord, for thou shalt
them, and said, I will not depart till I hurt the truest knight and the man of
have on this earth made a tomb. And most worship that now liveth, and
there he pight his pavilions, and sought through that stroke three kingdoms
through all the country to find a tomb, shall be in great poverty, misery, and
and in a church they found one was wretchedness, twelve year, and the
fair and rich, and then the
king let put knight shall not be whole of that
them both in the earth, and put the wound many years. Then Merlin took
tomb upon them, and wrote the names his leave of Balin. And
Balin said, If I
of them both on the tomb: How here — wist it were sooth that ye say, I should
lieth Lanceor the king's son of Ireland do such a perilous deed as that I would
that at his own
request was slain by the slay myself to make thee a liar. There-
hands Balin, and how his lady
of with Merlin vanished away suddenly.
Colombe slew herself with her love's And then Balin and his brother took
sword for dole and sorrow. their leave of king Mark. First, said
the king, tell me your name.
i
Sir, said
The meanwhile as this was adoing, in together they met with Merlin disguised,
came Merlin to king Mark, and seeing but they knew him not. Whither
CHAP. IX. HOW THEY TOOK KING RYONS. 55
worship, and look that ye do knightly, turned again in the dawning of the
for ye shall have great need. As for day. King Arthur came then to king
that, said Balin, dread you not, we will Ryons and said, Sir king ye are wel-
do what we may. come by what adventure come ye
:
them ready, for the king was nigh them, greatest dole of him that ever I knew of
that was stolen away from his host with knight, for he shall not long endure.
a threescore horses of his best knights, Alas, said king Arthur, that is great
and twenty of them rode tofore, to pity, for I am much
beholden unto him,
warn the lady De Vance that the king and I have ill deserved it unto him for
was coming. Which is the king? said his kindness. Nay, said Merlin, he shall
Balin. Abide, said Merlin, here in a do much more for you, and that shall ye
straight way ye shall meet with him ; know in haste. But, Sir, are ye pur-
and therewith he shewed Balin and his veyed ? said Merlin for to-morn the
;
brother where he rode. Anon Balin host of Nero, king Ryons's brother, will
and his brother met with the king, and set on you or noon with a great host,
smote him down, and wounded him and therefore make you ready, for I will
fiercely, and laid him to the ground, and depart from you.
there they slew on the right hand and
the left hand, and slew more than forty CHAP. X.
I
of his men and the remnant fled. Then
;
castle
5* MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK II.
Terrabil with a great host, for he had And then they advanced banners and
ten battles, with many more people smote together, and all to-shivered their
than Arthur had. Then Nero had the spears ;and Arthur's knights, with the
vaward with the most party of his help of the knight with the two swords
people and Merlin came to king Lot
: and his brother Balan, put king Lot and
of the Isle of Orkney, and held him his host to the worse. But alway king
with a tale of prophecy till Nero and Lot held him in the foremost front, and
his people were destroyed. And there did marvellous deeds of arms, for all his
SirKay the seneschal did passingly well, host was borne up by his hands, for he
that the days of his life the worship abode all
knights. Alas, he might not
went never from him. And Sir Hervis de endure, the which was great pity, that so
Revel did marvellous deeds with king worthy a knight as he was should be
Arthur, and king Arthur slew that day overmatched, that of late time afore
twenty knights and maimed forty. At had been a knight of king Arthur's,
that time came in the knight with the and wedded the sister of king Arthur,
two swords, and his brother Balan, but and for the wrong king Arthur did
they two did so marvellously that the him therefore king Lot held against
king and all the knights marvelled of Arthur. So there was a knight that
them, and all they that beheld them was called the knight with the strange
said they were sent from heaven as beast, and at that time his right name
angels, or devils from hell and king : was called Pellinore, the which was a
Arthur said himself they were the best good man of prowess, and he smote a
knights that ever he saw, for they gave mighty stroke at king Lot as he fought
such strokes that all men had wonder of with all his enemies, and he failed of his
them. In the meanwhile came one to stroke, and he smote the horse's neck,
king Lot, and told him while he tarried that he fell to the ground with king Lot ;
there Nero was destroyed and slain with and therewith anon Sir Pellinore smote
all his people. Alas, said king Lot, I him a great stroke through the helm and
am ashamed, for by my default there is head unto the brows. And then all the
many a worshipful man slain, for and we host of Orkney fled for the death of
had been together there had been none king Lot; and there were slain many
host under the heaven that had been mothers' sons. But king Pellinore bare
able for to have matched with us : this the blame of the death of king Lot,
deceiver with his prophecy hath mocked wherefore Sir Gawaine revenged the
me. All that did Merlin, for he knew death of his father the tenth year after
well that if king Lot had been with he was made knight, and slew king
his body there at the first battle, king Pellinore with his own hands. Also
Arthur had been slain and all his people there were slain at that battle twelve
destroyed. And well Merlin
that knew kings on the side of king Lot with Nero,
one of the kings should be dead that and all were buried in the church of
day; and loth was Merlin that any of Saint Stephen's, in Camelot and the
;
them both should be slain, but of the remnant of knights and of other were
twain he had lever king Lot had been buried in a great rock.
slain than king Arthur.
Now what is do?
said king
best to CHAP. XI.
Lot of Orkney, whether is me better to
treat with king Arthur or to fight, for Of the interment of twelve
kings, and of
the prophecy of Merlin, and how Balin
the greater part of our people are slain
should give the dolorous stroke.
and destroyed. Sir, said a knight, set
on Arthur, for they are weary and for- So at the interment came king Lot's
foughten, and we be fresh. As for me, wife Morgause, with her four
sons,
said king Lot, I would that every knight Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Ga-
would do his part as I would do mine. reth. Also there came thither king
CHAP. XII. OF THE KNIGHT THAT RODE INVISIBLE. 57
Uriens, Sir Ewaine's father, and Morgan prophecy that there should be a great
le Fay his wife, that was king Arthur's battle beside Salisbury, and that Mordred
sister. All these came to the inter- his sister's son should be against him.
ment. But of all these twelve kings king Also he told him that Basdemegus was
Arthur let make the tomb of king Lot his cousin, and germain unto king
passing and made his tomb
richly, Uriens.
by his own and then king Arthur let
; CHAP. XII.
make twelve images of laton and copper,
and over-gilt it with gold, in the How a sorrowful knight came to/ore king
Arthur, and how Balin fetched him, and
sign of twelve kings, and each one of
them held a taper of wax that burnt how that knight was slain by a knight
invisible.
day and night: and king Arthur was
made in sign of a figure standing above Within a day or two king Arthur
them with a sword drawn in his hand: was somewhat sick, and he let pitch his
and all the twelve figures had coun- pavilion in a meadow, and there he laid
tenance like unto men that were over- him down on a pallet to sleep, but he
come. All this made Merlin by his might have no rest. Right so he heard
subtil craft and there he told the king,
; a great noise of an horse, and therewith
When I am dead these tapers shall burn the king looked out at the porch of the
no longer and soon after the adventures
;
pavilion, and saw a knight coming even
of the Sangreal shall come among you by him making great dole. Abide, fair
and be achieved. Also he told Arthur sir, said Arthur, and tell me wherefore
how Balin the worshipful knight shall thou makest this sorrow ? Ye may
give the dolorous stroke, whereof shall little amend me, said the knight, and so
fall great vengeance. O
where is Balin, passed forth to the castle of Meliot.
and Balan, and Pellinore? said king Anon after there came Balin, and when
Arthur. As for Pellinore, said Merlin, he saw king Arthur he alight off his
he will meet with you soon and as : horse, and came to the king on foot,
for Balin, he will not be long from you : and saluted him. By my head, said
but the other brother will depart ye ; Arthur, ye be welcome. Sir, right now
shall see him no more. By my faith, came riding this way a knight making
said Arthur, they are two marvellous great mourn, for what cause I cannot
knights, and namely Balin passeth of tell, wherefore I would desire of you of
prowess of any knight that ever I found, your courtesy and of your gentleness to
for much beholden am I unto him ; fetch again that knight either by force
would that he would abide with me. or else by his good-will. I will do
Sir, said Merlin, look ye keep well the more for your lordship than that, said
scabbard of Excalibur, for ye shall lose Balin and so he rode more than a pace,
:
no blood while ye have the scabbard and found the knight with a damsel in
upon you, though ye have as many a forest, and said, Sir knight, ye must
wounds upon you as ye may have. So come with me unto king Arthur, for to
after, for great trust Arthur betook the tell him of your sorrow. That will I
scabbard to Morgan le Fay his sister, not, said the knight, for it will scathe
and she loved another knight better me greatly, and do you none avail. Sir,
than her husband king Uriens or king said Balin, I pray you make you ready,
Arthur, and she would have had Arthur for ye must go with me, or else I must
her brother slain, and therefore she let fightwith you and bring you by force,
make another scabbard like it by en- and that were me loth to do. Will ye
chantment, and gave the scabbard of be my warrant, said the knight, and I
Excalibur to her love. And the knight's go with you? Yea, said Balin, or else
name was called Accolon, that after had I will die therefore. And so he made
near slain king Arthur. After this him ready to go with Balin, and left the
Merlin told unto king Arthur of the damsel still. And as they were even
58 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK II.
afore king Arthur's pavilion there came the knight under a rich stone, and a
one invisible, and smote this knight that tomb royal. And on the morn they
went with Balin throughout the body found letters of gold written, how Sir
with a spear. Alas, said the knight, I Gawaine shall revenge his father's
am under your conduct, with a
slain death, king Lot, on the king Pellinore.
knight called Garlon therefore take : Anon after this Balin and the damsel
my horse, that is better than your's, rode till thev came to a castle, and
and ride to the damsel, and follow the there Balin alighted, and he and the
quest that I was in as she will lead you, damsel wend to go into the castle.
and revenge my death when ye may. And anon as Balin came within the
That shall I do, said Balin, and that I castle gate the portcullis fell down at
make a vow unto knighthood. And so his back, and there fell many men about
he departed from this knight with great the damsel, and would have slain her.
sorrow. So king Arthur let bury this When Balin saw that, he was sore
knight richly, and made a mention on grieved, for he might not help the dam-
his tomb how there was slain Herlews sel. And then he went up into the
le Berbeus, and by whom the treachery tower, and lept over the walls into the
—
was done, the knight Garlon. But ever ditch, and hurt him not and anon he
;
the damsel bare the truncheon of the pulled out his sword, and would have
spear with her that Sir Herlews was slain foughten with them. And they all said
withal. nay, they would not fight with him, for
they did nothing but the old custom of
CHAP. XIII. the castle, and told him how their lady
And as they sat at their supper, Balin is the marvellest knight that is now
heard one complain grievously by him living, he destroyeth many good
for
in a chair. What is this noise V said knights, for he goeth invisible. Ah,
Balin. Forsooth, said his host, I will well, said Balin, is that he ? Then
tellyou. I was but late at a justing, and Balin advised him long —
If I slay him
:
there I justed with a knight that is here I shall not escape, and if I leave
brother unto king Pellam, and twice him now peradventure I shall never
. smote I him down and then he pro-
; meet with him again at such a good time,
mised to quit me on my best friend, and and much harm he will do and he live.
so he wounded my son, that cannot be Therewith this Garlon espied that this
whole till I have of that knight's blood, Balin beheld him, and then he came
and he rideth alway invisible, but I and smote Balin on the face with the
know not his name. Ah, said Balin, back of his hand, and said, Knight, why
I knowthat knight, his name is Garlon, beholdest thou me so ? for shame,
he hath slain two knights of mine in therefore, eat thy meat, and do that
the same manner, therefore I had rather thou came for. Thou
sayest sooth, said
meet with that knight than all the Balin, this is not the
first despite that
gold in this realm, for the despite he thou hast done me, and therefore I will
hath done me. Well, said his host, I do that I came for and rose up fiercely,
;
shall tell you, king Pellam of Listeneise and clave his head to the shoulders.
hath made cry in all this country a great Give me the truncheon, said Balin to
feast that shall be within these twenty his lady,wherewith he slew your knight.
days, and no knight may come there Anon she gave it him, for alway she
but if he bring his wife with him, or his bare the truncheon with her and there- ;
love ; and that knight, your enemy and with Balin smote him through the body,
mine, ye shall see that day. Then I and said openly, With that truncheon
promise you, said Balin, part of his thou hast slain a good knight, and now
blood to heal your son withal.
r
e W itsticketh in thy body. And then Balin
will be forward to-morrow, said his called to him his host, saying, may Now
host. So on the morn they rode all ye fetch blood enough to heal your son
three toward Pellam, and they had fif- withal.
teen days' journey or they came thither ;
and that same day began the great feast. CHAP. XV.
And so they alight and stabled their How Balin fought with king Pellam, and
horses, and went into the castle; but how his sword brake, and how he gat
Balin's host might not be let in because
a spear wherewith he smote the dolorous
he had no lady. Then Balin was well
stroke.
received, and brought unto a chamber
and unarmed him, and they brought Anon the knights arose from the
all
him robes to his pleasure, and would table for to set on Balin. And king
have had Balin leave his sword behind Pellam himself arose up fiercely, and
him. Nay, said Balin, that do I not, said, Knight, hast thou slain my brother V
for it is the custom of my country thou shalt die therefore of thou depart.
a knight alway to keep his weapon with Well, said Balin, do it yourself. Yes,
him, and that custom will I keep, or said king Pellam, there shall no man
else I will depart as I came. Then they have ado with thee but myself, for the
gave him leave to wear his sword, and love of my brother. Then king Pellam
so he went unto the castle, and was set caught in his hand a grim weapon and
among knights of worship, and his lady smote eagerly at Balin, but Balin put
afore him. Soon Balin asked a knight, the sword betwixt his head and the
Is there not a knight in this court whose stroke, and therewith his sword burst
name Garlon ? Yonder he goeth, said
is in sunder. And when Balin was wea-
a knight, he with the black face; he ponless he ran into a chamber for to
6o MORTE DARTHUR. book n.
seek some weapon, and so from cham- more. So he rode forth through the fair
ber to chamber, and no weapon he countries and cities, and found the people
could find, and alway king Pellam after dead, slain on every side. And all that
him. And at the last he entered into were alive cried, O Balin, thou hast
a chamber that was marvellously well caused great damage in these countries ;
dight and richly, and a bed arrayed with for the dolorous stroke thou gavest
cloth of gold, the richest that might be unto king Pellam three countries are
thought, and one lying therein, and destroyed, and doubt not but the ven-
thereby stood a table of clean gold, geance will fall on thee at the last.
with four pillars of silver that bare up When Balin was past those countries he
the table, and upon the table stood was passing glad. So he rode eight
a marvellous spear, strangely wrought. days or he met with adventure. And at
And when Balin saw that spear he gat the last he came into a fair forest in
it in his hand, and turned him to
king a valley, and was ware of a tower, and
Pellam, and smote him passingly sore there beside he saw a great horse of
with that spear, that king Pellam fell war tied to a tree, and there beside sat
down in a swoon, and therewith the a fair knight on the ground and made
castle roof and walls brake and fell to great mourning and he was a likely
;
the earth, and Balin fell down so that man and a well made. Balin said, God
he might not stir foot nor hand. And save you, why be ye so heavy ? tell me,
so the most part of the castle that and I will amend it and I may to my
was fallen down through that dolorous power. Sir knight, said he again,
stroke lay upon Pellam and Balin three thou doest me great grief, for I was in
days. merry thoughts, and now thou put test
me to more pain. Balin went a little
CHAP. XVI. from him, and looked on his horse;
then heard Balin him say thus Ah, fair
How Balin was delivered by Merlin, and
:
saved a knight that wotdd have slain lady, why have ye broken my promise,
for thou promisedst me to meet me here
himselffor love.
by noon, and I may curse thee that
Then Merlin came thither and took ever ye gave me this sword, for with
up Balin, and gat him a good horse, this sword I slay myself, and pulled it—
for was dead, and bade him ride
his out; and therewith Balin start unto him,
out of that country. I would have my and took him by the hand. Let go my
damsel, said Balin. Lo, said Merlin, hand, said the knight, or else I shall
where she lieth dead. And king Pellam slay thee. That shall not need, said
lay so many years sore wounded, and Balin, for I shall promise you my help
might never be whole, till Galahad, the to get you your lady, and ye will tell me
haut prince, healed him in the quest of where she is. What is your name ? said
the Sangreal for in that place was part
;
the knight. name is Balin le Savage.
My
of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ah, sir, I know you
well enough ye ;
that Joseph of Arimathea brought into are the knight with the two swords, and
this land, and there himself lay in that the man of most prowess of your hands
rich bed. And that was the same spear living. your name ? said Balin.
WTiat is
that Longius smote our Lord to the My name is Garnish of the Mount, a
heart and king Pellam was nigh of
;
poor man's son, but by my prowess and
Joseph's kin, and that was the most hardiness a duke hath made me knight,
worshipful man that lived in those days, and gave me lands his name is duke
;
and great pity it was of his hurt, for Hermel, and his daughter is she that I
that stroke turned to great dole, trouble, love, and she me as I deemed. How
and grief. far is she hence ? said Balin. But six
Then departed Balin from Merlin, and mile, said the knight. Now ride we
said, In this world we meet never no hence, said these two knights. So they
chap. xvn. HOW BALIN MET HIS BROTHER UNKNOWN. 61
rode more than a pace till they came to old hoar gentleman coming toward him
a fair castle, well walled and ditched. that said, Balin le Savage, thou
passest
I will into the castle, said Balin, and thy bounds to come this way, therefore
look she be there.
if So he went in, turn again and it will avail thee. And
and searched from chamber to chamber, he vanished away anon and so he heard
;
and found her bed, but she was not an horn blow as it had been the death
there then Balin looked into a fair
; of a beast. That blast, said Balin, is
littlegarden, and under a laurel tree blown for me, for I am the prize, yet am
he saw her lie upon a quilt of green I not dead. Anon withal he saw an
samite, and a knight with her, and under hundred ladies and many knights, that
their heads grass and herbs. When welcomed him with fair semblance, and
Balin saw her with the foulest knight made him passing good cheer unto his
that ever he saw, and she a fair lady, sight,and led him into the castle, and
then Balin went through all the cham- there was dancing and minstrelsy, and
bers again, and told the knight how he all manner of
joy. Then the chief lady
found her, as she had slept fast, and so of the castle said, Knight with the two
brought him in the place where she lay swords, ye must have ado with a knight
fast sleeping. hereby that keepeth an island, for there
may no man pass this way but he must
CHAP. XVII. just or he pass. That is an unhappy
custom, said Balin, that a knight may
How that knight slew his loveand a knight not pass this way but if he just. Ye shall
with her, and after how he slew himself not have ado but with one knight, said
with his own sword, and how Balin rode the lady. Well, said Balin, since I shall,
toward a castle ivhere be lost his life. thereto am I ready, but travelling men
are oft weary, and their horses also but ;
measure and said, Oh Balin, much sor- fore I pray you: and so he took the
row hast thou brought unto me, for shield that was unknown and left his
hadst thou not shewn me that sight I own, and so rode unto the island, and
should have passed my sorrow. For- put him and his horse in a great boat,
sooth, said Balin, I did it to this intent and when he came on the other side he
that it should better thy courage, and met with a damsel, and she said, O
that ye might see and know her false- knight Balin, why have ye left your own
hood, and to cause you to leave love shield ? alas ye have put your self in
!
of such a lady ; truly I did none other great danger, for by your shield ye
but as I would ye did to me. Alas said ! should have been known it is
:
great
Garnish, now is my sorrow double that pity of you as ever was of knight, for of
I may not endure: now have I slain thy prowess and hardiness thou hast no
that I most loved in all my life. And fellow living. Me repenteth, said Balin,
therewith suddenly he rove himself on that ever I came within this country,
his own sword unto the hilts. When but I may not turn now again for shame,
Balin saw that, he dressed him thence- and what adventure shall fall to me, be
ward, lest folks would say he had slain or death, I will take the adventure
it life
them, and so he rode forth, and within that shall come to me. And then he
three days he came by a cross, and looked on his armour, and understood
thereon were letters of gold written that he was well armed, and therewith
said, It is not for any knight alone to blessed him, and mounted upon his
ride toward this castle. Then saw he an horse. . .
62 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK II.
How Balin met with his brother Balan, and knight Balin. Alas! said Balin, that
ever I should see this day. And there-
how each of them slew other unknown, till
with he fell backward in a swoon.
they were wounded to death. Then Balan went on and
all four feet
Then him he saw come riding
afore hands, and put off helm of his
the
out of a castle a knight, and his horse brother, and might not know him by
trapped all red, and himself in the same the visage it was so full hewen and
colour. When this knight in the red bled; but when he awoke he said, O
beheld Balin, him thought it should be Balan, my brother, thou hast slain me
his brother Balin because of his two and I thee, wherefore all the wide world
swords, but because he knew not his shall speak of us both. Alas! said
shield, he deemed it was not he. And Balan, that ever I saw this day, that
so they aventred their spears, and through mishap I might not know you,
came marvellously fast together, and for I espied well your two swords, but
they smote each other in the shields, but because ye had another shield I deemed
their spears and their course were so big you had been another knight. Alas !
that it bare down horse and man, that said Balin, all that made an unhappy
they lay both in a swoon. But Balin knight in the castle, for he caused me to
was bruised sore with the fall of his leave mine own shield to our both's
horse, for he was weary of travel. And destruction, and if I might live I would
Balan was the first that rose on foot destroy that castle for ill customs. That
and drew his sword, and went toward were well done, said Balan, for I had
Balin, and he arose and went against never grace to depart from them since
him, but Balan smote Balin first, and that I came hither, for here it happed me
he put up his shield, and smote him to slay a knight that kept this island, and
through the shield and cleft his helm. since might I never depart, and no more
Then Balin smote him again with that should ye brother, and ye might have
unhappy sword, and well nigh had slain me as ye have, and escaped your-
felled his brother Balan, and so they self with the life. Right so came the
fought there together till their breaths lady of the tower with four knights and
failed. Then Balin looked up to the six ladies and six yeomen unto them,
castle, and saw the towers stand full of and there she heard how they made
ladies. So they went to battle again, their moan either to other, and said,
and wounded each other dolefully, and We came both out of one womb, and so
then they breathed oft-times, and so shall we lye both in one pit. So Balan
went unto battle, that all the place prayed the lady of her gentleness, for
there as they fought was blood red. his true service that she would bury
And at that time there was none of them both in that same place there the
them both but they had either smitten battlewas done. And she granted
other seven great wounds, so that the them with weeping it should be done
least of them might have been the death richly in the best manner. Now will ye
of the mightiest giant in this world. send for a priest, that we may receive our
Then they went to battle again so mar- sacrament and receive the blessed -body
vellously that doubt it was to hear of of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yea, said
that battle for the great bloodshedding, the lady, it shall be done. And so she
and their hauberks unnailed, that naked sent for a priest and gave them their
they were on every side. At the last rites. Now, said Balin, when we are
Balan, the younger brother, withdrew buried in one tomb, and the mention
him a little and laid him down. Then made over us how two brethren slew
said Balin le Savage, What knight art each other, there will never good knight
thou? for or now I found never no nor good man see our tomb but they
CHAP. XIX. HOW BALIN AND BALAN DIED. 63
will pray for our souls. And so all the the pommel of the sword. Then Merlin
ladies and gentlewomen wept for pity. let make a bridge of iron and of steel
Then, anon Balan died, but Balin died into that island, and it was but half a
not till the midnight after, and so were foot broad, and there shall never man
they buried both, and the lady let make pass that bridge, nor have hardiness to
a mention of Balan how he was there go over, but he were a passing good
if
slain by his brother's hands, but she man and a good knight without treachery
knew not Balin's name. or villainy. Also the scabbard of Balin's
sword Merlin left it on this side the
CHAP. XIX. island that Galahad should find it. Also
Merlin let make by his subtilty that
How Merlin buried them both in one tomb,
Balin's sword was put in a marble stone
and of Balin's sword.
standing upright as great as a millstone,
In the morn came Merlin and let and the stone hoved always above the
write Balin's name upon the tomb, with water, and did many years, and so by
That here lieth Balin le
letters of gold, adventure it swam down the stream to
Savage, that was the knight with the the city of Camelot, that is in English
two swords, and he that smote the do- "Winchester. And that same day Gala-
lorous stroke. Also Merlin let make had the haut prince came with king
there a bed, that there should never man Arthur, and so Galahad brought with
lye therein but he went out of his wit, him the scabbard, and achieved the
yet Launcelot de Lake fordid that bed sword that was there in the marble
through his nobleness. And anon after stone hoving upon the water. And on
Balin was dead, Merlin took his sword Whitsunday he achieved the sword, as
and took off the pommel, and set on it is rehearsed in the book of the San-
another pommel. So Merlin a bad greal. Soon was done Merlin
after this
knight that stood afore him to handle came to king Arthur and told him of
that sword, and he assayed, and he the dolorous stroke that Balin gave to
might not handle it. Then Merlin king Pellam, and how Balin and Balan
laughed. Why laugh ye ? said the fought together the most marvellous
knight. This is the cause, said Merlin : battle that ever was heard of, and how
there shall never man handle this they were buried both in one tomb.
sword but the best knight of the world, Alas !said king Arthur, this is the
and that shall be Sir Launcelot, or else greatest pity that ever I heard tell of
Galahad his son, and Launcelot with two knights, for in the world I know
this sword shall slay the man that in not such two knights. Thus endeth the
the world he loved best, that shall be tale of Balin and Balan, two brethren
Sir Gawaine. All this he let write in born in Northumberland, good knights.
jfccquitur ^ Ufax,
64 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK III.
ting let ordain for the marriage and the istruth, said the king, such cries I let
coronation in the most honourablest make, and that will I hold, so it impair
,
T
could be devised. Now Mer-
ise that not my realm nor mine estate. Ve say
in, said king Arthur, go thou and espy well and graciously, said the
poor man :
le in all this land fifty knights which Sir, I ask nothing else but that ye will
of most prowess and worship, make my son here a knight. It is a
fithin short time Merlin had found great thing that thou askest of me:
ich knights that should fulfil twenty what is thy name ? said the king to the
ind eight knights, but no more he poor man. Sir, my name is Aries the
could find. Then the bishop of Can- cowherd. Whether cometh this of thee
terbury was fetched, and he blessed or of thy son ? said the king.
Nay Sir,
the sieges with great royalty and de- said Aries, this desire cometh of
my son
votion, and there set the eight and and not of me. For 1 shall tell you I
twenty knights in their sieges. And have thirteen sons, and all they will fail
when this was done Merlin said, Fair to what labour I put them to, and will
ye must all arise and come to king
sirs, be right glad to do labour, but this child
Arthur for to do him homage; he will will do no labour for me, for
anything
have the better will to maintain you. that my wife or I
may do, but always
And so they arose and did their homage. he will be shooting or casting darts, and
And when they were gone Merlin found glad for to see battles, and to behold
in every siege letters of gold that told the knights and always day and night he
;
erefore I came hither. Anon as he therewith smote him in the neck with
me before the king, he saluted him the sword, saying, Be ye a good knight,
d said O king Arthur, the flower of
: and so I pray to God so ye may be, and
1
knights and kings, I beseech Jesu if ye be of prowess and of worthiness ye
save thee :
Sir, it was told me that at shall be a knight of the Table Round.
thistime of your marriage ye would give Now Merlin, said Arthur, say whether
any man the gift that he would ask out, this Tor
shall be a good knight or no.
except that were unreasonable. That Yea, sir, he ought to be a good knight,
66 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK III.
for he is come of as good a man as any there shall have no fellow. And there-
is on live, and of king's blood. How so, with Merlin took king Pellinore by the
sir? said the king. I shall
tell you, hand, and in the one hand next the two
said Merlin : this poor man, Aries the sieges and the Siege Perilous he said, in
cowherd, is not his father, he is nothing open audience, This is your place, and
like to him, for king Pellinore is his best ye are worthy to sit therein of any
father. I suppose nay, said the cow- that is here. Thereat sat Sir Gawaine
herd. Fetch thy wife afore me, said in great envy, and told Gaheris his
Merlin, and she shall not say nay. brother, Yonder knight is put to great
Anon, the wife was fetched, which was worship, the which grieveth me sore, for
a fair house-wife, and there she answered he slew our father king Lot, therefore I
Merlin full womanly. And there she will slay him, said Gawaine, with a
told the king and Merlin that when she sword that was sent me that is
passing
was a maid, and went to milk kine. trenchant. Ye shall not so, said Ga-
There met with me a stern knight, and heris, at this time ;
for at this time I am
half by force he held me, and after that but a squire, and when I am made
time was born my son Tor, and he took knight I will be avenged on him and ;
away from me my greyhound that I had therefore brother it is best ye suffer till
that time with me, and said that he another time, that we may have him out
would keep the greyhound for my love. I
of the court, for and we did so we
Ah, said the cowherd, I wend not this, should trouble this high feast. I will
but I may believe it well, for he had well, said Gawaine, as ye will.
never no taches of me. Sir, said Tor to
Merlin, dishonour not my mother. Sir, CHAP. V.
said Merlin, it is more for your worship
How at the feast of the wedding of king
than hurt, for your father is a good
Arthur to Guenever, a white hart came
man and a king, and he may right well f
into the hall,and thirty couple hounds,
advance you and your mother, for ye
and how a brachet pinched the hart,
were begotten or ever she was wedded.
which was taken away.
That is truth, said the wife. It is the
less grief to me, said the cowherd. Then was the high feast made ready,
and the king was wedded at Camelot
CHAP. IV.
unto Dame Guenever in the church of
Hour Sir Tor was known for son of king Saint Stephen's, with great solemnity.
Pellinore, and bow Gawaine was made And as every man was set after his de-
knight. gree, Merlin went to all the knights of
So on the morn king Pellinore came the Round Table, and bad them sit still,
to the court of king Arthur, which that none of them remove, For ye shall
had great joy of him, and told him of see a strange and a marvellous adven-
Tor, how he was his son, and how he ture. Right so as they sat there came
had made him knight at the request of running in a white hart into the hall,
the cowherd. When king Pellinore be- and a white brachet next him, and thirty
held Tor he pleased him much. So the couple of black running hounds came
king made Gawaine knight, but Tor was after with a great cry, and the hart went
the first he made at the feast. What is about the Table Round. As he went by
the cause, said king Arthur, that there other boards, the white brachet bit him
be two places void in the sieges ? Sir, by the haunch and pulled out a piece,
said Merlin, there shall no man sit in where through the hart lept a great leap
those places but they that shall be of and overthiew a knight that sat at the
most worship. But in the Siege Perilous board side, and therewith the knight
there shall no man sit therein but one, arose and took up the brachet, and so
and if there be any so hardy to do it he went forth out of the hall, and took his
shall be destroyed, and he that shall sit horse and rode his way with the brachet.
CHAP. VI. OF SIR GAWAINE AND THE HART. *7
despite, for the brachet was mine that to have won me worship and here
my ;
the knight led away. I may not do younger brother said he would go after
therewith, said the king. With this the hart, for he was a better knight
there came a knight riding all armed on than I and for this cause we fell at
;
a great horse, and took the lady away debate, and so we thought to prove
with him with force, and ever she cried which of us both was better knight.
and made great dole. When she was This is a simple cause, said Sir Ga-
gone the king was glad, for she made waine; strange men ye should debate
such a noise. Nay, said Merlin, ye may withal, and not brother with brother;
not leave these adventures so lightly, for therefore but if ye will do by my counsel
these adventures must be brought again I will have ado with
you that is, ye shall
—
or else it would be disworship to you yield you unto me, and that ye go unto
and to your feast. I will, said the king, king Arthur and yield you unto his giace.
that all be done by your advice. Then, Sir knight, said the two brethren, we are
said Merlin, let call Sir Gawaine, for he for-foughten,and much blood have we
must bring again the white hart. Also, lost through our wilfulness, and there-
sir, ye must let call Sir Tor, for he must fore we would be loth to have ado with
bring again the brachet and the knight, you. Then do as I will have you, said
or else slay him. Also let call king Sir Gawaine. We will agree to fulfil your
Pellinore, for he must bring again the will ; but by whom shall we say that
lady and the knight, or else slay him. we be thither sent ? Ye may say, by
And these three knights shall do mar- the knight that followeth the quest of
vellous adventures or they come again. the hart that was white. Now what is
Then were they called all three as it your name ? said Sir Gawaine. Sor-
rehearseth afore, and every each of them louse of the Forest, said the elder. And
took his charge, and armed them surely. my name is, said the younger, Brian of
But Sir Gawaine had the first request, the Forest. And so they departed and
and therefore we will begin at him. went to the king's ccurt, and Sir
Gawaine on his quest. And as Ga-
CHAP. VI. waine followed the hart by the cry of
the hounds, even afore him there was
How Sir Gawaine rode for tofetch again a great river, and the hart swam over ;
the hart, and how tiuo brethren fought
and as Sir Gawaine would follow after
each against other for the hart.
there stood a knight over the other side,
Sir Gawaine rode more than a pace, and said, Sir knight, come not over after
id Gaheris his brother rode with him this hart, but if thou wilt just with me.
stead of a squire, to do him service. I will not fail as for that, said Sir Ga-
I ) as they rode they saw two knights
fight on horseback passing sore, so Sir
waine, to follow the quest that I am in,
and so made his horse to swim over the
Gawaine and his brother rode betwixt water, and anon they gat their spears
and asked them for what cause and ran together full hard, but Sir Ga-
they fought so. The one knight an- waine smote him off his horse, and then
swered and said
Ithem,
: We fight for a simple he turned his horse and bad him yield
matter, we two be two brethren,
for him. Nay, said the knight, not so,
born and begotten of one man and of though thou have the better of me on
one woman. Alas said Sir Gawaine,
! horseback : I pray thee, valiant knight,
why do ye so ? Sir, said the elder, alight afoot, and match we together
there came a white hart this way this with swords. W hat
7
is your name ? said
day, and many hounds chased him, and Sir Gawaine. Allardin of the Isles, said
a white brachet was alway next him, the other. Then either dressed their
5—«
68 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK III.
shieldsand smote together, but Sir Ga- helm to have striken off his head right ;
waine smote him so hard through the so came his lady out of a chamber
helm that it went to the brains, and the and fell over him, and so he smote off
knight fell down dead. Ah ! said Gaheris, her head by misadventure. Alas said !
that was a mighty stroke of a young Gaheris, that is foul and shamefully
knight. done that shame shall never from you.
;
me repenteth that thou art dead, for my him to bear one greyhound before him
sovereign lady gave thee to me, and evil on his horse, and another behind him.
have I kept thee, and thy death shall be What is your name, said Sir Gawaine,
dear bought and I live. And anon he or we part ? My name is, said the knight,
went into his chamber and armed him, Ablamor of the Marsh. So he departed
and came out fiercely, and there met he toward Camelot.
with Sir Gawaine. Why have ye slain
my hounds, said Sir Gawaine, for they CHAP. VIII.
did but their kind, and lever I had ye
How four knights fought against Sir Ga-
had wroken your anger upon me than waine and Gaheris, and bow they were
upon a dumb beast. Thou sayst truth, overcome, and their lives saved at the
said the knight, I have avenged me on
request offour ladies.
thy hounds, and so I will on thee or
thou go. Then Sir Gawaine alight And Sir Gawaine went into the castle,
afoot, and dressed his shield, and they and made him ready to lie there all
stroke together mightily, and clave their night, and would have unarmed him.
shields, and stoned their helms, and What will ye do ? said Gaheris, will ye
brake their hauberks that the blood ran unarm you in country ? ye may
this
down to their feet. At the last Sir think ye have many enemies here. They
Gawaine smote the knight so hard that had not sooner said that word but
he fell to the earth and then he cried
; there came four knights well armed, and
mercy and yielded him, and besought assailed Sir Gawaine hard, and said unto
him as he was a knight and gentle- him, Thou new made knight, thou hast
man to save his life. Thou shalt die, shamed thy knighthood, for a knight
said Sir Gawaine, for slaying of my without mercy is dishonoured. Also
hounds. I will make amends, said the thou hast slain a fair lady to thy great
knight, unto my power. Sir Gawaine shame to the world's end, and doubt
would no mercy have, but unlaced his thou not thou shalt have great need of
CHAP. IX. OF SIR TOR AND THE BR A CHE T. 69
mercy or thou depart* from us. And sworn to tell of all his adventures, and
therewith one of them smote Sir Ga- how he slew the lady, and how he would
waine a great stroke, that nigh he fell to give no mercy unto the knight, where
the earth, and Gaheris smote him again thiough the lady was slain. Then the
sore, and so they were on the one side king and the queen were greatly dis-
and on the other, that Sir Gawaine and pleased with Sir Gawaine for the slaying
Gaheris were in jeopardy of their lives ; of the lady. And there by ordinance
and one with a bow, an archer, smote of the queen there was set a quest of
Sir Gawaine through the arm that it ladies on Sir Gawaine, and they judged
grieved him wonderly sore. And as him for ever while he lived to be with
they should have been slain, there and to fight for their quarrels
all ladies, ;
came four ladies and besought the and that ever he should be courteous,
knights of grace for Sir Gawaine. And and never to refuse mercy to him that
goodly at the request of the ladies they asketh mercy. Thus was Gawaine sworn
gave Sir Gawaine and Gaheris their upon the four Evangelists that he should
lives, and made them to yield them as never be against lady nor gentlewoman,
prisoners. Then Gawaine and Gaheris but if he fought for a lady and his ad-
made great dole. Alas said Sir Ga-
!
versary fought for another. And thus
waine, mine arm grieveth me sore, I am endeth the adventure of Sir Gawaine,
like to be maimed and so made his
;
that he did at the marriage of king
complaint piteously. Early on the mor- Arthur. Amen.
row there came to Sir Gawaine one of
the four ladies that had heard all his CHAP. IX.
complaint, and said, Sir knight, what How Sir Tor rode after the knight with
cheer? Not good, said he. It is
your the bracket, and of his adventure by the
own default, said the lady, for ye have
done a passing foul deed in the slaying way.
of the lady, the which will be great When Sir Tor was ready he mounted
villainly unto you. But be ye not of king upon his horse's back,and rode after
Arthur's kin? said the lady. Yes, truly, the knight with the brachet. So as he
said Sir Gawaine. What is your name ? rode he met with a dwarf suddenly that
said the lady, ye must tell it me or ye smote his horse on the head with a staff,
pass. My name is Gawaine, the king that he went backward his spear's length.
Lot of Orkney's son, and my mother is Why dost thou so ? said Sir Tor. For
king Arthur's sister. Ah, then are ye thou shalt not pass this way, but if. thou
nephew unto king Arthur, said the lady, just with yonder knights of the pavilions.
and I shall so speak for you that ye Then was Sir Tor ware where two pa-
shall have conduct to go to king Arthur vilions were, and great spears stood out,
for his love. And so she departed and and two shields hung on trees by the
told the four knights how their prisoner pavilions. I may not tany, said Sir
king Arthur's nephew, and his name Tor, for I am in a quest that I must
; Sir Gawaine, king Lot's son of Ork- needs follow. Thou shalt not pass, said
Kas
ey. And they gave him the hart's the dwarf; and therewithal he blew his
head, because it was in his quest. Then hoin. Then there came one aimed on
anon they delivered Sir Gawaine under horseback, and dressed his shield, and
this promise, that he should bare the came fast toward Tor, and he dressed
dead lady with him in this manner the : him against him, and so ran together
head of her was hanged about his neck, that Sir Tor bare him from his horse.
and the whole body of her lay before And anon the knight yielded him to his
him on his horse mane. Right so rode mercy But, sir, 1 have a fellow in yon-
:
he forth unto Camelot. And anon as der pavilion that will have ado with you
he was come, Merlin desired of king anon. He shall be welcome, said Sir
Arthur that Sir Gawaine should be Tor. Then was he ware of another
7° MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK III.
knight coming with great force, and bayed and therewith the lady
at her fastr
each of them dressed to other that awoke and went out of the pavilion, and
marvel it was to see but the knight
: all her damsels. But anon as Sir Tor
smote Sir Tor a great stroke in the espied the white brachet he took her
midst of the shield that his spear all by force, and took her to the dwarf.
to-shivered, and Sir Tor smote him What, will ye so, said the lady, take my
that it went brachet from me? Yea, said Sir Tor,
through the shield so low
this brachet have I sought from
through the side of the knight, but the king
stroke slew him not. And therewith Arthur's court hither. Well, said the
Sir Tor alight and smote him on the lady, knight, ye shall not go far with
helm a great stroke, and therewith the her but that ye shall be met, and
knight yielded him, and besought him grieved. I shall abide what adventure
him. By whom shall we sfty are we was so near night he might not pass
thither sent? Ye shall say by the but little farther. Know
ye any lodg-
knight that went in the quest of the ing ? know none, said the
said Tor. I
knight that went with the brachet. Now dwarf, but here beside is an hennitage,
what be your two names ? said Sir Tor. and there ye must take lodging as ye
My name is, said the one, Sir Felot of find. And within awhile they came to
Langduk. And my name is, said the the hermitage and took lodging; and
other, Sir Petipase of Winchelsea. Now was there grass, oats, and bread, for
go ye forth, said Sir Tor, and God speed their horses soon it was sped, and full
;
you and me. Then came the dwarf and hard was their supper but there they
;
ride on with me. I wot ye ride after and rode towards Camelot a long while.
the knight with the white brachet, and With that they heard a knight call loud
I shall bring you where he is, said the that came
after them, and he said,
dwarf. And so they rode throughout a Knight, abide and yield my brachet
forest, and at the last they were ware that thou tookest from my lady. Sir
of two pavilions even by a priory, with Tor returned again and beheld him how
two shields, and the one shield was he was a seemly knight and well horsed,
renewed with white, and the other and well armed at all points then Sir ;
shield was red. Tor dressed his shield, and took his
spear in his hands, and the other came
CHAP. X. fiercely upon him and smote both horse
and man to the earth. Anon they arose
How Sir Tor found th? brachet with a lady, and drew their swords as eagerly
lightly
and how a knight availed him for the as lions, and put their shields afore them,
said brachet. and smote through the shields, and the
Therewith Sir Tor
alighted and gave cantels fell off of both parts. Also they
the dwarf his glaive, and so came to the hewed their helms, that the hot blood
white pavilion, and saw three damsels ran out, and the thick mails of their
lie in it on one pallet sleeping. And so hauberks they carved and rove in sunder,
he went to the other pavilion, and there that the hot blood ran to the earth, and
he found a lady lying sleeping therein. both they had many wounds and were
But there was the white brachet, that passing weary. But Sir Tor espied that
CHAP. XI. HOW ABELLEUS LOST HIS HEAD. y
the other knight fainted, and then he ask, but if ye had the brachet again that
sued fast
upon him, and doubled his was my quest. And
therewith he took
strokes, and made him go to the earth off his helm, and he arose and fled, and
on the one side. Then Sir Tor bad him Sir Tor after him, and smote off his
yield him. That will I not, said Abelleus, head quite. Now, sir, said the damsel,
while my life lasteth and the soul is with- it is near night I pray you come and
;
in my body, unless that thou wilt give lodge with me here at my place, it is
me the brachet. That will I not do, here fast by. I will well, said Sir Tor ;
said Sir Tor, for it was my quest for his horse and he had fared evil since
they departed from Camelo and so he
f
to bring again thy brachet, thee, or ,
How Sir Tor overcame the knight, and him passing good chee»" r.nd well eased
how he lost bis head at the request of
both his horse and* him. And on the
a lady. morn he heard his mass, and brake his
fast, and took his leave of the knight
With that came a damsel
riding on and of the lady, that besought him to
a palfrey as fast as she might drive and tell them his name. Truly, he said, my
cried with a loud voice unto Sir Tor. name is Sir Tor, that late was made
What will ye with me ? said Sir Tor. knight, and this was the first quest of
I beseech thee, said the damsel, for king arms that ever I did, to bring again that
Arthur's love, give me a gift ; I require this knight Abelleus took away from
thee, gentle knight, as thou art a gentle- king Arthur's court. O fair knight,
man. Now, said Sir Tor, ask a gift, said the lady and her husband, and ye
and I will give it you. (Jramercy, said come here in our marches, come and
the damsel, Now, I ask the head of the see our poor lodging, and it shall be
false knight Abelleus, for he is the most always at your commandment. So Sir
outrageous knight that liveth, and the Tor departed, and came to Camelot on
greatest murderer. I am loth, said Sir the third day by noon. And the king
Tor, of that gift I have given you ;
and the queen and all the court was
let him make amends in that he hath passing fain of his coming, and made
trespassed unto you. Now, said the great joy that he was come again for ;
damsel, he may not, for he slew mine he went from the court with little suc-
own brother afore mine own eyes, that cour, but as king Pellincre his father
was a better knight than he, and he gave him an old courser, and king
had had grace and I kneeled half an
;
Arthur gave him armour and a sword,
hour afore him in the mire for to save and else had he none other succour, but
my brother's life, that had done him rode so forth himself alone. And then
no damage, but fought with him by the king and the queen by Merlin's ad-
adventure of arms, and so for all that vice made him to swear to tell of his
I could do he struck off his head where- ; adventures, and so he told and made
fore, I require thee,as thou art a true proofs of his deeds as it is afore re-
knight, to give me my gift, or else I hearsed, wherefore the king and the
shall shame thee in all the court of king queen made great joy. Nay, nay, said
Arthur; for he is the falsest knight Merlin, these be but jests to that he shall
living, and a great destroyer of good do he shall prove a noble knight of
;
unto him. And here endeth the quest a wallop till that hehad a sight of the
of Sir Tor, king Pellinore's son. two pavilions, and the two knights fight-
ing. Anon he
rode unto the pavilions,
and saw the lady that was his quest,
CHAP. XII. and said, Fair lady, ye must go with
How ling Pellinore rode after and
the lady
me unto the court of king Arthur. Sir
her away, and how knight, said the two squires that were
the knight that led
with her, yonder are two knights that
a lady desired help of him, and how he
fight for this lady, go thither and depart
fought with two knights for that lady,
them, and be agreed with them, and
of whom he slew the one at the first then ye may have her at your pleasure.
s'roke.
Ye say well, said king Pellinore. And
Then king Pellinore armed him and anon he rode betwixt them, and de-
mounted upon his horse, and rode more parted them, and asked them the cause
than a pace after "the lady that the why that they fought. Sir knight, said
knight led away. And as he rode in the one, I shall tell you. This lady is my
a forest, he saw in a valley a damsel sit kinswoman nigh, mine aunt's daughter,
by a well, and a wounded knight in her and when I heard her complain that she
arms, and Pellinore saluted her. And was with him maugre her head, I waged
when she was ware of him, she cried battle to fight with him. Sir knight,
over loud, Help me knight, for Christ's said the other, whose name was Hontz-
sake, king Pellinore And he would not
! lake of "Wentland, and this lady I gat
tarry he was so eager in his quest, and by my prowess of arms this day at
ever she cried an hundred times after Arthur's court. That is untruly said,
help. "When she saw he would not abide, said king Pellinore, for ye came in sud-
she prayed unto God to send him as denly there as we were at the high feast,
much need of help as she had, and that and took away this lady or any man
he might feel it or he died. So as the might him ready, and therefore it was
book telleth, the knight died that there my quest for to bring her again and
was wounded, wherefore the lady for you both, or else the one of us to abide
pure sorrow slew herself with his in the field therefore the lady shall go
;
sword. As king Pellinore rode in that with me, or I will die for it, for I have
valley he met with a poor man, a la- promised it king Arthur. And there-
bourer Sawest thou not, said Pellinore,
: fore fight ye no more, for none of you
a knight riding and leading away a shall have no part of her at this time,
lady ?Yea, said the poor man, I saw and if ye list to fight for her, fight with
that knight, and the lady that made me, and I will defend her. Well, said
great dole. And yonder beneath in a the knights, make you ready, and we
valley there shall ye see two pavilions, shall assail you with all our power.
and one of the knights of the pavilions And as king Pellinore would have put
challenged that lady of that knight, and his horse from them, Sir Hontzlake rove
said she was his cousin near, wherefore his horse through with a sword, and
he should lead her no farther. And so said Now art thou on foot as well we
:
they waged battle in that quarrel the ; are. When king Pellinore espied that his
one said he would have her by force, horse was slain, lightly he leapt from
and the other said he would have the his horse and pulled out his sword, and
rule of her because he was her kinsman, put his shield afore him, and said :
and would lead her to her kin. For Knight, keep well thy head, for thou
this quarrel I left them fighting, and if shalt have a buffet for the slaying of
ye will ride a pace ye shall find them my So king Pellinore gave him
horse.
fighting, and the lady was beleft with such a stroke upon the helm that he
the two squires in the pavilions. I thank clave the head down to the chin, that
thee, said king Pellinore. Then he rode he fell to the earth dead.
CHAP. XIII. OF PELL1N0RE AND THE LADY. n
he will not have ado with no man but if
CHAP. XIII. it be at his request. Bring him to the
court, said Pellinore, one of these days.
How king Pellinore gat the lady and Sir, we will together. And ye shall
come
brought her to Camelot to the court of be welcome, said king Pellinore, to the
king Arthur. court of king Arthur, and greatly al-
And then he turned him to the other lowed your coming. And so he
for
knight that was sore wounded. But departed with the lady, and brought
when he saw the other's buffet he would her to Camelot. So as they rode in
not fight, but kneeled down and said, a valley it was full of stones, and there
Take my cousin, the lady, with you at the lady's horse stumbled and thiew
your lequest, and I require you, as ye her down, wherewith her arm was sore
be a true knight, put her to no shame bruised, and near she swooned for pain.
nor villainy. What, said king Pellinore, Alas sir, said the lady, mine arm is
!
will ye not fight for her ? No, sir, said out of joint, where through I must
the knight, I will not fight with such a needs rest me. Ye shall well, said king
knight of prowess as ye be. Well, said Pellinore. And so he alighted under
Pellinore, ye say well, I promise you she a fair tree where was fair grass, and he
shall have no villainy by me, as I am put his horse thereto, and so laid him
true knight but now me lacketh an
; under the tree and slept till it was nigh
horse, said Pellinoie, but I will have night. And when he awoke he would
Hontzlake's horse. Ye shall not need, have ridden. Sir, said the lady, it is so
said the knight, for I shall give you j
dark that ye may as well ride backward
such a horse as shall please you, so that as forward. So they abode still and
ye will lodge with me, for it is near made there their lodging. Then Sir
night. I will well, said king Pellinore, Pellinore put off his armour then a ;
abide with you all night. And there little afore midnight they heard the
he had with him right good cheer, and trotting of an horse. Be ye still, said
fared of the best with passing good king Pellinore, for we shall hear of
wine, and had merry rest that night. some adventure.
And on the morrow he heard a mass,
and dined and then was brought him
:
CHAP. XIV.
a fair bay courser, and king Pellinore's
saddle set upon him. Now, what shall
How on the way king Pellinore heard two
I call you ? said the knight, inasmuch knights, as he lay by night in a valley,
as ye have my cousin at your desire ot
and of other adventures.
your quest. Sir, I shall tell you my ; And therewith he armed him. So
name is king Pellinore, of the Isles, and right even afore him there met two
knight of the Table Round. Now I am knights, the one came from Camelot and
glad, said the knight, that such a nolle the other from the north, and cither sa-
man shall have the rule of my cousin. luted other. What tidings at Camelot ?
What is now your name? said Pellinore, said the one. By my head, said the other,
I pray you Sir, my name is
tell me. there have I been, and espied the court
Meliot of Logurs, and this lady my of king Arthur, and there is such a
cousin, hight Nimue, and the knight fellowship they may never be broken,
that was in the other pavilion is my and well nigh the world holdelh
all
BSir
sworn brother, a passing good knight, with Arthur, for there is the flower of
and his name is Brian of the Isles, and chivalry. Now
for this cause I am
he is full loth to do wrong, and full loth riding into the north to tell our chief-
to fight with any man, but if he be sore tains of the fellowship that is wilh-
sought on, so that for shame he may holden with king Arthur. As for that,
not leave it. It is marvel, said Pellinore, said the other knight, I have brought
that he will not have ado with me. Sir, a remedy with me, that is the greatest
74 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK III.
poison that ever ye heard speak of, and Evangelists to tell the truth of his
to Camelot will I with it, for we have quest from the one to the other. Ah,
a friend right nigh king Arthur, and Sir Pellinore, said queen Guenevcr, ye
well cherished, that shall poison king were greatly to blame that ye saved
Arthur, for so he hath promised our not this lady's life. Madam, said Pelli-
chieftains, and received great gifts for nore, ye were greatly to blame and ye
to do it. Beware, said the other knight, would not save your own life and ye
of Merlin, for he knoweth all things by might ; I was
but saving your pleasure,
the devil's craft. Therefore will I not so furious in my would
quest that I not
let it, said the knight. And so they abide, and that repenteth me, and shall
departed in sunder. Anon after Pelli- the days of my life. Truly, said Merlin,
nore made him ready, and his lady, and ye ought sore to repent it, for the lady
rode toward Camelot. And as they was your own daughter, and that knirfit
came by the well there as the wounded that was dead was her love, and should
knight was and the lady, there he found have wedded her, and he was a right
the knight, and the lady eaten with lions good knight of a young man, and would
or wild beasts all save the head, where- have proved a good man, and to this
fore he made
great sorrow, and wept court was he coming, and his name was
passing sore, and said Alas, her life: Sir Miles of the lands, and a knight
might I have saved, but I was so fierce came behind him and slew him with a
in my quest therefore I would not abide. spear, and his name is Loraine le Savage,
Wherefore make ye such dole, said the a false knight and a coward and she ;
mitage, and charged the hermit with thinketh, said king Pellinore, that this
the corpse, that service should be done shall betide, but God may well fordo
for the soul and take his harness for
; destiny.
your pain. It be done, said the
shall Thus when the quest was done of the
hermit, as I will answer unto God. white hart, the which followed Sir Ga-
waine; and the quest of the brachet
CHAP. XV. followed of Sir Tor, Pellinore's son ;
coming to the court. And there he ladies, damsels, and gentlewomen suc-
was made to swear upon the four cour upon pain of death. Also, that no
CHAP. XV. OF MERLIN'S DOTAGE. 75
her that .he might not be from her. same child shall be the man of most
So on a time he told king Arthur worship of the world, and his first name
that he should not dure long, but for is Galahad, that know I well, said Mer-
all his crafts he should be put in the lin, and since ye have confirmed him,
earth quick, and so he told the king Launcelot. That is truth, said the
many things that should befall, but queen, his first name was Galahad. O,
always he warned the king to keep well Merlin, said the queen, shall I live to
his sword and the scabbard, for he told see my son such a man of prowess?
him how the sword and the scabbard Yea, lady, on my peril ye shall see it,
should be stolen by a woman from him and live many winters after. And so,
that he most trusted. Also he told soon after the lady and Merlin departed;
king Arthur that he should miss him and by the way Merlin shewed her many
— Yet had ye lever than all your lands
:
was a great wonder, and wrought by ready. So on the morn the king and
enchantment, that went under a great the queen departed with such fellowship
stone. So by her subtle working, she as they had, and came into the north
made Merlin to go under that stone to into a forest beside Humber, and there
let her wit of the marvels there, but she lodged them. When the word and tiding
wrought so there for him that he came came to kings above said,
the five
never out for all the craft that he could that king Arthur was beside Humber
do. And so she departed and left in a forest, there was a knight, brother
Merlin. unto one of the five kings, that gave
CHAP. II. them this counsel: Ye know well that
Sir Arthur hath the flower of chivalry of
How Jive kings came into this land to war the world with him, as it is proved by
against king Arthi.r, and what counsel
the great battle he did with the eleven
Arthur had against them. and therefore hie unto him night
kings ;
And as king Arthur rode to Camelot, and day till that we be nigh him, for
and held there a great feast with mirth the longer he tarrieth the bigger he
and soon after he returned unto
joy, so is, and we ever the weaker and he is ;
since I was crowned king of this land. Unto this counsel these five kings
Now shall I never rest till I meet with assented, and so they passed forth with
those kings in a fair field, that I make their host through North Wales, and
mine avow ;
for my time liege people came upon Arthur by night,, and set
be destroyed in my default, go
shall not upon, his host as the king and his
with me who will, and abide who that knights were in their pavilions. King
will. Then the king let write unto king Arthur was unarmed, and had laid hira
Pellinore, and prayed him in all haste to to rest with hisqueen Guenever. Sir,
make him ready with such people as he said Sir
Kay, is not good we be
it
might lightliest rear, and hie him after unarmed we shall have no need, said
:
unto them that were not there, and bad Arthur, we are betrayed Unto arms,!
them hie after him, such as were not at fellows ! then he cried. So they were
that time in the court. Then the king armed anon at all points. Then came
came queen Guenever, and said,
to there a wounded knight unto the king,
Lady, make you ready, for ye shall go and said, Sir, save yourself and my lady
with me, for I may not long miss you, the queen, for our host is destroyed, and
ye shall cause me to be the more hardy, much people of ours slain. So anon
what adventure so befall me I will not : the king and the queen and the three
wit my lady to be in no jeopardy. Sir, knights took their horses, and rode to-
said she, I am at your commandment, ward Humber to pass over it, and the
and shall be ready what time so ye be water was so rough that they were
CHAP. III. HOW FIVE KINGS FOUGHT WITH ARTHUR. 77
afeard to pass over. may ye Now And therefore let us hold us together
choose, said king Arthur, whether ye be day, and when their host have
till it
will abide and take the adventure on espied that their chieftains be slain, they
this side, for and ye be taken they will will make such dole that they shall no
slay you. It were me lever, said the more help themselves. And right so as
queen, to die in the water than to fall the king said, so it was for when they
;
in your enemies' hands, and there be found the five kings dead, they made
slain. And as they stood so talking, such dole that they fell from their
Sir Kay saw the five kings coming on horses. Therewithal came king Arthur
horseback by themselves alone, with but with a few people, and slew on the
their spears in their hands even toward left hand and on the right hand, that
them. Lo, said Sir Kay, yonder be the well nigh there escaped no man, but
five kings, let us go to them and match all were slain to the number of
thirty
them. That were folly, said Sir Gawaine, thousand. And when the battle Mas
for we are but four and they be five. all ended, the king kneeled down and
That is truth, said Sir Griflet. No force, thanked God meekly. And then he
said Sir Kay, I will undertake for two of sent for the queen, and soon she was
them, and then may ye three undertake come, and she made great joy of the
for the other three. And therewithal overcoming of that battle.
Sir Kay let his horse run as fast as he
might, and struck one of them through CHAP. IV.
the shield and the body a fathom, that
the king fell to the earth stark dead.
How the battle was finished or king Pelli-
nore came, and how king Arthur founded
That saw Sir Gawaine and ran unto
an abbey where the battle was.
another king so hard that he smote him
through the body. And therewithal king Therewithal came one to king Ar-
Arthur ran to another, and smote him thur, and told him that king Pellinore
through the body with a spear, that he was within three mile with a great host ;
fell to the earth dead. Then Sir Griflet and he said, Go unto him, and let him
ran unto the fourth king, and gave him understand how we have sped. So
such a fall that his neck brake. Anon within awhile king Pellinore came with
Sir Kay ran unto the fifth king, and a great host, and saluted the people and
smote him so hard on the helm that the the king and there was great joy made
:
stroke clave the helm and the head to on every side. Then the king let search
the earth. That was well stricken, said how much people of his party there was
king Arthur, and worshipfully hast thou slain and there were found but little
:
holden thy promise, therefore I shall past two hundred men slain, and eight
honour thee while that I live. And knights of the Table Round in their
therewithal they set the queen in a pavilions. Then the king let rear and
barge into Humber, but always queen devise in the same place there as the
Guenever praised Sir Kay for his deeds, battle was done a fair abbey, and en-
and said, What lady that ye love, and dowed it with great livelihood, and let
le love you not again, she were greatly call it the Abbey of La Beale Adventure.
to blame and among ladies, said the
; But when some of them came into their
]ueen, I shall bear your noble fame, for countries whereof the five kings were
spake a great word, and fulfilled it kings, and told them how they were
worshipfully. And therewith the queen slain, there was made great dole. And
leparted. Then the king and the three when all king Arthur's enemies, as the
knights rode into the forest, for there king of North Wales, and the kings of
they supposed to hear of them that were the North, wist of the battle they were
escaped and there king Arthur found
;
passing heavy. And so the king re-
the most part of his people, and told turned to Camelot in haste. And when
them all how the five kings were dead. — he was come to Camelot he called king
78 MORTE DARTHUR. book rv.
Pellinore unto him, and said, Ye under- wrong. By my head, said Arthur, he
stand well, that we have lost eight knights is apassing good knight, as any ye
of the best of the Table Round, and by spake of this day, that wot I well, said
your advice we will choose eight again of the king, for I have seen him proved,
the best we may find in this court. Sir, but he saith little, and he doth much
said Pellinore, I shall counsel you after more, for I know none in all this court,
my conceit the best there are in your
;
and he were as well born on his mother's
court full noble knights both of old and side as he is on your side, that is like
young, and therefore by mine advice ye him of prowess and of might and there-
;
shall choose half of the old and half of fore I will have him at this time, and
the young. Which be the old ? said leave Sir Bagdemagus till another time.
king Arthur. Sir, said king Pellinore, So when they were so chosen by the
me seemeth that king Uriens that hath assent of all the barons, so were there
wedded your sister Morgan le Fay, and found in their sieges every knight's names
the king of the Lake, and Sir Hervise that here are rehearsed. And so were
de Revel, a noble knight, and Sir Gala- they set in their sieges, whereof Sir Bag-
gars the fourth. This is well devised, demagus was wonderly wroth, that Sir
said king Arthur, and right so shall it be. Tor was advanced afore him, and there-
Now, which are the four young knights ? fore suddenly he departed from the court,
said Arthur. Sir, said Pellinore, the and took his squire with him, and rode
first is Sir Gawaine your nephew, that long in a forest till they came to a cross,
is as good a knight of his time as any and there alight and said his prayers
is in this land and the second, as me
; devoutly. The meanwhile his squire
seemeth, is Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, found written upon the cross, that Bag-
that is a good knight, and full desirous demagus should never return unto the
in arms, and who may see him live he court again till he had won a knight's
shall prove a good knight and the ; body of the Round Table, body for body.
third as me seemeth is well to be one of Lo, sir, said his squire, here I find writing
the knights of the Round Table, Sir Kay of you, therefore I counsel you return
the seneschal, for many times he hath again to the court. That shall I never,
done full worshipfully, and now at your said Bagdemagus, till men speak of me
Jast battle he did full
honourably for to great worship, and that I be worthy to
undertake to slay two kings. By my be a knight of the Round Table. And
head, said king Arthur, he is best worthy so he rode forth. And there by the
to be a knight of the Round Table of way he found a branch of an holy herb
any that ye have rehearsed, and he had that was the sign of the Sangreal, and
done no more prowess in his life days. no knight found such tokens but he
were a good liver. So as Sir Bagde-
CHAP. V. magus rode to see many adventures, it
happed him to come to the rock there
How Sir Tor was made knight of the Round as the lady of the lake had put Merlin
Table, and how Bagdemagus toas dis-
under a stone, and there he heard him
pleased. make great dole whereof Sir Bagde-
;
Now, said king Pellinore, I shall put magus would have holpen him, and
to you two knights, and ye shall choose went unto the great stone, and it was
which is most worthy, that is Sir Bag- so heavy that an hundred men might
demagus, and Sir Tor, my son. But not lift it up. When Merlin wist he
because Sir Tor is my son I may not was there, he bad leave his labour, for
praise him, but else, and he were not my all was in vain, for he might never be
son, I durst say that of his age there is holpen but by her that put him there.
not in this land a better knight then he And so Sir Bagdemagus departed, and
is, nor of better conditions, and loth to did many adventures, and proved after
do any wrong, and loth to take any a full good knight, and came again to
CHAP. VII. HOW ARTHUR WAS A PRISONER. 79
the court, and was made knight of and his two fellows into a fair chamber,
the Round Table. So on the morn and there was a cloth laid richly beseen
there fell new tidings and other ad- of all that longed unto a table, and
ventures. there were they served of all wines and
meats that they could think of that the ;
of his knights rode on hunting into a served, and led into such another cham-
great forest, and it happed king Arthur, ber and Sir Accolon was led into the
;
king Uriens, and Sir Accolon of Gaul third chamber, passing richly and well
followed a great hart, for they three beseen and so were they laid in their
:
were well horsed, and so they chased so beds easily. And anon they fell on sleep,
fast that within awhile they three were and slept marvellously sore all that night.
then ten mile from their fellowship. And on the morrow king Uriens was
And at the last they chased so sore that in Camelot with his wife, Morgan le
they slew their horses underneath them. Fay. And when he awoke he had
Then were they all three on foot, and great marvel how he came there, for on
ever they saw the hart afore them pass- the even afore he was two days' journey
ing weary and enbushed. What will from Camelot. And when king Arthur
ye do ? said king Arthur, we are hard awoke he found himself in a dark prison,
bested. Let us go on foot, said king hearing about him many complaints of
Uriens, till we may meet with some woful knights.
lodging. Then were they ware of the
hart that lay on a great water bank, and CHAP. VII.
a brachet biting on his throat, and more
other hounds came after. Then king How Arthur took upon him to fight to be
delivered out of prison, and also for to
Arthur blew the prise and dight the hart.
deliver twenty knights that were in prison.
Then the king looked about the world,
and saw afore him in a great water a What are ye that so complain ? said
little ship, all apparelled with silk down king Arthur. We
be here twenty
to the water, and the ship came right knights prisoners, said they, and some
unto them, and landed on the sands. of us have lain here seven year, and
Then Arthur went to the bank and some more and some less. For what
looked in, and saw none earthly crea- cause? said Arthur. We shall tell you,
ture therein. Sirs, said the king, come said the knights This lord of this castle
;
thence, and let us see what is in this his name Damas, and he is the
is Sir
?hip.
So they went in all three, and falsest knight that liveth, and full of
found it
behanged with cloth of
richly treason, and a very coward as any
silk. By it was dark
then night, and liveth, and he hath a younger brother,
there suddenly were about them an hun- a good knight of prowess, his name is
red torches set upon all the sides of Sir Ontzlake, and this traitor Damas,
the ship boards, and it gave great light ; the elder brother, will give him no
and therewithal there came out twelve part of his livelihood but as Sir Ontz-
fair damsels and saluted
king Arthur on lake keepeth through prowess of his
their knees, and called him by his name, hands, and so he keepeth from him a
and said he was right welcome, and full fair manor and a rich, and therein
such cheer as they had he should have Sir Ontzlake dwelleth worshipfully and
of the best. The king thanked them is well beloved of all people. And
fair. Therewithal they led the king this Sir Damas our master is as evil
8o MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IV.
beloved, for he is without mercy, and sent for Arthur. And when he came he
he is a coward, and great war hath was well coloured, and well made of
been betwixt them both, but Ontzlake his limbs, that all knights that saw
hath ever the better, and ever he him said it were pity that such a knight
proffereth Sir Damas to fight for the should die in prison. So Sir Damas and
livelihood, body for body; but if he he were agreed that he should fight
will not do it to find a knight to fight for him upon covenant, that all
this
for him. Unto Damas hath
that Sir other knights should be delivered and ;
granted to find a knight, but he is so unto that was Sir Damas sworn unto
evil beloved and hated, that there is Arthur, and also to do the battle to the
never a knight will fight for him. And uttermost. And with that all the
when Damas sa.w this, that there was twenty knights were brought out of the
never a knight would fight for him, dark prison into the hall and delivered.
he hath daily lain await with many And so they all abode to see the
knights with him and taken all the battle.
And we be so lean with hunger that Jesu save my lord king Arthur, and
hardly we may stand on our feet. God king Uriens, for these damsels in this
deliver you for his mercy, said Arthur. ship have betrayed us. They were
Anon therewithal there came a damsel devils and no women, and if I may
unto Arthur, and asked him, What escape this misadventure, 1 shall destroy
cheer ? I cannot say, said he. Sir, said all where 1 may find these false damsels
she false, for she was one of the dam- bringeth her the knight's head that ye
sels of Morgan le Fay. Anon she went shall fight withal, she will make her a
unto Sir Damas, and told him how he queen. Now I understand you well,
would do battle for him, and so he said Accolon : I shall hold that I have
CHAP. IX. OF THE BATTLE OF ARTHUR AND ACCOLON. 81
oromised her, now I have the sword: Damas if his knight were ready, for our
when saw ye my lady queen Morgan le knight is ready in the field. Then Sir
Fay ? Right late, said the dwarf. Then Aithur mounted upon horseback, and
Accolon took him in his aims, and said, there were all the knights and commons
Recommend me unto my lady queen, of that country; and so by all advices
and tell her all shall be done that I have there were chosen twelve good men of
promised her, and else I will die for it. the country for to wait upon the two
Now I suppose, said Accolon, she hath knights. And light as Arthur was upon
made all these crafts and enchantments horseback there came a damsel from
for this l.attle. Ye may
well believe it, Morgan Fay, and brought unto Sir
le
said the dwarf. Right so there came a Arthur a sword like unto Excalibur,
knight and a lady with six squires, and and the scabbard, and said unto Arthur,
saluted Sir Accolon and prayed him for Morgan le Fay sendeth you here your
to arise, and come and rest him at his sword for great love. And he thanked
manor. And so Accolon mounted upon her, and wend it had been so, but she
a void horse, and went with the knight was false, for the sword and the scabbard
unto a fair manor by a priory, and there was counterfeit, and brittle, and false.
he had passing good cheer. Then Sir
Damas sent unto his brother Sir Ontz-
CHAP. IX.
lake, and bade make him ready by to Of the battle between king Arthur and
morn at the hour of prime, and to be A ccolon
in the field to tight with a good knight, And then they dressed them on both
for he had found a good knight that parts of the field, and let their horses run
was ready to do battle at all points. so fast that either smote other in the
When word came unto Sir Ontz-
this midst of the shield with thair spears'
lake he was passing heavy, for he was head, that both horse and man went to
wounded a little tofore through both the earth and then they started up both,
;
his thighs with a spear, and made great and pulled out their swords. The mean
dole but as he was wounded he would
: while that they were thus at the battle,
have taken the battle on hand. So it came the damsel of the lake into the
happed at that time, by the means field, that put Merlin under the stone,
of Morgan le Fay, Accolon was with and she came thither for love of king
Sir Ontzlake lodged and when he ; Arthur, for she knew how Morgan le
heard of that battle, and how Ontzlake Pay had so ordained that king Arthur
was wounded, he said he would fight should have been slain that day, and
for him, because Morgan le Fay had therefore she came to save his life. And
sent him Excalibur and the sheath for so they went eagerly to the battle, and
to fight with the knight on the morn ;
gave many great strokes. But alway
this was the cause Sir Accolon took the king Arthur's sword bit not like Acco-
battle on hand. Then Sir Ontzlake was lon's sword, but for the most part every
passing glad, and thanked Sir Accolon stroke that Accolon gave wounded he
with all his heart that he would do so sore Arthur, that it was marvel he
much for him. And therewithal Sir stood ;
and alway his blood fell from
Ontzlake sent word unto his brother Sir him fast. When Arthur beheld the
Damas that he had a knight that for ground so sore be-bled he was dis-
him should be ready in the field by the mayed, and then he deemed treason,
hour of prime. So on the morn Sir that his sword was changed for his ;
Arthur was armed and well horsed, and sword bit not steel as it was wont to
asked Sir Damas, When shall we to do, therefore he dread him sore to be
the field ? Sir, said Sir Damas, ye shall dead, for ever him seemed that the
hear mass ; and so Aithur heard a mass. sword in Accolon's hand was Excalibur,
And when mass was done there came a for at every stroke that Sir Accolon
squire on a great horse, and asked Sir struck he drew blood on Arthur. Now
6
I
82 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IV.
knight, said Accolon unto Arthur, keep of treason, and said, Knight, thou art
thee well from me but Arthur an-
:
overcome, and mayest not endure, and
swered not again, and gave him such a also thou art weaponless, and thou hast
buffet on the helm that he made him to lost much of thy blood, and I am full
stoop, nigh falling down to the earth. loth to slay thee, therefore yield thee to
Then Sir Accolon withdrew him a me as recreant. Nay, said Sir Arthur,
little, and came on with Excalibur on I may not so, for I have promised to do
high, and smote Sir Arthur such a the battle to the uttermost by the faith
buffet that he fell nigh to the earth. of my body while me lasteth the life,
Then were they wroth both, and gave and therefore I had lever to die with
each other many sore strokes, but honour than to live with shame and if ;
always SirArthur lost so much blood itwere possible for me to die an hun-
that it was marvel he stood on his dred times I had lever to die so oft than
feet, but he was so full of knighthood yield me to thee ; for though I lack
that knightly he endured the pain. And weapon I shall lack no worship, and if
Sir Accolon lost not a deal of blood, thou slay me weaponless that shall be
therefore he waxed passing light, and thy shame. Well, said Accolon, as for
Sir Arthur was passing feeble, and the shame I will not spare now keep :
wend verilv to have died but for all : thee from me, for thou art but a dead
that he made countenance as though he man. And therewith Accolon gave him
might endure, and held Accolon as such a stroke that he fell nigh to the
short as he might. But Accolon was earth, and would have had Arthur to
so bold because of Excalibur that he have cried him mercy. But Sir Arthur
waxed passing hardy. But all men that pressed unto Accolon with his shield,
beheld him said they never saw knight and gave him with the pommel in his
fight so well as Arthur did, considering hand such a buffet that he went three
the blood that he bled. So was all the strides aback. When the damsel of the
people sorry him, but the two
for lake beheld Arthur, how full of prowess
brethren would not accord then always
; his body was, and the false treason that
they fought together as fierce knights, was wrought for him to have had him
and Sir Arthur withdrew him a little for slain,she had great pity that so good a
to rest him, and Sir Accolon called him knight and such a man of worship
to battle, and said, It is no time for me should be destroyed. And at the next
to suffer thee to rest. And therewith stroke Sir Accolon struck him such a
he came fiercely upon Arthur, and Sir stroke, that by the damsel's enchant-
Arthur was wroth for the blood that ment the sword Excalibur fell out of
he had lost, and smote Accolon on high Accolon's hand to the earth and there- ;
upon the helm so mightily that he withal Sir Arthur lightly leapt to it, and
made him nigh to fall to the earth ;
got it in his hand, and forthwithal he
and therewith Arthur's sword brast at knew that it was his sword Excalibur,
the cross, and fell in the grass among and said, Thou hast been from me all
the blood, and the pommel and the sure too long, and much damage hast thou
handles he held in his hands. When Sir done me. And therewith he espied the
Arthur saw that, he was in great fear scabbard hanging by his side, and sud-
to die, but always he held up his shield, denly he start to him, and pulled- the
and lost no ground, nor bated no cheer. scabbard from him, and anon threw it
from him as far as he might throw it.
CHAP.
X.
O knight, said Arthur, this day hast
How ling Arthur's sword that he fought thou done me great damage with this
with brake, and how he recovered of sword now are ye come unto your
;
Accolon his own sword Excalibur, and death, for I shall not warrant you but
overcame his enemy.
ye shall as well be rewarded with this
Then Sir Accolon began with words sword or ever we depart, as thou hast
CHAP. XI. HOW ACCOLON CONFESSED THE TREASON. 83
came out at his ears, his nose, and his but that is now done, said Sir Accolon,
mouth. Now will I slay thee, said for I am sure of my death. Well, said
Arthur. Slay me
ye may well, said king Arthur, I feel by you ye would
Accolon, and it please you, for ye are have been king in this land. It had
the best knight that ever I found, and I been great damage for to have destroyed
see well that God is with you: but for your lord, said Arthur. It is truth, said
I promised to do this battle to the ut- Sir Accolon, but now I have told you
termost, said Accolon, and never to be truth, wherefore I pray you tell me of
recreant while I lived, therefore shall I whence ye are, and of what court ? O
never yield me with my mouth, but God Accolon, said king Arthur, now I let
do with my body what he will. Then thee wit that I am king Arthur to
Sir Arthur remembered him, and thought whom thou hast done great damage.
he should have seen this knight. Now When Accolon heard that he cried
tell me, said Arthur, or I will slay thee, aloud, Fair sweet lord, have mercy on
of what country art thou, and of what me, for I knew you not. O Sir Acco-
court? Sir knight, said Sir Accolon, lon, said king Arthur, mercy shalt thou
Iam of the court of king Arthur, and have, because I feel by thy words at
my name is Accolon of Gaul. Then this time thou knewest not my person.
was Arthur more dismayed than he was But I understand well by thy words
beforehand for then he remembered
; that thou hast agreed to the death of
him of his sister Morgan le Fay, and my person, and therefore thou art a
of the enchantment of the ship. O traitor; but I blame thee the less, for
Sir knight, said he, I pray you tell my sister Morgan le Fay by her false
me who gave you this sword, and by crafts made thee to agree and consent
whom ye had it. to her false lusts, but I shall be sore
avenged upon her and I live, that all
CHAP. XI. Christendom shall speak of it. God
knoweth I have honoured her and
How Accolon confessed the treaion of
worshipped her more than all my kin,
Morgan le Fay, king Arthur's sister, and more have I trusted her than mine
and bow she would have done slay own wife, and all my kin after. Then
him.
Sir Arthur called the keepers of the
Then SirAccolon bethought him, field, and said, Sirs, come hither, for here
and said, Woe worth this sword, for by are we two knights that have fought
it haveI gotten my death. It may unto a great damage unto us both,
well be, said the king. Now Sir, said and like each one of us to have slain
Sir Accolon, I will tell you : This sword other, if it had happed so ; and had
hath been in keeping the most part
my any of us knownother, here had been
of this twelvemonth, and Morgan le no battle, nor stroke stricken. Then
Fay, king Uriens' wife, sent it me all aloud cried Sir Accolon unto all the
yesterday by a dwarf, to this intent that knights and men that were then there
I should slay
king Arthur her brother. gathered together, and said to them in
For ye shall understand king Arthur is this manner O lords, this noble knight
:
the man in the world that she most that I have fought withal, the which
hateth, because he is most of worship me sore repenteth, is the most man of
and of prowess of any of her blood. prowess, of manhood, and of worship
6—2
84 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IV.
How Arthur accorded the two brethren, an adventurous knight through both my
and delivered the twenty and thighs, which grieved me sore, and else
knights,
how Sir Accolon died. had I done this battle with you.
Would, said Arthur, it had been so,
Then all the people fell down on for then had not I been hurt as I am.
their knees, and cried king Arthur I shall tell you the cause why: for I
mercy. Mercy shall ye have, said had not been hurt as I am had not it
Arthur : here may ye see what adven- been mine own sword that was stolen
tures befall oft time of errant knights, from me by treason :and this battle
how that I have fought with a knight was ordained aforehand to have slain
of mine own unto my great damage me, and so it was brought to the
and his both. But sirs, because I purpose by false treason, and by false
am sore hurt, and he both, and I had enchantment. Alas, said Sir Ontzlake,
great need of a little rest, ye shall that great pity, that ever so noble a
is
understand the opinion betwixt you two man as ye are of your deeds and
brethren As to thee, Sir Damas, for
:
prowess, that any man or woman might
whom I have been champion, and won find in their hearts to work any treason
the field of this knight, yet will I judge against you. I shall reward them, said
because ye Sir Damas are called an Arthur, in short time by the grace of
orgulous knight, and full of villainy, God. Now
tell me, said Arthur, how
and not worth of prowess of your far am I from Camelot? Sir, ye are
deeds, therefore I will that ye give unto two days' journey therefrom. I would
your brother all the whole manor with fain be at some place of worship, said
the appurtenance, under this form, that Sir Arthur, that I might rest me.
Sir Ontzlake hold the manor of you, Sir, said Sir Ontzlake, hereby is a rich
and yearly to give you a palfrey to ride abbey of your elders' foundation, of
upon, for that will become you better Nuns, but three mile hence. So the
to ride on than upon a courser. Also I king took his leave of all the people,
charge thee, Sir Damas, upon pain of and mounted upon horseback, and Sir
death, that thou never distress no Accolon with him. And when they
knights errant that ride on their adven- were come to the abbey, he let fetch
ture. And also that thou restore these leeches and search his wounds and
twenty knights that thou hast long kept Accolon's both, but Sir Accolon died
prisoners of all their harness that they be within four days, for he had bled so
content for, and if any of them come to much blood that he might not live, but
my court and complain of thee, by my king Arthur was well recovered. So
head thou shalt die therefore. Also, when Accolon was dead he let send him
Sir Ontzlake, as to you, because ye are on an horse-bier with six knights unto
named a good knight, and full of Camelot, and said, Bear him to my
prowess, and true and gentle in all your sister Morgan le Fay, and say that I
deeds, this shall be your charge I will : send her him to a present, and tell her
give you that in all goodly haste ye that I have mv sword Excalibur, and
come unto me and my court, and ye the scabbard. So they departed with
shallbe a knight of mine, and if the body.
your deeds be thereafter I shall so
CHAP. XIV. MORE OF MORGAN LE FAY'S TREASON. 85
lightly took the sword, and pulled it swered how he had laid him in his
out, and went boldly unto the bed-side, bed to sleep, for he had had but little
and awaited how and where she might rest these three
nights. Well, said she,
slay him best. And as she lift up the I charge you that none of awake you
sword Uwaine lept unto
to smite, Sir him till I do. And then she alight off
his mother, and caught her her horse, and thought for to steal
by the hand, away
and said, Ah, fiend, what wilt thou do ? Excalibur his sword, and so she went
And thou wert not my mother, with this straight unto his chamber, and no man
sword I should smite off
thy head. Ah, durst disobey her commandment, and
said Sir Uwaine, men say that Merlin there she found Arthur asleep in his
was begotten of a devil, but I may say bed, and Excalibur in his right hand
an earthly devil bare me. Oh fair son naked. When she saw that, she was
Uwaine, have mercy upon me; I was passing heavy that she might not come
tempted with a devil, wherefore I cry by the sword without she had awaked
thee mercy; I will never more do so; him, and then she wist well she had
and save worship and discover me
my been dead. Then she took the scab-
not. On this covenant, said Sir
Uwaine, bard, and went her way on horse-
I will
forgive it you, so ye will never back. When the king awoke and
be about to do such deeds. Nay, son, missed his scabbard, he was wroth, and
said she, and that I make
you assurance. he asked who had been there, and
they
said his sister queen
CHAP. XIV. Morgan had been
there,and had put the. scabbard under
How queen Morgan Fay made great sor-
le
her mantle, and was
roiu gone. Alas, said
for the death of Accolon, and bow Arthur, falsely have ye watched me.
she stole away the scabbard
from Arthur. Sir, said they all, we durst not disobey
Then came tidings unto Morgan le your sister's commandment. Ah, said
86 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IV.
the king, let fetch the best horse that right and that ye should have
well,
may be found, and bid Sir Ontzlake found and we might have stirred from
arm him in all haste, and take another one stead, for by his warlike counte-
good horse and ride with me. So anon nance he would have caused us to have
the king and Ontzlake were well armed, fled. I believe you, said Morgan. Anon
and rode after this lady and so they
;
after asshe rode she met a knight
came by a and found a cowherd,
cross, leading another knight on his horse
and they asked the poor man if there before him, bound hand and foot blind-
came any lady late riding that way. fold, to have drowned him in a foun-
Sir, said this poor man, right late came tain. "When she saw this knight so
a lady riding with a forty horses, and to bound, she asked him, What will ye do
yonder she rode.
forest Then they with that knight ? Lady, said he, I will
spurred their horses and followed fast, drown him. For what cause ? she asked.
and within awhile Arthur had a sight For I found him with my wife, and she
of Morgan le Fay then he chased as
;
shall have the same death anon. That
fast as he might. When she espied were pity, said Morgan le Fay now :
him following her, she rode a greater what say ye, knight, is it truth that he
pace through the forest till she came to saith of you? she said to the knight
a plain. And when she saw she might that should be drowned. Nay truly,
not escape, she rode unto a lake madam, he saith not right of me. Of
thereby, and said, "Whatsoever be- whence be ye ? said Morgan le Fay, and
cometh of me, my brother shall not of what country ? I am of the court of
have this scabbard. And then she let king Arthur, and my name is Manassen,
throw the scabbard in the deepest of cousin unto Accolon of Gaul. Ye say
the water, so it sank, for it was heavy well, said she, and for the love of him
of gold and precious stones. Then she ye shall be delivered, and ye shall have
rode into a valley where many great your adversary in the same case ye
stones were, and when she saw that she be in. So Manassen was loosed and
must be overtaken, she shaped herself, the other knight bound. And anon
horse and man, by enchantment, unto a Manassen unarmed him, and armed him-
great marble stone. Anon withal came self in his harness, and so mounted on
Sir Arthur and Sir Ontzlake, whereas horseback, and the knight afore him,
the king might not know his sister and and so threw him into the fountain and
her men, and one knight from another. drowned him. And then he rode unto
Ah, said the king, here may ye see the Morgan again, and asked her if she
vengeance of God, and now am I sorry would anything unto king Arthur. Tell
that this misadventure is befallen. And him that I rescued thee not for the love
then he looked for the scabbard, but it of him but for the love of Accolon, and
would not be found. So he returned to tell him I fear him not while I can make
the abbey there he came from. So me and them that be with me in likeness
when Arthur was gone she turned all of stones and let him wit I can do much
;
into the likeness as she and they were more when I see my time. And so she
before,and said, Sirs, now may we departed into the country of Gore, and
go where we will. there was she richly received, and made
her castles and towns passing strong,
for always she drad much king Arthur.
CHAP. XV. When the king had well rested him at
the abbey he rode unto Camelot, and
How Morgan le Fay saved a knight that
found his queen and his barons right
should have been drowned, and how king
Arthur returned home again. glad of his coming. And when they
heard of his strange adventures as is
Then said Morgan, Saw ye Arthur afore rehearsed, they all had marvel of
my brother ? Yea, said her knights, the falsehood of Morgan le Fay many
:
c:iap. xvi. HOT/ KING ARTHUR WAS SAVED. 87
knights wished her burnt. Then came destroyed but as for you, said the king
;
Manassen to the court and told the king to king Uriens, I deem not greatly that
of his adventure. Well, said the king, ye be of her counsel, for Accolon con-
she is a kind sister, I shall so be avenged fessed to me by his own mouth, that she
on her and I live, that all Christendom would have destroyed you as well as me,
shall speak of it. So on the morn there therefore I hold you excused but as for
;
came a damsel from Morgan to the king, your son Sir Uwaine, I hold him sus-
and she brought with her the richest pected, therefore I charge you put him
mantle that ever was seen in that court, out of my court. So Sir Uwaine was
for it was set as full of precious stones discharged. And when Sir Gawaine
as one might stand by another, and there wist that, he made him ready to go
were the richest stones that ever the with him, and said Who so banisheth
:
king saw. And the damsel said, Your my cousin german shall banish me. So
sister sendeth you this mantle, and they two departed and rode into a great
desireth that ye should take this forest. And so they came to an abbey
gift of her, and in what thing she hath
of monks, and there were well lodged.
offended you she will amend it at your But when the king wist that Sir Gawaine
own pleasure. When the king beheld was departed from the court there was
this mantle it pleased him much, but he made great sorrow among all the estates.
said but little. Now, said Gaheris, Gawaine's brother,
we have lost two good knights for the
'chap. xvi. love of one. So on the morn they
heard their masses in the abbey, and so
How the damsel of the lake saved king
they rode forth till they came to a great
Arthur from a mantle which should forest then was Sir Gawaine ware in
;
loveth insome other places ladies and there.They answered him that they
gentlewomen, and to be loved again, and came from king Arthur's court for to
he be such a man of prowess as ye speak see adventures.Well, said Marhaus,
of. Now what is his name? Sir, said here am an adventurous knight
I ready,
they, his name is Marhaus., the king's that will fulfil any adventure that ye
son of Ireland. I know him well, said will desire. And so departed from
Sir Uwaine, he is a passing good knight as them to fetch his range. Let him go,
any is on live, for 1 saw him once proved said Sir Uwaine unto Sir Gawaine, for
at a justs where many knights were ga- he is a passing good knight as any is
thered, and that time there might no living I would not by my will that any
:
man withstand him. Ah said. Sir Ga- ! of us were matched with him. Nay,
waine, damsels, methinketh ye are to said Sir Gawaine, not so it were shame ;
That saw the other knight of the tur-et, Gawaine and his horse rushed down to
and dressed him toward Marhaus, and the earth. And lightly Sir Gawaine
$'•• they met so eagerly together that the rose upon his feet, and pulled out his
knight of the turret was soon smitten sword, and dressed him toward Sir Mar-
down, horse and man, stark dead. haus on foot. And Marhaus saw
Sir
that, and pulled out and began
his sword,
shield, and saw how it was defouled, the other on horseback. And therewith
and Of this despite I am a part
said, Sir Marhaus set his spear against a tree
avenged, but for her love that gave me and alighted, and tied his horse to a
this white shield I shall wear thee, and |
tree, and dressed his shield, and either
hang mine where thou wast and so he : came unto other eagerly, and smote
hanged it about his neck. Then he together with their swords that their
rode straight unto Sir Gawaine and to Sir shields flew in cantels, and they bruised
Uwaine, and asked them what they did their helms and their hauberks, and
chap. xvm. HOW SIR MARHAUS AND SIR GAWAINE FOUGHT. 89
wounded either other. But Sir Ga- Gawaine. Then within a little while
waine, fro passed nine of the clock
it they came to Sir Marhaus's place,
waxed ever stronger and stronger, till it which was in a little priory, and there
came to the hour of noon, and thrice they alight, and ladies and damsels un-
his might was increased. All this espied armed them and hastily looked to their
Sir Marhaus, and had great wonder how hurts, for theywere all three hurt. And
his might increased, and so they wounded so they had all three good lodging with
other passing sore. And then when it Sir Marhaus, and good cheer for
:
was past noon, and when it drew to- when he wist that they were king
ward even-song, Sir Gawaine's strength Arthur's sister's sons, he made them
feebled and waxed passing faint, that all the cheer that lay in his power.
unnethes he might dure any longer, And so they sojourned there a seven
and Sir Marhaus was then bi^er and nights, and were well eased of their
bigger. Sir knight, said Sir Marhaus, wounds, and at the last departed.
I have well felt that ye are a passing Now, said Sir Marhaus, we will not
good knight, and a marvellous man of part so lightly, for I will bring you
might as ever I felt any, while it lasteth, through the forest and rode day by
:
and our quarrels are not great, and day well a seven days or they found
therefore it were pity to do you hurt, any adventure. At the last they came
for I feel ye are passing feeble. Ah, into a great forest, that was named the
said Sir Gawaine, gentle knight, ye say country and forest of Arroy, and the
the word that I should say. And there- country of strange adventures. In this
with they took off their helms and either country, said Sir Marhaus, came never
kissed other, and there they swore to- knight since it was christened, but he
gether either to love other as brethren. found strange adventures. And so they
And Sir Marhaus prayed Sir Gawaine rode and came into a deep valley full of
to lodge with him that night. And so stones, and thereby they saw a fair stream
they took their horses and rode toward of water above thereby was the head
;
Sir Marhaus's house. And as they rode of the stream, a fair fountain, and three
by the way, Sir knight, said Sir Gawaine, damsels sitting thereby. And then they
I have marvel that so valiant a man as rode to them, and either saluted other,
ye be love no ladies nor damsels. Sir, and the eldest had a garland of gold
said Sir Marhaus, they name me wrong- about her head, and she was threescore
fully those that give me that name, but winter of age or more, and her hair was
well I wot it be the damsels of the turret white under the garland. The second
that so name me, and other such as they damsel was of thirty winter of age, with
be. Nowshall I tell you for what cause a circlet of gold about her head. The
I hate them. For they be sorceresses third damsel was but fifteen year of age,
and enchanters many of them, and be a and a garland of flowers about her head.
knight never so good of his body and When these knights had so beheld them,
full of prowess as man they asked them the cause why they sat
may be, they
will make him a stark coward to have at that fountain. We be here, said the
the better of him, and this is the prin- damsels, for this cause, if we may see
cipal cause that I hate them and to ; any errant knights, to teach them unto
all good and gentlewomen I owe
ladies strange adventures, and ye be three
my service as a knight ought to do. As knights that seek adventures, and we
the book rehearseth in French, there be three damsels, and therefore each
were many knights that overmatched one of you must choose one of us. And
Sir Gawaine, for all the
thrice-might when ye have done so we will lead you
that he had: Sir Launcelot de Lake, unto three high ways, and there each of
Sir Tristram, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir you shall choose a way, and his damsel
Percivale, Sir Pelleas, and Sir Marhaus, with him. And this day twelvemonth
these six knights had the better of Sir ye must meet here again, and God send
9o MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IV.
you your lives, and thereto ye must for sorrow and shame cometh to rr.'_-
I amthe youngest and most weakest of shields and spears against that one
you both, therefore I will have the eldest knight that came by Sir Gawaine. Then
damsel, for she hath seen much and can this one knight aventred a great spear,
help me best when I have need, for I and one of the ten knights encountered
have most need of help of you both. with him, but this woful knight smote
Now, said Sir Marhaus, I will have him so hard that he fell over his horse
the damsel of thirty winter age, for she tail. So this same dolorous knight
fallcst best to Well, said Sir Ga-
me. served them all, that at the least way
waine, I thank you, for ye have left me he smote down horse and man, and all
the youngest and the fairest, and she is he did with one spear. And so when
most liefest to me. Then
every damsel they were all ten on foot they went to
took her knight by the reins of his bridle, that one knight, and he stood stone still,
and brought them to the three ways, and suffered them to pull him down off
and there was their oath made to meet his horse, and bound him hand and foot,
at the fountain that day twelvemonth and tied him under the horse belly, and
and they were living, and so they kissed so led him with them. Oh, said Sir Ga-
and departed, and every each knight set waine, this is a doleful sight, to see the
his lady behind him. And Sir Uwaine yonder knight so to be entreated, and it
took the way that lay west, and Sir Mar- seemeth by the knight that he suffereth
haus took the way that lay south, and Sir them to bind him so, for he maketh no
Gawaine took the way that lay north. resistance. No, said his host, that is
Now will begin at Sir Gawaine
we truth, for and he would they all were
that held that way till he came unto a too weak so to do him. Sir, said the
fair manor, where dwelled an old knight damsel unto Sir Gawaine, me seemeth it
and a good householder, and there Sir were your worship to help that dolorous
Gawaine asked the knight if he knew knight, for me thinketh he is one of the
best knights that ever I saw. I would
any adventures in that country. I shall
shew you some to-morn, said the old do for him, said Sir Gawaine, but it
knight, and that marvellous. So on the seemeth that he will have no help.
morn they rode into the forest of adven- Then said the damsel, me seemeth ye
tures till they came to a lawn, and have no lust to help him. Thus as they
talked they saw a knight on that other
thereby they found a cross, and as they
stood and hoved there came by them side of the lawn, all armed save the
the fairest knight and the seemliest man head. And on the other side .there
that ever they saw, making the greatest came a dwarf on horseback armedall
dole that ever man made. And then save the head, with a great mouth and
he was ware of Sir Gawaine, and saluted a short nose. And when the dwarf
him, and prayed God to send him much came nigh he said, W'here is the lady
worship. As to that, said Sir Gawaine, should meet us here ? and therewithal
Gramercy ! Also, I pray to God that she came forth out of the wood. And
he send you honour and worship. Ah, then they began to strive for the lady ;
said the knight, I may lay that aside, for the knight said he would have her,
CHAP. XXI. THE ADVENTURE OF SIR GAWAINE. 91
and the dwarf said he would have her. was cried in this country a great justs
Will we do well V said the dwarf yonder ; three days:and all the knights of this
is a knight at the cross, let us put it country were there and gentlewomen ;
both upon him, and as he deemeth so and who that proved him the best
shall it be. I will well, said the knight ;
knight should have a passing good
and so they went all three unto Sir Ga- sword and a circlet of gold, and the
waine, and told him wherefore they circlet theknight should give it to the
strove. Well sirs, said he, will ye put fairestlady that was at the justs. And
the matter into my hand V Yea, they this knight, Sir Pelleas, was the best
said both. Now, damsel, said Sir Ga- knight that was there, and there were
waine, ye shall stand betwixt them both, five hundred knights, but there was
and whether ye list better to go to, he never man that ever Sir Pelleas met
shall have you. And when she was set withal, but he struck him down, or
between them both she left the knight else from his horse. And every day
and went to the dwarf. And the dwarf of three days he struck down twenty
took her and went his way singing, knights, therefore they gave him the
and the knight went his way with prize. And forthwithal he went there
great mourning. Then came there two as the lady Ettard Mas, and gave her
knights all armed, and cried on high, the circlet, and said openly she was the
Sir Gawaine, knight of king Arthur, fairest lady that there was, and that
make thee ready in all haste and just would he prove upon any knight that
with me. So they ran together that would say nay.
either fell down. And then on foot
they drew their swords and did full CHAP. XXL
actually. In the meanwhile the other
How king Pelleas suffered himself to be
knight went to the damsel and asked taken prisoner because be would have a
her why she abode with that knight,
and if ye would abide with me, 1 will sight of his lady, and bow Sir Gawaine
be your faithful knight. And with you promised him for to get to him the love
will I be, said the damsel, for with Sir of his lady.
Gawaine I may not find in mine heart And so he chose her for his sovereign
to be with him for now here was one
:
lady, and never to love other but her.
knight discomfited ten knights, and at But she was so proud that she had scorn
the last he was cowardly led away and ;
of him, and said she would never love
therefore let us two go our way whilst him, though he would die for her.
they fight. And Sir Gawaine fought Wherefore all ladies and gentlewomen
with that other knight long, but at the had scorn of her that she was so proud,
last they accorded both. And then the for there were fairer than she, and there
knight prayed Sir Gawaine to lodge was none that was there but and Sir
with him that night. So as Sir Ga- Pelleas would have proffered them love,
waine went with this knight he asked they would have loved him for his noble
him, What knight is he in this country prowess. And so this knight promised
that smote down the. ten knights ? For the lady Ettard to follow her into this
when he had done so manfully, he suf- country, and never to leave her till she
fered them to bind him hand and foot, loved him. And thus he is here the
and so led him away. Ah said the
! most part nigh her, and lodged by a
knight, that is the best knight I trow in priory, and every week she sendeth
the world, and the most man of
prowess, knights to fight with him. And when
and he hath been served so as he was he hath put them to the worse, then will
even more than ten times, and his name he suffer them wilfully to take him pri-
hight Sir Pelleas, and he loveth a great soner, because he would have a sight of
lady in this country, and her name is this lady. And alway she doth him
Ettard. And so when he loved her there great despite, for sometimes she maketh
92 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IV.
her knights to tie him to his horse tail, knight, since ye are so nigh cousin unto
and some to bind him under the horse king Arthur, and a king's son, therefore
belly. Thus in the most shamefullest betray me not but help me, for I may
wise that she can think he is brought to never come by her but by some good
her. And all she doth it for to cause knight, for she is in a strong castle
him to leave this country, and to leave here fast by within this four mile, and
his loving. But all this cannot make over all this country she is lady of.
him to leave, for and he would have And so I may never come to her pre-
fought on foot he might have had the sence but as I suffer her knights to take
better of the ten knights as well on foot me, and but if I did so that I might have
as on horseback. Alas said Sir Ga-
! a sight of her, I had been dead long or
waine, it is
great pity of him, and after this time, and yet fair word had I never
this night I will seek him to-morrow in of her, but when I am brought tofore
this forest, to do him all the help that her she rebuketh me in the foulest man-
I can. So on the morn Sir Gawaine ner. And then they take my horse and
took his leave of his host Sir Carados, harness, and put me out of the gates,
and rode into the forest. And at the and she will not suffer me to eat nor
last he met with Sir Pelleas making drink, and always I offer me to be her
great moan out of measure, so each of prisoner, but that she will not suffer me,
them saluted other, and asked him why for I would no more what pains
desire
he made such sorrow. And as it is soever I had, so that I might have a
above rehearsed, Sir Pelleas told Sir sight of her daily. Well, said Sir Ga-
Gawaine But alway I suffer her knights
: waine, all this shall I amend, and ye
to fare so with me as ye saw yesterday, will do as I shall devise. I will have
in trust at the last to win her love, for your horse and your armour, and so will
she knoweth well all her knights should I ride to her castle, and tell her that I
not lightly win me and me list to fight have slain you, and so shall I come
with them to the uttermost. Wherefore within her to cause her to cherish me,
I loved her not so sore I had lever die and then shall I do my true part that ye
an hundred times, and I might die so shall not fail to have the love of her.
oft, rather than I would suffer that de-
spite ; but I trust she will have pity upon CHAP. XXII.
me at the last, for love causeth many a
How Sir Gawaine came to the lady Ettard,
good knight to suffer to have his in- and how Sir Pelleas found them sleeping.
tent, but, alas ! I am unfortunate. And
therewith he made so great dole and And therewith Sir Gawaine plight his
sorrow that unnethe he might hold him troth unto Sir Pelleas to be true and
on horseback. Now, said Sir Gawaine, faithful unto him.So each one plight
leave your mourning, and I shall promise and so they changed
their troth to other,
you by the faith of my body, to do all horses and harness, and Sir Gawaine de-
that lieth in my power to get you the parted and came to the castle whereas
love of your lady, and thereto I will stood the pavilions of this lady without
plight you my troth. Ah, said Sir Pel- the gate. And as soon as Ettard had
leas, of what court are ye? tell me, I espied Sir Gawaine she fled in toward the
pray you, my good friend. And then castle. Gawaine spake on high, and
Sir
Sir Gawaine said, I am of the court of bad her abide, for lie was not Sir Pelleas :
king Arthur, and his sister's son, and I am another knight that hath slain Sir
king Lot of Orkney was my father, and Pelleas. Do off your helm, said the lady
my name is Sir Gawaine. And then he Ettard, that I may see your visage. And
said, My name is Sir Pelleas, born in so when she saw that it was not Sir Pel-
the Isles,and of many isles I am lord, leas she made him alight, and led him
and never have I loved lady nor damsel unto her castle, and asked him faithfully
till now in an
unhappy time and Sir ;
whether he had slain Sir Pelleas. And
CHAP. XXII. OF SIR PELLEAS AND ETTARD. 93
he said her yea, and told her his name was well nigh burst for sorrow, and said :
Sir Gawaine of the court of king Arthur, Alas that ever a knight should be found
!
and his sister's son. Truly, said she, so false. And then he took his horse,
that is great pity, for he was a passing and might not abide no longer for pure
good knight of his body, but of all men sorrow. And when he had ridden nigh
on live hated him most, for I could
I half a mile, he turned again and thought
never be quit of him. And for ye have to slay them both and when he saw
:
slain him 1 shall be your lady, and to do them both sleeping fast, unnelhe he
anything that may please you. So she might hold him on horseback for sor-
made Sir Gawaine good cheer. Then row, and said thus to himself, Though
SirGawaine said that he loved a lady, this knight be never so false never I will
and by no mean she would love him. slay him sleeping for I will never de-
;
and found Sir Gawaine with his lady deceived me and betrayed me falsely,
Petard, and when he saw that his heart that all ladies and damsels may beware
94 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IV.
by you and me. And therewith Sir the lake, take your horse and come forth
Gawaine made him ready and went into with me out of this country, and ye shall
the forest. So it happed then that love a lady that shall love you. I will
the damsel of the lake Nimue met well, said Sir Pelleas, for this lady Ettard
with a knight of Sir Pelleas, that hath done me great despite and shame.
went on his foot in the forest making And there he told her the beginning
great dole, and she asked him the and ending, and how he had purposed
cause. And so the woful knight told never to have arisen till that he had been
her how that his master and lord was dead, —
and now I hate her as much as
betrayed through a knight and a lady, ever I loved her. Thank me, said the
and how he will never arise out of damsel of the lake. Anon Sir Pelleas
his bed till he be dead. Bring me to armed him, and took his horse, and
him, said she, anon, and I will warrant commanded his mento bring after his
his life, he shall not die for love, and pavilions and his stuff where the damsel
she that hath caused him so to love of the lake would assign. So the lady
she shall be in as evil plight as he is Ettard died for sorrow, and the damsel
or it be long, for it is no joy of such a of the lake rejoiced Sir Pelleas, and
proud lady that will have no mercy of loved together during their life days.
such a valiant knight. Anon that knight
brought her unto him. And when she CHAP. XXIV.
saw him lie in his bed, she thought she
saw never so likely a knight and there-
:
How Sir Marhaus rode with the damsel,
with she threw an enchantment upon and how he came to the duke of the South
Marches.
him, and he fell on sleep. And there-
while she rode unto the lady Ettard, Now turn we unto Sir Marhaus that
and charged no man to awake him till rode with the damsel of thirty winter
she came again. So within two hours of age southward. And so they came
she brought the lady Ettard thither, and into a deep forest, and by fortune they
both ladies found him on sleep. Lo, were nighted, and rode long in a deep
said the damsel of the lake, ye ought to way, and at the last they came into a
be ashamed for to murder such a knight. courtelage, and there they asked harbour.
And therewith she threw such an en- But the man of the courtelage would not
chantment upon her that she loved him lodge them for no treaty that they
sore, that well nigh she was out of her could treat. But thus much the good
mind. Alas said the lady Ettard, how
! man said And ye will take the adven-
:
is itbefallen unto me that I love now ture of your lodging, I shall bring you
him that I have most hated of any men there ye shall be lodged. What adven-
alive. That is the righteous judgment ture is that that I shall have for my
of God, said the damsel. And then lodging? said Sir Marhaus. Ye shall
anon Sir Pelleas awaked, and looked wit when ye come there, said the good
upon Ettard. And when he saw her man. Sir, what adventure so it be
he knew her, and then he hated her bring me thither, I pray thee, said Sir
more than any woman alive, and said :
Marhaus, for I am weary,
my damsel
Away traitress, come never in my sight. and my horse. So the good man went
And when she heard him say so, she and opened the gate, and within an .
wept and made great sorrow out of hour he brought him unto a fair castle.
measure. And then the poor man called the por-
ter, and anon he was let into the castle,
CHAP. XXIII.
and so told the lord how he brought
How Sir Pelleas loved no more Ettard by him a knight errant and a damsel that
means of the damsel of the lake, whom would be lodged with him. Let him
he loved ever after.
in, said the lord, it may happen he shall
Sir knight Pelleas, said the damsel of repent that they took their lodging here.
CHAP. XXV. THE ADVENTURE OF SIR MARHAUS. 95
So SirMarhaus was let in with torch already on horseback, clean armed, and
his six sons by him, and every each had
light, and there was a goodly sight
of
young men that welcomed him. And a spear in his hand, and so they en-
then his horse was led into the stable, and countered, where as the duke and his
he and the damsel were brought into two sons brake their spears upon him,
the hall, and there stood a mighty duke, but Sir Marhaus held up his spear and
and many goodly men about him. Then touched none of them.
this lord asked him what he hight, and
from whence he came, and with whom CHAP. XXV.
he dwelt. Sir, said he, I am a knight
and
How Sir Marhaus fought zvitb the duke
of king Arthur's, knight of the and and made them to yield
his six sons,
Table Round, and my name is Sir Mar-
them.
haus, and born I am in Ireland. And
then said the duke to him, That me Then came the four sons by couples,
sore repenteth the cause is this for I
: : and two of them brake their spears, and
love not thy lord, nor none of thy fel- so did the other two. And all this
lows of the Table Round, and therefore while Sir Marhaus touched them not.
ease thyself this night as well as thou Then Sir Marhaus ran to the duke,
mayest, for as to-morn I and my six and smote him with his spear that
sons shall match with you. Is there horse and man fell to the earth. And
no remedy but that I must have ado so he served his sons. And then Sir
with you and your six sons at once? Marhaus alight down, and bad the
said Sir Marhaus. No, said the duke, duke yield him or else he would slay
for this cause I made mine avow, for Sir him. And then some of his sons re-
Gawaine slew my seven sons in a re- covered, and would have set upon Sir
counter, therefore I made mine avow Marhaus. Then Sir Marhaus said to
that there should never knight of king the duke, Cease thy sons, or else I will
Arthur's court lodge with me, or come do the uttermost to you all. When the
there as I might have ado with him, but duke saw he might not escape the death,
that I would have a revenging of my he cried to his sons, and charged them to
sons' death. What is your name ? said yield them to Sir Marhaus. And they
Sir Marhaus ;
I require you tell me, and kneeled all down and put the pommels
it
please you. Wit ye well that I am of their swords to the knight, and so he
the duke of South Marches. Ah, said received them. And then they holp up
Sir Marhaus, I have heard say that their father, and so by their common
ye have been a long time a great foe assent promised unto Sir Marhaus never
unto my lord Arthur and to his knights. to be foes unto king Arthur, and there-
That shall ye feel to-morn, said the upon at Whitsuntide after, to come
duke. Shall I have ado with you ? said he and his sons, and put them in the
Sir Marhaus. Yea, said the duke, thereof king's grace. Then Sir Marhaus de-
shalt thou not choose, and therefore take parted, and within two days his damsel
you to your chamber, and ye shall have brought him where as was a great tour-
all that to you belongeth. So Sir Mar- nament that the lady de Vawse had cried.
haus departed, and was led to a chamber, And who that did best should have a
and his damsel was led unto her cham- rich circlet of gold worth a thousand
ber. And on the morn the duke sent besaunts. And there Sir Marhaus did
unto Sir Marhaus, and bad make him so nobly that he was renowned, and had
ready. And so Sir Marhaus arose and some time down forty knights, and so
armed him, and then there was a mass the circlet of gold was rewarded him.
sung afore him, and he brake his fast, Then he departed from thence with
and so mounted on horseback in the great worship. And so within seven
court of the castle, there they should nights the damsel brought him to an
do the battle. So there was the duke earl's place, his name was the earl Fergus.
96 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IV.
that afterwas Sir Tristram's knight. and so by adventure he met with four
And this earl was but a young man, and knights of king Arthur's court, the first
late come into his lands, and there was was Sir Sagramore le Desirous, Sir
a giant fast by him that hight Taulurd, Osanna, Sir Dodinas le Savage, and Sir
and he had another brother in Corn- Felot of Listinoise and there Sir Mar-
;
wall that hight Taulas, that Sir Tris- haus with one spear smote down these
tram slew when he was out of his mind. four knights, and hurt them sore. So
So this earl made his complaint unto Sir he departed to meet at his day afore set.
Marhaus, that there was a giant by him
that destroyed all his lands, and how he CHAP. XXVII.
durst nowhere ride nor go for him-
Hoxv Sir Uwaine rode with the damsel of
Sir, said the knight, whether useth he
threescore years of age, and how he got
to fight on horseback or on foot ? Nay,
the prize at tourneying.
said the earl, there may no horse bear
him. Well, said Sir Marhaus. then will Now turn we
unto Sir Uwaine, that
I fight with him on foot. So on the rode westward with his damsel of three-
morn Sir Marhaus prayed the earl that score winter of age, and she brought
one of his men might
bring him whereas him there as was a tournament nigh the
the giant was, and so he was, for he march of Wales. And at that tourna-
saw him sit under a tree of holly, and ment Sir Uwaine smote down thirty
many clubs of iron and gisarms about knights, therefore was given him the
him. So this knight dressed him to prize, and that w as a gerfalcon and
T
the giant, putting his shield afore him, a white steed trapped with cloth of
and the giant took an iron club in his gold. So then Sir Uwaine did many
hand, and at the first stroke he clave Sir strange adventures by the means of
Marhaus's shield in two pieces. And the old damsel, and so she brought
there he was in great peril, for the giant him unto a lady that was called the
was a wily fighter, but at the last Sir lady of the Rock, the which was
Marhaus smote off his right arm above much courteous. So there were in
the elbow. Then the giant fled, and the country two knights that were
the knight after him, and so he drove brethren, they were called two
and
him into a water, but the giant was so perilous knights, the one hight Sir
high that he might not wade after him. Edward of the Red Castle, and the
And then Sir Marhaus made the earl other hight Sir Hue of the Red Castle.
Fergus's man to fetch him stones, and And these two brethren had disherited
with those stones the knight gave the the lady of the Rock of a barony of
giant many sore knocks, till at the last lands by their extortion. And as this
he made him fall down into the water, knight was lodged with this lady, she
and so was he there dead. Then Sir Mar- made her complaint to him of these two
haus went unto the giant's castle, and knights. Madam, said Sir Uwaine, they
there he delivered twenty-four ladies and are to blame, for they do against the
twelve knights out of the giant's prison, high order of knighthood and the oath
and there he had great riches without that they made ; and if it like you I will
number, so that the days of his life he speak with them, because I am a knight
was never poor man. Then he returned of king Arthur's, and I will entreat
to the earl Fergus, the which thanked them with fairness; and if they will
him greatly and would have given him not, I shall do battle with them, and in
half his lands, but he would none take. the defence of your right. Gramercy!
So Sir Marhaus dwelled with the earl said the lady, and there as I may not
the morn
nigh half a year, for he was sore bruised acquit you, God shall. So on
with the giant, and at the last he took the two knights were sent for, that they
his leave. And as he lode by the way, should come hither to speak with the
he met with Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine, lady of the Rock. And wit ye well they
CHAV. XXVIII. THE ADVENTURE OF SIR UWAINE. 97
failed not, for theycame with an hun- passing grievously, that the lady of
dred horse. But when this lady saw the Rock wend he should have died.
them in this manner so big, she would And thus they fought together five
not suffer Sir Uwaine to go out to hours as men enraged out of reason.
them upon no surety nor for no fair And at the last Sir Uwaine smote Sir
language, but she made him speak Edward upon the helm such a stioke
with them over a tower. But finally that his sword carved unto his collar-
these two brethren would not be en- bone, and then Sir Hue abated his
treated, and answered that they would courage. But Sir Uwaine pressed fast
keep that they had. Well, said Sir to have slain him. That saw Sir Hue:
Uwaine, then will I fight with one of he kneeled down and yielded him to
you, and prove that ye do this lady Sir Uwaine. And he of his gentleness
wrong. That will we not, said they, received his sword, and took him by the
for and we do battle we two will fight hand and went into the castle together.
with one knight at once, and therefore Then the lady of the Rock was passing
if ye will fight so we will be ready at glad, and the other brother made great
what hour ye will assign. And if ye sorrow for his brother's death. Then
win us in battle the lady shall have her the lady was restored of all her lands,
lands again. Ye say well, said Sir and Sir Hue was commanded to be at
Uwaine, therefore make you ready, so the court of king Arthur at the next feast
that ye be here tomorn in the defence of Pentecost. So Sir Uwaine dwelt with
of the lady's right. the lady nigh half a year, for it was
long or he might be whole of his great
chap, xxviii. hurts. And so when it drew nigh the
term-day that Sir Gawaine, Sir Marhaus,
How Sir Uwaine fought with two knights, and Sir Uwaine should meet at the cross
and overcame them.
way, then every knight drew him thither
So was there agreement made on to hold his promise that they had made.
both parties, that no treason should be
And Sir Marhaus and Sir Uwaine
wrought on neither party. So then the brought their damsels with them, but
knights departed and made them ready. Sir Gawaine had lost his damsel, as it
king's court. And so within twelve and great joy had king Arthur of Sir
days they came to Camelot and the ; Pelleas and of Sir Marhaus. But Pelleas
king was passing glad of their coming, loved never after Sir Gawaine, but as he
and so was all the court. Then the spared him for the love of king Arthur.
king made them to swear upon a book But ofttimes at justs and tournaments
to tell him all their adventures that had Sir Pelleas quit Sir Gawaine, for so it
befallen them that twelvemonth, and so rehearseth in the book of French. So
they did. And there was Sir Marhaus Sir Tristram many days after fought
well known for there were knights
; with Sir Marhaus in island, and
an
that he had matched aforetime, and he there they did a great battle, but at the
was named one of the best knights last Sir Tristram slew him. So Sir
living. Against the feast of Pentecost Tristram was wounded that hardly he
came the damsel of the lake, and might recover, and lay at a nunnery
brought with her Sir Pelleas. And at half a year. And Sir Pelleas was a
that high feast there was great justing worshipful knight, and was one of the
of knights, and of all the knights that four that achieved the Sangreal. And
were at that justs Sir Pelleas had the the damsel of the lake made by her
prize, and Sir Marhaus was named the means that never he had ado with Sir
next ;but Sir Pelleas was so strong Launcelot de Lake, for where Sir
that there might but few knights sit Launcelot was at any justs or any
him a buffet with a spear. And at that tournament she would not suffer him
next feast Sir Pelleas and Sir Marhaus to be there that day, but if it were on
were made knights of the Table Round, the side of Sir Launcelot.
for there were two sieges void, for two
mt Jfiftf) 33oofc.
the knights there being present to suffer to strengthen your quarrel I shall fur-
them to say so to the king. And anon nish twenty thousand good men of war,
the king commanded that none of them and wage them on my costs, which shall
upon pain of death to missay them, nor await on you with myself, when it
do them any harm, and commanded a shall please you. And the king of
knight to bring them to their lodging, Little Britain granted him to the same
and see that they have all that is neces- thirtythousand ; wherefore king Arthur
sary and requisite for them with the thanked them. And then every man
best cheer, and that no dainty be spared, agreed to make war, and to aid after
for the Romans be great lords, and their
power that is to ; wit, the lord of
though their message please me not, West Wales promised bring thirty to
nor my court, yet I must remember thousand men, and Sir Uwaine, Sir Ider
mine honour. After this the king let his son, with their cousins, promised to
call all his lords and
knights of the bring thirty thousand. Then Sir Laun-
Round Table to council upon this celot with all other promised in like-
matter, and desired them to say their wise every man a great multitude. And
advice. Then Sir Cador of Corn- when king Arthur understood their cou-
wall spake first, and said, Sir, this rages and good wills he thanked them
message liketh me well, for we have heartily, and after let call the ambassa-
many days rested us and have been dors to hear their answer. And in pre-
idle, and now I hope ye shall make sence of all his lords and knights he said
sharp war on the Romans, where I to them in this wise I will that ye re-
:
doubt not we shall get honour. I be- turn unto your lord and Procuror of the
lieve well, said Arthur, that thismatter Common Weal Romans, and say
for the
pleaseth thee well, but these answers to him, Of his demand and command-
may not be answered, for the demand
lUi ment I set nothing, and that I know of
ieveth me sore for truly I will never
; no truage, ne tribute, that I owe to him,
ay no truage to Rome, wherefore I ne to none earthly prince, Christian
B ray you to counsel me.
stood
I have under-
that Belinus and Brenius, kings
ne heathen but I pretend to have and
;
St
occupy the sovereignty of the empire,
of Britain, have had the empire in their
o:
*
wherein I am entitled by the right of my
ands many days, and also Constantine predecessors, sometime kings of this
he son of queen Heleine, which is an land and say to him that I am delibe-
;
open evidence that we owe no tribute rated, and fully concluded, to go with
to Rome, but of right we that be de- mine army with strength and power unto
scended of them have right to claim the Rome by the grace of God to take pos-
'tie of the empire. session in the empire, and subdue them
that be rebel. Wherefore I command
7 — 2
lOO MORTE BARTHUR. BOOK V.
him, and all them of Rome, that incon- all that be subjects and allied to the
tinent they make to me their homage, empire of Rome to come to mine aid.
and to acknowledge me for their em- And forthwith sent old wise knights
peror and governor, upon pain that shall unto these countries following first, to
:
noble maintenance. On new year's day Saracens or infidels, and after destroyed
we saw him in his estate, which was the many fair countries which Arthur had
royalest that ever we saw, for he was won of king Claudas. And thus Lucius
served at his table with nine kings and came with all his host which were spread
the noblest fellowship of other princes, out threescore mile in breadth, and com-
lords, and knights, that be in the world, manded them to meet with him in Bur-
and every knight approved and like a goyne, for he purposed to destroy the
lord, and holdeth Table Round and in: realm of Little Britain.
his person the most manly man that
liveth, and is like to conquer all the
CHAP. III.
world, for unto his courage it is too
little :wherefore I advise you to keep How king Arthur held a parliament at
well your marches and straits in the York, and how he ordained how the
mountains for certainly he is a lord to
;
realm should be governed in his ab-
be doubted. Well, said Lucius, before sence.
Easter I suppose to pass the mountains Now leave we of Lucius the emperor,
and so forth into France, and there be- and speak we of king Arthur, that com-
reave him his lands with Genoese and manded all them of his retinue to be
other mighty warriors of Tuscany and ready at the utas of Hilary for to
Lombardy. And I shall send for them hold a parliament at York. And at
CHAP. V. HOW ARTHUR FOUGHT -WITH A GIANT. ior
that parliament was concluded to arrest After him seemed there came out of the
all the navy of the land, and to be ready orient a grimly boar all black in a cloud,
within fifteen days at Sandwich and ; and his paws as big as a post he was
;
there he shewed to his army how he rugged looking roughly, he was the
purposed to conquer the empire which foulest beast that ever man saw, he
he ought to have of right. And there roared and romed so hideously that it
he ordained two governors of this were marvel to hear. Then the dread-
realm, that to say, Sir Bawdwin of
is ful dragon advanced him, and came in
Britain, for to counsel to the best, and the wind like a falcon, giving great
Sir Constantine, son to Sir Cador of strokes on the boar, and the boar hit
Cornwall, which after the death of him again with his grisly tusks that his
Arthur was king of this realm. And breast was all bloody, and that the hot
in the presence of all his lords he re- blood made all the sea red of his blood.
signed the rule of the realm and Gue- Then the dragon flew away all on an
never his queen unto them, wherefore height, and came down with such a
Sir Launcelot was wroth, for he left swough, and smote the boar on the ridge,
Sir Tristram with king Mark for the which was ten foot large from the head
love of Beale Isould. Then the queen to the tail, and smote the boar all to
Guenever made great sorrow for the powder, both flesh and bones, that it
departing of her lord and other, and flittered all abroad on the sea. And
swooned in such wise that the ladies therewith the king awoke anon and
bare her into her chamber. Thus the was sore abashed of this dream and ;
king with his great army departed, leav- sent anon for a wise philosopher, com-
ing the queen and realm in the govern- manding to tell him the signification of
ance of Sir Bawdwin and Constantine. his dream. Sir, said the philosopher,
And when he was on his horse he said the dragon that thou dreamedst of be-
with an high voice, If I die in this tokeneth thine own person that sailest
journey, I will that Sir Constantine be here, and the colour of his wings be thy
mine heir and king crowned of this realms that thou hast won, and his tail
realm as next of my blood. And after which is all to-tattered signifieth the
departed and entered into the sea at noble knights of the Round Table. And
Sandwich with all his army, with a great the boar that the dragon slew coming
multitude of ships, galleys, cogges, and from the clouds, betokeneth some tyrant
dromons, sailing on the sea. that tormenteth the people, or else thou
art like to fight with some giant thyself,
kitig Arthur being shipped and lying fore of this dreadful dream doubt thee
his cabin had a marvellous dream,
and of nothing, but as a conqueror come forth
the exposition thereof.
Then after this soon they had
finAnd as the king lay in his cabin in
thyself.
sight of land, and sailed till they arrived
the ship, he fell in a slumbering, and at Barflete in Flanders, and when, they
dreamed a marvellous dream him: were there he found many of his great
seemed that a dreadful dragon did lords ready as they had been com-
drown much of his people, and he came manded to await upon him.
flying out of the west, and his head was
enamelled with azure, and his shoulders CHAP. V.
shone as gold, his belly like mails of a
marvellous hue, his tail full of tatters,
How a man of the country told to him of a
marvellous giant, and how he fought
his feet full of fine sable, and his claws
and conquered him.
ike fine gold ;and an hideous flame of
was in the country of Constantine, be- sorrow, sitting by a grave new made.
side Britany, a great tyrantwhich had And then king Arthur saluted her, and
slain, murdered, and devoured much demanded of her wherefore she made
people of the country, and had been such lamentation to whom she answered
:
sustained seven year with the children and said, Sir knight, speak soft, for yon-
of the commons of that land, insomuch, der is a devil : if he hear thee speak he
that all the children be all slain and de- willcome and destroy thee I hold ; thee
stroyed, and now late he hath taken the unhappy; what dost thou here in this
duchess of Britany as she rode with her mountain ? for if ye were such fifty as
train, and hath led her to his lodging ye be, ye were not able to .make resist-
which is in a mountain, for to keep her ance against this devil here lieth a
:
turned into his tent. forth by the crest of that hill, and saw
Then he called unto him Sir Kay where he sat at supper gnawing on a
and Sir Bedivere, and commanded them limb of a man, baking his broad limbs
secretly to make ready horse and har- by the fire, and three fair damsels turn-
ness for himself and them twain, for ing three spits, whereon were broached
after even-song he would ride on pil- twelve young children late born, like
grimage with them two only unto Saint young birds. When king Arthur beheld
Michael's mount. And then anon he that piteous sight he had great compas-
made him ready and armed him at all sion on them so that his heart bled for
points, and took his horse and his sorrow, and hailed him saying in this
shield. And so they three departed wise: He that all the world wieldeth,
thence, and rode forth as fast as ever give thee short life and shameful death,
they might till that they came unto the and the devil have thy soul Why hast!
foot of that mount. And there they thou murdered these young innocent
alighted, and the king commanded them children,and murdered this duchess ?
to tarry there, for he would himself
go up Therefore arise and dress thee, thou
into that mount. And so he ascended glutton for this day shalt thou die of
;
up into that hill till he came to a great my hand. Then the glutton anon start
fire, and there he found a careful widow
Up and took a great club in his hand,
wringing her hands and making great and smote at the king that his coronal
CHAP. VI. OF THE FIRST FIGHTING WITH THE ROMANS. 103
fellto the earth. And the king hit him shal of France, and said to the king that
again that he carved his belly that his the emperor was entered into France
entrails fell down
to the ground. Then and had destroyed a great part, and was
the giant threw away his club, and in Burgoyne, and had destroyed and
caught the king in his arms that he made great slaughter of people, and
crushed his ribs. Then the three maid- burnt towns and boroughs wherefore, ;
ens kneeled down and called to Christ if thou come not hastily,
they must yield
for help and comfort of Arthur. And up their bodies and goods.
then Arthur weltered and wrung that he
was other while under and another time CHAP. VI.
above. And so weltering and wallowing
How king Arthur sent Sir Gawaine and
they rolled down the hill till they came others to Lucius, and how they were
to the sea mark, and ever as they so wel-
assailed and escaped with worship.
tered Arthur smote him with his dagger,
and it fortuned they came to the place Then the king did do call Sir Ga-
where as the two knights were and kept waine, Sir Bors, Sir Lionel, and Sir
Arthur's horse. Then when they saw the Bedivere, and commanded them to go
king fast in the giant's arms they came straight to Sir Lucius, and say ye to
and loosed him. And then the king him that hastily he remove out of my
commanded Sir Kay to smite off the land. And if he will not, bid him make
giant's head, and to set it upon a trun- him ready to battle, and not distress the
cheon of a spear and bear it to Sir poor people. Then anon these noble
Howell, and tell him that his enemy knights dressed them to horseback.
was slain, and after let this head be And when they came to the green wood,
bound to a barbican that all the people they saw many pavilions set in a mea-
may see and behold it and go ye two up
; dow, of silk of divers colours, beside a
to the mountain and fetch me my shield, river, and the emperor's pavilion was
my sword, and the club of iron. And in the middle with an eagle displayed
as for the treasure take ye it, for ye shall above. To the which tent our knights
find there goods out cf number. So I rode toward, and ordained Sir Gawaine
have the kirtle and the club I desire no and Sir Bors to do the message, and left
more. This was the fiercest giant that in a bushment Sir Lionel and Sir Bedi-
ever I met with, save one in the mount vere. And then Sir Gawaine and Sir
of Arabe which I overcame, but this Bors did their message, and commanded
was greater and fiercer. Then the Lucius in Arthur's name to avoid his
knights fetched the club and the kirtle, land, or shortly to address him to battle.
and some of the treasure they took to To whom Lucius answered and said Ye :
themselves, and returned again to the shall return to your lord and say ye to
host. And anon this was known him, that I shall subdue him and all his
through all the country, wherefore the lands. Then Sir Gawaine was wroth,
people came and thanked the king. And and said, I had lever than all France
he said again, Give the thanks to God, fight against thee. And s^ had I, said
and part the goods among you. And after Sir Bors, lever than all Britany or Bur-
that, king Arthur said and commanded goyne. Then a knight named Sir Gainus,
his cousin Howell that he should ordain high cousin to the emperor, said, Lo,
for a church to be builded on the same how these Britons be full of pride and
in
hill, inthe worship of Saint Michael, boast, and they brag as though they bare
A nd on the morn the king removed up all the world. Then Sir Gawaine
with his great battle and came into was sore grieved with these words, and
pulled out his sword and
smote off his
Champayne, and in a valley, and there
they pight their tents. And the king head. therewith turned their horses
And
being set at his dinner, there came in two and rode over waters and through woods
messagers, of whom the one was mar- till
they came to their bushment where as
lo4 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK V.
to the king, and told him his message. of Lyly and three great lords, Alakuke,
And anon the king did do assemble his Herawd, and Heringdale. But Sir
army, but anon or he departed the pri- Launcelot fought so nobly that no man
soners were come, and Sir Gawaine and might endure a stroke of his hand, but
his fellows gat the field and
put the where he came he shewed his prowess
Romans to flight, and after returned and and might, for he slew down right on
came with their fellowship in such wise every side. And the Romans and Sara-
CttAP. VIII. HOW ARTHUR SLEW LUCIUS. 105
cens fled from him as the sheep from and he would follow
tofore, hastily after.
the wolf or from the lion, and put them King Arthur was wirned privily, and
all that abode alive to flight. And so sent his people to Sessoyne, and took
long they fought that tidings came to up the towns and castles from the Ro-
king Arthur, and anon he made him mans. Then the king commanded Sir
ready and came to the battle, and saw Cador to take the rereward, and to take
his knights how they had vanquished with him certain knights of the Round
the battle he embraced them knight
:
—
Table, and Sii Launcelot, Sir Bors, Sir
by knight in his arms, and said Ye :
Kay, Sir Marrok, with Sir Marhaus, shall
be worthy to bear all your honour and await on our person. Thus king Arthur
worship, there was never king save my- distributed his host in divers parts, to
self that had so noble knights. Sir, the end that his enemies should not
said Cador, there was none of us failed escape. When the emperor was entered
other, but of the prowess and manhood into the vale of Sessoyne, he might see
of Sir Launcelot were more than wonder where king Arthur was embattled and
to tell, and also of his cousins which did his banner displayed and he was beset
:
this day many noble feats of war. And round about with his enemies, that needs
also Sir Cador told who of his knights he must fight or yield him, for he might
were slain, as Sir Berel and other Sir not flee, but said openly unto the Ro-
Moris and Sir Maurel, two good knights. mans, Sirs, I admonish you that this day
Then the king wept, and dried his ye fight and acquit you as men, and
eyes with a kerchief, and said, Your remember how Rome domineth, and
is chief and head over all the earth and
courage had near hand destroyed you,
for though ye had returned again universal world, and suffer not these
ye had lost no worship; for I call it Britons this day to abide against us.
folly, knights to abide when they And therewith he did command his
be over-matched. Nay, said Sir Laun- trumpets blow the bloody sounds, in
celot and the other, for once shamed such wise that the ground trembled and
may never be recovered. shook. Then the battles approached,
and shove and shouted on both sides,
and great strokes were smitten on both
CHAP. VIII.
sides, many men overthrown, hurt, and
emperor, and said to him, Sir emperor, Excalibur his sword, and awaited ever
I advise thee to withdraw thee what : where as the Romans were thickest and
doest thou here ? thou shalt win nothing most grieved his people; and anon he
in these marches but great strokes out of addressed him on that part, and hewed
all measure. For this day one of Arthur's and slew down right, and rescued his
knights was worth in the battle an hun- people, and he slew a great giant named
dred of ours. Fie on thee, said Lucius, Galapas, which was a man of an huge
* ou speakest cowardly, for thy words quantity and height, he shorted him and
grieve me more than
the loss that I
all smote off both his legs by the knees,
had this day. And anon he sent forth saying, Now art thou better of a size to
a king, which hight Sir Leomie, with a deal with than thou were and after
;
great army, and bad him hie him fast smote off his head. There Sir Gawaine
io6 MORTE DARTHUR BOOK V.
fought nobly, and slew three admirals in in chests of lead, because they should
that battle. An<^so did all the knights not chafe nor savour and upon all these
;
of the Round Table. Thus the battle be- bodies their shields with their arms and
tween king Arthur and Lucius the empe- banners were set, to the end they should
ror endured long. Lucius had on his be known of what country they were.
side many Saracens which were slain. And after,he found three senators that
And thus the battle was great, and oft- were onlive, to whom he said, For to save
sides that one party was at a vantage, your lives I will that ye take these dead
and anon at a disadvantage, which en- bodies, and cany them with you unto
dured so long till at the last king Arthur great Rome, and present them to the
espied where Lucius the emperor fought Potestate on my behalf, shewing him
and did wonder with his own hands. my letters, and tell them that I in my
And anon he rode to him, and either person shall hastily be at Rome. And
smote other fiercely and at the last
: I suppose the Romans shall be ware
Lucius smote Arthur thwart the visage, how they shall demand any tribute of
and gave him a large wound. And when me. And I command you to say when
king Arthur felt himself hurt anon he ye shall come to Rome to the Potestate,
smote him again with Excalibur, that it and all the Council and Senate, that
cleft his head from the summit of his I send to them these dead bodies
head, and stinted not till it came to for the tribute that they have de-
his breast. And then the emperor fell manded. And if they be not content
down dead,and there ended his life. with these, I shall pay more at my
And when it was known that the em- coming, for other tribute owe I none,
peror was slain, anon all the Romans nor none other will I pay. And me
with all their host put them to flight ; thinketh this sufnceth for Britain, Ire-
and king Arthur with all his knights land, and all Almaine, with Germany.
followed the chase, and slew down right And furthermore I charge you to
all them that they might attain. And say to them that I command thern
thus was the
victory given to king Ar- upon pain of their heads never to de-
thur, and the triumph. And there were mand tribute ne tax of me ne of my
slain on the part of Lucius more than lands.
an hundred thousand. And after, king Then with this charge and command-
Arthur did do ransack the dead bodies, ment the three senators aforesaid de-
and did do bury them that were slain parted with the said dead bodies
all
of his retinue, every man according to lying, body of Lucius in a car
the
the state and degree that he was of. covered with the arms of the empire
And them that were hurt he let the all alone, and after alway two bodies of
surgeons do search their hurts and kings in a chariot, and then the bodies
wounds, and commanded to spare no of the senators after them, and so went
salves nor medicines till they were toward Rome, and shewed their lega-
whole. tion and message to the Potestate and
Then the king rode straight to the Senate, recounting the battle done in
place where the emperor Lucius lay France, and how the field was lost, and
dead, and with him he found slain the much people and innumerable slain.
Sowdan of Surrey, the king of Egypt AYherefore they advised them in jio
and the king of Ethiope, which were wise to move no more war against
two noble kings, with seventeen other that noble conqueror, Arthur for ;
—
kings of divers regions, and also sixty his might and prowess is most to be
senators of Rome, all noble men, whom doubted, seeing the noble kings, and
the noble king Arthur did do balm and great multitude of knights of the Round
gum with many good gums aromatic, Table, to whom none earthly prince
and do cere them in
after did sixty fold may compare.
of cered cloth of Sendal, and laid them
CHAP. IX. HOW ARTHUR ENTERED INTO ITALY. 107
How Arthur, after he had achieved the wilt, for thou shalt be my prisoner or
battle against the Romans, entered into thou depart. Then said Gawaine, Thou
Almaine, and so into Italy. vauntest thee greatly, and speakest
Now turn we unto king Arthur and proud words I counsel thee for all thy
;
his noble knights, which, after the great boast that thou make thee ready, and
battle achieved against the Romans, take thy gear to thee, tofore greater
entered Loraine, Brabant, and
into grief fall to thee.
Flanders, and thence returned into high
Almaine, and so over the mountains CHAP. X.
into Lombardy, and after into Tuscany, a battle done by Gawaine against a
wherein was a city which in no wise Of
would yield themselves nor obey, where- Saracen, which after was yielden and
became Christian.
fore king Arthur besieged it, and lay
long about it, and gave many assaults Then they took their spears, and ran
to the city. And
they within defended each at other with all the might they
them valiantly. Then, on a time, the had. and smote each other through their
king called Sir Florence, a knight, and shields into their shoulders, wherefore
said to him they lacked victual, and anon they pulled out their swords, and
not far from hence be great forests and smote great strokes, that the fire sprang
great woods, wherein be many of mine out of their helms. Then Sir Gawaine
enemies with much cattle: I will that was all abashed, and with Galatine, his
thou make thee ready, and go thither good sword, he smote through shield
in foraging, and take with thee Sir Ga- and thick hauberk made of thick mails,
waine my nephew, Sir Wisshard, Sir and all to-rushed and brake the precious
Clegis, Sir Cleremond, and the captain stones, and made him a large wound,
of Cardiff, with other, and bring with that men micht see both liver and
you all the beasts that ye there can get. lung. Then groaned that knight, and
And anon these knights made them addressed him to Sir Gawaine, and with
ready, and rode over holts and hills, an awk stroke gave him a great wound,
through forests and woods, till they and cut a vein, which grieved Sir Ga-
came into a fair meadow full of fair waine sore, and he bled sore. Then the
flowers and grass. And there they knight said to Sir Gawaine, Bind Un-
rested them and their horses all that wound or thy bleeding change, for thou
night. And in the springing of the be-bleedest all thy horss and thy fair
day in the next morn Sir Gawaine took arms for all the barbers of Britain can
;
his horse and stole away from his not stanch thy blood for whosoever is
;
fellows to seek some adventures. And hurt with this blade, he shall never be
anon he was ware of a man armed, stanched of bleeding. Then answered
walking his horse easily by a wood's Gawaine, It grieveth me but little thy ;
side, and his shield laced to his shoulder, great words shall not fear me nor lessen
sitting on a strong courser, without any my courage, but thou shalt suffer teen
man saving a page bearing a mighty and sorrow or we depart: but tell me
spear. The knight bare in his shield in haste who may stanch my bleeding ?
three griffons of gold in sable carbuncle That may I do, said the knight, rf I
the chief of silver. When Sir Gawaine will, and so I will if thou wilt succour
espied this gay knight he fewtred his and aid me, that I may be christened
spear, and rode straight to him, and de- and believe on God, and thereof I re-
manded him from whence that he was. quire thee of thy manhood, and it shall
That other answered and said he was be great merit for thy soul. I grant,
of Tuscany, and demanded of Sir Ga- said Gawaine, so God help me, to ac-
waine, What profferest thou proud complish all thy desire but first tell me
:
io8 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK V.
what thou soughtest here thus alone, isa duke of Loraine with all his army,
and of what land and liegiance thou art. and the noblest men of Dolphine, and
Sir, he said, my name is Priamus, and a lords of Lombardy, with the garrison of
great prince is my father, and he hath Godard, and Saracens of Southland,
been rebel unto Rome, and over ridden that numbered sixty thousand of good
many of their lands. My father is men of arms wherefore, but if we hie
;
paltocks that
belong to himself. At but I can tell you other tidings, that
Yule lasthe made me yeoman, and gave soon we shall have ado with many ene-
to me horse and harness and an hun- mies. Then Priamus and Sir Ga-
Sir
dred pound in money and if fortune
: waine alighted, and let their horses
be my friend I doubt not but to be well graze in the meadow, and unarmed
advanced and holpen by my liege lord. them, and then the blood ran freshly
Ah, said Priamus, if his knaves be so from their wounds. And Priamus took
keen and fierce, his knights be passing from his page a phial full of the four
good. Now, for the king's love of waters that came out of Paradise, and
heaven, whether thou be a knave or with certain balm anointed their wounds,
a knight, tell thou me thy name. By and washed them with that water, and
heaven, said Sir Gawaine, now will I say within an hour after they were both as
thee sooth my name is Sir Gawaine,
: whole as ever they were. And then
and known I am in his court and in his with a trumpet were they all assembled
chamber, and one of the knights of the to council, and there Priamus told unto
Round Table: he dubbed me a duke them what lords and knights had sworn
with his own hand. Therefore grudge to rescue him, and that without fail
not if this grace is to me fortuned it is ; they should be assailed with many
the goodness of God that lent to me my thousands, wherefore he counselled them
strength. Now am I better pleased, to withdraw them. Then Sir Gawaine
said Priamus, than if thou hadst given said, it were great shame to them to
me all the province, and Paris the rich. avoid without any strokes wherefore I
;
I had lever to have been torn with advise to take our arms, and to make
wild horses, than any varlet had won us ready to meet with these Saracens
such praise, or any page or pricker and misbelieving men, and with the
should have had prize on me. But help of God we overthrow them,
shall
now, sir knight, I warn thee that hereby and have a fair day on them. And Sir
CHAP. XI. OF A BATTLE WITH THE SARACENS. [09
Florence shall abide still in this field to abashed, for be ours. Then
all shall
keep the post as a noble knight, and we they began gallop, and met with
to
shall not forsake yonder fellows. Now, their enemies there were men slain
:
said Priamus, cease your words, for I and overthrown on every side. Then
warn you ye shall find in yonder woods thrust in among them the knights of
many perilous knights they will put
: the Table Round, and smote down to
forth beasts to call you on they be out
: the earth all them that withstood them,
of number, and ye are not past seven insomuch that they made them to recoil
hundred, which be over few to fight and flee.Truly, said Sir Gawaine, this
with so many. Nevertheless, said Sir gladdeth my heart, for now be they less
Gawaine, we shall once encounter them in number by twenty thousand. Then
and see what they can do, and the best entered into the battle Jubance a giant,
shall have the victory. and fought and slew downright, and
distressed of our knights, among
many
CHAP. XI. whom was slain Sir Gherard, a knight
of Wales. Then our knights took heait
How the Saracens came out of a wood for
to them, and slew many Saracens. And
to rescue their beasts, and of a great
then came in Sir Priamus with his pen-
battle.
non, and rode with the knights of the
Then Sir Florence called to him Sir Round Table, and fought so manfully
Floridas with an hundred knights, and that many of their enemies lost their
drove forth the herd of beasts. Then lives. And there Sir Priamus slew the
followed him seven hundred men of Marquis of Moises land. And Sir Ga-
arms, and Sir Ferant of Spain on a fair waine with his fellows so quit them
steed came springing out of the woods, that they had the field, but in that
and came to Sir Florence, and asked him fight was Sir Chestelaine, a child and
why he fled. Then Sir Florence took ward of Sir Gawaine, slain, wherefore
his spear, and rode against him, and was much sorrow made, and his death
smote him in the forehead and brake was soon avenged. Thus was the bat-
his neck bone. Then all the other tle ended, and many lords of Lombard)'
were moved, and thought to avenge the and Saracens left dead in the field.
death of Sir Ferant, and smote in Then Sir Florence and Sir Gawaine
among them, and there was great fight, harboured surely their people, and took
and many slain and laid down to great plenty of cattle, of gold and silver
ground, and Sir Florence with his hun- and great treasure and riches, and re-
dred knights always kept the post, and turned unto king Arthur, which lay still
fought manly. Then when Priamus at the siege. And when they came to
the good knight perceived the great the king they presented their prisoners,
fight, he went to Sir Gawaine and bad and recounted their adventures, and how
him that he should go and succour his they had vanquished their enemies.
fellowship, which were sore bested with
their enemies. Sir, grieve you not, said CHAP. XII.
Sir Gawaine, for their honour shall be
I shall not once move my horse
Hoiv Sir Gawaine returned to king Arthur
theirs :
the battle. Then Sir Gawaine com- me, but he is yielden unto God and to
forted his knights, and bad them not be me for to become Christian had not :
no MORTE JD ARTHUR. BOOK V.
he been we should never have returned, men should misuse no lady, wife, nor
wherefore I pray you that he may be maid :and when he came into the city
baptized, for their liveth not a
nobler he passed to the castle, and comforted
man nor better knight of his hands. them that were in sorrow, and ordained
Then the king let him anon be chris- there a captain, a knight of his own
tened, and did do call him his first name country. And when they of Milan heard
Priamus, and made him a duke and that the same city was won, they sent
knight of the Table Round. And then to icing Arthur great sums of money,
anon the king let do cry assault to the and besought him as their lord to have
city, and there
was reaiing of ladders, pity on them, promising to be his sub-
breaking of walls, and the ditch filled, jects for ever, and yield to him homage
that men with little pain might enter and fealty for the lands of Pleasance
into the city. Then came out a duchess, and Pavia, Petersaint, and the port of
and Clarisin the countess, with many Tremble, and to give him yearly a
ladies and damsels, and kneeling before million of gold all his lifetime. Then
king Arthur required him for the love he rideth into Tuscany, and winneth
of God to receive the city and not to towns and castles, and wasted all in
take it by assault, for then should many his wav that to him
not obev, will
his visor with a meek and noble counte- from thence he rode into the vale of
nance, and said, Madam, there shall Vicecount among the vines. And from
none of my subjects misdo you nor your thence he sent to the senators to wit
maidens, nor to none that to you be- whether they would know him for their
long, but the duke shall abide my judg- lord. But soon after on a Saturday
ment. Then anon the king commanded came unto king Arthur all the senators
to leave the assault and anon the duke's
;
that were left on live, and the noblest
eldest son brought out the keys, and cardinals that then dwelled in Rome,
kneeling, delivered them to the king, and prayed him of peace, and proffered
"
and besought him of grace and the : him full large, and besought him as
king seized the town by assent of his governor to give licence for six weeks,
lords, and took the duke and sent him for to assemble together all the Romans,
to Dover, there for to abide prisoner and then to crown him emperor with
the term of his life, and assigned certain crism, as belongeth to so high a state.
it
rents for the dower of the duchess and I assent, said the king, like as ye have
for her children. Then he made lords devised, and at Christmas there to be
to rule those lands, and laws, as a lord crowned, and to hold my Round Table
ought to do in his own country. And with my knights as me liketh. And
after he took his journey toward Rome, then the senators made things ready
and sent Sir Floris and Sir Floridas to- for his enthronization. And at the day
fore with five hundred men of amis, and appointed, as the romance telleth, he
they came to the city of Urbine, and came into Rome, and was crowned em-
laid there a bushment as them seemed peror by the Pope's hand with all the
most best for them, and rode tofore royalty that could be made, and so-
the town, where anon issued out much journed there a time, and established
people and skirmished with the fore all his lands from Rome unto France,
riders. Then brake out the bushment, and gave lands and realms unto his
and won the bridge, and after the town, servants and knights, to every each after
and set upon the walls the king's ban- his desert, in such wise that none com-
ner. Then came the king upon a hill, plained, rich nor poor. And he gave
and saw the city and his banner on the to Sir Priamus the duchy of Loraine ;
walls, by the which he knew that the and he thanked him, and said that he
city was won. And anon he sent and would serve him the days of his life :
commanded that none of his Lege and after made dukes and earls, and
CHAP. I. OF SIR LA UNCELOT AND SIR LIONEL. in
made every man rich. Then after this and return we into England. Then
all his knights and lords and all the was there trussing of harness and bag-
great men of estate assembled them gage, and great carriage. And after
afore him, and said Blessed be God, : licence given, he returned and com-
your war is and your conquest
finished, manded that no man in pain of death
achieved, insomuch we know nonethat should rob nor take victual, nor other
so great nor mighty that dare make war thing by the way, but that he should
against you wherefore we beseech you
:
pay therefore. And thus he came over
to return homeward and give us licence the sea, and landed at Sandwich, against
to go home to our wives, from whom whom queen Guenever his wife came
we have been long, and to rest us, for and met him and he was nobly re-
:
your journey is finished with honour ceived of all his commons in every city
and worship. Then said the king, Ye and burgh, and great gifts presented
say truth, and for to tempt God it is no to him at his home coming, to welcome
wisdom, and therefore make you ready him with.
GT|)U2 cntietl) tlje fgftf)* boofee of tl)c conquest* t&at Itgnge ®rtl)ur
fjaDtie agcgnste ?Luctu$ t\)t lEmperoure of iftome, anti &ere folofoetl)
marvellously in worship and honour; said Sir Launcelot, for this seven year
therefore he is the first knight that the I was not so sleepy as I am now. And
French book maketh mention of after so they there alighted, and tied their
112 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VI.
horses unto sundry trees, and so Sir himself, and made him ready to seek
Launcelot laid him down under an Sir Launcelot, and as he had ridden
apple tree, and his helm he laid under long in a great forest, he met with a
his head. And Sir Lionel waked while man that was like a forester. Fair
he slept. So Sir Launcelot was asleep fellow, said Sir Ector, know est thou in
passing fast. And
the meanwhile
in this country any adventures that be here
there came three knights riding, as fast nigh hand ? Sir, said the forester, this
fleeing as ever they might ride. And country know I well, and hereby within
there followed them three but one this mile is a strong manor, and well
knight. And when Sir Lionel saw him, dyked, and by that manor, on the left
him thought he saw never so great a hand, there is a fair ford for horses
knight nor so well faring a man, neither to drink of, and over that ford there
so well apparelled unto all rights. So groweth a fair tree, and thereon hangeth
within a while this strong knight had many fair shields that wielded sometime
overtaken one of these knights, and good knights and at the hole of the
:
there he smote him to the cold earth tree hangeth a bason of copper and
that he lay still. And then he rode laton, and strike upon that bason with
unto the second knight, and smote him the butt of thy spear thrice, and soon
so that man and horse fell down. And after thou shalt hear new tidings, and
then straight to the third knight he else hast thou the fairest grace that
rode, and he smote him behind his horse many a year had ever knight that passed
tail a spear's
length. then he And through this forest. Gramercy, said Sir
alight down, and reined his horse on Ector, and departed and came to the
the bridle, and bound all the three tree, and saw many fair shields, and
knights fast with the reins of their own among them he saw his brother's shield.
bridles. When Sir Lionel saw him do Sir Lionel, and many more that he knew
thus, he thought to assay him, and that were his fellows of the Round Table,
made him ready, and stilly and privily the which grieved his heart, and he pro-
he took his horse, and thought not for mised to revenge his brother. Then
to awake Sir Launcelot. And when he anon Sir Ector beat on the 'bason as he
was mounted upon his horse he over- were wood, and then he gave his horse
took this strong knight and bad him drink at the ford and there came a
:
the earth, and so he alight down and and Sir Ector anon turned him shortly,
bound him fast, and threw him over- and in fewter cast his spear, and smote
thwart his own horse, and so he served the other knight a great buffet that his
them all four, and rode with them horse turned twice about. This was
away to his own castle. And when he well done, said the strong knight, and
came there, he made unarm them, and knightly thou hast stricken me: and
beat them with thorns all naked, and therewith he rushed his horse on Sir
after put them in a deep prison where Ector and caught him under his right
there were many more knights that arm, and bare him clean out of the
made great dolour. saddle, and rode with him away into
his own hall, and threw him down in
CHAP. II. the midst of the floor. The name of
this knight was Sir Turquine. Then he
How Sir Ector followed for to seek Sir
said unto Sir Ector, For thou hast done
Launcelot, and how he was taken by me
Sir Turqnine.
this day more unto than any knight
did these twelve years, now will I grant
When Sir Ector de Maris wist that thee thy life, so thou wilt be sworn to
Sir Launcelot was past out of the court be myprisoner all thy life days. Nay,
to seek adventures he was wroth with said Sir Ector, that will I never
promise
CHAP. III. HOW FOUR QUEENS FOUND SIR LAUNCELOT. »I3
thee, but that I will do mine advantage. him unto the castle Chariot, and there
That me repenteth, said Sir Turquine. they laid him in achamber cold, and at
And then he made to unarm him, and night they sent unto him a fair damsel
beat him with thorns all naked, and after with his supper ready dight. By that
put him down in a deep dungeon, where the enchantment was past, and when
he knew many of his fellows. But when she came she saluted him, and asked
Sir Ector saw Sir Lionel, then made he him what cheer ? I cannot say, fair
great sorrow. Alas, brother, said Sir damsel, said Sir Launcelot, for I wot
Ector, where is my brother Sir Laun- not how I came into this castle but it
celot ? Fair brother, I left him on sleep be by an enchantment. Sir, said she,
when that I from him went, under an ye must make good cheer, and if ye be
apple tree, and what is become of him I such a knight as is said ye be, I shall
cannot tell you. Alas, said the knights, tell you more tomorn by prime of
but Sir Launcelot help us we may never the day. Gramercy, fair damsel, said
be delivered, for we know now no knight Sir Launcelot, of your good will I re-
that is able to match our master Tur- quire you. And so she departed. And
quine. there he lay all that night without com-
CHAP. III. fort of any body.
there rode four knights about them and well, there can no lady have thy love
bare a cloth of green silk on four spears, but one, and that is queen Guenever,
betwixt them and the sun, and the queens and now thou shalt lose her for ever,
rode on four white mules. and she thee, and therefore thee be-
Thus as they rode they heard by them hoveth now to choose one of us four.
a great horse grimly neigh, and then were I am the queen Morgan le Fay, queen
they ware of a sleeping knight that lay of the land of Gore, and here is the
all armed under an apple tree anon as ; queen of Northgalis, and the queen of
these queens looked on his face they Eastland, and the queen of the Outlsles ;
knew that it was Sir Launcelot. Then now choose ye one of us which thou
they began for to strive for that knight ;
wilt have to thy love, for thou mayst
every one said she would have him to not choose or else in this prison to die.
her love. We
shall not strive, said This is an hard case, said Sir Launcelot,
Morgan le Fay, that was king Arthur's that either I must die or else choose one
sister I shall put an enchantment upon
;
of you, yet had I lever to die in this
him that he shall not awake in six hours, prison with worship, than to have one
and then I will lead him away unto my of you to my love maugre my head.
castle, and when he is surely within And therefore ye be answered, for I
my hold I shall take the enchantment will have none of you, for ye be false
from him, and then let him choose enchantresses. And as for my lady
which of us he will have for his love. dame Guenever, -were I at my liberty
So this enchantment was cast upon Sir as I was, I would prove it on you or
Launcelot, and then they laid him upon upon yours, that she the truest lady
is
his shield, and bare him so on horse- unto her lord living. Well, said the
back betwixt two knights, and brought queens, is this your answer, that
you
ii4 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK VI.
my father, tomorn ere prime, by the lightly, and the other knight after him,
grace of God, I shall deliver you clean. and either of them gat their swords in
Fair maiden, said Sir Launcelot, tell me their hands, and out at the pavilion door
what is your father's name, and then went the knight of the pavilion, and Sir
shall I give you an answer. Sir knight, Launcelot followed him, and there, by
she said, my father is king Bagdemagus, a little slake, Sir Launcelot wounded
that was foul rebuked at the last tour- him sore nigh unto the death. And then
nament. I know your father well, said he yielded him unto Sir Launcelot, and
Sir Launcelot, for a noble king, and a so he granted him, so that he would tell
good knight, and by the faith of my him why he came into the bed. Sir,
body, ye shall have body ready to
my said the knight, the pavilion is mine
do your father and you service at that own, and there this night would I
day. Sir, she said, gramercy, and to- have slept, and now I am likely to die
morn await ye be ready betimes, and of this wound. That me repenteth, said
you, and
I shall be she that shall deliver Sir Launcelot, of your hurt ; but I was
take you your armour and your horse, adread of treason, for I was late be-
shield and spear : and hereby, within guiled ;
and therefore come on your way
chap. vr. SIR LAUNCELOT AND BAGDEMAGUS. "5
into your pavilion, and take your rest, there she saw Sir Launcelot, and anon
and as I suppose I shall stanch your she made men fast to take his horse
blood. So they went both into the pa- from him and let lead him into a stable,
vilion, and anon Sir Launcelot stanched and himself was led into a fair chamber,
his blood. and unarmed him, and the lady sent
Therewithal came the knight's lady, him a long gown, and anon she came
which was a passing fair lady. And herself. And then she made Launcelot
when she espied that her lord Belleus passing good cheer, and she said he
was so sore wounded, she cried cut on was the knight in the world was most
Sir launcelot, and made great dole out welcome to her. Then in all haste she
of measure. Peace my lady and my sent forher father Bagdemagus that
love, said Belleus, for this knight is a was within twelve mile of that abbey,
good man, and a knight adventurous ; and afore even he came with a fair fel-
and there he told her all the cause how lowship of knights with him. And
he was wounded and when that I
;
when the king was alight off his
yielded me unto him, he left me goodly horse he went straight unto Sir Launce-
and hath stanched my blood. Sir, said lot's chamber, and there he found his
the lady, I require thee tell me what daughter, and then the king embraced
knight ye be, and what is your name ? Sir Launcelot in his arms, and either
Fair lady, said he, my name is Sir Laun- made other good cheer. Anon Sir
celot du Lake. So me thought ever by Launcelot made his complaint unto the
your speech, said the lady, for I have king how he was betrayed, and how his
seen you oft or this, and I know you brother Sir Lionel was departed from
better than ye ween. But now and ye him he wist not where, and how his
would promise me of your courtesy, for daughter had delivered him out of
the harms that ye have done to me and prison,
—
therefore while I live I shall do
to my lord Belleus, that when he cometh her service and all her kindred. Then
unto Arthur's court for to cause him to am I sure of your help, said the king,
be made knight of the Round Table, for on Tuesday next coming. Yea, sir,
he is a passing good man of arms, and a said Sir Launcelot, I shall not fail you,
mighty lord of lands of many out isles. for so I have promised my lady your
Fair lady, said Sir Launcelot, let him daughter. But sir, what knights been
come unto the court the next high feast, they of my lord Arthur's, that were
and look that ye come with him, and I with the king of Northgalis ? And the
shall do my power, and ye prove you king said it was Sir Mador de la Porte,
doughty of your hands, that ye shall have and Sir Mordied, and Sir Gahalatine,
your desire. So thus within awhile as that all for-fared my knights, for against
they thus talked, the night passed, and them three I nor my knights might bear
the day shone, and then Sir Launcelot no strength. Sir, said Sir launcelot,
armed him, and took his horse, and they as I hear say that the tournament shall
taught him to the abbey, and thither he be within this three mile of this abbey,
within the space of two hours. ye shall send unto me three knights of
yours such as ye trust, and look* that
CHAP. VI. the three knights have all white shields,
and I also,and no painture on the
tde
ow Sir Laiincelct was received of king
shields, and we four will come out of a
Bagdetnagus's daughter, and he made little wood in the midst of both parties,
his complaint to her father.
and we shall fall in the front of our
And soon as Sir Launcelot came enemies and grieve them that we may ;
within the abbey yard the daughter of and thus shall I not be known what
king Bagdemagus heard a great horse knight I am. So they took their rest
go on the pavement. And she then that night, and this was on the Sun-
rose and went unto a window, and day. And so the king departed, and
8—2
n6 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VI.
sent unto Sir Launcelot three knights, they might drive, that both their spears
with the four white shields. to-brast even to their hands, and then
And on the Tuesday they lodged they flung out with their swords, and
them in a little leaved wood beside gave many a grim stroke. Then was
there the tournament should be. And Sir Launcelot wroth out of measure,
there were scaffolds and holes that lords and then he smote Sir Gahalatine on
and ladies might behold and to give the helm, that his nose burst out on
the prize. Then came into the field blood, and ears and mouth both, and
the king of Northgalis with eightscore therewith his head hung low. And
helms. And then the three knights of therewith his horse ran away with him,
Arthur stood by themselves. Then came and he fell down to the earth.
into the field king Bagdemagus with Anon therewithal Sir Launcelot gat
fourscore of helms. And then they a great spear in his hand, and, or ever
few t red their spears, and came together that great spear brake, he bare down to
with a great dash, and there were slain the earth sixteen knights, some horse
of knights, at the first recounter, twelve and man, and some the man and not
of king Bagdemagus's party, and six of the horse, and there was none but that
the king of Northgalis' party, and king he hit surely he bare none arms that
Bagdemagus's party was far set aback. day. And then he gat another great
spear, and smote down twelve knights,
CHAP. VII. and the most part of them never throve
after. And then the knights of the king
How Sir Launcelot behaved him in a
of Northgalis would just no more, and
tournament, and hotv he met with Sir
there the prize was given unto king
Turquine leading away Sir Gaheris.
Bagdemagus. So either party departed
With that came Sir Launcelot du unto his own place, and Sir Launce-
Lake, and he thrust in with his spear in lot rode forth with king Bagdemagus
the thickest of the press, and there he unto his castle, and there he had pass-
smote down with one spear five knights, ing good cheer both with the king
and of four of them he brake their and with his daughter, and they prof-
backs. And in that throng he smote fered him great gifts. And on the
down the king of Northgalis, and brake morn he took his leave, and told king
his thigh in that fall. All this doing of Bagdemagus that he would go and seek
Sir Launcelot saw the three knights of his brother Sir Lionel, that went from
Arthur. Yonder is a shrewd guest, said him when that he slept. So he took
Sir Mador de la Porte, therefore have his horse, and betaught them all to
here once at him. So they encountered, God. And there he said unto the
and Sir Launcelot bare him down horse king's daughter, If ye have need any
and man, so that his shoulder went out time of my service, I pray you let me
of joint. Now befalleth it to me to have knowledge, and I shall not fail
just, said Mordred, for Sir Mador hath you, as I am true knight.
a sore fall. Sir Launcelot was ware of And so Sir Launcelot departed, and
him,. and gat a great spear in his hand, by adventure he came into the same
and met him, and Sir Mordred brake a forest where he was taken sleeping.
spear upon him, and Sir Launcelot gave And in the midst of an highway he met
him such a buffet that the bow of his a damsel riding on a white palfrey, and
saddle brake, and so he flew over his there either saluted other. Fair damsel,
horse that his helm went into the
tail, said Sir Launcelot, know ve in this
earth a foot and more, that nigh his country any adventures? Sir knight,
neck was broken, and there he lay long said that damsel, here are adventures
in a swoon. Then came in Sir Gaha- near hand, and thou durst prove them.
latine with a spear, and Launcelot Why should I not prove adventures?
against him, with all their strength that said Sir Launcelot for that cause came
;
chap. viii. HOW LAUNCELOT FOUGHT WITH TURQUINE. 117
I hither. Well, said she, thou seemest with him. By that time that either had
well to be a good knight, and if thou seen other they gripped their spears
dare meet with a good knight, I shall unto them. Now fair knight, said Sir
bring thee where is the best knight and Launcelot, put that wounded knight off
the mightiest that ever thou found, so the horse, and let him rest awhile, and
thou wilt tell me what is thy name, and let us two prove our strengths. For as
what knight thou art. Damsel, as for it is informed me, thou doest and bast
to tell thee my name, I take no great done great despite and shame unto
force :
truly, my name is Sir Launcelot knights of the Round Table, and there-
du Lake. Sir, thou beseemest well, fore now defend thee. And thou be of
here be adventures by that fall for thee, the Table Round, said Turquine, I defy
for hereby dwelleth a knight that will thee and all thy fellowship. That is
not be overmatched for no man that I over much said, said Sir Launcelot.
know, unless ye overmatch him, and
his name is Sir Turquine. And, as I CHAP. VIII.
understand, he hath in his prison of
Arthur's court good knights threescore
How Sir Launcelot and Sir Turquine
and four that he hath won with his own fought together.
hands. But when ye have done that Andthen they put their spears in the
day's work ye shall promise me as ye rests, and came together with their
are a true knight for to go with me, horses as fast as they might run, and
and to help me and other damsels that either smote other in the midst of their
are distressed daily with a false knight. shields, that both their horses' backs
All your intent, damsel, and desire I will brast under them, and the knights were
fulfil, so ye will bring me unto this both astonied, and as soon as they
knight. knight, come on
Now, fair might avoid their horses they took their
your way. And so she brought him shields afore them, and drew out their
unto the ford, and unto the tree where swords, and came together eagerly, and
hung the basin. So Sir Launcelot let either gave other many strong strokes,
his horse drink, and then he beat on the for there might neither shields nor
basin with the butt of his spear so hard harness hold their strokes. And so
with all his might till the bottom fell within awhile they had both grimly
out, and long he did so, but he saw wounds, and bled passing grievously.
nothing. Then he rode endlong the Thus they fared two hours or more,
gates of that manor nigh half an hour. trasing and rasing either other where
And then was he ware of a great knight they might hit any bare place. Then
that drove an horse afore him, and at the last they were breathless both,
overthwart the horse there lay an armed and stood leaning on their swords.
knight bound. And ever as they came Now fellow, said Sir Turquine, hold
near and near, Sir Launcelot thought he thy hand awhile, and tell me what I
should know him ; then Sir Launcelot shall ask thee. Say on. Then Tur-
was ware that was Sir Gaheris, Ga-
it quine said, Thou art the biggest man
waine's brother, a knight of the Table that ever I met withal, and the best
Round. Now fair damsel, said Sir Laun- breathed, and like one knight that I-
celot, I see yonder cometh a knight hate above all other knights so be it
;
fast bound that is a fellow of mine, and that thou be not he I will lightly accord
brother he is unto Sir Gawaine. And at with thee, and for thy love I will de-
the first beginning I promise you, by the liver all the prisoners that I have, that
leave of God, to rescue that knight and* ;
is threescore and four, so thou wilt tell
unless liis master sit better in the sad- me thy name. thou and I we will
And
dle I shall deliver all the
prisoners that be fellows together, and never to fail
he hatli out of danger, for I am sure that the while that I live. It is well said,
he hath two brethren of mine prisoners said Sir Launcelot, but sithen it is so
n8 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VI.
that I may have thy friendship, what the beaver of his helmet, and plucked
knight is he that thou so hatest above him down on his knees, and anon he
all other ? Faithfully, said Sir Tur- rased off his helm, and smote his
quine, his name is Sir Launcelot du neck in sunder. And when Sir Laun-
Lake, he
slew my brother Sir
for celot had done this he went unto the
Carados at the dolorous tower, that damsel and said, Damsel, I am ready
was one of the best knights on live ;
to go with you where ye will have
and therefore him I except of knights, me, but I have no horse. Fair sir,
for may I once meet with him the one said she, take this wounded knight's
of us shall make an end of other, I horse, and send him into this manor,
make mine avow. And for Sir Launce- and command him to deliver all the
lot's sake I have slain an hundred good prisoners. So Sir Launcelot went
knights, and as many I have maimed all unto Gaheris, and prayed him not
utterly that they might never after help to be aggrieved for to lend him
themselves, and many have died in his horse. Nay, fair lord, said Sir Ga-
prison, and yet I have threescore and heris, I will that ye take my horse at
four, and all shall be delivered, so thou your own commandment, for ye have
wilt tell me thy name, so it be that both saved me and my horse, and this
thou be not Sir Launcelot. day I say ye are the best knight in the
Now see I well, said Sir Launcelot, world, for ye have slain this day in my
that such a man I might be that I sight the mightiest man and the best
might have peace and such a man I
; knight, except you, that ever I saw ;
might be that there should be war and sir, said Sir Gaheris, I pray you
mortal betwixt us and now sir knight,
: tell me your name ? Sir, my name is
at thy request I will that thou wit and Sir Launcelot du Lake, that ought to
know that I am Launcelot du Lake, help you of right for king Arthur's
king Ban's son of Benwick, and very sake, and especial for my lord Sir
in
knight of the Table Round. And now Gawaine's sake, your own dear brother ;
I defy thee, do thy best. All, said and when that ye come within yonder
Turquine, Launcelot, thou art unto me manor I am
sure ye shall find there
most welcome that ever was knight, for many knights of the Round Table, for
we shall never part till the one of us be I have seen many of their shields that I
dead. Then they hurtled together as know on yonder tree. There is Kay's
two wild bulls, rashing and lashing shield, and Sir Brandel's shield, and Sir
with their shields and swords that Marhaus' shield, and Sir Galind's shield,
sometimes they fell both over their and Sir Brian Listonoise's shield, and Sir
noses. Thus they fought still two Aliduke's shield, with many more that I
hours and more, and never would have am not now advised of, and also my
rest, and Sir Turquine gave Sir Launce- two brethren's shields, Sir Ector de
lot many wounds that all the ground Maris and Sir Lionel wherefore I
:
there as they fought was all bespeckled pray you greet them all from me, and
with blood. say that I bid them take there such
stuff as they find, and that in any wise
CHAP. IX. my brethren go unto the court and
How Sir Turquine was slain, and hoiu Sir
abide me there till that I come, for
by the feast of Pentecost I cast me to
Launcelot bade Sir Gaheris deliver all
be there, for at this time I must ride
the prisoners.
with this damsel for to save my pro-
Then at the last Sir Turquine waxed mise. And so he departed from Ga-
faint, and gave somewhat aback, and heris, and Sir Gaheris went into the
bare his shield low for weariness. manor, and there he found a yeoman
That espied Sir Launcelot and lept porter keeping there many keys. Anon
upon him fiercely and got him by withal Sir Gaheris threw the porter
CHAP. X. HOW LAUNCELOT SLEW A FALSE KNIGHT. 119
unto the ground, and took the keys that he trouble you or distress you, I
from him, and hastily he opened the shall be your rescue, and learn him to
prison door, and there he let out all the be ruled as a knight. So the maid rode
prisoners, and every man loosed other on by the way a soft ambling pace.
of their bonds. And when they saw And within awhile came out that knight
Sir Gaheris, all they thanked him, for on horseback out of the wood, and his
they wend that he was wounded. page with him, and there he put the
Not so, said Gaheris, it was Launcelot damsel from her horse, and then she
that slew him worshipfully with his own cried. With that came Launcelot as
hands, I saw it with mine own eyes. fast as he might, till he came to that
And he greeteth you all well, and knight, saying, Oh thou false knight
prayeth you to haste you to the court, and traitor unto knighthood, who
and as unto and Ector de
Sir Lionel did learn thee to distress ladies and gen-
Maris, he prayeth you to abide him tlewomen? When the knight saw Sir
at the court. That shall we not do, Launcelot thus rebuking him, he an-
said his brethren, we will find him and swered not, but drew his sword and
we may live. So shall I, said Sir Kay, rode unto Sir Launcelot. And Sir
find him or I come at the court, as I Launcelot threw his spear from him,
am true knight. Then all those knights and drew out his sword, and strake
sought the house where as the armour him such a buffet on the helmet that he
was, and then they armed them, and clave his head and neck unto the
every knight found his own horse, and throat. Now hast thou thy payment
all that belonged unto him. And when that long thou hast deserved. That is
ever this was done, there came a forester tiuth, said the damsel, for like as Tur-
with four horses laden with fat venison. quine watched to destroy knights, so
Anon Sir Kay said, Here is good meat did this knight attend to destroy and
for us one meal, for
for we had not distress ladies, damsels, and gentle-
many a day no good repast. And so women, and his name was Sir Peris de
that venison was roasted, baked, and Foiest Savage. Now damsel, said Sir
sodden, and so after supper some abode Launcelot, will ye any more service of
there all that night, but Sir Lionel and me ? Nay sir, she said, at this time ;
Ector de Maris and Sir Kay rode after but Almighty Jesu preserve you where-
Sir Launcelot to find him if they might. soever ye ride or go, for the courtiest
w
knight thou art and meekest unto all
ladiesand gentlewomen that now liveth.
CHAP. X.
But one thing, sir knight, me thinketh
How Sir Launcelot rode with the damsel a
ye lack, ye that are knight wife-
and slew a blight that distressed all
less, that ye will not love some maiden
ladies, and also a villain that kept a or gentlewoman, for I could never hear
bridge. say that ever ye loved any of no manner
Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot that degree, and that is great pity but it is;
rode with the damsel in a fair high noised that ye love queen Guenever, and
that she hath ordained by enchantment
way. Sir, said the damsel, here by this
that ye shall never love none other but
way haunteth a knight that distresseth
all ladies and gentlewomen, and at the her, nor none other damsel nor lady
least he robbeth them or ill-useth them. shall rejoice you;
wherefore many in
he a thief this land, of high estateand low, make
What, said Sir Launcelot, is
Fair damsel, said Sir
and a knight, and a ravisher of women ? great sorrow.
He doth shame unto the order of Launcelot, I may not warn people to
them but
speak of me what it pleaseth
:
and adventures. And as for to say for heads, with two horrible clubs in their
to take my pleasance with paramours, hands. Sir Launcelot put his shield
that will I refuse in principal for dread afore him, and put the stroke away of
of God. For knights that be adulterous, the one giant, and with his sword he
or wanton, shall not be happy nor clave his head asunder. When his fel-
fortunate unto the wars, for either they low saw that, he ran away as he were
shall be overcome with a simpler knight wood, for fear of the horrible strokes,
than they be themselves, or else they and him with all his
Sir Launcelot after
shall by mishap and their cursedness might, and smote him on the shoulder,
slay better men than they be them- and clave him to the middle. Then Sir
selves and who that so useth shall be
;
launcelot went into the hall, and there
unhappy, and all thing is unhappy that came afore him threescore ladies and
is about them. And so Sir Launcelot damsels, and all kneeled unto him, and
and she departed. thanked God and him of their deliver-
And then he rode in a deep forest ance. For, sir, said they, the most part
two days and more, and had strait of us have been here this seven year
lodging. on the third day he rode
S.o their prisoners, and we have worked all
over a long bridge, and there start upon manner of silkworks for our meat, and
him suddenly a passing foul churl, and we are all great gentlewomen born, and
he smote his horse on the nose that he blessed be the time, knight, that ever
turned about, and asked him why he thou wert born for thou hast done the
;
rode over that bridge without his most worship that ever did knight in
licence. Why should I not ride this the world, that will we bear record, and
way? said Sir Launcelot, I may not we all pray you to tell us your name,
ride beside. Thou shalt not choose, that we may tell our friends who de-
said the churl,and lashed at him with a livered us out of prison. Fair damsels,
great club shod with iron. Then Sir he said, my name is Sir Launcelot du
Launcelot drew his sword, and put the Lake. Ah, sir, said they all, well may-
stroke aback, and clave his head unto est thou be he, for else save yourself, as
the breast. At the end of the bridge we deemed, there might never knight
was a fair village, and all the people have the better of these two giants, for
men and women cried on Sir Launcelot, many fair knights have assayed it, and
and" said, A worse deed diddest thou here have ended, and many times have
never for thyself, for thou hast slain the we wished after you, and these two
chief porter of our castle. Sir Launce- giants dread never knight but you.
lot let them say what they would, and Now may ye say, said Sir Launcelot,
straight he went into the castle; and unto your friends, how and who hath
when he came into the castle he delivered you, and greet them all from
alight, and tied his horse to a ring on me, and if that I come in any of your
the wall and there he saw a fair green
; marches, shew me such cheer as ye have
court, and thither he dressed himself, cause; and what treasure that there is
for there him thought was a fair in this castle I give it you for a reward
place to
fight in. So he looked about, and saw for your grievance : and the lord that is
much people in doors and windows, the owner of this castle I would that he
that said, Fair knight thou art un- received it as is right. Fair sir, said
happy. they, the name of this castle is Tintagil,
and a duke owned it some time that had
CHAP. XL wedded fair Igraine, and after wedded
her Uther Pendragon and gat on her
How Sir Launcelot slew two giants, and
Arthur. Well, said Sir Launcelot, I
made a castle free.
understand to whom this castle belong-
Anon withal came there upon him eth. And so he departed from them
two great giants, well armed all save the and betaught them unto God. And then
CHAP. XI. OF SIR LA UNCELOTS FEA TS. 121
last by fortune him happened against a hither, and had overcome him had not
night to come to a fair courtelage, and ye been therefore to yield us unto him
;
stricken them to the earth. Kay's armour and his shield and armed
And then they all three cried, Sir him and so he went to the stable and
:
knight, we yield us unto you as man of took his horse, and took his leave of his
might matchless. As to that, said Sir host, and so he departed. Then soon
Launcelot, I will not take your yielding after arose Sir Kay and missed Sir Laun-
to me, but so that
ye yield you unto celot and then he
: that he had
espied
122 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VI.
his armour and his horse. Now by my and harness. Whether it be so or no,
faith I know well that he will grieve said Sir Raynold the third brother, let us
some of the court of king Arthur for : now go mount upon our horses and
on him knights will be bold, and deem rescue our brother Sir Gaunter upon
thatit is I, and that will beguile them :
pain of death. We all shall have work
and because of his armour and shield enough to match
that knight, for ever
I am
sure I shall ride in peace. And me seemeth by his person it is Sir
then soon after departed Sir Kay, and Launcelot, or Sir Tristam, or Sir Pel-
thanked his host. leas the good knight. Then anon they
took their horses and overtook Sir
CHAP. XII.
Launcelot, and Sir Gilmere put forth
How Sir Launcelot rode disguised in Sir his spear and ran to Sir Launcelot and
Kay's harness, and bozo he smote down Sir Launcelot smote him down that he
a knight.
lay in a swoon. Sir knight, said Sir
Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot that Raynold, thou art a strong man, and, as
had ridden long in a great forest, and at I suppose, thou hast slain my two bre-
the last he came into a low country full thren, for the which riseth my heart
of fair rivers and meadows. And afore sore against thee and if I might with
;
him he saw a long bridge, and three my worship I would not have ado with
pavilions stood thereon of silk and san- thee, but needs I must take part as they
dal of divers hue. And without the do and therefore knight, he said, keep
;
pavilions hung three white shields on thyself. And so they hurtled together
truncheons of spears, and great long with all their mights, and all to-shivered
spears stood upright by the pavilions, both their spears. And then they drew
and at every pavilion's door stood three their swords and lashed together eagerly.
fresh squires, and so Sir Launcelot Anon therewith arose Sir Gaunter, and
passed by them, and spake no word. came unto his brother Sir Gilmere, and
When he was past the three knights bad him arise and help we our brother
said that it was the proud Kay, he Sir Raynold, that yonder marvellously
weeneth no knight so good as he, and matcheth yonder good knight. There-
the contrary is oft time proved. By withal they lept on their horses, and
my faith, said one of the knights, his hurtled unto Sir Launcelot. And when
name was Sir Gaunter, I will ride after he saw them come, he smote a sore
him and assay him for all his pride, and stroke unto Sir Raynold, that he fell
ye may behold how that I speed. So off his horse to the ground, and then he
this knight, Sir Gaunter, armed him. struck to the other two brethren, and at
and hung his shield upon his shoulder two strokes he strake them down to the
and mounted upon a great horse, and earth. With that Sir Raynold began to
gat his spear in his hand, and galloped start up with his head all bloody, and
after Sir Launcelot. And when he came straight unto Sir Launcelot. Now
came nigh him, he cried, Abide thou let be, said Sir Launcelot, I was not far
proud knight Sir Kay, for thou shalt from thte when thou wert made knight,
not pass quit. So Sir Launcelot turned Sir Raynold, and also I know thou art
him, and either fewtred their spears, and a good knight, and loth I were to slay
came together with all their mights, and thee. Gramercy, said Sir Raynold, as
Sir Gaunter's spear brake, but Sir Laun- for your goodness and I dare say as for
;
celot smote him down, horse and man. me and my brethren, we will not be
And when Sir Gaunter was at the earth loth to yield us unto you, with that we
his brethren said each one to other, knew your name ; for well we know ye
Yonder knight is not Sir Kay, for he is are not Sir Kay. As for that be it as it
bigger than he. I dare lay my head, may, for ye shall yield you unto dame
said Sir Gilmere,
yonder knight hath Guenever, and look that ye be with her
slain Sir Kay and hath taken his horse on Whitsunday, and yield you unto her
CHAP. XIV. HOW HE FOLLOWED A BRACHET. 123
as prisoners, and say that Sir Kay sent him well, and then- they let run their
you unto her. Then they swore it horses with all their mights, and either
should be done. And so passed forth knight smote other in midst of the
ir Launcelot, and each one of the shield. But Sir Gawaine's spear to-
£rethren helped each other as well as brast, and Sir Launcelot charged so
they might. sore upon him that his horse reversed
up so down. And much sorrow had
CHAP. XIII. Sir Gawaine to avoid his horse, and
Hoiv Sir Launcelot justed against four so Sir Launcelot passed on a pace,
and smiled, and said, God him
knights of the Round Table, and over- give
threw them. joy that this spear made, for there
came never a better in my hand.
So Sir Launcelot rode into a deep Then the four knights went each one
forest,and there by in a slade he saw to and comforted each other.
other,
four knights hoving under an oak, and What say ye by this gest? said Sir Ga-
they were of Arthur's court one was ; waine, that one spear hath felled us
Sagramour le Desirous, and Sir Ector de four. We command him unto the
Maris, and Sir Gawaine, and Sir Uwaine. devil, they said all, for he is a man of
Anon as these four knights had espied great might. Ye may well say it, said
Sir Launcelot they wend by his amis it Sir Gawaine, that he is a man of might,
had been Sir Kay. Now by my faith, for I dare lay my head it is Sir Launce-
said Sir Sagramour, I will
prove Sir lot, I know by his riding. Let him
it
Kay's might, and gat his spear in his go, said Sir Gawaine, for when we come
hand, and came toward Sir Launcelot. to the court then shall we wit. And
Therewith Sir Launcelot was ware, and then had they much sorrow to get their
knew him well, and fewtred his spear horses again.
against him, and smote Sir Sagramour
so sore that horse and man fell both to CHAP. XIV.
the Lo, my fellows, said Sir
earth.
Ector, yonder ye may see what a buffet
How Sir Launcelot followed a bracket into
a castle where he found a dead knight,
he hath that knight is much bigger
;
ee I well, said Sir Gawaine, I must midst of a great hall, there he saw lie a
IIncounter with that knight. Then he dead knight that was a seemly man, and
dressed his shield and gat a good spear that brachet licked his wounds. And
in his hand, and Sir Launcelot knew therewithal came out a lady weeping
124 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK vi.
fair lady be not displeased with me, for Right so Sir Launcelot departed, and
I am full sore aggrieved of your griev- when he came unto the chapel perilous
ance. Truly sir, she said, I trow it be he alight down, and tied his horse to
not ye that have slain my husband, for a little gate. And as soon as he was
he that did that deed is sore wounded, within the churchyard he saw on the
and he is never likely to recover, that front of the chapel many fair rich shields
shall I ensure him. What was your hus- turned up so down, and many of the
band's name? said Sir Launcelot. Sir, shields Sir Launcelot had seen knights
said she, his name was called Sir Gil- bear beforehand. With that he saw by
bert, one of the best knights of the him stand there a thirty great knights,
world, and he that hath slain him I more by a yard than any man that ever
know not his name. Now God send he had seen, and all those grinned and
you better comfort, said Sir Launcelot. gnashed at Sir Launcelot. And when
And so he departed and went into the he saw their countenance he dread him
forest again, and there he met with a sore, and so put his shield afore him,
damsel, the which knew him well, and and took his sword in his hand ready
she said aloud, Well be ye found, my unto battle and they were all armed in
;
entreaties. No, said she, and thou didst was great joy between them, and they
leave that sword queen Guenever should made Sir Launcelot all the cheer that
ye never see. Then were I a fool and they might, and so on the morn Sir
I would leave this sword, said Sir Laun- Launcelot took his leave, and bad Sir
celot. Now gentle knight, said the Meliot hie him to the court of my lord
damsel, I require thee to kiss me but Arthur, for it draweth nigh to the feast
once. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, that of Pentecost, and there, by the grace of
God me forbid. Well sir, said she, and God, ye shall find me. And therewith
thou haddest kissed me thy life days they departed.
had been done, but now alas, she said,
I have lost all my labour, for I ordained CHAP. XVI.
this chapel for thy sake, and for Sir
Gawaine. And once I had Sir Gawaine How Sir Launcelot at the request of a lady
recovered a falcon, by which he was
within power, and at that time he
my deceived.
fought with that knight that lieth there
dead in yonder chapel, Sir Gilbert, and And so Sir Launcelot rode through
at that time he smote off the left hand many strange countries, over marshes
of Sir Gilbert. And Sir Launcelot and valleys, till by fortune he came 10 a
now I tell thee, I have loved thee this fair castle, and as he passed beyond the
seven year, but there may no woman castle him thought he heard two bells
have thy love but queen Guenever. ring. And then was he ware of a falcon
But since I may not rejoice thee to have came flying over his head toward an
thy body alive, I had kept no more joy high elm, and long lines about her feet,
in world but to have thy body
this and as she flew unto the elm to take her
dead. Then would I have balmed it and perch, the lines overcast about a bough.
preserved it, and so have kept it my life And when she would have taken her
days, and daily I should have kissed thee flight she hung by the legs fast, and
in despite of queen Guenever. Ye say Sir Launcelot saw how she hung, and
well, said Sir Launcelot, God preserve beheld the fair falcon perigot, and he
me from your subtil crafts. And there- was sorry for her. The meanwhile came
withal he took his horse and so de- a lady out of the castle, and cried
parted from her. And as the book on high, O
Launcelot, Launcelot, as
saith, when Sir Launcelot was departed thou art flower of all knights help me to
she took such sorrow that she died get my hawk, for and my hawk be lost
within a fourteen night, and her name my lord will destroy me for
;
I kept
was Hellawes the sorceress, lady of the the hawk and she slipt from me, and
castle Nigramous. Anon Sir Launcelot if mylord my husband wit it, he is so
met with the damsel, Sir Meliot's sister. hasty that he will slay me. What is
And when she saw him she clapped her your lord's name? said Sir Launcelot.
hands and wept for joy, and then they Sir, she said, his name is Sir Phelot, a
rode unto a castle thereby, where Sir knight that longeth unto the king of
Meliot lay. And anon as Sir Launcelot Northgalis. Well, fair lady, since that
aw him he knew him, but he was pale ye know my name, and require me of
sthe earth for bleeding. When Sir knighthood to help you, I will do what
Meliot saw Sir Launcelot, he kneeled
JV I may to get your hawk, and yet truly
u
upon
r his knees and cried on high O lord : I am an ill climber, and the tree is
3irLauncelot help me Anon Sir Laun-
!
passing high, and few boughs to help
5lot leapt unto him, and touched his me withal. And therewith Sir Laun-
wounds with Sir Gilbert's sword, and celot alight, and tied his horse to
then he wiped his wounds with a part the same tree, and prayed the lady to
of the bloody cloth that Sir Gilbert was unarm him. And so when he was un-
wrapped in, and anon a wholer man in armed, he put unto
off all his clothes
his life was he never. And then there his shirt and breeches, and with might
1 26 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VI.
and force he climbed up to the falcon, both. And then she swooned as though
and tied the lines to a great rotten she would die. And therewithal Sir
branch, and threw the hawk down and it Launcelot gat all his armour as well as
withal. Anon the lady gat the hawk in he might, and put it upon him, for
her hand, and therewithal came out Sir dread of more resort, for he dread that
Phelot out of the groves suddenly, that the knight's castle was so nigh. And so
was her husband, all armed, and with soon as he might he took his horse and
his naked sword in his hand, and said, departed, and thanked God that he had
O knight, Launcelot, now have I found escaped that adventure.
thee as I would and stood at the bole
:
is come that thou must die. That So Sir Launcelot rode many wild
were shame unto thee, said Sir Laun- ways, throughout marshes and many
celot, thou an armed knight to slay a wild ways. And as he rode in a valley
naked man by treason. Thou gettest he saw a knight chasing a lady with a
none other grace, said Sir Phelot, and naked sword to have slain her. And by
therefore help thyself and thou canst. fortune, as this knight should have slain
Truly, said Sir Launcelot, that shall be this lady, she cried on Sir Launcelot
thy shame, but since thou wilt do none and prayed him to rescue her. When
other, take mine harness with thee, and Sir Launcelot saw that mischief he took
hang my sword upon a bough that I his horse and rode between them, say-
may get it, and then do thy best to slay ing,Knight, fie for shame, why wilt
me and thou canst. Nay, nay, said Sir thou slay this lady ? thou dost shame
Phelot, for I know thee better than unto thee and all knights. What hast
thou weenest, therefore thou gettest no thou to do betwixt me and my wife ?
weapon and I may keep you therefro. said the knight ; I will slay her, maugre
Alas, said Sir Launcelot, that ever thy head. That shall ye not, said Sir
knight should die weaponless. And Launcelot, for rather we two will have
therewith he awaited above him and ado together. Sir Launcelot, said the
under him, and over his head he saw knight, thou doest not thy part, for this
a rounspik, a big bough leafless, and lady hath betrayed me. It is not so,
therewith he brake it off by the body ; said the lady, truly he saith wrong on
and then he came lower, and awaited me, and because I love and cherish my
how his own horse stood, and suddenly cousin german, he is jealous betwixt
he lept on the farther side of the horse him and me, and as I shall answer to
from the knight. And then Sir Phelot God, there was never sin betwixt us.
lashed at him eagerly, weening to have But, sir, said the lady, as thou art called
slain him but Sir Launcelot put away
; the worshipfullest knight of the world,
the stroke with the rounspik, and I require thee of true knighthood keep
therewith he smote him on the one side me and save me, for whatsoever ye say
of the head, that he fell down in a he will slay me, for he without mercy.
is
swoon to the ground. So then Sir Have ye no doubt, said Launcelot, it
Launcelot took his sword out of his shall not lie in his power. Sir, said the
hand, and struck his neck from the knight, in your sight I will be ruled
body. Then cried the lady, Alas, why as ye will have me. And so Sir Laun-
hast thou slain my husband ? I am not celot rode on the one side and she on
causer, said Sir Launcelot, for with false- the other he had not ridden but a
:
hood ye would have had slain me with while but the knight bad Sir Launcelot
treason, and now it is fallen on you turn him and look behind him and said,
chap. xvm. HOW LAUNCELOT RETURNED TO ARTHUR'S COURT. 127
Sir, yonder come menof arms after us and as it telleth inthe French book,
riding. And so Sir Launcelot turned when he came to Rome the
Pope bad
him, and thought no treason. And him go again to queen Guenever, and in
therewith was the knight and the lady Rome was his lady buried by the
Pope's
on one side, and suddenly he swapped commandment. And after this Sir Pe-
off his lady's head. And when Sir divere fell to great goodness, and was
Launcelot had espied him what he had an holy man and an hermit.
done, he said, and called him, Traitor
thou hast shamed me for ever. And CHAP. XVIII.
suddenly Sir Launcelot alight off his How Sir Launcelot came
horse, and pulled out sword to slay
his king Arthurs
to
him. And therewithal he fell flat to court, and bow there were recounted all
by the thighs, and cried mercy. Fie on Now turn me unto Sir Launcelot du
thee, said Sir Launcelot, thou shameful Lake, that came home two days afore
knight, thou mayest have no mercy, the feast of Pentecost. And the king
and therefore arise and fight with me. and all the court were passing fain of
Nay, said the knight, I will never arise his coming. And when Sir Gawaine,
till ye grant me mercy. Now will I Sir Uwaine, Sir Sagramour, Sir Ector
proffer thee fair, said Launcelot I will : de Maris, saw Sir Launcelot in Kay's
unarm me unto shirt, and will have
my armour, then they wist well it was he
nothing upon me but my shirt, and my that smote them down all with one
sword in my hand, and if thou canst spear. Then there was laughing and
slay me quit be thou for ever. Nay, smiling among them. And ever now
sir, said Fedivere, that will I never. and now came all the knights home
"Well, said Sir Launcelot, take this lady that Sir Turquine had prisoners, and
and the head, and bear it upon thee, they all honoured and worshipped Sir
and here shalt thou swear upon my Launcelot. When Sir Gaheris heard
sword to bear* it alway upon thy back, them speak, he said, I saw all the battle
and never to rest till thou come to from the beginning to the ending, and
queen Guenever. Sir, said he, that will there he told king Arthur all how it
I do, by the faith of my body. Now, was, and how Sir Turquine was the
said Launcelot, tell me what is your strongest knight that ever he saw ex-
name. Sir, my name is Pedivere. In cept Sir Launcelot there were many
:
a shameful hour wert thou born, said knights bear him record, nigh three-
Launcelot. So Pedivere departed with score. Then Sir Kay told the king
the dead lady and the head, and found how Launcelot had rescued him
Sir
the queen with king Arthur at Win- when he should have been slain, and
chester, and there he told all the truth. how he made the knights yield them to
Sir knight, said the queen, this is an hor- me, and not to him. And there they
ribledeed and a shameful, and a great were, all three, and bare record. And
rebuke unto Sir Launcelot but not- :
by my faith, said Sir Kay, because Sir
withstanding his worship is not known Launcelot took my harness and left me
in divers countries. But this shall I his I rode in good peace, and no man
give you in
penance : make ye
as good would have ado with me. Anon there-
skift as ye can, ye shall bear this lady withal came the three knights that
with you on horseback unto the Pope fought with Sir Launcelot at the long
of Rome, and of him receive your pe- bridge, and there they yielded them unto
nance for your foul deeds, and ye shall Sir Kay, and Sir Kay forsook them and
never rest one night there as ye do said he *fought never with them But I :
another, and if ye go to any bed the shall ease your hearts, said Sir Kay,
dead body shall lie with you. This yonder is Sir Launcelot that overcame
oath there he made, and so departed, you. When they wist that, they were
28 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII.
glad. And
then Sir Meliot de Logres and Sir Mador de la Forte, and Sir
came liome, and told king Arthur how- Mordred, for they were at that same
Sir Launeelot had saved him from the tournament. Then came in the lady
death. And all his deeds were known, thatknew Sir Launeelot when that he
how four queens, sorceresses, had him wounded Sir Belleus at the pavilion.
in prison, and how he was delivered And there, at the request of Sir Laun-
by king Bagdemagus's daughter. Also eelot, Sir Belleus was made knight of
there were told all the great deeds of the Round Table.
arms that Sir Launeelot did betwixt And so at that time Sir Launeelot
the two kings, that is to say, the king had the greatest name of any knight of
of Northgalis and king Bagdemagus. the world, and most he was honoured
All the truth Sir Gahalantine did tell, of high and low.
^Explicit tf)e noble talc of ggr Sauncelot Du lafce, folnclje te X\)z hi.
book. ?§ere fclofoctl) t!)e tale of Sgr (Saretf) of <$rfeeneg, t^at foas
callet) 23eaumagng &g ggv feag, ant) is tj)e sebentl) fcoofc.
faileth me but thou shalt prove a man desired ever worship, and this desiieth
of right great worship. Sir, said he, bread and drink, and broth upon pain ;
have meat and drink enough, I never meat and drink, and so hither he is come
defended that none, neither my friend for his sustenance. And so Sir Kay bad
nor my foe. But what is thy name get him a place and sit down to meat,
I would wit ? I cannot tell you, said so Beaumains went to the hall door,
he. That is marvel, said the king, that and set him down among boys and lads,
thou knowest not thy name, and thou and there he eat sadly. And then Sir
art the goodliest young man that ever Launcelot after meat bad him come to
I saw. Then the king betook him to his chamber, and there he should have
Sir Kay, the steward, and charged him meat and drink enough. And so did
that he should give him of all manner Sir Gawaine : but he refused them all ;
of meats and drinks of the best, and he would do none other but as Sir Kay
also that he had all manner of finding commanded him, for no pi offer. But
as though he were a lord's son. That as touching Sir Gawaine, he had reason
shall little need, said Sir Kay, to do to proffer him lodging, meat, and drink,
such cost upon him for I dare under-
;
for that proffer came of his blood, for
take he is a villain born, and never will he was nearer kin to him than he wist.
make man, for and he had come of But that as Sir Launcelot did was of his
gentlemen he would have asked of you great gentleness and courtesy. So thus
horse and armour, but such as he is, he was put into the kitchen, and lay
so he asketh. And since he hath no nightly as the boys of the kitchen did.
name, I shall give him a name that shall And so he endured all that twelve-
be Beaumains, that is Fair-hands, and month, and never displeased man nor
into the kitchen I shall bring him, and child, but always he was meek and
lere he shall have fat browis every mild. But ever when that he saw any
lay, hethat shallbe as fat by the justing of knights, that would he see
twelvemonth's end as a pork hog. and he might. And ever Sir Launcelot
so the two men departed, and
Light would give him gold to spend, and
>elefthim to Sir Kay, that scorned him clothes, and so did Sir Gawaine. And
ind mocked him. where were any masteries done thereat
would he be, and there might none cast
9
ISO MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII.
bar nor stone to him by two yards. king Beaumains, while the damsel was
Then would Sir Kay say, How liketh there, and thus he said Sir king, God
:
to the king and said, Sir, ye may go to shalt have it, said the king, I grant it
your meat, for here cometh a damsel thee. Then, sir, this is the other gift,
with some strange adventures. Then that ye shall bid Launcelot du Lake
was the king glad, and set him down. make me knight, for of him I will be
Right so there came a damsel into made knight, and else of none. And
the hall, saluted the king, and
and when I am past, I pray you let him ride
prayed him of succour. For whom, after me, and make me knight when I
said the king, what is the adventure ? require him. All this shall be done,
Sir, she said, I have a lady of great said the king. Fie on thee, said the
worship and renown, and she is be- damsel, shall I have none but one that
sieged with a tyrant, so that she may is your kitchen page. Then was she
not out of her castle. And because wroth, and took her horse and de-
here are called the noblest knights of parted.
the world, I come to you to pray you And with that there came one to
of succour. What highteth your lady, Beaumains, and told him that his horse
and where dwelleth she? and who is and armour was come for him, and
he, and what is his name, that hath be- there was the dwarf come with all
sieged her ? Sir king, she said, as for thing that him needed in the richest
my lady's name that shall not ye know manner. Thereat all the court had
for meas at this time, but I let you wit much marvel from whence came all
she is a lady of great worship, and of that gear. So when he was armed
great lands. And as for the tyrant that there was none but few so goodly a
besiegeth her and destroyeth her lands, man as he was. And right so he came
he is called the red knight of the red into the hall and took his leave of king
lawns. I know him not, said the king. Arthur and Sir Gawaine and Sir Laun-
Sir, said Sir Gawaine, I know him well, celot, and prayed that he would hie
for he is one of the perilousest knights after him. And so departed and rode
of the world men say that he hath seven
: after the damsel.
men's strength, and from him I escaped
once full hard with my life. Fair dam- CHAP. IV.
sel, said the king, there be knights here
would do theirto rescue your
How Beaumains departed, and how be gat
power
but because will not tell her of Sir Kay a spear and a shield, and
lady, ye and fought with Sir
nor where she dwelleth, therefore how be justed
name,
Launcelot.
none of my knights that be here now
shall go with you by my will. Then But
there went many after to behold
must I speak further, said the damsel. how well he was horsed and trapped in
cloth of gold, but he had neither shield
CHAP. III.
nor spear. Then Sir Kay said all
How Beaumains and bow
desired the battle,
openly in the hall, I will ride after my
was granted to
it him, and bow he de- boy in the kitchen, to wit whether he
made knight of Sir Launcelot.
sired to be willknow me for his better. Said Sir
'With these words came before the Launcelot and Sir Gawaine, Yet abide
CHAP. V. HOW BEAUMAINS WAS DUBBED KNIGHT. 131
Sir Launcelot to just, and either made I am more gladder of you than I was,
them ready, and came together so for ever me
thought ye should be of
bare down other to
fiercely that either great blood, and that ye came not to
the earth, and sore were they bruised. the court neither for meat nor for
Then Sir Launcelot arose and helped drink. And then Sir Launcelot gave
him fiom his horse. And then Beau- him the order of knighthood. And
mains threw his shield from him, and then Sir Gareth prayed him for to de-
proffered to fight with Sir Launcelot on part, and let him go. So Sir Launcelot
foot, and so they rushed together like departed from him and came to Sir Kay,
boars, tracing, racing, and foining, to and made him to be borne home upon
the mountenance of an hour, and Sir his shield, and so he was healed hard
Launcelot felt him so big that he mar- with the life, and all men scorned Sir
velled of his strength, for he fought Kay, and in especial Sir Gawaine and
more like a giant than a knight, and Sir Launcelot said it was not his part
that his fighting was durable and pass- to rebuke no young man, for full little
ing perilous. For Sir Launcelot had so knew he of what birth he is come, and
much ado with him that he dread him- for what cause he came to this court.
self to be shamed, and said, Beaumains, And so we leave off Sir Kay and turn
fight not so sore, your quarrel and mine we unto Beaumains. When he had
is not so great but we may leave off. overtaken the damsel anon she said,
Truly, that is truth, said Beaumains, What doest thou here? thou stinkest
but it doth me good to feel your might, all of the kitchen, thy clothes be foul
and yet, my lord, I shewed not the of the grease and tallow that thou gain-
utterance. edst in king Arthur's kitchen weenest ;
and cowardly, therefore turn again foul with him all that night. And because
kitchen page, I know thee well, for Sir it was near
night the damsel rode with
Kay named thee Beaumains what art ; him to his castle, and there they had
thou but a lubber and a turner of great cheer. And at supper the knight
spits, and a
ladle washer ? Damsel, said set Sir Beaumains afore the damsel.
Beaumains, say to me what ye will, I Fie, fie, said she, sir knight, ye are un-
will not go from you whatsoever ye say, courteous to set a kitchen page afore
for I have undertaken to king Arthur me, him beseemeth better to stick a
for to achieve your adventure, and so swine than to sit afore a damsel of high
shall I finish it to the end, or I shall die parentage. Then the knight was
therefore. Fie on thee, kitchen knave, ashamed at her words, and took him
wilt thou finish mine adventure? thou up and set him at a side board, and set
shalt anon be met withaU, that thou himself afore him. And so all that
wouldest not for all the broth that ever night they had good cheer and merry
thou suppedst once look him in the face. rest.
I shall assay, said Beaumains. So thus CHAP. VI.
as they rode in the wood, there came
a man flying all that ever he might.
How Sir Beaumains fought and slew two
mains, I will no reward have, I was this there was he drowned. And then he
day made knight of noble Sir Launcelot, spurred his horse upon the land, where
and therefore I will no reward have, but the other knight fell upon him and
God reward me. And also I must fol- brake his spear, and so they drew their
low this damsel. And when he came swords and fought long together. At
nigh her, she bad him ride from her, for the last Sir Beaumains clave his helm
thou smellest of the kitchen weenest
all ;
and his head down to the shoulders and :
thou that I have joy of thee ? for all this so he rode unto the damsel, and bade
deed thou hast done, is but mishapped her ride forth on her way. Alas, she
thee; but thou shalt see a sight that said, that ever a kitchen page should
shall make thee turn again, and that have that fortune to destroy such two
lightly. Then the same knight which doughty knights thou weenest thou
;
was rescued of the thieves rode after hast done doughtily that is not so,
;
that damsel, and prayed her to lodge for the first knight his horse stumbled,
CHAP. VH. OF BEA UMA INS AND THE BLACK KNIGHT. 133
and there he was drowned in the the knight, in such array? it is shame that
water, and never it was by thy force he beareth you company. Sir, I cannot
nor by thy might. And the last knight be delivered of him, said she, for with
by mishap thou earnest behind him and me he rideth maugre mine head would ;
mishappily thou slewest him. Damsel, that ye should put him from me, or else
said Beaumains, ye may say what ye to slay him and ye may, for he is an
will, but with whomsoever I have ado unhappy knave, and unhappily he hath
withall "I (rust to God to serve him or done this day; through mishap I saw
he depart, and therefore I reck not what him slay two knights at the passage of
ye say, so that I may win your lady. Fie, the water, and other deeds he did be-
fie, foul kitchen knave, thou shalt see fore right marvellous, and through un-
knights that shall abate thy boast. Fair happiness. That marvelleth me, said
damsel, give me goodly language, and the black knight, that any man that is
then my care is past, for what knights of worship will have ado with him.
soever they be I care not, nor I doubt They know him not, said the damsel,
them not. Also, said she, I say it for and because he rideth with me they
thine avail, yet mayest thou turn again think he is some man of worship born.
with thy worship, for and thou follow That may be, said the black knight,
me thou art but slain, for I see all that how be it as ye say that he be no man
ever thou dost is but by misadventure, of worship, he is a full likely person, and
and not by prowess of thy hands. Well, full like to be a strong man but thus
;
damsel, ye may say what ye will, but much shall I grant you, said the black
wheresoever ye go I will follow you. knight, I shall put him down upon one
So this Beaumains rode with that lady foot, and his horse and his harness he
till
even-song time, and ever she chid shall leave with me, for it were shame
him, and would not rest. And then to meto do him any more harm. When
they came to a black lawn, and there Sir Beaumains heard him say thus, he
was a black hawthorn, and thereon said, Sir knight, thou art full liberal of
hung a black banner, and on the other my horse and my harness, I let thee wit
side there hung a black shield, and by it itcost thee nought, and whether it liketh
stood a black spear great and long, and thee or not this lawn will I pass, maugre
a great black horse covered with silk, thine head, and horse nor harness gettest
and a black stone fast by. thou none of me, but if thou win them
with thy hands; and therefore let see
CHAP. VII. what thou canst do. Sayest thou that,
said the black knight, now yield thy
How Sir Beaumains fought with the knight
lady from thee, for it beseemeth never a
of the black lawns, and fought with him kitchen page to ride with such a lady.
till he fell down and died.
Thou liest, said Beaumains, I am a gen-
There sat a knight all armed in black tleman born, and of more high lineage
harness, and his name was the knight of than thou, and that will I prove on thy
the black lawn. Then the damsel, when body. Then in great wrath they de-
she saw that knight, she bade him flee parted with their horses, and came
down the valley, for his horse was not together as it had been the thunder ;
saddled. Gramercy, said Beaumains, and the black knight's spear brake, and
for always yewould have me a coward. Beaumains thrust him through both his
With that the black knight, when she sides, and therewith his spear brake, and
came nigh him, spake and said, Damsel, the truncheon left still in his side. But
have ye brought this knight of king nevertheless the black knight drew his
Arthur to be your champion? Nay, sword and smote many eager strokes
fair knight, said she, this is but a kitchen and of great might, and hurt Beaumains
knave, that was fed in king Arthur's full sore. But at the last the black
kitchen for alms. Why cometh he, said knight within an hour and a half he
134 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII.
fell down off his horse in a swoon, and green knight rode unto an horn that was
there he died. And then Beaumains saw green, and it hung upon a thorn, and there
him so well horsed and armed, then he he blew three deadly notes, and there
alight down, and armed him in his ar- came two damsels and armed him lightly.
mour, and so took his horse, and rode And then took he a great horse, and a
after the damsel. When she saw him green shield and a green spear. And
come nigh, she said, Away, kitchen knave, then they ran together with all their
out of the wind, for the smell of thy mights, and brake their spears unto
foul clothes grieveth me. Alas, she said, their hands. And then they drew their
that ever such a knave as thou art swords, and gave many sad strokes, and
should by mishap slay so good a knight either of them wounded other full ill.
as thou hast done, but all this is thine And an overthwart Beau-
at the last at
unhappiness. But hereby is one shall mains' horse struck the green knight's
pay thee all thy payment, and therefore horse upon the side, he fell to the
yet I counsel thee, flee. It may happen earth. And then the green knight
me, said Beaumains, to be beaten or avoided his horse lightly, and dressed
slain, but I warn you, fair damsel, I will him upon foot. That saw Beaumains,
not flee away nor leave your company and therewithal he alight, and they
for all that ye can say, for ever ye say rushed together like two mighty cham-
that they will kill me or beat me, but pions a long while, and sore they bled
how soever it happeneth I escape, and both. With that came the damsel and
they lie on the ground. And therefore said, My lord the green knight, why for
it were as good for you to hold you shame stand ye so long fighting with
still, thus all clay rebuking me, for the kitchen knave? Alas, it is shame
away will I not till I see the uttermost that ever ye were made knight, to see
of this journey, or else I will be slain such a lad match such a knight, as
or truly beaten therefore ride on your
;
the weed overgrew the corn. There-
way, for follow you I will whatsoever with the green knight was asham-
happen. ed, and therewithal he gave a great
stroke of might, and clave his shield
CHAP. VIII.
through. When Beaumains saw his
How thebrother of the knight that was
shield cloven asunder he was a little
slain met with Beaumains, and fought
ashamed of that stroke, and of her lan-
with Beaumains till be was yielden.
guage; and then he gave him such a
as they rode together, they saw
Thus buffet upon the helm that he fell on his
a knight come driving by them all in knees and so suddenly Beaumains pulled
:
green, both his horse and his harness ; him upon the ground groveling. And
and when he came nigh the damsel he then the green knight cried him mercy,
asked her, Is that my brother the black and yielded him unto Sir Beaumains,
knight that ye have brought with you ? and prayed him to slay him not. All
is in vain, said Beaumains, for thou
Nay, nay, said she, this unhappy kitchen
knave hath slain your brother through shalt die, but if this damsel that came
unhappiness. Alas, said the green with me pray me to save thy life.
knight, that is great pity that so noble And therewithal he unlaced his helm,
a knight as he was should so unhappily like as he would slay him. Fie upon
be slain, and namely of a knave's hand, thee, false kitchen page, I will never
as ye say that he is. Ah traitor, said !
pray thee to save his life, for I never
the green knight, thou shalt die for will be so much in thy danger. Then
slaying of my brother, he was a full shall he die, said Beaumains. Not so
noble knight, and his name was Sir hardy thou foul knave, said the damsel,
Percard. I defy thee, said Beaumains, that thou slay him. Alas, said the
for I let thee wit I slew him knightly, green knight, suffer me not to die, for a
an'l not shamefully. Therewithal! the fair word may save me. Fair knight,
CHAP. IX. HOW THE DAMSEL REBUKED BEAUMAINS. 135
aid
sai the green knight, save my life, and I said the damsel, it is shame for you to
will forgive thee the death of my brother, say of him such worship. Truly, said
and for ever to become thy man, and the green knight, it were shame for me
thirty knights that hold of me for ever to say of him any disworship, for he
shall do you service. In the devil's hath proved himself a better knight
name, said the damsel, that such a foul than I am, yet have I met with many
kitchen knave should have thee and knights in my days, and never or this
thirty knights' service. Sir knight, said time have I found no knight his match.
Beaumains, all this availeth thee not, but And so that night they went unto rest,
if my damsel speak with me for thy life. and all that night the green knight
And therewithal he made a semblant commanded thirty knights privily to
to slay him. Let be, said the damsel, watch Beaumains, for to keep him from
thou foul knave, slay him not, for and all treason. And so on the morn they
thou do thou shall repent it. Damsel, all arose, and heard their mass and
said Beaumains, your charge is to me a brake their fast, and then they took
pleasure, and at your commandment his their horses and rode on their way, and
life shall be saved, and else not. Then the green knight conveyed them through
he said, Sir knight with the green arms, the forest, and there the green knight
I release thee quit at this damsel's re- said, My lord Beaumains, I and these
quest, for I will not make her wroth ; I thirty knights shall be alway at your
will fulfill all she chargeth me.
that summons, both early and late, at your
And then the green knight kneeled calling, and where that ever ye will send
down, and did him homage with his us. It is well said, said Beaumains ;
sword. Then said the damsel, Me re- when that I call upon you ye must
penteth, green knight, of your damage, yield you unto king Arthur and all your
and of your brother's death the black knights. If that ye so command us, we
knight, for of your help I had great shall be ready at all times, said the
need, for I dread me
sore to pass this green knight. Fie, upon fie thee, said
forest. Nay, dread you not, said the the damsel, that any good knights
green knight, for ye shall lodge witli should be obedient unto a kitchen
me this night, and to morn I shall knave. So then departed the green knight
help you through this forest. So they and the damsel. And then she said
took their horses and rode to his manor, unto Beaumains, Why followest thou
which was fast there beside. me thou kitchen boy, cast away thy
shield and thy spear and flee away, yet
CHAP. IX. I counsel thee betimes or thou shall say
How the damsel ever rebuked Sir Beau-
right soon, Alas For were thou as
!
mains, and ivould not suffer him to sit wight as ever was Wade, or Launcelot,
at her table, but called him kitchen boy. Tristram, or the good knight Sir La-
>would
And ever she rebuked Beaumains, and
not him to
morake, thou shalt not pass a pass here,
that is called the pass perilous. Damsel,
surfer sit at her table,
but as the green knight took him and sat said Beaumains, who is afeard let him
him at a side table. Marvel me thinketh, flee, for it were shame to turn again
said the green knight to the damsel, since I have ridden so long with you.
why ye rebuke this noble knight as ye Well, said the damsel, ye shall soon,
do, for I warn you, damsel, he is a full whether ye will or not.
noble knight, and I know no knight
is able to match him, therefore
CHAP. X.
ye do
great wrong to rebuke him, for he shall
How the third brother, called the red knight,
do you- right good service, for what- justedand fought against Beaumains,
soever he maketh himself ye shall prove and how Beaumains overcame him.
at the end that he is come of a noble So within a while they saw a tower as
blood, and of king's lineage. Fie, fie, white as any snow, well matchcold all
I3« MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII.
about, and double diked. And over the battle. Yet at the last Sir Beaumains
tower-gate there hung a fifty shields of strake him the earth, and as he
to
divers colours and under that tower
;
would have slain the red knight he cried
there was a fair meadow. And therein mercy, saying, Noble knight slay me
were many knights and squires to be- not, and I shall yield me to thee with
hold scaffolds and pavilions, for there fifty knights with me that be at my
wend it had been his brother the black prayed him and to be
to see his castle,
knight. And then lie cried aloud, there all night. So the damsel then
Brother what do ye in these marches ? granted him, and there they had merry
Nay, nay, said the damsel, it is not he ; cheer. But always the damsel spake
this is but a kitchen knave, that was many foul words unto Beaumains,
brought up for alms in king Arthur's whereof knight had great
the red
court. Nevertheless, said the red knight, marvel, and all that night the red
I willspeak with him or he depart. Ah, knight made threescore knights to
said the damsel, this knave hath killed watch Beaumains, that he should have
thy brother, and Sir Kay named him no shame nor villainy. And upon the
Beaumains, and this horse and harness morn they heard mass, and dined, and
was thy brother's the black knight. the red knight came before Beaumains
Also I saw thy brother the green knight with his threescore knights, and there
overcome of his hands. Now may ye he proffered him his homage and fealty
be revenged upon him, for I may never at all times, he and his knights to do
be quit of him. him service. I thank you, said Beau-
With this either knight departed in mains, but this ye shall grant me when
sunder, and they came together with I call upon you, to come afore my lord
all their might, and either of their horses king Arthur and yield you unto him to
fell to the eart'.i and they avoided their be his knights. Sir, said the red knight,
horses, and put their shields afore them, I will be ready' and my fellowship at
and drew their swords, and either gave your summons. So Sir Beaumains de-
other sad strokes, now here, now there, parted and the damsel, and ever she rode
racing, tracing, foining, and hurling like chiding him in the foullest manner.
two boars, the space of two hours.
And then she cried on high to the red CHAP. XI.
knight, Alas, thou noble red knight,
think what worship hath followed thee, How Sir Beaumains suffered great re-
tie fitly.
long as he doth. Then the red knight pa
waxed wroth, and doubled his strokes, Damssl, said Beaumains, ye are un-
and hurt Beaumains wonderly sore, that courteous so to rebuke me as ye do, for
the blood ran down tothe ground, me seemeth have done you good ser-
I
that it was wonder to see that strong vice, and ever ye threaten me I shall be
CHAP. XI. OF BEAUMAINS AND SIR PERSANT. 137
beaten with knights that we meet, but life lasteth.Fie, fie, said the damsel,
ever for all your boast they lie in the that eversuch a dirty knave should
dust or in the mire, and therefore I pray blow such a boast. Damsel, he said,
you rebuke me no more and when ye
:
ye are to blame so to rebuke me, for I
see me beaten or yielden as recreant, had lever do five battles than so to be
then may ye bid me go from you shame- rebuked let him come, and then let
;
fully, but first I let you wit I will not him do his worst. Sir, she said, I mar-
depart from you, for I were worse than vel what thou art, and of what kin thou
a fool and I would depart from you all art come boldly thou speakest, and
:
the while that I win worship. Well, boldly thou hast done, that have I seen :
•said she, right soon there shall meet therefore I pray thee save thyself and
a knight shall pay thee allthy wages, thou mayest, for thy horse and thou
for he is the most man of worship have had great travail, and I dread we
of the world, except king Arthur. I dwell over long from the siege, for
will well, said Beaumains; the more it is but hence seven mile, and all
he is of worship the more shall be perilous passages we are past, save all
my worship to have ado with him. only this passage, and here I dread me
Then anon they were ware where was sore lest ye shall catch some hurt,
before them a city rich and fair. And therefore I would ye were hence, that
betwixt them and the city a mile and ye were not bruised nor hurt with this
a half, there was a fair meadow that strong knight. But I let you wit this
seemed new mown, and therein were Sir Persant of Inde is nothing of might
many pavilions fair to behold. Lo, said nor strength unto the knight that laid
the damsel, yonder is a lord that owneth the siege about my lady. As for that,
yonder city, and his custom is when the said Sir Beaumains, be it as it may; for
weather is fair to lie in this meadow to since I am come so nigh this knight I
just and tourney ;
and ever there be will prove his might or I depart from
about him five hundred knights and him, and else I shall be shamed and I
gentlemen of arms, and there be all now withdraw me from him. And
manner of
games that any gentleman therefore, damsel, have ye no doubt by
can devise. That goodly lord, said the grace of God I shall so deal with
Beaumains, would 1 fain see. Thou this knight, that within two hours after
shalt see him time enough, said the noon I shall deliver him, and then shall
damsel. And so as she rode near she we come to the siege by day light. Oh
espied the pavilion where he was. Lo, mercy, marvel have 1, said the damsel,
said she, seest thou yonder pavilion, what manner a man ye be, for it may
that of the colour of Inde, and all
is all never be otherwise but that ye be come
manner of thing that there is about, men of a noble blood, for so foul and shame-
and women, and horses trapped, shields fully did never woman rule a knight as
and spears, all of the colour of Inde, I have done you, and ever courteously
a„<d his name is Sir Persant of Inde, the ye have suffered me, and that came
most lordliest knight that ever thou never but of a gentle blood.
lookedest on. It may well be, said Damsel, said Beaumains, a knight
Beaumains, but be he never so stout a may little do that may not suffer a
knight, in this field I shall abide till damsel for whatsoever ye said unto
;
that I see him under his shield. Ah me I took none heed to your words, for
fool, said she, thou were better flee be- the more ye said the more ye angered
times. Why, said Beaumains, and he me, and my wrath I wreaked upon
»» such a knight as ye make him, he them that I had ado withal. And there-
will not set upon me with all his men, fore all the missaying that ye missayed
or with his five hundred knights. For me furthered me in my battle, and caused
and there come no more but one at me shew and prove myself at
to think to
once, I shall him not fail whilst my the end what I was for peradventure
;
13^ MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK Vll,i
do, for all your evil words pleased me ; well it was ye that slew my brother the
and damsel, said Beaumains, since it black knight, at the black thorn he ;
liketh you to say thus fair to me, wit was a full noble knight, his name
ye wellit gladdeth mine heart
greatly, was Sir Percard. Also, I am sure that
and now me seemeth there is no knight ye are he that won mine other brother
living but I am able enough for him. the green knight, his name was Sir Per-
tolepe. Also, ye won my brother the
CHAP. XII. red knight Sir Perimones. And now
since ye have won these, this shall I
Hoiu Sir Demimains fought with Sir Per- do for to please you ye shall have ;
many places So
they were wounded. now living, and a man that is without
at the last Sir Beaumains smote him mercy, and men say that he hath seven
through the side of the body, and then men's strength. God save you, said he
CHAP. XIV. OF THE LADY THAT WAS BESIEGED. 139
to Beaumains, from that knight, for he and this damsel, I will tell you of what
doth great wrong to that lady, and that kin 1 am. We
will not discover you,
is great pity, for she is one of the fairest said they both,' till ye command us, by
ladies of the world, and me seemeth the faith we owe unto God. Truly
that your damsel is her sister. Is not then, said he, my name is Gareth of
your name Linet ? said he. Yea, sir, Orkney, and king Lot was my father,
said she, and my lady my sister's name and my mother is king Arthur's sister ;
is dame Liones. Now shall I tell you, her name is dame Morgawse, and Sir
said Sir Persant, this red knight of the Gawaine is my brother, and Sir Agra-
red lawn hath lain long at the siege, well vaine, and Sir Gaheris, and I am the
nigh this two years, and many times he youngest of them all. And yet wot not
might have had her and he had would, king Arthur nor Sir Gawaine what I
but he prolongeth the time to this intent am.
for to have Sir Launcelot du Lake to do
battle with him, or Sir Tristram, or Sir
CHAP. XIV.
Lamorak de Galis, or Sir Gawaine :
How the lady that was besieged bad word
and this is his tarrying so from her sister how
she had brought a
long at the
siege. Now, my lord Sir Persant of knight to fight for her, and what battles
he had achieved.
Inde, said the damsel Linet, I require
you that ye will make this gentleman So the book saith that the lady that
knight, or ever he fight with the red was besieged had word of her sister's
knight. I will with all my heart, said coming by the dwarf, and a knight with
Sir Persant, and it please him to take her, and how he had passed all the
the order of knighthood of so simple a perilous passages. What manner a man
man as I am. Sir, said Beaumains, is he? said the lady. He is a noble
I thank you for your good will, for I knight, truly, madam, said the dwarf,
am better sped, for certainly the noble and but a young man, but he is as likely
knight Sir Launcelot made me knight. a man as ever ye saw any. What is he,
Ah, said Persant, of a more renowned said the lady, and of what kin is he
knight might ye not be made knight. come, and of whom was he made
For of all knights he may be called knight ? said the dwarf, he
Madam,
chief of knighthood and so all the
: is the king'sson of Orkney, but his
world saith that betwixt three knights name I will not tell you as at this time ;
is parted clearly knighthood, that is but wit ye well, of Sir Launcelot was he
Launcelot du Lake, Sir Tristram de made knight, for of none other would
Liones, and Sir Lamorak de Galis : he be made knight, and Sir Kay named
these bear now the renown. There him Beaumains. How escaped he, said
many other knights, as Sir Pala- the lady, from the brethren of Persant ?
lides the Saracen, and Sir Sasere his Madam, he said, as a noble knight
>rother ; also Sir Bleoberis, and Sir should. First, he slew two brethren at
Slamore de Ganis his brother also Sir ; a passage of a water. Ah said she, !
>ors cle Ganis, and Sir Ector de Maris, they were good knights, but they were
md de Galis these and
Sir Percivale ; murderers, the one hight Gherard de
lany more be noble knights, but there Breusse, and that other knight hight Sir
none that pass the three above said ; Arnold de Breusse. Then, madam, he
therefore God
speed you well, said Sir recountered with the black knight, and
'ersant, for and ye may match the red slew him in plain battle, and so he took
might ye shall be called the fourth of his horse and his armour and fought
the world. Sir, said Beaumains, I would with the green knight, and wan him in
lin be of
good fame and of knighthood, plain battle, and in likewise he served
md I let you wit I came of good men, the red knight, and after in the same
>r I dare
say my father was a noble wise he served the blue knight, and
lan, and so that ye will keep it in close, wan him in plain battle. Then, said
140 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VI!.
the lady, he hath overcome Sir Per- had been. Sir, said
the dwarf, I have
sant of Inde, one of the noblest been with my lady's sister of this castle,
knights of the world. And the dwarf and she hath been at king Arthur's
said, He hath won all the four bre- court, and brought a knight with her.
thren, and slain the black knight. And Then I account her travail but lost.
yet he did more tofore he over- : For though she had brought with her
threw Sir Kay, and left him nigh dead Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, Sir La-
upon the ground also he did a great
; morak, or Sir Gawaine, I would think,
battle with Sir Launcelot, and there myself good enough for them all. It
they departed on even hands and then :
may well be, said the dwarf, but this
Sir Launcelot made him knight. Dwarf, knight hath passed all the perilous
said the lady, I am glad of these tidings, passages, and hath slain the black
therefore go thou in an hermitage of knight, and other two more, and won
mine here by, and there shalt thou bear the green knight, the red knight, and
with thee of my wine in two flaggons of the blue knight. Then is he one of these
silver,they are of two gallons, and also four that I have afore rehearsed. He is
two cast of bread, with fat venison none of those, said the dwarf, but he is
baked, and dainty fowls and a cup of ;
a king's son. What is his name ? said
gold here I deliver thee, that is rich and the red knight of the red lawn. That
precious, and bear all this to mine her- will I not tell you, said the dwarf, but
mitage, and put it in the hermit's hands. Sir Kay upon scorn named him Beau-
And then go thou unto my sister and mains. I care not, said the knight, what
greet her well, and command me unto knight soever he be, for I shall soon
that gentle knight, and pray him to eat deliver him ;
and if I ever match him
and to drink, and make him strong and ;
he shall have a shameful death, as many
say ye him I thank him of his courtesy other have had. That were pity, said
and goodness, that he would take upon the dwarf, and it is marvel that ye
him such labour for me that never did make such shameful war upon noble
him bounty nor courtesy. Also pray knights.
him that he be of good heart and good
CHAP. XV.
courage, for he shall meet with a full
noble
How the damsel and Beaumains came to
knight, but he is neither of
the siege, and came to a sycamore tree,
bounty, courtesy, nor gentleness, for he
attendeth unto no thing but to murder,
and there Beaumains blew a horn, and
and that is the cause I cannot praise then the knight of the red lawns came to
him nor love him. So this dwarf de- fight with him.
parted and came to Sir Persant, where Now we the knight and
leave the
he found the damsel Linet and Sir dwarf, and speak we of Beaumains, that
Beaumains, and there he told them all allnight lay in the hermitage, and upon
as ye have heard, and then they took the morn he and the damsel Linet heard
their leave but Sir Persant took an
;
their mass, and brake their fast. And
ambling hackney and conveyed them on then they took their horses 2.nd rode
their ways and then beleft them to God. throughout a fair forest, and then they
And so within a while they came
little came to a plain, and saw where were
to that hermitage, and there they drank many pavilions and tents, and a fair
the wine, and eat the venison and the castle, and there was much smoke and
fowls baken. great noise. And when they came near
And so when they had repasted the siege Sir Beaumains espied upon
them well, the dwarf returned again great trees, as he rode, how there hung
with his vessel unto the castle again, full goodly armed knights by the neck,
and there met with him the red knight and their shields about their necks with
of the red lawns, and asked him from their swords, and gilt spurs upon their
whence that he came, and where he heels, and so there hung nigh a forty
CHAP. XV. OF THE RED KNIGHT. 141
knights shamefully with full rich arms. ever was, I shall never fail him in his
Then Sir Beaumains abated his coun- most might, for either I will win wor-
tenance, and said, What meaneth this? ship worshipfully, or die knightly in the
Fair Sir, said the damsel, abate not your field. And therewith he spurred his
cheer for all this, sight, for ye must en- horse straight to the sycamore tree, and
courage yourself, or else ye be all shent, blew so the horn eagerly that all the
for all these knights came hither to this siege and the castle rang thereof. And
siege to rescue my sister dame Liones, then there lept out knights out of their
and when the red knight of the red lawn tents and pavilions, and they within the
had overcome them he put them to this castle looked over the walls and out at
shameful death, without mercy and pity. windows. Then the red knight of the
And in the same wise he will serve you red lawns armed him hastily, and two
but if ye quit you better. Now Jesu de- barons set on his spurs upon his heels,
fend me, said Sir Beaumains, from such and all was blood-red, his armour,
a villainous death and disgrace of arms, spear, and shield. And an earl buckled
for rather than I should so be farewithal, his helm upon his head, and then they
I would rather be slain in plain
manly brought him a red spear and a red steed,
battle. So were ye better, said the dam- and so he rode into a little vale under
sel ; for trust not in him is no cour- the castle, that all that were in the
tesy, but all goeth to the death or castle and at the siege might behold
shameful murder and that is pity, for
; the battle.
he is a full likely man, well made of
body, and a full noble knight of prowess, CHAP. XVI.
and a lord of great lands and posses-
How the two knights met together, and of
sions. Truly, said Beaumains, he may
their talking, and how they began their
well be a good knight, but he useth
battle.
shameful customs, and it is marvel that
he endureth so long, that none of the Sir, said the damsel Linet unto Sir
noble knights of my lord Arthur have Beaumains, look ye be glad and light,
not dealt with him. And then they for yonder is your deadly enemy, and at
rode to the dikes, and saw them double yonder window is my lady my sister,
diked with full warlike walls, and dame Liones. Where? said Beaumains.
there were lodged many great lords Yonder, said the damsel, and pointed
nigh the walls, and there was great with her finger. That is truth, said
noise of minstrelsy, and the sea betid Beaumains. She beseemeth afar the
upon the one side of the walls, where fairest lady that ever I looked upon,
were many ships and mariners' noise, and truly, he said, I ask no better quar-
with hale and how.' And also, there
'
rel than now for to do battle, for truly
was fast by a sycamore tree, and there she shall be my lady, and for her I will
hung a horn, the greatest that ever they fight. And ever he looked up to the
saw, of an elephant's bone, and this window with glad countenance. And
knight of the red lawn had hanged it the lady Liones made courtesy* to him
up there, that if there came any errant down to the earth, with holding up both
knight he must blow that horn, and their hands. With that the red knight
then will he make him ready, and come of the red lawns called to Sir Beaumains,
to him to do battle. But Sir, I pray Leave, sir knight, thy looking, and be-
you, said the damsel Linet, blow ye not hold me, I counsel thee, for I warn thee
the horn till it be high noon, for now well she is my lady, and for her I have
j
it about prime, and now encreaseth
is done many strong battles. If thou have
i
his might, that, as men say, he hath so done, said Beaumains, me seemeth it
. seven men's strength. Ah, fie for shame, was but waste labour, for she loveth
!
fair damsel,
say ye never so more to me, none of thy fellowship, and thou to love
for, and he were as good a knight as that loveth not thee, is but great folly.
14? MORTE DARTHUR. B30K Vlf.
knights that thou sawest hang upon they stood wagging and scattering,
yonder trees. Fie for shame, said Beau- panting, blowing and bleeding, that all
mains, that ever thou shouldest sav or do that beheld them for the most part wept
so evil, for in that thou shamest thyself for pity. So when they had rested them
and knighthood, and thou mayest be sure a while they went to battle again, trac-
there will no lady love thee that knoweth ing, racing, foining, as two boars. And
thy wicked customs. And now thou at sometime they took their run as
weenest that the sight of these hanged it had been two rams, and hurtled to-
knights should fear me. Nay truly, not gether that sometime they fell grovel-
so, that shameful sight causeth me to ing to the earth and at sometime they
:
have courage and hardiness against thee, were so amazed that either took other's
more than I would have had against sword in stead of his own.
thee and thou were a well-ruled knight. Thus they endured till even-song time,
Make thee ready, said the red knight of that there was none that beheld them
the red lawns, and talk no longer with might know whether was like to win
me. Then Sir Beaumains bad the dam- the battle; and their armour was so
selgo from him, and then they put their far hewn that men might see their naked
spears in their rests, and came together sides, and other places they were
in
with all their might that they had both, naked, but ever the naked places they
and either smote other in the midst of did defend. And the red knight was a
their shields, that the breastplates, horse- wily knight of war, and his wily fighting
girths, and cruppers brast, and fell to taught Sir Beaumains to be wise; but
the earth both, and the reins of their he abought it full sore ere he did espy
bridles in their hands, and so they lay a his fighting. And thus by assent of
great while sore astonied and all they
; them both, they granted either other to
that were in the castle and in the siege rest ;and so they set them down upon
wend their necks had been broken, and two mole-hills there beside the fighting
then many a stranger and other said place, and either of them unlaced his
the strange knight was a big man and helm and took the cold wind, for either
a noble juster, for or now we saw never of their pages was fast by them, to
no knight match the red knight of the come when they called to unlace their
red lawns thus they said, both within
: harness and to set them on again at
the castle and without. Then lightly their commandment. And then when Sir
they avoided their horses, and put their Beaumains' helm was he looked by
off
shields afore them, and drew their to the window, and there he saw the
swords, and ran together like two fierce fair lady dame Liones and she made
;
lions, and either gave other such buffets him such countenance that his heart
upon their helms that they reeled back- waxed light and jolly and therewith he
;
ward both two strides, and then they re- bade the red knight of the red lawns
covered both, and hewed great pieces of make him ready, and let us do the battle
their harness and their shields, that a to the utterance. I will well, said the
great part fell into the fields. knight. And then they laced up their
helms, and their pages avoided, and
chap. xvm. HOW BEAUMAINS WON THE RED KNIGHT. l
AS
they stept together and fought freshly. vengeance upon all these knights. And,
But the red knight of the red lawns Sir, now I will thee tell that every day
awaited him, and at an overthwart my strength encreaseth till noon, and all
smote him within the hand, that his this time have I seven men's strength.
sword fell out of his hand and yet he :
him down. Then cried the maiden Beaumains made him to go unto king
Arthur's court, and Sir Launcelot
Linet on high, O
Sir Beaumains, where
to cry
mercy.
is thy courage become Alas, my lady
!
my sister beholdeth thee, and she sob- Then came there many earls, and
beth and weepeth, that maketh mine barons, and noble knights, and prayed
heart heavy. When Sir Beaumains that knight to save his life, and lake
heard her say so, he started up with a him to your prisoner and all they fell
:
great might and gat him upon his feet, upon their knees and prayed him of
and lightly he lept to his sword and mercy, and that he would save his life,
griped it in his hand, and doubled his and, Sir, they all said, it were fairer of
pace unto the red knight, and there him to take homage and fealty, and let
they fought a new battle together. But him hold than for to
his lands of you,
Sir Beaumains then doubled his strokes, slay him: by his death ye
shall have
and smote so 'thick that he smote the none advantage, and his misdeeds that be
sword out of his hand, and then he done may not be undone and therefore;
smote him upon the helm that he fell to he shall make amends to all parties, and
the earth, and Sir Beaumains fell upon we become your men, and do
all will
him, and unlaced his helm to have slain you homage and fealty. Fair lords,
him and then he yielded him and asked
; said Beaumains, wit you well I am full
mercy, and said with a loud voice, O loth to slay this knight, nevertheless
noble knight I yield me to thy mercy. he hath done passing ill and shamefully.
Then Sir Beaumains bethought him But insomuch all that he did was at
upon the knights that he had made a lady's request I blame him the less,
to be hanged shamefully, and then he and so for your sake I will release him,
said, I not with my worship save
may that he shall have his life upon this
thy life, for the shameful deaths thou covenant, that he go within the castle
hast caused many full good knights to and yield him there to the lady, and if
die. Sir, said the red knight of the red she will forgive and quit him, I will
lawns, hold your hand and ye shall know well with this that he make her amends
;
the causes why I put them to so shame- of all the trespass he hath done against
ful a death. Say on, said Sir Beau- her and her lands. And also, when that
mains. Sir, I loved once a lady, a fair is done, that ye go unto the court of
damsel, and she had her brother slain, king Arthur, and there that ye ask Sir
and she said it was Sir Launcelot du Launcelot mercy, and Sir Gawaine, for
Lake, or else Sir Gawaine, and she the evil will ye have had against them.
prayed me as that I loved her heartily Sir, said the red knight of the red
that I would make her a promise by lawns, do as ye command,
all this will I
the faith of my knighthood, for to labour and certain assurance and sureties ye
daily in arms until I met with one of shall have. And so then when the assur-
them, and all that I might overcome 1 ance was made, he made his homage
should put them unto a villainous death; and fealty, and all those earls and barons
and this is the cause that I have put all with him. And then the maiden Linet
these knights to death, and so I ensured came to Sir Beaumains and unanned
her to do all the villainy unto king him, and searched his wounds, and
Arthur's knights, and that I should take stinted his blood, and in likewise she
M4 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII.
did to the red knight of the red lawns. they would not suffer him to enter.
And there they sojourned ten days in And then he looked up to the window ;
their tents, and the red knight made his and there he saw the fair Liones, that
lords and servants to do all the pleasure said on high, Go thy way, Sir Beau-
that they might unto Sir Beaumains. mains, for as yet thou shalt not have
And so within a while the red knight of wholly my love, unto the time that thou
the red lawns went unto the castle and be called one of the number of the wor-
put him in the lady Liones' grace, and thy knights. And therefore go labour
so she received him upon sufficient in worship this twelvemonth, and then
surety so all her hurts were well re-
;
thou shalt hear new tidings. Alas, fair
stored of all that she could complain. lady, said Beaumains, I have not de-
And then he departed unto the court of served that ye should shew me this
king Arthur, and there openly the red strangeness, and I had wend that I
knight of the red lawns put him in the should have right good cheer with you,
mercy of Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine, and unto my power I have deserved
and there he told openly how he was thank, and well I am sure I have
overcome and by whom, and also he bought your love with part of the best
told all the battles from the beginning blood within my body. Fair courteous
unto the ending. Mercy, said king Ar- knight, said dame Liones, be not dis-
thur and Sir Gawaine, we marvel much pleased nor over hasty for wit ye well
;
of what blood he is come, for he is a your great travail nor good love shall
noble knight. Have ye no marvel, said not be lost, for I consider your great
Sir Launcelot, for ye shall right well travail and labour, your bounty and
wit that he is come of a full noble blood, your goodness, as me ought to do. And
and as might and hardiness there
for his therefore go on your way, and look that
be but few now living that is so mighty ye be of good comfort, for all shall be
as he is, and so noble of prowess. It for your worship and for the best, and
seemeth by you, said king Arthur, that perdy a twelvemonth will soon be done,
ye know his name, and from whence he and trust me, fair knight, I shall be true to
is come, and of what blood he is. I you, and never to betray you, but to my
suppose I do so, said Launcelot, or else death I shall love you and none other.
I would not have given him the order of And therewithal she turned her from the
knighthood but he gave me such charge
;
window and Sir Beaumains rode away
;
at that time that I should never discover ward from the castle, making great dole,
him until he required me, or else it be and so he rode here and there, and wist
known openly by some other. not where he rode, till it was dark night.
And then it happened him to come to
CHAP. XIX. a poor man's house, and there he was
harboured all that night. But Sir Beau-
How Beaumains came to the lady, and mains had no rest, but wallowed and
when he came to the castle the gates
writhed for the love of the lady of the
were closed against him, and of the
castle. And so upon the morrow he
words that the lady said to him.
took his horse, and rode until underne,
Now turn we unto Sir Beaumains, and then he came to a broad water,
that desired of Linet that he might see and thereby was a great lodge, and
her sister his lady. Sir, said she, I there he alight to sleep, and laid his
would fain ye saw her. Then Sir Beau- head upon the shield, and betook his
mains all armed him, and took his horse horse to the dwarf, and commanded
and his spear, and rode straight unto the him to watch all night. Now turn
castle. And when he came to the gate we to the lady of the same castle that
he found there many men armed, and thought much upon Beaumains, and
pulled up the drawbridge and drew the then she called unto her Sir Gringa-
port close. Then marvelled he why more her brother, and prayed him in all
CHAP. XX. OF SIR BEAUMAINS' DWARF. 145
manner, as he loved her heartily, that in deep mires, for he knew not the way,
he would ride after Sir Beaumains, and but took the gainest way in that fury,
ever have ye wait upon him till ye may that many times he was like to perish.
find him sleeping, for I am sure in his And at the last him happened to come
heaviness he will alight down in some to a fair green way, and there he
place and lay him down to sleep and : met with a poor man of the country
therefore have ye your wait upon him, whom he saluted, and asked him
and in the piiviest manner ye can, take whether he met not with a knight
his dwarf,and go ye your way with him upon a black horse and all black har-
as fast as ever yemay or Sir Beaumains ness, and a little dwarf sitting behind
awake. For my sister Linet telleth me him with heavy cheer. Sir, said this
that he can tell of what kindred he is poor man, here by me came Sir Giin-
come, and what is his right name. And gamore the knight, with such a dwarf
the mean while I and my sister will lide mourning as ye say, and therefore I
unto your castle to await when ye bring counsel you not follow him, for he is
with you the dwarf. And then when ye one of the most perilous knights of the
have brought him unto your castle I woild, and his castle is here nigh hand
will have him in examination myself: but two mile, therefore we advise you
unto the time I know what is his right ride not after Sir Giingamoie, but if
name and of what kindied he is come, ye ow e him good will.
r
gamore's arms were all black, and that VVit ye well he is a king's son, and his
to him belonged. But ever as he rode mother is sister to king Arthur, and he
with the dwarf toward his castle, he is brother to the good knight Sir Ga-
cried unto his loid and prayed him of waine, and his name is Sir Gaieth of
~ielp. And therewith awoke Sir Beau- Orkney. And now I have told you his
lains, and up he lept lightly, and saw light name, I pray you, fair lady, let me
where Sir Gringamore rode his way with go to my lord again, for he will never
le dwarf, and so Sir Gringamore rode out of this country until that he have me
ut of his sight. again. And he be angry he will do
if
ing man that ever I met withall. For I and there came his dwarf and tookhis
dare say there was never gentlewoman horse. O my fellow, said Sir Gareth,
reviled man manner as I have
in so foul I have had many adventures for thy
rebuked him and at all times he gave
;
sake. And so Sir Gringamore took
me goodly and meek answers again. him by the hand, and led him into the
And as they sat thus talking, there came hall where his own wife was.
Sir Gareth in at the gate with an angry
countenance, and his sword drawn in CHAP. XXI.
his hand, and cried aloud that all the
castle might hear it, saying, Thou trai-
How Sir Gareth, otherwise called Beau-
her, and better if better may be. And I and there laid him down
to sleep. And
wist that, said Sir Gareth, there lived within awhile he looked afore him and
not a gladder man than I would be. perceived and saw come an armed
Upon my worship, said Sir Gringamore, knight, with lights about him.
many
trust unto my promise and as long as it
;
And this
knight had a long battle-axe
liketh you ye shall sojourn with me, and in his hand, and made grim counten-
this lady shall be with us daily and ance to smite him. When Sir Gareth
nightly to make you all the cheer that saw him come in that wise, he lept out
she can. I will well, said Sir Gareth, of his bed, and gat in his hand his
for have promised to be nigh this
I sword, and lept straight toward that
country this twelvemonth. And well I knight. And when the knight saw
am sure king Arthur and other noble Sir Gareth come so fiercely upon him,
knights will find me where that I am he smote him with a thrust through the
within this twelvemonth. For I shall thick of the thigh, that the wound was
be sought and found, if that I be on live. a shaftmon broad, and had cut a-two
And then the noble knight Sir Gaieth many veins and sinews. And there-
went unto the dame Liones, which he withal Sir Gareth smote him upon the
then much loved, and kissed her many helm such a buffet that he fell gro-
times, and either made great joy of veling, and then he lept over him, and
other. And there she promised him her unlaced his helm, and smote off his
love, certainly to love him and none head from the body. And then he bled
other the days of her life. Then this so fast that he might not stand, but so
lady, dame Liones, by the assent of her he laid him down upon his bed, and
brother, told Sir Gareth all the truth there he swooned, and lay as he had
what she was, and how she was the been dead. Then dame Liones found
same lady that he did battle for, and him, and cried aloud, that her brother
how she was lady of the castle perilous. Sir Gringamore heard and came down.
And there she told him how she caused And when he saw Sir Gareth so shame-
her brother to take away his dwarf. fully wounded, he was sore displeased,
and said, I am shamed that this noble
CHAP. XXII. knight is thus honoured. Sister, said
Sir Gringamore, How
may this be that
How, at night, came an armed knight and
ye be here, and this noble knight
fought tvith Sir Gareth, and he, sore
wounded ? Brother, said dame Liones,
hurt in the thigh, smote off the knight's
I cannot tell you, for it was not done
head.
by me, nor by mine assent. For he is
For this cause, to know the certainty my lord, and I am his, and he must be
/hat was your name, and of what kin my husband, therefore, brother, I will
were come. And then she let fetch that ye wit I shame me not to be with
;fore him Linet the damsel, which had him, nor to do him all the pleasure that
idden with him many dreary ways, Gringamore, and I
I can. Sister, said Sir
len was Sir Gareth more gladder than will that ye witit, and Sir Gareth both,
was tofore. And then they troth that it was never done by me nor by
flight each other to love, and never to mine assent that this unhappy deed was
lil while their life lasted. And at after done. Andthere they stanched his
ipper was made clean avoidance, that bleeding as well as they might. And
/ery lord and lady should go unto his great sorrow made Sir Gringamore and
;st. But Sir Gareth said plainly that dame Liones. And forthwithal came
would go no further than the hall, dame Linet and took up the head in the
>r insuch places, he said, was con- sight of them all, and anointed it with
inient for an errant knight to take his an ointment there as it was smitten off,
ist in. And so there were ordained and in the same wise she did to the
reat couches, and thereon feather beds, other part there as the head stuck, and
'
10 — 2
i
48 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII.
then she set it together, and it stuck as Gareth, and gave him a drink that re-
fast as ever it did. And the knight lieved him wonderly well, but the sorrow
arose lightly up, and the damsel Linet that dame Liones made there may no
put him in her chamber. All this saw tongue tell, for she so fared with herself
Sir Gringamore and dame Liones, and so as she would have died. Right so came
did Sir Gareth, and well he espied that this damsel Linet before them all, and
it was the damsel Linet that rode with she had fetched all the gobbets of the
him through the perilous passages. Ah head that Sir Gareth had thrown out at
well, damsel, said Sir Gareth, I wend ye a window, and there she anointed them
would not have done as ye have done. as she had done tofore, and set them
My lord Gareth, said the damsel Linet, together again. Well, damsel Linet,
all that I have done I will avow, and said Sir Gareth, I have not deserved all
all that I have done shall be for your this despite that ye do unto me. Sir
honour and worship, and to us all. knight, she said, 1 have nothing done
And so within a while. Sir Gareth was but I will avow, and all that I have
nigh whole, and waxed light and jocund, done be to your worship and to us
shall
and sartg, danced, and gamed. And at all. And then was Sir Gareth stanched
night, because he was wounded afore, he of his bleeding. But the leeches said
laid his armour and his sword nigh his that there w as no man that bare the
r
great sorrow, and there he awaked Sir Then the king went out of Carlion, for
CHAP. XXV. OF KING ARTHUR'S NEXT FEAST. 1
49
Sir, he said, my name is the red knight knights as he is one, when they be in
of the red lawns, but my name is Sir their adventures be never abiding in one
Ironside, and, sir, wit ye well here I am place. But to say the worship that the
sent to you of a knight that is called red knight of the red lawns and Sir
Beaumains, for he won me in plain Persant and his brothers said of Beau-
battle, hand for hand, and so did never mains it was marvel to hear.
Well, my
no knight but he that ever had the fair lords, said king Arthur, wit ycu
better of me this thirty winter, the well I shall do you honour for the love
which commanded to yield me to you of Sir Beaumains, and as soon as ever
at your will. Ye are welcome, said the I meet with him I shall make you all
king, for ye have been long a great foe upon one day knights of the Table
to me and to my court, and now I trust Round. And as to thee, Sir Persant of
I shall so entreat you that ye shall be Inde, thou hast ever been called a full
my friend. Sir, both I and these six noble knight, and so have ever been thy
hundred knights shall always be at your three brethren called. But I marvel,
summons to do you service as may said the king, that I hear not of the
lie in our powers. king
Truly, said black knight your brother, he was a full
Arthur, I am much
beholding unto that noble knight. Sir, said Pertolepe the
knight that hath so put his body in green knight, Sir Beaumains slew him
devoir to worship me and my court. in a recounter with his spear, his name
And as to thee, Ironside, that art called was Sir Percard. That was great pity,
the red knight of the red lawns, thou art said the king, and so said many knights.
called a perilous knight. And if thou For these four brethren were full well
wilt hold of me I shall
worship thee and known in the court of king Arthur for
make Round
thee knight of the Table : noble knights, for long time they had
but then thou must be no more a holden war against the knights of the
murderer. Sir, as to that I have pro- Table Round. Then said Pertolepe
mised unto Sir Beaumains never more to the green knight unto the king: At a
use such customs, for all the shameful passage of the water of Mortaise there
customs that I used I did at the request encountered Sir Beaumains with two
of a lady that I loved and therefore I
;
brethren that ever for the most part
must go unto Sir Launcelot, and unto kept that passage, and they were two
Sir Gawaine, and ask them forgiveness deadly knights, and there he slew the
of the evil will I had unto them, for eldest brother in the water, and smote
all that I
put to death was all only for him upon the head such a buffet that he
the love of Sir Launcelot and Sir Ga- fell down in the water and there he was
waine. They be here now, said the drowned, and his name was Gherard le
king, afore thee, now may ye say to Breusse and after he slew the other
:
them what ye will. And then he brother upon the land, and his name
kneeled down unto
Sir Launcelot and was Sir Arnold le Breusse.
to Gawaine, and prayed them of
Sir
forgiveness of his enmity that ever he CHAP. XXV.
had against them.
How the queen of Orkney came to thisfeait
CHAP. XXIV. of Pentecost, and Sir Gawaine and bis
II Hoiv brethren came to ask her
king Arthur pardoned them, and de- blessing.
manded of them where Sir Gareth was. So then the king and they went to
Then goodly they said all at once, meat, and were served in the best man-
God forgive you, and we do, and pray ner. And as they sat at the meat, there
150 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII.
never be glad till I may find him. Ah the queen, named him more righteously
brother, said the queen unto king than he wend for I dare say, and he
;
not, nor no more did Sir Gawaine nor merry, for he is proved to be a man of
his brethren. But since it is so that he worship, and that is my joy.
is thus gone from us all, we must shape
a remedy to find him. Also, sister, me CHAP. XXVI.
seemeth ye might have done me to wit
of his coming, and then, and I had not
How king Arthur sent for the lady Liones,
and how she let cry a tourney at her
done well to him, ye might have blamed
castle, where as came many knights.
me. For when he came to this court
he came leaning upon two men's shoul- Then said Gawaine and his
Sir
ders, as though he might not have gone. brethren unto Arthur, Sir, and ye will
And then he asked me three gifts, and give us leave we will go and seek our
one he asked the same day, that was brother. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, that
that I would give him meat enough that •
shall ye not need, and so said Sir
twelvemonth. And the other two gifts Baudwin of Britain for as by our ad-
:
he asked that day a twelvemonth, and vice the king shall send unto dame
that was that he might have the adven- Liones a messager, and pray her that
ture of the damsel Linet, and the third she will come to the court in all the
was that Sir Launcelot should make him haste that she may, and doubt ye not
knight when he desired him. And so she will come, and then she may give
I granted him all his desire, and many you best counsel where ye shall find
in this court marvelled that he desired him. This is well said of you, said the
his sustenance for a twelvemonth, and king. So then goodly letters were made,
thereby we deemed many of us that he and the messager sent forth, that night
was not come of a noble house. Sir, and day he went till he came unto the
said the queen of Orkney unto king castle perilous. And then the lady
Arthur her brother, wit you well that I dame Liones was sent for there as she
chap. xxvi. HOW DAME LIONES CRIED A TOURNAMENT. 151
was with Sir Gringamore her brother she had done, and what promise she
and Sir Gareth. And when she under- had made to king Arthur. Alas, said
stood this message, she bad him ride on Sir Gareth, I have been so wounded by
his way unto king Arthur, and she mishap sithen came
into this castle,
I
would come after in all goodly haste. that I shall not be able to do at that
Then when she came to Sir Gringamore tournament like a knight, for I was
and to Sir Gareth, she told them all never thoroughly whole since I was
how king Arthur had sent for her. That hurt. Be ye of good cheer, said the
isbecause of me, said Sir Gareth. Now damsel Linet, for I undertake within
advise me, said dame Liones, what shall these fifteen days for to make you
I say, and what manner I shall rule
in whole, and as lusty as ever ye were.
me. My lady and my love, said Sir And then she laid an ointment and a
Gareth, I pray you in no manner of salve to him as it pleased her, that he
wise be ye aknown where I am, but well was never so fresh nor so lusty. Then
I wot said the damsel Linet Send you UHto
my mother is there and all my :
brethren, and they will take upon them Sir Persant of Inde, and summon him
to seek me; and I wot well that they and be here with you as
his knights to
do. But this, madam, I would ye said they have promised. Also, that ye
and advised the king, when he question- send unto Sir Ironside, that is the red
eth with you of me then may ye say,
:
knight of the red lawns, and charge him
this is your advice, that, and it like his that he be ready with, you with his
good grace, ye will do make a cry whole sum of knights, and then shall
against the feast of the Assumption of ye be able to match with king Arthur
our Lady, that what knight there and his knights. So this was done, and
proveth him best, he shall weld you all knights were sent for unto the castle
and all your land. And if so be that perilous. And then the red knight
he be a wedded man, that his wife shall answered and said unto dame Liones,
have the degree and a coronal of gold, and to Sir Gareth, Madam, and my
beset with stones of virtue to the value lord Sir Gareth, ye shall understand
of a thousand pound, and a white jer- that I have been at the court of king
falcon. Arthur, and Sir Tersant of Inde and his
So dame Liones departed and came brethren, and there we have done our
to king Arthur, where she was nobly homage as ye commanded us. Also,
received, and there she was sore ques- Sir Ironside said, I have taken upon
tioned of the king, and of the queen me with Sir Persant of Inde and his
of Orkney. And she answered, where brethien to hold party against my lord
Sir Gareth was she could not tell. Sir Launcelot and the knights of lhat
But thus much she said unto Arthur ;
court. And this have I done for the
Sir, I will let cry a tournament, that love of my lady dame Liones, and you
shall be done before my castle at the my lord Sir Gareth. Ye have well
Assumption of our Lady, and the cry done, said Sir Gaieth. But wit you well
shall be this, that you my lord Arthur ye shall be full sore matched with the
shall be there and your knights, and I most noble knights of the world, there-
will purvey that my knights shall be fore we must purvey us of good knights,
against yours and then 1 am sure ye
: where we may get them. That is well
shall hear of Sir Gareth. This is well said, said Sir Persant, and woi shipfully.
advised, said king Arthur and so she
: And so the cry was made in England,
departed. And the king and she made Wales, and Scotland, Ireland, and Corn-
great provision for that tournament. wall, and in all the out isles, and in
When dame Liones was come to the Britany, and in many countries that ;
Isle ofAvilion, that was the same at the feast of the Assumption of our
isle there as her brother Sir Gringa- Lady next coming, men should come to
more dwelt, then she told him all how the castle perilous, beside the Isle of
i52 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII.
Avilion, and there all the knights that and many more of Sir Launcelot's blood ;
there came should have the choice and Sir Dinadan, Sir La Cote Male
whether them list to be on the one party Taile his brother, a good knight, and
with the knights ot the castle, or on the Sir Sagramore, a good knight and all ;
other party with king Arthur. And two the most part of the Round Table.
months was to the day that the tourna- Also there came with king Arthur these
ment should be. And so there came knights, the king of Ireland, king Agwi-
many good knights that were at large, saunce, and the king of Scotland, king
and held them for the most part against Carados, and king Uriens of the land
king Arthur and his knights of the of Gore, and king Bagdemagus, and his
Round Table, and came on the side of son Sir Meliaganus, and Sir Galahault
them of the castle. For Sir Epinogrus the noble prince. All these kings,
was the first, and he was the king's son princes, earls, barons, and other noble
of Northumberland, and Sir Palamides knights, as Brandiles, Sir Uwaine
Sir
the Saracen was another, and Sir Safere les Avoutres, and Sir Kay,
Sir Bedivere,
his brother, and Sir Sagwarides his Sir Meliot de Logris, Sir Petipase of
brother, but they were christened, and Winchelsea, Sir Godelake. All these
Sir Malegrine another, and Sir Brian de came with king Arthur, and many more
les Isles, a noble knight, and Sir Grum- that cannot be rehearsed.
more Gummursum, a good knight of Nowleave we of these kings and
Scotland, andJSir Carados of the dolor- knights, and let us speak of the great
ous tower, a noble knight, and Sir Tur- array that was made within the castle and
quin his brother, and Sir Arnold and about the castle for both parties. The
Sir Gauter, two brethren, good knights lady dame Liones ordained great array
of Cornwall there came Sir Tristram
:
upon her part for her noble knights, for
de Liones, and with him Sir Dinadan allmanner of lodging and victual that
the sepcschal and Sir Sadok but this;
came by land and by water, that there
Sir Tristram vas not at that time lacked nothing for her party, nor for
knight of the Table Round, but he was the other, but there was plenty to be
one of the best knights of the world. had for gold and silver for king Arthur
And so all these noble knights accom- and his knights. And then there came
panied them with the lady of the castle, the harbingers from king Arthur, for to
and with the red knight of the red harbour him and his kings, dukes, earls,
lawns, but as for Sir Gareth, he would barons, and knights. And then Sir
not take upon him more but as other Gareth prayed dame Liones, and the red
mean knights. knight of the red lawns, and Sir Persant
and his brother, and Sir Gringamore,
CHAP. XXVII. that in no wise there should none of
them tell his name, and make no more
How king Arthur went to the tournament of him than of the least knight that
with bis knights, and how the lady re-
there was for he said, I will not be
;
ceived him worship/idly, and how the
known of neither more nor less, neither
knights encountered. at the beginning neither at the ending.
And then there came with king Ar- Then dame Liones said unto Si'-
thur Sir Gawaine, Agravaine and Gahe- Gareth, Sir, I will lend you a ring, but
ris, his brethren. And then his nephews I would pray you as ye love me heartily
Sir Uwaine le Blanchemains, and Sir let me have it
again when
the tour-
Aglovale, Sir Tor, Sir Percivale de nament is done, for that ring increaseth
Galis, and Sir Lamorak de Galis. my beauty much more than it is of itself.
Then came Sir Launcelot du Lake with And the virtue of my ring is that that is
his brethren, nephews, and cousins, as green it will turn to red, and that is red
Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors it will turn in likeness to
green, and that
de Ganis, and Sir Galihodin, Sir Galihud, is blue it will turn to likeness of white,
CHAP. XXVIIt. OF DAME LIONES' TOURNAMENT, 153
Desirous, and either of them brake their tered with Sir Petipase, and there Sir
spears to their hands. And then came Saduk was overthrown. And there
in Sir Palamides out of the castle, and Uwaine les Avoutres smote down Sir
there encountered with him Gawaine, Dinas the seneschal. Then came in .Sir
and either of them smote other so hard Persant of Inde, a knight of the castle,
that both the good knights and their and there encountered with him Sir
horses fell to the earth. And then Launcelot du Lake, and there he smote
knights of either party rescued their Sir Persant, horse and man, to the
knights. And then came in Sir Sa- earth. Then came Sir Pertolope from
fere and Sir Sagwarides, brethren unto the castle, and there encountered with
Sir Palamides, and there encountered him Sir Lionel, and there Sir Pertolope
Sir Agravaine with Sir Safere, and Sir the green knight smote down Sir Lionel,
Gaheris encountered with Sir Sag- brother to Sir Launcelot. All this Mas
warides. So Sir Safere smote down marked by noble heralds, who bare him
Agravaine, Sir Gawaine's brother, and best, and their names. And then came
Sir Segwarides, Sir Safere's brother, into the field Sir Perimones the red
smote down Gaheris.
Sir And Sir knight, Sir Persant's brother, that was
Malgrine, a knight of the
castle, en- a knight of the castle, and he encoun-
countered with Sir Uwaine le Blanche- tered with Sir Ector de Maris, and either
mains, and there Sir Uwaine gave Sir smote other so hard that both their
Malgrine a fall, that he had almost horses and they fell to the earth. And
broken his neck. then came in the red knight of the red
lawns, and Sir Gareth, from the castle,
154 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII.
and there encountered with them Sir and prayed him to encounter with that
Bors de Ganis and Sir Bleoberis, and knight. Sir, said Launcelot, I may well
there the red knight and Sir Bors smote find in my heart for to forbear him as at
other so hard that their spears brast, this time, forhe hath had travail enough
and their horses fell groveling to the this day,and when a good knight doth
earth. Then Sir Bleoberis brake his so well upon some day, it is no good
spear upon Sir Gareth, but of that knight's part to let him of his worship,
stroke Sir Bleoberis fell to the earth. and, namely, when he seeth a knight
When saw that, he bad
Sir Galihodin hath done so great labour for perad- :
Sir Gareth keep him, and Sir Gareth venture, said Sir Launcelot, his quarrel
smote him to the earth. Then Sir is here this day, and peradventure he is
Galihud gat a spear to avenge his best beloved with this lady of all that
brother, and in the same wise Sir be here, for I see well he paineth him-
Gareth served him, and Sir Dinadan self and enforceth him to do great deeds,
and his brother La Cote Male Taile, and therefore, said Sir Launcelot, as for
and Sir Sagramor le Desirous, and Sir me, this day he shall have the honour ;
so that there might neither king nor there began a sore tournament. And
knight have ready cognisance of him. there did Sir Lamorak marvellous
Then Sir Agvvisance the king of Ireland deeds of arms, and betwixt Sir Lamo-
encountered with Sir Gareth, and there rak and Sir Ironside, that was the red
Sir Gareth smote him from his horse, knight of the red lawns, there was a
saddle and all. And then came king strong battle, and betwixt Sir Palamides
Carados of Scotland, and Sir Gareth and Bleoberis was a strong battle and ;
smote him down, horse and man. And Sir Gawaine and Sir Tristram met, and
in the same wise he served king Uriens there Sir Gawaine had the worst, for
of the land of Gore. And then there he pulled Sir Gawaine from his horse,
came in Sir Bagdemagus, and Sir Gareth and there he was long upon foot and
smote him down horse and man to the defouled. Then came in Sir Launcelot,
earth. And Bagdemagus's son Meliga- and he smote Sir Turquine, and he him,
nus brake a spear upon Sir Gareth and then came Sir Carados his brother,
mightily and knightly. And then Sir and both at once they assailed him, and
Galahault the noble prince cried on he, as the most noblest knight of the
high, Knight with the many colours, world, worshipfully fought with them
well hast thou justed now make thee
; both, that all men wondered of the
ready that I may just with thee. Sir nobleness of Sir Launcelot. And then
Gareth heard him, and he gat a great came in Sir Gareth and knew that it
spear, and so they encountered together, was Sir Launcelot that fought with
and there the prince brake his spear but : those two perilous knights. And then
Sir Gareth smote him upon the left side Sir Gareth came with his good horse
of the helm, that he reeled here and and hurtled them in sunder, and no
there, and he had fallen down had not stroke would he smite to Sfr Launcelot.
his men recovered him. Truly, said That espied Sir Launcelot, and deemed
king Arthur, that knight with the many it should be the
good knight Sir Gareth ;
colours is a good knight. Wherefore and then Sir Gareth rode here and there,
the king called unto him Sir Launcelot, and smote on the ri<jht hand and on the
CHAP. XXX. HOW SIR GARETH WAS KNOWN. 155
faith, What maimer a knight is yonder divers heralds, and ride about him, and
knight that seemeth in so many divers espy what manner knight he is, for I
colours truly,
; me
seemeth, said Tris- have asked of many knights this day
tram, that he putteth himself in great that be upon his party, and all say they
pain, for he never ceaseth. Wot ye not know him not. And so an herald rode
what he is ? said Sir Ironside. No, nigh Gareth as he could, and there
said Sir Tristram. Then shall ye know he saw written about his helm in gold,
that this ishe that loveth the lady of This helm is Sir Gareth's of Orkney.
the castle, and she him again and this
;
Then the herald cried as he were wood,
is he that won me when I besieged the and many heralds with him, This is Sir
lady of this castle, and this is he that Gareth of Orkney, in the yellow arms,
won and his three
Sir Persant of Inde that all kings and knights of Arthur's
brethren. What his name, said Sir
is beheld him and awaited, and then they
Tristram, and of what blood is he pressed all to behold him and ever :
come? He was called in the court of the heralds ciied, This is Sir Gareth of
king Arthur Beaumains, but his name is Orkney, king Pot's son. And when Sir
Sir Gareth of Orkney, brother to Sir Gareth espied that he was discovered,
Gawaine. By my head, said Sir Tris- then he doubled his strokes, and smote
tram, he is a good knight, and a big down Sir Sagramore, and his brother
man of arms, and if he be young he Sir Gawaine. O brother, said Sir Ga-
shall prove a full noble knight. He is waine, I wend ye would not have stricken
but a child, they all said and of Sir
;
me. So when he heard him say so, he
Launcelot he was made knight. There- thrang here and th«re, and so with great
foie he is mickle the better, said Tris- pain he gat out of the press, and there
tram. And then Sir Tristram, Sir Iron- lie met with his dwarf. O boy, said Sir
side, Sir Persant, and his brother, rode Gareth, thou hast beguiled me foul
ogether for to help Sir
to* Gareth, and this day that thou kept my ling. Give
ten there were given many strong it me anonagain, that I may hide my
itrokes. And
then Sir Gareth rode out body withal and so he took it him.
;
on the one side to amend his helm. And then they all wist not where he
And then said his dwarf, Take me your was become and Sir Gawaine had in
;
ring, that ye lose it not while that ye manner espied where Sir Gareth rode,
rink. And so when he had drunk, he and then he rode after with all his
;at on his helm, and eagerly took his might. That espied Sir Gareth, and
iorse and rode into the field, and left rode lightly into the forest, that Sir Ga-
is
ring with his dwarf, and the dwarf waine wist not where he was become.
as glad the ring was from him, for And when Sir Gareth wist that Sir Ga-
then he wist well he should be known. waine was past, he asked the dwarf of
And then when Sir Gareth was in best counsel. Sir, said the dwarf, me
ihe field, all folks saw him well and seemeth it were best, now that ye are
156 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII.
escaped from spying, that ye send my I take no force, so that I may have har-
lady dame Liones her ring. It is well bour this night, and if it be so that I
advised, said Sir Gareth; now have it must needs fight, spare me not to morn
here, and bear it to her, and say that I when I have rested me, for both I and
recommend me unto her good grace, my horse be weary. Sir knight, said
and say her I will come when I may, the lady, thou speakest knightly and
and I pray her to be true and faithful boldly, but wit thou well that the lord
to me, as I will be to her. Sir, said the of this castle loveth not king Arthur,
dwarf, it shall be done as ye command : nor none of his court, for my lord hath
and so he rode his way, and did his ever been against him, and therefore
errand unto the lady. Then she said, thou were better not to come within
Where is knight Sir Gareth? Ma-
my this castle. For and thou come in this
dam, said the dwarf, he bad me say that night, thou must come in under such
he would not be long from you. And form, that wheresoever thou meet my
so lightly the dwarf came again unto lord, by lane, or by street, thou must
Sir Gareth, that would fain have had yield thee to him as prisoner. Madam,
a lodging, he had need to be re-
for said Sir Gareth, what is your lord, and
posed. And then fell there a thunder what is his name ? Sir, lord's name
my
and a rain, as heaven and earth should isthe duke de la Rowse. Well, madam,
go together. And Sir Gareth was not said Sir Gareth, I shall promise you in
a little weary, for of all that day he had what place I meet your lord, I shall yield
but little rest, neither his horse nor he. me unto him and to his good grace,
So this Sir Gareth rode so long in that with that I understand he will do me no
forest until the night came. And ever harm and if I understand that he will,
:
a knight and he slew him. who will have ado with me, he shall
Then Gareth rode unto the bar-
Sir find me ready. Then was he set unto
bican of the castle, and prayed the supper, and had many good dishes.
porter fair to let him into the castle. Then Sir Gareth list well to eat, and
The porter answered ungoodly again, knightly he ate his meat, and eagerly ;
and said, Thou geltest no lodging here. there was many a fair lady by him, and
Fair sir, say not so, for I am a knight some of them said they never saw a
of king Arthur's, and pray the lord or goodlier man, nor so well of eating.
the lady of this castle to give me har- Then they made him, passing good
bour for the love of king Arthur. Then cheer. And shortly when he had sup-
the porter went unto the duchess, and ped, his bed was made there; so he
told her how there was a knight of king rested him all night. And on the morn
Arthur's would have harbour. Let him he heard mass, and broke his fast, and
in, said the duchess, for I will see that took his leave at the duchess, and at
knight, and for king Arthur's sake he them all, and thanked her goodly of
shall not be harbourless. Then she went her lodging, and of his good cheer.
up into a tower over the gate, with great And then she asked him his name.
torch light. When Sir Gareth saw that Madam, said he, truly, my name is
torch light, he cried on high, Whether Gareth of Orkney, and some men call
thou be lord or lady, giant or champion, me Beaumains. Then knew she well it
chap. xxxu. GARETH SLAVS THE KNIGH1 WITHOUT PITY. 157
was the same knight that fought for without pity, and he is the most perilous
dame Liones. So Sir Gareth departed, knight that now liveth. And, therefore,
and rode up into a mountain, and there sir, said the page, I rede you flee. Nay,
met him a knight, his name was Sir said Sir Gareth, I will not flee, though
Bendelaine, and said to Sir Gareth, thou be afeard of him. And then the
Thou shalt not pass this way, for either page saw where came the brown knight.
thou shalt just with me, or be my pri- Lo, said the page, yonder he cometh.
soner. Then will I just, said Sir Gareth. Let me deal with him, said Sir Gareth.
And so they let their horses run, and And when either of other had a sight,
there Sir Gareth smote him throughout they let their horses run, and the brown
the body, and Sir Bendelaine rode forth knight brake his spear, and Sir Gareth
to his castle there beside, and there died. smote him throughout the body, that
So Sir Gareth would have rested him, he overthrew him to the ground stark
and he came riding to Bendelaine's dead. So Sir Gareth rode into the
castle. Then his knights and his ser- castle, and prayed the ladies that he
vants espied that it was he that had might repose him. Alas, said the ladies,
slain their lord. Then they armed ye may not be lodged here. Make him
twenty good men, and came out and good cheer, said the page, for this knight
assailed Sir Gareth, and so he had hath slain your enemy. Then they all
no spear, but his sword, and put his made him good cheer as lay in their
shield afore him, and there they brake power. But wit ye well they made him
their spears upon him, and they assailed good cheer, for they might none other-
him passingly sore. But ever Sir Gareth wise do, for they were but poor. And
defended him as a knight. so on the morn he went to mass, and
there he saw the thirty ladies kneel, and
CHAP. XXXII. lay groveling upon divers tombs, making
great dole and sorrow. Then Sir Gareth
How Sir Gareth fought ivith a blight that
wist well that in the tombs lay their
held within his castle thirty ladies, and
lords. Fair ladies, said Sir Gareth, ye
how he sleiv him. must at the next feast of Pentecost be
So when they saw that they might at the court of king Arthur, and say
not overcome him, they rode from him that I Sir Gareth sent you thither. We
and took their counsel to slay his horse, shall do this, said the ladies. So he
and so they came in upon Sir Gareth, departed, and by fortune he came to a
and with spears they slew his horse, mountain, and there he found a goodly
and then they assailed him hard. But knight that bad him, Abide Sir knight,
when he was on was none
foot there and just with me. What are ye ? said
that he fought but he gave him such a
'
Sir Gareth. My name is, said he, the
buffet that he did never recover. So he duke de la Rowse. Ah Sir, ye are the
!
slew them by one and one till they were same knight that lodged once in your
I
but four, and there they fled, and Sir castle, and there I made promise unto
Gareth took a good horse that was one your lady that I should yield me unto
•
of theirs, and rode his way. Then he you. Ah said the duke, art thou that
!
rode a great pace till that he came to a proud knight that proffered to fight with
castle, and there he heard much mourn- my knights ? therefore make thee ready,
ing of ladies and gentlewomen. So for I willhave ado with thee. So they
there came by him a page What noise
: horses run, and there Sir Gareth
let their
is this, Sir Gareth, that I hear
said smote the duke down from his horse.
within this castle ? Sir knight, said the But the duke lightly avoided his horse,
page, here be within* this castle thirty and dressed his shield, and drew his
ladies, and all they be widows, for here sword, and bad Sir Gareth alight and
is a
knight that waiteth daily upon this fight with him. So he did alight, and
castle, and his name is the brown knight they did great battle together more than
1=8 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII.
an hour, and either hurt other full sore. words between them. Alas, my fair
At Gareth gat the duke to
the last Sir brother, said Sir Gawaine, perdy I
the earth, and would have slain him, and ought of right to worship you and ye
then he yielded him to him. Then mast were not my brother, for ye have wor-
ye go, said Sir Gareth, unto Sir Arthur shipped king Arthur and all his court,
my lord at the next feast, and say that for ye have sent him more worshipful
I Sir Gareth of Orkney sent you unto knights this twelvemonth than six the
him. It shall be done, said the duke, best of the Round Table have done, ex-
and I will do to you homage and fealty cept Sir Launcelot. Then came the
with an hundred knights with me, and damsel Savage, that was the lady Linet
allthe days of my life to do you service that rode with Sir Gareth so long,
where ye will command me. and there she did stanch Sir Gareth's
wounds and Sir Gawaine's. Now what
CHAP. XXXIII. will ye do ? said the damsel Savage ;
ground. And so they fought two hours. there was saddling and bridling of queens'
At the last there came the damsel Linet, horses, and princes' horses, and well was
that some men call the damsel Savage, him that soonest might be ready. So
and she came riding upon an ambling when the king came there as they were,
mule, and there she cried all on high, he saw Sir Gawaine and Sir Gareth sit
Sir Gawaine, Sir Gawaine, leave thy upon a and then the king
little hill side,
fighting with thy brother Sir Gareth. avoided his horse. And when he came
And when he heard her say so he threw nigh Sir Gareth he would have spoken
away his shield and his sword, and ran but he might not, and therewith he sank
to Sir Gareth and took him in his arms, down a swoon for gladness. And so
in
and then kneeled down and asked him they unto their uncle, and required
start
mercy. What are ye, said Sir Gareth, him of his good grace to be of good
that right now were so strong and so comfort. the king made
Wit ye well
mighty, and now so suddenly yield you great joy, and many a piteous complaint
to me? O am
your brother
Gareth, I he made unto Sir Gareth, and ever he
Sir Gawaine, that for your sake have wept as he had been a child. With
had great sorrow and labour. Then Sir that came his mother the queen of Ork-
Gareth unlaced his helm, and kneeled ney, dame Morgause, and when she saw
down to him and asked him mercy. Sir Gareth readily in the visage, she
Then they rose and embraced
both, might not weep, but suddenly fell down
either other in their arms, and wept a in a swoon, and lay there a great while
great while or they might speak, and like as she had been dead. And then
either of them gave other the prize of Sir Gareth recomforted his mother in
the battle. And there were many kind such a wise that she recovered, and
CHAP. XXXIV. OF THE WEDBTNG OF G ARETE. T
59
made good cheer. Then the king com- Most noble king, said dame Liones, wit
manded that all manner of knights that you well that my lord Sir Gareth is to
were under his obeisance should make me more lever to have and hold as my
their lodging right there for the love of husband, than any king or prince that
his nephews. And so it was done, and is christened, and if I
may not have him
all manner of purveyance purveyed that I promise you I will never have none.
there lacked nothing that might be For, my lord Arthur, said dame Liones,
gotten of tame nor wild for gold or wit ye well he is my first love, and he
silver. And then by the means of the shall be the last and if ye will suffer
:
damsel Savage Sir Gawaine and Sir him to have his will and free choice, I
Gareth were healed of their wounds, dare say he will have me. That is
and there they sojourned eight days. truth, said Sir Gareth, and I have not
Then said king Arthur unto the damsel you and hold not you as my wife, there
Savage, I marvel that your sister dame shall never lady nor gentlewoman re-
Liones cometh not here to me, and in joice me. What nephew, said the king,
is the wind in that door
especial that she cometh not to visit her for wit ye
!
knight, my nephew Sir Gareth, that well I would not for the stint of my
hath had so much travail for her love. crown to be causer to withdraw your
My damsel Linet, ye must
lord, said the hearts, and wit ye well ye cannot love
of your good grace hold her excused, so well but I shall rather increase it
for she knoweth not that mylord Sir than distress it. And also ye shall have
Gareth is here. Go then for her, said my love and my lordship in the utter-
king Arthur, that we may be appointed most wise that may lie in my power.
what is best to be done, according unto And in the same wise said Sir Gareth's
the pleasure of my nephew. Sir, said mother. Then was there made a pro-
the damsel, that shall be done, and so vision for the day of marriage, and by
she rode unto her sister. And as lightly the king's advice it was provided that it
as she might she made her ready, should be at Michaelmas following, at
and she came on the morn with her Kinkenadon by the sea-side, for there is
brother Sir Gringamore, and with her a plentiful country. And so it was cried
forty knights. And so when she was in all the places through the realm. And
come, she had all the cheer that might then Sir Gareth sent his summons unto
be done, both of the king and of many allthese knights and ladies that he had
other kings and queens. won in battle tofore, that they should
be at his day of marriage at Kinkenadon
CHAP. XXXIV. by the sands. And then dame Liones
and the damsel Linet, with Sir Gringa-
How Sir Gareth acknowledged that they
more, rode to their castle, and a goodly
loved each other to king Arthur, and of
and a rich ring she gave to Sir Gareth,
the appointment of their wedding.
and he gave her another. And king
And among all was
these ladies she Arthur gave her a rich bee of gold, and
named the fairest and peerless. Then so she departed. And king Arthur and
when Sir Gareth saw her, there was his fellowship rode toward Kinkenadon,
many a goodly look and goodly words, and Sir Gareth brought his lady on the
that all men of worship had joy to be- way, and so came to the king again and
hold them. Then came king Arthur and rode with him. Oh
the great cheer that
many other kings, and dame Guenever Sir Launcelot made of Sir Gareth and
ind the queen of Orkney. And there he of him for there was never no
:
the king asked his nephew Sir Gareth knight that Sir Gareth loved so well
/hether he would have that lady to his as he did Sir Launcelot, and ever for the
/ife ? My lord, wit you well that I love most part he would be in Sir Launce-
ler above all ladies living. Now, fair lot's company : for after Sir Gareth had
lady, said king Arthur, what say ye? espied Sir Gawaine's conditions, he
j6o MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK T
^T.
withdrew himself from his brother Sir duke de la Rowse with an hundred
Gawaine's fellowship, for he was venge- knights with him, and there he did
allc, and where he hated he would be homage and fealty unto Sir Gareth, and
avenged with murder, and that hated Sir so to hold their lands of him for ever ;
Round unto his life's end, and gave him But when these justs were done, Sir La-
great lands. The third day there justed morak and Sir Tristram departed sud-
Sir Launcelot du Lake, and he over- denly and would not be known, for the
threw knights and did many mar-
fifty which king Arthur and all the court
vellousdeeds of arms, that all men were sore displeased. And so they held
wondered on him. And there king the court forty days with great so-
Arthur made the duke de la Rowse a lemnity. And this Sir Gareth was a
knight of the Round Table to his life's noble knight, and a well ruled, and fair
end, and gave him great lands to spend. languaged.
®|)U0 enDeti) tins talc of sgr (Sareti) of (^rbeneg tijat toeDDcD Dame
Egones of tfje cartel }jergllous. &nD also sgr (Saljeris focDDeD Ijer
SgSter Dame 2Lgnet. tbat teas ealleD tl)e Damogsel saueage. &nD
Sgr <Hgrauagne foeDDeD Dame Saurel a fagr laDg, anD grctc anD
mggfrtg lanDes tutlfj grete rgefcesse gafe foitl) tljem fejing ®rtljur,
$ere folometf) tf)e bin. boofc tl)e fofnd) fe tfre first boofe of £tr
lEristram De Sgones, fc foljo mas f)te faDev $c l)is moDcr, & bou i)c
mas borne anD fostergD. &nD !)om fjt mas maDe fcnggijte.
good and fair. And at that time king therefore she let ordain upon a day,
Arthur reigned, and he was whole king as king Meliodas rode on hunting,
of England, Wales, and Scotland, and for he was a great chaser, and there by
I of many other realms: howbeit there an enchantment she made him chase an
. were many kings that were lords of hart by himself alone till that he came
many countries, but all they held their to an old castle, and there anon he was
lands of king Arthur. For in Wales taken prisoner by the lady that him
were two kings, and in the north were loved. When Elizabeth king Meliodas
many kings and in Cornwall and in
; missed, her lord, she was nigh out of
the west were two kings; also in Ire- her wit, and she took a gentlewoman
11
l62 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VII!.
with her, and ran into the forest to been lords of the country of Liones.
seek her lord. But then through the fair speech of the
And when she was far in the forest gentlewoman, and by the means that
she might no farther, for she began to she made, the most part of the barons
travail fast of her child. And she had would not assent thereto. And then
many grimly throws, and her gentle- they let carry home the dead queen,
woman holp her all that she might, and and much dole was made for her.
so by miracle of our Lady of heaven she Then meanwhile Merlin delivered
this
was delivered with great pains. But king Meliodas out of prison, on the
she had taken such cold for the default morn after his queen was dead. And
of help that deep draughts of death so when the king was come home, the
took her, that needs she must die and most part of the barons made great joy.
depart out of this world, there was none But the sorrow that the king made for
other boot. And when this queen Eliza- his queen that might no tongue tell.
beth saw that there was none other So then the king let inter her richly.
boot, then she made great dole, and And after he let christen his child as
said unto her gentlewoman, "When ye his wife had commanded afore her
see my lord king Meliodas recommend death. And then he let call him Tris-
me unto him, and tell him what pains I tram, the sorrowful born child. Then
endure here for his love, and how I must the king Meliodas endured seven years
die here for his sake, for default of good without a wife, and all this time the
help, and let him wit that I am young Tristram was nourished
full well.
sorry to depart out of this world from Then it befel that king Meliodas
him, therefore pray him to be friend to wedded king Howell's daughter of
my soul. Now
let me see my little Britany, and anon she had children
child for whom I have had all this of king Meliodas, then was she heavy
sorrow. And when she saw him she and wroth that her children should not
said thus : Ah my little son, thou hast enjoy the country of Liones, wherefore
murdered thy mother, and therefore I thisqueen ordained for to poison young
suppose, thou that art a murderer so Tristram. So she let poison to be put
young, thou art full likely to be a manly into a piece of silver in the chamber
man in thine age. And because I shall where as Tristram and her children were
die of the birth of thee, I charge thee, together, unto that intent that when
gentlewoman, that thou beseech my Tristram was thirsty he should drink
lord king Meliodas, that when he is that drink. And so it fell upon a day,
christened let call him Tristram, that is the queen's son, as he was in that
asmuch to say as a sorrowful birth. chamber, espied the cup with poison,
And therewith this queen gave up the and he wend it had beer* good drink,
ghost and died. Then the gentlewoman and because the child was thirsty, he
laid her under the shadow of a great took the cup with poison and drank
tree, and then she lapped the child as freely, and therewithall suddenly the
well as she might for cold. Right so child brast, and was dead. "When the
there came the barons, following after queen wist of the death of her son, wit
the queen, and when they saw that she ye well that she was heavy. But yet
was dead, and understood none other the king understood nothing of her
but the king was destroyed ; treason. Notwithstanding the queen
would not leave this, but eft she let
CHAP. II.
ordain more poison, and put it in a
How the step-mother of Sir Tristram had
cup. And by fortune king Meliodas
ordained poison for to have poisoned Sir her husband found the cup with wine
Tristram. where was the poison, and he that was
Then certain of them would have much thirsty took the cup for to drink
slain the child, because they would have thereout. And as he would have drunken
CHAP. III. HOW TRISTRAM WAS SENT TO FRANCE. 163
slay thee. And therewith he pulled out young Tristram with Gouvernail into
his sword, and swore a great oath that France, to learn the language, and
he should slay her but if she told him nurture, and deeds of arms. And there
truth. Ah mercy my lord, said she, was Tristram more than seven years.
and I shall tell you all. And
then she And then when he well could speak the
told him why she would have slain language, and had learned all that he
Tristram, because her children should might learn in that country, then he
enjoy his land. Well, said king Melio- 1
slain thee with that poison and she have yet of hawking and hunting. And
might have had her will and for thy ; therefore the book of venery, of hawk-
sake most is my cause that she should ing, and hunting, is called the book of
die. Sir, said Tristram, as for that, I Sir Tristram. Wherefore, as me seem-
beseech you of your mercy that ye will eth, all jjentlemen that bear old arms
forgive it her, and as for my part God ought of right to honour Sir Tristram
forgive it her, and I do, and so much it for the goodly terms that gentlemen
liked your highness to grant me my have and use, and shall to the day of
boon for God's love I require you hold doom, that thereby in a manner all men
your promise. Since it is so, said the of worship may dissever a gentleman
king, that ye have her life. Then
I will from a yeoman, and from a yeoman a
said the king, I give her to you, and go villain. For he that gentle is will draw
ye to the fire and take her and do with unto him gentle taches, and to follow
her what ye will. So Sir Tristram the customs of noble gentlemen. Thus
went to the fire, and by the command- Sir Tristram endured in Cornwall until
ment of the king delivered her from the he was big and strong, of the age of
leath. But after that king Meliodas nineteen years. And then the king
fould never have ado with her as at Meliodas had great joy of Sir Tristram,
id and board. But by the good means and so had the queen his wife. For
young Tristram he made the king ever after in her life, because Sir Tris-
id her accorded. But then the king tram saved her from the fire, she did
fould not suffer young Tristram to never hate him more after, but loved
ibide no longer in his court. him ever after, and gave Tristram many
11 — 2
164 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VIII.
great gifts; for every estate loved him made king Mark great
for Ireland, then
where that he went. sorrow when he understood that the
good and noble knight Sir Marhaus was
CHAP. IV. come. For they knew no knight that
durst have ado with him. For at that
How Sir Marhaus came out of Ireland time Sir Marhaus was called one of the
for truage of Cornwall, or
to ask else
famousest and renowned knights of the
he would fight therefore.
world.
Then befel that king Anguish of Ire-
it And thus Sir Marhaus abode in the
land sent to king Mark of Cornwall for sea, and every day he sent unto king
his truage, that Cornwall had paid many Mark for to pay the truage that was
winters. And all that time king Mark behind of seven year, or else to find a
was behind of the truage for seven years. knight to fight with him for the truage.
And king Mark and his barons gave This manner of message Sir Marhaus
unto the messager of Ireland these words sent daily unto king Mark. Then they
and answer, that they would none pay ; of Cornwall let make cries in every
and bad the messager go unto his king place, that what knight would fight for
Anguish, and tell him we will pay him to save the truage of Cornwall he should
no truage, but tell your lord, and he be rewarded so that he should fare the
will always have truage of us of Corn- better the term of his life. Then some
wall, bid him send a trusty knight of of the barons said to king Mark, and
his land that will fight for his right, and counselled him to send to the court of
we shall find another for to defend our king Arthur for to seek Sir Launcelot
right. With this answer the messagers du Lake, that was that time named for
departed into Ireland. And when king the marvellousest knight of all the
Anguish understood the answer of the world. Then there were some other
messagers, he was wonderly wroth. barons that counselled the king not to
And then he called unto him Sir Mar- do so, and said that it was labour in
haus, the good knight, that was nobly vain, because Sir Marhaus was a knight
proved, and a knight of the Table of the Round Table, therefore any of
Round. And this Sir Marhaus was them will be loth to have ado with
brother unto the queen of Ireland. other, but if it were any knight at his
Then the king said thus: Fair brother own requestwould fight disguised and
Sir Marhaus, pray you go into Corn-
I unknown. So the king and all his
wall for my sake, and do battle for our barons assented that it was no boot to
truage that of right we ought to have, seek any knight of the Round Table.
and whatsoever ye spend ye shall have This meanwhile came the language
sufficiently more than ye shall need. Sir, and the noise unto king Meliodas, how
said Marhaus, wit ye well that I shall that Sir Marhaus abode battle fast by
not be loth to do battle in the right of Tintagil, and how king Mark could find
you and your land with the best knight no manner knight to fight for him.
of the Table Round, for I know them When young Tristram heard of this he
for the most part what be their deeds, was wroth and sore ashamed that there
and for to advance my deeds and to in- durst no knight in Cornwall have ado
crease my
worship, I will right gladly with Sir Marhaus of Ireland.
go unto journey for our right.
this
So in all haste there was made pur- CHAP. V.
veyance for Sir Marhaus, and he had all
him needed, and so he
How Tristratn enterprized the battle to
things that to
out of Ireland, and arrived up fight for the truage of Cornwall, and
departed how he was made knight.
in Cornwall, even fast by the castle of
Tintagil. And when king Mark under- Therewithal Sir Tristram went unto
stood that he was there arrived to fight his father king Meliodas, and asked him
tUAP. V. HOW HE FOUGHT WITH SIR MARHAUS. 165
counsel what was best to do for to re- I am. King Mark beheld Sir Tristram,
cover from Cornwall truage. For as and saw that he was but a young man
me seemeth, said Sir Tristram, it were of age, but he was passingly well made
shame that Marhaus, the queen's
Sir and big. Fair sir, said the king, what
brother of Ireland, should go away, is your name, and where were
ye born ?
unless that he were fought withall. As Sir, said he again, my name is Tris-
for that, said Sir Meliodas, wit ye well tram, and in the country of Liones was
son Tristram that Sir Marhaus is called I born. Ye say well, said the king, and
one of the best knights of the world, if ye will do this battle I shall make you
and knight of the Table Round, and knight. Therefore I come to you, said
therefore I know no knight in this Sir Tristram, and for none other cause.
country that is able to match with him. But then king Mark, made him knight.
Alas, said Sir Tristram, that I am not And therewithal anon as he had made
made knight and if Sir Marhaus should
: him knight, he sent a messager unto
thus depart into Ireland, may I never Sir Marhaus with letters that said that
have worship, and I were made knight he had found a young knight ready for
I should match him. And sir, said to take the battle to the uttermost. It
Tristram, I pray you give me leave to may well be, said Sir Marhaus but tell
;
ride to king Mark, and so ye be not unto king Mark that I will not fight
displeased of king Mark will I be made with no knight but if he be of blood
knight. I will well, said king Meliodas, royal, that is to say either king's son
that ye be ruled as your courage will or queen's son, born of a prince or
rule you. princess.
Then Sir Tristram thanked his father When
king Mark understood that, he
much. And
then he made him ready sent Sir Tristram de Liones and
for
to ride into Cornwall. In the mean- told him what was the answer of Sir
while there came a messager with Marhaus. Then said Sir Tristram,
letters of love from king Faramon Since that he sayeth so, let him wit
of France's daughter unto Sir Tris- that I am come of father's side and
tram, that were full piteous letters, and mother's side of as noble blood as he is.
in them were written many complaints For, Sir, shall ye know that I am
now
of love. But Sir Tristram had no joy king Meliodas' son, born of your own
of her letters, nor regard unto her. sister dame Elizabeth, that died in the
Also she sent him a little brachet forest in the birth ofme. Yea ? said
that was passing fair. But when the king Mark, ye are welcome fair nephew
king's daughter understood that Tris- to me. Then in all the haste the king
tram would not love her, as the book lethorse Sir Tristram and arm him in
saith, she died for sorrow. And then the best manner that might be had or
the same squire that brought the letter gotten for gold or silver. And then
and the brachet came again unto Sir king Mark sent unto Sir Marhaus, and
Tristram as after ye shall hear in the did him to wit that a better born man
tale. So this young Sir Tristram rode than he was himself should fight with
unto his uncle king Mark of Cornwall. him, and his name is Sir Tristram de
And when he came there he heard say Liones, gotten of king Meliodas, and
that there would no knight fight with born of king Mark's sister. Then was
Sir Marhaus. Then went Sir Tristram Sir Marhaus glad and blithe that he
into his uncle and ye will
said, Sir, if should such a gentleman.
fight with
rive me the order of knighthood I will And so by the assent of king Mark and
lo battle with Sir Marhaus. What are Sir Marhaus they let ordain that they
fe? said the king, and from whence be should fight within an island nigh Sir
?e come? Sir, said Tristram, I come Marhaus' ships and so was Sir Tris-
;
torn king Meliodas that wedded your tram put into a vessel both his horse
ister, and a gentleman wit ye well and he, and all that to him belonged
i66 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VIII.
both for his body and for his horse. or slain, or else that I win yonder
Sir Tristram lacked nothing. And when knight. So either departed from other
king Mark and his barons of Cornwall sore weeping.
beheld how young Sir Tristram de-
parted with such a carriage to fight for CHAP. VII.
the right of Cornwall, there was neither
man nor woman of worship but they How Sir Tristram fought against Sir
Marhaus and achieved his battle, and
wept to see and understand so young how Sir Marhaus fled to his
a knight to jeopard himself for their Ship.
the noble knight Sir Tristram, now I since I took the order of knighthood this
see him well enough. Then he com- day I am well pleased that I may have
manded his servant Gouvernail to go to ado with so good a knight as thou art.
and command me unto
his vessel again, And now wit thou well, Sir Marhaus,
mine uncle king Mark, and pray him if that I cast me to get worship on thy
that I be slain in this battle, for to inter body, and if that I be not proved, I
my body as him seemeth best, and as trust 1 shall be worshipfully proved
for me let him wit that I will never upon thy body, and to deliver the
yield me cowardice
for and if I be; country of Cornwall from all manner
slain and flee not, then have they lost of truage irom Ireland for ever. When
no truage for me; and if so be that I Sir Marhaus had heard him say what
fleeor yield me as recreant, bid mine he would, he said then thus again :
uncle never bury me in christian burials. Fair knight, since it is so that thou
And upon thy life, said Sir Tristram to casteth to win worship of me, I let thee
Gouvernail, come thou not nigh this wit worship mayest thou none lose by
island till that thou see me overcome me if thou mayest .stand me three
CHAP. VIII- HOW SIR MARHAUS DIED. 167
their horses, and pulled out their Tristram had given him, and bow
Tristram was hurt.
swords, and threw their shields afore
them, and then they lashed together as Anon Sir Marhaus and his fellowship
men that were wild and courageous. departed into Ireland. And as soon as
And when they had stricken so together he came to the king his brother he
long, then they left their strokes, and let search his wounds. And when his
foined at their breathes and visors and; head was searched, a piece of Sir Tris-
when they saw that that might not pre- tram's sword was found therein, and
vail them, then they hurtled together might never be had out of his head for
like rams to bear either other down. no surgeons, and so he died of Sir Tris-
Thus they fought still more than half a tram's sword, and that piece of the
day, and either were wounded passing sword the queen his sister kept it for
sore, that the blood ran down freshly ever with her, for she thought to be
from them upon the ground. By then revenged and she might.
Sir Tristram waxed more fresher than Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram,
Sir Marhaus, and better winded and that was sore wounded, and full sore
bigger, and with a mighty stroke he bled, that he might not within a little
smote Sir Marhaus upon the helm such while when he had taken cold scarcely
a buffet, that it went through his helm, stir him of his limbs. And then he set
and through the coif of steel, and him down softly upon a little hill, and
through the brain-pan, and the sword bled fast. Then anon came Gouvernail
stuck so fast in the helm and in his his man with his vessel, and the king
brain-pan that Sir Tristram pulled thrice and barons came with procession
his
at his sword or ever he might pull it out against him, and when he was come to
from his head, and there Marhaus fell the land king Mark took him in his
down on his knees, the edge of Tris- arms, and the king and Sir Dinas the
tram's sword left in his brain-pan. And Seneschal led Sir Tristram into the
suddenly Sir Marhaus rose groveling, castle of Tintagil. And then was he
and threw his sword and his shield searched in the best manner, and laid in
from him, and so ran to his ships and his bed. And when king Mark saw his
fled his way, and Sir Tristram had ever wounds he wept heartily, and so did all
his shield and his sword. And when his lords. So God me help, said king
Sir Tristram saw Sir Marhaus withdraw Mark, would
I not for all my lands that
lim, he said, Ah sir knight of the my nephew died. So Sir Tristram lay
Lound Taole, why withdrawest thou there a month and more, and ever he
thee; thou doest thyself and thy kin was like to die of that stroke that Sir
jreat shame, for I am but a young Marhaus smote him first with the spear.
cnight, or now I was never proved, and For, as the French book saith, the
rather than I should withdraw me from spear's head was envenomed, that Sir
lee, I had rather be hewn in an hun- Tristram might not be whole. Then
lred pieces. Sir Marhaus answered no was king Mark and all his barons pass-
ford, but went his way sore groaning. ing heavy, for they deemed none other
Well sir knight, said Sir Tristram, I but that Sir Tristram should not recover.
)romise thee thy sword and thy shield Then the king let send after all manner
1(58 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK VIII.
of leeches and surgeons, both unto men searched him she found in the bottom
and women, and there was none that of his wound that therein was poison,
would behote him the life. Then came and so she healed him within a while,
there a lady that was a right wise and therefore Tramtrist cast great love
lady, and she said plainly unto king to La Beale Isoud, for she was at that
Mark and and to all his
to Sir Tristram time the fairest maid and lady of the
barons, that he should never be whole, world. And there Tramtrist learned
but if Sir Tristram went in the same her to harp, and she began to have a
country that the venom came from, and great fancy unto him. And at that time
in that country should he be holpen or Sir Palamides the Saracen was in that
else never. Thus said the lady unto country, and well cherished with the
the king. When king Mark understood king and the queen. And every day
that, he let purvey for Sir Tristram a Sir Palamides drew unto La Beale
fair vessel,well victualled, and therein Isoud, and proffered her many gifts,
was put Sir Tristram and Gouvernail for he loved her passingly well. All
with him, and Sir Tristram took his harp that espied Tramtrist, and full well
with him, and so he was put into the knew he Sir Palamides for a noble
sea to sail into Ireland, and so by good knight and a mighty man. And wit
fortune he arrived up in Ireland, even ye well Sir Tramtrist had great despite
fast by a castle where the king and at Sir Palamides, for La Beale Isoud
the queen was and at his arrival he
; told Tramtrist that Sir Palamides was
sat and harped in his bed a merry lay, in will to be christened for her sake.
such one heard they never none in Ire- Thus was there gieat envy betwixt
land afore that time. And when it was Tramtrist and Sir Palamides. Then it
told the king and the queen of such a befel that King Anguish let cry a great
knight that was such an harper, anon justs and a great tournament for a lady
the king sent for him, and let search his whicli was called the lady of the lawns,
wounds, and then asked him his name. and she was'nigh cousin unto the king.
Then he answered, I am of the country And what man won her, three days after
of Liones, and my name is Tramtrist, he should wed her, and have all her lands.
that thus was wounded in a battle as I This cry was made in England, Wales,
fought for a lady's right. Truly, said Scotland, and also in France and in
king Anguish, ye shall have all the help Britany. upon day La Beale
It befel a
in this land that ye may have here. Isoud came unto .Sir Tramtrist and told
But I let you wit in Cornwall I had a him of this tournament. He answered
great loss as ever had king, for there and said, Fair lady, I am but a feeble
1 lost the best
knight of the world, knight, and but late I had been dead
his name was Marhaus, a full noble had not your good ladyship been. Now,
knight, and knight of the Table Round ; fair lady, what would ye I should do in
and there he told Sir Tristram wherefore this matter? Well ye wot, my lady,
Sir Marhaus was slain. Sir Tristram that I may not just. Ah Tramtrist, said
made semblant as he had been sorry, La Beale Isoud, why will ye not have
and better knew he how it was than the ado at that tournament ? well I wot Sir
king. Palamides shall be there and to do what
he may, and therefore Tramtrist I pray
CHAP. IX.
How Sir Tristram was put to the keeping
you for to be there, for else Sir- Pala-
mides is like to win the degree. Madam,
of La Beale Isoud for to be healed of said Tramtrist, as for that it may be so,
his wound.
for he is a proved knight, and I am but
Then the king for great favour made a young knight and late made, and the
Tramtrist to be put in his daughter's first battle that I did it mishapped me
ward and keeping, because she was a to be sorewounded as ye see. But and
noble surgeon. And when she had I wist ye would be my better lady, at
CHAP. X. OF TRISTRAM AND LA BEALE 1S0UD. [69
that tournament I will be, so that ye be made knight, and if it please you, of
will keep my counsel, and let no creature your hands that I may be made knight.
have knowledge that I shall just but Await upon me as to-morn, secretly,
yourself, and such as ye will to keep and in the field I shall make you a
your counsel my poor person shall I
; knight. Then had La Beale Isoud great
jeopard there for your sake, that perad- suspicion unto Tramtrist that he was
venture Sir Palamides shall know when some man of worship proved, and there-
that I come. Thereto, said La Beale with she comforted herself, and cast
Isoud, do your best, and as I can, said more love unto him than she had done
La Beale Isoud, I shall purvey horse tofore. And so on the morn Sir Pala-
and armour for you at my devise. As mides made him ready to come into
ye will so be it, said Sir Tramtrist, I the field as he did the first dav. And
will be at your commandment. So at there he smote down the king with the
the day of justs there came Sir Pala- hundred knights, and the king of Scot-
mides with a black shield, and he over- land. Then had La Beale Isoud or-
threw many knights, that all the people dained and well arrayed Sir Tramtrist
had marvel of him. For he put to the in white horse and harness. And right
worse Sir Gawaine, Gaheris, Agravaine, so she let put him out at a privy pos-
Bagdemagus, Kay, Dodias le Savage, tern, and so he came into the field as it
Sagramore le Desirous, Gumret le Petit, had been a bright angel. And anon Sir
and Griflet le Fise de Dieu. All these Palamides espied him, and therewith he
the first day Sir Palamides strake down feutered a spear unto Sir Tramtrist, and
to the earth. And then all manner of he again unto him. And there Sir Tris-
knights were adread of Sir Palamides, tram smote down Sir Palamides unto
and many called him the knight with the earth. And then there was a great
the black shield. So that day Sir Pala- noise of people some said Sir Pala-
:
mides had great worship. Then came mides had a fall, some said the knight
king Anguish unto Tramtrist and asked with the black shield had a fall. And
him why he would not just. Sir, said wit you well La Beale Isoud was passing
he, I was but late hurt, and as yet I dare glad. And then Sir Gawaine and his
not adventure me. Then came there fellows nine had marvel what knight it
the same squire that was sent from the might be that had smitten down Sir
king's daughter of France unto Sir Palamides. Then would there none just
Tristram. And when he had espied with Tramtrist, but all that were there
Sir Tristram he fell flat to his feet. forsook him, most and least. Then Sir
All that espied La Beale Isoud, what Tristram made Hebes a knight, and
courtesy the squire made unto Sir Tris- caused him to put himself forth, and
tram. And therewith all suddenly Sir did right well that day. So after Sir
Tristram ran unto his squire, whose Hebes held him with Sir Tristram.
name was Hebes le Renoumes, and And when Sir Palamides had received
prayed him heartily in no wise to tell this fall, wit ye well he was sore
his name. Sir, said Hebes, I will not ashamed and as privily as he might
:
discover your name but if ye command he withdrew him out of the field. All
me. that espied Sir Tristram, and lightly he
CHAP. X. rode after Sir Palamides, and overtook
him, and bad him turn, for better he
How Sir Tristram won the degree at a
would assay him or over he departed.
tournament in Ireland, and there made
Then Sir Palamides turned him, and
Palamides to bear 110 harness in a
either lashed at other with their swords.
year. But at the first stroke Sir Tristram
Then Sir Tristram asked him what smote down Palamides, and gave him
he did in those countries. Sir, he said, such a stioke upon the head that he fell
1 came hither with Sir Gawaine for to to the earth. So then Tristram bad
170 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VIII.
him through. Then when she was letted ye well, said Tristram unto the king,
of her evil will, she ran to the king I did the battle for the love of mine
Anguish her husband, and said on her uncle king Mark, and for the love of
knees, Oh my lord, here have ye in your the country of Cornwall, and for to
house that traitor knight that slew my increase mine honour. For that same
brother and your servant, that noble day that I fought with Sir Marhaus I
knight Sir Marhaus. Who is that, said was made knight, and never or then did
king Anguish, and where is he ? Sir, she I no battle with no knight, and from
said, it is Sir Tramtrist, the same knight me he went alive, and left his shield
that my daughter healed. Alas, said and his sword behind.
Truly, said the
the king, therefore am I right heavy, king, I may not say but ye did as a
for he is a full noble knight as ever I knight should, and it was your part to
saw in field. But I charge you, said do for your quarrel, and to increase
the king to the queen, that ye have not your worship as a knight should how- ;
ado with that knight, but let me deal beit I may not maintain you in this
with him. Then the king went into the country with my worship, unless that I
chamber unto Sir Tramtrist, and then should displease my barons, and my
was he gone unto his chamber, and the wife, and her kin. Sir, said Tristram,
king found him all ready armed to I thank you of your good lordship that
mount upon his horse. When the king I have had with you here, and the great
saw him all ready armed to go unto goodness my lady your daughter hath
horseback, the king said, Nay, Tram- shewed me, and therefore, said Sir Tris-
trist, it will not avail to compare thee tram, it may so happen that ye shall
against me. But thus much I shall do win more by my life than by my death,
for my worship and for thy love in so
; for in the parts of England it may hap-
much as thou art within my court, it pen I may do you service at some season
were no worship for me to slay thee, that ye shall be glad that ever ye shewed
therefore upon this condition I will give me your good lordship. With more I
thee leave to depart from this court in promise you as I am true knight, that
. safety, so thou wilt tell me who was thy in all places I shall be my lady your
father, and what thy name, and
is if daughter's servant and knight in right
thou slew Sir Marhaus, my brother. and wrong, and I shall never fail her
in
never to do as much as a knight may
CHAP. XII. do. Also I beseech your good grace
king Meliodas and of his queen. And Mark, and there he lived in great joy
I promise you faithfully that I shall be long time, until at the last there befel
all the days of my life your knight. a jealousy and an unkindness between
Gramercy, said La Beale Isoud, and I king Mark and Sir Tristram, for they
promise you there against that I shall loved both one lady, and she was an
not be married this seven years but by earl's wife, that hight Sir Segwarides.
your assent, and to whom that ye will I And this lady loved Sir Tristram pass-
shall be married, him will I have, and ing well, and he loved her again, for she
he will have me if ye will consent. And was a passing fair lady, and that espied
then Sir Tristram gave her a ring and Sir Tristram well. Then king Mark
she gave him another, and therewith he understood that, and was
jealous, for
departed from her, leaving her making king Mark loved her passingly well. So
great dole and lamentation. And he it fell upon a day, this lady sent a dwarf
straight went unto the court among all unto Sir Tristram, and bad him say that
the barons, and there he took his leave as he loved her that he would be with
at most and least, and openly he said her the next day following. Also she
among them Fair lords, now it is
all, charged you that ye come not to her
so that I must depart. If there be any but if ye be well armed, for her lover
man here that I have offended unto, or was called a good knight. Sir Tristram
that any man be with me grieved, let answered to the dwarf, Recommend me
complain him here afore me or that ever unto my lady, and tell her I will not
I depart, and I shall amend it unto my fail but I will be with her the term that
power. And if there be any that will she hath set me. And with this answer
proffer me wrong, or say of me wrong the dwarf departed. And king Mark
or shame behind my back, say it now espied that the dwarf was with Sir
or never, and here is my body to make Tristram, upon message from Sir Segwa-
'it
good, body against body. And all rides's wife then king Mark sent for
;
they stood still, there was not one that the dwarf. And when he was come he
would say one word, yet were there made the dwarf bv force to tell him all,
some knights that were of the queen's why and wherefore that he came on
blood, and of Sir Marhaus's blood, but message to Sir Tristram. Now, said
they would not meddle with him. king Mark, go where thou wilt, and
upon pain of death that thou say no
CHAP. XIII. word that thou spakest with me. So
the dwarf departed from the king.
How Sir Tristram and king Mark hurt And that same time that was set be-
each other for the love of a knight's wife. twixt Sir Segwarides's wife and Sir
So departed, and took
Sir Tristram Tristram, king Mark armed him, and
the sea, and with good wind he arrived made him ready, and took two knights
up at Tintagil in Cornwall. And when of his council with him, and so he rode
king Mark was whole in his prosperity afore, for to abide by the way, to await
there came tidings that Sir Tristram upon Sir Tristram. And as Sir Tristram
was arrived and whole of his wounds ;
came riding upon his way, with his spear
thereof was king Mark passing glad, in his hand, Icing Mark came hurtling
and so were all the barons. And when upon him with his two knights sud-
he saw his time, he rode unto his father denly. And all three smote him with
king Meliodas, and there he had all the their spears, and king Mark hurt Sir
cheer that the king and the queen could Tristram on the breast right sore and ;
of a great renown, king Mark granted in his power two knights of king Ar-
him his whole asking. Then, said Sir thur's court, that rode by the country to
Bleoberis, I will have the fairest lady in seek their adventures. When Sir Tris-
your court that me list to choose. I may tram saw Sir Andret he asked him what
not say nay, said king Mark now choose
; tidings. Truly, said Sir Andret, there
at your adventure. And so Sir Bleoberis was never worse with me, for here by
did chose Sir Segwarides' s wife, and took the commandment of king Mark I was
her by the hand, and so went his way sent to fetch two knights of king Ar-
with her, and so he took his horse and let and that one beat me and
thur's court,
set her behind his squire, and rode upon wounded me, and set nought by my
his way. When Segwarides heard
Sir message. Fair cousin, said Sir Tristram,
tell that his lady was gone with a knight ride on your way, and if I may meet
of king Arthur's court, then anon he them it may happen I shall revenge you.
armed him, and rode after that knight So Sir Andret rode into Cornwall, and
So when Bleoberis
for to rescue his lady. Sir Tristram rode after the two knights,
was gone with king Mark and
this lady, the which one hight Sagramore le De-
all the court was wroth that she was sirous, and that other hight Dodinas le
away. Then were there certain ladies Savage.
that knew that there was great love be-
CHAP. XVI.
tween Sir Tristram and her, and also
that lady loved Sir Tristram above all
How Sir Tristram fought with two knights
pion, and if so be Sir Segwarides speed came, and whither they would, and what
not well, it may happen that I will speak they did in those marches. Sir Sagra-
with that good knight or ever he pass more looked upon Sir Tristram, and
from this country. Then within awhile had scorn of his words, and asked him
came one of Sir Segwarides's squires, and again, Fair knight, be ye a knight
told in the court that Sir Segwarides was of Cornwall ? Whereby ask ye it ? said
beaten sore and wounded to the point of Sir Tristram. For it is seldom seen, said
death as he would have rescued his lady
: Sir Sagramore, that ye Cornish knights
Sir Bleoberis overthrew him, and sore be valiant men of arms for within these
:
hath wounded him. Then was king two hours there met us one of you
Mark heavy thereof, and all the court. Cornish knights, and great words he
When Sir Tristram heard of this he was spake, and anon with little might he
ashamed and sore grieved. And then was laid to the earth. And, as I trow,
was he soon armed and on horseback, said Sir Sagramore, ye shall have the
and Gouvernail bis servant bare his shield same handsel that he had. Fair lords,
and spear. And so as Sir Tristram rode said Sir Tristram, it may so happen
fast he met with Sir Andret his cousin, that I may better withstand than he
that by the commandment of king Mark did, and whether ye will or nill I will
was sent to bring forth, and ever it lay have ado with you, because he was my
CHAP. XVII. OF SIR TRISTRAM AND SIR BLEOBERIS. i
75
nish knight may match you. That is that ye have beat them both, yet shall
truth, said Sir Sagramore, that have we ye not fear me, but ye shall beat me or
well proved; but I require thee, said Sir ever ye have this lady. Then defend
Sagramore, tell us your right name, by you, said Sir Tristram. So they de-
the faith and truth that ye owe to the parted and came together like thunder,
high order of knighthood. Ye charge and either bare other down, horse and
me with a great thing, said Sir Tris- all, to the earth. Then they avoided
tram, and sithen ye list to wit it, ye shall their horses and lashed together eagerly
know and understand that my name is with swords, and mightily, now tracing
Sir Tristram de Liones,
king Meliodas' and traversing on the right hand and on
son, and nephew unto king Mark. the left hand more than two hours.
Then were they two knights fain that And sometimes they rushed together
they had met with Sir Tristram, and so with such a might that they lay both
they prayed him to abide in their fel- groveling on the ground. Then Sir
lowship. Nay, said Sir Tristram, for I Bleoberis de Ganis start aback, and said
•must have ado with one of your fellows, thus Now, gentle good knight, a while
:
his name is Sir Bleoberis de Ganis. hold your hands and let us speak to-
God speed you well, said Sir Sagra- gether. Say what ye will, said Sir Tris-
more and Dodinas. Sir Tristram de- tram, and I will answer you. Sir, said
parted, and rode onward on his way, Bleoberis, I would wit of whence ye
and then was he ware before hrm in a be, and of whom ye be come, and what
valley where rode Sir Bleoberis with is your name ? Truly, said Sir Tristram,
Sir Segwarides's lady, that rode behind I fear not to tell you my name wit ye :
name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and wend thou haddest loved me, and there-
king Mark is mine uncle. Truly, said fore now I will leave thee, and never
Bleoberis, I am
right glad of you, love thee more. And therewithal she
for ye are he
that slew Marhaus, went unto Sir Bleoberis. When Sir Tris-
knight, hand for hand in an island
for tram saw her do so, he was wonderly
the truage of Cornwall also ye over-
;
wroth with that lady, and ashamed to
came good knight at
Sir Palamides the come to the court. Sir Tristram, said Sir
a tournament in an island, where ye Bleoberis, ye are in the default, for I
beat Sir Gawaine and his nine fellows. hear, by this
lady's words, she, before
Wit ye well, said Sir Tristram, that I this day, trusted you above all earthly
am the same knight. Now I have told knights, and, as she saith, ye have de-
you my name, tell me yours with good ceived her ; therefore, wit ye well, there
will. Wit ye well that my name is Sir may no man hold that will away, and
Bleoberis de Ganis, and my brother rather than ye should be heartily dis-
hight Sir Blamor de Ganis, that is called pleased with me, I would ye had her
a good knight, and we be sister's chil- and she would abide with you. Nay,
dren unto my lord Sir Launcelot du said the lady, I will never go with him,
Lake, that we call one of the best for he that I loved most I wend he had
knights of the world. That is truth, loved me. And therefore, Sir Tristram,
said Sir Tristram; Sir Launcelot is she said, ride as thou came, for though
called peerless of courtesy and of thou haddest overcome this knight, as
knighthood; and for his sake, said Sir ye were likely, with thee never would I
Tristram, I will not with my
good will have gone. And I shall
pray this knight
fight no more with you, for the great so fair of his knighthood, that or ever
love I have to Sir Launcelot du Lake. he pass this country he will lead me to
In good faith, said Bleoberis, as for me, the abbey where my lord Sir Segwarides
I will be loth to fight with you. But lieth. Truly, said Bleoberis, I let you
since ye follow me here to have this wit, good knight Sir Tristram, because
you kindness, cour-
lady, I shall proffer king Mark gave me the choice of a gift
tesy, and gentleness, right here upon in this court, and so this lady liked me
this ground. This lady shall be betwixt best, notwithstanding she is wedded and
us both, and to whom that she will go, hath a lord, and I have fulfilled my quest,
lethim have her in peace. I will well, she shall be sent unto her husband again,
said Tristram, for, as I deem, she will and in especial most for your sake Sir
leave you and come to me. Ye shall Tristram and if she would go with you
:
Sir Tristram had done great battle with smote down Sir Ector de Maris, and
Sir Bleoberis, and caused him to bring after he smote down Sir Morganor, all
her again. These words pleased Sir with one spear, and sore biuised them.
Segwarides right well, that Sir Tristram And when they lay upon the earth they
would do so much and so that lady told
;
asked Sir Tristram what he was, and
all the battle unto king Mark betwixt of what country he was knight. Fair
Sir Tristram and Sir Bleoberis. lords, said wit ye well
Sir Tristram,
that I am of Cornwall. Alas, said Sir
CHAP. XIX. Ector, now am I ashamed that ever any
Cornish knight should overcome me.
How King Mark sent Sir Tristram La
fr And then for despite Sir Ector put off
Beale Isoud toward Ireland, and how
hisarmour from him, and went on foot,
by fortune he arrived into England. and would not ride.
Then when this was done king Mark
cast always in his heart how he might CHAP. XX.
destroy Sir Tristram. And then he How king Anguish of Ireland was sum-
imagined in himself to send Sir Tristram moned to come unto king Arthur's court
into Ireland for La Beale Isoud. For
Sir Tristram had so praised her beauty for treason.
and her goodness that king Mark said Then it fell that Sir Bleoberis and
he would wed her, whereupon he prayed Sir Blamor de Ganis that were bre-
SirTristram to take his way into Ireland thren, they had summoned the king
for him on message. And all this was Anguish of Ireland to come to Arthur's
done to the intent to slay Sir Tristram. court, upon pain of foifeiture of king
Notwithstanding, Sir Tristram would Arthur's good grace. And if the king
not refuse the message for no danger of Ireland came not in at the day as-
nor peril that might fall for the pleasure signed and set, the king should lose his
of his uncle, but to go he made him lands. So by it happened that at the
ready in the most goodliest wise that day assigned, king Arthur neither Sir
might be devised. For Sir Tristram Launcelot might not be there for to
took with him the most goodliest give the judgment, for king Ai thur was
knights that he might find in the court, with Sir Launcelot at the castle Joyous
and they were arrayed after the guise Gard. And so king Arthur assigned
that was then used in the goodliest king Carados and the king of Scots to
manner. So Sir Tristram departed and be there that day as judges. So when
took the sea with all his fellowship. the kings were at Camelot king An-
And anon as he was in the broad sea, guish of Ireland was come to know his
a tempest took him and his fellowship accusers. Then was there Blamor de
and drove them back into the coast of Ganis, and appealed the king of Ireland
England, and there they arrived fast by of treason, that he had slain a cousin of
Camelot, and full fain they were to take his in his court in Ireland by treason.
the land. And when they were landed The king was sore abashed of his accu-
Sir Tristram set up his pavilion upon sation, for why? he was come at the sum-
the land of Camelot, and there he let moning of king Arthur, and or that he
hang upon the pavilion. And
his shield came at Camelot he wist not wherefore
that day came two knights of king he was sent after. And when the king
Arthur's, that one was Sir Ector de heard Sir Blamor say his will, he under-
Maris, and Sir Morganor. And they stood full well there was none other
touched the shield and bad him come out remedy but to answer him knightly.
of the pavilion for to just, and he would For the custom was such in those days,
just. Ye shall be answered, said Sir that and any man were appealed of any
Tristram, and ye will tarry a little while. treason or murder, he should fight body
So he made him ready, and first he for body, or else to find another knight
la
i
78
MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VIII.
forhim. And all manner of murderers a great foe unto many good knights of
in those clays were called treason. So king Arthur's court. Then when Sir
when king Anguish understood his ac- Tristram was in his pavilion, Gouvernail
cusing he was passing heavy, for he his man came and told him how that
knew Sir Blamor de Ganis that he was liing Anguish of Ireland was come thi-
a noble knight, and of noble knights ther, and he was put in great distress,
come. Then the king of Ireland was and there Gouvernail told Sir Tristram
simply purveyed of his answer, therefore how king Anguish was summoned and
the judges gave him respite by the third appealed of murder. Truly, said Sir
day to give his answer. So the 'king Tristram, these be the bes: tidings that
departed unto his lodging. The mean ever came to me this seven year, for
while there came a lady by Sir Tris- now shall the king of Ireland have need
tram's pavilion making great dole. What of my help, for I dare say there is no
aileth you, said Sir Tristram, that ye knight in this country that is not of
make such dole ? Ah, fair knight, said Arthur's court dare do battle with Sir
the lady, I am ashamed unless that some Blamor de Ganis, and for to win the
good knight help me, for a great lady of love of the king of Ireland I will take
worship sent by me a fair child and a the battle upon me, and therefore Gou-
rich unto Sir Launcelot du Lake, and vernail bring me, I charge thee, to the
hereby there met with me a knight and king. Then Gouvernail went unto king
threw me down from my palfrey, and Anguish of Ireland and saluted him fair.
took away the child from me. Well my The king welcomed him and asked him
lady, said Sir Tristram, and for my lord what he would. Sir, said Gouvernail,
Sir Launcelot's sake I shall get you that here a knight near hand that desireth
is
child again, or else I shall be beaten for to speak with you he bad me say he
:
it. And so Sir Tristram took his horse, would do you service. What knight is
and asked the lady which way the knight he. said the king. Sir, he said, it is Sir
rode. And then she told him. And he Tristram de Liones, that for your good
rode after him, and within a mile he grace ye shewed him in your lands
overtook that knight. And then Sir Tris- will reward in these countries.
you
tram bad him turn and give again the Come on fellow, said the king, with me
child. anon, and shew me unto Sir Tristram.
So the king took a little hackney and
CHAP. XXI.
but few fellowship with him until he
How Sir Trhtram rescued a child from a came unto Sir Tristram's pavilion. And
and how Gouvernail told him of
knight, when Sir Tristram saw the king, he ran
king Anguish. unto him and would have holden his.
The knight turned his horse, and he stirrup. But the king lept from his
made him ready for to fight. And then horse lightly, and either halsed other
Sir Tristram smote him with a sword in arms. My
gracious lord, said Sir
such a buffet that he tumbled to the Tristram, gramercy of your great good-
earth. And then he yielded him unto nesses shewed unto me in your marches
Sir Tristram. Then come
thy way, said and lands and at that time I pro-
:
Sir Tristram, and bring the child to mised you to do my service and ever
the lady again. So he took his horse it
lay in my power. And
gentle knight,
meekly and rode with Sir Tristram, and said the king unto Tristram, now
Eir
then by the way Sir Tristram asked him have I great need of you never had
;
Sir, as for that, let him be, he shall though an horse hath failed me, I trust
never be refused, and as he were the the earth will not fail me. And then Sir-
best knight that now beareth shield or Tristram alight and dressed him unto
spear. So king Anguish departed unto battle,and there they lashed together
king Carados and the kings that were strongly as racing and tracing, foining
that time as judges, and told them and dashing many sael strokes, that the
that he had found his champion ready. kings and knights had great wonder
12 — 2
i8o MORTF. T) ARTHUR. BOOK VIII.
require thee, as thou art a noble knight, part adversary both the king and the
7
,
and the best knight that ever I found, champion, have pity of Sir Blamor's
that thou wilt slay me out, for I would knighthood. My lords, said Bleoberis,
not live to be made lord of all the I will right well as ye will.
earth, for I had lever die with worship Then the kings called the king of
than live with shame and needs, Sir ; Ireland,and found him good and treat-
Tristram, thou must slay me, or else able. And then, by all their advices, Sir
thou shalt never win the field, for I will Tristram and Sir Bleoberis took up Sir
never say the loth word. And there- Blamor, and the two brethren were ac-
fore if thou dare slay me, slay me I corded with king Anguish, and kissed
require thee. When Sir Tristram heard and made friends for ever. And then
him say so knightly, he wist not what Sir Blamor and Sir Tristram kissed to-
to do with him he remembering him
;
gether, and there they made their oaths
of both parties of what blood he was
;
that they would never none of them
come, and for Sir Launcelot's sake he two brethren fight with Sir Tristram,
would be full loth to slay him, and in and Sir Tristram made the same oath.
the other party in no wise he might not And for that gentle battle all the blood
choose but he must make him to say of Sir Launcelot loved Sir Tristram for
the loth word, or else to slay him. ever.
Then Sir Tristram start aback, and Then king Anguish and Sir Tristram
went to the kings thai were judges, and took their leave, and sailed into Ireland
there he kneeled down before them, with great nobleness and joy. So when
and besought them for their worships, they were in Ireland the king let make
and for king Arthur's, and Sir Launce- it known
throughout all the land, how
lot's sake, that they would take this and in what manner Sir Tristram had
matter in their hands. For my fair done for him. Then the queen and all
lords, said Sir Tristram, it were shame that there were made the most of him
and pity that this noble knight that that they might. But the joy that La
yonder lieth should be slain, for ye Beale Isoud made of Sir Tristram there
hear well shamed will he not be, and I might no tongue tell, for of men earthly
pray to God that he never be slain nor she loved him most.
shamed for me. And as for the king
chap. xxiv. TRISTRAM DEMANDS ISOUD FOR KING MARK. 181
How Sir Tristram demanded La Beale seemed by the colour and the taste that
it was noble wine. Then Sir Tristram
Isoud for king Mark, and how Sir
Tristram and Isoud drank the love
took the flacket in his hand, and said,
drink.
Madam Isoud, here is the best drink
that ever ye drank, that dame Brng-
Then upon a clay king Anguish asked waine your maiden, and Gouvernail my
Sir Tristram why he asked not his servant, have kept for themselves. Then
boon, for whatsoever he had promised they laughed and made good cheer, and
him he should have it without fail. either drank to other freely, and they
Sir, said Sir Tristram, now is it time, thought never drink that ever they
this is all that I will desire, that ye will drank to other was so sweet nor so
give me La Beale Isoud your daughter, good. But by that their drink was in
not for myself, but for mine uncle king their bodies, they loved either other so
Mark, that shall have her to wife, for well that never their love departed for
so have I promised him. Alas, said weal neither for woe. And thus it hap-
the king, I had lever than all the ped the love first betwixt Sir Tristram
land that I have ye would wed her and l„i Beale Isoud, the which love never
yourself. Sir, and I did, then were departed the days of their life. So then
I shamed for ever in this world, and they sailed till by fortune they came
false of my promise. Therefore, said nigh a castle that bight Pluere, and
Sir Tristram, pray you hold your
I thereby arrived for to repose them,
promise that ye promised me, for this weening to them to have had good
is my desire, that
ye will give me La harbourage. But anon as Sir Tristram
Beale Isoud to go with me into Corn- was within the castle they were taken
wall, for to be wedded to king Mark prisoners, for the custom of the castle
mine uncle. As for
that, said king was such, who that rode by that castle,
Anguish, ye shall have her with you, and brought any lady, he must needs
to do with her what it please you, fight with the lord, that hight Breunor.
that is for to say if that
ye list to wed And if it were so that Breunor wan the
her yourself, that is to me levest and : field,then the knight stranger and his
if ye will give her unto
king Mark your lady he put to death, what that ever
uncle, that is in your choice. they were and if it were so that the
;
the lord of this castle holdeth us in Sir, said Tristram, thisa foul custom
is
prison : it was never the custom of no and horrible and rather than my lady
;
place of worship that ever I came in, should lose her head, yet had 1 lever
that when a knight and a lady asked lose my head. Nay, nay, said Sir Breu-
harbour, and they to receive them, and nor, the ladies shall be first shewed
after to destroy them that be his guests. together, and the one shall have her
Sir, said the knight, this is the old judgment. Nay, I will not so, said Sir
custom of this castle, that when a Tristram, for here is none that will give
knight cometh here, he must needs righteous judgment. But I doubt not,
fight with our lord, and he that is the said Sir Tristram, my lady is fairer than
weaker must lose his head. And when thine, and that will I prove and make
that is done, if his lady that he bringeth good with my hand. And whosoever
be fouler than our lord's wife, she must he be that will say the contrary I will
lose her head :and if she be fairer prove it on his head. And therewith
proved than is our lady, then shall the Sir Tristram shewed La Beale Isoud,
lady of this castle lose her head. Now, and turned her thrice about with his
said Sir Tristram, this is a foul custom naked sword in his hand. And when
and a shameful. But one advantage Sir Breunor saw that, he did the same
have I, said Sir Tristram, I have a lady wise turn his lady. But when Sir
is fair enough, fairer saw I never in all Breunor beheld La Beale Isoud, him
my life days, and I doubt not for lack thought he never saw a fairer lady, and
of beauty she shall not lose her head, then he dread his lady's head should be
and rather than I should lose my head off. And so all the people that were
I will fight for it on a fair field. there present gave judgment that I>a
Wherefore, sir knight, I pray you tell Beale Isoud was the fairer lady, and the
your lord that I will be ready as to- better made. How now, said Sir Tris-
morn with my lady, and myself to tram, me seemeth it were pity that my
battle, if it be so I may have my horse lady should lose her head, but because
and mine armour. Sir, said that knight, that thou and she of long time have
I undertake that your desire shall be used this wicked custom, and by you
sped right well. both there have many good knights and
And then he said, Take your rest, ladies been destroyed, for that cause it
and look that ye be up by times to were no loss destroy you both.
to
make you ready and your lady, for ye Truly, said Sir Breunor, for to say the
shallwant no thing that you behoveth. sooth, thy lady is fairer than mine, and
And therewith he departed, and on the that me sore repenteth. And so I hear
morn betimes that same knight came the people privily say for of all women
;
to Sir Tristram and fetched him out I saw none so fair, and therefore if
and his lady, and brought him horse thou wilt slay my doubt not but
lady, I
and armour that was his own, and bad I shall slay thee and have thy lady.
him make him ready to the field, for all Thou shalt win her, said Sir Tristram,
the estates and commons of that lord- as dear as ever knight won lady, and
ship were there ready to behold that because of thine own judgment, as thou
battle and judgment. Then came Sir wouldest have done to my lady if that
Breunor, the lord of that castle, with she had been fouler, and because of the
his lady in his hand muffled, and asked evil custom, give me thy lady, said
Sir Tristram where was his lady :
—
For Tristram. And therewithall Sir Tris-
and thy lady be fairer than mine, with tram strode unto him and took his lady
thy sword smite off my lady's head, and from him, and with an awk stroke he
if my lady be fairer than thine, with my smote off her head clean. Well knight,
sword 1 must strike off her head. And said Sir Breunor, now hast thou done
if I may win thee,
yet shall thy lady be me a despite.
mine, and thou shalt lose thy head.
CHAP. XXVII. OF TRISTRAM AT THE CASTLE PLUERE. 1*3
less I will win thy lady and I may. Then came Sir Galahad and the kir.<7
Then they took their horses and came with the hundred knights with him, and
together as it had been the thunder and
; this Sir Galahad proffered to fight with
Sir Tristram smote Sir Breunor clean Sir Tristram hand for hand. And so
from his horse, and lightly he rose up ;
they made them ready to go unto battle
and as Sir Tristram came again by him on horseback with great courage. Then
lie thrust his horse throughout both the Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram met to-
shoulders, that his horse hurled here and gether so hard that either bare other
there and fell dead to the ground. And down, horse and all, to the earth. And
ever Sir Breunor ran after to have slain then they avoided their horses as noble
vSirTristram, but Sir Tristram was light knights, and dressed their shields and
and nimble and voided his horse lightly. drew their swords with ire and ran-
And or ever Sir Tristram might dress cour, and they lashed together many
his shield and his sword, the other gave sad strokes, and one while striking,
him three or four sad strokes. Then another while foining, tracing and tra-
they rushed together like two boars, versing as noble knights, thus they
tracing and traversing mightily and fought long, near half a day, and either
wisely as two noble knights. For this were sore wounded. At the last Sir
Sir Breunor was a proved knight, and Tristram waxed light and big, and
had been, or then, the death of many doubled his strokes, and drove Sir Gala-
good knights, that it was pity that he had aback on the one side and on the
had so long endured. Thus they fought, other, so that he was like to have been
hurling here and there nigh two hours, slain. "With that came the king with
and either were wounded sore. Then the hundred knights, and all that fellow-
at the last Sir Breunor rushed upon Sir ship went fiercely upon Sir Tristram.
Tristram, and took him in his arms, for When Sir Tristram saw them coming
he trusted much in his strength. Then upon him, then he wist well he might
was Sir Tristram called the strongest not endure. Then as a wise knight
and the highest knight of the world, for of war, he said to Sir Galahad the
he was called bigger than Sir Launcelot, haut prince, Sir, ye shew to me no
but Sir Launcelot was better breathed. knighthood, for to suffer all your men
So anon Sir Tristram thrust Sir Breunor to have ado with me all at once, and as
down groveling, and then he unlaced me seemeth ye be a noble knight of
his helm and strake off his head. And your hands, it is a great shame to you.
then allthey that longed to the castle Truly, said Sir Galahad, there is none
came to him and did him homage and other way but thou must yield thee to
fealty, praying him that he would abide me, other else to die, said Sir Galahad
there still a little while to fordo that to Sir Tristram. I will rather yield me
foul custom. Sir Tristram granted to you than die, for that is more for
thereto. The meanwhile one of the the might of your men than for the
knights of the castle rode unto Sir might of your hands. And therewith
Galahad, the haut prince, the which Sir Tristram took his own sword by
was Sir Breunor's son, which was a the point, and put the pommel in the
noble knight, and told him what mis- hand of Sir Galahad. Therewithal!
adventure his father had and his came the king with the hundred
mother. knights, and hard began to assail Sir
Tristram. Let be, said Sir Galahad, be
i$4 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VIII.
here may ye hear the nobleness that mides, I trust to your promise, and if
followeth Sir Launcelot. Alas, said Sir ye will abide here half an hour I shall
Tristram, and I had not this message in bring her to you. I shall abide you,
hand with this fair lady, truly I would said La Beale Isoud. Then Sir Pala-
never stint or I had found Sir Launce- mides rode forth his way to that nun-
lot. Then Sir Tristram and La Beale nery, and he came again with
lightly
I soud went to the sea and came into dame Bragwaine but by her good will
;
Cornwall, and there all the barons met she would not have come again, because
them. for love of the queen she stood in ad-
CHAP. XXIX. venture of her life. Notwithstanding,
half against her will, she went with Sir
Of wedding of king Mark to La Beale
the
Palamides unto the queen. And when
Isoud, and of Bragioaine her maid, and the queen saw her she was passing glad.
of Palamides. Now madam, said Palamides, remember
And anon they were richly wedded upon your promise, for I have fulfilled
with great nobley. But ever, as the my promise. Sir Palamides, said the
French book saith, Sir Tristram and La queen, I wot not what is your desire,
Beale Isoud loved ever together. but 1 will that ye wit howbcil I promised
Then was there great justs and great you largely I thought none evil, nor I
tourneying, and many lords and ladies warn you none ill will I do. Madam,
were at that feast, and Sir Tristram was said Sir Palamides. as at this time ye
most praised of all other. Thus dined shall not know my desire, but before my
the feast long, and after the feast was lord your husband there shall ye know
done, within a little while after, by the that I will have my desire that ye have
assent of two ladies that were with queen promised me. And therewith the queen
Isoud, they ordained for hate and envy departed and rode home to the king,
to destroy dame Bragwaine, that was and Palamides rode after her. And
Sir
maiden and lady unto La Beale Isoud, and when Sir Palamides came before the
she was sent into the forest for to fetch king he said. Sir king, I require you as
herbs, and there she was met, and bound ye be a righteous king, that ye will
feet and hand to a tree, and so she was judge methe right. Tell me the cause,
bounden three days. And by fortune Sir said the king, and ye shall have right.
Palamides found dame Bragwaine and
there he delivered her from the death, CHAP. XXX.
and brought her to a nunnery there
beside to be recovered. When Isoud How Palamides demanded queen Isoud,
and how Lambegus rode after to rescue
the queen missed her maiden wit ye well
she was right heavy as ever was any her, and of the escape of Isoud.
queen, for of all earthly women she Sir, said Palamides, I promised your
loved her best, the cause was for she queen Isoud to bring again dame Brag-
came with her out of her country. waine that she had lost, upon this cove-
And so upon a day the queen Isoud nant, that she should grant me a boon
walked into the forest to put away her that I would ask, and without grudging
thoughts, and there she went herself other advisement she granted me. What
unto a well and made great moan. say ye, my lady? said the king. It is
And suddenly there came Sir Palamides truly as he saith, said the queen, to say
to her, and had heard all her complaint, the sooth I promised him his asking for
and Madame Isoud, and if ye will
said, love and joy that I had to see her. Well
antme my boon I shall bring to you madam, said the king, and if ye were
Iame Bragwaine safe and sound. And hasty to grant him what boon he would
the queen was so glad of
his proffer that ask, I will well that ye perform your
suddenly unadvised she granted all his promise. Then said Sir Palamides, I
asking. Well madam, said Sir Pala- will that ye wit that I will have your
1 86 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VIII.
queen to lead her and govern her swords and hewed on helms and hau-
where as me list. Therewith the king berks. At the last Sir Palamides gave
stood still, and bethought him of Sir Sir Lambegus such a wound that he
Tristram, and deemed that he would fell down like a dead
knight to the
rescue her. And then hastily the king earth. Then he looked after La Beale
answered, Take her with the adventures Isoud, and then she was gone he nist
that shall fall of it, for Sir Palamides as where. Wit ye well Sir Palamides
I suppose thou wilt not keep her no was never so heavy. So the queen ran
while. As for that, said Sir Palamides, into the forest, and there she found a
I dare right well abide the adventure. well, and therein she had thought to
And so to make short tale, Sir Pala- have drowned herself. And as good
mides took her by the hand and said, fortune would, there came a knight to
Madam, grudge not to go with me, her that had a castle thereby, his name
for I desire nothing but your own was Sir Adtherp. And when he found
promise. As for that, said the queen, I the queen in that mischief he rescued
fear not greatly to go with thee, howbeit her, and brought her to his castle.
thou hast me at advantage upon my And when he wist what she was, he
promise. For I doubt not I shall be armed him and took his horse, and said
worshipfully rescued from thee. As for he would be avenged upon Palamides,
that, said Sir Palamides, be it as it be and so he rode till he met with him, and
may. So queen Isoud was set behind there Sir Palamides wounded him sore,
Palamides. and rode his way. Anon the and by force he made him to tell him
king sent after Sir Tristram, but in no the cause why he did battle with him,
wise he could be found, for he was in and how he had led the queen unto
the forest an hunting ; for that was al- his castle. Now bring me there, said
ways his custom, but if he used arms, to Palamides, or thou shalt die of my
chase and to hunt in the forests. Alas, hands. Sir, said Sir Adtherp, I am so
said the king, now I am shamed for wounded I may not follow, but ride you
ever, that by mine own assent my lady thisway, and it shall bring you into my
and my queen shall be devoured. Then castle,and there within is the queen.
came forth a knight, his name was Lam- And then Sir Palamides rode still till
begus, and he was a knight of Sir Tris- he came to the castle, and at a window
tram. My lord, said this knight, sith ye La Beale Isoud saw Sir Palamides, then
have trust in my lord Sir Tristram, wit she made the gates to be shut strongly.
ye well for his sake I will ride after your And when he saw he might not come
queen and rescue her, or else I shall be within the castle, he put off his bridle
beaten. Gramercy, said the king, and I and his saddle, and put his horse to
live, Sir Lambegus, I shall deserve it. pasture, and down at the
set himself
And then Sir Lambegus armed him, and gate like a man
that was out of his
rode after as fast as he might. And wit that recked not of himself.
then within awhile lie overtook Sir
Palamides and then Sir Palamides left
:
CHAP. XXXI.
the queen. What art thou? said Sir
How Sir Tristram rode after Palamides,
Palamides, art thou Tristram ?
Nay, he
am and how he found him and fought with
said, I his servant, and my name is
him, and by the mean of Isoud the
Sir Lambegus. That me repenteth, said
battle ceased.
Sir Palamides, I had lever thou hadst
been Sir Tristram. I believe you well, Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that
said Sir Lambegus, but when thou when he was come home and wist
meetest with Sir Tristram thou shalt La Beale Isoud was gone with Sir Pala-
have thy hands full. And then they mides, wit ye well he was wroth out of
hurtled together and all to-brast their measure. Alas, said Sir Tristram, I am
spears, and then they pulled out their this dav shamed. Then he cried to Gou-
CHAP. XXXI. HOW TRISTRAM RESCUED ISOUD. 187
strong battle on both parties, for both Sir Tristram let fetch Sir Lambegus his
i88 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VIII.
knight from the forester's house, and it called peerless and matchless of
any
was long or he was whole, but at the christian knight, and of his mightand
last he was well recovered. Thus they his hardiness we knew none so good a
lived with joy and play a long while. knight, but if it be Sir Launcelot du
But ever Sir Andred, that was nigh Lake. And if he depart from your court
cousin unto Sir Tristram, lay in a and go to king Arthur's court, wit ye
watch to Avait betwixt Sir Tristram and well he will get him such friends there
La Beale Isoud, for to take them and that he will not set by your malice.
slander them. So upon a day Sir Tris- And therefore, sir, I counsel you to take
tram talked with La Beale Isoud in a him to your grace. I will Mell, said the
window, and that espied Sir Andred, king, that he be sent for, that we may
and told it to the king. Then king be friends. Then the barons sent for Sir
Mark took a sword in his hand and Tristram under a safe conduct. And so
came to Sir Tristram, and called him M'hen Sir Tristram came to the king, he
false traitor, and would have stricken was welcome, and no rehearsal Mas
him. But Sir Tristram was nigh him, made, and there Mas game and play.
and ran under his sword, and took it out And then the king and the queen went
of his hand. And then the king cried, on hunting, and Sir Tristram.
Where are my knights and my men ? I
charge you slay this traitor. But at CHAP. XXXIII.
that time there was not one would
move for his words. When Sir Tris- How Sir Lamorak justed tvith thirty
tram saw there was not one would be knights, and Sir Tristram at request of
six strokes flatling on the neck that knights ready to just unto all them that
he made him to fall upon the nose. came in at that time. And there by for-
And then Sir Tristram went his May tune came Sir Lamorak de Galis and
and armed him, and took his horse and Sir Diiant, and there Sir Driant justed
his man, and so he rode into that forest. right well, but at the last he had a fall.
And there upon a day Sir Tristram met Then Sir Lamorak proffered to just.
with two brethren that were knights And M'hen he began he fared so With
with king Mark, and there he strake off the thirty knights that there Mas not
the head of the one, and Mounded the one of them but that he gave him a fall,
other to the death, and he made him to and some of them were sore hurt. I
bear his brother's head in his helm marvel, said king Mark, what knight he
unto the king, and thirty more there he is that doth such deeds of arms. Sir,
wounded. And when that knight came said Sir Tristram, I know him for a
before the king to say his message, he noble knight as few now be living, and
there died afore the king and the queen. his name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. It
Then king Mark called his council unto Mere great shame, said the king, that he
him and asked advice of his barons What should go thus away, unless that some
was best to do with Sir Tristram. Sir, of you met with him better. Sir, said Sir
said the barons, in especial Sir Dinas Tristram, me seemeth it Wefre no wor-
the seneschal, Sir, Me Wffl give you ship for a noble man for to have ado
counsel for to send for Sir Tristram, for M'ith him and for because at this time
;
we Will thai ye wit many men will hold he hath done overmuch for any mean
with Sir Tristram and he were hard knight living, therefore, as me seemeth,
bested. And sir, said Sir Dinas, ye it were
great shame and villainy to tempt
shall understand that Sir Tristram is him any more at this time, insomuch as
CHAP. XXXIII. OF SIR TRISTRAM AND SIR LAMORAK. 189
forth, and there Sir Lamorak met him So he departed from him with Sir
mightily, and what with the might of Driant, and by the way they met with
his own spear, and of Sir Tristram's a knight that was sent from Morgan
spear, Sir Lamorak's hoise fell to the le Fay unto king Arthur, and this
earth, and he sitting in the saddle. Then knight had a fair horn harnessed with
anon as lightly as he might he avoided gold, and the horn had such a virtue
the saddle and his horse, and put his that there might no lady nor gentle-
shield afore him, and drew his sword. woman drink of that horn but if she
And then he bad Sir Tristram, Alight, were true to her husband, and if she
thou knight, and thou darest. Nay, said were false she should spill all the drink,
Sir Tristram, I will no more have ado and if she were true to her lord she
with thee, for I have done to thee over- might drink peaceably. And because
much unto my dishonour, and to thy of queen Guenever, and in the despite
worship. As for that, said Sir Lamo- of Sir Launcelot, this horn was sent
rak, I can thee no thank since thou
: unto king Arthur, and by force Sir
hast forjusted me on horseback, I re- Lamorak made that knight to tell all
quire thee, and I beseech thee, and thou the cause why he bare that horn. Now
be Sir Tristram, fight with me on foot. shalt thou bear horn, said La-
this
I will not so, said Sir Tristram and wit ; morak unto king Mark, or else choose
ye well my name is Sir Tristram de thou to die for it. For I tell thee plainly,
Liones, and well I know ye be Sir in despite and reproof of Sir Tristiam
Lamorak de Galis, and this that I have thou shalt bear that horn unto king
done to you was against my will, but I Mark his uncle, and say thou to him
was required thereto but to say that
; that I sent it him for to assay his lady,
I will do at your request as at this time, and if she be true to him he shall prove
I will have no more ado with you, for her. So the knight went his way unto
me shameth of that I have done. As king Mark, and brought him that rich
for the shame, said Sir Lamorak, on horn, and said that Sir Lamorak sent
thy part or on mine, bear thou it and it him, and thereto he told him the
wilt, for though a mare's son hath virtue of that horn. Then the king
failed me, now a queen's son shall not made queen Isoud to drink thereof, and
fail thee ; and therefore, and thou be an hundred ladies, and there were but
ithou
190 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK VIII.
four ladies of all those that drank clean. die. For dare well say, said Sir Tris-
I
Alas, said king Mark, this is a great tram, that I never yet met with no
Then the barons gathered them to- false traitor that thou art with thy vaunt-
gether, and said plainly, they would not ing, for all thy boast thou shalt die this
have those ladies burnt for an horn day. O
Andred, Andred, said Sir Tris-
made by sorcery, that came from as tram, thou shouldst be my kinsman, and
false a sorceress and witch as then was now thou art to me full unfriendly, but
living. For that horn did never good, and there were no more but thou and I,
but caused strife and debate, and always thou wouldst not put me to death. No !
in her days she had been an enemy to said Sir Andred, and therewith he drew
all true lovers. So there were many his sword and would have slain him.
knights made their avow, if ever they When Sir Tristram saw him make such
met with Morgan le Fay that they countenance, he looked upon both his
would shew her short courtesy. Also hands that were fast bound unto two
Sir Tristram was passing wroth that knights, and suddenly he pulled them
Sir Lamorak sent that horn unto king both to him and unwrast his hands,
Mark, for well he knew that it was done and then he lept unto his cousin An-
in the despite of him and therefore he
; dred and wrested his sword out of
thought to quit Sir Lamorak. Then, his hands, then he smote Sir Andred
always, Sir Tristram used to go to that he fell to the earth, and so Sir
queen Isoud when he might, and ever Tristram fought till he had killed ten
Sir Andred his cousin watched him night knights. So then Sir Tristram gat the
and day, for to take him with La Beale chapel and kept it
mightily. Then the
Isoud. And so, upon a day, Sir Andred cry was
great, and the people drew fast
his cousin espied the hour and the time unto Sir Andred, more than an hundred.
when Sir Tristram went to his lady. Y\ hen Sir Tristram saw the people draw
And then Sir Andred gat unto him twelve unto him, he remembered that he was
knights, and he set upon Sir Tristram naked, and shut fast the chapel door,
secretly and suddenly, and there Sir Tris- and brake the bars of a window, and so
tram was taken with La Beale Isoud, he lept out and fell upon the crags in the
and then was he bound hand and foot, sea. And so at that time Sir Andred nor
and so was he kept until the next clay. none of his fellows might get to him at
And then by assent of king Mark, and of that time.
Sir Andred, and of some of the barons,
CHAP. XXXV.
Sir Tristram was led unto a chapel which
stood upon the sea rocks,, there for to
How Sir Tristram was holpen by his men,
bound with forty knights. And when lazar-cote, and how Tristram was hurt.
Sir Tristram saw there was none other So when they were departed, Gouver-
remedy but needs that he must die, then nail and Sir Lambegus, and Sir Sentraille
said he, Fair lords, remember what I de Lushon, that were Sir Tristram's men,
have done for the country of Cornwall, sought their master. When they heard
and in what jeopardy I have been in for he was escaped, then they were passing
the weal of you all. For when I fought glad, and on the rocks they found him,
for the truage of Cornwall with Sir and with towels they pulled him up. And
Marhaus the good knight, I was pro- then Sir Tristram asked them where La
mised for to be better rewarded, when Beale Isoud was. for he wend she had
ye all refused to take the battle ;
there- been had away of Andred's people. Sir,
fore, asye be good gentle knights, see said Gouvernail, she is put in a lazar-
me not thus shamefully to die, for it is cote. Alas, said Sir Tristram, this is a
shame to all knighthood thus to see me full ungoodly place for such a fair lady ;
CHAP XXXVI. HOW TRISTRAM WENT TO BRITANNY. 191
great pain long time, for the arrow that allmy 'kingdom I will resign to thee.
he was hurt withall was envenomed. God defend, said Sir Tristram, for I am
Then by the means of La Beale beholden unto you for your daughter's
Isoud she told a lady that was cousin sake to do for you. Then by the great
unto dame Bragwaine, and she came means of king Howel and Kehydius
to Sir Tristram, and told him that he his son, by great proffers there grew
the court of king Arthur, and there he and speak we of Sir lamorak de Galis,
met with Sir Launcelot du Lake, and that as he sailed his ship fell on a rock
told him of the marriage of Sir Tris- and perished all, save Sir Lamorak
tram. Then
said Sir Launcelot, Fie and his squire, and there he swam
upon him, untiue knight to his lady; mightily, and fishers of the Isle of Ser-
that so noble a knight as Sir Tristram vage took him up, and his squire was
is, should be found to his first lady false, drowned, and the shipmen had great
La Beale Isoud, queen of Cornwall. But labour to save Sir Lamorak's life for
say ye him this, said Sir Launcelot, that allthe comfort that they could do. And
of all knights in the world I loved him the lord of that isle hight Sir Nabon le
most, and had most joy of him, and all Noire, a great mighty giant. And this
was for his noble deeds and let him;
Sir Nabon hateth all the knights of king
wit the love between him and me is Arthur, and in no wise he would do
done for ever, arid that I give him warn- theni favor. And these fishers told Sir
ing from this day forth as his moital Lamorak all the guise of Sir Nabon,
enemy. how there came never knight of king
Arthur's but he destroyed him. And at
CHAP. XXXVII. the last battle that he did was slain Sir
How Sir Suppinabiles told Sir Tristram Nanowne le Petite, the which he put to
how he was defamed in the court of a shameful death in despite of king
king Arthur, and of Sir Lamorak. Arthur, for he was drawn limb-meal.
Then departed Sir Suppinabiles unto That forthinketh me, said Sir Lamo-
Britanny again, and there he found Sir rak, for that knight's death, for he was
Tristram, and told him that he had my cousin. And if I were at mine ease
been in king Arthur's court. Then said as well as ever I was, I would revenge
Sir Tristram, Heard ye any thing of his death. Peace, said the fishers, and
me ? Truly, said Sir Suppinabiles, there make here no words, for, or ye depart
I heard Sir Launcelot speak of you from hence, Sir Nabon must know that
great shame, and that ye be a false ye have been here, or else we should
Knight to your lady, and he bad me to die for your sake. So that I be whole,
do you to wit that he will be your said Lamorak, of my disease that I
mortal enemy in every place where he have taken in the sea, I will that ye tell
may meet you. That me repentelh, said him that I am a knight of king Arthur's,
Tristram, for of all knights I loved to for I was never afeard to deny my
be in his fellowship. So Sir Tristram lord.
made great moan, and was ashamed CHAP. XXXVIII.
that noble knights should defame him
for the sake of his«iady. And in this
Hew Sir Tristram and arrived in
his wife
mean while La Beale Isoud made a Wales, and how he met there with Sir
Lamorak.
letterunto queen Guenever, complain-
ing her of the untruth of Sir Tristram, Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that
and how he hod wedded the king's upon a day he took a little barge, and
daughter of Britanny. Queen Guenever his wife Isoud la Blanch Mains, with
sent her another letter, and bad her be Sir Kehydius her brother, to play them
of good cheer, for she should have joy in the coasts. And when they were
after sorrow, for Sir Tristram was so from the land, there was a wind drove
noble a knight called, that by crafts of them into the coast of Wales upon this
sorcery ladies would make such noble Isle of Servage, where as was Sir Lamo-
men to wed them, but in the end, rak, and there the barge all to-rove,
queen Guenever said, it shall be thus, and there dame Isoud was hurt, and as
that he shall hate her, and love you well as they might they gat into the
better than ever he did tofore. forest, and there by a well he saw Seg-
So leave we Sir Tristram in Britanny, warides and a damsel. And then either
CHAP. XXXIX. OF SIR NABON LE NOIRE. r
93
that delivered the king of Ireland from kindness many ladies ye put to a re-
Sir Blamor de Ganis, and I am he that proof, when ye sent the horn from
beat Sir Palamides, and wit ye well, I Morgan le Fay to king Mark, where as
am Sir Tristram de Liones, that by the ye did this in despite of me. Well, said
grace of God shall deliver this woful he, and it were to do again, so would I
Isle of Servage. So Sir Tristram was do, for I had lever strife and debate fell
well eased then one told him there
; in king Mark's court rather than Ar-
was a knight of king Arthur's that was thur's court, for the honour of both
wrecked on the rocks. What is his courts be not alike. As to that, said Sir
name ? said Sir Tristram. We
wot not, Tristram, I know
But that that
well.
said the fishers, but he keepeth it no was done, it was me, but
for despite of
counsel but that he is a knight of king all your malice hurt not greatly. There-
Arthur's, and by the mighty lord of this fore, said Sir Tristram, ye shall leave
isle he setteth nought by. I pray you, all your malice and so will I, and let us
said Sir Tristram, and ye may bring assay how we may win worship between
him hither that I may see him and if ; you and me upon this giant Sir Nabon
he be any of the knights of Arthur's I le Noire, that is lord of this island, to
shall know him. Then the lady prayed destroy him. Sir, said Sir Lamorak,
the fishers to bring him to her place. now Iunderstand your knighthood, it
So, on the morrow they brought him may not be false that all men say, for
thither in a fisher's raiment. And as of your bounty, nobless, and worship,
soon as Sir Tristram saw him he smiled of all knights ye are peerless and for ;
upon him and knew him well, but he courtesy and gentleness I shewed you
knew not Sir Tristram. Fair knight, ungentleness, and that now me re-
said Sir Tristram, me seemeth by your penteth.
cheer ye have been diseased but late,
and also me thinketh I should know you
CHAP. XXXIX.
heretofore. I will well, said Sir Lamo- How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Nabon
13
i
9+ MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK VIII.
people of that isle should be at his new play. That is well said, fellow, said
castle the fifth clay after. And the same Sir Nabon. So when Sir Tristram was
day the son of Nabon should be made armed as him liked best, and well
knight, and all the knights of that shielded and sworcled, he dressed to
valley and thereabout should be there him on foot, for well he knew that Sir
to just, and all those of the realm of Nabon would not abide a stroke with
Logris should be there to just with a spear, therefore he would slay all
them of North Wales and thither; knights' horses. Now
fair fellow, said
came five hundred knights, and they of Sir Nabon, let us play. So then they
the country brought there wSir Lamorak, fought long on foot, tracing and tra-
and Sir Tristram, and Sir Kehydius, and versing, smiting and foining long with-
Sir Segwarides, for they durst none out any rest. At the last Sir Nabon
otherwise do. And then Sir Nabon prayed him to tell him his name. Sir
lent Sir Lamorak horse and armour at Nabon, tell thee my name is Sir Tris-
I
Sir Lamorak's desire, and Sir Lamo- tram de Liones, a knight of Cornwall
rak justed and did such deeds of arms under king Mark. Thou art welcome,
that Nabon and all the people said said Nabon, for of all knights I
Sir
there was never knight that ever they have most desired to fight with thee or
saw do such deeds of arms. For, as with Sir Launcelot. So then they went
the French book saith, he forjwsted all eagerly together, and Sir Tristram slew
that were there, for the most part of Sir Nabon, and so forthwith he lept to
five hundred knights, that none abode his son and strake off his head. And
him in his saddle. Then Sir Nabon then all the country said they would
proffered to play with him his play. — hold of Sir Tristram. Nay, said Sir
For I saw never no knight do so much Tristram, I will not so a wor-
: here is
upon a day. I will well, said Sir La- shipful knight Sir Lamorak de Galis
morak, play as I may, but I am weary that for me he shall be lord of this
and sore bruised and there either gat a
:
country, for he hath done here great
spear, but Nabon would not encounter deeds of arms. Nay, said Sir Lamo-
with Sir Lamorak, but smote his horse rak, I will not be lord of this country,
in the forehead and so slew him, and for I have not deserved it as well as ye,
then Sir Lamorak went on foot and therefore give ye it where ye will, for I
turned his shield and drew his sword, will none have. Well, said Sir Tris-
and there began strong battle on foot. tram, since ye nor I will not have it, let
But Sir Lamorak was so sore bruised us give it to him that hath not so w ell r
and short breathed, that he traced and deserved it. Do as ye list, said Sir
traversed somewhat aback. Fair fellow, Lamorak, for the gift is yours, for I
said Sir Nabon, hold thy hand, and I will none have and I had deserved it.
shall shew thee more courtesy than ever So it was given
to Segwarides, where-
I shewed knight, because I have seen fore he thanked him, and so was he
this day thy noble knighthood. And lord, and worshipfully he did govern it.
therefore stand thou by, and I will wit And then Sir Segwarides delivered all
whether any of thy fellows will have prisoners, and set good governance in
ado with me. Then when Sir Tristram that valley; and so he returned into
heard that, he stept foith and said, Cornwall, and told king Mark and La
Nabon, lend me horse and sure armour, Beale Isoud how Sir Tristram had ad-
and I will have ado with thee. Well vanced him to the Isle of Seivage, and
fellow, said Sir Nabon, go thou to there he proclaimed in all Cornwall of
yonder pavilion, and arm thee of the all the adventures of these two knights,
best thou findest there, and I shall play so was it openly known. But full woe
a marvellous play with thee. Then, was La Beale Isoud when she heard
said Sir Tristram, look ye play well, or tell that Sir Tristram was wedded to
else peradventure I shall learn you a Isoud La Blanche Mains.
CiLAP, XL. OF SIR LAMORAK AND SIR FROL. '95
took a vessel and sailed into Brilanny of my lord now do your Lest, and in
unto king Howel, wheie he was wel- despite of you I shall rescue him. And
come. And when he heard of these then they lashed all at once to Sir La-
adventures they marvelled of his noble morak but anon at two strokes Sir
;
deeds. Now turn we unto Sir Lamo- Lamorak had slain two of them, and
rak, that when he was departed from then the other two fled. So then Sir
Sir Tristram, he rode out of the forest Lamorak turned again to that knight
tillhe came to an hermitage. When and asked him his name. Sir, he said,
the hermit saw him he asked him from my name is Sir Frol of the Out Isles.
whence he came. Sir, said Sir Lamo- Then he rode with Sir Lamorak and
rak, I come from this valley. Sir, said bare him company; and as they rode
the hermit, thereof I greatly marvel, for by the way they saw a seemly knight
this twenty winter I saw never no riding against them, and all in white.
knight pass this country but he was Ah, said Frol, yonder knight justed
either slain or villainously wounded, or late with me, and smote me down,
passed as a poor prisoner. Those ill therefore I will just with him. Ye shall
customs, said Sir Lamorak, are for- not do so, said Sir lamorak, by my
done for Sir Tristram slew your lord
; counsel,and ye will tell me your quar-
Sir Nabon, and his son. Then was the rel,whether ye justed at his request,
hermit glad, and all his brethren, for or he at youis. Nay, said Sir Frol, I
he said there was never such a tyrant justed with him at my request. Sir,
among Christian men, and therefore,— said Lamorak, then will I counsel you
said the hermit, this valley and franchise deal no more with him, for me seemeth
we will hold of Sir Tristram. So on by countenance he should be a
his
the morrow Sir Lamorak departed. noble knight and no jester, for me think-
And as he rode he saw four knights eth he should be of the Table Round.
fight against one, and that one knight Therefore I will not spare, said Sir Frol ;
defended him well, but at the last the and then he cried and said, Sir knight,
four knights had him down. And then make thee ready to just. That needeth
Sir Lamorak went betwixt them, and not, said the knight, for I have no lust
asked them why they would slay that to just with thee. But yet they feutied
one knight, and said it was shame their spears, and the white knight over-
four against one. Thou shalt well wit, threw Sir Frol, and then he rode his
said the four knights, that he is false. way a soft pace. Then Lamorak
Sir
That is your tale, said Sir Lamorak, rode after him, and prayed him to tell
and when I hear him also speak I will him his name, For me seemeth ye should
say as ye say. Then said Lamorak, be of the fellowship of the Round Table.
Ah knight, can ye not excuse you but Upon a covenant, said he, I will tell you
that ye are a false knight ? Sir, said he, my name, so that ye will not discover
yet can I excuse me both with my words my name, and also that ye will tell me
and with my hands, that I will make yours. Then, said he, my name is Sir
good upon one of the best of them, my Lamorak de Galis. And my name is
body to his body. Then spake they all Sir Launcelot du Lake. Then they put
it once : We will not jeopard our bodies up their swords, and kissed heartily to-
as for thee ; but wit thou well, they said, gether, and either made great joy of
13—2
196 MORTE DARTHUR. EOOK VIII.
Gawaine turned him and ran to him fore I require you, for God's sake, and
that owned the lady with his spear. for the honour of knighthood, forgive
But the knight with pure might smote me all that I have offended unto you.
down Sir Gawaine, and took his lady Alas, said Belliance, leave thy kneeling,
with him. All this Sir Lamorak saw, or else I shall slay thee without mercy.
and said to himself, But I revenge my Then they went again unto battle,
fellow, he will say of me dishonour in and either wounded other, that all the
king Arthur's court. Then Sir Lamo- ground was bloody there as they fought.
rak returned and proffered that knight And at the last Belliance withdrew him
to just. Sir, said he, I am ready. And aback and set him down softly upon a
so they came together with all their little hill, for he was so faint for bleed-
might, and there Sir Lamorak smote ing that he might not stand. Then
the knight through both sides, that he Sir Lamorak threw his shield upon his
fell to the earth dead. Then the lady back, and asked him, What cheer? Well,
rode to that knight's brother that hight said Sir Belliance. Ah sir, yet shall I
Sir Belliance le Orgulous, that dwelled shew you favour in your mal-ease. Ah
CHAP. I. OF LA COTE MALE TAILE. 197
knight, Sir Belliance said, Sir Lamorak with weeping tears. Then Sir Lamo-
thou art a fool, for and I had thee at rak led Sir Belliance to an abbey fast
such advantage as thou hast done me I by, and there Sir Lamorak would
should slay thee, but thy gentleness is not depart from Belliance till he was
so good and large that I must needs whole. And then they swore together
forgive thee mine evil will. And then that none of them should never fight
Sir Lamorak kneeled down and un- against other. So Sir Lamorak de-
laced first his umberere, and then his parted and went to the court of king
own. And then either kissed other Arthur.
?t?ere leue foe of gire 2£amorafc ant) of air Ertetram. ®nti j)ere
king Arthur, and how Sir Kay called because ye are called the most noblest
him in scorn La Cote Male Taile.
king in the world I come to you that ye
At the court of king Arthur there should make me knight. Sir, said Sir
came a young man and bigly made, and Lamorak and Sir Gaheris, it were well
he was richly beseen, and he desired to done to make him knight, for him be-
be made knight of the king, but his seemeth well of person and of counte-
over garment sat overthwartly, how- nance, that he shall prove a good man,
beit it was rich cloth of gold. What is and a good knight and a mighty for ;
your name ? said king Arthur. Sir, Sir, and ye be remembered, even such
said he, my name is Breunor le Noire, one was Sir Launcelot du Lake when
and within short space ye shall know he came first into this court, and full
that I am of good kin. It may well be, few of us knew from whence he came,
said Sir Kay the seneschal, but in mock- and now he is proved the most man of
age ye shall be called La Cote Male worship in the woild, and all your
Taile, that is as much as to say, the evil- court and all your Round Table is by
shapen coat. It is a great thing that Sir Launcelot worshipped and amended
thou askest, said the king and for what ;
more than by any knight now living.
cause wearest thou that rich coat ? tell That is truth, said the king, and to-
me for I can well think for some cause
;
morrow at your request I shall make
it is. Sir, said he, I had a father a noble him knight. So on the morrow there
knight, and as he rode on hunting, upon was an hart found, and thither rode
a day it
happed him to lay him down to king Arthur with a company of his
sleep. And there came a knight that knights to slay the hart. And this
had been long his enemy. And when young man that Sir Kay named La Cote
he saw he was fast on sleep, he all to- Male Taile was there left behind with
hewed him and this same coat had my
;
queen Guenever, and by sudden adven-
father on the same time,- and that maketh ture there was an horrible lion kept
this coat to sit so evil upon me, for the in a strong tower of stone, and it hap-
strokes be on it as I found it, and never pened that he at that time brake loose,
198 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
and came hurling afore the queen and met with him by sudden adventure, and
her knights. And when the queen saw there they fought long, and either
the lion, she cried, and fled, and prayed wounded other passing sore, and they
her knights to rescue her. And there were so weary that they left that battle
was none of them all but twelve that even hand. So this knight that owned
abode, and all the other fled. Then said this shield saw none other way but
La Cote Male Taile, Now I see well he must die and then he commanded
;
that all coward knights be not dead : me to bear this shield to the court of
and therewithal he drew his sword king Arthur, he requiring and praying
and dressed him afore the lion. And some good knight to take this shield,
that lion gaped wide, and came upon and that he would fulfil the quest
him ramping to have slain him. And that he was in. Now what say ye to
he then smote him in the midst of the this quest ? said king Arthur. Is there
head such a mighty stroke that it clave ariy of you here that will take upon him
his head in sunder, and dashed to the to weld this shield ? Then was there not
earth. Then was it told the queen how one that would speak one word. Then
that the young man that Sir Kay named Sir Kay took the shield in his hands. Sir
by scorn La Cote Male Taile had slain knight, said the damsel, what is your
the lion. With that the king came name ? Wit ye well, said he, my name
home. And when the queen told him is Sir Kay the seneschal, that wide-
of that adventure he was well pleased, where is known. Sir, said that damsel,
and said, Upon pain of mine head he lay down that shield, for wit ye well it
shall prove a noble man, and a faithful falleth not for you, for he must be a
knight, and true of his promise. Then better knight than ye that shall weld
the king forthwithal made him knight. this shield. Damsel, said Sir Kay, wit
Now Sir, said this young knight, I re- ye well I took this shield in my hands
quire you and all the knights of your by your leave for to behold it, not to
court, that ye call me by none other that intent, but go wheresoever thou
name but La Cote Male Taile inso- ; wilt, for I will not go with you. Then
much Kay so hath
as Sir named me, so the damsel stood still a great while,
will I be called. I assent me well there- and beheld many of those knights.
to, said the king. Then spake the knight La Cote Male
Taile, Fair damsel, I will take the
CHAP. II. shield and that adventure upon me, so I
wist I should know whither ward my
How a damsel came unto the court and de-
journey might be, for because I was this
sired a knight to take on him an inquest,
day made knight I would take this ad-
which La Cote Male Taile emprized.
venture upon me. What is your name,
Then thatsame day there came a fair young man ? said the damsel. My
damsel into the king's court, and she name is, said he, La Cote Male Taile.
brought with her a great black shield, Well mayest thou be called so, said the
with a white hand in the midst holding damsel, the knight with the evil-shapen
a sword. Other picture was there none coat, but and thou be so hardy to take
in that shield. When king Arthur aw upon thee to Lear that shield and to
her, he asked her from whence she follow me, wit thou well thy skin shall
came, and what she would. Sir, she be as well hewn as thy coat. As 'for
said, I have ridden long and many a day that, said La Cote Male Taile, when I
with this shield many ways, and for this am so hewn I will ask you no salve to
cause 1 am come to your court There
:
— heal me withal. And forthwithal there
was a good knight that owned this came into the court twosquires, and
shield, and this knight had undertaken a brought him great horses and his ar-
great deed of arms to achieve it, and so mour and his spears, and anon he was
it misfortuned him another strong knight armed, and took his leave. -I would not
CHAP. III. OF THE DAMSEL MALEDISANT. 199
by my will, said the king, that ye took Palamides and encountered with him,
upon you that hard adventure. Sir, said and he in the same wise served him as
he, this adventure is mine, and the first did Bleoberis toforehand. What dost
that ever I took upon me, and that will thou here in my fellowship, said the dam-
I follow whatsoever come of me. Then sel Maledisant, thou canst not sit no
that damsel departed, and La Cote Male knight nor withstand him one buffet, but
Taile followed first after. And within a if it were Sir
Dagonet. Ah fair damsel, I
while he overtook the damsel. And am not the worse to take a fall of Sir
anon she missaid him in the foullest Palamides, and yet great disworship
manner. have I none, for neither Bleoberis nor
CHAP. Ill yet Palamides would not fight with me
on foot. As for that, said the damsel, wit
How La Cote Male Taile overthrew Sir
thou well they have disdain and scorn
Bagonet the king's fool, and of the re- to light off their horses to fight with
buke that he had of the damsel.
such a mean knight as thou art. So in
Then Sir Kay ordained Sir Dagonet, the meanwhile there came Sir Mordred,
king Arthur's fool, to follow after La Sir Gawaine's brother, and so he fell
Cote Male Taile, and there Sir Kay or- in the fellowship with the damsel Male-
dained that Sir Dagonet was horsed and disant. And then they came afore the
armed, and bad him follow La Cote castle Orgulous, and there was such a
Male Taile and proffer him to just, and custom there might no knight
that
so he did, and when he saw La Cote come by that castle but either he must
Male Taile he cried and bad him make just or be prisoner, or at the least to
him ready to just. So Sir La Cote Male lose his horse and his harness. And
Taile smote Sir Dagonet over his horse there came out two knights against
croup. Then the damsel mocked La them, and Sir Mordred justed with the
Cote Male Taile, and said, Fie for foremost, and that knight of the castle
shame, now art thou shamed in Ar- smote Sir Mordred down off his horse.
thur's court when they send a fool to And then anon La Cote Male Taile
have ado with thee, and specially at justed with that other, and either of
thy first justs. Thus she rode long and them smote other down, horse and
chid. And within a while there came all to the earth. And when they
Sir Bleoberis the good knight, and there avoided their horses, then either of
he justed with La Cote Male Taile, and them took other's horses. And then
there Sir Bleoberis smote him so sore La Cote Male Taile rode into that
that horse and all fell to the earth. knight that smote down Sir Mordred,
Then La Cote Male Taile arose up and justed with him and there Sir La
;
lightly and dressed his shield and drew Cote Male Taile hurt and wounded him
his sword, and would have done battle to passing sore, and put him froni his horse
the utterance, for he was wood wroth. as he had been dead. So he turned unto
Not so, said Bleoberis de Ganis, as at this him that met him afore, and he took the
time not fight upon foot. Then
I will flight toward the castle, and Sir La Cote
the damsel Maledisant rebuked him in Male Taile rode after him into the castle
the foullest manner, and bad him, turn Orgulous, and there La Cote Male Taile
again coward. Ah damsel, he said, I slew him.
pray you of mercy to missay me no CHAP. IV.
more, my grief is enough though ye
give me no more. I call myself never
How La Cote Male Taile fought against
the worse knight when a male's son an hundred knights, and how he escaped
faileth me, and also I count me never by the mean of a lady.
the worse knight for a fall of Sir Bleo- And anon came an hundred
there
beris. So thus he rode with her two knights about him and assailed him;
days, and by fortune there came Sir and when he saw his horse should be
200 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
slain he alight and voided his horse, and they have let thee pass. That may ye
put the bridle under his feet, and so put prove, said La Cote Male Taile. With
him out of the gate. And when he had that she sent a courier of hers that rode
so done, he hurled in among them, and alway with her, for to know the truth
dressed his back unto a lady's chamber- of this deed. And so he rode thither
wall, thinking himself that he had lever lightly, and asked how and in what
die there with worship than to abide manner that Sir La Cote Male Taile
the rebukes of the damsel Maledisant. was escaped out of the castle. Then all
And in the mean time as he stood and the knights cursed him and said that he
fought, that lady whose was the chamber, was fiend and no man he hath slain
; for
went out slily at her postern, and with- here twelve of our best knights, and we
out the gates she found La Cote Male wend unto this day that it had been too
Taile's horse, and lightly she gat him by much for Sir Launcelot du Lake, or for
the bridle and tied him to the postern. Sir Tristram de Liones. And in despi'e
And then she went unto her chamber of us all he is departed from us, and
slily again for to behold how that maugre our heads.
one knight fought against an hundred With this answer the courier de-
knights. And so when she had be- parted, and came to Maledisant his
held him long, she went to a window lady, and told her all how Sir La Cote
behind his back and said, Thou knight Male Taile had sped at the castle Or-
thou tightest wonderly well, but for all gulous. Then she smote down her head,
that at the last thou must needs die, but and said little. By my head, said Sir
and thou canst through thy mighty Moid red to the damsel, ye are greatly
prowess win unto yonder postern, for to blame so to rebuke him, for I warn
there have I fastened thy horse to you plainly he is a good knight, and I
abide thee ;
but wit thou well thou doubt not but he shall prove a noble
must think on thy worship and think knight, but as yet he may not sit sure
not to die, for thou mayest not win unto on horseback: for he that shall be a
that postern without thou do nobly and good horseman it must come of usage
mightily. When La Cote Male Taile and exercise. But when he cometh to
heard her say so, he griped his sword the strokes of his sword he is then noble
in his hands, and put his shield fair and mighty, and that saw Sir Bleoberis
afore him, and through the thickest press and Sir Palamides, for wit ye well they
he thrulled ihrough them And when are wily men of arms, and anon they
he came to the postern he found there know when they see a young knight by
ready four knights, and at two the first his riding, how they are sure to give him
strokes he slew two of the knights, and a from his horse or a great buffet.
fall
Ihe other fled, and so he won his horse But for the most part they will not light
and rode fjom them. And all as it was, on foot with young knights, for they are
it was rehearsed in
king Arthur's court, wight and strongly armed. For in like-
how he slew twelve knights within the wise Sir Launcelot du Lake when he
castle Orgulous. And so he rode on his was first made knight he was often put
way. And in the mean while the damsel to the worse upon horseback, but ever
said to Sir Movdred, 1 ween my fool- upon foot he recovered his renown, and
ish knight be either slain or taken slew and defoilcd many knights of the
prisoner. Then were they ware where Round Table. And therefore the re-
he came riding. And when he was come bukes that Sir Launcelot did to many
unto them, he told all how he had sped, knights causeth them that be men of
and escaped in despite of them all, and prowess to beware, for often I have seen
some of the best of them will tellno the old proved knights rebuked and
tales. Thou said
liest falsely, the dam- slain by them that were but young be-
sel, that dare I make good, but as a ginners. Thus they rode sure talking by
fool and a dastard to all km'ghthood the way together.
CHAP. V. HOW LA COTE MALE TAILE WAS PRISONER. 201
Here leave we off a while of this tale, Beale Isoud of Cornwall, and that Sir
and speak we of Sir Launcelot du Lake. Launcelot would excuse him if that ever
he saw her. And within short time
CHAP. V.
said Sir Tristram that he would speak
How Sir Launcelot came to the court and with La Beale Isoud and with him
heard of La Cote Male Taile, and how Then Sir Launcelot de-
right hastily.
he followed after him, and how La Cote
parted from the damsel and from Sir
Male Taile was prisoner. La Cote Male Taile, for to oversee that
That when he was come to the court letter, and for to write another letter
of king Arthur, then heard he tell of unto Sir Tristram de Liones. And in
the young knight La Cote Male Taile, the mean while La Cote Male Taile
how he slew the lion, and how he took rode with the damsel until they came
upon him the adventure of the black unto a castle that hight Pendragon, and
shield, the which was named at that there were six knights stood afore him,
time the hardiest adventure of the and one of them proffered to just with
world. Truly, said Sir Launcelot unto La Cote Male Taile. And there La Cote
many of his fellows, it was shame to all Male Taile smote him over his horse
the noble knights to suffer such a young croup. And then the five knights set
knight to take such adventure upon upon him all at once with their spears,
him for his destruction for I will that
: and there they smote La Cote Male
ye wit, said Sir Launcelot, that that Taile down, horse and man, and then
damsel Maledisant hath borne that they alight suddenly, and set their
shield many a day for to seek the hands upon him all at once and took
most proved knights, and that was she him prisoner, and so led him unto the
that Breuse Sance Pite took that castle and kept him as prisoner. And
shield from her, and after Tristram de on the morn Sir Launcelot arose and
Liones rescued that shield from him delivered the damsel with letters unto
and gave it to the damsel again. A Sir Tristram, and then he took his way
little that time Sir Tristram
afore after La Cote Male Taile, and by the
fought with my nephew Sir Blamor de way upon a bridge there was a knight
Ganis for a quarrel that was betwixt the proffered Sir Launcelot to just, and Sir
king of Ireland and him. Then many Launcelot smote him down, and then
knights were sorry that Sir La Cote they fought upon foot a noble battle
Male Taile was gone forth to that together, and a mighty. And at the
adventure. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, I last Sir Launcelot smote him down
cast me to ride after him. And with- groveling upon his hands and his
in seven days Sir Launcelot overtook knees and then
; that
knight yielded
La Cote Male Taile. And then he him, and Sir Launcelot received him
saluted him and the damsel Maledi- fair. Sir, said the require
knight, I
sant. And when Sir Mordred saw thee tell me
your name, for much my
Sir Launcelot then he left their fellow- heart giveth unto you. Nay, said Sir
ship. And so Sir Launcelot rode with Launcelot, as at this time I will not tell
them all a day, and ever that damsel you my name, unless then that ye tell
rebuked La Cote Male Taile, and then me your name. Certainly, said the
Sir Launcelot answered for him then ; knight, my name is Sir Ncrovens, that
she left off and rebuked Sir Launcelot. was made knight of my lord Sir Laun-
So this mean time Sir Tristram sent by celot du Lake. Ah, Nerovens de Lile,
a damsel a letter unto Sir Launcelot said Sir Launcelot, I am right glad that
excusing him of the wedding of Isoud ye are proved a good knight, for now
la Blanche Mains, and passing cour- wit ye well my name is Sir Launcelot
teously and gently Sir Tristram wrote du Lake. Alas, said Nerovens de Lile,
unto Sir Launcelot, ever beseeching what have I done. And therewithal! flat-
him to be his good friend, and unto La ling he fell to his feet, and would have
202 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
Sir Brian de les isles, the which was a named Maledisant, and how he named
her the damsel Bienpensant.
noble man, and a great enemy unto
king Arthur, within awhile he was So then they took their horses and
armed and upon horseback: and then rode forth a pace after Sir Launcelot.
they feutred their spears, and hurled And within two mile they overtook him,
together so strongly that both their and saluted him, and thanked him, and
horses rashed to the earth. And then the damsel cried Sir Launcelot mercy of
they avoided their saddles, and dressed her evil deed, and saying, For now I
their shields, and drew their swords, know the flower of all knighthood is
and flung together as wood men, and parted even between Sir Tristram and
there were many strokes given in a you. For I have sought you my lord
while. At the last Sir Launcelot gave Sir Launcelot, and Sir Tristram, long,
CHAP. VII. OF THE DAMSEL BIENPENSANT. 203
and now I thank God I have met with Cote Male Taile, I beseech you let me
ing a naked sword, which Sir Breuse goeth. And if so be that I am a pri-
Sance Pite had taken away from me. soner taken, then may ye rescue me.
Now, fair damsel, said Sir Launcelot, I am
loth, said Sir Launcelot, to let you
who told you my name ? Sir, said she, pass this passage. Sir, said La Cote
there came a damsel from a knight that Male Taile, I pray you let me
put my
ye fought withall at the bridge, and she body in this adventure. Now
go your
told me your name was Sir Launcelot way, said Sir Launcelot, and Jesu be
du Lake. Blame have she then, said your speed. So he entered, and anon
Sir Launcelot, but her lord Sir Nero- there met with him two brethren, the
vens hath told her. But damsel, said one hight Sir Plaine de Force, and the
Sir Launcelot, upon this covenant I will other hight Sir Plaine de Amours and ;
ride with you, so that ye will not rebuke anon they met with Sir La Cote Male
this knight Sir La Cote Male Taile no Taile, and first La Cote Male Taile
more, for he is a good knight, and I smote down Sir Plaine de Force, and
doubt not he shall prove a noble knight, soon after he smote down Plaine de
and for his sake, and pity that he should Amours, and then they dressed them to
not be destroyed, 1 followed him to their shields and swords, and bad La
succour him in this great need. Ah, Cote Male Taile alight, and so he did,
God thank you, said the damsel, for and there was dashing and foining with
now I will say unto you and to him swords, and so they began to assail full
both, I rebuked him never for no hate hard La Cote Male Taile, and many
that I hated him, but for great love that great wounds they gave him upon his
I had to him for ever I supposed that
: head and upon his breast and upon his
he had been too young and too tender shoulders. And as he
might ever among
to take upon him these adventures, and, he gave sad strokes again. And then
therefore by my will 1 would have the two brethren traced and traversed
driven him away for jealousy that I for to be of both hands of Sir La
had of his life for it may be no young
; Cote Male Taile, but he by fine force
knight's deed that shall achieve this and knightly prowess gat them afore
adventure to the end. Perdy, said Sir him. And then when he felt himself so
Launcelot, it is well said, and where ye wounded then he doubled his strokes
are called the damsel Maledisant, I and gave them so many wounds that he
will call you the damsel Bienpensant. felled them to the earth, and would
And so they rode forth a great while have slain them had they not yielded
until they came to the border of the them. And right so Sir La Cote Male
country of Surluse, and there they found Taile took the best horse that there was
a fair village with a strong bridge like a of them three, and so rode forth his way
fortress. And when Sir Launcelot and to the other fortress and bridge, and
they were at the bridge, there start there he met with the third brother,
forth afore them of gentlemen and yeo- whose name was Sir Plenorius, a full
men many that said, Fair lords, ye may noble knight, and there they justed to-
not pass this bridge and this fortress gether, and either smote other
down
because of that black shield that I see horse and man to the earth. And then
one of you bear, and therefore there they avoided their horses, and dressed
shall not pass but one of
you at once ;
their shields, and drew their swords, and
therefore choose which of you shall gave many sad strokes, and one while
enter within this bridge first. Then the one knight was afore on the bridge,
Sir Launcelot proffered himself first to and another while the other. And thus
enter within this bridge. Sir, said La they fought two hours and more, and
204 MORTE DARTHUR BOOK IX.
never rested, and ever Sir Launcelot galloping towards Sir Launcelot, and
and the damsel beheld them. Alas, said then they began to feutre their spears,
the damsel, my knight fighteth passing and came together as thunder, and
sore and over long. Now may ye see, smote either other so mightily that
said Sir Launcelot, that he is a noble their horses fell down under them.
knight, for to consider his first battle, And then they avoided their horses,
and grievous wounds.
his And even and pulled out their swords, and like
forth with all so wounded as he is, it is two bulls they lashed together with
great marvel that he may endure this great strokes and foins, but ever Sir
long battle with that good knight. Launcelot recovered ground upon him,
and Sir Plenorius traced to have gone
CHAP. VIII. about him. But Sir Launcelot would
not suffer that, but bare him backer and
How La Cote Male Taile was taken
backer till he came nigh his tower gate.
prisoner, and after rescued by Sir And then said Sir Launcelot, I know
Launcelot, and how Sir Launcelot thee well for a good knight, but wit thou
overcame four brethren.
well thy life and death is in my hand,
This mean while Sir La Cote Male and therefore me, and thy
yield thee to
Taile sank right down upon the earth, prisoner. The
other answered no word,
what for-wounded and what for-bled he but strake mightily upon Sir Launcelot's
might not stand. Then the other knight helm, that fire sprang out of his eyen ;
had pity of him, and said, Fair young then Sir Launcelot doubled his strokes
knight, dismay you not, for had ye been so thick, and smote at him so mightily,
fresh when ye met with me, as I was, I that he made him kneel upon his knees,
well wot that I should not have endured and therewith Sir Launcelot lept upon
so long as ye have done, and therefore him and pulled him groveling down.
for your noble deeds of arms I shall Then Sir Plenorius yielded him, and his
shew to you kindness and gentleness in tower, and all his prisoners, at his wilT.
all that I may. And forth withal this And then Sir Launcelot received him
noble knight Sir Plenorius took him and took his troth, and then he rode to
up in his arms, and led him into his the other bridge, and there Sir Launce-
tower. And then he commanded him lot justed with other three of his bre-
the wine, and made to search him, and thren, the one hight Pillounes, and the
to stop his bleeding wounds. Sir, said other hight Pellogris, and the third Sir
La Cote Male Taile, withdraw you from Pellandris. And upon horseback Sir
first
me, and hie you to yonder bridge again, Launcelot smote them down, and after-
for there will meet you another manner waid he beat them on foot, and made
knight than ever I was. Why, said Sir them to yield them unto him, and then
Plenorius, is there another manner he returned unto Sir Plenorius, and
knight behind of your fellowship ? there he found in his prison king Cara-
Yea, said La Cote Male Taile, there is dos of Scotland and many other knights,
a much better knight than I am. What and all they were delivered. And then
is hisname? said Plenorius. Ye shall Sir La Cote Male Taile came to Sir
not know for me, said La Cote Male Launcelot, and then Sir Launcelot would
Taile. Well, said the knight, he shall have given him all these fortresses and
be encountered withal, whatsoever he these bridges. Nay, said La Cote "Male
be. Then Sir Plenorius heard a knight Taile, 1 will not have Sir Plenorius's
call that said, Sir Plenorius, where art livelihood :with that he will giant you,
thou? either thou must deliver me the my lord Sir Launcelot, to come unto
prisoner that thou hast led unto thy king Arthur's court, and to be his
tower, or else come and do battle with knight, and all his brethren, I will pray
me. Then Sir Plenorius gat his horse, you, my lord, to let him have his live-
and came with a spear in his hand. lihood. I will well, said Sir Launcelot,
CHAP. IX. LA COTE MALE TAILE WEDS THE DAMSEL. 205
with this that he will come to the court ful deeds he did after in his life, and Sir
of king Arthur, and become his man, Plenorius proved a noble knight and
and his brethren five. And as for you, full of prowess. And all the days of
Sir Plenorius, I will undertake, said Sir their life for the most part they awaited
Launcelot, at the next feast, so there be upon Sir Launcelot. And Sir Pleno-
a place voided, that ye shall be knight of rius's brethren were ever knights of king
the Round Table. Sir, said Sir Pleno- Arthur. And also as the French book
rius, at the next feast of Pentecost I will maketh mention, Sir La Cote Male
be at Arthur's court, and at that time I Taile avenged his father's death.
will be guided and ruled as king Arthur
and ye will have me. Then Sir Laun- CHAP. X.
celot and Sir La Cote Male Tail reposed How La Beale Isoud sent letters unto Sir
them there unto the time that Sir La Tristram by her maid Bragwaine, and
Cote Male Taile was whole of his of divers adventures of Sir Tristram.
wounds, and there they had merry cheer, Now leave we here Sir La Cote Male
and good rest, and many games, and Taile, and turn we unto Sir Tristram de
there were many fair ladies. Liones that was in Britanny. When
La Beale Isoud understood that he was
CHAP. IX.
wedded, she sent unto him by her maiden
How Sir Launcelot made La Cote Male
Bragwaine as piteous letters as could be
Taile lord of the castle of Pendragon,
thought and made, and her conclusion
and after was made knight of the
was, that, and it pleased SirTristram,that
Round Table. he Mould come to her court and bring
And in the mean while there came with him Isoud la Blanche Mains, and
Sir Kay the seneschal, and Sir Brandiles, they should be kept as well as she her-
and anon they fellowshipped with them. self. Then Sir Tristram called unto him
And then within ten days then departed Sir Kehydius and asked him whether he
those knights of king Arthur's court would go with him into Cornwall se-
fiom these fortresses. And as Sir cretly. He
answered him that he was
Launcelot came by the castle of Pen- ready at times.
all And then he let
dragon, there he put Sir Brian de les ordain privily a little vessel, and therein
isles from his lands, because he would they went, Sir Tristram, Kehydius,
never be withold with king Arthur, and dame Bragwaine, and Gouvernail Sir
all that castle of Pendragon, and all the Tristram's squire. So when they were
lands thereof, he gave to Sir La Cote in the sea, a contrarious wind blew
Male Taile. And then Sir Launcelot them on the coasts of North Wales,
sent for Sir Nerovens, that he made once nigh the castle perilous. Then said
knight, and he made him to have all Sir Tristram, Here shall ye abide me
the rule of that castle and of that coun- these ten days, and Gouvernail my squire
try under La Cote Male Taile. And so with you. And if so be I come not
they rode to Arthur's court all wholly again by that day, take the next way
together. And at Pentecost next follow- into Cornwall, for in this forest are
ing there was Sir Plenorius, and Sir La many strange adventures as I have heard
Cote Male Taile, called otherwise by say, and some of them I cast me to
right Sir Breunor le Noire, both made prove or I depart and when I may I
:
knights of the Table Round, and great shall hie me after you. Then Sir Tris-
lands king Arthur gave them and there
; tram and Kehydius took their horses
Breunor le Noire wedded that damsel and departed from their fellowship.
Maledisant. And after she was called And so they rode within that forest a
Beauvivante but ever after for the
: mile and more. And at the last Sir
more part he was called La Cote Male Tristram saw afore him a likely knight
Taile, and he proved a passing noble armed, sitting by a well, and a strong
knight and mighty, and many worship- mighty horse passing nigh him tied to
206 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK IX.
an oak, and a man hoving and riding by is Sir Tristram de Liones. Sir, said the
him, leading an horse laden with spears. other knight, and my name is Sir Lamo-
And knight that sat at the well
this rak de Galis. Ah Sir Lamorak, said Sir
seemed by his countenance to be pass- Tristram, well be we met, and bethink
ing heavy. Then Sir Tristram rode thee now of the despite that thou didst
near him and said, Fair knight, why sit me of the sending of the horn unto king
ye so drooping ? Ye seem to be a Mark's court, to the intent to have slain
knight errant by your arms and harness, or dishonoured my lady the queen La
and therefore dress you to just with one Beale Isoud. And therefore wit thou
of us or with both. Therewithal that well, said Sir Tristram, the one of us
knight made no words, but took his shall die or we depart. Sir, said Sir
shield and buckled it about his neck, Lamorak, remember that we were to-
and lightly he took his horse and lept gether in the isle of Servage, and at
upon him. And then he took a great that time ye promised me great friend-
spear of his squire, and departed his ship. Then Sir Tristram would make
way a furlong. Sir Kehydius asked no longer delays, but lashed at Sir La-
leave of Sir Tristram to just first. Do morak, and thus they fought long, till
your best, said Sir Tristram. So they either were weary of other. Then Sir
met together, and there Sir Kehydius Tristram said to Sir Lamorak, In all my
had a fall, and was sore wounded on high life met I never with such a knight
above the breast. Then Sir Tristram that was so big and well breathed
said, Knight, that is well justed, now as ye be therefore, said Sir Tris-
;
make you ready unto me. I am ready, tram, it were pity that any of us both
said the knight. And then that knight should here be mischieved. Sir, said Sir
took a greater spear in his hand and Lamorak, your renown and name I
for
encountered with Sir Tristram, and will that ye have the worship of this
there by great force that knight smote battle, and therefore I will yield me
down Sir Tristram from his horse, and unto you. And
therewith he took the
he had a great fall. Then Sir Tristram point of his sword to yield him. Nay,
was sore ashamed, and lightly he avoided said Sir Tristram, ye shall not do so,
hi* horse and put his shield afore his for I know well your proffers are more
shoulder, and drew his sword. And of your gentleness than for any fear or
then Sir Tristram required that knight dread ye have of me. And therewithal
of his knighthood to alight upon foot Sir Tristram proffered him his sword,
and fight with him. I will well, said and said. Sir Lamorak, as an overcome
the knight. And so he alight upon knight I yield me unto you, as to a man
foot and avoided his horse, and cast his of the most noble prowess that ever I
shield upon his shoulder, and drew his met withal. Nay, said Sir Lamorak, I
sword, and there they fought a long will do you gentleness. I require you
battle together full nigh two hours. let us be sworn together that never none
Then Sir Tristram said, Fair knight, of us shall after this day have ado with
hold thy hand, and tell me of whence other. And
there withal Sir Tristram
thou art, and what is thy name. As for and Sir Lamorak sware that never none
that, said the knight, I will be advised, of them should fight against other, nor
but and thou wilt tell me thy name, per- for weal nor for woe.
adventure I will tell thee mine.
CHAP. XII.
CHAP. XL How Sir Palamides followed the questing
How Sir Tristram met with Sir Lamorak beast, and he smote down both Sir Tris-
de Galis, and bow they fought, and tram and Sir Lamorak with one spear.
after accorded never to fight together. And this mean while there came Sir
Now fair knight, he said, my name Palamides the good knight following
chap. xii. SIR PALAMJDES AND THE QUESTING BEAST. 207
the questing beast that had in shape a Lamorak, and on the morn Sir Lamo-
head like a serpent's head, and a body rak took his horse and rode unto the
like a libbard, haunches like a lion, and forest, and there he met two knights
footed like a hart, and in his body there hoving under the wood shawe. Fair
was such a noise as it had been the knights, said Sir Lamorak, what do ye
noise of thirty couple of hounds quest- hoving here and watching, and if ye be
ing, and such a noise that beast made knights errant that will just, lo I am
wheresover he went. And this beast ready. Nay, sir knight, they said, not
evermore Sir Palamides followed, for it so, we abide not here for to just with
was called his quest. And right so as you, but we lie here in await of a knight
he followed this beast it came by Sir that slew our brother. What knight
Tristram, and soon after came Pala- was that, said Sir Lamorak, that ye
mides, and to brief this matter he smote would fain meet withal. Sir, they said,
down and Sir Lamorak
Sir Tristram it is Sir Launcelot that slew our brother,
both with one spear, and so he de- and if ever we may meet with him he
parted the beast Glatisant, that
after shall not escape but we shall slay him.
was called the questing beast, wherefore Ye take upon you a great charge, said
these two knights were passing wroth Sir Lamorak. for Sir Launcelot is a
that Sir Palamides would not fight on noble proved knight. As for that we
foot with them. doubt not, for there is none of us but
Here men may understand that be of we are good enough for him. I will not
worship, that he was never formed that believe that, said Sir Lamorak, for I
all times might stand, but some time heard never yet of no knight the days
he was put to the worse by mal-fortune. of my life but Sir Launcelot was too
And at some time the worse knight big for him.
put the better knight to a rebuke. CHAP. XIII.
Then and Sir Lamorak
Sir Tristram
How Lamorak met with Sir Melia-
Sir
gat Sir Kehydius upon a shield betwixt
them both, and led him to a forester's gaunce, and how they fought together
lodge, and there they gave him in for of queen Guenever.
the beauty
charge to keep him well, and with him Right so as they stood talking thus,
they abode thiee days. Then the two Sir Lamorak was ware how Sir Laun-
knights took their horses and at the celotcame riding straight toward them ;
cross they parted. And then said Sir then Sir Lamorak saluted him, and he
Tristram to Sir Lamorak, I require you him again. And then Sir Lamorak
if ye hap to meet with Sir Palamides, asked Sir Launcelot if there were any
say him that he shall find me at the thing that he might do for him in these
same well there I met him, and there marches. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, not
I, Sir Tristram, shallprove whether at this time, I thank you. Then either
he be better knight than I. And so departed from other, and Sir Lamorak
either departed from other a sundry rode again there as he left the two
way, and Sir Tristram rode nigh there knights, and then he found them hid
as was Sir Kehydius, and Sir Lamorak in the leaved wood. Fie on you, said
rode until he came to a chapel, and Sir Lamorak, false cowards, pity and
there he put his horse unto pasture. shame it is that any of you should take
And anon there came Sir Meliagaunce the high order of knighthood. So Sir
that was king Bagdemagus's son, and Lamorak departed from them, and
he there put his horse to pasture, and within a while he met with Sir Melia-
was not ware of Sir Lamorak, and then gaunce, and then Sir Lamorak asked
this knight Sir Meliagaunce made his him why he loved queen Guenever as
moan of the love that he had to he did For I was not far from you
:
queen Guenever, and there he made a when ye made your complaint by the
All this heard Sir chapel. Did ye so, said Sir Melia-
E:omplaint.
•208 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
gaunce, then will I abide by it I love : and most of bounty in the world. Sir,
said Sir Lamorak, I am loth to have
queen Gue'hever what will ye with it ?
;
I will prove and make good that she is ado with you in this quarrel. For every
the fairest lady and most of beauty in man thinketh his own lady fairest and ;
the world. As to that, said Sir Lamo- though I praise the lady that I love
rak, I say nay thereto, for queen Mor- most, ye should not be wroth. For
gause of Orkney, mother to Sir Gawaine, though my lady queen Guenever be
and his mother is the fairest queen and fairest in your eye, wit ye well queen
lady that beareth the life. That is not Morgause of Orkney is fairest in mine
so, said Sir Meliagaunce, and that will eye, and so every knight thinketh his
1 prove with my hands upon thy body. own lady fairest and, wit ye well, Sir,
;
Will ye so, said Sir Lamorak, and in a ye are the man in the world, except Sir
better quarrel keep I not to fight. Then Tristram, that I am most lothest to have
they departed either from other in great ado withal. But and ye will needs fight
wrath. And then they came riding with me, I shall endure you as long as
as it had been thunder, and I may. Then spake Sir Bleoberis, and
together
either smote other so sore that their said, My lord Sir Launcelot, I wist you
horses fell backward to the earth. And never so misadvised as ye are now. For
then they avoided their horses, and Sir Lamorak saith you but reason and
dressed their shields, and drew their knightly. For I warn you I have a lady,
swords. And then they hurtled to- and me thinketh that she is the fairest
gether as wild boars, and thus they lady of the world. Were this a great
fought a great while. For Meliagaunce reason that ye should be wroth with
was a good man and of great might, me for such language? And well ye
but Sir Lamorak was hard big for him, wot Sir Lamorak is as noble a
that
and put him always aback but either ; knight as I know, and he hath owed
had wounded other sore. And as they you and us ever good will, and there-
stood thus fighting, by fortune came fore I pray you be good friends. Then
Sir Launcelot and Sir Bleoberis riding. Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Lamorak I :
And then Sir Launcelot rode betwixt pray you forgive me mine evil will and ;
them, and asked them for what cause if Iwas misadvised I will amend it. Sir,
they fought so together, and ye are both said Sir Lamorak, the amends is soon
knights of king Arthur. made betwixt you and me. And so Sir
Launcelot and Sir Bleoberis departed.
CHAP. XIV. And Meliagaunce and Sir Lamorak
Sir
took their horses, and either departed
How Sir Meliagaunce told for what cause from other. And within a while came
and how Sir Lamorak
fought,
king Arthur, and met with Sir Lamo-
they
justed with king Arthur. rak, and justed with him, and there he
Sir, said Meliagaunce, I shall tell smote down Sir Lamorak, and wounded
you for what cause we do this battle. I him sore with a spear, and so he rode
praised my lady queen Guenever, and from him, wherefore Sir Lamorak was
said she was the fairest lady of the world, wroth that he would not fight with him
and Sir Lamorak said
nay thereto, for on foot how be it that Sir Lamorak
;
met with Sir Kay the seneschal, and he saw them come, he laced on his
there Kay asked Sir Tristram of
Sir helm lightly, and took his horse, and
what country he was. He answered proffered them to just. Nay, said Sir
that he was of the country of Cornwall. Brandiles, we justed late enough with
It may well be, said Sir Kay, for yet you we come not in that intent. Lut
;
heard I never that ever good knight for this we come, to require you of
came out of Cornwall. That is evil knighthood to tell us your name. My
spoken, said Sir Tristram, but and it fair knights, since that is your desire,
please you to tell me your name I re- andto please you, ye shall wit that
my
quire you. Sir, wit ye well, said Sir Kay, name is Sir Tristram de Liones, nephew
that my name is Sir Kay the seneschal. unto king Mark
of Cornwall. In good
Is that your name ? said Sir Tristram ; time, said Sir Brandiles, and well ye be
now wit ye well that ye are named the found and wit ye well that we be right
;
shamefullest knight of your tongue that glad that we have found you, and we be
now is living, how be it ye are called a of a fellowship that would be right glad
good knight, but ye are called unfor- of your company. For ye are the knight
tunate, and passing ovci thwart of your in the world that the noble fellowship
tongue. And thus they rode together of the Round Table most desireth to
till
they came to a bridge. And there have the company of. I thank them,
was a knight would not let them pass said Sir Tristram, of their great good-'
till one of them
justed with him. And ness; but as yet I feel well that I am
so that knight justed with Sir Kay, unable to be of their fellowship. For I
and there that knight gave Sir Kay a was never of such deeds of worthiness
fall his name was Sir Tor,
;
Sir Lamo- to be in the company of such a fellow-
rak's half brother. then they twoAnd ship. Kay, and ye be Sir
Ah, said Sir
rode to their lodging, and there they Tristram de Liones, ye are the man now
found Sir Brandiles and Sir Tor came
; called most of prowess, except Sir Laun-
thither anon after. celot du Lake. For he beareth not the
Andas they sat at supper, these four life, christian ne heathen, that can find
knights, three of them spake all shame such another knight, to speak of his
by Cornish knights. Sir Tristram heard prowess, and of his hands, and his truth
all that they said, and he said but little, withal. For yet could there never crea-
but he thought the more but at that ; ture say of him dishonour and make it
time he discovered not his name. Upon good. Thus they talked a great while ;
the morn Sir Tristram took his horse and then they departed either from other,
and abode them upon their way; and such ways as them seemed best.
there Sir Brandiles proffered to just with
Sir Tristram, and Sir Tristram smote CHAP. XVI.
him down, horse and all, to the earth.
Then Sir Tor le Fise de Vayshoure en- How Jang Arthur was brought into the
countered with Sir Tristram, and there forest perilous, and bow Sir Tristram
saved his life.
Sir Tristram smote him down. And
then he rode his way, and Sir Kay fol- Now shall ye hear what was the
lowed him, but he would not of his cause that king Arthur came into the
fellowship. Then Sir Brandiles came to forest perilous, that was in North Wales,
Sir Kay, and said, I would wit fain by the means of a lady. Her name was
what is that knight's name. Come on Annowre, and this lady came to king
with me, said Sir Kay, and we shall Arthur at Cardiff, and she, by fair pro-
pray him to tell us his name. So mise and fair behests, made king Ar-
they rode together till they came nigh thur to ride with her into that forest
him and then they were ware where
;
perilous; and she was a great sorceress,
he sat by a well, and had put off his and many days she had loved king Ar-
helm to drink at the well. And when thur, and therefore she came into that
M
CIO MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK I\\
country. So when the king was gone one knight, and that one of them un-
with her, many of his knights followed laced his helm to have slain him. And
after king Arthur when they missed him, the lady Annowre gat king Arthur's
as Sir Launcelot, Brandiles, and many sword in her hand to have stricken off
other. And when she had brought him his head. And therewithal came Sir
to her tower, she desired him to love Tristram with all his might, crying,
her. And then the king remembered Traitress, traitress, leave that. And
him of his lady, and would not love her anon there Sir Tristram smote one
for no craft that she could do. Then of the knights through the body, that
that forest with his own knights, to the the other and smote his back in sun-
intent to have had king Arthur slain der, and in the mean while the Lady
For when this lady Annowre saw that of the lake cried to king Arthur,
she might not have him at her will, then Let not that false lady escape. Then
she laboured by false means to have king Arthur overtook her, and with the
destroyed king Arthur and slain. Then same sword he smote off her head ;
the I^ady of the lake, that was alway and the Lady of the lake took up her
friendly to king Arthur, she understood head, and hung it
up by the hair on
by her subtle crafts that king Arthur her saddle bow. And
then Sir Tris-
was like to be destroyed. And there- tram horsed king Arthur, and rode forth
fore this Lady of the lake, that hight with him, but he charged the Lady of
Nimue, came into that forest to seek the lake not to discover his name as at
after Sir Launcelot du Lake, or Sir Tris- that time. When the king was horsed
tram, for to help king Arthur; for as he thanked heartily Sir Tristram, and
that same day this Lady of the lake desired to wit his name but he would ;
knew well that king Arthur should be not tell him, but that he was a poor
slain, unless that he had help of one of knight adventurous. And so he bare
these two knights. And thus she rode king Arthur fellowship till he met with
up and down till she met with Sir Tris- some of his knights. And within a mile
tram, and anon as she saw him she he met with Sir Ector de Maris, and he
knew him. O my lord Sir Tristram, she knew not king Arthur nor Sir Tristram,
said, well be ye met, and blessed be the and he desired to just with one of them.
time thatI have met with you for this ;
Then Sir Tristram rode unto Sir Ector,
same day, and within these two hours, and smote him from his horse. And
shall be done the foulest deed that ever when he had done so he came again to
was done in this land. O fair damsel, the king, and said My lord, yonder is
:
said Sir Tristram, may I amend it? one of your knights, he may bear you
Come on with me, she said, and that in fellowship and another day by that
;
all the haste ye may, for ye shall see deed that I have done for you, I trust
the most worshipfullest knight of the ye shall understand that I would do you
world hard bested. Then said Sir Tris- service. Alas, said king Arthur, let me
tram, I am ready to help such a noble wit what ye are. Not at this time, said
man. He is neither better nor worse, Sir Tristram. So he departed, and left
said the Lady of the lake, but the noble king Arthur and Sir Ector together.
king Arthur himself. God defend, said
Sir Tristram, that ever he should be in CHAP. XVII.
such distress. Then they rode together
a great pace, until they came to a little
How Sir Tristram came to La Beale
turret or castle, and underneath that Isoud,and Jjow Kehydius began to love
Sir Tristram beheld them, and at the And then at a day set Sir Tristram
last the two knights smote down the and Sir Lamorak met at the well ; and
CHAP. XVIII. OF THE MADNESS OF SIR TRISTRAM. 211
then they took Kehydius at the forester's Isoud, and said Madam, here is a letter
;
house, and so they rode with him to that was sent unto you, and here is the
the ship where they left dame Brag- letter that ye sent unto him that sent
waineand Gouvernail, and so they sailed you that letter. Alas, madam, the good
into Cornwall all wholly together and
; love that I have loved you, and many
by assent and information of dame Brag- lands and riches have I forsaken for
waine, when they were landed they rode your love, and now ye are a traitress to
unto Sir Dinas the seneschal, a trusty me, the which doth me great pain. But
friend of Sir Tristram's. And so dame as for thee, Sir Kehydius, I brought
Bragwaine and Sir Dinas rode to the thee out of Britanny into this country,
court of king Mark, and told the queen, and thy king Ilowel, I won his
father,
La Beale Isoud, that Sir Tristram was lands howbeit, I wedded thy sister,
;
nigh her in that country. Then for very Isoud la Blanche Mains, for the good-
pure joy La Beale Isoud swooned and : ness which she did to me but wit thou
:
when she might speak, she said, Gentle well Sir Kehydius for this falsehood
knight seneschal, help that I might speak and treason thou hast done me, I will
with him, or else my heart will brast. revenge it upon thee. And therewithal
Then Dinas and dame Bragwaine
Sir Sir Tristram drew out his sword, and
brought Tristram and Kehydius
Sir said, Sir Kehydius keep thee, and then
privily unto the court, unto a chamber La Beale Isoud swooned to the earth.
whereas La Beale Isoud assigned it; and And when Sir Kehydius saw Sir Tris-
to tell the joy that was between La tram come upon him, he saw none
Beale Isoud and Sir Tristram, there is other boot, but lept out a|> a bay win-
no tongue can tell it, nor heart think it, dow, even over the head where sat king
nor pen write it. And, as the French Mark playing at the chess. And when
book maketh mention, at the first time the king saw one come hurling over his
that ever Sir Kehydius saw La Beale head, he said, Fellow, what art thou,
Isoud, he was so enamoured upon her and what is the cause thou leapest out
that for very pure love he might never of that window ? My lord the king, said
withdraw it. And at the last, as ye Kehydius, it fortuned me that I was
shall hear or the book be ended, Sir asleep in the window above your head,
Kehydius died for the love of La Beale and as I slept I slumbered, and so I fell
Isoud. And then privily he wrote unto down. And thus Sir Kehydius excused
her letters and ballads of the most good- him.
liest that were used in those days. And
CHAP. XVIII.
when La Beale Isoud understood his
letters, she had pity of his complaint,
How Sir departed from Tin-
Trislram
and unadvised she wrote another letter tagd, and how he sorrowed, and was
so long in a forest till he ivas out of
to comfort him withal. And Sir Tris-
his mind.
tram was all this while in a turret, at
the commandment of La Beale Isoud, Then dread sore lest
Sir Tiistram
and when she might she came unto Sir he were discovered unto the king that
T»wtram. So on a day king Mark he was there, wherefore he diew him to
p layed at the chess under a chamber the strength of the tower, and armed
window and at that time Sir Tristram
; him in such armour as he had, for to
and Sir Kehydius were within the cham- fight with them that would withstand
ber, over king Mark, and as it mishapped him. And so when Sir Tristram saw
fSir Tristram found the letter that Ke- there was no resistance against him, he
hydius sent to La Beale Isoud also he
; sent Gouvernail for his horse and for his
had found the letter that she wrote unto spear, and knightly he rode forth out of
Kehydius, and at that same time La the castle openly that was called the
Beale Isoud was in the same chamber. castle of Tintagil. And even at the gate
Then Sir Tristram came unto La Beale he met with Gingalin, Sir Gawaine's
14-2
212 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
son. And anon Sir Gingalin put his tune the damsel met with Sir Tristram
and ran upon Sir Tris-
spear in his rest, again, making the greatest dole that
tram, and brake his spear, and Sir Tris- ever earthly creature made, and she
tram at that time had but a sword, and went to the lady of that castle, and
gave him such a buffet upon the helm told her of the misadventure of Sir
that he fell down from his saddle, and Tristram. Alas, said the lady of that
his sword slid down and carved asunder castle, where is my lord Sir Tristram ?
his horse neck. And so Sir Tristram Right here by your castle, said the dam-
rode his way into the forest, and all this sel. In good time, said the lady, is he
doing saw king Mark. And then he so nigh me he shall have meat and
:
sent a squire unto the hurt knight, and drink of the best, and a harp I have of
commanded him to come to him, and his whereupon he taught me, —
for of
so he did. And when king Mark wist goodly harping he beareth the prize in
that it was Sir Gingalin, he welcomed the world. So this lady and the damsel
him. and gave him a horse, and asked brought him meat and drink, but he eat
him what knight it was that had en- little thereof. Then upon a night he
countered with him. Sir, said Sir Gin- put his horse from him, and then he un-
galin, I wot not what knight he was, laced his armour, and then Sir Tristram
but well I wot that he sigheth, and would go into the wilderness, and brast
maketh great dole. Then Sir Tristram down the trees and boughs and other-
;
within a while met with a knight of his while, when he found the harp that the
own, that hight Sir Fergus. And when lady sent him, then would he harp and
he had met with him he made great play thereupon and weep together. And
sorrow, insomuch that he fell down off sometime when Sir Tristram was in the
his horse in a swoon, and in such sor- wood, that the lady wist not where he
row he was in three days and three was, then would she sit her down and
nights. Then at the last Sir Tristram play upon that harp then would Sir
:
sent unto the court by Sir Fergus, for Tristram come to that harp and hearken
to ask what tidings. And
so as he rode thereto, and sometime he would harp
by the way he met with a damsel that himself. Thus he there endured a quaiv
came from Sir Palamides, to know and ter of a year. Then at the last he ran
seek how
Sir Tristram did. Then Sir his way, and she wist not where he was
Fergus told her how he was almost out become. And then was he naked, and
of his mind. Alas, said the damsel, waxed lean and poor of flesh, and so he
where shall I find him
In such a? fell into the fellowship of herdmen and
place, said Sir Fergus. Then Sir Fer- shepherds, and daily they would give
gus found queen Isoud sick in her bed, him of their meat and drink. And when
making the greatest dole that ever any he did any shrewd deed they would beat
earthly woman made. And when the him with rods, and so they clipped him
damsel found Sir Tristram, she made with shears and made him like a fool.
great dole because she might not amend
him for the more she made of him the
;
CHAP. XIX.
more was his pain. And at the last Sir
Tristram took his horse and rode away How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in a
from her. And then was it three davs well, and how Palamides sent a damsel
or that she could find him, and then she to seek Tristram, and how Palamides
met with king Mark.
brought him meat and drink, but he
would none. And then another time And upon a day Sir Dagonet, king
Sir Tristram escaped away from the Arthur's fool, came into Cornwall, with
damsel, and it happed him to ride by two squires with him, and as they rode
the same castle where Sir Palamides and through that forest they came by a fair
Sir Tristram did battle when La Beale well where Sir Tristram was wont to
Isoud departed them. And there by for- be, and the weather was hot, and they
CHAP. XIX. SIR DAGONET IS SOUSED IN A WELL. 213
alight to drink of that well, and in the have his harness. Nay, said king Mark,
mean while their horses brake loose. I will not have ado with you, for cause
Right so Sir Tristram came unto them, have ye none to me. For all the misease
and he soused
first Dagonet in that
Sir that Sir Tristram hath was for a letter
well, and after hissquires, and thereat that he found for, as to me, I did to
;
I shall find a remedy therefore. Here Then Sir Andied that was cousin
is a knight with me, and thou shalt unto Sir Tristram, made a lady that was;
214 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
his paramour to say and noise it that noise of the court of king Mark. Then
she was with Sir Tristram or ever he this Tauleas went daily at large. And
died. And this tale she brought unto so it happed upon a day lie came to the
king Mark's court, that she buried him herdmen wandering and lingering, and
fry a well, and that or he died he be- there he set him down to rest among
sought king Mark to make his cousin, them. The mean while there came a
Sir Andred, king of the country of knight of Cornwall that led a lady with
Liones, of the which Sir Tristram was him, and his name was Sir Dinant.
lord of.All this did Sir Andred be- And when the giant saw him, he went
cause he would have had Sir Tristram's from the herdmen and hid him under a
lands. And when king Mark heard tell tree, and so the knight came to the well,
that Sir Tristram was dead, he wept and there he alight to repose him. And
and made great dole. But when queen as soon as he was from his horse, the
Isoud heard of these tidings, she made giant Tauleas came betwixt this knight
such sorrow that she was nigh out of and his horse, and took the horse and
her mind. And so upon a day she lept upon him. So forthwith he rode
thought to slay herself, and never to unto Sir Dinant and took him by the
live after Sir Tristram's death. And so collar, and pulled him afore him upon
upon a day La Beale Isoud gat a sword his horse, and there would h.ave stricken
privily, and bare it into her garden, and off his head. Then the herdmen said
there she pight the sword through a unto Sir Tristram, Help yonder knight.
plum tree up to the hilts, so that it Help ye him, said Sir Tristram. We
stack fast, and it stood breast high. dare not, said the herdmen. Then Sir
And as she would have run upon the Tristram was ware of the sword of the
sword and to have slain herself, all this knight there as it lay, and so thither he
espied king Mark, how she kneeled ran, and took up the sword and strake
down and said, Sweet Lord Jesu have off Sir Tauleas's head, and so he went
mercy upon me, for I may not live after his way to the herdmen again.
the death of Sir Tristram de Liones, for
he was my first love, and he shall be CHAP. XXI.
the last. And with these words came
How king Mark found Sir Tristram
king Mark and took her in his arms,
and then he took up the sword, and naked, and made him to be borne
home to Tmtagil, and how he was
bare her away with him into a strong
there known by a bracket.
tower, and there he made her to be
kept, and watched her surely. And after Then the knight tookup the giant's
that she lay long sick, nigh at the point head, and bare it with him unto king
of death. This mean while ran Sir Tris- Mark, and told him what adventure
tram naked in the forest with the sword betid him in the forest, and how a naked
in his hand, and so he came to an her- man rescued him from the grimly giant
mitage, and there he laid him down and Tauleas. Where had ye this adventure ?
slept, and in the mean while the hermit said king Mark. Forsooth, said Sir
stale away his sword, and laid meat Dinant, the fair fountain in your
at
down by him. Thus was he kept there forest where many adventurous knights
a ten days, and at the last he departed meet, and there is the mad man. Well,
and came to the herd men again. And said king Mark, I will see that wild
there was a giant in that country that man. So within a day or two king
hight Tauleas, and for fear of Sir Tris- Mark commanded his knights and his
tram more than seven years he durst hunters, that they should be ready on
never much go at large, but for the the morn for to hunt, and on the morn
most part he kept him in a sure castle he went unto that forest. And when
of his own. And so this Tauleas heard the king came to that well, he found
tell that Sir Tristram was dead,
by the there lying by that well a fair naked
CHAP. XXII. HOW SIR TRISTRAM WAS BANISHED. 215
man, and a sword by him. Then king swoon, and so lay a great while and ;
Mark blew and straked, and therewith when she might speak, she said, My
his knights came to him. And then lord Sir Tristram, blessed be God ye
the king commanded his knights to have your life and now I am sure ye
;
take that naked man with fairness, and shall be discovered by this little brachet,
bring him to my castle. So they did for she will never leave you and also :
softly and
fair, and cast mantles upon I am sure as soon as my lord king
Sir Tristram, and so led him unto Tin- Mark do know you, he will banish you
tagil and there they bathed him and
; out of the country of Cornwall, or else
washed him, and gave him hot suppings, he will destroy you. Therefore mine
till they had brought him well to his own lord, grant king Mark his will, and
remembrance. But all this while there then draw you unto the court of king
was no creature that knew Sir Tristram, Arthur, for there are ye beloved. And
nor what man he was. So it fell upon ever when I may I shall send unto you,
a day that the queen La Beale Isoud and when ye list ye may come to me,
heard of such a man that ran naked in and at all times early and late I will be
the forest, and how the king had brought at your commandment to live as poor
him home to the court. Then La a as ever did queen or lady.
life O
Beale Isoud called unto her dame Brag- madam, said Sir Tristram, go from me,
waine, and said, Come on with me, for for mickle anger and danger have I
we go see this man that my lord
will escaped for your love.
brought from the forest the last day.
So they passed forth, and asked where CHAP. XXII.
was the sick man. And then a squire
told the queen that he was in the garden
How king Mark, by the advice r>f his
council, banished Sir Tristram out vf
taking his and reposing him against
rest,
Cornwall the term of ten years.
the sun. So when the queen looked
upon Sir Tristram she was not remem- Then queen departed, but the
the
bered of him. But ever she said unto brachet would not from him. And
dame Bragwaine, Me seemeth I should theiewithal came king Maik, and the
have seen him heretofore in many places. brachet sat upon him, and bayed at
But as soon as Sir Tristram saw her he them all. Therewithal Sir Andred
knew her well enough, and then he spake and said, Sir, this is Sir Tris-
turned away his visage and wept. Then tram, I see by the brachet. Nay, said
the queen had always a little brachet the king, I cannot suppose that. So
with her, that Sir Tristram gave her the the king asked him upon his faith what
first time that ever she came into Corn- he was, and what was his name. Truly,
wall, and never would that brachet de- said he, my name is Sir Tristram de
part from her, but if Sir Tristram was Liones, now do by me what ye list.
nigh there as was La Beale Isoud and ; Ah, said king Mark, me repenteth of
this brachet was sent from the king's your recovery. And then he let call
daughter of France unto Sir Tristram his barons to judge Sir Tristram to
for great love. And anon as this little death. Then many of his barons would
brachet a savour of Sir Tristram, she
felt not assent thereto, and in especial Sir
leaped upon him, and licked his cheeks Dinas the seneschal and Sir Fergus.
and his ears, and then she whined and And so by the advice of them all Sir
quested, and she smelled at his feet and Tristram was banished out of the
at his hands, and on all parts of his country for ten year, and thereupon he
body that she might come to. Ah, my took his oath upon a book before the
lady, said dame Bragwaine unto La king and his barons. And so he was
Beale Isoud, alas, alas said she,
! I made to depart out of the country of
see it is mine own lord, Sir Tristram. Cornwall, and there were many barons
And thereupon Isoud fell down in a brought him into his ship, of the which
2l6 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK IX.
some were his friends, and some his good knight Sir Palamides, and rescued
foes. And in the mean while there queen Isoud from him. And at that
came a knight of king Arthur's, his time king Mark said afore all his barons,
name was Dinadan, and his coming was I should have been better rewarded.
to seek after Sir Tristram. Then they And forthwithal he took the sea.
shewed him where he was armed at all
points, going to the ship. Now, fair CHAP. XXIII.
knight, said Sir Dinadan, or ye pass How a damsel sought help to help Sir
this court, that ye will just with me I
Launcelol against thirty hiighls, and
require you. With a good will, said
hoiu Sir Tristram fought with them.
Sir Tristram, and these lords will give
me leave. Then the barons granted And at the next landing, fast by the
thereto, and so they ran together, and sea, there met with Sir Tristram and
there Sir Tristram gave Sir Dinadan a with Sir Dinadan Sir Ector de Maris
fall. And then he prayed Sir Tristram and Sir Bors de Ganis. And there Sir
to give him leave to go in his fellow- Ector justed with Sir Dinadan and he
ship. Ye shall be right welcome, said smote him and his horse down. And
then Sir Tristram. And so they took then Sir Tristram would have justed
their horses and rode to their ships to- with Sir Bors, and Sir Bors said he:
gether. And when Sir Tristram was in would not just with no Cornish knights,,
the sea, he said, Greet well king Mark for they are not called men of worship..
and mine enemies, and say them I
all And all this was done upon a bridge.
will come again when I may. And And with this came Sir Bleoberis and:
well am I rewarded for the fighting Sir Driant, and Sir Bleoberis proffered
with Sir Marhaus, and delivering all to just with Sir Tristram, and there Sir
this country from servage, and well I Tristram smote down Sir Bleoberis;.
am rewarded for the fetching and costs Then Sir Bors de Ganis, I wist
said
of La Beale Isoud out of Ireland, and never Cornish knight of so great valour
the danger that I was in first and last, nor so valiant as that knight that bear-
and by the way coming home what eth the trappours embroidered with
danger I had to bring again queen Isoud crowns. And then Sir Tristram and ;
from the castle Pluere. And well am I Sir Dinadan departed from them into*
rewarded when I fought with Sir Bleo- a forest, and there met them a damsel
beris for Sir Segwarides' wife. And that came for the love of Sir Launcelot
well am I rewarded when I fought with to seek after some noble knights of
Sir Blamor de Ganis for king Anguish, king Arthur's court for to rescue Sir
father unto La Beale Isoud. And well Launcelot. And so Sir Launcelot was
am I smote down the
rewarded when I ordained, for by the treason of queen
good knight Sir Lamorak de Galis at Morgan le Fay to have slain Sir Laun-
king Mark's request. And well am I celot, and for that cause she ordained
rewarded when I fought with the king thirty knights for to lie in a wait for
with the hundred knights, and the king Sir Launcelot, and this damsel knew
of Northgalis, and both these would this treason. And cause the
for this
have put his land in servage, and by me damsel came for to seek noble knights
they were put to a rebuke. And well to help Sir Launcelot. For that night,
am I rewarded for the slaying of Tau- or the day after, Sir Launcelot should
leas the mighty giant, and many more come where these thirty knights were.
deeds have I done for him, and now And so this damsel met with Sir Bors,
have I my warison. And tell king Mark Sir Bleoberis, Sir Ector, and Sir Driant,
that many noble knights of the Table and there she told them all four of the
Round have spared the barons of this treason of Fay. And then
Morgan le
country for my sake. Also am I not they promised her that they would be
well rewarded when I fought with the nigh where Sir Launcelot should meet
CHAP. XXIV. OF SIR TRISTRAM AND SIR DINADAN. 217
with the thirty knights, and if so be did passing well. And so of the thirty
they set upon him we will do rescues as knights there went but ten away, and
we can. So the damsel departed, and they fled. All this battle saw Sir Bors
by adventure the damsel met with Sir de Ganis, and his three fellows. And
Tristram and with Sir Dinadan, and then they saw well it was the same
there the damsel told them all the trea- knight that justed with them at the
•
son that was ordained for Sir Launcelot. bridge. Then they took their horses
Fair damsel, said Sir Tristram, bring and rode unto Sir Tristram, and praised
me tothat same place where they should him, and thanked him of his good deeds,
meet with Sir Launcelot. Then said and they all desired Sir Tristram to go
Sir Dinadan, What will ye do ? it is with them to their lodging. And he
not for us to fight with thirty knights, said nay, he would not go to no lodg-
and wit you well I will not thereof, as ing. Then they all four knights prayed
to match one knight two or three is him to tell them his name. Fair loids,
enough, and they be men. But for to said Sir Tristram, as at this, time I will
match fifteen knights, that will I never not tell you my name.
undertake. Fie for shame, said Sir
Tristram, do but your part. Nay, said CHAP. xxiv.
Sir Dinadan, I will not thereof, but if
How Sir Trhtram and Sir Dinadan came
ye will lend me your shield, for ye bear
to a lodging where they must just with
a shield of Cornwall, and for the cow-
two knights.
ardice that is named to the knights of
Cornwall, by your shields ye be ever Then Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan
forborn. Nay, said Sir Tristram, I will rode forth their way till they came to
not depart from my shield for her sake the shepherds and to the herdmen, and
that gave it me. But one thing, said there they asked them if they knew any
Sir Tristram, I promise thee Sir Dina- lodging or harbour there nigh hand.
dan, but if thou wilt promise me to Forsooth sirs, said the herdmen, hereby
abide with me, here I shall slay thee : is good
lodging in a castle, but there is
for I desireno more of thee but to such a custom that there shall no knight
answer one knight, and if thy heart will be harboured but if he just with two
not serve thee, stand by and look upon knights, and if he be but one knight he
me and them. Sir, said Sir Dinadan, must just with two. And as ye be
I promise you to look upon and to do therein, soon shall ye be matched.
what I may to save myself, but I would There is shrewd harbour, said Sir
I had not met with you. So then Dinadan, lodge where ye will, for I
anon these thirty knights came fast will not lodge there. Fie for shame,
by these four knights, and they were said Sir Tristram, are ye not a knight
ware of them, and either of other. And of the Table Round, wherefore ye may
so these thirty knights let them pass not with your worship refuse your lodg-
for this cause, that they would not ing. Not so, said the herdmen, for and
wrath them if cause be that they had ye be beaten and have the worse ye
ado with Sir Launcelot, and the four shall not be lodged there, and if ye beat
knights let them pass to this intent, them ye shall be well harboured. Ah,
that they would see and behold what said Sir Dinadan, they are two sure
they would do with Sir Launcelot. And knights. Then Sir Dinadan would not
so the thirty knights past on, and came lodge there in no manner, but as Sir
by Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan. And Tristram required him of his knight-
then Sir Tristram cried on high, Lo here hood, and so they rode thither. And
is a
knight against you for the love of to make short tale, Sir Tristram and Sir
•Sir Launcelot. And there he slew two Dinadan smote them down both, and
with one spear, and ten with his sword. so they entered into the castle, and
And then came in Sir Dinadan, and he had good cheer as they could think or
2l8 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
devise. And when they were unarmed, fight. Then they rode together and
and thought to be merry and in good fought long, and at the last Sir Tris-
rest, there came in at the gates Sir tram doubled his strokes and drove Sir
Palamides and Sir Gaheris, requiring to Palamides aback more than three strides.
have the custom of the castle. What And then by one assent Sir Gaheris and
array is this ? said Sir Dinadan, I would Sir Dinadan went betwixt them and de-
have my rest. That may not be, said parted them in sunder. And then by
Sir Tristram ;
now must we needs de- assent of Sir Tristram, they would have
fend the custom of this castle, insomuch lodged together. But Sir Dinadan would
as we have the better of the lords of this not lodge in that castle, and then he
castle, and therefore, said Sir Tristram, cursed the time that ever he came in
needs must ye make you ready. In the their fellowship. And so he took his
devil's name, said Sir Dinadan, came I horse and his harness and departed.
into your company. And so they made Then Sir Tristram prayed the lords of
them ready. And Sir Gaheris encoun- that castle to lend him a man to bring
tered with Sir Tristram, and Sir Gaheris him to a lodging. And so they did,
had a fall, and Sir Palamides encoun- and overtook Sir Dinadan, and rode to
tered with Sir Dinadan, and Sir Dinadan their lodging two miles thence with a
had a fall then was it fall for fall. So
; good man in a priory, and there they
then must they fight on foot. That were well at ease. And that same
would not Sir Dinadan, for he was so night, Sir Bors, and Sir Bleoberis, and
sore bruised of the that Sir Pala-
fall Sir Ector, and Sir Driant, abode still
mides gave him. Then Sir Tristram in the same place there as Sir Tristram
unlaced Sir Dinadan's helm, and prayed fought with the thirty knights, and
him to help him. I will not, said Sir there they met with Sir Launcelot the
Dinadan, for I am sore wounded of the same and had made promise to
night,
thirty knights that we had but late ago lodge with Sir Colgrevance the same
to do withal. But ye fare, said Sir night.
Dinadan unto Sir Tristram, as a mad
CHAP. XXV.
man, and as a man that is out of his
mind, that would cast himself away, How Sir Tristram justed with Sir Kay
and I may curse the time that ever I and Sir Sagramor le Desirous, and
saw you. For in all the world are not how Sir Gawaine turned Sir Tristram
two such knights that be so wood as is from Morgan le Fay.
Sir Launcelot and ye Sir Tristram for : But anon as the noble knight Sir
once I fell in the fellowship of Sir Launcelot heard of the shield of Corn-
Launcelot as I have now done with wall, then wist he well that it was Sir
you, and he set me a work that a Tristram that fought with his enemies.
quarter of a year I kept my bed. And then Sir Launcelot praised Sir
Defend me, said Sir Dinadan, from such Tristram, and called him the man of
two knights, and specially from your most worship in the world. So there
fellowship. Then, said Sir Tristram, I was a knight in that priory that hight
will fight with them both. Then Sir Pellinore, and he desired to wit the
Tristram bad them come forth both, name of Sir Tristram, but in no wise he
for I will fight with you. Then Sir could not. And so Sir Tristram de-
Palamides and Sir Gaheris dressed them parted and left Sir Dinadan in the
and smote at them both. Then Dina- priory, for he was so weary and so sore
dan smote at Sir Gaheris a stroke or bruised that he might not ride. Then
two, and turned from him. Nay, said thisknight, Sir Pellinore, said to Sir
Sir Palamides, it is too much shame for Dinadan, Sithen that ye will not tel!
us two knights to fight with one. And me that knight's name, I will ride after
then he did bid Sir Gaheris stand aside him and make him to tell me his
name,
with that knight that hath no list to or he shall die therefore. Beware, sir
CHAP. XXVI. OF SIR TRISTRAM AND SIR GAWAINE. 219
knight, said Sir Dinadan, lor and ye a damsel of queen Morgan le Fay. Then
follow him ye shall repent it. So that Sir Gawaine understood that she led that
knight, Sir Pellinore, rode after Sir knight to some mischief. Fair knight,
Tristram, and required him of justs. said Sir Gawaine, whither ride you now
Then Sir Tristram smote him down, with that damsel? Sir, said Sir Tris-
and wounded him through the shoulder, tram, I wot not whither I shall ride,
and so he past on his way. And on the but as the damsel will lead me. Sir,
next day following Sir Tristram met said Sir Gawaine, ye shall not ride with
with pursuivants, and they told him that her, for she and her lady did never
there was made a great cry of tourna- good, but ill. And then Sir Gawaine
ment between king Carados of Scotland pulled out his sword, and said, Damsel,
and the king of North Wales, and either but if thou tell me anon for what cause
should just against other at the Castle of thou leadest this knight with thee, thou
Maidens. And these pursuivants sought shalt die for it right anon. I know all
all the country after the good knights, your lady's treason and yours. Mercy,
and in especial king Carados let make Sir Gawaine, she said, and if
ye will
seeking for Sir Launcelot, and the king save my life I will tell you. Say on,
of Northgalis let seek after Sir Tristram said Sir Gawaine, and thou shalt have
de Liones. And at that time Sir Tris- thy life. Sir, she said, queen Morgan
tram thought to be at that justs, and so le Fay, my lady, hath ordained a thirty
by adventure they met with Sir Kay the ladies to seek and espy after Sir I,aun-
seneschal and Sir Sagramor le Desirous, celot or Sir Tristram, and by the trains of
and Sir Kay required Sir Tristram to these ladies, who that may first meet with
just, and Sir Tristram in a manner re- any of these two knights, they should
fused him, because he would not be hurt turn them unto Morgan le Fay's castle,
nor bruised against the great justs that saying that they should do deeds of
should be before the Castle of Maidens, worship, and if any of those two knights
and therefore he thought to repose him, came there, there be thirty knights lying
and to rest him. And alway Sir Kay and watching in a tower to wait upon
cried, Sir knight of Cornwall, just with Sir Launcelot, or upon Sir Tristram.
me, or else yield thee to me as recreant. Fie for shame, said Sir Gawaine, that
A \hen ever such false treason should be
Sir Tristram heard him say so,
he turned to him, and then Sir Kay wrought or used in a queen and a
refused him, and turned his back. Then king's sister, and a king and queen's
Sir Tristram said, As I find thee shall I daughter.
take thee. Then Sir Kay turned with
evil will, and Sir Tristram smote Sir
CHAP. XXVI.
How Sir Tristram and Sir Gawaine rode
Kay down, and so he rode forth. Then
Sir Sagramor le Desirous rode after Sir to have fought against the thirty knights,
Tristram and made him to just with him. but they durst not come out.
And there Sir Tristram smote down Sir Sir, said Sir Gawaine, will ye stand
Sagramor le Desirous from his horse, with me, and we will see the malice of
and rode his way, and the same day he these thirty knights ? Sir, said Sir Tris-
met with a damsel that told him that he tiam, go ye to them and it please you,
should win great worship of a knight and ye shall see I will not fail you, for
adventurous, that did much harm in all I and a fellow
it is not
long ago since
that country. met with thirty knights of that queen's
When Sir Tristram heard her say so, fellowship; and God speed
us so that
he Mas glad to go with her to win we may win worship. So then Sir Ga-
worship. So Sir Tristram rode with waine and Sir Tristram rode toward
that damsel a six mile, and then met the castle where Morgan le Fay was,
him SirGawaine, and therewithal Sir and ever Sir Gawaine deemed well that
iawaine knew the damsel, that she was he was Sir Tristram de Liones, because
2 20 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
he heard that two knights had slain times, to have destroyed him and when
;
and beaten thirty knights. And when Sir Tristram saw him do so villainous a
they came afore the castle Sir Gawaine deed, he hurled out against him. And
spake on high, and said, Queen Morgan when Sir Breuse saw him with the
le Fay, send out your knights that ye shield of Cornwall, he knew him well
have laid in a watch for Sir Launcelot, that it was Sir Tristram, and then he
and for Sir Tristram. Now, said Sir fled, and Sir Tristram followed after
Gawaine, I*know your false treason, and him. And Sir Breuse Sance Pite
through all places where that I ride men was so horsed that he went his way
shall know of your false treason. And quite. And Sir Tristram followed him
now let see Sir Gawaine whether ye dare long, for he would fain have been
come out of your castle ye thirty knights. avenged upon him. And so when he
Then the queen spake and all the thirty had long chased him he saw a fair well,
knights at once, and said, Sir Gawaine, and thither he rode to repose him, and
full -well wotest thou what thou dost tied his horse to a tree.
and sayest for we know thee passing
;
saw no more but Sir Gawaine he and tidings with you. And then Sir Tris-
feutred his spear, and Sir Gawaine tram took his horse and sought lodging,
against him, and there Sir Breuse over- and there he met with a good ancient
threw Sir Gawaine, and then he rode knight that prayed him to lodge with
over him and overthwart him twenty him. Right so came Gouvernail unto
chap. xxvm. THE TOURNAMENT AT THE CASTLE OF MAIDENS. 221
upon a great black horse, and a black tram sent unto Palamides by Gouver-
Sir
covered shield. What knight is that, nail his squire, and prayed him to just
said Sir Tristram, with the black horse with him at his request. Nay, said Sir
and the black shield ? He seemeth to Palamides, as at this time I will not just
be a good knight. I know him well, with that knight, for I know him better
said Sir Persides, he is one of the best than he weeneth. And if he be wroth,
knights of the world. Then is it Sir he may right it to-morn at the Castle
Launeelot, said Sir Tristram. Nay, said of Maidens, where he may see me and
Sir Persides, it is Sir Palamides, that is many other knights. With that came
yet unchristened. Sir Dinadan, and when he saw Sir Tris-
222 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK TX.
tram wroth he list not to jest. Lo, said fresh by my will. Nay, said the king of
Sir Dinadan, here may a man prove, be Northgalis, I pray you require him of
a man never so good yet may he have justs. Sir, said Sir Palamides, I will just
a fall, and he was never so wise but he at your request, and require that knight
might be overseen, and he rideth well to just with me and often I have seen
;
that never fell. So Sir Tristram was a man have a fall at his own request.
passing wroth, and said to Sir Persides
and Sir Dinadan, I will revenge me. CHAP. XXIX.
Right so as they stood talking there, How Sir Launcelot justed with Palamides
there came by Sir Tristram a likely
and overthrew bitn, and after he was
knight, riding passing soberly and hea- assailed with twelve knights.
vily, with a black shield. What knight
is that ? said Sir Tristram unto Sir Per- Then Sir Palamides sent unto Sir
sides. know him well, said Sir Persides,
I Launcelot a squire, and required him
for his name is Sir Briant of North of justs. Fair fellow, said Sir Laun-
Wales so he past on among other
: celot, tell me thy lord's name. Sir,
knights of North Wales. And there said the squire, my lord's name is Sir
came in Sir Launcelot du Lake with a Palamides the good knight. In good
shield of the arms of Cornwall, and he hour, said Sir Launcelot, for there is no
sent a squire unto Sir Briant, and re- knight that I saw this seven years that
I had lever have ado withal than with
quired him to just with him. Well, said
Sir Briant, since I am required to just I him. And so either knights made them
will do what I may. And there Sir Laun- ready with two great spears. Nay, said
celot smote down Sir Briant from his Sir Dinadan, ye shall see that Sir Pala-
horse a great fall. And then Sir Tris- mides will quit him right well. It may
tram marvelled what knight he was be so, said Sir Tristram, but I under-
that bare the shield of Cornwall. What- take that knight with the shield of
soever he be, said Sir Dinadan, I war- Cornwall shall give him a fail. I be-
rant you he is of king Ban's blood, the lieve it not, said Sir Dinadan. Right so
which be knights of the most noble they spurred their horses, and feutred
prowess in the world, for to account so their spears, and either hit other, and
many for so
many. Then
there came Sir Palamides brake a spear upon Sir
two knights of Northgalis, the one Launcelot, and he sat and moved not,
hight Hew de la Montaine, and the but Sir Launcelot smote him so lightly
other Sir Madok de la Montaine, and that he made his horse to avoid the
they challenged Sir Launcelot foot hot. saddle, and the stroke brake his shield
Sir Launcelot not refusing them, but and the hauberk, and had he not fallen
made him with one spear he
ready, he had been slain. How now, said Sir
smote them down both over their horse Tristram, I wist well by the manner of
croups, and so Sir Launcelot rode his their both that Sir Palamides
riding
way. By my faith, said Sir Tristram, should have a fall. Right so Sir Laun-
he is a good knight that beareth the celot rode his way, and rode to a well
shield of Cornwall, and me seemeth he to drink and to repose him, and they of
rideth in the best manner that ever I Northgalis espied him whither he rode,
saw knight ride. Then the king of and then there followed him twelve
Northgalis rode unto Sir
Palamides, knights for to have mischieved him, for
and prayed him heartily sake
for his this cause, that upon the morn, at the
to just with that knight that hath done tournament of the Castle of Maidens,
us of Northgalis despite. Sir, said Sir that he should not win the victory. So
Palamides, I am full loth to have ado they came upon Sir Launcelot suddenly,
with that knight, and cause why is for and scarcely he might put upon him his
as to-morn the great tournament shall helm and take his horse but they were
be, and therefore I will keep myself in hands with him. And then Sir Laun-
CHAP. XXX. THE FIRST DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT. 223
celot gat his spear and rode through done to ;and then he gat a great spear
them, and there he slew a knight, and in his hand, and then he rode to Sir
brake his spear in his body. Then he Gaheris and smote him down from his
drew his sword and smote upon the horse. And then was Bleoberis wroth,
right hand and upon the left hand, so and gat a spear and rode against Sir
that within a few strokes he had slain Tristram in great ire, and there Sir
other three knights, and the remnant Tristram met with him, and smote Sir
that abode he wounded them sore, all Bleoberis from his horse. So then the
that did abide. Thus Sir Launcelot es- king with the hundred knights was
caped from his enemies of North Wales, wroth, and he horsed Sir Bleoberis
and then he rode forth on his way to a and Sir Gaheris again, and there began
friend, and lodged him till on the morn, a great meddle ; and ever Sir Tris-
for he would not the first day have ado tram held them passing short, and
in the tournament, because of his great ever Sir Bleoberis was passing busy
labour. And on the first day he Vvas upon Sir Tristram. And there came
with king Arthur, there as he was set Sir Dinadan against Sir Tristram, and
on high upon a scaffold, to discern who Sir Tristram gave him such a buffet
was best worthy of his deeds. So Sir that he swooned in his saddle. Then
Launcelot was with king Arthur, and anon Sir Dinadan came to Sir Tristram,
justed not the first day. and said, Sir, I know thee better than
thou weenest, but here I promise thee
CHAP. XXX. my troth I will never come against
thee more, for I promise thee that
How Sir Tristram behaved him the jirst
sword of thine shall never come on my
day of the tournament, and there he had helm. With that came Sir Bleoberis.
the prize.
and Sir Tristram gave him such a buffet
Now turn we unto Sir Tristram de that down he laid his head and % then
:
Liones, that commanded Gouvernail his he caught him so sore by the helm that
servant to ordain him a black shield he pulled him under his horse feet.
with none other remembrance therein. And then king Arthur blew to lodging.
And so Sir Persides and Sir Tristram Then Sir Tristram departed to his
departed from their host Sir Pellounes pavilion, and Sir Dinadan rode with
and they rode early toward the tourna- him. And Sir Persides and king Arthur
ment, and then they drew them to king then, and the kings upon both parties,
Carados' side of Scotland and anon
: marvelled what knight that was with
knights began the field, what of the the black shield. Many said their ad-
king of Northgalis' part, and what of vice,and some knew him for Sir Tris-
king Carados' part, and there began tram, and held their peace, and would
great party. Then
there was hurling nought say. So that first day king
and rashing. Right so came in Sir Per- Arthur and all the kings and lords
sides and Sir Tristram, and so they did that were judges gave Sir Tristram
fare that they put the king of North- the prize,how be it they knew him
galis aback. Then came in Sir Bleo- not, but named him the knight with
berisde Ganis and Sir Gaheris with them the black shield.
f Northgalis, and then was Sir Persides
smitten down and almost slain, for more CHAP. XXXI.
than forty horsemen went over him. For
Sir Bleoberis did great deeds of arms,
How Sir Tristram returned against king
Arthur s party, because be iaw Sir Pala-
and Sir Gaheris failed him not. When
mides on that party.
irTristram beheld them, and saw them
A
do such deeds of arms, he marvelled Then upon the morn Sir Palamides
what they were. Also Sir Tristram returned from the king of Northgalis,
thought shame that Sir Persides was so and rode to king Arthur's side, where
224 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
was king Carados, and the king of Ire- forty knights together, and Sir
Kay the
land, and Sir Launcelot's kin, and Sir seneschal was their governor. Then
Gawaine's kin. So Sir Palamides sent Sir Tristram rode in amongst them, and
the damsel unto Sir Tristram that he there he smote down Sir Kay from his
sent to seek him when he was out of horse, and there he fared among those
his mind in the forest and this damsel
; knights like a grey hound among conies.
asked Sir Tristram what he was, and Then Sir Launcelot found a knight that
what was his name. As for that, said
. was sore wounded upon the head. Sir,
Sir Tristram, tell Sir Palamides he shall said Sir Launcelot, who wounded ycu
not wit as at this time, unto the time I so sore? Sir, he said, a knight that
have broken two spears upon him. But beareth a black shield, and I may curse
let him wit thus much, said Sir Tris- the time that ever I met with him, for
tram, that I am the same knight that he he is a devil and no man. So Sir Laun-
smote down in over evening at the tour- celot departed from him, and thought
nament, and tell him plainly, on what to meet with Sir Tristram, and so he
part tint Sir Palamides be I will be on rode with his sword drawn in his hand
the contrary part. Sir, said the damsel, to seek Sir Tristram, and then he espied
ye shall understand that Sir Palamides him how he hurled here and there, and
will be on king Arthur's side, where the at every stroke Sir Tristram well nigh
most noble knights of the world be. smote down a knight. O
mercy, said
Then, said Sir Tristram, will I be with the king, sith the time I bare arms saw
the king of Northgalis, because Sir I never no knight do so marvellous
Palamides will be on king Arthur's side, deeds of arms. And if I should set upon
and else I would not but for his sake. this knight, said Sir Launcelot to him-
So when king Arthur was come they self, I did shame to myself; and there-
blew unto the field, and then there be- withal Sir Launcelot put up his sword.
gan a great and so king Carados
party, And then the king with the hundred
justed with the king with the hundred knights and a hundred more of North
knights, and there king Carados had a Wales upon the twenty of Sir Laun-
set
fall then there was hurling and ash-
;
1 celot's kin and they twenty knights
:
ing, and right so came in knights of held them ever together as wild swine,
king Arthur's, and they bare back the and none would fail other. And so
king of Northgalis' knights. Then Sir when Sir Tristram beheld the noblesse
Tristram came in, and began so roughly of these twenty knights, he marvelled of
and so bigly that there was none might their good deeds, for he saw by their
withstand him, and thus Sir Tristram fare and by their rule, that they had
endured long. And at the last Sir lever die than avoid the field. Now,
Tristram fell among the fellowship of said Sir Tristram, well may he be valiant
king Ban, and there fell upon him Sir and full of prowess that hath such a sort
Bors de Ganis, and Sir Ector de Maris, of noble knights unto his kin, and full
and Sir Blamor de Ganis, and many like is he to be a noble man that is their
other knights. And then Sir Tristram leader and governor. He meant it by
smote on the right hand and on the left Sir Launcelot du Lake. So when Sir
hand, that all lords and ladies spake of Tristram had beholden them long, he
his noble deeds. But at the last Sir thought shame to see two hundred
Tristram should have had the worse had knights battering upon twenty knights.
not the king with the hundred knights Then Sir Tristram rode unto the king
been. And then he came with his fel- with the hundred knights and said,
lowship and rescued Sir Tristram, and Sir, leave your fighting with those
brought him away from those knights twenty knights, for ye win no worship
that bare the shields of Cornwall. And of them, ye be so many, and they so
then Sir Tristram saw another fellow- few and wit ye well they will not out
;
ship by themselves, and there were a of the field, I see by their cheer and
CHAP. XXXIT. OF THE SORROW OF SIR PALAMWES. 225
power. Nay, said the king with the unto Sir Tristram, all the while the
hundred knights, ye shall not do so. tournament was a doing she was with
Now I see your courage and courtesy queen Guenever, and ever the queen
I will withdraw my knights for your asked her for what cause she came into
pleasure, for evermore a good knight that country. Madam, she answered,
will favour another, and like will draw I come for none other cause but fiom
to like. my lady La Beale Isoud
to wit of your
welfare. For no wise she would
in
CHAP. XXXII. not tell the queen that she came for
How Sir Trhtram found Palamides by a Sir Tristram's sake. So this
lady, dame
well, and brought him with him to his
Bragwaine, took her leave of queen
lodging. Guenever, and she rode after Sir Tris-
Then king with the hundred
the tram. And as she rode through the
knights withdrew his knights. And all forest she heard a great
cry, then she
this while, and long tofore, Sir Laun- commanded her squire to go into that
celot had watched upon Sir Tristram forest to witwhat was that noise. And
with a very purpose to have fellow- so he came to a well, and there he
shipped with him. And then suddenly found a knight bound to a tree, crying
Sir Tristram, Sir Dinadan, and Gouver- as he had been wood, and his horse and
nail his man, rode their way into the his harness standing
by him. And when
forest,that no man perceived where he espied the squire, therewith he started
they went. So then king Arthur blew and brake himself loose, and took his
unto lodging, and gave the king of swoid in his hand, and ran to have slain
Northgalis the prize, because Sir Tris- that squire. Then he took his horse
tram was upon his side. Then Sir and fled all that ever he might unto
Launcelot rode here and there, so wood dame Bragwaine again, and told her of
as lion that wanted his fill, because he his adventure. Then she rode unto Sir
had lost Sir Tristram, and so he re- Tristram's pavilion, and told Sir Tris-
turned unto king Arthur. And then in tram what adventure she had found in
all was a noise that with the
the field the forest. Alas, said Sir Tristram,
wind it might be heard two mile thence, upon my head there is some good
how the loids and ladies cried, The knight at mischief. Then Sir Tristram
knight with the black shield hath won took his horse and his sword and lode
the field. Alas, said king Arthur, where is thither, and there he heard how the
that knight become ? It is shame to all knight complained unto himself, and
those in the field so to let him escape said, I, woeful knight, Sir Palamides,
away from you but with gentleness
;
what misadventure befalleth me, that
and courtesy ye might have brought thus am defoiled with falsehood and
him unto me to the Castle of Maidens. treason, through Sir Bors and Sir Ector.
Then the noble king Aithur went unto Alas, he said, why live I so long And!
his knights, and comforted them in the then he gat his sword in his hands, and
best wise that he could, and said, My made many strange signs and tokens,
fair fellows be not dismayed, howbeit and so through his raging he threw his
ye have lost the field this day. And sword into that fountain. Then Sir
many were hurt and sore wounded, and Palamides wailed and wrang his hands.
many were whole. My fellows, said And at the last, for pure sorrow, he ran
king Aithur, look that ye be of good into that fountain over his middle, and
cheer, for to-morrow I will be in the sought after his sword. Then Sir Tris-
15
226 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
tram saw that, and ran upon Sir Pala- CHAP. XXXIII.
mides, and held him in his arms fast.
What art thou, said Sir Palamides, that
How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Pala-
holdelh me
so ? I am
a man of this mides, and how he justed with king
forest that would thee none harm. Arthur, and other feats.
Alas, said Sir Palamides, I may never So the king of Northgalis and the
win worship where Sir Tristram is, for king with the hundred knights, they two
ever where he is and I be there then encountered with king Carados and with
get I no worship, and if he be away for the king of Ireland, and there the king
the most part I have the gree, unless with the hundred knights smote down
that Sir Launcelot da Lake be there king Carados, and the king of North-
or Sir Lamorak. Then Sir Palamides galis smote down the king of Ireland.
said : Once Tristram put
in Ireland Sir With that came in Sir Palamides, and
me to the worse, and another time in when he came he made great work, for
Cornwall, and in other places in this by his indented shield he was well
land. What would ye do, said Sir known. So came in king Arthur and
Tristram, and ye had Sir Tristram ? I did great deeds of arms together, and
would fight with him, said Sir Pala- put the king of Northgalis and the king
mides, and ease my heart upon him, with the hundred knights to the worse.
and yet, to say the sooth, Sir Tristram With this came in Sir Tristram with his
is the gentlest knight in this world black shield, and anon he justed with
living. What will ye do ? said Sir Sir Palamides, and there by fine force
Tristram, will ye go with me to your Sir Tristram smote Sir Palamides over
lodging? Nay, said he, I will go to his horse croup. Then king Arthur
the king with the hundred knights, for cried, Knight with the black shield
he rescued me from Sir Bors de Ganis make thee ready to me. And in the
and Sir Ector, and else had I been same wise Sir Tristram smote kintr
slain traitourly. Sir Tristram said him Arthur. And then by force of king
such kind words that Sir Palamides Arthur's knights the king and Sir
went with him to his lodging. Then Palamides were horsed again. Then
Gouvernail went tofore and charged king Arthur with a great eager heart
dame Bragwaine to go out of the way gat a spear in his hand, and there upon
to her lodging, and bid ye Sir Persides the one side he smote Sir Tristram over
that he make him no quarrels. And so his horse. Then foot-hot Sir Palamides
they rode together till they came to Sir came upon Sir Tristram as he was on
Tristram's pavilion, and there Sir Pala- foot, to have over-ridden him. Then Sir
mides had all the cheer that might be Tristram was ware of him, and there he
had all that night. But in no wise Sir stooped aside, and with great ire he gat
Palamides might not know what was him by the arm, and pulled him down
Sir Tristram. And so after supper they from his horse. Then Sir Palamides
went to rest, and Sir Tristram for great lightly arose, and then they dashed to-
travail slept till it was day. And Sir gether mightily with their swords, and
Palamides might not sleep for anguish, many kings, queens, and lords stood
and in the dawning of the day he took and beheld them. And at the last Sir
his horse privily and rode his way unto Tristram smote Sir Palamides upon-the
Sir Gaheris and to Sir Sagramor le helm three mighty strokes, and at every
Desirous, where they were in their stroke that he gave him he said, Have
pavilions, for they three were fellows this for Sir Tristram's sake. With that
at the beginning of the tournament. Sir Palamides fell to the earth grovel-
And then upon the morn the king ing. And then came the king with the
blew unto the tournament upon the hundred knights and brought Sir Tris-
third day. tram an horse, and so was he horsed
again. By then was Sir Palamides
chap, xxxiv. THE THIRD DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT. 227
horsed, and with great ire he justed and gave him three great strokes upon
upon Sir Tristram with his spear as it the helm that the fire spang there out,
was in the rest, and gave him a great and Sir Launcelot abashed his head
dash with his spear. Then Sir Tristram lowly toward his saddle-bow. And
avoided his spear and gat him by the therewithal Sir Tristram departed from
neck with his both hands, and pulled the field, for .he felt him so wounded
him clean out of his saddle, and so he that he wend he should have died. And
bare him afore him the length of ten Sir Dinadan espied him, and followed
spears, and then in the presence of them him into the forest. Then Sir Launcelot
all he let him fall at his adventure. Then abode and did many marvellous deeds.
Sir Tristram was ware of king Arthur So when Sir Tristram was departed by
with a naked sword in his hand, and the forest side, he alight, and unlaced his
with his spear Sir Tristram ran upon harness and refreshed his wound. Then
king Arthur, and then king Arthur wend Sir Dinadan that he should have
boldly abode him, and with his sword died. Nay, nay, said Sir Tristram, Di-
he smote a-t\vo his spear, and there- nadan never dread thee, for I am heait
withal Sir Tristram was astonished, and whole, and of this wound I shall soon
so king Arthur gave him three or four be whole by the mercy of God. By
great strokes or he might get out his that Sir Dinadan was ware where
sword, and at the last Sir Tristram came Sir Palamides riding straight upon
drew his sword and assailed other pass- them. And then Sir Tristram was ware
ing hard. With that
the great press that Sir Palamides came to have de-
parted, then Sir Tristram rode heie and stroyed him. And so Sir Dinadan gave
there and did his great pain, that eleven him warning and said, Sir Tristram, my
of the good knights of the blood of king lord, ye are so sore that ye wounded
Ban, that was of Sir Launcelot's kin, may not have ado with him, therefore I
that day Sir Tristram smote down, that will ride against him and do to him
all the estates marvelled of his great what I may ; and if I be slain ye may
deeds, and all cried upon the knight pray formy soul, meanwhile
and in the
with the black shield. ye may withdraw you and go into the
castle, or into the forest, that he shall
CHAP. XXXIV. not meet with you. SirTristiam smiled
and said, I thank you, Sir Dinadan, of
How Sir Launcelnt hurt Sir Tristram, and
your good will, but ye shall wit that I
how after Sir Tristram smote clown am able to handle him. And then anon
Palamides.
hastily he armed him and took his horse
Then this cry was so large that Sir and gat a great spear in his hand, and
Launcelot heard it. And then he gat a said to Sir Dinadan, Adieu, and rode
great spear in his hand, and came to- toward Sir Palamides a soft pace.
wards the cry. Then
Sir Launcelot Then when Sir Palamides saw that,
cried, The
knight with the black shield, he made countenance to amend his
make thee ready to just with me. When horse but he did it for this cause, for
;
Sir Tristram heard him say so, he gat he abode Sir Gaheris that came after
his spear in his hand, and either abashed him. And when he was come, he rode
down their heads, and came together as toward Sir Tristiam. Then Sir Tristram
thunder, and Sir Tristram's spear brake sent unto Sir Palamides and required
in pieces, and Sir Launcelot by mal-for- him to just with him and if he smote
;
tune struck Sir Tristram on the side a down Sir Palamides he would do no
deep wound nigh to the death. But yet more to and if it so happened
him;
Sir Tristram avoided not his saddle, and that Sir Palamides smote down Sir Tris-
so spear brake: therewithal Sir
the tram he bad him do his utterance. So
Tristram that was wounded gat out his they were accorded. Then they met to-
sword, and he rashed to Sir Launcelot, gether, and Sir Tristram smote down Sir
15—2
228 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
Palamides, that he had a grievous fall, Sir Tristramhe was at that time more
so that he lay still as he had been dead. praised and renowned than if he had
And then Sir Tristram ran upon Sir Ga- overthrown five hundred knights and :
heris, and he would not have justed, but all the people wholly for this gentleness,
whether he would or not Sir Tristram first the estates both
high and low, and
smote him over his horse croup, that he after the commonalty, cried at once, Sir
lay still as though he had been dead. Launcelot hath won the field, whosoever
And then Sir Tristram rode his way, and say nay. Then was Sir Launcelot wroth
left Sir Persides' squire within the pa- and ashamed, and so therewithal he
vilions, and Sir Tristram and Sir Dina- rode to king Arthur. Alas, said the
dan rode to an old knight's place to king, we are all dismayed that Sir Tris-
lodge them. And that old knight had tram is thus departed from us. Truly,
five sons at the tournament, for whom said king Aithur, he is one of the no-
he prayed heartily for their coming blest knights that ever I saw hold spear
home. And so, as the French book or sword in hand, and the most cour-
saith, they came home all five well teyest knight in his fighting, for full hard
beaten. I saw him, said king Arthur, when he
And when Sir Tristram departed into smote Sir Palamides upon his helm,
the forest, Sir Launcelot held alway the thrice that he abashed his helm with
fight like hard as a man enraged that his strokes, and also he said, here is a
took no heed to himself, and wit ye well stroke for Sir Tristram, and thus thrice
there was many a noble knight against he said. Then king Arthur, Sir Laun-
him. And when king Arthur saw Sir celot, and Sir Dodinas le Savage took
Launcelot do so marvellous deeds of their horses to seek Sir Tristram, and
arms, he then armed him, and took his by the means of Sir Persides he had told
horse and armour, and rode into the field king Arthur where Sir Tristram was in
to help Sir Launcelot, and so many his pavilion, but when they came there
knights came in with king Arthur. And Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan were
to make
short tale, in conclusion, the gone. Then king Arthur and Sir Laun-
king of Northgalis and the king of the celot were heavy, and returned again
hundred knights were put to the worse, to the Castle of Maidens making great
and because Sir Launcelot abode and dole for the hurt of Sir Tristram, and
was the last in the field, the prize was his sudden departing. Truly, said king
given him. But Sir Launcelot would Arthur, I am more heavy that I cannot
neither for king, queen, nor knight have meet with him than for all the hurts
the prize. But where the cry was cried that all my knights have had at the
through the field, Sir Launcelot, Sir tournament. Right so came Sir Ga-
Launcelot, hath won the field this day, heris and told to king Arthur how Sir
Sir Launcelot let make another
cry con- Tristram had smitten down Sir Pala-
trary, Sir Tristram hath won the field, mides, and it was at Sir Palamides's own
for he began first, and last he hath en- request. Alas, said king Arthur, that
dured, and so hath he done the first day, was great dishonour to Sir Palamides,
the second, and the third day. inasmuch as Sir Tristram was sore
wounded, and now may we all, kings,
CHAP. XXXV. and knights, and men of worship, -say
that Sir Tristram may be called a noble
How the prize of day was given
the third
to Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot gave knight, and one of the best knights that
ever I saw the days of my life. For I
it unto Sir Tristram.
will that ye all kings and knights know,
Then all the estates and degrees high said king Arthur, that I never saw
and low said of Sir Launcelot great wor- knight do so marvellously as he hath
ship for the honour that he did anto Sir done these three days, for he was the
Tristram, and for that honour doing to first that began, and that longest held
chap, xxxvi. SIR LAUNCELOTS QUEST FOR SIR TRISTRAM. 229
on, save this last day. And though he as the French book saith, Sir Persides
was hurt, it was a manly adventure of hurt so Sir Mordred a ten days afore ;
and I had known him at that time. the damsel rode her ways till she came
That I hurt him was for I saw not his to the old knight's place, and there she
shield, for if I had seen his black shield told that old knight how she had met
I would not have meddled with him for with the woodest knight by adventure
many causes, for late he did as much that ever she met withal. What bare
for me as ever knight did, and that is he in his shield ? said Sir Tristram. It
well known that he had ado with thirty was indented with white and black, said
knights, and no help save Sir Dinadan. the damsel. Ah, said Sir Tristram, that
And one thing shall I promise, said Sir was Sir Palamides the good knight, for
Launcelot, Sir Palamides shall repent it, well I know him, said Sir Tristram, for
as in his unkindly dealing for to follow one of the best knights living in this
that noble knight that I by mishap hurt realm. Then that old knight took a little
thus. Sir Launcelot said all the wor- hackney, and rode for Sir Palamides, and
ship that might be said by Sir Tristram. brought him unto his own manor and ;
Then king Arthur made a great feast to then full well knew Sir Tristram Sir
all that would come. Palamides, but he said but little, for at
And thus let we
pass king Arthur, that time Sir Tristram was walking upon
and a little we unto Sir Pala-
will turn his feet, and well amended of his hurts,
mides, that, after he had a fall of Sir and always when Sir Palamides saw Sir
Tristram, he was nigh hand enraged out Tristram he would behold him full mar-
of his wit for despite of Sir Tristram. vellously. And ever him seemed that
And so he followed him by adventure. he had seen him. Then would he say
And as he came by a river in his wood- to Sir Dinadan, And ever I may meet
ness he would have made his horse to with Sir Tristram, he shall not escape
have lept over and the horse failed
;
my hands. I marvel, said Sir Dinadan,
footing and fell in the river, wherefore that ye boast behind Sir Tristram, for
Sir Palamides was adread lest he should it is but late that he was in
your hands,
have been drowned, and then he avoided and ye in his hands why would ye not
;
his horse and swam to the land, and let hold him when ye had him ? for I saw
his horse go down by adventure. myself twice or thrice that ye gat but
little worship of Sir Tristram. Then
CHAP. XXXVI. was Sir Palamides ashamed. So leave
we them a little while in the castle with
How Sir Palamides came to the castle
the old knight Sir Darras.
where Sir Tristram was, and of the
Now shall we speak of king Arthur,
quest that Sir Launcelot and ten h nights that said to Sir Launcelot, Had not ye
made for Sir Tristram.
been, we had not lost Sir Tristram, for
And when he came to the land he he was here daily unto the time ye met
took off his harness, and sat roaring with him, and in an evil time, said Ar-
and crying as a man out of his mind. thur, ye encountered with him. My lord
Right so came a damsel even by Sir Arthur, said Launcelot, ye put upon me
Palamides, that was sent from Sir Ga- that I should be cause of his departure :
waine and his brother unto Sir Mordred, truly it was against my will. But when
that lay sick in the same place with that men be hot in deeds of arms, often they
old knight where Sir Tristram was. For, hurt their friends as well as their foes ;
230 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK IX.
and my lord,
said Sir Launcelot, ye shall Bragwaine, and she thanked him of his
understand that Sir Tristram is a man great labour.
that I am loth to offend, for he hath
done for me more than ever I did for CHAP. XXXVII.
him as yet. But then Sir Launcelot
made to bring forth a book, and then How Sir Tristram, Sir Palamides, and
Sir Dinadan were taken and put in
Sir Launcelot said, Here we are ten
piison.
knights that will swear upon a book
never to rest one night where we rest Now will we
speak of Sir Lucan the
another, this twelvemonth, until that butler, that by fortune came riding to
we find Sir Tristram. And as for me, the same place there as was Sir Tris-
said Sir Launcelot, 1 promise you upon tram, and in he came in none other
this book that and I may meet with intent but to ask harbour. Then the
him, either by fairness or foulness I porter asked what was his name. Tell
shall bring him to this court, or else I your lord that my name is Sir Lucan
shall die therefore. And the names of the butler, a knight of the Round Table.
these ten knights that had undertaken So the porter went unto Sir Darras, lord
this quest were these following. First of the place, and told him who was
was Sir Launcelot Sir Ector de Maris,
; there to ask harbour. Nay, nay, said
Sir Bors de Ganis, and Bleoberis, and Sir Daname, that was nephew unto Sir
Sir Blamor de Ganis, and Lucan the Darras, say him that he shall not be
butler, Uwaine, Sir Galihud, Sir
Sir lodged here. But let him wit that I
Lionel, and Galiodin. So these ten Sir Daname meet with him anon,
will
noble knights departed from the court and bid him make him ready. So Sir
of king Arthur and so they rode upon
; Daname came forth on horseback, and
their quest together until they came to there they met together with spears,
a cross where departed four highways, and Sir Lucan smote down Sir Daname
and there departed the fellowship in over his horse croup, and then he fled
four, to seek Sir Tristram. And as Sir into that place, and Sir Lucan rode after
Launcelot rode by adventure he met him, and asked after him many times.
with dame Bragwaine, that was sent Then .Sir Dinadan said to Sir Tristram,
into that country to seek Sir Tristram, It is shame to see the lord's cousin of
and she fled as fast as her palfrey might this place defoiled. Abide, said Sir
go. So Sir Launcelot met with her, Tristram, and I shall redress it. And
and asked her why she fled. Ah, fair in the mean while Sir Dinadan was on
knight, said dame Bragwaine, I flee for horseback, and he justed with Lucan
dread of my life, for here followeth the butler, and there Sir Lucan smote
me Sir Breuse Sance Pite to slay me. Dinadan through the thick of the thigh,
Hold you nigh me, -said Sir Launcelot. and so he rode his way, and Sir Tris-
Then when Sir Launcelot saw Sir Breuse tram was wroth that Sir Dinadan was
Sance Pite, Sir Launcelot cried unto hurt, and followed after, and thought
him and said, False knight, destroyer of to avenge him. And within a mile he
ladiesand damsels, now thy last days overtook Sir Lucan and bade him turn :
be come. When Sir Breuse Sance Pite and so they met together, so that Sir
saw Sir Launcelot's shield he knew it Tristram hurt Sir Lucan passing sore,
well, for at that time he bare not the and gave him a fall. With, that came
arms of Cornwall, but he bare his Own Sir Uwaine, a gentle knight, and when
shield. And then Sir Breuse lied, and he saw Sir Lucan so hurt, he called Sir
Sir Launcelot followed after him. Bat Tristram to just with him. Fair knight,
Sir Breuse was so well horsed, that said Sir Tristram, tell me your name I
when him list to flee he might well flee, require you. Sir knight, wit ye well
and also abide when him list. And my name is Sir Uwaine le Fise de Roy
then Sir Launcelot returned unto dame Ureine. Ah, said Sir Tristram, by my
chap, xxxvii. HOW TRISTRAM WAS IN PRISON AND SICK. 231
will I would not have ado with you at they had. So Sir Tristram endured
no time. Ye not so, said Sir
shall there great pain, for sickness had under-
Uwaine, but ye shall have ado with me. taken him, and that is the greatest
And then Sir Tristram saw none other pain a prisoner may have. For all the
boot, but rode against him, and over- while a prisoner may have his health of
threw Sir Uwaine, and hurt him in the body, he may endure under the mercy
side, and so he departed unto his lodging of God, and in hope of good deliver-
again. And when Dinadan under-
Sir ance but when sickness toucheth a
;
stood that Sir Tristram had hurt Sir prisoner'sbody, then may a prisoner
Lucan, he would have ridden after Sir say wealth
all is him bereft, and then
Lucan to have slain him, but Sir Tris- he hath cause to wail and to weep.
tram woidd not suffer him. And so did Sir Tristram when sickness
Then Sir Uwaine let ordain an horse- had undertaken him, for then he took
litter, and brought Sir Luean to the such sorrow that lie had almost slain
abbey of Ganis, and the easlle thereby himself.
hight the castle of Ganis, of the which
Sir Bleoberis was lord. And at that CHAP. XXXVIII.
castle Sir Launcelot promised all his How king Mark was sorry for the good
fellows to meet in the quest of Sir Tris- renown of Sir Tristram : some 0/ king
tram. So when Sir Tristram was come Arthur's knights jutted with knights oj
to his lodging, there came a damsel that Cornwall.
told Sir Darras that three of his sons Now will we speak, and leave Sir T.is-
were slain at that tournament, and two tram, Sir Palamides, and Sir Dinadan in
grievously wounded that they were never prison, and speak we of other knights
like to help themselves, and all this was that after Sir Tristram
sought many
done by a noble knight that bare the divers parts of this land. And some
black shield, and that was he that bare went into Cornwall, and by adventure
the prize. Then came there one and Sir Gaheris, nephew, unto king Arthur,
told Sir Darras that the same knight came unto king Mark, and there he was
was within him that bare the black well received, and sat at king Mark's
shield. Then Sir Dan as went unto own table and eat of his own mess.
Sir Tristram's chamber, and there he Then king Mark asked Sir Gaheris
found his shield and shewed it to the what tidings there were in the realm of
damsel. Ah, sir, said the damsel, that Logris. Sir, said Sir Gaheris, the king
same is he that slew your three sons. reigneth as a noble knight, and now but
Then without any tarrying Sir Darras late there was a great justs and tourna-
put Sir Tristram, and Sir Palamides, ment as ever I saw any in the realm of
and Sir Dinadan within a strong prison, Logris, and the most noble knights were
and there Sir Tristram was like to have at that justs. But there was one knight
died of great sickness, and every day Sir that did marvellously three days, and he
Palamides would reprove Sir Tristram bare a black shield, and of all knights
of old hate betwixt them. And ever that ever I saw he proved the best
Sir Tristram spake fair and said little. knight. Then said king Mark, That
Put when Sir Palamides saw the falling was Sir Launcelot, or Sir Palamides the
of sickness of Sir Tristram then was he Paynim. Not so, said Sir Gaheris, for
heavy for him, and comforted him in all both Sir Launcelot and Sir Palamk'es
the best wise he could. And, as the were on the contrary pait against the
French book saith, there came forty knight with the black shield. Then it
knights to Sir Darras that were of his was Sir Tristram, said the king. Yea,
own* kin, and they would have slain Sir said Sir Gaheris. And therewith the king
Tristram and his two fellows, but Sir smote down his head, and in his heart
Darras would not suffer that, but kept he feared sore that Sir Tristram should
them in prison, and meat and drink get him such worship in the realm of
"232 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK IX.
Logris, where through that he himself nor ye, that shall think I am afraid of
should not be able to withstand him. you, but I durst light well have ado
Thus Sir Gaheris had gteat cheer with with you, but we be sisters' sons. Then
king Mark, and with queen La Beale was Sir Gaheris ashamed. And so there-
Isoud, the which was glad of Sir Ga- Mi thai every knight went his way, and
heris' words ; for well she wist by his Sir Uwaine rode into the country Then
deeds and manners that it was Sir Tris- king Mark armed him and look his
tram. And then the king made a feast horse and his spear, with a squire with
royal, and unto that feast came Sir him. And then he rode afore Sir
Uwaine le Fise de Roy Ureine, and Uwaine, and suddenly at a gap he ran
some folk called him Uwaine le Blanche upon him as he that was not ware of
Mains. And this Sir Uwaine challenged him, and there he smote him almost
all the. knights of Cornwall. Then was through the body, and there left him.
the king wood wroth that he had no So within a while there came Sir Kay,
knights to answer him. Then Sir An- and found Sir Uwaine, and asked him
dred, nephew unto king Mark, lept up how he was hurt. I wot not, said Sir
and said, I will encounter with Sir Uwaine, why, nor wherefore, but by
Uwaine. Then he went and armed him, treason I am sure I gat this hurt, for
and horsed him in the best manner. here came a knight suddenly upon me
And there Sir Uwaine met with Sir or that I was ware, and suddenly hurt
.Andred and smote him down, that he me. Then there was come Sir Andred
swooned on the earth. Then was king to seek king Mark. Thou traitor knight,
Mark sorry and wroth out of measure said Sir Kay, and I Mist it were thou
that he had no knight to revenge his that thus traitourly hast hurt this
nephew Sir Andred. So the king called noble knight, thou shouldst never pass
unto him Sir Dinas the seneschal, and my hands. Sir, said Sir Andred, 1 did
prayed him for his sake to take upon never hurt him, and that I will report
him to just with Siir Uwaine. Sir, said me to himself. Fie on you, false knights,
Sir Dinas, I am full loth to have ado said Sir Kay, for ye of Cornwall are
with any knight of the Round Table. nought worth. So Sir Kay made carry
Yet, said the king, for my love take Sir Uwaine to the abbey of the black
upon thee to just. So Sir Dinas made cross, and there he was healed. And
him ready, and anon they encountered then Sir Gaheris took his leave of king
together with great spears, but Sir Di- Mark. But or he departed he said, Sir
nas was overthrown, horse and man, king, ye did a foul shame unto you and
a great fall. Who was wroth but your court when ye banished Sir Tris-
king Mark? Alas, he said, have I no tram out of this country, for ye needed
knight that will encounter with yon- not to have doubted no knight and he
der knight. Sir, said Sir Gaheris, for had been here. And so he departed.
your sake I will just. So Sir Gaheris
made him ready, and when he was CHAP. XXXIX.
armed he rode into the field. And when
Sir Uwaine saw Sir Gaheris' shield, he Of the Mark, and how Sir
treason of king
rode unto him and said, Sir, ye do not Gaheris smote him down and Andred
his cousin.
your part for, sir, the first time ye
;
were made knight of the Round Table Then there came Sir Kay the seneschal
ye sware that ye should not have ado unto king Mark, and there he had good
with your fellowship wittingly. And cheer shewing outward. Now fair lords,
pardy Sir Gaheris, ye knew me well said he, will ye prove any adventures
enough by my shield, and so do 1 know in the forest of Morris, in the which I
be advised, for king Mark was ever full their names, or else they should die.
of treason. And therewithal Sir Ga- Then with great pain Sir Andred spake
heris departed and rode his way. And first and said, It is
king Mark of Coin-
by the same way that Sir Kay should wall, therefore beware what ye do, and
ride he laid him down to rest, charging I am Sir Andred his cousin. Fie on
you
his squire to wait upon Sir Kay, and — both, said Sir Gaheris, for a false trai-
warn me when he cometli. So within a tor, and false treason hast thou wrought
while Sir Kay came tiding that way. and he both, under the feigned cheer that
And then Sir Gaheris took his horse ye made us. It were pity, said Sir Ga-
and met him. and said, Sir Kay, ye are heris, that thou shouldst live any longer.
not wise to ride at the request of king Save my life, said king Mark, and I will
Mark, for he dealeth all with treason. make amends and consider that I am a
;
Then said Sir Kay, I require you let us king anointed. It weie the more shame,
prove this adventure. I shall not fail said Sir Gaheris, to save thy life thou ;
you, said Sir Gaheris. And so they art a king anointed with crism, and
rode that time till a lake that was that therefore thou shouldest hold with all
time called the perilous lake, and there men of worship and therefore thou art
;
they abode under the shawe of the wood. worthy to die. With that he lashed at
The mean while king Mark within the king Mark without saying any more ;
castle of Tintagil avoided all his barons, and he covered him with his shield, and
and all other save such as were privy defended him as he might. And then
with him were all avoided out of his Sir Kay lashed at Sir Andred. And
chamber. And then he let call his therewithal king Mark yielded him unto
nephew Sir Andred, and bad arm him vSir Gaheris, and then he kneeled down,
and horse him lightly, and by that time and made his oath upon the cross of
it was
midnight. And so king Mark the sword that never while he lived he
was armed in black, horse and all. And would be against errant knights. And
so at a privy postern they two issued also he sware to be good friend unto
out with their varlets with them, and Sir Tristram, if ever he came into Corn-
rode till they came to that lake. Then wall, lty then Sir Andred was on the
Sir Kayespied them first, and gat his earth, and Sir Kay would have slain
spear, and proffered to just. And king him. Let be, said Sir Gaheris, slay him
Mark rode against him, and smote each not I pray you. It were pity, said Sir
other full hard, for the moon shone as Kay, that he should live any longer, for
the bright day. And there at that justs this is nigh cousin unto Sir Tristram,
Sir Kay's horse fell down, for his horse and ever he hath been a traitor unto
was not so big as the king's horse was, him, and by him he was exiled out of
and Sir Kay's horse bruised him full Cornwall, and therefore I will slay him,
sore. Then Sir Gaheris was wroth that said Sir Kay. Ye shall not, said Sir Ga-
Sir Kay had a fall. Then he cried, heris ;sithen I have given the king his
Knight, sit thouthy saddle, for
fast in life, I pray you give him his life. And
I will revenge my fellow. Then king therewithal Sir Kay let him go. And so
Mark was afeard of Sir Gaheris, and so SirKay and Sir Gaheris rode forth their
with evil will king Mark rode against way unto Dinas the seneschal, for be-
him : and gave him such a
Sir Gaheris cause they heard say that he loved well
stroke that he fell down. So then forth- Sir Tristram. So they reposed them
wilhal Sir Gaheris ran unto Sir Andred, there. And soon after they rode unto
and smote him from his horse quite that the realm of Logris. And so within a
his helm smote in the earth and nigh little while they met with Sir Launcelot,
had broken his neck. And therewith Sir that had always dame Bragwaine with
Gaheris alight, and gat up Sir Kay. him, to that intent he wend to have met
And then they went both on foot to sooner with Sir Tristram, and Sir Laun-
them, and bad them yield them and tell celot asked what tidings in Cornwall,
234 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK IX.
and whether they heard of Sir Tristram and thou hadst Sir Tristram here thou
or not. Sir Kay and Sir Gaheris an- wouldst do him no harm for and a
;
swered and said that they heard not of wolf and a sheep were together in
him. Then they told Sir Launcelot word prison, the wolf would suffer the sheep
by word of their adventure. Then Sir to be in peace. And wit thou well,
Launcelot smiled, and said, Hard it is said Sir Dinadan, this same is Sir Tris-
to take out of the flesh that is bred in tram at a word, and now mayest thou
the bone. And so made them merry do thy best with him, and let see now
together. how ye can shift with your hands.
it
dame Bragwaine took her leave to go shall never be said that Sir Darras
into Cornwall, and Sir Launcelot, Sir shalldestroy such a noble knight' as
Kay. and Sir Gaheris rode to seek Sir thou art in prison, howbeit that thou
Tristram in the country of Surluse. hast slain three ofmy sons, whereby I
Now speaketh this tale of Sir Tristram was greatly agrieved. But now shalt
and of his two fellows, for every day thou go and thy fellows, and your
Sir Palamides brawled and said lan- harness and horses have been fair and
guage against Sir Tristram. I marvel, clean kept, and ye shall go where it
said Sir Dinadan, of thee Sir Palamides : liketh you. upon this covenant, that
CHAP. XLI. OF SIR BREUSE SANCE PITE. 235
thou, knight, will promise me to be said Sir Dinadan, and because of honour
good friend to my sons two that be all women I will do
of my part. With
now on live, and also that thou tell me this came Sir Breuse, and when he saw
thy name. Sir, said he, as for me, my a knight with his lady, he was wood
name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and in wroth. And then he said, Sir knight,
Cornwall was I born, and nephew I am keep thee from me. So they hurled
unto king Mark. And as for the death together as thunder, and either smote
of your sons, I might not do withal, other passing sore. But Sir Dinadan
for and they had been the next kin that put him through the shoulder a grievous
1 have, I might have done none other- wound, and or ever Sir Dinadan might
wise. And if I had slain them by turn him, Sir Breuse was gone and fled.
treason or treachery, I had been worthy Then the lady prayed him to bring her
to have died. All this I consider, said to a castle there beside but four mile
Sir Darras, that all that ye did was by thence. And so Sir Dinadan brought
force of knighthood, and that was the her there, and she was welcome, for the
cause I would not put you to death. lord of that castle was her uncle. And
But since ye be Sir Tristram the good so Sir Dinadan rode his way upon his
knight, I pray you heartily to be my adventure.
good friend and to my sons. Sir, said Now turn we this tale unto Sir Tris-
Sir Tristram, I promise you by the faith tram, that by adventure he came to a
of my body ever while I live I will do castle to ask lodging, wherein was queen
you service, for ye have done to us but Morgan le Fay. And so when Sir Tris-
as a natural knight ought to do. Then tram was into that castle he had
let
Sir Tristram reposed him there till that good cheer all that night. And upon
he was amended of his sickness. And the morn when he would have departed,
when he was big and strong they took the queen said, Wit ye well ye shall
and every knight took their
their leave, not depart lightly, for ye are here as
horses and so departed, and rode to- a prisoner. God defend, said Sir Tris-
gether till
they came to a cross way. tram, for I was but late a prisoner.
Now fellows, said Sir Tristram, here Fair knight, said the queen, ye shall
will we
depart in sundry ways. And abide with me till that 1 wit what ye
because Sir Dinadan had the first ad- are, and from whence ye come. And
venture, of him 1 will begin. ever the queen would set Sir Tristram on
her side, and her paramour on the other
CHAP. XLI. side, and ever queen Morgan would
behold Sir Tristram, and thereat the
How Sir Dinadan rescued a lady from
Sir Breuse Sance Pile, and how Sir
knight was jealous, and was in will
suddenly to have ran upon Sir Tristram
Tristram received a shield of Morgan with a sword, but he left it for shame.
le Fay.
Then the queen said to Sir Tristram,
So as Sir Dinadan rode by a well, he Tell me thy name, and I shall suffer you
found a lady making great dole. What to depart when you will. Upon that
aileth you V said Sir Dinadan. Sir covenant I tell you my name is Sir
knight, the lady, I am the wo-
said Tristram de Liones. Ah, said Morgan
fullest lady of the world, for within le Fay, and I had wist that thou
these five days here came a knight shouldst not have departed so soon as
called Sir Breuse Sance Pite, and lie thou Shalt but sithen I have made a
:
slew mine own brother, and ever since promise I will hold it, with that thou
he hath kepi me at his own will, and of wilt promise me to bear upon thee a
all men in the world 1 hate him most. shield that I shall deliver thee, unto the
And therefore I require you of knight- castle of the Hard Rock, where king
hood to avenge me, for he will not Arthur hath cried a great tournament,
tarry but be here anon. Let him come, and there I pray you that ye will be,
236 MORTE DARTHUR. Book ix.
that shield and promised her to bear it him and came to a fair manor to an
at the tournament at the castle of the old knight, and there Sir Tristram
Hard Rock. But Sir Tristram knew lodged.
not that shield was ordained against Sir
Launcelot, but afterward he knew it.
CHAP. XLIII.
How Morgan le buried her paramour,
Fay
CHAP. XLII. and how Sir Tristram praised Sir Laun-
celot and his kin.
How Sir Tristram took with him the shield,
Now leave we to speak of Sir Tris-
and also how he slew the paramour of
tram, and speak we of the knight that
Morgan le Fay. was wounded to the death. Then' his
So then Sir Tristram took his leave varlct alight, and took off his helm and ;
ot the queen, and took the shield with then he asked his master whether there
him. Then came the knight that held were any life in him. There is in me
queen Morgan le Fay, his name was Sir life, said the knight, but but little,
it is
Morgan, ride not after that knight, for me fast that I fall not, and bring me
CHAP. XLIV. OF MORGAN LE FAY'S SHIELD. '37
to queen Morgan le Fay, for deep knights, and there began a great meddle.
draughts of death draw to my heart, So came in Sir Tristram and did mar-
that may not live, for I would fain
I vellous deeds of arms, for there he smote
speak with her or I died. For else my down many knights. And ever he was
soul will be in great peril and I die. afore king Arthur with that shield.
And with great pain his varlet brought And when king Arthur saw that shield,
him and there Sir Hemi-
to the castle, he marvelled greatly in what intent it
son fell down
dead. When Morgan le was made. But queen Guenever deemed
Fay saw him dead, she made great sor- as it was, wherefore she was heavy.
row out of reason. And then she let Then was there a damsel of queen Mor-
despoil him unto his shirt, and so she gan in a chamber by king Arthur, and
let him put into a tomb. And about when she heard king Arthur speak of
the tomb she let write: Here lieth Sir that shield, then she spake
openly unto
Hemison, slain by the hands of Sir Tris- king Arthur, Sir king, wit ye well this
tram de Liones. Now turn we unto Sir shield was ordained for you, to wain
Tristram, that asked the knight, his host, you of your shame and dishonour, and
if he saw late any knights adventurous. that longeth to you and to your queen.
Sir, he said, the last night here lodged And then anon the damsel piked her
with me Sir Ector de Maris and a damsel away privily, that no man wist where
with him, and that damsel told me that she was become. Then was king Ar-
he was one of the best knights of the thur sad and wroth, and asked from
world. That is not so, said Sir Tris- whence came that damsel. There was
tram, for I know four better knights of not one that knew her, nor wist where
his own blood and the first is Sir Laun-
;
she was become. Then queen Guenever
celot du Lake, him
the best knight
call ;
called to her Sir Ector de Maris, and
and Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis, Sir there she made her complaint to him,
Blamor de Ganis, and Sir Gaheris. Nay, and said, I wot well this shield was
said his host, Sir Gawaine is a better made by Morgan le Fay, in despite of
knight than he. That is not so, said me and Sir Launcelot, wherefore 1 dread
Sir Tristram, for I have met with them sore lest I should be destroyed. And
both, and I felt Sir Gaheris for the ever the king beheld Sir Tristram that
better knight and Sir Lamorak, I call
;
did so marvellous deeds of arms, that
him as good as any of them, except Sir he wondered sore what knight he might
Launcelot. Why name ye not Sir Tris- be, and well he wist it was not Sir
tram, said his host, for I account him as Launcelot. And it was told him that
good as any of them. I know not Sir Sir Tristram was in Petit Britain with
Tristram, said Tristram. Thus they Isoud la Blanche Mains, for he deemed,
talked and jested as long as them list, and he had been in the realm of Logris,
and then went to rest. And on the morn Sir Launcelot or some of his fellows that
Sir Tristramdeparted and took his were in the quest of Sir Tristram, that
leave of his host, and rode towards the they should have found him or that
Roche-dure, and none adventure had Sir time. So king Arthur had marvel what
Tristram but that, and so he rested not knight he might be. And ever Sir
tillhe came to the castle, where he saw Arthur's eye was on that shield. All
five hundred tents. that espied the queen, and that made
her sore afeard. Then ever Sir Tris-
CHAP. XLIV. tram smote down knights, wonderly to
behold, what upon the right hand and
How Sir Tristratn at a tournament hare
upon the left hand, that unneth no
the shield that Morgan le Fay had de-
knight might withstand him. And the
livered him.
king of Scots and the king of Ireland
Then the king of Scots and the king began to withdraw them. When Arthur
of Ireland held against king Arthur's espied that, he thought that that knight
2 38 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
with the strange shield should not es- them before Sir Tristram, and required
cape him. Then he called unto him Sir him to tell them where he had that
Uwaine la Blanche Mains, and bade him shield. Sir, he said, I had it of queen
arm him and make him ready. So anon Morgan le Fay, sister unto king
king Arthur and Sir Uwaine dressed Arthur.
£00 fme enoctl) t|)te f)i£torji of i\)i$ book, foe it i$ tlje fete book of
sire Tristram tie Igones, anto tlje second book of sir trigtram
folofoetl).
$ag t!)e sotl)e sire {[Tristram couoe not telle tf)e cause, for \)z fenefoe
it not.
to do this day. Then arose Arthur life, and how (bey promised to figbt
knight at mine advice as any is now and on the left hand passing sore, that
living. well nigh at every stroke he strake
Then and in
Sir Tristram departed, down a knight. And when they espied
every place he asked and demanded his strokes they fled all with Breuse
after Sir Launcelot, but in no place he Sance Pit6 unto the tower: and Sir
could not hear of him whether he were Tristram followed fast after with his
dead or on live, wherefore Sir Tristram sword in his hand. But they escaped
made great dole and sorrow. So Sir into the tower and shut Sir Tristram
Tristram rode by a forest, and then was without the gate. And when Sir Tris-
he ware of a fair tower by a marsh on tram saw this he returned back unto Sir
that one side, and on that other side a Palamides, and found him sitting under
fair meadow. And there he saw ten a tree sore wounded. Ah, fair knight,
knights fighting together. And ever said Sir Tristram, well be ye found.
the nearer he came he saw how there Gramercy, said Sir Palamides, of your
was but one knight did battle against great goodness, for ye have rescued me
nine knights, and that one knight did of my life, and saved me from my death.
so marvellously that Sir Tristram had What is your name? said Sir Tristram.
great wonder that ever one knight might He said, my name is Sir Palamides.
do so great deeds of arms. And then Oh, said Sir Tristram, thou hast a fair
within a little while he had slain half grace of me this day that I should rescue
their "horses and unhorsed them, and thee, and thou art the man in the world
their horses ran in the fieldsand forest. that I most hate. But now make thee
Then Sir Tristram had so great pity ready, for 1 will do battle with thee.
upon that one knight that endured so \\ hat is your name ? said Sir Palamides.
great pain, and ever he thought it should My name is Sir Tristram, your mortal
be Sir Palamides by his shield. And so enemy. It may be so, said Sir Pala-
he rode unto the knights and cried unto mides, but ye have done overmuch for
them, and bad them cease of their battle, me this day that I should fight with
for they did themselves great shame, so you, for inasmuch as ye have saved my
many knights to fight with one. Then life, it will be no worship for you to
answered the master of those knights, have ado with me, for ye are fresh, and
his name was called Breuse Sance Tito, I am wounded sore. And therefore and
that was at that time the most mis- ye will needs have ado with me, assign
chievousest knight living, and said thus : me a day, and then I shall meet with
Sir knight, what have ye ado with us to you without fail. Ye say well, said Sir
meddle and therefore and ye be wise
;
Tristram. Now, I assign you to meet
depart on your way as ye came, for this me in the meadow by the river of
knight shall not escape us. That were Camelot, where Merlin set the peron.
pity, said Sir Tristram, that so good a So they were agreed. Then Sir Tris-
knight as he is should be slain so cow- tram asked Sir Palamides why the ten
ardly. And therefore I warn you I will knights did battle with him. For this
succour him with all my puissance. cause, said Sir Palamides, as I rode
on mine adventures in a forest here
2jO MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
said, the falsest knight of the world now And then this strange knight left them
living: and he is the most villain that there, and took his way through the
ever man heard speak of, and his name forest. With this Sir Palamides and
is Sir Breuse Sance Pite. Then for Sir Tristram were on foot, and gat their
by this tower, there came out Sir Breuse us. Well, said Sir Palamides, and I will
Sance Pite, and suddenly he strake me repose me hereby with a friend of mine.
from my horse. And then or I might Beware, said Sir Tristram unto Pala-
recover my horse, this Sir Breuse slew mides, that ye fail not that day that ye
the damsel. And so I took my horse have set with me to do battle, for, as I
again, and I was sore ashamed, and so deem, ye will not hold your day, for
began the meddle betwixt us. And I am much bigger than ye. As for
this is the cause wherefore we did this that, said Sir Palamides, be it as it be
battle. Well, said Sir Tristram, now I may, for I fear you not for and I be
:
understand the manner of your battle. not sick nor prisoner I will not fail you.
But in any wise have remembrance of But I have cause for to have more doubt
your promise that ye have made with of you that ye will not meet with me,
me to do battle with me this day fort- for ye ride after yonder strong knight,
night. I shall not fail you, said Sir and ye meet with him it is an hard
if
Palamides. Well, said Sir Tristram, as adventure and ever ye escape his hands.
at this time I will not fail you till that Right so Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides
ye be out of the danger of your enemies. departed, and either took their ways
So they mounted upon their horses, and diverse.
rode together unto that forest, and there
CHAP. III.
they found a fair well, with clear water
Fair sir, said Sir Tristram,
How Sir Tristram sought a strong knight
burbling.
to drink of that water have I courage.
that had smitten him down, and many
And then they alight off their horses. other knights of the Round Table.
And then were they ware by them So Sir Tristram rode long after this
where stood a great horse tied to a tree, strong knight. And he saw
at the last
and ever he neighed. And then were where lay a lady overthwart a dead
they ware of a fair knight armed under knight. Fair lady, said Sir Tristram,
a tree, lacking no piece of harness, save who hath slain your lord ? Sir, said she,
his helm lay under his head. Truly, there came a knight riding as my lord
said Sir Tristram, yonder lieth a well- and I rested us here, and asked him of
faring knight, what is best to do ? whence he was, and my lord said of
Awake him, said Sir Palamides. So Arthur's couit. Therefore, said the
Sir Tristram wakened him with the butt strong knight, I will just with . thee,
of his spear. And so the knight arose for I hate all these that be of Arthur's
up hastily, and put his helm upon his court. And my lord that lieth here
head, and gat a great spear in his hand, dead mounted upon his horse, and the
and without any more words he hurled strong knight and my lord encountered
unto Sir Tristram, and smote him clean together, and there he smote my lord
from his saddle to the earth, and hurt through out with his spear. And thus
him on the left side, that Sir Tristram he hath brought me in great woe and
lay in great peril. Then he galloped damage. That me repenteth, said Sir
chap. tit. OF THE KNIGHT WITH THE COVERED SHIELD. 241
Tristram, of your great anger and it ; nisance beareth he? said Sir Kay. He
please you tell me your husband's name? beareth, said Sir Tristram, a covered
name was Galardoun,
Sir, said she, his shield close with a cloth. By my head,
that would have proved a good knight. said Sir Kay, that is the same knight
So departed Sir Tristram from that that met with we were
us, for this night
dolorous lady, and had much evil lodg- lodged within a widow's house, and
ing. Then on the third day Sir Tris- there was that lodged. And
knight
tram met with Sir Gawaine and with when he wist ofwe were
Arthur's
Sir Bleoberis in a forest at a lodge . court, he spake great villainy by the
and either were sore wounded. Then king, and specially by the queen Gue-
Sir Tristram asked Sir Gawaine and Sir never. And then on the monow we
Bleoberis if they met with such a waged battle with him for that cause.
knight, with such a cognisance, with And at the first recounter, said Sir Kay,
a covered shield. Fair sir, said these he smote me down from my horse, and
knights, such a knight met with us to hurt me passing sore. And when my
our great damage. And first he smote fellow Sir Dinadan saw me smitten
down my fellow Sir Bleoberis, and sore down ami hurt, he would not revenge
wounded him because he had me I me, hut fled from me. And thus is he
should not have ado with him, for why, departed. And then Sir Tristram re-
he was over strong for me. That strong quired them to tell him names, their
knight took his words at scorn, and and so either told other names. their
said he said it for mockery. And then And so Sir Tristram departed from Sir
they rode together, and so he hurt my Kay and from Sir Dinadan, and so he
fellow. And when he had done so, I passed through a great forest into a
might not for shame but 1 must just plain, till he was waie of a priory, and
with him. And at the first course, he there he reposed him with a good man
smote me down and my horse to the six days,
earth. And there he had almost slain ( I1A1'. IV.
me, and fiom us he took his horse and
Haw Sir Tristram mote down Sir S -
shall let him pass and seek him no that Sir Tristram had been refreshed;
farther, for at the next feast of the his harness was bruised and broken.
Round Table upon pain of my head And when Gouvernail his servant was
ye shall find him there. By my faith, come with his apparel, he took his leave
said Sir Tristram, I shall never rest till at the widow, and mounted upon his
that 1 find him. And then Sir Gawaine horse, and uxle his way early on the
asked him his name. Then he said, My morn. And, by sudden adventure Sir
name is Sir Tristram. And so either Tristram met with Sir Sagramor le
told other their names. And then de- Desirous, and with Sir Dodinas le
parted Sir Tristram, and rode his way. Savage. And these two knights met
And by fortune in a meadow Sir Tris- with Sir Tristram and questioned with
tram met with Sir Kay the seneschal him, and asked him if he would just
and Sir Uinadan. 'What tidings with you, with them. P'air knights, said Sir Tris-
said Sir Tristram, —
with you knights ? tram, with a good will I would just with
Not good, said these knights. Why so? you, but I have promised at a day set
lid Sir Tristram, I pray you tell me, near hand to do battle with a strong
>r I ride to seek a knight. What cog- knight. And therefore I am loth tp
16
242 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK X.
have ado with you, for and it misfor- him, for ye shall find him a passing
tuned me here to be hurt, I should good knight and a valiant. And because
not be able to do my battle which ye shall have ado with him we will for-
I promised. As for that, said Sir Sa- bear you as at this time, and else ye
gramor, manure your head ye shall should not escape us lightly. But fair
just with us or ye pass from us. Well, knight, said Sir Sagramor, tell us your
said Sir Tristram, if ye enforce me name. Sir, said he, my name is Sir Tris-
thereto, I must do what I may. And tram de Liones. Ah, said Sagramor
then they dressed their shields, and came and Sir Dodinas, well be ye found, for
running together with great ire. But much worship have we heard of you.
through Sir Tristram's great force, he And then cither took leave of other, and
strake Sir Sagramor from his horse. departed on their way.
Then he hurled his horse farther, and
said to Sir Dodinas, Knight, make thee CHAP. V.
ready. And so through fine force Sir
Tristram strake Dodinas from his horse.
How Sir Tristram met at the peron with
Sir Launcelot, and how they fought
And when he saw them lie on the earth
he took his bridle, and rode forth on together %inhiown.
his way, and his man Gouvernail with Then departedSir Tristram and rode
him. Anon as Sir Tristram was past, straight unto Camelot, to the peron
Sir Sagramor and Sir Dodinas gat that Merlin had made tofore, w here Sir T
again their horses, and mounted up Lanceor, that was the king's son of
lightly, and followed after Sir Tristram. Ireland, was slain by the hands of Balin.
And when Sir Tristram saw them come And in same place was the fair
that
so fast after him, he returned with his lady Columbe slain, that was love unto
horse to them, and asked them what Sir Lanceor, for after he was dead she
they would. It is not long ago since I took his sword and thrust it through
smote you down to the earth at your her body. And by the craft of Merlin
own request and desire I would have
: he made to inter this knight Sir Lan-
ridden by you but ye would not suffer ceor and his lady Columbe under one
me, and now me seemeth ye w<5uld do stone. And at that time Merlin pro-
more battle with me. That is truth, phesied that in that same place should
said Sir Sagramor and Sir Dodinas, for fight two the best knights that ever
we will be revenged of the despite that were in Arthur's days, and the best
ye have done to us. Fair knights, said lovers. So when Sir Tristram came to
Sir Tristram, that shall little need you, the tomb where Lanceor and his lady
for all that I did to you ye caused it, were buried, he looked about him after
wherefore I require you of your knight- Sir Palamides. Then was he ware of a
hood leave me as at this time, for I am seemly knight came riding against him
sure and I do battle with you I shall all in white, covered shield.
with a
not escape without great hurts, and as I When he came nigh Sir Tristram,
suppose ye shall not escape all lotless. he said on high, Ye be welcome, Sir
And this is the cause whv I am so loth knight, and well and truly have ye
to have ado with you. For I must fight holden your promise. And then they
within these three days with a good dressed their shieldsand spears, and
knight and as valiant as any is now came together with all their mights of
living, and if I be hurt 1 shall not be their horses. And they met so fiercely
able to do battle with him. What that both their horses and knights
knight is that, said Sir Sagramor, fell to the earth. And
as fast as they
that ye shall fight withal? Sir, said
might they avoided their horses, and
a called Sir Pala-
put their shields before them, and they
he, it is good knight
mides. By my head, said Sir Sagramor strake together with bright swords, as
and Sir Dodinas, ye have cause to dread men that were of might, and either
CHAP. VI. HOW SIR TRISTRAM CAME TO THE COURT, 243
Sir Launcelot's servant, your master son. Then was Sir Gawaine. glad, and
hath not given so many but your mas- said to Sir Tristram, Ye are welcome,
ter hath received as many or more. Oh, for now have ye eased me greatly of
said Gouvernail, it is too much for Sir my labour. P'or what cause, said Sir
Palamides to suffer, or Sir Launcelot, Gawaine, came ye into this court? P^air
and yet pity it were that either of these sir, said Sir Tiistram, I came into this
good knights should destroy other's country because of Sir Palamides, for
blood. So they stood and wept both, he and I had assigned at this day
and made great dole when they saw the to have done battle together at the
bright swords over covered with blood peron, and I marvel I hear not of him.
of their bodies. Then at the last spake And by adventure my lord Sir
thus
Sir Launcelot and said :
Knight, thou Launcelot and I met together. With
fightest wonderly well as ever I saw- this came king Arthur. And when he
knight, therefore and it please you tell me wist that there was Sir Tristram, then
your name. Sir, said Sir Tristram, that he ran unto him and took him by the
is me loth to tell any man my name. hand and said, Sir Tristram, ye be as
Truly, said Sir Launcelot, and I were welcome as any knight that ever came
required, I was never loth to tell my to this court. And when the king had
name. It is well said, quoth Sir Tris- heard how Launcelot and he had
Sir
tram, then I require you to tell me your foughten, and either had wounded other
name. Fair knight, he said, my name wonderly sore, then the king made great
is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Alas, said dole. Then Sir Tristram told the king
Sir Tristram, what have I done, for ye how he came thither for to have had
are the man in the world that I love ado with Sir Palamides. And then he
best. Fair knight, said Sir Launcelot, told the king how he had rescued
tell me
your name. Truly, said he, my him from the nine knights and Breuse
name Sir Tristram de Liones.
is Oh, Sance Pite, and how lie found a knight
said Sir Launcelot, what adventure is lying by a well, and that knight smote
befallen me ! And therewith Sir Laun- down Sir Palamides and me, but his
celot kneeled down and yielded him up shield was covered with a cloth. So
his sword. And therewithal Sir Tris- Sir Palamides left me, and 1 followed
tram kneeled adown, and yielded him after that knight. And in many places
up his sword. And so either gave other I found where he had slain knights, and
the degree. And then they both forth- forjustedmany. By my head, said Sir
withal went to the stone, and set them Gawaine, that same knight smote me
down upon it, and took off their helms down and Sir Bleoberis, and hurt us
to cool them, and either kissed other sore both, he with the covered shield.
an hundred times. And then anon after Ah, said Sir Kay, that knight smote
they took their helms and rode to me adown and hurt me passing sore,
c amelot. And there they met with and fain would I have known him,
Sir Gawaine and with Sir Gaheris that but I Mercy, said Arthur,
might not.
had made promise to Arthur never to what knight was that with the covered
come again to the court till they had shield ? I know not, said Sir Tristram ;
brought Sir Tristram with them. and so said they all. Now, said king
16 — 2
244 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
Arthur, then wot I, for it is Sir Laun- that he did unto the country of Corn-
celot. Then they all looked upon Sir wall Sir Tristram and he fought. And
I.auncelot and said, Ye have beguiled they fought so long tracing and travers-
us with your covered shield. It is not ing till they fell bleeding to the earth,
the first time, said Arthur, he hath done for they were so sore wounded that
so. My lord, said Sir Launcelot, truly they might not stand for bleeding. And
wit ye well I was the same knight that Sir Tristram by fortune recovered, and
bare the covered shield. And because Sir Marhaus died through the stroke on
I would not be known that I was of the head. So leave we of Sir Tristram,
your court I said no worship of your and speak we of king Mark.
house. That is truth, said Sir Gawaine,
Sir Kay, and Sir Bleoberis. Then king CHAP. VII.
Arthur took Sir Tristram by the hand,
and went to the Table Round. Then How for the despite of Sir Tristram
came queen Guenever and many ladies king Mark came with two knights into
with her, and all the ladies said at one England, and hoxv he slew o?ie of the
of the world, and the man of most wor- he nephew unto king Mark, but he had
ship. For of all manner of hunting thou great suspicion unto Sir Tristram, be-
bearest the prize, and of all measures cause of his queen, La lteale Isoud for :
of blowing thou art the beginning, him seemed that there was too much
and of all the terms of hunting and love between them both. So when Sir
hawking ye are the beginner of all in- : Tristram departed out of Cornwall into
struments of music ye are the best; England, king Mark heard of the great
therefore, gentle knight, said Arthur, prowess that Sir Tristram did there,
ye are welcome to this court. And the which grieved him sore. So he
also I pray you, said Arthur, grant me sent on his party men to espy what
a boon. It shall be at your command- deeds he did. And the queen sent
ment, said Tristram. Well, said Arthur, privily on her part spies to know what
I will desire of you that ye will abide deeds he had done, for great love was
in my court. Sir, said Sir Tristram, between them twain. So when the mes-
thereto is me loth, for I have ado in sagers were come home, they told the
many countries. Not so, said Arthur, truth as they had heard, that he passed
ye have promised it me, ye may not say all other knights, but if it were Sir
nay. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I will as ye Launcelot. Then king Mark was right
will.Then went Arthur unto the sieges heavy of these tidings, and as glad was
about the Round Table, and looked in La Leale Isoud. Then in great despite
every siege the which were void that he took with him two good knights and
lacked knights. And then the king two squires, and disguised himself, and
saw in the siege of Marhaus letters that took his way into England, to the in-
said, This is the siege of the noble tent for to slay Sir Tristram. And one
knight Sir Tristram. And then Arthur of these two knights hight Sir Bersules,
made Sir Tristram knight of the Table and the other knight was called Sir
Round with nobley and great
great Amant. So as they rode, king Mark
feast as
might be thought. For Sir asked a knight that he met where he
Marhaus was slain afore by the hands should find king Arthur. He said, at
of Sir Tristram in an island, and that Camelot. Also he asked that knight
was well known at that time
the in after Sir Tristram, whether he heard of
court of Arthur for this Marhaus was
;
him in the court of king Arthur. Wit
a worthy knight. And for evil deeds you well, said that knight, ye shall find
CHAP. VII. OF KING MARK'S TREASONS. 245
Sir Tristram there for aman of as great require thee that thou tell not my name
worship as now living, for through
is that I am king Mark, whatsoever come
his prowess he won the tournament of of me. As for that, said Sir Amant, I
the Castle of Maidens, that standeth by will not discover your name. And so
the Hard Rock. And sithen he hath they parted and Amant and his fellows
;
won with hisown hands thirty knights took the body of Bersules and buried it.
that were men of great honour. And
the last battle that ever he did he CHAP. VIII.
fought with Sir Launcelot, and that
was a marvellous battle. And not by How king Mark came a fountain where
to
he found Sir Lamorak complaining for
force Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tiis-
the love of king Lot's wife.
tram to the court, and of him king
Arthur made passing great joy, and so Then king Mark rode till he came to
made him knight of the Table Round, a fountain, and there he rested him, and
and his scat was where the good stood in a doubt whether he would ride
knight's Sir Marhaus seat was. Then to Arthur's court or none, or return
was king Mark passing sorry when he again to his country. And as he thus
heard of the honour of Sir Tristram, rested him by that fountain, there came
and so they departed. Then said king by him a knight well armed on horse-
Mark unto his two knights, Now will I back, and he alight and tied his horse
tell you my counsel } e are the men
; unto a tiee, and set him down by the
that 1 trust most to on live; and 1 will brink of the fountain* and there he
that ye wit my coming hither is to this made great languor and dole, and made
intent, forto destioy Sir Tristram by the iNilef idlestcomplaint of love that
wiles or by treason and it shall be
;
ever man heard and all this while was
;
hard if ever he escape our hands. Alas, he not ware of king Mark. And this
said Bersules, what mean you ? for ye was a gieat part of his complaint, he
be set in such a way ye are disposed cried and wept saying, fair queen of
shamefully. For Sir Tristram is the Orkney, king Lot's wife, and mother o(
knight of most worship that we know Sir Gawaine, and to Sir Caheris, and
living, and therefore I warn you plainly mother to many other, for thy love 1
1 will never consent to do him to the am in great pains. Then king Mark
death and therefore 1 will yield my
; arose, and went near him, and said,
service, and forsake you. When king Lair knight, ye have made a piteous
Mark heard him say so, suddenly he complaint. Truly, said the knight, it is
drew his sword, and said, A traitor ! an hundred part more rueful than my
and smote Sir Bersules on the head, heart can utter. 1 require you, said
that the sword went to his teeth. When king Mark, me
your name. Sir,
tell
Amant the knight saw him do that vil- said he, as for my name, I will not hide
lainous deed, and his squires, they said it from no knight that bearcth a shield,
it was foul done and mischievously, and my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis.
wherefore we will do thee no more I Hit when Sir Lamorak heard king
service and wit ye well we will ap-
; Mark speak, then wist he well by his
peach thee of treason afore Arthur. speech that he was a Cornish knight.
Then was king Mark wonderly wroth, Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I understand by
and would have slain Amant but he ; your tongue ye be of Cornwall, wherein
and the two squires held them together, there dwelleth the shamefullest king that
and set nought by his malice. When is now living, for he is a great enemy
king Mark saw he might not be re- to all good knights; and that proveth
venged on them, he said thus unto the well, he hath chased out of that
for
knight Amant, Wit thou well, and thou country Sir Tristram, that is the wor-
appeach me of treason I shall thereof shipfullest knight that now is living,
defend me afore king Arthur ; but I and all knights speak of him worship,
246 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
and for jealousy ol his queen he hath When Sir Lamorak saw him fare so,
chased him out of his country. It is he said, Sir knight, what cheer ? me
pity, said Sir Laniorak, that ever any seemelh ye have nigh your fill of fight-
such false knight- coward as king Mark ing it were pity to do you any more
;
is should be matched with such a fair harm for ye are but a mean knight,
lady and good as La Bcale Isoud is, for therefore 1 give you leave to go where
all the world of him speaketh shame, ye list. Gramercy, said king Mark, for
and of her worship that any queen ye and 1 be not matches. Then Sir
may have. I have not ado in this Dinadan mocked king Mark and said,
matter, said king Mark, neither nought Ye are not able to match a good
will I speak thereof. Well said, said knight. As for that, said king Mark,
Sir Laniorak. Sir, can ye tell me any at the first time that I justed with this
tidings? I can tell you, said Sir La- knight ye refused him. Think ye that
niorak, that there shall be a great it is a shame to me ? said Sir Dinadan :
Ireland, as I suppose, make that tour- much more, to have refused him as I
nament. did for I warn you plainly he is able
:
Then there came a knight, that was to beat five such as ye and I be; for
called Sir Dinadan, and saluted them ye knights of Cornwall are no men of
both. And when he wist that king worship, as other knights are. And
Mark was a knight of Cornwall, he because ye are no men of worship, ye
reproved him for the love of king Mark hate all men of worship for never was ;
a thousand fold more than did Sir La- bred in your country such a knight as
morak. Then he proffered to just with Sir Tristram.
king Mark. And he was full loth
thereto but Sir Dinadan edged him
;
CHAP. IX.
so, that he justed with Sir Lamorak.
And Sir Lamorak smote king Mark so How king Mark, Sir Lamorak, and Sir
Dinadan came to a castle, and bow king
sore that he bare him on his spear end
over his horse tail. And then king
Mark was known there.
Mark arose again, and followed after Then they rode forth all together,
Sir Lamorak. But Sir Dinadan would king Mark, Sir Lamorak, and Sir
not just with Sir Lamorak, but he told Dinadan, till that they came unto a
king Mark that Sir Lamorak was Sir bridge. And at the end thereof stood
Kay the seneschal. That is not so, a fair tower. Then saw they a knight
said king Mark, for he is much bigger on horseback, well armed, brandishing
than Sir Kay. And so he followed a spear, crying and proffering himself to
and overtook him, and bad him abide. just. Now, said Sir Dinadan unto king
What will ye do? said Sir Lamorak. Mark, yonder are two brethren, that
Sir, he said, I will fight with a sword, one bight Allein, and that other hight
for ye have shamed me with a spear. Trian, that will just with any that
And therewith they dashed together passeth this
passage. Now proffer your-
with swords, and Sir Lamoiak suffered self, said Dinadan
king Mark, for to
him and forbare him. And king Mark ever ye be Then king
laid to the earth.
was passing hasty, and smote thick Mark was ashamed, and therewith he
strokes. Sir Laniorak saw he would feutred his spear, and hurtled to Sir
not stint, and waxed somewhat wroth, Trian. and either brake their spears all
and doubled his strokes, for he was one to pieces, and passed through anon.
of the noblest knights of the world, and Then Sir Trian sent king Mark another
he beat him so on the helm that his spear to just more but in no wise he
;
head hung nigh on the saddle bow. would not just no more. Then they
CHAP. X. OF KING MARK AND SIR DINADAN. 247
honourable knight that here is lodged, been Sir Dinadan, king Mark would
ye shall have none ill lodging. For it have slain him and so Sir Dinadan
;
Sir Lamorak and Sir Dinadan wist falleth with thee. Sir Dinadan knew
that lie was king Mark they were sorry the knight well that he was a noble
of his fellowship. So after supper they knight, and fain he would have justed,
went to lodging. So on the morn they but he had lever king Mark had justed
arose early, and king Mark and Sir with him, but by no mean king Mark
Dinadan rode together and three mile
;
would not just. Then Sir Dinadan
from their lodging there met with them might not refuse him in no manner.
three knights, and Sir Berluse was one, And then either dressed their spears
and the other his two cousins. Sir and their and smote together,
shields
Berluse saw king Mark, and then he so that through fine force Sir Dinadan
cried on high, Traitor, keep thee from was smitten to the earth. And lightly
me, for wit thou well that I am Berluse. he arose up, and gat his horse, and
battle with
Sir knight, said Sir Dinadan, I counsel required that knight to do
you to leave off at this time, for he is swords. And he answered and said,
Fair knight, as at this time I may not
riding to king Arthur; and because I
2 48 MORTE BARTHUR. BOOK X.
have ado with you no more for the ; said his host, thereof have ye no marvel,
custom of this passage is such. Then for he is a passing good knight, and his
\vas Sir Dinadan passing wroth, that he name is Sir Tor, the son of Aries le
might not be revenged of that knight ; Vaysher. Ah, said Sir Dinadan, was
and so he departed. And in no wise that Sir Tor, ever me
for truly so
would that knight tell his name but ;
thought. Right as they stood thus talk-
ever Sir Dinadan thought that he should ing together, they saw come riding to
know him by his shield that it should them over a plain six knights of the
be Sir Tor. court of king Arthur, well armed at all
Sj as they rode by the way, king Ozana le Cure Hardy the fourth was ;
Mark then began to mock Sir Dinadan, Uwaine les Adventurous the fifth was ;
and said, I wend you knights of the Sir Agravaine the sixth Sir Mordred,
;
Table Round might in no wise find brother to Sir Gawaine. When Sir Di-
their matches. Ye
say well, said Sir nadan had seen these six knights, he
Dinadan, as for you, on my life 1 call thought in himself he would bring king
you none of the best knights but si In ;
Mark by some wile to just with one of
ye have such a despite at me, I require them. And anon they took their horses
you to just with
me, to prove my and ran after these knights well a three
strength. Not so, said king
Mark, for mile English. Then was king Mark
I will not have ado with you in no man- ware where they sat all six about a well,
ner. But I require you of one thing, and eat and drank such meats as they
that when ye come to Arthur's court, had, and their horses walking and some
discover not my name, for I am there tied, and their shields hung in divers
so hated. It is shame to you, said Sir places about them. Lo, said Sir Dina-
Dinadan, that ye govern yourself so dan, yonder are knights errant that will
shamefully for I see by you ye are full
; just with us. God forbid, said king
of cowardice, and ye are a murderer, Mark, for they be six. and we but two.
and that is the greatest shame that a As for that, said Sir Dinadan, let us not
knight may have, for never a knight be- spare, for I will assay the foremost.
ing a murderer hath worship, nor never And therewith he made him ready.
shall have. For I saw but late through When king Mark saw him do so, as fast
my force ye would have slain Sir IJer- as Sir Dinadan rode toward them king
luse, a better knight than ye, or ever ye Mark rode froward them with all his
shall be,and more of prowess. menial company. So when Sir Dinadan
Thus they rode forth talking, till saw king Mark was gone, he set the
they came to a fair place where stood spear out of the rest, and threw his
a knight, and prayed them to take shield upon his back, and came riding to
their lodging with him. So at the re- the fellowship of the Table Round. And
quest of that knight they reposed them anon Sir Uwaine knew Sir Dinadan, and
there, and made them well at ease, and welcomed him, and so did all his fel-
had great cheer. For all errant knights lowship.
were welcome to him, and especially all
those of Arthur's court. Then Sir Di-
chap, kit
nadan demanded his host, what was the Hovj the six knights sent Sir Dagonet to
knight's name that kept the bridge. For just with king Mark, and how king
what cause ask you it V said his host. Mark refused him.
For it is not long ago, said Sir Dinadan, And then they asked him of his ad-
since he gave me a fall. Ah, fair knight, ventures, and whether he had seen Sir
CHAP. XII. HOW STR DAGONET CHASED KING MARK. 249
Tristram, or Sir Launcelot. Truly, said that here is Sir Launcelot, and the
Sir Dinadan, I saw none of them since Cornish knight asked me what shield
I departed from Camelot. What knight he bare. Truly 1 told him that he
is that, said Sir Brandiles, that so sud- bare the same shield that Sir Mordred
denly departed from you, and rode over beareth. Will ye do well? said Sir
yonder held ? Sir, said he, it was a Mordred I am hurt and may not well
;
knight of Cornwall, and the most hor- bear my shield nor harness, and there-
rible coward that ever bestrode horse. fore put my shield and my harness upon
What is name ? said all the knights.
his Sir Dagonet, and let him set upon the
I wot not, said Sir Dinadan. So when Cornish knight. That shall be done,
they had reposed them, and spoken to- said Sir Dagonet. by my faith. Then
gether, they took thei*" horses and rode anon was Dagonet aimed in Mordred's
to a castle where dwelled an old knight harness and his shield, and he was set
that made all knights errant good cheer. on a great horse and a spear in his
Then in the mean while that they were hand. Now, said Dagonet, shew me
talking came into the castle Sir Griflet the knight, and 1 trow 1 shall bear him
le Fise de Dieu, and there was he wel- down. So all these knights rode to a
come, and they asked him whether he wood side, and abode till king Mark
had seen Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram V came by the way. Then they put forth
Sirs, he answered, 1 saw him not since Sir Dagonet, and he came on all the
he departed from Camelot. So as Sir while his horse might lun, straight upon
Dinadan walked and beheld the castle, king Mark. And when he came nigh
thereby in a chamber he espied king king Mark, he cried as he were wood,
Mark, and then he rebuked him, and and said, Keep thee, knight of Corn-
asked him why he departed so? Sir, said wall, for I will slay thee. Anon as king
he, for 1 durst not abide because they Mark beheld his shield he said to him-
were so many. But how escaped ye? self, Yonder is Sir Launcelot: alas, now
said king Mark. Sir, said Sir Dinadan. am I destroyed. And therewithal he
they were better friends than 1 wend made his horse to run as fast as it
they had been. Who is captain of that might through thick and thin. And
fellowship said the king. Then for to
V ever Sir Dagonet followed king Mark
fear him Sir Dinadan said it was Sir crying and rating him as a wood
Launcelot. Oh, said the king, might I man through a great forest. When
know Sir Launcelot by his shield ? Yea, Sir Uwaine and Sir Brandiles saw
said Dinadan, for he beareth a shield of Dagonet so chase king Mark, they
silver and black bends. All this he laughed all as they were wood. Ami
said to fear the king, for Sir Launcelot then they took their horses and rode
was not in his fellowship. Now I pray after to see how Sir
Dagonet sped.
you, said king Mark, that ye will iide Lor would
they for no not
good
in my fellowship: That is me loth to do, that Sir Dagonet were hurt, for king
said Sir Dinadan, because ye iorsook my Arthur loved him passing well, and
fellowship. Right so Sir Dinadan went made him knight with his own hands.
from king Mark and went to his own And at every tournament he began to
fellowship. And so they mounted upon make king Arthur to laugh. Then
their horses, and rode on their ways, and the knights rode here and there crying
talked of the Cornish knight, for Dina- and chasing after king Mark, that all
dan told them that he was in the castle the forest rang of the noise.
where they were lodged. It is well said,
said Sir Griflet, for here have I brought
chap. xiii.
Sir Dagonet king Arthur's fool, that is How Sir Palamides by adventure met king
the best fellow and the merriest in the Mark flying, and how he overthrew
world. Will ye do well ? said Sir Dina- Dagonet and other knights.
dan ; I have told the Cornish knight So king Mark rode by fortune by a
250 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
well in the way where stood a knight smote him down over his horse to the
errant on horseback armed at all points earth. And in the same wise he smote
with a great spear in his hand. And Sir Uwaine les Avoutres and also Sir
when he saw king Mark coming flying- Griflet; Then had he served them all
he said, Knight, return again for shame, but Sir Dinadan, for he was behind, and
and stand with me, and I shall be thy Sir Mordred was unarmed, and Da-
warrant. Ah, fair knight, said king gonet had his harness. So when this
Mark, let me pass, for yonder cometh was done this strong knight rode on
after me the best knight of the world, his way a soft pace, and king Mark
with the black bended shield. Fie for rode after him praising him much, but
shame, said the knight, he is none of he would answer no words, but sighed
the worthy knights. And if he were Sir wonderly sore, hanging down his head,
Launcelot or Sir Tristram I should not taking no heed to his words. Thus they
doubt to meet the better of them both. rode well a three mile English, and
When king Mark heard him say that then this knight called to him a varlet
word he turned his horse and abode by and bad him, Ride until yonder fair
him. And then that strong knight bare manor, and recommend me to the lady
a spear to Dagonet, and smote him so of that castle and place, and pray her
sore that he bare him over his horse to send me refreshing of good meats
tail, and nigh he had broken his neck. and drinks. And if she ask thee what I
And anon him came Sir Brandiles,
after am, tell her that I am the knight that
and when he saw Dagonet have that followeth the glatisant beast, — that is in
fall he was passing wroth, and cried, English to say the questing beast. For
Keep thee knight And so they hurtled
! that beast wheresoever he went he
together wonderous sore. But the quested with such a noise as it had
knight smote Sir Brandiles so sore been a thirty couple of hounds.
that he went to the earth, horse and Then the varlet went his way, and
man. Sir Uwaine came after and saw came to the manor and saluted the lady,
all Truly, said he, yonder is a
this. and told her from whence he came.
strong knight. And then they feutred And when she understood that he came
their spears, and this knight came so from the knight that followed the quest-
eagerly that he smote down Sir Uwaine. ing beast, O sweet Lord Jesu, she said,
Then came Ozana with the hardy heart, when shall I see that noble knight, my
and he was smitten down. Now, said dear son Palamides. Alas, will he not
Sir Griflet, by my us send to
counsel let abide with me And therewith she
!
yonder errant knight, and wit whether swooned and wept and made passing
he be of Arthur's court, for, as I deem, it great dole. And then all so soon as she
is Sir Lamorak de Galis. So they sent might she gave the varlet all that he
unto him, and prayed the strange knight asked. And the varlet returned unto Sir
to tell his name, and whether he were Palamides, for he was a varlet of king
of Arthur's court or not. As for my Mark. And as soon as he came he told
name they shall not wit, but tell them I the knight's name was Sir Palamides.
am a knight errant as they are : and let I am well
pleased, said king Mark,
but
them wit that I am no knight of king hold thee still and say nothing. Then
Arthur's court. And so the squire rode they alight, and set them down and re-
again them, and told them his
to posed them awhile. Anon withal- king
answer of him. By my head, said Sir Mark fell on sleep. When Sir Pala-
Agravaine, he is one of the strongest mides found him sound asleep he took
knights that ever I saw, for he hath his horse and rode his way, and said to
overthrown three noble knights, and them, I will not be in the company of
needs we must encounter with him for a sleeping knight. And so he rode
shame. So Sir Agravaine feutred his forth a great pace.
spear, and that other was ready, and
CHAP. XV. HOW KING MARK SLEW SIR AMANT. 251
man that made great dole. Then king he withdrew him, and took his horse
Mark rode as nigh that noise as he and rode to his men where he com-
might and as he durst. Then was lie manded them to abide. And so he
ware of a knight that was descended off rode as fast as he might unto Camelot.
his horse and had put off his helm, and And the same day he found there Amant
there he made a piteous complaint and the knight ready, that before king Ar-
a dolorous of love. thur had appealed him of treason. And
Now leave we that, and talk we of so lightly the king commanded them to
Sir Dinadan, that rode to seek Sir Pala- do battle. And by misadventure king
mides. And as he came within a forest, he Mark smote Amant through the body.
met with a knight a chaser of a deer. Sir, And yet was Amant in the righteous
said Sir Dinadan, met ye with a knight quarrel. And right so he took his horse
with a shield of silver and lions' heads ? and departed from the court for dread
Yea, fair knight, said the other, with of Sir Dinadan, that he would tell Sir
such a knight met I with but a while Tristram and Sir Palamides what he
ago, and straight yonder way be went. was. Then were there maidens that
Gramercy, said Sir Dinadan, for might I La Beale lsoud had sent to Sir Tristram
find the track of his horse, I should not that knew Sir Amant well.
failto find that knight. Right so as
Sir Dinadan rode
in the even late, he CHAP. XV.
heard a doleful noise, as it were of a
man. Then Dinadan rode toward
Sir
How king Mark bad slain Sir Amant
that noise. And when he came nigh wrongfully to/ore king Arthur, and
Sir Launcelot fetched king Mark to
that noise, he alight off his horse and
went near him on foot. Then was he king Arthur.
ware of a knight that stood under a Then by the licence of king Arthur
tree, and his horse tied by him, and the they went to him, and spake with him,
helm off his head. And ever that knight for while the truncheon the spear stuck
of"
matter, he made great dole out of mea- for my lord Sir Launcelot brought me
sure, and wept for sorrow for loss of hither through his fine force, and to him
the noble knights Sir Bersules and Sir am I yielden to as recreant. Well;
Amant. When Sir Launcelot espied said Arthur, ye understand ye ought
Sir Tristram weep, lie went hastily to to do me service, homage, and fealty,
king Arthur, and said, Sir, I pray you and never would ye do me none, but
give meleave to return again to yonder ever ye have been against me, and a
false king and knight. I pray you, said destroyer of my knights : now how
king Arthur, fetcli him again, but 1 will acquit you?
ye said king
Sir,
would not that ye slew him for my wor- Mark, right as your lordship will ie-
ship. Then Sir Launcelot armed him quire me, unto my power 1 will make
in all haste, and mounted upon a great a large amends. For he was a fair
horse, and took a spear in his hand and speaker and false there under. Then
rode after king Mark. And from thence for gieat pleasure of Sir Tristram, to
a three mile English Sir Launcelot over- make them twain accorded, the king
—
took him, and bad him Turn recreant withheld king Mark as at that time,
king and kni&ht: for whether thou wilt and made a broken love day between
or not thou shalt go with me to king them.
Arthur's court. King Mark returned CHAP. XVI.
and looked upon Sir Launcelot and said,
Fair sir, what is your name ? Wit thou How Sir Dinadan told Sir Pcdamtdes of
the battle between Sir Launcelot and Sir
well, said he, my name is Sir Launcelot,
Tristram.
and therefore defend thee. And when
king Mark wist that it was Sir launce- Now turn we again unto Sir Pala-
lot, and came so fast upon him with a mides, how Dinadan comforted him
Sir
spear, he cried then aloud, 1 yield me to in all that he might from his great
thee Sir Launcelot, honourable knight. sorrow. What knight are ye V said Sir
But Sir Launcelot would not hear him, l'alamides. Sir, I am a knight -errant
but came fast upon him. King Mark as ye be, that hath sought you long by
saw that, and made no defence, but your shield. Here is my shield, said
tumbled down out of his saddle to the Sir Palamides, wit ye well, and ye will
earth as a sack, and there he lay still, aught therewith, I will defend it. Nay,
and cried Sir Launcelot mercy. Arise, — said Sir Dinadan, 1 will not have ado
recreant knight and king. I will not— with you but in good manner. And if
light, said king Mark ; but whither that ye will ye shall find me soon ready.
CHAP. XVII. OF MORGAN LE FAY'S CASTLE. »53
Sir, said Sir Dinadan, whitherward ride living. No, said Sir Palamides but ;
I departed, by both our assents we as- for there shall be queen Guenever and
signed a day that we should have met La Beale Isoud of Cornwall. Wit you
at the stony grave that Merlin set beside well, Sir knight, said Sir Palamides, for
Camelot, and there to have clone battle the love of La Beale Isoud I will be
together, howbeit I was letted, said Sir there, and else not, but I will not have
Palamides, that I might not hold my ado in king Arthur's court. Sir, said
day, the which giieveth me sore; but I Dinadan, 1 shall ride with you and
have a large excuse, for I was prisoner do you service, so ye will tell me your
with a lord, and many other more, and name. Sir knight, ye shall understand
that shall Sir Tristram right well under- that my name is Sir Palamides, brother
stand, that I brake it not of fear of to Sir Safere, the good and noble knight,
cowardice. And then Sir Palamides and Sir Segwaiides and I we be Sara-
told Sir Dinadan the same day that cens born of father and mother. Sir,
they should have met. Truly, said Sir said Sir Dinadan, thank you much for
I
Dinadan, that same day met Sir I.aun- the telling of your name. For I am
celotand Sir Tristram at the same grave glad of that I know your name, and I
of stone. And there was the most promise you by the faith of my body
mightiest battle that ever was seen in ye shall not be hurt by me by my
this land betwixt two knights, for they •
will, but rather l>e advanced. And
fought more than two hours, and there thereto will I help you with all my
they both bled so much blood that all power I promise you, doubt ye not.
men marvelled that ever they might And certainly on
ye shall win
my life
endure it. And so at the last by both great worship in the court of king
their assents they were made friends Arthur, and be right welcome. So then
and sworn brethren for ever, and no they dressed on their helms and put on
man can judge the better knight. And their shields, and mounted upon their
now is Sir Tristram made a knight of horses, and took the broad way toward
the Round Table, and he sitteth in the Camelot. And then were they ware of
siege of the noble knight Sir Marhaus. a castle that was fair and rich, and also
By my head, said Sir Palamides, Sir passing strong as any was within this
Tristram is far bigger than Sir Laun?- realm.
celot, and the hardier knight. Have ye
CHAP. XVII.
assayed them both? said Sir Dinadan. I
have seen Sir Tristram said Sir
How Sir Lamorak justed with divers
fight,
knights of the castle wherein was Mor-
Palamides, but never Sir Launcelot to
—
my witting. But at the fountain where gan le Fay.
Sir Launcelot lay on sleep, there with Sir Palamides, said Dinadan, here is
one spear he smote down Sir Tristram a castle that I know well, and therein
and Sir Palamides, but at that time they dwelleth queen Morgan le Fay, king A r-
knew not either other. Fair knight, thur's sister, and king Arthur gave her
said Sir Dinadan, as for Sir Launcelot this castle, the which he hath repented
and Sir Tristram let them be, for the him since a thousand times ; for since
worst of them will not be lightly king Arthur and she have been at de-
matched of no knight that I know bate and strife but this castle could he
;
254 MORTE DARTHUR. B-OK X.
never get nor win of her by no manner Then came Sir Palamides and besought
of engine; and ever as she might she him that he might help him to just.
made war on king Arthur. And all lair knight, said he unto him, suffer me
as at this time to have my will, for and
dangerous knights she withholdeth with
her for to destroy all these knights that they were twenty knights I shall not
kimr Arthur loveth. And there shall no doubt them. And ever there were upon
knight pass this way but he must just the walls of the castle many lords and
with one knight, or with two or with ladies that cried and said, Well have ye
three. And if it hap that king Arthur's justed, knight with the red shield. But
knight be beaten, he shall lose his horse as soon as the knight had smitten them
and his harness and all that he hath, down, his squire took their horses and
and hard if that he escape but that avoided the saddles and bridles of their
he shall be prisoner. Truly, said Pala- horses, and turned them into the forest,
mides, this is a shameful custom, and a and made the knights to be kept to the
villainous usage for a queen to use, and, end of the justs. Right so came out of
namely, to make such war upon her the castle the fourth knight, and freshly
own lord that is called the flower of proffered to just with the knight with
chivalry that is christian or heathen, the red shield. And he was ready, and
and with all my heart I would destroy he smote him so hard that horse and
that shameful custom. And I will that man fell to the earth, and the knight's
all the world wit she shall have no back brake with the fall, and his neck
service of me. And if she send out also. Truly, said Sir Palamides, that
any knights, as I suppose she will, for yonder is a passing good knight, and
to just, they shall have both their hands the best juster that ever I saw. By my
full. And I shall not fail you, said Sir head, said Sir Dinadan, he is as good as
Dinadan, unto my puissance, upon my ever was Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram,
life. So as they stood on horseback what knight somever he be.
afore the castle there came a knight •
nn appetite to just with me, I shall find this castle. And with that word he
you justing enough. Sir, said I'ala- turned again into the castle, and shut
mides, I said it not because I would Ilie gales. Then the knight with the
just with you, but me seemeth
that ye red shield turned and called his squires,
have overmuch on hand. And therefore, and so past forth on his way. and rode a
and ye were gentle, snid the knight with great pace. And when he was past. Sir
the red shield, ye should not proffer me Palamides went to Sir Dinadan and said,
shame therefore I require you to just
;
I had never such a shame of one knight
with me, and ye shall find that I am that ever I met. and therefore I cast me
not weary. Sith ye require me, said Sir to ride after him, and to be revenged
Palamides, take keep to yourself. Then with my sword. For a horseback I
they two knights came together as fast deem get no worship of him. Sir
I shall
as their horses might run, and the Palamides, said Dinadan, ye shall not
knight smote Sir Palamides so sore meddle with him by my counsel, for ye
on the went into
shield that the spear shall get no worship of him, and for
his side, a great wound and a peril- this cause,— ye have seen him this day
ous. And therewithal Sir Palamides have had overmuch to do, and over-
voided his saddle. And that knight much travailed. Truly, said Sir Pala-
turned unto Sir Dinadan. And when mides, I shall never be at ease till that
he saw him coming, he cried aloud I have had ado with him. Sir, said
and said, Sir, I will not have ado with Dinadan. I shall give you my beholding.
you. But for that he let it not, but Well, said Sir Palamides, then shall ye
came straight upon him. So Sir Dina- see how we shall redress our mights.
dan shame put forth his spear and
for So they took their horses of their var-
all to-shivered it upon the knight. But lets, and rode after the knight with the
he smote Sir Dinadan again so hard red shield and down in a valley be-
;
that he smote him clean from his saddle; side a fountain they were ware where he
but their horses he would not suffer his was alight to repose him, and had done
squires to meddle with, and because they off his helm for to drink at the well.
were knights errant. Then he dressed
him again and justed with
to the castle, CHAP. XIX.
seven knights more, and there was none
of them might withstand him, but he
How Sir Lamorok justed with Sir Pala-
mides and hurt him grievously.
bare him to the earth. And of these
twelve knights he slew in plain justs Then Palamides rode fast till he
four. And the eight knights he made came nigh him. And then he said,
them to swear on the cross of a sword Knight, rememl.er ye of the shame ye
that they should never use the evil cus- did to me right now at the castle, there-
toms of the castle. And when he had fore dress thee, for I will have ado
made them to swear that oath, he let with thee. Fair knight, said he unto Sir
them pass. And ever stood the lords Palamides, of me ye win no worship,
and the ladies on the castle walls cry- for ye have seen this day that I have
ing and saying, Knight with the red been travailed sore. As
for that, said
shield, ye have marvellously well done, Palamides, I will not let for wit ye
;
as ever we saw knight do. And there- well I will be revenged. Well, said the
with came a knight out of the castle un- knight, I may happen to endure you.
armed, and said, Knight with the red And therewithal he mounted upon his
shield, overmuch damage hast thou horse, and took a great spear in his
done to us this day, therefore return hand, readv for to just. Nay, said Pala-
whither thou wilt, for here are no more mides, I will not just, for I am sure at
said
that will have ado with thee, for we re- justing I get no prize. Fair knight,
pent sore that ever thou earnest here, that knight, it would beseem a knight
for
by thee is fordone the old custom of to just and to fight on horseback. Ye
2.^6 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
shall see what I will do, said Palamides. better than ye, nor of more prowess, and
And therewith he alight down upon me repented sore that we should fight
foot, and dressed his shield afore him, together. So it doth not me, said Sir
and pulled out his sword. Then the Palamides, and yet am I sorer wounded
knight with the red shield descended than ye be but as for that, 1 shall soon
;
down from his horse, and dressed his thereof be whole. But certainly 1 would
shield afore him, and so he drew out his not for the fairest castle in this land but
sword. And then they came together if thou and I had met, for I shall love
a soft pace, and wonderly they lashed you the days of my life afore all other
together passing thick, the mounten- knights, except my brother Sir Safere.
ance of an hour, or ever they breathed. I say the same, said Sir Lamorak, ex-
Then they traced and traversed, and cept my brother Sir Tor. Then came
waxed wonderly wroth, and either Sir Dinadan, and he made great joy of
behight other death. They hewed so Sir Lamorak. Then their squires dressed
fast with their swords, that they cut both their shields and their harness, and
in down half their swords and mails, slopped their wounds. And thereby at
that the bare flesh in some places a priory they rested them all night.
stood above their harness. And when
Sir Palamides beheld his fellow's sword
CHAP. XX.
over covered with his blood, it grieved How it was told Sir Lanncelot that Dasro-
somewhile they strake as wild men. overthrew him and six knights.
Hut at the last Sir Palamides waxed Now turn we again, when Sir Uwaine
faint, because of his first wound that and Sir Brambles with his fellows came
he had at the castle with a spear, for to the court of king Arthur they told :
that wound grieved him wondeily sore. the king, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Tristram
Fair knight, said Palamides, me seemeth how Sir Dagonet the fool chased king
we have assayed either other passing Mark through the forest, and how the
sore, and if it may please thee I require strong knight smote them down all
thee of thy knighthood tell me thy seven with one spear. There was great
name. Sir, said the knight to Pala- laughing and jesting at king Mark and
mides, that is me loth to do, for thou at Sir Dagonet. But all these knights
hast done me wrong and no knighthood could not tell what knight it was that
to proffer me battle, considering my rescued king Mark. Then they asked
great travail but and thou wilt tell
: me king Maik if that he knew him. And he
thy name, I will tell thee mine. Sir, answered and said, Me named himself
said he, wit thou well my name is Pala- the knight that followed the questing
mides. Ah sir, ye shall understand my beast, and on that name he sent one
name is Sir Lamorak de Galis, son and of my varlets to a place where was
heir unto the good knight and king, his mother, and when she heard from
king Pellinore; and Sir Tor the good whence he came, she made passing
knight is my half brother. When Sir great dole, and discovered to my var-
Palamides heard him say so,he kneeled let his name, and said, O my dear son,
down and asked mercy : For outrage- Sir Palamides, why wilt thou not see
ously have I done to you this day, con- me ? and therefore, Sir, said king Mark,
sidering the great deeds of arms I have it is to understand his name is Sir Pala-
seen you do, shamefully and unknightly mides, a noble knight. Then were all
I have required you to do battle. Ah, these seven knights glad that they knew
Sir Palamides, said Sir Lamorak, over his name. Now turn we again, for on
much have ye done and said to me. the morn they took their horses, both
And therewith he embraced him with Sir Lamorak, Palamides, and Dinadan,
both his hands, and said, Palamides the with their squires and varlets, till they
worthy knight, in all this land is no saw a fair castle that stood on a moun-
CHAP. XX. OF SIR DINAD AN AND SIR LAMORAK. *5*
Tristram above all other, and him will him better pioved hand for hand. And
I serve and do honour. So shall I, said then he told the king all that battle, and
SirLamorak, in all that may lie in my how Sir Palamides was more weaker
power. So on the morn Sir Dinadan and more hurt, and more lost of his
rode unto the court of king Arthur. blood. And
without doubt, said Sir
And by the way as he rode he saw Dinadan, had the battle longer lasted
where stood an errant knight, and made Palamides had been slain. Oh, said king
him ready for to just. Not so, said Sir Arthur, this is to me a great marvel.
Dinadan, for I have no will to just. Sir, said Tristram, marvel ye no thing
With me shall ye just, said the knight, thereof, for at mine advice there is not a
or that ye pass this way. Whether ask valianter knight in all the world living,
ye justs? by love or by hate? The knight for I know his might. And now I will
answered, Wit ye well I ask it for love, say you, was never so weary of knight
I
and not for hate. It may well be so, but if it were Sir Launcelot. And there
said SirDinadan, but ye proffer me is no knight in the world except Sir
hard love, when ye will just with me Launcelot I would did so well as Sir
with a sharp spear. But fair knight, Lamoiak. Truly, said the king, I would
said Sir Dinadan, sith ye will just with that knight Sir Lamorak came to this
e, meet with me in the court of king court. Sir, said Dinadan, he will be here
Arthur, and there shall I just with you. in short space and Sir Palamides both.
Well, said the knight, sith ye will not just But I fear that Palamides may not yet
with me, I pray you tell me your name. travel.
Sir knight, said he, my name is Sir Di- CHAP. XXI.
nadan. Ah, said the knight, full well
know I you for a good knight and a How king Arthur let do cry a jtists, and
and wit you well I love
how Sir Lamorak came in and over-
gentle, you threw Sir Gawaine and many other.
heartily. Then shall here be no justs,
said Dinadan, betwixt us. So they de- Then within three days after the
arted. And the same day he came to king let make a justing at a priory.
258 MORTE D ARTHUR. EOOK X.
And there made them ready many his brethren. And so clearly was the
knights of the Round Table. For Sir prize given him as a knight peerless.
Gawaine and his brethren made them Then slily and marvellously Sir Lamo-
ready to just. But Tristram, Launcelot, rak withdrew him from all the fellow-
nor Dinadan, would not just, but suf- ship into the forest side. All this espied
fered Sir Gawaine, for the love of king king Arthur, for his eye went never
Arthur, with his brethren, to win the from him.
gree if they might. Then on the morn Then the king, Sir Launcelot, Sir
they apparelled them to just, Sir Ga- Tristram, and Sir Dinadan took their
waine and his four brethren, and did hacknies and rode straight after the
there great deeds of arms. And Sir good knight Sir Lamorak de Galis, and
Ect&r de Maris did marvellously well; there found him. And thus said the
but Sir Gawaine passed all that fellow- king, Ah fair knight, well be ye found.
ship, wherefore king
Arthur and all When he saw the king he put off his
the knights gave Sir Gawaine the helm and saluted him. And when he
honour at the beginning. Right so saw Sir Tristram he alight down off his
king Arthur was ware of a knight and horse, and ran to him for to take him by
two squires the which came out of a the thighs but Sir Tristram would not
;
forest side, with a shield covered with suffer him, but he alight or that he came,
leather, and then he came slily and and either took other in arms, and
hurtled here and there, and anon with made great joy of other. The king was
one spear he had smitten down two glad, and also was all the fellowship of
knights of the Round Table. Then the Round Table, except Sir Gawaine
with his hurtling he lost the covering and his brethren. And when they wist
of his shield. Then was the king and that he N was Lamorak, they had
Sir
all other ware that he bare a red shield. and were wonderly
great despite at him,
Oh, said king Arthur, see where rideth wroth with him, that he had put them
a stout knight, he with the red shield. to dishonour that day. Then Gawaine
And there was noise and crying, Be- called privily in counsel all his brethren,
ware the knight with the led shield. and to them said thus Fair brethren,
:
So within a little while he had over- here may ye see whom that we hate
ihrown three brethren of Sir Ga- king Arthur loveth, and whom that we
waine's. Truly, said king Arthur, me love he hateth. And wit ye well, my
seemeth yonder is the best juster that fair brethren, that this Sir Lamorak will
ever I saw. With that he saw him en- never love us, because we slew his
counter with Sir Gawaine, and he smote father king Pellinore, for we deemed
him down with so great force, that he that he slew our father, king of Ork-
made his horse to avoid his saddle. ney. And for the despite of Pellinore
How now, said the king, Sir Gawaine Sir Lamorak did us a shame to our
hath a fall, well were me and I knew .
mother, therefore I will be revenged.
what knight he were with the red shield. Sir, said Sir Gawaine's brethren, let see
I know him well, said Dinadan, but how ye will or may be revenged, and
as at this time ye shall not know his ye shall find us ready. W'ell, said Sir
name. By my head, said Sir Tristram, Gawaine, hold you still, and we shall
he justed better than Sir Palamides, and espy our time.
if ye list to know his name, wit
ye well
his name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. As CHAP. XXII.
they stood thus talking, Sir Gawaine
and he encountered together again, and How king Arthur made king Mark to be
there he smote Sir Gawaine from his accorded with Sir Tristram, and how
horse, and bruised him sore. And in they departed toward Cornwall.
the sight of king Arthur he smote down Now pass we our matter, and leave
twenty knights beside Sir Gawaine and we Sir Gawaine, and speak of king
CHAP. XK1TI. HOW rERClVALE WAS MADE KNIGHT. 2 =
9
Arthur that on a day said unto king Launcelot departed, and came to king
Mark, Sir, I pray you to give me a gift Mark, and said to him thus : Sir king,
that I shall ask you. Sir, said king wit thou well, the good knight Sir
Mark, I will give you whatsoever ye Tristram shall go with thee. Beware,
desire, and it be in my power. Sir, I counsel thee, of treason for and thou
;
sake. Sir, said king Mark, I promise and I have sworn and said over largely
you by the faith of my body, and by the afore king Arthur, in hearing of all his
faith I owe to God and to you, I shall knights, that I shall not slay nor betray
worship him for your sake in all that I him. It were to me overmuch shame
can or may. Sir, said Arthur, and I to break my promise. Ye say well, said
will forgive you all the evil will that Sir Launcelot, but ye are called so false
ever I owed you, and so be that ye and full of treason that no man may
swear that upon a book afore me. With believe you. Forsooth, it is known well
a good will, said king Mark. And so wherefore ye came into this Country,
he there sware upon a book afore him and for none other cause but for to slay
and all his knights, and therewith king Sir Tristram. So with great dole king
Mark and Sir Tristram took either Mark and Sir Tristram rode together ;
other by the hands hard knit together. for it was by Sir Tristram's will and his
But for all king Mark thought
this means to go with king Mark, and all
falsely, as it proved after, for he put
was for the intent to see La Beale Isoud ;
Sir Tristram in prison, and cowardly for without the sight of her Sir Tristiam
would have slain him. Then soon after might not endure.
king Mark took his leave to ride into
Cornwall, and Sir Tristiam made him CHAP. XXIII.
ready to ride with him, wherefore the How Sir Percivale was made knight of king
most part of the Round Table were
Arthur, and how a dumb maid spake,
wroth and heavy and in especial Sir
;
Dinadan, that my lord Sir Tristram shall and Sir Aglavale was his next son Sir ;
depart. And Sir Tristram took such Lamorak, Dornar, Percivale, these were
sorrow that he was amazed like a fool. his sons too. So when king Mark and
Alas, said Sir Launcelot unto king Ar- Sir Tristram were departed from the
thur, what have ye done, for ye shall court, there was made great dole and
lose the most man of worship that ever sorrow for the departing of Sir Tris-
came into your court It was his own
? tram. Then the king and his knights
desire, said Arthur, and therefore I made no manner of joys eight days
might not do withal for I have done
; after. And at the eight days' end, there
all that I can, and made them at ac- came to the court a knight, with a
cord. Accord, said Sir Launcelot, fie young him and when this
squire with ;
upon that accord, for ye shall hear that knight was unarmed, he went to the
he shall slay Sir Tristram, or put him king, and required him to make the
in a prison, for he is the most coward
'
young squire a knight. Of what lineage
and the villainest king and knight is he come ? said king Arthur. Sir,
that is now living. And therewith Sir said the knight, he is the son of king
17
— 2
260 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK X.
Pellinore, that did you sometime good The queen of Orkney was there but
service, and he is brother unto Lamorak a while, but Sir Lamorak
wist of her
de Galis the good knight. Well, said being, and was full fain and for to ;
the king, for what cause desire ye that make an end of this matter he sent unto
of me, that I should make him knight ? her, and there betwixt them was a time
Wit you well, my lord the king, that assigned that Sir Lamorak should come
this young squire is brother to me, as to her. Thereof was ware Sir Gaheris,
well as to Sir Lamorak, and my name and there he rode afore, the same time,
is Aglavale. Sir Aglavale, said Ar- and waited upon Sir Lamorak. And then
thur, for the love of Sir Lamorak, and he saw where he came all armed and ;
for ,his father's love, he shall be made where Sir Lamorak alight, he, tied his
knight to-morrow. Now tell me, said horse to a privy postern, and so he
Arthur, what is his name ? Sir, said the went into a parlour and unarmed him ;
Percivale the noble knight and God's right ye should have slain me. The
knight, and go with me and so he did.
; offence hast thou done, said Gaheris,
And there she brought him to the right notwithstanding a man is born to offer
side of the siege-perilous, and said, his service, but yet shouldest thou be-
Fair knight, take here thy siege, for ware with whom
thou meddlest, for
that siege appertaineth to thee, and to thou hast put me and my brethren
none other. Right so she departed and to a shame, and thy father slew our
asked a priest. And as she was con- father and thou to love our mother is
;
fessed and houselled; then she died. too much shame for us to suffer. And
Then the king and all the court made as for thy father king Pellinore, my
great joy of Sir Percivale. brother Sir Gawaine and I slew him.
Ye did him the more wrong, said Sir
CHAP. XXIV. Lamorak, for my father slew not your
How Sir Lamorak visited king Lot's wife, father ; it was Balan le Savage ;
and as
and how Sir Gaheris sleiv her which
yet my death is not revenged.
father's
was his own mother. Leave those words, said Gaheris, for
Nowturn we unto Sir Lamorak, that and thou speak feloniously I will slay
much was there praised. Then, by the thee, but because thou art unarmed I
mean of Sir Gawaine and his brethren, am ashamed to slay thee. But wit thou
they sent for their mother there besides well, in what place I may get thee I
shall slay thee ; and now
'
^nd take thine armour, that thou slay me.With that came Sir Dinadan,
>e. Sir Lamorak saw there was riding them by adventure, but he
to
*er boot, but fast armed him, would promise them no help. But Sir
,bk his horse, and rode his way, Agravaine and Sir Mordred promised
.mg great sorrow. But for the him to rescue him. Therewithal came
.ame and dolour he would not ride to that knight straight unto them. And
king Arthur's court, but rode another anon he proffered to just. That saw
way. But when it was known that Sir Mordred, and rode to him but he ;
Gaheris had slain his mother, the king strake Sir Mordred over his horse tail.
was passing wroth, and commanded That saw Sir Agravaine, and straight he
him to go out of his court. Wit ye rode toward that knight. And right so as
well, Sir Gawaine was wroth that Ga- he served Mordred, so he served Agra-
heris had slain his mother, and let Sir vaine, and said to them, Sirs, wit ye well
Lamorak escape. And for this matter both, that I am Breuse Sance Pite\ that
was the king passing wroth, and so was hath done this to you. And yet he rode
Sir Launcelot, and many other knights. over Agravaine five or six times. When
Sir, said SirLauncelot, here is a great Dinadan saw this, he must needs just with
mischief befallen by felony, and by fore- him for shame. And so Dinadan and
cast treason, that your sister is thus he encountered together, that with pure
shamefully slain. And I dare say that strength Sir Dinadan smote him over
it was
wrought by treason, and I dare his horse tail. Then he took his horse
say ye shall lose that good knight Sir and fled. For he was on foot one of
Lamorak, the which is great pity. I the valiantest knights in Arthur's days,
wote well and am sure, and Sir Tris- and a great destroyer of all good knights.
tram wist it he would never more come Then rode Sir Dinadan unto Sir Mor-
within your court, the which should el nd and
unto Sir Agravaine. Sir knight,
grieve you much more, and all your said they all, well have ye done, and
knights. God defend, said the noble well have ye revenged us wherefore we
;
king Arthur, that I should lose Sir pray you tell us your name. Fair sirs,
Lamorak or Sir Tristram, for then ye ought to know my name, the which
twain of my chief knights of the Table is called Sir Dinadan. When they un-
Round were gone. Sir, said Sir Laun- derstood that it was Dinadan, they were
celot, I am sure that ye shall lose more wroth than they were before, for
Sir Lamorak, Gawaine and his
for Sir they hated him out of measure, because
brethren will slay him by one mean or of Sir Lamorak. For Dinadan had such
other, for they among them have con- a custom that he loved all good knights
cluded and sworn to slay him and ever that were valiant, and he hated all those
they may see their time. That shall I that were destroyers of good knights.
let, said Arthur. And there were none that hated Dina-
dan but those that ever were called
CHAP. XXV. murderers. Then spake the hurt knight
How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred that Breuse Sance Bite had chased,
met with a knight fleeing, and how his name was Dalan, and said, If thou
they both were overthrown, and of Sir be Dinadan, thou slewest my father.
Dinadan. It may well be so, said Dinadan, but
Now leave we of Sir Lamorak, and then it was in my defence, and at his
speak of Sir Gawaine's brethren, and request. By my head, said Dalan, thou
specially of Sir Agravaine and Sir Mor- shalt die therefore. And therewith he
dred. As they rode on their adven- dressed his spear and his shield. And
tures, they met with a knight flying to make the shorter tale, Sir Dinadan
sore wounded, and they asked him smote him down off his horse, that
what tidings ? Fair knights, said he, his neck was nigh broken. And in the
here cometh a knight after me that will same wise he smote Sir Mordred and
262 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK X.
Sir Agravaine. And after, in the quest in joy. Truly, said La Beale Isoud, Sir
of the Sancgreal, cowardly and felo- Tristram suffereth great pain for me,
niously they slew Dinadan, the which and I for him. So the damsel departed,
was great damage, for he was a great and brought letters to king Mark. And
jester and a passing good knight. And so when he had read them, and understood
Sir Dinadan rode to a castle that hight them, he was wroth with Sir Tristram,
Beale -Valet, and there he found Sir for he deemed that he had sent the dam-
Palamides, that was not yet whole of sel unto king Arthur; for Arthur and
the wound that Sir Lamorak gave him. Launcelot in a manner threatened king
And there Dinadan told Palamides all Mark. And as king Mark read these
the tidings that he heard and saw of Sir letters he deemed treason by Sir Tris-
Tristram, and how he was gone with tram. Damsel, said king Mark, will ye
king Mark, and with him he hath all ride again, and bear letters from me
his will and desire. Therewith Sir unto king Arthur ? Sir, she said, I will
Palamides waxed wrolh, for he loved be at your commandment to ride when
La Beale Isoud, and then he wist well ye will. Ye
say well, said the king ;
that Sir Tristram should see her. come again, said the king, to-morn, and
fetch your letters. Then she departed,
CHAP. XXVI. and told them how she should ride again
How king Arthur, the queen, and Laun- with letters unto Arthur. Then, we pray
celot received letters out of Cornwall,
you, said La Beale Isoud and Sir Tris-
and of answer again.
the
tram, that when ye have received your
Now leave we Sir Palamides and Sir letters, that ye would come by us, that
Dinadan, in the Castle of Beale -Valet, we may see the privity of your letters.
and turn we again unto king Arthur. All that I may do, madam, ye wot well
There came a knight out of Cornwall, I must do for Sir Tristram, for I have
his name was Fergus, a fellow of the been long his own maiden. So on the
Round Table, and there he told the morn the damsel went to king Mark, to
king and Sir Launcelot good tidings of have had his letters, and to depart. I
Sir Tristram, and there were brought am not advised, said king Mark, at this
goodly letters, and how he him in
left time to send my letters. Then privily
the Castle of Tintagil. Then came the and secretly he sent letters unto king
damsel that brought goodly letters unto Arthur, and unto queen Guenever, and
king Arthur and unto Sir Launcelot ;
unto Sir Launcelot. So the varlet de-
and there she had passing good cheer of parted, and found the king and queen in
the king and of the queen Guenever, and Wales, at Carlion. And as the king and
of Sir Launcelot. Then they wrote the queen were at mass the varlet came
goodly letters again. But Sir Launcelot with the letters; and when mass was
bad ever Sir Tristram beware of king done the king and the queen opened the
Mark; for ever he called him in his letters privily by themselves. And the
letters king Fox, as who saith, He beginning of the king's letters
spake
fareth all with wiles and treason:
wonderly short unto king Arthur, and
whereof Sir Tristram in his heart bade him intermeddle with himself,
thanked Sir Launcelot. Then the dam- and with his wife, and of his knights, for
sel went unto La Beale Isoud, and bare he was able enough to rule and keep his
her letter from the king and from Sir wife.
Launcelot, whereof she was in passing CHAP. XXVII.
great joy. Fair damsel, said La Beale
how fareth my lord Arthur, and
How Sir Launcelot was wroth with the letter
Isoud,
the queen Guenever, and the noble Mark, and of
that he received from king
Dinadan which made a lay of king Mark.
knight, Sir Launcelot du Lake? She
answered, and to make short tale, Much When king Arthur understood the
the better that ye* and Sir Tristram be letter he mused of many things, and
CHAP. XXVIII. OF KING MARK AND THE SESSOINS. 263
thought on his sister's words, queen And so by the will of Sir Launcelot,
Morgan le Fay, that she had said be- and of Arthur, the harpers went straight
twixt queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot. into Wales and into Cornwall, to sing
And in this thought he studied a great the lay that Sir Dinadan made by king
while. Then he bethought him again Mark, which was the worst lay that
how his sister was his own enemy, and ever harper sang with harp or with any
that she hated the queen and Sir Laun- other instruments.
celot, and so he put all that out of his
thought. Then king Arthur read the CHAP. XXVUI.
letter again, and the latter clause said
that king Mark took Sir Tristram for
How Sir Tristram was hurt, and of a
his mortal enemy, wherefore he put
war made to king Mark ; and of Sir
Arthur out of doubt he would be re-
Tristram, how he promised to rescue
him.
venged of Sir Tristram. Then was
king Arthur wroth with king Mark. Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram
And when queen Guenever read her and to king Mark. As Sir Tristram was
letter, and understood it, she was wroth at justs and at tournament it fortuned he
out of measure, for the letter spake was sore hurt, both with a spear and
shame by her, and by Sir Launcelot. with a sword. But yet he wan always
And so privily she sent the letter unto the degree. And for to repose him he
Sir Launcelot. And when he wist the went to a good knight that dwelled in
intent of the letter, he was so wroth that Cornwall in a castle, whose name was
he laid him down on his bed to sleep, Sir Dinas the seneschal. Then by mis-
whereof Sir Dinadan was ware, for it fortune there came out of Sessoin a
was his manner to be privy with all great number of men of aims, and an
good knights. And as Sir Launcelot hideous host and they entered nigh the
;
slept he stole the letter out of his hand, castle of Tintagil and their captain's
;
you and to all good knights. For cluded all at once, and said thus unto
though I be not of worship myself, yet king Mark, Sir, wit ye well ye must send
I love all those that be of worship. It for Sir Tristram the good knight, or else
is truth,said Sir Launcelot, ye are a they will never be overcome. For by Sir
tiusty knight, and for great trust I will Tristram they must be fought withal, or
shew you my counsel. And when Dina- else we row against the stream. Well,
dan understood all, he said, This is my said king Mark. I will do by your coun-
counsel :
you right nought by these
set sel. But yet he was full loth thereto,
threats, for king Mark is so villainous but need constrained him to send for
that by fair speech shall never man him. Then was he sent for in all haste
get of him. But ye shall see what that might be. that he should come to
T shall do. 1 will make a lay for him, king Mark. When Sir Tristram under-
and when it is made I shall make an stood that the king had sent for him, he
harper to sing it afore him. So anon mounted upon a soft ambler and rode to
he went and made and taught it anit, king Mark. And when he was come,
harper that hight Eliot, and when he the king said thus: Fair nephew Sir
knew it, he taught it to many harpers. Tristram, this is all here be come our
:
£64 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
enemies of Sessoin, that are here nigh tram. By then Sir Tristram was whole,
hand; and without tarrying they must and he had gotten him ten good knights
be met with shortly, or else they will of Arthur's, and with them he rode unto
destroy this country. Sir, said Sir Tris- Tintagil. And when he saw the great
tram, wit ye well, all my power is at host of Sessoins he marvelled wonder
your commandment and wit ye well
; greatly. And
then Sir Tristram rode
Sir, these eight days may I bear none by the woods and by the ditches as
arms, for my wounds be not yet whole. secretly as he might, till he came nigh
And by that day I shall do what I may. the gates. And there dressed a^knight
Ye say well, said king Mark : then go to him, when he saw that Sir Tristram
ye again, and repose you, and make would enter and Sir Tristram smote
;
spears, and smiting of swords, and slew shame to thee, said Elias, for to keep
down many good knights, and ever was thy walls. When king Mark under-
Sir Dinas the seneschal the best of king stood this, he was wroth, and said no
Mark's part. And thus the battle en- word, but went unto Sir Tristram and
dured long with great mortality. But asked him his counsel. Sir, said Sir
at the last king Mark and Sir Dinas, Tristram, will ye that I give him his
were they never so loth, they withdrew answer? I will well, said king Mark.
them to the castle of Tintagil, with great Then Sir Tristram said thus to the mes-
slaughter of people, and the Sessoins sager, Bear thy lord word from the
followed on fast, that ten of them were king and me, that we will do battle
put within the gates, and four slain with him to-morn in the plain field.
with the portcullis. Then king Mark What is your name? said the mes-
sent for Sir Tristram by a varlet, that sager. Wit thou well my name is Sir
told him all the mortality. Then he Tristram de Liones. Therewithal the
sent the varlet again, and bade him, Tell messager departed, and told his lord
king Mark that I will come as soon as Elias all that he had heard. Sir, said
I am whole, for erst I may do him no Sir Tristram unto king Mark, pray you
I
good. Then king Mark had his answer. give me leave to have the rule of the
Therewith came Elias, and bade the battle. pray you take the rule, said
1
king yield up the castle, for ye may not king Mark. Then Sir Tristram let de-
hold it no while. Sir Elias, said the vise the battle in what manner that it
king, so will I yield up the castle, if should be. He let depart his host in
1 be not soon rescued. Anon king six parts, and ordained Sir Dinas the
Mark sent again for rescue to Sir Tris- seneschal to have the fore ward, and
chap. xxx. HOW SIR ELIAS AND SIR TRISTRAM FOUGHT. 265
other knights to rule the remnant and : he would find a knight that would fight
the same night Sir Tristram burnt all for him, body for body, and if that he
the Sessoins' ships unto the cold water. might slay king Mark's knight, he to
Anon as Elias wist that, he said, It was have the truage of Cornwall yearly :
of Sir Tristram's doifig, for he casleth and if that his knight slay mine, I fully
that we shall never escape, mother's son release my claim for ever. Then the
of us therefore, fair fellows, fight freely
;
messager departed unto king Mark,
to-morrow, and miscomfort you nought and told him how that his lord Elias
for any knight, though he be the best had sent him word to find a knight
knight in the world he may not have: to do battle with him, body for body.
ado with us all. Then they ordained When king Mark understood the mes-
their battles in four parts, wonderly sager he bad him abide, and he should
well apparelled and garnished with men have his answer. Then called he all the
of arms. Thus they within issued, and baronage together, to Avit what was the
they without set freely upon them and ; best counsel. They said, all at once, To
there Sir Dinas did great deeds of arms. fight in a field we have no lust, for had
Not for then Sir Dinas and his fellow- not been Sir Tristram's prowess, it had
ship were put to the worse. With that been likely that we never should have
came Sir Tristram, and slew two knights escaped. And therefore, sir, as we
with one spear. Then he slew on the deem, it were well clone to find a
right hand and on the left hand, that knight that would do battle with him,
men marvelled that ever he might do for he knightly proffereth.
such deeds of arms. And then he might
see sometime the battle was driven a CHAP. XXX.
bow draught from the castle, and some-
time it was at the gates of the castle.
How Sir Elias and Sir Tristram fought
Then came Elias the captain rashing together for the truage, and how Sir
here and there, and hit king Mark so
Tristram dew Elias in the field.
sore upon the helm that he made him Not for then, when all this was said,
to avoid the saddle and then Sir Dinas
;
they could find no knight that would do
gal king Mark again to horseback. battle with him. Sir king, said they
Therewithal came in Sir Tristram like all, here is no knight that dare fight
a lion, and there he met with Elias, and with Elias. Alas, said king Mark, then
he smote him so sore upon the helm am I shamed, and utterly de-
utterly
that he avoided his saddle. And thus stroyed, unless that my nephew Sir
they fought till it was night, and for Tristram will take the battle upon him.
great slaughter, and for wounded people, Wit ye he had yes-
well, they said all,
evereach party drew to their rest. And terday over much on hand, and he is
when king Mark was come within the weary for travail, and sore wounded.
castle of Tintagil, he lacked of his Where is he ? said king Mark. Sir,
_
knights an hundred and they without; said they, he is in his bed to repose
lacked two hundred and they searched
: him. Alas, said king Mark, but I have
e wounded men on both parties. And the succour of my nephew Sir Tristram
t en they went to council and wit you ;
I am utterly destroyed for ever. There-
well, party were loth to fight
either with one went to Sir Tristram where he
more, so that either might escape with lay, and told him what king Mark had
their worship. said. And therewith Sir Tristram arose
"When Elias the captain understood lightly, and put on him a long gown,
the death of his men, he made great and came afore the king and all the
dole and when he wist that they were
; lords. And when he saw them all so
loth to go to battle again he was wroth dismayed, he asked the king and the
of measure. Then Elias sent word lords what tidings were with them.
Never worse, said the king. And
Iul
256 MORTE DARTHUR. book x.
therewith he told him all how he had Not for then they both lightly arose,
word of Elias to find a knight to fight and dressed their shields on their shoul-
for the truage of Cornwall, and none ders, with naked swords in their hands,
can I find and as for you, said the
;
and they dashed together that it seemed
king and all the lords, we may ask no a flaming fire about them. Thus they
more of you for shame, for through traced and traversed, and hewed on
your hardiness yesterday ye saved all helms and hauberks, and cut away
our lives. Sir, said Sir Tristram, now I many cantels of their shields, and either
understand ye would have my succour, wounded other passing sore, so* that the
reason would that I should do all that hot blood fell freshly upon the earth.
lieth in my power to do, saving my And by then they had fought the moun-
worship and my life, howbeit I am tenance of an hour Sir Tristram waxed
sore bruised and hurt. And sithen Sir faint and for-bled, and gave sore aback.
Elias proffereth so largely, I shall fight That saw Sir Elias, and followed fiercely
with him, or else I will be slain in the upon him, and wounded him in many
field, or else I will deliver Cornwall places. And ever Sir Tristram traced
from the old truage. And therefore and traversed, and went froward him
lightly call his messager, and he shall here and there, and covered him with
be answered for as yet: wounds bemy his shield as he might all weakly, that
green, and they will be sorer a seven all men was overcome. For
said he
night after than they be now, and there- Sir Elias had given him twenty strokes
fore he shall have his answer, that I against one. Then was there laughing
will do battle to-morn with him. Then of the Sessoins' party, and great dole
was the messager departed brought on king Mark's party. Alas, said the
before king Mark. Hark my fellow, king, we are ashamed and destroyed all
said Sir Tristram,
go fast unto thy lord, for ever. For, as the book saith, Sir
and bid him make true assurance on his Tristram was never so matched, but if
part, for the truage, as the king here it were Sir Launcelot. Thus as they
shall make on his part ;
and then tell stood and beheld both parties, that one
thy lord Sir Elias, that I, Sir Tristram, party laughing, and the other part
king Arthur's knight, and knight of the weeping, Sir Tristram remembered him
Table Round, will as to-morn meet of his lady, La Beale Isoud, that looked
with thy lord on horseback, to do battle upon him, and how he was likely never
as long as my horse may endure, and to come in her presence. Then he
after that to do battle with him on foot pulled up his shield, that erst hung full
to the utterance. The messager be- low ; and then he dressed up his shield
held Sir Tristram from the top to the unto Elias, and gave him many sad
toe and therewithal he departed, and
; strokes, twenty against one, and all to-
came to his lord, and told him how he brake his shield and his hauberk, that
was answered of Sir Tristram. And the hot blood ran down to the earth.
therewithal was made hostage on both Then began king Mark to laugh and all
parties, and made it as sure as it might Cornish men, and that other party to
be, thatwhether parly had the victory, weep. And ever Sir Tristram said to
so to end. And then were both hosts Sir Elias, Yield thee! Then when Sir
assembled, on both parts of the field Tristram saw him so staggering on the
without the castle of Tintagil, and there- ground, he said. Sir Elias, I am right
was none but Sir Tristram and Sir Elias sorry for thee, for thou art a passing
armed. So when the appointment was good knight as ever 1 met withal, except
made, they departed in sunder, and they Sir Launcelot. Therewithal Sir Elias
came together with all the might that fell to the earth, and there died. What
their horses might run. And either shall I do? said Sir Tiistram unto king
knight smote other so hard that both Mark, for this battle is at an end.
horses and knights went to the earth. Then they of Elias's party departed:
CHAP. XXXII. HOW KING MARK SLEW BOUDWIN. 267
and king Mark took of them many quit,but I charge thee hie thee fast out
prisoners, to redress the harms and the of my sight. So the harper departed,
scathes that he had of them, and the and went to Sir Tristram, and told him
remnant he sent into their country to how he had sped. Then Sir Tristram
ransom out their fellows. Then was Sir let make goodly as he could,
letters, as
Tristram searched and well healed. Yet to Launcelot, and to Sir Dinadan. And
for all this king Mark would fain have so he let conduct the harper out of the
slain Sir Tristram. But for all that country. But to say that king Mark
ever Sir Tristram saw or heard by king was wonderly wroth, he was for he ;
Mark, yet would he never beware of his deemed that the. lay that was sung
treason, but ever he would be there as afore him was made by Sir Tristram's
La Beale Isoud was. counsel, wherefore he thought to slay
him and all his well-willers in that
Cornwall. And at the great feast that that was called the good prince Sir
king Mark made for joy that the Ses- Boudwin, that all the people of the
soins were put out of his country, then country loved passing well. So it be-
came Eliot harper, with the lay
the fell upon a time, that the miscreants
that Dinadan had made, and secretly Saracens landed in the country of Corn-
brought it unto Sir Tristram, and told wall, soon after these Sessoins were
him Dinadan had made by
the lay that gone. And then the good prince Sir
king Mark. And when Sir Tristram Boudwin, at the landing, he raised the
heard it, he said That Dinadan can
:
country privily and hastily. And or it
make wonderly well and ill, there as it were day he let put wild-fire in three of
shall be. Sir, said Eliot, dare I sing his own ships, and suddenly he pulled
this song afore king Mark ? Yea, on my up the sail, and with the wind he made
peril, said Sir Tristram, for I shall be those ships to be driven among the
thy warrant. Then at the meat came navy of the Saracens and to make
;
in Eliot the harper, and because he was short tale, those three ships set on fire
a curious harper men heard him sing all the ships, that none were saved.
the same lay that Dinadan had made, And at the point of the day the good
the which spake the most villainy by prince Boudwin, with all his fellowship,
king Mark of his treason that ever man set on the miscreants, with shouts and
heard. When the harper had sung his cries, and slew to the number of forty
song to the end, king Mark was won- thousand, and left none alive. When
derly wroth, and said, Thou harper, king Mark wist this, he was wonderly
how durst
he thou be so bold on thy head wroth that his brother should win
o sing this song before me ? Sir, said such worship. And because this prince
Hot, wit you well I am a minstrel, and was better beloved than he in all that
1 must do as I am commanded of these country, and that also Sir Boudwin
lords that I bear the arms of. And, sir, loved well Sir Tristram, therefore he
wit you well that Sir Dinadan, a knight thought to slay him. And thus hastily
of the Table Round, made this song, and as a man out of his wit, he sent for
made me to sing it afore you. Thou prince Boudwin, and Anglides his wife,
sayest well, said king Mark, and be- and bad them bring their young son
cause thou art a minstrel thou shalt go with them, that he might see him. All
2.68 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
this he did to the intent to slay the do more vengeance and with his sword
;
child as well as his father, for he was in his hand he sought from chamber
the falsest traitor that ever was born. to chamber, to find Anglides and her
Alas, for his goodness and for his good young son. And when she was missed,
deeds this gentle prince Boudwin was he called a good knight that hight Sir
slain. So when he came with his wife Sadok, and charged him, by pain of
Anglides, the king made them fair sem- death, to fetch Anglides again, and her
blant till they had dined. And when young son. So Sir Sadok departed,
they had dined, king Mark sent for his and rode after Anglides. And within
brother, and said thus : Brother, how ten mile he overtook her, and bade her
sped you when the miscreants arrived turn again, and ride with him to king
by you ? Me seemeth it had been your Mark. Alas, fair knight, she said, what
part to have sent me word, that I might shall ye win by my son's death, or by
have been at that journey, for it had mine ? I have had over much harm,
been reason that I had had the honour, and too great a loss. Madam, said
and not you. Sir, said the prince Boud- Sadok, of your loss is dole and pity ;
win, it was so that and I had tarried till but. madam, said Sadok, would ye de-
that I had sent for you, those miscreants part out of this country with your son,
had destroyed my country. Thou liest, and keep him till he be of age, that he
false traitor, said king Mark, for thou may revenge his father's death, then
art ever about for to win worship from would I suffer you to depart from me,
me, and put me to dishonour, and thou so ye promise me for to revenge the
cherishest that I hate. And therewith death of prince Boudwin. Ah, gentle
he struck him to the heart with a dag- knight, Jesu thank thee, and if ever
ger, that he never after spake word. my son Alisander le Orphelin live to
Then the lady Anglides made great be a knight, he shall have his father's
dole and swooned, for she saw her lord doublet and his shirt with the bloody
slain afore her face. Then was there marks and I shall give him
;
such a
no more to do, but prince Boudwin charge that he shall remember it while
did all the knights that were there, for full glad.
that prince was passingly well beloved. Now turn we unto Anglides, that
So La Beale Isoud sent unto Anglides, rode both night and day by adventure
the prince Boudwin's wife, and bad her out of Cornwall, and little and in few
avoid lightly, or else her young son places she rested. But ever she drew
Alisander le Orphelin should be slain. southward the sea side, till by for-
to
When she heard this, she took her tune she came to a castle that is called
horse and her child, and rode her way Magouns, and now it is called Arundel
with such poor men as durst ride with in Southsex. And the constable of the
her. castle welcomed her, and said she was
welcome to her own castle; and there
CHAP. XXXIII.
was Anglides worshipfully received,
How Anglides, Boudwin s wife, escaped for the constable's wife was nigh her
with her young son, Alisander le Or- cousin. And the constable's name was
and came to the castle of
phelin,
Bellangere, and that same constable
Arundel. told Anglides that the same castle was
Notwithstanding, when king Mark hers by right inheritance. Thus An-
had done this deed, yet he thought to glides endured years and winters, till
CHAP. XXXV. OF ALISANDER LE ORPHELIN. 2fg
Alisander was big and strong. There for his goodness king Mark slew him
Mas none so wight in all that country, with his dagger afore mine own eyes.'
neither there was none that might do And therefore this shall be your charge,
no manner of mastery afore him. that I shall give thee. Now I require
thee and charge thee upon my blessing,
CHAP. XXXIV. and upon the high order of knighthood,
that thou be revenged upon king Mark
How Anglides gave the bloody doublet to for the death of thy father. And there-
Alisander her son the same day that he
withal she swooned. Then Alisander
was viade knight, and the charge withal.
leaped to his mother, and took her up
Then upon a day Bellangere the in his arms, and said, Fair mother, ye
constable came to Anglides and said, have given me a great charge, and here
Madam, it were time that my lord I promise you I shall be avenged upon
Alisander were made knight, for he is king Mark when that I may, and that
a passing strong young man. Sir, said I promise to God and to you. So this
she, I would he were made knight but ; feast was ended. And the constable,
then must I give him the most charge by the advice of Anglides, let purvey
that ever sinful mother gave to her that Sir Alisander was well horsed and
child. Do
as ye list, said Bellangere, harnessed. Then he justed with his
and I shall give him warning that he twenty fellows that were made knights
shall be made knight. Now
it will be with him. But, for to make a short tale,
well done that he may be made knight he overthrew all those twenty, that none
at our Ladyday in Lent. Be it so, said might withstand him a buffet.
Anglides, and I pray you make ready CHAP. XXXV.
therefore. So came the constable to
Alisander, and told him that he should How it was told to king Mark of Sir
at our Ladyday in Lent be made Alisander, and how be would have
I thank God, said Alisander, slain Sir Sadok for saving of bis life.
knight.
these are the best that ever
tidings Then one of those knights departed
came to me. Then
the constable or- unto king Mark, and told him all how
dained twenty of the greatest gentle- Alisander was made knight, and all the
men's sons, and the best born men charge that his mother gave him, as ye
of the country, that should be made have heard afore time. Alas, false trea-
knights that same day that Alisander son, said king Mark, I wend that young
was made knight. So on the same day traitor had been dead. Alas, whom
that Alisander and his twenty fellows may I trust ? And therewithal king
were made knights, at the offering of Mark took a sword and
in his hand,
the mass there came Anglides unto her sought Sir Sadok chamber
fromto
on, and said thus O
fair sweet son, I
: chamber to slay him. When Sir Sadok
charge thee upon my blessing, and of saw king Mark come with his sword in
the high order of chivalry that thou his hand, he said thus Beware, king
:
takest here this day, that thou under- Mark, and come not nigh me, for wit
stand what I shall say and charge thee thou well that I saved Alisander his
ithal. Therewithal she pulled out a life, of which I never repent me, for
loody doublet and a bloody shirt, that thou falsely and cowardly slewest his
ere be-bled with old blood. "When father Boudwin traitorly for his good
lisander saw this, he start back and deeds. Wherefore I
pray almighty Jesu
axed pale, and said, Fair mother, what send Alisander might and strength to be
this mean? I shall tell thee, fair son
ay ; revenged upon thee. And now beware
his was thine own father's doublet and king Mark of young Alisander, for he
hirt that he ware upon him that same is made a knight. Alas, said king Mark,
ay that he was slain. And there she that ever I should hear a traitor say so
old him why and wherefore and how : afore me. And therewith four knights
270 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
of king Mark drew their swords to slay that at his departing from his mother
Sir Sadok. But anon Sir Sadok slew took with him his father's bloody shirt.
them king Mark's presence. And
all in So that he bare with him always till his
then Sir Sadok passed forth into his death day, in tokening to think on his
chamber, and took his horse and his father's death. So was Alisander pur-
harness, and rode on his way a good posed to ride to London by the counsel
of Sir Tristram to Sir Launcelot. And
pace. For there was neither Sir Tristram,
neither Sir Dinas, nor Sir Fergus, that by fortune he went by the sea -side,
would Sir Sadok any evil will. Then and rode wrong. And there he won
was king Mark wroth, and thought to at a tournament the gree, that king
destroy Sir Alisander, and Sir Sadok Carados made. And there he smote
that had saved him, for king Mark dread down king Carados, and twenty of his
and hated Sir Alisander most of any knights, and also Sir Safere a good
man living. When Sir Tristram under- knight, that was Sir Palamides' brother,
stood that Alisander was made knight, the good knight. All this saw a dam-
anon forthwithal he sent him a letter, sel, and saw the best knight just that
praying him and charging him that he ever she saw. And ever as he smote
would draw him to the court of king down knights he made them to swear
Arthur, and that he put him in the to wear no harness in a twelvemonth
rule and in the hands of Sir Launcelot. and a day. This is well said, said Mor-
So this letter was sent to Alisander gan le Fay, this is the knight that I
from his cousin Sir Tristram. And at would fain see. And so she took her
that time he thought to do after his palfrey and rode a great while, and then
commandment. Then king Mark called she rested her in her pavilion. So there
a knight that brought him the tidings came four knights: two were armed,
from Alisander, and bade him abide and two were unarmed, and they told
still inthat country. Sir, said that Morgan le Fay their names. The first
knight, so must I do, for in mine own was Elias de Gomeret, the second was
country I dare not come. No force, Car de Gomeret those were armed :
;
said king Mark. I shall give thee here that other twain were of Camiliard,
double as much lands as thou haddest of cousins unto queen Guenever, and
thine own. But within short space Sir that one hight Sir Guy, and that other
Sadok met with that false knight and hight Garaunt ;
those were unarmed.
slew him. Then was king Mark wood There these four knights told Morgan
wroth out of measure. Then he sent le Fay how a young knight had smitten
unto queen Morgan le Fay and to the them down before a castle. For the
queen of Northgalis, praying them in his maiden of that castle said that he was
letters that they two sorceresses would but late made knight and young. But
set all the country in fire, with ladies that as we suppose, but if it were Sir Tris-
were enchantresses, and by such that tiam, or Sir Launcelot, or Sir Lamorak
were dangerous knights, as Malgrin, and the good knight, there is none that
Breuse Sance Pite that by no means
; might sit him a buffet with a spear.
Alisander le Orphelin should escape, but Well, said Morgan le Fay, I shall meet
either he should be taken or slain. This that knight or it be long time, and he
ordinance made king Mark for to destroy dwell in that country.
Alisander. So turn we to the damsel of the
castle, that when Alisander le Orphelin
CHAP. XXXVI. had forjusted the four knights, she
How Sir Alisander wan the prize at a called him to her, and said thus: Sir
tournament, and of Morgan le Fay. knight, wilt thou for my sake just
and
And bow be fought with Sir Malgrin
fight with a knight of this country,
that
and slew him. is and hath been long time an evil
Now turn we again unto Sir Alisander, neighbour to me, his name is Malgrin,
CHAP. XXXVII. OF ALISANDER AND MORGAN LE FAY. i*l\
and he will not suffer me to be married myself I have slain ten other
knights.
in no manner wise for all that I can do, Truly, said Alisander, this is the foulest
or any knight for my sake. Damsel, confession that ever I heard knight
said Alisander, and he come while I make, nor never heard I speak of other
am here I will fight with him, and my men of such a shameful confession ;
poor body for your sake I will jeopard. wherefore it were great pity and great
And therewithal she sent for him, for shame to me that I should let thee live
he was at her commandment. And any longer therefore keep thee as well
;
when either had a sight of other they as ever thou mayest, for as I am true
made them ready for to just, and they knight, either thou or
shalt slay me
came together eagerly, and Malgrin else I shall slay
thee, promise thee
I
mused his spear upon Alisander, and faithfully. Then they lashed together
Alisander smote him again so hard that fiercely. And at the last Alisander
he bare him quite from his saddle to the smote Malgrin to the eaith, and then
earth. But this Malgrin arose lightly he raced off his helm, and smote off his
and dressed his shield and drew his head lightly. And when he had done
sword, and bad him alight, saying, and ended this anon he called to
battle,
Though thou have the better of me on him which brought him
his varlet, the
horseback, shalt thou find that I shall his horse. And then he weening to be
endure like a knight on foot. It is well strong enough would have mounted.
said, said Alisander. And so lightly he And so she laid Sir Alisander in a horse-
voided his horse, and betook him to his litter, and led him into the castle, for
varlet. And then they rashed together he had no foot nor might to stand upon
like two boars, and laid on their helms the earth. For he had sixteen great
and shields long time by the space of wounds, and in especial one of them
three hours, that never man could say was like to be his death.
which was the better knight. And in
the meanwhile came Morgan le Fay to CHAP. XXX VII.
the damsel of the castle, and they beheld
the battle. But this Malgrin was an How queen Morgan le Fay bad Alisan-
for he had bled so much blood for : other ointments upon him, and then he
Alisander fought wildly and not wittily. was out of his pain. Then came the
And that other was a felonious knight, damsel of the castle, and said unto Mor-
and awaited him, and smote him sore. gan Fay, I pray you help me that
le
And sometime they rashed together with this knight might wed me, for he hath
their shields like two boars or rams, and won me with his hands. Ye shall see,
fell groveling both to the earth. Now saidMorgan le Fay, what I shall say.
knight, said Malgrin, hold thy hand Then Morgan le Fay went to Sir Ali-
awhile, and tell me what thou art. I sander and bad in any wise that he
will not, said Alisander, but if me list. —
should refuse this lady if she desire to
But tell me thy name, and why thou wed you, for she is not for you. So the
deepest this country, or else thou shalt damsel came and desired of him mar-
lie of my hands. Wit thou well, said riage. Damsel, said Orphelin, I thank
lalgrin, that for this maiden's love of you, but as yet I cast me not to marry
this castle I have slain ten good knights in this country. Sir, said she, sithen ye
ay mishap ;
and by outrage and pride of will not marry me, I pray you. insomuch
If! MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
as ye have won me, that ye will give none other intent but for to do her
me to a knight of this country that pleasure with you, when it liketh her.
hath been my friend and loved me many Defend me, said Alisander, from such
years. With all my heart, said Alisan- pleasure, for I had lever die than I
der, I will assent thereto. Then was would do her such pleasure. Truly,
the knight sent for; his name was Sir said the damsel, and ye would love
Qerine le Grose. And anon he made me and be ruled by me, I shall
them handfast and wedded them. Then make your deliverance with your wor-
came queen Morgan le Fay to Ali- ship. Tell me, said Alisander, by what
sander, and bad him arise, and put him mean, and ye shall have my love.
in a horse-litter and gave him such
: Fair knight, said she, this of castle
a drink that in three days and three right ought to be mine, and I have an
nights he waked never but slept and : uncle the which is a mighty earl, he is
so she brought him to her own castle, earl of Pase, and of all folks he hateth
that at that time was called La Beale most Morgan le Fay, and I shall send
Regard. Then Morgan le Fay came to unto him, and pray him for my sake
Alisander, and asked him if he would to destroy this castle for the evil cus-
fain be whole. Who would be sick, toms that be used therein and then ;
said Alisander, and he might be whole ? will he come and set wild fire on every
Well, said Morgan le Fay, then shall part of the castle, and I shall get you
ye promise me by your knighthood that out at a privy postern, and there shall
thisday twelvemonth and a day ye ye have your horse and your harness.
shall not pass the
compass of this castle, Ye say well, damsel, said Alisander.
and without doubt ye shall lightly be And then she said, Ye may keep the
whole. I assent, said Sir Alisander. room of this castle this twelvemonth
And there he made her a promise. and a day, then break ye not your oath.
Then was he soon whole. And when Truly, fair damsel, said Alisander, ye
Alisander was whole then he repented say sooth. And then he kissed her. So
him of his oath, for he might not be re- anon she sent unto her uncle, and bad
venged upon king Mark. Right so there him come and destroy that castle ; for
came a damsel that was cousin to the as the book saith, he would have de-
Earl of Pase, and she was cousin to stroyed that castle afore time, had
Morgan le Fay. And by right that not that damsel been. When the earl
castle of La Beale Regard should have understood her letters he sent her
been hers by true inheritance. So this word again, that on such a day he
damsel entered into this castle where would come and destroy that castle.
lay Alisander, and there she found him So when that day came, she shewed
upon his bed, passing heavy and all Alisander a postern where through he
sad. should flee into a garden, and there he
should find his armour and his horse.
CHAP. XXXVIII. When the day came that was set, thither
How Alisander was delivered from the came the earl of Pase with four hundred
Morgan le Fay by the means of
queen knights, and set on fire all the parts of
a damsel. the castle, that, or they ceased, they
Sir knight, said the damsel, and ye left not a stone standing. And all this
would be merry, I could tell you good while that the fire was in the castle, he
tidings. Well were me, said Alisander, abode in the garden. And when the fire
and I might hear of good tidings, for was done, he let make a cry that he
now I stand as a prisoner by my would keep that piece of earth, there as
promise. Sir, said she, wit you well the castle of La Beale Regard was, a
that ye be ^l
prisoner, and worse than twelvemonth and a day, from all manner
ye ween. For my lady, my cousin queen knights that would come.
Morgan le Fay, keepeth you here for So it happed there was a duke that
CHAP. XXXIX. OF ALICE LA BEALE PILGRIM. 273
hight Ansirus, and he was of the kin of I found my love and my lady. Truly,
Sir Launcelot. And knight was a
this fair lady, said h.e, I promise you to be
great pilgrim, for every third year he your knight, and none other that bear-
would l:e at Jerusalem. And because eth the life. Now, gentle knight, said
he used all his life to go in pilgrimage, she, tell me your name. My name is,
men called him duke Ansirus the pil- said he, Alisander le Orphelin. Now,
grim. And this duke had a daughter damsel, tell me your name, said he.
that hight Alice, that was a passing fair My name is, said she, Alice la Beale
woman, and because of her father she Pilgrim. And when we be more at
was called Alice La Beale Pilgrim. our heart's ease, both ye and I shall
And anon as she heard of this cry, tell each other of what blood we be
she went unto Arthur's couit, and said come. So there was great love betwixt
openly in hearing of many knights, them. And as they thus talked, there
That what knight may overcome that came a knight Ilarsouse le
that hight
knight that keepeth that piece of earth Berbuse, and asked pait of Sir Alisan-
shall have me and all my lands. \\ hen dei's spears. Then Sir Alisander en-
the knights of the Round Table heard countered with him, and at the first Sir
her say thus, many were glad, for she Alisander smote him over his horse
was passing fair, and of great rents. croup. And then there came another
Right so she let cry in castles and knight that hight Sir Hewgon. And
towns as fast on her side as Sir Alisan- Sir Alisander smote him down as he
der did on his side. Then she dressed did that other. Then Sir Hewgon prof-
her pavilion straight by the piece of fered to do battle on foot. Sir Alisan-
eaith that Alisander kept. So she was der overcame him w ilh three strokes,
not so soon there but there came a and there would have slain him had he
knight of Arthur's court, that hight not yielded him. So then Alisander
Sagramor Desirous, and he prof-
le made both those knights to swear to
fered to just with Alisander, and they wear none armour in a twelvemonth and
encountered, and Sagiamor le Desirous a day. Then Sir Alisander alight down,
bruised his spear upon Sir Alisander, and went to rest him and repose him.
but Sir Alisander smote him so hard Then the damsel that halp Sir Alisan-
that he avoided his saddle. And when der out of the castle, in her play told
La Beale Alice saw him just so well, she dame Alice altogether how he was
thought him a passing goodly knight prisoner of the castle of La Beale Re-
on horseback. And then she lept out gard and there she told her how
:
of her pavilion and took Sir Alisan- she gat him out of prison. Sir, said
der by the bridle, and thus she said : Alice la Beale Pilgrim, me seemeth ye
Fair knight, I require thee of thy are much beholden to this maiden.
knighthood, shew me thy visage. I That is ttuth, said Sir Alisander. And
dare well, said Alisander, shew my there Alice told him of what blood she
visage. And then he put off his helm; was come. Sir, wit ye well, she said,
and when she saw his visage she said, that I am of the blood of king Ban,
Truly, thee I must love and never other. that was father unto Sir Launcelot.
Then shew me your visage, said he. Ye wis, fair lady, said Alisander, my
mother told me that my father was
CHAP. XXXIX. brother unto a king, and I am nigh
cousin to Sir Tristram. Then this while
How Alisander met iviih Alice la Beale came three knights, that one
there
Pilgrim, and how he justed with two hight Vains, and that other hight Har-
knights ; and after of him and of Sir vis de les Marches, and the third hight
Mordred. Perin de la Montaine. And with one
Thfm she unwimpled her visage. And spear Sir Alisander smote them down
len he saw her h.e said. Here have all three, and gave them such falls that
18
^74 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK X.
led him here and there, and had cast to his father's death ; for the false king
have led him out of that place to have Mark slew both Sir Tristram and Ali-
shamed him. When the damsel that sander falsely and feloniously. And it
halp him out of that castle saw how happed so that Alisander had never
shamefully he was led, anon she let arm grace nor fortune to come unto king
her, and set a shield upon her shoulder. Arthur's court. For and he had come
And therewith she mounted upon his to Sir Launcelot, all knights said that
horse, and gat a naked sword in her knew him, he was one of the strongest
hand, and she thrust unto Alisander knights that was in Arthur's days. And
with all her might, and she gave him great dole was made for him.
such a buffet that he thought the fire So let we of him pass, and turn we to
flew out of his eyes. And when Ali- another tale. So it befell that Sir Gala-
sander felt that stroke he looked about halt the haut prince was lord of the
him, and drew his sword. And when country of Surluse, whereof came many
she saw that, she fled, and so did Mor- good knights. And this noble prince
dred into the forest, and the damsel fled was a passing good man of arms, and
into the pavilion. So when Sir Alisan- ever he held a noble fellowship together.
der understood himself how the false And then he came to Arthur's court,
knight would have shamed him, had and told him his intent, how this was
not the damsel been, then was he wroth his will, how he would let cry a justs
with himself that Sir Mordred was so in the country of Surluse, the which
escaped his hands. But then Sir Ali- country was within the lands of king
sander and dame Alice had good game Arthur, and there he asked leave to
at the damsel, how sadly she hit him let cry a justs. I will give you leave,
upon the helm. Then Sir Alisander said king Arthur. But wit thou well,
justed thus day by day, and on foot he said king Arthur, I may not be there.
did many battles with many knights of Sir, said queen Guenever, please it you
king Arthur's court, and with many to give me leave to be at that justs.
knights strangers. Therefore to tell all With right good will, said Arthur, for
the battles that he did it were overmuch Sir Galahalt the haut prince shall have
to rehearse, for every day within that you in governance. Sir, said Galahalt,
twelvemonth he had ado with one I will as ye will. Sir, then the queen
knight or with other, and some day I will take with me, and such knights
he had ado with three or with four. as please me best. Do as ye list,
And there was never knight that put said king Arthur. So anon she com-
him to the worse. And at the twelve- manded Sir Launcelot to make him
month's end he departed with his lady ready with such knights as he thought
Alice la Beale Pilgrim. And the dam- best. So in every good town and castle
sel would never go from him and so
: of this land was made a cry, that in the
they went into their country of Benoye, country of Surluse Sir Galahalt should
#nd lived there in great joy. make a justs that should last eight days:
CHAP. XLI. OF THE GREAT JUSTS IN SURLUSE. 2 75
and how the haut prince with the help thickest press with a sword in his hand,
of queen Guenever's knights should just and there he smote down onthe right
against all manner of men that would hand and on the left hand, and pulled
come. W hen this cry was known, kings down knights, and rased oft their helms,
and princes, dukes and earls, barons and that all men had wonder that ever one
noble knights, made them ready to be knight might do such deeds of arms.
And at the day of justing
at that justs. When Sir Meliagant, that was son unto
there came in Sir Dinadan disguised, king Bagdemagus,saw how Sir Launcelot
and did many great deeds of arms. fared, he marvelled greatly. And when
he understood that it was he, he wist
CHAP. XLI. well that he was disguised for his sake.
Then Sir Meliagant prayed a knight to
How Sir Launcelot fought in the tour-
slay Sir Launcelot's horse, either with
nament, and how Sir Palamides did sword or with spear. At that time king
arms there for a damsel.
Bagdemagus met with a knight that
Then at the request of queen Guenever hight Sauseise, a good knight, to whom
and of king Bagdemagus, Sir Launcelot he said, Now fair Sauseise, encounter
came into the range, but he was dis- with my son Meliagant, and give him
guised, and that was the cause that few large payment ; for 1 would he were
folk knew him. And there met with well beaten of thy hands, that he might
him Sir Ector de Maris his own
brother, depart out of the held. And then Sir
and either brake their spears upon other Sauseise encountered with .Sir Melia-
to their hands. And then either gat gant, and either smote other down.
another spear, and then Sir Launcelot And then they fought on foot, and there
smote down Sir Ector de Maris his own Sauseise had won Sir Meliagant had
brother. That saw Sir Bleoberis, and not there come rescues. So then the
he smote Sir Launcelot such a bullet haut prince blew to lodging. And every
upon the helm that he wist not well knight unarmed him and went to the
where he was. Then Sir Launcelot was great feast. Then in the meanwhile
wroth, and smote Sir Bleoberis so sore there came a damsel unto the haut
upon the helm that his head bowed prince, and complained that there was
down backward. And he smote eft a knight that hight Goneries, that with-
another bullet that lie avoided his sad- held her all her lands. Then the knight
dle. And so he rode by and thrust was there present, and cast his glove to
forth to the thickest. When the king him, or to any that would tight in her
of Northgalis saw Sir Ector and Sir name. So the damsel took up the glove
Bleoberis lie on the ground, then he all heavily for default of a champion.
^as wonderous wroth, for they came Then there came a varlet to her and .
m his part against them of Surluse. said, Damsel, will ye do after me? Full
>o the king of Northgalis ran to Sir fain, said the damsel. Then go ye unto
tuncelot, and brake a spear upon him such a knight that lyeth here beside in
all to pieces. Therewith Sir Launcelot an hermitage, and that followeth the
wertook the king of Northgalis and questing beast, and pray him to take
smote him such a buffet on the helm the battle upon him, and anon I wot
nth his sword that he made him to well he will grant you.
avoid his horse and anon the king was
; So anon she took her palfrey, and
horsed again. So both the king Bag- within awhile she found that knight,
lemagus and the king of Northgalis that was Sir Palamides. And when she
xu ty hurled together and then began
:
required him, he armed him and rode
strong meddle, but they of Northgalis with her, and made her to go to the
r'ere far bigger. haut prince, and to ask leave for her
When Sir Launcelot saw
party his knight to do battle. I w ill well, said
r
jo to the worst, he thronged into the the haut prince. Then the knights
18—2
276 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK X.
were ready in the field to just on horse- own horse, and prayed the good knight
back and either gat a spear in their
: Sir Palamides to take that horse of his
hands, and met so fiercely together that gift, and to forgive him that deed. Sir,
their spears all then
to-shivered. And said Palamides, I thank you of your
they flung out swords, and Sir Pala- great goodness, for ever of a man of
mides smote Sir Goneries down to the worship a knight shall never have dis-
earth, and then he rased off his helm, worship. And so he mounted upon that
and smote off his head. Then they horse, and the haut prince had another
went to supper. And the damsel loved anon. Now7 said the haut prince, I
,
Sir Palamides, but the book saith she release to you that maiden, for ye
was of his kin. So then Sir Palamides have won her. Ah, said Palamides, the
disguised him in this manner ;
in his damsel and your commandment.
I be at
shield he bear the questing beast, and So they departed, and Sir Galahalt did
in all his trappings. And when he was great deeds of arms. And right so
thus ready, he sent to the haut prince came Dinadan and encountered with
to give him leave to just with other Sir Galahalt, and either came to other
knights, but he was adoubted of Sir so with their spears, that their
fast
Launcelot. The haut prince sent him spears brake to their hands. But Dina-
word again that he should be welcome, dan had wend the haut prince had been
and that Sir Launcelot should not just more weary than he was. And then he
with him. Then Sir Galahalt the haut smote many sad strokes at the haut
prince let cry what knight soever he prince. But when Dinadan saw he
were that smote down Sir Palamides might not get him to the earth, he said,
should have his damsel to himself. My lord, I pray you leave me and take
another. The haut prince knew not
CHAP. XLII. Dinadan, and left goodly for his fair
words, and so they departed. But soon
How Sir Galahaltand Palamides fought
there came another, and told the haut
together, and of Sir Dinadan and Sir
prince that it was Dinadan. For-
Galahalt.
sooth, said the prince, therefore am I
Here beginneth the second day. heavy that he is so escaped from me :
Anon as Sir Palamides came into the for with his mocks and jests now shall
field, Sir Galahalt the haut prince was I never have done with him. And then
at the range end, and met with Sir Galahalt rode fast after him, and bad
Palamides, and he with him, with great him, Abide, Dinadan, for king Arthur's
spears. And then they came so hard sake. Nay, said Sir Dinadan, we meet
together that their spears all to-shivered. no more together this day. Then in
But Sir 'Galahalt smote him so hard that wrath the haut prince met with
that he bare .him backward over his Meliagant, and he smote him in the
horse, but yet he lost not his stirrups. throat, that and he had fallen his neck
Then they drew their swords and lashed had broken, and with the same spear
together many sad strokes that many he smote down another knight. Then
worshipful knights left their business to came in they of Northgalis, and many
behold them. But at the last Sir Gala- strangers, and were like to have put
halt the haut prince smote a stroke of them of Surluse to the worse, for Sir
might unto Sir Palamides sore upon the Galahalt the haut prince had ever much
helm, but the helm was so hard that the in hand. So there came in the good
sword might not bite, but slipped and knight Semound
the Valiant, with forty
smote off the head of the horse of Sir knights, and he beat them all
aback.
Palamides. When the haut prince wist, Then the queen Guenever and Sir Laun-
and saw the good knight fall unto the celot let blow to lodging: and every
earth, he was ashamed of that stroke. knight unarmed him, and dressed him
And therewith he alighted down off his to the feast. . '
CHAP. XLIV. OF THE THIRD DAY OF JUSTING. 277
When Palamides was unarmed, he smote him down, horse and man, to the
asked lodging for himself and the dam- earth. So there came an eail that hight
sel. Anon the haut prince commanded Arrouse, and Sir Breuse, and an hundred
them to lodging. And he was not so knights with them of Pomitain, and
soon in his lodging, but there came a the king of Northgalis was with them ;
mides bare Archade on his spear over out at nose, mouth,* and his cars; but
his horse tail. And then Palamides at the last he recovered well by good
alight, and drew his swoid but Sir ; Miigcons. Then there came in duke
Archade might not arise, and theie Chaleins of Clara nee, and in his go-
Sir Palamides rased off his helm, and vernance there came a knight that
smote off his head. Then the haut hight Elis la Noire; and there encoun-
prince and queen Cuenever went to tered with him king Pagdemagus, and
supper. Then king Bagdemagus sent he smote Elis that he made him to
away his son Meliagant, because Sir avoid his saddle. So the duke Chaleins
Launcelot should not meet with him, of Clarance did there great deeds of
for he hated Sir Launcelot, and that arms and of to late as he came in the
;
gus made him ready, and there came a fine jester, and well loving all good
against him king Marsil, that had in knights. So anon as they had dined
gift an island of Sir Galahalt the haut there came a varlet, bearing four spears
prince and this island had the name
;
on his back, and he came to Palamides
Pomitain. Then it befell that king and said thus Here is a knight by hath
:
Bagdemagus and king Marsil of Pomi- sent you the choice of four shears, and
278 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
requireth you for your lady's sake to rance, and king Marsil of Pomitain.
take that one half of these spears, and And there came Safere, Palamides' bro-
just with him in the field. Tell him, ther, and there he told him tidings of
•saidPalamides, will not
I fail him. his mother, and how he an
appealed
"When Sir Galahalt wist of this, he bad earl before king Arthur
—
For he made
:
Palamides make him ready. So the war upon our father and mother, and
queen Guenever, the haut prince, and there I slew him in plain battle. So
Sir Launcelot, they were set upon scaf- they went into the field, and the damsel
folds to give the judgment of these two with them and there came to encounter
;
withal either of them took a great spear wise did Sir Safere and Sir Ector, and
in his hand and all to-shivered them in those two couples did battle on foot.
pieces. And then either
took a greater Then came in Sir Lamorak, and he en-
spear. And then the knight smote countered with the king with the hun-
down Sir Palamides, horse and man, dred knights, and smote him quite over
to the earth. And as he would have his horse tail and in the same wise he
;
passed over him, the strange knight's served the king of Northgalis, and also
horse stumbled, and fell down upon Pa- he smote down king Marsil. And so,
lamides. Then they drew their swords, or ever he stint, he smote down with
and lashed together wonderly sore a his spear and -with his sword thirty
great while. Then the haut prince and knights. When duke Chaieins saw La-
Sir Launcelot said they saw never two morak do so great prowess, he would
knights fight better than they did. But not meddle with him for shame and ;
ever the strange knight doubled his then he charged all his knights in pain
strokes, and put Paiamides aback. There- of death that none of you touch him,
with the haut prince cried, Ho; and for it were shame to all
good knights
then they went to lodging. And when and that knight were shamed. Then
they were unarmed they knew it was the two kings gathered them together,
the noble knight Sir Lamorak. When and all they set upon Sir Lamorak, and
Sir Launcelot knew that it was Sir he failed them not, but rashed here and
Lamorak he made much of him for ; there, smiting on the right hand and on
above all earthly men he loved him the left, and rased off many helms, so
best except Sir Tristram. Then queen that the haut prince and queen Gue-
Guenever commended him, and so did never said they saw never knight do
all other good knights make much such deeds of arms on horseback. Alas,
of him, except Sir Gawaine's brethren. said Launcelot to king Bagdemagus, I
Then queen Guenever said unto Sir will arm me and help Sir Lamorak.
Launcelot, Sir, I require you that and And I will ride with you, said king
ye just any more, that ye just with none Bagdemagus. And when they two were
of the blood of my lord Arthur. So he horsed, they came to Sir Lamorak, that
promised he would not as at that time. stood among thirty knights, and well
• was him that might reach him a buffet :
galis, and the duke Chaieins of Cla- vellously well. And then the three kings
CHAP. XLVi. Of the fifth day of justing. 279
fled aback. Therewithal then Sir Gala- Why should I not? said
Palamides.
halt let blow to lodging, and all the Then they hurtled together, and brake
heralds gave Sir Lamorak the prize. their spears and all to-shivered them,
And all this while fought Palamides, that all the castle rang of their dints.
Sir Bleoberis, Sir Safere, Sir Ector,on Then either gat a greater spear in his
foot. Never were there four knights hand, and they came so fiercely to-
evener matched. And then they were gether ;but Sir Palamides' spear all
parted, and had unto their lodging, and to-brast, and Sir I^imorak's did hold.
unarmed them, and so they went to the Therewithal Sir Palamides lost his
great feast. stirrupsand lay upright on his horse's
But when Sir Lamorak was come back. Andthen Sir Palamides returned
unto the court, queen Guenever took again, and took his damsel, and Sir
him in her arms, and said. Sir, well Safere returned hi* way. So when he
have ye done this day. Then came the was departed, king Arthur came to Sir
haut prince, and he made of him great Lamorak, and thanked him of his good-
joy, and so did Dinadan, for he wept ness, and prayed him to tell him his
for joy. But the joy that Sir I^auncelot name Sir, said Lamorak, wit you well,
made of Lamorak there might no I owe
Sir you my service: but as at this
man Then they went unto rest
tell. ;
time not abide here, for I see of
I will
and on the morn the haut prince let mine enemies many about me. Alas,
blow unto the field. said Arthur, now wot I well it is Sir
Lamorak de Galis. O, Lamorak, abide
CHAP. XLVI. with me, and by my crown I shall never
Of the fifth day, and how Sir Lamorak fail thee and not so hardy in Ga-
:
served Elise in the same wise. When Sir I promise you and make mine avow I
Uwaine saw this, he was wroth. Then shall avenge her death as soon as I see
he took his horse, and encountered with time convenient. And if it were not at
Sir Palamides, and Palamides smote the reverence of your highness I should
him so hard that he went to the earth, now have been revenged upon Sir Ga-
horse and man. And for to make a waine and his brethren. Truly, said
short tale, he smote down three bre- Arthur, I will make you at accord. Sir,
thren of Sir Gawaine's, that is for to said Lamorak, as at this time I may
say, Mordred. Gaheris, and Agravaine. not abide with you, for I must to the
Truly, said Arthur, this is a great justs, where is Sir Launcelot and the
despite of a Saracen, that he shall smite haut prince Sir Galahalt.
down my blood. And therewithal Then there was a damsel that was
king Arthur was wood wroth, and daughter to king Bandes; and there was
thought to have made him ready to a Saracen knight that hight Corsabrin,
just. That espied Sir Lamorak, that and he loved the damsel, and in no wise
Arthur and his blood were discomfited. he would suffer her to be married. For
And anon he was ready, and asked ever this Sir Corsabrin defamed her,
Palamides if he would any more just. and named her that she was out of her
280 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK X.
christened will I be. But I have made horses, or else fight never more afore
such an avow, that I may not be chris- me. With that came in duke Cha-
tened till I have done seven true battles leins of Clarance and there encoun-
;
for Jesus' sake. And then will I be chris- tered with him
the earl Ulbawes of
tened. And I trust God will take mine Surluse, and either of them smote other
intent, for I mean truly. Then Sir Pala- down. Then the knights of both par-
mides prayed queen Guenever and the ties horsed their lords again for Sir ;
haut prince to sup with him. And so Ector and Bleoberis were on foot, wait-
they did both, Sir Launcelot, and Sir ing on the duke Chalcins and the ;
Lamorak, and many other good knights. king with the hundred knights was with
So on the morn they heard their mass, the earl of Ulbawes. With that came
and blew the field; and then knights Gaheris, and lashed to the king with
made them ready. the hundred knights, and he to him
again. Then came the duke Chaleins
CHAP. XLVIII. and departed them. Then they blew
to lodging, and the knights unarmed
Of (be six:h day, and what then ivas them, and drew them to their dinner ;
done.
and at the midst of their dinner in came
Here beginneth the sixth day. Then Dinadan, and began to rail. Then he
came there in Sir Gahcris, and there beheld the haut prince, that seemed
encountered with him Sir Ossaise of wroth with some fault that he saw.
Surluse, and SirGaheris smote him over For he had a custom he loved no fish ;
his horse croup. And then either party and because he was served with fish, the
encountered with other, and there was which he hated, therefore he was not
many spears broken, and many knights merry. When Sir Dinadan had espied
cast under feet. So there came Sir the haut prince, he espied where was a
Dornard and Sir Aglovale, that were fish with a great head, and that he gat
brethren unto Sir Lamorak, and
they betw ixt two dishes, and served the haut
met with other two knights, and either prince with that fish. And then he
smote other so hard that all four knights said thus : Sir Galahalt, well may I
and horses fell to the earth. When liken you to a wolf, for he will never
Sir Lamorak saw his two brethren eat fish, but flesh. Then the haut
down he was wroth out of measure. prince laughed at his words. Well, well,
And then he gat a great spear in his said Dinadan to Launcelot, what do
hand, and therewithal he smote down ye in this country for here may no
;
four good knights, and then his spear mean knights win no worship for thee ?
brake. Then he pulled out his sword, Sir Dinadan, said Launcelot, I ensure
and smote about him on the right hand thee that 1 shall no more meet with
and on the left hand, and rased off thee, nor with thy great spear, for I
helms and pulled down knights, that all may not sit in my saddle when that
men marvelled of such deeds of arms spear hitteth me. And if I be happy,
as he did, for he fared so that many 1 shall beware of that boisterous body
knights fled. Then he horsed his bre- that thou bearest. Well, said Laun-
thren again, and said, Brethren, ye celot, make good watch ever. God
ought to be ashamed to fall so off forbid that ever we meet, but if it be
your horses what is a knight but when
; at a dish of meat. Then laughed the
he is on horseback ? I set not by a queen and the haut prince, that they
knight when he is on foot, for all might not sit at their table. Thus they
battles on foot are but pelowres bat- made great joy on the morn. And
till
tles. For there should no knight fight then they heard mass, and blew to field.
on foot, but if it were for treason, or And queen Guenever and all the estates
else he were driven thereto by force : were set, and judges armed clean with
therefore, brethren, sit fast upon your their shields to keep the right.
2H2 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
deeds of arms, and many spears were Palamides the fourth was king Bagde-
;
broken, and many knights were cast to magus. So these four knights had the
the earth. Then the king of Northgalis prize. And there was great joy and
and the earl Ulbawes smote together, great nobley in all the court. And
that all the judges thought it was like on the morn queen Guenever and Sir
mortal death. This mean while queen Launcelot departed unto king Arthur;
Guenever and the haut prince and Sir but in no wise Sir Lamorak would not
Launcelot made there Sir Dinadan make go with them. I shall undertake, said
him ready to just. I would, said Sir Sir Launcelot, that, and ye will go with
Dinadan, ride into the field, but then us king Arthur shall charge Sir Gawaine
one of you twain will meet with me. and his brethren never to do you hurt.
Perdy, said the haut prince, ye may see As for that, said Sir Lamorak, I will
how we sit here as judges with our not trust Sir Gawaine, nor none of his
shields,and always mayest thou behold brethren; and wit ye well Sir Laun-
whether we sit here or not. So Sir celot, and it were not for my lord king
Dinadan departed, and took his horse, Arthur's sake, I should match Sir Ga-
and met with many knights, and did waine and his brethren well enough.
passing well. And as he was departed, But to say that I should trust them,
Sir Launcelot disguised himself, and put that shall I never. And therefore I
upon his armour a maiden's garment pray you recommend me unto my lord
freshly attired. Then Sir Launcelot Arthur, and unto all my lords of the
made Sir Galihodin to lead him through Round Table. And in what place that
the range, and all men had wonder ever J come I shall do you service to
what damsel it was. And so as Sir my power and, sir, it is but late that
:
Dinadan came into the range, Sir laun- I revenged that when my lord Ar-
celot, that was in the damsel's array, thur's kin were put to the worse by
gat Galihodin's spear, and ran unto Sir Palamides. Then Sir Lamorak de-
Sir Dinadan. And always Sir Dinadan parted from Sir Launcelot, and either
looked up there as Sir Launcelot was, wept at their departing.
and then he saw one sit in the stead
of Sir Launcelot, armed. But when CHAP. L.
Dinadan saw a manner of a damsel, he
dread perils that it was Sir Launcelot How by treason Sir Tristram was brought
to a tournament for to have been slain,
disguised. But Sir Launcelot came
on him so fast that he smote him and bou> he was put in prison.
over his horse croup. And then with Now turn we from this matter, and
great scorns they gat Sir Dinadan into speak we of Sir Tristram, of whom this
CHAP. L. HOW SIR TRISTRAM WAS PUT IN PRISON. 283
king Bagdemagus, to the intent to slay a man and a woman to give him his
Sir Launcelot,or else utterly destroy meat and drink. So there he was a
him and shame him. because Sir Laun- great while. Then was Sir Tristram
celot had always the higher degree :
missed, and no creature wist where he
therefore this prince and this king made was become. \\ hen La Beale Isoud
this justs against Sir Launcelot. And heard how he was missed, privily she
thus their counsel was discovered unto went unto Sir Sadok, and prayed him to
king Mark, whereof he was full glad. espy where was Sir Tristram. Then
Then king Mark bethought him that he when Sadok wist how Sir Tristram
would have Sir Tristram unto that tour- was missed, and anon espied that he
nament disguised that no man should was put in prison by king Mark and
know him, to that intent that the haut the traitors of Magons, then Sadok and
prince should ween that Sir Tristram two of his cousins laid them in an am-
were Sir Launcelot. So at these justs bushment, fast by the castle of Tintagil,
came in Sir Tristram. And at that time in arms. And as by fortune there came
Sir Launcelot was not there, but when riding king Mark and four of his
they saw a knight disguised do such nephews, and a certain of the traitors
deeds of arms, they wend it had been of Magons. When Sir Sadok espied
Sir Launcelot. And in especial king them he brake out of the bushment,
Mark said it was Sir Launcelot plainly. and set there upon them. And when
Then they set upon him, both king king Mark espied Sir Sadok he fled as
Bagdemagus and the haut prince, and fast as he might. And there Sir Sadok
their knights, that it was wonder that slew all the four nephews unto king
ever Sir Tristram might endure that Mark. But these traitors of Magons slew
pain. Notwithstanding for all the pain one of Sadok's cousins, with a great
that he had, Sir Tristram wan the de- wound in the neck, but Sadok smote
gree at that tournament, and there he the other to death. Then Sir Sadok rode
hurt many knights, and bruised them, upon his way unto a castle that was
and they hurt him, and bruised him called Liones, and" there he espied of
onderly sore. So when the justs were the treason and felony of king Mark.
:11 done they knew well that it was Sir So they of that castle rode with Sir
Tristram de Liones. And all that were Sadok till that thev came to a castle that
n .king Mark's party were glad that hight Arbray. And there in the town
Sir Tristram was hurt, and the remnant they found Sir Dinas the seneschal,
ere sorry of his hurt for Sir Tristram
;
that was a good knight. But when Sir
as not so behated as was Sir Launce- Sadok had told Sir Dinas of all the
t within the realm of Lngland. Then treason of king Mark, he defied such a
me king Mark unto Sir Tristram, and king, and said he would give up his
id, Fair nephew, I am sorry of your lands that he held of him. And when
urts. Gramercy, my lord, said Sir he said these words all manner knights
ristram. Then king Mark made Sir said as Sir Dinas said. Then by his
ristram for to be put in a horse bier, advice, and of Sir Sadok's, he let stuff
great sign of love, and said, Fair all the towns and castles within the
ousin, I shall be your leech myself, country of Liones, and assembled all
nd so he rode forth with Sir Tristram, the people that they might make.
284 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK X.
chapel. Then the king let cry in all another had his arm stricken away, the
the country that held of him, to go third was borne through with a spear,
unto arms, for he understood to the the fourth had his teeth stricken in
war he must needs. When king Mark twain. And when they came afore king
heard and understood how Sir Sadok Mark they cried and said, King, why
and Sir Dinas were risen in the country fleest thou not, for all this country is
of Liones, he remembered of wiles and arisen clearly against thee. Then was
treason. Lo, thus he did he let make :
king Mark wroth out of measure. And
and counterfeit letters from the Pope, in the mean while theie came into the
and did make a strange clerk to bear country Sir Percivale de Gal is, to seek
them unto king Mark. The which Sir Tristram. And when he heard that
letters specified, that king Mark should Sir Tristram was in prison, Sir Percivale
make him ready, upon pain of cursing, made clearly the deliverance of Sir Tris-
with his host to come to the Pope, to tram by his knightly means. And when
help to go to Jerusalem, for to make war he was so delivered he made great joy
upon the Saracens. When this clerk of Sir Percivale, and so each one of
was come by the mean of the king, other. Sir Tristram said unto Sir Perci-
anon withal king Mark sent these let- vale, And ye will abide in these marches,
ters unto Sir Tristram, and bad him say I will lide with you. Nay, said Perci-
thus That and he would go war upon
; vale, in this countiy may I not tarry,
the miscreants, he should be had out of for I must needs into Wales. So Sir
prison, andto have all his power. Percivale departed from Sir Tristram,
When Tristram understood this
Sir and rode straight unto king Mark, and
letter, then he said thus to the clerk : told him how he had delivered Sir Tris-
Ah, king Mark, ever hast thou been a tram. And also he told the king that
traitor, and ever wilt be but clerk, : he had done himself great shame for
said Sir Tristram, say thou thus unto to put Sir Tristram in prison, for he is
king Mark. Since the apostle Pope now the knight of most renown in all
hath sent for him, bid him go thither this world living. And wit thou well
himself, for tell him, traitor king as he the most noble knights of the world
is, I will not go at his command, get I love Sir Tristram, and if he will make
out of my prison as I may. For I see I war upon you ye may not abide it.
am well rewarded for mv true service. That is truth, said king Mark, but I
Then the clerk returned unto king may not love Sir Tristram because he
Mark, and told him of the answer of loveth my queen and my wife, La Beale
Sir Tristram. Well, said king Mark, yet Isoud. Ah fie for shame, said Sir Perci-
shall he be beguiled. So he went into vale, say ye never so more. Are ye not
his chamber, and counterfeited letters, uncle unto Sir Tristram, and he your
and the letters specified that the Pope nephew ? Ye should never think that so
HAP. LT1. HO W SIR TRISTRAM CAME TO ENGLAND. 28:
roble a knight as Sir Tristram is, that put in prison. And as they devised it
le would do himself so great a villany so it was done. And then Sir Tristram
hold his uncle's wife, howbeit, said was delivered out of prison, and anon
Br Percivale, he may love your queen in all the haste queen Isoud and Sir
inless, because she is called one of the Tristram went and took their counsel
lirest ladies of the world. Then Sir with that they would have with them
^ercivale departed from king Mark. when they depaited.
>o when he was departed king Mark
CHAP. Lit
^thought him of more treason, not-
How Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud
withstanding king Mark granted Sir
J came into England, and how Sir Laun-
by no manner of means
ercivale never
to hurt Sir Tristram. So anon king brought them to Joyous Gard.
celot
Mark sent unto Sir Dinas the seneschal, Thkn La Beale Isoud and Sir Tris-
that he should put down all the people tram took their vessel, and came by
that he had raised, for he sent him an water into this land. And so they were
oath that he would go himself unto the not in this land four days but there
1'ope of Rome to war upon the mis- came a cry of a justs and tournament
creants, and this is a fairer war than that king Arthur let make. When Sir
thus to raise the people against your Tristram heard tell of that tournament,
king. When Sir Dinas the seneschal he disguised himself and La Beale
understood that king Mark would go Isoud, and rode unto that tournament.
upon the miscreants, then Sir Dinas in And when he came there he saw many
all the haste put down all the people ; knights just and tourney, and so Sir
and when the people were departed Tristram dressed him to the range.
every man to his home, then king Mark And to make short conclusion, he over-
espied where was Sir Tristram with La threw fouiteen knights of the Round
Beale Isoud. And there by treason king Table. When Sir Launcelot saw these
Mark let take him and put him in knights thus overthrown Sir Launcelot
prison, contrary to his promise that he dressed him to Sir Tristram. That saw
made unto Sir Percivale. When queen La Beale Isoud, how Sir Launcelot
Isoud understood that Sir Tristram was was come into the field. Then La
in prison she made as great sorrow as Beale Isoud sent unto Sir Launcelot a
ever made lady or gentlewoman. Then ring, and bad him wit that it was Sir
Sir Tristram sent a letter unto La Beale Tristram de Liones. When Sir Launce-
Isoud, and prayed her to be his good lot understood that there was Sir Tris-
lasttournament was Sir Tristram. And and which were vermins ; and all the
there he told her how he had with him blasts that belong to all manner of
La Beale Isoud, maugre king Mark ; games. First to the uncoupling, to the
and so queen Guenever told all this seeking, to the rechate, to the Might, to
unto king Arthur. When king Arthur the death, and to strake and many ;
wist that Sir Tristram was escaped, and other blasts and terms, that all manner
come from king Mark, and had brought of gentlemen have cause to the world's
La Beale Isoud with him, then was he end to praise Sir Tristram and to pray
passing glad. So because of Sir Tris- for his soul.
tram king Arthur let make a cry, that
CHAP. LIII.
on May-day should be a justs, before
the castle of Lonazep ; and that castle How by the counsel of La Beale Isoud Sir
Tristram rode armed, and how he met
was by Joyous Gard. And thus
fast
Arthur with Sir Palamides.
king devised, that all the knights
of this land, and of Cornwall, and of So on a day I^aBeale Isoud said unto
North Wales, should just against all Sir Tristram, I marvel me much, said
these countries, —Ireland, Scotland, and she, that ye remember not yourself, how
the remnant of Wales, and the country that ye be .here in a strange country,
of Gore, and Surluse, and of Listinoise, and here be many perilous knights, and
and they of Northumberland, and all well ye wote that king Mark is full oi
they that held lands of king Arthur on treason, and that ye will ride thus to
this half the sea. When this cry was chase and hunt unarmed ye might be ;
made, many knights were glad and destroyed. My fair lady and my love,
many were unglad. Sir, said Launcelot I cry you mercy, I will no more do
unto Arthur, by this cry that ye have so. So then Sir Tristram rode daily
made, ye will put us that be about you on hunting armed, and his men bear-
in great jeopardy, for there be many ing his shield and his spear. So on
knights that have great envy to us, a day, a little afore the month of May,
therefore when we shall meet at the Sir Tristram chased an hart passing
day of justs, there will be hard shift eagerly, and so the hart passed by
among us. Asfor that, said Arthur, a fair well. And then Sir Tristram
I care not, there shall we prove who alighted, and put off his helm to drink
shall be the best of his hands. So when of that burbley water. Right so he
Sir Launcelotunderstood wherefore king heard and saw the questing beast come
Arthur made this justing, then he made to the well. When Sir Tristram saw
such purveyance that La Beale Isoud that beast, he put on his helm, for he
should behold the justs in a secret place deemed he should hear of Sir Pala-
that was honest for her estate. mides, for that beast was his quest. Right
Now turn we unto Sir Tristram and so Tristram saw where came a knight
La Beale Isoud, how
they made great armed, upon a noble courser, and he
with all manner of saluted him, and they spake of many
joy daily together
mirths that they could devise and every
;
things and
; this knight's name was
day Sir Tristram would go ride on Breuse Sance Pite. And right so withal
hunting, for Sir Tristram was that time there came unto them the noble knight
called the best chaser of the world, and Sir Palamides, and either saluted other,
the noblest blower of an horn of all and spake fair to other. Fair knights,
manner of measures. For, as books said Sir Breuse Sance Pite, I can tell
report, of Sir Tristram came all the you tidings. What is that ? said those
good terms of venery and hunting, and knights. Sirs, wit ye well that king
all the sizes and measures of
blowing of Mark is put in prison by his own
an horn; and of him we had first all knights, and all was for love of Sir
the terms of hawking, and which were Tristram for king Mark had put Sir
:
beasts of chase, and beasts of venery, Tristram twice in prison and once ;
CHAP. LIN. OF SIR BR FUSE SANCE PTTE. 287
Sir Percivale delivered the noble knight Ector de Maris, the other hight Sir
Sir Tristram out of prison and at the ; Percivale de Galis, the third hight Sir
last time queen La Beale Isoud de- Harry le Fise Lake, a good knight and
livered him, and went clearly away with an hardy. And as for Sir Percivale, he
him into this realm and all this while
: was called that time of his time one of
king Mark the false traitor is in prison. the best knights of the world, and the
Is this truth ? said Sir Palamides then ; best assured. When Breuse saw these
shall we hastily hear of Sir Tristram. knights, he rode straight unto them,
And as for to say that I love I a Beale and cried unto them, and prayed them
Isoud, I dare make good that I do, and of rescues. W
hat need have ye ? said
that she hath my service above all other Sir Ector. Ah, fair knights, said Sir
ladies, and shall have the term of my Breuse, here followeth me the most
life. And right so as they stood talking traitorknight and most coward, and
they saw afore them where came a most of villainy his name is Breuse
:
one of his men bare his shield, and the will slay me without mercy and pity.
other his spears. And anon as that Abide with us, said Sir Percivale, and
knight espied them, he gat his shield we shall warrant you. Then were they
and his spear, and dressed him to just. ware of Sir Bleoberis, that came riding
Fair fellows, said Sir Tristram, yonder all that he might. Then Sir Ector put
is a knight will just with us let see ; himself forth for to just afore them all.
which of us shall encounter with him, When Sir Bleoberis saw that they were
for I see well he is of the court of king four knights, and he but himself, he
Arthur. It shall not be long or he be stood in a doubt whether he would turn
met withal, said Sir Palamides, for I or hold his way. Then he said to him-
found never no knight in my quest of self, I am a knight of the Table Round,
this glasting beast but, and he would and rather than I should shame mine
just, I never refused him. well mayAs oath and my blood I will hold my way
I, said Breuse Sance follow that
1 ite, whatsoever fall thereof. And then Sir
beast as ye. Then shall ye do bat- Ector dressed his spear, and smote
tle with me, said Sir Palamides. So either other passing sore, but Sir Ector
Sir Palamides dressed him unto the fell to the earth. That saw Sir Perci-
other knight, Sir Pleoberis, that was a vale, and he dressed his horse toward
full noble knight, nigh kin unto Sir him all that he might drive; but Sir
Launcelot. And so they met so hard Percivale had such a stroke that horse
that Sir Palamides fell to the earth, and man fell to the earth. When Sir
horse and all. Then Sir Bleoberis cried Harry saw that they were both to the
aloud, and said thus: Make thee ready, earth, then he said to himself, Never
thou false traitor knight, Breuse Sance was Breuse of such prowess. So Sir
Pite, for wit thou certainly I will have Harry dressed his horse, and they met
ado with thee to the utterance, for the together so strongly that both the
noble knights and ladies that thou hast horses and knights fell to the earth ;
falsely betrayed. When this false knight but Sir Bleoberis's horse began to re-
and traitor, Breuse Sance Pite, heard cover again. That saw Sir Breuse, and
him say so, he took his horse by the he came hurtling, and smote him over
bridle, and fled his way as fast as his and over, and would have slain him as
horse might run, for sore he was of him he lay on the ground, 'lhen Sir Harry
afeard. When Sir Bleobeiis saw him le Fise Lake arose lightly, and took the
flee, he followed fast after him, through bridle of Sir Breuse's horse, and said,
thick and through thin. And by for- Fie for shame, strike never a knight
tune as Sir Breuse fled, he saw even when he is at the earth ; for this
afore him three knights of the Table knight may be called no shameful
Round, of the which the one hight Sir knight of his deeds for yet as men
:
288 MORTE bARTHUR. BOOK X.
he hath done worshipfully, and put to the the shield of Bleoberis lie on the earth,
worse passing good knights. Therefore then said Palamides, lie that owneth
will I not let, said Sir Breuse. Thou that shield, let him dress him to me, for
shalt not choose, said Sir Harry, as at he smote me down here fast by at a
this time. Then when Sir Breuse saw fountain, and therefore I will fight with
that he might not choose, nor have his him on foot. I am ready, said Sir Bleo-
will, he spake fair. Then Sir Harry let beris, here to answer thee for wit thou
;
him go. Andthen anon he made his well, sir knight, it was I, and my name
horse to run over Sir Bleoberis, and is Bleoberis de Ganis. Well art thou
rashed him to the earth like if he would met, said Palamides, and wit thou well
have slain him. When Sir Harry saw my name is Sir Palamides the Saracen.
him do so villainously, he cried, Traitor And either of them hated other to the
knight, leave off for shame. And as Sir death. Sir Palamides, said Ector, wit
Harry would have taken his horse to thou well, there is neither thou, nor none
fight with Sir Breuse, then Sir Breuse knight that keareth the life, that slay-
ran upon him as he was half upon his eth any of our blood, but he shall die
horse, and smote him down horse and for it ; therefore, and thou list to fight,
man to the earth, and had near slain Sir go seek Sir Launcelot, or Sir Tristram,
Harry the good knight. That saw Sir and there shall ye find your match.
Percivale, and then he cried, Traitor With them have 1 met, said Palamides,
knight what dost thou? And when but I had never no worship of them.
Sir Percivale was upon his horse, Sir Was there never no manner of knight,
Breuse took his horse, and fled all that said Sir Ector, but they, that ever
ever he might, and Sir Percivale and Sir matched with you? Yes, said Pala-
Harry followed after him fast, but ever mides, there was the third, a good
the longer they chased the further were knight as any of them, and of his age
they behind. Then they turned again, he was the best that ever I found for, ;
and came to Sir Ector de Maris and to and he might have lived till he had
Sir Bleoberis. Ah fair knights, said been an hardier man, there liveth no
Bleoberis, why have ye succoured that knight now such, and his name was Sir
falseknight and traitor? Why, said Sir Lamorak de Galis. And as he had
Harry, what knight is he? for well I justed at a tournament, there he over-
wot it is a false knight, said Sir Harry, threw me and thirty knights moie, and
and a coward, and a felonious knight. there he won the degree. And at his
Sir, said Bleoberis, he is the most depaiting, there met him Sir Gawaine
coward knight, and a devourer of ladies, and his brethren, and with great pain
and a destroyer of good knights, and they slew him feloniously, unto all good
specially of Arthur's. What is your knights' great damage. And when Sir
name ? said Sir Ector. name is Sir
My Percivale heard that his brother was
Bleoberis de Ganis. Alas, fair cousin, dead, Sir Lamorak, he fell over his horse's
said Ector, forgive it me, for I am Sir mane swooning, and there he made the
Ector de Maris. Then Sir Percivale greatest dole that ever made knight.
and Sir Harry made great joy that they And when Sir Percivale arose, he said,
met with Bleoberis, but all they were Alas, my good and noble brother Sir
heavy that Sir Breuse was escaped them, Lamorak, now shall we never meet, and
whereof they made great dole. I trow in all the wide world a man
Of Sir Palamides, and how he met with the death of our father king Pellinore,
Sir Bleoberis and with Sir Ector, and and now the death of our good brother
of Sir Percivale. Sir Lamorak. Then in the mean while
Right so as they stood thus, there there came a varlet from the court of
chap. lv. HO W SIR DINAD AN MOCKED AT ALL LOVERS. 289
king Arthur, and told them of the great know that knight well with the coveied
tournament that should be at Lonazep, shield of azure, he is the king's son of
and how these lands, Cornwall, and Northumberland, his name is Epinegris,
Northgalis, should be against all them and he is as great a lover as I know, and
that would come. he loveth the king's daughter of Wales,
a full fair lady. And now I suppose,
CHAP. LV. said Sir Tristram, and ye require him
he will just with you and then shall ye
;
How Sir Tristram met with Sir Dinadan,
and of their devices, and what he said prove whether a lover be a better knight
or ye that will not love no lady. Well,
to Sir Gawaine's brethren.
said Sir Dinadan, now shalt thou see
Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that what I shall do. Therewithal Sir Dina-
as he rode on hunting he met with Sir dan spake on high and said, Sir knight,
Dinadan, that was come into that make thee ready to just with me, for it
country to seek Sir Tristram. Then is the custom of errant
knights one to
Sir Dinadan told Sir Tristram his just with other. Sir, said Epinegris, is
name, but Sir Tristram would not tell it the rule of you errant knights for
his name, wherefore Sir Dinadan was to make a knight to just will he or
wroth. For such a foolish knight as nill ? As
for that, said Dinadan, make
ye are, said Sir Dinadan, I saw but late thee ready, for here is for me. And
this day lying by a well, and he fared therewithal they spurred their horses,
as he slept, and there he lay like a fool and met together so hard that Epinegris
grinning, and would not speak, and his smote down Sir Dinadan. Then Sir
shield lay by him, and his horse stood Tristram rode to Sir Dinadan, and said,
by him, and well I wot he was a lover. How now ? me seemeth the lover hath
Ah, fair sir, said Sir Tristram, are well sped. Fie on thee coward, said
ye not a lover? Marry, fie on that Sir Dinadan, and if thou be a good
craft, said Sir Dinadan. That is evil knight revenge me. Nay, said Sir Tris-
said, Sir Tristram, for a knight
said tram, I will not just as at this time, but
may never be of prowess, but if he be a take your horse, and let us go hence.
lover. It is well said, said Sir Dina- Defend me, said Sir Dinadan, from thy
dan now tell me your name, sith ye be
:
fellowship, for I never sped well since I
a lover, or else I shall do battle with met with thee. And
so they departed.
you. As for that said Sir Tristram, it Well, said Sir Tristram, peradventure I
is no reason to
fight with me but I tell could tell you tidings of Sir Tristram.
you my name andas for that, my name
: Defend me, said Dinadan, from thy fel-
shall ye not wit as at this time. Fie lowship, for Sir Tristram were mickle
for shame, said Dinadan, art thou a the worse and he were in thy company.
knight, and darest not tell thy name to And then they departed. Sir, said Sir
me ? therefore I will fight with thee. As Tristram, yet it may happen I shall
for that, said Sir Tristram, I will be ad- meet with you in other places. So rode
vised, for I will not fight but if me list ; Sir Tristram unto Joyous Gard, and
and if I do battle, said Sir Tristram, ye there he heard in that town great noise
are not able to withstand me. Fie on and crv. What is this noise, said Sir
thee, coward, said Sir Dinadan. And Tristram. Sir, said they, here is a
thus as they hoved still, they saw a knight of this castle that hath been
might came riding against them. Lo, long among us, and right now he is
lid Sir Tristram, see where cometh a slain with two knights, and for none
tnight riding will just with you. Anon other cause but that our knight said
as Sir Dinadan beheld him, he said, that Sir Launcelot were a better knight
That is the same doted knight that I than Sir Gawaine. That was a simple
iw lie by the well, neither sleeping cause, said Sir Tristram, for to slay a
lor waking. Well, said Sir Tristram, I good knight for to say well by his
19
290 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
master. That is little remedy to us, Gard. And when he was departed they
said the men of the town, for and Sir took their horses, and the one said to
Launcelot had been here, soon ve the other, We will overtake him and be
should have been revenged upon the revenged upon him in the despite of Sir
false knights. When Sir Tristram heard Lamorak.
them say so, he sent for his shield and CHAP. LVL
for his spear, and lightly within a little
while he had overtaken them, and bade How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Agra-
them turn and amend what they had vaine and Sir Gaheris, and bow Sir
misdone. What amends wouldest thou Dinadati was sent for by La Beale
have ? said the one knight. And there- Isoud.
with they took their course, and either So when they had overtaken Sir
met other so hard, that Sir Tristram Tristram, Sir Agravaine bade him, Turn,
smote down that knight over his horse traitor knight. That is evil said, said Sir
tail. Then the other knight dressed Tristram; and therewith he pulled out his
him to Sir Tristram and in the same
; sword, and smote Sir Agravaine such a
wise he served the other knight. And buffet upon the helm that he tumbled
then they gat off their horses as well as down off his horse in a swoon, and he
they might, and dressed their shields had a grievous wound. And then he
and swords to do their battle to the turned to Gaheris, and Sir Tristram
utterance. Knights, said Sir Tristram, smote his sword and his helm together
ye shall tell me of whence ye are and with such a might that Gaheris fell out
what be your names for such men ye
; of his saddle and so Sir Tristram rode
;
might be ye should hard escape my unto Joyous Gard, and there he alight
hands; and ye might be such men of and unarmed him. So Sir Tristram
such a country that for all your evil told La Beale Isoud of all his adventure
deeds ye should pass quit. Wit thou as ye have heard tofore. And when she
well, sir knight, said they, we fear us heard him tell of Sir Dinadan, Sir, she
not to tell thee our names, for my said, is not that he that made the song
name is Sir Agravaine, and my name is by king Mark ? That same is he, said Sir
Gaheris, brethren unto the good knight Tristram, for he is the best joker and
Sir Gawaine, and we be nephews unto jester, and a noble knight of his hands,
king Arthur. Well, said Sir Tristram, and the best fellow that I know, and all
for king Arthur's sake I shall let you good knights love his fellowship. Alas,
pass as at this time. But it is shame, Sir, said she, why brought ye not him
said Sir Tristram, that Sir Gawaine and with you? Have ye no care, said Sir
ye that be come of so great a blood, Tristram, for he rideth to seek me in
that ye four brethren are so named this country, and therefore he will not
as ye be. For ye be called the great- away till he have met with me. And
est destroyers and murderers of good there Sir Tristram told La Beale Isoud
knights that be now in this realm ; for how Sir Dinadan held against all lovers.
Ga-
it is but as I heard say, that Sir Right so there came in a varlet and told
waine and ye slew among you a better Sir Tristram how there was come an
knight than ever ye were, that was the errant knight into the town with such
noble knight Sir Lamorak de Galis; colours upon his shield. That is Sir Di-
and it had pleased God, said Sir Tris- nadan, said Sir Tristram. Wit ye what
tram, I would I had been by Sir Lamo- ye shall do ? said Sir Tristram send ye ;
rak at his death. Then shouldest thou for him, my lady Isoud, and I will not
have gone the same way, said Sir Ga- be seen, and ye shall hear the merriest
heris. Fair knight, said Sir Tristram, knight that ever ye spake withal, and
there must have been many more knights the maddest talker, and I pray you
than ye are. And therewithal Sir Tris- heartily that ye make him good cheer.
tram departed from them toward Joyous Then anon La Beale Isoud sent into the
CHAP. LVH. HOW DINADAN KNEW SIR TRISTRAM. 291
mounted upon his horse, and»rode into he promised her that he would meet
the castle, and there he alight, and with Sir Dinadan, and they two would
was unarmed, and brought into the ride together unto Lonazep, where the
castle. Anon La Beale Isoud came unto tournament should be; and there shall —
him, and either saluted other. Then I make ready for you, where ye shall see
she asked him of whence that he was. the tournament. Then departed Sir
Madam, said Dinadan, I am of the court Tristram with two squires that bare his
of king Arthur, and knight of the Table shield and his spears that were great
Round, and my name is Sir Dinadan. and long.
What do ye in this country V said La CHAP. LVII.
Beale Isoud. Madam, said he, I seek
Sir Tristram the good knight, for it was
How Sir Dinadan met with Sir Tristram,
and with justing with Sir Palamides
told me that he was in
country.this
Sir Dinadan knew him.
It may well be, said La Beale Isoud,
but I am not aware of him. Madam, Then after that, Sir Dinadan departed
said Dinadan, I marvel of Sir Tris- and rode his way a great pace until he
tram and more other lovers, what aileth had overtaken Sir Tristram. And when
them to be so mad and so sotted upon Sir Dinadan had overtaken him, he
women. Why, said La Beale Isoud, knew him anon, and he hated the fellow-
are ye a knight and be no lover ? It ship of him above all other knights.
is shame to you wherefore ye may
:
Ah, said Sir Dinadan, art thou that
not be called a good knight but if coward knight that I met with yester-
ye make a quarrel for a lady. Nay, day, keep thee, for thou shalt just with
said Sir Dinadan, for the joy of love is me, maugie thy head. Well, said Sir
too short, and the sorrow thereof, and Tristram, and I am loth to just. And
what cometh thereof, dureth over long. so they let their horses run, and Sir
Ah, said La Beale Isoud, say ye not so, Tristram missed of him a purpose, and
for here fast by was the good knight Sir Dinadan brake a spear upon Sir
Sir Bleoberis, thatfought with three Tristram and therewith Sir Dinadan
;
knights at once for a damsel's sake, and dressed him to draw out
his sword.
he wan her afore the king of Northum- Not so, said Sir Tristram, why are ye
berland. It was so, said Sir
Dinadan, for so wroth ? I will not fight. Fie on thee,
I know him well for a good knight and coward, said Sir Dinadan, thou shamest
a noble, and come of noble blood, for allknights. As for that, said Sir Tris-
all be noble knights of whom he is come tram, I care not, for I will wait upon
of, that is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Now you and be under your protection, for
I pray you, said La Beale Isoud, tell me because ye are so good a knight ye may
will ye fight for my love with three save me. The devil deliver me of thee,
knights that done me great wrong ? and said Sir Dinadan, for thou art as goodly
in so much as ye be a knight of king a man of arms and of thy person as
Arthur's I require you to do battle for ever I sawr and the
,
most coward that
me. Then Sir Dinadan said, I shall say ever I saw. What wilt thou do with
you be as fair a lady as ever I saw any, those great spears thou earnest
that
and much fairer than is my lady queen with thee ? I shallgive them, said Sir
Guenever, but, wit ye well at one word. Tristram, to some good knight when
I will not fight for you with three I come to the tournament and if I see :
knights, Heaven defend me. Then you do best I shall give them to you.
Isoud laughed, and had good game at So thus as they rode talking they saw-
him. So he had all the cheer that she where came an errant knight afore
19
— 2
2Cp MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
them, that dressed him to just. Lo, thisknight that was on foot pulled out his
said Sir Tristram, yonder is one -will sword to do battle. What is your name ?
just, now dress thee to him. A shame said Sir Tristram. Wit ye well, said
betide thee, said Sir Dinadan. Nay not the knight, my name is Sir Palamides.
so, said Tristram, for that knight be- What knight hate ye most? said Sir
seemeth a shrew. Then shall I, said Tristram. Sir knight, said he, I hate
Sir Dinadan. And so they dressed their Sir Tristram to the death, for and I may
shields their spears, and they met
and meet with him the one of us shall die.
together so hard that the other knight Ye say well, said Sir Tristram, and wit
smote down Sir Dinadan from his horse. ye well that I am Sir Tristram de Liones,
Lo, said Sir Tristram, it had been better and now do your worst. When Sir
ye had left. Fie on thee, coward, said Palamides heard him sav so he was
Sir Dinadan. Then Sir Dinadan started astonished, and then he said thus, I
up, and gat his sword in his hand, and pray you, Sir Tristram, forgive me all
proffered to do battle on foot. Whether mine evil will, and if I live I shall do
in love or in wrath, said the other knight. you service above all other knights that
Let us do battle in love, said Sir Dinadan. be living, and there as I have owed you
What is your name ? said that knight, I evil will me sore repenteth. I wot not
pray you tell me. Wit ye well my name what aileth me, for me seemeth that ye
is Sir Dinadan. Ah Dinadan, said that are a good knight, and none other
knight, and my name is Gareth, the knight that named himself a good
youngest brother unto Sir Gawaine. knight should not hate you therefore ;
them to scorn. Then were they ware therefore, said Sir Tristram, and ye
where there came a knight afore them have any evil will to me, now may ye
well horsed and well armed, and he right it, for I am ready at your hand.
made him ready to just. Fair knights, Not so, my lord Sir Tristram I will do
;
said Sir Tristram, look betwixt vou who you knightly service in all things as ye
shall just with yonder knight, for I warn will command. And right so I will
you I will not have ado with him. take you, said Sir Tristram. And so
Then shall I, said Sir Gareth and so :
they rode forth on their ways, talking of
they encountered together, and there many things. O
my lord Sir Tristram,
that knight smote down
Gareth over
Sir said Dinadan, foul have ye mocked me,
his horse croup. How now, said Sir for truly I came into this country for
Tristram unto Sir Dinadan, dress thee your sake, and by the advice of my lord
now, and revenge the good knight Sir Launcelot, and yet would not Sir
Gareth. That shall I not, said Sir Launcelot tell me the certainty of you,
Dinadan, he hath stricken down a
for where I should find you. Truly, said
much bigger knight than I am. Ah, Sir Tristram, Sir Launcelot wist well
said Sir Tristram, now Sir Dinadan I where I was, for I abode within his
see and feel well your heart faileth you, own castle.
therefore now shall ye see what I shall
do. And then Sir Tristram hurtled unto
CHAP. LVIII.
that knight, and smote him quite from Hotv they approached the castle Lonazep,
his horse. And when Sir Dinadan saw and of other devices of the death of Sir
that he marvelled greatly and then he
:
Lamorak.
deemed that it was Sir Tristram. Then Thus they rode until they were ware
CHAP. LIX. HOW THEY CAME TO HUMBER BANK. *93
of the castle Lonazep and then were: and yet had I never the degree at no
they ware of four hundred tents and justs nor tournament there as he was,
pavilions, and marvellous great ordi- but he put me to the worse or on foot
nance. Truly, said Sir Tristram, yon- or on horseback, and that day that he
der I see the greatest ordinance that was slain he did the most deeds of arms
ever I saw. Sir, said Palamides, me that ever I saw knight do in all my life
seemeth there was as great an ordinance days. And when him was given the
at the castle of Maidens upon the rock degree by my lord Arthur, Sir Gawaine
where ye won the prize, for I saw my- and his three brethren, Agravaine,
self where yeforjusted thirty knights. Gaheris, and Sir Mordred, set upon Sir
Sir, said Dinadan, and in Surluse at Lamorak in a privy place, and there
that tournament that Sir Galahalt of they slew his horse, and so they fought
the Long Isles made, the which there with him on foot more than three hours,
dured seven days, was as great a gather- both before him and behind him and ;
ing as is here, for there were many Sir Mordred gave him his death's wound
nations. Who
was the best ? said Sir behind him at his back, and all to-hewed
Tristram. Sir, it was Sir Launcelot du him :for one of his squires told me
Lake and the noble knight Sir Lamorak that saw it. Fie upon treason, said Sir
de Galis. And Sir Launcelot won the Tristram, for it killeth my heart to hear
degree. doubt
I not, said Sir Tristram, this tale. So doth
mine, said Gareth
it ;
but he won the degree, so he had not brethren as they be mine I shall never
been overmatched with many knights. love them, nor draw in their fellowship,
And of the death of Sir Lamorak, said for that deed. Now speak we of other
Sir Tristram,it was over great pity, for deeds, said Sir Palamides, and let him
Idare say he was the cleanest mighted be, for his life ye may not get again.
man and the best winded of his age That is more pity, said Dinadan,
the
that was on live, for I knew him that he for Sir Gawaine and his brethren, except
was the biggest knight that ever I met you, Sir Gareth, hate all the good
withal, but if it were Sir Launcelot. knights of the Round Table for the
Alas, said Sir Tristram, full woe is me most part for well I wot, and they
;
matched. And so have I seen knights have my Red City and all my castles.
done many times and when they wend:
Sir, said the mariners, wit ye well this
best to have won worship they lost it. king and knight that here lieth was a
For manhood is not worth but if it be full worshipful man, and of full great
meddled with wisdom and as for me, :
prowess, and full well he loved all
said Sir Tristram, it may happen I shall manner of knights errant. Truly, said
keep mine own head as well as another. Sir Tristram, here is a piteous case, and
So thus they rode until that they came to full fain I would take this
enterprise upon
Humber bank, where they heard a cry me, but I have made such a promise
and a doleful noise. Then were they that needs I must be at this great tour-
ware in the wind where came a rich nament or else I am shamed. For well
vessel covered over with red silk, and I wot for my sake in especial my lord
the vessel landed fast by them. There- Arthur let make this justs and tourna-
with Sir Tristram alight and his knights. ment in this country and well I wot
;
And so Sir Tristram went afore and en- that many worshipful people will be
tered into that vessel. And when he there at that tournament for to see me.
came within, he saw a fair bed richly Therefore I fear me to take this en-
covered, and thereupon lay a dead terprise upon me, that I shall not come
seemly knight, all armed, save the head again betimes to this justs. Sir, said
was all be-bled, with deadly wounds Palamides, I pray you give me this
upon him the which seemed to be a
:
enterprise, and ye shall see me achieve
passing good knight. How may this it
worshipfully, or else I shall die in
be, said Sir Tristrajn, that this knight this quarrel. Well, said Sir Tristram,
is thus slain ? Then Sir Tristram was and this enterprise I give you, with this
ware of a letter in the dead knight's that ye be with me
at this tournament,
hand. Master mariners, said Sir Tris- that shall be as at this day seven night.
tram, what meaneth that letter? Sir, Sir, said Palamides, I promise you that
said they, in that letter ye shall hear I shall be with you by that day if I be
and know how he was slain, and for unslain or unmaimed.
what cause, and what was his name ;
shallbe revenged. therewith Sir And how they sailed over long
the*mariners
Tristram took the letter out of the Humber. And when Sir Palamides was
knight's hand and it said thus
; Her- :
— out of their sight, they took their horses,
mance king and lord of the Red City, and beheld about them. And then were
I send unto all knights errant recom- they ware of a knight that came riding
mending unto you noble knights of against them unarmed, and nothing
Arthur's court, I beseech them all about him but a sword. And when
among them to find one knight that this knight came nigh them he saluted
will fight for with two brethren
my sake them, and they him again. Fair knights,
that I brought up of nought, and felo- said that knight, I pray you insomuch
niously and traitorly they have slain as ye be knights errant, that ye will
me, wherefore I beseech one good come and see my castle, and take such
knight to revenge my death. And he as ye find there; I pray you heartily.
that revengeth my death, I will that he And so they rode with him into his
CHAP. LX. HOW THEY FOUGHT FOR AN HELM. ^95
undertake yonder cometh your host hundred knights smote Sir Dinadan,
that will have ado with you. Let him horse and all, to the earth and then he ;
come, said Sir Tristram, I shall abide commanded his servant, Go and take
him as well as I may. Anon the knight, thou his helm off, and .keep it. So
when he came nigh Sir Tristram, he the varlet went to unbuckle his helm.
cried and bade him abide and keep him. W hat helm ? What wilt thou do ? said
So they hurtled together, but Sir Tris- Sir Tristram leave that helm. To what
;
tram smote the other knight so sore intent, said the king, will ye, sir knight,
that he bare him over his horse croup. meddle with that helm ? Wit you well,
That knight arose lightly and took his said Sir Tristram, that helm shall not
horse again, and so rode fiercely to Sir depart from me, or it be dearer bought.
Tristram, and smote him twice hard Then make you ready, said Sir Berrant
upon the helm. Sir knight, said Sir unto Sir Tristram. So they hurtled
Tristram, I pray you leave off and smite together, and there Sir Tristram smote
me no more, for I would be loth to deal him down over his horse tail. And
with you and I might choose, for I have then the king arose lightly, and gat his
your meat and your drink within my horse lightly again, and then he strake
body. For all that he would not leave, fiercely at Sir Tiistram many great
and then Sir Tristram gave him such a strokes. And then Sir Tristram gave
buffet upon the helm, that he fell up so Sir Berrant such a buffet upon the
down from his horse, that the blood helm that he fell down over his horse,
burst out at the ventails of his helm, sore stunned. Lo, said Sir Dinadan,
and so he lay still, likely to have been that helm is unhappy to us twain, for I
dead. Then
Sir Tristram said, re- Me had a fall for it, and now, sir king,
penteth sore of this buffet that I smote have ye another fall. Then Segwarides
so sore, for as I suppose lie is dead. asked, Who shall just with me ? I pray
296 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
tram ran to him and gave him a fall, mance, and he was king of the Red
and so they left them on foot. And City, and this king that was lord was
Sir Tristram rode unto Joyous Gard, a noble knight, large and liberal of his
and there Sir Gareth would not of his expense. And in the world he loved
courtesy have gone into this castle, but nothing so much as he did errant
Sir Tristram would not suffer him to knights of king Arthur's court, and all
depart. And so they alight and un- justing, hunting, and all manner of
armed them, and had great cheer. But knightly games for so kind a king and
;
when Dinadan came afore La Beale knight had never the rule of poor people
Isoud, he cursed the time that ever he as he was and because of his goodness
;
bare Sir Tristram's helm, and there he and gentleness we bemoan him and ever
told her how Sir Tristram had mocked shall. Amd kings and estates may
all
him. Then was there laughing and beware by our lord, for he was destroyed
jesting at Sir Dinadan, that they wist in his own default, for had he cherished
not what to do with him. them of his blood he had yet lived with
great riches and rest but all estates
;
unto Sir Palamides, that slept fast. Sir they ruled him peaceably, and his lands,
knight, said the mariners, ye must and never would they suffer none of his
arise, for here is a castle, there ye must blood to have no rule with our king.
go into. 1 assent me, said Sir Pa- And also he was so free and so gentle,
lamides. And therewithal he arrived. and they so false and deceivable,' that
And then he blew his horn, that the they ruled him peaceably and that ;
mariners had given him. And when espied the lords of our king's blood, and
they within the castle heard that horn, departed from him unto their own live-
they put forth many knights, and there lihood. Then when these two traitors
they stood upon the walls, and said understood that they had driven all
with one voice, Welcome be ye to this the lords of his* blood from him, they
castle. And then it waxed clear da\\ were not pleased with that rule, but
chap. lxii. THE LETTER TELLING OF KING HERMANCE' S DEATH. 297
then they thought to have more, as ever my life. This letter, said Ebel, I wrote
it is an old saw, Give a churl rule, and by my lord's commandment ; and then
thereby he will not be sufficed for ;
he received his Creator, and when he
whatsoever he be that is ruled by a was dead he commanded me or ever he
villain born, and the lord of the soil was cold to put that letter fast in his
to be a gentleman born, the same vil- hand and then he commanded me to
;
lain shall destroy all the gentlemen put forth that same vessel down Hum-
about him therefore all estates and
; ber, and I should give these mariners in
lords beware whom ye take about you. commandment never to stint until that
And if ye be a knight of king Arthur's they came unto Logris, where all the
court, remember this tale, for this is the noble knights shall assemble at this
end and conclusion. My lord and king lime; — And there shall some good knight
rode unto the forest hereby, by the ad- have pity on me to revenge my death,
vice of these false traitors and there ;
for there was never king nor lord
he chased at the red deer, armed at all falselyer ne tiaitorlyer slain than I am
pieces full like a good knight and so ;
here to my Thus was the com-
death.
for labour he waxed dry, and then he plaint of our king Hermance. Now,
alight and drank at a well and when ;
said Sir Ebel, ye know all how our lord
he was alight, by the assent of these was betrayed, we require you for God's
two traitors, that one that bight Helius sake have pity upon his death, and wor-
he suddenly smote our king through the shipfully revenge his death, and then
body with a spear, and so they left him may ye hold all these lands. For we
there. And when they were departed, all wit well that, and ye may slay these
then by fortune I came to the well, and two traitors, the Red City and all those
found my lord and king wounded to the that be therein will take you for their
death. And when I heard his com- lord. Truly, said Sir Palamides, it
plaint, I let bring him to the water side, grieveth my heart for to hear you tell
and in that same ship I put him alive ;
this doleful tale. And to say the truth,
and when my lord king Hermance was I saw the same letter that ye speak of;
in that vessel, he required me for the and one of the best knights on the earth
true faith I owed unto him for to write read that letter to me, and by his com-
a letter in this manner :
— mandment I came hither to revenge
your king's death and therefore have
;
slain by felony and treason through two and ye speed well, must needs be yours ;
knights of mine own, and of mine own for our king Hermance let make this
bringing up, and of mine own making, castle for the love of the two traitors,
that some worshipful knight will revenge and so we kept it with strong hand,
my death, insomuch I have been ever to and therefore full sore are we threated.
my power well willing unto Arthur's Wot ye what ye shall do, said Sir Pala-
court and who that will adventure his
; mides whatsoever come of me, look ye
;
death, and that is Sir Tristram de Liones, live,except three, I had levest have you.
or else Sir Launcelot du Lake. The first is Sir Launcelot du Lake, the
Then Sir Palamides departed from second is Sir Tristram de Liones, the
that castle. And as he came nigh the third is my nigh cousin Sir Lamorak de
city, there came out of a ship a goodly- Galis. And I am brother unto king
knight armed against him, with his Hermance that is dead, and my name
shield on his shoulder, and his hand is Hermind. Ye say well, said Sir
Sir
upon his sword. And anon as he came Palamides, and ye shall see how I shall
nigh Sir Palamides he said, Sir knight, speed. And if 1 be there slain go ye to
what seek ye here? Leave this quest, my lord Sir Launcelot, or else to my
for it is mine, and mine it was or ever it lord Sir Tristram, and pray them to re-
was yours, and therefore I will have it. venge my death, for as for Sir Lamorak,
Sir knight, said Palamides, it may well him shall ye never see in this world.
be that this quest was yours or it was Alas, said Sir Hermind, how may that
mine, but when the letter was taken out be? He is slain, said Sir Palamides,
of the dead king's hand, at that time by Sir Gawaine and his brethren.
by likelihood there was no knight had Truly, said Hermind, there was not
undertaken to revenge the death of the one for one that slew him. That is
king. And so at that time I promised truth, said Sir Palamides, for they were
to revenge his death. And so I shall, four dangerous knights that slew him,
or else I am ashamed. Ye say well, as Sir Gawaine, Sir Agravaine, Sir Ga-
said the knight, but wit ye well then heris, and Sir Mordred but Sir Gareth
;
will I fight with you, and who be the the fifth brother was away, the best
better knight of us both, let him take knight of them all. And so Sir Pala-
the battle upon hand. I assent me, mides told Hermind all the manner, and
said Sir Palamides. And then they how they slew Sir Lamorak all only
dre&sed their shields and pulled out by treason. So Sir Palamides took his
their swords, and lashed together many ship, and arrived up at the Delectable
sad strokes as men of might and this;
Isle. And in the meanwhile Sir Her-
fighting was more than an hour but at; mind, that was the king's brother, he ar-
the last Sir Palamides waxed big and rived up at the Red City, and there he
better winded, so that then he smote told them how there was come a knight
that knight such a stroke that he made of king Arthur's to avenge king Her-
him to kneel upon his knees. Then mance s death and his name is Sir
;
that knight spake on high and said, Palamides the good knight, that for the
Gentle knight, hold thy hand. Sir most part he followeth the beast Glati-
Palamides was goodly, and withdrew sant. Then all the city made great joy.
his hand. Then this knight said, Wit For mickle had they heard of Sir Pala-
ye well, knight, that thou art better mides, and of his noble prowess. So
worthy to have this battle than I, and let they ordain a messenger and sent
I require thee of knighthood tell me unto the two brethren, and bade them
thy name. Sir, my name is Palamides, to make them ready, for there was a
a knight of king Arthur, and of the knight come that would fight with them
Table Round, that hither I came to both. So the messenger went unto
revenge the death of this dead king. them where they were at a castle there
beside. there he told them- how
And
CHAP. LXIII. there was a knight come of king Ar-
thur's court to fight with them both at
Of preparation of Sir Palamides and
the
once. He is welcome, said they. But
the two brethren that should
fight with tell us, we if it be Sir Launce-
him.
pray you,
lot,or any of his blood. He is none of
Well be ye found, said the knight to that blood, said the messenger. Then
Palamides, for of all knights that be on we care the less, said the two brethren,
CHAP. LXIV. HOW SIR PAL AMIDES AVENGED HIM. 299
for with none of the blood of Sir Laun- that thou shalt wish that thou werest
celot we keep not to have ado withal. christened. It may well be, said Sir
Wit ye well, said the messenger, that Palamides, for yet I would not die or I
his name is Sir Palamides, that yet is were christened, and yet so am I not
unchristened, a noble knight. Well, said afeard of you both, but I trust to God
they, and he be now unchristened he that I shall die a better christian man
shall never be christened. So they ap- than any of you both; and doubt ye
pointed to be at the city within two not, said Sir Palamides, either ye or I
days. shall be left dead in this place.
And when Sir Palamides was come
to the city, they made passing great joy CHAP. LXIV.
of him and then they beheld him and
:
saw that he was well made, cleanlv and Of the battle between Sir Palamides and
the twobrethren, and how the two
bigly, and unmanned of his limbs, and
brethren were slain.
neither too young nor too old and so ;
allthe people praised him. And though Then they departed, and the two
he was not christened, yet he believed brethren came against Sir Palamides,
in the best manner, and was full faithful and he against them, as fast as their
and true of his promise, and well con- horses might run. And by fortune Sir
ditioned. And because he made his Palamides smote Helake through his
avow that he would never be christened shield, and through the breast more
until the time that he had achieved the than a fathom. All this while Sir
beast Glatisant, which was a wonderful Helius held up his spear, and for pride
beast, and a great signification, for and presumption he would not smite
Merlin prophesied much of that beast. Sir Palamides with his spear. But when
And also Sir Palamides avowed never he saw his brother lie on the earth, and
to take full Christendom unto the time saw he might not help himself, then he
that he had done seven battles within said unto Sir Palamides, Help thyself :
the lists. So within the third day there and therewith he came hurtling unto
came to the city these two brethren, Sir Palamides with his spear, and smote
the one hight Helius, the other hight him quite from his saddle. Then Sir
Helake, the which were men of great Helius rode over Sir Palamides twice or
prowess, howbeit that they were false thrice. And therewith Sir Palamides
and full of treason, and but poor men was ashamed, and gat the horse of Sir
born, yet were they noble knights of their Helius by the bridle, and therewithal
hands. And with them they brought the horse areared, and Sir Palamides
forty knights to that intent that they halp after, and so they fell both to the
should be big enough for the Red City. earth, but anon Sir Helius start up
Thus came the two brethren with great lightly, and there he smote Sir Palamides
boasting and pride, for they had put the a mighty stroke upon the helm, so that
Red City in fear and damage. Then he kneeled upon his own knee. Then
they were brought to the lists. And they lashed together many sad strokes,
Sir Palamides came into the place, and and traced and traversed, now backward,
said thus Be ye the two brethren,
: now sideling, hurtling together like two
Helius and Helake, that slew your boars, and that same time they fell
king and lord, Sir Hermance, by both groveling to the earth. Thus
felony and treason, for whom that I they fought still without any reposing
am come hither to revenge his death? two hours, and never breathed, and then
Wit thou well, said Sir Helius and Sir Sir Palamides waxed faint and weary,
Helake, that we are the same knights and Sir Helius waxed passing strong,
that slew king Hermance. And wit and doubled his strokes, and drove Sir
thou well Sir Palamides, Saracen, that Palamides overthwart and endlong all
the field, that they of the city, when they
I
3oo MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
saw Sir Palamides in this case, they within the Joyous Gard, as in the town,
wept, and cried, and made great dole, that they should warn Sir Tristram.
and the other party made as great joy. So there came a man of the town, and
Alas, said the men
of the city, that this told Sir Tristram how there was a
knight
noble knight should thus be slain for in the town a passing goodly man.
our king's sake. And as they were thus What manner of man is he ? said Sir
weeping and crying, Sir Palamides that Tristram, and what sign beareth he ?
had suffered an hundred strokes, that So the man told Sir Tristram all the
it was wonder that he stood tokens of him. That is Palamides, said
upon his
feet, at the last, Sir Palamides beheld Dinadan. It may well be, said Sir
as he might the people how
common Tristram go ye to him, said Sir Tris-
:
they wept for him, and then he said tram unto Dinadan. So Dinadan went
to himself, Ah, fie for shame, Sir unto Sir Palamides, and there either
Palamides, why hangest thou thy head made of other great joy, and so they
so low ? And therewith he bear up his lay together that night, and on the
shield, and looked Sir Melius in the morn early came Sir Tristram and Sir
visage, and he smote him a great stroke Gareth, and took them in their beds,
upon the helm, and after that another and and so they arose and brake their fast.
another. And then he smote Sir Helius
with such a might that he fell to the CHAP. LXV.
earth groveling, and then he rased off his
helm from his head, and there he smote How and Sir Palamides met
Sir Tristram
him such a buffet that he departed his Breuse Sauce Pite, and how Sir Tris-
head from the body. And then were the tram and La Beale Isoud went unto
Lonazep.
people of the city the joyfullest people
that might be. So they brought him And then Sir Tristram desired Sir
to his lodging with great solemnity, and Palamides to ride into the fields and
there all the people became his men. woods so they were accorded to repose
;
And then Sir Palamides prayed them all them in the forest.And when they had
to take keep unto all the lordship of them a great while, they rode
king Hermance
—
For, fair sirs, wit ye
;
played
unto a fair well, and anon thev were
well, I may not as at this time abide ware of an armed knight that came
with you, for J must in all haste be with riding against them, and there either
my lord king Arthur at the castle of saluted other. Then this armed knight
Lonazep, the which I have promised. spake to Sir Tristram, and asked what
Then were the people full heavy at his were those knights that were lodged in
departing. For
all that city proffered
Joyous Gard. I wot not what they are.
Sir Palamides the third part of their said Sir Tristram. What beknights
goods so that he would abide with them :
ye, said seemeth
that knight, for me
but in no wise as at that time he would that ye be no knights errant, because
not abide. And so Sir Palamides de- ye ride unarmed ? Whether we be
parted. And so he came unto the knights or not, we list not to tell thee
castle, there as Sir Ebel was lieutenant. our name. Wilt thou not tell me thj
And when they in the castle wist how name, said that knight, then keep thee,
Sir Palamides had sped there was a joy- for thou shalt die of my hands. And
ful company. And so Sir Palamides therewith he gat his spear in his- hands,
departed, and came to the castle of and would have run SirTristram through.
Lonazep. And when he wist that Sir That saw Sir Palamides, and smote his
Tristram was not there, he took his way horse traverse in midst of the side, that
over Humber, and came unto Joyous man and horse fell to the earth. And
Gard where as Sir Tiistram was, and therewith Sir Palamides alight, and
La Beale Isoud. Sir Tristram had com- pulled out his sword to have slain him.
manded that what knight errant came Let be, said Sir Tristram, slay him not,
CHAP. 1XVI. HOW THEY WENT TO LONAZEP. 30 !
the knight is but a fool, it were shame But when Sir Palamides heard of that,
to slay him. But take away his spear, his heart was ravished out of measure :
said Sir Tristram, and let him take his notwithstanding he said but little. So
horse and go where that he will. So when they came to Joyous Gard, Sir
when this knight arose he groaned sore Palamides would not have gone into the
of the fall, and so he took his horse, and castle, but as Sir Tristram took him by
when he was up, he turned then his the finger, and led him into the castle.
horse, and required Sir Tristram and And when Sir Palamides saw La Beale
Sir Palamides to tell him what knights Isoud, he was so ravished so that he
they were. Now wit ye well, said Sir might scarcely speak. So they went
Tristram, that my name is Sir Tristram unto meat, but Palamides might not eat,
de Liones, and knight's name is
this and there was all the cheer that might
Sir Palamides. When
he wist what be had. And on the morn they were
they were, he took his horse with the apparelled to ride towards Lonazep.
spurs because they should not ask him So Sir Tristram had three squires, and
his name, and so rode fast away through La Beale Isoud had three gentlewomen,
thick and thin. Then came there by and both the queen and they were richly
them a knight with a bended shield of apparelled and other people had they
;
azure, whose name was Epinogris, and none with them, but varlets to bear their
he came toward them a great wallop. shields and their spears. And thus they
Whither are ye riding? said Sir Tris- rode forth. So as they rode they saw
tram. My fair lords, said Epinogris, I afore them a rout of knights it was :
follow the falsest knight that beareth the knight Galihodin with twenty
the life, wherefore I require tell me knights with him. Fair fellows, said
whether ye saw him, for he beareth a Galihodin, yonder come four knights,
shield with a case of red over it. Truly, and a rich and a well fair lady I am in:
said Tristram, such a knight departed will to take that lady from them. That
from us not a quarter of an hour ago ;
is not of the best counsel, said one of
we pray you tell us his name. Alas, Galihodin's men, but send ye to them
said Epinogris, why let ye him escape and wit what they will say. And so
from you, and he is so great a foe unto it was done. There came a squire to
all errant knights : his name is Breuse Sir Tristram and asked him whether
Sance Pite. Ah fie for shame, said Sir they would just, or else to lose their
Palamides, alas that ever lie escaped my lady? Not so, said Sir Tristram, tell
hands, for he is the man in the world your lord, I bid him come as many
that I hate most. Then every knight as we be, and win her and take her.
made great sorrow to other, and so Sir, saidPalamides, and it please you,
Epinogris departed, and followed the let mehave this deed, and I shall
chase after him. Then Sir Tristram and undertake them all four. I will that
his three fellows rode unto Joyous Gard, ye have it, said Sir Tristram, at your
and there Sir Tristram talked unto Sir pleasure. Now go and tell your lord
Palamides of his battle, how he sped at Galihodin, that this same knight will
the Red City; and as ye have heard encounter with him and his fellows.
afore, so was it ended. Truly, said
Sir Tristram, I am glad ye have well
CHAP. LXVI.
sped, for ye have done How Sir Palamides justed with Sir Gali-
worshipfully.
we must hodin and after with Sir Gaivaine, and
Well, said Sir Tristram, for-
ward to-morn. And then he devised smote them down.
how should be, and Sir Tristram
it Then squire departed and told
this
devised to send his two pavilions to set Galihodin, and then he dressed his
them fast by the well of Lonazep, and — shield, and put forth a spear, and Sir
therein shall be the queen La Beale Palamides another, and there Sir Pala-
Isoud. It is well said, said Sir Dinadan. mides smote Galihodin so hard that he
332 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XI.
away : so she came to the queen and command you to avoid my court; and
and told her all.
Alas, the said for the love ye owe unto Sir Launcelot
queen, where is that false knight be- discover not his counsel, for and ye do
come? Then the queen was nigh out it will be his death. As for that, said
of her wit, and then she writhed and dame Elaine, I dare undertake he is
weltered as a mad woman and at the ; marred for ever, and that have ye made,
last the queen met with Sir Launcelot, for ye nor I are like to rejoice him for ;
and thus she said, False traitor knight he made the most piteous groans when
that thou art, look thou never abide he lept out at yonder bay window that
in my court, and not so hardy, thou ever 1 heard man make. Alas said fair !
false traitor knight that thou art, that Elaine, and alas said the queen Gue-
!
ever thou come in my sight. Alas, said never, for now I wot well we have
Sir Launcelot and therewith he took
: lost him for ever. So on the morn
such an heartly sorrow at her words dame Elaine took her leave to depart,
that he fell down to the floor in a and she would no longer abide. Then
swoon. And therewithal queen Gue- king Arthur brought her on her way
never departed. And when Sir Laun- with more than an hundred knights
celot awoke of his swoon he lept out through a forest. And by the way she
at a bay window into a garden, and told Sir Bors de Ganis all how it betid,
there with thorns he was all to-scratched and how Sir Launcelot lept out at a
in his visage and his body, and so he bay window araged out of his wit.
ran forth he wist not whither, and was Alas, said Sir Bors, where is my lord
wild wood as ever was man and so he ; Sir Launcelot become ?
Sir, said Elaine,
ran two year, and never man might I wot never. Alas, said Sir Bors, be-
have grace to know him. twixt you both ye have destroyed that
good knight. As for me, said dame
CHAP. IX. Elaine, I said never nor did never thing
that should in any wise displease him ;
Hoiv dame Elaine ivas commanded by but with the rebuke that queen Gue-
queen Guenever to avoid the court, and never gave him I saw him swoon to the
how Sir Lawicelot became mad. earth and when he awoke he took his
;
Now turn we unto queen Guenever sword in his hand, and lept out at a
and to the fair lady Elaine. When dame window, with the grisliest groan that
Elaine heard the queen so to rebuke Sir ever I heard man make. Now farewell,
Launcelot, and also she saw how he dame Elaine, said Sir Bors, and hold
swooned, and how he lept out at a bay my lord Arthur with a tale as long as
window, then she said unto queen Gue- ye can, for I will turn again unto queen
never, Madam, ye are greatly to blame Guenever and give her a heat and I :
for Sir Launcelot, for now ye have lost require you as ever ye willmy have
him ; for I saw and heard by his coun- service, make good watch, and espy if
tenance that he is mad for ever. Alas, ever ye may see my lord Sir Launcelot.
madam, ye do great sin, and to yourself Truly, said fair Elaine, I shall do all
great dishonour, for ye have a lord of that I may do, for as fain would I know
your own, and therefore it is your part and wit where he is become as you or
to love him for there is no queen in
; any of his kin, or queen Guenever, and
this wo.-ld hath such another king as ye cause great enough have I thereto as
have. And if ye were not, I might have well as any other. And wit ye well,
the love of my lord Sir Launcelot and ;
said fair Elaine to Sir Bors, I would lose
cause I have to love him, for I am his, my life for him rather than he should
and by him I have borne a fair son, and be hurt but alas, I cast me never for to
:
his name is Galahad, and he shall be in see him and the chief causer of this is
;
his time the best knight of the world. dame Guenever. Madam, said dame
Dame Elaine, said the queen, I charge you Brisen, the which had made the en-
CHAP. X. OF THE SORROW FOR STR LAUNCELOT. 333
chantment before betwixt Sir Launcelot they rode nigh a quarter of a year,
and her, I pray you heartily let Sir Bors endlong and overthwart, in many places,
depart and hie him with all his might, forests and wildernesses, and ofttimes
as fast as he may, to seek Sir Launcelot. were evil lodged for his sake, and yet
For I warn you he is clean out of his for all their labour and seeking could
mind, and yet he shall be well holpen, they never hear word of him. And wit
and but by miracle. Then wept dame you well these three knights were passing
Elaine, and so did Sir Bors de Ganis, sorry. Then at the last Sir Bors and
and so they departed and Sir Bors
; his fellows met with a knight, that hight
rode straight unto queen Guenever, and Sir Melion de Tartare. Now, fair knight,
when she saw Sir Bors she wept as she said Sir Bors, whither be ye away ? for
were wood. Fie on your weeping, said they knew either other aforetime. Sir,
Sir Bors, for ye weep never but when said Sir Melion, I am in the way toward
there is no boot. Alas, said Sir Bors, the court of king Arthur. Then we
that ever Sir Launcelot's kin saw you. pray you, said Sir Bors, that ye will tell
For now have ye lost the best knight of my lord Arthur, and my lady queen
our blood, and he that was all our Guenever, and all the fellowship of the
leader and our succour. And I dare Round Table, that we cannot in no
say and make it good, that all kings, wise hear tell where Sir Launcelot is
christian nor heathen, may not find such become. Then Sir Melion departed
a knight, for to speak of his nobleness from them, and said that he would tell
and courtesy with his beauty and his the king and the queen and all the
gentleness. Alas, said Sir Bors, what fellowship of the Round Table, as they
shall we do that be of his blood ? Alas, had desired him. So when Sir. Melion
said Ector de Maris. Alas, said Lionel. came to the court of king Arthur,
he told the king and the queen and all
CHAP. X. the fellowship of the Round Table, what
Sir Bors had said of Sir Launcelot.
What sorrow queen Guenever made for Then Sir Gawaine, Sir Uwaine, Sir
Sir Laimcelot, and bow he was sought
Sagramor le Desirous, Sir Aglovale. and
by knights of his kin. Sir Percivale de Galis, took upon them
And when the queen heard them say by the great desire of king Arthur, and
so, she fell to the earth in a dead swoon. in especial by the queen, to seek through-
And then Sir Bors took her up, and out all England, Wales, and Scotland,
roused her, and when she was awaked she to find Sir Launcelot. And with them
kneeled afore the three knights, and held rode eighteen knights more to bear
up both her hands, and besought them them fellowship. And wit ye well
to seek him, and spare not for no goods they lacked no manner of spending :
but that he be founden, for I wot he is and so were they three and twenty
out of his mind. And Sir Bors, Sir Ector, knights.
and Sir Lionel departed from the queen, Now turn we to Sir Launcelot, and
for they might not abide no longer for speak we of his care and woe and what
sorrow. And then the queen sent them pain he there endured, for cold, hunger,
treasure enough for their expenses, and and thirst he had plenty. And thus as
so they took their horses and their these noble knights rode together, they
armour, and departed. And then they by one assent departed, and then they
rode from country to country, in forests rode by two, by three, and by four, and by
and in wildernesses and in wastes, and five;
and ever they assigned where they
ever they laid watch as well both at should meet. And so Sir Aglovale and
forests and at all manner of men as they Sir Percivale rode together unto their
rode, to hearken and enquire after him, mother that was a queen in those days.
as he that was a naked man in his shirt, And when she saw her two sons, for
with a sword in his hand. And thus joy she wept tenderly. And then she
•
3^4 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK X.
right so as ye counsel me, so will we dressed his shield and his spear, and
do. So be it, said they all. So that with all his might he met with Sir
night they were lodged with the best. Edward of Orkney, that he smote him
And on the morn when it was day, they so hard that his horse might not stand
were arrayed in green trappings, shields, on his feet, and so they hurtled to the
and spears and La Beale Isoud in the
; earth and then with the same spear
:
same colour, and her three damsels. And Sir Palamides smote down Sir Sadok
right so these four knights came into over his horse croup. Oh, said Arthur,
the field endlong and through. And so what knight is that arrayed all in
they led La Beale Isoud thither as she green ? he justeth mightily. Wit you
should stand and behold all the justs in well, said Sir Gawaine, he is a good
a bay window but always she wimpled
;
knight, and yet shall ye see him just
that no man might see her visage. And better or he depart and yet shall ye
;
then these three knights rode straight see, said Sir Gawaine, another bigger
unto the party of the king of Scots. knight in the same colour than he is, for
When king Arthur had seen them do that same knight, said Sir Gawaine, that
all this, he asked Sir Launcelot what smote down right now my two cousins,
were these knights and that queen ? Sir, he smote me down within these two
said Sir Launcelot, I cannot say you days, and seven fellows more. This
in certain, but if Sir Tristram be in this meanwhile, as they stood thus talking,
country, or Sir Palamides, wit ye well there came into the place Sir Tristram
it be they in certain, and La Beale upon a black horse, and or ever he
Isoud. Then Arthur called to him Sir stint he smote down with one spear
Kay, and said, Go lightly and wit how four good knights of Orkney, that were
many knights there be here lacking of of the kin of Sir Gawaine and Sir ;
the Table Round, for by the sieges thou Gareth and Sir Dinadan every each
mayest know. So went Sir Kay, and of them smote down a good knight.
saw by the writing in the sieges that Truly, said Arthur, yonder knight upon
there lacked ten knights, And these be — the black horse doth mightily and mar-
their names that be not here, Sir Tris- vellously well. Abide you, said Sir
tram, Sir Palamides, Sir Percivale, Sir Gawaine; that knight with the black
Gaheris, Sir Epinogris, Sir Mordred, Sir horse began not yet. Then Sir Tris-
Dinadan, Sir La Cote Male Taile, and tram made to horse again the two
Sir Pelleas the noble knight. Well, said kings that Edward and Sadok had un-
Arthur, some of these I dare undertake horsed at the beginning. And then Sir
are day against us. Then
here this Tristram drew his sword, and rode into
came two brethren, cousins unto
therein the thickest of the press against them
Sir Gawaine, the one hight Sir Edward, of Orkney, and there he smote down
that other hight Sir Sadok, the which knights, and rashed off helms, and
were two good knights, and they asked pulled away their shields, and hurtled
of king Arthur that they might have the down many he fared so that
knights :
among them, that none of the kings with the green knight upon the grisled
would help other, but all the fellow- horse (and that was Sir Dinadan). Now
ship of every standard to help other as every man take heed to his fellow, said
they might. But ever Sir Tristram did Sir Launcelot. And so they trotted on
so much deeds of arms that they of together; and there encountered Sir
Orkney waxed weary of him, and so Launcelot against Sir Tristram. So Sir
withdrew them unto Lonazep. Launcelot smote Sir Tristram so sore
upon the shield that he bare horse and
CHAP. LXIX. man to the earth but Sir Launcelot
:
tram gave the king of Northgalis king made good cheer. itAnd
happened as
Arthur's horse. Then was
there great Sir Palamides looked up toward her,
press about king Arthur
for to horse where she lay in the window, and he
him again. But Sir Palamides would espied how she laughed and there- :
not suffer king Arthur to be horsed with he took such a rejoicing that
again : but ever Sir Palamides smote he smote down, what with his spear
on the right hand and on the left and with his sword, all that ever he
hand mightily as a noble knight. And met for through the sight of her he was
;
this mean while Sir Tristram rode so enamoured in her love, that he seemed
through the thickest of the press, and at that time that, and both Sir Tristram
smote down knights on the right and and Sir Launcelot had been both against
on the left hand, and rased off helms, him, they should have won no worship
and so passed forth unto his pavilions, of him. And in his heart, as the book
and left Sir Palamides on foot. And saith, Palamides wished that with
Sir
Sir Tristram changed his horse, and his worship he might have ado with
Sir Tristram before all men because of
disguised himself all in red, horse and
harness. La Beale Isoud. Then Sir Palamides
CHAP. LXX. began to double his strength, and he
did so marvellously that all men had
How Sir Tristram changed harness
his
wonder of him. And ever he cast up
and it was all red, and hoiu he de- his eye unto La Beale Isoud, and when
meaned him, and how Sir Palamides he saw her make such cheer he fared
slew Launceloi's horse.
like a lion, that there might no man
And when the queen La Beale Isoud withstand him. And then Sir Tristram
saw that Sir Tristram was unhorsed, beheld him how that Sir Palamides
and she wist not where he was, then bestirred him, and then he said unto
she wept greatly. But Sir Tristram, Sir Dinadan, Truly, Sir Palamides is a
when he was ready, came dashing lightly passing good knight, and a well endur-
and then La Beale Isoud
into the field, ing: but such deeds saw I him never
espied him. And so he did great deeds do, nor never heard I tell that ever he
of arms, with one spear that was great did so much in one day. It is his day,
Sir Tristram smote down five knights said Sir Dinadan and he would say no
:
or ever he stint. Then Sir Launcelot more unto Sir Tristram but to himself;
espied him readily that it was Sir Tris- he said, And if ye knew for whose love
tram, and then he repented him that he doth all these deeds of arms, soon
he had smitten him down. And so Sir would Sir Tristram abate his courage.
Launcelot went out of the press to re- Alas, said Sir Tristram, that Sir Pala-
pose him, and lightly he came again. mides is not christened. So said king
And now when Sir Tristram came unto Arthur, and so said all those that be-
the press, through his great force he held him. Then all people gave him
put Sir Palamides upon his horse, and the prize as for the best knight that
Sir Gareth, and Sir Dinadan, and then day, that He passed Sir Launcelot or
they began to do marvellously. But Sir Tristram. Well, said Dinadan to
Sir Palamides nor none of his two fel- himself, all this worship that Sir Pala-
lows knew not who had holpen them mides hath here this day, he may thank
on horseback again. But ever Sir Tris- the queen Isoud ;
for had she been
tram was nigh them and succoured away this day, Sir Palamides had not
them, and they not him, because he gotten the prize this day.
was changed into red armour. And all Right so came into the field Sir Laun-
this while Sir Launcelot was away. So celot du Lake, and saw and heard the
when La Beale Isoud knew Sir Tris- noise and cry and the great worship
tram again upon his horse back she was that Sir Palamides had. He dressed
passing glad, and then she laughed and him against Sir Palamides with a great
CRVP. LXXI. STR PALAMTDES WINS THE PRIZE. 307
Right then were there many knights for and Sir Tristram may know it
ye
wroth with Sir Palamides, because he will repent it. And since my quarrel
had done that deed. Therefore many is not here,
ye shall have this day the
knights held there against that it was worship as for me considering the
;
unknightly done in a tournament to kill great travail and pain that ye have had
a horse wilfully, but that it had been this day, it were no worship for me to
done in plain battle, life for life. put you from it. And therewithal Sir
Launcelot suffered Sir Palamides to
CHAP. LXXI. depart. Then Sir Launcelot by great
force and might gat his own horse,
How Sir Launcelot said to Sir Palamides,
and how maugre twenty knights. So when Sir
of that day was given
the prize
Launcelot was horsed he did many
unto Sir Palamides.
marvels, and so did Sir Tristram, and
When Sir Ector de Maris saw Sir Sir Palamides in likewise. Then Sir
Launcelot his brother have such a Launcelot smote down with a spear
despite, and so set on foot, then he gat Sir Dinadan, and the king of Scotland,
a spear eagerly and ran against Sir and the king of Wales, and the king of
Palamides, and he smote him so hard Northumberland, and the king of Lis-
that he bare him quite from his horse. tinoise. So then Sir Launcelot and his
That saw Sir Tristram that was in red fellows smote down well a forty knights.
harness, and he smote down Sir Ector Then came the king of Ireland and the
de Maris quite from his horse. Then king of the Straight Marches to rescue
Sir Launcelot dressed his shield upon Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides. There
his shoulder, and with his sword naked began agreat meddle, and many
in his hand, and so came straight upon knights there were smitten down on
Sir Palamides fiercely, and said, Wit both parties, and always Sir Launcelot
thou well, thou hast done me this day spared Sir Tristram, and he spared him.
the greatest despite that ever any wor- And Sir Palamides would not meddle
shipful knight did to me in tournament with Sir Launcelot. And so there was
or in justs, and therefore I will be hurtling here and there. And then
avenged upon thee, therefore take keep king Arthur sent out many knights of
to yourself. Ah mercy, noble knight, the Table Round. And Sir Palamides
said Palamides, and forgive me mine was ever in the foremost front. And
unkindly deeds, for I have no powxr Sir Tristram did so strongly well that
nor might to withstand you. And I the king and all other had marvel.
have done so much this day, that well And then the king let blow to lodg-
I wot I did never so much nor never ing. And because Sir Palamides began
20 2 —
3 o8 MORTE DARTHUR. EC OK X.
above all men they gave Sir Palamides said Sir Palamides, I did full uncour-
the prize, and all knights that knew Sir teously unto Sir Launcelot, and full
Palamides had wonder of his deeds. unknightly, and full knightly and cour-
Sir, said Sir Launcelot unto Arthur, as teously he did to me again for and he
:
for Sir Palamides, and he be the green had been as ungentle to me as I was to
knight, I dare say as for this day he is him, this day I had won no worship.
best worthy to have the degree, for he And therefore, said Palamides, I shall
reposed him never, ne never changed be Sir Launcelot's knight whiles my
his weeds. And he began first and life This talking was in the
lasteth.
longest held on. And yet well I wot, houses of kings. But all kings, lords,
said Sir Launcelot, that there was a and knights said, of clear knighthood
better knight than he, and that shall be and pure strength, of bounty, and cour-
proved or we depart, upon pain of my tesy, Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram
life. Thus they talked on either party, bare the prize above all knights that
and so Sir Dinadan railed with Sir ever were in Arthur's days. And there
Tristram and said, What the devil is were never knights in Arthur's days
upon thee this day, for Sir Palamides' did half so many deeds as they did :
strength feebled never this day, but ever as the book saith, no ten knights did
he doubled his strength. not half the deeds that they did and ;
Sir Gareth. And so they rode all in they are two noble knights notwith-:
green, full freshly beseen, unto the forest. standing, whether I live or die, needs
And Sir Tristram left Sir Dinadan sleep- must I revenge my lord, and so will I
ing in his bed. And so as.
they rode, it whatsoever befal of me. And there-
happed the king and Launcelot stood in with Sir Launcelot cried to Sir Pala-
a window, and saw Sir Tristram ride mides, Keep thee from me And then
!
and Isoud. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, Sir Launcelot and Sir Palamides rashed
yonder rideth the fairest lady of the together with two spears strongly. But
world, except your queen dame Guene- Sir Launcelot smote Sir Palamides so
ver. Who is that ? said Sir Arthur. Sir, hard that he went quite out of his sad-
said he, queen Isoud, that, out-
it is dle, and had a great fall. When Sir
taken my lady your queen, she is match- Tristram saw Sir Palamides have that
less. Take your horse, said Arthur, and fall, he said to Sir Launcelot, Sir knight
array you at all rights, as I will do, and keep thee, for I must just with thee.
I promise you, said the king, I will see As for to just with me, said Sir Laun-
her. Then anon they were armed and celot, I will not fail you for no dread I
horsed, and either took a spear and rode have of you, but ] am loth to have ado
unto the forest. Sir, said Launcelot, it with you and I might choose for I will :
is not good that ye go too nigh them, that ye wit that I must revenge my
for wit ye well there are two as good special lord, that was unhorsed unwarily
knights as now are living and there- ; and unknightly. And therefore, though
pray you be not too hasty.
fore, Sir, I I have revenged that fall, take ye no
For peradventuie there will be some displeasure therein, for he is to me such
knights be displeased and we come a friend that I mav not see him shamed.
suddenly upon them. As for that, said Anon Sir Tristram understood by his
Arthur, I will see her, for I take no person and by words that
his knightly
force whom Sir, said Laun-
I grieve. it was Sir Launcelot du Lake, and
celot, ye put yourself in great jeopardy. verily Sir Tristram deemed that it was
As for that, said the king, we will take king Arthur, he that Sir Palamides had
the adventure. Right so anon the king smitten down.
rode even to her, and saluted her, and And then Sir Tristram put his spear
said, God you save. Sir, said she, ye from him, and put Sir Palamides again
are welcome. Then the king beheld on horseback and Sir Launcelot put
;
her, and liked her wonderly well. With king Arthur on horseback, and so de-
that came Sir Palamides unto Arthur and parted. Truly, said Sir Tristram unto
said, Uncourteous knight, what seeketh Palamides, ye did not
worshipfully
thou here? Thou art uncourteous, to when ye smote down knight so
that
come upon a lady thus suddenly there- ; suddenly as ye did. And wit ye well
fore withdraw thee. Sir Arthur took ye did yourself great shame for the :
none heed of Sir Palamides' words, but knights came hither of their gentle-
ever he looked still upon queen Isoud. ness to see a fair lady, and that is every
Then was Sir Palamides wroth, and good knight's part to behold a fair
therewith he took a spear and came lady, and ye had not ado to play such
hurtlingupon king Arthur, and smote masteries afore my lady. Wit thou well
him down with a spear. When Sir it will turn to anger, for he that ye
Launcelot saw that despite of Sir Pala- smote down was king Arthur, and that
mides, he said to himself, I am loth to other was the good knight Sir Launce-
have ado with yonder knight, and not lot. But I shall not forget the words of
own sake but
for his for Sir Tristram. Sir Launcelot, when that he called him
And one thing I am sure of, if I smite a manof great worship thereby I wist
:
down Sir Palamides I must have ado that it was king Arthur. And as for
with Sir Tristram, and that were over Sir Launcelot, and there had been five
mch for me to match them both, for hundred knights in the meadow he would
3io MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
not have refused them, and yet he said passing well, and namely the first that
he would refuse me by that again I
:
justed. Sir, said Launcelot, that knight
wist that it was Sir Launcelot, for ever began not yet, but ye shall see him this
he forbeareth me in every place, and day do marvellously. And then came
sheweth me great kindness and of all into the place the duke's son of Orkney,
—
knights I out-take none, say what men
;
Palamides, that king Arthur will ride so That me repenteth, said Sir Tristram,
for 1 shall lack you this day. Sir
privily as a poor errant knight. Ah,
said Sir Tristram, ye know not my lord Palamides said, Trust not to me, for I
Arthur, for all knights may learn to be may "not do as I did. All these words
a knight of him. And therefore ye may said Palamides for to beguile Sir Tris-
be sorry, said Sir Tristram, of your un- tram. Sir, said Sir Tristram unto Sir
kindly deeds to so noble a king. And Gareth, then must I trust upon you ;
a thing that is done may not be undone, wherefore I pray you be not far from
said Sir Palamides. Then Sir Tristram me to rescue me. And need be, said
sent queen Isoud unto her lodging in Gareth, I shall not fail you in all that I
the priory, there to behold all the tour- may do.
nament. Then Sir Palamides rode by himself,
and then in despite of Sir Tristram he
CHAP. LXXIV.
put himself in the thickest press among
How day Palamides forsook Sir
the second
them of Orkney and there he did so
:
Tristram, and went to the contrary part marvellous deeds of arms that all men
against him. had wonder of him, for there might none
Thex there was a cry unto all knights, stand him a stroke. When Sir Tristram
thatwhen they heard an horn blow they saw Sir Palamides do such deeds he
should make justs as they did the first marvelled, and said to himself, He is
day. And like as brethren Sir
the weary of my company. So Sir Tristram
Edward and Sir Sadok began the justs beheld him a great while, and did but
the first day, Sir Uwaine, the king's son little else, for the noise and cry was so
Urein, and Sir Lucanere de Buttelere, huge and great that Sir Tristram mar-
began the justs the second day. And velled from whence came the strength
at the first encounter Sir Uwaine smote that Sir Palamides had there in the field.
down the king's son of Scots, and Sir Sir, said Sir Gareth unto Sir Tristram,
Lucanere ran against the king of Wales, remember ye not of the words that Sir
and they brake their spears all to pieces, Dinadan said to you yesterday, when he
and they were so fierce both, that they called you coward ? For sooth, Sir, he
hurtled together that both fell to the said it for none ill for ye are the man
;
earth. Then they of Orkney horsed in the world that he most loveth, and
again Sir Lucanere. And then came all that he said was for your worship.
in Sir Tristram de Liones and then ; And therefore, said Sir Gareth to Sir
Sir Tristram smote down Sir L'waine Tristram, let me know this day what ye
and Sir Lucanere and Sir Palamides
; be ; and wonder ye not so upon Sir
smote down other two knights and ; Palamides, for he enforceth himself to
Sir Gareth smote down other two win all the worship and honour from
knights. Then said Sir Arthur unto Sir you. I may well believe it, said Sir
Launcelot, See yonder three knights do Tristram, and since I understand his
CHAP. LXXV. THE SECOND DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT. 3il
evil will and his envy ye shall see, if knights came into the field with Sir
that I enforce myself, that the noise Launcelot. And then Sir Launcelot with
shall be left that now is upon him. the three knights of his kin did so
Then Sir Tristram rode into the great deeds of arms, that all the noise
thickest of the press, and then he did began upon Sir Launcelot. And so
so marvellously well, and did so great they beat the king of Wales and the
deeds of arms, that all men said that king of Scots far aback, and made
Sir Tristram did double so much deeds them to avoid the field. But Sir Tris-
of arms that Sir Palamides had done tram and Sir Gareth abode still in the
aforehand. And then the noise went field, and endured all that ever there
plain from Sir Palamides, and all the came, that all men had wonder that any
people cried upon Sir Tristram. See, knight might endure so many strokes.
said the people, how Sir Tristram But ever Sir Launcelot and his three
smiteth down with his spear so many kinsmen, by the commandment of Sir
knights. And see, said they all, how Launcelot, forbare Sir Tristram. Then
many knights he smiteth down with his said Sir Arthur, Is that Sir Palamides
sword, and of how many knights he that endureth so well? Nay, said Sir
rashed off their helms and their shields. launcelot, wit ye well it is the good
And so he beat them all of Orkney knight Sir Tristram, for yonder ye may
afore him. How now, said Sir Laun- see Sir Palamides beholdeth, and hoveth,
celot unto king Arthur, I told you that and doth little or nought. And, sir,
this day there would a knight play his ye shall understand that Sir Tristram
pageant. Yonder rideth a knight ye weeneth this day to beat us all out of
may see he doth knightly, for he hath the held. And asme, said Sir
for
strength and wind. Tiuly, said Arthur Launcelot, I shall not beat him, beat
to Launcelot, ye say sooth, for I saw him who so will. Sir, said Launcelot
never a better knight, for he passeth unto Arthur, ye may see how Sir Pala-
far Sir Palamides. Sir, wit ye well, mides hoveth vondcr as though he were
said Launcelot, it must be so of right, in a dream wit ye well he is full heavy
;
for it is himself that noble knight Sir that Tristram doth such deeds of inns.
Tristram. I may right well believe it, Then is he but a fool, said Arthur, for
said Arthur. But when Sir Pajamides never was Sir Palamides, nor never shall
heard the noise and the cry was be, of such prowess as Sir Tristram.
turned from him he rode out on a part, And if he have any envy at Sir Tristram,
and beheld Sir Tristram. And when Sir and cometh in with him upon his side,
Palamides saw Sir Tristram do so mar- he is a false knight. As the king and
vellously well, he wept passingly sore Sir Launcelot thus spake, Sir Tristram
for despite, for he wist well he should rode privily out of the press, that none
no worship win that day. For well espied him but La Beale Isoud and Sir
knew Sir Palamides, when Sir Tristram Palamides, for they two would not let
would put forth his strength and his of their eyes upon Sir Tristram.
manhood, he should get but little wor- And when Sir Tristram came to his
ship that day. pavilions, he found Sir Dinadan in his
bed asleep. Awake, said Tristram, ye
CHAP. LXXV. ought to be ashamed so to sleep, when
knights have ado in the field. Then Sir
How Tristram departed out of the
Sir
Dinadan arose lightly, and said, What
field, and aivaked Sir Dinadan, and I shall do? Make you
will ye that
changed his array into black, ready, said Sir Tristram, to ride with
Then came king
Arthur, and the king me into the field. So when Sir Dinadan
K f
Northgalis, and Sir Launcelot du was armed he looked upon Sir Tris-
helm and on his shield, and
Lake, and Sir Bleoberis, Sir Bors de tram's
Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, these three when he saw .so many strokes upon his
312 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
helm and upon his shield, he said, In And right so as Sir Palamides was
good time was I thus asleep for had I ;
come into the field Sir Tristram smote
been with you I must needs for shame down three knights, even in the sight of
there have followed you, more for shame Sir Palamides. And then Sir Palamides
than any prowess that is in me, that rode against Sir Tristram, and either
I see well now by those strokes, that I met other with great spears, that they
should have been truly beaten as I was brast to their hands. And then they
yesterday. Leave your jests, said Sir dashed together with swords eagerly.
Tristram, and come off, that we were Then Sir Tristram had marvel what
in the field again. What, said Sir knight he was that did battle so knightly
Dinadan, is your heart up ? Yesterday with him. Then was Sir Tristram
ye fared as though ye had dreamed. So wroth, for he felt him passing strong,
then Sir Tristram was arrayed in black so that he deemed he might not have
harness. Oh, said" Sir Dinadan, what ado with the remnant of the knights,
aileth you this day? me seemeth ye because of the strength of Sir Pala-
be wilder than ye were yesterday. mides. So they lashed together, and gave
Then smiled Sir Tristram, and said to many sad strokes together, and many
Dinadan, Await well upon me: if ye knights marvelled what knight he might
see me over-matched look that ye be be that so encountered with the black
ever behind me, and I shall make you knight, Sir Tristram. Full well knew
ready way. So Sir Tristram and Sir La Beale Isoud that there was Sir Pala-
Dinadan took their horses. All this mides that fought with Sir Tristram, for
espied Sir Palamides, both their going she espied all in her window where that
and their coming, and so did La Beale she stood, as Sir Palamides changed his
Isoud, for she knew Sir Tristram above harness with the wounded knight. And
all other. then she began to weep so heartily for
the despite of Sir Palamides that there
CHAP. LXXYI. she swooned. Then came in Sir Laun-
How Sir Palamides changed his shield celot with the knights of Orkney and
;
Launcelot gave Sir Tristram many sad Palamides, and went betwixt Sir Laun-
strokes, but Sir Launcelot knew not Sir celot and Dinadan, and then they began
Tristram, but Sir Tristram knew well to do battle together. Right so Sir
Sir Launcelot. And thus they fought Dinadan gat Sir Tristram's horse, and
long together, that La Beale Isoud was said on high, that Sir Launcelot might
well out of her mind for sorrow. Then hear it, My lord Sir Tristram, take your
Sir Dinadan told Sir Gareth how that horse. And when Sir Launcelot heard
knight in the black harness was Sir him name Sir Tristram, Alas, said Sir
Tristram, and this is, Launcelot that Launcelot, what have I done? I am
fighteth with him, that must needs have dishonoured. Ah, my lord Sir Tris-
the better of him, for Sir Tristram hath tram, said Launcelot, why were ye dis-
had too much travail this day. Then guised ?ye have put yourself in great
let us smite him down, said Sir Gareth. peril this day. But, 1 pray you, noble
So it is better that we do, said Sir knight, to pardon me, for and 1 had
Dinadan, than Sir Tristram be shamed. known you we had not done this battle.
For yonder hoveth the strong knight Sir, said Sir Tristram, this is not the
with the silver shield to fall upon Sir first kindness yc shewed me. So they
Tristram if need be. Then forthwithal were both horsed again. Then all the
Gareth rushed upon Sir Launcelot, and people on the one side gave Sir Laun-
gave him a great stroke upon his helm celot the honour and the degree, and on
so hard that he was astonied. And the other side all the people gave to the
then came Sir Dinadan with a spear, noble knight Sir Tristram the honour
and he smote Sir Launcelot such a and the degree. Put Launcelot said
buffet that horse and all fell to the nay thereto :
—
For 1 am not worthy to
earth. Alas, said Sir Tristram to Sir have this honour, for I will report me
Gareth and Sir Dinadan, fie for shame, unto all knights that Sir Tristram hath
why did ye smite down so good a knight been longer in the field than I. and he
as he and namely when I had ado
is, hath smitten down many more knights
with him ? Now ye do yourself great this day than I have done; and there-
shame, and him no dis-worship for I : fore I will give Sir Tristram my voice
held him reasonable hot though ye had and my name, and so I pray all my
not hoi pen me. Then came Sir Pala- lords and fellows so to do. Then there
mides that was disguised, and smote was the whole voice of dukes and earls,
down Sir Dinadan from his horse. barons and knights, that Sir Tristram
Then Sir Launcelot, because Sir Dina- this day is proved the best knight.
dan had smitten him aforehand, then
Sir Launcelot assailed Sir Dinadan pass- CHAP. LXXV1I.
ing sore, and Sir Dinadan defended him
How Sir Tristram departed with La Beale
mightily. But well understood Sir Tris-
tram that Sir Dinadan might not endure Isoud, and how Palamides followed and
excused him.
Sir Launcelot, wherefore Sir Tristram
was sorry. Then came Sir Palamides Thenthey blew unto lodging, and
fresh upon Sir Tristram. And when Sir queen Isoud was led unto her pavilions.
Tristram saw him come, he thought to But wit you well she was wroth out
deliver him at once, because that he of measure with Sir Palamides, for
would help Sir Dinadan, because he she saw all his treason from the be-
stood in great peril with Sir Launcelot. ginning to the ending. And all this
Then Sir Tristram hurtled unto Sir Pala- while neither Sir Tristram, neither Sir
mides, and gave him a great buffet, and Gareth, nor Dinadan. knew not of the
then Sir Tristram gat Sir Palamides, treason of Sir Palamides. But after-
and pulled him down underneath him. ward ye shall hear that there befel the
And so fell Sir Tristram with him, and greatest debate betwixt Sir Tristram
Sir Tristram lept up lightly, and left Sir and Sir Palamides that might be. So
3H MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
when the tournament was done, Sir armed them, and washed their faces
Tristram, Gareth, and Dinadan rode and hands, and so went to meat, and
with La Beale Isoud to these pavilions. were set at their table. But when
And ever Sir Palamides rode with them Isoud saw Sir Palamides she changed
in their company disguised as he was. then her colours, and for wrath she
But when Sir Tristram had espied him, might not speak. Anon Sir Tris-
that he was the same knight with the tram espied her countenance, and said,
shield of silver that held him so hot Madam, for what cause make ye us
that day, Sir knight, said Sir Tristram, such cheer? we, have been sore tra-
wit you well here is none that hath need vailed this day. Mine own lord, said
of your fellowship, and therefore I pray La Beale Isoud, be ye not displeased
you depart from us. Sir Palamides with me, for I may none otherwise do,
answered again, as though he had not for I saw this day how ye were be-
known Sir Tristram, Wit ye well, sir trayed, and nigh brought to your death.
knight, from this fellowship will I Truly, sir, I saw every deal, how, and
never depart, for one of the best knights in what wise; and therefoie, sir, how
of the world commanded me to be in should I suffer in your presence such a
this company, and he discharge me
till felon and traitor as Sir Palamides. For
of my service I will not be discharged. I saw him with mine eyes how he be-
By that Sir Tristram knew that it was held you when ye went out of the field.
Sir Palamides. AhSir Palamides, said For ever he hoved still upon his horse
the noble knight Sir Tristram, are ye till he saw yon come in againward.
such a knight? Ye have been named And then forthwithal I saw him ride to
wrong, for ye have long been called a the hurt knight, and change harness
gentle knight, and as this day ye have with him, and then straight I saw him
shewed me great ungentleness, for ye how he rode into the field. And anon
had almost brought me unto my death. as he had found you he encountered
But as for you 1 suppose I should have with you, and thus wilfully Sir Pala-
done well enough, but Sir Launcelot mides did battle with you, and as for
with you was overmuch, for I know no him, sir, I was not greatly afeard, but I
knight living but Sir Launcelot is over dread sore Launcelot, that knew you
good for him, and he will do his utter- not. Madam, said Palamides, ye may
most. Alas, said Sir Palamides. are ye say what so ye will, I may not contrary
my lord Sir Tristram? Yea, sir, and you, but by my knighthood I knew
that ye know well enough. By my not Sir Tristram. Sir Palamides, said
knighthood, said Palamides, until now Sir Tristram, I will take your excuse,
I knew you not, for I wend that but well I wot ye spared me but little,
ye had
been the king of Ireland, for well I wot but all is pardoned on my part. Then
that ye bare his arms. His arms I bare. La Beale Isoud held down her head,
said Sir Tristram, and that will I stand and said no more at that time.
by, for I won them once in a field of a
fullnoble knight, his name was Sir
CHAP. LXXYIIL
Marhaus, and with great pain I won How king Arthur and Sir Launcelot came
that knight, for there was none other into their pavilions as they sat at supper;
eased your hearts. Not so, said the one sit. Whatknight was that, said Arthur,
of those knights, we come not for that that held you so short, this with the
intent but wit ye well, Sir Tristram,
;
shield of silver ? Sir, said Sir Tristram,
we be come hither as your friends. here he sitteth at this board. What,
And I am come here, said the one, for said Arthur, was it Sir Palamides? Wit
to see you, and this knight is come for ye well it was he, said La Beale Isoud.
to see La Beale Isoud. Then, said Sir Truly, said Arthur, that was unknightly
Tristram, I require you do off your done of you of so good a knight, for I
helms, that I may see you. That will have heard many people call you a
we do at your desire, said the knights. courteous knight. Sir, said Palamides,
And when their helms were off, Sir I knew not Sir Tristram, for he was so
Tristram thought he should know disguised. Truly, said Launcelot, it may
them. Then said Sir Dinadan privily well be, for I knew not Sir Tristram,
unto Sir Tristram, Sir, that is Sir Laun- but I marvel why ye turned on our
celot du Lake that spake unto you first, party. That was done for the same
and the other is my lord king Arthur. cause, said Launcelot. As for that, said
Then said Sir Tristram unto La Beale Sir Tristram, 1 have pardoned him, and
Isoud, Madam, arise, for here is my I would beright loth to leave his fellow-
lord king Arthur. Then the king and ship, for 1 love right well his company.
the queen kissed, and Sir Launcelot So they left off, and talked of other
and Sir Tristram braced either other things. And in the evening king Arthur
in arms, and then there was joy without and Sir Launcelot departed unto their
measure, and at the request of La Beale lodging. But wit ye well Sir Palamides
Isoud king Arthur and Launcelot were had envy heartily, for all that night he
unarmed. And then there was meny had never rest in his bed. but wailed and
talking. wept out of measure. So on the morn
Madam, said Sir Arthur, it is many Sir Tristram, Gareth, and Dinadan arose
a day sithen that I have desired to see earl\-, and then they went unto Sir Pala-
you. For ye have been praised so far, mides' chamber, and there they found
and now 1 dare say ye are the fairest him fast on sleep, for he had all night
that ever I saw and Sir Tristram is as
: watched. And it was seen upon his
fair and as good a knight as any that I cheeks that he had wept full sore. Say
know, therefore me beseemeth ye are nothing, said Sir Tristram, for I am sure
well beset together. Sir, I thank you, he hath taken anger and sorrow for the
said the noble knight Sir Tristram, and rebuke that I gave to him, and La Beale
Isoud ;of your great goodness and Isoud.
largesse ye are peerless. Thus they CHAP. LXXIX.
talked of many things, and of all the
whole But for what cause, said
How Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides did
justs.
the next day, and how ling Arthur was
king Arthur, were ye, Sir Tristram, unhorsed.
against us? Ye are a knight of the
Table Round of right ye should have
;
Then Sir Tristram let call Sir Pala-
been with us. Sir, said Sir Tristram, mides, and bade him make him ready,
here is Dinadan and Sir Gareth your for it was time to go to the field. When
own nephew caused me to be against they were ready they were armed and
you. My lord Arthur, said Gareth, I clothed all in red, both Isoud and all
may well bear the blame, but it were they. And they led her passing
so
Sir Tristram's own deeds. That may 1 freshly through the field, into the priory
repent, said Sir Dinadan, for this un- where was her lodging. And then they
happy Sir Trjstram brought us to this heard three blasts blow, and every king
tournament, and many great buffets he and knight dressed him unto the field ;
caused us to have. Then the king and and the first that was ready to just was
Launcelot laughed that they might not Sir Palamides and Sir Kainus le Strange,
3i6 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK X.
a knight of the Table Round. And so to take king Arthur and Sir Launcelot
they two encountered together, but Sir prisoner. When Sir Launcelot heard
Palamides smote Sir Kainus so hard, them say so, he fared as it had been an
that he smote him quite over his horse hungry lion, for he fared so that no
croup and forth withal Sir Palamides
:
knight durst nigh him. Then came
smote down another knight, and brake Sir Ector de Maris, and he bare a spear
then his spear, and pulled out his sword against Sir Palamides, and brake it upon
and did wonderly well. And then the him all to shivers. And then Sir Ector
noise began greatly upon Sir Palamides. came again, and gave Sir Palamides such
Lo, said king Arthur, yonder Palamides a dash with a sword that he stooped
beginneth to play his pageant. Truly, down upon his saddle-bow. And foith
said Arthur, he is a passing good knight. withal Sir Ector pulled down Sir Pala-
And right as they stood talking thus, in mides under his feet. And then Sir
came Sir Tristram as thunder, and he Ector de Maris gat Sir Launcelot du
encountered Sir Kay the seneschal, and Lake an horse, and brought it to him,
there he smote him down quite from his and bad him mount upon him. But
horse, and with that same spear Sir Tris- Sir Palamides lept afore, and gat the
tram smote down three knights more ; the horse by the bridle, and lept into
and then he pulled out his sword and the saddle. Truly, said Launcelot, ye
did marvellously. Then the noise and are better worthy to have that horse
cry changed from Sir Palamides and than I. Then Sir Ector brought Sir
turned to Sir Tristram, and all the people Launcelot another horse. Gramercy,
cried, O
Tristram O Tristram
! !And said Launcelot unto his brother. And
then was Sir Palamides clean forgotten. so when he was horsed again, with one
How now, said Launcelot unto Arthur, spear he smote down four knights.
yonder rideth a knight that playeth his And then Sir Launcelot brought to
pageants. Truly, said Arthur to Laun- king Arthur one of the best of the four
celot,ye shall see this day that yonder horses. Then Sir Launcelot with king
two knights shall here do this day won- Arthur and a few of his knights of Sir
ders. Sir, said Launcelot, the one knight Launcelot's kin, did marvellous deeds ;
waiteth upon the other, and enforceth for that time, as the book recordeth,
himself through envy to pass the noble Sir Launcelot smote down and pulled
knight Sir Tristram, and he knoweth down thirty knights. Notwithstanding,
not of the privy envy the which Sir the other part held them so fast together
Palamides hath to him. For all that that king Arthur and his knights were
the noble Sir Tristram doth is through overmatched. And when Sir Tristram
clean knighthood. And then Sir Gareth saw that, what labour king Arthur and
and Dinadan did wonderly great deeds his knights, in especial the noble deeds
of arms as two noble knights, so that that Sir Launcelot did with his own
king Arthur spake of them great honour hands, he marvelled greatly.
and worship and the kings and knights
;
horses and dressed them, and gat into side, and how Sir Palamiles would not.
the thickest of the press. And there Then Sir Tristram called unto him Sir
Sir Tristram unknowing smote down Palamides, Sir Gareth, and
Dinadan, Sir
king Arthur, and then Sir Launcelot and said thus to them, My fair fellows,
would have rescued him, but there were wit ye well that I will turn unto king
so many upon Sir Launcelot that they Arthur's party, for I saw .never so few
pulled him down from his horse. And men do so well, and it will be shame
then the king of Ireland and the king of unto us knights that be of the Round
Scots, with their knights, did their pain Table to see our lord king Arthur, and
CHAP. LXXX. WHAT SIR PAL A HIDES DID. 3«7
that noble knight Sir Launcelot, to be nigh the pavilions there as Sir Tristram
dishonoured. It will be well done, said and La Beale Isoud were in, then Sir
Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan. Do your Palamides prayed the two kings to abide
best, said Palamides,for I will not change him there the while that he spake with
my party that I came in withal. That Sir Tristram. And when he came to
is for my sake, said Sir Tristram :
speed the port of the pavilions, Sir Pala-
you well in your journey. And so de- mides said on high, Where art thou,
parted Sir Palamides from them. Then Sir Tristram de Liones ? Sir, said
Sir Tristram, Sir Gareth, and Sir Dina- Dinadan, that is Palamides. What,
dan, turned with Sir Launcelot. And Sir Palamides, will ye not come in
then Sir Launcelot smote down the king here among us? Fie on thee traitor,
of Ireland quite from his horse and so ; said Sir Palamides, for wit you well,
Sir Launcelot smote down the king of and it were daylight as it is night, I
Scots, and the king of Wales. And would slay thee with mine own hands.
then Sir Arthur ran unto Sir Palamides, And if ever I may get thee, said Pala-
and smote him quite from his horse. mides, thou shalt die for this day's deed.
And then Sir Tristram bare down all Sir Palamides, said Sir Tristram, ye
that he met. Sir Gareth and Sir Dina- blame me with wrong, for had ye done
dan did there as noble knights. Then as I did ye had won worship. But since
all the parties began to flee. Alas, said ye give me so large warning I shall
Palamides, that ever I should see this be well ware of you. Fie on thee
day, for now have I lost all the worship traitor, .said Palamides, and therewith
that I wan. And then Sir Palamides departed. Then on the morn Sir Tris-
went his way wailing, and so withdrew tram, Bleoberis. and Sir Ector de Maris,
him till he came to a well, and there he Sir Gareth, Sir Dinadan, what by water
put his horse from him, and did off his and what by land, they brought La
armour, and wailed and wept like as he Beale Isoud unto J (nous Gard, and
had been a wood man. there reposed them a seven night, and
Then many knights gave the prize to made all the mirths and disports that
Sir Tristram, and there were many that they could devise. And king Arthur
gave the prize unto Sir Launcelot. Fair and his knights drew unto Camelot, and
lords, said Sir Tristram, 1 thank you of Sir Palamides rode with the two kings ;
the honour ye would give me, but I pray and ever he made the greatest dole that
you heartily that ye would give your any man could think. For he was not
voice to Sir Launcelot, for by my faith, all only so dolorous for the departing
said Sir Tristram, I will give Sir Laun- from La Beale Isoud, but he was a part
celot my voice. But Sir Launcelot as sorrowful to depart from the fellow-
would not have it. And so the prize ship of Sir Tristram, for Sir Tristram
was given betwixt them both. Then was so kind and so gentle that when
every rode to his lodging. And
man Sir Palamides remembered him thereof
Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector rode with he might never be merry.
Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud unto
her pavilions. Then as Sir Palamides CHAP. LXXXI.
was at the well, wailing and weeping,
How Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector reported
there came by him fleeing the king of La
to queen Guencver of the beauty of
Wales, and of Scotland, and they saw Sir Beale Roud.
Palamides in that rage. Alas, said they,
that so noble a man as ye be should be at the seven night's end Sir Bleo-
So
in this array. And then those kings beris and Sir Ector departed from Sir
with her. Would that I had part of her mides rode near him, and saluted him
conditions. And it is misfortuned me mildly and said, Fair knight, why wail ye
of my sickness while that tournament so ? let me lie down and wail with you,
endured and, as I suppose, I shall never
;
for doubt ye not I am much more heavier
see in all such an assembly of
my life than ye are ; for I dare say, said Pala-
knights and have done. Then
ladies as ye mides, that my sorrow is an hundred
the knights told her how Sir Palamides fold more than yours is, and therefore
wan the degree at the first day with great let us complain either to other. First,
noblesse and the second day Sir Tris-
;
said the wounded knight, I require you
tram wan the degree and the third day
; tell meyour name, for and thou be none
Sir Launcelot wan
the degree. Well, of the noble knights of the Round Table
said queen Guenever, who did best all thou shalt never know my name, whatso-
these three days? Truly, said these ever come of me. Fair knight, said Pala-
knights, Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram mides, such as I am, be it better or be
had least dishonour. And
wit ye well it worse, wit thou well that
my name
Sir Palamides did passing well and is Sir Palamides, son and heir unto
king
mightily, but he turned against the party Astlabor, and Sir Safere and Sir Segwa-
that he came in withal, and that caused rides are my two brethren, and wit thou
him to lose a great part of his worship, well as for myself I was never christened,
for it seemed that Sir Palamides is pass- but my two brethren are truly christened.
ing envious. Then shall he never win Oh noble knight, said that knight, well
worship, said queen Guenever, for, and is me that 1 have met with you, and
it
happeth an envious man once to win wit ye well my name is Epinogris, the
worship, he shall be dishonoured twice king's son of Northumberland. Now
therefore. And for this cause all men sit down, said Epinogris, and let us
of worship hate an envious man, and either complain to other. Then Sir
will shew him no favour. And he that Palamides began his complaint. Now
is courteous, kind, and gentle, hath shall I tell you, said Palamides, what woe
favour in every place. I endure. I love the fairest queen and
tram de Liones. That is truth, said hardy knight and this Sir Helior chal-
;
Palamides, for no man knoweth that lenged me to fight for my lady. And
matter better than I do, for I have been then we went to battle, first upon horse
in Sir Tristram's fellowship this month, and after on foot. But at the last Sir
and with La Beale Isoud together and ; Helior wounded me so that he left me
alas, said Palamides, unhappy man that foi dead, and so he took my lady with
I am, now have I lost the fellowship of him. And thus my sorrow is more
Sir Tristram for ever, and the love of than yours, for I have rejoiced, and ye
La Beale Isoud and I am never
for ever, rejoiced never. That is truth, said Sir
like to see her more, and Sir Tristram Palamides, but sith I can never recover
and I be either to other mortal enemies. myself, I shall promise you, if I can
Well, said Epinogris, sith that ye loved meet with Sir Helior I shall get you
La Beale Isoud, loved she you ever your lady again, or else he shall beat
again, by anything that ye could think me. Then Sir Palamides made Sir
or wit? Nay, by my knighthood, said Epinogris to take his horse, and so they
Palamides, I never espied that ever she rode to an hermitage, and there Sir
loved me more than all the world. But Epinogris rested him. And in the
the last day she gave me the greatest mean while Sir Palamides walked pri-
rebuke that ever 1 had, the which shall vily out, to rest him under the leaves ;
never go from my heart, and yet I well and there beside he saw a knight come
deserved that rebuke, for I had not done riding with a shield that he had seen
knightly, and therefore I have lost the Sir Ector de Maris bear aforehand, and
love of her and of Sir Tristram for ever. there came after him a ten knights, and
And I have many times enforced myself so these ten knights hoved under the
to do many deeds for La Beale Isoud's leaves for heat. And anon after there
sake, and she was the causer of my came a knight, with a green shield and
worship winning. Alas, said Sir Pala- therein a white lion, leading a lady upon
mides, now have I lost all the worship a palfrey. Then this knight with the
that ever I wan. for never shall me be- green shield, that seemed to be master
fal such prowess as I had in the fellow- of the ten knights, he rode fiercely after
ship of Sir Tristram. Sir Helior; for it was he that hurt Sir
Epinogris. And when he came nigh
CHAP. LXXXIII. Sir Helior he bad him defend his lady.
I will defend her, said Helior, unto
How Sir Palamides brought to Sir Epino-
And
so they ran together
my power.
gris his lady; and how Sir Pala?nides so these two
mightily that either of
and Sir Safere ivere assailed.
knights smote other down, horse and
Nay, nay, said Epinogris, your sorrow all, to the earth, and then they wan up
is but a jest to my sorrow, for I rejoiced lightly and drew their swords and their
my lady and wan her with my hands, and shields, and lashed together mightily
lost her again, alas that day. Thus first more than an hour. All this Sir Pala-
I I wan her, said Epinogris :
my lady was mides saw and beheld, but ever at the
an earl's daughter, and as the earl and last the knight with Sir Ector's shield
two knights came from the tournament was bigger, and at the last this knight
of Lonazep, for her sake I set upon smote Sir Helior down, and then that
this earl and on his two knights, my knight unlaced his helm to have stricken
lady there being present, and so by for- off his head. And then he cried mercy,
there I slew the earl and one of the and prayed him to save his life, and bad
knights, and the other knight fled, and him take his lady.
Dtune
so 1 had my lady. And on the morn, as Then Sir Palamides dressed him up,
she and I reposed us at this well side, because he wist well that that same lady
there to me an errant knight, was Epinogris' lady, and he promised
me was Sir Helior le Preuse, an him to help him. Then Sir Palamides
Bame
3?° MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK X.
went straight to that lady, and took her the hand and brought her to Sir Epi-
by the hand, and asked her whether she nogris, and there was great joy betwixt
knew a knight that hight Epinogris. them, for either swooned for joy. When
Alas, she said, that ever he knew me, they were met,
—
Fair knight and lady,
or I him, for I have for his sake lost said Sir Safere, it were pity to depart
my worship, and also his life grieveth you, Heaven send you joy either of
me most of all. Not so, lady, said other. Gramercy, gentle knight, said
Palamides, come on with me, for here Epinogris, and much more thank be to
is Epinogris in this hermitage. Ah, my lord Sir Palamides, that thus hath
well me, said the lady, and he be on
is through prowess made me to get
his"
live. Whither wilt thou with that lady ? my lady. Then
Sir Epinogris reqifired
said the knight with Sir Ector's shield. Sir Palamides and Sir Safere his brother
I will do with her what me list, said to ride with them unto his castle, for
Palamides. Wit you well, said that the safeguard of his person. Sir, said
knight, thou speakest over large, though Palamides, we will be ready to conduct
thou seemest me to have at advantage, you, because that ye are sore wounded.
because thou sawest me do battle but And so was Epinogris and his lady
late. Thou weenest, sir knight, to have horsed, and his lady behind him, upon
that lady away from me so lightly ; nay, a soft ambler.
think never not, and thou were as
it And then they rode unto his castle,
good a knight as is Sir Launcelot, or as where they had great cheer, and joy as
is Sir Tristram, or Sir Palamides, but great as ever Sir Palamides and Sir
thou shalt win her dearer than ever did I. Safere ever had in their life days. So
And so they went unto battle upon foot, on the morn Sir Safere and Sir Pala-
and there they gave many sad strokes. mides departed, and rode as fortune
and either wounded olher passing sore ;
led them and so they rode all that day
:
and thus they fought still more than an until afternoon. And
at the last they
hour. Then Sir Palamides had marvel heard a great weeping and a great noise
what knight he might be that was so down in a manor. Sir, said then Sir
strong and so well breathed during, and Safere. let us wit what noise this is. I
thus said Palamides Knight, I require
: will well, said Sir Palamides. And so
thee tell me thy name. Wit thou well, they rode forth till that they came to a
said that knight, I dare tell thee my fairgate of a manor, and there sat an
name, so that thou wilt tell me thy old man saying his prayers and beads.
name. I will, said Palamides. Truly, Then Sir Palamides and Sir Safere
said that knight, my name is Safere, son alight, and left their horses, and went
of king Astlabor, and Sir Palamides and within the gates, and there they saw
Sir Segwarides are my brethren. Now, full many goodly men weeping. Fair
and wit thou well my name is Sir Pala- sirs, said Sir Palamides, wherefore weep
mides. Then Sir Safere kneeled down ye, and make this sorrow ? Anon one
upon his knees, and prayed him of of the knights of the castle beheld Sir
mercy and then they unlaced their
; Palamides and knew him, and then went
helms, and either kissed other weeping. to his fellows and said, Fair fellows,
And in the mean while Sir Epinogris wit ye well all, we have in this castle
arose out of his bed, and heard them by the same knight that slew our lord at
the strokes, and so he armed him to Lonazep, for I know him well, it is Sir
help Sir Palamides if need were. Palamides. Then they went unto harness
all that might bear harness, some on
CHAP. LXXXIV. horseback and some on foot, to the
How Sir Palamides and Sir Safere con- number of threescore. And when they
ducted Sir Epinogris to his castle, and were ready, they came freshly upon Sir
of other adventures. Palamides and upon Sir Safere with a
Then Sir Palamides took the lady by great noise., and said thus, Keep thee,
CHAP. LXXXV. HOW SIR PALAMIDES WAS RESCUED. 321
Sir Palamides, for thou art known, and from my lord Sir Tristram, as I ought
by right thou must be dead, for thou not to have done, now might I have
hast slain our lord, and therefore, wit ye been sure to have had my life saved.
well, we will slay thee, therefore defend But I
pray you, sir knight, recommand
thee. Then Sir Palamides and Sir Sa- me unto my lord Sir Tristiam, and unto
fere the one set his back to other, and my lady queen Isoud, and say to them,
gave many great strokes, and took many if ever I trespassed to them I ask them
great strokes and thus they fought
; forgiveness. And also, I beseech you,
with a twenty knights and forty gentle- recommand me unto my lord king Ar-
men and yeomen, nigh two hours. But thur, and unto all the fellowship of the
though they were loth, Sir
at the last, Round Table, unto my power. Then
Palamides and Sir Safere were taken that knight wept for pity of Sir Pala-
and yielden, and put in a strong prison. mides ; and thei ewithal he rode unto
And within three days twelve knights Joyous Gard as fast as his horse might
passed upon them, and they found Sir run. And lightly that knight descended
Palamides guilty, and Sir Safere not down and went unto Sir
off his horse,
guilty, of their lord's death. And when Tristram, and there he told him all as
Sir Safere should be delivered, there ye have heard and ever the knight
:
was great dole betwixt Sir Palamides wept as he had been mad.
and him, and many piteous complaints
that Sir Safere made at his departing, CHAP. LXXXV.
that there is no maker can rehearse the
tenth Fair brother, said Pala-
How Sir Tristram made him ready to
part.
rescue Sir Palarnides, but Sir Launce-
mides, let be thy dolour and thy sor-
lot rescued bim cr he came.
row and if I be ordained to die a
:
: ith Sir Palamides fast by the castle of he saw these knights, Sir Launcelot put
Joyous Gard ; and as they passed by on his helm, and suffered them to pass
that castle, there came riding out of by him. And then was he ware of Sir
that castle by them one that knew Sir Palamides bounden, and led shamefully
Palamides and when that knight saw
; to his death. Oh, mercy, said Launcelot,
Sir Palamides bounden upon a crooked what misadventure is befallen him, that
courser, the knight asked Sir Palamides he is thus led toward his death? For-
for what cause he was led so. Ah, sooth, said Launcelot, it were shame
my and knight, said Pala-
fair fellow to me to suffer this noble knight so to
mides, toward
I ride my death, for the die and I might help him, therefore I
slaying of a knight at a tournament of will help him whatsoever come of it, or
Lonazep; and if I had not departed else I shall die for Sir Palamides' sake.
21
J2 2 MORTE DARTHUR BOOK X.
And then Sir Launcelot mounted upon greatly offended you. Notwithstanding,
his horse, and gat his spear in his hand, said Sir Palamides, here met we with
and rode after the twelve knights that this noble knight, that worshipfully and
led Sir Palamides. Fair knights, said manly rescued me from twelve knights,
Sir Launcelot, whither lead ye that and smote them down all, and wounded
knight ? it beseemeth him full ill to ride them sore.
bounden. Then these twelve knights
suddenly turned their horses, and said CHAP. LXXXVI.
to Sir Launcelot, Sir knight, we counsel
thee not to meddle with this knight, for
How Sir Tristram and Sir Launcelot,
with Palamides, came to Joyous Gard ;
he hath deserved death, and unto death
and of Palamides and Sir Tristram.
he judged. That me repenteth, said
is
Launcelot, that I may not ransom him Fair knight, said Sir Tristram unto
with fairness, for he is over good a Sir Launcelot, of whence be ye ? I am
knight to die such a shameful death. a knight errant, said Sir Launcelot, that
And therefore, knights, said Sir
fair rideth to seek many adventures. What
Launcelot, keep you as well as ye can, is your name? said Sir Tristram. Sir,
for I will rescue that knight, or die for at this time I will not tell you. Then
it. Then they began to dress their Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Tristram
spears, and Sir Launcelot smote the and to Palamides, Now either of you
foremost down, horse and man and so
;
are met together, I will depart from
he served three more with one spear, you. Not so, said Sir Tristram, I pray
and then that spear brake; and there- you of knighthood to ride with me
withal Sir Launcelot drew his sword, unto my castle. Wit you well, said
and then he smote on the right hand Sir Launcelot, I may not ride with
and on the left hand then within
:
you, for I have many deeds to do in
awhile he left none of those twelve other places, that at this time I may
knights but he had laid them to the not abide with you. Truly, said Sir
earth, and the most part of them were Tristram, I require you, as ye be a true
sore wounded. And then Sir Launcelot knight to the order of knighthood, play
took the best horse that he found, and you with me this night. Then Sir
loosed Sir Palamides, and set him upon Tristram had a grant of Sir Launcelot :
that horse, and so they returned again howbeit, though he had not desired
unto Joyous Gard. And then was Sir him he would have ridden with them,
Palamides ware of Sir Tristram how he or soon would come after them for
;
came riding; and when Sir Launcelot Sir Launcelot came for none other
saw him he knew him right well but ; cause into that countiy but for to see
Sir Tristram knew not him, because Sir Sir Tristram. And when they were
Launcelot had on his shoulder a golden come within Joyous Gard they alight,
shield. So Sir Launcelot made him and their horses were led into a stable,
ready to just with Sir Tristram, that Sir and then they unarmed them. And
Tristram should not wend that he were when Sir Launcelot was unhelmed, Sir
Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Palamides Tristram and Sir Palamides knew him.
cried on loud unto Sir Tristram, O my Then Sir Tristram took Sir Launcelot
lord, I require you just not with this in arms, and so did La Beale Isoud ;
knight, for this good knight hath saved and Sir Palamides kneeled down upon
me from my death. When Sir Tristram his knees and thanked Sir Launcelot.
heard him say so, he came a soft trotting When Sir Launcelot saw Sir Palamides
pace toward them. And then Sir Pala- kneel, he lightly took him up, and said
mides said, My lord Sir Tristram, much thus; Wit thou well, Sir Palamides,
am I beholding unto you of your great I, and any knight in this land of wor-
goodness that would proffer your noble ship, ought of very right succour and
body to rescue me undeserved, for I have rescue so noble a knight as ye are
chap, lxxxvi. OF THE COMPLAINT OF SIR PAL A HIDES. 3*3
proved and renowned throughout all song the noble knight Sir Tristram
this realm, endlong and overthwart. heard from the beginning to the ending,
And then was there joy among them ; the w hich grieved and troubled him
and the oftener that Palamides saw
Sir sore. But then at the last, when Sir
La Beale Isoud, the heavier he waxed Tristram had heard all Sir Palamides'
day by day. Then Sir Launcelot within complaints, he was wroth out of mea-
three or four days departed; and with sure, and thought for to slay him there
him rode Sir Ector de Maris and Di- : as he lay. Then Sir Tristram remem-
nadan and Sir Palamides were there left bered himself that Sir Palamides was
with Sir Tristram a two months and unarmed, and of the noble name that
more. But ever Sir Palamides faded Sir Palamides had, and the noble name
and mourned, that all men had marvel that himself had, and then he made a
wherefore he faded so away. So upon restraint of his anger, and so he went
a day, in the dawning Sir Palamides unto Sir Palamides a soft pace, and
went into the forest by himself alone, said, Sir Palamides, I have heard your
and there he found a well, and then he complaint, and of thy treason that thou
looked into the well, and in the water hast owed me so long. And wit thou
he saw his own visage, how he was well therefore thou shalt die. And if
disturbed and defaded, nothing like it were not for shame of knighthood
that he was. What may this mean? thou shouldest not escape my hands,
said Sir Palamides. And thus he said for now I know well thou hast awaited
to himself: Ah, Palamides, Palamides, me with tieason. Tell me, said Sir
why ait thou diffaded, thou that was Tristram, how thou v\ilt acquit thee.
wont be called one of the fairest Sir, said Palamides, thus I will acquit
knights of the world ? I will no more me:— as for queen La Beale Isoud, ye
lead this life, for I love that I may shall wit well that I love her above all
never get nor recover. And therewithal other ladies of the world ; and well I
he laid him down by the well. And wot it shall befal me as for her love as
then he began to make a rhyme of befel to the noble knight Sir Kehidius,
La Beale Isoud and him. And in the that died for the love of La Beale Isoud ;
meanwhile Sir Tristram was that same and now, Sir Tristram, I will that ye
day ridden into the forest to chase the wit that I have loved La Beale Isoud
hart of greese. But Sir Tristram would many a day, and she hath been the
not ride on hunting never more un- causer of my worship. And else I had
armed because of Sir Breuse Sance been the most simplest knight in the
Pite. And so as Sir Tristram rode into world. For by her, and because of her,
that forestup and down, he heard one I have won the worship that I have:
thither, for he deemed there was some I never reward nor bounty of her the
knight errant that was at the well. days of my life, and yet have I been
And when Sir Tristram came nigh her knight guerdonless and therefore
;
him, he descended down from his horse, Sir Tristram, as for any death I dread
and tied his horse fast till a tree, and not, for Ihad as lief die as to live. And
then he came near him on foot. And if I were armed as thou art, I should
anon he was ware where lay Sir Pala- lightly do battle with thee. Well have
mides by the well, and sang loud and ye uttered your treason, said Tristram.
merrily. And ever the complaints were I have done to you no treason, said
of that noble queen La Beale Isoud, Sir Palamides, for love is free for all
the which was marvellously and won- men, and though I have loved your
derfully well said, and full dolefully and lady she is my lady as well as yours :
piteously made. And all the whole howbeit I have wrong if any wrong be,
21 — 2
324 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK X.
for ye rejoice her, and have her love, manner of venery, and about three days
and so had I never, nor never am like afore the battle should be, as Sir Tris-
to have. And yet shall I love her to tram chased an hart, there was an
the uttermost days of my life as well archer shot at the hart, and by mis-
as ye. fortune he smote Sir Tristram in the
thick of the thigh, and the arrow slew
CHAP. LXXXVII.
Sir Tristram's horse, and
hurt him.
How was a day set between Sir Tris-
there
When Sir Tristram was
so hurt, he was
tram and Sir Palamides for to fight,
passing heavy, and wit ye well he bled
and how Sir Tristram was hurt. sore. And then he took another horse,
Then, said Sir Tristram, I will fight and rode unto Joyous Gard with great
with you unto the uttermost. I grant, heaviness, more for the promise he had
said Palamides, for in a better quar- made with Sir Palamides, as to do battle
rel keep I never to fight, for, and I with him within three days after, than
die of your hands, of a better knight's for any hurt of his thigh. Wherefore
hands may I not be slain. And sithen there was neither man nor woman that
I understand that I shall never rejoice could cheer him with anything that
La Beale Isoud, I have as good will to they could make to him, neither queen
die as to live. Then set ye a day, said La Beale Isoud, for ever he deemed that
Sir Tristram, that we shall do battle. Sir Palamides had smitten him so that
This day fifteen days, said Palamides, he should not be able to <lo battle with
will I meet with you here by, in the him at the day set.
meadow under Joyous Card. Fie for
shame, said Sir Tristram, will ye set CHAP. LXXXVI1I.
so long day? let us fight to -morn.
Not so, said Palamides, for I am meagre, How Sir Palamides kept his day to have
and have been long sick for the love of foughten, but Sir Tristram might not
La Beale Isoud, and therefore I will come ; and other things.
repose me till I have my strength again. But no wise there was no knight
in
So then Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides about Sir Tristram that would believe
promised faithfully to meet at the well that ever Sir Palamides would hurt Sir
that day fifteen days. I am remembered, Tristram, neither by his own hands nor
said Sir Tristram to Palamides, that ye by none other consenting. Then when
brake me once a promise when that I the fifteenth day was come, Sir Pa-
rescued you from Breuse Sance Pite lamides came to the well with four
and nine knights, and then ye promised knights with him of Arthur's court, and
me to meet at the peron and the grave three Serjeants of arms. And for this
beside Camelot, whereas at that time intent Sir Palamides brought the knights
ye failed of your promise. Wit you with him and the Serjeants of arms, for
well, said Palamides unto Sir Tristram, they should bear record of the battle
I was at that day in prison, so that I betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides.
might not hold my promise. Truly, And the one Serjeant brought in his
said Sir Tristram, and ye had holden helm, the other his spear, the third his
your promise, this work had not been sword. So thus Sir Palamides came
here now at this time. Right so departed into the field, and there he abode nigh
Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides. And two hours. And then he sent a squire
so Sir Palamides took his horse and his unto Sir Tristram, and desired him to
harness, and he rode unto king Arthur's come into the field to hold his promise.
court, and there Sir Palamides gat him W r
hen the squire was come to Joyous
four knights and four Serjeants of arms, Gard, anon as Sir Tristram heard of
and so he returned againward unto his coming, he let command that the
Joyous Gard. And in the mean while squire should come to his presence
Sir Tristram chased and hunted at all there as he lay in his bed. My
lord
chap, lxxxviii. THE END OF THE BOOK OF SIR TRISTRAM. 325
Sir Tristram, said Palamides' squire, to country, and all strange adventures
wit you well, my lord Palamides abideth he achieved wheresoever he rode, and
you in the field, and he would wit always he enquired for Sir Palamides,
whether ye would do battle or not. Ah, but of all that quarter of summer Sir
my fair bi other, said Sir Tristram, wit Tristram could never meet with Sir Pa-
thou well that I am right heavy for lamides. But thus as Sir Tristram
these tidings, therefore tell Sir Pala- sought and enquired after Sir Palamides,
mides and I were well at ease I would Sir Tristram achieved many great battles,
not lie here, nor he should have no wherethrough all the noise fell to Sir
need to send for me, and I might either Tristram, and it ceased of Sir Launce-
ride or go and for thou shalt say
: lot ; and therefore Sir Launcelot's bre-
that I am no liar —
Sir Tristram shewed thren and his kinsmen would have slain
him his thigh, that the wound was six Sir Tristram, because of his fame. Put
inches deep :
— And now thou hast seen when Sir Launcelot wist how his kins-
my hurt, tell thy lord that this is no men were set, he said to them openly,
feigned matter ;
and tell him that I Wit you well, that and the envy of you
had lever than all the gold of king all be so hardy to wait upon my lord
Arthur that were whole
I and tell : Sir Tristiam with any hurt, shame, or
Palamides, as soon as I am whole I villainy, as I am true knight I shall slay
shall seek him endlong and overthwart, the best of you with mine own hands.
and that I promise you as I am true Alas, fie for shame, should ye for his
knight :and if ever I may meet with noble deeds await upon him to slay
him he shall have battle of me his fill. him. Jesu defend, said Launcelot, that
And with this the squire departed. And ever any noble knight as Sir Tristram
when Palamides wist that Tristram
Sir is should be destroyed with treason.
was hurt, he was glad, and said, Now Of this noise and fame sprang into
I am sure I shall have no shame, for I Cornwall, and among them of Liones,
wot well I should have had hard handling whereof they were passing glad and
of him, and by likely I must needs have made great joy. And then they of
had the worse. For he is the hardest Liones sent letters unto Sir Tristram
knight in battle that now is living of recommendation, and many great
.except Sir Launcelot. then de- And jzifts to maintain Sir Tristram's estate.
parted Sir Palamides where as fortune And ever between Sir Tristram lesorted
led him. And within a month Sir Tris- vinto Joyous Gard, where as La Beale
tram was whole of his hurt. And then Isoud was, that loved him as her
he took his horse, and rode from country life.
he asked the king and all the knights out of her great pains unto the time the
why that siege was void. Sir Arthur best knight of the world had taken her
and allthe knights answered, There by the hand. Then the people brought
shall never none sit in that seige but her clothes. And when she was arrayed,
one, but if he be destroyed. Then, said Sir Launcelot thought she was the fairest
the hermit, wot ye what is he ? Nay, lady of the world, but if it were queen
said Arthur and all the knights, we wot Guenever. Then this lady said to Sir
not who is he that shall sit therein. Launcelot, Sir, if it please you will ye
Then wot I, said the hermit, for he that go with me hereby into a chapel that
shall sit there unborn, and this same
is we may give loving and thanking to
year he shall be born that shall sit God? Madam, said Sir Launcelot,
there in that siege perilous, and he shall cometh on with me, I will go with you.
win the Sangreal. When this hermit So when they came there, and gave
had made this mention he departed from thankings to God, all the people, both
the court of king Arthur. And then learned and lay, gave thankings unto
after this feast Sir Launcelot rode on God and him, and said, Sir knight, since
his adventures, till on a time by adven- ye have delivered this lady, ye shall
ture he passed over the bridge of Corbin, deliver us from a serpent that is here in
and there he saw the fairest tower that a tomb. Then Sir Launcelot took his
ever he saw, and thereunder was a fair shield, and Bring me thither, and
said,
town full of people, and all the people, what may
I do unto the pleasure of
men and women, cried at once, Welcome God and you, I will do. So when
Sir Launcelot du Lake, the flower of all Sir Launcelot came thither, he saw
knighthood, for by thee all we shall be written upon the tomb letters of gold
holpen out of danger. What mean ye, that said thus Here shall come a lib-
:
said Sir Launcelot, that ye cry so upon bard of king's blood and he shall slay
me? Ah, fair knight, said they all, this serpent, and this libbard shall en-
here is within this tower a dolorous gender a lion in this foreign country,
lady that hath been there in pains many the which lion pass all other
shall
winters for ever she boileth in scalding
:
knights. So then Sir Launcelot lift
up
water. And but late, said all the people, the tomb, and there came out an horri-
Sir Gawaine was here, and he might ble and a fienclly dragon spitting fire
not help her, and so he left her in pain. out of his mouth. Then Sir Launcelot
So may I, said Sir Launcelot, leave her drew out his sword and fought with the
in pain as well as Sir Gawaine did. dragon long, and at last with great pain
Nay, said the people, we know well Sir Launcelot slew that dragon. There-
that it is Sir Launcelot that shall deliver withal came king Pelles, the good and
her. "Well, said Launcelot, then show noble knight, and saluted Sir Launcelot,
me what I shall do. Then they brought and he him again. Fair knight, said
Sir Launcelot into the tower. And when the king, what is your name ? I require
he came to the chamber there as this you of your knighthood tell me.
lady was, the doors of iron unlocked
and unbolted. And so Sir Launcelot CHAP. II.
went into the chamber that was as hot
Hoiv Sir Launcelot came to Pelles, and
as any stew, and. there Sir Launcelot
took the fairest lady by the hand that of theSangreal, and of Elaine, king
Pelles' daughter.
ever he saw, and she was naked as a
needle, and by enchantment queen Mor- Sir, said Launcelot, wit you well my
gan le Fay and the queen of Northgalis name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. And
had put her there in that pains because my name is, said the king, Pelles, king
she was called the fairest lady of that of the foreign country, and cousin nigh
country. And there she had been five unto Joseph of Arimathie. And then
years, and never might she be delivered either of them made much of other, and
CHAP. III. OF THE BIRTH OF GALAHAD. 3^7
so they went into the castle to take part to Wear. And when Sir Launcelot
their repast. And anon there came in a saw that token, wit ye well he was
dove at a window, and in her mouth never so fain. Where is my lady ? said
there seemed a little censer of gold. Sir Launcelot. She is in the castle of
And therewithal there was such a savour Case, said the messager, but five mile
as all the spicery of the world had been hence. Then Sir Launcelot thought to
there. And forthwithal there was upon be there the same night. And then
the tableall manner of meats and drinks this Brisen, by the commandment of
that they could think upon. So came in king Pelles, let send Elaine to this castle
a damsel passing fair and young, and she with twenty-five knights unto the castle
bare a vessel of gold betwixt her hands, of Case. Then Sir Launcelot rode unto
and thereto the king kneeled devoutly, that castle, and there anon he was re-
and said his prayers, and so did all that ceived worshipfully with such people
were there. Then said Sir Launcelot, to his seeming as were about queen
What may this mean ? This is, said Guenever. So when was
Sir Launcelot
the king, the richest thing that any man alight, then dame Brisen brought him a
hath living. And when this thing cup full of wine, and as soon as he had
goeth about, the Round Table shall be drank that wine he was so assotted that
broken. And
wit thou well, said the he wend that maiden Elaine had been
king, this theisholy Sancgreal that queen Guenever. Wit ye well that Sir
ye have here seen. So the king and Sir Launcelot was glad, and so was that
Launcelot led their life the most part lady Elaine, for well she knew that of
of that day. And fain would king them should be bom Sir Galahad, that
Pelles have found the mean to have should prove the best knight of the
had Sir Launcelot to love his daughter world. And then Sir Launcelot remem-
fair Elaine, and
for this intent the : bered him, and he arose up and went to
king knew well that Sir Launcelot the window.
should have a child by his daughter,
the which should be named Sir Gala- chap. 111.
had, the good knight, by whom all the
Hoiv Sir Launcelot was displeased when
foreign country should be brought out
had been
he hietv that he deceived, and
of danger, and by him the holy Graale
should be achieved. Then came forth bow Galahad was born.
a lady that hight dame Brisen, and she And anon had unshut the win-
as he
said unto the king, Sir, wit ye well, dow, the enchantment was gone, then
Sir Launcelot loveth no lady in the he knew himself that he had been de-
world but all only queen Guenever, and ceived. Alas, said he, that I have lived
therefore work ye by counsel, and I so long; now am I shamed. So then
shall make him to see your daughter he gat his sword in his hand, and said,
Elaine, and he shall not wit but that he Thou traitress, who art thou ? thou
seeth queen Guenever. Oh, fair lady, shalt die right here of hands. Then
my
dame Brisen, said the king, hope ye to this fair lady, Elaine, kneeled down
bring this about? Sir, said she, upon afore Sir Launcelot and said, Fair cour-
pain of my life let me deal. For this teous knight, come of king's blood, I
require you have mercy upon me
Brisen was one of the greatest enchan- and ;
tresses that was that time in the world as thou art renowned the most noble
knight of the world, slay me not, for
I
living
Then anon by dame Brisen's wit she shall have a son by thee that shall be
made one to come to Sir Launcelot the most noblest knight of the world.
that he knew well. And this man Ah, false traitress, said Sir Launcelot,
brought him a ring from queen Gue- why hastthou betrayed me? Anon
never like as it had come from her, and tell me what thou art. Sir, she said, I
such one as she was wont for the most am Elaine, the daughter of king Pelles.
328 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XI.
Well, said Sir Launcelot, I will forgive joy of Sir Launcelot, for I shall slay
you this deed. And therewith he took him wheresoever I meet him. Sir, said
her up in his arms and kissed her, for the lady Elaine, do to him no treason.
she was as fair a lady, and thereto young, Wit ye well, my lady, said Bromel, and
and as wise as any was
that time living. I promise you this twelvemonth I shall
Truly, said Sir Launcelot, I may not keep the bridge of Corbin for Sir Laun-
blame this to you, but her that made this celot's sake, that he shall neither come
enchantment upon me, as between you nor go unto you but I shall meet with
and me and 1 may find her, that same
;
him.
lady Brisen, she shall lose her head for CHAP. IV.
witchcraft, for there was never knight
Hoiu Sir Bors came to dame Elaine, arid
deceived so as I am. And so Sir Launce-
lot armed him, and took his leave mildly saiv Galahad, and how he was fed with
the Sangreal.
at that lady, young Elaine, and so he
departed. Then she said, My
lord .Sir Then, as it befel by fortune and adven-
Launcelot, I beseech you see me as soon ture, Sir Bors de Ganis, that was nephew
as you may, for I have obeyed me unto unto .Sir Launcelot, came over that
the prophecy that my father told me, bridge, and there Sir Bromel and Sir Bors
and by his commandment to fulfil this justed, and Sir Bors smote Sir Bromel
prophecy I have given the greatest such a buffet that he bare him over his
riches and the fairest flower that ever I horse croup. And then Sir Bromel, as an
had, and that is my maiden love and hardy knight, pulled out his sword and
faith, therefore, gentle knight, owe
and dressed his shield, to do battle with Sir
me your good will. And so Sir Laun- Bors. And then Sir Bors alight and
celot arrayed him, and was armed, and avoided his horse, and there they dashed
took his leave mildly of that young lady together many sad strokes, and long
Elaine, and so he departed, and rode till thus they fought, till at the last Sir
he came to the castle of Corbin where Bromel was laid to the earth, and there
her father was. And as soon as her Sir Bors began to unlace his helm to
time came she was delivered of a fair slay him. Then Sir Bromel cried Sir
child, and they christened him Galahad. Bors' mercy, and yielded him. Upon
And wit ye well thatwas well
child •
this covenant thou shalt have thy life,
kept and well nourished, and he was said Sir Bors, so thou go unto Sir
named Galahad, because Sir Laun- Launcelot upon Whitsunday that next
celot was so named at the fontain cometh, and yield thee unto him as
stone; and after that, the Lady of the knight recreant. I will do it, said Sir
lake confirmed him Sir Launcelot du Bromel and that he sware upon the
:
Lake. Then after this lady was delivered cross of the sword, and so he let him
and churched there came a knight unto depart. And Sir Bors rode unto king
her, his name was Sir Bromel la Pleche, Pelles that was within Corbin. And
the which was a great lord, and he had when the king and Elaine his daughter
loved that lady long, and he evermore wist that Sir Bors was nephew unto Sir
desired her to wed her, and so by Launcelot, they made him great cheer.
no means she could put him off, till on Then said dame Elaine, We marvel
a day she said to Sir Bromel, Wit thou where Sir Launcelot is, for he came
well, sir knight, I will not love you, never here but once. Marvel not, said
for my love is set upon the best knight Sir Bors, for this half year he hath been
of the world. Who
is he? said Sir in prison with queen Morgan le Fay,
Bromel. Sir, said she, it is Sir Laun- king Arthur's sister. Alas, said dame
celot du Lake that I love, and none other, Elaine, that me repenteth. And ever
and therefore woo me no longer. Ye say Sir Bors beheld that child in her arms,
well, said Sir Bromel, and since ye have and ever him seemed it was passing like
told me so much, ye shall have but little Sir Launcelot. Truly, said dame Elaine
CHAP. IV. OF KING PELLES AND SIR BORS. 329
wit ye well this is his child. Then Sir shut about the chamber. When Sir Bors
Bors wept for joy, and he prayed to God espied all those doors, he avoided all
it
might prove as good a knight as his the people, for he might have nobody
father was. And so came in a white with him but in no wise Sir Bors would
;
dove, and she bare a little censer of gold unarm him, but so he laid him down
in her mouth, and there was all manner upon the bed. And right so he saw
of meats and drinks, and a maiden bare come in a light that he might well see a
that San cgreal, and she said openly, Wit spear great and long, that came straight
you well Sir Bors that this child is Gala- upon him poinding, and to Sir Bors
had, that shall sit in the siege perilous, seemed that the head of the spear burnt
and achieve the Sancgreal, and he shall like a taper. And anon, or Sir Bors
be much better than ever was Sir Laun- wist, the spear head smote him into the
celot du Lake, that is his own father. shoulder an hand breadth in deepness,
And then they kneeled down and made and that wound grieved Bors passing
Si.
their devotions, and there was such a sore. And then he laid him down again
savour as all the spicery in the world for pain, and anon therewithal came a
had been there. And when the dove knight armed with his shield on his
took her flight, the maiden vanished shoulder, and his sword in his hand,
with the Sancgreal as she came. Sir, and he bad Sir Bors, Arise sir knight,
said Sir Bors unto king Pelles, this and fight with me. I am sore hurt, he
castle may be named the castle adven- said, but yet I shall not fail thee. And
turous, for here be many strange ad- then Sir Bors start up and dressed his
ventures. That is soth, said the king. shield, and then they lashed together
For well may this place be called the mightily a great while. And at the last
adventurous place, for there come but Sir Bors bare him backward, until that
few knights here that go away with any he came unto a chamber door, and there
worship be he never so strong, here he
; that knight went into that chamber, and
may be proved, and but late Sir Gawaine rested him a great while. And when
the good knight gat but little worship he had reposed him he came out freshly
here. For 1 let you wit, said king again, and began new battle with Sir
Pelles, here shall no knight win no Bors mightily and strongly.
worship but if he be of worship himself, CHAP. V.
and of good living, and that loveth God,
and dreadeth God, and else he getteth How Sir Borsmade Sir Pedivere to yield
no worship here, be he never so hardy. him, and of marvellous adventures that
That is a wonderful thing, said Sir Bors. he had, and how he achieved them.
What yemean in this country I wot not, Then Sir Bors thought he should no
for ye have many strange adventures, more go into that chamber to rest him,
and therefore I will lie in this castle this and so Sir Bors dressed him betwixt
night. Ye shall not do so, said king the knight and that chamber door, and
Pelles, by my counsel, for it is hard and there Sir Bo;s smote him down, and
ye escape without a shame. I shall take then that knight yielded him. What
the adventure that will befal me, said Sir is your name V said Sir Bors. Sir, said
Bors. Then I counsel you, said the king, he, my name is Pedivere of the Straight
to be confessed clean. As for that, said Marches. So Sir Bors made him
Sir Bors, I will be shriven with a good to swear at Whitsunday next coming
will. So Sir Bors was confessed, and for to be at the court of king Arthur and
all women Sir Bors was a virgin, save yield him there as a prisoner, as an over-
for one, that was the daughter of king come knight by the hands of Sir Bors.
Brangoris, and their child hight Ilelin, So thus departed Sir Pedivere of the
and save for her Sir Bors was a pure Straight Marches. And then Sir Bors
maiden. And so he was led unto bed in a laid him down to rest, and then he
fair large chamber, and many doors were heard and felt much noise in that
330 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XT.
chamber; and then Sir Bors espied go ye to your cousin Sir Launcelot, and
that there came in, he wist not whether tell him of this adventure, the which had
at the doors or windows, shot of arrows been most convenient for him of all
and of quarels, so thick that he marvelled, earthly knights, but sin is so foul in
and many upon him and hurt him in
fell him he may not achieve such holy deeds ;
the bare
places.
And then Sir Bors was for, had not been had passed
his sin, he
ware where came in an hideous lion so ; all the knights that ever were in his
Sir Bors dressed him unto the lion, and days. Andthou Sir Launcelot, of
tell
anon the lion bereft him of his shield, all worldly adventures he passeth in
and with his sword Sir Bors smote off manhood and prowess all other, but in
the lion's head. these spiritual matters he shall have
Right so Sir Bors forthwithal saw a many his better. And then Sir Bors
dragon in the court, passing horrible, saw four gentlewomen coming by him
and there seemed letters of gold written poorly beseen, and he saw where that they
in his forehead ; and Sir Bors thought entered into a chamber where was great
that the letters made a signification of light, as it were a summer light, and
king Arthur. Right so there came an the women kneeled down afore an altar
horrible libard and an old, and there of silver with four pillars, and as it had
they fought long, and did great battle been a bishop kneeled down afore that
together. And at the last the dragon table of silver. And as Sir Bors looked
spit out of his mouth as it had been over his head, he saw a sword like
an hundred dragons, and lightly all the silver,naked, hoving over his head, and
small dragons slew the old dragon, and the clearness theieof smote so in his
tare him all to pieces. Anon withal eyes that at that time Sir Bors was
there came an old man into the hall, blind, and there he heard a voice that
and he sat him down in a fair chair, said, Go hence, thou Sir Bors, for as yet
and there seemed to be two adders thou art not worthy for to be in this
about his neck, and then the old man place. And then he went backward to
had an harp, and there he sang an old his bed till on the morn. And on the
song, how Joseph of Aramathie came morn king Pelles made great joy of Sir
into this land. Then when he had sung, Bors, and then he departed and rode to
the old man bad Sir Bors —
Go from Camelot, and there he found Sir Laun-
thence, for here shall ye have no more celot du Lake, and told him of the
adventures, and full worshipfully have adventures he had seen with king Pelles
ye done, and better shall ye do here- at Corbin. So the noise sprang in king
after. And then Sir Bors seemed that Arthur's court that Sir Launcelot had a
there came the whitest dove with a little child by Elaine, the daughter of king
golden censer in her mouth and anon ;
Pelles wherefore queen Guenever was
;
therewithal the tempest ceased and wroth and gave many rebukes to Sir
passed that afore was marvellous to Launcelot, and called him false knight.
hear. So was all that court full of And then Sir Launcelot told the queen
good savours. Then Sir Bors saw four all, and how he was made to meet
children bearing four fair tapers, and an her by enchantment, in likeness of the
old man in the midst of the children queen. So the queen held Sir Laun-
with a censer in his one hand, and a celot excused. And, as the book saith,
spear in his other hand, and that spear king Arthur had been in PVance, and
was called the spear of vengeance. had made war upon the mighty king
Claudas, and had won much of his
CHAP. VI.
lands and when the king was come
;
that feast. The king answered, I will commanded. Then the queen sent for
well ye go but in any wise, as
thither ;
Sir Launcelot, and bid him come to her,
ye love me and will have my blessing, or else, I am sure, said the queen, that
that ye be well beseen in the richest ye will go to your lady, dame Elaine,
wise and look that ye spare not for no
; by whom ye had Galahad. Ah, madam,
cost ;ask, and ye shall have all that said Sir Launcelot, never say ye so for ;
you needeth. Then, by the advice of that was against my will. Then, said
dame Brisen her maiden, all thing was the queen, look that ye come to me
apparelled unto the purpose, and there when I send for you. Madam, said Sir
was never no lady more richlier beseen. Launcelot, shall not fail you, but I
I
So she rode with twenty knights and shall be ready at your commandment.
ten and gentlewomen to the
ladies This bargain was
soon done and
number of an hundred horses. And made between them, but dame Brisen
when she came to Camelot, king Arthur knew it by her crafts, and told it to her
and queen Guenever said, and all the lady dame Alas, said she, how
Elaine.
knights, that dame Elaine was the fair- shall I do. Let me deal, said dame
est and the best beseen lady that ever Brisen, for I shall bring him by the
was seen in that court. hand, even to you, and he shall ween
And anon as king Arthur wist that that I am queen Guenever's messager.
she was come, he met her and saluted Now well is me, said dame Elaine, for
her, and so did the most part of all the all the world I love not so much as I
deal, said dame Brisen. So when Elaine there, she found Sir Launcelot was
332 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XI.
away : so she came to the queen and command you to avoid my court; and
and told her all. Alas, said the for the love ye owe unto Sir Launcelot
queen, where is that false knight be- discover not his counsel, for and ye do
come? Then the queen was nigh out it will be his death. As for that, said
of her wit, and then she writhed and dame Elaine, I dare undertake he is
weltered as a mad woman and at the ; marred for ever, and that have ye made,
last the queen met with Sir Launcelot, for ye nor I are like to rejoice him for ;
and thus she said, False traitor knight he made the most piteous groans when
that thou art, look thou never abide he lept out at yonder bay window that
in my court, and not so hardy, thou ever 1 heard man make. Alas said fair !
ever thou come in my sight. Alas, said never, for now I wot well we have
Sir Launcelot and therewith he took
: losthim for ever. So on the morn
such an heartly sorrow at her words dame Elaine took her leave to depart,
that he fell down to the floor in a and she would no longer abide. Then
swoon. And therewithal queen Gue- king Arthur brought her on her way
never departed. And when Sir Laun- with more than an hundred knights
celot awoke of his swoon he lept out through a forest. And by the way she
at a bay window into a garden, and told Sir Bors de Ganis all how it betid,
there with thorns he was all to-scratched and how Sir Launcelot lept out at a
in his visage and his body, and so he bay window araged out of his wit.
ran forth he wist not whither, and was Alas, said Sir Bors, where is my lord
wild wood as ever was man and so he ;
Sir Launcelot become ? Sir, said Elaine,
ran two year, and never man might I wot never. Alas, said Sir Bors, be-
have grace to know him. twixt you both ye have destroyed that
good knight. As for me, said dame
CHAP. IX. Elaine, I said never nor did never thing
that should in any wise displease him ;
Now turn we unto queen Guenever sword in his hand, and lept out at a
and to the fair lady Elaine. When dame window, with the grisliest groan that
Elaine heard the queen so to rebuke Sir ever I heard man make. Nowfarewell,
Launcelot, and also she saw how he dame Elaine, said Sir Bors, and hold
swooned, and how he lept out at a bay my lord Arthur with a tale as long as
window, then she said unto queen Gue- ye can, for again unto queen
I will turn
never, Madam, ye are greatly to blame Guenever and give her a heat and I :
for Sir Launcelot, for now ye have lost require you as ever ye will have my
him ; for I saw and heard by his coun- service, make good watch, and espy if
tenance that he is mad for ever. Alas, ever ye may see my lord Sir Launcelot.
madam, ye do great sin, and to yourself Truly, said fair Elaine, I shall do all
great dishonour, for ye have a lord of that I may do, for as fain would I know
your own, and therefore it is your part and wit where he is become as you or
to love him for there is no queen in
; any of his kin, or queen Guenever, and
this wo .Id hath such another king as ye cause great enough have I thereto as
have. And if ye were not, I might have well as any other. And wit ye well,
the love of my lord Sir Launcelot and ;
said fair Elaine to Sir Bors, I would lose
cause I have to love him, for I am his, my life for him rather than he should
and by him I have borne a fair son, and be hurt but alas, I cast me never for to
:
his name is Galahad, and he shall be in see him and the chief causer of this is
;
his time the best knight of the world. dame Guenever. Madam, said dame
Dame Elaine, said the queen, I charge you Brisen, the which had made the en-
CHAP. X. OF THE SORROW FOR SIR LAUNCELOT. 333
chantment before betwixt Sir Launcelot they rode nigh a quarter of a year,
and her, I pray you heartily let Sir Bors endlong and overthwart, in many places,
depart and hie him with all his might, forests and wildernesses, and ofttimes
as fast as he may, to seek Sir Launcelot. were lodged for his sake, and yet
evil
For I warn you he is clean out of his for all their labour and seeking could
mind, and yet he shall be well holpen, they never hear word of him. And wit
and but by miracle. Then wept dame you well these three knights were passing
Elaine, and so did Sir Bors de Ganis, sorry. Then at the last Sir Bors and
and so they departed and Sir Bors
; his fellows met with a knight, that hight
rode straight unto queen Guenever, and Sir Melion de Tartare. Now, fair knight,
when she saw Sir Bors she wept as she said Sir Bors, whither be ye away ? for
were wood. Fie on your weeping, said they knew either other aforetime. Sir,
Sir Bors, for ye weep never but when said Sir Melion, I am in the way toward
there is no boot. Alas, said Sir Bors, the court of king Arthur. Then we
that ever Sir Launcelot's kin saw you. pray you, said Sir Bors, that ye will tell
For now have ye lost the best knight of my lord Arthur, and my lady queen
our blood, and he that was all our Guenever, and all the fellowship of the
leader and our succour. And I dare Round Table, that we cannot in no
say and make it
good, that all kings, wise hear tell where Sir Launcelot is
christian nor heathen, may not find such become. Then Sir Melion departed
a knight, for to speak of his nobleness from them, and said that he would tell
and courtesy with his beauty and his the king and the queen and all the
gentleness. Alas, said Sir Bors, what fellowship of the Round Table, as they
shall we do that be of his blood ? Alas, had desired him. So when Sir. Melion
said Ector de Maris. Alas, said Lionel. came to the court of king Arthur,
he told the king and the queen and all
CHAP. X. the fellowship of the Round Table, what
Sir Bors had said of Sir launcelot.
What sorrow queen Guenever made for Then Gawaine, Sir Uwaine, Sir
Sir
Sir Launcelot, and bow he was sought
Sagramor Desirous, Sir Agio vale, and
le
by knights of his kin. Sir Percivale de Galis, took upon them
And when the queen heard them say by the great desire of king Arthur, and
so, she fell to the earth in a dead swoon. in especial by the queen, to seek through-
And then Sir Bors took her up, and out all England, Wales, and Scotland,
roused her, and when she was awaked she to find Sir Launcelot. And with them
kneeled afore the three knights, and held rode eighteen more
to bear
knights
up both her hands, and besought them them fellowship. wit And
ye well
to seek him, and spare not for no goods they lacked no manner of spending :
but that he be founden, for I wot he is and so were they three and twenty
out of his mind. And Sir Bors, Sir Ector, knights.
and Sir Lionel departed from the queen, Now turn we to Sir Launcelot, and
for they might not abide no longer for speak we of his care and woe and what
sorrow. And then the queen sent them pain he there endured, for cold, hunger,
treasure enough for their expenses, and and thirst he had plenty. And thus as
so they took their horses and their these noble knights rode together, they
armour, and departed. And then they by one assent departed, and then they
rode from country to country, in forests rode by two, by three, and by four, and by
and in wildernesses and in wastes, and five and ever they assigned where they
;
ever they laid watch as well both at should meet. And so Sir Aglovale and
forests and at all manner of men as they Sir Percivale rode together unto their
rode, to hearken and enquire after him, mother that was a queen in those days.
as he that was a naked man in his shirt, And when she saw her two sons, for
ith a sword in his hand. And thus joy she wept tenderly. And then she
334 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XT.
said, Ah, my dear sons, when your vale's sake than if he had said he had
fatherwas slain he left me four sons, of served the queen, Aglovale's mother.
the which now be twain slain and for ; Well, my fellow, said the lord of that
the death of my noble son Sir Lamorak castle, for Sir Aglovale's sake thou shnlt
shall my heart never be glad. And have evil lodging, for Aglovale slew my
then she kneeled down upon her knees brother, and therefore thou shalt die on
tofore Aglovale and Sir Percivale, and part of payment. And then that lord
besought them to abide at home with commanded his men to have him away,
her. Ah, sweet mother, said Sir Per- and so pulled him out of the castle, and
civale, we may not for we be come
;
there they slew him without mercy.
of king's blood of both parties, and Right so on the morn came Sir Aglo-
therefore, mother, it is our kind to vale and Sir Percivale riding by a
haunt arms and noble deeds. Alas, my church-yard, where men and women
sweet sons, then she said, for your sakes were busy, and beheld the dead squire,
I shall lose my liking and joy, and then and they thought to bury him. What
wind and weather I may not endure, is there, said Sir Aglovale, that ye be-
what for the death of your father king hold so fast ? A
good man start forth
Pellinore, that was shamefully slain by and said, Fair knight, here lieth a
the hands of Sir Gawaine and his brother squire slain shamefully this night. How
Sir Gaheris, and they slew him not was he slain, fair fellow ? said Sir Aglo-
manly, but by treason. Ah, my dear vale. My fair sir, said the man, the
sons, this a piteous complaint for me
is lord of this castle lodged this squire this
of your father's death, considering also night, and because he said he was ser-
the death of Sir Lamorak, that of vant unto a good knight that is with
knighthood had but few fellows. Now, king Arthur, his name is Sir Aglovale,
my dear sons, have this in your mind. therefore the lord commanded to slay
Then there was but weeping and sob- him, and for this cause is he slain.
bing in the court when they should Gramercy, said Sir Aglovale, and ye
depart, and she fell in swooning in shall see his death revenged lightly, for
midst of the court. I am
that same knight for this whom
squire was slain. Then
Sir Aglovale
CHAP. XI. called unto him Sir Percivale, and bad
him alight lightly, and so they alight
How a servant of Sir Aglovale s was slain,
both, and betook their horses to their
and what vengeance Sir Aglovale and
men, and so they went on foot into the
Sir Percivale did therefore.
castle. And all so soon as they were
And when she was awaked she sent a within the castle gate Sir Aglovale bad
squire after them with spending enough. the porter, Go thou unto thy lord and
And so when
the squire had overtaken tell him that I am Sir Aglovale, for
them, they would not suffer him to ride whom this squire was slain this night.
with them, but sent him home again to Anon the porter told this to his lord,
comfort their mother, praying her meekly whose name was Goodewin anon he :
of her blessing. And so this squire was armed him, and then he came into the
benighted, and by misfortune he hap- court and said, Which of you is Sir
pened to come unto a castle where Aglovale ? Here I am, said Aglovale :
dwelled a baron. And so when the for what cause slewest thou this night
squire was come into the castle, the lord my mother's squire ? I slew him, said Sir
asked him from whence he came, and Goodewin, because of thee; for thou slew-
whom he served ?
My lord, said the est my brother Sir Gawdelin. As for thy
squire, I serve a good knight that is brother, said Sir Aglovale, I avow it, I
called Sir Aglovale. The squire said it slew him, for he was a false knight and
to good intent, weening unto him to a betrayer of ladies and of good knights ;
have been more forborne for Sir Agio- and for the death of my squire thou
CHAP. XII. OF SIR PERCIVALE AND HIS BROTHER. 335
shalt die. I defy thee, said Sir Goode- fered me to be her paramour and I re-
win. Then they lashed together as fused her, she set her men upon me
eagerly as it fod been two lions and :
suddenly or ever I might come to my
Sir Percivale ne fought with all the weapon, and thus they bound me, and
remnant that would fight. And within here I wot well I shall die, but if some
a while Sir Percivale had slain all that man of worship break my bands. Be
would withstand him for Sir Percivale
; ye of good cheer, said Sir Percivale, and
dealt so his strokes that were so rude because ye are a knight of the Round
that there durst no man abide him. Table as well as I, I trust to God to
And within a while Sir Aglovale had break your bands. And therewith Sir
Sir Goodewin at the earth, and there he Percivale drew out his sword, and strake
unlaced his helm and strake off his at the chain with such a might that he
head. And
then they departed and took cut a-two the chain, and through Sir
their horses. And then they let carry Persides' hauberk, and hurt him a little.
the dead squire unto a priory, and there Truly, said Sir Persides, that was a
they interred him. mighty stroke as ever I felt one, for had
not the chain been, ye had slain me.
CHAP. XII. And therewithal Sir Persides saw a
knight coming out of the castle all that
How Sir Percivale departed secretly from
ever he might flying. Beware Sir, said
his brother, and how he loosed a knight
Sir Persides, yonder cometh a man
bound with a chain, and of other things. that will have ado with you. Let him
And when this was done, they rode come, said Sir Percivale, and so he met
into many countries, ever enquiring after with that knight in the midst of the
Sir Launcelot, but never they could hear bridge, and Sir Percivale gave him such
of him. And at the last they came to a a buffet that he smote him quite from
castle that hight Cardican, and there his horse, and over a part of the bridge,
Sir Percivale and Sir Aglovale were that had not been a little vessel under
lodged together, and privily about the bridge that knight had been drowned.
midnight Sir Percivale came to Agio- And then Sir Percivale took the knight's
vale's squire, and "Said, Arise and make horse, and made Sir Persides to mount
thee ready, for ye and I will ride away upon him, and so they rode unto the
secretly. Sir, said the squire, I would castle, and bad the lady deliver Sir
full fain ride with you where ye would Persides' servants, or else he would slay
have me, but, and my lord your brother all that ever he found. And so for fear
take me, he will slay me. As for that she delivered them all. Then was Sir
care thou not, for I shall be thy war- Percivale ware of a lady that stood in
rant. And so Sir Percivale rode till it that tower. Ah, madam, said Sir Per-
was afternoon, and then he came upon civale, what use and custom is that in
a bridge of stone, and there he found a a lady to destroy good knights but if
knight that was bounden with a chain they will be your paramour ? forsooth
fast about the waist unto a pillar of this is a shameful custom of a lady.
stone. O knight, said that bounden
fair And if I had not a great matter in my
knight, I require thee loose me of my hand, should foredo your evil customs.
I
bonds. What knight are ye? said Sir And so Sir Persides brought Sir Per-
Percivale, and for what cause are ye so civale unto his own castle, and there he
bounden? Sir, I shall tell you, said made him great cheer all that night.
that knight am a knight of the Table
; I And on the morn, when Sir Percivale
Round, and my name is Sir Persides, had heard mass and broken his fast,
and thus by adventure I came this way, he bad Sir Persides, Ride unto king
and here I lodged in this castle at the Arthur, and tell the king how that ye
bridge foot, and therein dwelleth an met with me, and tell my brother Sir
uncourteous lady, and because she prof- Aglovale how I rescued you, and bid
33^ MORTE D ARTHUR BOOK XI.
him seek not after me, for I am in the civale arose lightly and cast his shield
quest to seek Sir Launcelot du Lake. on his shoulder and drew his sword, and
And though he seek me he shall not bad the other knight aljght, and do we
find me, and tell him 1 will never see battle to the uttermost. Will ye more?
him, nor the court, till I have found said that knight, and therewith he
alight
Sir Launcelot. Also tell Sir Kay the se- and put his horse from him, and then
neschal, and to Sir Mordred, that I trust they came together an easy pace, and
to God to be of as great worthiness as there they lashed together with noble
either of them. For tell them I shall swords, and sometime they stroke, and
never forget their mocks and scorns sometime they foined, and either gave
that they did to me that day that I was other many great wounds. Thus they
made 'knight. And tell them I will fought near half a day, and never rested
never see that court till men speak more but right little, and there was none of
worship of me than ever men did of any them both that had less wounds than fif-
of them both. And so Sir Persides teen, and they bled so much that it was
departed from Sir Percivale, and then marvel they stood on their feet. But this
he rode unto king Arthur, and told knight that fought with Sir Percivale
there of Sir Percivale. And when Sir was a proved knight and a wise fighting
Aglovale heard him speak of his brother knight, and Sir Percivale was young and
Sir Percivale, he said, He departed from strong, not knowing in fighting as the
me unkindly. Sir, said Sir Persides, on other was. Then Sir percivale spake
my life he shall prove a noble knight first, and hold thy hand
said, Sir knight,
as any now is living. And when he saw a while still, we have
foughten for a
for
Sir Kay and Sir Mordred, Sir Persides simple matter and quarrel over long,
said thus :
My
fair lords both, Sir Per- and therefore I require thee tell me thy
civale greeteth you well both, and he name, for I was never or this time
sent you word by me that he trusteth to matched. Truly, said that knight, and
God or ever he come to the court again never or this time was there never knight
to be of as great nobleness as ever were that wounded me so sore as thou hast
ye both, and more men to speak of his done, and yet have I foughten in many
nobleness than ever they did you. It battles and now shdlt thou wit that I
;
may well be, said Sir Kay and Sir am a knight of the Table Round, and my
Mordred, but at that time when he was name is Sir Ector de Maris, brother
made knight he was full unlikely to unto the good knight Sir Launcelot du
prove a good knight. As for that, said Lake. Alas, said Sir Percivale, and my
king Arthur, he must needs prove a name is Sir Percivale de Galis, that
good knight, for his father and his hath made my quest to seek Sir Laun-
brethren were noble knights. celot now I am siker that I shall never
;
faint for bleeding that I may scarcely gave thankings to God with great mild-
stand ; how should I then take my ness. O Jesu ! said Sir Percivale, what
horse ? may this mean that we be
thus healed,
and right now we were at the point of
CHAP. XIV.
dying ? I wot full well, said Sir Ector,
How by miracle they were both made whole,
what it is. It is an holy vessel that is
by the coming of the holy vessel of San-
borne by a maiden, and therein is a part of
greal. the holy blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Then they made both great dole out blessed might He be but it may not be!
of measure. This will not avail, said seen, said Sir Ector, but if it be by a
Percivale. And then he kneeled down perfect man. Truly, said Sir Percivale,
and made his prayer devoutly unto I saw a damsel, as me thought, all in
were as whole of hide and limb as ever I been in this quest. And so either told
they were in their life days then they ; other of their adventures.
tfoelftj) froofc,
the dwarf cried. Help. Then came forth will I none do him. And this knight's
a likely knight, and well apparelled in name was Bliant. Then he said unto
scarlet furred with meniver. And anon the dwarf, Go thou fast on horseback
as he saw Sir Launcelot, he deemed that unto my brother Sir Selivant, that is at
he should be out of his wit and then he
: the Castle Blank, and tell him of mine
said with fair speech, Good man, lay adventure, and bid him bring with him
down that sword, for, as me seemeth, an horse-litter, and then will we bear
thou hast more need of sleep, and of this knight unto my castle.
warm clothes, than to wield that sword.
As for that, said Sir launcelot, come CHAP. II.
not too nigh for, and thou do, wit thou
;
well I will slay thee. And when the How Sir Launcelot was carried in a horse-
litter, and how Sir Launcelot rescued
knight of the pavilion saw that, he start
Sir Bliant his host.
backward within the pavilion. And
then the dwarf armed him lightly, and So the dwarf rode fast, and he came
so the knight thought by force and again and brought Sir Selivant with
might to take the sword from Sir Laun- him, and six men with an horse-litter.
celot, and so he came stepping out, and And so they took up the feather-bed
when Sir Launcelot saw him come so with Sir Launcelot, and so carried all
all armed with his sword in his hand, away with them unto the Castle Blank,
then Sir Launcelot flew to him with and he never awaked till he was within
such a might, and hit him upon the the castle. And then they bound his
helm such a buffet that the stroke hands and his feet, and gave him good
troubled his brains, and therewith the meals and good drinks, and brought
sword brake in three. And the knight him again to his strength and his fair-
fell to the earth as he had been dead, ness, but in his wit they could not bring
the blood blasting out of his mouth, him again, nor to know himself. Thus
the nose, and the ears. And then Sir was Sir Launcelot there more than a
Launcelot ran into the pavilion, and year and an half, honestly arrayed, and
rushed even into the warm bed and : fair fared withal. Then upon a day
there was a lady in that bed, and she this lord of that castle, Sir Bliant, took
gat her smock, and ran out of the pavi- his arms on horseback with a spear to
lion. And when she saw her lord lie on seek adventures. And as he rode in a
the ground like to be dead, then she forest there met him two knights adven-
cried and wept as she had been mad. turous. The one was Breuse Sance Pite,
Then with her noise the knight awaked and his brother, Sir Bertelot, and these
out of his swoon, and looked up weakly two ran both at once upon Sir Bliant,
with his eyes, and then he asked her and brake their spears upon his body.
where was that mad man that had given And then they drew out swords, and
him such a buffet ? for such a buffet had made great battle, and fought long to-
I never of man's hand. Sir, said the gether. But at the last Sir Bliant was
dwarf, it is not worship to hurt him, for sore wounded, and felt himself faint, and
he is a man out of his wit, and doubt ye then he fled on horseback toward his
not he hath been a man of great wor- castle. And they came hurling under
ship, and for some heartly sorrow that the castle where as Sir Launcelot lay in
he hath taken he is fallen mad and me : a window, and saw how two knights
seemeth, said the dwarf, he resembleth laid upon Sir Bliant with their swords.
much unto Sir Launcelot for him I ;
And when Sir Launcelot saw that, yet
saw at the great tournament beside as wood as he was, he was sorry for his
Lonazep. Jesu defend, said that knight, lord Sir Bliant. And then Sir Launcelot
that ever that noble knight Sir Launce- brake his chains from his legs and off his
lot should be in such a plight. But arms, and in the breaking he hurt his
whatsoever he be. said that knight, harm hands sore and so Sir Launcelot ran out
:
CHAT'. TTT. OF SIR LAUNCELOT'S MADNESS. 339
at a postern, and there he met with the spear. And therewith the boar turned
two knights that chased Sir Bliant, and him nimbly, and rove out the lungs and
there he pulled down Sir Bertelot with the heart of the horse, so that Launcelot
his barehands from his horse, and there- fell to the earth, and or ever Sir Laun-
withal he wrothe his sword out of his celot might get from the horse, the boar
hands, and so he lept unto Sir Breuse, rove him on the brawn of the thigh,
and gave him such a buffet upon the up to the hough bone. And then Sir
head that he tumbled backward over Launcelot was wroth, and up he gat
his horse croup. And when Sir Bertelot upon his feet, and drew his sword, and
saw there his brother have such a fall, he smote off the boar's head at one
he gat a spear in his hand, and would stroke. And therewithal came out the
have run Sir Launcelot through. That hermit, and saw him have such a
saw Sir Bliant, and strake oft the hand wound then the hermit came to Sir
;
tree, fast by an hermitage. Then Sir wooder than he was aforehand. And
Launcelot ran at the boar with his then, upon a day, Sir Launcelot ran his
22 2—
34° MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XII.
way into the forest, and by adventure he them, and as they roamed up and down,
came to the city of Corbin where dame one of dame Elaine's maidens espied
Elaine was, that bare Galahad, Sir where lay a goodly man by the well
Launcelot's son. And so when he was sleeping, and anon shewed him to dame
entered into the town, he ran through Elaine. Peace, said dame Elaine, and
the town to the castle, and then all the say no word and then she brought
;
young men of that city ran after Sir dame Elaine where he lay. And when
Launcelot, and there they threw turves that she beheld him, anon she fell in re-
at him, and gave him many sad strokes. membrance and knew him verily
of him,
And ever as Sir Launcelot might over- for Sir Launcelot, and therewithal she
reach any of them he threw them, so that fell on weeping so heartily that she sank
they would never come in his hands no even to the earth. And when she had
more, for of some he brake the legs and thus wept a great while, then she arose
arms, and so fled into the castle, and and called her maidens, and said she
then came out knights and squires and was sick. And so she went out of the
rescued Sir Launcelot. And when they garden, and she went straight to her
beheld him, and looked upon his person, father, and there she took him apart by
they thought they saw never so goodly herself, and then she said, Oh father,
a man. And when they saw so many now have I need of your help, and but
wounds upon him, all they deemed that if that ye help me, farewell my good
he had been a man of worship. And days for ever. What is that, daughter ?
then they ordained him clothes to his said king Pelles. Sir, she said, thus is
body, and straw underneath him, and a it in your garden I went for to sport,
:
drink, but there was but few would lieve that, said king Pelles. Sir, she
bring meat to his hands. said, truly he is there,and me seemeth
he should be distract out of his wit.
CHAP. IV. Then hold you still, said the king, and
let me deal. Then the king called to
How Sir Launcelot was known by dame him such as he most trusted, a four
Elaine, and was borne into a chamber,
persons, and dame Elaine his daughter.
and after healed by the Sangreal. And when they came to the well and
So it that king Pelles had a
befel, beheld Sir Launcelot, anon dame Brisen
nephew, his name was
Castor, and so he knew him. Sir, said dame Brisen, we
desired of the king to be made knight, must be wise how we deal with him, for
and so at the request of this Castor, the this knight is out of his mind, and if we
king made him knight at the feast of awake him rudely, what he will do we
Candlemas. And when Sir Castor was all know not. But ye shall abide, and
made knight, that same day he gave I throw such an enchantment
shall
many gowns. And then upon him that he shall not a\v ake
T
Sir Castor sent
for the fool, was Sir Launcelot.
that within the space of an hour and so ;
And when he was come afore Sir Castor, she did. Then within a little while
he gave Sir Launcelot a robe of scarlet after king Pelles commanded that all
and all that belonged unto him. And people should avoid, that none should
when Sir Launcelot was so arrayed like be in that way there as the king would
a knight, he was the seemliest man in come. And so when this was done,
all the court, and none so well made. these four men and these ladies' laid
So when he saw his time he went into hand on Sir Launcelot. And so they
the garden, and there Sir Launcelot laid bare him into a tower, and so into a
him down by a well and slept. And so chamber where was the holy vessel of
at afternoon, dame Elaine and her the Sancgreal, and by force Sir Launce-
maidens came into the garden to play lot was laid by that holy vessel, and
CHAP. V. HOW HE WAS RECOVERED. 34*
was healed and recovered. And when Arthur may I never come. Sir, said
that he was awaked he groaned and dame Elaine, I will live and die with
sighed, and complained greatly that he you, and only for your sake, and if my
was passing sore. life might not avail you, and my death
brought me unto you, where as ye lay ye shall have ten knights with you.
sleeping by a well, and anon, as 1 verily For, daughter, I will that ye wit
beheld you, I knew you. And then I we all be honoured by the blood of
told my father, and so were ye brought Sir Launcelot.
afore this holy vessel, and by the virtue
of It thus were ye healed. O, said Sir CHAP. VI.
Launcelot, if this be sooth, how many
there be that know of my woodness.
How Sir Launcelot came into the Joyous
Isle, and there be named himself Le
Truly, said Elaine, no more but my
Chevaler Mai Fet.
father I and dame Brisen.
and Now, I
pray you, said Sir Launcelot, keep it in Then went dame Elaine unto Sir
counsel, and let no man know it in the Launcelot, and told him all how her
world, for I am sore ashamed that I father had devised for him and her.
have been thus miscarried, for I am Then came the knight Sir Castor, that
banished out of the country of Logiis was nephew unto king Pelles, unto Sir
for ever, that is for to say, the country Launcelot, and asked him what was
of England. And so Sir Launcelot lay his name ? Sir, said Sir Launcelot, my
more than a fortnight, or ever that he name is Le Chevaler Mai Fet, that is to
might stir for soreness. And then upon say, the knight that hath trespassed.
a day he said unto dame Elaine these Sir, said Sir Castor, it may well be so,
words: Lady Elaine, for your sake I but ever me seemeth your name should
have had much travel, care, and anguish, be Sir Launcelot du Lake, for or now I
it needeth not to rehearse it,
ye know have seen you. Sir, said Launcelot, yc
how. Notwithstanding I know well I are not as a gentle knight I put case
:
have done foul to you, when that I drew my name were Sir Launcelot, and that
my sword to you, for to have slain you. it list me not to discover my name;
And all was the cause that ye and dame what should it grieve you here to keep
Brisen deceived me. That is truth, said my counsel, and ye not hurt thereby V
dame Elaine. Now will ye for my love, But wit thou well, and ever it lie in my
343 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XII.
power I shall grieve you, and that I truly mention, he had the better of all
promise you truly. Then Sir Castor the five hundred knights, and there was
kneeled down and besought Sir Laun- not one slain of them. And after that
celot of mercy :
—
For I shall never utter Sir Launcelot made them all a great
what ye be while that ye be in these feast. And in meanwhile came
the
parts. Then Sir Launcelot pardoned Sir Percivale de Galis and Sir Ector de
him. And then after this king Pelles Maris under that castle that was called
with ten knights, and dame Elaine and the Joyous Isle. And as they beheld
twenty ladies, rode unto the castle of that gay castle they would have gone
Bliant, that stood in an island enclosed to that castle, but they might not for
in iron, with a fair water, deep and the broad water, and bridge could they
large. And when they were there Sir find none. Then they saw on the other
Launcelot let call it the Joyous Isle, and side a lady with a sperhawk in her
there was he called none otherwise but hand, and Sir Percivale called unto her,
Le Chevaler Mai Fet, the knight that and asked that lady who was in that
hath trespassed. Then Sir Launcelot castle. Fair knight, she said, here
let make him a shield all of sable, and a within this castle is the fairest lady in
queen crowned in the midst all of silver, this land, and her name is Elaine. Also
and a knight, clean armed, kneeling be- we have in this castle the fairest knight
fore her and every day once, for any
; and the mightiest man that is, I dare
mirths that all the ladies might make say, living, and he calleth himself Le
him, he would once every day look to- Chevaler Mai Fet. How came he into
wards the realm of Logris where king these marches? said Sir Percivale.
Arthur and queen Guenever were. And Truly, said the damsel, he came into
then would he fall upon a weeping as this country like a mad man, with dogs
though his heart should to-brast. So it and boys chasing him through the city
fell that time that Sir Launcelot heard of Corbin; and by the holy vessel of
of a justing fast by his castle, within the Sanc^real he was brought into his
three leagues. Then he called unto him wit again, but he will not do battle
a dwarf, and he bade him go unto that with no knight but by undorne or by
justing, and, or ever the knights depart, noon. And if ye list to come into the
look thou make there a cry in the hear- castle, said the lady, ye must ride unto
ing of all the knights, that there is one the further side of the castle, and there
knight in the Joyous Isle, that is the shall ye 'find a vessel that will bear you
castle Bliant, and say that his name is and your horse. Then they departed
Le Chevaler Mai Fet, that will just and came unto the vessel. And then
against knights that will come; and Sir Percivale alight, and said to Sir
who that putteth that knight to the Ector de Maris, Ye shall abide me
worse shall have a fair maid and a jer- here until that I wit what manner a
falcon. knight he is. For it were shame unto
CHAP. VII. us, inasmuch as he is but one knight,
and we should both do battle with him.
Of a tourneying in the joyous
great Do ye as ye list, said Sir Ector de
Isle, and how Sir Percivale and Sir
Maris, and here I shall abide you until
Ector came thither, and Sir Percivale Then passed Sir
that I hear of you.
fought with him. Percivale the water. And when he came
So when this cry was made, unto to the castle-gate, he bad the porter,
Joyous Isle drew knights to the num- Go thou to the good knight within the
ber of hundred. And wit ye well
five castle, and tell him here is come an
there was never seen in Arthur's days errant knight to just with him. Sir,
one knight that did so much deeds of said the porter, ride ye within the castle,
arms as Sir Launcelot did three days and there is a common place for justing,
together. For, as the book maketh that lords and ladies may behold you.
CHAf . Vlll. HOW HE MET SIR PERCIVALE. 343
So anon as Sir Launcelot had warning, Ihave here done. It is soon forgiven,
he was soon ready and there Sir Per- ; said Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Percivale
civale and Sir Launcelot encountered sent for Sir Ector de Maris. And when
with such a might, and their spears Sir Launcelot had a sight of him, he
were so rude, that both the horses and ran unto him and took him in his arms,
the knights fell to the earth. Then they and then Sir Ector kneeled down and
avoided their horses and flang out noble either wept upon other, that all had
swords, and hewed away cantels of pity to behold them. Then came dame
their shields, and hurtled together with Elaine, and she there made them great
two boars, and either
their shields like cheer as might lie in her power and ;
wounded other passing sore. At the there she told Sir Ector and Sir Perci-
last Sir Percivale spake first, when they vale how and in what manner
Laun- Sir
had foughten there more than two celot came into that country, and how
hours. Fair knight, said Sir Percivale, he was healed. And there it was known
I require thee tell me thy name, for I how long Sir Launcelot was with Sir
met never with such a knight. Sir, said Bliant and with Sir Selivant, and how
Sir Launcelot, my name is Le Chevaler he first met with them, and how he
Mai Fet : now tell me your name, said departed from them because of a boar ;
Sir Launcelot, I
require you gentle and how the hermit healed Sir Launce-
knight. Truly, said Sir Percivale, my
. lot of his great wound, and how that
name is Sir Percivale de Galis, that was he came to Corbin.
brother unto the good knight Sir La-
morak de Galis, and king Pellinore CHAP. IX.
was our father, and Sir Aglovale is my How and Sir Lionet came to
Sir Bors
brother. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, what
have I done to fight with you that art king Brandegore, and how Sir Bors
took bis son Helin le Blank, and of
a knight of the Table Round, that some-
Sir Launcelot.
time was your fellow !
sought you nigh this two year ; and that ye wit I will have him with me
yonder is Sir Ector de Maris your bro- unto the court of king Arthur. Sir,
ther abideth me on the other side of the said the king, ye may well take him
yonder water. Now, said Sir Percivale, with you, but he is over tender of age.
I pray you forgive me mine offence that As for that, said Sir Bors, I will have
344 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XII.
him with me, and bring him to the Elaine made great sorrow. My lord
house of most worship of the world. Sir Launcelot, said dame Elaine, at this
So when Sir Bors should depart, there same feast of Pentecost shall your son
was made great sorrow for the depart- and mine, Galahad, be made knight,
ing of Helin le Blank, and great weeping for he is fully now fifteen winter old.
was there made. But Sir Bors and Sir Do as ye list, said Sir Launcelot, God
Lionel departed. And within a while give him grace to prove a good knight.
they came to Camelot, where was king As for that, said dame Elaine, I doubt
Arthur. And when king Arthur under- not he shall prove the best man of his
stood that Helin le Blank was Sir Bors' kin, except one. Then shall he be a
son, and nephew unto king Brande- man good enough, said Sir Launcelot.
gore, then king Arthur let him make
knight of the Round Table and so he ; CHAP. X.
proved a good knight and an adven- How Sir Launcelot with Sir Percivale and
turous.
Sir Ector came to the court, and of the
Now will we turn to our matter of
Sir Launcelot. It befel upon a day great joy of him.
Sir Ector and Sir Percivale came to Then they departed, and within five
Sir Launcelot and asked him what he days' journey they came to Camelot,
would do, and whether he would go that is called in English, Winchester.
with them unto king Arthur or not? And when Sir Launcelot was come
Nay, said Sir Launcelot, that may not among them, the king and all the
be by no mean; for I was so en- knights made great joy of him. And
treated at the court that I cast me there Sir Percivale de Galis and Sir
never to come there more. Sir, said Ector de Maris began and told the
Sir Ector, I am your brother, and ye whole adventures, that Sir Launcelot
are the man in the world that I love had been out of his mind the time of
most, and if I understood that it were his absence, how he called himself Le
your disworship, ye may understand Chevaler Mai Fet, the knight that had
I would never counsel you thereto ; trespassed, and in three days Sir Laun-
but king Arthur and all his knights, celot smote down five hundred knights.
and in especial queen Guenever, made And ever, as Sir Ector and Sir Percivale
such dole and sorrow that it was marvel told these tales of Sir Launcelot, queen
to hear and see. And ye must remem- Guenever wept as she should have died.
ber the great worship and renown that Then the queen made great cheer. Truly,
ye be of, how that ye have been more said king Arthur, I marvel for what
spoken of than any other knight that cause ye Sir Launcelot went out of your
is now living; for there is none that mind ? I and many others deem it was
beareth the name now but ye and Sif for the love of fair Elaine, the daughter
Tristram therefore, brother, said Sir
; of king Pelles, by whom ye are noised
Ector, make you ready to ride to the that ye have a child, and his name is
court with us, and I dare say there was Galahad and men say he shall do
;
pound the seeking of you. Well, bro- for whom he went out of his "mind.
ther, said Sir Launcelot, I will do after And then there were great feasts made
your counsel, and ride, with you. So and great joy. And many great lords
then they took their horses, and made and ladies, when they heard that Sir
them ready, and took their leave at king Launcelot was come to the court again,
Pelles and at dame Elaine. And when they made great joy.
Sir Launcelot should depart, dame
CHAP. XI. OF SIR TRISTRAM AND SIR PALAMIDES. 345
tures, all thiswhile that Sir Launcelot counselled me, I will do a part there-
was thus missed two year and more, after. But there shall no man nor child
Sir Tristram bare the renown through all ride with me, but myself. And so will I
the realm of Logris, and many strange ride on Tuesday next coming, and no
adventures befel him, and full well and more harness of war but my spear and
manly and worshipfully he brought my sword.
them to an end. So when he was come CHAP. XII.
home, La Beale Isoud told him of the
Hoiu Sir Tristram departed unarmed, and
great feast that should be at Pentecost
met with Sir Palamides, and how they
next following and there she told him
;
said Sir Tristram, that caused some de- and she sent with him four knights, and
bate betwixt him and queen Guenever. within half a mile he sent them again :
Sir, said dame Isoud, I know it all, for and within a mile after Sir Tristram saw
queen Guenever sent me a letter, in afore him where Sir Palamides had
the which she wrote me all how it stricken down a knight, and almost
was, for to require you to seek him ; wounded him to the death. Then Sir
and now, blessed be God, said La Tristram repented him that he was not
Beale Isoud, he is whole and sound, armed, and then he hoved still. With
and come again to the court. Thereof that Sir Palamides knew Sir Tristram,
am I glad, said Sir Tristram, and now and cried on high, Sir Tristram, now
shall ye and I make us ready, for both be we met, for or we depart we will
ye and I will be at the feast. Sir, said redress our old sores ! As for that, said
Isoud, and it please you I will not be Sir Tristram, there was never yet Chris-
there, for through me ye be marked of tian man that might make his boast that
many good knights, and that causeth ever from him and wit ye well
I fled ;
you to have much more labour for my Sir Palamides, thou that art a Saracen
sake than needeth you. Then will I not shall never make thy boast that Sir
be there, said Sir Tristram, but if ye Tristram de Liones shall flee from thee.
be there. Not so, said La Beale Isoud, And therewith Sir Tristram made his
for then shall I be spoken of shame horse to run, and with all his might he
among queens and ladies of estate,
all came straight upon Sir Palamides, and
for ye that are called one of the noblest brast his spear upon him in an hundred
knights of the world, and ye a knight of pieces. And forthwithal Sir Tristram
the Round Table, how may ye be missed drew his sword. And then he turned
at that feast ? What shall be said among his horse and struck at Palamides six
all knights? —
See how Sir Tristram hunt- great strokes upon his helm, and then
eth, and hawketh, and cowereth within Sir Palamides stood still and beheld Sir
a castle with his lady, and forsaketh Tristram, and marvelled of his woodness
your worship. Alas, shall some say, it and of his folly. And then Sir Palamides
34^ MORTE DARTHUR. HOOK XII.
said to himself, And Sir Tristram were in my heart I believe in Jesus Christ
armed were hard to cease him of this
it and his mild mother Mary but I have
;
battle, and if I turn again and slay him but one battle to do, and when that is
I am shamed wheresoever that I go. done I will be baptised with a good
Then Sir Tristram spake, and said, Thou will. By my head, said Sir Tristram, as
coward knight, what castest thou to for one battle thou shalt not seek it no
do? why wilt thou not do battle with longer. For God defend, said Sir Tris-
me, for have thou no doubt I shall tram, that through my default thou
endure all thy malice. Ah, Sir Tiistram, shouldest longer thus a Saracen.
live
said Sir Palamides, full well thou wotest For yonder is a
knight that ye, Sir
I may not fight with thee for shame, for Palamides, have hurt and smitten down ;
thou art here naked, and I am armed, now help me that I were armed in his
and if I slay thee dishonour shall be armour, and I shall soon fulfil thine
mine. And well thou wotest, said Sir avows. As ye will, said Sir Palamides,
Palamides to Sir Tristram, I know thy so it shall be. So they rode unto that
strength and thy hardiness to endure knight that sat upon a bank, and
against a good knight. That is truth, then Sir Tristram saluted him, and he
said Sir Tristram, I understand thy weakly saluted him again. Sir knight,
valiantness well. Ye say well, said Sir said Sir Tristram, I you tell
require
Palamides, now I require you tell me a me your right name. Sir, he said,
question that I shall say to you. Tell my name is Sir Galleron of Galway,
me what it is, said Sir Tristram, and I and knight of the Table Round. Truly,
shall answer you the truth. I put the said Sir Tristram, I am right heavy
case, said Sir Palamides, that ye were of your hurts: but this is all, I must
armed at all rights as well as I am, and pray you to lend me all your whole ar-
Inaked as ye be, what would ye do to mour, for ye see I am unarmed, and I
me now by your true knighthood ? Ah, must do battle with this knight. Sir,
said Sir Tristram, now I understand thee said the hurt knight, ye shall have it
well, Sir Palamides, for now must I say with a good will ; but ye must beware,
my own judgment, and, as God me for I warn youthat knight is wight.
bless, that I shall say shall not be said Sir, said Galleron, I pray you tell me
for no fear that I have of thee. But this your name, and what is that knight's
is all wit,
; Sir Palamides, as at this time name that hath beaten me. Sir, as for
thou shouldest depart from me, for I my name, it is Sir Tristram de Liones,
would not have ado with thee. No and as for the knight's name that hath
more will I, said Sir Palamides, and hurt you, it is Sir Palamides, brother
therefore ride forth on thy way. As for unto the good knight Sir Safere, and yet
that I may choose, said Sir Tristram, is Sir Palamides unchristened. Alas,
either to ride or to abide. But Sir Pa- said Sir Galleron, that is pity that so
lamides, said Sir Tristram, I marvel of good a knight and so noble a man of
one thing, that thou that art so good a arms should be unchristened. Truly,
knight, that thou will not be christened, said Sir Tristram, either he shall slay
and thy brother Sir Safere hath been me, or I him, but that he shall be
christened many a day. christened or ever we depart in sunder.
My lord Sir Tristram, said Sir Galleron,
CHAP. XIII. your renown and worship is well known
How that Sir
through many realms, and God save you
Tristram gat him harness of
a knight which was hurt, and how he
thisday from shenship and shame. Then
Sir Tristram unarmed Galleron, the which
overthrew Sir Palamides.
was a noble knight and had done many
As for that, said Sir Palamides, I may deeds of arms, and he was a large knight
not yet be christened, for one avow that of flesh and bone. And when he was
I have made many years agone ; howbeit unarmed he stood upon his feet, for he
Chap. xiv. HOW SIR PAL AMIDES WAS CHRISTENED. 347
How Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides most part of my worship, and sithen I
fought long together, and after accorded ; offended never as to her own person.
and how Sir Tristram made him to be And as for the offence that I have done,
christened. itwas against your own person, and for
And then they came together as two that offence ye have given me this day
wild boars, lashing together, tracing and many sad strokes, and some I have
traversing as noble men that oft had given you again and now I dare say I
;
wrath out of measure, and rashed upon and all your evil will God forgive it
Sir Palamides with such a might that you, and I do. And here, within this
Sir Palamides fell groveling to the earth, mile, is the suffragan of Carlisle, that
and therewithal he leapt up lightly upon shall give you the sacrament of baptism.
his feet, and then Sir Tristram wounded Then they took their horses, and Sir
Sir Palamides sore through the shoulder. Galleron rode with them. And when
And ever Sir Tristram fought still in they came to the suffragan Sir Tristram
like hard, and Palamides failed not,
Sir told him their desire. Then the suffra-
but gave him many sad strokes. And gan a great vessel with water.
let fill
at the last Sir Tristram doubled his And when he had hallowed it, he then
strokes, and by fortune Sir Tristram confessed clean Sir Palamides, and Sir
smote Sir Palamides' sword out of his Tristram und Sir Galleron were his god-
hand, and if Sir Palamides had stooped fathers. And then soon after they de-
for his sword, he had been slain. Then parted, riding towards Camelot, where
Palamides stood still and beheld his king Arthur and queen Guenever was.
sword with a sorrowful heart. How and for the most part all the knights of
343 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XIII.
?#ere enoetl) \\)t gecont) boofc of ggr ^Trtetram tjjat foas tirafoen oute
of dpeensslje in to 3cnglg&$i)e.
ftut f)ere te no reversal of tf)e tijgro boofc. &nti £ere folofoetf) tj)e
noble tale of tlje j&ancgreal tijat callet) te tl)e fjoolg fceggd ano tl)e
I pray you say me where Sir Launcelot and descended off their horses, and
is ? Yonder came a
ye may see him, said the there fellowship about Sir
fair
king. Then she went unto Launcelot Launcelot and welcomed him, and were
and said, Sir Launcelot, I salute you on passing glad of his coming. And then
king Pelles' behalf, and I require you they led him into the Abbess's chamber,
come on with me hereby into a forest. and unarmed him, and right so he was
Then Sir Launcelot asked her with whom ware upon a bed lying two of his
she dwelled? I dwell, said she, with cousins, Sir Bors and Sir Lionel, and
king Pelles. What will ye with me? then he waked them, and when they
said Sir Launcelot. Ye shall know, said saw him they made great joy. Sir, said
she, when ye come thither. Well, said Sir Bors unto Sir Launcelot, what adven-
CHAP. 11. OF THE LETTERS IN THE SIEGE PERILOUS. 349
ture hath brought thee hither, for we barons espied in the sieges of the Round
wend to-morrow to have found you at Table, all about written with gold let-
Camelot ? Truly, said Sir Launcelot, a ters. Here ought to sit he, and he
gentlewoman brought me hither, but ought to sit here. And thus they went
I know not the cause. In the mean- so long until that they came to the siege
while, as they thus stood talking to- perilous, where they found letters newly
gether, there came twelve nuns which written of gold, that said: Four hun-
brought with them Galahad, the which dred winters and fifty -four accom-
was passing fair and well made, that plished after the passion of our Lord
unneth in the world men might not Jesu Christ ought this siege to be ful-
find his and all those ladies
match ; filled. Then all they said, This is a
wept. Sir, said the ladies, we bring marvellous thing, and an adventurous.
you here this child, the which we have In the name of God, said Sir Launcelot ;
nourished, and we pray you to make and then he accounted the term of the
him a knight for of a more worthier
; writing, from the birth of our Lord unto
man's hand may he not receive the that day. It seemeth me, said Sir
order of knighthood. Sir Launcelot be- launcelot, this siege ought to lie ful-
held that young squire, and saw him filled thissame day, for this is the feast
seemly and demure as a dove, with all of Pentecost after the four hundred and
manner of good features, that he wend four and fifty year; and if it would
of his age never to have seen so fair a please all parties, I would none of these
man of form. Then said Sir. I^auncelot, letters were seen this day, till he be
Cometh this desire of himself? He and come that ought to achieve this adven-
all they said, Yea. Then shall he, said ture. Then made they to ordain a
Sir Launcelot, receive the high order of cloth of silk for to cover these letters in
knighthood as to-morrow at the reve- the siege perilous. Then the king bad
rence of the high feast. That night Sir haste unto dinner. Sir, said Sir Kay
Launcelot had passing good cheer, and .the steward, if ye go now unto your
on the morn at the hour of prime, at meat, ye shall break your old custom of
Galahad's desire, he made him knight, your court. For ye have not used on
and said, God make him a good man, this day to sit at your meat or that ye
For beauty faileth you not as any that have seen some adventure. Ye say sooth,
liveth. said the king, but I had so great joy
of Sir Launcelot and of his cousins,
CHAP. II.
•
which be come to the court whole and
How the letterswere found written in the sound, that I bethought me not of my
old custom. So as they stood speaking,
siege perilous, and of the tnarvellous
in came a squire, and said unto the
adventure of the sword in a stone.
king, Sir, I bring unto you marvel-
Now, fair sir, said Sir Launcelot, will lous tidings. What be they? said the
ye come with me unto the court of king. Sir, there is here beneath at the
king Arthur ? Nay, said he, I will not river a great stone, which I saw fleet
go with you as at this time. Then above the water, and therein saw I
he departed from them and took his sticking a sword. The king said,
two cousins with him, and so they came I will see that marvel. So all the
unto Camelot by the hour of undorne knights went with him, and when they
on Whitsunday. By that time the king came unto the river, they found there a
and the queen were gone to the minster stone fleeting, as it were of red mar-
to hear their service then the king and
: ble, and therein stack a fair and a rich
the queen were passing glad of Sir Bors sword, and in the pomell thereof were
and and so was all the fel-
Sir Lionel, precious stones, wrought with subtil let-
lowship. So when the king and all the ters of gold. Then the barons read the
knights were come from service, the letters, which said in this wise Never
:
35© MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XIII.
and commandment. But when the king in a coat of red sendel, and bare a
heard this, he repented it much, and mantle upon his shoulder that was
said unto Sir Percivale that he should furred with ermine, and put that upon
assay for his love. And he said, Gladly, him. And the old knight said unto the
for to bear Sir Gawaine fellowship. young knight, Sir, follow me. And
And therewith he set his hand on the anon he led him unto the siege peril-
sword, and drew it strongly, but he ous, where beside sat Sir Launcelot,
might not move it. Then were there and the good man lift up the cloth,
more that durst be so hardy to set their and found there letters that said thus:
hands thereto. Now may ye go to This is the siege of Galahad the haut
your dinner, said Sir Kay unto the king, prince. Sir, said the old knight, wit ye
for a marvellous adventure have ye seen. well that place is yours. And then he
So the king and all went unto the court, set him down surely in that siege. And
CHAP. IV. GALAHAD SITS IN THE SIEGE PERILOUS. 351
then he said to the old man, Sir, ye may the hand, and went down from the
now go your way, for well have ye done palace to shew Galahad the adventures
that ye were commanded to do. And of the stone.
recommend me unto my grandsire king
and unto my lord Petchere,
CHAP. V.
Pelles,
and say them on my behalf, I shall How king Arthur shewed the atone, hoving
come and see them as soon as ever I on the water, to Galahad, and how he
drew out the sword.
may. So the good man departed, and
•
there met him twenty noble squires, and The queen heard thereof, and came
so took their horses and went their wav. afterwith many ladies, and shewed
Then all the knights of the Table them the stone where it hoved on the
Round marvelled them greatly of Sir water. Sir, said the king unto .Sir Ga-
Galahad, that he durst sit there in that lahad, here is a great marvel as ever I
siege perilous, and was so tender of age, saw, and right good knights have as-
and wist not from whence he came, but sayed and failed. Sir, said Galahad,
all only by God, and said, This is he by that is no marvel, for this adventure is
whom the Sancgreal shall be achieved, not theirs, but mine, and for the surety
for there sat never none but he, but he of this sword I brought none with me ;
were mischieved. Then Sir Launcelot for here by my side hangeth the scab-
beheld his son, and had great joy of bard. And anon he laid his hand on
him. Then Sir Bors told his fellows, the sword, and lightly drew it out of
Upon pain of my life this young knight the stone, and put it in the sheath
shall come unto great worship. This and said unto the king, itNow
goeth
noise was great in all the court, so that better than it did aforehand. Sir, said
it came to the
queen. Then she had the king, a shield God shall send you.
marvel what knight it
might be that Now have I, said Sir Galahad, that
durst adverlture him to sit in the siege sword that sometime was the good
perilous. Many said unto the queen, he knight's Balin le Savage, and he was
resembled much unto Sir Launcelot. a passing good man of his hands. And
I may well suppose, said the queen, with this sword he slew his brother
that he son of Sir Launcelot and king
is Balan, and that was great pity, for he
Pelles' daughter, and his name is Gala- was a good knight, and either slew
had. I would fain see him, said the other through a dolorous stroke that
queen, for he must needs be a noble Balan gave unto my grandfather king
man, for so is his father; I report Pelles, the which is not yet whole, nor
me unto the Table Round.
all So not shall be till I heal him. There-
when meat was done, that the
the with the king and espied where
all
king and all were risen, the king went came riding down the river a lady on a
unto the siege perilous, and lift up the white palfrey toward them. Then she
cloth, and found there the name of Ga- saluted the king and the queen, and
lahad, and then he shewed it unto Sir asked if that Sir Launcelot was there?
Gawaine, and said, P'air nephew, now And then he answered himself, 1 am
have we among us Sir Galahad the here, fair lady. Then she said, all with
good knight, that shall worship us all, weeping, How your great doing is
and upon pain of my life he shall changed sith this day in the morn.
achieve the Sancgreal, right so as Sir Damsel, why say ye so ? said Launcelot.
Launcelot hath done us to understand. I say you sooth, said the damsel, for ye
Then came king Arthur unto Galahad, were this day the best knight of the
and said, ye be welcome, for ye
Sir, world, but who shouldsay so now
shall move many good knights to the should be a liar, for there is now one
quest of the Sancgreal, and ye shall better than ye. And well it is proved
achieve that never knights might bring by the adventures of the sword whereto
to an end. Then the king took him by ye durst not set your hand, and that is
352 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XIII.
the change and leaving of your name ; of him, for he there surmounted all
wherefore I make unto you a remem- other knights, for within a while he had
brance, that ye shall not ween from thrown down many good knights of the
henceforth that ye be the best knight of Table Round save twain, that was Sir
the world. As touching unto that, said Launcelot and Sir Percivale.
Launcelot, I know well I was never the
best. Yes, said the damsel, that were CHAP. VII.
ye, and are yet of any sinful man of the
world. And sir king, Nacien the hermit
How the queen desired to see GaTahad,
and how after all the knights were re-
sendeth thee word, that thee shall befall
the greatest worship that ever befell plenished with the holy Sangreal, and
how they avowed the enquest of the same.
king in Britain and I say you where-
;
fore, for this day the Sancgreal shall Then the king, at the queen's request,
appear in thy house, and feed thee made him to alight and to unlace his
and all thy fellowship of the Round helm, that the queen might see him in
Table. So she departed and went that the visage. And when she beheld him
same way that she came. she said, Soothly, I dare well say that
Sir Launcelot is his father, for never
CHAP. VI. two men resembled more in likeness,
therefore it is no marvel though he be
How king Arthur had all the knights to- of great prowess. So a lady that stood
gether, for to just in the meadow beside
by the queen said, Madam, ought he of
Camelot or they departed.
right to be so good a knight? Yea,
Now, said the king, I am sure at this forsooth, said the queen, for he is of all
quest of the Sancgreal shall all ye of parties come of the best knights of the
the Table Round depart, and never shall world, and of the highest lineage for ;
I see you again whole together, there- Sir Launcelot is come but of' the eighth
fore I will see you all whole together in degree from our Lord Jesu Christ, and
the meadow of Camelot, to just and to Sir Galahad is of the ninth degree from
tourney, that after your death men may our Lord Jesu Christ therefore I dare
;
speak of it, that such good knights were say they be the greatest gentlemen of
wholly together such a day. As unto the world. And then the king and all
that counsel, and at the king's request, estates went home unto Camelot, and
they accorded all, and took on their so went to evensong to the great
harness that longed unto justing. But minster. And so after upon that to sup-
all thismoving of the king was for this per, and every knight sat in his own
intent, for to see Galahad proved, for place as they were toforehand. Then
the king deemed he should not lightly anon they heard cracking and crying of
come again unto the court after his de- thunder, that them thought the place
parting. So were they assembled in the should all to-drive. In the midst of this
meadow, both more and less. Then Sir blast entered a sun-beam more clearer
Galahad, by the prayer of the king and by seven times than ever they saw day,
the queen, did upon him a noble jesser- and they were alighted of the grace
all
ance, and also he did on his helm, but of the Holy Ghost. Then began every
shield would he take none for no prayer knight to behold other, and either saw
of the king. And then Sir Gawaine and other by their seeming fairer than ever
other knights prayed him to take a they saw afore. Not for then there was
spear. Right so he did and the queen
;
no knight might speak one word a great
was in a tower with all her ladies for to while, and so they looked every man on
behold that tournament. Then Sir Ga- other, as they had been dumb. Then
lahad dressed him in the midst of the there entered into the hall the holy
meadow, and began to break spears Graile covered with white samite, but
marvellously, that all men had wonder there was none might see it, nor w ho 7
CHAP. VIII. OF THE DEPARTURE OF THE KNIGHTS. 353
suddenly, that they wist not where it And therewith the tears filled in his
became. Then had they all breath to eyes. And then he said, Gawaine,
speak. And then the king yielded Gawaine, ye have set me in great
thankings unto God of his good grace sorrow. For I have great doubt that
that he had sent them. Certes, said the my true fellowship shall never meet
king, we ought to thank our Lord Jesu here more again. Ah, said Sir Launce-
greatly, for that he hath shewed us this lot, comfort yourself, for it shall be
day at the reverence of this high feast of unto us as a great honour, and much
Pentecost. Now, said Sir Gawaine, we more than if we
died in any other
have been served this day of what meats places, for of death we be sure. Ah
and drinks we thought on, but one I^auncelot, said the king, the great love
thing beguiled us, we might not see that I have had unto you all the days
the holy Graile, it was so preciously co- of my life maketh me to say such
vered wherefore I will make here avow,
: doleful words ; for never christian king
that to-morn, without longer abiding, had never so many worthy men at this
I shall labour in the quest of the Sane-, table as I have had this day at the
greal, that I shall hold me out a twelve- Round Table, and that is my great
month and a day, or more if need be, sorrow. Whenthe queen, ladies, and
and never shall I return again unto the gentlewomen wist these tidings, they
court till I have seen it more openly had such sorrow and heaviness that
than it hath been seen here: and if I there might no tongue tell it, for those
may not speed, I shall return again as knights had holden them in honour and
he that may not be against the will of charity. But among all other queen
our Lord Jesu Christ. When they of Guenever made great sorrow. I marvel,
the Table Round heard Sir Gawaine said she, my lord would suffer them to
say so, they arose up the most party, depart from him. Thus was all the
and made such avows as Sir Gawaine court troubled, for the love of the de-
had made. partition of those knights. And many
Anon as king Arthur heard this he of those ladies that loved knights would
was greatly displeased, for he wist well have gone with their lovers and so had ;
that they might againsay not their they done, had not an old knight come
avows. Alas! said king Arthur unto amone them in religious clothing, and
Sir Gawaine, ye have nigh slain me then he spake all on high and said,
with the avow and promise that ye have Fair lords which have sworn in the
made. For through you ye have be- quest of the Sancgreal, thus sendeth
reft meof the fairest fellowship and the you Nacien the hermit word, that none
truest of knighthood that ever were seen in this quest lead lady nor gentlewoman
together in any realm of the world. with him, for it is not to do in so high
For when they depart from hence, I am a service as they labour in, for I warn
sure they all shall never meet more in you plain, he that is not clean of his
this world, for they shall die many in sins he shall not see the mysteries of
the quest. And so it forethinketh me our Lord Jesu Christ and for this
;
a little, for I have loved them as well cause they left these ladies and gentle-
as my life, wherefore it shall grieve me women. After this the queen came
right sore the departition of this fellow- unto Galahad, and asked him of whence
ship. For I have had an old custom he was, and of what country ? He told
to have them in my fellowship. her of whence he was. And son unto
23
354 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XIII.
Sir Launcelot, she said he was: as to found they by tale an hundred and fifty,
that he said neither yeanor nay. Truly, and all were knights of the Round
said the queen, of your father ye need Table. And then they put on their
not to shame you, for he is the good- helms, and departed, and recommanded
liest knight and of the best men of them all wholly unto the queen, and
the world come, and of the stock, there was weeping and great sorrow.
of all parties, of kings. Wherefore Then the queen departed into her
ye ought of right to be of your deeds chamber so that no man should per-
a passing good man, and certainly, she ceive her great sorrows. When Sir
said, ye resemble him much. Then Launcelot missed the queen he went
Sir Gr.lahad was a little ashamed, and into her chamber, and when she saw
said, Madam, sith ye know in certain, him she cried aloud, O, Sir Launcelot,
wherefore do ye ask it me ? for he that ye have betrayed me and put me to
is my father shall be known openly, death, for to leave thus my lord. Ah,
and all betimes. And then they went madam, said Sir Launcelot, I pray you
to rest them. And in the honour of be not. displeased, for I shall come
the highness of Galahad he was led again as soon as I may with my wor-
into king Arthur's chamber, and there ship. Alas, said she, that ever I saw
rested in his own bed. And as soon you but He that suffered death upon
!
as it was day the king arose, for the cross for all mankind, be to your
he had no rest of all that night for good conduct and safety, and all the
sorrow. Then he went unto Gawaine whole fellowship. Right so departed
and to Sir Launcelot, that were arisen for Sir Launcelot, and found his
fellowship
to hear mass. And
then the king again that abode his coming. And so they
said, Ah
Gawaine, Gawaine, ye have mounted upon their and rode
horses,
betrayed me. For never shall my court through the streets of Camelot, and
be amended by you, but ye will never there was weeping of the rich and poor,
be sony for me, as I am for you. And and the king turned away, and might
therewith the tears began to run down not speak for weeping. So within a
by his visage. And therewith the king while they came to a city and a castle
said, Ah knight, Sir Launcelot, I require that hight Vagon there they entered
:
thee thou counsel me, for I would that into the castle, and the lord of
that
this quest were undone, and it might castle was an old man that hight Vagon,
be. Sir, said ye saw
Sir Launcelot, and he was a good man of his living,
yesterday so many worthy knights that and set open the gates, and made them
then were sworn, that they may not all the good cheer that he
might. And
leave it in no manner of wise. That so on the morrow they were all ac-
wot I well, said the king, but it shall corded that they should depart every
so heavy me
at their departing, that each from other. And then they de-
I wot well there shall no manner of parted on the morrow with weeping and
joy remedy me. And then the king mourning cheer, and every knight took
and the queen went unto the minster. the way that him best liked.
So anon Launcelot and Gawaine com-
manded their men to bring their arms. CHAP. IX.
And when they all were armed, save
their shields and their helms, then they
How Galahad gat him a shield, and how
came to their fellowship, which all were they sped that presumed to take down
the said shield.
ready in the same wise for to go to the
minster to hear their service. Now rideth Sir Galahad yet without
Then was done, the
after the service shield, and so he rode four days with-
king would wit how many had taken out any adventure. And at the fourth
the quest of the holy Graile, and to day after even-song he came to a white
account them he prayed them all. Then abbey, and there he was received with
CHAP. X. OF GALAHAD'S WHITE SHIELD. 355
great reverence, and led to a chamber, white knight but the other struck him
;
and then he was unarmed, and then so hard that he brake the mails, and
was he ware of two knights of the thrust him through the right shoulder,
Round Table, one was king Bagde- for the shield covered him not as at
magus, and that other was Sir Uwaine. that time, and so lie bare him from his
And when they saw him they went unto horse, and therewith he alighted and
him and made of him great solace, and took the white shield from him, saying,
so they went to supper. Sirs, said Sir Knight, thou hast done thyself great
Galahad, what adventure brought you folly, for this shield ought not to be
hither? Sir, said they, it is told us borne but by him that shall have no
that within this place is a shield that peer that liveth. And then he came
no man may bear about his neck but to king Bagdemagus's squire and said,
that if he be mischieved or dead within Bear this shield unto the good knight
three days, or else maimed for ever. Sir Galahad, that thou left in the abbey,
Ah, sir, said kingBagdemagus, I shall and greet him well from me. Sir, said
bear it to-morrow for to assay this the squire, what is your name ? Take
strange In the name of
adventure. thou no heed of my name, said the
God, said Sir Galahad. Sir, said Bag- knight, for it is not for thee to know .
demagus, and I may not achieve the nor for none earthly man. Now, fair
adventure of this shield ye shall take sir,said the squire, at the reverence of
it
upon you, for I am sure ye shall not Jesu Christ tell me for what cause this
fail. said Galahad, I agree right
Sir, shield not be borne, but if the
may
well thereto, for I have no shield. So bearer thereof be mischieved. Now,
on the morn they arose and heard mass. sith thou hast conjured me so, said the
Then king Bagdemagus asked where knight, this shield behoveth to no man
the adventurous shield was. Anon a but unto Galahad. And the squire
monk led him behind an altar where went unto Bagdemagus and asked him
the shield hung as white as any snow, whether he were sore wounded or not ?
but in the midst was a red cross. Sir, Yea forsooth, said he, I shall escape
said the monk, this shield ought not to hard from the death. Then he fetched
be hanged about no knight's neck, but his horse, and brought him with great
he be the worthiest knight of the world, pain unto an abbey. Then was he
and therefore I counsel you knights to taken down softly, and unarmed, and
be well advised. Well, said king Bag- and there was looked to
laid in a bed,
demagus, I wot well that I am not the hiswounds. And, as the book telleth,
best knight of the world, but yet shall he lay there long, and escaped hard
I assay to bear it. And so he bare it with the life.
Uwaine said he would bear him fellow- had touched the cross with his hand, it
ship pleased him.
if it Sir, said Gala- was as whole as ever it was tofore.
had, that may ye not, for I must go Then soon after there fell a great mar-
alone, save this squire shall bear me vel, that the cross of the shield at one
fellowship : and so departed Uwaine. time vanished away, that no man wist
Then within a while came Galahad where it became. And then king Eve-
there as the white knight abode him lake was baptised, and for the most
by the hermitage, and every each part all the people of that city. So
saluted other courteously. Sir, said soon after Joseph would depart, and
Galahad, by this shield been many king Evelake would go with him,
marvels fallen. Sir, said the knight, whether he would or nould. And so
it befell after the passion of our Lord by fortune they came into this land,
Jesu Christ thirty-two year, that Joseph that at that time was called Great
of Armathie, the gentle knight the Britain. And
there they found a great
which took down our Lord off the holy felon paynim, that put Joseph into
cross, at that time he departed from prison. And so by fortune tidings
Jerusalem with a great party of his kin- came unto a worthy man that hight
dred with him. And so he laboured Mondrames. and he assembled all his
till that they came to a city that people, for the great renown he had
hight
Sarras. And at same hour that
that heard of Joseph, and so he came into
Joseph came to Sarras, there was a the land of Great Britain, and "dis-
king that hight Evelake, that had great herited this felon paynim and con-
war against the Saracens, and in espe- sumed him, and therewith delivered
cially against one Saracen, the which Joseph out of prison. And after that
was the king Evelake's cousin, a rich all the people were turned to the chris-
upon the new law. And then there he Not long after that Joseph was laid
shewed him the right belief of the Holy in his deadly bed. And when king Eve-
Trinity, to the which he agreed unto with lake saw that, he made much sorrow,
all his heart, and there this shield was and said, For thy love I have left my
made for king Evelake, in the name of country, and sith ye shall depart out of
Him that died upon the cross. And this world leave me some token of
then through his good belief he had yours, that I may think on you. Joseph
the better of king Tolleme. For when said, that will I do full gladly. Now
Evelake was in the battle, there was a bring me your shield that I took you
cloth set afore the shield, and when he when ye went into battle against
was in the greatest peril he let put king Tolleme. Then Joseph bled sore
away the cloth, and then his enemies at the nose that he might not by no
saw a figure of a man on the cross, means be staunched. And there upon
where through they all were discomfit. that shield he made a cross of his own
And so it befell that a man of king blood. Now may ye see a remembrance
Evelake's was smitten his hand off, and that I love you, for ye shall never see
bare that hand in his other hand. And this shield but ye shall think on me, and
Joseph called that man unto him, and it shall be always as fresh as it is now ;
bad him, Go with good devotion, touch and never shall no man bear this shield
the cross. And as soon as that man about his neck but he shall repent it,
CHAP. XII. MELIAS IS MADE KNIGHT. 357
unto the time that Galahad the good ever he saw in the likeness of a man ;
knight bear it, and the last of my and then he blessed him, and wist
lineage shall have it about his neck, well it was a fiend. Then heard he a
that shall do many marvellous deeds. voice say, Galahad, I see there environ
Now, said king Evelake, where shall I about thee so many angels that my
put this shield, that this worthy knight power may not dare thee. Right so
may have it ? Ye shall leave it there as Sir Galahad saw a body all armed lie
Nacien the hermit shall be put after in that tomb, and beside him a sword.
his death. For thither shall that good Now, fair brother, said Galahad, let us
knight come the fifteenth day after that remove body, for it is not worthy
this
he shall receive the oider of knighthood. to lie in this church-yard, for he was a
And so that day that they set is this false Christian man. And therewith
time that ye have his shield. And in they all departed and went to the abbey.
the same abbey lieth Nacien the hermit. And anon as he was unarmed, a good
And then the white knight vanished man came and set him down by him,
away. Anon, as the squire had heard and you what be-
said, Sir, I shall tell
these words, he alight off his hackney, tokeneth all saw in the tomb
that ye :
and kneeled down at Galahad's feet, and For that covered body betokeneth the
prayed him that he might go with him duresse of the world, and the great sin
till he had made him knight. If I — that our Lord found in the world, for
—
would not refuse you ? Then will ye there was such wretchedness that the
make me a knight, said the squire, father loved not the son, nor the son
and that order, by the grace of God, loved not the father, and that was one
shall be well set in me. So Sir Galahad of the causes that our Ford took flesh
granted him, and turned again unto the and blood of a clean maiden for our ;
abbey there they came from. And there sins were so great at that time that well
men made great joy of Sir Galahad. nigh all was wickedness. Truly, said
And anon as he was alight, there was Galahad, I believe you right well. So
a monk brought him unto a tomb in Sir Galahad rested him there that night.
a church -yard, where that was such And upon the morn he made the squire
a noise that who that heard it should knight, and asked him his name, and of
verily nigh be mad or lose his strength. what kindred he was come. Sir, said
And, sir, they said, we deem it is a he, men call me Melias de Lile, and I
fiend. am the son of the king of Denmark.
Now, fair sir, said Galahad, sith ye be
CHAP. XII. come of kings and queens, now look
that knighthood be well set in you, for
Of marvel that Sir Galahad saw and
the
heard in the tomb, and how he made ye ought to be a mirror unto all chi-
valry. Sir, said Melias, ye say sooth.
Melias knight.
But, sir, sithen ye have made me a
Now lead me thither, said Galahad. knight, ye must of right grant me my
nd so they did, all armed save his first desire that is reasonable. Ye say
t
helm. Now, said the good man, go to sooth, said Galahad. Then Melias said,
the tomb and lift it up. So he did, and that ye will suffer me to ride with you
heard a great noise, and piteously he in this quest of the Sancgreal till that
said that all men might hear it, Sir some adventure depart us. —I grant
Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, you, sir. Then men brought Sir Me-
come thou not nigh me, for thou shalt lias his armour, and his spear, and
make me go again there where I have his horse and so Sir Galahad and he
;
been so long. But Galahad was nothing rode forth all that week ere they found
afraid, but lift up the stone, and there any adventure. And then upon a Mon-
came out so foul a smoke, and after he day, in the morning, as they were de-
saw the foulest figure leap thereout that parted from an abbey, they came to a
358 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XIII,
ye.
— Nay, my lord, I
pray you let lias, beware, for that is he that hath
me —
have that adventure. Take it, in slain me. Sir Galahad answered, Sir
God's name, said Galahad. knight, come on your peril. Then either
dressed to other, and came together as
fast as their horses might run and Ga-
;
Of the and
adventure that Melias had, through his shoulder, and smote him
how Galahad revenged him, and how down off his horse, and in the falling
Melias was carried into an abbey. Galahad's spear brake. With that came
out another knight out of the leaves
And then rode Melias into an old and brake a spear upon Galahad, or
forest, and therein he rode two days ever he might turn him. Then Galahad
and more. And then he came into a drew out his sword and smote off the
fair meadow, and there was a fair lodge left arm of him, so that it fell to the
of boughs. And then he espied in that earth. And then he fled, and Sir Gala-
lodge a chair, wherein was a crown of had sued fast afterhim. And then he
gold subtily wrought. Also there was turned again unto Sir Melias, and there
clothes covered upon the earth, and he alight and dressed him softly on his
many delicious meats were set thereon. horse tofore him, for the truncheon of
Sir Melias beheld this adventure, and his spear was in his body, and Sir Gala-
thought it marvellous, but he had no had start up behind him, and held him
hunger, but of the crown of gold he in his arms, and so brought him to
took much keep, and therewith he the abbey, and there unarmed him and
stooped down, and took it up, and rode brought him to his chamber. And then
his way with it. And anon he saw a he asked his Saviour. And when he had
knight came riding after him that said, received Him he said unto Sir Galahad.
Knight, set down that crown which is Sir, let death come when it pleaseth
not yours, and therefore defend you. him. And therewith he drew out the
Then Sir Melias blessed him, and said, truncheon of the spear out of his body :
Fair Lord of heaven, help and save thy and then he swooned. Then came there
new-made knight. And then they let an old monk, which sometime had been
their horses run as fast as they might. a knight, and beheld Sir Melias. And
so that the other knight smote Sir anon he ransacked him, and then he
Melias through hauberk and through said unto Sir Galahad, I shall heal him
the left side, that he fell to the earth of this wound, by the grace of God,
CHAP. XV. OF THE CASTLE OF MAIDENS. 359
within the term of seven weeks. Then said Galahad and so took his horse
;
Knight, keep thee, for we assure thee him and his eldest son. And then they
nothing but death. Why, said Galahad, took the maiden, and the treasure of the
will ye all have ado with
once ? me at castle. And then by great force they
Yea, said they, thereto mayest thou held all the knights of this castle against
trust. Then Galahad put forth his their will under their obeisance, and in
spear, and smote the foremost to the great servage and truage, robbing and
earth, that near he brake his neck. And pilling the poor common people of all
therewith all the other smote him on his that they had. So it happened on a
shield great strokes, so that their spears day the duke's daughter said, Ye have
brake. Then Sir Galahad drew out his done unto me great wrong to slay mine
sword, and set upon them so hard that own father and my brother, and thus to
it was marvel it, and so, through
to see hold our lands not for then, she said,
:
great force, he made them to forsake ye shall not hold this castle for many
the field and Galahad chased them
; years, for by one knight ye shall be
till they entered into the castle, and so overcome. Thus she prophesied seven
passed through the castle at another years agone. Well, said the seven
gate. Andthere met Sir Galahad an knights, sithen ye say so, there shall
old man, clothed in religious clothing, never lady nor knight pass this castle,
and said, Sir, have here the keys of this but they shall abide maugre their heads,
castle. Then Sir Galahad opened the or die therefore, till that knight be
gates, and saw so much people in the come by whom we shall lose this castle.
streets that he might not number them, And therefore it is called the Maidens'
and all said, Sir, ye be welcome, for Castle, for they have devoured many
long have we abiden here our deliver- maidens. Now, said Sir Galahad, is
ance. Then came to him a gentle- she here for whom this castle was lost V
woman, and said, These knights be Nay, saidthe priest, she was dead
fled, but they will come again this within these three nights after that
night, and here to begin again their evil she was thus enforced and sithen have
;
custom. What will ye that I shall do V they kept her younger sister, which en-
said Galahad. Sir, said the gentle- dureth great pains with many other
woman, that ye send after all the ladies. By this were the knights of
knights hither that hold their lands of the country come. And then he made
this castle, and make them to swear for them do homage and fealty to the
to use the customs that were used here- duke's daughter, and set them in great
tofore of old time. I will well, said ease of heart. And in the morn there
Galahad. And there she brought him came one to Galahad, and told him how
an horn of ivory, bounden with gold that Gawaine, Gareth, and Uwaine had
richly, and said, Sir, blow this horn, slain the seven brethren. I suppose
which will b*e heard two mile about well, said Sir Galahad and took his
:
this castle. When Sir Galahad had armour and his horse and commended
blown the horn he set him down upon them unto God.
a bed. Then came a priest unto Gala-
I
CHAP. XVI. OF SIR GAWAINE'S QUEST. 361
of other. And on
the morn they heard for ye have used the most untruest life
mass, and so departed. And by the that ever 1 heard knight live. For,
way they met with Sir Uwaine les certes, had ye not been so wicked as ye
Avoutres. And there Sir Uwaine told are, never had the seven brethren been
Sir Gawaine how he had met with none slain by you and your two fellows.
adventure sith he departed from the For Sir Galahad, himself alone, beat
court. Nor we, said Sir Gawaine. them all seven the day before, but his
And either promised other of those living is such he shall slav no man
three knights not to depart while that lightly. Also I may say you, the Castle
they were in that quest, but if fortune of Maidens betokeneth the good souls
caused it. So they departed and rode that were in prison afore the Incarna-
by fortune till that they came by the tion of Jesu Christ. And the seven
Castle of Maidens. And there the seven knights betoken the seven deadly sins
brethren espied the three knights, and that reigned that time in the world.
said, Sithen we be banished by one And I may liken the good Galahad unto
knight from this castle, we shall destroy the Son of the High Father, that light
all the knights of king Arthur's that we within a maid, and bought all the souls
may overcome, for the love of Sir Ga- out of thrall so did Sir Galahad deliver
:
lahad. And therewith the seven knights all the maidens out of the woful castle.
setupon the three knights and by Now, Sir Gawaine, said the good man,
fortune Sir Gawaine slew one of the
:
he drew his sword, and dressed him unto he passing heavy and dismayed. Then
Sir Percivale, and smote him so on the he returned and came to his horse, and
helm that it rove to the coif of steel, did off his saddle and bridle, and let
and had not the sword swerved Sir him pasture and unlaced his helm, and
;
Percivale had been slain, and with the ungirded his sword, and laid him down
stroke he fell out of his saddle. This to sleep upon his shield tofore the
justs was done tofore the hermitage cross.
where a recluse dwelled. And when CHAP. XVIII.
she saw Sir Galahad ride, she said, God
be with thee, best knight of the world. How Sir Launcelot, half sleeping and half
Ah certes, said she all aloud, that waking, saw a sick man borne in a
Launcelot and Percivale hear litter, and how he was healed with the
might
it, and yonder two knights had known Sangreal.
thee as well as I do, they would not have And so he fell on sleep, and half
encountered with thee. When Sir Ga- waking and half sleeping he saw come
lahad heard her say so he was sore by him two palfreys all fair and white,
adread to be known therewith he
: the which bare a litter, therein lying a
smote his horse with his spurs, and sick knight. And when he was nigh the
rode a great pace fro ward them. Then cross, he there abode still. All this
perceived they both that he was Ga- Sir Launcelot saw and beheld, for he
lahad, and up they gat on their slept not verily and he heard him say,
;
horses, and rode fast after him, but Oh, sweet Lord, when shall this sorrow
in a while he was out of their sight. leave me? and when shall the holy
CHAP. XIX. OF SIR LAUNCELOT'S HUMILIATION. 3<>3
vessel come by me where through I celot's horse, for he was better than his
shall be blessed ? For I have endured own : and so departed they from the
thus long for little trespass. full A cross.
great while complained the knight thus, CHAP. XIX.
and always Sir Launcelot heard it.
With that Sir Launcelot saw the candle- How a voice spake to Sir Laur.cclot, and
stick with the six taperscome before how be found bis horse and his helm
borne away, and after went afoot.
the cross, and saw nobody that
he
brought it. Also there came a table of Thek anon Sir Launcelot waked, and
silver, and the holy vessel of the Sanc- sethim up, and bethought him w hat he r
greal, which Sir Launcelot had seen had seen there, and whether it were
aforetime in king Peschour's house. dreams or not. Right so heard he a
And therewith the sick knight set him voice that said, Sir Launcelot, more
up, and held up both his hands, and harder than is the stone, and more bitter
said, Fair sweet Lord, which is here than is the wood, and more naked and
within this holy vessel, take heed unto barer than is the leaf of the fig-tree,
me, that I may be whole of this malady. therefore go thou from hence, and with-
And therewith on his hands and on draw thee from this holy place. And
his knees he went so nigh that he when Sir Launcelot heard this he was
touched the holy vessel, and kissed it, passing heavy, and wist not what to do,
and anon he was whole, and then he and so departed, sore weeping, and
said, Lord God I thank thee, for I am cursed the time that he was born. For
healed of this sickness. So when the then he deemed never to have had wor-
holy vessel had been there a great while ship more. For those words went to
it went unto the chapel, with the his heart, till that he knew wherefore
chandelier and the light, so that Laun- he was called so. Then Sir Launcelot
celot wist not where it was become, for went to the cross, and found his helm,
he was overtaken with sin that he had his sword, and his horse, taken away.
no power to arise against the holy And then he called himself a very
vessel ; wherefore after that many men wretch, and most unhappy of all
said of him shame, but he took repent- knights and there he said, My sin and
:
ance afterthat. Then the sick knight my wickedness have brought me unto
dressed him up, and kissed the cross. great dishonour. For when I sought
Anon his squire brought him his arms, worldly adventures for worldly desires
and asked his lord how he did ? Certes, I ever achieved them, and had the better
said he, I thank God light well, through in every place, and never was I dis-
the holy vessel I am healed. But I have comfit in no quarrel, were it right or
great marvel of this sleeping knight, that wrong. And now I take upon me the
had no power to awake when this holy adventures of holy things, and now I
vessel was brought hither. I dare right see and understand that mine old sin
well say, said the squire, that he dwelleth hindereth me, and shameth me, so that
in some deadly sin, whereof he was I had no power to stir nor to speak
never confessed. By my faith, said the when the holy blood appeared afore
knight, whatsoever he be he is unhappy, me. So thus he sorrowed till it was
for as I deem he is of the day, and heard the fowls sing: then
fellowship of
the Round Table, the which is entered somewhat he was comforted. But when
into the quest of the Sancgreal. Sir, Sir Launcelot missed his horse and his
said the squire, here 1 have
brought you harness, then he wist well God was
allyour arms, save your helm and your displeased with him. Then he departed
sword, and therefore by my assent now from the cross on foot into a forest.
may ye take this knight's helm and his And so by prime he came to an
sword. And so he did. And when he high hill, and found an hermitage, and
was clean armed he took Sir Laun- an hermit therein, which was going
364 MORTE DARTHUR. book xm.
unto mass. And then Launcelot kneeled queen unmeasurably, and out of measure
flown and cried on our Lord mercy for long ;
—
and all my great deeds of arms
his wicked works. So when mass was that I have done, I did the most part for
done, Launcelot called him, and prayed the queen's sake, and for her sake would
him for charity for to hear his life. I do battle were it right or wrong,
With a good will, said the good man. and never did I
battle all only for
Sir, said he, be ye of king Arthur's God's sake, but for to win worship, and
court, and of the fellowship of the to cause me to be the better beloved,
Round Table? Yea forsooth, and my and little or nought I thanked God of
name is Sir Launclot du Lake, that hath it. Then Sir Launcelot said, I pray
been right well said of, and now my you counsel me. I will counsel you,
good fortune is changed, for I am the said the hermit, if ye will ensure me
most wretch of the world. The hermit that ye will never come in that queen's
beheld him, and had marvel how he fellowship, as much as ye may forbear.
was so abashed. Sir, said the hermit, And then Sir Launcelot promised him
ye ought to thank God more than any he would not, by the faith of his body.
knight living for He hath caused you
;
Look that your heart and your mouth
to have more worldly worship than any accord, said the good man, and I shall
knight that now liveth. your And for ensure you ye shall have more wor-
presumption to take upon you in deadly ship than ever ye had. Holy father,
sin for to be in His presence, where said Sir Launcelot, I marvel of the
His flesh and His blood was, that voice that said to me marvellous words,
caused you ye might not see it with as ye have heard toforehand. Have ye
worldly eyes, for He will not appear no marvel, said the good man, thereof;
where such sinners be, but if it be for it seemeth well God loveth you for ;
unto their great hurt, and unto their men may understand a stone is hard
great shame. And there is no knight of kind, and namely one more than
living now that ought to give God so another, and that is to understand by
great thanks as ye for He
;
hath thee Sir Launcelot, for thou wilt not
given you beauty, seemliness, and great leave thy sin for no goodness that God
strength, above all other knights, and hath sent thee, therefore thou art more
therefore ye are the more beholding than any stone, and never wouldest
unto God than any other man to love thou be made soft nor by water nor
Him and dread Him for your strength
; by fire, and that is, the heat of the Holy
and manhood will little avail you and Ghost may not enter in thee. Now
God be against you. take heed in all the world men shall
;
Then Sir Launcelot wept with heavy and hardiness and given thee to work
;
cheer, and said, Now I know well ye so largely that thou hast had at all
say me
sooth. Sir, said the good man, days the better wheresoever thou earnest.
hide none old sin from me. Truly, said And now our Lord will suffer thee
Sir Launcelot, that were me full loth no longer, but that thou shalt know
to discover. For this fourteen years Him, whether thou wilt or nilt. And
I never discovered one thing that I why the voice called thee bitterer than
have used, and that now blame
may I wood, for where overmuch sin dwelleth,
my shame and my misadventure. And there may be but little sweetness, where-
then he told there that good man all fore thou art likened to an old rotten
his life, and how he had loved a tree. Now have I shewed thee why
CHAP. I. SIR PERCIVALE FINDS HIS AUNT. 365
thou art harder than the stone, and good thought nor good will, and de-
bitterer than the tree. Now shall I fouled with lechery. Certes, said Sin
shew thee why thou art more naked Launcelot, all that ye have said is true,
and barer than the fig-tree. It befell and from henceforward I cast me by
that our Lord on Palm-Sunday preached the grace of God never to be so wicked
in Jerusalem, and there He found in the as I have been, but as to follow knight-
people that all hardness was harboured hood, and to do feats of arms. Then
in them, and there He found in all the the good man enjoined Sir Launcelot
town not one that would harbour Him. such penance as he might do, and to
And then He went without the town, sue knighthood, and so he assoiled
and found in the midst of the way a him and prayed Sir Launcelot to abide
fig-tree, the which was right fair and with him all that day. I will well,
well garnished of leaves, but fruit had said Sir Launcelot, for I have neither
it none. Then our Lord cursed the tree helm, nor horse, nor sword. As for
that bare no fruit that betokeneth the
; that, said the good man, I shall
help
fig-tree unto Jerusalem, that had leaves you or to-morn at even of an horse,
and no So thou, Sir Launcelot,
fruit. and all that longeth unto you. And
when the holy Graile was brought afore then Sir Launcelot repented him
thee, He found in thee no fruit, nor greatly.
from her, she took such a sorrow that there shall be such a knight, thou
anon after she was confessed she died. shouldst ordain by thy crafts a siege that
Now God have mercy on her soul, no man should sit in it but he all only
said Sir Percivale, it sore forethinketh that shall pass all other knights. Then
me but all we must change the life.
;
Merlin answered that he would do so.
Now fair aunt, tell me what is the And then he made the siege perilous,
knight ? I deem it be he that bare the in the which Galahad sat in at his
red arms on Whitsunday. Wit you well, meat on Whitsunday last past. Now
said she, that this is he, for otherwise madam, said Sir Percivale, so much
ought he not to do, but to go in red have heard of you, that by my good
I
arms, and that same knight hath no will I will never have ado with Sir Ga-
peer, for he worketh all by miracle, lahad, but by way of kindness. And for
and he shall never be overcome of no God's love, fair aunt, can ye teach me
earthly man's hand. some way where I may find him, for
much would I love the fellowship of
CHAP. II. him? Fair nephew, said she, ye must
ride unto a castle the which is called
How Merlin likened the Round Table to
Goothe, where he hath a cousin german,
the world, and bow the knights that and there may ye be lodged this night.
should achieve the Sangreal should he
And as he teacheth you, sue after as
known. fast as ye can, and if he can tell you no
Also Merlin made the Round Table in tidings of him, ride straight unto the
tokening of the roundness of the world, castle of Carbonek, where the maimed
for by the Round Table is the world king is there lying, for there shall ye
signified by right. For all the world, hear true tidings of him.
christian and heathen, repair unto the
Round Table, and when they are chosen CHAP. III.
to be of the fellowship of the Round
Table, they think them more blessed,
How Sir Percivale came into a monastery,
where he found king Evelake, which was
and more in worship, than if they had
an old man.
gotten half the world and ye have seen ;
that they have lost their fathers and Then departed Sir Percivale from his
their mothers, and all their kin, and aunt, either making great sorrow. And
their wives and their children, for to be so he rode till evensong time. And
of your fellowship. It is well seen by then he heard a clock smite. And then
you for since ye departed from your
; he was ware of a house closed well with
mother ye would never see her, ye found walls and deep ditches, and there he
such a fellowship at the Round Table. knocked at the gate, and was let in, and
When Merlin had ordained the Round he alight, and was led unto a chamber,
Table, he said, by them which should and soon he was unarmed. And there
be fellows of the Round Table the truth he had right good cheer all that night,
of the Sancgreal should be well known. and on the morn he heard his mass, and
CHAP. IV. SIR PERCIVALE SEES EVELAKE.
sacring, he that lay within that perclose when that knight shall come, the clear-
dressed him up, and uncovered his ness of your eyes shall come again, and
head, and then him beseemed a passing thou shalt see openly, and thy wounds
old man, and he had a crown of gold shall be healed, and erst
they shall
upon his head, and his shoulders were never close. And this befell of king
naked and uncovered unto his middle. Evelake and this same king hath lived
:
And then Sir Percivale espied his body this three hundred winters this holy life.
was full of great wounds, both on the And men say the knight is in the court
shoulders, arms, and visage. And ever that shall heal him. Sir, said the good
he held up his hands unto our Lord's man, I pray you tell me what knight
body, and cried, Fair sweet Father Jesu that ye be, and
ye be of king Arthur's
if
Christ, forget not me, and so he lay court and of the Table Round? Yea,
down, but always he was in his prayers forsooth, said he, and my name is Sir
and orisons and him seemed to be of
: Percivale de Galis. And when the good
the age of three hundred winter. And man understood his name, he made
when the mass was done, the priest took great joy of him. And then Sir Perci-
our Lord's body and bare it to the sick vale departed, and rode till the hour of
king. And when he had used it, he did noon. And he met in a valley about
off his crown, and commanded the twenty men of arms, which bear in a
crown to be set on the altar. Then Sir bier a knight deadly slain. And when
Percivale asked one of the brethren they saw Sir Percivale, they asked him
what he was. Sir, said the good man, of whence he was ? and he answered, Of
ye have heard much of Joseph of Ar- the court of king Arthur. Then they
mathie, how he was sent by Jesu Christ cried all at once, Slay him. Then Sir
into this land, for to teach and preach Percivale smote the first to the earth,
the holy christian faith, and therefore he and his horse upon him. And then
suffered many persecutions, the which seven of the knights smote upon his
the enemies of Christ did unto him. shield all at once, and the remnant slew
And in the city of Sarras he converted his horse, so that he fell to the earth.
a king whose name was Evelake. And So had they slain him or taken him, had
so this king came with Joseph into this not the good knight Sir Galahad, with
land and always he was busy to be
: the red arms, come there by adventure
there as the Sancgreal was, and on a into those parts. And when he saw all
time he nighed it so nigh that our those knights upon one knight, he cried,
Lord was displeased with him, but ever Save me that knight's life. And then
he followed it more and more, till he dressed him toward the twenty men
God struck him almost blind. Then of arms as fast as his horse might drive,
this king cried mercy, and said, Fair with his spear in the rest, and smote
Lord, let me never die till the good the foremost horse and man to the
knight of my blood of the ninth degree earth. And when his spear was broken
be come, that I may see him openly he hand
set his to his sword, and smote
that he shall achieve the Sancgreal, that on the right hand and on the left hand,
I may kiss him. that it was marvel to see. And at
every stroke he smote one down, or put
3 68 MORTE DARTHUR. hook xw.
him to a rebuke, so that they would strength, wherefore my lord will slay
fight no more, but fled to a thick forest, me in what place he findeth me. Well,
and Sir Galahad followed them. And said Sir Percivale, what wouldest thou
when Sir Percivale saw him chase them that I did? thou seest well that I am
so, he made great sorrow that his horse on foot, but and I had a good horse
was away. And then he wist well it I should bring him soon again. Sir,
was Sir Galahad. And then he cried said the yeoman, take mine hackney
aloud, Ah fair knight, abide and suffer and do the best ye can, and I shall
me to do thankings unto thee, for much follow you on foot, to wit how that ye
have ye done for me But ever Sir Ga-
! shall speed. Then
Sir Percivale alight
lahad rode so fast, that at the last he upon that hackney, and rode as fast as
passed out of his sight. And as fast as he might. And at the last he saw that
might he went after him
Sir Percivale knight. And then he cried, Knight,
on And then he met with
foot, crying. turn again ; and he turned, and set his
a yeoman riding upon an hackney, the spear against Sir Pereivale, and he
which led in his hand a great black smote the hackney in the midst of the
steed, blacker than any bear. Ah
fair breast, that he fell down dead to the
friend, said Sir Percivale, as ever I may earth, and there he had a great fall, and
do for you, and to be your true knight the other rode his way. And then Sir
in the first place ye will require me, Percivale was wood wroth, and cried,
that ye will lend me that black steed, Abide, wicked knight, coward and false-
that I might overtake a knight, the hearted knight, turn again and fight with
which rideth afore me. Sir knight, me on foot. But he answered not, but
said the yeoman, I pray you hold me past on his way. When Sir Percivale
excused of that, for that I may not do. saw he would not turn, he cast away his
For wit ye well, the horse is such a man's helm and sword, and said, Now am I a
horse, that, and I lent it you or any very wretch, cursed, and most unhappy
other man, that he would slay me. Alas, above all other knights. So in this sor-
said Sir Percivale, I had never so great row he abode all that day till it was
sorrow as I have had for losing of night, and then he was faint, and laid him
yonder knight. Sir, said the yeoman, down and slept till it was midnight.
I am right heavy for you, for a good And then he awaked, and saw afore
horse would beseem you well, but I him a woman which said unto him
dare not deliver you this horse, but if right fiercely, Sir Percivale, what doest
ye would take him from me. That will thou here ? He answered and said, I do
I not do, said Sir Percivale. And so neither good nor great ill. If thou wilt
they departed, and Sir Percivale sat him ensure me, said she, that thou wilt fulfil
down under a tree, and made sorrow my will when I summon thee, I shall
out of measure. And as he was there, lend thee mine own horse, which shall
there came a knight riding on the horse bear thee whither thou wilt. Sir Perci-
that the yeoman led, and he was clean vale was glad of her proffer, and en-
armed. —
sured her to fulfil all her desire. Then
CHAP. V. abide me here, and I shall go fetch you
an horse. And so she came soon again,
How a yeoman desired him to get again and brought an horse with her that was
an and how Sir Percivale''s hack-
inly black. When Sir Percivale beheld
horse,
ney was slain, and how he gat an horse. that horse, he marvelled that it was so
And anon the yeoman came pricking great and so well apparelled: and not
after as fast as ever he might, and asked for then he was so hardy, and he lept
Sir Percivale if he saw any knight riding upon him, and took none heed of him-
on his black steed ? Yea sir, forsooth, self. And so anon as he was upon him
said he, why ask ye me that ? Ah, sir, he thrust to him with his spurs, and so
that steed he hath taken from me with rode by a forest, and the moon shone
chap. vi. PERCIVALE SEES A LION AND SERPENT FIGHT. :^9
clear. And
within an hour and less, he serpent. And
the lion went alway
bare him four days' journey thence, till about him fawning as a spaniel. And
he came to a rough water the which then he stroked him on the neck and on
roared, and his horse would have borne the shoulders. And then he thanked
him into it. God of the fellowship of that beast.
CHAP. VI.
And about noon, the lion took his little
whelp, and trussed him, and bare him
Of the great danger that Sir Percivale
there he came from. Then was Sir
was in by his horse, and how he saw a Percivale alone. And as the tale telleth,
serpent and a lion fight.
he was one of the men of the world at
And when Sir Percivale came nigh that time that most believed in our
the brim, and saw the water so bois- Lord Jesu Christ. For in these days
terous, he doubted to overpass it. And there were few folks that believed in
then he made a sign of the cross in his God perfectly. For in those days the
forehead. When him so
the fiend felt son spared not the father no more than
charged, he shook off Sir Percivale, and a stranger. And so Sir Percivale com-
he went into the water, crying and forted himself in our Lord Jesu, and
roaring, making great sorrow; and it besought God that no temptation
seemed unto him that the water burnt. should bring him out of God's service,
Then Sir Percivale perceived it was a but to endure as his true champion.
fiend, the which would have brought Thus when Sir Percivale had prayed,
him unto his perdition. Then he com- he saw the lion come toward him, and
mended himself unto God, and prayed then he couched down at his feet. And
our Lord to keep him from all such so all that night the lion and he slept
temptations. And so he prayed all that together and when Sir Percivale slept
:
Percivale perceived that, and cast down Then came forth the other lady that
his shield, which was broken, and then rode upon the serpent, and she said, Sir
he did off his helm for to gather wind, Percivale, I complain me of you that ye
for he was greatly enchafed with the have done unto me, and have not offended
-4
37° MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XtV.
unto you. Certes, madam, said he, unto gether. She which rode upon the lion,
you nor no lady I never offended. Yes, said the good man, betokeneth the new
said she, I shall tell you why. I have law of holy Church, that is to under-
nourished in this place a great while a stand faith, good hope, belief, and bap-
serpent, which served me a great while, tism. For she seemed younger than the
and yesterday ye slew him as he gat his other, it is great reason, for she was born
prey. Say me for what cause ye slew in the resurrection and the passion of our
him, for the lion was not yours ? Madam, Lord Jesu Christ. And for great love
said Sir Percivale, I knowwell the lion she came to thee, to warn thee of thy
was not mine, but I did it, for the lion great battle that shall befall thee. With
is of a more gentler nature than the whom, said Sir Percivale, shall I fight ?
find you without keeping, I shall take pent that thou slewest betokeneth the
you as he that sometime was my man. devil that thou rodest upon to the rock,
And so she departed from Sir Percivale, and when thou madest a sign of the
and left him sleeping, the which was cross, there thou slewest him, and put
sore travailed of his vision. And on away his power. And when she asked
the morn he rose and blessed him, and thee amends and to become her man,
he was passing feeble. Then was Sir and thou saidest thou wouldest not,
Percivale ware in the sea, and saw a that was to make thee to believe on her
ship come sailing toward him, and Sir and leave thy baptism. So he com-
Percivale went unto the ship, and found manded Sir Percivale to depart. And
it covered within and without with white so he lept over the board, and the ship
samite. And at the board stood an old and all went away he wist not whither.
man clothed in a surplice in likeness of Then he went up unto the rock and
a priest. Sir, said Sir Percivale, ye be found the lion, which alway kept him
welcome. God keep you, said the good fellowship, and he stroked him upon
man. the old man, of whence
Sir, said the back, and had great joy of him.
be ye ? Sir, said Sir Percivale, I am of
CHAP. VIII.
king Arthur's court, and a knight of the
Table Round, the which am in the quest How Sir Percivale saw a ship coming
of the Sancgreal. and here I am in great to him-ward, and how the lady of the
duresse, and never like to escape out of ship told him of her disheritance.
this wilderness. Doubt not, said the By that Sir Percivale had abiden
good man, and ye be so true a knight as there till midday he saw a ship come
the order of chivalry requireth, and of rowing in the sea as all the wind of the
heart as ye ought to be, ye should not world had driven it. And so it drove
doubt that none enemy should slay you. under that rock. And when Sir- Perci-
What are ye ? said Sir Percivale. Sir, vale saw this, he hied him thither, and
said the old man, I am of a strange found the ship covered with silk more
country, and hither I come to comfort blacker than any bier, and therein was
you. Sir, said Sir Percivale, what sig- a gentlewoman of great beauty, and she
nifieth my dream that I dreamed this was clothed richly that none might be
night ? And there he told him alto- better. And when she saw Sir Perci-
CHAP. IX. PERCIVALE IS SA VED FROM THE FIEND. 37*
knighthood, that ye shall do my will night and day. Therefore I know now
what time I summon you, I shall bring no good knight, nor no good man, but
you unto that knight. Yea, said he, I I get them on
my side and I may. Ami
shall promise you to fulfil- your desire. for that I know
that thou art a good
Well, said she, now shall I tell you, I knight, I beseech you to help me. And
saw him in the forest chasing two for ye be a fellow of the Round Table,
knights to a water, the which is called wherefore ye ought not to fail no gen-
Mortaise, and he drove them into that tlewoman which is disherited, and she
water for dread of death, and the two besought you of help.
knights passed over, and the red knight CHAP. IX.
passed after, and there his horse was
drenched, and he through great strength
How Sir Percivale promised her help, and
bow he required her of love, and how he
escaped unto the land. Thus she told
him, and Sir Percivale was passing glad
was saved from the fiend.
thereof. Then she asked him if he Then Sir Percivale promised her all
had eaten any meat late ? Nay madam, the help that he might. And then she
truly I ate no meat nigh these three thanked him. And at that time the
days, but late here I spake with a good weather was hot, and then she called
man that fed me with his good words unto her a gentlewoman, and bad her
and holy, and refreshed me greatly. bring forth a pavilion and so she did,;
Ah, sir knight, said she, that same man and pight it upon the gravel. Sir, said
is an enchanter, and a
multiplier of she, now may ye rest you in this heat of
words. For, and ye believe him, ye the day. Then he thanked her, and she
shall plainly be shamed, and die in this put off his helm and his shield, and
rock for pure hunger, and be eaten with there he slept a great while. And then
wild beasts, and ye be a young man and he awoke, and asked her if she had any
a goodly knight, and I shall help you meat, and she said, Yea, also ye shall
and ye will. What are ye? said Sir have enough and so there was set
;
Percivale, that proffereth me thus great enough upon the table, and thereon so
kindness. I am, said she, a gentle- much that he had marvel, for there was
woman that am disherited, which was all manner of meats that he could think
sometime the richest woman of the on. Also he drank there the strongest
world. Damsel, said Sir Percivale, who wine that ever he drank, him thought,
24
— 2
372 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XIV.
and therewith he was a little heated her. Then Sir Percivale made great
more than he ought to be. With that sorrow, and drew his sword unto him,
he beheld the gentlewoman, and him saying, Sithen my flesh will be my
thought that she was the fairest creature master, I shall punish it. And therewith
that ever he saw. And then Sir Per- he rove himself through the thigh, that
civale proffered her love, and prayed her the blood start about him, and said, O
that she would be his. Then she refused good Lord, take this in recompensation
him in a manner when he required her, of that I have done against thee my
for the cause he should be the more Lord. So then he clothed him and
ardent on her, and ever he ceased not armed him, and called himself a wretch,
to pray her of love. And when she saying, How nigh was I lost, and to
saw him well enchafed, then she said, have lost that I should never have got-
Sir Percivale, wit ye well, I shall not ten again, that was my virginity, for
fulfil your will, but if ye swear from that may never be recovered after it is
henceforth ye shall be my true servant, once lost. And then he stopped his
and to do nothing but that I shall com- bleeding wound with a piece of his
mand you will ye ensure me this as ye
: shirt. Thus as he made his moan, he
be a true knight? Yea, said he, fair saw the same ship come from the Orient
lady, by the faith of my body. Well, that the good man was in the day before :
said she, now shall ye do with me what- and the noble knight was ashamed with
so it please you, and now wit ye well himself, and therewith he fell in a swoon.
that ye are the knight in the world that And when he awoke he went unto him
I have most desire to. And then Sir weakly, and there he saluted this good
Percivale came near to her, to proffer man. And then he asked Sir Percivale,
her love, and by adventure and grace How hast thou done sith I departed?
he saw his sword lie upon the ground Sir, said he, here was a gentlewoman,
all naked, in whose pommel was a red and led me into deadly sin and there
:
cross, and the sign of the crucifix he told him altogether. Knew ye not
therein, and bethought him on his the maid? said the good man. Sir,
knighthood, and his promise made said he, nay but well I wot the fiend
:
toforehand unto the good man. Then sent her hither to shame me. Oh, good
he made the sign of the cross in his knight, said he, thou art a fool, for that
forehead, and therewith the pavilion gentlewoman was the master fiend of
turned up so down, and then it changed hell, the which hath power above all
unto a smoke and a black cloud, and devils, and that was the old lady that
then he was adread, and cried aloud, — thou sawest in thy vision riding on the
CHAP. X. serpent. Then he told Sir Percivale
how our Lord Jesu Christ beat him out
How Sir Percivale for penance rove him- of heaven for his sin, the which was the
self through thigh; and how she
the
most brightest angel of heaven, and
was known for the devil. therefore he lost his heritage, and that
Faib sweet Father, Jesu Christ, ne let was the champion that thou foughtest
me not be shamed, the which was near withal, the which had overcome thee,
lost had not thy good grace been And ! had not the grace of God been now :
then he looked into a ship, and saw her beware, Sir Percivale, and take this for
enter therein, which said, Sir Percivale, an ensample. And then the good man
ye have betrayed me. And so she went vanished away. Then Sir Percivale took
with the wind roaring and yelling, that his arms, and entered into the ship, and
it seemed that all the water burnt after so departed from thence.
he said with a horrible voice, He is not and then this dead man hermit said
lost, but saved. How may that be V said unto them, Ween ye to burn me? It
the good man; it seemed to me that shall not lie in your power, nor to
he lived not well, for he brake his order perish me as much as a thread, and
for to wear a shirt, where he ought to there were any on my body. No ! said
wear none and who that trespasseth
: one of them, it shall be assayed. And
against our order doth not well. Not then they despoiled him, and put upon
so, said the fiend, this man that lieth him this shirt, and cast him in a fire,
I
374 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XV.
and there he lay all thatnight till it was ye did, and that shall ye understand in
day, in that fire, and was not dead. short time. Then Sir Launcelot asked
And so in the morn I came and found her where he might be harboured that
him dead, but I found neither thread night? Ye shall not find this day nor
nor skin perished and so took him out
;
night, but to-morn ye shall find harbour
of the fire with great fear, and laid him good, and ease of that ye be in doubt
here as ye may see. And now may ye of. And then he commended her unto
suffer me to go my way, for I have said God. Then he rode till that he came
you the truth. And then he departed to a cross, and took that for his host
with a great tempest. Then was the as for that night.
good man and Sir Launcelot more
gladder than they were tofore. And CHAP. III.
then Sir Launcelot dwelled with that
Of a vision that Sir Launcelot bad, and
good man that night. Sir, said the
be not Sir Launcelot du how he told it to an hermit, and desired
good man, ye
counsel of him. •
and his sword, when he slept when the had the land of Gaul, and he came to
Sancgreal appeared afore the cross. dwell in this country, and of him came
When Sir Launcelot saw him he sa- king Launcelot thy grandsire, which
luted him not fair, but cried on high, there wedded the king's daughter of
Knight, keep thee, for thou hast done Ireland, and he was as worthy a man
to megreat unkindness. And then they as thou art, and of him came king Ban
put afore them their spears, and Sir thy father, the which was the last of
Launcelot came so fiercely upon him the seven kings. And by thee, Sir
that he smote him and his horse down Launcelot, it signifieth that the angels
to the earth, that he had nigh broken his said thou were none of the seven fel-
neck. Then Sir Launcelot took the lowships. And the last was the ninth
knight's horse, that was his own afore- knight, he was signified to a lion, for
hand, and descended from the horse he he should pass all manner of
earthly
sat upon, and tied the knight's own knights, that is Sir Galahad, the which
horse to a tree, that he might find that thou gat of king Pelles' daughter, and
horse when that he was arisen. thou ought to thank God more than
Then Sir Launcelot rode till
night, any other man living; for of a sinner
and by adventure he met an hermit, and earthly thou hast no peer as in knight-
each of them saluted other, and there hood, nor never shall be. But little
he rested with that good man all night, thank hast thou given to God for all
and gave his horse such as he might the great virtues that God hath lent
get. Then said the good man unto thee.
Launcelot, Of whence be ye ? Sir, said Launcelot, ye say that that
Sir, said
he, I am of Arthur's court, and my good knight is my son. That oughtest
name is Sir Launcelot du Lake, that thou to know, and no man
better, said
am in the quest of the Sancgreal. And the good man, for by the daughter of
therefore I pray you to counsel me of king Pelles thou hadst Galahad, and
a vision, the which I had at the cross. that was he that at the feast of Pente-
And so he told him all. cost sat in the siege perilous, and there-
fore make thou it known openly that he
is thy son, for that will be your worship
CHAP. IV.
and honour, and to all thy kindred.
How the hermit expounded Sir Laun-
to
And I counsel you in no place press
celot his vision, and told him that Sir
not upon him to have ado with him.
Galahad was his son.
Well, said Launcelot, me seemeth that
Lo, Sir Launcelot, said the good man, good knight should pray for me unto
there thou mightest understand the high the high Father that I fall not to sin
lineage that thou art come of, and thy again. Trust thou well, said the good
vision betokeneth After the passion of
: man, thou farest much the better for
Jesu Christ forty years, Joseph of Ara- his prayer; but the son shall not bear
mathie preached the victoiy of king the wickedness of the father, nor the
Evelake, that he had in the battles the father shall not bear the wickedness of
better of his enemies. And of the seven the son, but every each shall bear his
kings and the two knights the first of : own burthen and therefore beseek
;
them is called Nappus, an holy man; thou only God, and he will help thee in
and the second hight Nacien, in remem- all thy needs. And then Sir Launcelot
brance of his grandsire, and in him and he went to supper, and so laid him
dwelled our Lord Jesu Christ and the ;
to and the hair pricked so Sir
rest,
third was called Hellias le Grose and ;
Launcelot's skin, which grieved him full
the fourth hight Lisais and the fifth
; sore, but he took it meekly, and suffered
hight Jonas, he departed out of his the pain. And so on the morn he
country and went into Wales, and took heard his mass, and took his arms, and
the daughter of Manuel, whereby he so took his leave.
37^ MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XV.
party of the castle, and smote down a aloud she called Launcelot, for that he
knight, horse and man, to the earth. seemed a knight errant. And then he
And then he rashed here and there, and came, and she asked him what he was,
did marvellous deeds of arms. And and of what place, and where about he
then he drew out his sword and strake went to seek.
many knights to the earth, so that all
those that saw him marvelled that ever CHAP. VI.
one knight might do so great deeds of
arms. But always the white knights How Sir Launcelot told his vision unto
a woman, and how she expounded it to
held them nigh about Sir Launcelot, for
to tire him and wind him. him.
But at the last, as a man may not And then he told her altogether word
ever endure, Sir Launcelot waxed so by word, and the truth how it befel him
faint of fighting and travailing, and was at the tournament. And after told her
so weary of his great deeds, that he his vision, thathe had had that night in
might not lift up his arms for to give his sleep, and prayed her to tell him
one stroke, so that he wend never to what it might mean, for he was not well
have borne arms and then they all
: content with it. Ah, Launcelot, said
took him and led him away into a she. as long as ye were knight of earthly
forest, and there made him to alight knighthood, ye were the most marvellous
and to rest him. And then all the fel- man of the world, and most adven-
lowship of the castle were overcome for turous. Now, said the lady, since ye be
the default of him, and then they said set among the knights of heavenly ad-
all unto Sir Launcelot, Blessed be God ventures, if adventure fell the contrary
that ye be now of our fellowship, for we at that tournament, have thou no mar-
shall hold you in our prison. And so vel; for that tournament yesterday was
they left him with few words. And but a tokening of our Lord. And not for
then Sir Launcelot made great sorrow, then there was none enchantment, for
— For never or now was I never at they at the tournament were earthly
chap. vi. THE MEANING OF SIR LAUNCELOT' S ADVENTURE. 377
knights took a tournament together, signineth that thou were of evil faith
that is to say, the quest of the Sancgreal. and of poor belief, the which will make
The earthly knights were they, the which thee to into the deep pit of hell, if
fall
were clothed all in black, and the cover- thou keep thee not. Now
have 1 warned
ing betokeneth the sins whereof they thee of thy vain glory and of thy pride,
be not confessed. And they with the that thou hast many times erred against
covering of white betokeneth virginity, thy Maker. Beware of everlasting pain,
and they that chosen chastity. And for of all earthly knights I have most
thus was the quest begun in them. pity of thee, for I know well thou hast
Then thou beheld the sinners and the
#
not thy peer of any earthly sinful man.
good men, and when thou sawest the And so she commanded Sir Launcelot
sinners overcome, thou inclinedst to to dinner and after dinner he took his
;
that party, for boasting and pride of the horse and commended her to God, and
world, and all that must be left in that so rode into a deep valley, and there
quest. For quest thou shalt
in this lie saw a river and an high mountain.
have many fellows and thy betters, for And through the water he must needs
thou art so feeble of evil trust and good pass, the which was hideous; and then
belief, this made it when thou were in the name of God he took it with good
there where they took thee, and led thee heart. And when he came over he saw
into the forest. And anon there ap- an armed knight, horse and man black
peared the Sancgreal unto the white as any bear without any word he smote
:
knights, but thou was so feeble of Sir Launcelot's horse to the earth, and
good belief and faith, that thou might so he passed on he wist not where he
:
not abide it, for all the teaching of the was become. And then he took his
good man, but anon thou turnedst unto helm and his shield, and thanked God
the sinners and that caused thy misad-
; of his adventure.
CHAP. I. |
the tenth part of adventure as he was
wont to do. For Sir Gawaine rode
How Sir Gawaine was nigh weary of the
from Whitsunday unto Michaelmas, and
quest of the Sangreal, and of his mar- found none adventure that pleased him.
vellous dream.
So on a day it befell Gawaine met with
When Sir Gawaine was departed Sir Ector de Maris, and either made
from his fellowship, he rode long with- great joy of other, that it were marvel
out any adventure. For he found not to tell. And so they told every each
378 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVI.
other, and complained them greatly other, there arose up a great cry for lack
that they could find none adventure. of wind that failed them and so they ;
Truly, said Sir Gawaine unto Sir departed, one here and another there.
Ector, I am nigh weary of this quest, This vision befell Sir Gawaine that
and loth I am to follow further in night.
strange countries. One thing mar- CHAP. II.
velleth me, said Sir Ector, I have met
with twenty knights, fellows of mine, Of the vision of Sir Ector, and how he
and I do. mar- justed with Sir Uwaine les Avoutres, bis
all they complain as I
sworn brother.
vel, said Sir Gawaine, where that Sir
Launcelot your brother is. Truly, said But to Sir Ector de Maris befell
Sir Ector, I cannot hear of him, nor of another vision, the contrary. For it
Sir Galahad, Percivale, nor Sir Bors. seemed him that his brother Sir Laun-
Let them be, said Sir Gawaine, for they celot and he alight out of a chair and
four have no peers. And if one thing lept upon two horses, and the one said
were not in Sir Launcelot, he had no to the other, Go we seek that we shall
fellow of none earthly man but he is
;
not find. And him thought that a man
as we be, but if he took more pain beat Sir Launcelot and despoiled him,
upon him. But and these four be met and clothed him in another array, the
together, they will be loth that any man which was all full of knots, and set
meet with them for, and they fail of
;
him upon an ass. And so he rode till
the Sancgreal, it is in waste of all the he came to the fairest well that ever he
remnant to recover it. Thus as Ector saw, and Sir Launcelot alight, and would
and Gawaine rode more than eight have drunk of that well. And when he
days. And on a Saturday they found stooped to drink of the water, the water
an old chapel, the which was wasted sank from him. And when Sir Launce-
that there seemed no man thither re- lot saw that, he turned and went thither
paired, and there they alight, and set as the head came from. And in the
their spears at the door, and in they meanwhile he trowed that himself and
entered into the chapel, and there made Sir Ector rode that they came to
till
their orisons a great while, and then set a rich man's house, where there was
them down in the sieges of the chapel. a wedding. And there he saw a king,
And as they spake of one thing and the which said, Sir knight, here is no
other, for heaviness they fell on sleep, place for you and then he turned
:
and there befell them both marvellous again unto the chair that he came from.
adventures. Sir Gawaine him seemed Thus within a while both Gawaine
he came into a meadow full of herbs and Ector awaked, and either told other
and flowers. And there he saw a rack of their vision, the which marvelled
of bulls an hundred and fifty, that were them Truly, said Ector, I shall
greatly.
proud and black, save three of them never be merry till I hear tidings of my
were white, and one had a black
all brother Launcelot.
spot, and the other two were so fair Now as they sat thus talking, they
and so white that they might be no saw an hand shewing unto the elbow,
whiter. And these three bulls which and was covered with red samite, and
were so fair were tied with two strong upon that hung a bridle not rich, and
cords. And the remnant of the bulls held within the fist a great candle which
said among them, Go we hence to seek burnt right clear, and so passed afore
better pasture. And so some went, and them, and entered into the chapel, and
some came again but they were so lean
; then vanished away, and they wist
that they might not stand upright and ; not where. And anon came down
of the bulls that were so white, that one a voice which said, Knights full of
came again, and no more. But when this evil and poor belief, these two
faith
white bull was come again among these things have failed you, and therefore ye
chap. in. THE VISIONS OF SIR GAWAINE AND SIR ECTOR. 379
may not come to the adventures of the Gawaine set him up in the saddle, and
Sancgreal. Then first spake Gawaine he lept up behind him for to sustain
and said, Ector, have ye heard these him, and so came to an abbey, where
words? Yea truly, said Sir Ector, I they were well received and anon he
;
heard all. Now go we, said Sir Ector, was unarmed, and received his Creator.
unto some hermit that will tell us of Then he prayed Gawaine to draw the
our vision, for it seemeth me we labour truncheon of the spear out of his body.
all in vain. And so they departed and Then Gawaine asked him what he was,
rode into a valley, and there met with a that knew him not? 1 am, said he,
squire which rode on an hackney, and of king Arthur's court, and was a fellow
they saluted him fair. Sir, said Gawaine, of the Round Table, and we were bre-
can thou teach us to any hermit ? thren sworn together, and now, Sir Ga-
Here is one in a little mountain, said waine, thou hast slain me, and my name
the squire, but it is so rough that there is Uwaine les Avoutres, that sometime
a poor house, and there is Nacien the forgive it thee God, for it shall ever be
hermit, which is the holiest man in this said that the one sworn brother hath
country. And so they departed either slain the other.
from other. And then in a valley they
met with a knight all armed, which CHAP. III.
proffered them to just as far as he saw
them.
How Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector came to
Truly, said Sir Gawaine, sith I
an hermitage to be confessed, and bow
departed from Camelot there was none
tbey told to the hermit their visions.
proffered me to just but once. And
now, sir, said Ector, let me just with Alas, said Sir Gawaine, that ever this
him. Nay, said Gawaine, ye shall misadventure is befallen me. No force,
not, but if I be beaten, it shall not for- said Uwaine, sith I shall die this death,
think me then if ye go after me. And of a much more worshipfuller man's
then either enbraced other to just, and hands might I not die but when ye
;
came together as fast as their horses come to the court, recommand me unto
might run, and brast their shields and my lord king Arthur, and all those that
the mails, and the one more than the be left onlive, and for old brotherhood
other: and Gawaine was wounded in think on me. Then began Gawaine to
the left side, but the other knight was weep, and Ector also. And then Uwaine
smitten through the breast, and the himself, and Sir Gawaine, drew out the
spear came out on the other side, and truncheon of the spear; and anon de-
so they fell both out of their saddles, parted the soul from the body. Then
and in the falling they brake both their Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector buried him,
spears. Anon Gawaine arose, and set as men ought to bury a king's son, and
his hand to his sword, and cast his made written upon his name, and by
shield afore him. But all for nought whom be was slain.
was it, for the knight had no power Then departed Gawaine and Ector, as
to arise against him. Then said Ga- heavy as they might for their misad-
waine, Ye must yield you as an over- venture and so rode till that they came
;
the errant knights, he came toward them might not enter in the meadow of
and saluted them, and they him again. humility and patience. And therefore
Fair lords, said he, what adventure they returned into waste countries, that
brought you hither ? Sir, said Gawaine, signifieth death, for there shall die
to speak with you, for to be confessed. many of them every each of them
:
Sir, said the hermit, I am ready. Then shall slay other for sin, and they that
they told him so much that he wist shall escape shall be so lean that
well what they were, and then he it shall be marvel to see them. And
thought to counsel them if he might. of the three bulls without spot, the
Then began Gawaine first, and told one shall come again, and the other
him of his vision that he had had in the two never.
chapel and Ector told him all as it is
:
no time overcome humility and pa- mastership and lordship, which ye came
tience, therefore was the Round Table down from. But ye two knights, said
founded, and the chivalry hath been at the hermit, ye go to seek that ye shall
all times, so by the fraternity which never find, that is the Sancgreal. For
was there that she might not be it is the secret
thing of our Lord Jesu
overcome. For men said she was Christ. What is to mean, that Sir
founded in patience and in humility. Launcelot fell down
horse he off his :
—
At the rack ate an hundred and fifty hath left pride, and taken him to
bulls, but they ate not in the meadow, humility, for he hath cried mercy loud
for their hearts should be set in hu- for his sin, and sore repented him, and
mility and patience, and the bulls were our Lord hath clothed him in His
proud and black, save only three. By clothing, which is full of knots, that is
the bulls is to understand the fellow- the hair which he weareth daily. And
ship of the Round Table, which for the ass that he rode upon is a beast
their sin and their wickedness be black. of humility. For God would not ride
Blackness is to say without good or upon no steed, nor upon no palfrey.
virtuous works. And the three bulls So in ensample that an ass betokeneth
which were white, save only one which meekness, that thou sawest Sir Launce-
was spotted ;
—
the two white betoken lot ride on in thy sleep and the well :
Sir Galahad and Sir Percivale, for they where as the water sank from him
be maidens clean and without spot ; when he should have taken thereof,
and the third that had a spot signifieth and when he saw he might not have
Sir Bors de Ganis, which trespassed it, he returned thither from whence he
but once in his virginity, but since he came, for the well betokeneth the high
kept himself so well in chastity that all grace of God, the more men desire it
is forgiven him, and his misdeeds. And to take it, the more shall be their
why those three were tied by the necks, desire. So when he came nigh the
they be three knights in virginity and Sancgreal, he meeked him that he held
chastity, and there is no pride smitten him not a man worthy to be so nigh
in them. And the black bulls which the holy vessel, for he had been so
said, Go we hence, they were those defouled in deadly sin by the space of
which at Pentecost, at the high feast, many years, yet when he kneeled to
took upon them to go in the quest of drink of the well, there he saw great
the Sancgreal without confession; they providence of the Sancgreal. And for
CHAP. V. THE HERMITS COUNSEL TO SIR GAWAINE. ;8i
he had served so long the devil, he knoweth his thought, and his unstable-
shall have vengeance four and twenty ness, and yet shall he die right an holy
days long, for that he hath been the man and no doubt he hath no fellow
;
devil's servant four and twenty years. of no earthly sinful man. Sir, said Ga-
And then soon after he shall return waine, it seemeth me by your words,
unto Camelot out of this country, and that for our sins it will not avail us to
he shall say a part of such things as he travail in this quest.
Truly, said the
hath found. good man, there be an hundred such as
Now will I tell you what betokeneth ye be, that never shall prevail but to
the hand with the candle and the bridle ;
have shame. And when they had heard
that is to understand the Holy Ghost, these voices, they commanded him unto
where charity is ever, and the bridle God.
signifieth abstinence. For when she is Then the good man
called Gawaine,
bridled in christian man's heart, she and said, It is long time passed sith that
holdeth him so short that he falleth not ye were made knight, and never since
in deadly sin. And the candle which thou servedst thy Maker, and now
sheweth clearness and sight, signifieth thou art so old a tree, that in thee
the right way of Jesu Christ. And there is neither life nor fruit where- ;
when he went, and said, Knights of fore bethink thee that thou yield unto
poor faith and of wicked belief,
— these our Lord the bare rind, sith the fiend
three things failed, charity, abstinence, hath the leaves and the fruit. Sir, said
and truth, therefore ye may not attain Gawaine, and I had leisure I would
that high adventure of the Sancgreal. speak with you, but my fellow here,
Sir Fetor, is gone, and abideth me
CHAP. V. yonder beneath the hill. Well, said
the good man, thou were better to be
Of the good counsel that the hermit
counselled. Then departed Gawaine,
gave to him.
and came to Ector, and so took their
Certes, said Gawaine, soothly have horses, and rode till they came to a
ye said, that I see it openly. Now I foster's house which harboured them
pray you, good man and holy father, right well. And on the morn they
tell me why we met not with so many departed from their host, and rode long
adventures as we were wont to do, and or they could find any adventure.
commonly have the better. I shall tell
you gladly, said the good man The :
CHAP. VI.
adventure of the Sancgreal, which ye and
other have undertaken the quest
How Sir Bors met with an hermit, and
many how he was confessed to him, and of
of it, and find it not, the cause is, for
his penance enjoined to him.
it appeareth not to sinners. Wherefore
marvel not though ye fail thereof, and When was departed from
Bors
many other. For ye be an untrue Camelot, he met with a religious man
knight, and a great murderer, and to riding on an ass, and Sir Bors saluted
good men signifieth other things than him. Anon the good man knew him
murder. For I dare say, as sinful as that he was one of the knights errant
Sir Launcelot hath been, sith that he that was in the quest of the Sancgreal.
went into the quest of the Sancgreal What are ye? said the good man. Sir,
he slew never man, nor nought shall said he, I am
a knight that fain would
till that he come unto Camelot be counselled in the quest of the Sanc-
again.
For he hath taken upon him for to for- greal for he shall have much earthly
:
sake sin. And were not that he is not worship that may bring it to an end.
stable, but by his thought he is likely to Certes, said the good man, that is
turn again, he should be next to achieve sooth, for he shall be the best knight
it, save Galahad his son. But God of the world, and the fairest of all the
382 MORTE DARTHUR.
fellowship. But wit you well, there shall CHAP. VII.
none attain it but by cleanness, that is,
How Sir Bors was lodged with a lady,
pure confession. So rode they together and how he took on him for to fight
till that they came to an hermitage.
And there he prayed Bors to dwell all against a champion for her land.
that night with him
and so he alight,
: And when he was unarmed, they led
and put away his armour, and prayed him into an high tower, where was a
him that he might be confessed; and lady, young, lusty, and fair. And she
so they went into the chapel, and received him with great joy, and made
there he was clean confessed and : him to sit down by her, and so was he
set to sup with flesh and many dainties.
they eat bread, and drank water, toge-
ther. Now, said the good man, I pray And when Sir Bors saw
that, he be-
thee that thou eat none other, till that thought him on his penance, and bad a
thou sit at the table where the Sancgreal squire to bring him water. And so he
shall be. Sir, said he, I agree me brought him, and he made sops therein,
thereto ; but howwit ye that 1 shall sit and ate them. Ah, said the lady, I trow
there? Yes, said the good man, that ye like not my meat.
Yes, truly, said
know I, but there shall be but few of Sir Bors, God thank you madam, but
your fellows with you. All is welcome, I may eat none other meat this day.
said Sir Bors, that God sendeth me. Then she spake no more as at that
Also, said the good man, instead of a time, for she was loth to displease
shirt, and in sign of chastisement, ye him.
shall wear a garment thereof I pray
;
Then after supper they spake of one
you do off all your clothes and your thing and other. With that there came
shirt, and so he did. And then he took a squire, and said. Madam, ye must
him a scarlet coat, so that should be in- purvey you to-morn for a champion,
stead of his shirt, till he had fulfilled for else your sister will have this
the quest of the Sancgreal. And the castle, and also your lands, except ye
good man found him in so marvellous can find a knight that will fight to-
a life, and so stable, that he marvelled, morn in your quarrel against Pridam le
and felt that he was never corrupt in Noire. Then she made sorrow, and
fleshly lusts, but in one time that he said, Ah Lord God, wherefore granted
begat Elian le Blank. Then he armed ye to hold my land, whereof I should
him, and took his leave, and so departed. now be disherited without reason and
And so a little from thence he looked right. And when Sir Bors had heard
up into a tree, and there he saw a her say thus, he said, I shall comfort
passing great bird upon an old tree, you. Sir, said she, I shall tell you,
and it was passing dry, without leaves, there was here a king that hight Ani-
and the bird sat above, and had birds, ause, which held all this land in his
the which were dead for hunger. So keeping. So it mishapped he loved a
smote he himself with his beak, the gentlewoman, a great deal elder than I.
which was great and sharp. so And So took he her all this land to her
the great bird bled till that he died keeping, and all his men to govern, and
among his birds. And the young birds she brought up many evil customs,
took the life by the blood of the great whereby she put to death a great part
bird. When Bors saw this, he wist of his kinsmen. And when he saw
well it was great tokening. For when that, he let chase her out of this land,
he saw the great bird arose not, then and betook it me, and all this land in
he took his horse and went his way. my charge: but anon, as that worthy
So by evensong, by adventure he came king was dead, this other lady began to
to a strong tower, and an high, and war upon me, and hath destroyed many
there was he lodged gladly. of my men, and turned them against me,
that I have well nigh no man left me»
!
CHAP. VIII. OF A VISION OF SIR BORS. 383
and I have nought else but this high great folly, that would let these two
tower that she left me. And yet she flowers perish for to succour the rotten
hath promised me to have this tower, tree, that it fell not to the earth ? Sir,
without I can find a knight to fight said he, it seemeth me that this wood
with her champion. Now tell me, said might not avail. Now keep thee, said
Sir Bors, what is that Pridam le Noire ? the good man, that thou never see such
Sir, said she, he is the most doubted adventure befall thee. Then he awaked
—
man of this land. Now may ye send and made a sign of the cross in the
her word that ye have found a knight midst of the forehead, and so rose and
that shall fight with that Pridam le clothed him, and there came the lady of
Noire in God's quarrel and yours. Then the place, and she saluted him, and he
that lady was not a little glad, and sent her again, and so went to a chapel, and
word that she was provided. And that heard their service. And there came a
night Sir Bors had good cheer, but in company of knights that the lady had
no bed he would come, but laid him on sent for, to lead Sir Bors unto battle.
the floor, nor never would do otherwise Then asked he his arms. And when he
till that he had met with the
quest of was armed, she prayed him to take a little
Sancgreal. morsel to dine. Nay, madam, said he,
that shall I not do, till I have done
CHAP. VIII. my
battle, by the grace of God. And so he
Of a vision which Sir Bors bad that night, lept upon his horse, and departed all
and how he fought and overcame his the knights and men with him. And as
adversary. soon as these two ladies met together,
And anon as he was asleep, him she which Bors should fight for, com-
befell a vision, that there came to him plained her, and said, Madam, ye have
two birds, the one as white as a swan, done me wrong to bereave me of my
and the other was marvellous black, but lands that king Aniause gave me, and
it was not so full loth I am there should be
great as the other, but in any
the likeness of a raven. Then the white battle. Ye shall not choose, said the
bird came to him, and said, And thou other lady, or else your knight with-
wouldst give me meat and serve me, I draw him. Then there was the cry
should give thee all the riches of the made, which party had the better
world, and I shall make thee as fair and of those two knights, that this lady
as white as I am. So the white bird should enjoy all the land. Now de-
departed, and there came the black bird parted the one knight here, and the
to him, and said, And thou wilt serve other there. Then they came together
me to-morrow, and have me in no with such force that they pierced their
despite, though I be black, for wit thou shields and hauberks, and the
their
well that more availeth my blackness, spears flew in pieces, and they wounded
than the other's whiteness. And then either other sore. Then hurtled they
he departed. And he had another together so that they fell both to the
vision: him thought that he came to earth, and tfieir horses betwixt their
a great place, which seemed a chapel, legs. And anonthey arose, and set
and there he found a chair set on the hands to their swords, and smote each
left side, which was worm-eaten and one other upon the heads, that they
feeble. And on the right hand were made great wounds and deep, that the
two flowers like a lily, and the one blood went out of their bodies. For
would have taken the other's whiteness, there found Sir Bors greater defence
but a good man parted them, that the in that knight more than he wend.
one touched not the other, and then out For that Pridam was a passing good
of every flower came out many flowers, knight, and he wounded Sir Bors full
and fruit great plenty. Then him thought evil, and he him again. But ever this
the good man said, Should not he do Sir Pridam held the stour in like hard.
MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XVI.
That perceived Sir Bors, and suffered beating him so sore blood
that the
him till he was nigh attaint, and then trailed down more thanan hun-
in
he ran upon him more and more, and dred places of his body, so that he was
the other went back for dread of death. all blood tofore and behind, but he said
So in his withdrawing he fell upright, never a word, as he which was great of
and Sir Bors drew his helm so strongly heart ;he suffered all that ever they did
that he rent it from his head, and gave to him as though he had felt none an-
him great strokes with the flat of his guish. Anon Sir Bors dressed him to
sword upon the visage, and bade him rescue him that was his brother and so :
yield him, or he should slay him. Then he looked upon the other side of him,
he cried him mercy, and said, Fair and saw a knight which brought a fair
knight, for God's love slay me not, and gentlewoman, and would have set her
I shall ensure thee never to war against in the thickest place of the forest, for to
thy lady, but be alway toward her. have been the more surer out of the
Then Bors let him be. Then the old way from them that sought him. And
lady fled with all her knights. she, which was nothing assured, cried
with an high voice, Saint Mary, succour
CHAP. IX. your maid !
chased out of their lands. Then befell When Bors heard her say thus, he
that young lady to come to her estate had so much sorrow there he nist not
again, by the mighty prowess of Sir what to do. For if I let my brother be
Bors de Ganis. So when all the country in adventure he must be slain, and that
was well set in peace, then Sir Bors would I not for all the earth. And if I
took his leave and departed, and she help not the maid, she is shamed for
thanked him greatly, and would have ever, and also she shall lose her honour,
given him great riches, but he refused the which she shall never get again.
it. Then he rode all that day till night, Then lift he up his eyes, and said weep-
and came to an harbour, to a lady ing, Fair sweet Lord Jesu Christ,
whose
which knew him well enough, and made liege man I am. keep Lionel my brother,
of him great joy. Upon the morn, as that these knights slay him not; and
soon as the day appeared, Bors departed for pity of you, and for Mary's sake,
from thence, and so rode into a forest 1 shall succour this maid.
unto the hour of mid-day, and there
befell him a marvellous adventure. So CHAP. X.
he met at the departing of the two ways
two knights, that led Lionel his brother
How Sir Bors left to rescue his brother,
and rescued the damsel; and bow it
all naked, bounden upon a strong hack-
was told him that Lionel was dead.
ney, and his hands bounden tofore his
breast and every each of them held in
: Then dressed he him unto the knight
his hand thorns, wherewith they went the which had the gentlewoman, and
CHAP XI. SIR BORS TELLS HIS DREAM. 3S5
then he cried, Sir knight, let your hand into no vain hope,for I shall tell you
off that maiden, or ye be but dead. tidings such as they be ; for truly he is
And then he set down the maiden and dead. Then shewed he him a new slain
was armed at all pieces, save he lacked body, lying in a bush, and it seemed him
his spear. Then he dressed his shield, well that it was the body of Lionel.
and drew out his sword, and Bors smote And then he made such a sorrow that
him so hard went through his
that it he fell to the earth all in a swoon, and
shield and haberjon on the left shoulder ; lay a great while there. And when he
and through great strength he beat him came to himself he said, Fair brother,
down to the earth and at the pulling
;
sith the company of you and me is
out of Bors' spear there he swooned. parted, shall I never have joy in my
Then came Bors to the maid, and heart ; and now He which I have taken
said, How seemeth it you ? Of this unto my Master, He be my
help. And
knight ye be delivered at this time. when he had said thus, he took his body
Now Sir, said she, I pray you lead lightly in his arms, and put upon the
me there as this knight had me. — bow of his saddle. And then he said to
it
right welcome. Truly, said Bors, that told him of his birds, one white, another
may not be at this time, for I have a black and of the rotten tree, and of
;
great adventure to do in this country. the white flowers. Sir, said the priest,
So he commended them unto God, and I shall tell you a part now, and the
departed. Then Sir Bors rode after other deal to-morrow. The white fowl
Lionel his brother by the trace of their betokeneth a gentlewoman, fair and
•
horses. Thus he rode seeking a great rich, which loveth thee, and hath loved
while. Then he overtook a man clothed thee long and if thou refuse her love,
;
in a religious clothing, and rode on a she shall go die anon, if thou have no
strong black horse, blacker than a bery, pity on her. That signifieth the great
and said, Sir knight, what seek you ? Sir, bird, the which shall make thee for to
said he, I seek my brother, that I saw refuse her. Now, for no fear nor for
within a while beaten with two knights. no dread that thou hast of God, thou
Ah Bors, discomfort you not, nor fall shalt not refuse her, but thou wouldest
35
3 86 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XVI.
not do it for to be hoklen chaste, for to was abashed. Not for then she saluted
conquer the praise of the vain-glory of him, and he her; and then they sat
the world for that shall befall thee
;
down together, and spake of many
now, and thou refuse her, that Launcelot, things, insomuch that she besought him
the good knight thy cousin, shall die. to be her love, for she had loved him
And therefore men shallnow say that above all earthly men, and she should
thou art a manslayer, both of thy make him richer than ever was man of
brother Sir Lionel, and of thy cousin his age. When Sir Bors understood
Sir Launcelot du Lake, the which thou her words he was right evil at ease,
mightest have saved and rescued full which in no manner would not break
easily. But thou weenedst to rescue a chastity, so wist not he how to answer
maid, which pertained nothing to thee. her,
Now look thou whether it had been
greater harm of thy brother's death, or CHAP. XII.
else to have suffered her for to have lost
How the devil in a woman's likeness would
her honour. Then asked he him, Hast have tempted Sir Bors, and hoiv by God's
thou heard the tokens of thy dream, the
Yea grace he escaped.
which I have told to you ? for-
sooth, said Sir Bors, all your exposition Alas !said she, Bors, shall ye not do
and declaring of my dream I have well my will ? Madam, said Sir Bors, there
understood and heard. Then said the is no lady in this world whose will I
man in this black clothing, Then is it in will fulfil as of this thing, for my brother
thy default if Sir Launcelot thy cousin lieth dead which was slain right late.
die. Sir, said Bors, that were me loth ; Ah, Bors, said she, I have loved you
for wit ye well there is nothing in the long for the great beauty I have seen in
world but I had lever do it than to see you, and great hardiness I have heard
my lord Sir Launcelot du Lake to die in of you, that needs ye must give me your
my Choose ye now the one or
default. love, and, therefore, I pray you grant it
the other, said the good man. And then me. Truly, said he, I shall not do it in
he led Sir Bors into an high tower, and no manner of wise. Then she made
there he found knights and ladies. him such sorrow as though she would
Those ladies said he was welcome, and have died. Well, Bors, said she, unto
90 they unarmed him. And when he this have ye brought me nigh to mine
was in his doublet, men brought him a end. And therewith she took him by
mantle furred with ermine, and put it the hand, and bade him behold her, —
about him, and then they made him such And ye shall see how I shall die for
cheer that he had forgotten all his sor- your love. Ah, said then he, that shall
row and anguish, and only set his heart I never see. Then she departed, and
in these delights and dainties, and took went up into a high battlement, and led
no more thought for his brother Sir with her twelve gentlewomen and :
Lionel, neither of Sir Launcelot du Lake when they were above, one of the gentle-
his cousin. And anon came out of a women cried and said, Ah, Sir Bors,
chamber to him the fairest lady that gentle knight, have mercy on us all, and
ever he saw, and more richer beseen suffer my lady to have her will and if :
than ever he saw queen Guenever, or ye do not, we must suffer death with our '
that lever he had they all had lost their abbot] our Lord Jesu Christ shewed
souls than he is: and with that they Him unto you, in the likeness of a soul
fell adown all at once unto the earth. that suffered great anguish for us since
And when he saw that, he was all He was put upon the cross, and bled
abashed, and had thereof great mar- His heart blood for mankind there was :
vel. With that he blessed his body and the token and the likeness of the Sanc-
his visage and anon he heard a great
; greal that appeared afore you, for the
noise and a great ciy, as though all the blood that the great fowl bled revived
fiends of hell had been about him, and the chickens from death to life. And
therewith he saw neither tower, ne by the bare tree is betokened the world,
lady, ne gentlewoman, nor no chapel which naked and without fruit, but if
is
where he brought his brother to. Then it come Also the lady for
of our Lord.
held he up both his hands to the hea- whom ye fought for, and king Aniause,
ven, and said, Fair Father God, I am which was lord there tofore, betokeneth
grievously escaped. And then he took his Jesu Christ, which is the King of the
arms and his horse, and rode on his world and that ye fought with the
;
way. Then he heard a clock smite on champion for the lady, this it betoken-
his right hand, and thither he came to eth : for when ye took the battle for the
an abbey on his right hand, closed with lady, by her ye shall understand the new
high walls, and there was let in. Then law of Jesu Christ and holy Church ;
they supposed that he was one of the and by the other lady ye shall under-
quest of the Sancgreal. So they led stand the old law and the fiend, which
him into a chamber, and unarmed him. all day warreth
against holy Church,
Sirs, said Sir Bors, if there be any holy therefore ye did your battle with right.
man in this house, I pray you let me For ye be Jesu Christ's knights, therefore
speak with him. Then one of them led ye ought to be defenders of holy Church.
him unto the abbot, which was in a And by the black bird might ye un-
chapel. And then Sir Bors saluted him, derstand the holy Church, which saith
and he him again. Sir, said Bors, I am I am black, but he is fair. And by the
a knight errant, and told him all the white bird might men understand the
adventure which he had seen. Sir fiend. And you how the
I shall tell
knight, said the abbot, I wot not what swan white without forth, and black
is
ye be, for I wend never that a knight within it is hypocrisy which is without
;
of your age might have been so strong yellow or pale, and seemeth without
in the grace of our Lord Jesu Christ. forth the servants of Jesu Christ, but
Not for then ye shall go unto your rest, they be within so horrible of filth and
for I will not counsel you this day, it is sin, and beguile the world evil. Also
too late, and to-morrow I shall counsel when the fiend appeared to thee in like-
you as I can. ness of a man of religion, and blamed
thee that thou left thy brother for a
CHAP. XIII. lady, so led thee where thou seemed
thy brother was slain, but he is yet on
Of the holy communication of an abbot
live, and all was for to put thee in
to Sir Bors, and how the abbot coun-
error, and bring thee unto vain hope
selled him.
and lechery, for he knew thou were
And that night was Sir Bors served tender hearted, and all was for thou
richly, and on the morn early he heard shouldest not find the blessed adventure
mass, and the abbot came to him and of the Sancgreal. And the third fowl
bad him good morrow, and Bors to him betokeneth the strong battle against the
And then he told him he was a which were
—Also
again. fair ladies all devils.
fellow of the quest of the Sancgreal, and the dry tree, and the white lily: the
how he had charge of the holy man to dry tree betokeneth thy brother Sir
eat bread and water. Then [said the Lionel, which is dry without virtue, and
25—2
388 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XVI.
therefore many men ought to call him and said, Fair sweet brother, when came
the rotten tree, and the worm-eaten ye hither ? Anon
as Sir Lionel saw him
tree, for he a murderer and doth
is he said, Ah Bors, ye may not make none
contrary to the order of knighthood. avaunt, but, as for you, I might have
And the two white flowers signify two been slain; when ye saw two knights
maidens, the one is a knight which was leading me away, beating me, ye left me
wounded the other day, and the other is to succour a gentlewoman, and suffered
the gentlewoman which ye rescued ; me in peril of death for never erst ne
:
and why the other flower drew nigh the did no brother to another so great an
other, that was the knight which would untruth. And for that misdeed now I
have dishonoured her, and himself both. ensure you but death, for well have ye
And, Sir Bors, ye had been a great fool, deserved it therefore keep thee from
;
and in great peril, to have seen those henceforward, and that shall ye find as
two flowers perish for to succour the soon as I am armed. When Sir Bors
rotten tree, for and they had sinned to- understood his brother's wrath, he
gether they had been damned and for : kneeled down to the earth, and cried
that ye rescued them both, men might him mercy, holding up both his hands,
call you a very knight and servant of and prayed him to forgive him his evil
Jesu Christ. will. Nay, said Lionel, that shall never
be, and I may have the higher hand, that
CHAP. XIV. I make mine avow to God thou shalt :
toward a forest. Say me, said Sir Bors, horse, and so shall ye be most at your
canst thou tell me of any adventure ? advantage. And but if ye will, I will run
Sir, said he, here shall be under this upon thee there as ye stand upon foot,
castle a great and a marvellous tourna- and so the shame shall be mine and the
ment. Of what folks shall it be? said harm yours but of that shame reck I
;
Sir Bors. The earl of Plains (said he) nought. When Sir Bors saw that he must
shallbe on the one party, and the lady's fight with his brother or else to die, he
nephew of Hervin on the other party. nist not what to do. Then his heart
Then Bors thought to be there, if he counselled him not thereto, in as much
might meet with his brother Sir Lionel, as Lionel was born or he, wherefore he
or any other of his fellowship which were ought to bear him reverence; yet kneeled
in the quest of the Sancgreal. And then he down afore Lionel's horse feet, and
he turned to an hermitage that was in said, Fair sweet brother, have mercy
the entry of the forest. And when he upon me and slay me not, and have in
was come thither, he found there Sir remembrance the great love which ought
Lionel his brother, which sat all armed to be between us twain. What Sir Bors
at the entry of the chapel door, for to said to Lionel he recked not, for the
abide there harbour till on the morn fiend had brought him in such a will
that the tournament shall be. And that he should slay him. Then when
when Sir Bors saw him he had great Lionel saw he would none other, and
joy of him, that was it marvel to tell of that he would not have risen to give him
his joy. And then he alight off his horse battle, he rushed over him, so that he
CHAP. XV. OF SIR LIONEL'S EVIL DOINGS. 389
smote Bors with his horse feet upward Sir Lionel, will ye let me ? therefore if
to the earth, and hurt him so sore that ye intermit you in this, I shall slay you,
he swooned of distress, the which he felt and him after. Why, said Colgrevance,
in himself to have died without con- is this sooth, that
ye will slay him ? Slay
fession. So when Lionel saw
this, he him will I, said he, who so say the con-
alight off his horse, to have smitten off trary for he hath done so much
;
against
his head. And so he took him by the me that he hath well deserved it and ;
helm, and would have rent it from his ap ranupon him, and would have smitten
head. Then came the hermit run- him through the head and Sir Colgre-
;
shall not be great harm, not half so him so long till Colgrevance had the
much as of his. Well, said Lionel, I am worse, for Sir Lionel was of great
agreed and set his hand to his sword,
; chivalry and right hardy, for he had
and smote him so hard that his head pierced the hauberk and the helm, that
went backward. Not for that he re- he abode but death. For he had lost
strained him of his evil will, but took much of his blood, that it was marvel
his brother by the helm, and unlaced it that he might stand upright. Then
to have stricken off his head, and had beheld he Sir Bors, which sat dressing
slain him without fail, but so it happed, him upward, and said, Ah Bors, why
Colgrevance, a fellow of the Round come ye not to cast me out of peril of
Table, came at that time thither, as our death, wherein I have put me to succour
Lord's will was. And when he saw the you, which were right now nigh the
good man slain, he marvelled much what death? Certes, said Lionel, that shall
it might be. And then he beheld Lionel not avail you, for none of you shall
would have slain his brother, and knew bear other's warrant, but that ye shall
Sir Bors which he loved right well. die both of my hand. When Bors
Then start he down and took Lionel by heard that, he did so much he rose and
the shoulders, and drew him strongly put on his helm. Then perceived he
aback from Bors, and said, Lionel, will first the hermit priest which was slain,
ye slay your brother, the worthiest then made he a marvellous sorrow upon
knight of the world one? and that him.
should no good man suffer. Why, said
39° MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XVI.
you the death, it will please me the then he held up both his hands, for he
better for to save a worthy man. With dread God had taken vengeance upon
that word Sir Lionel smote off the helm him.
7
With that he heard a voice say,
from his head. Then Colgrevance saw Bors, go hence and bear thy brother no
that he might not escape then he said,
;
longer fellowship, but take thy way
Fair sweet Jesu, that I have misdone anon right to the sea, for Sir Percivale
have mercy upon my soul; for such abideth thee there. Then he said to his
sorrow that my heart suffereth for good- brother, Fair sweet brother, forgive me,
ness, and for alms deed that I would forGod's love, all that I have trespassed
have done here, be to me aligement of unto you. Then he answered, God for-
penance unto my soul's health. At give it thee, and I do gladly. So Sir
these words Lionel smote him so sore Bors departed from him, and rode the
that he bare him to the earth. So when next way to the sea. And at the last,
he had slain Colgrevance, he ran upon by fortune he came to an abbey which
his brother as a fiendly man, and gave was nigh the sea. That night Bors
him such a stroke that he made him rested himthere, and in his sleep there
stoop and he, that was full of humility,
; came a voice to him, and bad him go to
prayed him, for God's love to leave this the sea then he start up, and made a
;
that came between them. and did off his helm. Then
smiled,
And then he heard a voice that said, Percivale knew him, and either made
great joy of other, that it was marvel
Flee, Bors, and touch him not, or else to
CHAfc. i. OF SIR GALAHAD. 39*
hear. Then Bors told him how he the sea, one while backward another
came into the ship, and by whose ad- while forward, and every each comforted
monishment. And either told other of other, and oft were in their prayers.
their temptations, as ye have heard to- Then said Sir Percivale, We
lack no-
forehand. So went they downward in thing but Galahad the good knight.
8nt) tjw* entietj) tje SgxteentI) book folwlje i$ of $$xt (Safoagne, ?Ector
tie margg, ant) ggre H3or$ De gang$ artti £tr percgual.
£tnt) frere folofoetf) tfje gcucntentj) book fofnclK t£ <rf ti)e noble knggjjte
jsgre ©ala&ati.
knights, he rode then into a vast forest, that slanted down to the earth, and
it
wherein he rode many journeys, and he carved the horse shoulder in two. When
found many adventures, the which he Ector saw Gavyaine down, he drew him
brought to an end, whereof the story aside, and thought it no wisdom for to
maketh here no mention. Then he abide him, and also for natural love,
took his way to the sea on a day, and it that he was his uncle. Thus through
befell as he passed by a castle where his great hardiness he beat aback all the
was a wonder tournament, but they knights without. And then they within
without had done so much that they came out and chased them all about.
within were put to the worse, yet were But when Galahad saw there would
they within good knights enough. When none turn again, he stole away privily,
Galahad saw that those within were at so that none wist where he was become.
so great a mischief that men slew them Now byhead, said Gawaine to
my
at the entry of the castle, then he Ector, now are the wonders true that
thought to help them, and put a spear were said of Launcelot du Lake, that
forth, and smote the first that he fell to the sword which stuck in the stone
the earth, and the spear brake to pieces. should give me such a bufet that I
Then he drew his sword, and smote would not have it for the best castle in
there as they were thickest, and so he this world, and soothly now it is proved
did wonderful deeds of arms, that all true, for never before had I such a
they marvelled. Then it happed that stroke of man's hand. Sir, said Ector,
Gawaine and Sir Ector de Maris were me seemeth your quest is done. And
with the knights without but when they
; yours is not done, said Gawaine, but
espied the white shield with the red mine is done; I shall seek no further.
cross, the one said to the other, Yonder Then Gawaine was borne into a castle,
is the good knight Sir Galahad the haut and unarmed him, and laid him in a
39 2 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XV11.
rich bed, and a leech found that he when the maid was horsed, and he both,
might live, and to be whole within a the lady took Galahad a fair child and
month. Thus Gawaine and Ector abode rich, and so they departed from the
together. For Sir Ector would not castle, till they came to the sea-side,
away till Gawaine were whole. And and there they found the ship where
the good knight Galahad rode so long Bors and Percivale were in, the which
till he came that night to the castle of cried on the ship's board, Sir Galahad,
Carboneck and it befell him thus that
; ye be welcome, we have abiden you
he was benighted in an hermitage. So long. And when he heard them, he
the good man was fain when he saw he asked them what they were. Sir, said
was a knight errant. Then when they she, leave your horse here,. and I shall
were at rest, there came a gentlewoman leave mine; and took their saddles and
knocking at the door, and called Gala- their bridles with them, and made a
had, and so the good man came to the cross on them, and so entered into the
door to wit what she would. Then she ship. And the two knights received
called the hermit, Sir Ulfin, I am a them both with great joy, and every
gentlewoman that would speak with the each knew other. And so the wind
knight that is with you. Then the good arose, and drove them through the sea
man awaked Galahad, and bad him in a marvellous place. And within a
arise, and speak with a gentlewoman while it dawned. Then did Galahad off
that seemeth hath great need of you. his helm and his sword, and asked of
Then Galahad went to her, and asked his fellows from whence came that fair
her what she would. Galahad, said she, ship. Truly, said they, ye wot as well
I will that ye arm you, and mount upon as we, but of God's grace. And then
your horse, and follow me, for I shall they told every each to other of all their
shew you within these three days the hard adventures, and of their great
highest adventure that ever any knight temptation. Truly, said Galahad, ye
saw. Anon Galahad armed him, and are much bounden to God, for ye have
took his horse and commended him to escaped great adventures : and had not
God, and bad the gentlewoman go, and the gentlewoman been I had not come
he would follow there as she liked. here; for as for you, I wend never to
have found you in these strange coun-
CHAP. II. tries. Ah, Galahad, said Bors, if Laun-
celot your father were here then were
How Sir Galahad rode with a damsel,
we well at ease, for then me seemeth
and came to the ship whereas Sir Bors we failed nothing. That may not be,
and Sir PercivaU were in. said Galahad, but if it please our Lord.
So she rode as fast as her palfrey By then the ship went from the land of
might bear her, till that she came to Logris, and by adventure it arrived up
the sea the which was called Collibe. betwixt two rocks passing great and
And at the night they came unto a castle marvellous, but there they might not
in a valley, was closed with a running land, for there was a swallow of the
water, and with strong walls and high. sea, save there was another ship, and
And so she entered into the castle with upon it they might go without danger.
Galahad, and there had he great cheer, Go we thither, said the gentlewoman,
for the lady of that castle was the dam- and there shall we see adventures, for
sel's lady. So when he was unarmed, for so is our Lord's will. And when
then said the damsel, Madam, shall we they came found the ship
thither, they
abide here all this day ? Nay, said she, rich enough, but they found neither
but till he hath dined, and till he hath man nor woman therein. But they
slept a little. So he eat and slept a found in the end of the ship two fair
while, till that the maid called him, letters written, which said a dreadful
and armed him by torchlight. And word and a marvellous —Thou man :
CHAP. in. OF SIR PERCIVALE'S SISTER. 393
which shall enter into this ship, beware manner of kind, that who that handleth
thou be in steadfast belief, for I am Faith; them shall have so much will that he
and therefore beware how thou enterest, shall never be weary, and he shall not
for and thou fail I shall not help thee. think on joy nor sorrow that he hath
Then said the gentlewoman, Percivale, had, but only that thing that he be-
wot ye what 1 am? Certes, said he, holdeth before him. And as for this
nay, to my witting. Wit you well, said sword there shall never man begripe it
she, that I am thy sister, which am at the handle but one, but he shall
daughter of king Pellinore. And there- pass all other. In the name of God,
fore wit ye well ye are the man in the said Percivale, I shall essay to handle it.
world that I most love. And if ye be So he set his hand to the sword, but he
not in perfect belief of Jesu Christ, enter might not begripe it. By my faith, said
not in no manner of wise, for then he, now have I failed. Bors set his
should ye perish in the ship, for he is hand thereto and failed. Then Galahad
so perfect he will suffer no sin in him. beheld the sword, and saw the letters
When Percivale understood that she was like blood, that said, Let see who shall
his very sister, he was inwardly glad, assay to draw me out of my sheath, but
and said, Fair sister,enter
I shall if he be more hardier than other, and
therein, for if I be a mis-creature, or an who that draweth me, wit ye well that
untrue knight, there shall I perish. he shall never fail of shame of his body,
or to be wounded to the death. By
CHAP. III. my /aith, said Galahad, I would draw
this sword out of the sheath, but the
How Sir Galahad entered into the ship, so great, that I shall not
is
and of a fair bed therein, with offending
other
set my hand thereto. Now
sir, said
tuarvellous things, and of a sxvord.
the gentlewoman, wit ye well that the
In the mean while Galahad
blessed drawing of this sword is forbidden to
him and entered therein, and then next all men, save all only unto you. Also
the gentlewoman, and then Sir Bors and this ship arrived in the realm of Logris,
Sir Percivale. And when they were and that time was deadly war between
therein, it was so marvellous fair and king Labor, which was father unto the
rich that they marvelled. And in the maimed king, and king Hurlame, which
midst of the ship was a fair bed, and was a Saracen. But then was he
Sir Galahad went thereto, and found newly christened, so that men held him
there a crown of silk. And at the feet afterwards one of the wittiest men of
was a sword rich and fair, and it was the world. And so upon a day it befell
drawn out of the sheath half a foot and that king Labor and king Hurlame had
more, and the sword was of divers fa- assembled their folk upon the sea, where
shions, and the pommel was of stone, and this ship was arrived, and there king
there was in him all manner of colours Hurlame was discomfit, and his men
that any man might find, and every each slain, and he was afeard to be dead, and
of the colours had divers virtues, and fled to his ship, and there found this
the scales of the haft were of two ribs of sword, and drew it, and came out and
divers beasts. The one beast was a found king Labor, the man in the world
serpent, which was conversant in Cali- of all Christendom in whom was then
done, and is called the serpent of the the greatest faith. And when king
fiend. And the bone of him is of such Hurlame saw king Labor, he dressed
a virtue, that there is no hand that this sword, and smote him upon the
handleth him shall never be weary nor helm so hard, that he clave him and his
hurt and the other beast is a fish, which
:
horse to the earth with the first stroke
is not
right great, and haunteth the of his sword. And it was in the realm
Hood of Eufrates and that fish is called
; of Logris and so befell great pestilence
;
Ertanax, and his bones be of such a and great harm to both realms. For
394 MORTE DARTHUR. JBOOK XVtt.
sithen increased neither corn nor grass, that Nacien, the brother-in-law of king
nor well nigh no fruit, nor in the water Mordrains, was borne into a town more
was no wherefore men call it the
fish, than fourteen days' journey from his
lands of the two marches, the waste country, by the commandment of our
land, for that dolorous stroke. And Lord, into an isle, into the parts of the
when king Hurlame saw this sword west, that men call the Isle of Turnance.
so carving, he turned again to fetch the So befell it that he found this ship at
scabbard and so came into this ship,
: the entry of a rock, and he found the
and entered, and put up the sword in bed, and this sword, as we have heard
the sheath. And as soon as he had now. Not for then he had not so much
done it, he fell down dead afore the bed. hardiness to draw it: and there he
Thus was the sword proved, none that dwelled an eight days, and at the ninth
ne drew it but he were dead or maimed. day there fell a great wind which de-
So lay he there till a maiden came into parted him out of the isle, and brought
the ship, and cast him out, for there him to another isle by a rock, and there
was no man so hardy of the world to he found the greatest giant that ever
enter into that ship for the defence. man might see. Therewith came that
horrible giant to slay him, and then
CHAP. IV. he looked about him, and might not
fly, and he had nothing to defend him
Of the marvels of the sword and of the
with. So he ran to his sword, and
scabbard.
when he saw it naked he praised it
And then beheld they the scabbard ; much, and then he shook it, and there-
it seemed to be of a serpent's skin. And with he brake it in the midst. Ah, said
thereon were letters of gold and silver. Nacien, the thing I most praised ought
And the girdle was but poorly to come I now most to blame. And therewith
to, and not able to sustain such a rich he threw the pieces of his sword over his
sword, and the letters said He which : bed. And after he lept over the board to
shall wield me, ought to be more harder fight with the giant, and slew him. And
than any other, if he bear me as truly as anon he entered into the ship again, and
I ought to be borne. For the body of the wind arose, and drove him through
him which I ought to hang by, he shall the sea, that by adventure he came to
not be shamed in no place while he is another ship where king Mordrains
gird with this girdle, nor never none was, which had been tempted full evil
be so hardy to do away this girdle for with a fiend in the port of perilous rock.
it
ought not to be done away, but by the And when that one saw the other they
hands of a maid, and that she be a made great joy of other, and either told
king's daughter, and queen's, and she other of their adventure, and how the
must be a maid all the days of her sword failed him at his most need.
both in will and in deed and if "When Mordrains saw the sword he
life,
she break her virginity, she shall die the
;
praised it much,
— but the breaking was
most villainous death that ever did any not to do but by wickedness of thyself-
woman. said Percivale, turn this
Sir, ward, for thou art in some sin :
—
and
sword, that we may see what is on the there he took the sword, and set the
other side. And it was red as blood, pieces together, and they soldered
with black letters as any coal, which as fair as ever they were tofore and
;
said, He that shall praise me most, most there he put the sword in the sheath,
shall he find me to blame at a great and laid it down on the bed. Then
need, and to whom I should be most heard they a voice that said, Go .out of
debonair shall I be most felon, and that this ship a little while, and enter into
shall be at one time. Fair brother, said the other, for dread ye fall in deadly
she to Percivale, it befell about a forty sin; for, and ye be found in deadly sin,
year after the passion of Jesu Christ, ye may not escape but perish. And so
CHAP. V. OF THE MARVELS OF THE SHIP. 395
they went into the other ship. And as she were put out of paradise, she took
Nacien went over the board, he was with her the bough on which the apple
smitten with a sword on the right hung on. Then perceived she that the
foot, that he fell down noseling to the branch was fair and green, and she
ship's board, and therewith he said, O remembered her the loss which came
God, how am I hurt. And then there from the tree. Then she thought to
came a voice and said, Take thou that keep the branch as long as she might.
for thy forfeit that thou didst in drawing And for she had no coffer to keep it in,
of this sword, therefore thou receivest a she put it in the earth. So by the will
wound, for thou were never worthy to of our Lord the branch grew to a great
handle it, as the writing maketh men- tree within a little while, and was as
tion. In the name of God, said Gala- white as any snow, branches, boughs,
had, ye are right wise of these works. and leaves, that was a token a maiden
planted it. But after the tree which
CHAP. V. was white became green as any grass,
and all that came out of it. And in the
How king Pelles was smitten through both same time there was Abel begotten ;
thighs because he drew the sword, and thus was the tree long of green colour.
other marvellous histories.
And so it befell many days after, under
Sir, said she, there was a king that the same tree Cain slew Abel, whereof
hight Pelles the maimed king. And befell great marvel. For anon as Abel
while he might ride, he supported much had received the death under the green
Christendom, and holy Church. So upon tree, it lost the green colour and became
a day he hunted in a wood of his which red, and that was in tokening of the
lasted unto the sea, and at the last he blood. And anon all the plants died
lost his hounds and his knights, save thereof, but the tree grew and waxed mar-
only one and there he and his knight
:
vellously fair, and it was the fairest tree
went till that they came toward Ireland, and the most delectable that any man
and there he found the ship. And when might behold and see, and so died the
he saw the letters and understood them, plants that grew out of it tofoie the
yet he entered, for he was right perfect time that Abel was slain under it. So
of his life but his knight had none har-
:
long endured the tree till that Solomon
diness to enter, and there found he this king David's son reigned, and held the
sword, and drew it out as much as ye land after his father. This Solomon
may see. So therewith entered a spear, was wise, and knew all the virtues of
wherewith he was smitten him through stones and trees, and so he knew the
both the thighs, and never sith might course of the stars, and many other
he be healed, nor nought shall tofore diverse things.
we come to him. Thus, said she, was This Solomon had an evil wife, where
king Pelles, your grandsire, maimed for through he wend that there had never
his hardiness. In the name of God, been no good woman, and so he de-
damsel, said Galahad. So they went spised them in his books. So answered
toward the bed to behold all about it, a voice him once, Solomon, if heaviness
and above the head there hung two come to a man by a woman, ne reck
swords. Also there were two spindles thou never. For yet shall there come
which were as white as any snow, and a woman whereof there shall come
other that were as red as blood, and greater joy unto man an hundred times
other above green as any emerald of : more than this heaviness giveth sorrow,
these three colours were the spindles, and that woman shall be born of thy
and of natural colour within, and with- lineage. Then when Solomon heard
out any painting. These spindles, said these words, he held himself but a fool,
the damsel, were when sinful Eve came and the truth he perceived by old books.
to gather fruit, for which Adam and Also the Holy Ghost shewed him the
39 6 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVII.
coming of the glorious Virgin Mary. marvellous rich, and set her upon the
Then asked he of the voice if it should bed's head covered with silk, and laid
be in the end of his lineage. Nay, said the sword at the feet, and the girdles
the voice, but there shall come a man were of hemp, and therewith the king
which shall be a maid, and the last was angry. Sir, wit ye well, said she,
of your blood, and he shall be as good that I have none so high a thing which
a knight as duke Josua thy brother-in- were worthy to sustain so high a sword,
law. and a maid shall bring other knights
CHAP. VI. thereto, but I wot not when it shall be,
nor what time. And there she let
How Solomon took David's sword by the
make a covering to the ship, of cloth
zvife, and of other matters
counsel of his
of silk that should never rot for no
marvellous.
manner of weather. Yet went that lady,
Now have I certified thee of that thou and made a carpenter to come to the
stoodst in doubt. Then was Solomon tree which Abel was slain under. Now,
glad that there should come any such of said she, carve me out of this tree as
his lineage, but ever he marvelled and much wood as will make me a spindle.
studied who that should be, and what Ah, madam, said he, this is the tree the
his name might be. His wife perceived which our first mother planted. it,Do
that he studied, and thought that she said she, or else I shall destroy thee.
would know it at some season, and so Anon as he began to work there came
she waited her time, and asked of him the out drops of blood, and then would he
cause of his studying, and there he told have left, but she would not suffer him,
her altogether how the voice told him. and so he took away as much wood as
Well, said she, I shall let make a ship might make a spindle, and so she made
of the best wood and most durable that him to take as much of the green tree,
men may find. So Solomon sent for all and of the white tree. And when these
the carpenters of the land and the best. three spindles were shapen, she made
And when they had made the ship, the them to be fastened upon the ceiling of
lady said to Solomon, Sir, said she, since the bed. When Solomon saw this, he
it is so that this knight ought to pass said to his wife, Ye have done marvel-
all other knights of chivalry which have lously, for though all the world were
been tofore him, and shall come after here right now, they could not devise
him, moreover I shall tell you, said she, ye wherefore all was made, but our
this
shall go into our Lord's temple, whereas Lord himself, and thou that hast done
it wotest not what
is king David's sword, your father, the it shall betoken.
which is the marvellousest and sharpest Now let it be, said she, for ye shall
that ever was taken in any knight's hear tidings sooner than ye ween.
hand. Therefore take that, and take Now shall ye hear a wonderful tale
off the pommel, and thereto make ye a of king Solomon and his wife.
pommel of precious stones, that it be
so subtilly made that no man perceive CHAP. VII.
it but that they be all one. And after
make there an hilt so marvellously A wonderful tale of king Solomon and
his wife.
and wonderly that no man may know
it. And after make a marvellous That night lay Solomon before the
sheath. And when ye have made all ship with little fellowship. And when
this, I shall letmake a girdle thereto, he was on sleep, him thought there
such as shall please me. All this king came from heaven a great company of
Solomon did let make as she devised, angels, and alight into the ship, and
both the ship and all the remnant. And took water which was brought by an
when the ship was ready in the sea to angel in a vessel of silver, and sprinkled
sail, the lady let make a great bed, and all the ship. And after he came to the
CHAP. VII. PERCIVALE'S SISTER MAKES A GIRDLE. 397
sword and drew letters on the hilt. the gentlewoman and set it on the girdle
And after went to the ship's board, and of the sword. Now, said the fellow-
wrote there other letters, which said: ship, what is the name of the sword,
Thou man that wilt enter within me, and what shall we Truly, said
call it ?
beware that thou be full within the she, the name of the sword
the sword is,
faith, for I ne am but faith and belief. with the strange girdles, and the sheath,
When Solomon espied these letters he mover of blood for no man that hath
;
was abashed, so that he durst not enter, blood in him shall never see the one
and so drew him aback, and the ship part of the sheath which was made of
was anon shoven in the sea. and he went the tree of life. Then they said to
so fast that he lost sight of him within Galahad, In the name of Jesu Christ,
a little while. And
then a little voice and pray you that ye gird you with
said, Solomon, the last knight of thy this sword, which hath been desired
lineage shall rest in this bed. Then so much in the realm of Logris. Now
went Solomon and awaked his wife, let me
begin, said Galahad, to gripe
and told her of the adventures of the this sword
for to give you courage :
shall make new girdles to the sword. but it befell that they came on the morn
Fair sir, said Percivale's sister, dismay to a castle that men call Carteloise,
be ill
arrayed ; and then turned he never might ye have done so great an
unto the cliff fortress. And within alms-deed as this. Sir, said Galahad,
again
a while they heard a horn blow. Then I repent me much, inasmuch as they
a gentlewoman came to them, and asked were christened. Nay, repent you not,
them of whence they were, and they said he, for they were not christened,
told her. Fair lords, said she, for God's and I shall tell you how
that I wot of
love turn again if ye may, for ye be this castle. Here waslord earl Hernox
come unto your death. Nay, they said, not but one year, and he had three sons
we will not turn again, for He shall good knights of arms, and a daughter
help us in whose service we be entered the fairest gentlewoman that men knew.
in. Then as they stood talking, there So those three knights loved their sister
came knights well armed, and bad them so sore that they burnt in love, and so
yield them, or else to die. That yield- they dishonoured her, maugre her head.
ing, said they, shall be
noyous to you ; And for she cried to her father, they slew
and therewith they let their horses her, and took their father and put him
run, and Sir Percivale smote the fore- in prison, and wounded him nigh to the
most to the earth, and took his horse death, but a cousin of hers rescued him.
and mounted thereupon, and the same And then did they great untruth they :
did Galahad. Also Sir Bors served slew clerks and priests, and made beat
another so. For they had no horses down chapels, that our Lord's service
in that country, for they left their might not be served nor said and this ;
horses when they took their ship in same day their father sent to me for to
other countries. And so when they be confessed and houseled, but such
were horsed then began they to set shame had never man as I had this
upon them. And
they of the castle day with the three brethren: but the
fled strong fortress, and the
into the earl bad me suffer, for he said they
three knights after them, into the castle, should not long endure, for three ser-
and so alight on foot, and with their vants of our Lord should destroy them ;
swords slew them down, and gat into and now it is brought to an end. And
the hall. Then when they beheld the by this ye may wit that our Lord is not
great multitude of people they had slain, displeased with your deeds. Certes,
they held themselves great sinners. said Galahad, and it had not pleased
Certes, said Bors, I ween and God had our Lord, never should we have slain
loved them that we should not have had so many men in so little a while. And
power to have slain them thus, but they then they brought the earl Hernox out
have done so much against our Lord of prison into the midst of the hall, that
that he will not suffer them to reign no knew Galahad anon, and yet he saw
longer. Say ye not so, said Galahad, him never afore but by revelation of
for if they misdid against God the ven- our Lord.
geance is not ours, but to Him which
hath power thereof. So came there out CHAP. IX.
of a chamber a good man which was a
How the three knights, with Percivale's
priest, and bear God's body in a cup. into the waste forest, and of
sister, came
And when he saw them which lay dead
an hart and four lions and other things.
in the hall, he was all abashed. And
Galahad did off his helm and kneeled Then began he to weep right tenderly,
down, and so did his two fellows. Sir, and said, Long have I abiden your com-
said they, have ye no dread of us, for ing, but for God's love hold me in your
we be of king Arthur's court. Then arms, that my souldepart out of
may
asked the good man how they were my body in so good a man's arms as ye
slain so suddenly and they told it him.
; be. Gladly, said Galahad. And then ,
Truly, said the good man, and ye might one said on high that all heard, Gala-
live as long as the world might endure, had, well hast thou avenged me on
CHAP. X. THE STRANGE CUSTOM OF A CASTLE. 399
mayest, for he shall receive by thee Lord from death to life, for he lost
health which he hath abiden so long. earthly flesh, that was the deadly flesh
And therewith the soul departed from which he had taken in the wombof the
the body. And Galahad made him to blessed virgin Mary; and for that cause
be buried as he ought to be. appeared our Lord as a white hart with-
Right so departed the three knights, out spot. And the four that were with
and Percivale's sister with them. And him is to understand the four evange-
so they came into a waste forest, and lists, which set in writing a part of Jesu
there they saw afore them a white hart, Christ's deeds that he did some time
which four lions led. Then they took when he was among you an earthly
them to assent for to follow after, for man. For wit ye well never erst might
to know whither they repaired ; and so no knight know the truth, for, ofttimes
they rode after, a great pace, till that or this, our Lord shewed him unto good
they came to a valley, and thereby men and unto good knights in likeness
was an hermitage where a good man of an hart. But I suppose from hence-
dwelled and the hart and the lions
;
forth ye shall see no more. And then
entered also. So when they saw all they joyed much, and dwelled there all
this, they turned to the chapel, and saw that day. And upon the morrow, when
the good man in a religious weed, and they had heard mass they departed, and
in the armour of our Lord, for he commended the good man to God.
would sing mass of the Holy Ghost, And so they came to a castle, and
and so they entered in and heard mass. passed by. So there came a knight
And at the secrets of the mass, they armed after them, and said, Lords,
three saw the hart become a man, the hark what 1 shall say to you.
which marvelled them, and 'set him
upon the altar in a rich siege, and saw CHAP. X.
the four lions were changed, the one to
the form of a man, the other to the
How they were desired of a strange custom,
the which they woxdd not obey ; and how
form of a lion, and the third to an
they fought and slew many knights.
eagle, and the fourth was changed unto
an ox. Then took they their siege This gentlewoman that ye lead with
where the hart sat, and went out you is a maid? Sir, said she, a maid
through a glass window, and there was I am. Then he took her by the bridle
nothing perished nor broken, and they and said, By the holy cross ye shall not
heard a voice say, In such a manner en- escape me tofore ye have yielden the
tered the son of God in the womb of custom of this castle. Let her go, said
a maid, Mary. And when they heard Percivale ye be not wise, for a maid in
;
these words, they fell down to the earth, what place she cometh is free. So in
and were astonied, and therewith was the meanwhile there came out a ten or
a great clearness. And when they were twelve knights armed, out of the castle,
come to themselves again, they went to and with them came gentlewomen which
the good man, and prayed him that he held a dish of silver, and then they said,
would say them truth. What thing have This gentlewoman must yield us the
ye seen? said he: and they told him all custom of this castle. Sir, said a
that they had seen. Ah, lords, said he, knight, what maid passeth hereby shall
ye be welcome, now wot I well ye be give this dish full of blood of her right
the good knights the which shall bring arm. Blame have ye, said Galahad,
the Sancgreal to an end for ye be they
; that brought up such customs, and I
unto whom our Lord shall shew great ensure you of this gentlewoman ya
secrets. And well ought our Lord be shall fail while that I live. Truly, said
signified to an hart for the hart when
; Sir Percivale, I had lever be slain. And
400 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVII.
said the three fellows, have mercy upon And when she had lain a great while,
yourselves, and have not ado with us. she fell into a measle, and of no
Nay, fair lords, said the knights of the leech she could have no remedy. But
castle, we counsel you to withdraw at the last an old man said, and she
you, for ye are the best knights of the might have a dish full of blood of a
world, and therefore do no more, for ye maid and a clean virgin in will and
have done enough. We will let you go in work, and a king's daughter, that
with this harm, but we must needs have blood should be her health, and for to
the custom. Certes, said Galahad, for anoint her withal: and for this thing
nought speak Well, said they, will
ye. was this custom made. Now, said Per-
ye die? We be not yet come thereto, civale's sister, Fair knights, I see well
said Galahad. Then began they to that this gentlewoman is but dead.
meddle together, and Galahad drew his Certes, said Galahad, and if ye bleed
sword with the strange girdles, and so much, ye may die. Truly, said she,
smote on the right hand and on the left and I die for to heal her, I shall get
hand, and slew what that ever abode me great worship and soul's health,
him, and did such marvels that there and worship to my lineage, and better
was none that saw him but they wend is one harm than twain. And therefore
he had been none earthly man but a there shall be no more battle, but to-
monster. And his two fellows halp morn I shall yield you your custom of
him passing well, and so they held this castle. And then there was great
the journey every each in like hard, joy, more than there was tofore. For
till it was
night. Then must they else had there been mortal war upon
needs part. So came a good knight the morn; notwithstanding she would
and said to the three fellows, If ye will none other, whether they would or nold.
come in to night, and take such harbour That night were the three fellows eased
as here is, ye shall be right welcome, with the best, and on the morn they
and we shall ensure you by the faith of heard mass, and Sir Percivale's sister
our bodies, as we are true knights, to bad bring forth the sick lady. So she
leave you in such estate to-morrow as was, the which was evil at ease. Then
we find you, without any falsehood. said she, W
ho shall let me blood ? So
T
And as soon as ye know of the custom one came forth and let her blood, and
we dare say ye will accord. Therefore, she bled so much that the dish was full.
for God's love, said the gentlewoman, Then she lift up her hand and blessed
go and spare not for me. Go
thither, her. And then she said to the lady,
we, said Galahad, and so they entered Madam, I am come to the death, for to
into the castle. And when they were make you whole; for God's love pray
alight, they made great joy of them. for me. With that she fell in a swoon.
So within a while the three knights Then Galahad and his two fellows
asked the custom of the castle, and start up to her, her up, and
and lift
wherefore it was. What it is, said they, stanched her, but she had bled so much
we will say you sooth. that she might not live. Then she said,
when she was awaked, Fair brother
CHAP. Xt. HOW PERCIVALE'S SISTER DIED. 401
so forthwith there fell a sudden tempest, we may meet together in short time.
and a thunder, lightning, and rain, as Then they did off their helms, and
all the earth would have broken. So kissed together, and wept at their
half the castle turned up so down. So it departing.
passed evensong or the tempest was CPIAP. XIII.
ceased. Then they saw afore them a
knight armed and wounded hard in the How Sir Launcelot entered into the ship
where Sir Percivale 's sister lay dead;
body and in the head, that said, Oh
God, succour me, for now it is need !
and how be met with Sir Galahad his
After this knight came another knight son.
and a dwarf which cried to them afar, Now saith the history, that when
Stand, ye may not escape. Then the Launcelot was come to the water of
wounded knight held up his hands to Mortoise, as it is rehearsed before, he
God, that he should not die in such was in great peril, and so he laid him
tribulation. Truly, said Galahad, I shall down and slept, and took the adventure
succour him for His sake that he calleth that God would send him.
upon. Sir, said Bors, I shall do it, for it So when he was asleep, there came a
is not for you, for he is but one
knight. vision unto him and said, Launcelot,
Sir, said he, I grant. So Sir Bors took his arise up, and take thine armour, and
horse, and commended him to God, and enter into the first ship that thou shalt
rode after to rescue the wounded knight. find. And when he had heard these
Now turn we to the two fellows. words, he start up and saw great clear-
26
f02 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVII.
ness about him. And then he lift up they made either of other, and many a
his hand and blessed him, and so took friendly word spoken between, as land
his arms, and made him ready and so ; would, the which is no need here to
by adventure he came by a strand, and be rehearsed. And there every each
found a ship, the which was without told other of their adventures and mar-
sail or oar. And as soon as he was vels that were befallen to them in
many
within the ship, there he felt the most journeys, sith that they departed from
sweetness that ever he felt ;
and he was the court. Anon as Galahad saw the
fulfilled with all thing that he thought gentlewoman dead in the bed, he knew
on or desired. Then said he, Fair sweet her well enough, and told great worship
Father Jesu Christ, I wot not in what of her, and that she was the best maid
joy I am, for this joy passeth all earthly living, and it was great pity of her death.
joys that ever I was in. And so in this But when Launcelot heard how the mar-
joy he laid him down to the ship's board, vellous sword was gotten, and who made
and slept till day. And when he awoke, it, and all the marvels rehearsed afore,
he found there a fair bed, and therein ly- then he prayed Galahad his son that he
ing a gentlewoman dead, the which was would shew him the sword, and so he
Sir Percivale's sister. And as Launcelot did. And anon he kissed the pommel,
devised her, he espied in her right hand and the hilts, and the scabbard. Truly,
a writ, the which he read, the which told said Launcelot, never erstknew I of so
him all the adventures that ye have high adventures done, and so marvellous
heard tofore, and of what lineage she and strange. So dwelled Launcelot and
was come. So with this gentlewoman Galahad within that ship half a year,
Sir Launcelot was a month and more. If and served God daily and nightly with
ye would ask how he lived, He that fed all their power. And often they arrived
the people of Israel with manna in the in isles far from folk, where there re-
desert, so was he fed. For every day, paired none but wild beasts and there
;
when he had said his prayers, he was they found many strange adventures and
sustained with the grace of the Holy perilous, which they brought to an end.
Ghost. So on a night he went to play But because the adventures were with
him by the water side, for he was some- wild beasts, and not in the quest of the
what weaiy of the ship. And then he Sancgreal, therefore the tale maketh
listened, and heard an horse come, and here no mention thereof, for it would
one riding upon him. And when he be too long to tell of all those adven-
came nigh he seemed a knight. And so tures that befell them.
he let him
pass, and went there as the CHAP. XIV.
ship was, and there he alight, and took
the saddle and the bridle and put the How a knight brought unto Sir Galahad
horse from him, and went into the ship. an horse, and had him come from his
father,and kissed him sweetly, and said, were they all at rest. Then Launcelot
Fair sweet father, I wot not when I entered in so armed, for he found no
shall see you more, till I see the body gate nor door but it was open. And at
of Jesu Christ. I pray you, said Laun- the last he found a chamber whereof
celot,pray ye to the high Father that He the door was shut, and he set his hand
hold me in his service. And so he took thereto to have opened it, but he might
his horse and there they heard a voice,
;
not.
that said, Think for to do well, for the
CHAP. XV.
one shall never see the other before the
dreadful day of doom. Now, son Gala- How Sir Launcelot was tofore the door of
the chamber wherein the holy Sangreal
had, said Launcelot, since we shall de-
was.
part, and never see other, I pray to the
high Father to preserve both me and Then he» enforced him mickle to undo
you both. Sir, said Galahad, no prayer the door. Then he listened, and heard
availeth so much as yours. And there- a voice which sang so sweetly that it
with Galahad entered into the forest. seemed none earthly thing; and him
And the wind arose, and drove Launce- thought the voice said, Joy and honour
lot more than a month throughout the be to the Father of Heaven! Then
sea, where he slept but little, but prayed Launcelot kneekd down tofore the
to God that he might see some tidings of chamber, for well wist hs that there
the Sancgreal. So it befell on a night, was the Sancgreal within that chamber.
at midnight he arrived afore a castle, on Then said he, Fair sweet Father Jesu
the back side, which was rich and fair. Christ, if ever I did thing that pleased
And there was a postern opened towards the Lord, for thy \ ity have me not in
the sea, and was open without any keep- despite for my sins clone aforetime, and
ing, save two lions kept the entry and ; that thou shew me something of that I
the moon shone clear. Anon Sir Laun- seek And with that he saw the cham-
!
celot heard a voice that said, Launcelot, ber door open, and there came out a
go out of this ship, and enter into the great clearness, that the house was as
castle, where thou shalt see a great pait bright as all the torches of the world
of thy desire. Then he ran to his arms, had been there. So came he to the
and so armed him, and so he went to chamber door, and would have entered.
the gate, and saw the lions. Then set And anon a voice said to him, Flee
he hand to his sword, and drew it. Launcelot, and enter not, for thou
Then there came a dwarf suddenly, and oughtest not to do it and if thou enter
:
smote him on the arm so sore that the thou shalt forthink it. Then he with-
sword fell out of his hand. Then heard drew him aback right heavy. Then
he a voice say, Oh man of evil faith and looked he up in the midst of the cham-
poor belief, wherefore trowest thou more ber, and saw a table of silver, and the
on thy harness than in thy Maker ? for holy vessel covered with red samite, and
He might more avail thee than thine many angels about it, whereof one held
armour, in whose service thou art set. a candle of wax burning, and the other
Then said Launcelot, Fair Father Jesu held a cross, and the ornaments of an
Christ, I thank thee of thy great mercy, altar. And before the holy vessel he
that thou reprovest me of my misdeed. saw a good man clothed as a priest,
Now see I well that ye hold me for your and it seemed that he was at the sacring
servant. Then took he again his sword, of the mass. And it seemed to Launce-
and put it
up in his sheath, and made a lot that above the priest's hands there
cross in his forehead, and came to the were three men, whereof the two put the
lions, and they made semblant to do youngest by likeness between the priest's
him harm. Notwithstanding he passed hands, and so he lift it up light high,
by them without hurt, and entered into and it seemed to shew so to the people.
the caslle to the chief fortress, and there And then Launcelot marvelled not a
26—2
4°4 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVTI.
any amending of his swoon, and left hair which he had borne nigh a year,
him there seeming dead to all people. for that he forethought him right
So upon the morrow, when it was fair much that he had broken his promise
day, they within were arisen, and found unto the hermit, which he had avowed
Launcelot lying afore the chamber door. to do. Then they asked him how it
All they marvelled how that he came stood with him. Forsooth, said he, I
in. And so they looked upon him, and am whole of body, thanked be our
felt his pulse, to wit whether there were Lord therefore, sirs, for God's love tell
;
I am he. Then came word to king in the world that he most dread and
Pelles, that the knight that had lain so loved, and then he said, Alas, now
long dead was Sir Launcelot then was
;
doubleth my sorrow and shame ; full
the king right glad, and went to see good man of the hill unto
truly said the
him. And when Launcelot saw him Gawaine and to me of our dreams.
come, he dressed him against him, and Then went he out of the court as fast as
there made the king great joy of him. his courser might run, and so through
And there the king told him tidings, out the castle.
that his fair daughter was dead. Then
Launcelot was right heavy of it, and CHAP. XVII.
said, Sir, me forthinketh the death of
How Sir Launcelot
returned towards
your daughter, for she was a full fair
Logris, and of other adventures which
lady, fresh and young. And well I wot
be saw in the way.
she bare the best knight that is now
'
on earth, or that ever was since God Then king Pelles came to Sir Laun-
was born. So the king held him there celot, and told him tidings of his brother,
four days. And on the morrow he took whereof he was sorry that he wist not
his leave at king Pelles, and at all the what to do. So Sir Launcelot departed,
fellowship that were there, and thanked and took his armour, and said that he
them of the great labour Right so as would go see the realm of Logris —
they sat at dinner in the chief hall, then which 1 have not seen in a twelve-
was it so befallen that the Sancgieal month. And therewith commended
had fulfilled the tables with all manner the king to God, and so rode through
of meats that any heart might think many realms. And at the last he came
So as they sat, they saw all the doors to a while abbey, and there they made
and windows of the place were shut him that night great cheer. And on
without man's hand, whereof they were the morn he arose and heard mass,
all abashed, and none wist what to do. and afore an altar he found a rich tomb
And then it happed suddenly a knight which was newly made, and then he
came to the chief door, and knocked, took heed, and saw the sides written
and cried, Undo the door; but they with letters of gold, which said, Here
would not. And ever he cried. Undo, lieth king Bagdemagus of Gore, the
but they would not. And at the last which king Arthur's nephew slew :
—
it annoyed them so much, that the king and named him Sir Gawaine. Then
himself arose, and came to a window was not he a little sorry, for Launcelot
where the knight called. Then he said, loved him much more than any other,
Sir knight, ye shall not enter at this and had it been any other than Gawaine
time, while the Sancgieal is here, and he should not have escaped from death
therefore go into another. For certes to life :
— said
to himself, Alas, this is a
ye be none of the knights of the quest, great hurt to king Arthur's court, the
but one of them which hath served the loss of such a man. And then he de-
fiend, and hast left the service of our parted, and came to the abbey where
Lord. And he was passing wroth at Galahad did the adventure of the
the king's words. Sir knight, said the tombs, and wan the white shield with
king, sin ye would sofain enter, say me the red cross, and there had he great
of what country ye be ? Sir, said he, I cheer all that night. And on the morn
am of the realm of Logris, and my name he turned unto Camelot, where he
is Ector de Maris, and brother unto my found king Arthur and the queen. But
lord Sir Launcelot. Truly, said the king, many of the knights of the Round Table
me forthinkeih of that I have said, for were slain and destroyed, more than
your brother is here within. And when half. And so three were come home,
Ector de Maris understood that his Ector, Gawaine, and Lionel, and many
brother was there, for he was the man other that need not to be rehearsed.
406 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVII
And all the court was passing glad of the well the which boiled with
great
Sir Launcelot ; and the king asked him waves, as the tale telleth tofore. And
many tidings of his son Galahad. And as soon as Galahad set his hand thereto
it ceased, so that it burnt no
there Launcelot told the king of his more, and
adventures that had befallen him since the heat departed for that it burnt it
:
he departed. And also he told him of was a sign of lust but that heat might
;
the adventures of Galahad, Percivale, not abide his pure virginity. And this
and Bors, which that he knew by the was taken in the country for a miracle,
letter of the dead damsel, and as Gala- and so ever after was it called Gala-
had had told him. Now, God would, had's well. Then by adventure he came
said the king, that they were all three into the country of Gore, and into the
here. That shall never be, said Laun- abbey where Sir Launcelot had been
celot, for two of them shall ye never toforehand, and found the tomb of king
see, but one of them shall come again. Bagdemagus (but was founder thereof
Now leave we this story, and speak Joseph of Armathie's son) and the
we of Galahad. tomb of Simeon where Launcelot had
failed. Then he looked into a croft
CHAP. XVIII. under the minster, and there he saw
How Galahad came to king Mordrains, a tomb which burnt: full marvellously.
and of other matters and adventures. Then asked he the brethren what it was V
Now saith the story that Galahad Sir, said they, a marvellous adventure
rode many journeys in vain. And at that may not be brought unto none end,
the last he came to the abbey where but by him that passeth of bounty and
king Mordrains was, and when he heard of knighthood all them of the Round
that, he thought he would abide to see Table. I would, said Galahad, that ye
him. And upon the morn, when he had would lead me thereto. Gladly, said
heard mass, Galahad came unto king they and so led him till a cave and
: ;
Mordrains, and anon the king saw him, he went down upon steps and came
the which had lain blind of long time. nigh the tomb, and then the flaming
And then he dressed him against him, failed and the fire staunched, the which
and said, Galahad, the servant of Jesu many a day had been great. Then
Christ, whose coming I have abiden so came there a voice that said, Much are
long, now embrace me, and let me rest ye beholden to thank our Lord, the
on thy breast, so that I may rest between which hath given you a good hour, that
thine arms, for thou art a clean virgin ye may draw out the souls of earthly
above all knights, as the flower of the pain, and to put them into the joys of
lily, in whom
virginity is signified, and paradise. I am of your kindred, the
thou art the rose, the which is the flower which have dwelled in this heat this
of all good virtue, and in colour of fire. three hundred winter and four and
For the fire of the Holy Ghost is taken fifty, to be purged of the sin that I
so in thee, that my flesh, which was all did against Joseph of Armathie. Then
dead of oldness, is become young again. Galahad took the body in his arms, and
When Galahad heard his words, then bear it into the minster. And that
he embraced him and all his body. night lay Galahad in the abbey and on
:
Then said he, Fair Lord Jesu Christ, the morn he gave him service, and put
now I have my will, now I require thee him in the earth, afore the high altar.
in this point that I am in,
thou come
and visit me. And anon
our Lord
CHAP. XIX.
heard his prayer. Therewith the soul How Sir Percivale and Sir Bors met with
And then Sir Galahad, and how they came. to the
departed from the body.
Galahad put him in the earth as a king castle of Carbonek, and other matters.
ought to be and so departed, and came
: So departed he from thence, and com-
into a perilous forest, where he found mended the brethren to God. And so
CHAP. XX. OF GALAHAD AND HIS FELLOWS. 407
he rode five days till that he came to fellows and they three were there; no
the maimed king, and ever followed more. Anon they saw knights all armed
Percivale the five days, asking where he come in at the hall door, and did off
had been, and so one told him how the their helms and their arms, and said unto
adventures of Logris were achieved. So Galahad, Sir, we have hied right much
on a day it befell that they came out for to be with you at this table, where
of a great forest, and there they met the holy meat shall be parted. Then said
at travers with Sir Bors, the which rode lie, Ye be welcome: but of whence be
alone. It is no need to tell if they ye ? So three of them said they were of
were glad, and them he saluted, and Gaul, and other three said they were of
they yielded him honour and good ad- Ireland, and the other three said they
venture and every each told other. Then
; were of Denmark. So as they sat thus,
said Bors, It is more than a year and a there came out a bed of tree of a chamber,
half that I ne lay ten times where men the which four gentlewomen brought,
dwelled, but in wild forests and in and in the bed lay a good man sick, and
mountains, but God was ever my com- a crown of gold upon his head and ;
together, and they seemed that they Then king Pelles and his son de-
had never been broken, and as well as parted. And therewithal beseemed them
it had been first forged. And when that there came a man and four angels
they within espied that the adventure of from heaven, clothed in likeness of a
the sword was achieved, then they gave bishop, and had a cross in his hand, and
the sword to Bors, for it might not be these four angels bare him up in a chair,
better set, for he was a good knight, and and set him down before the table of
a worthy man. And a little afore even silver whereupon the Sancgreal was, and
the sword arose great and marvellous, it seemed that he had in midst of his
and was full of great heat, that many forehead letters that said, See ye here
men fell for dread. And anon alight a Joseph the first bishop of Christendom,
voice among them, and said, They that the same which our Lord succoured in
ought not to sit at the table of Jesu the city of Sarras, in the spiritual place.
Christ arise, for now shall very knights Then the knights marvelled, for that
be fed. So they went thence all save bishop was dead more than three hun-
king Pelles and Eliazar his son, the dred year tofore. Oh knights, said he,
which were holy men, and a maid which marvel not, for I was sometime an
was his niece. And so these three earthlv man. With that they heard the
408 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVII.
chamber door open, and there they saw most desiredst to see, but
yet hast
angels, and two bare candles of wax, thou not seen it so openly as thou
and the third a towel, and the fourth a shalt see it in the city of Sarras, in the
spear which bled marvellously, that spiritual place. Therefore thou must
three drops fell within a box which he go hence, and bear with thee this holy
held with his other hand. And they vessel, for this night it shall depart from
set the candles upon the table, and the the realm of Logris, that it shall never
third the towel upon the vessel, and be seen more here, and wotest thou
the fourth the holy spear even upright wherefore ? for he is not served nor
upon the vessel. And then the bishop worshipped to his right, by them of
made semblant as though he would have this land, for they be turned to evil
gone to the sacring of the mass. And living, therefore I shall disherit them
hen he took an ubbly, which was made of the honour which I have done them.
in likeness of bread and at the lifting
;
And therefore go ye three to-morrow
up there came a figure in likeness of a unto the sea, where ye shall find your
child, and the visage was as red and ship ready, and with you take the sword
as bright as any fire, and smote him- with the strange girdles, and no more
self into the bread, so that they all with you, but Sir Percivale and Sir
saw it, that the bread was formed of a Bors. Also I will that ye take with
fleshly man, and then he put it into the you of the blood of this spear, for to
holy vessel again. And then he did anoint the maimed king, both his legs
that longed to a priest to do to a mass. and body, and he shall have his
all his
And then he went to Galahad and kissed health. Sir, said Galahad, why shall
him, and bad him go and kiss his fel- not these other fellows go with us? —
lows, and so he did anon. Now, said For this cause, for right as I departed
he, servants of Jesu Christ, ye shall be mine apostles, one here and another
fed afore this table with sweet meats, there, so I will that ye depart. And
that never knights tasted. And when two of you shall die in my service, but
he had said, he vanished away and they ; one of you shall come, again, and tell
set them at the table in great dread, and tidings. Then gave he^. them his bless-
made their prayers. Then looked they, ing and vanished away.
and saw a man come out of the holy
vessel, that had allthe signs of the CHAP. XXI.
passion of Jesu Christ, bleeding all
How Galahad anointed with the blood of
openly, and said, My knights and my and
servants and my true children, which be
the spear the maimed king, other
adventures.
come out of deadly life into spiritual
life, I will now no longer hide me from And Galahad went anon to the spear
you, but ye shall see now a part of my which lay upon the table, and touched
secrets and of my hid things now hold
: the blood with his fingers, and came
and receive the high meat which ye have after to the maimed
king, and anointed
so much desired. Then took he him- his legs. Andtherewith he clothed him
self the holy vessel, and came to Gala- anon, and start upon his feet out of his
had, and he kneeled down and there he bed as an whole man, and thanked our
received his Saviour, and after him so Lord that he had healed him. And that
received all his fellows and they thought
; was not to the world-ward, for anon he
it so sweet that it was marvellous to him a place of religion of
to
yield
tell. Then said he to Galahad, Son, white monks, and was a full holy man.
wotest thou what I hold betwixt my That same night, about midnight came
hands ? Nay, said he, but if ye will tell a voice among them, which said, My
me. This is, said he, the holy dish sons and not my chieftains, my friends
wherein I ate the lamb on Sher-thursday. and not my warriors, go ye hence, where
And now hast thou seen that thou ye hope best to do, and as I bad you.
—
chap. xxii. HOW THEY WERE FED WITH THE SANCGREAL. 409
Ah, thanked be thou, Lord, that thou afore him, and saw the city of Sarras.
wilt vouchsafe to call us thy sinners. And as they would have landed, they
Now may we well prove that we have saw the ship wherein Percivale had put
not lost our pains. his sister in. Truly, said Percivale, in
And anon in all haste they took their the name of God, well hath my sister
harness and departed. But the three holden us covenant. Then took they
knights of Gaul, one of them hight out of the ship the table of silver, and
Claudine, king Claudas' son, and the he took it to Percivale and to Bors to
other two were great gentlemen. Then go tofore, and Galahad came behind,
prayed Galahad to every each of them, and right so they went to the city, and
that if they come to king Arthur's court, at the gate of the city they saw an old
that they should salute my lord Sir man crooked. Then Galahad called
Launcelot my father, and of them of the him, and bad him help to bear this
Round Table, and prayed them if that heavy thing. Truly, said the old man,
they came on that part that they should it is ten
year ago that 1 might not go
not forget it. Right so departed Gala- but with crutches. Care thou not, said
had, Percivale, and Bors with him. Galahad, and arise up and shew thy
And so they rode three days, and then good will. And so he assayed, and
they came to a rivage, and found the found himself as whole as ever he was.
ship whereof the tale speaketh of tofore. Then ran he to the table, and took one
And when they came to the board, they part against Galahad. And anon arose
found in the midst the table of silver there great noise in the city, that a
which they had left with the maimed cripple was made whole by knights
king, and the Sancgieal, which was marvellous that entered into the city.
covered with red samite. Then were Then anon after, the three knights went
they glad to have such things in their to the water, and brought up into the
fellowship, and so they entered, and palace Percivale's sister, and buried her
made great reverence thereto, and Ga- as richly as a king's daughter ought to
lahad fell in his prayer long time to our be. And when the king of the city,
Lord, that, at what time he asked, that which was cleped Lstorause, saw the
he should pass out of this world so :
fellowship, he askedthem of whence
much he prayed, till a voice said to they were, and what thing it was that
him, Galahad, thou shalt have thy re- they had brought upon the table of
quest, and when thou askest the death silver. And they told him the truth of
of thy body thou shalt have it, and then the Sancgieal, and the power which
shalt thou find the life of the soul. that God had set there. Then the king
Percivale heard this, and prayed him of was a tyrant, and was come of the line
fellowship that was between them, to of paynims, and took them, and put
tell him wherefore he asked such things. them in prison in a deep hole.
That shall I tell you, said Galahad the :
man was that was and therefore they were in prison, and how Galahad
earthly,
wot well when was made king.
I my body is dead my
soul shall be in great joy to see the Bur as soon as they were there, our
blessed Trinity every day, and the ma- Lord sent them the Sancgieal, through
jesty of our Lord Jesu Christ. So long whose grace they were alway fulfilled
were they in the ship that they said to while that they were in prison. So at
Galahad, Sir, in this bed ought ye to the year's end it befell that this king
lie, for so saith the scripture. And so Estorause lay sick, and felt that he
he laid him down and slept a great should die. Then he sent for the three
while. And when he awaked he looked knights, and they came afore him, and
4io MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVII.
he cried them mercy of that he had in that thou hast seen the marvels of
done to them, and they forgave it him the Sancgreal, and in that thou hast
goodly, and he died anon. When the been a clean maiden, as I have been and
king was dead, all the city was dis- am. And when he had said these
mayed, and wist not who might be their words, Galahad went to Percivale and
king. Right so as they were in counsel, kissed him, and commanded him to
there came a voice among them, and God. And so he went to Sir Bors and
bad them choose the youngest knight of kissed him, and commanded him to
them three to be their king, for he shall God, and said, Fair lord, salute me to
well maintain you and all yours. So my lord Sir Launcelot, my father, and
they made Galahad king by all the as soon as ye see him bid him remember
assent of the whole city, and else they of this unstable world. And therewith
would have slain him. And when he he kneeled down tofore the table and
was come to behold the land, he let made his prayers, and then suddenly
make about the table of silver a his soul depaited to Jesu Christ, and a
chest of gold and of precious stones great multitude of angels bare his soul
that covered the holy vessel, and every up to heaven, that the two fellows
day early the three fellows would come might well behold it. Also the two
afore it and make their prayers. Now fellows saw come from heaven an hand,
at the year's end, and the self day after but they saw not the body and then it
;
Galahad had borne the crown of gold, came right to the vessel, and took it and
he arose up and his fellows, and
early, the spear, and so bare it up to heaven.
came to the palace, and saw tofoie them Sithen was there never man so hardy to
the holy vessel, and a man kneeling say that he had seen the Sancgreal.
on his knees, in likeness of a bishop,
that had about him a great fellowship CHAP. XXIII.
of angels, as it had been Jesu Christ
Of the sorrow that Percivale and Bors
himself. And then he arose and began
a mass of Our Lady. And when he came
made when Galahad was dead; and
to the sacrament of the mass, and had of Percivale how he died, and other
matters.
done, anon he called Galahad, and said
to him, Come forth, the servant of Jesu When Percivale and Bors saw Gala-
Christ, and thou shalt see that thou had dead, they made as much sorrow
hast much desired to see. And then he as ever did two men and if they had
:
began to tremble right hard, when the not been good men they might lightly
deadly flesh began to behold the spi- have fallen in despair. And the people
ritual things. Then he held up his of the country and of the city were
hands toward heaven, and said, Lord, right heavy. And then he was buried.
I thank thee, for now I see that that And as soon as he was buried, Sir Perci-
hath been my desire many a day. Now, vale yielded him to an hermitage out of
blessed Lord, would
I not longer live, if the city, and took a religious clothing ;
it
might please thee Lord. And there- and Bors was alway with him, but
with the good man took our Lord's never changed he his secular clothing,
body betwixt his hands, and proffered it for that he purposed him to go again
to Galahad, and he received it right into the realm of Logris. Thus a year
gladly and meekly. Now, wotest thou and two months lived Sir Percivale in
what I am ? said the good man. Nay, the hermitage a full holy life, and then
said Galahad. — am
Joseph of Ar-
I passed out of this world. And Bors let
mathie, which our Lord hath sent here bury him by his sister and by Galahad
to thee to bear thee fellowship. And in the spiritualties. W hen Bors saw
7
sea, and entered into a and so it ship, saluted you by me, and after you king
befell him in good adventure he came Arthur, and all the court, and so did Sir
into the realm of Logris. And he rode Percivale for I buried them with mine
:
so fast till he came to Camelot where own hands in the city of Sarras. Also,
the king was. And then was there Sir Launcelot, Galahad prayeth you to
great joy made of him in the court, remember of this uncertain world, as ye
for they wend all he had been dead, benight him when ye were together
forasmuch as he had been so long out more than half a year. This is true,
of the country. And when they had said Launcelot ; now I trust to God his
eaten, the king made great clerks to prayer shall avail me. Then Launcelot
come afore him, that they should took Sir Bors in his arms, and said,
chronicle of the high adventures of the Gentle cousin, ye are right welcome to
good knights. When Bors had told me, and all that ever I may do for you
him of the adventures of the Sancgreal, and for yours, ye shall find poor my
such as had befallen him and his three body ready at all times whiles the spirit
fellows, that was Launcelot, Percivale, is in it, and that I
promise you faith-
Galahad and himself. There Launcelot fully, and never to wit ye
fail. And
told the adventures of the Sancgreal well, gentle cousin Sir Bors, that ye and
that he had seen. All this was made I will never depart in sunder whilst our
in great books, and put in almeries at lives may last. Sir, said he, I will as
Salisbury. And anon Sir Bors said to ye will.
Sir Launcelot, Galahad your own son
great joy of the remnant that were come his thoughts were privily on the queen,
home, and passing glad was the king and so they loved together more hotter
4 I2 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVHI.
than they did toforehand, that many in by me and blood. And wit ye well,
my
the court spake of it, and in especial Sir madam, the boldness of you and me will
Agravaine, Sir Gawaine's brother, for bring us to great shame and slander,
he was ever open mouthed. So befell and that were me loth to see you dis-
that Sir Launcelot had many resorts of honoured. And that is the cause that
ladies and damsels, that daily resorted I take upon me more for to do for
unto him, that besought him to be their damsels and maidens than ever I did
champion. And in all such matters of tofore, that men should understand my
right Sir Launcelot appealed him daily joy and my delight is my pleasure to
to do for the pleasure of our Lord Jesu have ado for damsels and maidens.
Christ. And ever as much as he might
he withdrew him from the company CHAP. II.
and fellowship of queen Guenever, for
to eschew the slander and noise where- :
How the queen commanded Sir Launcelot
to avoid the court, and
fore the queen waxed wroth with Sir of the sorrow
that Launcelot made.
Launcelot, and upon a day she called
Sir Launcelot unto her chamber, and All while the queen stood still,
this
said thus Sir Launcelot, I see and feel
: and let Sir Launcelot say what he
daily that thy love beginneth to slake, would. And when he had all said, she
for thou hast no joy to be in my pre- brast out on weeping, and so she sobbed
sence, but ever thou art out of this and wept a great while and when she :
court, and quarrels and matters thou might speak, she said, Launcelot, now
hast now adays for ladies and gentle- I well understand that thou art a false
women, more than ever thou were wont recreant knight, and lovest and holdest
to have aforehand. Ah, madam, said other ladies, and by me thou hast dis-
Launcelot, in this ye must hold me dain and scorn. For wit thou well, she
excused for divers causes. One is, I said, now I understand thy falsehood,
was but late in the quest of the Sane" and therefore shall I never love thee no
greal, and I thank God, of his great more, and never be thou so hardy to
mercy, and never of my deserving, that come in my sight and right here I dis-
;
Isaw in that my quest as much as ever charge thee this court, that thou never
saw any sinful man, and so was it told come within it, and I forlend thee my
me. And if I had not had my
privy fellowship, and upon pain of thy head
thoughts to return to your love again that thou see me no more. Right so
as I do, I had seen as great mysteries as Sir Launcelot departed with great hea-
ever saw my son Galahad, or Percivale, viness, that hardly he might sustain
or Sir Bors, and therefore, madam, I himself for great dole making. Then
was but late in that quest. Wit ye well, he called Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris,
madam, it may not be yet lightly for- and Sir Lionel, and told them how the
gotten the high service in whom I did queen had forfend him the court, and
my diligent laboftr. Also, madam, wit so he was in will to depart into his own
ye well that there be many men speak country. Fair sir, said Sir Bors de
of our love in this court, and have you Ganis, ye shall not depart out of this
and me greatly in a wait, as Sir Agra- land by mine advice ye must remember
;
Brasias, and there shall ye abide till I Sir La Cote Male Taile, Sir Persant, Sir
send yon word of better tidings. Bro- Ironside, Sir Brandiles, Sir Kay le Sene-
ther, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well I schal, Sir Mador de la Porte, Sir Patrise,
am full loth to depart out of this realm, a knight of Ireland, Alkluk, Sir Asto-
but the queen hath defended me so more, and Sir Pinel le Savage, the which
highly that me seemeth she will never was cousin to Sir Lamorak de Galis, the
be my good lady as she hath been. Say good knight that Sir Gawaine and his
ye never so, said Sir Bors, for many brethren slew by treason. And so these
times or this time she hath been wroth four and twenty knights should dine
with you, and after it she was the first with the queen in a privy place by
that repented it. Ye say well, said themselves, and there was made a great
Launcelot, for now will I do by your feast of all manner of dainties. But
counsel, and take mine horse and my Sir Gawaine had a custom that he used
harness, and ride to the hermit Sir daily at dinner and at supper, that he
Brasias, and there will I repose me loved well all manner of fruit, and in
until I hear some manner of tidings especial apples and pears. And there-
from you. But, fair brother, I pray you fore, whosoever dined or feasted Sir Ga-
get me the love of my lady queen Gue- waine would commonly purvey for good
never, and ye may. Sir, said Sir Bors, fruit for him and so did the queen for
;
ye need not to move me of such mat- to please Sir Gawaine, she let purvey
ters, for well ye wot 1 will do what I for him of all manner of fruit, for Sir
may to please you. And then the noble Gawaine was a passing, hot knight of
knight Sir Launcelot departed with right nature. And this Pinel hated Sir Ga-
heavy cheer, suddenly, that none earthly waine because of his kinsman Sir Lamo-
creature wist of him, nor where he was rak de Galis, and therefore for pure envy
become, but Sir Bors. So when Sir and hate Sir Pinel enpoisoned certain
Launcelot was departed, the queen made apples, for to enpoison Sir Gawaine.
no manner of sorrow in shewing, to none And so this was well unto the end of
of his blood, nor to none other but, wit
: the meat : and so it befell by misfor-
ye well, inwardly, as the book saith, she tune a good knight named Patrise,
took great thought, but she bare it out cousin unto Sir Mador de la Porte, to
with a proud countenance, as though to take a poisoned apple. And when
she felt nothing nor danger. he had eaten it he swelled so till he
brast, and there Sir Patrise fell down
CHAP. III. suddenly dead among them. Then every
knight lept from the board ashamed and
How a dinner that the queen made
at
araged for wrath, nigh out of their wits.
there ivas a knight poisoned, which
For they wist not what to say con- :
his brethren, that is to say, Sir Agra- dread lest ye will be shamed. Then the
vaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir Gareth, and Sir queen stood still, and was sore abashed,
Mordred. Also there was Sir Bors de that he nist not what to say. This shall
Ganis, Sir Blamor de Ganis, Sir Bleo- not so be ended, said Sir Mador de la
beris de Ganis, Sir Galihud, Sir Gali- Porte, for here have I lost a full noble
hodin, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Lionel, knight of my blood, and therefore upon
Sir Palamides, Sir Safere his brother, this shame and despite I will be revenged
4 T4 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XVIII.
because she let make that dinner. And right as I was never purposed to do
the queen was so abashed that she could such evil deeds, and that I report me
none other ways do but wept so heartily unto God. My lord the king, said Sir
that she fell in a swoon. With this Mador, I require you, as ye be a righteous
noise and cry came to them king Arthur. king, give me a day that I may have jus-
And when he wist of that trouble, he tice. Well, said the king, I give the day
was a passing heavy man. this day fifteen days, that thou be ready
armed on horseback in the meadow
CHAP. IV. beside Westminster. And if it so fall
that there be any knight to encounter
How Sir Mador appeached the queen of with you, there mayest thou do the best,
treason, and therewas no knight wotdd and God speed the right. And if it so
fight for her at the first time. fall that there be no knight at that day,
And ever Sir Mador stood still afore then must my queen be burnt, and there
the king, and ever he appealed the shall she be ready to have her judgment.
such that time that all manner of shame- eveiy knight went where it liked him.
ful death was called treason. Fair lords, So when the king and the queen were
said king Arthur, me repenteth of this together, the king asked the queen how
trouble, but the case is so I may not this case befell r The queen answered,
have ado in must be a
this matter, for I So God me help I wot not how, nor in
rightful judge, and that repenteth me what manner. Where is Sir Launcelot ?
that I may not do battle for my wife : said king Arthur, and he were here, he
for, as I deem, this deed came never by would not grudge to do battle for you.
her, and therefore I suppose she shall Sir, said the queen, I wot not where he
not be all distained, but that some good is, but his brother and his kinsmen deem
knight shall put his body in jeopardy, that he is not within this realm. That
rather than she shall be burnt in me repenteth, said king Arthur, for and
a wrong quarrel. And therefore, Sir he were here he would soon stint this
Mador, be not so hasty, for it may hap- strife. Then I will counsel you, said
pen she shall not be all friendless, and the king, and unto Sir Bors — That
therefore desire thou thy day of battle, ye will do battle for her for Sir Laun-
and she shall purvey her of some good celot's sake, —
and upon my life he
knight that shall answer you, or else it will not refuse you. For well I see,
were to me great shame, and to all my said the king, that none of these four
court. My gracious lord, said Sir Ma- and twenty knights that were with
dor, ye must hold me excused, for you at your dinner, where Sir Patrise
though ye be our king in that degree, ye was slain, will do battle for you, nor
are but a knight as we are, and ye are none of them will say well of you, and
sworn unto knighthood as well as we, that shall be great slander for you in
and therefore I beseech you that ye be this court. Alas, said the queen, and I
not displeased. For there is none of may not do withal, but now I miss Sir
the four and twenty knights that were Launcelot, for and he were here he
bidden to this dinner but all they have would put me soon to my heart's ease.
great suspicion unto the queen. What What aileth you, said the king, ye can-
say ye all, my lords? said Sir Mador. not keep Sir Launcelot on your side?
Then they answered by and by that For, wit ye well, said the king, who that
CHAP. V THE QUEEN'S DANGER OF DEATH. 4-5
hath Sir Launcelot upon his party hath quireme the greatest thing that any
the most man of worship in the world man may require me and wit ye well,
;
upon his side. Now go your way, said if I grant to do battle for the queen I
the king unto the queen, and require Sir shall wrath many of my fellowship of
Bors to do battle for you for Sir Laun- the Table Round but as for that, said
;
in your grace, and all that is done amiss wherefore many knights were displeased
I will amend as ye will counsel me. with him, that he would take upon him
And therewith she kneeled down upon to do battle in the queen's quarrel, for
both her knees, and besought Sir Bors there were but few knights in the court
to have mercy upon her, —
or I shall but they deemed the queen was in the
have a shameful death, and thereto I wrong, and that she had done that trea-
never offended. Right so came king son. So Sir Bors answered thus unto
Arthur, and found the queen kneeling his fellows of the Table Round Wit ye :
afore Sir Bors. Then Sir Bors pulled well, my fair lords, it were shame to us
her up, and said, Madam, ye do to me all, and we suffered to see the most noble
great dishonour. Ah, gentle knight, said queen of the world to be shamed openly,
the king, have mercy upon my queen, considering her lord and our lord is the
courteous knight, for I am now in man of most worship in the world, and
certain she is untruly defamed. And most christened, and he hath ever wor-
therefore, courteous knight, said the shipped us all, in all places. Many
king, promise her to do battle for her : answered him again:- As for our most
I require you, for the love of Sir Laun- noble king Arthur, we love him and
celot. My lord, said Sir Bors, ye re- honour him as well as ye do but as for ;
416 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK WITT.
queen Guenever we love her not, because the king, of Sir Bors, for I call him now
she a destroyer of good knights. Fair
is one of the best knights of the world,
lords, said Sir Bors, me seemeth ye say and the most profitablest man. And
not as ye should say, for never yet in thus it past on until the morn. And
my days knew I never, nor heard say, the king and the queen, and all man-
that ever she was a destroyer of any ner of knights that were there at
good knight : but at all times, as far as that time, drew them unto the meadow
I ever could know, she was always a beside Westminster, where the battle
maintainer of good knights, and always should be. And so when the king was
she hath been large and free of her come with the queen, and many knights
goods to all good knights, and the most of the Round Table, then the queen
bounteous lady of her gifts and her good was put there in the constable's ward,
grace that ever I saw or heard speak of. and a great fire made about an iron
And therefore it were shame, said Sir stake, that, and Sir Mador de la Porte
Bors, to us all to our most noble king's had the better, she should be burnt.
wife, and we suffered her to be shamefully Such custom was used in those days,
slain. And wit ye well, said Sir Bors, that neither for favour, neither for love,
I will not suffer it, for I dare say so nor affinity, there should be none other
much, the queen is not guilty of Sir but righteous judgment, as well upon
Pat rise's death, for she owed him never a king as upon a knight, and as well
none ill will, nor none of the four and
upon a queen as upon another poor
twenty knights that were at that dinner ; lady. So in this meanwhile came in
for I dare say for good love she bad us Sir Mador de la Porte, and took his
to dinner, and not for no mal-engine ; oath afore the king, That the queen
and that I doubt not shall be proved did this treason until his cousin Sir
hereafter: for howsoever the game goeth, Patrise, and unto his oath he would
there was treason among us. Then prove it with his body, hand for hand,
some said to Sir Bors, may well We who that would say the contrary. Right
believe your words. And so some of so came Bors de Ganis, and said,
in Sir
them were well pleased, and some were that as for queen Guenever, she is in
not so. the right, and that will I make good
with my hands, that she is not culpable
CHAP. VI. of this treason that is put upon her.
How Then make thee ready, said Sir Mador,
at the day Sir Bors made him ready
and we shall prove whether thou be in
for to fight for the queen ; and when
the right or I. Sir Mador, said Sir Bors,
he should fight how another discharged
wit thou well I know you for a good
him.
knight not for then 1 shall not fear
:
The day came on fast until the even so greatly, but I trust to God I shall
that the battle should be. Then the be able to withstand your malice but :
queen sent for Sir Bors, and asked him thus much have I promised my lord
how he was disposed. Truly madam, Arthur, and my lady the queen, that I
said he, I am disposed in likewise as shall do battle for her in this case to
I promised you ;
that is for to say, I the uttermost, unless that there come
shall not fail you, unlessby adventure a better knight than I am, and dis-
there come a better knight than I am, to charge me. Is that all, said Sir Mador,
do the battle for you then, madam, am
: either come thou off and do battle with
I discharged of my promise. Will ye, me, or else say nay. Take your horse,
said the queen, that I tell my lord said Sir Bors, and, as I suppose, ye
Arthur thus? Do as it shall please shall not tarry long, but ye shall be
you, madam. Then the queen went answered. Then either departed to their
unto the king, and told him the answer tents, and made them ready to horseback
of Sir Bors. Have ye no doubt, said as they thought best. And anon Sir
CHAP. VIT. SIR LAUNCELOT FIGHTS FOR THE QUEEN. 417
Mador came into the field with his upon him, for there was not one that
shield on his shoulder, and his spear knew him, but if it were Sir Bors.
in his hand. And so rode about the Then said Sir Mador de la Porte unto
place, crying Bid
unto king Arthur, the king, Now let me wit with whom
your champion come and he
forth I shall have ado withal. And then they
dare ! Then was Sir Bors ashamed, rode to the end, and there they
lists'
and took his horse and came to the couched their spears, and ran together
lists' end. And then was he ware where with all their mights. And Sir Mador's
came from a wood there fast by a spear brake all to pieces, but the other's
knight, all armed upon a white horse, spear held, and bare Sir Mador's horse
with a strange shield of strange arms, and backward to the earth a great
all
and he came riding all that he might fall. But mightily and suddenly he
run. And so he came to Sir Bors, and avoided his horse, and put his shield
said, Fair knight, I pray you be not afore him, and then drew his sword,
displeased, for here must a better knight and bad the other knight alight and do
than ye are have this battle therefore I
;
battle with him on foot. Then that
pray you withdraw you. For wit ye knight descended from his horse lightly
well I have had this day a right great like a valiant man, and put his shield
journey, and this battle ought to be afore him, and drew his sword, and so
mine, and so I promised you when I they came eagerly unto battle, and
spake with you last, and with all my either gave other many great strokes,
heart I thank you of your good will. tracing and traversing, rasing and foin-
Then Sir Bors rode unto king Arthur, ing, and hurtling together with their
and told him how there was a knight swords, as it were wild boars. Thus
come that would have the battle for to were they fighting nigh an hour, for
fight for the queen. What knight is he? this Sir Mador was a strong knight, and
said the king. I wot not, said Sir Bors, mightily proved in many strong battles.
but such covenant he made with me to But at last this knight smote Sir Mador
be here this day. Now my lord, said groveling upon the earth, and the
Sir Bors, here am I discharged. knight stept near him to have pulled
Sir Mador flatling upon the ground ;
Then the king called to that knight, and then he gave him such a buffet
and asked him if he would fight for the upon the helm that he fell to the earth
queen. Then he answered to the king, flatling, and therewith he strode to him
Therefore came I hither, and therefore, for to have pulled off his helm off his
Sir king, he said, tarry me no longer, head. And then Sir Mador prayed that
for I may not tarry. For anon as I knight to save his life, and so he yielded
have finished this battle I must depart him as overcome, and released the
hence, for I have ado many matters queen of his quarrel. I will not grant
elsewhere. For wit you well, said that thee thy life, said that knight, only that
knight, this is dishonour to you all thou freely release the queen for ever,
knights of the Round Table, to see and and that no mention be made upon
know so noble a lady, and so courteous Sir Patrise's tomb that ever qmeen
a queen, as queen Guenever is, thus to Guenever consented to that treason.
be rebuked and shamed amongst you. All this shall be done, said Sir Mador,
Then they all marvelled what knight I clearly discharge my quarrel for ever.
that might be that so took the battle Then the knights parters of the lists
27
4i8 D ARTHUR. BOOK XVIII.
just against all that would come against wise, and therefore, madam, as at this
them. And when this cry was made, time be ruled by your counsel, and
I will
thither came many knights. So there this night I will take my rest, and to-
came thither the king of Northgalis, morrow by time will take my way
and king Anguish of Ireland, and the toward Winchester. But wit you well,
king with the hundred knights, and Sir said Sir Launcelot to the queen, that at
Galahalt the haut prince, and the king that justs I will be against the king and
of Northumberland, and many other all his fellowship. Ye may there do as
noble dukes and earls of divers countries. ye list, said the queen, but by my coun-
So king Arthur made him ready to selye shall not be against your king and
depart to these justs, and would have your fellowship, for therein be full many
had the queen with him but at that :
hardy knights of your blood, as ye wot
time she would not, she said, for she well enough, it needeth not to rehearse
was and might not ride at that
sick them. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, I
time. That me repenteth, said the pray you that ye be not displeased with
king, for this seven year ye saw not me, for I will take the adventure that
such a fellowship together, except at God will send me. And so upon the
Whitsuntide when Galahad departed morn early Sir Launcelot heard mass,
from the court. Truly, said the queen and brake his fast, and so took his
to the king, ye must hold me excused, I leave of the queen, and departed. And
may not be there, and that me repenteth. then he rode so much until he came
And many deemed the queen would to Astolat, that is Gilford; and there
not be there because of Sir Launcelot it
happed him in the eventide he came
du Lake, for Sir Launcelot would not to an old baron's place, that hight
ride with the king for he said that he
; Sir Bernard of Astolat. And as Sir
was not whole of the wound the which Launcelot entered into his lodging,
Sir Mador had given him. Wherefore king Arthur espied him as he did walk
the king was heavy and passing wroth, in a garden beside the castle, how he
and so he departed towards Winchester took his lodging, and knew him full
with his fellowship. And so by the way well. It is well, said king Arthur unto
the king lodged in a town called xVstolat, the knights that were with him in that
that is now in English called Gilford, garden beside the castle, I have now
and there the king lay in the castle. espied one knight that will play his
So when the king was departed, the play at the justs to the which we be
queen called Sir Launcelot unto her, gone toward, I undertake he will do
and said, Sir Launcelot ye are greatly to marvels. Who is that, we pray you
blame, thus to hold you behind my tell us, said many knights that were
lord what trow ye, what will your
: there at that time. Ye shall not wit
enemies and mine say and deem ? nought for me, said the king, at this time. And
else but see how Sir Launcelot holdeth so the king smiled, and went to his
him ever behind the king, and so doth lodging. So when Sir Launcelot was
the queen, for that they would be in his lodging, and unarmed him in his
together; and thus will they say, said chamber, the old baron and hermit
the queen to Sir Launcelot, have ye came unto him, making his reverence,
no doubt thereof. and welcomed him in the best manner ;
friendship. Sir, wit you well I have no damsel. And then Sir Launcelot
two sons which were but late made betook the fair maiden his shield in
knights, and the eldest hight Sir Tirre, keeping, and prayed her to keep that
and he was hurt that same day that he until that he came again. And so that
was made knight, that he may not ride, night he had merry rest and great cheer.
and his shield ye shall have, for that is For ever the damsel Elaine was about
not known, I dare say, but here and in Sir Launcelot, all the while she might
no place else. And my youngest son be suffered.
hight Sir Lavaine, and if it please you CHAP. X.
he shall ride with you unto that justs,
and he is of his age strong and wight. How the tourney began at Winchester, and
For much my heart giveth unto you what knights were at the justs, and other
that ye should be a noble knight, there- things.
fore, I pray you tell me your name, said So upon a day on the morn, king
Sir Bernard. As for that, said Sir Arthur and all his knights departed for ;
Launcelot, ye must hold me excused as their king had tarried there three days
at this time, and if God give me grace to abide his noble knights. And so
to speed well at the justs I shall come when the king was riden, Sir Launcelot
again and tell you. But I pray you, and Sir Lavaine made them ready for
said Sir Launcelot, in any wise let me to ride, and either of them had white
have your son Sir Lavaine with me, and shields, and the red sleeve Sir Launcelot
that I may have his brother's shield. Also let carry with him. And so they took
this shall be done, said Sir Bernard. their leave at Sir Bernard the old baron,
This old baron had a daughter that and at his daughter the fair maiden of
time that was called that time the fair Astolat. And then they rode so long
maid of Astolat. And ever she beheld till
they came to Camel ot, that time
Sir Launcelot wonderfully. And, as the called Winchester. And there was great
book saith, she cast such a love unto press of kings, dukes, earls, and barons,
Sir Launcelot that she could never with- and many noble knights. But there Sir
draw her love, wherefore she died ; and Launcelot was lodged privily, by the
her name was Elaine le Blank. So means of Sir Lavaine, with a rich bur-
thus as she came to and fro, she was gess, that no man in that town was
so hot in her love that she besought Sir ware what they were. And so they
Launcelot to wear upon him at the sojourned there till our Lady day, As-
justs a token of hers. Fair damsel, sumption, as the great feast should be.
said Sir Launcelot, and if I grant you So then trumpets blew unto the field,
that, ye may say I do more for your and king Arthur was set on high upon
love than ever I did for lady or damsel. a scaffold, to behold who did best.
Then he remembered him that he would But, as the French book saith, king
go to the justs disguised, and for be- Arthur would not suffer Sir Gawaine to
cause he had never afore that time go from him, for never had Sir Gawaine
borne no manner of token of no damsel, the better and Sir Launcelot were in the
then he bethought him that he would field and many times was Sir Gawaine
;
bear one of hec, that none of his blood rebuked when Launcelot came into any
thereby might know him. And then justs disguised. Then some of the
he said, Fair maiden, I will grant you kings, as king Anguish of Ireland and
to wear a token of yours upon my the king of Scotland, were that time
helmet, and therefore what it is shew turned upon the side of king Arthur.
it me. Sir, she said, it is a red sleeve And then on the other party was the
of mine, of scarlet well embroidered king of Northgalis, and the king with
with great pearls. And so she brought the hundred knights, and the king of
it him. So Sir Launcelot received it Northumberland, and Sir Galahalt the
and said, Never did I erst so much for haut prince. But these three kings and
CHAP. XI. OF HER BROTHER, SIR LAVAINE. 421
this duke were passing weak to hold help me a little, ye shall see yonder fel-
the hundred knights smote down the his sword, and there he smote on the
king of Northumberland, and the king right hand and on the left hand, and by
with the hundred knights smote down great force he unhorsed Sir Safere, Sir
king Anguish of Ireland. Then Sir Epinogris, and Sir Galleron. And then
Palamides, that was on Arthur's party, the knights of the Table Round with-
encountered with Sir Galahalt, and drew them aback, after they had gotten
either of them smote down other, and their horses as well as they might. O
either party halp their lords on horse- mercy, said Sir Gawaine, what knight is
back again. So there began a strong yonder, that doth so marvellous deeds
assail upon both parties. And then there of arms in that field? I wot what he
came in Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramor le is, king Arthur.
said But as at this
Desirous, Sir Dodinas le Savage, Sir time I will not name him. Sir, said Sir
Kay Seneschal, Sir Griflet le Fise de
le Gawaine, I would say it were Sir Laun-
Dieu, Sir Mordred, Sir Meliot de Logris, celot, by his riding and his buffets that
Sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy, Sir Safere, I see him deal but ever me seemeth it
:
Sir Epinogris, and Sir Galleron of Gal- should not be he, for that he beareth
way. All these fifteen knights were the red sleeve upon his head, for I wist
knights of the Table Round. So these him never bear token, at no justs, of
with more others came in together, and lady nor gentlewoman. Let him be,
beat on back the king of Northumber- said king Arthur, he will be better
land, and the king of North Wales. known and do more or ever he depart.
When Sir Launcelot saw this, as he Then the party that were against king
hoved in a little leaved wood, then he said Arthur were well comforted, and then
unto Sir Lavaine, See yonder is a com- they held them together, that before-
pany of good knights, and they hold them hand were sore rebuked. Then Sir
together as boars that were chafed with Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir
dogs. That is truth, said Sir Lavaine. Lionel, called unto them the knights of
their blood, as Sir Blamor de Ganis,
CHAP. XL Sir Bleoberis, Sir Aliduke, Sir Galihud,
How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine en-
Sir Galihodin, Sir Bellangere le Beuse,
tered in the field against them
of king so these nine knights of Sir Launcelot's
Arthur s court, and bow Launcelot was kin thrust in mightily, for they were all
hurt.
noble knights. And they, of great hate
Now, said Sir Launcelot, and ye will and despite that they had unto him,
4*2 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVIII.
thought to rebuke that noble knight visages his heart might not serve him
Sir Launcelot, and Sir Lavaine, for they thereto, but left them there.
knew them not. And so they came And then afterward he hurled in the
hurtling together, and smote down thickest press of them all, and did there
many knights of Northgalis and of the marvellousest deeds of arms that ever
Northumberland. And when Sir Laun- man saw or heard speak of; and ever
celot saw them fare so, he gat a spear Sir Lavaine the good knight with him.
in his hand, and there encountered with And there Sir Launcelot with his sword
him all at once Sir Bors, Sir Ector, and smote and pulled down, as the French
Sir Lionel, and all they three smote him book maketh mention, more than thirty
at once with their spears. And with force knights, and the most party were of the
of themselves they smote Sir Launce- Table Round. And Sir Lavaine did full
lot's horse to the earth. And by mis- well that day, for he smote down ten
fortune Sir Bors smote Sir Launcelot knights of the Table Round.
through the shield into the side, and
the spear brake, and the head left still
in his side. When SirLavaine saw his CHAP XII.
master lie on the ground, he ran to the How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine de-
king of Scots, and smote him to the parted out of the field, and in what
earth, and by great force he took his
jeopardy Launcelot was.
horse and brought him to Sir Launce-
lot, and maugre them all he made him Mercy, said Sir Gawaine to Arthur,
to mount upon that horse. And then I marvel what knight that he is with
Launcelot gat a spear in his hand, and the red sleeve. Sir, said
king Arthur,
there he smote Sir Bors horse and man he will be known or he depart. And
to the earth, in the same wise he served then the king blew unto lodging, and
Sir Ector and Sir Lionel, and Sir La- the prize was given by heralds unto the
vaine smote down Sir Blamor de Ganis. knight with the white shield, that bare
And then Sir Launcelot drew his sword, the red sleeve. Then came the king
for he felt himself so sore and hurt that with the hundred knights, the king of
he wend there to have had his death. Northgalis, and the king of Northum-
And then he smote Sir Bleoberis such a berland, and Sir Galahalt the haut
buffet on the helmet that he fell down prince, and said unto Sir
Launcelot,
to the earth in a swoon. And in the Fair knight, God thee bless, for much
same wise he served Sir Aliduke and have ye done this day for us, therefore
Sir Galihud. And Sir Lavaine smote we pray you that ye will come with us,
down Sir Bellangere, that was the son that ye may receive the honour and the
of Alisander le Orphelin. And by this prize as ye have worshipfully deserved
was Sir Bors horsed, and then he came it.
My fair lords, said Sir Launcelot,
with Sir Ector and Sir Lionel, and all wit you well, if I have deserved thank I
they three smote with swords upon Sir have sore bought it, and that me re-
Launcelot's helmet. And when he felt penteth, for I amlike never to escape
their buffets, and his wound the which with my
life, therefore, fair lords, I pray
was so grievous, then he thought to do you that ye will suffer me to depart
what he might while he might endure ;
where me liketh, for I am sore hurt. I
and then he gave Sir Bors such a buffet take none force of none honour, for 1 had
that he made him bow his head passing lever to repose me than to be lord of
low, and therewithal he rased off his all the world. And therewithal lie
helm, and might have slain him, and so groaned piteously, and rode a great
pulled him down. And in the same gallop away-ward from them, until he
wise he served Sir Ector and Sir Lionel. came under a wood's side and when he
;
For, as the book saith, he might have saw that he was from the field nigh a
slain them, but when he saw their mile, that he was sure he might not be
CHAP. XII. HOW LAUNCELOT WAS WOUNDED. 423
seen, then he said with an high voice, more deeds ofarms than ever I heard
O gentle knight Sir Lavaine, help me say that any man
did. So the child
that this truncheon were out of my side, went in lightly, and then he brought the
for it sticketh so sore that it nigh slay- hermit, the which was a passing good
eth me. O
mine own loid, said Sir man. So when Sir Lavaine saw him.
Lavaine, I would fain do that might he prayed him for God's sake of suc-
please you, but I dread me sore, and I cour. What knight is he? said the
draw out the truncheon, that ye shall hermit, is he of the house of king Ar-
be in peril of death. I charge you, said thur or not? I wot not, said Sir La-
Sir Launcelot, as ye love me draw it vaine, what is he, nor what is his name,
out. And therewithal he descended from but well I wot I saw him do mar-
his horse, and right so did Sir Lavaine, vellously this day, as of deeds of arms.
and forthwith Sir Lavaine drew the On whose party was he ? said the her-
truncheon out of his side. And he gave mit. Sir, said Sir Lavaine, he was this
a great shriek, and a marvellous grisly day against king Arthur, and there he
groan, and his blood brast out nigh a wan the prize of all the knights of the
pint at once, that at last he sank down, Round Table. I have seen the day,
and so swooned pale and deadly. Alas, said the hermit, I would have loved him
said Sir Lavaine, what shall I do ? And the worse because he was against my
then he turned Sir Launcelot into the lord king Arthur, for sometime I was
wind, but so he lay there nigh half an one of the fellowship of the Round
hour as he had been dead. And so at Table, but I thank God now I am
the last Sir Launcelot cast up his eyes, otherwise disposed. But where is he?
and said, O Lavaine, help me that I let me see him. Then Sir Lavaine
were on my horse, for here is fast by brought the hermit to him.
within this two mile a gentle hermit,
that sometime was a full noble knight
and a great lord of possessions and for
:
CHAP. XIII.
great goodness he hath taken him to How Launcelot ivas brought to an hermit
wilful poverty, and forsaken many lands,
for to he healed of bis ivound, and of
and his name is Sir Baudewin of Brit- other matters.
tany, and he is a full noble surgeon,
and a good leech. Now let see, help And when the hermit beheld him as
me up that I were there. For ever he sat leaning upon his saddle-bow, ever
my heart giveth me that I shall never bleeding piteously, and ever the knight
die of my cousin-german's hands. And hermit thought that he should know
then with great pain Sir Lavaine halp him, but he could not bring him to
him upon his florse and then they rode
; knowledge, because he was so pale for
a great gallop together, and ever Sir bleeding, What knight are ye? said the
Launcelot bled that it ran down to the hermit, and where were ye born? My
earth. And so by fortune they came to fair lord, said Sir Launcelot, I am a
that hermitage, which was under a stranger, and a knight adventurous that
wood, and a great cliff on the other laboureth throughout many realms for
side, and a fair water running under it. to win worship. Then the hermit ad-
And then Sir Lavaine beat on the gate vised him and saw by a wound
better,
with the butt of his spear, and cried on his cheek that he was Sir Launcelot.
fast, Let in for Jesu's sake. And there Alas, said the hermit, mine own lord,
came a fair child to them, and asked why hide you your name from me for- :
them what they would ? Fair son, said sooth I ought to know you of right, for
Sir Lavaine, go and pray thy lord the ye are the most noblest knight of the
hermit for God's sake to let in here world ;for well I know you for Sir
a knight that is full sore wounded, and Launcelot. Sir, said he, sith ye know
this day tell thy lord that I saw him do me, help me and ye may, for God's
4H MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK xvm.
ye no doubt, said the hermit, ye shall ever I saw in a field handle a spear
live and
fare right well. And so the or a sword. And if he may be found
hermit called to him two of his servants, I shall find him, for I am sure he is
and so he and his servants bare him not far from this town. Bear you well,
into the hermitage, and lightly unarmed said king Arthur, and ye may find him,
him and laid him in his bed. And then unless that he be in such a plight that
anon the hermit stanched his blood, he may not hold himself. Jesu defend,
and made him to drink good wine, so said Sir Gawaine, but wit I shall what
that Sir Launcelot was well refreshed, he is, and I may find him. Right so,
and knew himself. For in those days it Sir Gawaine took a squire with him,
was not the guise of hermits as is now upon hackneys, and rode all about
adays. For there were none hermits Camelot within six or seven miles. But
in those days but that they had been so he came again, and could hear no
men of worship and of prowess, and word of him.
those hermits held great household, Then within two days king Arthur
and refreshed people that were in dis- and all the fellowship returned unto
tress. London again. And so as they rode
Now turn we unto king Arthur, and by the way, it
happed Sir Gawaine at
leave we Sir Launcelot in the hermitage. Astolat to lodge with Sir Bernard, there
So when the kings were come together as was Sir Launcelot lodged. And so
on both parties, and the great feast as Sir Gawaine was in his chamber to
should be holden, king Arthur asked repose him, Sir Bernard the old baron
the king of Northgalis and their fellow- came unto him, and his daughter Elaine,
ship where was that knight that bare for to cheer him, and to ask him what
the red sleeve :
—
Bring him before me, tidings, and who did best at that tour-
that he may have his laud and honour nament of Winchester. Truly, said Sir
and the prize, asright. Then spake
it is Gawaine, there were two knights that
Sir Galahalt the haut prince and the bare two white shields but the one of ;
king with the hundred knights We : them bare a red sleeve upon his head,
suppose that knight is mischieved, and and certainly he was one of the best
that he is never like to see you, nor knights that ever I saw just in field.
none of us all, and that is the greatest For I dare say, said Sir Gawaine, that
pity that ever we wist of any knight. one knight with the red sleeve smote
Alas, said Arthur, how may this be? down forty valiant knights of the Table
is he so hurt? What is his name? Round, and his fellow did right well
said king Arthur. Truly, said they all, and worshipfully. Niw blessed be
we know not his name, nor from God, said the fair maiden of Astolat,
whence he came, nor whither he would. that that knight sped so well, for he is
Alas, said the king, these be to me the the man in the world that I first loved,
worst tiding* that came to me this and truly he shall be the last that ever
seven year for I would not for all the
: I shall love. Now
maid, said Sir
fair
lands I hold, to know and wit it were Gawaine, is that good knight your love?
so that that noble knight were slain. Certainly, sir, said she, wit ye well he
Know ye him? said they all. As for is my love. Then know ye his name,
that, said Arthur, whether I know him said Sir Gawaine. Nay, truly, said the
or know him not, ye shall not know for damsel, know
not his name, nor from
I
me what man he is, but Almighty Jesu whence he cometh, but to say that I
send me good tidings of him. And love him, I promise you and God that
so said they all. By my head, said I love him. How had ye knowledge
Sir Gawaine, if it be so, that the good of him first ? said Sir Gawaine.
knight be so sore hurt, it is great
CHAP. XIV. HOW GAWAINE CAME TO ASTOLAT. 425
thought ever, said the damsel, for never, the great justs : for I espied, said king
or that time, for no knight that ever Arthur, when he came in till his lodging,
I saw loved I never none erst. God full late inthe evening in Astolat. But
grant, said Sir Gawaine, that either of marvel have I, said Arthur, that ever
you may rejoice other, but that is in he would bear any sign of any damsel :
a great adventure. But truly, said Sir for, or now, I never heard say nor knew
Gawaine unto the damsel, ye may say that ever he bare any token of none
ye have a fair grace, for why, I have earthly woman. By my head, said Sir
known that noble knight this four and Gawaine, the fair maiden of Astolat
twenty year, and never or that day I nor loveth him marvellously well what ;
none other knight, I dare make it good, it meaneth I cannot say; and she is
saw nor heard say that ever he bare ridden after to seek him. So the king
token or sign of no lady, gentlewoman, and all came to London, and there
nor maiden, at no justs nor tournament. Sir Gawaine openly disclosed to all the
And therefore, fair maiden, said Sir Ga- court that it was Sir Launcelot that
waine, ye are much beholden to him to justed best.
426 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XVIII.
in all the haste that might be. So when How did my lord, Sir Launcelot ?
Sir Bors was come tofore the queen, Who told you, sister, that my lord's
then she said, Ah, Sir Bors, have ye name Then she
was Sir Launcelot ?
heard say how falsely Sir Launcelot told him how Sir Gawaine by his shield
hath betrayed me? Alas, madam, said knew him. So they rode together till
Sir Bors, I am afraid he hath betrayed that they came to the hermitage, and
himself, and us all. No force, said the anon she alight. So Sir Lavaine brought
queen, though he be destroyed, for her in to Sir Launcelot. And when she
he a false traitor knight.
is Madam, saw him lie so sick and pale in his bed,
said Sir Bors, I pray you say ye not so, she might not speak, but suddenly she
for wit you well I may not hear such fellto the earth down suddenly in a
language of him. Why, Sir Bors, said swoon, and there she lay a great while.
she, should I not call him traitor, when And when she was relieved she sighed,
he bare the red sleeve upon his head at and said, My
lord Sir Launcelot, alas,
Winchester, at the great justs V Madam, why be ye in and then she
this plight ?
said Sir Bors, that re- swooned again. And
then Sir Launce-
penteth me
sleeve-bearing
sore, but I dare say he did lot prayed Sir Lavaine to take her up, —
it to none evil intent, but for this cause And bring her to me. And when she
he bare the red sleeve, that none of his came to herself, Sir Launcelot kissed
blood should know him for, or then, ; her, and said, Fair maiden, why fare ye
we nor none of us all never knew that thus? Ye put me to pain; wherefore
ever he bare token or sign of maid, make ye no more such cheer, for, and ye
lady, ne gentlewoman. Fie on him, be come to comfort me, ye be right
said the queen, yet for all his pride welcome, and of this little hurt that I
and boasting, there ye proved yourself have, I shall be right hastily whole, by
his better. Nay, madam, say ye never the grace of God. But I marvel, said
more so, for he beat me and my fellows, Sir Launcelot, who told you my name.
and might have slain us, and he had Then the fair maiden told him all how Sir
would. Fie on him, said the queen, for Gawaine was lodged with her father, —
I heard Sir Gawaine say before my lord And there by your shield he discovered
Arthur, that it were marvel to tell the your name. Alas, said Sir Launcelot,
great love that is between the fair that me repenteth, that my name is
maiden of Astolat and him. Madam, known, for I am sure it will turn unto
said Sir Bors, I may not warn Sir Ga- anger. And then Sir Launcelot com-
waine to say what it pleased him but :
passed in his mind that Sir Gawaine
I dare say as for my lord Sir Launcelot, would tell queen Guenever how he bare
that he loveth no lady, gentlewoman, the red sleeve, and for whom,. that he
nor maid, but all he loveth in like much, wist well would turn unto great anger.
and therefore, madam, said Sir Bors, ye So this maiden, Elaine, never went
may say what ye will, but wit ye well I from Sir Launcelot, but watched him
CHAP. XVI. HOW SIR BORS FOUND LAVNCELOT. 427
day and night, and did such attendance upon you and overcharged you,
fully set
to him that the French book saith there and where ye might have slain me, ye
was never woman did more kindlier saved me, and so did not I for I, and :
for man than she. Then Sir Launcelot your blood, did to you our utterance.
prayed Sir Lavaine to make espies in I marvel, said Sir Bors, that
my heart
Winchester for Sir Bors if he came there, or my blood would serve me, wherefore
and told him by what tokens he should my lord Sir Launcelot, I ask your mercy.
know him, by a wound in his forehead : Fair cousin, said Sir Launcelot, ye be
For well I am sure, said Sir Launcelot, right welcome, and wit ye well over-
that Sir Bors will seek me, for he is the much ye say for to please me, the which
same good knight that hurt me. pleaseth me not for why V I have the
;
he came to Winchester, anon there were but mortal war. Therefore, fair cousin,
men had made to lie in
that Sir Lavaine said Sir Launcelot, let this speech over-
a watch for such a man and anon Sir
; pass, and all shall be welcome that God
Lavaine had warning and then Sir
;
sendeth ; and
us leave off this matter,
let
Lavaine came to Winchester, and found and let us speak of some rejoicing for :
Sir Bors, and there he told him what he this that is done may not be undone,
was, and with whom he was, and what and let us find a remedy how soon
was his name. Now, fair knight, said that I may be whole. Then Sir Bors
Sir Bors, I require you that ye will leaned upon his bed's side, and told Sir
bring me to my lord Sir Launcelot. Launcelot how the queen was passing
Sir, said Sir Lavaine, take your horse, wroth with him, because he ware the
and within this hour ye shall see him. red sleeve at the great justs. And there
And so they departed, and came to Sir Bors told him all how Sir Gawaine
the hermitage. discovered it by your shield that ye left
» And when Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot with the fair maiden of Astolat. Then
his bed, pale and discoloured, anon
lie in is the queen wroth, said Sir Launcelot,
Sir Bors lost his countenance, and for and therefore am I right heavy, for I
kindness and pity he might not speak, deserved no wrath, for all that I did was
but wept tenderly a great while. And because that I would not be known.
then when he might speak he said thus :
Right so excused I you, said Sir Bors,
O my lord Sir Launcelot, God you bless, but all was in vain, for she said more
and send you hasty recovery; and full largely to me than I to you now. But
heavy am I of my misfortune and of is this she,said Sir Bors, that is so busy
mine unhappiness, ior now I may call about you, that men call the fair maiden
myself unhappy, and I dread me that of Astolat ? She it is, said Sir Launce-
God is greatly displeased with me, that lot, that by no means I cannot put from
he would suffer me to have such a shame me. Why should ye put her from you ?
for to hurt you, that are all our Leader said Sir Bors, she is a passing fair dam-
and allour worship, and therefore I call sel, and a well beseen and well taught ;
myself unhappy. Alas, that ever such a and God would, fair cousin, said Sir Bors,
caitiff knight as I am should have power that ye could love her, but as to that I
by unhappiness to hurt the most noblest may not, nor I dare not, counsel you.
knight of the world. Where 1 so shame- But I see well, said Sir Bors, by her
42? MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVIII.
diligence about you, that she loveth you the horse forward, that the bottom of
entirely. That me repenteth, said Sir the wound brast, both within and with-
Launcelot. Sir, said Sir Bors, she is out, and therewithal the blood came
not the first that hath lost her pain out so fiercely that he felt himself so
upon you, and that is the more pity. feeble that he might not sit upon his
And so they talked of many more horse. And then Sir Launcelot cried
things. And so within three days or unto Sir Bors, Ah, Sir Bors, and Sir
four, Sir Launcelot was big and strong Lavaine, help, for I am come to mine
again. end. And therewith he fell down on
the one side to the earth, like a dead
CHAP. XVII. And thenBors and Sir
Sir
corpse.
How Sir Launcelot armed him to assay if Lavaine came to him, with sorrow
he might hear arms, and how his wound
making out of measure. And so by
burst out again. fortune the maiden Elaine heard their
Then Sir Bors told Sir Launcelot how mourning, and then she came thither.
there was sworn a great tournament and And when she found Sir Launcelot
justs betwixt king Arthur and the king there armed in that place, she cried
of Northgalis. that should be on All- and wept as she had been wood, and
hallowmass day, beside Winchester. Is then she kissed him, and did what she
that truth ? said Sir Launcelot, then might to awake him. And then she
shall ye abide with me still a little while, rebuked her brother and Sir Bors, and
until that I be whole, for I feel myself called them false traitors, why they
right big and strong. Blessed be God, would take him out of his bed; then
said Sir Bors. Then were they there nigh she cried, and said she would appeal
a month together and ever this maiden
; them of his death. With this came the
Elaine did ever her diligent labour, holy hermit, Sir Baudewin of Britanny ;
night and day, unto Sir Launcelot, that and when he found Sir Launcelot in
there was never child nor wife more that plight he said but
little, but wit ye
meeker to father and husband, than was well he was wroth and then he bade
;
that fair maiden of Astolat. Wherefore them, Let us have him in. And so
Sir Bors was greatly pleased with her. So they all bare him unto the hermitage,
upon a day, by the assent of Sir Laun- and unarmed him, and laid him in his
celot, Sir Bors and Sir Lavaine they bed, and evermore his wound bled pite-
made the hermit to seek in woods for ously, but he stirred no limb of him.
divers herbs. And so Sir Launcelot Then the knight hermit put a thing in
made fair Elaine to gather herbs for his nose, and a little deal of water in
him, to make him a bath. In the mean his mouth, and then Sir Launcelot
while, Sir Launcelot made him to arm waked of his swoon, and then the her-
him at all pieces, and there he thought mit stanched his bleeding. And when
to assay his armour and his spear, for he might speak, he asked Sir Launcelot
his hurt or not. And so when he was why he put his life in jeopardy. Sir,
upon his horse, he stirred him fiercely, said Sir Launcelot, because I wend I
and the horse was passing lusty and had been strong, and also Sir Bors told
fresh, because he was not laboured a me that there should be at Allhallow-
month before. And then Sir Launcelot mass a great justs betwixt king Arthur
couched that spear in the rest
that : and the king of Northgalis, and therefore
courser lept mightily when he felt the I thought to assay it myself, whether
spurs; and he that was upon* him, the I might be there or not. Ah, Sir Laun-
which was the noblest horse of the celot, said the hermit, your heart and
world, strained him mightily and stably, your courage will never be done until
and kept still the spear in the rest. And your last day, but ye shall do now by my
therewith Sir Launcelot strained himself counsel let Sir Bors depart from you,
;
he may, and by the grace of God, said kings came on king Arthur's party.
the knight hermit, by that the tourna- And so that day Sir Gawaine did great
ment be done, and ye come hither again, deeds of arms, and began first, and the
Sir Launcelot shall be as whole as ye, so heralds numbered that Sir Gawaine
that he will be governed by me. smote down twenty knights. Then Sir
Bors de Ganis came in the same time,
CHAP. XVIII. and he was numbered that he smote
down twenty knights. And therefore
How Sir Bors returned and told tidings of the prize was given betwixt them both,
Sir Launcelot, and of the tourney, and for they began first, and the longest
towhom the prize was given. endured.
Then Sir Bors made him ready to Also Sir Gareth, as the book saith,
depart from Sir Launcelot and then Sir
;
did that day great deeds of arms, for he
Launcelot said, Fair cousin, Sir Bors, smote down, and pulled down, thirty
recommend me them unto
unto all knights. But when he had done these
whom me ought to recommend me unto, deeds he tarried not, but so departed,
and I pray you enforce yourself at that and therefore he lost his prize. And
justs, that ye be best, for my love,
may Sir Palamides did great deeds of arms
and here shall I abide you, at the mercy that day, fbr he smote down twenty
of God, till ye come again. And so knights, but he departed suddenly and ;
Sir Bors departed, and came to the men deemed Sir Gareth and he rode
court of king Arthur, and told them in together to some manner adventure.
what place he had left Sir Launcelot. So when tournament was done,
this
That me repenteth, said the king, but Sir Bors departed, and rode till he
sin he shall have his life, we may all came to Sir Launcelot his cousin, and
thank God. And there Sir Bors told then he found him walking on his feet,
the queen in what jeopardy Sir Laun- and there either made great joy of
celot was, when he would essay his other. And so Sir Bors told Sir Laun-
horse and all that he did, madam, was
: celot of all the justs, like as ye have
for the love of you, because he would heard. I marvel, said Sir Launcelot,
have been at this tournament. Fie on that Sir Gareth, when he had done such
him, recreant knight, said the queen, deeds of arms, that he would not tarry.
for wit ye well I am right sorry and he Thereof we marvelled all, said Sir Bors,
shall have his life. His life shall he for,but if it were you, or Sir Tristram,
have, said Sir Bors, and who that would or Sir Lamorak de Galis, I saw never
otherwise, except you, madam, we that knight bear down so many in so little a
be of his blood should help to short while as did Sir Gareth. And anon as
their lives. But, madam, said Sir Bors, he was gone, he wist not where. By
ye have been oft-times displeased with my head, said Sir Launcelot, he is a
my lord Sir Launcelot, but at all noble knight, and a mighty man, and
times at the end ye find him a true well breathed and if he were well
;
made them ready to be at that justs gentle knight, courteous, true, and boun-
at Allhallowmass. And thither drew teous, meek and mild, and in him is
many knights of divers countries. And no manner of mal-engine, but plain,
as Allhallowmass drew near, thither faithful, and true. So then they made
came the king of Northgalis, and the them ready to depart from the hermit.
king with the hundred knights, and Sir And upon a morn they took their
so
Galahalt the haut prince of Surluse, and horses,and Elaine le Blank with them ;
thither came king Anguish of Ireland, and when they came to Astolat, there
and the king of Scots. So these three they were well lodged, and had great
43° rORTE ZL BOOK XVIII.
cheer of Sir Bernard the old baron, and would do. What
should I do, said Sir
of Sir Tine his son. And so upon Lavaine, but follow you, but if ye drive
the morn, when Sir Launcelot should me from you, or command me to go
depart, fair Elaine brought her father from you ? Then came Sir Bernard to
with her, and Sir Tine and Sir Lavaine, Sir Launcelot, and said to him, I cannot
and thus she said : see but that my daughter Elaine will
die for your sake. I may not do withal,
CHAP. XIX. said Sir Launcelot, for that me sore re-
penteth for I report me to yourself
;
Of the great lamentation of the fair maid that proffer is fair, and me repent-
my
of Astolat when Launcelot should depart,
eth, said Sir Launcelot, that she loveth
and how she died for his love. me as she doth : I was never the causer
My now I see ye
lord Sir Launcelot, of for I report me to your son, I
it,
will depart, now, fair knight and cour- early nor late proffered her bounty nor
teous knight, have mercy upon me, and fair behests and as for me, said Sir
;
suffer me
not to die for thy love. What Launcelot, I dare do all that a good
would ye that I did? said Sir Launcelot. knight should do, that she is a true
I would have you to my husband, said maiden, both for deed and for will and ;
Elaine. Fair damsel, I thank you, said I am right heavy of her distress, for she
Sir Launcelot, but truly, said he, I cast is a full fair maiden, good, and gentle,
me never to be wedded man. Then, and well taught. Father, said Sir La-
fair knight, said she, will ye be my vaine, I dare make good she is pure and
love? Jesu defend me, said Sir Laun- good as my lord Sir Launcelot hath
celot, for then I rewarded to your father said but she doth as I do, for since I
;
and your brother full evil for their firstsaw my lord Sir Launcelot I could
great goodness. Alas, said she, then never depart from him, nor nought I
must I die for your love. Ye shall not will and I may follow him. Then Sir
so, said Sir Launcelot, for wit ye well, Launcelot took his leave, and so they
fair maiden, I might have been married departed, and came unto Winchester.
and I had would, but I never applied And when Arthur wist that Sir Launce-
me to be married yet. But because, lot was come, whole and sound, the
fair damsel, that ye love me as ye say king made great joy of him, and so did
ye do, I will, for your good will and Sir Gawaine, and all the knights of the
kindness, shew you some goodness, and Round Table except Sir Agravaine and
that is this that wheresoever ye will
; Sir Mordred. Also queen Guenever
beset your heart upon some good was wood wroth with Sir Launcelot,
knight that will wed you, I shall give and would by no means speak with
you together a thousand pound yearly, him, but estranged herself from him,
to you and to your heirs. Thus much and Sir Launcelot made all the means
will I give you, fair madam, for your that he might to speak with the queen,
kindness, and always while I live to but it would not be.
be your own knight. Of all this, said Now speak we of the fair maiden of
the maiden, I will none, for, but if ye Astolat, that made such sorrow day
will wed me, or else be my lover, wit and night, that she never slept, eat, nor
you well, Sir Launcelot, my good days drank; and ever she made her com-
are done. Fair damsel, said Sir Laun- plaint unto Sir Launcelot. So when
celot, of these two things ye must she had thus endured a ten days, that
pardon me. Then she shrieked shrilly, she feebled so that she must needs
and fell down in a swoon; and then pass out of this world, then she shrived
women bare her into her chamber, and her clean, and received her Creator.
there she made overmuch sorrow. And And ever she complained still upon Sir
then Sir Launcelot would depart and ; Launcelot. Then her ghostly father
there he asked Sir Lavaine what he bade her leave such thoughts. Then
CHAP. XTX. HOW THE MAID OF ASTOLAT DIED. 43 1
God that I shall die for the love of so burying, and how Sir Launcelot offered
the mass-penny.
noble a knight, I beseech the High
Father of heaven to have mercy upon So by fortune king Arthur and the
my soul, and upon mine innumerable queen Guenever were speaking together
pains that I suffered may be allegiance at a window and so as they looked
;
of part of my sins. For sweet Lord into Thames, they espied this black
.
Jesu, said the fair maiden, I take thee barget, and had marvel what it meant.
to record, on thee I was never great Then the king called Sir Kay, and
offender against thy laws, but that I shewed it him. Sir, said Sir Kay, wit
loved this noble knight Sir Launcelot you well there is some new tidings. Go
out of measure, and of myself, good thither, said the king to Sir Kay, and
Lord, I might not withstand the fervent take with you Sir Brandiles and Agra-
love wherefore I have my death. And vaine, and bring me ready word what is
then she called her father Sir Bernard, there. Then these
three knights de-
and her brother Sir Tine, and heartily parted, and came to the barget, and
she prayed her father that her brother went in and there they found the
;
might write a letter like as she did fairest corpse lying in a rich bed, and a
endite it and so her father granted
;
poor man sitting in the barget's end,
her. And when the letter was written and no word would he speak. So these
word by word like as she devised, then three knights returned unto the king
she prayed her father that she might be again, and told him what they found.
watched until she were dead, And — That fair corpse will I see, said the
while my body is hot, let this letter be king. And so then the king took the
put in my right hand, and my hand queen by the hand and went thither.
bound fast with the letter until that Then the king made the barget to be
I be cold, and let me be put in a fair holden fast and then the king and the
;
bed, with all the richest clothes that queen entered, with certain knights with
I have about me, and so let my bed, them. And there he saw the fairest
and all my richest clothes, be laid with woman a rich bed, covered unto
lie in
me in a chariot unto the next place her middle with many rich clothes, and
where Thames and there let me be
is, all was of cloth of gold, and she lay as
put within a barget, and but one man though she had smiled. Then the queen
with me, such as ye trust to steer me espied a letter in her right hand, and
thither, and that my barget be covered told it to the king. Then the king took
with black samite, over and over. Thus, it, and said, Now I am sure this letter
father, I beseech you, let it be done. will tellwhat she was, and why she is
So her father granted it her faithfully, come hither. Then the king and the
all things should be done like as she queen went out of the barget, and so
had devised. Then her father and her commanded a certain man to wait upon
brother made great dole, for, when this the barget. And so when the king was
was done, anon she died. And so when come within his chamber, he called
she was dead, the corpse, and the many knights about him, and said that
bed, all was led the next way unto he would wit openly what was written
43 2 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XVIII.
within that letter. Then the king brake Launcelot, that shall be done as I can
it, and made a clerk to read it and this best devise. And so many knights
was the intent of the letter Most
;
:
— went thither to behold that fair maiden.
noble knight, Sir Launcelot, now hath And so upon the morn she was interred
death made us two at debate for your richly, .and Sir Launcelot' offered her
love I was your lover, that men called
; mass-penny, and all the knights of the
the fair maiden of Astolat therefore ; Table Round that were there at that
unto all ladies I make my moan yet ;
time offered with Sir Launcelot. And
pray for my soul, and bury me at the then the poor man went again with the
least, and offer ye my mass-penny. This barget. Then the queen sent for Sir
is mylast request. And
a clean maiden Launcelot, and prayed him of mercy,
I died, I take God to witness. Pray for for why she had been wroth with him
my Sir thou as art causeless. This not the
soul,
peerless.
— This Launcelot,
was the substance
all in
istime,
said Sir Launcelot, that ye have been
first
the letter. And when it was read, the displeased with me causeless ; but,
king, the queen, and all the knights madam, must suffer you, but
ever I
wept for pity of the doleful complaints. what sorrow I endure I take no force.
Then was Sir Launcelot sent for. And So this passed on all that winter, with
when he was come, king Arthur made all manner of hunting and hawking, and
the letter to be read to him and when ; justs and tourneys were many betwixt
Sir Launcelot heard it word by word, many great lords and ever in all places
;
he said, My
lord Arthur, wit ye well Sir Lavaine gat great worship, so that
I am right heavy of the death of this he was nobly renowned among many
fair damsel. God knoweth I was never knights of the Table Round.
causer of her death by my willing, and
that will I report me to her own CHAP. XXI.
brother here he is, Sir Lavaine. I will
;
not say nay, said Sir Launcelot, but Of great justs done all a Christmas, and
that she was both fair and good, and of a great justs and tourney ordained by
much I was beholden unto her, but she king Arthur, and of Sir Lauticelot.
loved me out of measure. Ye might Thus it
passed on
Christmas, and
till
have shewed her, said the queen, some every day there was justs made for a
bounty and gentleness, that might have diamond, who that justed best should
preserved her life. Madam, said Sir have a diamond. But Sir Launcelot
Launcelot, she would none other way would not just, but if it were at a great
be answered, but that she would be my justs cried. But
Lavaine justed
Sir
wife, or else my love, and of these two there all that Christmas passing well,
I would not grant her but I proffered ; and best was praised; for there were
her, for her good love that she shewed but few that did so well. Wherefore
me, a thousand pound yearly to her and all manner of knights deemed that Sir
to her heirs, and to wed any manner Lavaine should be made knight of the
knight that she could find best to love Round Table at the next feast of Pente-
in her heart. For, madam, said Sir cost. So at after Christmas king Ar-
Launcelot, I love not to be constrained thur let call unto him many knights, and
to love ; for love must arise of the there they advised together to make a
heart, and not by no constraint. That party and a great tournament and justs.
is truth, said the king, and many And the king of Northgalis said to
knights : love is free in himself, and Arthur he would have on his party
never will be bounden ; for where he is king Anguish of Ireland, and the king
bounden he loseth himself. Then said with the hundred knights, and the king
the king unto Sir Launcelot, It will be of Northumberland, and Sir Galahalt
your worship that ye oversee that she the haut prince and so these four
;
be interred worshipfully. Sir, said Sir kings and this mighty duke took party
CHAP. XXII. OF A HUNTRESS AT A WELL. 433
against king Arthur and the knights of hind took her flight over heaths and
the Table Round. And the cry was woods, and ever this lady and part of
made that the day of the justs should her gentlewomen coasted the hind, and
be beside Westminster on Candlemas checked it by the noise of the hounds,
day, whereof knights were glad,
many to have met with the hind at some
and made them ready to be at that justs water. And so it happed the hind
in the freshest manner. Then queen came to the well whereas Sir Launcelot
Guenever sent for Sir Launcelot, and was sleeping and slumbering. And so
said thus I warn you that ye ride no
: when the hind came to the well, for
more in no justs nor tournaments, but heat she went to soil, and there she lay
that your kinsmen may know you. And a great while; and the dogs came fast
at these justs that shall be, ye shall have after, and umbecast about, for she had
of me a sleeve of gold and I pray you,
;
lost the very perfect track of the hind.
for my sake, enforce yourself there that Right so, there came that lady the hunt-
men may speak of you worship. But I ress, thatknew by the dog that she had
charge you as ye will have my love, that that the hind was at the soil in that well.
ye warn your kinsmen that ye will bear And there she came stiffly, and found
that clay the sleeve of gold upon your the hind, and she put a bioad arrow in
helmet. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, it her bow, and shot at the hind, and over-
shall be done. And so either made shot the hind, and so, by misfortune, the
great joy of other. And when Sir arrow smote Sir Launcelot in the thick
Launcelot saw his time, he told Sir of the thigh, over the barbs. When Sir
Bors that he would depart, and have no Launcelot felt himself so hurt, he hurled
more with him but Sir Lavaine, unto the up woodly, and saw the lady that had
good hermit that dwelled in the forest smitten him. And when he saw she was
of Windsor, his name was Sir Brastias, a woman, he said thus, Lady, or damsel,
and there he thought to repose him, and what that thou be. in an evil time bare
to take all the rest that he might, be- ye a bow, the devil made you a shooter.
cause he would be fresh at that day of
justs. So Sir Launcelot and Sir La- CHAP. XXII.
vaine departed, that no creature wist
where he was become, but the noble
How Launcelot after that he was hurt of a
men of his blood. And when he was gentlewoman came to an hermit, and of
other matters.
come to the hermitage, wit you well he
had good cheer. And so daily Sir Now mercy, fair sir,said the lady,
Launcelot would go to a well fast by I am a gentlewoman that useth here in
the hermitage, and there he would lie this forest hunting, and truly I saw you
down, and see the well spring and not, but as here was a barren hind at
bubble, and sometime he slept there. the soil in this well, and I wend to have
So at that time there was a lady dwelled done well, but hand swerved. Alas,
my
in that forest, and she was a great said Sir Launcelot, ye have mischieved
huntress, and daily she used to hunt, me. And
so the lady departed, and Sir
and always she bare her bow with her ; Launcelot, as well as he might, pulled
and no men went never with her, but out the arrow, and the head abode still
always women, and they were shooters, in his thigh and so he went weakly to
;
and could well kill a deer, both at the the hermitage, evermore bleeding as he
stalk and and they daily
at the trest; went. And when Sir Lavaine and the
bare bows and arrows, horns and wood- hermit espied that Sir Launcelot was
knives, and many good dogs they had, Ixirt, wit you well they were passing
both for the string and for a bait. heavy but Sir Lavaine nor the hermit
:
So it happed that this lady, the hunt- wist not how he was hurt, nor by
ress, had baited her dogs for the bow whom. And then they were wroth out
at a barren hind, and so this barren of measure. Then with great pain the
2b
MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XV1TI.
hermit gat out the .arrow's head out Scots had a fall, and the king of Ireland
of Sir Launcelot's thigh, and much of smote down king Uriens, and the king
his blood he shed, and the wound of Northumberland smote down king
was passing sore, and unhappily smit- Howel of Britanny, and Sir Galahalt,
ten ;
for it was in such a place that the haut prince, smote down Chalance
he might not sit in no saddle. Ah, of Clarance. And then king Arthur
mercy, said Sir Launcelot, I call myself was wood wroth, and ran to the king
the most unhappiest man that liveth ; with the hundred knights, and there
for ever when I would fainest have king Arthur smote him down, and after
worship, there befalleth me ever some with that same spear king Arthur smote
unhappy thing. Now, so heaven me down three other knights. And then
help, I shall be in the field upon Can- when his spear was broken king Arthur
dlemas day at the justs, whatsoever fall did passing well. And so therewithal
of it. So all that might be gotten to came in SirGawaine, and Sir Gaheris,
heal Sir Launcelot was had. So when Sir Agravaine, and Sir Mordred, and
the day was come, Sir Launcelot let there every each of them smote down a
devise that he was arrayed, and Sir La- knight, and Sir Gawaine smote down
vaine, and their horses, as though they four knights. And then there began a
had been Saracens. And so they de- strong meddle, for then there came in
parted, and came nigh to the field. the knights of Launcelot's blood, and
The king of Northgalis with an hundred Sir Gareth and Sir Palamides with them,
knights with him, and the king of and many knights of the Table Round,
Northumberland brought with him an and they began to hold the four kings
hundred good knights, and king An- and the mighty duke so hard that they
guish of Ireland brought with him an were discomfit, but this duke Galahalt
hundred good knights ready to just, and the haut prince was a noble knight, and
Sir Galahalt the haut prince brought by his mighty prowess of arms he held
with him an hundred good knights, and the knights of the Table Round straight
the king with the hundred knights enough. All this doing saw Sir Laun-
brought with him as many and all ; celot, and then he came into the field
these were proved good knights. Then with Sir Lavaine, as it had been thunder.
came king Arthur's party, and there
in And then anon Sir Bors and the knights
came in the king of Scots with an of his blood espied Sir Launcelot, and
hundred knights, and king Uriens of said to them warn you beware of
all, I
Gore brought with him an hundred him with the sleeve of gold upon his
good knights, and king Howel of Bri- head, for he is himself Sir Launcelot du
tanny brought with him an hundred Lake. And for great goodness Sir Bors
knights. And Chalance of Clarance warned Sir Gareth. I am well apayed,
brought with him an hundred knights, said Sir Gareth, that I may know him.
and king Arthur himself came into the But who is he, said they all, that rideth
field with two hundred knights, and the with him in the same array? That is
most part were knights of the Table the good and gentle knight Sir Lavaine,
Round that were proved noble knights. said Sir Bors. So Sir Launcelot en-
And there were old knights set in scaf- countered with Sir Gawaine, and there
folds, for to judge with the queen who by force Sir Launcelot smote down Sir
did best. Gawaine and his horse to the earth, and
CHAP. XXIII. so he smote down Sir Agravaine and
Sir Gaheris, and also he smote down
Hovj Sir Launcelot behaved him at the
Sir Mordred, and all this was with one
justs, and other men also.
spear. Then Sir Lavaine met with Sir
Then they blew to the field, and there Palamides, and either met other so hard
the king of Northgalis encountered with and so fiercely that both their horses fell
the king of Scots, and there the king of to the earth. And then were they horsed
CHAP. XXIV. OF THE JUSTS AT CANDLEMAS. 435
again, and then met Sir Launcelot with celot encountered with Sir Gawaine, and
Sir Palamides, and there Sir Palamides gave him such a buffet that the bow of
had a fall. And
so Sir Launcelot, or his saddle brast, and Sir Gawaine fell to
ever he stint, as fast as he might get the earth. Then Sir Gareth encountered
spears, he smote down thirty knights, with the good knight Sir Palamides, and
and the most part of them were knights he gave him such a buffet that both his
of the Table Round. And ever the horse and he dashed to the earth. Then
knights of his blood withdrew them, encountered king Arthur with Sir La-
and made them ado in other places where vaine, and there either of them smote
Sir Launcelot came not and then king ; other to the earth, horse and all, that
Arthur was wroth when he saw Sir they lay a great while. Then Sir Laun-
Launcelot do such deeds, and then the celot smote down Sir Agravaine, and
king called unto him Sir Gawaine, Sir Sir Gaheris, and Sir Mordred. And Sir
Mordred, Sir Kay, Sir Griflet, Sir Lucan Gareth smote down Sir Kay, Sir Safere,
the butler, Sir Bedivere, Sir Palamides, and Sir Griflet. And then Sir Lavaine
and Safere his brother and so the king
; was horsed again, and he smote down
with these nine knights made them ready Sir Lucan the butler, and Sir Bedivere,
to set upon Sir Launcelot and upon Sir and then there began great throng of
Lavaine. All this espied Sir Bors and good knights. Then Sir Launcelot
Sir Gareth. Now I dread me sore, said hurtled here and there, and lased and
Sir Bors, that my lord Sir Launcelot pulled off helms, so that at that time
will be hard matched. By my head, there might none sit him a I uffet with
said Sir Gareth, I will ride unto my lord spear nor with sword. And Sir Gareth
Sir Launcelot for to help him, fall of did such deeds of aims that all men
him what may, for he is the same man wondered what knight he was with the
that made me knight. Ye shall not so, green shield for he smote down that
;
said Sir Bors, by my counsel, unless that (lay and pulled down more than thiity
ye were disguised. Ye shall see me dis- knights. And, as the French book saith,
guised, said Sir Gareth and therewithal
; Sir Launcelot marvelled,when he beheld
he espied a Welsh knight where he was Sir Gareth do such deeds, what knight
to repose himself, and he was sore hurt he might be and Sir Lavaine pulled
:
afore by Sir Gawaine, and to him Sir down and smote down twenty knights.
Gareth rode, and prayed him of his Also Sir Launcelot knew not Sir Gareth,
knighthood to lend him his shield for for, and Sir Tristram de Liones or Sir
his. Welsh knight.
I will well, said the Lamorak de Galis had been alive, Sir
And when Sir Gareth had his shield, Launcelot would have deemed he had
the book saith, it was green, with a been one of them twain. So ever as
maiden that seemed in it. Then Sir Sir Launcelot, Sir Gareth, Sir Lavaine,
Gareth came driving to Sir Launcelot fought, and on the one side Sir Bors,
all that he might, and said, Knight, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Lionel, Sir La-
keep thyself, for yonder cometh king morak de Galis, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Gali-
Arthur with nine noble knights with hud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Pelleas, and with
him to put you to a rebuke, and so I more other of king Ban's blood, fought
am come to bear you fellowship for old upon another party, and held the king
love ye have shewed me. Gramercy, with the hundred knights, and also the
said Sir Launcelot. Sir, said Sir Gareth, king of Northumberland, right straight.
encounter ye with Sir Gawaine, and I
shall encounter with Sir Palamides, and CHAP. XXIV.
let Sir Lavaine match with the noble
How king Arthur marvelled much of the
king Arthur. And when we have de-
livered them, let us three hold us sadly justing in the field, and how he rode
and found Sir Launcelot.
together. Then came king Arthur with
his nine knights with him, and Sir Laun- So this tournament and this justs
28—2
436 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XVIII.
dured long, it was near him, and took a little hackney, and rode
till
night, for
the knights of the Round Table re- after Sir Launcelot, for ever he had a
lieved ever unto king Arthur for the
;
spy upon him and so he found him
;
king was wroth out of measure that he among the four kings and the duke,
and his knights might not prevail that and there the king prayed them all unto
day. Then Sir Gawaine said to the supper. And they said they would with
king, I marvel where all this day Sir good will. And so when they were
Bors de Ganis and his fellowship of unarmed, then king Arthur knew Sir
Sir Launcelot's blood be. I marvel all Launcelot, Sir Lavaine, and Sir Gareth.
this day they be not about you. It is Ah Sir Launcelot, said king Arthur, this
for some cause, said Sir Gawaine. By day ye have heated me and my knights.
my head, said Sir Kay, Sir Bors is yon- So they went unto Arthur's lodging all
der all this day upon the right hand of together, and there was a great feast
this field, and there he and his blood and great revel, and the prize was given
done more worshipfully than we do. unto Sir Launcelot, and by heralds they
It may well be, said Sir Gawaine, but I named him that he had smitten down
dread me ever of guile, for on pain of my fifty knights, and Sir Gareth five and
life, said Sir Gawaine, this knight with thirty, and Sir Lavaine four and twenty
the red sleeve of gold is himself Sir knights. Then Sir Launcelot told the
Launcelot, I see well by his riding and king and the queen how the lady hunt-
by his great strokes, and the other ress shot him Windsor
in the forest of
knight in the same colour is the good in the thigh with a broad arrow, and
young knight Sir Lavaine. Also that how the wound thereof was that time
knight with the green shield is my six inches deep, and in like long. Also
brother Sir Gareth, and yet he hath dis- Arthur blamed Sir Gareth, because he
guised himself, for no man shall never left his fellowship and held with Sir
make him be against Sir Launcelot, Launcelot. My lord, said Sir Gareth,
because he made him knight. By my he made me a knight, and when I saw
head, said Arthur, nephew, I believe him so hard bestad, me thought it was
you, therefore tell me now what is your my worship to help him, for I saw him
best counsel? Sir, said Sir Gawaine, ye do so much, and so many noble knights
shall have my counsel. Let blow unto against him. And when I understood
lodging, for, and he be Sir Launcelot that he was
Sir Launcelot du Lake I
du Lake, and my brother Sir Gareth shamed to see so many knights against
with him, with the help of that good him alone. Truly, said king Arthur
young knight Sir Lavaine, trust me unto Sir Gareth, ye say well, and wor-
truly it will be no boot to strive with shipfully have ye done, and to yourself
them, but if we should fall ten or twelve great worship, and the days of my
all
upon one knight, and that were no wor- life, said king Arthur unto Sir Gareth,
ship, but shame. Ye say truth, said the wit you well I shall love you' and trust
king, and for to say sooth, said the king, you the more better. For ever, said Ar-
itwere shame to us, so many as we be, thur, it is a worshipful knight's deed to
to set upon them any more. For wit ye help another worshipful knight when he
well, said the king, they be three good seeth him in a great danger, for ever a
knights, and namely that knight with worshipful man will be loth to see a
the sleeve of gold. So then they blew worshipful shamed, and he that is of no
unto lodging but forthwithal king Ar-
;
worship,and fareth with cowardice, never
thur let send unto the four kings, and shall he shew gentleness, nor no manner
to the mighty duke, and prayed them of goodness, where he seeth a man in
that the knight with the sleeve of gold any danger, for then ever will a coward
depart not from them, but that the king shew no mercy, and always a good man
may speak with him. Then forth- will do ever to another man as he would
withal king Arthur alight, and unarmed be done to himself. So then there were
ChAf XXV.
.
QUEEN GUENEVER GOES ON MAYING. 437
until after Easter, that the month of and worship in arms may never be foiled,
May was come, when every lusty heart but first reserve the honour to God, and
beginneth to blossom and to bring secondly the quarrel must come of thy
forth fruit for like as herbs and trees
; lady and such love I call virtuous love.
:
bring forth fruit and flourish in May, But now-a-days men cannot love seven
in likewise every lusty heart, that is in night but they must have all their
any manner a lover, springeth and desires, that love may not endure by
flourisheth in lusty deeds. For it giveth reason for where they be soon ac-
;
unto all lovers courage, that lusty corded, and hasty heat, soon it cooleth.
month ofMay, in some thing to con- Right so fareth love now-a-days; soon
strain him to some manner of thing, hot, This is no stability,
soon cold.
more in that month than any other
in but the old love was not so. Men and
month, for divers causes. For then all women could love together seven years,
herbs and trees renew a man and and no wanton lusts were between
woman, and in likewise lovers call them, and then was love truth and
again to their mind old gentleness and faithfulness. And lo in was
likewise
old service, and many kind deeds that used love in king Arthur's days. Where-
were forgotten by negligence. For like fore I liken love now-a-days unto
as winter rasure doth always arase and summer and winter. For like as the
deface green summer, so fareth it by one is hot and the other cold, so fareth
unstable love in man and woman. For love now-a-days. Therefore all ye that
in many persons there is no stability, be lovers call unto your remembrance
for we may see all day, for a little blast the month of May, like as did queen
of winter's rasure, anon we shall deface Guenever. For whom I make here a
and lay apart true love for little or little mention, that while she lived she-
nought, that cost much thing. This is was a true lover, and therefore she had
no wisdom nor stability, but it is feeble- a good end.
CHAP. I.
of the Table Round, and she gave
them warning that early upon the mor-
How queen Guenever rode on Maying
row she would ride on maying into
with certain knights of the Round Table woods and fields beside Westminster. —
and clad all in green. And I warn you that there be none of
So it befell in the month of May, you but that he be well horsed, and
queen Guenever called unto her knights that ye all be clothed in green, either
43* MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XIX.
in silk, either in cloth, and I shall then at the next feast of Pentecost, if
bring with me ten ladies, and every there were any slain or dead, as there
knight shall have a lady behind him, was no year that there failed but some
and every knight shall have a squire were dead, then was there chosen in his
and two yeomen, and I will that ye all stead that was dead the most men of
be well horsed. So they made them worship that were called the queen's
ready in the freshest manner, and these knights. And thus they came up all
were the names of the knights Sir Kay : first, or they were renowned men of
the seneschal, Sir Agravaine, Sir Bran- worship, both Sir Launcelot and all the
diles, Sir Sagramor le Desirous, Sir Do- remnant of them. But this knight, Sir
dinas le Savage, Sir Ozanna le Cure Meliagrance, had espied the queen well
Hardy, Sir Ladinas of the Forest Savage, and her purpose, and how Sir Launcelot
Sir Persant of Inde, Sir Ironside that was not with her, and how she had no
was called the knight of the red lawns, men of arms with her but the ten noble
and Sir Pelleas the lover, and these knights all arrayed in green for maying.
ten knightsmade them the ready in Then he provided him a twenty men of
manner to ride with the queen.
freshest arms and an hundred archers, for to
And so upon the morn they took their destroy the queen and her knights, for
holses, with the queen, and rode on he thought that time was the best
maying in woods and meadows, as it season to take the queen.
pleased them, in great joy and delights :
their swords, and the other let run at full sore he drad Sir Launcelot du Lake,
them with their spears, and the ten lest he should have any knowledging.
knights manly abode them, and smote All this espied the queen, and privily she
away their spears, that no spear did called unto her a child of her chamber,
them none harm. Then they lashed that was swiftly horsed, to whom she
together with swords, and anon Sir Kay, said, Go thou, when thou seest thy
Sir Sagramor, Sir Agravaine, Sir Dodi- time, and bear this ring unto Sir Launce-
nas, Sir Ladinas, and Sir Ozanna, were lot du Lake, and pray him as he loveth
smitten to the earth with grimly wounds. me, that he will see me, and rescue me
Then Sir Brandiles, and Sir Persant, if ever he will have
joy of me and ;
Sir Ironside, Sir I'elleas, fought long, spare thou not thy horse, said the queen,
and they were sore wounded for these : neither for water, neither for land. So
ten knights, or ever they were laid to the child espied his time, and lightly
the ground, slew forty men of the boldest he took his horse with the spurs, and
and the best of them. So when the departed as fast as he might. And
queen saw her knights thus dolefully when Sir Meliagrance saw him so flee,
wounded, and needs must be slain at he understood that it was by the queen's
the last, then for pity and sorrow she commandment for to warn Sir Launcelot.
cried, Sir Meliagrance, slay not my Then they that were best horsed chased
noble knights, and I will go with thee him, and shot at him, but from them all
upon this covenant, that thou save the child went suddenly; and then Sir Me-
them, and suffer them not to be no liagrance said unto the queen, Madam,
more hurt, with this, that they be led ye are about to betray me, but I shall
with me wheresoever thou leadest me ;
ordain for Sir Launcelot that he shall
for I will rather slay myself than I will not come lightly at you. And then he
go with thee, unless that these my rode with her and they all to his castle
noble knights may be in my presence. in all the haste that he might. And
Madam, said Meliagrance, for your sake by the way Sir Meliagrance laid in an
they shall be led with you into mine enbushment the best archers that he
own castle, with that ye will be ruled might get in his country, to the num-
and ride with me. Then the queen ber of a thirty, to await upon Sir
prayed the four knights to leave their Launcelot, charging them that if they
fighting, and she and they would not saw such a manner of knight come by
part. Madam, said Sir Pelleas, we will the way upon a white horse, that in
do as ye do, for as for me I take no any wise they slay his horse, but in no
force of my life nor death. For, as the manner of wise have not ado with him
French book saith, Sir Pelleas gave bodily, for he is over hard to be over-
such buffets there that none armour come. So this was done, and they were
might hold him. come to his castle, but in no wise the
44° MORTE DARTHUR. 300K XIX,
queen would never let none of the ten might, and the book saith he took the
knights and her ladies out of her sight, water at Westminster bridge, and made
but always they were in her presence, his horse to swim over Thames to Lam-
for the book
saith Sir Meliagrance durst beth. And then within a while he came
make no masteries for dread of Sir to the place there as the ten knights had
Launcelot, in so much he deemed that fought with Sir' Meliagrance, and then
he had warning. So when the child Sir Launcelot followed that track until
was departed from the fellowship of that he came to a wood, and there
Sir Meliagrance, within awhile he came was a strait way, and there the thirty
to Westminster. And anon he found archers bad Sir Launcelot turn again,
Sir Launcelot. And when he had told and follow no longer that track. What
his message, and delivered him the commandment have ye thereto, said Sir
queen's ring, Alas, said Sir Launcelot, Launcelot, to cause me, that am a knight
now am I shamed for ever, unless that of the Round Table, to leave my right
I may rescue that noble lady from dis- way ? This way shalt thou leave, or
honour. Then eagerly he asked his else thou shalt go it on thy foot, for wit
armour, and ever the child told Sir thou well thy horse shall be slain. That
Launcelot how the ten knights fought is mastery, said Sir Launcelot, to
little
marvellously, and how Sir Pelleas, and slay my horse, but as for myself, when
Sir Ironside, and Sir Brandiles, and Sir my horse is slain, I give right nought for
Persant of Inde, fought strongly, but you, not and ye were five hundred more.
namely Sir Pelleas, there might none So then they shot Sir Launcelot's horse,
withstand him, and how they all fought and smote him with many arrows. And
till at the last they were laid to the then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse,
earth,and then the queen made ap- and went on foot but there were so
:
pointment for to save their lives, and many ditches and hedges betwixt them
go with Sir Meliagrance. Alas, said and him, that he might not meddle with
Sir Launcelot, that most noble lady, none of them. Alas, for shame, said
that she should be so destroyed !I had Launcelot, that ever one knight should
lever, said Sir Launcelot, than all France betray another knight, but it is an old
that I had been there well armed. So saw, A good man is never in danger but
when Sir Launcelot was armed and when he is in the danger of a coward.
upon his horse, he prayed the child Then Sir Launcelpt went a while, and
of the queen's chamber to warn Sir then he was foul cumbered of his
Lavaine how suddenly he was departed, armour, his shield, and his spear, and
—
and for what cause, And pray him, all that longed unto him. Wit ye well
as he loveth me, that he will hie him he was full sore annoyed, and full loth
after me, and that he stint not until he was to leave any thing that longed
he come to the castle where Sir Melia- unto him, for he drad sore the treason
grance abideth or dwelleth, for there, of Sir Meliagrance. And then by for-
said Sir Launcelot, shall he hear of me tune there came by a chariot, that came
and I am a man living, and rescue the thither for to fetch wood. Say me,
queen and the ten knights the which carter, said Sir Launcelot, what shall I
he traitorously hath taken, and that give thee for to suffer me to leap into
shall I prove upon his head, and all thy chariot, and that thou bring me unto
them that hold with him. a castle within this two mile? Thou
shalt not come within my chariot, said
the carter, for I am sent for to fetch
CHAP. IV.
for my lord Sir Meliagrance. — wood
With
How Sir Launcelot's horse was slain, and him would I
speak.
— Thou shalt not go
how Sir Launcelot rode in a cart for to with me, said the carter. Then Sir Laun-
rescue the queen. celot lept to him, and gave him such a
Then Sir Launcelot rode as last as he buffet that he fell to the earth stark dead.
CHAP. V. SIR LAUNCELOT COMES IN A CART. 441
buked that lady that likened Sir Laun- and her ladies went down unto the
celot to ride in a chariot to hanging. It knight Sir Launcelot, that stood wroth
was foul mouthed, said the queen, and out of measure in the inner court, to
evil likened, so for to liken the most abide battle and ever he bade Thou
;
—
noble knight of the world unto such a traitor knight, come forth! Then the
shameful death. O
Jesu defend him and queen came to him and said, Sir Launce-
keep him, said the queen, from all mis- lot,why be ye so moved ? Ha, madam,
chievous end By !this was Sir Launce- said Sir Launcelot, why ask ye me that
lot come to the gates of that castle, question ? me seemeth, said Sir Launce-
and there he descended down, and cried, lot, ye ought to be more wroth than I
that all the castle rang of it, Where am, for ye have the hurt and the dis-
art thou, false traitor Sir Meliagrance, honour. For wit ye well, madam, my
and knight of the Table Round? Now hurt is but little, for the killing of a
come forth here thou traitor knight, mare's son but the despite grieveth me
;
thou and thy fellowship with thee for : much more than all my hurt. Truly,
here I am, Sir Launcelot du Lake, that said the queen, ye say truth, but heartily
shall fight with you. And therewithal I thank you, said the queen, but ye must
he bare the gate wide open upon the come in with me
peaceably, for all thing
porter, and smote him under his ear is put in my hand, and all that is evil
with his gauntlet that his neck blast shall be for the best, for the knight full
in sunder. sore repenteth him of the misadventure
that is befallen him. Madam, said Sir
442 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XIX.
Launcelot, sith it is so thai ye are ac- So Sir Launcelot had great cheer
corded with him, as for me I may not with the queen, and then Sir Launcelot
be against howbeit Sir Meliagrance
it, made a promise with the queen, that the
hath done shamefully to me, and
full same night Sir Launcelot should come
cowardly. Ah, madam, and I had wist to a window outward toward a garden,
ye would have been so soon accorded and that window was y-barred with iron;
with him, I would not have made such and there Sir Launcelot promised to
haste unto you. Why say ye so ? said meet her when all folks were on sleep.
the queen,do ye forthink yourself of So then came Sir Lavaine, driving to
your good deeds? Wit you well, said Where is my lord Sir
the gates, crying,
the queen, I accorded never unto him Launcelot du Lake ? Then was he sent
for favour nor love that I had unto him, for, and when Sir Lavaine saw Sir
but for to lay down every shameful noise. Launcelot, he said My lord, I found
:
Madam, said Sir Launcelot, ye under- well how ye were hard bestad, for I
stand full well I was never willing nor have found your horse, that was slain
glad of shameful slander, nor noise and
;
with arrows. As for that, said Sir
there is neither king, queen, nor knight, Launcelot, I pray you Sir Lavaine
that beareth the life, except my lord speak ye of other matters, and let ye
this pass, and we shall right it another
king Arthur, and you, madam, that
should let me, but I should make Sir time, when we best may.
Meliagrance's heart full cold or ever I
departed from hence. That I wot well, CHAP. VI.
said the queen, but what will ye more ?
How Sir Launcelot came in the night to
ye shall have all thing ruled as ye list to the queen, and how Sir Meliagraunce
have it. Madam, said Sir Launcelot,
so ye be pleased I care not, as for my appeached the queen of treason.
part ye shall soon please. Right so the Then the knights that were hurt were
queen took Sir Launcelot by the bare searched, and soft salves were laid to
hand, for he had put off his gauntlet, their wounds, and so it passed on till
and so she went with him till her cham- supper time and all the cheer that might
;
ber; and then she commanded him to be made them there was done unto the
be unarmed, and then Sir Launcelot queen and her knights. Then when
all
asked where the ten knights were that season was they went unto their cham-
were wounded sore. So she shewed bers. But in no wise the queen would
them unto Sir Launcelot, and there not suffer the wounded knights to be
they made great joy of the coming of from her, but that they were laid within
him, and Sir Launcelot made great dole draughts by her chamber, upon beds
of their hurts, and bewailed them and pillows, that she herself might see
greatly and there Sir Launcelot told
; to them, that theywanted nothing. So
them how cowardly and traitorly Me- when Launcelot was in his chamber
liagrance set archers to slay his horse, that was assigned unto him, he called
and how he was fain to put himself unto Sir Lavaine, and told him that he
in a chariot. Thus they complained must go speak with his lady, dame
every each to other, and full fain they Guenever. Sir, said Sir Lavaine, let me
would have been revenged, but they go with you, and it please you, for I
peaced themself because of the queen. dread me sore of the treason of Sir
Then, as the French book saith, Sir Meliagrance. Nay, said Sir Launcelot,
Launcelot was called many a day after, I thank you, but I will have nobody
Le Chevaler du Chariot, and did many with me. Then Sir Launcelot took his
deeds, and great adventures he had. sword in his hand, and privily went
And so leave we of this tale, Le Che- unto a place whereas he had espied a
valer du Chariot, and turn we to this ladder toforehand, and that he took
tale. under his arm and bare it through the
chap. vii. SIR MELIAGRANCE APPEACHES THE QUEEN. 443
garden, and set it up to the window. make good, for a wounded knight hath
And there anon the queen was ready to been That is false, said the
here.
meet him. And then they made either queen, and that I will report me to
to other their complaints of many divers them all. Then when the ten knights
things. And then Sir Launcelot wished heard Sir Meliagrance's words, they
that he might have come in to her. spake all in one voice and said unto
Wit ye well, said the queen, I would as Sir Meliagrance, Thou sayest falsely,
fain as ye that ye might come in to me. and wrongfully puttest upon us such a
Would ye, madam,
said Sir Launcelot, deed, and that we will make good any
with your heart that I were with you ? of us, choose which thou list of us, when
Yea truly, said the queen. Now
shall I we are whole of our wounds. Ye shall
prove my might, said Sir Launcelot, for not, said Meliagrance, away with
Sir
your love. And
then he set his hands your proud language, for here ye may
upon the bars of iron, and pulled at all see that a wounded knight hath been
them with such a might that he brast here. Then were they all ashamed when
them clean out of the stone walls. And they saw that blood, and wit you well
therewithal one of the bars of iron cut Sir Meliagrance was passing glad that
the brawn of his hands throughout to he had the queen at such an advantage,
the bone, and then he lept into the for he deemed by that to hide his trea-
chamber to the queen. Make ye no son. So with this rumour came in Sir
noise, said the queen, for my wounded Launcelot, and found them all at a great
knights lie here fast by me. And when array.
he saw his time that he might tarry no
CHAP. VII.
longer, he took his leave and departed
at the window, and put it together as How Sir Launcelot answered for the queen^
well as he might again, and so departed and waged battle against Sir Melia-
then Sir Lavaine dressed his hand, and What array is this? said Sir Laun-
staunched it, and put upon it a glove, celot. Then Sir Meliagrance told him
that it should not be espied. And so what he had found, and shewed him the
the queen lay long in her bed, until it blood. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, ye
was nine of the clock. Then Sir Melia- did not your part nor knightly toward
grance went to the queen's chamber, the queen, and therefore have ye done
and found her ladies there ready clothed. unworshipfully and shamefully to your-
Mercy, said Sir Meliagrance, what aileth self. I wot not what ye mean, said Sir
you, madam, that ye sleep thus long V Meliagrance, but well I am sure there
And then was he ware of the blood of hath been one of her wounded knights
Sir Launcelot's hurt hand. And when here, and therefore I will prove with
Sir Meliagrance espied that blood, then my hands that she is a traitress unto
he deemed in himself that she was false my lord Arthur. Beware what ye do,
unto the king, and that
it was the blood said Sir Launcelot, for and ye say so,
ofsome of the wounded knights. Ah, and that ye will prove it, it will be
madam, said Sir Meliagrance, now I taken at your hands. lord SirMy
have founden you a false traitress unto Launcelot, said Sir Meliagrance, I rede
my lord Arthur for now I prove well
;
you beware what ye do, for though ye
itwas not for nought that ye laid these are never so good a knight, as ye wot
wounded knights within the bounds of well that are renowned the best
ye
your chamber therefore I will call you
:
knight of the world, yet should ye
be
of treason before lord king Arthur,
my advised to do battle in a wrong quarrel,
and now have proved you, madam,
I for God will have a stroke in every
with a shameful deed, and that they battle. As for that, said Sir Launcelot,
be all false, or some of them, I will God is to be dread. But as to that
444 MORTS DARTHUR. BOOK XIX.
I say nay plainly, that this night none then queen Guenever and many of them
of these ten wounded knights was here deemed that he was departed as he was
with my lady queen Guenever, and that wont to do, suddenly. For Sir Melia-
will I prove with my hands, that ye say grance made suddenly to put away on
untruly in that now. Hold, said Sir side Sir Lavaine's horse, that they might
Meliagrance, here is my glove, that she all understand that Sir Launcelot was
is traitress unto my lord king Arthur, departed suddenly. So it past on till
and that one of the wounded knights after dinner, and then Sir Lavaine would
was here. And I receive your glove, not stint until that he ordained litters
said Sir Launcelot. And so they were for the wounded knights,
that they might
sealed with their signets, and delivered be laid in them, and so with the queen
unto the ten knights. At what day and them all, both ladies and gentle-
shall we do battle together? said Sir women and other, went unto West-
Launcelot. This day eight days, said minster, and there the knights told king
Sir Meliagrance, in the field beside Arthur how Meliagrance had appealed
Westminster. I am agreed, said Sir the queen of high treason, and how Sir
Launcelot. But now, said Sir Melia- Launcelot had received the glove of
grance, sithen it is that we must fight him, and this day eight days they shall
together, I beseech you, as ye are a do battle afore you. By my head, said
noble knight, await me with no treason, king Arthur, I am afeard Sir Melia-
nor none villainy the meanwhile, nor grance hath taken upon him a great
none for you. So God me help, said charge. But where is Sir Launcelot?
Sir Launcelot, ye shall right well wit I said the king. Sir, said theyall, we
was never of no such conditions, for wot not where he is, but we deem he is
I report me knights that ever
to all ridden to some adventures, as he is
have known me, I fared never with ofttimes wont to do, for he hath Sir
no treason, nor I loved never the Lavaine's horse. Let him be, said the
fellowship of no man that fared with king, he will be founden, but if he be
treason. Then let us go to dinner, said trapped with some treason.
Meliagrance, and after dinner ye and
the queen and ye may ride all to West- CHAP. VIII.
minster. I will well, said Sir Launce-
lot. AndSir Meliagrance said to Sir
How Sir Launcelot was delivered out of
Launcelot, Pleaseth it you to see the prison by a lady, and took a white
courser, and came for to keep his day.
eftures of this castle? With a good
will, said Sir Launcelot. And then they So leave we Sir Launcelot, lying
went together from chamber to cham- within that cave in great pain, and
ber, for Sir Launcelot dread no perils. every day there came a lady and
For ever a man of worship and of brought him his meat and his drink,
prowess dreadeth least always perils : and wooed him to love her. And ever
for they ween every man be as they be. the noble knight Sir Launcelot said her
But ever he that fareth with treason nay. Sir Launcelot, said she, ye are
putteth oft a man in great danger. So not wise, for ye may never out of this
it befell
upon Sir Launcelot that no prison but if ye have my help, and also
peril dread. As he went with Sir Me- your lady queen Guenever shall be
liagrance, he trod on a trap, and the burnt in your default, unless that ye be
board rolled, and therewith Sir Launce- there at the day of battle. God defend,
lot fell down more than ten fathom into said Sir Launcelot, that she should be
a cave full of straw. And then Sir Me- burnt in my default: and if it be so,
liagrance departed, and made no fare as said Sir Launcelot, that I may not be
that he nist where he was. And when there, it shall be well understood both
Sir Launcelot was thus missed, they at the king and at the queen, and with
marvelled where he was become. And all men of worship, that I am dead,
CHAP. IX. SIR LAUNCELOT FIGHTS FOR THE QUEEN. 445
sick, or in prison. For all men that celot should not be at that battle, there-
know me will say for me that I am in fore he ever cried upon king Arthur to
some evil case, and I be not there that do him justice, or else bring forth Sir
day, and well I wot there is some good Launcelot du Lake. Then was the king
knight, either of my blood, or some and all the court full sore abashed and
other that loveth me, that will take my shamed that the queen should be burnt
quarrel in hand
and, therefore, said Sir
: in the default of Sir Launcelot. My
Launcelot, wit ye well ye shall not fear lord Arthur, said Sir Lavaine, ye may
me. And if there were no more women understand that it is not well with my
in all this land but you, I would not say lord Sir Launcelot, for and he were on
otherwise. Then art thou shamed, said live, so that he be not sick or in prison,
the lady, and destroyed for ever. As wit ye well he would be here, for
for world's shame, Jesu defend me and ;
never heard ye that ever he failed his
as for my distress, it is welcome, what- part for whom he should do battle for.
soever it be that God sendeth me. So And therefore, said Sir Lavaine, my
she came to him the same day that the lord king Arthur, I beseech you give
battle should be, and said, Sir Laun- me licence to do battle here this day
celot, me thinketh ye are too hard- for my lord and master, and for to save
hearted, but wouldest thou but kiss me my lady the queen. Gramercy, gentle
once I should deliver thee and thine knight, Sir Lavaine, said king Arthur,
armour, and the best horse that is for I dare say all that Sir Meliagrance
within Sir Meliagrance's stable. As for putteth upon my lady the queen is
to kiss you, said Sir Launcelot, I may wrong, for I have spoken with all the
do that, and lose no worship, and wit ten wounded knights, and there is not
ye well, and I understood there were one of them, and he were whole and
any disworship for to kiss you, I would able to do battle, but he would prove
not do it. Then he kissed her, and then upon Sir Meliagrance's body that it is
she gat him and brought him to his false that he putteth upon my queen.
armour. And when he was
armed, she So shall I, said Sir Lavaine, in the
brought him to a stable, where stood defence of my lord Sir Launcelot, and
twelve good coursers, and bad him ye will give me leave. Now
I give you
choose the best. Then Sir Launcelot leave, said king Arthur, and do your
looked upon a white courser, the which best, for I dare well say there is some
liked him best, and anon he commanded treason done to Sir Launcelot. Then
the keepers fast to saddle him with the was Sir Lavaine horsed, and suddenly
best saddle of war that there was, and at the list's end he rode to perform this
so it was done as he bade. Then gat battle. And right as the heralds should
he his spear in his hand, and his sword cry Lesses les aler, right so came in
by his side, and commanded the lady Sir Launcelot driving with all the force
unto God, and said, Lady, for this good of his horse. And then Arthur cried,
deed I shall do you service if ever it Ho and Abide ! Then was Sir Laun-
!
unto battle, and took their spears, and parters of the field disarmed Sir Laun-
so they came together as thunder, and celot, first his head, and sithen his left
there Sir Launcelot bare him down arm and his left side, and they bound
quite over his horse croup. And then his left arm behind his back, without
Sir Launcelot alight, and dressed his and then they were
shield or anything,
shield on his shoulder with his sword put together. Wit you well there was
in his hand, and Sir Meliagrance in the many a lady and knight marvelled that
same wise dressed him unto him, and Sir Launcelot would jeopardy himself
there they smote many great strokes to- in such wise. Then Sir Meliagrance
gether, and at the last Sir launcelot came with sword all on high, and
his
smote him such a buffet upon the Sir Launcelot shewed him openly his
helmet, that he fell on the one side to bare head and the bare left side. And
the earth, and then he cried upon him when he wend to have smitten him
aloud, Most noble
knight, Sir Launcelot upon the bare head, then lightly he
du Lake, save my life, for I yield me avoided the left leg and" the left side,
unto you, and I beseech you, as ye be a and put his right hand and his sword to
knight and fellow of the Table Round, that stroke, and so put it on side with
slay me not, for I yield me as overcomen, great sleight, and then with great force
and whether I shall live or die I put me Sir Launcelot smote him on the helmet
in the king's hands and yours. Then such a buffet that the stroke carved the
Sir Launcelot wist not what to do, for head two parts. Then there was no
in
he had lever than all the good of the more to do but he was drawn out of the
world he might have been revenged field. And at the great instance of the
upon Sir Meliagrance and Sir Laun-; knights of the Table Round the king
celot looked toward queen Guenever if suftered him to be interred, and the
he might espy by any sign or coun- mention made upon him who slew him,
tenance what she would have done. and for what cause he was slain. And
And then the queen wagged her head then the king and the queen made more
upon Sir Launcelot, as though she of Sir Launcelot, and more he was
would say slay him. Full well knew cherished, than ever he was aforehand.
Sir Launcelot by the wagging of her
head that she would have had him CHAP. X.
dead then Sir Launcelot bad him rise
:
great wounds, three on the head, and ness. What is his name ? said Arthur.
four on his body and upon his left My good and gracious lord, she said,
hand. And this Sir Alphegus had a his name
is Sir Urre of the Mount. In
mother, the which was a great sorceress, good time, said the king, and sith ye
and she, for the despite of her son's are come into this land ye are right
death, wrought by her subtile crafts welcome. And wit you well here shall
that Sir Urre should never be whole, your son be healed, and ever any chris-
but ever his wounds should one time tian man may heal him. And for to
fester and another time bleed, so that give all other men of worship courage
he should never be whole, until the best I myself will assay to handle your son,
knight of the world had searched his and so shall all the kings, dukes, and
wounds, and thus she made her a vaunt, earls that be here present with me at
where through it was known that Sir this time; thereto will I command
Urre should never be whole. Then his them, and well I wot they shall obey and
mother let make an horse-litter, and do after my commandment. And wit
put him therein under two palfreys, you well, said king Arthur unto Urre's
and then she took Sir Urre's sister with sister, I shall begin to handle him and
him, a full fair damsel, whose name search unto my power, not presuming
was Felelolie, and then she took a page upon me that am
so worthy to hea?
I
with him to keep their horses, and so your son by my deeds, but I will en-
they led Sir Urre through many coun- courage other men of worship to do as
tries. For, as the French book saith, I will do. And then the king com-
she led him so seven year through all manded all the kings, dukes, and earls,
lands christened, and never she could and all noble knights of the Round
find no knight that might ease her son. Table that were there that time present,
So she came into Scotland, and into to come into the meadow of Carlisle.
the lands of England, and by fortune And so at that time there were but an
she came nigh the feast of Pentecost hundred and ten of the Round Table,
until Arthur's court, that at that time for forty knights were that time away.
was holden at Carlisle. And when she And so here we must begin at king
came there, then she made it openly Arthur, as is kindly to begin at him
to be known how that she was come that was the most man of worship that
into that land for to heal her son. was christened at that time.
Then king Arthur let call the lady,
and asked her the cause why she CHAP. XL
brought that hurt knight into that land.
Hotv king Arthur handled Sir Urre, and
My most noble king, said that lady,
after him many other knights of the
wit you well brought him hither for
I
to be healed of his
Round Table.
wounds, that of
all this seven year he might not be Then king Arthur looked upon Sir
whole. And then she told the king Urre, and the king thought he was a
where he was wounded, and of whom, full likely man when he was whole.
and how mother had discovered in
his And king Arthur made him to be taken
her pride how she had wrought that down off the litter, and laid him upon
by enchantment, so that he should never the earth, and there was laid a cushion
be whole until the best knight of the of gold that he should kneel upon.
world had searched his wounds And :
— And then Arthur said, Noble fair
so I have passed through all the lands knight, me repenteth of thy hurt, and
christened to have him healed, except for to courage all other noble knights
this land and if I fail to heal him here
: I will pray thee softly to suffer me
in this land, I will never take more to handle your wounds. Most noble
pain upon me, and that is pity, for he christened king, said Urre, do as ye
was a good knight, and of great noble- list, for I am at the mercy of God, and
MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XIX.
at your commandment. So then Arthur times, she prayed them to give her a
softly handled him, and then some of boon, and they granted it her, and then
his wounds renewed upon bleeding. she prayed Sir Servause that he would
Then the king Clariance of Northumber- promise her never to do battle against
land searched, and it would not be. Sir Launcelot du Lake and in the
;
And then Sir Barant le Apres, that same wise she prayed Sir Launcelot
was called the king with the hundred never to do battle against Sir Servause ;
knights, he assayed, and failed and so ;
and so either promised her. For the
did king Urience, of the land of Gore. French book saith that" Sir Servause
So did king Anguissance of Ireland; had never courage nor lust to do battle
so did king Nentres of Garloth so did ; against no man, but if it were against
king Carados of Scotland so did the; giants, and against dragons, and wild
duke Galahalt, the haut prince so did ;
beasts. So we pass unto them that, at
Constantine, that was Sir Carados's the king's request, made them all that
son, of Cornwall so did duke Chalance
;
were there at that high feast, as of the
of Clarance; so did the earl Ulbause; knights of the Table Round, for to
so did the earl Lambaile; so did the search Sir Urre to that intent the king
:
earl Aristause. Then came in Sir Ga- did it, to wit which was the noblest
waine, with his three sons, Sir Gin- knightamong them.
galin, Sir Florence, and Sir Lovel these ;
Then there came Sir Aglovale, Sir
two were begotten upon Sir Brandiles's Durnore, Sir Tor, and king Pellinore
sister ;
and all they failed. Then came begat them all, first, Sir Tor, Sir Aglo-
in Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir Mor- vale, Sir Durnore, Sir Lamorak, the
dred, and the good knight Sir Gareth, most noblest knight, one that ever was
which was of very knighthood worth in Arthur's days as for a worldly knight,
all the brethren. So came knights of and Sir Percivale that was peerless,
Launcelot's kin, but Sir Launcelot was except Sir Galahad, in holy deeds, but
not that time in the court, for he they died in the quest of the Sancgreal.
was that time upon his adventures. Then came Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu,
Then Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Luca the botteler, Sir Bedivere his
Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Blamor de Ganis, brother, Sir Brandiles, Sir Constantine,
Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Gahalan- Sir Cador's son of Cornwall, that was
tine, Sir Galihodin, Sir Menadeuke, Sir king after Arthur's days, and Sir Clegis,
Villiars the valiant, Sir Hebes le Re- Sir Sadok, Sir Dinas le seneschal of
noumes. All these were of Sir Launce- Cornwall, Sir Fergus, Sir Driant, Sir
lot's kin, and all they failed. Then came Lambegus, Sir Clarrus of Cleremont,
in Sir Sagramor le Desirous, Sir Dodi- Sir Cloddrus, Sir Hectimeie, Sir Edward
nas le Savage, Sir Dinadan, Sir Bruin of Carnarvan, Sir Dinas, Sir Priamus,
le Noire, that Sir Kay named la Cote that was christened by Sir Tristram the
Male Taile, and Sir Kay the seneschal, the noble knight, and these three were
Sir Kay de Stranges, Sir Meliot de brethren; Sir Hellaine le Blank, that
Logris, Sir Petipase of Winchelsea, was son unto Sir Bors and king Bran-
Sir Galleron of Galway, Sir Melion of degoris's daughter, and Sir Brian de
the mountain, Sir Cardok, Sir Uwaine Listinoise ;
Sir Gautere, Sir Reynold,
les Avoutres, and Sir Ozanna le Cure Sir Gillemere, were three brethren that
Hardy. Then came in Sir Astamore, Sir Launcelot won upon a bridge in
and Sir Gromere, Grummor's son, Sir Sir Kay's arms. Sir Guiart le Petite,
Crosselme, Sir Servause le Breuse, that Sir Bcllangere le Beuse, that was son to
was called a passing strong knight. the good knight Sir Alisander le Or-
For, as the book saith, the chief Lady phelin, that was slain by the treason
of the lake feasted this Sir Launcelot, of king Mark. Also that traitor king
and Sir Servause le Breuse, and when slew the noble knight Sir Tristram, as
she had feasted them both at sundry he sat harping afore his lady La Beale
CHAP. XII. HOW SIR URRE WAS HEALED. 449
Isoud, with a trenchant glaive, for Sir rerimones, brother to them both,
whose death was much bewailing of that was called the red knight, that
every knight that ever were in Arthur's Sir Gareth wan when he was called
that was called the green knight, and from that shame. Ye take it wrong,
29
MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XTX.
said king Arthur, ye shall not do it for this was done, the king let clothe him
no presumption, but for to bear us fel- in the richest manner that could he
lowship, insomuch ye be a fellow of thought and then were but few better
;
the Table Round, and wit you well, said made knights in all the court, for he was
king Arthur, and ye prevail not and heal passingly well made and bigly and :
him, I dare say there is no knight in Arthur asked Sir Urre how he felt him-
this land may heal him, and therefore I self. My good lord, he said, I felt myself
pray you do as we have clone. And never so lusty. Will ye just, and do
then all the kings and knights for the deeds of arms? said king Arthur. Sir,
most part prayed Sir Launcelot to search said Sir Urre, and I had all that
longed
him, and then the wounded knight Sir unto justs, I would soon be ready.
Urre set him up weakly, and prayed Sir
Launcelot heartily, saying, Courteous CHAP. XIII.
knight, I require thee for God's sake heal
How there was a party made of an htmdred
my wounds, for me thinketh, ever sithen
knights agai.ist an hzindred blights, and
ye came here my wounds grieve me not.
Ah my fair lord, said Sir Launcelot, Jesu of other matters.
would that I might help you, I shame Then king Arthur made a party of
me sore that I should be thus rebuked, hundred knights to be against an hun-
for never was I able in worthiness to do dred knights. And so, upon the morn,
so high a thing. Then Sir Launcelot they justed for a diamond but there
;
kneeled down by the wounded knight, justed none of the dangerous knights ;
saying, My lord Arthur, I must do and so, for to shorten this tale, Sir Urre
your commandment, the which is sore and SirLavaine justed best that day,
against my heart. And then he held up for there was none of them but he over-
his hands, and looked into the east, say- threw and pulled down thirty knights ;
ing secretly unto himself, Thou blessed and then, by the assent of all the kings
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I beseech and lords, Sir Urre and Sir Lavaine were
thee of thy mercy, that my simple wor- made knights of the Table Round. And
Sir Lavaine cast his love to dame Fele-
ship and honesty be saved, and thou,
blessed Trinity, thou mayest give power lolie, Sir Urre's sister, and then they
to heal this sick knight, by thy great were wedded together with great joy,
virtue and grace of thee, but, good Lord, and king Arthur gave to every each of
never of myself. And then Sir Launce- them a barony of lands. And this Sir
lot prayed Sir Urre to let him see his Urre would never go from Sir Launcelot,
head; and then, devoutly kneeling, he but he, and Sir Lavaine, awaited ever-
ransacked the three wounds, that they more upon him; and they were in all
bled a little, and forthwith all the wounds the court accounted for good knights,
fair healed, and seemed as they had been and full desirous in arms and many
;
whole a seven year. And in likewise he noble deeds they did, for they would
searched his body of other three wounds, have no rest, but ever sought adven-
and they healed in likewise. And then tures. Thus they lived in the court,
the last of all he searched the which was with great nobleness and joy, long time.
in his hand, and, anon, it healed fair. But every night and day Sir Agravaine,
Then king Arthur, and all the kings and Sir Gawaine's brother, awaited queen
knights, kneeled down, and gave thanks Guenever and Sir Launcelot du Lake, to j
and lovings unto God, and to his blessed put them to a rebuke and shame. And
mother, and ever Sir Launcelot wept as so leave I here of this tale, and overskip
he had been a child that had been beaten. great books of Sir Launcelot du Lake,
Then king Arthur array priests and
let what great adventures he did -when he
clerks in the most devoutest manner, to was called Le Chevaler du Chariot.
bring in Sir Urre within Carlisle, with For, as the French book saith, because
of despite that knights and ladies called
singing and loving to God. And when
CH^P. I. HOW WOE FELL ON KTNG ARTHUR. 45 t
him the knight that rode in the chariot, book saith, he did that twelve month
as he were judged to the gallows there- ; more than forty battles. And becnuse
fore, in despite of all them that named I have lost the very matter of Le Che-
him so, he was carried in a chariot a valer flu Chariot, I depart from the tale
twelve month, for but little after that he of Sir Launcelot, and here I go unto the
had slain Sir
Meliagrance in the queen's Morte of king Arthur, and that caused
quarrel, he never in a twelve month Sir Agravaine.
came on horseback. And, as the French
&nD Ijcre after folofoetl) tlje moost pgtoug fctgtorg of \\)t morte of
fejmge &rtl)ur, ti)e fofrtdje ts tl)e xx. boofe.
Agravaine and Sir Mordred that were close it to the king. Not by my coun-
brethren unto Sir Gawaine. For this sel, said Sir Gawaine, for and there rise
Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred had ever war and wrake betwixt Sir Launcelot
a privy hate unto the queen dame Gue- and us, wit you well, brother, there will
never, and to Sir Launcelot, and daily many kings and great lords hold with
and nightly they ever watched upon Sir Sir Launcelot. Also, brother Sir Agra-
Launcelot. So it mis-happed Sir Ga- vaine, said Sir Gawaine, ye must remem-
waine and all his brethren were in king ber how ofttimes Sir Launcelot hath
Arthur's chamber, and then Sir Agra- rescued the king and the queen, and the
vaine said thus openly, and not in no best of us all had been full cold at the
counsel, that many knights might hear heart-root, had not Sir Launcelot been
it, I marvel that we all be not ashamed better than we and that hath he proved
;
both to see and to know how Sir Laun- himself full oft. And as for my part,
29 2 —
452 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XX.
said Sir Gawaine, I will never be against hardy knight, and all ye know he is the
Sir Launcelot, for one day's deed, when best knight among us all, and, but
he if
lierescued me from king Carados of the l)e taken with the deed, he will fight
dolorous tower, and slew him, and saved with him that bringeth up the noise,
my life. Also, brother Sir Agravaine, and I know no knight that is able to
and Sir Mordred, in likewise Sir Laun- match him. Therefore, and it be sooth
celot rescued you both, and three-score as ye say, I would he were taken with
and two, from Sir Turquin. Me thinketh, the deed. For, as the French book
brother, such kind deeds and kindness saith, the king was full loth thereto,
should be remembered. Do as ye list, that any noise should be upon Sir Laun-
said Sir Agravaine, for I will hide itno celot and his queen for the king had a
;
longer. With these words came to them deeming, but he would not hear of it,
king Arthur. Now, brother, stint your for Sir Launcelot had done so much for
noise, said Sir Gawaine. will not, We him and queen so many times,
for the
said Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred. that, wit ye well, the king loved him
Will ye so ? said Sir Gawaine, then passingly well. My lord, said Sir Agra-
God speed you, for I will not hear vaine, ye shall ride to-morrow on hunt-
your tales, nor be of your counsel. No ing, and doubt ye not, Sir Launcelot
more will I, said Sir Gareth and Sir will not go with you. Then when it
Gaheris, for we will never say evil by draweth toward night, ye may send the
that man for because, said Sir Gareth,
:
queen word that ye will lie out all that
Sir Launcelot made me knight, by no night, and so may ye send for your
manner ought I to say ill of him. And cooks; and then, upon pain of death,
therewithal they three departed, making we shall take him with the queen, and
great dole. Alas, said Sir Gawaine and either we shall bring him to you dead or
Sir Gareth, now is this realm wholly quick. then I
I will well, said the king,
mischieved, and the noble fellowship counsel you, said the king, take with you
of the Round Table shall be dispersed. sure fellowship. Sir, said Agravaine, my
So they departed. brother, Sir Mordred, and I will take
with us twelve knights of the Round
CHAP. II. Table. Beware, said king Arthur, for I
warn you ye shall find him wight. Let
Hotv Sir Agravaine disclosed their love to
us deal, said Sir Agravaine and Sir Mor-
king Arthur, and how king Arthur gave dred. So on the mom, king Arthur
them licence to take him.
rode on hunting, and sent word to the
And then Sir Arthur asked them what queen that he would be out all that night.
noise they made. My lord, said Agra- Then Agravaine and Sir Mordred gat
Sir
vaine, I shall tell you that I may keep to them twelve knights, and did them-
no longer. Here is I and my brother, selves in a chamber, in the castle of
Sir Mordred, brake unto my brother Sir Carlisle, and these were their names:
Gawaine, Sir Gaheris, and to Sir Gareth, Sir Colgrevance, Sir Mador de la Porte,
how this we know all, that Sir Laun- Sir Gingaline, Sir Meliot de Logris, Sir
of
celot holdeth your queen, and hath done Petipase of Winchelsea, Sir Galleron
long, and we be your sister's sons, and Gal way, Sir Melion of the mountain, Sir
we- may suffer it no longer and all we ; Astamore, Sir Gromore Somir Joure, Sir
wot that ye should be above Sir Laun- Curselaine, Sir Florence, Sir Lovel. So
celot, and ye are the king that made him these twelve knights were with Sir Mor-
knight, and, therefore, we will prove it dred and Sir Agravaine. And all they
that he is a traitor to your person. If were of Scotland, either of Sir Gawaine's
it be so, said Sir Arthur, wit well he kin, either well willers to his brethren.
you
is none
other, but I would be loth to So when the night came, Sir Launcelot
begin such a thing, but I might have told Sir Bors how he would go that
proofs upon it for Sir Launcelot is an
;
night, and speak with the queen. Sir,
CHAP. III. OF THE QUEEN AND LAUNCELOT. 453
said Sir Bors, ye shall not go this night, the queen, I have none armour, shield,
by my counsel. Why? said Sir Laun- sword, nor spear, wherefore I dread me
celot. Sir, said Sir Bors, I dread me sore our long love is come to a mis-
ever of Sir Agravaine, that waiteth you chievous end ; for, I hear by their noise,
daily, to do you shame, and us all, and there be many noble knights, and well
never gave my heart against no going I wot they be surely armed, against
that ever ye went to the queen, so much them ye may make no resistance ;
as now, for I mistrust that the king is wherefore ye are likely to be slain, and
out this night from the queen, because, then shall I be burnt. For, and ye
'peradventure, he hath lain some watch might escape them, said the queen, I
for you and the queen, and therefore I would not doubt but that ye would
dread me sore of treason. Have ye no rescue me in what danger that ever I
dread, said Sir Launcelot, for go, I shall stood in.Alas, said Sir Launcelot, in
and come again, and make no tarrying. all my life was I never bested that I
Sir, said Sir Bors, that me sore repent- should be thus shamefully slain for
eth, for I dread me sore that your going lack of mine armour. But ever in one
out this night shall wrath us all. Fair Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred cried,
nephew, said Sir Launcelot, I marvel Traitor knight, come out of the queen's
me much why ye say thus, sithen the chamber, for wit thou well thou art
queen hath sent for me, and wit ye well so beset that thou shalt not escape.
that I will not be so much a coward, Oh mercy, said Sir Launcelot, this
but she shall understand I will see her shameful cry and noise I may not sutler,
good grace. God speed you well, said for better were death at once, than thus
Sir Bors, and send you sound and safe to endure this pain. Then he took the
again. queen in his arms, and kissed her, and
said, Most noble christian queen, I be-
CHAP. III.
seech you, as ye have ever been my
How Sir Launcelotwas espied in the
special good lady, and I at all times
queens chamber, and hoiv Sir Agra- your true poor knight unto my power,
vaine and Sir Mordred came with and as I never failed you in right nor
twelve knights to slay him. in wrong, since the first day that king
So Sir Launcelot departed, and took Arthur made me knight, that ye will
his sword under his arm, and so in his pray for my soul if that 1 here be slain.
mantle that noble knight put himself For well I am well assured that Sir Bors
in great jeopardy, and so he passed my nephew and all the remnant of my
till he came to the queen's chamber. kin, with Sir Lavaine and Sir Urre, that
And then, as the French book saith, they will not fail you to rescue you from
there came Sir Agravaine, and Sir the fire, and therefore, mine own lady,
Mordred, with twelve knights with recomfort yourself whatsoever come of
them of the Round Table, and they me, that ye go with Sir Bors my nephew,
said with crying voice, Traitor knight, and Sir Urre, and they all will do you
Sir Launcelot du Lake, now art thou all the pleasure that they can or may,
taken. And thus they cried with a that ye shall live like a queen upon my
loud voice that all the court might lands. Nay, Launcelot, said the queen,
hear it : and they all fourteen were wit thou well 1 will never live after thy
aimed at all points as they should fight days, but, and thou be slain, I will take
in a battle. Alas, said queen (Juenever, my death as meekly for Jesu Christ's
now are we
niischieved both. Madam, sake, as ever did any Christian queen.
.said Launcelot, is there here any
Sir Well, madam, said Launcelot, sith it is
armour within your chamber that I so that the day is come that our love
might cover my poor body withal, and must depart, wit you well I shall sell
ifthere be any, give it me, and I shall my life as dear as I may, and a thou-
soon stint their malice. Truly, said sand fold, said Sir Launcelot, I am more
MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XX.
heavier for you than for myself. And me and therefore and ye do
this night,
now I had lever than to be lord of all by my counsel, go ye all from this
Christendom, that I had sure armour chamber door, and make not such cry-
upon me, that men might speak of my ing and such manner of slander as ye
deeds or ever I were slain. Truly, said do, for I promise you by my knight-
the queen, I would and it might please hood, and ye will depart and make no
God that they would take me and slay more noise, I shall as to-morn appear
me, and suffer you to escape. That before you all, before the king, and
shall never be, said Sir Launcelot. God then let it be seen which of you all,
defend me from such a shame, but Jesu and either else ye all, will accuse me of
be thou my shield and mine armour -
treason, and there I shall answer you
as a knight should, that hither I came
CHAP, IV. to the queen for no manner of mal-
engine, and that will I prove and make
How Sir Launcelot sleiv Sir Colgrevance,
it good upon you with mine hands.
and armed him in his harness, and after Fie on thee traitor, said Sir Agravaine
slew Sir Agravaine and twelve of his
and Sir Mordred, we will have thee,
fellows.
maugre thy head, and slay thee if we
And therewith Sir Launcelot wrapped list, for we let thee wit, we have
his mantle about his arm well and the choice of king Arthur, to save
surely; and by then they had gotten thee or to slay thee. Ah sirs, said Sir
a great form out of the hall, and there- Launcelot, is there none other grace
withal they rashed at the door. Fair with you ? then keep yourself. So then
lords, said Sir Launcelot, leave your Sir Launcelot set all open the chamber
noise and your rashing, and I shall set door, and mightily and knightly he
open and then may ye do with
this door, strode in amongst them, and anon at
me what it liketh you. Come off then, the first buffet he slew Sir Agravaine,
said they all, and do it, for it availeth thee and twelve of his fellows within a little
not to strive against us all, and there- while after he laid them cold to the
fore let us into this chamber, and we earth, for there was none of the twelve
shall save thy life until thou come to that might stand Sir Launcelot one
king Arthur. Then Launcelot unbarred buffet. Also Sir Launcelot wounded
the door, and with his left hand he held Sir Mordred, and he fled with all his
it
open a little so that but one man might. And then Sir Launcelot re-
might come in at once. And so anon, turned again unto the queen, and said,
there came striding a good knight, a Madam, now wit you well all our
much man and large, and his name was true love is brought to an end, for now
Colgrevance of Gore, and he with a will king Arthur ever be my foe, and
sword strake at Sir Launcelot mightily, therefore, madam, and it like you that I
and he put aside the stroke, and gave may have you with me, I shall save you
him such a buffet upon the helmet that from all manner adventures dangerous.
he fell groveling dead within the cham- That is not best, said the queen, me
ber door, and then Sir Launcelot with seemeth now ye have done so much
great might drew that dead knight harm, it will be best ye hold you still
within the chamber door and then Sir
; with this. And if ye see that as to-morn
Launcelot with the help of the queen they will put me unto the death, then
and her ladies was lightly armed in Sir may ye rescue me as ye think best. I
Colgrevance's armour. And ever stood will well, said Sir Launcelot, for have
Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred, crying, ye no doubt while I am living 1 shall
Traitor knight, come out of the queen's rescue you. And then he kissed her,
chamber. Leave your noise, said Sir and either gave other a ring, and so
Launcelot unto Sir Agravaine, for wit ye there he left the queen and went until
well, Sir Agravaine, ye shall not prison his lodging.
CHAI*. V. OF LAUNCELOT'S KIN. 455
much worship, and therefore we will armed on horseback, and promised Sir
take the woe with you as we have taken Laimcelot to do what he would. Then
the weal. And therefore they said all, there fell to them, what of Northgalis
there were many good knights, Look ye and of Cornwall, for Sir Lamorak's sake
take no discomfort, for there nis no and for Sir Tristram's sake, to the
band of knights under heaven but that number of a fourscore knights.
we shall be able to grieve them as much My lords, said Sir Laimcelot, wit you
as they may us. And therefore discom- well I have been, ever since I came into
fort not yourself by no manner, and ye this country, well willed unto my lord
shall gather together that we love, and king Arthur, and unto my lady queen
that loveth us, and what that ye will Guenever, unto my power, and this
have done shall be done. And there- night, because my lady the queen sent
fore, Sir Laimcelot, said they, we will for me to speak with her, I suppose it
take the woe with the weal. Gramercy, was made by treason, howbeit I dare
said Sir Laimcelot, of your good com- largely excuse her person, notwithstand-
fort, for in my great distress, my fair ing I was there by a forecast nigh slain,
nephew, ye comfort me greatly, and but, as God provided me, I escaped all
much I am beholden unto you. But their malice and treason. And then
this, my fair nephew, I would that ye that noble knight, Sir Laimcelot, told
456 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XX.
twelve of his fellows, for this cause now somuch as she shall be burnt, it is for
I am sure of mortal war, for these your sake, and it is to suppose, and ye
knights were sent and ordained by king might be handled, ye should have the
Arthur to betray me, and therefore the same death, or a more shamefuller
king will in this heat and malice judge death; and, sir, we say all, that ye
the queen to the fire, and that may I not have many times rescued her from death
suffer, that she should be burnt for my for other men's quarrels, us seemeth it
sake. For, and I may be heard and is more your worship that ye rescue the
suffered, and so taken, I will fight for queen from this peril, insomuch she
the queen, that she is a true lady unto hath it for your sake.
her lord. But the king in his heat I Then Sir Launcelot stood still, and
dread me will not take me as I ought said, My fairlords, wit you well, I
to be taken. would be loth to do that thing that
should dishonour you or my blood, and
CHAP. VI.
wit you well, I would be loth that my
Of the counsel and advice which was taken
lady the queen should die a shameful
by Sir Launcelot and by his friends for death, but and it be so that ye will
to save the queen.
counsel me to rescue her, I must do
My lord Sir Launcelot, said Sir Bors, much harm or I rescue her, and perad-
by mine advice ye shall take the woe venture I shall there destroy some of
with the weal, and take it in patience, my best friends, that should much re-
and thank God of it. And si then it is pent me and peradventure there be
:
fallen as it is, I counsel you keep your- some, and they could well bring it
self, for, and ye will yourself, there is about, or disobey my lord king Arthur,
no fellowship of knights christened that they would soon come to me, the which
shall do you wrong. Also 1 will counsel I were loth to hurt and if so be that
:
you, my lord Sir Launcelot, that and my I rescue her, where shall I keep her?
lady queen Guenever be in distress, in- That shall be the least care of us all,
somuch as she is in pain for your sake, said Sir Bors how did the noble
:
other ways, all the world will speak of Kept not he with him La Beale Isoud
you shame to the world's end, insomuch near three year in Joyous Gard, the
as ye were taken with her, whether ye which was done by your elders' device,
did right or wrong. It is now your and that same place is your own, and
part to hold with the queen, that she be in likewise may ye do, and ye list, and
not slain and put to a mischievous take the queen lightly away, if it so be
death, for, and she so die, the shame the king will judge her to be burnt, and
shall be yours. Jesu defend me from in Joyous Gard ye may keep her long
shame, said Sir Launcelot, and keep enough, until the heat of the king be
and save my lady the queen from past. And then shall ye bring again
villainy and shameful death, and that the queen to the king with great wor-
she never be destroyed in my default :
ship, and then, peradventure, ye shall
wherefore, my fair lords, my kin and have thank for her bringing home, and
my friends, what will ye do? Then love and thank where other shall have
CHAP. VII. SIR MORDRED GOES TO KING ARTHUR. 457
maugre. That ishard to do, said Sir should be against me. Now I am sure
Launcelot, for by Sir Tristram I may the noble fellowship of the Round Table
have a warning. For when by means is broken for ever, for with him will
of treaties Sir Tristram brought again many a noble knight hold and now it :
La Beale Isoud unto king Mark from is fallen so, said the king, that I may
Joyous Gard, look what befell on the not with my worship but the queen
end, how shamefully that false traitor must suffer the death. So then there
king Mark slew him as he sat harping was made great ordinance in this heat,
afore his lady La Beale Isoud, with a that the queen must be judged to the
grounden glaive he thrust him in behind death. And the law was such in those
to the heart. It grieveth me, said Sir days, that whatsoever they were, of
Launcelot, to speak of his death, for all what estate or degree, if they were
the world may not find such a knight. found guilty of treason, there should be
All this is truth, said Sir Bors, but there none other remedy but death, and either
is one thing shall
courage you and us all : the men or the taking with the deed
ye know well that king Arthur and king should be causer of their hasty judg-
Mark were never like of conditions, for ment. And right so was it ordained
there was never yet man that could prove for queen Guenever, because Sir Mor-
king Arthur untrue of his promise. So, dred was escaped sore wounded, and
to make short tale, they were all con- the death of thirteen knights of the
sented that for better or for worse, if so Round Table —
these proofs and ex-
:
were that the queen were on that morn periences caused king Arthur to com-
brought to the fire, shortly they all mand the queen to the fire, there to be
would rescue her. And so by the ad- burnt. Then spake Sir Gawaine and
vice of Sir Launcelot they put them all said : lord Arthur, I would counsel
My
in an enbushment in a wood as nigh you not to be over hasty, but that ye
Carlisle as they might. And there they would put it in respite, this judgment of
abode still to wit what the king would my lady the queen, for many causes.
do. One it is, though it were so that Sir
CHAP. VII. launcelot were found in the queen's
chamber, yet it might be that he came
Hoiu Sir Mordred rode hastily to the king
thither for none evil, for ye know, my
to tell him of the affray and death of
lord, said Sir Gawaine, that the queen
Sir Agravaine and the other knights.
is much beholden unto Sir Launcelot,
Now turn we again unto Sir Mordred, more than unto any other knight, for
that when he was escaped from the oft-times he hath saved her life, and
noble knight Sir Launcelot, he anon gat done battle for her when all the court
his horse and mounted upon him, and refused the queen, and, perad venture,
rode unto king Arthur, sore wounded she sent for him for goodness and for
and smitten, and all for-bled. And none evil, to reward him for his good
there he told the king all how it was, deeds that he had done to her in time
and how they were all slain save him- past. And, perad venture, my lady the
self all only. Mercy, how may this queen sent for him to that intent that
be, said the king; took ye him in the Sir Launcelot should come to her good
queen's chamber? Yea, truly, said Sir grace privily and secretly, weening to
Mordred, there we found him unarmed, her that it was best so to do, in eschew-
and there he slew Colgrevance, and ing and dreading of slander. For oft-
armed him in his armour. And all this times we do many things that we ween
lie told the king, from the beginning it be for the best, and yet, peradventure,
to the ending. Ah, mercy, said the it turneth to the worst. For Idare say,
king, he is a marvellous knight of said Sir Gawaine, that my lady your
prowess. Alas, me sore repenteth, queen is to you both good and true.
said the king, that ever Sir Launcelot And as for Sir Launcelot, said Sir
458 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XX.
Gawaine, I dare say he will make it good for, wit you well, I will never be in that
upon any knight living that will put place where so noble a queen as is my
upon himself villainy or shame, and in lady dame Guenever shall take a shame-
likewise he will make good for my lady ful end. For wit you well, said Sir Ga-
dame Guenever. That I believe well, waine, my heart will never serve me to
said king Arthur, but I will not that see her die, and it shall never be said that
way with Sir Launcelot, for he trusteth even I was of your counsel of her death.
so much upon his hands and his might Then, said the king to Sir Gawaine, suffer
that he doubteth no man, and therefore your brothers Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth
for my queen he shall never fight more, to be there. My lord, said Sir Gawaine,
for she shall have the law. And if I wit you well they will be loth to be there
may get Sir Launcelot, wit ye well he present, because of many adventures the
shall have a shameful death. Jesu de- which be like there to fall, but they are
fend, said Sir Gawaine, that I may young and full unable to say you nay.
never see it. Why say ye so ? said king Then spake Sir Gaheris and the good
Arthur, for sooth ye have no cause to knight Sir Gareth unto Sir Arthur, Sir,
love Sir Launcelot, for this night last ye may well command us to be there,
past he slew your brother Sir Agra- but wit you well it shall be sore against
vaine, a full good knight, and also al- our will but and we be there by your
;
most he had slain your other brother strait commandment, ye shall plainly
Sir Mordred and also there he slew
;
hold us there excused, we will be there
thirteen noble knights and also, Sir
;
in peaceable wise, and bear none har-
Gawaine, remember ye he slew two ness of war upon us. In the name of
sons of yours, Sir Florence and Sir God, said the king, then make you
Lovel. My lord, said Sir Gawaine, of ready, for she shall soon have her judg-
all this I have knowledge, of whose ment anon. Alas, said Sir Gawaine,
deaths I repent me sore, but insomuch I that ever I should endure to see this
gave them warning, and told my brethren woefull day. So Sir Gawaine turned
and my sons aforehand, what would fall him, and wept heartily, and so he went
in the end, insomuch they would not do into his chamber, and then the queen
by my counsel I will not meddle me was led forth without Carlisle, and
thereof, nor revenge me
nothing of their there she was despoiled into her smock.
deaths, for I told it was no bote
them And so then her ghostly father was
to strive with Sir Launcelot howbeit I; brought to her, to be shriven of her
am sorry of the death of my brethren misdeeds. Then was there weeping,
and of my sons, for they are the causers and wailing, and wringing of hands, of
of their own death. For oft-times I many lords and ladies. But there were
warned my brother Sir Agravaine, and but few in comparison that would bear
I told him the perils the which be now any armour for to strengtli the death of
fallen. the queen. Then was there one that
Sir Launcelot had sent unto that place
CHAP. VIII.
for to espy what time the queen should
How Sir Laimcelotand his kinsmen rescued
go unto her death. And anon, as he
the queen from thejire, and how he slew saw the queen despoiled into her smock,
many knights. and so shriven, then he gave Sir Laun-
Then said the noble king Arthur to celot warning. Then was there but
Sir Gawaine, Dear nephew, pray you I spurring and plucking up of horses, and
make you ready in your best armour, right so they came to the fire, and
with your brethren Sir Gaheris and Sir who that stood against them, there they
Gareth, to bring my queen to the fire, were slain, there might none withstand
there to have her judgment, and receive Sir Launcelot, so all that bare arms and
the death. Nay, my most noble lord, withstood them, there were they slain —
said Sir Gawaine, that will I never do, full many a noble knight. For there
CHAP. IX. OF THE SORROW OF KING ARTHUR. 459
sent Sir Launcelot many good knights, and himself both, or else he to destroy
and many noble knights drew unto me; and therefore, said the king, wit
Sir Launcelot. When this was known you well my heart was never so heavy as
openly, that king Arthur and Sir Laun- it isnow, and much more I am sorrier
celot were at debate, and many were for my good knights' loss, than for the
full heavy of their debate. loss of my fair queen, for queens I might
have enow, but such a fellowship of
CHAP. IX. good knights shall never be together in
no company and now I dare say, said
;
among these complaints the king wept good brother Sir Gareth is slain, and so
and swooned. is my brother Sir Gaheris, the which
Then there came one unto Sir Ga- were two noble knights. Then the king
waine, and told him how the queen was wept and he both, and so they fell on
led away with Sir Launcelot, and nigh swooning. And when they were re-
a twentyfour knights slain. Jesu de- O vived, then spake Sir Gawaine, Sir, I
fend my brethren, said Sir Gawaine, for will go see my brother Sir Gareth. Ye
full well wist I that Sir Launcelot would may not see him, said the king, for I
rescue her, or else he would die in that caused him to be interred, and Sir Ga-
field ;and to say the truth he had not heris both ;for I well understood that
been a man of worship, had he not ye would make over much sorrow, and
rescued the queen that day, in so much the sight of Sir Gareth should have
she should have been burnt for his sake : caused your double sorrow. Alas, my
and as in that, said Sir Gawaine, he hath lord, said Sir Gawaine, how slew he my
done but knightly, and as I would have brother Sir Gareth ? mine own good
done myself, and I had stood in like lord, I pray you tell me.
Truly, said
case. But where are my brethren ? said the king, I shall tell
you as it is told
Sir Gawaine, I marvel I hear not of me, Sir Launcelot slew him and Sir Ga-
them. Truly, said that man, Sir Gareth heris both. Alas, said Sir Gawaine,
and Sir Gaheris be slain. Jesu defend, they bare none arms against him,
said Sir Gawaine, for all the world I neither of them both. I wot not how it
would not that they were slain, and in was, said the king, but, as it is said, Sir
especial my good brother Sir Gareth. Launcelot slew them both in the thickest
Sir, said the man, he is slain, and that is of the press, and knew them not and;
celot had desired my brother Sir Gareth quire you, my lord and king, dress you
with him, he would have been with him to the war, for wit you well I will be
against the king and us all, and therefore revenged upon Sir Launcelot, and there-
I may never believe that Sir Launcelot fore, as ye will have my service and my
slew my brother. Sir, said this man, it love, now haste you thereto, and assay
is noised that he slew him. your friends. For I promise unto God,
said Sir Gawaine, for the death of my
CHAP. X. brother Sir Gareth I shall seek Sir
Launcelot throughout seven kings'
How king Arthur at the request of Sir realms but I shall slay him, or else he
Gawaine concluded to make war agaitist shall slay me. Ye shall not need to seek
Sir Launcelot, and laid siege to his castle
him so far, said the king, for, as I hear
called Joyoiis Gard. will abide me and
say, Sir launcelot
Alas, said Sir Gawaine, now is my you in the Joyous Gard, and much
joy gone. And then he fell down and people draweth unto him as I hear say.
swooned, and long he lay there as he That may I believe, said Sir Gawaine,
had been dead. And then when he arose but my lord, he said, assay your friends,
of his swoon, he cried out sorrowfully and I will assay mine. It shall be'done,
and said, Alas And right so Sir Ga-
! said the king, and, as I suppose, I shall
waine ran to the king crying and weep- be big enough to draw him out of the
ing, O king Arthur, mine uncle, my biggest tower of his castle. So then
CHAP. XT. HOW ARTHUR REPROVED LAUNCELOT. 461
the king sent letters and writs through- and I promise thee I shall meet thee in
out all England, both in the length and midst of the field. God defend me, said
the breadth, for to assummon all his Sir Launcelot, that ever I should en-
knights. And so unto Arthur drew counter with the most noble king Ihnt
many knights, dukes, and earls, so that he made me knight. Fie upon thy fair
had a great host. And when they were language, said the king, for wit you well,
assembled, the king informed them all and trust it, I am thy mortal foe, and
how had bereft him his
Sir Launcelot ever will to my death day, for thou hast
queen. Then the king and all his host slain my good knights and full noble
made them ready to lay siege about Sir men of my blood, that I shall never
Launcelot, where he lay within Joyous recover again :also thou hast dis
Gard. Thereof heard Sir Launcelot, honoured my queen, and holden her
and purveyed him of many good knights, many winters, and sithen like a traitor
for with him held many knights, and taken her from me by force. My most
some for his own sake, and some for the noble lord and king, said Sir Launcelot,
queen's sake. Thus theywereonboth par- ye may say what ye will, for ye wot well
tics well furnished and garnished of all with yourself I will not strive, but there
manner of things that longed to the war. as ye say I have slain your good knights,
But king Arthur's host was so big that I wot well that I have done so, and that
Sir Launcelot would not abide him in me sore repenteth, but I was enforced to
the field, he was full loth to do
for do battle with them, in saving of my
battle against the king; but Sir Laun- life, or else I must have suffered them to
celot drew him to his strong castle with have slain me. And as for my lady
all manner of victual, and as many noble queen Guenever, except your person of
men as he might suffice within the town your highness, and my lord Sir Gawaine,
and the castle. Then came king Arthur there is no knight under heaven that
with Sir Gawaine, with an huge host, dare make it good upon me, that ever I
and laid a siege all about Joyous Gard, was traitor unto your person. And
both at the town and at the castle, and where it pleaseth you to say that I have
there they made strong war on both holden my lady your queen years and
parties. But in no wise Sir Launcelot winters, unto that I shall make a large
would ride out nor go out of his castle answer, and prove it upon any knight
of long time, neither he would none of that beareth the life, except your person
his good knights to issue out, neither and Sir Gawaine, that my lady queen
none of the town nor of the castle, Guenever is a true lady unto your per-
until fifteen weeks were past. son, as any is living unto her lord, and
that will I make good with my hands ;
fore my good and gracious lord, said Sir I slew him. Ye slew him not yourself,
Launcelot, take your queen unto your said Sir Launcelot, it had been over
good grace, for she is both fair, true, much on hand for you to have slain him,
and good. Fie on thee, false recreant for he was one of the best knights
knight, said Sir Gawaine, I let thee wit christened of his age, and it was great
my lord mine uncle king Arthur shall pity of his death.
have his queen and thee, maugre thy
visage, and slay you both whether it CHAP. XII.
please him. It may well be, said Sir
but wit ye well, my lord Sir
How the cousins and kinsmen of Sir Laun-
Launcelot,
celot excited him to go out to battle, and
Gawaine, and me list to come out of this
how they made them ready.
castle, ye should win me and the queen
more harder than ever ye wan a strong well, said Sir Gawaine to Sir
Well,
battle. Fie on thy proud words, said Sir Launcelot, sithen thou upbraidest me of
Gawaine as for my lady the queen, I will
; Sir Lamorak, wit thou well I shall
never say of her shame, but thou false never leave thee till I have thee at such
and recreant knight, said Sir Gawaine, avail that thou shalt not escape my
what cause hadst thou to slay my good hands. I trust you well enough, said Sir
brother Sir Gareth, that loved thee more Launcelot, and ye may get me I shall
than all my kin ? Alas, thou madest him get but little mercy. But, as the French
knight with thine own hands why slewest ; book saith, the noble king Arthur would
thou him that loved thee so well ? For to have taken his queen again, and have
excuse me, said Sir Launcelot, it helpeth been accorded with Sir Launcelot, but
me not, but by the faith that I owe to Sir Gawaine would not suffer him by no
the high order of knighthood, I should manner of mean. And then Sir Ga-
with as good will have slain my nephew waine made many men to blow upon Sir
Sir Bors de Ganis at that time but alas, :
Launcelot, and all at once they called
that ever I was so unhappy, said Laun- him False recreant knight Then when
!
celot, that I had not seen Sir Gareth Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris,
and Sir Gaheris. Thou recreant
liest, and Sir Lionel heard this outcry, they
knight, said Sir Gawaine, thou slewest called to them Sir Palamides, Sir Safere's
him in despite of me and therefore wit
: brother, and Sir Lavaine, with many
thou well I shall make war to thee, and more of their blood, and all they went
all the while that I may live. That me unto Sir Launcelot, and said thus, My
repenteth, said Sir Launcelot, for well I lord Sir Launcelot, wit ye well we have
understand it helpeth me not to seek great scorn of the great rebukes that we
none accordment, while ye Sir Gawaine heard Gawaine say to you; wherefore
are so mischievously set. And if ye we pray you and charge you, as ye will
were not, I would not doubt to have the have our keep us no longer
service,
good grace of my lord Arthur. I believe within these walls, for wit you well,
itwell, false recreant knight, said Sir plainly, we will ride into the field,
and
Gawaine, for thou hast many long days do battle with them. For ye fare as
overled me, and us all, and destroyed a man that were afeard, and for all your
chap. xm. OF THE WAR BETWEEN ARTHUR AND LAUNCELOT. 463
fairspeech it will not avail you. For that he dashed to the earth like as he
wit you well, Sir Gawaine will not suffer had been dead. And then Sir Ector de
you to be accorded with king Arthur ; Maris and other more bare him into the
and therefore fight for your life, and castle. Then began a great stoure, and
your right, and ye dare. Alas, said Sir much people was slain, and ever Sir
Launcelot, for to ride out of this castle Launcelot did what he might to save
and to do battle, I am full loth. Then the people on king Arthur's party. For
Sir Launcelot spake on high unto Sir Ar- Sir Palamides, and Sir Bors, and Sir
thur and Sir Gawaine, My
lords, I require Safere overthrew many knights, for they
you and beseech you, sithen that 1 am were deadly knights, and Sir Blamor de
thus required and conjured to ride into Ganis, and Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, with
the field, that neither you my lord king Sir Bellangerele Beuse, these c.'x
knights
Arthur, nor you Sir Gawaine, come not did much harm. And ever king Arthur
into the field. What shall we do then ? was nigh about Sir Launcelot to have
said Sir Gawaine, is this the king's quar- slain him, and Sir Launcelot suffered
rel with thee to fight? and it is my quarrel him, and would not strike again. So
to fight with thee Sir Launcelot, because Sir Bors encountered with king Arthur,
of the death of my brother Sir Gareth. and there with a spear Sir Bors smote
Then must I needs unto battle, said Sir him down and so he alight and drew
;
great purveyance was made on both noble king, that made me knight, neither
sides. And Sir Gawaine let purvey slain ne. shamed. And therewithal Sir
many knights for to wait upon Sir Laun- Launcelot alight off his horse, and took
celot for to overset him, and to slay up the king, and horsed him again, and
him. And on the morn at undorne said thus, lord Arthur, for God's
My
Sir Arthur was ready in the field with love stint this strife, for ye get here no
three great hosts, and then Sir Laun- worship and I would do mine utter-
celot's fellowship came out at three ance, but always I forbear you, and ye,
gates, in a full good array. And Sir nor none of yours, forbeareth me my :
Lionel came in the foremost battle, and lord remember what I have done in
Sir Launcelot came in the middle, and many places, and now I am evil
Sir Bors came out at the third gate. rewarded.
Thus they came in order and rule as full Then when king Arthur was on
noble knights. And always Sir Laun- horseback, he looked upon Sir Laun-
celot charged all his knights in any wise celot, and then the tears brast out of
to save king Arthur and Sir Gawaine. his eyes, thinking on the great courtesy
that was in Sir Launcelot, more than in
CHAP. XIII. any other man. And therewith the
upon the morn there came Sir Gawaine and of Sir Launcelot, that was called
as brim as any boar, with a great spear the most noblest knights of .the world,
in his hand, and when Sir Bors saw him, wherefore the Pope called unto him a
he thought to revenge his brother Sir noble clerk, that at that time was there
Lionel of the despite that Sir Gawaine —
the French book saith it was
did him the other day. And so they
present,
the bishop of Rochester and the Pope —
that knew either other feutered their gave him bulls under lead unto king
spears, and with all their mights of their Arthur of England, charging him upon
horses and themselves they met together pain of interdicting of all England, that
so felonously that either bare other he take his queen dame Guenever unto
through, and so they fell both to the him again, and accord with Sir Laun-
earth and then the battles joined, and
;
celot.
there was much slaughter on both CHAP. XIV.
parties. Then Sir Launcelot rescued
Sir Bors, and sent him into the castle. How the pope sent downhis bulls to make
But neither Sir Gawaine nor Sir Bors peace, and how Sir Launcelot brought
the queen to king Arthur.
died not of their wounds for they were;
all holpen. Then Sir Lavaine and Sir So when bishop was come to
this
Urre prayed Sir Launcelot to do his Carlisle he shewed the king these bulls.
pain, and fight as they had done
For :
— And when the king understood these
we see ye forbear and spare, and that bulls, he nist what to do full fain he :
doth much harm, therefore we pray you would have been accorded with Sir
spare not your enemies no more than Launcelot, but Sir Gawaine would not
they do you. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, suffer him but as for to have the queen,
;
I have no heart to fight against my lord thereto he agreed. But in no wise Sir
Arthur, for ever me seemeth I do not as Gawaine would not suffer the king to
I ought to do. My lord, said £ir Pala- accord with Sir Launcelot, but as for
mides, though ye spare them all this the queen he consented. And then the
day they will never give you thank ;
bishop had of the king his great seal,
and if they may get you at avail ye are and his assurance, as he was a true
but dead. So then Sir Launcelot un- anointed king, that Sir Launcelot
derstood that they said him truth, and should come safe and go safe, and
then he strained himself more than he that the queen should not be spoken
did aforehand, and because his nephew unto, of the king, nor of none other,
Sir Bors was sore wounded. And then for no thing done afore time past. And
within a little while, by even-song time, of all these appointments the bishop
Sir Launcelot and his party better stood, brought with him sure assurance and
for, their horses went in blood past the writing, to shew Sir Launcelot. So
fetlocks, there was so much people when the bishop was come to Joyous
slain. And
then, for pity, Sir Laun- Gard, there he shewed Sir Launcelot
celot withheld his knights, and suffered how the Pope had written to Arthur
king Arthur's party for to withdraw and unto him, and there he told him
them on side. And then Sir Laun- the perils if he withheld the queen from
celot's party withdrew them into his the king. It was never in my thought,
castle, and either party buried the dead said Launcelot, to withhold the queen
bodies and put salve unto the wounded from my lord Arthur; but in so much she
men. So when Sir Gawaine was hurt, should have been dead for my sake, me
they on king Arthur's party were not so seemeth it was my part to save her life,
orgulous as they were toforehand to do and put her from that danger till better
battle. Of this war was noised
through recover might come. And now I thank
all Christendom, and at the last it was God, said Sir Launcelot, that the Pope
noised afore the Pope and he consider-
;
hath made her peace ; for God knoweth,
ing the great goodness of king Arthur said Sir Launcelot, I will be a thousand
CHAP. XV. HOW THE POPE MADE PEACE. 4 65
fold more gladder to bring her again same wise down to the heels with many
than ever I was of her taking away, — ouches, with
set stones and pearls in
with this,I may be sure to come safe gold, to the number of a thousand and ;
and go safe, and that the queen shall she and Sir Launcelot were clothed in
have her liberty as she had before, and white cloth of gold tissue, and right so
never for no thing that hath been sur- as ye have heard, as the French book
mised afore this time, she never from maketh mention, he rode with the queen
this day stand in no pei il for else, said
;
from Joyous Gard to Carlisle and so Sir
Sir Launcelot, I dare adventure me to Lnuncelot rode throughout Carlisle, and
keep her from an harder shower than so in the castle, that all men might be-
ever I kept her. It shall not need you, hold and w it you well there was many a
said the bishop, to dread so much: for weeping eye. And then Sir Launcelot
wit you well the Pope must be obeyed ; himself alight, and avoided his horse,
and it were not the Pope's worship nor and took the queen, and so led her
my poor honesty to wit you distressed, where king Arthur was in his seat, and
neither the queen, neither in peril nor Sir Gawaine sat afore him, and many
shamed. And then he shewed Sir other great lords. So when Sir Laun-
Launcelot all his writing, both from celot saw the king and Sir Gawaine,
the Pope and from king Arthur. This then he led the queen by the arm, and
is sure enough, said Sir Launcelot, for then he kneeled down, and the queen
full well I dare trust my lord's own both. Wit you well, then was there
writing and his seal, for he was never many bold knights there
king with
shamed of his promise. Arthur that wept as tenderly as though
Therefore, said Sir Launcelot unto they had seen all their kin afore them.
the bishop, ye shall ride unto the king So the king sat still, and said no word.
afore,and recommand me unto his good And when Sir Launcelot saw his coun-
grace, and let him have knowledging tenance, he arose and pulled up the
that this same day eight days, by the queen with him, and thus he spake full
grace of God, I myself shall bring my knightly :
—
lady queen Guenever unto him. And
then say ye unto my most redoubted
CHAP. XV.
Of thedeliverance of the queen to the king
king, that I say largely for the
will
by Sir Launcdot, and ivhat language
queen, that I shall none except for dread,
nor fear, but the king himself, and my Sir Gawaine had to Sir Launcelot.
lord Sir Gawaine, and that is more for My most redoubted king, ye shall
the king's love than for himself. So understand, by the Pope's command-
the bishop departed, and came to the ment, and yours, I have brought to you
king at Carlisle, and told him all how my lady the queen, as right requireth ;
Sir Launcelot answered him: and then and if there be any knight, of whatso-
the tears brast out of the king's eyes. ever degree that he be, except your per-
Then Sir Launcelot purveyed him an son, that v. ill say or dare say but that
hundred knights, and all were clothed she is true to you, I here myself, Sir
in green velvet, and their horses trapped Launcelot du Lake, will make it good
to their heels, and every knight held a upon his body that she is a tiue lady
blanch of olive in his hand in tokening unto you but liars ye have listened, and
:
of peace, and the queen had four and that has caused debate betwixt you and
twenty gentlewomen following her in me. For time hath been, my lord
the same wise, and Sir Launcelot had Arthur, that ye have been greatly
twelve coursers following him, and on pleased with me, when I did battle for
every courser sat a young gentleman, my lady your cmeen and full well ye
;
and all they were arrayed in green know my most noble king, that she
velvet, with sarpis of gold about their hath been put to great wiong or this
quarters, and the horse trapped in the time, and sithen it
pleased you at many
30
4 66 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XX.
times that I should fight for her, me on horseback and on foot. Howbeit,
seemeth, my good lord, I had more Sir Carados of the dolorous tower was
cause to rescue her from the fire, inso- a full noble knight, and a passing strong
much she should have been burnt for man, and that wot ye, my lord Sir Ga-
my sake. For they that told you those waine; for he might well be called a
tales were liars, and so it fell upon them. noble knight, when he by fine force
For, by likelihood, had not the might of pulled you out of your saddle, and
God been with me, I might never have bound you overthwart afore him to his
endured fourteen knights, and they armed saddle bow and there, my lord Sir
;
and afore purposed, and I unarmed and Gawaine, I rescued you, and slew him
not purposed for I was sent for unto
;
afore your sight. Also I found his
my lady your queen, I wot not for what brother, Sir Turquin, in like wise lead-
cause, but I was not so soon within the ing Sir Gaheris your brother bounden
chamber door, but anon Sir Agravaine afore him, and there I rescued your
and Sir Mordred called me traitor and brother, and slew that Sir Turquin, and
recreant knight. They called thee right, delivered threescore and four of my
said Sir Gawaine. My
lord Sir Gawaine, lord Arthur's knights out of his prison.
said Sir Launcelot, in their quarrel they And now I dare say, said Sir Launcelot,
proved themselves not in the right. I met never with so strong knights, nor
Well, well, Sir Launcelot, said king so well fighting, as was Sir Carados and
Arthur, I have given thee no cause to Sir Turquin, for I fought with them to
do to me as thou hast done, for I have the uttermost and therefore, said Sir
;
worshipped thee and thine more than Launcelot unto Sir Gawaine, me seemeth
any of all my knights. My
good lord, ye ought of right for to remember this :
said Sir Launcelot, so ye be not dis- for and I might have your good will, I
pleased, ye shall understand I and mine would trust to God to have my lord
have done you oft better service than Arthur's good grace.
any other knights have done in many
divers places and where ye have
; CHAP. XVI.
been full hard bested divers times, I
Of the communication between Sir Ga-
have myself rescued you from many
waine and Sir Launcelot, with much
dangers, and ever unto my power I was
other language.
glad to please you, and my lord Sir
Gawaine both, in justs and tournaments, The king may do as he will, said Sir
and in battles set, both on horseback Gawaine, but wit thou well, Sir Laun-
and on foot, I have often rescued you, celot, thou and I shall never be accorded
and my lord Sir Gawaine, and many while we live, for thou hast slain three
more of your knights in many divers of my brethren, and twain of them ye
places. For now I will make avaunt, slew traitorly and piteously, for they
said Sir Launcelot, I will that ye all wit bare none harness against thee, nor none
that yet I found never no manner of would bear. God would they had been
knight, but that I was over-hard for armed, said Sir Launcelot, for then had
him, and I had done my utterance, they been on live. And wit ye well,
thanked be God howbeit I have been
; Sir Gawaine, as for Sir Gareth, I love
matched with good knights, as Sir Tris- none of my kinsmen so much as I did
tram and Sir Lamorak, but ever I had a him, and ever while I live, said Sir
favour unto them, and a deeming what Launcelot, I will bewail Sir Gareth's
they were and I take God to record,
; death, not all only for the great fear
said Sir Launcelot, I. never was wroth that I have of you, but many causes
nor greatly heavy with no good knight, causen me to be sorrowful. One is, for
and saw him busy about to win wor-
I I made him knight another is, I wot
;
right well heard thy speech, and thy there is no constant abiding, and that
will accord with thee, he shall lose my so fareth by me, said Sir Launcelot, for
service for wit thou well, thou art both
: in this realm I had worship, and by me
false to the king and to me. Sir, said and mine all the whole Round Table
Sir Launcelot, he beareth not the life hath been increased more in worship by
that may make that good, and if that me and my blood than by any other.
Gawaine, will charge me with so
ye, Sir And therefore wit thou well, Sir Ga-
high a thing, ye must pardon me, for waine, I may live upon my lands as
30—2
4 68 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XX.
well as any knight that here is. And and then ever after he called it the
if ye,most redoubled king, will come Dolorous Gard. And thus departed
upon my lands with Sir Gawaine, to Sir Launcelot from the court for ever.
war upon me, I must endure you as And so when he came to Joyous Gard,
well as I may. But as to you, Sir Ga- he called his fellowship unto him, and
waine, if that ye come there, I pray asked them what they would do. Then
you charge me not with treason nor they answered all wholly together with
felony, for, and ye do, I must answer one voice, they would as he would do.
you. Dothou thy best, said Sir Ga- My fair fellows, said Sir Launcelot, I
waine, therefore hie thee fast that thou must depart out of this most noble
were gone, and wit thou well we shall realm, and now I shall
depart it
soon come after, and break the strongest grieveth me sore, for I shall depart
castle that thou hast upon thy head. with no worship For a banished
That shall not need, said Sir Launcelot, man departed never out of no realm
for and I were as orgulous set as ye are, with no worship, and that is
my heavi-
wit ye well I should meet with you in ness, for ever I fear after my days that
midst of the field. Make thou no more they shall chronicle upon me lhat I was
language, said Sir Gawaine, but deliver banished out of this land and else, my
;
the queen from thee, and pike thee fair lords, be ye sure, and I had not
lightly out of this court. Well, said dread shame, my lady queen Guenever
Sir Launcelot. and I had wist of this and I should never have departed. Then
short coming, I would have advised me spake many noble knights, as Sir Pala-
twice or that I had come hither for ; mides, Sir Safir his brother, and Sir
and the queen had been so dear to me Bellangere le Beuse, and Sir Urre with
as ye noise her, I durst have kept her Sir Lavaine, with many other, Sir, and ye
from the fellowship of the best knights he so disposed to abide in this country,
under heaven. And then Sir Launcelot we will never fail you and if ye list not
;
said unto Guenever, in hearing of the to abide in this land, there is none of
king and them all, Madam, now I must the good knights that here be will fail
depart from you and this noble fellow- you, for many causes. One is, all we
ship for ever and sithen it is so, I be-
;
that be not of your blood shall never be
seech you to pray for me, and say me welcome to the court. And sithen it
-
well, and if ye be hard bestad by any liked us to take a part with you in yom
false tongues, lightly, my lady, let send distress and heaviness in this realm, wit
me word, and if any knight's hands you well it shall like us as well to go
may deliver you by battle, I shall de- in other countries with you, and there
liver you. And therewithal Sir Launce- to take such part as ye do. My fair
lot kissed the queen, and then he said lords, said Sir Launcelot, I well under-
all openly, Now let see what he be in stand you, and, as I can, thank you :
this place, that dare say the queen is and ye shall understand such livelihood
not tiue unto my lord Arthur let see : as I am born unto I shall depart with
who will speak, and he dare speak. you, in this manner of wise, that is
And therewith he brought the queen to for to say, I shall depart all my liveli-
the king, and then Sir Launcelot took hood and all lands freely among
my
his leave and departed and there was
;
you, and I myself will have as little as
neither king, duke ne earl, baron ne any of for
you, have I sufficient that
knight, lady nor gentlewoman, but all may long to my peison, I will ask none
they wept as people out of their mind, other rich array; and I trust to God to
except Sir Gawaine and when the noble
;
maintain you on my lands as well as
Sir Launcelot took his horse, to ride ever were maintained any knights. Then
out of Cailisle, there was sobbing and spake all the knights at once, bre
weeping for pure dole of his departing ;
have shame that will leave you for ;
and so he took his way unto Joyous Gaid, we all understand in this realm will be
chap, xviii. HOW HE MADE HIS KNIGHTS GREAT LORDS. 469
and so they shipped at Cardiff. And and governor of them all, My fair lords,
there king Arthur made Sir Mordred wit you well I am full loth to ride
chief ruler of all England, and also he out with my
knights, for shedding of
put queen Guenever under his govern- christian blood and yet my lands I
;
ance ;because Sir Mordred was king understand be full bare to sustain any
Arthur's son, he gave him the rule of host a while, for the mighty wars that
his land, and of his wife, and so king whilom made king Claudus upon this
Arthur passed over the sea and landed country, upon my father king Ban, and
upon Sir Launcelot's lands, and there on mine uncle king Bors; howbeit we
he burnt and wasted, through the ven- will as at this time keep our strong
geance of Sir Gawaine, all that they walls, and I shall send a messager unto
might overrun. When this word came my lord Arthur, a treaty for to take, for
to Sir Launcelot, that king Arthur better is peace than always war. So
and Sir Gawaine were landed upon his Sir Launcelot sent forth a damsel, and
lands, and made a full destruction and a dwarf with her, requiring king Arthui
waste, then spake Sir Bors and said, My to leave his warring upon his lands, and
lord Sir Launcelot, it is shame that we so she start upon a palfrey, and the
suffer them thus lo ride over our lands, dwarf ran by her side. And when she
for wit you well, suffer ye them as long came to the pavilion of king Arthur,
as ye will, they will do you no favour, there she alight, and there met her a
and they may handle you. Then said gentle knight Sir Lucan the butler, and
Sir Lionel, that was ware and wise, My said, Fair damsel, come ye from Sir
lord Sir Launcelot, I will give you this Launcelot du Lake? Yea, sir, she said,
counsel, let us keep our strong walled therefore I come hither to speak with
towns until they have hunger and cold, my lord the king. Alas, said Sir Lucan,
and blow on their nails, and then let us my lord Arthur would love Launcelot,
freshly set upon them, and shred them but Sir Gawaine will not suffer him.
down as sheep in a held, that aliens may And then he said, I pray to God, dam-
tike ensample for ever how they land sel, ye may speed well, for all we that
upon our lands. Then spake king Bag- be about the king would that Sir Laun-
demagus to Sir Launcelot, Sir, your celot did best of any knight living.
courtesy will shend us all, and thy And so with this Lucan led the damsel
courtesy hath waked all this sorrow : unto the king, where he sat with Sir
for, and they thus over our lands ride, Gawaine for to hear what she would
they shall by process bring us all to say. So when she had told her tale,
nought, whilst we thus in holes us hide. the water ran out of Jthe king's eyes,
Then said Sir Galihud unto Sir Launce- and the lords were full glad for to
all
here be knights come of kings'
lot, Sir, advise the king as to be accorded with
blood that will not long droop, and Sir Launcelot, save all only Sir Ga-
they are within these walls, therefore waine, and he said, My lord, mine
give us leave, like as we be knights, to uncle, what will ye do? will ye now
meet them in the field, and we shall turn again, now
ye are past thus far
slay them, that they shall curse the time upon this journey? all the world will
that ever they came into this country. speak of you villainy. Nay, said Ar-
Then spake seven brethren of North thur, wit thou well, Sir Gawaine, I will
Wales, and
they weie seven noble do as ye will advise me; and yet me
knights, a man might seek in seven seemeth, said Arthur, his fair proffers
lands or he might find such seven were not good to be refused but sithen
:
up ladders. And then they defied them bade saddle his strongest horse, and bad
out of the town, and beat them from let fetch his arms, and bring all unto
the walls mightily. Then came forth the gate of the tower. And
then Sir
Sir Gawaine, well armed, upon a stiff Launcelot spake on high unto king
steed, and he came before the chief gate Arthur, and said, My lord Arthur, and
with his spear in his hand, crying, Sir noble king that made me knight, wit
Launcelot, wheie art thou, is there none you well I am right heavy for your
of you proud knights dare break a spear sake, that ye thus sue upon me, and
47* MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XX.
always I forbear you, for, and I would gift that an holy man had given to him,
have been vengeable, I might have met that every day in the year, from underlie
you in midst of the field, and there to till
high noon, his might increased those
have made your boldest knights full three hours, as much as thrice his
tame and now I have forborne half a
:
strength, and that caused Sir Gawaine
yea]-, and suffeied you and Sir Gawaine
to win great honour. And for his sake
to do what ye would do, and now I king Arthur made an ordinance that all
may endure it no longer, now must I manner of battles for any quarrels that
needs defend myself, insomuch Sir Ga- should be done before king Aithur,
waine hath appealed me of treason, — should begin at underlie, and all was
the which is greatly against my will, done for Sir Gawaine's love, that by
that ever I should fight against any of likelihood if that Sir Gawaine were on
your blood but now I may not forsake
;
the one part he should have. the better
it, I am driven thereto as a beast till a in while his strength endured
battle,
bay. Then
Gawaine said, Sir Laun-
Sir three hours, but there were but few
ceiot, and thou darest do battle, leave knights that time living that knew this
thy babbling and come off, and let us advantage that Sir Gawaine had, but
ease our hearts. Then Sir Launcelot king Arthur all only. Thus Sir Laun-
armed him lightly, and mounted upon celot fought with Sir Gawaine, and
his horse. And
either of the knights when. Sir Launcelot felt his might ever-
gat great spears in their hands, and the more increase. Sir Launcelot wondered,
host without stood still all apart, and and dread him sore to be shamed.
the noble knights came out of the city For, as the French book saith, Sir
by a great number, insomuch that when Launcelot wend, when he felt Sir Ga-
Arthur saw the number of men and waine double his strength, that he had
knights he marvelled, and said to him- been a fiend and no earthly man, where-
self, Alas, that ever Sir Launcelot was fore Sir Launcelot traced and traversed,
against me, for now I see he hath for- and covered himself with his shield, and
borne me. And so the covenant was kept his might and his braid during
made, there should no man nigh them, three hours: and that while Sir Gawaine
nor deal with them, till the one were gave him many sad brunts and many
dead or yielden. sad strokes, that all the knights that
beheld Sir Launcelot -marvelled how he
CHAP. XXL might endure him, but full little under-
stood they that travail that Sir Launcelot
How Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot did
had for to endure him. And then when
battletogether, and bow Sir Gawaine it was past noon, Sir Gawaine had no
was overthrown and hurt.
more but his own might. Then Sir
Thkn Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot Launcelot felt him so come down then ;
departed a great way in sunder, and he stretched him up, and stood near Sir
then they came together with all their Gawaine, and said thus, My lord Sir
horses' might as they might run, and Gawaine, now I feel ye have done, now
either smote other in midst of their my lord Sir Gawaine I must do my
shields, but the knights weie so strong, part, for many great and grievous
and their spears so big, that their horses strokes I have endured you this clay
might not endure their buffets, and so the with great pain. Then Sir Launcelot
horses fell to the earth. And then they doubled his strokes, and gave Sir Ga-
avoided their horses, and dressed their waine such a buffet on the helmet, that
shields afore them. Then they stood he fell down on his side, and Sir Laun-
together, and gave many sad strokes celot withdrew him from him. Why -
on divers places of their bodies, that the withdrawest thou thee ? said Sir Ga-
blood brast out on many sides and places. waine now turn again, false traitor
;
Then had Sir Gawaine such a giace and knight, and slay me for and thou
;
CHAP. XXII. SIR GAWAINE HAS THE WORSE AGAIN. 473
leave me thus, when I am whole I shall wot well, Sir Gawaine, I know your
do battle with thee again. — I shall en- might, and ye may do, and well
all that
dure you, sir, by God's grace, but wit ye wot, Sir Gawaine, ye may not greatly
thou well, Sir Gawaine, I will never hurt me. Come down, traitor knight,
smite a felled knight. And so Sir said he, and make it
good the contrary
Launcelot went into the city, and Sir with thy hands : for it
mishapped me
Gawaine was borne into one of king the last battle to be hint of thy hands,
Arthur's pavilions, and leeches were therefore, wit thou well, that I am come
brought to him, and searched and this day to make amends, for I ween this
salved with soft ointments. And then day to lay thee as low as thou laidest
Sir Launcelot said, Now have good day, me. Defend me, said Sir Launcelot, that
my lord the king, for, wit you well, ye ever I be so far in your danger as ye
win no worship at these walls and if ;
have been in mine, for then my days
I wouldmy knights out bring, there were done. But Sir Gawaine, said Sir
should many a man die. Therefore, Launcelot, ye shall not think that I
my lord Arthur, remember you of old tarry long, but sithen that ye so un-
kindness, and however I fare Jesu be knightly call me of .treason, ye shall
your guide in all places. have both your hands full of me. And
then Sir Launcelot armed him at all
CHAP. XXII. points, and mounted upon his horse,
and gat a great spear in his hand, and
Of the sorrow that king Arthur made for rode out at the gate. And both the
the ivar, and of another battle where hosts w ere assembled, of them without,
also Sir Gawaine had the worse.
and of them within, and stood in array
Alas, saidthe king, that ever this full manly. And both parties weie
unhappy war was begun, for ever Sir charged to hold them still, to see and
Launcelot forbeareth me in all places, behold the battle of these two noble
and in likewise my kin, and that is seen knights. And then they laid their spears
well this day by my nephew Sir Ga- and they came together as
in their rests,
waine. Then king Arthur fell sick for thunder. And Sir Gawaine brake his
sorrow of Sir Gawaine, that he was sore spear upon Sir Launcelot in an hundred
hurt, and because of the war betwixt pieces unto his hand, and Sir Launcelot
him and Sir Launcelot. So then they smote him with a greater might, that Sir
on king Arthur's party kept the siege Gawaine's horse feet raised, and so the
with little war withoutforth, and they horse and he fell to the earth. Then Sir
withinforth kept their walls, and de- Gawaine delivery avoided his horse, and
fended them when need was. Thus Sir put his shield afore him, and eagerly
Gawaine lay sick about three weeks in drew his sword, and bad Sir Launcelot,
his tents, with all manner of leech-craft Alight, traitor knight, for if this mare's
that might be had and as soon as Sir
: son hath failed me, wit thou well a king's
Gawaine might go and ride, he aimed son and a queen's son shall not fail thee.
him at all points, and start upon a Then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse,
courser, and gat a spear in his hand, and dressed his shield afore him, and
and so he came riding afore the chief drew his sword, and so stood they
gate of Benwick, and there he cried on together, and gave many sad strokes,
high, Where art thou, Sir Launcelot? that all men on both parties had
come forth thou false traitor knight, thereof passing great wonder. But
and recreant, for I am here,
Gawaine, Sir when Sir Launcelot felt Sir Gawaine's
will prove this that I say on thee. might so marvellously increase, he then
All this language Sir Launcelot heard, withheld his courage and his wind,
and then he said thus, Sir Gawaine, me and kept himself wonder covert of his
repenteth of your foul saying, that ye might, and under his shield he traced
will not cease of your language, for you and traversed "here and there, to break
474 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XXI.
great pain unto Sir Launcelot three perform this battle unto the uttermost.
hours, that he had great pain for to I will no more do than I have done, said
defend him. And when the three Sir Launcelot for when I see you on
;
hours were passed, that Sir Launcelot foot I will do battle upon you all the
felt that Sir Gawaine was come to his while I see you stand on your feet ;
own proper strength, then Sir Laun- but for to smite a wounded man, that
celot said unto Sir Gawaine, Now have may not stand, God defend me from
I proved you twice, that ye are a full such a shame. And then he turned
dangerous knight, and a wonderful man him and went his way toward the city,
of your might, and many wonderful and Sir Gawaine evermore calling him
deeds have you done in your days for : traitor knight, and said, Wit thou well,
by your might increasing you have de- Sir Launcelot, when J am whole, 1 shall
ceived many a full noble and valiant do battle with thee again for 1 shall
;
knight ;and now I feel that ye have never leave thee that one of us be
till
done your mighty deeds. Now wit you slain. Thus as this siege endured, and as
well I must do my deeds. And then Sir Gawaine lay sick near a month, and
Sir Launcelot stood near Sir Gawaine, when he was well recovered, and ready
and then Sir Launcelot doubled his within three days to do battle again with
strokes, and Sir Gawaine defended him Sir Launcelot, right so came tidings unto
mightily. But nevertheless Sir Laun- Arthur from England, that made king
celot smote such a stroke upon Sir Arthur and all his host to remove.
chap. i.
he would wed her which was his uncle's
wife, and his father's wife. And so he
How Sir Mordred presumed and took on made ready for the feast, and a day
him to be king of England, and would that should be wedded
prefixed they ;
have married the queen, his uncle's wife. wherefore queen Guenever was passing
As SirMordred was ruler of all heavy. But she durst not discover her
England, he did do make letters as heart, but spake fair, and agreed to Sir
though that they came from beyond Mordred's will. Then she desired of
the sea, and the letters specified that Sir Mordred for to go to London, to
king Arthur was slain in battle with buy all manner of things that longed
Sir Launcelot. Wherefore Sir Mordred unto the wedding. And because of her
made a Parliament, and called the lords fair speech Sir Mordred trusted her
together, and there he made them to well enough, and gave her leave to go.
choose him king, and so was he crowned And so when she came to London, she
at Ganterbury, and held a feast there took the tower of London, and suddenly,
and afterward he drew him
fifteen days, in all haste possible, she stuffed it with
unto Winchester, and there he took the all manner of victual, and well gar-
queen Guenever, and said plainly, that nished it with men, and so kept it.
CHAP. I. SIR MORDRED IS CHOSEN KING. 475
Then when Sir Mordred wist and un- Mordred that king Arthur had raised
derstood how he was beguiled, he was the siege from Sir Launcelot, and he
passing wroth out of measure. And was coming homeward with a great
a short tale for to make, he went and host, to be avenged upon Sir Mordred.
laid a mighty siege about the tower of Wherefore Sir Mordred made write
London, and made many great assaults writs to all the barony of this land, and
thereat, and threw many great engines much people drew to him. For then
unto them, and shot great guns. But was the common voice among them,
all might not prevail Sir Mordred, for that with Arthur was none other
queen Guenever would never, for fair lifebut war and strife, and with Sir
speech nor for foul, would never tiust Mordred was great joy and bliss. Thus
to come in his hands again. And then was Sir Arthur depraved and evil said
came the bishop of Canterbury, the of. And many there were that king
which was a noble clerk and an holy Arthur had made up of nought, and
man, and thus he said to Sir Mordred :
given them lands, might not then say of
Sir, what will ye do, will ye first dis- him a good word.
please God, and sithen shame yourself Lo Englishmen, see ye not
ye, all
and all knighthood ? Is not king Arthur what a mischief here was, for he that
your uncle, no further but your mother's was the most king and knight of the
brother, and are ye not his son, there- world, and most loved the fellowship of
fore how may ye wed your father's noble knights, and by him they were all
wife? the noble clerk, leave
Sir, said upholden. Now might not these Eng-
this opinion, or else I shall curse you lishmen hold us content with him. Lo,
with book, and bell, and candle. Do thus was the old custom and usage of
thou thy worst, said Sir Mordred, wit this land. And also men say, that we
thou well I shall defy thee. Sir, said of this land have not yet lost nor for-
the bishop, and wit you well 1 shall gotten that custom and Osage. Alas,
not fear me to do that me ought to do. this is a great default of an English-
Also where ye noise where my lord men, for there may no thing please us
Arthur is slain, and that is not so, and no term. And so fared the people at
therefore ye will make a foul work in that time they were better pleased
;
this land. Peace, thou false priest, said with Sir Mordred than they were with
Sir Mordred, for, and thou chafe me any king Arthur, and milch people drew
more, I shall make strike off thy head. unto Sir Mordred, and said they would
So the bishop departed, and did the abide with him for better and for worse.
curse in the most orgulous wise that And so Sir Mordred drew with a great
might be done. And then Sir Mordred host to Dover, for there he heard say
sought the bishop of Canterbury for to that Sir Arthur would arrive, and so he
have slain him. Then the bishop fled, thought to beat his own father from his
and took part of his goods with him, lands. And the most party of all England
and went nigh unto Glastonbury, and held with Sir Mordred, the people were so
there he was as priest hermit in a new fangle.
chapel, and lived in poverty and in holy CHAP. II.
prayers for well he understood that
:
his own father to land upon the land weakly by king Arthur, for he was
that he was king over. Then there shriven a little tofore, and then he wrote
was launching of great boats and small, thus, as the French book maketh men-
and full of noble men of arms, and tion, — Unto Sir Launcelot, flower of all
there was much slaughter of gentle noble knights that ever I heard of, or
knights, and many a full bold baron saw by my days, I Sir Gawaine, king
was laid full low on both parties. But Lot's son, of Orkney, sister's son unto the
king Arthur was so courageous, that noble king Arthur, send thee greeting,
there might no manner of knights let and let thee have knowledge, that the
him to land, and his knights fiercely tenth day of May I was smitten upon
followed him. And so they landed, the old wound that thou gavest me afore
maugre Sir Mordred and all his power, the city of Benwick, and through the
and put Sir Mordred aback, that he fled same wound that thou gavest me I am
and all his people. So when this battle come to my death-day. And I will that
was done, king Arthur let bury his all the world wit that I, Sir Gawaine,
people that were dead, and then was knight of the Table Round, sought my
the noble knight Sir Gawaine found in death, and not through thy deserving,
a great boat lying more than half dead. but it was mine own seeking, wherefore
When Sir Arthur wist that Sir Gawaine I beseech thee, Sir Launcelot, to return
was laid so low, he went unto him, and again unto this realm, and see my tomb,
there the king made sorrow out of mea- and pray some prayer, more or less, for
sure, and took Sir Gawaine in his arms, my soul. And same day that I
this
and thrice he there swooned. And when wrote this schedule, I was hurt to the
he awaked he said, Alas, Sir Gawaine, death in the same wound, the which I
my sister's son, here now thou liest, the had of thy hand, Sir Launcelot. For of
man in the world that I loved most, a more nobler man might I not be slain.
and now is my joy gone : for now, my Also, Sir Launcelot, for all the love that
nephew Sfrr Gawaine, I will discover ever was betwixt us, make no tarrying,
me unto your person in Sir Launcelot
;
but come over the sea in all haste, that
and you I most had my joy, and mine thou mayest with thy noble knights
affiance, and now have I my joy of lost rescue that noble king that made thee
you both, wherefore all mine earthly knight, that is my lord Arthur, for he is
joy is gone from me. Mine uncle king full straitly bestad with a false traitor,
Arthur, said Sir Gawaine, wit you well, that is my half brother Sir Mordred,
my death day is come, and all is through and he hath let crown him king, and
mine own hastiness and wilfulness, for I would have wedded my lady queen
am smitten upon the old wound the Guenever, and so had he done, had she
which Sir Launcelot gave me, on the not put herself in the tower of London.
which I feel well I must die, and had And so the tenth day of May last' past,
Sir Launcelot been with you as he my lord Arthur and we all landed upon
was, this unhappy war had never begun, them at Dover, and there we put that
and of all this am I causer, for Sir false traitor Sir Mordred to flight, and
Launcelot and his blood through their there it misfortuned me to be stricken
prowess held all your cankered enemies upon thy stroke, and at the date of this
in subjection and danger and now, said
: letterwas written but two hours and an
Sir Gawaine, ye shall miss Sir Launce- half afore my death, written with mine
lot. But, alas, I would not accord with own hand, and so subscribed with part
him, and therefore, said Sir Gawaine, I of my heart's blood. And I require
pray you, fair uncle, that I may have thee, most famous knight of the world,
paper, pen, and ink, that I may write to that thou wilt see my tomb. And- then —
Sir Launcelot a schedule with mine own Sir Gawaine wept, and king Aithur
hands. And then when paper and ink wept, and then they swooned both.
was brought, then Gawaine was set up And when they awaked both, the king
CHAP. III. OF SIR GAWAINE'S GHOST. All
made Sir Gawaine to receive his Saviour. upon a chaflet in a chair, and the chair
And then Sir Gawaine prayed the king was fast to a wheel, and thereupon sat
to send for Sir I>auncelot, and to cherish king Arthur in the richest cloth of gold
him above all other knights. And so at that might be made and the king
:
the hour of noon, Sir Gawaine yielded thought there was under him, far from
up the spirit. And then the king let him, an hideous deep black water, and
inter him in a chapel within Dover therein were all manner of serpents, and
castle and there yet all men may see
; worms, and wild beasts, foul and hor-
the skull of him, and the same wound rible and suddenly the king thought
:
is seen that Sir Launcelot gave him in the wheel turned up so down, and he
battle. Then was it told king Arthur fell among the serpents, and every
that Sir Mordred had pitched a new beast took him by a limb. And then
fieldupon Barham Down. And upon the king cried as he lay in his bed and
the morn the king rode thither to him, slept, Help ! And then knights, squires,
and there was a great battle betwixt and yeomen awaked the king and then ;
them, and much people were slain on he was so amazed that he wist not where
both parties. But at the last Sir Ar- he was. And then he fell on slumber-
thur's party stood best, and Sir Mordred ing again, not sleeping nor thoroughly
and his party fled unto Canterbury. waking. So the king seemed verily that
there came Sir Gawaine unto him with
CHAP. III. a number of fair ladies with him. And
when king Arthur saw him, then he
Hoiu after Sir Gawaine s ghost appeared
said, Welcome, my sister's son, I wend
to king Arthur, and warned him that thou hadst been dead, and now 1 see
he should not fight that day.
thee on live, much am I beholding unto
And then the king let search all the Almighty jesu. Oh, fair nephew, and
towns for his knights that were slain, my what
sister's son, be these ladies that
and interred them and salved them with
; hither be come with you? Sir, said Sir
soft salves that so sore were wounded. Gawaine, all these be ladies for whom
Then much people drew unto king Ar- I have fought en when I was man living :
thur. And then they said that Sir and all these are those that I did battle
Mordred warred upon king Arthur with for in righteous quarrel. And God hath
wrong. And then king Arthur drew given them that grace at their great
him with his host down by the sea side, prayer, because I did battle for them,
westward toward Salisbury, and there that they should bring me hither unto
was a day assigned between king Arthur you, thus much had God given me leave,
and Sir Mordred. and they should meet for to warn you of your death for and ;
upon a down beside Salisbury, and not ye fight as to-morn with Sir. Mordred, as
far from the sea side, and this day was ye both have assigned, doubt ye not ye
assigned on a Monday after Trinity must be slain, and the most pait of your
Sunday, whereof king Arthur was pass- people on hoth parties. And for the
ing glad, that he might be avenged upon great grace and goodness that Almighty
Sir Mordred. Then Sir Mordred araised Jesu hath unto you, and for pity of you
much people about London, for they of and many more other good men there
Kent, Southsex, and Surrey, Estsex, and shall be slain, God hath sent me to you,
Southfolk, and of Northfolk, held the of his special grace, to give you warning,
most party with Sir Mordred, and many that in no wise ye do battle as to-morn,
a full noble knight drew unto Sir Mor- but that ye take a treaty for a month
dred and to the king but they that loved
;
day and proffer you largely, so as to-
;
Sir Launcelot drew unto Sir Mordred. morn to be put in a delay. For within
So upon Trinity Sunday at night king a month shall come Sir Launcelot, with
Arthur dreamed a wonderful dream, and all his noble knights, and lescue you
that was this, that him seemed he sat and slay Sir Mordred and
worshipfully,
478 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK XXI.
all thatever will hold with him. Then they drank. Right so came an adder
Sir Gawaine and all the ladies vanished. out of a little heath bush, and it stung
And anon the king called upon his a knight on the foot. And when the
knights, squires, and yeomen, and knight felt him stungen, he looked down
charged them wightly to fetch his noble and saw the adder, and then he drew
lords and wise bishops unto him. And his sword to slay the adder, and thought
when they were come, the king told of none other harm. And when the
them what Sir Gawaine had
his vision, host on both parties saw that sword
told him, and warned him that if he drawn, then they blew beames, trumpets,
fought on the morn he should be slain. and horns, and shouted grimly. And so
Then the king commanded Sir Lucan both hosts dressed them together. And
de butlere, and his brother Sir Bedi- king Arthur took his horse, and said,
vere, with two bishops with them, and Alas this unhappy day, and so rode to
charged them in any wise and they might his party : and Sir Mordred in likewise.
take a treaty for a month day with Sir And never was there seen a more dole-
Mordred ;
—
And spare not, proffer him fuller battle in no christian land. For
lands and goods, as much as ye think there was but rushing and riding, foin-
best. So then they departed, and came ing and striking, and many a grim word
to Sir Mordred, where he had a grim was there spoken either to other, and
host of an hundred thousand men. And many a deadly stroke. But ever king
there they intreated Sir Mordred long Arthur rode throughout the battle of
time, and at the last Sir Mordred was Sir Mordred many times, and did full
agreed for to have Cornwall and Kent, nobly as a noble king should and at
by king Arthur's days
—
after, all Eng-
: all times he fainted never.
;
And Sir
land, after the days of king Arthur. Mordred that day put him in devoir,
and in great peril. And thus they
CHAP. IV. fought all the long day, and never
stinted, till the noble knights were laid
How by misadventure of an adder the
to the cold ground, and ever they fought
battle began, where Mordred was slain,
still, till it was near night, and by that
and Arthur hurt to the death.
time was there an hundred thousand
Then were they condescended that laid dead upon the down. Then was
king Arthur and Sir Mordred should Arthur wroth out of measure, when he
meet betwixt both their hosts, and every saw his people so slain from him. Then
'each of them should bring fourteen per- the king looked about him, and then
sons. And they came with this word was he ware of all his host, and of all
unto king Arthur. Then said he, I am his good knights, were left no more on
glad that this is done. And so he went live but two knights, that was Sir Lucan
into the field. And when Arthur should de butlere, and his brother Sir Bedivere :
depart, he warned all his host that and and they full were sore wounded. Jesu
they see any sword drawn, Look ye mercy, said the king, where are all my
come on fiercely, and slay that traitor noble knights becomen. Alas that ever
Sir Mordred, for I in no wise trust him. I should see this doleful day. For now,
In like wise Sir Mordred warned his said Arthur, I am come to mine end.
host that, —And ye see any sword But would to God that I wist where
drawn, look that ye come on fiercely, were that traitor Sir Mordred, that hath
and so slay all that ever before you caused all this mischief. Then was king
standeth for in no wise I will not trust
: Arthur ware where Sir Mordred leaned
for this treaty for I
: know well my upon his sword among a great heap of
father will be avengedupon me. And dead men. Now give me my spear,
so they met as their pointment was, said Arthur unto Sir Lucan, for yonder
and so they were agreed and accorded I have espied the traitor that all this
thoroughly and wine was fetched, and
: woe hath wrought. Sir, let him be,
CHAP. V. HOW ARTHUR WAS HURT TO THE DEATH 479
said Sir Lucan, for he is unhappy : and to rob many a full noble knight of
if ye pass this
unhappy day, ye shall be broaches and beads, of many a good
right well revenged upon him. Good ring, and of many a rich jewel ? and
lord, remember ye of your night's dream, who that were not dead all out, there
and what the spirit of Sir Gawaine told they slew them for their harness and
you this night, yet God of his great their riches. When Sir Lucan under-
goodness hath preserved you hitherto. stood this work, he came to the king as
Therefore, for God's sake, my lord, soon as he might, and told him all what
leave off by this. For blessed be God he had heard and seen. Therefore by
ye have won the field : for here we be mine advice, said Sir Lucan, it is best
three on live, and with Sir Mordred is that we bring you to some town. I would
none on live. And if ye leave off now, it were so, said the king, —
this wicked day of destiny is past. Tide
me CHAP. V.
death, betide me life, saith the king,
now I see him yonder alone, he shall How king Arthur commanded to cast his
never escape mine hands, for at a better sword Excalibur into the water, and how
avail shall I never have him. God he was delivered to ladies in a barge.
speed
you well, said Sir Bedivere. Then the But not stand,
I may head works my
king gat his spear in both his hands, so. Sir Launcelot, said king Ar-
Ah,
and ran toward Sir Mordred, crying, thur, this day have I sore missed thee.
Traitor, now thy death day come.
is Alas, that ever I was against thee, for
And when Sir Mordred heard Sir Ar- now have I my death, whereof Sir
thur, he ran until him with his sword Gawaine me warned in my dream.
drawn in his hand. And then king Then Sir Lucan took up the king the
Arthur smote Sir Mordred under the one part, and Sir Bedivere the other
shield, with a foin of his spear through- part, and in the lifting, king the
out the body more than a fathom. And swooned, and Sir Lucan fell a swoon in
when Sir Mordred felt that he had his with the lift, that the part of his bowels
death's wound, he thrust himself, with fell out of his body, and therewith the
the might that he had, up to the bur of noble knight's heart brast. And when
king Arthur's spear. And right so he king Arthur came to himself again, he
smote his father Arthur with his sword beheld Sir Lucan how he lay foaming
holden in both his hands, on the side of at the mouth, and part of his bowels
the head, that the sword pierced the lay at his feet. Alas, said the king, this
helmet and the brain-pan, and there- is unto me a full heavy sight to see this
withal Sir Mordred fell stark dead to noble duke so die for my sake, for he
the earth. And the noble Arthur fell would have holpen me that had more
in a swoon to the earth, and there he need of help than I. Alas, he would
swooned oft-times. And Sir Lucan not complain him, his heart was so set
de butlere and Sir Bedivere oft-times to help me. Now Jesu have mercy
heaved him up, and so weakly they led upon his soul. Then Sir Bedivere wept
him betwixt them both to a little chapel for the death of his brother. Leave this
not far from the sea side. And when mourning and weeping, said the king,
the king was there, he thought him well for all this will not avail me: for,
eased. Then heard they people cry in wit thou well, and I might live myself
the field. Now go thou, Sir Lucan, the death of Sir Lucan would grieve me
said the king, and do me to wit what evermore but my time hieth fast, said
;
betokens that noise in the field. So the king. Therefore, said Arthur, take
Sir Lucan departed, for he was griev- thou Excalibur, my good sword, and go
ously wounded in many places. And so with it to yonder water side, and when
as he went, he saw and hearkened by thou comest there, I charge thee throw
the moon-light, how the pillers and rob- my sword in that water, and come
bers were come into the field to pill and again, and tell me what thou there
480 MORTE BARTHUR. BOOK XXI.
secst. My lord, said Bedivere, your So Sir Bedivere came again to the king,
commandment shall be done, and lightly and told him what he snw. Alas, snid
bring you word again. So Sir Bedivere the king, help me hence, for I dread
departed, and by the way he beheld me have tarried over long. Then Sir
I
that noble sword, that the pommel and Bedivere took the king upon his back,
haft were all of precious stones, and and so went with him to that water
then he said to himself, If I throw this side. And when they were at the water
rich sword in the water, thereof shall side, even fast by the bank hoved a little
never come good, but harm and loss. barge, with many fair ladies in it, and
And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibur among them was a queen, and all
all
under a tree. And as soon as he might they had black hoods, and all they wept
he came again unto the king, and said and shrieked when they saw king Ar-
he had been at the water, and had thur. Now
put me into the barge, said
thrown the sword into the water. What the king and so he did softly. And
:
sawest thou there? said the king. Sir, there received him three queens with
he said, I saw nothing but waves and great mourning, and so they set him
winds. That is untruly said of thee, down, and in one of their laps king
said the king therefore go thou lightly
; Arthur laid his head, and then that
again, and do my command as thou art queen said, Ah, dear brother, why have
to me lief and dear, spare not, but throw ye tarried so long from me ? Alas, this
it in. Then Sir Bedivere returned again, wound on your head hath caught over
and took the sword in his hand and ; much cold. And so then they rowed
then him thought sin and shame to from the land and Sir Bedivere beheld
;
throw away that noble sword and so ; all those ladies go from him. Then Sir
eft he hid the sword, and returned Bedivere cried, Ah, my lord Arthur,
again, and told to the king that he had what shall become of me now ye go
been at the water, and done his com- from me, and leave me here alone among
mandment. What saw thou there ? said mine enemies. Comfort thyself, said
the king. Sir, he said, I saw nothing the king, and do as well as thou mayest,
but the waters wap and the waves wan. for in me is no trust for to trust in.
Ah untrue, said king Arthur,
traitor, For I will into the vale of Avilion, to
now hast thou betrayed me twice. Who heal me of my grievous wound. And if
would have wend that thou that hast thou hear never more of me, pray for
been to me so lief and dear, and thou my soul. But ever the queens and the
art named a noble knight, and would ladies wept and shrieked, that it was
betray me for the riches of the sword. pity to hear. And as soon as Sir Bedi-
But now go again lightly, for thy long vere had lost the sight of the barge, he
tarrying putteth me in great jeopardy of wept and wailed, and so took the forest,
my life, for I have taken cold. And but and so he went all that night, and in the
if thou do now as I bid thee, if ever I morning he was ware betwixt two holts
may see thee, I shall slay thee with mine hoar of a chapel and an hermitage.
own hands, for thou wouldest for my
rich sword see me dead. Then Sir
CHAP. VI.
Bedivere departed, and went to the How Sir Bedivere found him on the mor-
sword, and lightly took it up, and went row dead in an hermitage, and how he
to the water side, and there he bound abode there with the hermit.
the girdle about the hilts, and then he Then was Sir Bedivere glad, and
threw the sword as far into the water thither he went and when he came into
;
as he might, and there came an arm and the chapel, he saw where lay an hermit
an hand above the water, and met it, groveling on all four, there fast by
and caught it, and so shook it thrice a tomb was new graven. When the
and brandished, and then vanished away hermit saw Sir Bedivere, he knew him
the hand with the sword in the water. well, for he was but a little before
CHAP. VI. HOW GUE NEVER MADE HER A NUN. 481
bishop of Canterbury, that Sir Mordred the hermit knew notin certain that he
banished. Sir, said Sir Bedivere, what was verily the body of king Arthur ;
—
man is there interred that ye pray so for this tale Sir Bedivere, knight of the
fast for? Fair son, said the hermit, I Round Table, made it to be written.
wot not verily, but by deeming. But
this night, at midnight, here came
CHAP. VII.
a number of ladies, and brought hither Of the men of the death of
opinion of some
a dead corpse, and prayed me to bury king Arthur; and how queen Guenever
him and here they offered an hundred
;
made her a nun in Almesbury.
tapers, and gave me an hundred besants. Yet some men yet say in
many parts
Alas, said Sir Bedivere, that was my of England that king Arthur is not
lord king Arthur, that here lieth buried dead, but had by the will of our Lord
in this chapel ! Then Sir Bedivere Jesu in another place. And men say
swooned, and when he awoke he prayed that he shall come again, and he shall
the hermit he might abide with him win the holy cross. I will not say it
still there, to live with fasting and shall be so, but rather I will say,
prayers. For from hence will I never here in this world he changed his life.
go, said Sir Bedivere, by my will, but But many men say that there is written
allthe days of my life here to pray for his tomb this verse,
upon
my lord Arthur. Ye are welcome to 3§ic tacet ^rrtjurus 1&tx quonKam HUx
me, said the hermit, for I know you
better than ye ween that I do. Ye are que futurus.
the bold Bedivere, and the full noble
Thus leave I here Sir Bedivere with
the hermit, that dwelled that time in
duke Sir Lucan de butlere was your
brother. Then Sir Bedivere told the a chapel beside Glastonbury, and there
hermit all as ye have heard tofore. So was his hermitage. And so they lived
there bode Sir Bedivere with the hermit,
in their prayers and fastings and great
that was tofore bishop of Canterbuiy, abstinence. And when queen Guenever
and there Sir Bedivere put upon him understood that king Arthur was slain,
and all the noble knights, Sir Mordred
poor clothes, and served the hermit full
and all the remnant, then the queen stole
lowly in fasting and in prayers.
Thus of Arthur I find never more away, and five ladies with her, and so
written in books that be authorized, nor she went to Almesbury, and there she
let make herself a nun, and wore white
more of the certainty of his death heard
I never tell, but thus was he led away
clothes and black, and great penance
in a ship wherein were three queens
she took, as ever did sinful lady in this
;
that one was king Arthur's sister queen land, and never creature could make her
of the Waste Lands. Also there marvelled how virtuously she was
queen
was Nimue, the chief Lady of the lake, changed. Now leave we queen Guenever
that had wedded Pelleas the good in Almesbury a nun in white clothes
and this lady had done much and black, and there she was abbess and
knight ;
for king Arthur ; for she would never ruler, as reason would and turn we
;
England, and made war against king a day, and how Sir Mordred gave king
Arthur his own father, and would let Arthur there the first battle at his land-
him to land in his own land also it ; ing, and there was good Sir Gawaine
was told Sir Launcelot how that Sir slain, and on the morn Sir Mordred
Mordred had laid siege about the tower fought with the king upon Barham
of London, because the queen would Down, and there the king put Sir Mor-
not wed him then was Sir Launcelot
;
dred to the worse. Alas, said Sir
wroth out of measure, and said to his Launcelot, this is the heaviest tidings
kinsmen, Alas, that double traitor Sir that ever came to me. Now, fair sirs,
Mordred, now me repenteth that ever said Sir Launcelot, shew me the tomb
he escaped my hands, for much shame of Sir Gawaine. And then certain
hath he done unto my lord Arthur. For people of the town brought him into
all I feelby the doleful letter that my the castle of Dover, and showed him
lord Gawaine sent me, on whose soul the tomb. Then Sir Launcelot kneeled
Jesu have mercy, that my lord Arthur is down and wept and prayed heartily for
right hard bested. Alas, said Sir Laun- his soul. And that night he made a
celot, that ever I should live to hear dole, and all they that would come had
that most noble king, that made me as much flesh, fish, wine, and ale, and
knight, thus to be overset with his sub- every man and woman had twelve pence,
ject in his own realm. And this doleful come who would. Thus with his own
letter that my lord Sir Gawaine hath hand dealt he his
money in a mourning
sent me afore his death, praying me to gown; and ever he wept, and prayed
see his tomb, wit you well his doleful them to pray for the soul of Sir Ga-
words shall never go from mine heart. waine. And on the morn all the priests
For he was a full noble knight as ever and clerks that might be gotten in the
was born, and in an unhappy hour was country were there, and sung mass of
I born, that ever I should have that Requiem. And there offered first Sir
unhap to slay firstGawaine, Sir Ga-
Sir Launcelot, and he offered an hundred
heris the good knight, and mine own pound, and then the seven kings offered
friend Sir Gareth, that full noble knight. forty pound a piece, and also there was
Alas, I may say I am unhappy, said Sir a thousand knights, and each of them
Launcelot, that ever I should do thus offered a pound, and the offering dured
and my lady queen Guenever. I thank but we come too late, and that shall
you, said Sir Launcelot, for ever ye will repent me while I live, but against death
my worship. Then they made them may no man rebel. But sithen it is so,
ready in all the haste that might be, with said Sir Launcelot, I will myself ride
ships and galleys with Sir Launcelot and and seek my lady queen Guenever, for
his host, to pass into England. And so as I hear say, she hath great pain and
he passed over the sea till he came to much disease, and I heard say that she
Dover and there he landed with seven
: is fled into the west country, therefore
kings, and the number was hideous to ye all that abide me here, and but if
behold. Then Sir Launcelot enquired I come again within fifteen days, then
of men Dover where was king
of take your ships, and your fellowship,
Arthur become ? Then the people told and depart into your country. For I
him how that he was slain, and Sir Mor- will do as I say to you.
dred and an hundred thousand died on
CHAP. IX. HOW LAUNCELOT FOUND THE QUEEN. 483
you still here, for I will forth on my I shall never be so false to you of that
journey, and no man nor child shall go I have promised, but the same destiny
with me. So it was no boot to strive, that ye have taken you to, I will take
but he departed and rode westerly, and me unto, for to please Jesu, and ever for
there he sought a seven or eight days, you I cast me specially to pray. If
and at the last he came to a nunnery, thou wilt do so, said the queen, hold
and then was queen Guenever ware of thy promise but I may never believe
;
Sir Launcelot as he walked in the but that thou wilt turn to the world
cloister, and when she saw him there again. Well, madam, said he, ye say as
she swooned thrice, that all the ladies pleaseth you, yet wist you me never
and gentlewomen had work enough to false of my promise, and God defend
hold the queen up. So when she might but I should forsake the world as ye
speak, she called ladies and gentle- have done. For in the quest of the
women to her, and said, Ye marvel, fair Sancgreal I had forsaken the vanities of
ladies, why I make Truly, she
this fare. the world, had not your lord been.
said, it is for the sight of yonder knight And if I had done so at that time with
that yonder standeth wherefore, I pray
:
my heart, will, and thought, I had
you all, call him to me. When Sir passed all the knights that were in the
Launcelot was brought to her, then she Sancgreal, except Sir Galahad my son.
Through this man
said to all the ladies, And therefore, lady, sithen ye have
and me hath all this war been wrought, taken you to perfection, I must needs
and the death of the most noblest take me to perfection of right. For I
knights of the world; for through our take record of God, in you I have had
love that we have loved together is my mine earthly joy. And if I had found
most noble lord slain. Therefore, Sir you now so disposed, I had cast me to
Launcelot, wit thou well I am set in have had you into mine own realm.
such a plight to get my soul's health
and yet I trust, through God's grace,
;
CHAP. X.
that after my death to have a sight How Sir Launcelot came to the hermitage
of the blessed face of Christ, and at where the archbishop of Canterbury zvas,
and how he took the habit on him.
doomsday to sit on his right side, for as
sinful as ever I was are saints in heaven. But sithen I find you thus disposed, I
Therefore, Sir Launcelot, I require thee insure you take me
faithfully I will ever
and beseech thee heartily, for all the love to penance, and pray while my life last-
that ever was betwixt us, that thou never eth, if that I may find any hermit either
see me more in the visage and I com- ; grey or white that will receive me.
mand thee on God's behalf, that thou Wherefore, madam, I pray you kiss me,
forsake my company, and to thy king- and never no more. Nay, said the queen,
dom thou turn again and keep well thy that shall I never do, but abstain you
realm from war and wrack. For as well from such works. And they departed.
as I have loved thee, mine heart will But there was never so hard an hearted
not serve me to see thee for through ; man, but he would have wept to see
jthee and me is the flower of kings and the dolour that they made. For there
31—2
48 4 MORTE DARTHUR. BOOK. XXI.
was lamentation as they had been stung And within half a year there was come
with spears, and many times they Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Blamor,
swooned. And the ladies bare the Sir Bleoberis, Sir Williars, Sir Clarrus,
queen to her chamber, and Sir Laun- and Sir Gahalantine. So all these seven
celot awoke, and went and took his noble knights there abode still. And
horse, and rode all that day and all that when they saw Sir Launcelot had taken
night in a forest, weeping. And at the him unto such perfection, they had no
last he was ware of an hermitage and a list to depart, but took such an habit as
chapel stood betwixt two cliffs, and then he had. Thus they endured in great
he heard a little bell ring to mass, and penance six year, and then Sir Launcelot
thither he rode and alight, and tied his took the habit of priesthood, and a
horse to the gate, and heard mass. And twelvemonth he sang mass. And there
he that sang mass was the bishop of was none of these other knights but
Canterbury. Both the bishop and Sir they read in books, and holp to sing
Bedivere knew Sir Launcelot, and they mass, and rang bells, and did bodily all
spake together after mass. But when manner of service. And so their horses
Sir Bedivere had told his tale all whole, went where they would, for they took
Sir Launcelot's heart almost brast for no regard of no worldly riches. For
sorrow, and Sir Launcelot threw his when they saw Sir Launcelot endure
arms abroad, and said, Alas, who may such penance, in prayers and fasting,
trust this world!And then he kneeled they took no force what pain they
down on his knees, and prayed the endured, for to see the noblest knight
bishop to shrive him and assoil him. of the world take such abstinence, that
And then he besought the bishop that he waxed full lean. And thus upon a
he might be his brother. Then the night there came a vision to Sir Laun-
bishop said, I will gladly and there he celot, and charged him, in remission of
—
:
Thus the great host abode at Dover. fore take thy fellows with thee, and
And then Sir Lionel took fifteen lords purvey them of an horse bier, and fetch
with him, and rode to London to seek thou the corpse of her, and bury her by
Sir Launcelot. And there Sir Lionel her husband the noble king Arthur. So
was slain and many of his lords. Then this vision came to Launcelot thrice in
Sir Bors de Ganis made the great host one night.
for to go home again. And Sir Bors, CHAP. XL
Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Blamor, Sir
How Sir Launcelot went with his seven
Bleoberis, with more other of Sir Laun-
celot's kin, took on them to ride all fellows to Almesbury, and found there
queen Guenever dead, whom they brought
England overthwart and endlong, to to
seek Sir Launcelot. So Sir Bors by Glastonbury.
fortune rode so long till he came to the Then Sir Launcelot rose up or day,
same chapel where Sir Launcelot was. and told the hermit. It were well done,
And so Sir Bors heard a little bell knell said the hermit, that ye made you ready,
that rang to mass, and there he alight, and that ye disobey not the vision.
and heard mass. And when mass was Then Sir Launcelot took his seven fel-
done, the bishop, Sir Launcelot, and Sir lows with him, and on foot they went
Bedivere came to Sir Bors. And when from Glastonbury to Almesbury, the
Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot in that man- which is little more than thirty miles.
ner clothing, then he prated the bishop And came within two days,
thither they
that he might be in the same suit. And for they were weak and feeble to go.
so there was an habit put upon him, and And when Sir Launcelot was come to
there he lived in prayers and fasting. Almesbury, within the nunnery, queen
CHAP. XI. OF THE DEATH OF GUENEVER. 485
Guenever died but half an hour before. and with her so when I saw his corpse
;
And the ladies told Sir Launcelot that and her corpse so lie together, truly
queen Guenever told them all, or she mine heart would not serve to sustain
passed, that Sir Launcelot had been my careful body. Also when I re-
priest near a twelvemonth,
—
And hither member me, how by my default, mine
he cometh as fast as he may to fetch orgule, and my pride, that they were
my corpse and beside my lord king
: both laid full low, that were peerless that
Arthur he shall bury me. Wherefore ever was living of christian people, wit
the queen said in hearing of them all, you well, said Sir Launcelot, this re-
I beseech Almighty God that I may membered, of their kindness and mine
never have power to see Sir Launcelot unkindness, sank so to my heart, that I
with my worldly eyes. And thus, said might not sustain myself. So the French
all was ever her prayer these
the ladies, book maketh mention.
two days, till she was dead. Then Sir
Launcelot saw her visage, but he wept CHAP. XII.
not greatly, but sighed. And so he did
all the observance of the service himself,
How Sir Launcelot began to sicken, and
both the Dirige, and on the morn he after died, whose body was borne to
Joyous Gard for to be buried.
sang mass. And there was ordained an
horse bier and so with an hundred
; Then Sir Launcelot never after eat
torches ever burning about the corpse of but little meat, nor drank, till he was
the queen, and ever Sir Launcelot with dead; for then he sickened more and
his eight fellows went about the horse more, and dried and d wined away for ;
bier singing and reading many an holy the bishop nor none of his fellows might
orison, and frankincense upon the corpse not make him to eat, and little he
incensed. Thus Sir Launcelot and his drank, that he was waxen by a cubit
eight fellows went on foot from Almes- shorter than he was, that the people
bury unto Glastonbury and when they
; could not know him for evermore day
;
were come to the chapel and the her- and night he prayed, but sometime he
mitage, there she had a Dirige with slumbered a broken sleep, and ever
great devotion. And on the morn the he was lying groveling on the tomb of
hermit, that sometime was bishop of king Arthur and queen Guenever. And
Canterbury, sang the mass of Requiem there was no comfort that the bishop,
with great devotion and Sir Launcelot
: nor Sir Bors, nor none of his fellows
was the first that offered, and then all could make him, it availed not. So
his eight fellows. And then she was within six weeks after, Sir Launcelot
wrapped in cered cloth of Raines, fell sick, and lay in his bed and then
;
from the top to the toe in thirty fold, he sent for the bishop that there was
and after she was put in a web of lead, hermit, and all his true fellows. Then
and then in a coffin of marble. And Sir Launcelot said with dreary voice,
when she was put in the earth, Sir Sir bishop, I pray you give to me all my
Launcelot swooned, and lay long still, rights that longeth to a christian man.
while the hermit came out and awaked It shall not need you, said the hermit
him, and said, Ye be to blame, for ye and all his fellows, it is but heaviness of
displease God with such manner of your blood ye shall be well amended
:
celot, I trust I do not displease God, lords, said Sir Launcelot, wit you well,
for He knoweth mine intent, for my my careful body will into the earth. I
sorrow was not, nor is not, for any have warning more then now I will say,
rejoicing of sin, but my sorrow may therefore give me my rights. So when
never have end. For when I re- he was houseled and eneled, and had
member of her beauty, and of her all that a christian man ought to have,
noblesse, that was both with her king he prayed the bisjiop that his fellows
4 86 MORTE D ARTHUR. BOOK XXI.
might bear his body to Joyous Gard. and ever his visage was laid open and
Some men say it was Anwick, and some naked, that all folk might behold him ;
men say it was Bamborow. Howbeit, for such was the custom in those days,
said Sir Launcelot, me repenteth sore, that all men
of worship should so lie
but I made mine avow sometime that in with open visage till that they were
Joyous Gard would be buried, and be-
I buried. And right thus as they were at
cause of breaking of mine avow, I pray their service, there came Sir Ector de
you all lead me thither. Then there Maris, that had seven year sought all
was weeping and wringing of hands England, Scotland, and Wales, seeking
among his fellows. So at a season of his brother Sir Launcelot.
the night they went all to their beds,
for they all lay in one chamber. And CHAP. XIII.
so after midnight, against day, the
How Sir Ector found Sir Launcelot bis
bishop that was hermit, as he lay in brother dead. And how Constantine
his bed asleep, he fell upon a great
reigned next after Arthur, and of the
laughter; and therewith all the fellow-, end of this book.
ship awoke, and came unto the bishop,
and asked him what he ailed. Alas, And when Sir Ector heard such
said the bishop, why did ye awake me, noise and light in the quire of Joyous
I was never in all my life so merry and Gard, he alight and put his horse
so well at ease. Wherefore? said Sir from him, and came into the quire,
Bors. Truly, said the bishop, here was and there he saw men sing and weep.
Sir Launcelot with me, with more And all they knew Sir Ector, but he
angels than ever I saw men upon one knew not them. Then went Sir Bors
day; and I saw the angels heave Sir unto Sir Ector, and told him how there
Launcelot unto heaven, and the gates of lay his brother Sir Launcelot dead.
heaven opened against him. It is but And then Sir Ector threw his shield,
the vexing of dreams, said Sir Bors, for sword, and helm from him and when ;
I doubt not Sir Launcelot aileth nothing he beheld Sir Launcelot's visage he
but good. It may well be, said the fell down in a swoon. And when he
bishop, go ye to his bed, and then shall awaked it were hard any tongue to
ye prove the sooth. So when Sir Bors tell the doleful
complaints that he made
and his fellows came to his bed they for his brother. Ah, Launcelot, he
found him stark dead, and he lay as he said, thou were head of all christian
had smiled, and the sweetest savour knights and now I dare say, said Sir
;
about him that ever they felt. Then Ector, thou Sir Launcelot, there thou
was there weeping and wringing of liest, that thou were never matched of
hands, and the greatest dole they made earthly knight's hand and thou were
;
that ever made men. And on the morn the courtiest knight that ever bare
the bishop did his mass of Requiem ;
shield ;
and thou were the truest friend
and after the bishop and all the nine to thy lover that ever bestrode horse;
knights put Sir Launcelot in the same and thou were the truest lover of a sinful
horse bier that queen Guenever was laid man that ever loved woman and thou ;
in tofore that she was buried and so : were the kindest man that ever strake
the bishop and they altogether went with sword and thou were the good-
;
with the corpse of Sir Launcelot daily, liest person ever came among press of
till
they came to Joyous Gard, and ever knights and thou was the meekest
;
they had an hundred torches burning man and the gentlest that ever ate in
about him; and so within fifteen days hall among ladies and thou were the
;
they came to Joyous Gard. And there sternest knight to thy mortal foe that
they laid his corpse in the body of the ever put spear in the rest.
quire, and sang and read many psalters Then there was weeping and dolour
and prayers over htm and about him; out of measure. Thus they kept Sir
CHAP. XIII. THE END OF THE WHOLE BOOK. 487
Launcelot's corpse on loft fifteen days, book maketh mention, and authorised, is
and then they buried it with great devo- that Sir Bors, Sir Ector, Sir Blamor,
tion. And then at leisure they went all and Sir Bleoberis, went into the holy
with the bishop of Canterbury to his land, there as Jesu Christ was quick
hermitage, and there they were together and dead, and anon as they had sta-
more than a month. Then Sir Con- blished their lands for the book saith
;
stantine, that was Sir Cador's son, of so Sir Launcelot commanded them for
Cornwall, was chosen king of England ;
to do, or ever he passed out of this
and he was a full noble knight, and world. And these four knights did
worshipfully he ruled this realm. And many battles upon the miscreants or
then this king Constantine sent for the Turks. And there they died upon a
bishop of Canterbury, for he heard say Good Friday, for God's sake.
where he was; and so he was re- Here is the end of the whole book of
stored unto his bishopric, and left that king Arthur, and of his noble knights
hermitage; and Sir Bedivere was there of the Round Table, that when they
ever still hermit to his life's end. Then were whole together there was ever an
Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, hundred and forty. And here is the
Sir Gahalantine, Sir Galihud, Sir Gali- end of the Death of Arthur. I pray
hodin, Sir Blamor, Sir Bleoberis, Sir you allgentlemen and gentlewomen
Williars le Valiant, Sir Clarrus of Clere- that read this book of Arthur and his
mont all these knights drew them to
; knights from the beginning to the end-
their countries. Howbeit king Con- ing, pray for me while I am on live that
stantine would have had them with God send me good deliverance, and
him, but they would not abide in this when I am dead, I pray you all pray
realm and there they lived in their
;
for my soul ; for this book was ended
countries as holy men. And some the ninth year of the reign of king
English books make mention that they Edward the Fourth by Sir Thomas
went never out of England after the Maleore, knight, as Jesu help him for
death of Sir Launcelot, but that was his great might, as he is the servant of
but favour of makers. For the French Jesu both day and night.
€1 Z\)\\$ entJetl) tf)gs noble ant) Jlogou* book entgtleti le morte Bat-
X\)\xx / Nottottjhgtontigng it treatetl) of tf)e bgrtl) / Igf / ant) acteg of tlje
<$agt) fegnge &rtl;ur/of l)te noble kngcjljtes of tjje rountie table /tijegr
'
Ohye mighty and pompous lords, shining in the glory transitory of this
unstable life, as in reigning over realms great, and mighty countries, fortified with
strong castles and towers, edified with many a rich city. Ye also, ye fierce and
mighty chivalers, so valiant in adventurous deeds of arms, behold, behold, see how
this mighty conqueror Arthur, whom in his human life all the world doubted
ye
—
also, the noble queen Guenever, that sometime sat in her chair adorned with gold,
pearls, and precious stones, now lie full low in obscure foss or pit covered with
clods of earth and clay. Behold also this mighty champion Launcelot, peerless of
knighthood, see now how he lieth groveling on the cold mould, now being so feeble
and faint that sometime was so terrible, how and in what manner ought ye to be
so desirous of the mundane honour so dangerous. Therefore me thinketh this
present book called La Morte Darthur is right necessary often to be read, for in it
shall ye find the gracious, knightly, and virtuous war of most noble knights of the
world, whereby they gat praising continual. Also me seemeth by the oft reading
thereof ye shall greatly desire to accustom yourself in following of those gracious
knightly deeds, that is to say, to dread God, and to love rightwiseness, faithfully
and courageously to serve your sovereign prince. And the more that God hath
given you the triumphal honour the meeker ye ought to be, ever fearing the un-
stableness of this deceivable world. And so I pass over, and turn again to my
matter.'
NOTE B.
For those who may care to see more of the manner in which the text of the
interpolated passages has been formed, give
I the following specimens in detail.
The first is from the beginning of the nth Chapter of Book XXI.
CAXTON.
syr Launcelot rose vp or day/& tolde the heremyte/It were wel done
Than
'
sayd the heremyte that ye made you redy/& that ye dyshobeye not the auysyon/
Than syr Launcelot toke his vii felowes with hym/& on fote they yede from
glastynburye to almysburye the whyche is lytel more than xxx myle/& thyder
they came within two dayes for they were wayke and feble to goo/& whan syr
Launcelot was come to almysburye within the Nunerye quene gweneuer deyed but
halfe an oure afore/and the ladyes tolde syr Launcelot that quene Gueneuer tolde
hem al or she passyd/that syr Launcelot had been preest nere a twelue monthe/&
hyder he cometh as faste as he may to fetch my cors/& besyde my lord kyng
Arthur he shal berye me/'
NOTES. 489
UPCOTT.
1
Than syr Launcelot rose vp or it was day, and tolde the heremyte therof. It
were well done sayd the heremyte that ye made you redy, and that ye dysobeye not
thys aduysyon. Thene syr Launcelot toke his .vii. felawes with hym, & on foote
they yede from Glastynbury to Almesbury, the whyche is lytyl more than xxx myle.
And thyder they came wythin two dayes for they were weyke and feble to go.
And whan syr Launcelot was come to Almesbury wythin the Nonnery, quene
Gweneuer deyed but halfe an houre afore. And the ladyes tolde syre Launcelot
that quene Gueneuer tolde them all or she passyd, that syr Launcelot had been
preest nere a twelue moneth, and hither he cometh as faste as he may for to fetche
my corps. And besyde my lorde kynge Arthur he shal burye me.'
The last lines of the same Chapter are as follows :
—
CAXTON.
1
For whan I remembre of hir beaulte and of hir noblesse that was bothe with hyr
king & with hyr/So whan I sawe his corps and hir corps so lye togyders/truly myn
herte wold not serue to susteyne my careful body/ Also whan I rernebre me how
by my defaut & myn orgule and my pryde/that they were bothe layed ful lowe
that were pereles that euer was lyuyng of cristen people, wyt you wel sayd syr
Launcelot/this remembred of there kyndnes and myn vnkyndnes sanke so to myn
herte that I mi3t not susteyne myself so the frensshe book maketh mencyon.'
UPCOTT,
(Who follows Wynkyn de Worde exactly, except in the spelling, and in the in-
sertion of '
me' after '
wold not serue.')
For whan I remembre db calle to my tide her beaute, bountee <£• noblesse, that was
'
as wel wyth her kyng my lord Arthur as wyth her. And also whanne I saw the
corses of that noble hinge <£? noble quene so lye to gyder in that colde grave made 0/
erthe, that somtyme were so hyghly sette in moost honourable places, truly myn herte
wolde not serue me to susteyne my wretchyd & carefull body. Also whan I
remembre me how by my defawte myn orgulyte and my pride, that they were both
layed full lowe whyche were pereles that euer were lyuenge of crysten peple, wyte
yow wel sayd syr Launcelot, this remembred, of ther kyndnesse & of myn vnkynd-
nesse, sanke and enprest soo in to my herte that all my natural strengthe fayled me, so
that I myghte not susteyne
my selfe. Soo the frensshe boke makyth mencyon.'
490 NOTES.
stondyng it treateth of the byrth/ lyf/and actes of the sayd kynge Arthur/of his
noble knyghtes of the rounde table/theyr meruayllous enquestes and aduentures/
thachyeuyng of the sangreal/& in thende the dolourous deth & departyng out of
thys world ofthem al/Whiche book was reduced in to englysshe by syr Thomas
Malory knyght as afore is sayd/and by me deuyded in to xxi bookes chapytred and
enprynted/and fynysshed in thabbey westmestre the last day of Iuyl the yere of our
lord M/CCCC/lxxx/V/ Caxton me fieri fecit.'/
'
Thus endyth noble and Ioyous boke entytled Le morte dathur. Notwyth-
this
AMES.
'
Thus endeth this noble and joyous boke, entytled La morte d' Arthur. Not-
withstondyng it lyf, and actes of
treateth of the byrth, the sayd Kynge Arthur, of
his noble knyghts of the rounde table, theyr merueylous enquestes and aduentures,
thacheuynge of the Sancgreal, and in the ende the dolourous deth and depaytynge
out of this worlde of them al whyche boke was reduced into Englysshe by syr
;
Thomas Malory, Knight, as afore is sayd, and by me devyded into xxi. bookes,
chapitred and enprynted, and fynisshed in thabbey, Westmestre, the last day of
Juyl, the yere of our Lord MCCCCLXXXV. Caxton me fieri fecit.'
HARLEIAN CATALOGUE.
'The Byrth, Lyf, and Actes of Kyng Arthur; of his noble Knyghtes of the
Rounde Table, theyr marvayllous Enquestes and Adventures the Achyeviyng of
;
the Sang real and in the end le Morte d' Arthur, with the dolourous Deth and
;
Departyng out of thys world of them Al. Whiche Book was reduced 'to the
Englysshe, by Syr Thomas Malory Knyght, and by me (W. Caxton) devyded into
21 bookes, chaptyred and
emprynted, and fynyshed in th' Abbey Westmestre, the
last day of July, the yere of our Lord 1485.'
NOTES.
" 49 1
UPCOTT.
Thus endeth this noble &
joyous booke entytled La Mort dathur. Notwyth-
standing it treateth of the byrth, lyf & acles of the sayd Kynge Arthur, <fc of his
noble knyghtes of the Rounde Table, theyr marueyllous Enquestes & aduentures;
thacheyuyng of the Sang real, and in the ende le Morte darthur with the dolourous
deth and departyng out of thys worlde of them al. Whiche booke was reduced in
to Englysshe by Syr Thomas Malory knyght as afore is sayd, and by me deuyded in
to xxi bookes chaptyred and emprynted and fynysshed in thabbey Westmestre the
last day of July the yere of our lord MCCCCLXXXV. Caxton me fieri fecit?
the spelling of dathur is peculiar to Wynkyn de Worde, who has it also in another
passage ; the words le Morte darthur with are in the Harleian Catalogue only as :
Sang real 1
, and the spelling of chaptyred, emprynted, July, are those of the Harleian
Catalogue : the & introduced after Arthur in the second line is only in Upcott.
Caxton me fieri fecit is in Ames, but not Harleian Catalogue.
in the
to all which I have given in the passage of the Introduction to which this is a
Note. The words of the colophon are omitted in the Harleian Catalogue,
first
which gives it as the title of the book, as do the Biographia Britannica and
Herbert. The framer of the Catalogue probably quotes directly, though inaccu-
rately, from the Harleian (now the Osterley) Morte Darthur and Ames must have :
made his extract independently from the same volume. Dibdin attributes both
the Harleian Catalogue and the article in the Biographia Britannica to Oldys.
1
The division of the word indicates that nobili corpus Domini deposuit de
qui
the writer adopts the plausible notion that cruce, et de catino illo vel paropside in
Sangreal means Real (or Royal) Blood ; quo Dominus coenavit cum discipulis suis ;
and no doubt in ancient as well as mo- de qua ab eodeni eremita descripta est
dern times the spelling and sound would historia quae dicitur de Gradal. Gradalis
suggest this meaning but Roquefort shows : autem vel Gradale dicitur Gallice scutella
clearly that the other is the proper expla- lata et aliquantulumprofunda in qua
nation, bom in etymology and
(so to speak) pretiosae dapes, cum
suo jure, divitibus
historically. And Helinand, a monk of solent apponi, et dicitur nomine Graal. . . .
Fromont (a.d. 7 1 7), gives the Latin Gra- Iianc historiam latine scriptam invenire
date, which supplies the link between Graal non potui, sed tantum Gallice scripta
and Crater from which Roquefort derives habetur a quibusdam proceribus, nee facile
the former. Helinand's words are, Hoc — '
ut aiunt tota inveniri potest.' Helinandi
tempore, in Britannia, cuidam eremitae Historia, quoted in L'Essai Historique et
monstrata est mirabilis quaedam visio per Literaire sur l'Abbaye de Fecamp par
The following Index includes a Glossary of words now obsolete, or used with new
meanings. Those proper names which in the text are spelt in more than one way, or
have different epithets, are repeated in each of such forms, but without cross references.
These have not been thought necessary, as their absence can hardly lead to mistake
as to the identity of the names.
fights Sir Tristram, 238; 243, 251, 256, the gate of a castle, 156.
262,274,279; cries a just, 286; is at Barflete (in Flanders), 101.
Lonazep, 303 justs with Sir Dinadan,
; Barget, a little barge, 431.
305; visits vSir Tristram, 315; 330; Barham Down, near Canterbury, 477.
Sir Launcelot returns to him, 344; Mr. Wright says it is the site of an
sees marvels. 35,0; glad to see the Anglo-Saxon cemetery, which, no
remnant of his knights, 41 1 415; ; doubt, suggested that a battle had
holds a tourney at Winchester, 420; been fought there.
425 justs, 434 449 hears the charge
; ; ; Baronage, 265.
against Guenever, 452; faints, 459; Barony, 96, 450.
lays siege to Joyous Gard, 461 goes ;
Basdemegus, 57.
to war with Sir Launcelot, 470 his ; Battle, 264.
GLOSSARY AND INDEX. 495
Battles, armies, battalions, 105, 265. Betid, happened, was; or, beat, 141,
Baudwin of Britain, Sir, 30, 31, 101 ; is 332.
a surgeon, 423 428. ; Bishop, the first, 407.
Bayonne, 469. Black, all, 133.
Beale Isould, 101. Blamore de Ganis, Sir, 139, 173, 176,
Beale- Valet, castle of, 262. 179, 224, 230, 277, 413, 421, 448;
Beame, trumpet, 478. made a duke, 469 ; 484,
Beam, earl of, 469. Bleise, 41.
Beaumains (Fair-hands), 129; is called Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir, 38, 139, 154,
a kitchen-boy, 135; 140; beats the >73. '75. 177. *79> i99> 2o8 22 3> 2 3i> >
red knight of the red lawns, 143 148. ; 275, 278, 287, 317, 413, 421, 435,
Beaume (Bayonne), 469. 448 made a duke, 469 484.
; ;
Bedegraine, forest of, 34 castle of, 35 ; ; Bliant, Sir, 338 castle of, 341.
;
Belias le Orgulous, Sir, is slain, 459. 33°; 333, 343. 3^1; joins in the
Belinus, king of Britain, 99. quest, 383; 387, 390, 392, 397, 401,
Bellangere (a constable), 268. 407 ; has his adventures chronicled,
Bellangere le Orgulous, Sir, 449. 411; 413, 421; finds Sir Launcelot
Bellaus, 40. ill, 427 ; 435, 448 ; is crowned, 469 ;
Gad, spike or knob of iron or steel, 58, 63 Arthur promises to make him
;
Gahalatine, Sir, 115, 116, 128. Sir Marhaus, 88; 91, 95, 96; smites
Gaheris, Sir, 42, 56, 66, 87, 117, 127, off Sir Gainus' head, 103 107 fights ; ;
223, 227, 231, 260, 277, 279, 28 r, 250, 128, 139. J 45> I49» ! 52» I54» T 58,
334, 413, 421, 43 u 44 8 is slain 459- ; > 169, 184, 196, 219, 229; is beaten by
Gainest, readiest, 145. Sir Lamorak, 258 261, 279, 288, 302,
;
Galahad, Sir, 60, 63, 75, 183, 325; is burning Guenever, 457 loses his ;
Galatine (Sir Gawaine's good sword), supper gnawing a man's limbs, twelve
104, 107. children are being broached on spits,
Galihodin, Sir, 152, 154, 282, 301, 4 13, 102 is killed by Arthur, 103.
;
Hervis de Revel, Sir, 56; chosen a Jordanus, Sir, 26, (Jordans) 27.
knight of the Table Round, 78. Joseph of Arimathea, 60, 326, 350, 356,
Hervise de la Forest Savage, Sir, 449. 375» 406.
Hew de la Montaine, 222. Joshua, duke, 108, 396.
Hewgon, Sir, 273. Journey, day's work, 268.
Hight, was called, 25. Joyous Gard, castle of,177, 285, 301,
Ho halt the word
! ! for stopping a 317, 321, 325, 345, 456; Guenever is
tournament, 40, 278. taken
to, 459; is besieged, 461 now ;
Holt, a hill with a grove on it, 480. Dolorous Gard, 468 some say it was
;
'
Lambaile, earl of, 282, 448. fights with Sir Gawaine, 473 returns ;
Lambegus, Sir, 186, 187, 190, 448; is to England, and finds Guenever in a
slain,
459. nunnery, 482 buries Guenever, and
;
152, 160, 188, 190, 192, 194, 197, the earth, 435 443 made a knight of
; ;
2o5, 226, 245 ; fights Sir Palamides, the Table Round, 450 455, 468, 469. ;
court, 344; not the best knight, 352 ; over Sir Bors, 388 cloud separates,
;
Isles, now submerged. But more Maidens, castle of, 219, 225, 228, 293,
probably St. Pol de Leon in Brittany 359-
is meant. Maker, author, poet, 487.
Lionors, 41. Mal-ease, bad plight, 196.
Lionses, 33, 38. Maledisant, damsel, 199 called Bien- ;
returns to, 424; tower of, besieged, his six sons, 95 kills the giant Tau-
;
Magons, traitors of, 283. for her, 439 accuses her of treason,
;
229, 248, 261, 274, 279, 336,412,421, Noseling, on his nose, 395.
435, 448 takes Arthur sad news, 457
; ; Noyous, injurious, 398.
will make trouble, 469 has the rule ; Nunnery, 27, 185.
of Arthur's land, 470; usurps Eng- Nuns, 84, 85, 348.
land, and tries to wed Guenever, 474 ;
Pageant, 316. his own flesh, 372 393, 398 lays his
; ;
Palamides the Saracen, Sir, 43, 139, 52, 1 dead sister in a barge, 401 dies, 410 ; ;
90; 98, 122, 418, 435, 438, 449. Pight, pitched, 25.
Pelles, king, 326, 330, 351, 375, 395, Pike, take away, 237, 468.
404, 407. Piller, plunderer, 479.
Pellinore, king, 43, 46, 48, 56, 66, 72, Pillounes, 204.
75; sent for by Arthur to go with Pinel, 36.
him to fight, 76; 193, 218, 256, 334, Pinel le Savage, Sir, tries to poison Sir
393- ,
Gawaine, 413; flies, 4 18.
Pellogris, 204. Placidas, Sir, 34.
Pellounes, Sir, 221. Plaine de Amoure, Sir, 203.
Pelownes. castle of, 321. Plaine de Force, Sir, 203, 449
Pelowres, Pillers, men who fight for Plains, earl of, 388.
pillage, 281. Pleasance, land of, no.
Pendragon, castle of, 201, 202. Plenorius, Sir, 203, 205, 449, 455,
Pensel, small flag, 280. 469.
Pentecost, 30 feast of, 97 98, 1 25, 1 28,
; ; Pluere, castle of (weeping castle), 181.
148, 345 feast of, and holy graile,
; Plump, clump of trees, 40.
353 432.
; Poictiers, duke of, 469.
Percard, Sir, 1 34 the black knight, 1 38
; ; Pointment, appointment, 478.
149. Pomitain, island of, 277.
Perch, pierce, 184. Pope of Rome, 127, 284; threatens
Percivale de Galis, Sir, 47, 139, 152, Arthur, 464.
259; seeks Sir Tristram, 284; 287, Portingale, country of, 100.
333 5
prays, 337; 342,350,362; comes Potestate, 106.
to a recluse, 365 ; one of the men that Pounce, country, 100.
most believed in Christ, 369 ; punishes Priamus, Sir, 108 is christened, and
;
506 GLOSSARY AND INDEX.
made a knight of the Table Round, Sacring, consecrating, 367.
no; 448; is slain,
459. Sad, heavy: Sadly, steadily, 435.
Pricker, light rider, 108. Sadok, Sir, 152, 268, 283, 304, 448, 469.
Pricking, riding, 368. Safere, Sir, 152, 253, 256, 270, 278,
Pridam le Noire, 382, 383. 320, 413, 421, 435, 455,468.
Prise, the note blown on the death of Sagramore le Desirous, Sir, 96, 123,
the stag, 79. 127, 152, 169, 174, 176, 219, 226,
Prisoner, 231. H 1 * 2 73> 3°2, 333. 399> 4 2I 43$,
>
Rock, lady of the, 96. king of, 152; 168, 285, 333, 397;
Roerge, earl of, 469. king of, 420; 447.
Romans, 99; fight with the Britons, Scots, king of, 177, 434.
104. Scout-watch, 35.
Rome, in, 127, 161. Search, examine by a surgeon, 167.
Rome, emperor of, 45, 98, Selises, 303.
Rome, growl, roar, 10 1. Selises, Sir, 449, 455, 469.
Roted, practised, 271. Selivant, Sir, 338, 339.
Rounspik, a branch with other branches Semound the Valiant, 276.
growing out of it, 126. Sendal, cloth of, a thin silk, 106, 114.
Rowse, duke de la, 156, 160. Seneschal, the chief officer, whether of
Ryons, king, 48, 52 ; brought to Arthur, the household or of the dominions of
55. See Rience. a sovereign, 29, 232.
GLOSSARY AND INDEX. 507
Siege, seat, 65, 78, 137. broken, 327; 350; Arthur's fear of,
Simeon, 406. ,353; is entered into the quest, 363;
Sith; since, 361. 389 more than half the knights are
;
I35o;
Si then, since, 118. slain, the remnant meets again,
405 ;
Soil, To go to, hunting term for taking for ever, 457; 469, 487.
to the water, 433. Taches, qualities, disposition, 163.
Soleise, king of, 76. Tallages, taxes, 99.
Solomon, 395, 397. Tarce, country of, 100.
Sondes, sendings, messages, 475. Taulas, 96.
Sorceress, 447. Tauleas (a giant), 214.
Sorhaute, 42. Taulurd (a giant), 96.
Sorlouse of the Forest, 67. Teen, grief, 107.
Soul, how it left the body, 280. 'Terrabil, castle of. 25, 26, 53, 56.
Southfolk, 477. Thames, river, 431, 440.
South Marches, duke of, 95. Thrall, 361c
Southsex, 268, 477. Thring, push, press, 459.
Sowdan of Surrey, 106. Thrull, pierce, 200.
Spain, 4-1 6. Tintagil, duke of, 25; 26; castle of (a
Spaniards, 100. castle in Cornwall, the ruins of which
162; book of, 163; overcomes Sir his wife wants to kill him, 85 87, ;
attempt to kill, 283 is the best chaser ; Utterance, uttermost (outran ce), 199.
and horn-blower all good terms of ; Uwaine le Blanchemains, Sir (king
venery and hunting came from, 286, Uriens' son), 85 suspected and sent
;
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