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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online +at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, +you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located +before using this eBook. + +Title: A Modest Proposal + +Author: Jonathan Swift + +Release date: October 1, 1997 [eBook #1080] + Most recently updated: October 29, 2024 + +Language: English + +Credits: An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MODEST PROPOSAL *** + +A Modest Proposal + +For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, +from being a burden on their parents or country, +and for making them beneficial to the publick. + +by Dr. Jonathan Swift + +1729 + + + + +It is a melancholy object to those, who walk through this great town, +or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and +cabbin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, +four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every passenger for +an alms. These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest +livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in stroling to beg +sustenance for their helpless infants who, as they grow up, either turn +thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country, to fight +for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes. + +I think it is agreed by all parties, that this prodigious number of +children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their +mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable +state of the kingdom, a very great additional grievance; and therefore +whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these +children sound and useful members of the commonwealth, would deserve so +well of the publick, as to have his statue set up for a preserver of +the nation. + +But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for +the children of professed beggars: it is of a much greater extent, and +shall take in the whole number of infants at a certain age, who are +born of parents in effect as little able to support them, as those who +demand our charity in the streets. + +As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this +important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of our +projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in their +computation. It is true, a child just dropt from its dam, may be +supported by her milk, for a solar year, with little other nourishment: +at most not above the value of two shillings, which the mother may +certainly get, or the value in scraps, by her lawful occupation of +begging; and it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide +for them in such a manner, as, instead of being a charge upon their +parents, or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of +their lives, they shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding, +and partly to the clothing of many thousands. + +There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme, that it will +prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women +murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us, +sacrificing the poor innocent babes, I doubt, more to avoid the expence +than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and +inhuman breast. + +The number of souls in this kingdom being usually reckoned one million +and a half, of these I calculate there may be about two hundred +thousand couple, whose wives are breeders; from which number I subtract +thirty thousand couple, who are able to maintain their own children, +(although I apprehend there cannot be so many under the present +distresses of the kingdom) but this being granted, there will remain a +hundred and seventy thousand breeders. I again subtract fifty thousand, +for those women who miscarry, or whose children die by accident or +disease within the year. There only remain a hundred and twenty +thousand children of poor parents annually born. The question therefore +is, How this number shall be reared and provided for? which, as I have +already said, under the present situation of affairs, is utterly +impossible by all the methods hitherto proposed. For we can neither +employ them in handicraft or agriculture; they neither build houses, (I +mean in the country) nor cultivate land: they can very seldom pick up a +livelihood by stealing till they arrive at six years old; except where +they are of towardly parts, although I confess they learn the rudiments +much earlier; during which time they can however be properly looked +upon only as probationers; as I have been informed by a principal +gentleman in the county of Cavan, who protested to me, that he never +knew above one or two instances under the age of six, even in a part of +the kingdom so renowned for the quickest proficiency in that art. + +I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or a girl, before twelve +years old, is no saleable commodity, and even when they come to this +age, they will not yield above three pounds, or three pounds and half a +crown at most, on the exchange; which cannot turn to account either to +the parents or kingdom, the charge of nutriments and rags having been +at least four times that value. + +I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will +not be liable to the least objection. + +I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in +London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a +most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, +baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a +fricasee, or a ragoust. + +I do therefore humbly offer it to publick consideration, that of the +hundred and twenty thousand children, already computed, twenty thousand +may be reserved for breed, whereof only one fourth part to be males; +which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle, or swine, and my +reason is, that these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a +circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore, one male will +be sufficient to serve four females. That the remaining hundred +thousand may, at a year old, be offered in sale to the persons of +quality and fortune, through the kingdom, always advising the mother to +let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them +plump, and fat for a good table. A child will make two dishes at an +entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore or +hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little +pepper or salt, will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially +in winter. + +I have reckoned upon a medium, that a child just born will weigh 12 +pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, encreaseth to 28 +pounds. + +I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for +landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem +to have the best title to the children. + +Infant’s flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more +plentiful in March, and a little before and after; for we are told by a +grave author, an eminent French physician, that fish being a prolifick +dyet, there are more children born in Roman Catholick countries about +nine months after Lent, than at any other season; therefore, reckoning +a year after Lent, the markets will be more glutted than usual, because +the number of Popish infants, is at least three to one in this kingdom, +and therefore it will have one other collateral advantage, by lessening +the number of Papists among us. + +I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar’s child (in +which list I reckon all cottagers, labourers, and four-fifths of the +farmers) to be about two shillings per annum, rags included; and I +believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass +of a good fat child, which, as I have said, will make four dishes of +excellent nutritive meat, when he hath only some particular friend, or +his own family to dine with him. Thus the squire will learn to be a +good landlord, and grow popular among his tenants, the mother will have +eight shillings neat profit, and be fit for work till she produces +another child. + +Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may +flay the carcass; the skin of which, artificially dressed, will make +admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen. + +As to our City of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose, +in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will +not be wanting; although I rather recommend buying the children alive, +and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs. + +A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I +highly esteem, was lately pleased in discoursing on this matter, to +offer a refinement upon my scheme. He said, that many gentlemen of this +kingdom, having of late destroyed their deer, he conceived that the +want of venison might be well supplied by the bodies of young lads and +maidens, not exceeding fourteen years of age, nor under twelve; so +great a number of both sexes in every county being now ready to starve +for want of work and service: and these to be disposed of by their +parents if alive, or otherwise by their nearest relations. But with due +deference to so excellent a friend, and so deserving a patriot, I +cannot be altogether in his sentiments; for as to the males, my +American acquaintance assured me from frequent experience, that their +flesh was generally tough and lean, like that of our schoolboys, by +continual exercise, and their taste disagreeable, and to fatten them +would not answer the charge. Then as to the females, it would, I think, +with humble submission, be a loss to the publick, because they soon +would become breeders themselves: and besides, it is not improbable +that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice, +(although indeed very unjustly) as a little bordering upon cruelty, +which, I confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection +against any project, how well soever intended. + +But in order to justify my friend, he confessed, that this expedient +was put into his head by the famous Psalmanaazor, a native of the +island Formosa, who came from thence to London, above twenty years ago, +and in conversation told my friend, that in his country, when any young +person happened to be put to death, the executioner sold the carcass to +persons of quality, as a prime dainty; and that, in his time, the body +of a plump girl of fifteen, who was crucified for an attempt to poison +the Emperor, was sold to his imperial majesty’s prime minister of +state, and other great mandarins of the court in joints from the +gibbet, at four hundred crowns. Neither indeed can I deny, that if the +same use were made of several plump young girls in this town, who +without one single groat to their fortunes, cannot stir abroad without +a chair, and appear at a playhouse and assemblies in foreign fineries +which they never will pay for, the kingdom would not be the worse. + +Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that +vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed; and I +have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to +ease the nation of so grievous an incumbrance. But I am not in the +least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known, that they +are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth, and +vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. And as to the young +labourers, they are now in almost as hopeful a condition. They cannot +get work, and consequently pine away from want of nourishment, to a +degree, that if at any time they are accidentally hired to common +labour, they have not strength to perform it, and thus the country and +themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come. + +I have too long digressed, and therefore shall return to my subject. I +think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and +many, as well as of the highest importance. + +For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the +number of Papists, with whom we are yearly overrun, being the principal +breeders of the nation, as well as our most dangerous enemies, and who +stay at home on purpose with a design to deliver the kingdom to the +Pretender, hoping to take their advantage by the absence of so many +good Protestants, who have chosen rather to leave their country, than +stay at home and pay tithes against their conscience to an episcopal +curate. + +Secondly, The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, +which by law may be made liable to a distress, and help to pay their +landlord’s rent, their corn and cattle being already seized, and money +a thing unknown. + +Thirdly, Whereas the maintainance of a hundred thousand children, from +two years old, and upwards, cannot be computed at less than ten +shillings a piece per annum, the nation’s stock will be thereby +encreased fifty thousand pounds per annum, besides the profit of a new +dish, introduced to the tables of all gentlemen of fortune in the +kingdom, who have any refinement in taste. And the money will circulate +among our selves, the goods being entirely of our own growth and +manufacture. + +Fourthly, The constant breeders, besides the gain of eight shillings +sterling per annum by the sale of their children, will be rid of the +charge of maintaining them after the first year. + +Fifthly, This food would likewise bring great custom to taverns, where +the vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best +receipts for dressing it to perfection; and consequently have their +houses frequented by all the fine gentlemen, who justly value +themselves upon their knowledge in good eating; and a skilful cook, who +understands how to oblige his guests, will contrive to make it as +expensive as they please. + +Sixthly, This would be a great inducement to marriage, which all wise +nations have either encouraged by rewards, or enforced by laws and +penalties. It would encrease the care and tenderness of mothers towards +their children, when they were sure of a settlement for life to the +poor babes, provided in some sort by the publick, to their annual +profit instead of expence. We should soon see an honest emulation among +the married women, which of them could bring the fattest child to the +market. Men would become as fond of their wives, during the time of +their pregnancy, as they are now of their mares in foal, their cows in +calf, or sows when they are ready to farrow; nor offer to beat or kick +them (as is too frequent a practice) for fear of a miscarriage. + +Many other advantages might be enumerated. For instance, the addition +of some thousand carcasses in our exportation of barrel’d beef: the +propagation of swine’s flesh, and improvement in the art of making good +bacon, so much wanted among us by the great destruction of pigs, too +frequent at our tables; which are no way comparable in taste or +magnificence to a well grown, fat yearling child, which roasted whole +will make a considerable figure at a Lord Mayor’s feast, or any other +publick entertainment. But this, and many others, I omit, being +studious of brevity. + +Supposing that one thousand families in this city, would be constant +customers for infants flesh, besides others who might have it at merry +meetings, particularly at weddings and christenings, I compute that +Dublin would take off annually about twenty thousand carcasses; and the +rest of the kingdom (where probably they will be sold somewhat cheaper) +the remaining eighty thousand. + +I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against +this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people +will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom. This I freely own, and +was indeed one principal design in offering it to the world. I desire +the reader will observe, that I calculate my remedy for this one +individual Kingdom of Ireland, and for no other that ever was, is, or, +I think, ever can be upon Earth. Therefore let no man talk to me of +other expedients: Of taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound: Of +using neither clothes, nor houshold furniture, except what is of our +own growth and manufacture: Of utterly rejecting the materials and +instruments that promote foreign luxury: Of curing the expensiveness of +pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women: Of introducing a vein +of parsimony, prudence and temperance: Of learning to love our country, +wherein we differ even from Laplanders, and the inhabitants of +Topinamboo: Of quitting our animosities and factions, nor acting any +longer like the Jews, who were murdering one another at the very moment +their city was taken: Of being a little cautious not to sell our +country and consciences for nothing: Of teaching landlords to have at +least one degree of mercy towards their tenants. Lastly, of putting a +spirit of honesty, industry, and skill into our shopkeepers, who, if a +resolution could now be taken to buy only our native goods, would +immediately unite to cheat and exact upon us in the price, the measure, +and the goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair +proposal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it. + +Therefore I repeat, let no man talk to me of these and the like +expedients, till he hath at least some glympse of hope, that there will +ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them into practice. + +But, as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering +vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of +success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal, which, as it is wholly +new, so it hath something solid and real, of no expence and little +trouble, full in our own power, and whereby we can incur no danger in +disobliging England. For this kind of commodity will not bear +exportation, and flesh being of too tender a consistence, to admit a +long continuance in salt, although perhaps I could name a country, +which would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it. + +After all, I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion, as to reject +any offer, proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally innocent, +cheap, easy, and effectual. But before something of that kind shall be +advanced in contradiction to my scheme, and offering a better, I desire +the author or authors will be pleased maturely to consider two points. +First, As things now stand, how they will be able to find food and +raiment for a hundred thousand useless mouths and backs. And secondly, +There being a round million of creatures in humane figure throughout +this kingdom, whose whole subsistence put into a common stock, would +leave them in debt two million of pounds sterling, adding those who are +beggars by profession, to the bulk of farmers, cottagers and labourers, +with their wives and children, who are beggars in effect; I desire +those politicians who dislike my overture, and may perhaps be so bold +to attempt an answer, that they will first ask the parents of these +mortals, whether they would not at this day think it a great happiness +to have been sold for food at a year old, in the manner I prescribe, +and thereby have avoided such a perpetual scene of misfortunes, as they +have since gone through, by the oppression of landlords, the +impossibility of paying rent without money or trade, the want of common +sustenance, with neither house nor clothes to cover them from the +inclemencies of the weather, and the most inevitable prospect of +intailing the like, or greater miseries, upon their breed for ever. + +I profess in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least +personal interest in endeavouring to promote this necessary work, +having no other motive than the publick good of my country, by +advancing our trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and +giving some pleasure to the rich. I have no children, by which I can +propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and +my wife past child-bearing. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MODEST PROPOSAL *** + + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. 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If you are not located in the United States, +you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located +before using this eBook. + +Title: Le Morte d'Arthur: Volume 1 + +Author: Sir Thomas Malory + +Release date: March 1, 1998 [eBook #1251] + Most recently updated: October 29, 2024 + +Language: English + +Credits: Produced by Mike Lough, and David Widger + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LE MORTE D'ARTHUR: VOLUME 1 *** + +Le Morte D’Arthur +King Arthur and of his Noble Knights of the Round Table + +by Thomas Malory + + +IN TWO VOLS.—VOL. I + + +Contents + + BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + PREFACE OF WILLIAM CAXTON + + BOOK I. + + CHAPTER I. First, How Uther Pendragon sent for the duke of Cornwall + and Igraine his wife, and of their departing suddenly again. + + CHAPTER II. How Uther Pendragon made war on the duke of Cornwall, and + how by the mean of Merlin he lay by the duchess and gat Arthur. + + CHAPTER III. Of the birth of King Arthur and of his nurture. + + CHAPTER IV. Of the death of King Uther Pendragon. + + CHAPTER V. How Arthur was chosen king, and of wonders and marvels of a + sword taken out of a stone by the said Arthur. + + CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur pulled out the sword divers times. + + CHAPTER VII. How King Arthur was crowned, and how he made officers. + + CHAPTER VIII. How King Arthur held in Wales, at a Pentecost, a great + feast, and what kings and lords came to his feast. + + CHAPTER IX. Of the first war that King Arthur had, and how he won the + field. + + CHAPTER X. How Merlin counselled King Arthur to send for King Ban and + King Bors, and of their counsel taken for the war. + + CHAPTER XI. Of a great tourney made by King Arthur and the two kings + Ban and Bors, and how they went over the sea. + + CHAPTER XII. How eleven kings gathered a great host against King + Arthur. + + CHAPTER XIII. Of a dream of the King with the Hundred Knights. + + CHAPTER XIV. How the eleven kings with their host fought against + Arthur and his host, and many great feats of the war. + + CHAPTER XV. Yet of the same battle. + + CHAPTER XVI. Yet more of the same battle. + + CHAPTER XVII. Yet more of the same battle, and how it was ended by + Merlin. + + CHAPTER XVIII. How King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors rescued King + Leodegrance, and other incidents. + + CHAPTER XIX. How King Arthur rode to Carlion, and of his dream, and + how he saw the questing beast. + + CHAPTER XX. How King Pellinore took Arthur's horse and followed the + Questing Beast, and how Merlin met with Arthur. + + CHAPTER XXI. How Ulfius impeached Queen Igraine, Arthur's mother, of + treason; and how a knight came and desired to have the death of his + master revenged. + + CHAPTER XXII. How Griflet was made knight, and jousted with a knight + + CHAPTER XXIII. How twelve knights came from Rome and asked truage for + this land of Arthur, and how Arthur fought with a knight. + + CHAPTER XXIV. How Merlin saved Arthur's life, and threw an enchantment + on King Pellinore and made him to sleep. + + CHAPTER XXV. How Arthur by the mean of Merlin gat Excalibur his sword + of the Lady of the Lake. + + CHAPTER XXVI. How tidings came to Arthur that King Rience had overcome + eleven kings, and how he desired Arthur's beard to trim his mantle. + + CHAPTER XXVII. How all the children were sent for that were born on + May-day, and how Mordred was saved. + + BOOK II. + + CHAPTER I. Of a damosel which came girt with a sword for to find a man + of such virtue to draw it out of the scabbard. + + CHAPTER II. How Balin, arrayed like a poor knight, pulled out the + sword, which afterward was the cause of his death. + + CHAPTER III. How the Lady of the Lake demanded the knight's head that + had won the sword, or the maiden's head. + + CHAPTER IV. How Merlin told the adventure of this damosel. + + CHAPTER V. How Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor, knight of Ireland, + and how he jousted and slew him. + + CHAPTER VI. How a damosel, which was love to Lanceor, slew herself for + love, and how Balin met with his brother Balan. + + CHAPTER VII. How a dwarf reproved Balin for the death of Lanceor, and + how King Mark of Cornwall found them, and made a tomb over them. + + CHAPTER VIII. How Merlin prophesied that two the best knights of the + world should fight there, which were Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram. + + CHAPTER IX. How Balin and his brother, by the counsel of Merlin, took + King Rience and brought him to King Arthur. + + CHAPTER X. How King Arthur had a battle against Nero and King Lot of + Orkney, and how King Lot was deceived by Merlin, and how twelve kings + were slain. + + CHAPTER XI. Of the interment of twelve kings, and of the prophecy of + Merlin, and how Balin should give the dolorous stroke. + + CHAPTER XII. How a sorrowful knight came before Arthur, and how Balin + fetched him, and how that knight was slain by a knight invisible. + + CHAPTER XIII. How Balin and the damosel met with a knight which was in + likewise slain, and how the damosel bled for the custom of a castle. + + CHAPTER XIV. How Balin met with that knight named Garlon at a feast, + and there he slew him, to have his blood to heal therewith the son of + his host. + + CHAPTER XV. How Balin fought with King Pellam, and how his sword + brake, and how he gat a spear wherewith he smote the dolorous stroke. + + CHAPTER XVI. How Balin was delivered by Merlin, and saved a knight + that would have slain himself for love. + + CHAPTER XVII. How that knight slew his love and a knight lying by her, + and after, how he slew himself with his own sword, and how Balin rode + toward a castle where he lost his life. + + CHAPTER XVIII. How Balin met with his brother Balan, and how each of + them slew other unknown, till they were wounded to death. + + CHAPTER XIX. How Merlin buried them both in one tomb, and of Balin's + sword. + + BOOK III. + + CHAPTER I. How King Arthur took a wife, and wedded Guenever, daughter + to Leodegrance, King of the Land of Cameliard, with whom he had the + Round Table. + + CHAPTER II. How the Knights of the Round Table were ordained and their + sieges blessed by the Bishop of Canterbury. + + CHAPTER III. How a poor man riding upon a lean mare desired King + Arthur to make his son knight. + + CHAPTER IV. How Sir Tor was known for son of King Pellinore, and how + Gawaine was made knight. + + CHAPTER V. How at feast of the wedding of King Arthur to Guenever, a + white hart came into the hall, and thirty couple hounds, and how a + brachet pinched the hart which was taken away. + + CHAPTER VI. How Sir Gawaine rode for to fetch again the hart, and how + two brethren fought each against other for the hart. + + CHAPTER VII How the hart was chased into a castle and there slain, and + how Sir Gawaine slew a lady. + + CHAPTER VIII. How four knights fought against Gawaine and Gaheris, and + how they were overcome, and their lives saved at request of four + ladies. + + CHAPTER IX. How Sir Tor rode after the knight with the brachet, and of + his adventure by the way. + + CHAPTER X. How Sir Tor found the brachet with a lady, and how a knight + assailed him for the said brachet. + + CHAPTER XI. How Sir Tor overcame the knight, and how he lost his head + at the request of a lady. + + CHAPTER XII. How King Pellinore rode after the lady and the knight + that led her away, and how a lady desired help of him, and how he + fought with two knights for that lady, of whom he slew the one at the + first stroke. + + CHAPTER XIII. How King Pellinore gat the lady and brought her to + Camelot to the court of King Arthur. + + CHAPTER XIV. How on the way he heard two knights, as he lay by night + in a valley, and of their adventures. + + CHAPTER XV. How when he was come to Camelot he was sworn upon a book + to tell the truth of his quest. + + BOOK IV. + + CHAPTER I. How Merlin was assotted and doted on one of the ladies of + the lake, and how he was shut in a rock under a stone and there died. + + CHAPTER II. How five kings came into this land to war against King + Arthur, and what counsel Arthur had against them. + + CHAPTER III. How King Arthur had ado with them and overthrew them, and + slew the five kings and made the remnant to flee. + + CHAPTER IV. How the battle was finished or he came, and how King + Arthur founded an abbey where the battle was. + + CHAPTER V. How Sir Tor was made knight of the Round Table, and how + Bagdemagus was displeased. + + CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon of Gaul, + chased an hart, and of their marvellous adventures. + + CHAPTER VII. How Arthur took upon him to fight to be delivered out of + prison, and also for to deliver twenty knights that were in prison. + + CHAPTER VIII. How Accolon found himself by a well, and he took upon + him to do battle against Arthur. + + CHAPTER IX. Of the battle between King Arthur and Accolon. + + CHAPTER X. How King Arthur's sword that he fought with brake, and how + he recovered of Accolon his own sword Excalibur, and overcame his + enemy. + + CHAPTER XI. How Accolon confessed the treason of Morgan le Fay, King + Arthur's sister, and how she would have done slay him. + + CHAPTER XII. How Arthur accorded the two brethren, and delivered the + twenty knights, and how Sir Accolon died. + + CHAPTER XIII. How Morgan would have slain Sir Uriens her husband, and + how Sir Uwaine her son saved him. + + CHAPTER XIV. How Queen Morgan le Fay made great sorrow for the death + of Accolon, and how she stole away the scabbard from Arthur. + + CHAPTER XV. How Morgan le Fay saved a knight that should have been + drowned, and how King Arthur returned home again. + + CHAPTER XVI. How the Damosel of the Lake saved King Arthur from mantle + that should have burnt him. + + CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine met with twelve fair + damosels, and how they complained on Sir Marhaus. + + CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Marhaus jousted with Sir Gawaine and Sir + Uwaine, and overthrew them both. + + CHAPTER XIX. How Sir Marhaus, Sir Gawaine, and Sir Uwaine met three + damosels, and each of them took one. + + CHAPTER XX. How a knight and a dwarf strove for a lady. + + CHAPTER XXI. How King Pelleas suffered himself to be taken prisoner + because he would have a sight of his lady, and how Sir Gawaine + promised him to get to him the love of his lady. + + CHAPTER XXII. How Sir Gawaine came to the Lady Ettard, and how Sir + Pelleas found them sleeping. + + CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Pelleas loved no more Ettard by means of the + Damosel of the Lake, whom he loved ever after. + + CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Marhaus rode with the damosel, and how he came + to the Duke of the South Marches. + + CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Marhaus fought with the duke and his four sons + and made them to yield them. + + CHAPTER XXVI. How Sir Uwaine rode with the damosel of sixty year of + age, and how he gat the prize at tourneying. + + CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Uwaine fought with two knights and overcame + them. + + CHAPTER XXVIII. How at the year's end all three knights with their + three damosels met at the fountain. + + BOOK V. + + CHAPTER I. How twelve aged ambassadors of Rome came to King Arthur to + demand truage for Britain. + + CHAPTER II. How the kings and lords promised to King Arthur aid and + help against the Romans. + + CHAPTER III. How King Arthur held a parliament at York, and how he + ordained the realm should be governed in his absence. + + CHAPTER IV. How King Arthur being shipped and lying in his cabin had a + marvellous dream and of the exposition thereof. + + CHAPTER V. How a man of the country told to him of a marvellous giant, + and how he fought and conquered him. + + CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur sent Sir Gawaine and other to Lucius, and + how they were assailed and escaped with worship. + + CHAPTER VII. How Lucius sent certain spies in a bushment for to have + taken his knights being prisoners, and how they were letted. + + CHAPTER VIII. How a senator told to Lucius of their discomfiture, and + also of the great battle between Arthur and Lucius. + + CHAPTER IX How Arthur, after he had achieved the battle against the + Romans, entered into Almaine, and so into Italy. + + CHAPTER X. Of a battle done by Sir Gawaine against a Saracen, which + after was yielden and became Christian. + + CHAPTER XI. How the Saracens came out of a wood for to rescue their + beasts, and of a great battle. + + CHAPTER XII. How Sir Gawaine returned to King Arthur with his + prisoners, and how the King won a city, and how he was crowned + Emperor. + + BOOK VI. + + CHAPTER I. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel departed from the court, + and how Sir Lionel left him sleeping and was taken. + + CHAPTER II. How Sir Ector followed for to seek Sir Launcelot, and how + he was taken by Sir Turquine. + + CHAPTER III How four queens found Launcelot sleeping, and how by + enchantment he was taken and led into a castle. + + CHAPTER IV. How Sir Launcelot was delivered by the mean of a damosel. + + CHAPTER V. How a knight found Sir Launcelot lying in his leman's bed, + and how Sir Launcelot fought with the knight. + + CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot was received of King Bagdemagus' + daughter, and how he made his complaint to her father. + + CHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot behaved him in a tournament, and how he + met with Sir Turquine leading Sir Gaheris. + + CHAPTER VIII. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Turquine fought together. + + CHAPTER IX. How Sir Turquine was slain, and how Sir Launcelot bade Sir + Gaheris deliver all the prisoners. + + CHAPTER X. How Sir Launcelot rode with a damosel and slew a knight + that distressed all ladies and also a villain that kept a bridge. + + CHAPTER XI. How Sir Launcelot slew two giants, and made a castle free. + + CHAPTER XII. How Sir Launcelot rode disguised in Sir Kay's harness, + and how he smote down a knight. + + CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Launcelot jousted against four knights of the + Round Table and overthrew them. + + CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Launcelot followed a brachet into a castle, where + he found a dead knight, and how he after was required of a damosel to + heal her brother. + + CHAPTER XV. How Sir Launcelot came into the Chapel Perilous and gat + there of a dead corpse a piece of the cloth and a sword. + + CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Launcelot at the request of a lady recovered a + falcon, by which he was deceived. + + CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Launcelot overtook a knight which chased his + wife to have slain her, and how he said to him. + + CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Launcelot came to King Arthur's Court, and how + there were recounted all his noble feats and acts. + + BOOK VII. + + CHAPTER I. How Beaumains came to King Arthur's Court and demanded + three petitions of King Arthur. + + CHAPTER II. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine were wroth because Sir + Kay mocked Beaumains, and of a damosel which desired a knight to fight + for a lady. + + CHAPTER III. How Beaumains desired the battle, and how it was granted + to him, and how he desired to be made knight of Sir Launcelot. + + CHAPTER IV. How Beaumains departed, and how he gat of Sir Kay a spear + and a shield, and how he jousted with Sir Launcelot. + + CHAPTER V. How Beaumains told to Sir Launcelot his name, and how he + was dubbed knight of Sir Launcelot, and after overtook the damosel. + + CHAPTER VI. How Beaumains fought and slew two knights at a passage. + + CHAPTER VII. How Beaumains fought with the Knight of the Black Launds, + and fought with him till he fell down and died. + + CHAPTER VIII. How the brother of the knight that was slain met with + Beaumains, and fought with Beaumains till he was yielden. + + CHAPTER IX. How the damosel again rebuked Beaumains, and would not + suffer him to sit at her table, but called him kitchen boy. + + CHAPTER X. How the third brother, called the Red Knight, jousted and + fought against Beaumains, and how Beaumains overcame him. + + CHAPTER XI. How Sir Beaumains suffered great rebukes of the damosel, + and he suffered it patiently. + + CHAPTER XII. How Beaumains fought with Sir Persant of Inde, and made + him to be yielden. + + CHAPTER XIII. Of the goodly communication between Sir Persant and + Beaumains, and how he told him that his name was Sir Gareth. + + CHAPTER XIV. How the lady that was besieged had word from her sister + how she had brought a knight to fight for her, and what battles he had + achieved. + + CHAPTER XV. How the damosel and Beaumains came to the siege; and came + to a sycamore tree, and there Beaumains blew a horn, and then the + Knight of the Red Launds came to fight with him. + + CHAPTER XVI. How the two knights met together, and of their talking, + and how they began their battle. + + CHAPTER XVII. How after long fighting Beaumains overcame the knight + and would have slain him, but at the request of the lords he saved his + life, and made him to yield him to the lady. + + CHAPTER XVIII. How the knight yielded him, and how Beaumains made him + to go unto King Arthur's court, and to cry Sir Launcelot mercy. + + CHAPTER XIX How Beaumains came to the lady, and when he came to the + castle the gates were closed against him, and of the words that the + lady said to him. + + CHAPTER XX. How Sir Beaumains rode after to rescue his dwarf, and came + into the castle where he was. + + CHAPTER XXI. How Sir Gareth, otherwise called Beaumains, came to the + presence of his lady, and how they took acquaintance, and of their + love. + + CHAPTER XXII. How at night came an armed knight, and fought with Sir + Gareth, and he, sore hurt in the thigh, smote off the knight's head. + + CHAPTER XXIII. How the said knight came again the next night and was + beheaded again, and how at the feast of Pentecost all the knights that + Sir Gareth had overcome came and yielded them to King Arthur. + + CHAPTER XXIV. How King Arthur pardoned them, and demanded of them + where Sir Gareth was. + + CHAPTER XXV. How the Queen of Orkney came to this feast of Pentecost, + and Sir Gawaine and his brethren came to ask her blessing. + + CHAPTER XXVI. How King Arthur sent for the Lady Lionesse, and how she + let cry a tourney at her castle, whereas came many knights. + + CHAPTER XXVII. How King Arthur went to the tournament with his + knights, and how the lady received him worshipfully, and how the + knights encountered. + + CHAPTER XXVIII. How the knights bare them in the battle. + + CHAPTER XXIX. Yet of the said tournament. + + CHAPTER XXX. How Sir Gareth was espied by the heralds, and how he + escaped out of the field. + + CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Gareth came to a castle where he was well + lodged, and he jousted with a knight and slew him. + + CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Gareth fought with a knight that held within + his castle thirty ladies, and how he slew him. + + CHAPTER XXXIII. How Sir Gareth and Sir Gawaine fought each against + other, and how they knew each other by the damosel Linet. + + CHAPTER XXXIV. How Sir Gareth acknowledged that they loved each other + to King Arthur, and of the appointment of their wedding. + + CHAPTER XXXV. Of the Great Royalty, and what officers were made at the + feast of the wedding, and of the jousts at the feast. + + BOOK VIII. + + CHAPTER I. How Sir Tristram de Liones was born, and how his mother + died at his birth, wherefore she named him Tristram. + + CHAPTER II. How the stepmother of Sir Tristram had ordained poison for + to have poisoned Sir Tristram. + + CHAPTER III. How Sir Tristram was sent into France, and had one to + govern him named Gouvernail, and how he learned to harp, hawk, and + hunt. + + CHAPTER IV. How Sir Marhaus came out of Ireland for to ask truage of + Cornwall, or else he would fight therefore. + + CHAPTER V. How Tristram enterprized the battle to fight for the truage + of Cornwall, and how he was made knight. + + CHAPTER VI. How Sir Tristram arrived into the Island for to furnish + the battle with Sir Marhaus. + + CHAPTER VII. How Sir Tristram fought against Sir Marhaus and achieved + his battle, and how Sir Marhaus fled to his ship. + + CHAPTER VIII. How Sir Marhaus after that he was arrived in Ireland + died of the stroke that Sir Tristram had given him, and how Tristram + was hurt. + + CHAPTER IX. How Sir Tristram was put to the keeping of La Beale Isoud + first for to be healed of his wound. + + CHAPTER X. How Sir Tristram won the degree at a tournament in Ireland, + and there made Palamides to bear no more harness in a year. + + CHAPTER XI. How the queen espied that Sir Tristram had slain her + brother Sir Marhaus by his sword, and in what jeopardy he was. + + CHAPTER XII. How Sir Tristram departed from the king and La Beale + Isoud out of Ireland for to come into Cornwall. + + CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Tristram and King Mark hurted each other for the + love of a knight's wife. + + CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Tristram lay with the lady, and how her husband + fought with Sir Tristram. + + CHAPTER XV. How Sir Bleoberis demanded the fairest lady in King Mark's + court, whom he took away, and how he was fought with. + + CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Tristram fought with two knights of the Round + Table. + + CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Bleoberis for a lady, + and how the lady was put to choice to whom she would go. + + CHAPTER XVIII. How the lady forsook Sir Tristram and abode with Sir + Bleoberis, and how she desired to go to her husband. + + CHAPTER XIX. How King Mark sent Sir Tristram for La Beale Isoud toward + Ireland, and how by fortune he arrived into England. + + CHAPTER XX. How King Anguish of Ireland was summoned to come to King + Arthur's court for treason. + + CHAPTER XXI. How Sir Tristram rescued a child from a knight, and how + Gouvernail told him of King Anguish. + + CHAPTER XXII. How Sir Tristram fought for Sir Anguish and overcame his + adversary, and how his adversary would never yield him. + + CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Blamore desired Tristram to slay him, and how + Sir Tristram spared him, and how they took appointment. + + CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Tristram demanded La Beale Isoud for King Mark, + and how Sir Tristram and Isoud drank the love drink. + + CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Tristram and Isoud were in prison, and how he + fought for her beauty, and smote off another lady's head. + + CHAPTER XXVI. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Breunor, and at the + last smote off his head. + + CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Galahad fought with Sir Tristram, and how Sir + Tristram yielded him and promised to fellowship with Launcelot. + + CHAPTER XXVIII. How Sir Launcelot met with Sir Carados bearing away + Sir Gawaine, and of the rescue of Sir Gawaine. + + CHAPTER XXIX. Of the wedding of King Mark to La Beale Isoud, and of + Bragwaine her maid, and of Palamides. + + CHAPTER XXX. How Palamides demanded Queen Isoud, and how Lambegus rode + after to rescue her, and of the escape of Isoud. + + CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Tristram rode after Palamides, and how he found + him and fought with him, and by the means of Isoud the battle ceased. + + CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Tristram brought Queen Isoud home, and of the + debate of King Mark and Sir Tristram. + + CHAPTER XXXIII. How Sir Lamorak jousted with thirty knights, and Sir + Tristram at the request of King Mark smote his horse down. + + CHAPTER XXXIV. How Sir Lamorak sent an horn to King Mark in despite of + Sir Tristram, and how Sir Tristram was driven into a chapel. + + CHAPTER XXXV. How Sir Tristram was holpen by his men, and of Queen + Isoud which was put in a lazar-cote, and how Tristram was hurt. + + CHAPTER XXXVI. How Sir Tristram served in war King Howel of Brittany, + and slew his adversary in the field. + + CHAPTER XXXVII. How Sir Suppinabiles told Sir Tristram how he was + defamed in the court of King Arthur, and of Sir Lamorak. + + CHAPTER XXXVIII. How Sir Tristram and his wife arrived in Wales, and + how he met there with Sir Lamorak. + + CHAPTER XXXIX. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Nabon, and overcame + him, and made Sir Segwarides lord of the isle. + + CHAPTER XL + + CHAPTER XLI. How Sir Lamorak slew Sir Frol, and of the courteous + fighting with Sir Belliance his brother. + + BOOK IX. + + CHAPTER I. How a young man came into the court of King Arthur, and how + Sir Kay called him in scorn La Cote Male Taile. + + CHAPTER II. How a damosel came into the court and desired a knight to + take on him an enquest, which La Cote Male Taile emprised. + + CHAPTER III. How La Cote Male Taile overthrew Sir Dagonet the king's + fool, and of the rebuke that he had of the damosel. + + CHAPTER IV. How La Cote Male Taile fought against an hundred knights, + and how he escaped by the mean of a lady. + + CHAPTER V. How Sir Launcelot came to the court and heard of La Cote + Male Taile, and how he followed after him, and how La Cote Male Taile + was prisoner. + + CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot fought with six knights, and after with + Sir Brian, and how he delivered the prisoners. + + CHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot met with the damosel named Male disant, + and named her the Damosel Bienpensant. + + CHAPTER VIII. How La Cote Male Taile was taken prisoner, and after + rescued by Sir Launcelot, and how Sir Launcelot overcame four + brethren. + + CHAPTER IX. How Sir Launcelot made La Cote Male Taile lord of the + Castle of Pendragon, and after was made knight of the Round Table. + + CHAPTER X. How La Beale Isoud sent letters to Sir Tristram by her maid + Bragwaine, and of divers adventures of Sir Tristram. + + CHAPTER XI. How Sir Tristram met with Sir Lamorak de Galis, and how + they fought, and after accorded never to fight together. + + CHAPTER XII. How Sir Palomides followed the Questing Beast, and smote + down Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak with one spear. + + CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Lamorak met with Sir Meliagaunce, and fought + together for the beauty of Dame Guenever. + + CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Kay met with Sir Tristram, and after of the shame + spoken of the knights of Cornwall, and how they jousted. + + CHAPTER XV. How King Arthur was brought into the Forest Perilous, and + how Sir Tristram saved his life. + + CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Tristram came to La Beale Isoud, and how Kehydius + began to love Beale Isoud, and of a letter that Tristram found. + + CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Tristram departed from Tintagil, and how he + sorrowed and was so long in a forest till he was out of his mind. + + CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in a well, and how + Palomides sent a damosel to seek Tristram, and how Palomides met with + King Mark. + + CHAPTER XIX. How it was noised how Sir Tristram was dead, and how La + Beale Isoud would have slain herself. + + CHAPTER XX. How King Mark found Sir Tristram naked, and made him to be + borne home to Tintagil, and how he was there known by a brachet. + + CHAPTER XXI. How King Mark, by the advice of his council, banished Sir + Tristram out of Cornwall the term of ten years. + + CHAPTER XXII. How a damosel sought help to help Sir Launcelot against + thirty knights, and how Sir Tristram fought with them. + + CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan came to a lodging + where they must joust with two knights. + + CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Tristram jousted with Sir Kay and Sir Sagramore + le Desirous, and how Sir Gawaine turned Sir Tristram from Morgan le + Fay. + + CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Tristram and Sir Gawaine rode to have foughten + with the thirty knights, but they durst not come out. + + CHAPTER XXVI. How damosel Bragwaine found Tristram sleeping by a well, + and how she delivered letters to him from La Beale Isoud. + + CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Tristram had a fall with Sir Palomides, and how + Launcelot overthrew two knights. + + CHAPTER XXVIII. How Sir Launcelot jousted with Palomides and overthrew + him, and after he was assailed with twelve knights. + + CHAPTER XXIX. How Sir Tristram behaved him the first day of the + tournament, and there he had the prize. + + CHAPTER XXX. How Sir Tristram returned against King Arthur's party + because he saw Sir Palomides on that party. + + CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Tristram found Palomides by a well, and brought + him with him to his lodging. + + CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides, and how he + jousted with King Arthur, and other feats. + + CHAPTER XXXIII. How Sir Launcelot hurt Sir Tristram, and how after Sir + Tristram smote down Sir Palomides. + + CHAPTER XXXIV. How the prize of the third day was given to Sir + Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot gave it to Sir Tristram. + + CHAPTER XXXV. How Palomides came to the castle where Sir Tristram was, + and of the quest that Sir Launcelot and ten knights made for Sir + Tristram. + + CHAPTER XXXVI. How Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan were + taken and put in prison. + + CHAPTER XXXVII. How King Mark was sorry for the good renown of Sir + Tristram. Some of King Arthur's knights jousted with knights of + Cornwall. + + CHAPTER XXXVIII. Of the treason of King Mark, and how Sir Gaheris + smote him down and Andred his cousin. + + CHAPTER XXXIX. How after that Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir + Dinadan had been long in prison they were delivered. + + CHAPTER XL. How Sir Dinadan rescued a lady from Sir Breuse Saunce + Pité, and how Sir Tristram received a shield of Morgan le Fay. + + CHAPTER XLI. How Sir Tristram took with him the shield, and also how + he slew the paramour of Morgan le Fay. + + CHAPTER XLII. How Morgan le Fay buried her paramour, and how Sir + Tristram praised Sir Launcelot and his kin. + + CHAPTER XLIII. How Sir Tristram at a tournament bare the shield that + Morgan le Fay delivered to him. + +GLOSSARY + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + + +The Morte D’Arthur was finished, as the epilogue tells us, in the ninth +year of Edward IV., i.e. between March 4, 1469 and the same date in +1470. It is thus, fitly enough, the last important English book written +before the introduction of printing into this country, and since no +manuscript of it has come down to us it is also the first English +classic for our knowledge of which we are entirely dependent on a +printed text. Caxton’s story of how the book was brought to him and he +was induced to print it may be read farther on in his own preface. From +this we learn also that he was not only the printer of the book, but to +some extent its editor also, dividing Malory’s work into twenty-one +books, splitting up the books into chapters, by no means skilfully, and +supplying the “Rubrish” or chapter-headings. It may be added that +Caxton’s preface contains, moreover, a brief criticism which, on the +points on which it touches, is still the soundest and most sympathetic +that has been written. + +Caxton finished his edition the last day of July 1485, some fifteen or +sixteen years after Malory wrote his epilogue. It is clear that the +author was then dead, or the printer would not have acted as a clumsy +editor to the book, and recent discoveries (if bibliography may, for +the moment, enlarge its bounds to mention such matters) have revealed +with tolerable certainty when Malory died and who he was. In letters to +The Athenaeum in July 1896 Mr. T. Williams pointed out that the name of +a Sir Thomas Malorie occurred among those of a number of other +Lancastrians excluded from a general pardon granted by Edward IV. in +1468, and that a William Mallerye was mentioned in the same year as +taking part in a Lancastrian rising. In September 1897, again, in +another letter to the same paper, Mr. A. T. Martin reported the finding +of the will of a Thomas Malory of Papworth, a hundred partly in +Cambridgeshire, partly in Hunts. This will was made on September 16, +1469, and as it was proved the 27th of the next month the testator must +have been in immediate expectation of death. It contains the most +careful provision for the education and starting in life of a family of +three daughters and seven sons, of whom the youngest seems to have been +still an infant. We cannot say with certainty that this Thomas Malory, +whose last thoughts were so busy for his children, was our author, or +that the Lancastrian knight discovered by Mr. Williams was identical +with either or both, but such evidence as the Morte D’Arthur offers +favours such a belief. There is not only the epilogue with its +petition, “pray for me while I am alive that God send me good +deliverance and when I am dead pray you all for my soul,” but this very +request is foreshadowed at the end of chap. 37 of Book ix. in the +touching passage, surely inspired by personal experience, as to the +sickness “that is the greatest pain a prisoner may have”; and the +reflections on English fickleness in the first chapter of Book xxi., +though the Wars of the Roses might have inspired them in any one, come +most naturally from an author who was a Lancastrian knight. + +If the Morte D’Arthur was really written in prison and by a prisoner +distressed by ill-health as well as by lack of liberty, surely no task +was ever better devised to while away weary hours. Leaving abundant +scope for originality in selection, modification, and arrangement, as a +compilation and translation it had in it that mechanical element which +adds the touch of restfulness to literary work. No original, it is +said, has yet been found for Book vii., and it is possible that none +will ever be forthcoming for chap. 20 of Book xviii., which describes +the arrival of the body of the Fair Maiden of Astolat at Arthur’s +court, or vii for chap. 25 of the same book, with its discourse on true +love; but the great bulk of the work has been traced chapter by chapter +to the “Merlin” of Robert de Borron and his successors (Bks. i.-iv.), +the English metrical romance La Morte Arthur of the Thornton manuscript +(Bk. v.), the French romances of Tristan (Bks. viii.-x.) and of +Launcelot (Bks. vi., xi.-xix.), and lastly to the English prose Morte +Arthur of Harley MS. 2252 (Bks. xviii., xx., xxi.). As to Malory’s +choice of his authorities critics have not failed to point out that now +and again he gives a worse version where a better has come down to us, +and if he had been able to order a complete set of Arthurian +manuscripts from his bookseller, no doubt he would have done even +better than he did! But of the skill, approaching to original genius, +with which he used the books from which he worked there is little +dispute. + +Malory died leaving his work obviously unrevised, and in this condition +it was brought to Caxton, who prepared it for the press with his usual +enthusiasm in the cause of good literature, and also, it must be added, +with his usual carelessness. New chapters are sometimes made to begin +in the middle of a sentence, and in addition to simple misprints there +are numerous passages in which it is impossible to believe that we have +the text as Malory intended it to stand. After Caxton’s edition +Malory’s manuscript must have disappeared, and subsequent editions are +differentiated only by the degree of closeness with which they follow +the first. Editions appeared printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1498 and +1529, by William Copland in 1559, by Thomas East about 1585, and by +Thomas Stansby in 1634, each printer apparently taking the text of his +immediate predecessor and reproducing it with modifications. Stansby’s +edition served for reprints in 1816 and 1856 (the latter edited by +Thomas Wright); but in 1817 an edition supervised by Robert Southey +went back to Caxton’s text, though to a copy (only two are extant, and +only one perfect!) in which eleven leaves were supplied from Wynkyn de +Worde’s reprint. In 1868 Sir Edward Strachey produced for the present +publishers a reprint of Southey’s text in modern spelling, with the +substitution of current words for those now obsolete, and the softening +of a handful of passages likely, he thought, to prevent the book being +placed in the hands of boys. In 1889 a boon was conferred on scholars +by the publication of Dr. H. Oskar Sommer’s page-for-page reprint of +Caxton’s text, with an elaborate discussion of Malory’s sources. Dr. +Sommer’s edition was used by Sir E. Strachey to revise his Globe text, +and in 1897 Mr. Israel Gollancz produced for the “Temple Classics” a +very pretty edition in which Sir Edward Strachey’s principles of +modernisation in spelling and punctuation were adopted, but with the +restoration of obsolete words and omitted phrases. As to the present +edition, Sir Edward Strachey altered with so sparing a hand that on +many pages differences between his version and that here printed will +be looked for in vain; but the most anxious care has been taken to +produce a text modernised as to its spelling, but in other respects in +accurate accordance with Caxton’s text, as represented by Dr Sommer’s +reprint. Obvious misprints have been silently corrected, but in a few +cases notes show where emendations have been introduced from Wynkyn de +Worde—not that Wynkyn had any more right to emend Caxton than we, but +because even a printer’s conjecture gains a little sanctity after four +centuries. The restoration of obsolete words has necessitated a much +fuller glossary, and the index of names has therefore been separated +from it and enlarged. In its present form the index is the work of Mr. +Henry Littlehales. + +A. W. POLLARD. + + + +PREFACE OF WILLIAM CAXTON + +After that I had accomplished and finished divers histories, as well of +contemplation as of other historial and worldly acts of great +conquerors and princes, and also certain books of ensamples and +doctrine, many noble and divers gentlemen of this realm of England came +and demanded me many and oft times, wherefore that I have not do made +and imprint the noble history of the Saint Greal, and of the most +renowned Christian king, first and chief of the three best Christian, +and worthy, King Arthur, which ought most to be remembered among us +Englishmen to-fore all other Christian kings; for it is notoyrly known +through the universal world, that there be nine worthy and the best +that ever were, that is to wit, three Paynims, three Jews, and three +Christian men. As for the Paynims, they were to-fore the Incarnation of +Christ, which were named, the first Hector of Troy, of whom the history +is comen both in ballad and in prose, the second Alexander the Great, +and the third Julius Caesar, Emperor of Rome, of whom the histories be +well known and had. And as for the three Jews, which also were to-fore +the incarnation of our Lord, of whom the first was duke Joshua which +brought the children of Israel into the land of behest, the second +David king of Jerusalem, and the third Judas Machabeus, of these three +the Bible rehearseth all their noble histories and acts. And since the +said Incarnation have been three noble Christian men, stalled and +admitted through the universal world into the number of the nine best +and worthy. Of whom was first the noble Arthur, whose noble acts I +purpose to write in this present book here following. The second was +Charlemain, or Charles the Great, of whom the history is had in many +places, both in French and in English. And the third and last was +Godfrey of Boloine, of whose acts and life I made a book unto the +excellent prince and king of noble memory, King Edward the Fourth. + +The said noble gentlemen instantly required me to imprint the history +of the said noble king and conqueror King Arthur, and of his knights, +with the history of the Saint Greal, and of the death and ending of the +said Arthur; affirming that I ought rather to imprint his acts and +noble feats, than of Godfrey of Boloine, or any of the other eight, +considering that he was a man born within this realm, and king and +emperor of the same: and that there be in French divers and many noble +volumes of his acts, and also of his knights. To whom I answered that +divers men hold opinion that there was no such Arthur, and that all +such books as been made of him be feigned and fables, because that some +chronicles make of him no mention, nor remember him nothing, nor of his +knights. Whereto they answered, and one in special said, that in him +that should say or think that there was never such a king called Arthur +might well be aretted great folly and blindness. For he said that there +were many evidences of the contrary. First ye may see his sepulchre in +the monastery of Glastonbury. And also in Policronicon, in the fifth +book the sixth chapter, and in the seventh book the twenty-third +chapter, where his body was buried, and after found, and translated +into the said monastery. Ye shall see also in the history of Bochas, in +his book De Casu Principum, part of his noble acts, and also of his +fall. Also Galfridus in his British book recounteth his life: and in +divers places of England many remembrances be yet of him, and shall +remain perpetually, and also of his knights. First in the abbey of +Westminster, at St. Edward’s shrine, remaineth the print of his seal in +red wax closed in beryl, in which is written, Patricius Arthurus +Britannie, Gallie, Germanie, Dacie, Imperator. Item in the castle of +Dover ye may see Gawaine’s skull, and Cradok’s mantle: at Winchester +the Round Table: in other places Launcelot’s sword and many other +things. Then all these things considered, there can no man reasonably +gainsay but there was a king of this land named Arthur. For in all +places, Christian and heathen, he is reputed and taken for one of the +nine worthy, and the first of the three Christian men. And also, he is +more spoken of beyond the sea, more books made of his noble acts, than +there be in England, as well in Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and Greekish, +as in French. And yet of record remain in witness of him in Wales, in +the town of Camelot, the great stones and the marvellous works of iron +lying under the ground, and royal vaults, which divers now living have +seen. Wherefore it is a marvel why he is no more renowned in his own +country, save only it accordeth to the Word of God, which saith that no +man is accepted for a prophet in his own country. + +Then all these things aforesaid alleged, I could not well deny but that +there was such a noble king named Arthur, and reputed one of the nine +worthy, and first and chief of the Christian men. And many noble +volumes be made of him and of his noble knights in French, which I have +seen and read beyond the sea, which be not had in our maternal tongue. +But in Welsh be many and also in French, and some in English but +nowhere nigh all. Wherefore, such as have late been drawn out briefly +into English I have after the simple conning that God hath sent to me, +under the favour and correction of all noble lords and gentlemen, +enprised to imprint a book of the noble histories of the said King +Arthur, and of certain of his knights, after a copy unto me delivered, +which copy Sir Thomas Malorye did take out of certain books of French, +and reduced it into English. And I, according to my copy, have done set +it in imprint, to the intent that noble men may see and learn the noble +acts of chivalry, the gentle and virtuous deeds that some knights used +in those days, by which they came to honour, and how they that were +vicious were punished and oft put to shame and rebuke; humbly +beseeching all noble lords and ladies, with all other estates of what +estate or degree they been of, that shall see and read in this said +book and work, that they take the good and honest acts in their +remembrance, and to follow the same. Wherein they shall find many +joyous and pleasant histories, and noble and renowned acts of humanity, +gentleness, and chivalry. For herein may be seen noble chivalry, +courtesy, humanity, friendliness, hardiness, love, friendship, +cowardice, murder, hate, virtue, and sin. Do after the good and leave +the evil, and it shall bring you to good fame and renown. And for to +pass the time this book shall be pleasant to read in, but for to give +faith and belief that all is true that is contained herein, ye be at +your liberty: but all is written for our doctrine, and for to beware +that we fall not to vice nor sin, but to exercise and follow virtue, by +which we may come and attain to good fame and renown in this life, and +after this short and transitory life to come unto everlasting bliss in +heaven; the which He grant us that reigneth in heaven, the blessed +Trinity. Amen. + +Then to proceed forth in this said book, which I direct unto all noble +princes, lords and ladies, gentlemen or gentlewomen, that desire to +read or hear read of the noble and joyous history of the great +conqueror and excellent king, King Arthur, sometime king of this noble +realm, then called Britain; I, William Caxton, simple person, present +this book following, which I have enprised to imprint: and treateth of +the noble acts, feats of arms of chivalry, prowess, hardiness, +humanity, love, courtesy, and very gentleness, with many wonderful +histories and adventures. And for to understand briefly the content of +this volume, I have divided it into XXI Books, and every book +chaptered, as hereafter shall by God’s grace follow. The First Book +shall treat how Uther Pendragon gat the noble conqueror King Arthur, +and containeth xxviii chapters. The Second Book treateth of Balin the +noble knight, and containeth xix chapters. The Third Book treateth of +the marriage of King Arthur to Queen Guenever, with other matters, and +containeth xv chapters. The Fourth Book, how Merlin was assotted, and +of war made to King Arthur, and containeth xxix chapters. The Fifth +Book treateth of the conquest of Lucius the emperor, and containeth xii +chapters. The Sixth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel, and +marvellous adventures, and containeth xviii chapters. The Seventh Book +treateth of a noble knight called Sir Gareth, and named by Sir Kay +Beaumains, and containeth xxxvi chapters. The Eighth Book treateth of +the birth of Sir Tristram the noble knight, and of his acts, and +containeth xli chapters. The Ninth Book treateth of a knight named by +Sir Kay Le Cote Male Taille, and also of Sir Tristram, and containeth +xliv chapters. The Tenth Book treateth of Sir Tristram, and other +marvellous adventures, and containeth lxxxviii chapters. The Eleventh +Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir Galahad, and containeth xiv +chapters. The Twelfth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and his madness, +and containeth xiv chapters. The Thirteenth Book treateth how Galahad +came first to king Arthur’s court, and the quest how the Sangreal was +begun, and containeth xx chapters. The Fourteenth Book treateth of the +quest of the Sangreal, and containeth x chapters. The Fifteenth Book +treateth of Sir Launcelot, and containeth vi chapters. The Sixteenth +Book treateth of Sir Bors and Sir Lionel his brother, and containeth +xvii chapters. The Seventeenth Book treateth of the Sangreal, and +containeth xxiii chapters. The Eighteenth Book treateth of Sir +Launcelot and the queen, and containeth xxv chapters. The Nineteenth +Book treateth of Queen Guenever and Launcelot, and containeth xiii +chapters. The Twentieth Book treateth of the piteous death of Arthur, +and containeth xxii chapters. The Twenty-first Book treateth of his +last departing, and how Sir Launcelot came to revenge his death, and +containeth xiii chapters. The sum is twenty-one books, which contain +the sum of five hundred and seven chapters, as more plainly shall +follow hereafter. + + + +BOOK I. + + + +CHAPTER I. First, How Uther Pendragon sent for the duke of Cornwall and +Igraine his wife, and of their departing suddenly again. + +It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was king of all +England, and so reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that +held war against him long time. And the duke was called the Duke of +Tintagil. And so by means King Uther sent for this duke, charging him +to bring his wife with him, for she was called a fair lady, and a +passing wise, and her name was called Igraine. + +So when the duke and his wife were come unto the king, by the means of +great lords they were accorded both. The king liked and loved this lady +well, and he made them great cheer out of measure, and desired to have +lain by her. But she was a passing good woman, and would not assent +unto the king. And then she told the duke her husband, and said, I +suppose that we were sent for that I should be dishonoured; wherefore, +husband, I counsel you, that we depart from hence suddenly, that we may +ride all night unto our own castle. And in like wise as she said so +they departed, that neither the king nor none of his council were ware +of their departing. All so soon as King Uther knew of their departing +so suddenly, he was wonderly wroth. Then he called to him his privy +council, and told them of the sudden departing of the duke and his +wife. + +Then they advised the king to send for the duke and his wife by a great +charge; and if he will not come at your summons, then may ye do your +best, then have ye cause to make mighty war upon him. So that was done, +and the messengers had their answers; and that was this shortly, that +neither he nor his wife would not come at him. + +Then was the king wonderly wroth. And then the king sent him plain word +again, and bade him be ready and stuff him and garnish him, for within +forty days he would fetch him out of the biggest castle that he hath. + +When the duke had this warning, anon he went and furnished and +garnished two strong castles of his, of the which the one hight +Tintagil, and the other castle hight Terrabil. So his wife Dame Igraine +he put in the castle of Tintagil, and himself he put in the castle of +Terrabil, the which had many issues and posterns out. Then in all haste +came Uther with a great host, and laid a siege about the castle of +Terrabil. And there he pight many pavilions, and there was great war +made on both parties, and much people slain. Then for pure anger and +for great love of fair Igraine the king Uther fell sick. So came to the +king Uther Sir Ulfius, a noble knight, and asked the king why he was +sick. I shall tell thee, said the king, I am sick for anger and for +love of fair Igraine, that I may not be whole. Well, my lord, said Sir +Ulfius, I shall seek Merlin, and he shall do you remedy, that your +heart shall be pleased. So Ulfius departed, and by adventure he met +Merlin in a beggar’s array, and there Merlin asked Ulfius whom he +sought. And he said he had little ado to tell him. Well, said Merlin, I +know whom thou seekest, for thou seekest Merlin; therefore seek no +farther, for I am he; and if King Uther will well reward me, and be +sworn unto me to fulfil my desire, that shall be his honour and profit +more than mine; for I shall cause him to have all his desire. All this +will I undertake, said Ulfius, that there shall be nothing reasonable +but thou shalt have thy desire. Well, said Merlin, he shall have his +intent and desire. And therefore, said Merlin, ride on your way, for I +will not be long behind. + + + +CHAPTER II. How Uther Pendragon made war on the duke of Cornwall, and +how by the mean of Merlin he lay by the duchess and gat Arthur. + +Then Ulfius was glad, and rode on more than a pace till that he came to +King Uther Pendragon, and told him he had met with Merlin. Where is he? +said the king. Sir, said Ulfius, he will not dwell long. Therewithal +Ulfius was ware where Merlin stood at the porch of the pavilion’s door. +And then Merlin was bound to come to the king. When King Uther saw him, +he said he was welcome. Sir, said Merlin, I know all your heart every +deal; so ye will be sworn unto me as ye be a true king anointed, to +fulfil my desire, ye shall have your desire. Then the king was sworn +upon the Four Evangelists. Sir, said Merlin, this is my desire: the +first night that ye shall lie by Igraine ye shall get a child on her, +and when that is born, that it shall be delivered to me for to nourish +there as I will have it; for it shall be your worship, and the child’s +avail, as mickle as the child is worth. I will well, said the king, as +thou wilt have it. Now make you ready, said Merlin, this night ye shall +lie with Igraine in the castle of Tintagil; and ye shall be like the +duke her husband, Ulfius shall be like Sir Brastias, a knight of the +duke’s, and I will be like a knight that hight Sir Jordanus, a knight +of the duke’s. But wait ye make not many questions with her nor her +men, but say ye are diseased, and so hie you to bed, and rise not on +the morn till I come to you, for the castle of Tintagil is but ten +miles hence; so this was done as they devised. But the duke of Tintagil +espied how the king rode from the siege of Terrabil, and therefore that +night he issued out of the castle at a postern for to have distressed +the king’s host. And so, through his own issue, the duke himself was +slain or ever the king came at the castle of Tintagil. + +So after the death of the duke, King Uther lay with Igraine more than +three hours after his death, and begat on her that night Arthur, and on +day came Merlin to the king, and bade him make him ready, and so he +kissed the lady Igraine and departed in all haste. But when the lady +heard tell of the duke her husband, and by all record he was dead or +ever King Uther came to her, then she marvelled who that might be that +lay with her in likeness of her lord; so she mourned privily and held +her peace. Then all the barons by one assent prayed the king of accord +betwixt the lady Igraine and him; the king gave them leave, for fain +would he have been accorded with her. So the king put all the trust in +Ulfius to entreat between them, so by the entreaty at the last the king +and she met together. Now will we do well, said Ulfius, our king is a +lusty knight and wifeless, and my lady Igraine is a passing fair lady; +it were great joy unto us all, an it might please the king to make her +his queen. Unto that they all well accorded and moved it to the king. +And anon, like a lusty knight, he assented thereto with good will, and +so in all haste they were married in a morning with great mirth and +joy. + +And King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney then wedded Margawse that was +Gawaine’s mother, and King Nentres of the land of Garlot wedded Elaine. +All this was done at the request of King Uther. And the third sister +Morgan le Fay was put to school in a nunnery, and there she learned so +much that she was a great clerk of necromancy. And after she was wedded +to King Uriens of the land of Gore, that was Sir Ewain’s le +Blanchemain’s father. + + + +CHAPTER III. Of the birth of King Arthur and of his nurture. + +Then Queen Igraine waxed daily greater and greater, so it befell after +within half a year, as King Uther lay by his queen, he asked her, by +the faith she owed to him, whose was the body; then she sore abashed to +give answer. Dismay you not, said the king, but tell me the truth, and +I shall love you the better, by the faith of my body. Sir, said she, I +shall tell you the truth. The same night that my lord was dead, the +hour of his death, as his knights record, there came into my castle of +Tintagil a man like my lord in speech and in countenance, and two +knights with him in likeness of his two knights Brastias and Jordanus, +and so I went unto bed with him as I ought to do with my lord, and the +same night, as I shall answer unto God, this child was begotten upon +me. That is truth, said the king, as ye say; for it was I myself that +came in the likeness, and therefore dismay you not, for I am father of +the child; and there he told her all the cause, how it was by Merlin’s +counsel. Then the queen made great joy when she knew who was the father +of her child. + +Soon came Merlin unto the king, and said, Sir, ye must purvey you for +the nourishing of your child. As thou wilt, said the king, be it. Well, +said Merlin, I know a lord of yours in this land, that is a passing +true man and a faithful, and he shall have the nourishing of your +child, and his name is Sir Ector, and he is a lord of fair livelihood +in many parts in England and Wales; and this lord, Sir Ector, let him +be sent for, for to come and speak with you, and desire him yourself, +as he loveth you, that he will put his own child to nourishing to +another woman, and that his wife nourish yours. And when the child is +born let it be delivered to me at yonder privy postern unchristened. So +like as Merlin devised it was done. And when Sir Ector was come he made +fiaunce to the king for to nourish the child like as the king desired; +and there the king granted Sir Ector great rewards. Then when the lady +was delivered, the king commanded two knights and two ladies to take +the child, bound in a cloth of gold, and that ye deliver him to what +poor man ye meet at the postern gate of the castle. So the child was +delivered unto Merlin, and so he bare it forth unto Sir Ector, and made +an holy man to christen him, and named him Arthur; and so Sir Ector’s +wife nourished him with her own pap. + + + +CHAPTER IV. Of the death of King Uther Pendragon. + +Then within two years King Uther fell sick of a great malady. And in +the meanwhile his enemies usurped upon him, and did a great battle upon +his men, and slew many of his people. Sir, said Merlin, ye may not lie +so as ye do, for ye must to the field though ye ride on an +horse-litter: for ye shall never have the better of your enemies but if +your person be there, and then shall ye have the victory. So it was +done as Merlin had devised, and they carried the king forth in an +horse-litter with a great host towards his enemies. And at St. Albans +there met with the king a great host of the North. And that day Sir +Ulfius and Sir Brastias did great deeds of arms, and King Uther’s men +overcame the Northern battle and slew many people, and put the remnant +to flight. And then the king returned unto London, and made great joy +of his victory. And then he fell passing sore sick, so that three days +and three nights he was speechless: wherefore all the barons made great +sorrow, and asked Merlin what counsel were best. There is none other +remedy, said Merlin, but God will have his will. But look ye all barons +be before King Uther to-morn, and God and I shall make him to speak. So +on the morn all the barons with Merlin came to-fore the king; then +Merlin said aloud unto King Uther, Sir, shall your son Arthur be king +after your days, of this realm with all the appurtenance? Then Uther +Pendragon turned him, and said in hearing of them all, I give him God’s +blessing and mine, and bid him pray for my soul, and righteously and +worshipfully that he claim the crown, upon forfeiture of my blessing; +and therewith he yielded up the ghost, and then was he interred as +longed to a king. Wherefore the queen, fair Igraine, made great sorrow, +and all the barons. + + + +CHAPTER V. How Arthur was chosen king, and of wonders and marvels of a +sword taken out of a stone by the said Arthur. + +Then stood the realm in great jeopardy long while, for every lord that +was mighty of men made him strong, and many weened to have been king. +Then Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and counselled him +for to send for all the lords of the realm, and all the gentlemen of +arms, that they should to London come by Christmas, upon pain of +cursing; and for this cause, that Jesus, that was born on that night, +that he would of his great mercy show some miracle, as he was come to +be king of mankind, for to show some miracle who should be rightwise +king of this realm. So the Archbishop, by the advice of Merlin, sent +for all the lords and gentlemen of arms that they should come by +Christmas even unto London. And many of them made them clean of their +life, that their prayer might be the more acceptable unto God. So in +the greatest church of London, whether it were Paul’s or not the French +book maketh no mention, all the estates were long or day in the church +for to pray. And when matins and the first mass was done, there was +seen in the churchyard, against the high altar, a great stone four +square, like unto a marble stone; and in midst thereof was like an +anvil of steel a foot on high, and therein stuck a fair sword naked by +the point, and letters there were written in gold about the sword that +said thus:—Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is +rightwise king born of all England. Then the people marvelled, and told +it to the Archbishop. + +I command, said the Archbishop, that ye keep you within your church and +pray unto God still, that no man touch the sword till the high mass be +all done. So when all masses were done all the lords went to behold the +stone and the sword. And when they saw the scripture some assayed, such +as would have been king. But none might stir the sword nor move it. He +is not here, said the Archbishop, that shall achieve the sword, but +doubt not God will make him known. But this is my counsel, said the +Archbishop, that we let purvey ten knights, men of good fame, and they +to keep this sword. So it was ordained, and then there was made a cry, +that every man should assay that would, for to win the sword. And upon +New Year’s Day the barons let make a jousts and a tournament, that all +knights that would joust or tourney there might play, and all this was +ordained for to keep the lords together and the commons, for the +Archbishop trusted that God would make him known that should win the +sword. + +So upon New Year’s Day, when the service was done, the barons rode unto +the field, some to joust and some to tourney, and so it happened that +Sir Ector, that had great livelihood about London, rode unto the +jousts, and with him rode Sir Kay his son, and young Arthur that was +his nourished brother; and Sir Kay was made knight at All Hallowmass +afore. So as they rode to the jousts-ward, Sir Kay lost his sword, for +he had left it at his father’s lodging, and so he prayed young Arthur +for to ride for his sword. I will well, said Arthur, and rode fast +after the sword, and when he came home, the lady and all were out to +see the jousting. Then was Arthur wroth, and said to himself, I will +ride to the churchyard, and take the sword with me that sticketh in the +stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this day. So +when he came to the churchyard, Sir Arthur alighted and tied his horse +to the stile, and so he went to the tent, and found no knights there, +for they were at the jousting. And so he handled the sword by the +handles, and lightly and fiercely pulled it out of the stone, and took +his horse and rode his way until he came to his brother Sir Kay, and +delivered him the sword. And as soon as Sir Kay saw the sword, he wist +well it was the sword of the stone, and so he rode to his father Sir +Ector, and said: Sir, lo here is the sword of the stone, wherefore I +must be king of this land. When Sir Ector beheld the sword, he returned +again and came to the church, and there they alighted all three, and +went into the church. And anon he made Sir Kay swear upon a book how he +came to that sword. Sir, said Sir Kay, by my brother Arthur, for he +brought it to me. How gat ye this sword? said Sir Ector to Arthur. Sir, +I will tell you. When I came home for my brother’s sword, I found +nobody at home to deliver me his sword; and so I thought my brother Sir +Kay should not be swordless, and so I came hither eagerly and pulled it +out of the stone without any pain. Found ye any knights about this +sword? said Sir Ector. Nay, said Arthur. Now, said Sir Ector to Arthur, +I understand ye must be king of this land. Wherefore I, said Arthur, +and for what cause? Sir, said Ector, for God will have it so; for there +should never man have drawn out this sword, but he that shall be +rightwise king of this land. Now let me see whether ye can put the +sword there as it was, and pull it out again. That is no mastery, said +Arthur, and so he put it in the stone; wherewithal Sir Ector assayed to +pull out the sword and failed. + + + +CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur pulled out the sword divers times. + +Now assay, said Sir Ector unto Sir Kay. And anon he pulled at the sword +with all his might; but it would not be. Now shall ye assay, said Sir +Ector to Arthur. I will well, said Arthur, and pulled it out easily. +And therewithal Sir Ector knelt down to the earth, and Sir Kay. Alas, +said Arthur, my own dear father and brother, why kneel ye to me? Nay, +nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so; I was never your father nor of your +blood, but I wot well ye are of an higher blood than I weened ye were. +And then Sir Ector told him all, how he was betaken him for to nourish +him, and by whose commandment, and by Merlin’s deliverance. + +Then Arthur made great dole when he understood that Sir Ector was not +his father. Sir, said Ector unto Arthur, will ye be my good and +gracious lord when ye are king? Else were I to blame, said Arthur, for +ye are the man in the world that I am most beholden to, and my good +lady and mother your wife, that as well as her own hath fostered me and +kept. And if ever it be God’s will that I be king as ye say, ye shall +desire of me what I may do, and I shall not fail you; God forbid I +should fail you Sir, said Sir Ector, I will ask no more of you, but +that ye will make my son, your foster brother, Sir Kay, seneschal of +all your lands. That shall be done, said Arthur, and more, by the faith +of my body, that never man shall have that office but he, while he and +I live. Therewithal they went unto the Archbishop, and told him how the +sword was achieved, and by whom; and on Twelfth-day all the barons came +thither, and to assay to take the sword, who that would assay. But +there afore them all, there might none take it out but Arthur; +wherefore there were many lords wroth, and said it was great shame unto +them all and the realm, to be overgoverned with a boy of no high blood +born. And so they fell out at that time that it was put off till +Candlemas and then all the barons should meet there again; but always +the ten knights were ordained to watch the sword day and night, and so +they set a pavilion over the stone and the sword, and five always +watched. So at Candlemas many more great lords came thither for to have +won the sword, but there might none prevail. And right as Arthur did at +Christmas, he did at Candlemas, and pulled out the sword easily, +whereof the barons were sore aggrieved and put it off in delay till the +high feast of Easter. And as Arthur sped before, so did he at Easter; +yet there were some of the great lords had indignation that Arthur +should be king, and put it off in a delay till the feast of Pentecost. + +Then the Archbishop of Canterbury by Merlin’s providence let purvey +then of the best knights that they might get, and such knights as Uther +Pendragon loved best and most trusted in his days. And such knights +were put about Arthur as Sir Baudwin of Britain, Sir Kay, Sir Ulfius, +Sir Brastias. All these, with many other, were always about Arthur, day +and night, till the feast of Pentecost. + + + +CHAPTER VII. How King Arthur was crowned, and how he made officers. + +And at the feast of Pentecost all manner of men assayed to pull at the +sword that would assay; but none might prevail but Arthur, and pulled +it out afore all the lords and commons that were there, wherefore all +the commons cried at once, We will have Arthur unto our king, we will +put him no more in delay, for we all see that it is God’s will that he +shall be our king, and who that holdeth against it, we will slay him. +And therewithal they kneeled at once, both rich and poor, and cried +Arthur mercy because they had delayed him so long, and Arthur forgave +them, and took the sword between both his hands, and offered it upon +the altar where the Archbishop was, and so was he made knight of the +best man that was there. And so anon was the coronation made. And there +was he sworn unto his lords and the commons for to be a true king, to +stand with true justice from thenceforth the days of this life. Also +then he made all lords that held of the crown to come in, and to do +service as they ought to do. And many complaints were made unto Sir +Arthur of great wrongs that were done since the death of King Uther, of +many lands that were bereaved lords, knights, ladies, and gentlemen. +Wherefore King Arthur made the lands to be given again unto them that +owned them. + +When this was done, that the king had stablished all the countries +about London, then he let make Sir Kay seneschal of England; and Sir +Baudwin of Britain was made constable; and Sir Ulfius was made +chamberlain; and Sir Brastias was made warden to wait upon the north +from Trent forwards, for it was that time the most party the king’s +enemies. But within few years after Arthur won all the north, Scotland, +and all that were under their obeissance. Also Wales, a part of it, +held against Arthur, but he overcame them all, as he did the remnant, +through the noble prowess of himself and his knights of the Round +Table. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. How King Arthur held in Wales, at a Pentecost, a great +feast, and what kings and lords came to his feast. + +Then the king removed into Wales, and let cry a great feast that it +should be holden at Pentecost after the incoronation of him at the city +of Carlion. Unto the feast came King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney, with +five hundred knights with him. Also there came to the feast King Uriens +of Gore with four hundred knights with him. Also there came to that +feast King Nentres of Garlot, with seven hundred knights with him. Also +there came to the feast the king of Scotland with six hundred knights +with him, and he was but a young man. Also there came to the feast a +king that was called the King with the Hundred Knights, but he and his +men were passing well beseen at all points. Also there came the king of +Carados with five hundred knights. And King Arthur was glad of their +coming, for he weened that all the kings and knights had come for great +love, and to have done him worship at his feast; wherefore the king +made great joy, and sent the kings and knights great presents. But the +kings would none receive, but rebuked the messengers shamefully, and +said they had no joy to receive no gifts of a beardless boy that was +come of low blood, and sent him word they would none of his gifts, but +that they were come to give him gifts with hard swords betwixt the neck +and the shoulders: and therefore they came thither, so they told to the +messengers plainly, for it was great shame to all them to see such a +boy to have a rule of so noble a realm as this land was. With this +answer the messengers departed and told to King Arthur this answer. +Wherefore, by the advice of his barons, he took him to a strong tower +with five hundred good men with him. And all the kings aforesaid in a +manner laid a siege to-fore him, but King Arthur was well victualed. +And within fifteen days there came Merlin among them into the city of +Carlion. Then all the kings were passing glad of Merlin, and asked him, +For what cause is that boy Arthur made your king? Sirs, said Merlin, I +shall tell you the cause, for he is King Uther Pendragon’s son, born in +wedlock, gotten on Igraine, the duke’s wife of Tintagil. Then is he a +bastard, they said all. Nay, said Merlin, after the death of the duke, +more than three hours, was Arthur begotten, and thirteen days after +King Uther wedded Igraine; and therefore I prove him he is no bastard. +And who saith nay, he shall be king and overcome all his enemies; and, +or he die, he shall be long king of all England, and have under his +obeissance Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, and more realms than I will +now rehearse. Some of the kings had marvel of Merlin’s words, and +deemed well that it should be as he said; and some of them laughed him +to scorn, as King Lot; and more other called him a witch. But then were +they accorded with Merlin, that King Arthur should come out and speak +with the kings, and to come safe and to go safe, such surance there was +made. So Merlin went unto King Arthur, and told him how he had done, +and bade him fear not, but come out boldly and speak with them, and +spare them not, but answer them as their king and chieftain; for ye +shall overcome them all, whether they will or nill. + + + +CHAPTER IX. Of the first war that King Arthur had, and how he won the +field. + +Then King Arthur came out of his tower, and had under his gown a +jesseraunt of double mail, and there went with him the Archbishop of +Canterbury, and Sir Baudwin of Britain, and Sir Kay, and Sir Brastias: +these were the men of most worship that were with him. And when they +were met there was no meekness, but stout words on both sides; but +always King Arthur answered them, and said he would make them to bow an +he lived. Wherefore they departed with wrath, and King Arthur bade keep +them well, and they bade the king keep him well. So the king returned +him to the tower again and armed him and all his knights. What will ye +do? said Merlin to the kings; ye were better for to stint, for ye shall +not here prevail though ye were ten times so many. Be we well advised +to be afeared of a dream-reader? said King Lot. With that Merlin +vanished away, and came to King Arthur, and bade him set on them +fiercely; and in the meanwhile there were three hundred good men, of +the best that were with the kings, that went straight unto King Arthur, +and that comforted him greatly. Sir, said Merlin to Arthur, fight not +with the sword that ye had by miracle, till that ye see ye go unto the +worse, then draw it out and do your best. So forthwithal King Arthur +set upon them in their lodging. And Sir Baudwin, Sir Kay, and Sir +Brastias slew on the right hand and on the left hand that it was +marvel; and always King Arthur on horseback laid on with a sword, and +did marvellous deeds of arms, that many of the kings had great joy of +his deeds and hardiness. + +Then King Lot brake out on the back side, and the King with the Hundred +Knights, and King Carados, and set on Arthur fiercely behind him. With +that Sir Arthur turned with his knights, and smote behind and before, +and ever Sir Arthur was in the foremost press till his horse was slain +underneath him. And therewith King Lot smote down King Arthur. With +that his four knights received him and set him on horseback. Then he +drew his sword Excalibur, but it was so bright in his enemies’ eyes, +that it gave light like thirty torches. And therewith he put them +a-back, and slew much people. And then the commons of Carlion arose +with clubs and staves and slew many knights; but all the kings held +them together with their knights that were left alive, and so fled and +departed. And Merlin came unto Arthur, and counselled him to follow +them no further. + + + +CHAPTER X. How Merlin counselled King Arthur to send for King Ban and +King Bors, and of their counsel taken for the war. + +So after the feast and journey, King Arthur drew him unto London, and +so by the counsel of Merlin, the king let call his barons to council, +for Merlin had told the king that the six kings that made war upon him +would in all haste be awroke on him and on his lands. Wherefore the +king asked counsel at them all. They could no counsel give, but said +they were big enough. Ye say well, said Arthur; I thank you for your +good courage, but will ye all that loveth me speak with Merlin? ye know +well that he hath done much for me, and he knoweth many things, and +when he is afore you, I would that ye prayed him heartily of his best +advice. All the barons said they would pray him and desire him. So +Merlin was sent for, and fair desired of all the barons to give them +best counsel. I shall say you, said Merlin, I warn you all, your +enemies are passing strong for you, and they are good men of arms as be +alive, and by this time they have gotten to them four kings more, and a +mighty duke; and unless that our king have more chivalry with him than +he may make within the bounds of his own realm, an he fight with them +in battle, he shall be overcome and slain. What were best to do in this +cause? said all the barons. I shall tell you, said Merlin, mine advice; +there are two brethren beyond the sea, and they be kings both, and +marvellous good men of their hands; and that one hight King Ban of +Benwick, and that other hight King Bors of Gaul, that is France. And on +these two kings warreth a mighty man of men, the King Claudas, and +striveth with them for a castle, and great war is betwixt them. But +this Claudas is so mighty of goods whereof he getteth good knights, +that he putteth these two kings most part to the worse; wherefore this +is my counsel, that our king and sovereign lord send unto the kings Ban +and Bors by two trusty knights with letters well devised, that an they +will come and see King Arthur and his court, and so help him in his +wars, that he will be sworn unto them to help them in their wars +against King Claudas. Now, what say ye unto this counsel? said Merlin. +This is well counselled, said the king and all the barons. + +Right so in all haste there were ordained to go two knights on the +message unto the two kings. So were there made letters in the pleasant +wise according unto King Arthur’s desire. Ulfius and Brastias were made +the messengers, and so rode forth well horsed and well armed and as the +guise was that time, and so passed the sea and rode toward the city of +Benwick. And there besides were eight knights that espied them, and at +a strait passage they met with Ulfius and Brastias, and would have +taken them prisoners; so they prayed them that they might pass, for +they were messengers unto King Ban and Bors sent from King Arthur. +Therefore, said the eight knights, ye shall die or be prisoners, for we +be knights of King Claudas. And therewith two of them dressed their +spears, and Ulfius and Brastias dressed their spears, and ran together +with great raundon. And Claudas’ knights brake their spears, and theirs +to-held and bare the two knights out of their saddles to the earth, and +so left them lying, and rode their ways. And the other six knights rode +afore to a passage to meet with them again, and so Ulfius and Brastias +smote other two down, and so passed on their ways. And at the fourth +passage there met two for two, and both were laid unto the earth; so +there was none of the eight knights but he was sore hurt or bruised. +And when they come to Benwick it fortuned there were both kings, Ban +and Bors. + +And when it was told the kings that there were come messengers, there +were sent unto them two knights of worship, the one hight Lionses, lord +of the country of Payarne, and Sir Phariance a worshipful knight. Anon +they asked from whence they came, and they said from King Arthur, king +of England; so they took them in their arms and made great joy each of +other. But anon, as the two kings wist they were messengers of +Arthur’s, there was made no tarrying, but forthwith they spake with the +knights, and welcomed them in the faithfullest wise, and said they were +most welcome unto them before all the kings living; and therewith they +kissed the letters and delivered them. And when Ban and Bors understood +the letters, then they were more welcome than they were before. And +after the haste of the letters they gave them this answer, that they +would fulfil the desire of King Arthur’s writing, and Ulfius and +Brastias, tarry there as long as they would, they should have such +cheer as might be made them in those marches. Then Ulfius and Brastias +told the kings of the adventure at their passages of the eight knights. +Ha! ah! said Ban and Bors, they were my good friends. I would I had +wist of them; they should not have escaped so. So Ulfius and Brastias +had good cheer and great gifts, as much as they might bear away; and +had their answer by mouth and by writing, that those two kings would +come unto Arthur in all the haste that they might. So the two knights +rode on afore, and passed the sea, and came to their lord, and told him +how they had sped, whereof King Arthur was passing glad. At what time +suppose ye the two kings will be here? Sir, said they, afore All +Hallowmass. Then the king let purvey for a great feast, and let cry a +great jousts. And by All Hallowmass the two kings were come over the +sea with three hundred knights well arrayed both for the peace and for +the war. And King Arthur met with them ten mile out of London, and +there was great joy as could be thought or made. And on All Hallowmass +at the great feast, sat in the hall the three kings, and Sir Kay +seneschal served in the hall, and Sir Lucas the butler, that was Duke +Corneus’ son, and Sir Griflet, that was the son of Cardol, these three +knights had the rule of all the service that served the kings. And +anon, as they had washen and risen, all knights that would joust made +them ready; by then they were ready on horseback there were seven +hundred knights. And Arthur, Ban, and Bors, with the Archbishop of +Canterbury, and Sir Ector, Kay’s father, they were in a place covered +with cloth of gold like an hall, with ladies and gentlewomen, for to +behold who did best, and thereon to give judgment. + + + +CHAPTER XI. Of a great tourney made by King Arthur and the two kings +Ban and Bors, and how they went over the sea. + +And King Arthur and the two kings let depart the seven hundred knights +in two parties. And there were three hundred knights of the realm of +Benwick and of Gaul turned on the other side. Then they dressed their +shields, and began to couch their spears many good knights. So Griflet +was the first that met with a knight, one Ladinas, and they met so +eagerly that all men had wonder; and they so fought that their shields +fell to pieces, and horse and man fell to the earth; and both the +French knight and the English knight lay so long that all men weened +they had been dead. When Lucas the butler saw Griflet so lie, he horsed +him again anon, and they two did marvellous deeds of arms with many +bachelors. Also Sir Kay came out of an ambushment with five knights +with him, and they six smote other six down. But Sir Kay did that day +marvellous deeds of arms, that there was none did so well as he that +day. Then there came Ladinas and Gracian, two knights of France, and +did passing well, that all men praised them. + +Then came there Sir Placidas, a good knight, and met with Sir Kay, and +smote him down horse and man, where fore Sir Griflet was wroth, and met +with Sir Placidas so hard, that horse and man fell to the earth. But +when the five knights wist that Sir Kay had a fall, they were wroth out +of wit, and therewith each of them five bare down a knight. When King +Arthur and the two kings saw them begin to wax wroth on both parties, +they leapt on small hackneys, and let cry that all men should depart +unto their lodging. And so they went home and unarmed them, and so to +evensong and supper. And after, the three kings went into a garden, and +gave the prize unto Sir Kay, and to Lucas the butler, and unto Sir +Griflet. And then they went unto council, and with them Gwenbaus, the +brother unto Sir Ban and Bors, a wise clerk, and thither went Ulfius +and Brastias, and Merlin. And after they had been in council, they went +unto bed. And on the morn they heard mass, and to dinner, and so to +their council, and made many arguments what were best to do. At the +last they were concluded, that Merlin should go with a token of King +Ban, and that was a ring, unto his men and King Bors’; and Gracian and +Placidas should go again and keep their castles and their countries, as +for [dread of King Claudas] King Ban of Benwick, and King Bors of Gaul +had ordained them, and so passed the sea and came to Benwick. And when +the people saw King Ban’s ring, and Gracian and Placidas, they were +glad, and asked how the kings fared, and made great joy of their +welfare and cording, and according unto the sovereign lords desire, the +men of war made them ready in all haste possible, so that they were +fifteen thousand on horse and foot, and they had great plenty of +victual with them, by Merlin’s provision. But Gracian and Placidas were +left to furnish and garnish the castles, for dread of King Claudas. +Right so Merlin passed the sea, well victualled both by water and by +land. And when he came to the sea he sent home the footmen again, and +took no more with him but ten thousand men on horseback, the most part +men of arms, and so shipped and passed the sea into England, and landed +at Dover; and through the wit of Merlin, he had the host northward, the +priviest way that could be thought, unto the forest of Bedegraine, and +there in a valley he lodged them secretly. + +Then rode Merlin unto Arthur and the two kings, and told them how he +had sped; whereof they had great marvel, that man on earth might speed +so soon, and go and come. So Merlin told them ten thousand were in the +forest of Bedegraine, well armed at all points. Then was there no more +to say, but to horseback went all the host as Arthur had afore +purveyed. So with twenty thousand he passed by night and day, but there +was made such an ordinance afore by Merlin, that there should no man of +war ride nor go in no country on this side Trent water, but if he had a +token from King Arthur, where through the king’s enemies durst not ride +as they did to-fore to espy. + + + +CHAPTER XII. How eleven kings gathered a great host against King +Arthur. + +And so within a little space the three kings came unto the castle of +Bedegraine, and found there a passing fair fellowship, and well beseen, +whereof they had great joy, and victual they wanted none. This was the +cause of the northern host: that they were reared for the despite and +rebuke the six kings had at Carlion. And those six kings by their +means, gat unto them five other kings; and thus they began to gather +their people. + +And now they sware that for weal nor woe, they should not leave other, +till they had destroyed Arthur. And then they made an oath. The first +that began the oath was the Duke of Cambenet, that he would bring with +him five thousand men of arms, the which were ready on horseback. Then +sware King Brandegoris of Stranggore that he would bring five thousand +men of arms on horseback. Then sware King Clariance of Northumberland +he would bring three thousand men of arms. Then sware the King of the +Hundred Knights, that was a passing good man and a young, that he would +bring four thousand men of arms on horseback. Then there swore King +Lot, a passing good knight, and Sir Gawain’s father, that he would +bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King +Urience, that was Sir Uwain’s father, of the land of Gore, and he would +bring six thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King +Idres of Cornwall, that he would bring five thousand men of arms on +horseback. Also there swore King Cradelmas to bring five thousand men +on horseback. Also there swore King Agwisance of Ireland to bring five +thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King Nentres to +bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King +Carados to bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. So their whole +host was of clean men of arms on horseback fifty thousand, and a-foot +ten thousand of good men’s bodies. Then were they soon ready, and +mounted upon horse and sent forth their fore-riders, for these eleven +kings in their ways laid a siege unto the castle of Bedegraine; and so +they departed and drew toward Arthur, and left few to abide at the +siege, for the castle of Bedegraine was holden of King Arthur, and the +men that were therein were Arthur’s. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. Of a dream of the King with the Hundred Knights. + +So by Merlin’s advice there were sent fore-riders to skim the country, +and they met with the fore-riders of the north, and made them to tell +which way the host came, and then they told it to Arthur, and by King +Ban and Bors’ council they let burn and destroy all the country afore +them, there they should ride. + +The King with the Hundred Knights met a wonder dream two nights afore +the battle, that there blew a great wind, and blew down their castles +and their towns, and after that came a water and bare it all away. All +that heard of the sweven said it was a token of great battle. Then by +counsel of Merlin, when they wist which way the eleven kings would ride +and lodge that night, at midnight they set upon them, as they were in +their pavilions. But the scout-watch by their host cried, Lords! at +arms! for here be your enemies at your hand! + + + +CHAPTER XIV. How the eleven kings with their host fought against Arthur +and his host, and many great feats of the war. + +Then King Arthur and King Ban and King Bors, with their good and trusty +knights, set on them so fiercely that they made them overthrow their +pavilions on their heads, but the eleven kings, by manly prowess of +arms, took a fair champaign, but there was slain that morrowtide ten +thousand good men’s bodies. And so they had afore them a strong +passage, yet were they fifty thousand of hardy men. Then it drew toward +day. Now shall ye do by mine advice, said Merlin unto the three kings: +I would that King Ban and King Bors, with their fellowship of ten +thousand men, were put in a wood here beside, in an ambushment, and +keep them privy, and that they be laid or the light of the day come, +and that they stir not till ye and your knights have fought with them +long. And when it is daylight, dress your battle even afore them and +the passage, that they may see all your host, for then will they be the +more hardy, when they see you but about twenty thousand men, and cause +them to be the gladder to suffer you and your host to come over the +passage. All the three kings and the whole barons said that Merlin said +passingly well, and it was done anon as Merlin had devised. So on the +morn, when either host saw other, the host of the north was well +comforted. Then to Ulfius and Brastias were delivered three thousand +men of arms, and they set on them fiercely in the passage, and slew on +the right hand and on the left hand that it was wonder to tell. + +When that the eleven kings saw that there was so few a fellowship did +such deeds of arms, they were ashamed and set on them again fiercely; +and there was Sir Ulfius’s horse slain under him, but he did +marvellously well on foot. But the Duke Eustace of Cambenet and King +Clariance of Northumberland, were alway grievous on Ulfius. Then +Brastias saw his fellow fared so withal he smote the duke with a spear, +that horse and man fell down. That saw King Clariance and returned unto +Brastias, and either smote other so that horse and man went to the +earth, and so they lay long astonied, and their horses’ knees brast to +the hard bone. Then came Sir Kay the seneschal with six fellows with +him, and did passing well. With that came the eleven kings, and there +was Griflet put to the earth, horse and man, and Lucas the butler, +horse and man, by King Brandegoris, and King Idres, and King Agwisance. +Then waxed the medley passing hard on both parties. When Sir Kay saw +Griflet on foot, he rode on King Nentres and smote him down, and led +his horse unto Sir Griflet, and horsed him again. Also Sir Kay with the +same spear smote down King Lot, and hurt him passing sore. That saw the +King with the Hundred Knights, and ran unto Sir Kay and smote him down, +and took his horse, and gave him King Lot, whereof he said gramercy. +When Sir Griflet saw Sir Kay and Lucas the butler on foot, he took a +sharp spear, great and square, and rode to Pinel, a good man of arms, +and smote horse and man down, and then he took his horse, and gave him +unto Sir Kay. Then King Lot saw King Nentres on foot, he ran unto Melot +de la Roche, and smote him down, horse and man, and gave King Nentres +the horse, and horsed him again. Also the King of the Hundred Knights +saw King Idres on foot; then he ran unto Gwiniart de Bloi, and smote +him down, horse and man, and gave King Idres the horse, and horsed him +again; and King Lot smote down Clariance de la Forest Savage, and gave +the horse unto Duke Eustace. And so when they had horsed the kings +again they drew them, all eleven kings, together, and said they would +be revenged of the damage that they had taken that day. The meanwhile +came in Sir Ector with an eager countenance, and found Ulfius and +Brastias on foot, in great peril of death, that were foul defoiled +under horse-feet. + +Then Arthur as a lion, ran unto King Cradelment of North Wales, and +smote him through the left side, that the horse and the king fell down; +and then he took the horse by the rein, and led him unto Ulfius, and +said, Have this horse, mine old friend, for great need hast thou of +horse. Gramercy, said Ulfius. Then Sir Arthur did so marvellously in +arms, that all men had wonder. When the King with the Hundred Knights +saw King Cradelment on foot, he ran unto Sir Ector, that was well +horsed, Sir Kay’s father, and smote horse and man down, and gave the +horse unto the king, and horsed him again. And when King Arthur saw the +king ride on Sir Ector’s horse, he was wroth and with his sword he +smote the king on the helm, that a quarter of the helm and shield fell +down, and so the sword carved down unto the horse’s neck, and so the +king and the horse fell down to the ground. Then Sir Kay came unto Sir +Morganore, seneschal with the King of the Hundred Knights, and smote +him down, horse and man, and led the horse unto his father, Sir Ector; +then Sir Ector ran unto a knight, hight Lardans, and smote horse and +man down, and led the horse unto Sir Brastias, that great need had of +an horse, and was greatly defoiled. When Brastias beheld Lucas the +butler, that lay like a dead man under the horses’ feet, and ever Sir +Griflet did marvellously for to rescue him, and there were always +fourteen knights on Sir Lucas; then Brastias smote one of them on the +helm, that it went to the teeth, and he rode to another and smote him, +that the arm flew into the field. Then he went to the third and smote +him on the shoulder, that shoulder and arm flew in the field. And when +Griflet saw rescues, he smote a knight on the temples, that head and +helm went to the earth, and Griflet took the horse of that knight, and +led him unto Sir Lucas, and bade him mount upon the horse and revenge +his hurts. For Brastias had slain a knight to-fore and horsed Griflet. + + + +CHAPTER XV. Yet of the same battle. + +Then Lucas saw King Agwisance, that late had slain Moris de la Roche, +and Lucas ran to him with a short spear that was great, that he gave +him such a fall, that the horse fell down to the earth. Also Lucas +found there on foot, Bloias de La Flandres, and Sir Gwinas, two hardy +knights, and in that woodness that Lucas was in, he slew two bachelors +and horsed them again. Then waxed the battle passing hard on both +parties, but Arthur was glad that his knights were horsed again, and +then they fought together, that the noise and sound rang by the water +and the wood. Wherefore King Ban and King Bors made them ready, and +dressed their shields and harness, and they were so courageous that +many knights shook and bevered for eagerness. All this while Lucas, and +Gwinas, and Briant, and Bellias of Flanders, held strong medley against +six kings, that was King Lot, King Nentres, King Brandegoris, King +Idres, King Uriens, and King Agwisance. So with the help of Sir Kay and +of Sir Griflet they held these six kings hard, that unnethe they had +any power to defend them. But when Sir Arthur saw the battle would not +be ended by no manner, he fared wood as a lion, and steered his horse +here and there, on the right hand, and on the left hand, that he +stinted not till he had slain twenty knights. Also he wounded King Lot +sore on the shoulder, and made him to leave that ground, for Sir Kay +and Griflet did with King Arthur there great deeds of arms. Then +Ulfius, and Brastias, and Sir Ector encountered against the Duke +Eustace, and King Cradelment, and King Clariance of Northumberland, and +King Carados, and against the King with the Hundred Knights. So these +knights encountered with these kings, that they made them to avoid the +ground. Then King Lot made great dole for his damages and his fellows, +and said unto the ten kings, But if ye will do as I devise we shall be +slain and destroyed; let me have the King with the Hundred Knights, and +King Agwisance, and King Idres, and the Duke of Cambenet, and we five +kings will have fifteen thousand men of arms with us, and we will go +apart while ye six kings hold medley with twelve thousand; an we see +that ye have foughten with them long, then will we come on fiercely, +and else shall we never match them, said King Lot, but by this mean. So +they departed as they here devised, and six kings made their party +strong against Arthur, and made great war long. + +In the meanwhile brake the ambushment of King Ban and King Bors, and +Lionses and Phariance had the vanguard, and they two knights met with +King Idres and his fellowship, and there began a great medley of +breaking of spears, and smiting of swords, with slaying of men and +horses, and King Idres was near at discomforture. + +That saw Agwisance the king, and put Lionses and Phariance in point of +death; for the Duke of Cambenet came on withal with a great fellowship. +So these two knights were in great danger of their lives that they were +fain to return, but always they rescued themselves and their fellowship +marvellously. When King Bors saw those knights put aback, it grieved +him sore; then he came on so fast that his fellowship seemed as black +as Inde. When King Lot had espied King Bors, he knew him well, then he +said, O Jesu, defend us from death and horrible maims! for I see well +we be in great peril of death; for I see yonder a king, one of the most +worshipfullest men and one of the best knights of the world, is +inclined unto his fellowship. What is he? said the King with the +Hundred Knights. It is, said King Lot, King Bors of Gaul; I marvel how +they came into this country without witting of us all. It was by +Merlin’s advice, said the knight. As for him, said King Carados, I will +encounter with King Bors, an ye will rescue me when myster is. Go on, +said they all, we will do all that we may. Then King Carados and his +host rode on a soft pace, till that they came as nigh King Bors as +bow-draught; then either battle let their horse run as fast as they +might. And Bleoberis, that was godson unto King Bors, he bare his chief +standard, that was a passing good knight. Now shall we see, said King +Bors, how these northern Britons can bear the arms: and King Bors +encountered with a knight, and smote him throughout with a spear that +he fell dead unto the earth; and after drew his sword and did +marvellous deeds of arms, that all parties had great wonder thereof; +and his knights failed not, but did their part, and King Carados was +smitten to the earth. With that came the King with the Hundred Knights +and rescued King Carados mightily by force of arms, for he was a +passing good knight of a king, and but a young man. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. Yet more of the same battle. + +By then came into the field King Ban as fierce as a lion, with bands of +green and thereupon gold. Ha! a! said King Lot, we must be discomfited, +for yonder I see the most valiant knight of the world, and the man of +the most renown, for such two brethren as is King Ban and King Bors are +not living, wherefore we must needs void or die; and but if we avoid +manly and wisely there is but death. When King Ban came into the +battle, he came in so fiercely that the strokes redounded again from +the wood and the water; wherefore King Lot wept for pity and dole that +he saw so many good knights take their end. But through the great force +of King Ban they made both the northern battles that were departed +hurtled together for great dread; and the three kings and their knights +slew on ever, that it was pity on to behold that multitude of the +people that fled. But King Lot, and King of the Hundred Knights, and +King Morganore gathered the people together passing knightly, and did +great prowess of arms, and held the battle all that day, like hard. + +When the King of the Hundred Knights beheld the great damage that King +Ban did, he thrust unto him with his horse, and smote him on high upon +the helm, a great stroke, and astonied him sore. Then King Ban was +wroth with him, and followed on him fiercely; the other saw that, and +cast up his shield, and spurred his horse forward, but the stroke of +King Ban fell down and carved a cantel off the shield, and the sword +slid down by the hauberk behind his back, and cut through the trapping +of steel and the horse even in two pieces, that the sword felt the +earth. Then the King of the Hundred Knights voided the horse lightly, +and with his sword he broached the horse of King Ban through and +through. With that King Ban voided lightly from the dead horse, and +then King Ban smote at the other so eagerly, and smote him on the helm +that he fell to the earth. Also in that ire he felled King Morganore, +and there was great slaughter of good knights and much people. By then +came into the press King Arthur, and found King Ban standing among dead +men and dead horses, fighting on foot as a wood lion, that there came +none nigh him, as far as he might reach with his sword, but he caught a +grievous buffet; whereof King Arthur had great pity. And Arthur was so +bloody, that by his shield there might no man know him, for all was +blood and brains on his sword. And as Arthur looked by him he saw a +knight that was passingly well horsed, and therewith Sir Arthur ran to +him, and smote him on the helm, that his sword went unto his teeth, and +the knight sank down to the earth dead, and anon Arthur took the horse +by the rein, and led him unto King Ban, and said, Fair brother, have +this horse, for he have great myster thereof, and me repenteth sore of +your great damage. It shall be soon revenged, said King Ban, for I +trust in God mine ure is not such but some of them may sore repent +this. I will well, said Arthur, for I see your deeds full actual; +nevertheless, I might not come at you at that time. + +But when King Ban was mounted on horseback, then there began new +battle, the which was sore and hard, and passing great slaughter. And +so through great force King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors made their +knights a little to withdraw them. But alway the eleven kings with +their chivalry never turned back; and so withdrew them to a little +wood, and so over a little river, and there they rested them, for on +the night they might have no rest on the field. And then the eleven +kings and knights put them on a heap all together, as men adread and +out of all comfort. But there was no man might pass them, they held +them so hard together both behind and before, that King Arthur had +marvel of their deeds of arms, and was passing wroth. Ah, Sir Arthur, +said King Ban and King Bors, blame them not, for they do as good men +ought to do. For by my faith, said King Ban, they are the best fighting +men, and knights of most prowess, that ever I saw or heard speak of, +and those eleven kings are men of great worship; and if they were +longing unto you there were no king under the heaven had such eleven +knights, and of such worship. I may not love them, said Arthur, they +would destroy me. That wot we well, said King Ban and King Bors, for +they are your mortal enemies, and that hath been proved aforehand; and +this day they have done their part, and that is great pity of their +wilfulness. + +Then all the eleven kings drew them together, and then said King Lot, +Lords, ye must other ways than ye do, or else the great loss is behind; +ye may see what people we have lost, and what good men we lose, because +we wait always on these foot-men, and ever in saving of one of the +foot-men we lose ten horsemen for him; therefore this is mine advice, +let us put our foot-men from us, for it is near night, for the noble +Arthur will not tarry on the footmen, for they may save themselves, the +wood is near hand. And when we horsemen be together, look every each of +you kings let make such ordinance that none break upon pain of death. +And who that seeth any man dress him to flee, lightly that he be slain, +for it is better that we slay a coward, than through a coward all we to +be slain. How say ye? said King Lot, answer me all ye kings. It is well +said, quoth King Nentres; so said the King of the Hundred Knights; the +same said the King Carados, and King Uriens; so did King Idres and King +Brandegoris; and so did King Cradelment, and the Duke of Cambenet; the +same said King Clariance and King Agwisance, and sware they would never +fail other, neither for life nor for death. And whoso that fled, but +did as they did, should be slain. Then they amended their harness, and +righted their shields, and took new spears and set them on their +thighs, and stood still as it had been a plump of wood. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. Yet more of the same battle, and how it was ended by +Merlin. + +When Sir Arthur and King Ban and Bors beheld them and all their +knights, they praised them much for their noble cheer of chivalry, for +the hardiest fighters that ever they heard or saw. With that, there +dressed them a forty noble knights, and said unto the three kings, they +would break their battle; these were their names: Lionses, Phariance, +Ulfius, Brastias, Ector, Kay, Lucas the butler, Griflet le Fise de +Dieu, Mariet de la Roche, Guinas de Bloi, Briant de la Forest Savage, +Bellaus, Morians of the Castle [of] Maidens, Flannedrius of the Castle +of Ladies, Annecians that was King Bors’ godson, a noble knight, +Ladinas de la Rouse, Emerause, Caulas, Graciens le Castlein, one Blois +de la Case, and Sir Colgrevaunce de Gorre; all these knights rode on +afore with spears on their thighs, and spurred their horses mightily as +the horses might run. And the eleven kings with part of their knights +rushed with their horses as fast as they might with their spears, and +there they did on both parties marvellous deeds of arms. So came into +the thick of the press, Arthur, Ban, and Bors, and slew down right on +both hands, that their horses went in blood up to the fetlocks. But +ever the eleven kings and their host was ever in the visage of Arthur. +Wherefore Ban and Bors had great marvel, considering the great +slaughter that there was, but at the last they were driven aback over a +little river. With that came Merlin on a great black horse, and said +unto Arthur, Thou hast never done! Hast thou not done enough? of three +score thousand this day hast thou left alive but fifteen thousand, and +it is time to say Ho! For God is wroth with thee, that thou wilt never +have done; for yonder eleven kings at this time will not be overthrown, +but an thou tarry on them any longer, thy fortune will turn and they +shall increase. And therefore withdraw you unto your lodging, and rest +you as soon as ye may, and reward your good knights with gold and with +silver, for they have well deserved it; there may no riches be too dear +for them, for of so few men as ye have, there were never men did more +of prowess than they have done today, for ye have matched this day with +the best fighters of the world. That is truth, said King Ban and Bors. +Also said Merlin, withdraw you where ye list, for this three year I +dare undertake they shall not dere you; and by then ye shall hear new +tidings. And then Merlin said unto Arthur, These eleven kings have more +on hand than they are ware of, for the Saracens are landed in their +countries, more than forty thousand, that burn and slay, and have laid +siege at the castle Wandesborow, and make great destruction; therefore +dread you not this three year. Also, sir, all the goods that be gotten +at this battle, let it be searched, and when ye have it in your hands, +let it be given freely unto these two kings, Ban and Bors, that they +may reward their knights withal; and that shall cause strangers to be +of better will to do you service at need. Also you be able to reward +your own knights of your own goods whensomever it liketh you. It is +well said, quoth Arthur, and as thou hast devised, so shall it be done. +When it was delivered to Ban and Bors, they gave the goods as freely to +their knights as freely as it was given to them. Then Merlin took his +leave of Arthur and of the two kings, for to go and see his master +Bleise, that dwelt in Northumberland; and so he departed and came to +his master, that was passing glad of his coming; and there he told how +Arthur and the two kings had sped at the great battle, and how it was +ended, and told the names of every king and knight of worship that was +there. And so Bleise wrote the battle word by word, as Merlin told him, +how it began, and by whom, and in likewise how it was ended, and who +had the worse. All the battles that were done in Arthur’s days Merlin +did his master Bleise do write; also he did do write all the battles +that every worthy knight did of Arthur’s court. + +After this Merlin departed from his master and came to King Arthur, +that was in the castle of Bedegraine, that was one of the castles that +stand in the forest of Sherwood. And Merlin was so disguised that King +Arthur knew him not, for he was all befurred in black sheep-skins, and +a great pair of boots, and a bow and arrows, in a russet gown, and +brought wild geese in his hand, and it was on the morn after Candlemas +day; but King Arthur knew him not. Sir, said Merlin unto the king, will +ye give me a gift? Wherefore, said King Arthur, should I give thee a +gift, churl? Sir, said Merlin, ye were better to give me a gift that is +not in your hand than to lose great riches, for here in the same place +where the great battle was, is great treasure hid in the earth. Who +told thee so, churl? said Arthur. Merlin told me so, said he. Then +Ulfius and Brastias knew him well enough, and smiled. Sir, said these +two knights, it is Merlin that so speaketh unto you. Then King Arthur +was greatly abashed, and had marvel of Merlin, and so had King Ban and +King Bors, and so they had great disport at him. So in the meanwhile +there came a damosel that was an earl’s daughter: his name was Sanam, +and her name was Lionors, a passing fair damosel; and so she came +thither for to do homage, as other lords did after the great battle. +And King Arthur set his love greatly upon her, and so did she upon him, +and the king had ado with her, and gat on her a child: his name was +Borre, that was after a good knight, and of the Table Round. Then there +came word that the King Rience of North Wales made great war on King +Leodegrance of Cameliard, for the which thing Arthur was wroth, for he +loved him well, and hated King Rience, for he was alway against him. So +by ordinance of the three kings that were sent home unto Benwick, all +they would depart for dread of King Claudas; and Phariance, and +Antemes, and Gratian, and Lionses [of] Payarne, with the leaders of +those that should keep the kings’ lands. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. How King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors rescued King +Leodegrance, and other incidents. + +And then King Arthur, and King Ban, and King Bors departed with their +fellowship, a twenty thousand, and came within six days into the +country of Cameliard, and there rescued King Leodegrance, and slew +there much people of King Rience, unto the number of ten thousand men, +and put him to flight. And then had these three kings great cheer of +King Leodegrance, that thanked them of their great goodness, that they +would revenge him of his enemies; and there had Arthur the first sight +of Guenever, the king’s daughter of Cameliard, and ever after he loved +her. After they were wedded, as it telleth in the book. So, briefly to +make an end, they took their leave to go into their own countries, for +King Claudas did great destruction on their lands. Then said Arthur, I +will go with you. Nay, said the kings, ye shall not at this time, for +ye have much to do yet in these lands, therefore we will depart, and +with the great goods that we have gotten in these lands by your gifts, +we shall wage good knights and withstand the King Claudas’ malice, for +by the grace of God, an we have need we will send to you for your +succour; and if ye have need, send for us, and we will not tarry, by +the faith of our bodies. It shall not, said Merlin, need that these two +kings come again in the way of war, but I know well King Arthur may not +be long from you, for within a year or two ye shall have great need, +and then shall he revenge you on your enemies, as ye have done on his. +For these eleven kings shall die all in a day, by the great might and +prowess of arms of two valiant knights (as it telleth after); their +names be Balin le Savage, and Balan, his brother, that be marvellous +good knights as be any living. + +Now turn we to the eleven kings that returned unto a city that hight +Sorhaute, the which city was within King Uriens’, and there they +refreshed them as well as they might, and made leeches search their +wounds, and sorrowed greatly for the death of their people. With that +there came a messenger and told how there was come into their lands +people that were lawless as well as Saracens, a forty thousand, and +have burnt and slain all the people that they may come by, without +mercy, and have laid siege on the castle of Wandesborow. Alas, said the +eleven kings, here is sorrow upon sorrow, and if we had not warred +against Arthur as we have done, he would soon revenge us. As for King +Leodegrance, he loveth Arthur better than us, and as for King Rience, +he hath enough to do with Leodegrance, for he hath laid siege unto him. +So they consented together to keep all the marches of Cornwall, of +Wales, and of the North. So first, they put King Idres in the City of +Nauntes in Britain, with four thousand men of arms, to watch both the +water and the land. Also they put in the city of Windesan, King Nentres +of Garlot, with four thousand knights to watch both on water and on +land. Also they had of other men of war more than eight thousand, for +to fortify all the fortresses in the marches of Cornwall. Also they put +more knights in all the marches of Wales and Scotland, with many good +men of arms, and so they kept them together the space of three year, +and ever allied them with mighty kings and dukes and lords. And to them +fell King Rience of North Wales, the which and Nero that was a mighty +man of men. And all this while they furnished them and garnished them +of good men of arms, and victual, and of all manner of habiliment that +pretendeth to the war, to avenge them for the battle of Bedegraine, as +it telleth in the book of adventures following. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. How King Arthur rode to Carlion, and of his dream, and how +he saw the questing beast. + +Then after the departing of King Ban and of King Bors, King Arthur rode +into Carlion. And thither came to him, King Lot’s wife, of Orkney, in +manner of a message, but she was sent thither to espy the court of King +Arthur; and she came richly beseen, with her four sons, Gawaine, +Gaheris, Agravine, and Gareth, with many other knights and ladies. For +she was a passing fair lady, therefore the king cast great love unto +her, and desired to lie by her; so they were agreed, and he begat upon +her Mordred, and she was his sister, on his mother’s side, Igraine. So +there she rested her a month, and at the last departed. Then the king +dreamed a marvellous dream whereof he was sore adread. But all this +time King Arthur knew not that King Lot’s wife was his sister. Thus was +the dream of Arthur: Him thought there was come into this land griffins +and serpents, and him thought they burnt and slew all the people in the +land, and then him thought he fought with them, and they did him +passing great harm, and wounded him full sore, but at the last he slew +them. When the king awaked, he was passing heavy of his dream, and so +to put it out of thoughts, he made him ready with many knights to ride +a-hunting. As soon as he was in the forest the king saw a great hart +afore him. This hart will I chase, said King Arthur, and so he spurred +the horse, and rode after long, and so by fine force oft he was like to +have smitten the hart; whereas the king had chased the hart so long, +that his horse lost his breath, and fell down dead. Then a yeoman +fetched the king another horse. + +So the king saw the hart enbushed, and his horse dead, he set him down +by a fountain, and there he fell in great thoughts. And as he sat so, +him thought he heard a noise of hounds, to the sum of thirty. And with +that the king saw coming toward him the strangest beast that ever he +saw or heard of; so the beast went to the well and drank, and the noise +was in the beast’s belly like unto the questing of thirty couple +hounds; but all the while the beast drank there was no noise in the +beast’s belly: and there with the beast departed with a great noise, +whereof the king had great marvel. And so he was in a great thought, +and therewith he fell asleep. Right so there came a knight afoot unto +Arthur and said, Knight full of thought and sleepy, tell me if thou +sawest a strange beast pass this way. Such one saw I, said King Arthur, +that is past two mile; what would ye with the beast? said Arthur. Sir, +I have followed that beast long time, and killed mine horse, so would +God I had another to follow my quest. Right so came one with the king’s +horse, and when the knight saw the horse, he prayed the king to give +him the horse: for I have followed this quest this twelvemonth, and +either I shall achieve him, or bleed of the best blood of my body. +Pellinore, that time king, followed the Questing Beast, and after his +death Sir Palamides followed it. + + + +CHAPTER XX. How King Pellinore took Arthur’s horse and followed the +Questing Beast, and how Merlin met with Arthur. + +Sir knight, said the king, leave that quest, and suffer me to have it, +and I will follow it another twelvemonth. Ah, fool, said the knight +unto Arthur, it is in vain thy desire, for it shall never be achieved +but by me, or my next kin. Therewith he started unto the king’s horse +and mounted into the saddle, and said, Gramercy, this horse is my own. +Well, said the king, thou mayst take my horse by force, but an I might +prove thee whether thou were better on horseback or I.—Well, said the +knight, seek me here when thou wilt, and here nigh this well thou shalt +find me, and so passed on his way. Then the king sat in a study, and +bade his men fetch his horse as fast as ever they might. Right so came +by him Merlin like a child of fourteen year of age, and saluted the +king, and asked him why he was so pensive. I may well be pensive, said +the king, for I have seen the marvellest sight that ever I saw. That +know I well, said Merlin, as well as thyself, and of all thy thoughts, +but thou art but a fool to take thought, for it will not amend thee. +Also I know what thou art, and who was thy father, and of whom thou +wert begotten; King Uther Pendragon was thy father, and begat thee on +Igraine. That is false, said King Arthur, how shouldest thou know it, +for thou art not so old of years to know my father? Yes, said Merlin, I +know it better than ye or any man living. I will not believe thee, said +Arthur, and was wroth with the child. So departed Merlin, and came +again in the likeness of an old man of fourscore year of age, whereof +the king was right glad, for he seemed to be right wise. + +Then said the old man, Why are ye so sad? I may well be heavy, said +Arthur, for many things. Also here was a child, and told me many things +that meseemeth he should not know, for he was not of age to know my +father. Yes, said the old man, the child told you truth, and more would +he have told you an ye would have suffered him. But ye have done a +thing late that God is displeased with you, for ye have lain by your +sister, and on her ye have gotten a child that shall destroy you and +all the knights of your realm. What are ye, said Arthur, that tell me +these tidings? I am Merlin, and I was he in the child’s likeness. Ah, +said King Arthur, ye are a marvellous man, but I marvel much of thy +words that I must die in battle. Marvel not, said Merlin, for it is +God’s will your body to be punished for your foul deeds; but I may well +be sorry, said Merlin, for I shall die a shameful death, to be put in +the earth quick, and ye shall die a worshipful death. And as they +talked this, came one with the king’s horse, and so the king mounted on +his horse, and Merlin on another, and so rode unto Carlion. And anon +the king asked Ector and Ulfius how he was begotten, and they told him +Uther Pendragon was his father and Queen Igraine his mother. Then he +said to Merlin, I will that my mother be sent for that I may speak with +her; and if she say so herself then will I believe it. In all haste, +the queen was sent for, and she came and brought with her Morgan le +Fay, her daughter, that was as fair a lady as any might be, and the +king welcomed Igraine in the best manner. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. How Ulfius impeached Queen Igraine, Arthur’s mother, of +treason; and how a knight came and desired to have the death of his +master revenged. + +Right so came Ulfius, and said openly, that the king and all might hear +that were feasted that day, Ye are the falsest lady of the world, and +the most traitress unto the king’s person. Beware, said Arthur, what +thou sayest; thou speakest a great word. I am well ware, said Ulfius, +what I speak, and here is my glove to prove it upon any man that will +say the contrary, that this Queen Igraine is causer of your great +damage, and of your great war. For, an she would have uttered it in the +life of King Uther Pendragon, of the birth of you, and how ye were +begotten ye had never had the mortal wars that ye have had; for the +most part of your barons of your realm knew never whose son ye were, +nor of whom ye were begotten; and she that bare you of her body should +have made it known openly in excusing of her worship and yours, and in +like wise to all the realm, wherefore I prove her false to God and to +you and to all your realm, and who will say the contrary I will prove +it on his body. + +Then spake Igraine and said, I am a woman and I may not fight, but +rather than I should be dishonoured, there would some good man take my +quarrel. More, she said, Merlin knoweth well, and ye Sir Ulfius, how +King Uther came to me in the Castle of Tintagil in the likeness of my +lord, that was dead three hours to-fore, and thereby gat a child that +night upon me. And after the thirteenth day King Uther wedded me, and +by his commandment when the child was born it was delivered unto Merlin +and nourished by him, and so I saw the child never after, nor wot not +what is his name, for I knew him never yet. And there, Ulfius said to +the queen, Merlin is more to blame than ye. Well I wot, said the queen, +I bare a child by my lord King Uther, but I wot not where he is become. +Then Merlin took the king by the hand, saying, This is your mother. And +therewith Sir Ector bare witness how he nourished him by Uther’s +commandment. And therewith King Arthur took his mother, Queen Igraine, +in his arms and kissed her, and either wept upon other. And then the +king let make a feast that lasted eight days. + +Then on a day there came in the court a squire on horseback, leading a +knight before him wounded to the death, and told him how there was a +knight in the forest had reared up a pavilion by a well, and hath slain +my master, a good knight, his name was Miles; wherefore I beseech you +that my master may be buried, and that some knight may revenge my +master’s death. Then the noise was great of that knight’s death in the +court, and every man said his advice. Then came Griflet that was but a +squire, and he was but young, of the age of the king Arthur, so he +besought the king for all his service that he had done him to give the +order of knighthood. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. How Griflet was made knight, and jousted with a knight. + +Thou art full young and tender of age, said Arthur, for to take so high +an order on thee. Sir, said Griflet, I beseech you make me knight. Sir, +said Merlin, it were great pity to lose Griflet, for he will be a +passing good man when he is of age, abiding with you the term of his +life. And if he adventure his body with yonder knight at the fountain, +it is in great peril if ever he come again, for he is one of the best +knights of the world, and the strongest man of arms. Well, said Arthur. +So at the desire of Griflet the king made him knight. Now, said Arthur +unto Sir Griflet, sith I have made you knight thou must give me a gift. +What ye will, said Griflet. Thou shalt promise me by the faith of thy +body, when thou hast jousted with the knight at the fountain, whether +it fall ye be on foot or on horseback, that right so ye shall come +again unto me without making any more debate. I will promise you, said +Griflet, as you desire. Then took Griflet his horse in great haste, and +dressed his shield and took a spear in his hand, and so he rode a great +wallop till he came to the fountain, and thereby he saw a rich +pavilion, and thereby under a cloth stood a fair horse well saddled and +bridled, and on a tree a shield of divers colours and a great spear. +Then Griflet smote on the shield with the butt of his spear, that the +shield fell down to the ground. With that the knight came out of the +pavilion, and said, Fair knight, why smote ye down my shield? For I +will joust with you, said Griflet. It is better ye do not, said the +knight, for ye are but young, and late made knight, and your might is +nothing to mine. As for that, said Griflet, I will joust with you. That +is me loath, said the knight, but sith I must needs, I will dress me +thereto. Of whence be ye? said the knight. Sir, I am of Arthur’s court. +So the two knights ran together that Griflet’s spear all to-shivered; +and there withal he smote Griflet through the shield and the left side, +and brake the spear that the truncheon stuck in his body, that horse +and knight fell down. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. How twelve knights came from Rome and asked truage for +this land of Arthur, and how Arthur fought with a knight. + +When the knight saw him lie so on the ground, he alighted, and was +passing heavy, for he weened he had slain him, and then he unlaced his +helm and gat him wind, and so with the truncheon he set him on his +horse, and so betook him to God, and said he had a mighty heart, and if +he might live he would prove a passing good knight. And so Sir Griflet +rode to the court, where great dole was made for him. But through good +leeches he was healed and saved. Right so came into the court twelve +knights, and were aged men, and they came from the Emperor of Rome, and +they asked of Arthur truage for this realm, other else the emperor +would destroy him and his land. Well, said King Arthur, ye are +messengers, therefore ye may say what ye will, other else ye should die +therefore. But this is mine answer: I owe the emperor no truage, nor +none will I hold him, but on a fair field I shall give him my truage +that shall be with a sharp spear, or else with a sharp sword, and that +shall not be long, by my father’s soul, Uther Pendragon. And therewith +the messengers departed passingly wroth, and King Arthur as wroth, for +in evil time came they then; for the king was passingly wroth for the +hurt of Sir Griflet. And so he commanded a privy man of his chamber +that or it be day his best horse and armour, with all that longeth unto +his person, be without the city or to-morrow day. Right so or to-morrow +day he met with his man and his horse, and so mounted up and dressed +his shield and took his spear, and bade his chamberlain tarry there +till he came again. And so Arthur rode a soft pace till it was day, and +then was he ware of three churls chasing Merlin, and would have slain +him. Then the king rode unto them, and bade them: Flee, churls! then +were they afeard when they saw a knight, and fled. O Merlin, said +Arthur, here hadst thou been slain for all thy crafts had I not been. +Nay, said Merlin, not so, for I could save myself an I would; and thou +art more near thy death than I am, for thou goest to the deathward, an +God be not thy friend. + +So as they went thus talking they came to the fountain, and the rich +pavilion there by it. Then King Arthur was ware where sat a knight +armed in a chair. Sir knight, said Arthur, for what cause abidest thou +here, that there may no knight ride this way but if he joust with thee? +said the king. I rede thee leave that custom, said Arthur. This custom, +said the knight, have I used and will use maugre who saith nay, and who +is grieved with my custom let him amend it that will. I will amend it, +said Arthur. I shall defend thee, said the knight. Anon he took his +horse and dressed his shield and took a spear, and they met so hard +either in other’s shields, that all to-shivered their spears. Therewith +anon Arthur pulled out his sword. Nay, not so, said the knight; it is +fairer, said the knight, that we twain run more together with sharp +spears. I will well, said Arthur, an I had any more spears. I have +enow, said the knight; so there came a squire and brought two good +spears, and Arthur chose one and he another; so they spurred their +horses and came together with all their mights, that either brake their +spears to their hands. Then Arthur set hand on his sword. Nay, said the +knight, ye shall do better, ye are a passing good jouster as ever I met +withal, and once for the love of the high order of knighthood let us +joust once again. I assent me, said Arthur. Anon there were brought two +great spears, and every knight gat a spear, and therewith they ran +together that Arthur’s spear all to-shivered. But the other knight hit +him so hard in midst of the shield, that horse and man fell to the +earth, and therewith Arthur was eager, and pulled out his sword, and +said, I will assay thee, sir knight, on foot, for I have lost the +honour on horseback. I will be on horseback, said the knight. Then was +Arthur wroth, and dressed his shield toward him with his sword drawn. +When the knight saw that, he alighted, for him thought no worship to +have a knight at such avail, he to be on horseback and he on foot, and +so he alighted and dressed his shield unto Arthur. And there began a +strong battle with many great strokes, and so hewed with their swords +that the cantels flew in the fields, and much blood they bled both, +that all the place there as they fought was overbled with blood, and +thus they fought long and rested them, and then they went to the battle +again, and so hurtled together like two rams that either fell to the +earth. So at the last they smote together that both their swords met +even together. But the sword of the knight smote King Arthur’s sword in +two pieces, wherefore he was heavy. Then said the knight unto Arthur, +Thou art in my daunger whether me list to save thee or slay thee, and +but thou yield thee as overcome and recreant, thou shalt die. As for +death, said King Arthur, welcome be it when it cometh, but to yield me +unto thee as recreant I had liefer die than to be so shamed. And +therewithal the king leapt unto Pellinore, and took him by the middle +and threw him down, and raced off his helm. When the knight felt that +he was adread, for he was a passing big man of might, and anon he +brought Arthur under him, and raced off his helm and would have smitten +off his head. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. How Merlin saved Arthur’s life, and threw an enchantment +on King Pellinore and made him to sleep. + +Therewithal came Merlin and said, Knight, hold thy hand, for an thou +slay that knight thou puttest this realm in the greatest damage that +ever was realm: for this knight is a man of more worship than thou +wotest of. Why, who is he? said the knight. It is King Arthur. Then +would he have slain him for dread of his wrath, and heaved up his +sword, and therewith Merlin cast an enchantment to the knight, that he +fell to the earth in a great sleep. Then Merlin took up King Arthur, +and rode forth on the knight’s horse. Alas! said Arthur, what hast thou +done, Merlin? hast thou slain this good knight by thy crafts? There +liveth not so worshipful a knight as he was; I had liefer than the +stint of my land a year that he were alive. Care ye not, said Merlin, +for he is wholer than ye; for he is but asleep, and will awake within +three hours. I told you, said Merlin, what a knight he was; here had ye +been slain had I not been. Also there liveth not a bigger knight than +he is one, and he shall hereafter do you right good service; and his +name is Pellinore, and he shall have two sons that shall be passing +good men; save one they shall have no fellow of prowess and of good +living, and their names shall be Percivale of Wales and Lamerake of +Wales, and he shall tell you the name of your own son, begotten of your +sister, that shall be the destruction of all this realm. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. How Arthur by the mean of Merlin gat Excalibur his sword +of the Lady of the Lake. + +Right so the king and he departed, and went unto an hermit that was a +good man and a great leech. So the hermit searched all his wounds and +gave him good salves; so the king was there three days, and then were +his wounds well amended that he might ride and go, and so departed. And +as they rode, Arthur said, I have no sword. No force, said Merlin, +hereby is a sword that shall be yours, an I may. So they rode till they +came to a lake, the which was a fair water and broad, and in the midst +of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white samite, that +held a fair sword in that hand. Lo! said Merlin, yonder is that sword +that I spake of. With that they saw a damosel going upon the lake. What +damosel is that? said Arthur. That is the Lady of the Lake, said +Merlin; and within that lake is a rock, and therein is as fair a place +as any on earth, and richly beseen; and this damosel will come to you +anon, and then speak ye fair to her that she will give you that sword. +Anon withal came the damosel unto Arthur, and saluted him, and he her +again. Damosel, said Arthur, what sword is that, that yonder the arm +holdeth above the water? I would it were mine, for I have no sword. Sir +Arthur, king, said the damosel, that sword is mine, and if ye will give +me a gift when I ask it you, ye shall have it. By my faith, said +Arthur, I will give you what gift ye will ask. Well! said the damosel, +go ye into yonder barge, and row yourself to the sword, and take it and +the scabbard with you, and I will ask my gift when I see my time. So +Sir Arthur and Merlin alighted and tied their horses to two trees, and +so they went into the ship, and when they came to the sword that the +hand held, Sir Arthur took it up by the handles, and took it with him, +and the arm and the hand went under the water. And so [they] came unto +the land and rode forth, and then Sir Arthur saw a rich pavilion. What +signifieth yonder pavilion? It is the knight’s pavilion, said Merlin, +that ye fought with last, Sir Pellinore; but he is out, he is not +there. He hath ado with a knight of yours that hight Egglame, and they +have foughten together, but at the last Egglame fled, and else he had +been dead, and he hath chased him even to Carlion, and we shall meet +with him anon in the highway. That is well said, said Arthur, now have +I a sword, now will I wage battle with him, and be avenged on him. Sir, +you shall not so, said Merlin, for the knight is weary of fighting and +chasing, so that ye shall have no worship to have ado with him; also he +will not be lightly matched of one knight living, and therefore it is +my counsel, let him pass, for he shall do you good service in short +time, and his sons after his days. Also ye shall see that day in short +space, you shall be right glad to give him your sister to wed. When I +see him, I will do as ye advise, said Arthur. + +Then Sir Arthur looked on the sword, and liked it passing well. Whether +liketh you better, said Merlin, the sword or the scabbard? Me liketh +better the sword, said Arthur. Ye are more unwise, said Merlin, for the +scabbard is worth ten of the swords, for whiles ye have the scabbard +upon you, ye shall never lose no blood, be ye never so sore wounded; +therefore keep well the scabbard always with you. So they rode unto +Carlion, and by the way they met with Sir Pellinore; but Merlin had +done such a craft, that Pellinore saw not Arthur, and he passed by +without any words. I marvel, said Arthur, that the knight would not +speak. Sir, said Merlin, he saw you not, for an he had seen you, ye had +not lightly departed. So they came unto Carlion, whereof his knights +were passing glad. And when they heard of his adventures, they +marvelled that he would jeopard his person so, alone. But all men of +worship said it was merry to be under such a chieftain, that would put +his person in adventure as other poor knights did. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. How tidings came to Arthur that King Rience had overcome +eleven kings, and how he desired Arthur’s beard to trim his mantle. + +This meanwhile came a messenger from King Rience of North Wales, and +king he was of all Ireland, and of many isles. And this was his +message, greeting well King Arthur in this manner wise, saying that +King Rience had discomfited and overcome eleven kings, and everych of +them did him homage, and that was this, they gave him their beards +clean flayed off, as much as there was; wherefore the messenger came +for King Arthur’s beard. For King Rience had purfled a mantle with +kings’ beards, and there lacked one place of the mantle; wherefore he +sent for his beard, or else he would enter into his lands, and burn and +slay, and never leave till he have the head and the beard. Well, said +Arthur, thou hast said thy message, the which is the most villainous +and lewdest message that ever man heard sent unto a king; also thou +mayest see my beard is full young yet to make a purfle of it. But tell +thou thy king this: I owe him none homage, nor none of mine elders; but +or it be long to, he shall do me homage on both his knees, or else he +shall lose his head, by the faith of my body, for this is the most +shamefulest message that ever I heard speak of. I have espied thy king +met never yet with worshipful man, but tell him, I will have his head +without he do me homage. Then the messenger departed. + +Now is there any here, said Arthur, that knoweth King Rience? Then +answered a knight that hight Naram, Sir, I know the king well; he is a +passing good man of his body, as few be living, and a passing proud +man, and Sir, doubt ye not he will make war on you with a mighty +puissance. Well, said Arthur, I shall ordain for him in short time. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. How all the children were sent for that were born on +May-day, and how Mordred was saved. + +Then King Arthur let send for all the children born on May-day, +begotten of lords and born of ladies; for Merlin told King Arthur that +he that should destroy him should be born on May-day, wherefore he sent +for them all, upon pain of death; and so there were found many lords’ +sons, and all were sent unto the king, and so was Mordred sent by King +Lot’s wife, and all were put in a ship to the sea, and some were four +weeks old, and some less. And so by fortune the ship drave unto a +castle, and was all to-riven, and destroyed the most part, save that +Mordred was cast up, and a good man found him, and nourished him till +he was fourteen year old, and then he brought him to the court, as it +rehearseth afterward, toward the end of the Death of Arthur. So many +lords and barons of this realm were displeased, for their children were +so lost, and many put the wite on Merlin more than on Arthur; so what +for dread and for love, they held their peace. But when the messenger +came to King Rience, then was he wood out of measure, and purveyed him +for a great host, as it rehearseth after in the book of Balin le +Savage, that followeth next after, how by adventure Balin gat the +sword. + +Explicit liber primus. + + + +BOOK II. + + + +CHAPTER I. Of a damosel which came girt with a sword for to find a man +of such virtue to draw it out of the scabbard. + +After the death of Uther Pendragon reigned Arthur his son, the which +had great war in his days for to get all England into his hand. For +there were many kings within the realm of England, and in Wales, +Scotland, and Cornwall. So it befell on a time when King Arthur was at +London, there came a knight and told the king tidings how that the King +Rience of North Wales had reared a great number of people, and were +entered into the land, and burnt and slew the king’s true liege people. +If this be true, said Arthur, it were great shame unto mine estate but +that he were mightily withstood. It is truth, said the knight, for I +saw the host myself. Well, said the king, let make a cry, that all the +lords, knights, and gentlemen of arms, should draw unto a castle called +Camelot in those days, and there the king would let make a +council-general and a great jousts. + +So when the king was come thither with all his baronage, and lodged as +they seemed best, there was come a damosel the which was sent on +message from the great lady Lile of Avelion. And when she came before +King Arthur, she told from whom she came, and how she was sent on +message unto him for these causes. Then she let her mantle fall that +was richly furred; and then was she girt with a noble sword whereof the +king had marvel, and said, Damosel, for what cause are ye girt with +that sword? it beseemeth you not. Now shall I tell you, said the +damosel; this sword that I am girt withal doth me great sorrow and +cumbrance, for I may not be delivered of this sword but by a knight, +but he must be a passing good man of his hands and of his deeds, and +without villainy or treachery, and without treason. And if I may find +such a knight that hath all these virtues, he may draw out this sword +out of the sheath, for I have been at King Rience’s it was told me +there were passing good knights, and he and all his knights have +assayed it and none can speed. This is a great marvel, said Arthur, if +this be sooth; I will myself assay to draw out the sword, not presuming +upon myself that I am the best knight, but that I will begin to draw at +your sword in giving example to all the barons that they shall assay +everych one after other when I have assayed it. Then Arthur took the +sword by the sheath and by the girdle and pulled at it eagerly, but the +sword would not out. + +Sir, said the damosel, you need not to pull half so hard, for he that +shall pull it out shall do it with little might. Ye say well, said +Arthur; now assay ye all my barons; but beware ye be not defiled with +shame, treachery, nor guile. Then it will not avail, said the damosel, +for he must be a clean knight without villainy, and of a gentle strain +of father side and mother side. Most of all the barons of the Round +Table that were there at that time assayed all by row, but there might +none speed; wherefore the damosel made great sorrow out of measure, and +said, Alas! I weened in this court had been the best knights without +treachery or treason. By my faith, said Arthur, here are good knights, +as I deem, as any be in the world, but their grace is not to help you, +wherefore I am displeased. + + + +CHAPTER II. How Balin, arrayed like a poor knight, pulled out the +sword, which afterward was the cause of his death. + +Then fell it so that time there was a poor knight with King Arthur, +that had been prisoner with him half a year and more for slaying of a +knight, the which was cousin unto King Arthur. The name of this knight +was called Balin, and by good means of the barons he was delivered out +of prison, for he was a good man named of his body, and he was born in +Northumberland. And so he went privily into the court, and saw this +adventure, whereof it raised his heart, and he would assay it as other +knights did, but for he was poor and poorly arrayed he put him not far +in press. But in his heart he was fully assured to do as well, if his +grace happed him, as any knight that there was. And as the damosel took +her leave of Arthur and of all the barons, so departing, this knight +Balin called unto her, and said, Damosel, I pray you of your courtesy, +suffer me as well to assay as these lords; though that I be so poorly +clothed, in my heart meseemeth I am fully assured as some of these +others, and meseemeth in my heart to speed right well. The damosel +beheld the poor knight, and saw he was a likely man, but for his poor +arrayment she thought he should be of no worship without villainy or +treachery. And then she said unto the knight, Sir, it needeth not to +put me to more pain or labour, for it seemeth not you to speed there as +other have failed. Ah! fair damosel, said Balin, worthiness, and good +tatches, and good deeds, are not only in arrayment, but manhood and +worship is hid within man’s person, and many a worshipful knight is not +known unto all people, and therefore worship and hardiness is not in +arrayment. By God, said the damosel, ye say sooth; therefore ye shall +assay to do what ye may. Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and +sheath, and drew it out easily; and when he looked on the sword it +pleased him much. Then had the king and all the barons great marvel +that Balin had done that adventure, and many knights had great despite +of Balin. Certes, said the damosel, this is a passing good knight, and +the best that ever I found, and most of worship without treason, +treachery, or villainy, and many marvels shall he do. Now, gentle and +courteous knight, give me the sword again. Nay, said Balin, for this +sword will I keep, but it be taken from me with force. Well, said the +damosel, ye are not wise to keep the sword from me, for ye shall slay +with the sword the best friend that ye have, and the man that ye most +love in the world, and the sword shall be your destruction. I shall +take the adventure, said Balin, that God will ordain me, but the sword +ye shall not have at this time, by the faith of my body. Ye shall +repent it within short time, said the damosel, for I would have the +sword more for your avail than for mine, for I am passing heavy for +your sake; for ye will not believe that sword shall be your +destruction, and that is great pity. With that the damosel departed, +making great sorrow. + +Anon after, Balin sent for his horse and armour, and so would depart +from the court, and took his leave of King Arthur. Nay, said the king, +I suppose ye will not depart so lightly from this fellowship, I suppose +ye are displeased that I have shewed you unkindness; blame me the less, +for I was misinformed against you, but I weened ye had not been such a +knight as ye are, of worship and prowess, and if ye will abide in this +court among my fellowship, I shall so advance you as ye shall be +pleased. God thank your highness, said Balin, your bounty and highness +may no man praise half to the value; but at this time I must needs +depart, beseeching you alway of your good grace. Truly, said the king, +I am right wroth for your departing; I pray you, fair knight, that ye +tarry not long, and ye shall be right welcome to me, and to my barons, +and I shall amend all miss that I have done against you; God thank your +great lordship, said Balin, and therewith made him ready to depart. +Then the most part of the knights of the Round Table said that Balin +did not this adventure all only by might, but by witchcraft. + + + +CHAPTER III. How the Lady of the Lake demanded the knight’s head that +had won the sword, or the maiden’s head. + +The meanwhile, that this knight was making him ready to depart, there +came into the court a lady that hight the Lady of the Lake. And she +came on horseback, richly beseen, and saluted King Arthur, and there +asked him a gift that he promised her when she gave him the sword. That +is sooth, said Arthur, a gift I promised you, but I have forgotten the +name of my sword that ye gave me. The name of it, said the lady, is +Excalibur, that is as much to say as Cut-steel. Ye say well, said the +king; ask what ye will and ye shall have it, an it lie in my power to +give it. Well, said the lady, I ask the head of the knight that hath +won the sword, or else the damosel’s head that brought it; I take no +force though I have both their heads, for he slew my brother, a good +knight and a true, and that gentlewoman was causer of my father’s +death. Truly, said King Arthur, I may not grant neither of their heads +with my worship, therefore ask what ye will else, and I shall fulfil +your desire. I will ask none other thing, said the lady. When Balin was +ready to depart, he saw the Lady of the Lake, that by her means had +slain Balin’s mother, and he had sought her three years; and when it +was told him that she asked his head of King Arthur, he went to her +straight and said, Evil be you found; ye would have my head, and +therefore ye shall lose yours, and with his sword lightly he smote off +her head before King Arthur. Alas, for shame! said Arthur, why have ye +done so? ye have shamed me and all my court, for this was a lady that I +was beholden to, and hither she came under my safe-conduct; I shall +never forgive you that trespass. Sir, said Balin, me forthinketh of +your displeasure, for this same lady was the untruest lady living, and +by enchantment and sorcery she hath been the destroyer of many good +knights, and she was causer that my mother was burnt, through her +falsehood and treachery. What cause soever ye had, said Arthur, ye +should have forborne her in my presence; therefore, think not the +contrary, ye shall repent it, for such another despite had I never in +my court; therefore withdraw you out of my court in all haste ye may. + +Then Balin took up the head of the lady, and bare it with him to his +hostelry, and there he met with his squire, that was sorry he had +displeased King Arthur and so they rode forth out of the town. Now, +said Balin, we must depart, take thou this head and bear it to my +friends, and tell them how I have sped, and tell my friends in +Northumberland that my most foe is dead. Also tell them how I am out of +prison, and what adventure befell me at the getting of this sword. +Alas! said the squire, ye are greatly to blame for to displease King +Arthur. As for that, said Balin, I will hie me, in all the haste that I +may, to meet with King Rience and destroy him, either else to die +therefore; and if it may hap me to win him, then will King Arthur be my +good and gracious lord. Where shall I meet with you? said the squire. +In King Arthur’s court, said Balin. So his squire and he departed at +that time. Then King Arthur and all the court made great dole and had +shame of the death of the Lady of the Lake. Then the king buried her +richly. + + + +CHAPTER IV. How Merlin told the adventure of this damosel. + +At that time there was a knight, the which was the king’s son of +Ireland, and his name was Lanceor, the which was an orgulous knight, +and counted himself one of the best of the court; and he had great +despite at Balin for the achieving of the sword, that any should be +accounted more hardy, or more of prowess; and he asked King Arthur if +he would give him leave to ride after Balin and to revenge the despite +that he had done. Do your best, said Arthur, I am right wroth with +Balin; I would he were quit of the despite that he hath done to me and +to my court. Then this Lanceor went to his hostelry to make him ready. +In the meanwhile came Merlin unto the court of King Arthur, and there +was told him the adventure of the sword, and the death of the Lady of +the Lake. Now shall I say you, said Merlin; this same damosel that here +standeth, that brought the sword unto your court, I shall tell you the +cause of her coming: she was the falsest damosel that liveth. Say not +so, said they. She hath a brother, a passing good knight of prowess and +a full true man; and this damosel loved another knight that held her to +paramour, and this good knight her brother met with the knight that +held her to paramour, and slew him by force of his hands. When this +false damosel understood this, she went to the Lady Lile of Avelion, +and besought her of help, to be avenged on her own brother. + + + +CHAPTER V. How Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor, knight of Ireland, and +how he jousted and slew him. + +And so this Lady Lile of Avelion took her this sword that she brought +with her, and told there should no man pull it out of the sheath but if +he be one of the best knights of this realm, and he should be hard and +full of prowess, and with that sword he should slay her brother. This +was the cause that the damosel came into this court. I know it as well +as ye. Would God she had not come into this court, but she came never +in fellowship of worship to do good, but always great harm; and that +knight that hath achieved the sword shall be destroyed by that sword, +for the which will be great damage, for there liveth not a knight of +more prowess than he is, and he shall do unto you, my Lord Arthur, +great honour and kindness; and it is great pity he shall not endure but +a while, for of his strength and hardiness I know not his match living. + +So the knight of Ireland armed him at all points, and dressed his +shield on his shoulder, and mounted upon horseback, and took his spear +in his hand, and rode after a great pace, as much as his horse might +go; and within a little space on a mountain he had a sight of Balin, +and with a loud voice he cried, Abide, knight, for ye shall abide +whether ye will or nill, and the shield that is to-fore you shall not +help. When Balin heard the noise, he turned his horse fiercely, and +said, Fair knight, what will ye with me, will ye joust with me? Yea, +said the Irish knight, therefore come I after you. Peradventure, said +Balin, it had been better to have holden you at home, for many a man +weeneth to put his enemy to a rebuke, and oft it falleth to himself. Of +what court be ye sent from? said Balin. I am come from the court of +King Arthur, said the knight of Ireland, that come hither for to +revenge the despite ye did this day to King Arthur and to his court. +Well, said Balin, I see well I must have ado with you, that me +forthinketh for to grieve King Arthur, or any of his court; and your +quarrel is full simple, said Balin, unto me, for the lady that is dead, +did me great damage, and else would I have been loath as any knight +that liveth for to slay a lady. Make you ready, said the knight +Lanceor, and dress you unto me, for that one shall abide in the field. +Then they took their spears, and came together as much as their horses +might drive, and the Irish knight smote Balin on the shield, that all +went shivers off his spear, and Balin hit him through the shield, and +the hauberk perished, and so pierced through his body and the horse’s +croup, and anon turned his horse fiercely, and drew out his sword, and +wist not that he had slain him; and then he saw him lie as a dead +corpse. + + + +CHAPTER VI. How a damosel, which was love to Lanceor, slew herself for +love, and how Balin met with his brother Balan. + +Then he looked by him, and was ware of a damosel that came riding full +fast as the horse might ride, on a fair palfrey. And when she espied +that Lanceor was slain, she made sorrow out of measure, and said, O +Balin, two bodies thou hast slain and one heart, and two hearts in one +body, and two souls thou hast lost. And therewith she took the sword +from her love that lay dead, and fell to the ground in a swoon. And +when she arose she made great dole out of measure, the which sorrow +grieved Balin passingly sore, and he went unto her for to have taken +the sword out of her hand, but she held it so fast he might not take it +out of her hand unless he should have hurt her, and suddenly she set +the pommel to the ground, and rove herself through the body. When Balin +espied her deeds, he was passing heavy in his heart, and ashamed that +so fair a damosel had destroyed herself for the love of his death. +Alas, said Balin, me repenteth sore the death of this knight, for the +love of this damosel, for there was much true love betwixt them both, +and for sorrow might not longer behold him, but turned his horse and +looked toward a great forest, and there he was ware, by the arms, of +his brother Balan. And when they were met they put off their helms and +kissed together, and wept for joy and pity. Then Balan said, I little +weened to have met with you at this sudden adventure; I am right glad +of your deliverance out of your dolorous prisonment, for a man told me, +in the castle of Four Stones, that ye were delivered, and that man had +seen you in the court of King Arthur, and therefore I came hither into +this country, for here I supposed to find you. Anon the knight Balin +told his brother of his adventure of the sword, and of the death of the +Lady of the Lake, and how King Arthur was displeased with him. +Wherefore he sent this knight after me, that lieth here dead, and the +death of this damosel grieveth me sore. So doth it me, said Balan, but +ye must take the adventure that God will ordain you. Truly, said Balin, +I am right heavy that my Lord Arthur is displeased with me, for he is +the most worshipful knight that reigneth now on earth, and his love +will I get or else will I put my life in adventure. For the King Rience +lieth at a siege at the Castle Terrabil, and thither will we draw in +all haste, to prove our worship and prowess upon him. I will well, said +Balan, that we do, and we will help each other as brethren ought to do. + + + +CHAPTER VII. How a dwarf reproved Balin for the death of Lanceor, and +how King Mark of Cornwall found them, and made a tomb over them. + +Now go we hence, said Balin, and well be we met. The meanwhile as they +talked, there came a dwarf from the city of Camelot on horseback, as +much as he might; and found the dead bodies, wherefore he made great +dole, and pulled out his hair for sorrow, and said, Which of you +knights have done this deed? Whereby askest thou it? said Balan. For I +would wit it, said the dwarf. It was I, said Balin, that slew this +knight in my defence, for hither he came to chase me, and either I must +slay him or he me; and this damosel slew herself for his love, which +repenteth me, and for her sake I shall owe all women the better love. +Alas, said the dwarf, thou hast done great damage unto thyself, for +this knight that is here dead was one of the most valiantest men that +lived, and trust well, Balin, the kin of this knight will chase you +through the world till they have slain you. As for that, said Balin, I +fear not greatly, but I am right heavy that I have displeased my lord +King Arthur, for the death of this knight. So as they talked together, +there came a king of Cornwall riding, the which hight King Mark. And +when he saw these two bodies dead, and understood how they were dead, +by the two knights above said, then made the king great sorrow for the +true love that was betwixt them, and said, I will not depart till I +have on this earth made a tomb, and there he pight his pavilions and +sought through all the country to find a tomb, and in a church they +found one was fair and rich, and then the king let put them both in the +earth, and put the tomb upon them, and wrote the names of them both on +the tomb. How here lieth Lanceor the king’s son of Ireland, that at his +own request was slain by the hands of Balin; and how his lady, Colombe, +and paramour, slew herself with her love’s sword for dole and sorrow. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. How Merlin prophesied that two the best knights of the +world should fight there, which were Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram. + +The meanwhile as this was a-doing, in came Merlin to King Mark, and +seeing all his doing, said, Here shall be in this same place the +greatest battle betwixt two knights that was or ever shall be, and the +truest lovers, and yet none of them shall slay other. And there Merlin +wrote their names upon the tomb with letters of gold that should fight +in that place, whose names were Launcelot de Lake, and Tristram. Thou +art a marvellous man, said King Mark unto Merlin, that speakest of such +marvels, thou art a boistous man and an unlikely to tell of such deeds. +What is thy name? said King Mark. At this time, said Merlin, I will not +tell, but at that time when Sir Tristram is taken with his sovereign +lady, then ye shall hear and know my name, and at that time ye shall +hear tidings that shall not please you. Then said Merlin to Balin, Thou +hast done thyself great hurt, because that thou savest not this lady +that slew herself, that might have saved her an thou wouldest. By the +faith of my body, said Balin, I might not save her, for she slew +herself suddenly. Me repenteth, said Merlin; because of the death of +that lady thou shalt strike a stroke most dolorous that ever man +struck, except the stroke of our Lord, for thou shalt hurt the truest +knight and the man of most worship that now liveth, and through that +stroke three kingdoms shall be in great poverty, misery and +wretchedness twelve years, and the knight shall not be whole of that +wound for many years. Then Merlin took his leave of Balin. And Balin +said, If I wist it were sooth that ye say I should do such a perilous +deed as that, I would slay myself to make thee a liar. Therewith Merlin +vanished away suddenly. And then Balan and his brother took their leave +of King Mark. First, said the king, tell me your name. Sir, said Balan, +ye may see he beareth two swords, thereby ye may call him the Knight +with the Two Swords. And so departed King Mark unto Camelot to King +Arthur, and Balin took the way toward King Rience; and as they rode +together they met with Merlin disguised, but they knew him not. Whither +ride you? said Merlin. We have little to do, said the two knights, to +tell thee. But what is thy name? said Balin. At this time, said Merlin, +I will not tell it thee. It is evil seen, said the knights, that thou +art a true man that thou wilt not tell thy name. As for that, said +Merlin, be it as it be may, I can tell you wherefore ye ride this way, +for to meet King Rience; but it will not avail you without ye have my +counsel. Ah! said Balin, ye are Merlin; we will be ruled by your +counsel. Come on, said Merlin, ye shall have great worship, and look +that ye do knightly, for ye shall have great need. As for that, said +Balin, dread you not, we will do what we may. + + + +CHAPTER IX. How Balin and his brother, by the counsel of Merlin, took +King Rience and brought him to King Arthur. + +Then Merlin lodged them in a wood among leaves beside the highway, and +took off the bridles of their horses and put them to grass and laid +them down to rest them till it was nigh midnight. Then Merlin bade them +rise, and make them ready, for the king was nigh them, that was stolen +away from his host with a three score horses of his best knights, and +twenty of them rode to-fore to warn the Lady de Vance that the king was +coming; for that night King Rience should have lain with her. Which is +the king? said Balin. Abide, said Merlin, here in a strait way ye shall +meet with him; and therewith he showed Balin and his brother where he +rode. + +Anon Balin and his brother met with the king, and smote him down, and +wounded him fiercely, and laid him to the ground; and there they slew +on the right hand and the left hand, and slew more than forty of his +men, and the remnant fled. Then went they again to King Rience and +would have slain him had he not yielded him unto their grace. Then said +he thus: Knights full of prowess, slay me not, for by my life ye may +win, and by my death ye shall win nothing. Then said these two knights, +Ye say sooth and truth, and so laid him on a horse-litter. With that +Merlin was vanished, and came to King Arthur aforehand, and told him +how his most enemy was taken and discomfited. By whom? said King +Arthur. By two knights, said Merlin, that would please your lordship, +and to-morrow ye shall know what knights they are. Anon after came the +Knight with the Two Swords and Balan his brother, and brought with them +King Rience of North Wales, and there delivered him to the porters, and +charged them with him; and so they two returned again in the dawning of +the day. King Arthur came then to King Rience, and said, Sir king, ye +are welcome: by what adventure come ye hither? Sir, said King Rience, I +came hither by an hard adventure. Who won you? said King Arthur. Sir, +said the king, the Knight with the Two Swords and his brother, which +are two marvellous knights of prowess. I know them not, said Arthur, +but much I am beholden to them. Ah, said Merlin, I shall tell you: it +is Balin that achieved the sword, and his brother Balan, a good knight, +there liveth not a better of prowess and of worthiness, and it shall be +the greatest dole of him that ever I knew of knight, for he shall not +long endure. Alas, said King Arthur, that is great pity; for I am much +beholden unto him, and I have ill deserved it unto him for his +kindness. Nay, said Merlin, he shall do much more for you, and that +shall ye know in haste. But, sir, are ye purveyed, said Merlin, for +to-morn the host of Nero, King Rience’s brother, will set on you or +noon with a great host, and therefore make you ready, for I will depart +from you. + + + +CHAPTER X. How King Arthur had a battle against Nero and King Lot of +Orkney, and how King Lot was deceived by Merlin, and how twelve kings +were slain. + +Then King Arthur made ready his host in ten battles and Nero was ready +in the field afore the Castle Terrabil with a great host, and he had +ten battles, with many more people than Arthur had. Then Nero had the +vanguard with the most part of his people, and Merlin came to King Lot +of the Isle of Orkney, and held him with a tale of prophecy, till Nero +and his people were destroyed. And there Sir Kay the seneschal did +passingly well, that the days of his life the worship went never from +him; and Sir Hervis de Revel did marvellous deeds with King Arthur, and +King Arthur slew that day twenty knights and maimed forty. At that time +came in the Knight with the Two Swords and his brother Balan, but they +two did so marvellously that the king and all the knights marvelled of +them, and all they that beheld them said they were sent from heaven as +angels, or devils from hell; and King Arthur said himself they were the +best knights that ever he saw, for they gave such strokes that all men +had wonder of them. + +In the meanwhile came one to King Lot, and told him while he tarried +there Nero was destroyed and slain with all his people. Alas, said King +Lot, I am ashamed, for by my default there is many a worshipful man +slain, for an we had been together there had been none host under the +heaven that had been able for to have matched with us; this faiter with +his prophecy hath mocked me. All that did Merlin, for he knew well that +an King Lot had been with his body there at the first battle, King +Arthur had been slain, and all his people destroyed; and well Merlin +knew that one of the kings should be dead that day, and loath was +Merlin that any of them both should be slain; but of the twain, he had +liefer King Lot had been slain than King Arthur. Now what is best to +do? said King Lot of Orkney; whether is me better to treat with King +Arthur or to fight, for the greater part of our people are slain and +destroyed? Sir, said a knight, set on Arthur for they are weary and +forfoughten and we be fresh. As for me, said King Lot, I would every +knight would do his part as I would do mine. And then they advanced +banners and smote together and all to-shivered their spears; and +Arthur’s knights, with the help of the Knight with the Two Swords and +his brother Balan put King Lot and his host to the worse. But always +King Lot held him in the foremost front, and did marvellous deeds of +arms, for all his host was borne up by his hands, for he abode all +knights. Alas he might not endure, the which was great pity, that so +worthy a knight as he was one should be overmatched, that of late time +afore had been a knight of King Arthur’s, and wedded the sister of King +Arthur; and for King Arthur lay by King Lot’s wife, the which was +Arthur’s sister, and gat on her Mordred, therefore King Lot held +against Arthur. So there was a knight that was called the Knight with +the Strange Beast, and at that time his right name was called +Pellinore, the which was a good man of prowess, and he smote a mighty +stroke at King Lot as he fought with all his enemies, and he failed of +his stroke, and smote the horse’s neck, that he fell to the ground with +King Lot. And therewith anon Pellinore smote him a great stroke through +the helm and head unto the brows. And then all the host of Orkney fled +for the death of King Lot, and there were slain many mothers’ sons. But +King Pellinore bare the wite of the death of King Lot, wherefore Sir +Gawaine revenged the death of his father the tenth year after he was +made knight, and slew King Pellinore with his own hands. Also there +were slain at that battle twelve kings on the side of King Lot with +Nero, and all were buried in the Church of Saint Stephen’s in Camelot, +and the remnant of knights and of others were buried in a great rock. + + + +CHAPTER XI. Of the interment of twelve kings, and of the prophecy of +Merlin, and how Balin should give the dolorous stroke. + +So at the interment came King Lot’s wife Margawse with her four sons, +Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth. Also there came thither King +Uriens, Sir Ewaine’s father, and Morgan le Fay his wife that was King +Arthur’s sister. All these came to the interment. But of all these +twelve kings King Arthur let make the tomb of King Lot passing richly, +and made his tomb by his own; and then Arthur let make twelve images of +latten and copper, and over-gilt it with gold, in the sign of twelve +kings, and each one of them held a taper of wax that burnt day and +night; and King Arthur was made in sign of a figure standing above them +with a sword drawn in his hand, and all the twelve figures had +countenance like unto men that were overcome. All this made Merlin by +his subtle craft, and there he told the king, When I am dead these +tapers shall burn no longer, and soon after the adventures of the +Sangreal shall come among you and be achieved. Also he told Arthur how +Balin the worshipful knight shall give the dolorous stroke, whereof +shall fall great vengeance. Oh, where is Balin and Balan and Pellinore? +said King Arthur. As for Pellinore, said Merlin, he will meet with you +soon; and as for Balin he will not be long from you; but the other +brother will depart, ye shall see him no more. By my faith, said +Arthur, they are two marvellous knights, and namely Balin passeth of +prowess of any knight that ever I found, for much beholden am I unto +him; would God he would abide with me. Sir, said Merlin, look ye keep +well the scabbard of Excalibur, for ye shall lose no blood while ye +have the scabbard upon you, though ye have as many wounds upon you as +ye may have. So after, for great trust, Arthur betook the scabbard to +Morgan le Fay his sister, and she loved another knight better than her +husband King Uriens or King Arthur, and she would have had Arthur her +brother slain, and therefore she let make another scabbard like it by +enchantment, and gave the scabbard Excalibur to her love; and the +knight’s name was called Accolon, that after had near slain King +Arthur. After this Merlin told unto King Arthur of the prophecy that +there should be a great battle beside Salisbury, and Mordred his own +son should be against him. Also he told him that Bagdemegus was his +cousin, and germain unto King Uriens. + + + +CHAPTER XII. How a sorrowful knight came before Arthur, and how Balin +fetched him, and how that knight was slain by a knight invisible. + +Within a day or two King Arthur was somewhat sick, and he let pitch his +pavilion in a meadow, and there he laid him down on a pallet to sleep, +but he might have no rest. Right so he heard a great noise of an horse, +and therewith the king looked out at the porch of the pavilion, and saw +a knight coming even by him, making great dole. Abide, fair sir, said +Arthur, and tell me wherefore thou makest this sorrow. Ye may little +amend me, said the knight, and so passed forth to the castle of Meliot. +Anon after there came Balin, and when he saw King Arthur he alighted +off his horse, and came to the King on foot, and saluted him. By my +head, said Arthur, ye be welcome. Sir, right now came riding this way a +knight making great mourn, for what cause I cannot tell; wherefore I +would desire of you of your courtesy and of your gentleness to fetch +again that knight either by force or else by his good will. I will do +more for your lordship than that, said Balin; and so he rode more than +a pace, and found the knight with a damosel in a forest, and said, Sir +knight, ye must come with me unto King Arthur, for to tell him of your +sorrow. That will I not, said the knight, for it will scathe me +greatly, and do you none avail. Sir, said Balin, I pray you make you +ready, for ye must go with me, or else I must fight with you and bring +you by force, and that were me loath to do. Will ye be my warrant, said +the knight, an I go with you? Yea, said Balin, or else I will die +therefore. And so he made him ready to go with Balin, and left the +damosel still. And as they were even afore King Arthur’s pavilion, +there came one invisible, and smote this knight that went with Balin +throughout the body with a spear. Alas, said the knight, I am slain +under your conduct with a knight called Garlon; therefore take my horse +that is better than yours, and ride to the damosel, and follow the +quest that I was in as she will lead you, and revenge my death when ye +may. That shall I do, said Balin, and that I make vow unto knighthood; +and so he departed from this knight with great sorrow. So King Arthur +let bury this knight richly, and made a mention on his tomb, how there +was slain Herlews le Berbeus, and by whom the treachery was done, the +knight Garlon. But ever the damosel bare the truncheon of the spear +with her that Sir Herlews was slain withal. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. How Balin and the damosel met with a knight which was in +likewise slain, and how the damosel bled for the custom of a castle. + +So Balin and the damosel rode into a forest, and there met with a +knight that had been a-hunting, and that knight asked Balin for what +cause he made so great sorrow. Me list not to tell you, said Balin. +Now, said the knight, an I were armed as ye be I would fight with you. +That should little need, said Balin, I am not afeard to tell you, and +told him all the cause how it was. Ah, said the knight, is this all? +here I ensure you by the faith of my body never to depart from you +while my life lasteth. And so they went to the hostelry and armed them, +and so rode forth with Balin. And as they came by an hermitage even by +a churchyard, there came the knight Garlon invisible, and smote this +knight, Perin de Mountbeliard, through the body with a spear. Alas, +said the knight, I am slain by this traitor knight that rideth +invisible. Alas, said Balin, it is not the first despite he hath done +me; and there the hermit and Balin buried the knight under a rich stone +and a tomb royal. And on the morn they found letters of gold written, +how Sir Gawaine shall revenge his father’s death, King Lot, on the King +Pellinore. Anon after this Balin and the damosel rode till they came to +a castle, and there Balin alighted, and he and the damosel went to go +into the castle, and anon as Balin came within the castle’s gate the +portcullis fell down at his back, and there fell many men about the +damosel, and would have slain her. When Balin saw that, he was sore +aggrieved, for he might not help the damosel. Then he went up into the +tower, and leapt over walls into the ditch, and hurt him not; and anon +he pulled out his sword and would have foughten with them. And they all +said nay, they would not fight with him, for they did nothing but the +old custom of the castle; and told him how their lady was sick, and had +lain many years, and she might not be whole but if she had a dish of +silver full of blood of a clean maid and a king’s daughter; and +therefore the custom of this castle is, there shall no damosel pass +this way but she shall bleed of her blood in a silver dish full. Well, +said Balin, she shall bleed as much as she may bleed, but I will not +lose the life of her whiles my life lasteth. And so Balin made her to +bleed by her good will, but her blood helped not the lady. And so he +and she rested there all night, and had there right good cheer, and on +the morn they passed on their ways. And as it telleth after in the +Sangreal, that Sir Percivale’s sister helped that lady with her blood, +whereof she was dead. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. How Balin met with that knight named Garlon at a feast, +and there he slew him, to have his blood to heal therewith the son of +his host. + +Then they rode three or four days and never met with adventure, and by +hap they were lodged with a gentle man that was a rich man and well at +ease. And as they sat at their supper Balin overheard one complain +grievously by him in a chair. What is this noise? said Balin. Forsooth, +said his host, I will tell you. I was but late at a jousting, and there +I jousted with a knight that is brother unto King Pellam, and twice +smote I him down, and then he promised to quit me on my best friend; +and so he wounded my son, that cannot be whole till I have of that +knight’s blood, and he rideth alway invisible; but I know not his name. +Ah! said Balin, I know that knight, his name is Garlon, he hath slain +two knights of mine in the same manner, therefore I had liefer meet +with that knight than all the gold in this realm, for the despite he +hath done me. Well, said his host, I shall tell you, King Pellam of +Listeneise hath made do cry in all this country a great feast that +shall be within these twenty days, and no knight may come there but if +he bring his wife with him, or his paramour; and that knight, your +enemy and mine, ye shall see that day. Then I behote you, said Balin, +part of his blood to heal your son withal. We will be forward to-morn, +said his host. So on the morn they rode all three toward Pellam, and +they had fifteen days’ journey or they came thither; and that same day +began the great feast. And so they alighted and stabled their horses, +and went into the castle; but Balin’s host might not be let in because +he had no lady. Then Balin was well received and brought unto a chamber +and unarmed him; and there were brought him robes to his pleasure, and +would have had Balin leave his sword behind him. Nay, said Balin, that +do I not, for it is the custom of my country a knight always to keep +his weapon with him, and that custom will I keep, or else I will depart +as I came. Then they gave him leave to wear his sword, and so he went +unto the castle, and was set among knights of worship, and his lady +afore him. + +Soon Balin asked a knight, Is there not a knight in this court whose +name is Garlon? Yonder he goeth, said a knight, he with the black face; +he is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many +good knights, for he goeth invisible. Ah well, said Balin, is that he? +Then Balin advised him long: If I slay him here I shall not escape, and +if I leave him now, peradventure I shall never meet with him again at +such a steven, and much harm he will do an he live. Therewith this +Garlon espied that this Balin beheld him, and then he came and smote +Balin on the face with the back of his hand, and said, Knight, why +beholdest me so? for shame therefore, eat thy meat and do that thou +came for. Thou sayest sooth, said Balin, this is not the first despite +that thou hast done me, and therefore I will do what I came for, and +rose up fiercely and clave his head to the shoulders. Give me the +truncheon, said Balin to his lady, wherewith he slew your knight. Anon +she gave it him, for alway she bare the truncheon with her. And +therewith Balin smote him through the body, and said openly, With that +truncheon thou hast slain a good knight, and now it sticketh in thy +body. And then Balin called unto him his host, saying, Now may ye fetch +blood enough to heal your son withal. + + + +CHAPTER XV. How Balin fought with King Pellam, and how his sword brake, +and how he gat a spear wherewith he smote the dolorous stroke. + +Anon all the knights arose from the table for to set on Balin, and King +Pellam himself arose up fiercely, and said, Knight, hast thou slain my +brother? thou shalt die therefore or thou depart. Well, said Balin, do +it yourself. Yes, said King Pellam, there shall no man have ado with +thee but myself, for the love of my brother. Then King Pellam caught in +his hand a grim weapon and smote eagerly at Balin; but Balin put the +sword betwixt his head and the stroke, and therewith his sword burst in +sunder. And when Balin was weaponless he ran into a chamber for to seek +some weapon, and so from chamber to chamber, and no weapon he could +find, and always King Pellam after him. And at the last he entered into +a chamber that was marvellously well dight and richly, and a bed +arrayed with cloth of gold, the richest that might be thought, and one +lying therein, and thereby stood a table of clean gold with four +pillars of silver that bare up the table, and upon the table stood a +marvellous spear strangely wrought. And when Balin saw that spear, he +gat it in his hand and turned him to King Pellam, and smote him +passingly sore with that spear, that King Pellam fell down in a swoon, +and therewith the castle roof and walls brake and fell to the earth, +and Balin fell down so that he might not stir foot nor hand. And so the +most part of the castle, that was fallen down through that dolorous +stroke, lay upon Pellam and Balin three days. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. How Balin was delivered by Merlin, and saved a knight that +would have slain himself for love. + +Then Merlin came thither and took up Balin, and gat him a good horse, +for his was dead, and bade him ride out of that country. I would have +my damosel, said Balin. Lo, said Merlin, where she lieth dead. And King +Pellam lay so, many years sore wounded, and might never be whole till +Galahad the haut prince healed him in the quest of the Sangreal, for in +that place was part of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Joseph +of Arimathea brought into this land, and there himself lay in that rich +bed. And that was the same spear that Longius smote our Lord to the +heart; and King Pellam was nigh of Joseph’s kin, and that was the most +worshipful man that lived in those days, and great pity it was of his +hurt, for through that stroke, turned to great dole, tray and tene. +Then departed Balin from Merlin, and said, In this world we meet never +no more. So he rode forth through the fair countries and cities, and +found the people dead, slain on every side. And all that were alive +cried, O Balin, thou hast caused great damage in these countries; for +the dolorous stroke thou gavest unto King Pellam three countries are +destroyed, and doubt not but the vengeance will fall on thee at the +last. When Balin was past those countries he was passing fain. + +So he rode eight days or he met with adventure. And at the last he came +into a fair forest in a valley, and was ware of a tower, and there +beside he saw a great horse of war, tied to a tree, and there beside +sat a fair knight on the ground and made great mourning, and he was a +likely man, and a well made. Balin said, God save you, why be ye so +heavy? tell me and I will amend it, an I may, to my power. Sir knight, +said he again, thou dost me great grief, for I was in merry thoughts, +and now thou puttest me to more pain. Balin went a little from him, and +looked on his horse; then heard Balin him say thus: Ah, fair lady, why +have ye broken my promise, for thou promisest me to meet me here by +noon, and I may curse thee that ever ye gave me this sword, for with +this sword I slay myself, and pulled it out. And therewith Balin stert +unto him and took him by the hand. Let go my hand, said the knight, or +else I shall slay thee. That shall not need, said Balin, for I shall +promise you my help to get you your lady, an ye will tell me where she +is. What is your name? said the knight. My name is Balin le Savage. Ah, +sir, I know you well enough, ye are the Knight with the Two Swords, and +the man of most prowess of your hands living. What is your name? said +Balin. My name is Garnish of the Mount, a poor man’s son, but by my +prowess and hardiness a duke hath made me knight, and gave me lands; +his name is Duke Hermel, and his daughter is she that I love, and she +me as I deemed. How far is she hence? said Balin. But six mile, said +the knight. Now ride we hence, said these two knights. So they rode +more than a pace, till that they came to a fair castle well walled and +ditched. I will into the castle, said Balin, and look if she be there. +So he went in and searched from chamber to chamber, and found her bed, +but she was not there. Then Balin looked into a fair little garden, and +under a laurel tree he saw her lie upon a quilt of green samite and a +knight in her arms, fast halsing either other, and under their heads +grass and herbs. When Balin saw her lie so with the foulest knight that +ever he saw, and she a fair lady, then Balin went through all the +chambers again, and told the knight how he found her as she had slept +fast, and so brought him in the place there she lay fast sleeping. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. How that knight slew his love and a knight lying by her, +and after, how he slew himself with his own sword, and how Balin rode +toward a castle where he lost his life. + +And when Garnish beheld her so lying, for pure sorrow his mouth and +nose burst out a-bleeding, and with his sword he smote off both their +heads, and then he made sorrow out of measure, and said, O Balin, much +sorrow hast thou brought unto me, for hadst thou not shewed me that +sight I should have passed my sorrow. Forsooth, said Balin, I did it to +this intent that it should better thy courage, and that ye might see +and know her falsehood, and to cause you to leave love of such a lady; +God knoweth I did none other but as I would ye did to me. Alas, said +Garnish, now is my sorrow double that I may not endure, now have I +slain that I most loved in all my life; and therewith suddenly he rove +himself on his own sword unto the hilts. When Balin saw that, he +dressed him thenceward, lest folk would say he had slain them; and so +he rode forth, and within three days he came by a cross, and thereon +were letters of gold written, that said, It is not for no knight alone +to ride toward this castle. Then saw he an old hoar gentleman coming +toward him, that said, Balin le Savage, thou passest thy bounds to come +this way, therefore turn again and it will avail thee. And he vanished +away anon; and so he heard an horn blow as it had been the death of a +beast. That blast, said Balin, is blown for me, for I am the prize and +yet am I not dead. Anon withal he saw an hundred ladies and many +knights, that welcomed him with fair semblant, and made him passing +good cheer unto his sight, and led him into the castle, and there was +dancing and minstrelsy and all manner of joy. Then the chief lady of +the castle said, Knight with the Two Swords, ye must have ado and joust +with a knight hereby that keepeth an island, for there may no man pass +this way but he must joust or he pass. That is an unhappy custom, said +Balin, that a knight may not pass this way but if he joust. Ye shall +not have ado but with one knight, said the lady. + +Well, said Balin, since I shall thereto I am ready, but travelling men +are oft weary and their horses too, but though my horse be weary my +heart is not weary, I would be fain there my death should be. Sir, said +a knight to Balin, methinketh your shield is not good, I will lend you +a bigger. Thereof I pray you. And so he took the shield that was +unknown and left his own, and so rode unto the island, and put him and +his horse in a great boat; and when he came on the other side he met +with a damosel, and she said, O knight Balin, why have ye left your own +shield? alas ye have put yourself in great danger, for by your shield +ye should have been known; it is great pity of you as ever was of +knight, for of thy prowess and hardiness thou hast no fellow living. Me +repenteth, said Balin, that ever I came within this country, but I may +not turn now again for shame, and what adventure shall fall to me, be +it life or death, I will take the adventure that shall come to me. And +then he looked on his armour, and understood he was well armed, and +therewith blessed him and mounted upon his horse. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. How Balin met with his brother Balan, and how each of +them slew other unknown, till they were wounded to death. + +Then afore him he saw come riding out of a castle a knight, and his +horse trapped all red, and himself in the same colour. When this knight +in the red beheld Balin, him thought it should be his brother Balin by +cause of his two swords, but by cause he knew not his shield he deemed +it was not he. And so they aventryd their spears and came marvellously +fast together, and they smote each other in the shields, but their +spears and their course were so big that it bare down horse and man, +that they lay both in a swoon. But Balin was bruised sore with the fall +of his horse, for he was weary of travel. And Balan was the first that +rose on foot and drew his sword, and went toward Balin, and he arose +and went against him; but Balan smote Balin first, and he put up his +shield and smote him through the shield and tamed his helm. Then Balin +smote him again with that unhappy sword, and well-nigh had felled his +brother Balan, and so they fought there together till their breaths +failed. Then Balin looked up to the castle and saw the towers stand +full of ladies. So they went unto battle again, and wounded everych +other dolefully, and then they breathed ofttimes, and so went unto +battle that all the place there as they fought was blood red. And at +that time there was none of them both but they had either smitten other +seven great wounds, so that the least of them might have been the death +of the mightiest giant in this world. + +Then they went to battle again so marvellously that doubt it was to +hear of that battle for the great blood-shedding, and their hauberks +unnailed that naked they were on every side. At last Balan the younger +brother withdrew him a little and laid him down. Then said Balin le +Savage, What knight art thou? for or now I found never no knight that +matched me. My name is, said he, Balan, brother unto the good knight, +Balin. Alas, said Balin, that ever I should see this day, and therewith +he fell backward in a swoon. Then Balan yede on all four feet and +hands, and put off the helm off his brother, and might not know him by +the visage it was so ful hewn and bled; but when he awoke he said, O +Balan, my brother, thou hast slain me and I thee, wherefore all the +wide world shall speak of us both. Alas, said Balan, that ever I saw +this day, that through mishap I might not know you, for I espied well +your two swords, but by cause ye had another shield I deemed ye had +been another knight. Alas, said Balin, all that made an unhappy knight +in the castle, for he caused me to leave my own shield to our both’s +destruction, and if I might live I would destroy that castle for ill +customs. That were well done, said Balan, for I had never grace to +depart from them since that I came hither, for here it happed me to +slay a knight that kept this island, and since might I never depart, +and no more should ye, brother, an ye might have slain me as ye have, +and escaped yourself with the life. + +Right so came the lady of the tower with four knights and six ladies +and six yeomen unto them, and there she heard how they made their moan +either to other, and said, We came both out of one tomb, that is to say +one mother’s belly, and so shall we lie both in one pit. So Balan +prayed the lady of her gentleness, for his true service, that she would +bury them both in that same place there the battle was done. And she +granted them, with weeping, it should be done richly in the best +manner. Now, will ye send for a priest, that we may receive our +sacrament, and receive the blessed body of our Lord Jesus Christ? Yea, +said the lady, it shall be done; and so she sent for a priest and gave +them their rights. Now, said Balin, when we are buried in one tomb, and +the mention made over us how two brethren slew each other, there will +never good knight, nor good man, see our tomb but they will pray for +our souls. And so all the ladies and gentlewomen wept for pity. Then +anon Balan died, but Balin died not till the midnight after, and so +were they buried both, and the lady let make a mention of Balan how he +was there slain by his brother’s hands, but she knew not Balin’s name. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. How Merlin buried them both in one tomb, and of Balin’s +sword. + +In the morn came Merlin and let write Balin’s name on the tomb with +letters of gold, that Here lieth Balin le Savage that was the Knight +with the Two Swords, and he that smote the Dolorous Stroke. Also Merlin +let make there a bed, that there should never man lie therein but he +went out of his wit, yet Launcelot de Lake fordid that bed through his +noblesse. And anon after Balin was dead, Merlin took his sword, and +took off the pommel and set on another pommel. So Merlin bade a knight +that stood afore him handle that sword, and he assayed, and he might +not handle it. Then Merlin laughed. Why laugh ye? said the knight. This +is the cause, said Merlin: there shall never man handle this sword but +the best knight of the world, and that shall be Sir Launcelot or else +Galahad his son, and Launcelot with this sword shall slay the man that +in the world he loved best, that shall be Sir Gawaine. All this he let +write in the pommel of the sword. Then Merlin let make a bridge of iron +and of steel into that island, and it was but half a foot broad, and +there shall never man pass that bridge, nor have hardiness to go over, +but if he were a passing good man and a good knight without treachery +or villainy. Also the scabbard of Balin’s sword Merlin left it on this +side the island, that Galahad should find it. Also Merlin let make by +his subtilty that Balin’s sword was put in a marble stone standing +upright as great as a mill stone, and the stone hoved always above the +water and did many years, and so by adventure it swam down the stream +to the City of Camelot, that is in English Winchester. And that same +day Galahad the haut prince came with King Arthur, and so Galahad +brought with him the scabbard and achieved the sword that was there in +the marble stone hoving upon the water. And on Whitsunday he achieved +the sword as it is rehearsed in the book of Sangreal. + +Soon after this was done Merlin came to King Arthur and told him of the +dolorous stroke that Balin gave to King Pellam, and how Balin and Balan +fought together the marvellest battle that ever was heard of, and how +they were buried both in one tomb. Alas, said King Arthur, this is the +greatest pity that ever I heard tell of two knights, for in the world I +know not such two knights. Thus endeth the tale of Balin and of Balan, +two brethren born in Northumberland, good knights. + +Sequitur iii. liber. + + + +BOOK III. + + + +CHAPTER I. How King Arthur took a wife, and wedded Guenever, daughter +to Leodegrance, King of the Land of Cameliard, with whom he had the +Round Table. + +In the beginning of Arthur, after he was chosen king by adventure and +by grace; for the most part of the barons knew not that he was Uther +Pendragon’s son, but as Merlin made it openly known. But yet many kings +and lords held great war against him for that cause, but well Arthur +overcame them all, for the most part the days of his life he was ruled +much by the counsel of Merlin. So it fell on a time King Arthur said +unto Merlin, My barons will let me have no rest, but needs I must take +a wife, and I will none take but by thy counsel and by thine advice. It +is well done, said Merlin, that ye take a wife, for a man of your +bounty and noblesse should not be without a wife. Now is there any that +ye love more than another? Yea, said King Arthur, I love Guenever the +king’s daughter, Leodegrance of the land of Cameliard, the which +holdeth in his house the Table Round that ye told he had of my father +Uther. And this damosel is the most valiant and fairest lady that I +know living, or yet that ever I could find. Sir, said Merlin, as of her +beauty and fairness she is one of the fairest alive, but, an ye loved +her not so well as ye do, I should find you a damosel of beauty and of +goodness that should like you and please you, an your heart were not +set; but there as a man’s heart is set, he will be loath to return. +That is truth, said King Arthur. But Merlin warned the king covertly +that Guenever was not wholesome for him to take to wife, for he warned +him that Launcelot should love her, and she him again; and so he turned +his tale to the adventures of Sangreal. + +Then Merlin desired of the king for to have men with him that should +enquire of Guenever, and so the king granted him, and Merlin went forth +unto King Leodegrance of Cameliard, and told him of the desires of the +king that he would have unto his wife Guenever his daughter. That is to +me, said King Leodegrance, the best tidings that ever I heard, that so +worthy a king of prowess and noblesse will wed my daughter. And as for +my lands, I will give him, wist I it might please him, but he hath +lands enow, him needeth none; but I shall send him a gift shall please +him much more, for I shall give him the Table Round, the which Uther +Pendragon gave me, and when it is full complete, there is an hundred +knights and fifty. And as for an hundred good knights I have myself, +but I faute fifty, for so many have been slain in my days. And so +Leodegrance delivered his daughter Guenever unto Merlin, and the Table +Round with the hundred knights, and so they rode freshly, with great +royalty, what by water and what by land, till that they came nigh unto +London. + + + +CHAPTER II. How the Knights of the Round Table were ordained and their +sieges blessed by the Bishop of Canterbury. + +When King Arthur heard of the coming of Guenever and the hundred +knights with the Table Round, then King Arthur made great joy for her +coming, and that rich present, and said openly, This fair lady is +passing welcome unto me, for I have loved her long, and therefore there +is nothing so lief to me. And these knights with the Round Table please +me more than right great riches. And in all haste the king let ordain +for the marriage and the coronation in the most honourable wise that +could be devised. Now, Merlin, said King Arthur, go thou and espy me in +all this land fifty knights which be of most prowess and worship. +Within short time Merlin had found such knights that should fulfil +twenty and eight knights, but no more he could find. Then the Bishop of +Canterbury was fetched, and he blessed the sieges with great royalty +and devotion, and there set the eight and twenty knights in their +sieges. And when this was done Merlin said, Fair sirs, ye must all +arise and come to King Arthur for to do him homage; he will have the +better will to maintain you. And so they arose and did their homage, +and when they were gone Merlin found in every sieges letters of gold +that told the knights’ names that had sitten therein. But two sieges +were void. And so anon came young Gawaine and asked the king a gift. +Ask, said the king, and I shall grant it you. Sir, I ask that ye will +make me knight that same day ye shall wed fair Guenever. I will do it +with a good will, said King Arthur, and do unto you all the worship +that I may, for I must by reason ye are my nephew, my sister’s son. + + + +CHAPTER III. How a poor man riding upon a lean mare desired King Arthur +to make his son knight. + +Forthwithal there came a poor man into the court, and brought with him +a fair young man of eighteen years of age riding upon a lean mare; and +the poor man asked all men that he met, Where shall I find King Arthur? +Yonder he is, said the knights, wilt thou anything with him? Yea, said +the poor man, therefore I came hither. Anon as he came before the king, +he saluted him and said: O King Arthur, the flower of all knights and +kings, I beseech Jesu save thee. Sir, it was told me that at this time +of your marriage ye would give any man the gift that he would ask, out +except that were unreasonable. That is truth, said the king, such cries +I let make, and that will I hold, so it apair not my realm nor mine +estate. Ye say well and graciously, said the poor man; Sir, I ask +nothing else but that ye will make my son here a knight. It is a great +thing thou askest of me, said the king. What is thy name? said the king +to the poor man. Sir, my name is Aries the cowherd. Whether cometh this +of thee or of thy son? said the king. Nay, sir, said Aries, this desire +cometh of my son and not of me, for I shall tell you I have thirteen +sons, and all they will fall to what labour I put them, and will be +right glad to do labour, but this child will not labour for me, for +anything that my wife or I may do, but always he will be shooting or +casting darts, and glad for to see battles and to behold knights, and +always day and night he desireth of me to be made a knight. What is thy +name? said the king unto the young man. Sir, my name is Tor. The king +beheld him fast, and saw he was passingly well-visaged and passingly +well made of his years. Well, said King Arthur unto Aries the cowherd, +fetch all thy sons afore me that I may see them. And so the poor man +did, and all were shaped much like the poor man. But Tor was not like +none of them all in shape nor in countenance, for he was much more than +any of them. Now, said King Arthur unto the cow herd, where is the +sword he shall be made knight withal? It is here, said Tor. Take it out +of the sheath, said the king, and require me to make you a knight. + +Then Tor alighted off his mare and pulled out his sword, kneeling, and +requiring the king that he would make him knight, and that he might be +a knight of the Table Round. As for a knight I will make you, and +therewith smote him in the neck with the sword, saying, Be ye a good +knight, and so I pray to God so ye may be, and if ye be of prowess and +of worthiness ye shall be a knight of the Table Round. Now Merlin, said +Arthur, say whether this Tor shall be a good knight or no. Yea, sir, he +ought to be a good knight, for he is come of as good a man as any is +alive, and of kings’ blood. How so, sir? said the king. I shall tell +you, said Merlin: This poor man, Aries the cowherd, is not his father; +he is nothing sib to him, for King Pellinore is his father. I suppose +nay, said the cowherd. Fetch thy wife afore me, said Merlin, and she +shall not say nay. Anon the wife was fetched, which was a fair +housewife, and there she answered Merlin full womanly, and there she +told the king and Merlin that when she was a maid, and went to milk +kine, there met with her a stern knight, and half by force he had my +maidenhead, and at that time he begat my son Tor, and he took away from +me my greyhound that I had that time with me, and said that he would +keep the greyhound for my love. Ah, said the cowherd, I weened not +this, but I may believe it well, for he had never no tatches of me. +Sir, said Tor unto Merlin, dishonour not my mother. Sir, said Merlin, +it is more for your worship than hurt, for your father is a good man +and a king, and he may right well advance you and your mother, for ye +were begotten or ever she was wedded. That is truth, said the wife. It +is the less grief unto me, said the cowherd. + + + +CHAPTER IV. How Sir Tor was known for son of King Pellinore, and how +Gawaine was made knight. + +So on the morn King Pellinore came to the court of King Arthur, which +had great joy of him, and told him of Tor, how he was his son, and how +he had made him knight at the request of the cowherd. When Pellinore +beheld Tor, he pleased him much. So the king made Gawaine knight, but +Tor was the first he made at the feast. What is the cause, said King +Arthur, that there be two places void in the sieges? Sir, said Merlin, +there shall no man sit in those places but they that shall be of most +worship. But in the Siege Perilous there shall no man sit therein but +one, and if there be any so hardy to do it he shall be destroyed, and +he that shall sit there shall have no fellow. And therewith Merlin took +King Pellinore by the hand, and in the one hand next the two sieges and +the Siege Perilous he said, in open audience, This is your place and +best ye are worthy to sit therein of any that is here. Thereat sat Sir +Gawaine in great envy and told Gaheris his brother, yonder knight is +put to great worship, the which grieveth me sore, for he slew our +father King Lot, therefore I will slay him, said Gawaine, with a sword +that was sent me that is passing trenchant. Ye shall not so, said +Gaheris, at this time, for at this time I am but a squire, and when I +am made knight I will be avenged on him, and therefore, brother, it is +best ye suffer till another time, that we may have him out of the +court, for an we did so we should trouble this high feast. I will well, +said Gawaine, as ye will. + + + +CHAPTER V. How at feast of the wedding of King Arthur to Guenever, a +white hart came into the hall, and thirty couple hounds, and how a +brachet pinched the hart which was taken away. + +Then was the high feast made ready, and the king was wedded at Camelot +unto Dame Guenever in the church of Saint Stephen’s, with great +solemnity. And as every man was set after his degree, Merlin went to +all the knights of the Round Table, and bade them sit still, that none +of them remove. For ye shall see a strange and a marvellous adventure. +Right so as they sat there came running in a white hart into the hall, +and a white brachet next him, and thirty couple of black running hounds +came after with a great cry, and the hart went about the Table Round as +he went by other boards. The white brachet bit him by the buttock and +pulled out a piece, wherethrough the hart leapt a great leap and +overthrew a knight that sat at the board side; and therewith the knight +arose and took up the brachet, and so went forth out of the hall, and +took his horse and rode his way with the brachet. Right so anon came in +a lady on a white palfrey, and cried aloud to King Arthur, Sir, suffer +me not to have this despite, for the brachet was mine that the knight +led away. I may not do therewith, said the king. + +With this there came a knight riding all armed on a great horse, and +took the lady away with him with force, and ever she cried and made +great dole. When she was gone the king was glad, for she made such a +noise. Nay, said Merlin, ye may not leave these adventures so lightly; +for these adventures must be brought again or else it would be +disworship to you and to your feast. I will, said the king, that all be +done by your advice. Then, said Merlin, let call Sir Gawaine, for he +must bring again the white hart. Also, sir, ye must let call Sir Tor, +for he must bring again the brachet and the knight, or else slay him. +Also let call King Pellinore, for he must bring again the lady and the +knight, or else slay him. And these three knights shall do marvellous +adventures or they come again. Then were they called all three as it +rehearseth afore, and each of them took his charge, and armed them +surely. But Sir Gawaine had the first request, and therefore we will +begin at him. + + + +CHAPTER VI. How Sir Gawaine rode for to fetch again the hart, and how +two brethren fought each against other for the hart. + +Sir Gawaine rode more than a pace, and Gaheris his brother that rode +with him instead of a squire to do him service. So as they rode they +saw two knights fight on horseback passing sore, so Sir Gawaine and his +brother rode betwixt them, and asked them for what cause they fought +so. The one knight answered and said, We fight for a simple matter, for +we two be two brethren born and begotten of one man and of one woman. +Alas, said Sir Gawaine, why do ye so? Sir, said the elder, there came a +white hart this way this day, and many hounds chased him, and a white +brachet was alway next him, and we understood it was adventure made for +the high feast of King Arthur, and therefore I would have gone after to +have won me worship; and here my younger brother said he would go after +the hart, for he was better knight than I: and for this cause we fell +at debate, and so we thought to prove which of us both was better +knight. This is a simple cause, said Sir Gawaine; uncouth men ye should +debate withal, and not brother with brother; therefore but if you will +do by my counsel I will have ado with you, that is ye shall yield you +unto me, and that ye go unto King Arthur and yield you unto his grace. +Sir knight, said the two brethren, we are forfoughten and much blood +have we lost through our wilfulness, and therefore we would be loath to +have ado with you. Then do as I will have you, said Sir Gawaine. We +will agree to fulfil your will; but by whom shall we say that we be +thither sent? Ye may say, By the knight that followeth the quest of the +hart that was white. Now what is your name? said Gawaine. Sorlouse of +the Forest, said the elder. And my name is, said the younger, Brian of +the Forest. And so they departed and went to the king’s court, and Sir +Gawaine on his quest. + +And as Gawaine followed the hart by the cry of the hounds, even afore +him there was a great river, and the hart swam over; and as Sir Gawaine +would follow after, there stood a knight over the other side, and said, +Sir knight, come not over after this hart but if thou wilt joust with +me. I will not fail as for that, said Sir Gawaine, to follow the quest +that I am in, and so made his horse to swim over the water. And anon +they gat their spears and ran together full hard; but Sir Gawaine smote +him off his horse, and then he turned his horse and bade him yield him. +Nay, said the knight, not so, though thou have the better of me on +horseback. I pray thee, valiant knight, alight afoot, and match we +together with swords. What is your name? said Sir Gawaine. Allardin of +the Isles, said the other. Then either dressed their shields and smote +together, but Sir Gawaine smote him so hard through the helm that it +went to the brains, and the knight fell down dead. Ah! said Gaheris, +that was a mighty stroke of a young knight. + + + +CHAPTER VII How the hart was chased into a castle and there slain, and +how Sir Gawaine slew a lady. + +Then Gawaine and Gaheris rode more than a pace after the white hart, +and let slip at the hart three couple of greyhounds, and so they chased +the hart into a castle, and in the chief place of the castle they slew +the hart; Sir Gawaine and Gaheris followed after. Right so there came a +knight out of a chamber with a sword drawn in his hand and slew two of +the greyhounds, even in the sight of Sir Gawaine, and the remnant he +chased them with his sword out of the castle. And when he came again, +he said, O my white hart, me repenteth that thou art dead, for my +sovereign lady gave thee to me, and evil have I kept thee, and thy +death shall be dear bought an I live. And anon he went into his chamber +and armed him, and came out fiercely, and there met he with Sir +Gawaine. Why have ye slain my hounds? said Sir Gawaine, for they did +but their kind, and liefer I had ye had wroken your anger upon me than +upon a dumb beast. Thou sayest truth, said the knight, I have avenged +me on thy hounds, and so I will on thee or thou go. Then Sir Gawaine +alighted afoot and dressed his shield, and struck together mightily, +and clave their shields, and stoned their helms, and brake their +hauberks that the blood ran down to their feet. + +At the last Sir Gawaine smote the knight so hard that he fell to the +earth, and then he cried mercy, and yielded him, and besought him as he +was a knight and gentleman, to save his life. Thou shalt die, said Sir +Gawaine, for slaying of my hounds. I will make amends, said the knight, +unto my power. Sir Gawaine would no mercy have, but unlaced his helm to +have stricken off his head. Right so came his lady out of a chamber and +fell over him, and so he smote off her head by misadventure. Alas, said +Gaheris, that is foully and shamefully done, that shame shall never +from you; also ye should give mercy unto them that ask mercy, for a +knight without mercy is without worship. Sir Gawaine was so stonied of +the death of this fair lady that he wist not what he did, and said unto +the knight, Arise, I will give thee mercy. Nay, nay, said the knight, I +take no force of mercy now, for thou hast slain my love and my lady +that I loved best of all earthly things. Me sore repenteth it, said Sir +Gawaine, for I thought to strike unto thee; but now thou shalt go unto +King Arthur and tell him of thine adventures, and how thou art overcome +by the knight that went in the quest of the white hart. I take no +force, said the knight, whether I live or I die; but so for dread of +death he swore to go unto King Arthur, and he made him to bear one +greyhound before him on his horse, and another behind him. What is your +name? said Sir Gawaine, or we depart. My name is, said the knight, +Ablamar of the Marsh. So he departed toward Camelot. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. How four knights fought against Gawaine and Gaheris, and +how they were overcome, and their lives saved at request of four +ladies. + +And Sir Gawaine went into the castle, and made him ready to lie there +all night, and would have unarmed him. What will ye do, said Gaheris, +will ye unarm you in this country? Ye may think ye have many enemies +here. They had not sooner said that word but there came four knights +well armed, and assailed Sir Gawaine hard, and said unto him, Thou +new-made knight, thou hast shamed thy knighthood, for a knight without +mercy is dishonoured. Also thou hast slain a fair lady to thy great +shame to the world’s end, and doubt thou not thou shalt have great need +of mercy or thou depart from us. And therewith one of them smote Sir +Gawaine a great stroke that nigh he fell to the earth, and Gaheris +smote him again sore, and so they were on the one side and on the +other, that Sir Gawaine and Gaheris were in jeopardy of their lives; +and one with a bow, an archer, smote Sir Gawaine through the arm that +it grieved him wonderly sore. And as they should have been slain, there +came four fair ladies, and besought the knights of grace for Sir +Gawaine; and goodly at request of the ladies they gave Sir Gawaine and +Gaheris their lives, and made them to yield them as prisoners. Then +Gawaine and Gaheris made great dole. Alas! said Sir Gawaine, mine arm +grieveth me sore, I am like to be maimed; and so made his complaint +piteously. + +Early on the morrow there came to Sir Gawaine one of the four ladies +that had heard all his complaint, and said, Sir knight, what cheer? Not +good, said he. It is your own default, said the lady, for ye have done +a passing foul deed in the slaying of the lady, the which will be great +villainy unto you. But be ye not of King Arthur’s kin? said the lady. +Yes truly, said Sir Gawaine. What is your name? said the lady, ye must +tell it me or ye pass. My name is Gawaine, the King Lot of Orkney’s +son, and my mother is King Arthur’s sister. Ah! then are ye nephew unto +King Arthur, said the lady, and I shall so speak for you that ye shall +have conduct to go to King Arthur for his love. And so she departed and +told the four knights how their prisoner was King Arthur’s nephew, and +his name is Sir Gawaine, King Lot’s son of Orkney. And they gave him +the hart’s head because it was in his quest. Then anon they delivered +Sir Gawaine under this promise, that he should bear the dead lady with +him in this manner; the head of her was hanged about his neck, and the +whole body of her lay before him on his horse’s mane. Right so rode he +forth unto Camelot. And anon as he was come, Merlin desired of King +Arthur that Sir Gawaine should be sworn to tell of all his adventures, +and how he slew the lady, and how he would give no mercy unto the +knight, wherethrough the lady was slain. Then the king and the queen +were greatly displeased with Sir Gawaine for the slaying of the lady. +And there by ordinance of the queen there was set a quest of ladies on +Sir Gawaine, and they judged him for ever while he lived to be with all +ladies, and to fight for their quarrels; and that ever he should be +courteous, and never to refuse mercy to him that asketh mercy. Thus was +Gawaine sworn upon the Four Evangelists that he should never be against +lady nor gentlewoman, but if he fought for a lady and his adversary +fought for another. And thus endeth the adventure of Sir Gawaine that +he did at the marriage of King Arthur. Amen. + + + +CHAPTER IX. How Sir Tor rode after the knight with the brachet, and of +his adventure by the way. + +When Sir Tor was ready, he mounted upon his horseback, and rode after +the knight with the brachet. So as he rode he met with a dwarf suddenly +that smote his horse on the head with a staff, that he went backward +his spear length. Why dost thou so? said Sir Tor. For thou shalt not +pass this way, but if thou joust with yonder knights of the pavilions. +Then was Tor ware where two pavilions were, and great spears stood out, +and two shields hung on trees by the pavilions. I may not tarry, said +Sir Tor, for I am in a quest that I must needs follow. Thou shalt not +pass, said the dwarf, and therewithal he blew his horn. Then there came +one armed on horseback, and dressed his shield, and came fast toward +Tor, and he dressed him against him, and so ran together that Tor bare +him from his horse. And anon the knight yielded him to his mercy. But, +sir, I have a fellow in yonder pavilion that will have ado with you +anon. He shall be welcome, said Sir Tor. Then was he ware of another +knight coming with great raundon, and each of them dressed to other, +that marvel it was to see; but the knight smote Sir Tor a great stroke +in midst of the shield that his spear all to-shivered. And Sir Tor +smote him through the shield below of the shield that it went through +the cost of the knight, but the stroke slew him not. And therewith Sir +Tor alighted and smote him on the helm a great stroke, and therewith +the knight yielded him and besought him of mercy. I will well, said Sir +Tor, but thou and thy fellow must go unto King Arthur, and yield you +prisoners unto him. By whom shall we say are we thither sent? Ye shall +say by the knight that went in the quest of the knight that went with +the brachet. Now, what be your two names? said Sir Tor. My name is, +said the one, Sir Felot of Langduk; and my name is, said the other, Sir +Petipase of Winchelsea. Now go ye forth, said Sir Tor, and God speed +you and me. Then came the dwarf and said unto Sir Tor, I pray you give +me a gift. I will well, said Sir Tor, ask. I ask no more, said the +dwarf, but that ye will suffer me to do you service, for I will serve +no more recreant knights. Take an horse, said Sir Tor, and ride on with +me. I wot ye ride after the knight with the white brachet, and I shall +bring you where he is, said the dwarf. And so they rode throughout a +forest, and at the last they were ware of two pavilions, even by a +priory, with two shields, and the one shield was enewed with white, and +the other shield was red. + + + +CHAPTER X. How Sir Tor found the brachet with a lady, and how a knight +assailed him for the said brachet. + +Therewith Sir Tor alighted and took the dwarf his glaive, and so he +came to the white pavilion, and saw three damosels lie in it, on one +pallet, sleeping, and so he went to the other pavilion, and found a +lady lying sleeping therein, but there was the white brachet that bayed +at her fast, and therewith the lady yede out of the pavilion and all +her damosels. But anon as Sir Tor espied the white brachet, he took her +by force and took her to the dwarf. What, will ye so, said the lady, +take my brachet from me? Yea, said Sir Tor, this brachet have I sought +from King Arthur’s court hither. Well, said the lady, knight, ye shall +not go far with her, but that ye shall be met and grieved. I shall +abide what adventure that cometh by the grace of God, and so mounted +upon his horse, and passed on his way toward Camelot; but it was so +near night he might not pass but little further. Know ye any lodging? +said Tor. I know none, said the dwarf, but here beside is an hermitage, +and there ye must take lodging as ye find. And within a while they came +to the hermitage and took lodging; and was there grass, oats and bread +for their horses; soon it was sped, and full hard was their supper; but +there they rested them all night till on the morn, and heard a mass +devoutly, and took their leave of the hermit, and Sir Tor prayed the +hermit to pray for him. He said he would, and betook him to God. And so +mounted upon horseback and rode towards Camelot a long while. + +With that they heard a knight call loud that came after them, and he +said, Knight, abide and yield my brachet that thou took from my lady. +Sir Tor returned again, and beheld him how he was a seemly knight and +well horsed, and well armed at all points; then Sir Tor dressed his +shield, and took his spear in his hands, and the other came fiercely +upon him, and smote both horse and man to the earth. Anon they arose +lightly and drew their swords as eagerly as lions, and put their +shields afore them, and smote through the shields, that the cantels +fell off both parties. Also they tamed their helms that the hot blood +ran out, and the thick mails of their hauberks they carved and rove in +sunder that the hot blood ran to the earth, and both they had many +wounds and were passing weary. But Sir Tor espied that the other knight +fainted, and then he sued fast upon him, and doubled his strokes, and +gart him go to the earth on the one side. Then Sir Tor bade him yield +him. That will I not, said Abelleus, while my life lasteth and the soul +is within my body, unless that thou wilt give me the brachet. That will +I not do, said Sir Tor, for it was my quest to bring again thy brachet, +thee, or both. + + + +CHAPTER XI. How Sir Tor overcame the knight, and how he lost his head +at the request of a lady. + +With that came a damosel riding on a palfrey as fast as she might +drive, and cried with a loud voice unto Sir Tor. What will ye with me? +said Sir Tor. I beseech thee, said the damosel, for King Arthur’s love, +give me a gift; I require thee, gentle knight, as thou art a gentleman. +Now, said Tor, ask a gift and I will give it you. Gramercy, said the +damosel; now I ask the head of the false knight Abelleus, for he is the +most outrageous knight that liveth, and the greatest murderer. I am +loath, said Sir Tor, of that gift I have given you; let him make amends +in that he hath trespassed unto you. Now, said the damosel, he may not, +for he slew mine own brother before mine own eyes, that was a better +knight than he, an he had had grace; and I kneeled half an hour afore +him in the mire for to save my brother’s life, that had done him no +damage, but fought with him by adventure of arms, and so for all that I +could do he struck off his head; wherefore I require thee, as thou art +a true knight, to give me my gift, or else I shall shame thee in all +the court of King Arthur; for he is the falsest knight living, and a +great destroyer of good knights. Then when Abelleus heard this, he was +more afeard, and yielded him and asked mercy. I may not now, said Sir +Tor, but if I should be found false of my promise; for while I would +have taken you to mercy ye would none ask, but if ye had the brachet +again, that was my quest. And therewith he took off his helm, and he +arose and fled, and Sir Tor after him, and smote off his head quite. + +Now sir, said the damosel, it is near night; I pray you come and lodge +with me here at my place, it is here fast by. I will well, said Sir +Tor, for his horse and he had fared evil since they departed from +Camelot, and so he rode with her, and had passing good cheer with her; +and she had a passing fair old knight to her husband that made him +passing good cheer, and well eased both his horse and him. And on the +morn he heard his mass, and brake his fast, and took his leave of the +knight and of the lady, that besought him to tell them his name. Truly, +he said, my name is Sir Tor that was late made knight, and this was the +first quest of arms that ever I did, to bring again that this knight +Abelleus took away from King Arthur’s court. O fair knight, said the +lady and her husband, an ye come here in our marches, come and see our +poor lodging, and it shall be always at your commandment. So Sir Tor +departed and came to Camelot on the third day by noon, and the king and +the queen and all the court was passing fain of his coming, and made +great joy that he was come again; for he went from the court with +little succour, but as King Pellinore his father gave him an old +courser, and King Arthur gave him armour and a sword, and else had he +none other succour, but rode so forth himself alone. And then the king +and the queen by Merlin’s advice made him to swear to tell of his +adventures, and so he told and made proofs of his deeds as it is afore +rehearsed, wherefore the king and the queen made great joy. Nay, nay, +said Merlin, these be but japes to that he shall do; for he shall prove +a noble knight of prowess, as good as any is living, and gentle and +courteous, and of good tatches, and passing true of his promise, and +never shall outrage. Wherethrough Merlin’s words King Arthur gave him +an earldom of lands that fell unto him. And here endeth the quest of +Sir Tor, King Pellinore’s son. + + + +CHAPTER XII. How King Pellinore rode after the lady and the knight that +led her away, and how a lady desired help of him, and how he fought +with two knights for that lady, of whom he slew the one at the first +stroke. + +Then King Pellinore armed him and mounted upon his horse, and rode more +than a pace after the lady that the knight led away. And as he rode in +a forest, he saw in a valley a damosel sit by a well, and a wounded +knight in her arms, and Pellinore saluted her. And when she was ware of +him, she cried overloud, Help me, knight; for Christ’s sake, King +Pellinore. And he would not tarry, he was so eager in his quest, and +ever she cried an hundred times after help. When she saw he would not +abide, she prayed unto God to send him as much need of help as she had, +and that he might feel it or he died. So, as the book telleth, the +knight there died that there was wounded, wherefore the lady for pure +sorrow slew herself with his sword. As King Pellinore rode in that +valley he met with a poor man, a labourer. Sawest thou not, said +Pellinore, a knight riding and leading away a lady? Yea, said the man, +I saw that knight, and the lady that made great dole; and yonder +beneath in a valley there shall ye see two pavilions, and one of the +knights of the pavilions challenged that lady of that knight, and said +she was his cousin near, wherefore he should lead her no farther. And +so they waged battle in that quarrel, the one said he would have her by +force, and the other said he would have the rule of her, by cause he +was her kinsman, and would lead her to her kin. For this quarrel he +left them fighting. And if ye will ride a pace ye shall find them +fighting, and the lady was beleft with the two squires in the +pavilions. God thank thee, said King Pellinore. + +Then he rode a wallop till he had a sight of the two pavilions, and the +two knights fighting. Anon he rode unto the pavilions, and saw the lady +that was his quest, and said, Fair lady, ye must go with me unto the +court of King Arthur. Sir knight, said the two squires that were with +her, yonder are two knights that fight for this lady, go thither and +depart them, and be agreed with them, and then may ye have her at your +pleasure. Ye say well, said King Pellinore. And anon he rode betwixt +them, and departed them, and asked them the causes why that they +fought? Sir knight, said the one, I shall tell you, this lady is my +kinswoman nigh, mine aunt’s daughter, and when I heard her complain +that she was with him maugre her head, I waged battle to fight with +him. Sir knight, said the other, whose name was Hontzlake of Wentland, +and this lady I gat by my prowess of arms this day at Arthur’s court. +That is untruly said, said King Pellinore, for ye came in suddenly +there as we were at the high feast, and took away this lady or any man +might make him ready; and therefore it was my quest to bring her again +and you both, or else the one of us to abide in the field; therefore +the lady shall go with me, or I will die for it, for I have promised it +King Arthur. And therefore fight ye no more, for none of you shall have +no part of her at this time; and if ye list to fight for her, fight +with me, and I will defend her. Well, said the knights, make you ready, +and we shall assail you with all our power. And as King Pellinore would +have put his horse from them, Sir Hontzlake rove his horse through with +a sword, and said: Now art thou on foot as well as we are. When King +Pellinore espied that his horse was slain, lightly he leapt from his +horse and pulled out his sword, and put his shield afore him, and said, +Knight, keep well thy head, for thou shalt have a buffet for the +slaying of my horse. So King Pellinore gave him such a stroke upon the +helm that he clave the head down to the chin, that he fell to the earth +dead. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. How King Pellinore gat the lady and brought her to +Camelot to the court of King Arthur. + +And then he turned him to the other knight, that was sore wounded. But +when he saw the other’s buffet, he would not fight, but kneeled down +and said, Take my cousin the lady with you at your request, and I +require you, as ye be a true knight, put her to no shame nor villainy. +What, said King Pellinore, will ye not fight for her? No, sir, said the +knight, I will not fight with such a knight of prowess as ye be. Well, +said Pellinore, ye say well; I promise you she shall have no villainy +by me, as I am true knight; but now me lacketh an horse, said +Pellinore, but I will have Hontzlake’s horse. Ye shall not need, said +the knight, for I shall give you such an horse as shall please you, so +that you will lodge with me, for it is near night. I will well, said +King Pellinore, abide with you all night. And there he had with him +right good cheer, and fared of the best with passing good wine, and had +merry rest that night. And on the morn he heard a mass and dined; and +then was brought him a fair bay courser, and King Pellinore’s saddle +set upon him. Now, what shall I call you? said the knight, inasmuch as +ye have my cousin at your desire of your quest. Sir, I shall tell you, +my name is King Pellinore of the Isles and knight of the Table Round. +Now I am glad, said the knight, that such a noble man shall have the +rule of my cousin. Now, what is your name? said Pellinore, I pray you +tell me. Sir, my name is Sir Meliot of Logurs, and this lady my cousin +hight Nimue, and the knight that was in the other pavilion is my sworn +brother, a passing good knight, and his name is Brian of the Isles, and +he is full loath to do wrong, and full loath to fight with any man, but +if he be sore sought on, so that for shame he may not leave it. It is +marvel, said Pellinore, that he will not have ado with me. Sir, he will +not have ado with no man but if it be at his request. Bring him to the +court, said Pellinore, one of these days. Sir, we will come together. +And ye shall be welcome, said Pellinore, to the court of King Arthur, +and greatly allowed for your coming. And so he departed with the lady, +and brought her to Camelot. + +So as they rode in a valley it was full of stones, and there the lady’s +horse stumbled and threw her down, that her arm was sore bruised and +near she swooned for pain. Alas! sir, said the lady, mine arm is out of +lithe, wherethrough I must needs rest me. Ye shall well, said King +Pellinore. And so he alighted under a fair tree where was fair grass, +and he put his horse thereto, and so laid him under the tree and slept +till it was nigh night. And when he awoke he would have ridden. Sir, +said the lady, it is so dark that ye may as well ride backward as +forward. So they abode still and made there their lodging. Then Sir +Pellinore put off his armour; then a little afore midnight they heard +the trotting of an horse. Be ye still, said King Pellinore, for we +shall hear of some adventure. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. How on the way he heard two knights, as he lay by night in +a valley, and of their adventures. + +And therewith he armed him. So right even afore him there met two +knights, the one came froward Camelot, and the other from the north, +and either saluted other. What tidings at Camelot? said the one. By my +head, said the other, there have I been and espied the court of King +Arthur, and there is such a fellowship they may never be broken, and +well-nigh all the world holdeth with Arthur, for there is the flower of +chivalry. Now for this cause I am riding into the north, to tell our +chieftains of the fellowship that is withholden with King Arthur. As +for that, said the other knight, I have brought a remedy with me, that +is the greatest poison that ever ye heard speak of, and to Camelot will +I with it, for we have a friend right nigh King Arthur, and well +cherished, that shall poison King Arthur; for so he hath promised our +chieftains, and received great gifts for to do it. Beware, said the +other knight, of Merlin, for he knoweth all things by the devil’s +craft. Therefore will I not let it, said the knight. And so they +departed asunder. Anon after Pellinore made him ready, and his lady, +[and] rode toward Camelot; and as they came by the well there as the +wounded knight was and the lady, there he found the knight, and the +lady eaten with lions or wild beasts, all save the head, wherefore he +made great sorrow, and wept passing sore, and said, Alas! her life +might I have saved; but I was so fierce in my quest, therefore I would +not abide. Wherefore make ye such dole? said the lady. I wot not, said +Pellinore, but my heart mourneth sore of the death of her, for she was +a passing fair lady and a young. Now, will ye do by mine advice? said +the lady, take this knight and let him be buried in an hermitage, and +then take the lady’s head and bear it with you unto Arthur. So King +Pellinore took this dead knight on his shoulders, and brought him to +the hermitage, and charged the hermit with the corpse, that service +should be done for the soul; and take his harness for your pain. It +shall be done, said the hermit, as I will answer unto God. + + + +CHAPTER XV. How when he was come to Camelot he was sworn upon a book to +tell the truth of his quest. + +And therewith they departed, and came there as the head of the lady lay +with a fair yellow hair that grieved King Pellinore passingly sore when +he looked on it, for much he cast his heart on the visage. And so by +noon they came to Camelot; and the king and the queen were passing fain +of his coming to the court. And there he was made to swear upon the +Four Evangelists, to tell the truth of his quest from the one to the +other. Ah! Sir Pellinore, said Queen Guenever, ye were greatly to blame +that ye saved not this lady’s life. Madam, said Pellinore, ye were +greatly to blame an ye would not save your own life an ye might, but, +save your pleasure, I was so furious in my quest that I would not +abide, and that repenteth me, and shall the days of my life. Truly, +said Merlin, ye ought sore to repent it, for that lady was your own +daughter begotten on the lady of the Rule, and that knight that was +dead was her love, and should have wedded her, and he was a right good +knight of a young man, and would have proved a good man, and to this +court was he coming, and his name was Sir Miles of the Launds, and a +knight came behind him and slew him with a spear, and his name is +Loraine le Savage, a false knight and a coward; and she for great +sorrow and dole slew herself with his sword, and her name was Eleine. +And because ye would not abide and help her, ye shall see your best +friend fail you when ye be in the greatest distress that ever ye were +or shall be. And that penance God hath ordained you for that deed, that +he that ye shall most trust to of any man alive, he shall leave you +there ye shall be slain. Me forthinketh, said King Pellinore, that this +shall me betide, but God may fordo well destiny. + +Thus, when the quest was done of the white hart, the which followed Sir +Gawaine; and the quest of the brachet, followed of Sir Tor, Pellinore’s +son; and the quest of the lady that the knight took away, the which +King Pellinore at that time followed; then the king stablished all his +knights, and them that were of lands not rich he gave them lands, and +charged them never to do outrageousity nor murder, and always to flee +treason; also, by no means to be cruel, but to give mercy unto him that +asketh mercy, upon pain of forfeiture of their worship and lordship of +King Arthur for evermore; and always to do ladies, damosels, and +gentlewomen succour, upon pain of death. Also, that no man take no +battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law, nor for no world’s goods. +Unto this were all the knights sworn of the Table Round, both old and +young. And every year were they sworn at the high feast of Pentecost. + +Explicit the Wedding of King Arthur. Sequitur quartus liber. + + + +BOOK IV. + + + +CHAPTER I. How Merlin was assotted and doted on one of the ladies of +the lake, and how he was shut in a rock under a stone and there died. + +So after these quests of Sir Gawaine, Sir Tor, and King Pellinore, it +fell so that Merlin fell in a dotage on the damosel that King Pellinore +brought to court, and she was one of the damosels of the lake, that +hight Nimue. But Merlin would let her have no rest, but always he would +be with her. And ever she made Merlin good cheer till she had learned +of him all manner thing that she desired; and he was assotted upon her, +that he might not be from her. So on a time he told King Arthur that he +should not dure long, but for all his crafts he should be put in the +earth quick. And so he told the king many things that should befall, +but always he warned the king to keep well his sword and the scabbard, +for he told him how the sword and the scabbard should be stolen by a +woman from him that he most trusted. Also he told King Arthur that he +should miss him,—Yet had ye liefer than all your lands to have me +again. Ah, said the king, since ye know of your adventure, purvey for +it, and put away by your crafts that misadventure. Nay, said Merlin, it +will not be; so he departed from the king. And within a while the +Damosel of the Lake departed, and Merlin went with her evermore +wheresomever she went. And ofttimes Merlin would have had her privily +away by his subtle crafts; then she made him to swear that he should +never do none enchantment upon her if he would have his will. And so he +sware; so she and Merlin went over the sea unto the land of Benwick, +whereas King Ban was king that had great war against King Claudas, and +there Merlin spake with King Ban’s wife, a fair lady and a good, and +her name was Elaine, and there he saw young Launcelot. There the queen +made great sorrow for the mortal war that King Claudas made on her lord +and on her lands. Take none heaviness, said Merlin, for this same child +within this twenty year shall revenge you on King Claudas, that all +Christendom shall speak of it; and this same child shall be the most +man of worship of the world, and his first name is Galahad, that know I +well, said Merlin, and since ye have confirmed him Launcelot. That is +truth, said the queen, his first name was Galahad. O Merlin, said the +queen, shall I live to see my son such a man of prowess? Yea, lady, on +my peril ye shall see it, and live many winters after. + +And so, soon after, the lady and Merlin departed, and by the way Merlin +showed her many wonders, and came into Cornwall. And always Merlin lay +about the lady to have her maidenhood, and she was ever passing weary +of him, and fain would have been delivered of him, for she was afeard +of him because he was a devil’s son, and she could not beskift him by +no mean. And so on a time it happed that Merlin showed to her in a rock +whereas was a great wonder, and wrought by enchantment, that went under +a great stone. So by her subtle working she made Merlin to go under +that stone to let her wit of the marvels there; but she wrought so +there for him that he came never out for all the craft he could do. And +so she departed and left Merlin. + + + +CHAPTER II. How five kings came into this land to war against King +Arthur, and what counsel Arthur had against them. + +And as King Arthur rode to Camelot, and held there a great feast with +mirth and joy, so soon after he returned unto Cardoile, and there came +unto Arthur new tidings that the king of Denmark, and the king of +Ireland that was his brother, and the king of the Vale, and the king of +Soleise, and the king of the Isle of Longtains, all these five kings +with a great host were entered into the land of King Arthur, and burnt +and slew clean afore them, both cities and castles, that it was pity to +hear. Alas, said Arthur, yet had I never rest one month since I was +crowned king of this land. Now shall I never rest till I meet with +those kings in a fair field, that I make mine avow; for my true liege +people shall not be destroyed in my default, go with me who will, and +abide who that will. Then the king let write unto King Pellinore, and +prayed him in all haste to make him ready with such people as he might +lightliest rear and hie him after in all haste. All the barons were +privily wroth that the king would depart so suddenly; but the king by +no mean would abide, but made writing unto them that were not there, +and bade them hie after him, such as were not at that time in the +court. Then the king came to Queen Guenever, and said, Lady, make you +ready, for ye shall go with me, for I may not long miss you; ye shall +cause me to be the more hardy, what adventure so befall me; I will not +wit my lady to be in no jeopardy. Sir, said she, I am at your +commandment, and shall be ready what time so ye be ready. So on the +morn the king and the queen departed with such fellowship as they had, +and came into the north, into a forest beside Humber, and there lodged +them. When the word and tiding came unto the five kings above said, +that Arthur was beside Humber in a forest, there was a knight, brother +unto one of the five kings, that gave them this counsel: Ye know well +that Sir Arthur hath the flower of chivalry of the world with him, as +it is proved by the great battle he did with the eleven kings; and +therefore hie unto him night and day till that we be nigh him, for the +longer he tarrieth the bigger he is, and we ever the weaker; and he is +so courageous of himself that he is come to the field with little +people, and therefore let us set upon him or day and we shall slay +down; of his knights there shall none escape. + + + +CHAPTER III. How King Arthur had ado with them and overthrew them, and +slew the five kings and made the remnant to flee. + +Unto this counsel these five kings assented, and so they passed forth +with their host through North Wales, and came upon Arthur by night, and +set upon his host as the king and his knights were in their pavilions. +King Arthur was unarmed, and had laid him to rest with his Queen +Guenever. Sir, said Sir Kay, it is not good we be unarmed. We shall +have no need, said Sir Gawaine and Sir Griflet, that lay in a little +pavilion by the king. With that they heard a great noise, and many +cried, Treason, treason! Alas, said King Arthur, we be betrayed! Unto +arms, fellows, then he cried. So they were armed anon at all points. +Then came there a wounded knight unto the king, and said, Sir, save +yourself and my lady the queen, for our host is destroyed, and much +people of ours slain. So anon the king and the queen and the three +knights took their horses, and rode toward Humber to pass over it, and +the water was so rough that they were afraid to pass over. Now may ye +choose, said King Arthur, whether ye will abide and take the adventure +on this side, for an ye be taken they will slay you. It were me liefer, +said the queen, to die in the water than to fall in your enemies’ hands +and there be slain. + +And as they stood so talking, Sir Kay saw the five kings coming on +horseback by themselves alone, with their spears in their hands even +toward them. Lo, said Sir Kay, yonder be the five kings; let us go to +them and match them. That were folly, said Sir Gawaine, for we are but +three and they be five. That is truth, said Sir Griflet. No force, said +Sir Kay, I will undertake for two of them, and then may ye three +undertake for the other three. And therewithal, Sir Kay let his horse +run as fast as he might, and struck one of them through the shield and +the body a fathom, that the king fell to the earth stark dead. That saw +Sir Gawaine, and ran unto another king so hard that he smote him +through the body. And therewithal King Arthur ran to another, and smote +him through the body with a spear, that he fell to the earth dead. Then +Sir Griflet ran unto the fourth king, and gave him such a fall that his +neck brake. Anon Sir Kay ran unto the fifth king, and smote him so hard +on the helm that the stroke clave the helm and the head to the earth. +That was well stricken, said King Arthur, and worshipfully hast thou +holden thy promise, therefore I shall honour thee while that I live. +And therewithal they set the queen in a barge into Humber; but always +Queen Guenever praised Sir Kay for his deeds, and said, What lady that +ye love, and she love you not again she were greatly to blame; and +among ladies, said the queen, I shall bear your noble fame, for ye +spake a great word, and fulfilled it worshipfully. And therewith the +queen departed. + +Then the king and the three knights rode into the forest, for there +they supposed to hear of them that were escaped; and there he found the +most part of his people, and told them all how the five kings were +dead. And therefore let us hold us together till it be day, and when +their host have espied that their chieftains be slain, they will make +such dole that they shall no more help themselves. And right so as the +king said, so it was; for when they found the five kings dead, they +made such dole that they fell from their horses. Therewithal came King +Arthur but with a few people, and slew on the left hand and on the +right hand, that well-nigh there escaped no man, but all were slain to +the number thirty thousand. And when the battle was all ended, the king +kneeled down and thanked God meekly. And then he sent for the queen, +and soon she was come, and she made great joy of the overcoming of that +battle. + + + +CHAPTER IV. How the battle was finished or he came, and how King Arthur +founded an abbey where the battle was. + +Therewithal came one to King Arthur, and told him that King Pellinore +was within three mile with a great host; and he said, Go unto him, and +let him understand how we have sped. So within a while King Pellinore +came with a great host, and saluted the people and the king, and there +was great joy made on every side. Then the king let search how much +people of his party there was slain; and there were found but little +past two hundred men slain and eight knights of the Table Round in +their pavilions. Then the king let rear and devise in the same place +whereat the battle was done a fair abbey, and endowed it with great +livelihood, and let it call the Abbey of La Beale Adventure. But when +some of them came into their countries, whereof the five kings were +kings, and told them how they were slain, there was made great dole. +And all King Arthur’s enemies, as the King of North Wales, and the +kings of the North, [when they] wist of the battle, they were passing +heavy. And so the king returned unto Camelot in haste. + +And when he was come to Camelot he called King Pellinore unto him, and +said, Ye understand well that we have lost eight knights of the best of +the Table Round, and by your advice we will choose eight again of the +best we may find in this court. Sir, said Pellinore, I shall counsel +you after my conceit the best: there are in your court full noble +knights both of old and young; and therefore by mine advice ye shall +choose half of the old and half of the young. Which be the old? said +King Arthur. Sir, said King Pellinore, meseemeth that King Uriens that +hath wedded your sister Morgan le Fay, and the King of the Lake, and +Sir Hervise de Revel, a noble knight, and Sir Galagars, the fourth. +This is well devised, said King Arthur, and right so shall it be. Now, +which are the four young knights? said Arthur. Sir, said Pellinore, the +first is Sir Gawaine, your nephew, that is as good a knight of his time +as any is in this land; and the second as meseemeth best is Sir Griflet +le Fise de Dieu, that is a good knight and full desirous in arms, and +who may see him live he shall prove a good knight; and the third as +meseemeth is well to be one of the knights of the Round Table, Sir Kay +the Seneschal, for many times he hath done full worshipfully, and now +at your last battle he did full honourably for to undertake to slay two +kings. By my head, said Arthur, he is best worth to be a knight of the +Round Table of any that ye have rehearsed, an he had done no more +prowess in his life days. + + + +CHAPTER V. How Sir Tor was made knight of the Round Table, and how +Bagdemagus was displeased. + +Now, said King Pellinore, I shall put to you two knights, and ye shall +choose which is most worthy, that is Sir Bagdemagus, and Sir Tor, my +son. But because Sir Tor is my son I may not praise him, but else, an +he were not my son, I durst say that of his age there is not in this +land a better knight than he is, nor of better conditions and loath to +do any wrong, and loath to take any wrong. By my head, said Arthur, he +is a passing good knight as any ye spake of this day, that wot I well, +said the king; for I have seen him proved, but he saith little and he +doth much more, for I know none in all this court an he were as well +born on his mother’s side as he is on your side, that is like him of +prowess and of might: and therefore I will have him at this time, and +leave Sir Bagdemagus till another time. So when they were so chosen by +the assent of all the barons, so were there found in their sieges every +knights’ names that here are rehearsed, and so were they set in their +sieges; whereof Sir Bagdemagus was wonderly wroth, that Sir Tor was +advanced afore him, and therefore suddenly he departed from the court, +and took his squire with him, and rode long in a forest till they came +to a cross, and there alighted and said his prayers devoutly. The +meanwhile his squire found written upon the cross, that Bagdemagus +should never return unto the court again, till he had won a knight’s +body of the Round Table, body for body. So, sir, said the squire, here +I find writing of you, therefore I rede you return again to the court. +That shall I never, said Bagdemagus, till men speak of me great +worship, and that I be worthy to be a knight of the Round Table. And so +he rode forth, and there by the way he found a branch of an holy herb +that was the sign of the Sangreal, and no knight found such tokens but +he were a good liver. + +So, as Sir Bagdemagus rode to see many adventures, it happed him to +come to the rock whereas the Lady of the Lake had put Merlin under the +stone, and there he heard him make great dole; whereof Sir Bagdemagus +would have holpen him, and went unto the great stone, and it was so +heavy that an hundred men might not lift it up. When Merlin wist he was +there, he bade leave his labour, for all was in vain, for he might +never be holpen but by her that put him there. And so Bagdemagus +departed and did many adventures, and proved after a full good knight, +and came again to the court and was made knight of the Round Table. So +on the morn there fell new tidings and other adventures. + + + +CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon of Gaul, +chased an hart, and of their marvellous adventures. + +Then it befell that Arthur and many of his knights rode a-hunting into +a great forest, and it happed King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon +of Gaul, followed a great hart, for they three were well horsed, and so +they chased so fast that within a while they three were then ten mile +from their fellowship. And at the last they chased so sore that they +slew their horses underneath them. Then were they all three on foot, +and ever they saw the hart afore them passing weary and enbushed. What +will we do? said King Arthur, we are hard bestead. Let us go on foot, +said King Uriens, till we may meet with some lodging. Then were they +ware of the hart that lay on a great water bank, and a brachet biting +on his throat, and more other hounds came after. Then King Arthur blew +the prise and dight the hart. + +Then the king looked about the world, and saw afore him in a great +water a little ship, all apparelled with silk down to the water, and +the ship came right unto them and landed on the sands. Then Arthur went +to the bank and looked in, and saw none earthly creature therein. Sirs, +said the king, come thence, and let us see what is in this ship. So +they went in all three, and found it richly behanged with cloth of +silk. By then it was dark night, and there suddenly were about them an +hundred torches set upon all the sides of the ship boards, and it gave +great light; and therewithal there came out twelve fair damosels and +saluted King Arthur on their knees, and called him by his name, and +said he was right welcome, and such cheer as they had he should have of +the best. The king thanked them fair. Therewithal they led the king and +his two fellows into a fair chamber, and there was a cloth laid, richly +beseen of all that longed unto a table, and there were they served of +all wines and meats that they could think; of that the king had great +marvel, for he fared never better in his life as for one supper. And so +when they had supped at their leisure, King Arthur was led into a +chamber, a richer beseen chamber saw he never none, and so was King +Uriens served, and led into such another chamber, and Sir Accolon was +led into the third chamber passing richly and well beseen; and so they +were laid in their beds easily. And anon they fell asleep, and slept +marvellously sore all the night. And on the morrow King Uriens was in +Camelot abed in his wife’s arms, Morgan le Fay. And when he awoke he +had great marvel, how he came there, for on the even afore he was two +days’ journey from Camelot. And when King Arthur awoke he found himself +in a dark prison, hearing about him many complaints of woful knights. + + + +CHAPTER VII. How Arthur took upon him to fight to be delivered out of +prison, and also for to deliver twenty knights that were in prison. + +What are ye that so complain? said King Arthur. We be here twenty +knights, prisoners, said they, and some of us have lain here seven +year, and some more and some less. For what cause? said Arthur. We +shall tell you, said the knights; this lord of this castle, his name is +Sir Damas, and he is the falsest knight that liveth, and full of +treason, and a very coward as any liveth, and he hath a younger +brother, a good knight of prowess, his name is Sir Ontzlake; and this +traitor Damas, the elder brother will give him no part of his +livelihood, but as Sir Ontzlake keepeth thorough prowess of his hands, +and so he keepeth from him a full fair manor and a rich, and therein +Sir Ontzlake dwelleth worshipfully, and is well beloved of all people. +And this Sir Damas, our master is as evil beloved, for he is without +mercy, and he is a coward, and great war hath been betwixt them both, +but Ontzlake hath ever the better, and ever he proffereth Sir Damas to +fight for the livelihood, body for body, but he will not do; other-else +to find a knight to fight for him. Unto that Sir Damas had granted to +find a knight, but he is so evil beloved and hated, that there is never +a knight will fight for him. And when Damas saw this, that there was +never a knight would fight for him, he hath daily lain await with many +knights with him, and taken all the knights in this country to see and +espy their adventures, he hath taken them by force and brought them to +his prison. And so he took us separately as we rode on our adventures, +and many good knights have died in this prison for hunger, to the +number of eighteen knights; and if any of us all that here is, or hath +been, would have foughten with his brother Ontzlake, he would have +delivered us, but for because this Damas is so false and so full of +treason we would never fight for him to die for it. And we be so lean +for hunger that unnethe we may stand on our feet. God deliver you, for +his mercy, said Arthur. + +Anon, therewithal there came a damosel unto Arthur, and asked him, What +cheer? I cannot say, said he. Sir, said she, an ye will fight for my +lord, ye shall be delivered out of prison, and else ye escape never the +life. Now, said Arthur, that is hard, yet had I liefer to fight with a +knight than to die in prison; with this, said Arthur, I may be +delivered and all these prisoners, I will do the battle. Yes, said the +damosel. I am ready, said Arthur, an I had horse and armour. Ye shall +lack none, said the damosel. Meseemeth, damosel, I should have seen you +in the court of Arthur. Nay said the damosel, I came never there, I am +the lord’s daughter of this castle. Yet was she false, for she was one +of the damosels of Morgan le Fay. + +Anon she went unto Sir Damas, and told him how he would do battle for +him, and so he sent for Arthur. And when he came he was well coloured, +and well made of his limbs, that all knights that saw him said it were +pity that such a knight should die in prison. So Sir Damas and he were +agreed that he should fight for him upon this covenant, that all other +knights should be delivered; and unto that was Sir Damas sworn unto +Arthur, and also to do the battle to the uttermost. And with that all +the twenty knights were brought out of the dark prison into the hall, +and delivered, and so they all abode to see the battle. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. How Accolon found himself by a well, and he took upon him +to do battle against Arthur. + +Now turn we unto Accolon of Gaul, that when he awoke he found himself +by a deep well-side, within half a foot, in great peril of death. And +there came out of that fountain a pipe of silver, and out of that pipe +ran water all on high in a stone of marble. When Sir Accolon saw this, +he blessed him and said, Jesus save my lord King Arthur, and King +Uriens, for these damosels in this ship have betrayed us, they were +devils and no women; and if I may escape this misadventure, I shall +destroy all where I may find these false damosels that use +enchantments. Right with that there came a dwarf with a great mouth and +a flat nose, and saluted Sir Accolon, and said how he came from Queen +Morgan le Fay, and she greeteth you well, and biddeth you be of strong +heart, for ye shall fight to morrow with a knight at the hour of prime, +and therefore she hath sent you here Excalibur, Arthur’s sword, and the +scabbard, and she biddeth you as ye love her, that ye do the battle to +the uttermost, without any mercy, like as ye had promised her when ye +spake together in privity; and what damosel that bringeth her the +knight’s head, which ye shall fight withal, she will make her a queen. +Now I understand you well, said Accolon, I shall hold that I have +promised her now I have the sword: when saw ye my lady Queen Morgan le +Fay? Right late, said the dwarf. Then Accolon took him in his arms and +said, Recommend me unto my lady queen, and tell her all shall be done +that I have promised her, and else I will die for it. Now I suppose, +said Accolon, she hath made all these crafts and enchantments for this +battle. Ye may well believe it, said the dwarf. Right so there came a +knight and a lady with six squires, and saluted Accolon, and prayed him +for to arise, and come and rest him at his manor. And so Accolon +mounted upon a void horse, and went with the knight unto a fair manor +by a priory, and there he had passing good cheer. + +Then Sir Damas sent unto his brother Sir Ontzlake, and bade make him +ready by to-morn at the hour of prime, and to be in the field to fight +with a good knight, for he had found a good knight that was ready to do +battle at all points. When this word came unto Sir Ontzlake he was +passing heavy, for he was wounded a little to-fore through both his +thighs with a spear, and made great dole; but as he was wounded, he +would have taken the battle on hand. So it happed at that time, by the +means of Morgan le Fay, Accolon was with Sir Ontzlake lodged; and when +he heard of that battle, and how Ontzlake was wounded, he said that he +would fight for him. Because Morgan le Fay had sent him Excalibur and +the sheath for to fight with the knight on the morn: this was the cause +Sir Accolon took the battle on hand. Then Sir Ontzlake was passing +glad, and thanked Sir Accolon with all his heart that he would do so +much for him. And therewithal Sir Ontzlake sent word unto his brother +Sir Damas, that he had a knight that for him should be ready in the +field by the hour of prime. + +So on the morn Sir Arthur was armed and well horsed, and asked Sir +Damas, When shall we to the field? Sir, said Sir Damas, ye shall hear +mass. And so Arthur heard a mass, and when mass was done there came a +squire on a great horse, and asked Sir Damas if his knight were ready, +for our knight is ready in the field. Then Sir Arthur mounted upon +horseback, and there were all the knights and commons of that country; +and so by all advices there were chosen twelve good men of the country +for to wait upon the two knights. And right as Arthur was on horseback +there came a damosel from Morgan le Fay, and brought unto Sir Arthur a +sword like unto Excalibur, and the scabbard, and said unto Arthur, +Morgan le Fay sendeth here your sword for great love. And he thanked +her, and weened it had been so, but she was false, for the sword and +the scabbard was counterfeit, and brittle, and false. + + + +CHAPTER IX. Of the battle between King Arthur and Accolon. + +And then they dressed them on both parties of the field, and let their +horses run so fast that either smote other in the midst of the shield +with their spear-heads, that both horse and man went to the earth; and +then they started up both, and pulled out their swords. The meanwhile +that they were thus at the battle, came the Damosel of the Lake into +the field, that put Merlin under the stone; and she came thither for +love of King Arthur, for she knew how Morgan le Fay had so ordained +that King Arthur should have been slain that day, and therefore she +came to save his life. And so they went eagerly to the battle, and gave +many great strokes, but always Arthur’s sword bit not like Accolon’s +sword; but for the most part, every stroke that Accolon gave he wounded +sore Arthur, that it was marvel he stood, and always his blood fell +from him fast. + +When Arthur beheld the ground so sore be-bled he was dismayed, and then +he deemed treason that his sword was changed; for his sword bit not +steel as it was wont to do, therefore he dreaded him sore to be dead, +for ever him seemed that the sword in Accolon’s hand was Excalibur, for +at every stroke that Accolon struck he drew blood on Arthur. Now, +knight, said Accolon unto Arthur, keep thee well from me; but Arthur +answered not again, and gave him such a buffet on the helm that it made +him to stoop, nigh falling down to the earth. Then Sir Accolon withdrew +him a little, and came on with Excalibur on high, and smote Sir Arthur +such a buffet that he fell nigh to the earth. Then were they wroth +both, and gave each other many sore strokes, but always Sir Arthur lost +so much blood that it was marvel he stood on his feet, but he was so +full of knighthood that knightly he endured the pain. And Sir Accolon +lost not a deal of blood, therefore he waxed passing light, and Sir +Arthur was passing feeble, and weened verily to have died; but for all +that he made countenance as though he might endure, and held Accolon as +short as he might. But Accolon was so bold because of Excalibur that he +waxed passing hardy. But all men that beheld him said they saw never +knight fight so well as Arthur did considering the blood that he bled. +So was all the people sorry for him, but the two brethren would not +accord. Then always they fought together as fierce knights, and Sir +Arthur withdrew him a little for to rest him, and Sir Accolon called +him to battle and said, It is no time for me to suffer thee to rest. +And therewith he came fiercely upon Arthur, and Sir Arthur was wroth +for the blood that he had lost, and smote Accolon on high upon the +helm, so mightily, that he made him nigh to fall to the earth; and +therewith Arthur’s sword brast at the cross, and fell in the grass +among the blood, and the pommel and the sure handles he held in his +hands. When Sir Arthur saw that, he was in great fear to die, but +always he held up his shield and lost no ground, nor bated no cheer. + + + +CHAPTER X. How King Arthur’s sword that he fought with brake, and how +he recovered of Accolon his own sword Excalibur, and overcame his +enemy. + +Then Sir Accolon began with words of treason, and said, Knight, thou +art overcome, and mayst not endure, and also thou art weaponless, and +thou hast lost much of thy blood, and I am full loath to slay thee, +therefore yield thee to me as recreant. Nay, said Sir Arthur, I may not +so, for I have promised to do the battle to the uttermost by the faith +of my body, while me lasteth the life, and therefore I had liefer to +die with honour than to live with shame; and if it were possible for me +to die an hundred times, I had liefer to die so oft than yield me to +thee; for though I lack weapon, I shall lack no worship, and if thou +slay me weaponless that shall be thy shame. Well, said Accolon, as for +the shame I will not spare, now keep thee from me, for thou art but a +dead man. And therewith Accolon gave him such a stroke that he fell +nigh to the earth, and would have had Arthur to have cried him mercy. +But Sir Arthur pressed unto Accolon with his shield, and gave him with +the pommel in his hand such a buffet that he went three strides aback. + +When the Damosel of the Lake beheld Arthur, how full of prowess his +body was, and the false treason that was wrought for him to have had +him slain, she had great pity that so good a knight and such a man of +worship should so be destroyed. And at the next stroke Sir Accolon +struck him such a stroke that by the damosel’s enchantment the sword +Excalibur fell out of Accolon’s hand to the earth. And therewithal Sir +Arthur lightly leapt to it, and gat it in his hand, and forthwithal he +knew that it was his sword Excalibur, and said, Thou hast been from me +all too long, and much damage hast thou done me; and therewith he +espied the scabbard hanging by his side, and suddenly he sterte to him +and pulled the scabbard from him, and threw it from him as far as he +might throw it. O knight, said Arthur, this day hast thou done me great +damage with this sword; now are ye come unto your death, for I shall +not warrant you but ye shall as well be rewarded with this sword, or +ever we depart, as thou hast rewarded me; for much pain have ye made me +to endure, and much blood have I lost. And therewith Sir Arthur rushed +on him with all his might and pulled him to the earth, and then rushed +off his helm, and gave him such a buffet on the head that the blood +came out at his ears, his nose, and his mouth. Now will I slay thee, +said Arthur. Slay me ye may well, said Accolon, an it please you, for +ye are the best knight that ever I found, and I see well that God is +with you. But for I promised to do this battle, said Accolon, to the +uttermost, and never to be recreant while I lived, therefore shall I +never yield me with my mouth, but God do with my body what he will. +Then Sir Arthur remembered him, and thought he should have seen this +knight. Now tell me, said Arthur, or I will slay thee, of what country +art thou, and of what court? Sir Knight, said Sir Accolon, I am of the +court of King Arthur, and my name is Accolon of Gaul. Then was Arthur +more dismayed than he was beforehand; for then he remembered him of his +sister Morgan le Fay, and of the enchantment of the ship. O sir knight, +said he, I pray you tell me who gave you this sword, and by whom ye had +it. + + + +CHAPTER XI. How Accolon confessed the treason of Morgan le Fay, King +Arthur’s sister, and how she would have done slay him. + +Then Sir Accolon bethought him, and said, Woe worth this sword, for by +it have I got my death. It may well be, said the king. Now, sir, said +Accolon, I will tell you; this sword hath been in my keeping the most +part of this twelvemonth; and Morgan le Fay, King Uriens’ wife, sent it +me yesterday by a dwarf, to this intent, that I should slay King +Arthur, her brother. For ye shall understand King Arthur is the man in +the world that she most hateth, because he is most of worship and of +prowess of any of her blood; also she loveth me out of measure as +paramour, and I her again; and if she might bring about to slay Arthur +by her crafts, she would slay her husband King Uriens lightly, and then +had she me devised to be king in this land, and so to reign, and she to +be my queen; but that is now done, said Accolon, for I am sure of my +death. Well, said Sir Arthur, I feel by you ye would have been king in +this land. It had been great damage to have destroyed your lord, said +Arthur. It is truth, said Accolon, but now I have told you truth, +wherefore I pray you tell me of whence ye are, and of what court? O +Accolon, said King Arthur, now I let thee wit that I am King Arthur, to +whom thou hast done great damage. When Accolon heard that he cried +aloud, Fair, sweet lord, have mercy on me, for I knew not you. O Sir +Accolon, said King Arthur, mercy shalt thou have, because I feel by thy +words at this time thou knewest not my person; but I understand well by +thy words that thou hast agreed to the death of my person, and +therefore thou art a traitor; but I wite thee the less, for my sister +Morgan le Fay by her false crafts made thee to agree and consent to her +false lusts, but I shall be sore avenged upon her an I live, that all +Christendom shall speak of it; God knoweth I have honoured her and +worshipped her more than all my kin, and more have I trusted her than +mine own wife and all my kin after. + +Then Sir Arthur called the keepers of the field, and said, Sirs, come +hither, for here are we two knights that have fought unto a great +damage unto us both, and like each one of us to have slain other, if it +had happed so; and had any of us known other, here had been no battle, +nor stroke stricken. Then all aloud cried Accolon unto all the knights +and men that were then there gathered together, and said to them in +this manner, O lords, this noble knight that I have fought withal, the +which me sore repenteth, is the most man of prowess, of manhood, and of +worship in the world, for it is himself King Arthur, our alther liege +lord, and with mishap and with misadventure have I done this battle +with the king and lord that I am holden withal. + + + +CHAPTER XII. How Arthur accorded the two brethren, and delivered the +twenty knights, and how Sir Accolon died. + +Then all the people fell down on their knees and cried King Arthur +mercy. Mercy shall ye have, said Arthur: here may ye see what +adventures befall ofttime of errant knights, how that I have fought +with a knight of mine own unto my great damage and his both. But, sirs, +because I am sore hurt, and he both, and I had great need of a little +rest, ye shall understand the opinion betwixt you two brethren: As to +thee, Sir Damas, for whom I have been champion and won the field of +this knight, yet will I judge because ye, Sir Damas, are called an +orgulous knight, and full of villainy, and not worth of prowess your +deeds, therefore I will that ye give unto your brother all the whole +manor with the appurtenance, under this form, that Sir Ontzlake hold +the manor of you, and yearly to give you a palfrey to ride upon, for +that will become you better to ride on than upon a courser. Also I +charge thee, Sir Damas, upon pain of death, that thou never distress no +knights errant that ride on their adventure. And also that thou restore +these twenty knights that thou hast long kept prisoners, of all their +harness, that they be content for; and if any of them come to my court +and complain of thee, by my head thou shalt die therefore. Also, Sir +Ontzlake, as to you, because ye are named a good knight, and full of +prowess, and true and gentle in all your deeds, this shall be your +charge I will give you, that in all goodly haste ye come unto me and my +court, and ye shall be a knight of mine, and if your deeds be +thereafter I shall so prefer you, by the grace of God, that ye shall in +short time be in ease for to live as worshipfully as your brother Sir +Damas. God thank your largeness of your goodness and of your bounty, I +shall be from henceforward at all times at your commandment; for, sir, +said Sir Ontzlake, as God would, as I was hurt but late with an +adventurous knight through both my thighs, that grieved me sore, and +else had I done this battle with you. God would, said Arthur, it had +been so, for then had not I been hurt as I am. I shall tell you the +cause why: for I had not been hurt as I am, had it not been mine own +sword, that was stolen from me by treason; and this battle was ordained +aforehand to have slain me, and so it was brought to the purpose by +false treason, and by false enchantment. Alas, said Sir Ontzlake, that +is great pity that ever so noble a man as ye are of your deeds and +prowess, that any man or woman might find in their hearts to work any +treason against you. I shall reward them, said Arthur, in short time, +by the grace of God. Now, tell me, said Arthur, how far am I from +Camelot? Sir, ye are two days’ journey therefrom. I would fain be at +some place of worship, said Sir Arthur, that I might rest me. Sir, said +Sir Ontzlake, hereby is a rich abbey of your elders’ foundation, of +nuns, but three miles hence. So the king took his leave of all the +people, and mounted upon horseback, and Sir Accolon with him. And when +they were come to the abbey, he let fetch leeches and search his wounds +and Accolon’s both; but Sir Accolon died within four days, for he had +bled so much blood that he might not live, but King Arthur was well +recovered. So when Accolon was dead he let send him on an horse-bier +with six knights unto Camelot, and said: Bear him to my sister Morgan +le Fay, and say that I send her him to a present, and tell her I have +my sword Excalibur and the scabbard; so they departed with the body. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. How Morgan would have slain Sir Uriens her husband, and +how Sir Uwaine her son saved him. + +The meanwhile Morgan le Fay had weened King Arthur had been dead. So on +a day she espied King Uriens lay in his bed sleeping. Then she called +unto her a maiden of her counsel, and said, Go fetch me my lord’s +sword, for I saw never better time to slay him than now. O madam, said +the damosel, an ye slay my lord ye can never escape. Care not you, said +Morgan le Fay, for now I see my time in the which it is best to do it, +and therefore hie thee fast and fetch me the sword. Then the damosel +departed, and found Sir Uwaine sleeping upon a bed in another chamber, +so she went unto Sir Uwaine, and awaked him, and bade him, Arise, and +wait on my lady your mother, for she will slay the king your father +sleeping in his bed, for I go to fetch his sword. Well, said Sir +Uwaine, go on your way, and let me deal. Anon the damosel brought +Morgan the sword with quaking hands, and she lightly took the sword, +and pulled it out, and went boldly unto the bed’s side, and awaited how +and where she might slay him best. And as she lifted up the sword to +smite, Sir Uwaine leapt unto his mother, and caught her by the hand, +and said, Ah, fiend, what wilt thou do? An thou wert not my mother, +with this sword I should smite off thy head. Ah, said Sir Uwaine, men +saith that Merlin was begotten of a devil, but I may say an earthly +devil bare me. O fair son, Uwaine, have mercy upon me, I was tempted +with a devil, wherefore I cry thee mercy; I will never more do so; and +save my worship and discover me not. On this covenant, said Sir Uwaine, +I will forgive it you, so ye will never be about to do such deeds. Nay, +son, said she, and that I make you assurance. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. How Queen Morgan le Fay made great sorrow for the death of +Accolon, and how she stole away the scabbard from Arthur. + +Then came tidings unto Morgan le Fay that Accolon was dead, and his +body brought unto the church, and how King Arthur had his sword again. +But when Queen Morgan wist that Accolon was dead, she was so sorrowful +that near her heart to-brast. But because she would not it were known, +outward she kept her countenance, and made no semblant of sorrow. But +well she wist an she abode till her brother Arthur came thither, there +should no gold go for her life. + +Then she went unto Queen Guenever, and asked her leave to ride into the +country. Ye may abide, said Queen Guenever, till your brother the king +come home. I may not, said Morgan le Fay, for I have such hasty +tidings, that I may not tarry. Well, said Guenever, ye may depart when +ye will. So early on the morn, or it was day, she took her horse and +rode all that day and most part of the night, and on the morn by noon +she came to the same abbey of nuns whereas lay King Arthur; and she +knowing he was there, she asked where he was. And they answered how he +had laid him in his bed to sleep, for he had had but little rest these +three nights. Well, said she, I charge you that none of you awake him +till I do, and then she alighted off her horse, and thought for to +steal away Excalibur his sword, and so she went straight unto his +chamber, and no man durst disobey her commandment, and there she found +Arthur asleep in his bed, and Excalibur in his right hand naked. When +she saw that she was passing heavy that she might not come by the sword +without she had awaked him, and then she wist well she had been dead. +Then she took the scabbard and went her way on horseback. When the king +awoke and missed his scabbard, he was wroth, and he asked who had been +there, and they said his sister, Queen Morgan had been there, and had +put the scabbard under her mantle and was gone. Alas, said Arthur, +falsely ye have watched me. Sir, said they all, we durst not disobey +your sister’s commandment. Ah, said the king, let fetch the best horse +may be found, and bid Sir Ontzlake arm him in all haste, and take +another good horse and ride with me. So anon the king and Ontzlake were +well armed, and rode after this lady, and so they came by a cross and +found a cowherd, and they asked the poor man if there came any lady +riding that way. Sir, said this poor man, right late came a lady riding +with a forty horses, and to yonder forest she rode. Then they spurred +their horses, and followed fast, and within a while Arthur had a sight +of Morgan le Fay; then he chased as fast as he might. When she espied +him following her, she rode a greater pace through the forest till she +came to a plain, and when she saw she might not escape, she rode unto a +lake thereby, and said, Whatsoever come of me, my brother shall not +have this scabbard. And then she let throw the scabbard in the deepest +of the water so it sank, for it was heavy of gold and precious stones. + +Then she rode into a valley where many great stones were, and when she +saw she must be overtaken, she shaped herself, horse and man, by +enchantment unto a great marble stone. Anon withal came Sir Arthur and +Sir Ontzlake whereas the king might know his sister and her men, and +one knight from another. Ah, said the king, here may ye see the +vengeance of God, and now am I sorry that this misadventure is +befallen. And then he looked for the scabbard, but it would not be +found, so he returned to the abbey where he came from. So when Arthur +was gone she turned all into the likeliness as she and they were +before, and said, Sirs, now may we go where we will. + + + +CHAPTER XV. How Morgan le Fay saved a knight that should have been +drowned, and how King Arthur returned home again. + +Then said Morgan, Saw ye Arthur, my brother? Yea, said her knights, +right well, and that ye should have found an we might have stirred from +one stead, for by his armyvestal countenance he would have caused us to +have fled. I believe you, said Morgan. Anon after as she rode she met a +knight leading another knight on his horse before him, bound hand and +foot, blindfold, to have drowned him in a fountain. When she saw this +knight so bound, she asked him, What will ye do with that knight? Lady, +said he, I will drown him. For what cause? she asked. For I found him +with my wife, and she shall have the same death anon. That were pity, +said Morgan le Fay. Now, what say ye, knight, is it truth that he saith +of you? she said to the knight that should be drowned. Nay truly, +madam, he saith not right on me. Of whence be ye, said Morgan le Fay, +and of what country? I am of the court of King Arthur, and my name is +Manassen, cousin unto Accolon of Gaul. Ye say well, said she, and for +the love of him ye shall be delivered, and ye shall have your adversary +in the same case ye be in. So Manassen was loosed and the other knight +bound. And anon Manassen unarmed him, and armed himself in his harness, +and so mounted on horseback, and the knight afore him, and so threw him +into the fountain and drowned him. And then he rode unto Morgan again, +and asked if she would anything unto King Arthur. Tell him that I +rescued thee, not for the love of him but for the love of Accolon, and +tell him I fear him not while I can make me and them that be with me in +likeness of stones; and let him wit I can do much more when I see my +time. And so she departed into the country of Gore, and there was she +richly received, and made her castles and towns passing strong, for +always she dreaded much King Arthur. + +When the king had well rested him at the abbey, he rode unto Camelot, +and found his queen and his barons right glad of his coming. And when +they heard of his strange adventures as is afore rehearsed, then all +had marvel of the falsehood of Morgan le Fay; many knights wished her +burnt. Then came Manassen to court and told the king of his adventure. +Well, said the king, she is a kind sister; I shall so be avenged on her +an I live, that all Christendom shall speak of it. So on the morn there +came a damosel from Morgan to the king, and she brought with her the +richest mantle that ever was seen in that court, for it was set as full +of precious stones as one might stand by another, and there were the +richest stones that ever the king saw. And the damosel said, Your +sister sendeth you this mantle, and desireth that ye should take this +gift of her; and in what thing she hath offended you, she will amend it +at your own pleasure. When the king beheld this mantle it pleased him +much, but he said but little. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. How the Damosel of the Lake saved King Arthur from mantle +that should have burnt him. + +With that came the Damosel of the Lake unto the king, and said, Sir, I +must speak with you in privity. Say on, said the king, what ye will. +Sir, said the damosel, put not on you this mantle till ye have seen +more, and in no wise let it not come on you, nor on no knight of yours, +till ye command the bringer thereof to put it upon her. Well, said King +Arthur, it shall be done as ye counsel me. And then he said unto the +damosel that came from his sister, Damosel, this mantle that ye have +brought me, I will see it upon you. Sir, she said, It will not beseem +me to wear a king’s garment. By my head, said Arthur, ye shall wear it +or it come on my back, or any man’s that here is. And so the king made +it to be put upon her, and forth withal she fell down dead, and never +more spake word after and burnt to coals. Then was the king wonderly +wroth, more than he was to-forehand, and said unto King Uriens, My +sister, your wife, is alway about to betray me, and well I wot either +ye, or my nephew, your son, is of counsel with her to have me +destroyed; but as for you, said the king to King Uriens, I deem not +greatly that ye be of her counsel, for Accolon confessed to me by his +own mouth, that she would have destroyed you as well as me, therefore I +hold you excused; but as for your son, Sir Uwaine, I hold him suspect, +therefore I charge you put him out of my court. So Sir Uwaine was +discharged. And when Sir Gawaine wist that, he made him ready to go +with him; and said, Whoso banisheth my cousin-germain shall banish me. +So they two departed, and rode into a great forest, and so they came to +an abbey of monks, and there were well lodged. But when the king wist +that Sir Gawaine was departed from the court, there was made great +sorrow among all the estates. Now, said Gaheris, Gawaine’s brother, we +have lost two good knights for the love of one. So on the morn they +heard their masses in the abbey, and so they rode forth till that they +came to a great forest. Then was Sir Gawaine ware in a valley by a +turret [of] twelve fair damosels, and two knights armed on great +horses, and the damosels went to and fro by a tree. And then was Sir +Gawaine ware how there hung a white shield on that tree, and ever as +the damosels came by it they spit upon it, and some threw mire upon the +shield. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine met with twelve fair +damosels, and how they complained on Sir Marhaus. + +Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine went and saluted them, and asked why +they did that despite to the shield. Sir, said the damosels, we shall +tell you. There is a knight in this country that owneth this white +shield, and he is a passing good man of his hands, but he hateth all +ladies and gentlewomen, and therefore we do all this despite to the +shield. I shall say you, said Sir Gawaine, it beseemeth evil a good +knight to despise all ladies and gentlewomen, and peradventure though +he hate you he hath some certain cause, and peradventure he loveth in +some other places ladies and gentlewomen, and to be loved again, an he +be such a man of prowess as ye speak of. Now, what is his name? Sir, +said they, his name is Marhaus, the king’s son of Ireland. I know him +well, said Sir Uwaine, he is a passing good knight as any is alive, for +I saw him once proved at a jousts where many knights were gathered, and +that time there might no man withstand him. Ah! said Sir Gawaine, +damosels, methinketh ye are to blame, for it is to suppose, he that +hung that shield there, he will not be long therefrom, and then may +those knights match him on horseback, and that is more your worship +than thus; for I will abide no longer to see a knight’s shield +dishonoured. And therewith Sir Uwaine and Gawaine departed a little +from them, and then were they ware where Sir Marhaus came riding on a +great horse straight toward them. And when the twelve damosels saw Sir +Marhaus they fled into the turret as they were wild, so that some of +them fell by the way. Then the one of the knights of the tower dressed +his shield, and said on high, Sir Marhaus, defend thee. And so they ran +together that the knight brake his spear on Marhaus, and Marhaus smote +him so hard that he brake his neck and the horse’s back. That saw the +other knight of the turret, and dressed him toward Marhaus, and they +met so eagerly together that the knight of the turret was soon smitten +down, horse and man, stark dead. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Marhaus jousted with Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine, +and overthrew them both. + +And then Sir Marhaus rode unto his shield, and saw how it was defouled, +and said, Of this despite I am a part avenged, but for her love that +gave me this white shield I shall wear thee, and hang mine where thou +wast; and so he hanged it about his neck. Then he rode straight unto +Sir Gawaine and to Sir Uwaine, and asked them what they did there? They +answered him that they came from King Arthur’s court to see adventures. +Well, said Sir Marhaus, here am I ready, an adventurous knight that +will fulfil any adventure that ye will desire; and so departed from +them, to fetch his range. Let him go, said Sir Uwaine unto Sir Gawaine, +for he is a passing good knight as any is living; I would not by my +will that any of us were matched with him. Nay, said Sir Gawaine, not +so, it were shame to us were he not assayed, were he never so good a +knight. Well, said Sir Uwaine, I will assay him afore you, for I am +more weaker than ye, and if he smite me down then may ye revenge me. So +these two knights came together with great raundon, that Sir Uwaine +smote Sir Marhaus that his spear brast in pieces on the shield, and Sir +Marhaus smote him so sore that horse and man he bare to the earth, and +hurt Sir Uwaine on the left side. + +Then Sir Marhaus turned his horse and rode toward Gawaine with his +spear, and when Sir Gawaine saw that he dressed his shield, and they +aventred their spears, and they came together with all the might of +their horses, that either knight smote other so hard in midst of their +shields, but Sir Gawaine’s spear brake, but Sir Marhaus’ spear held; +and therewith Sir Gawaine and his horse rushed down to the earth. And +lightly Sir Gawaine rose on his feet, and pulled out his sword, and +dressed him toward Sir Marhaus on foot, and Sir Marhaus saw that, and +pulled out his sword and began to come to Sir Gawaine on horseback. Sir +knight, said Sir Gawaine, alight on foot, or else I will slay thy +horse. Gramercy, said Sir Marhaus, of your gentleness ye teach me +courtesy, for it is not for one knight to be on foot, and the other on +horseback. And therewith Sir Marhaus set his spear against a tree and +alighted and tied his horse to a tree, and dressed his shield, and +either came unto other eagerly, and smote together with their swords +that their shields flew in cantels, and they bruised their helms and +their hauberks, and wounded either other. But Sir Gawaine from it +passed nine of the clock waxed ever stronger and stronger, for then it +came to the hour of noon, and thrice his might was increased. All this +espied Sir Marhaus and had great wonder how his might increased, and so +they wounded other passing sore. And then when it was past noon, and +when it drew toward evensong, Sir Gawaine’s strength feebled, and waxed +passing faint that unnethes he might dure any longer, and Sir Marhaus +was then bigger and bigger. Sir knight, said Sir Marhaus, I have well +felt that ye are a passing good knight and a marvellous man of might as +ever I felt any, while it lasteth, and our quarrels are not great, and +therefore it were pity to do you hurt, for I feel ye are passing +feeble. Ah, said Sir Gawaine, gentle knight, ye say the word that I +should say. And therewith they took off their helms, and either kissed +other, and there they swore together either to love other as brethren. +And Sir Marhaus prayed Sir Gawaine to lodge with him that night. And so +they took their horses, and rode toward Sir Marhaus’ house. And as they +rode by the way, Sir knight, said Sir Gawaine, I have marvel that so +valiant a man as ye be love no ladies nor damosels. Sir, said Sir +Marhaus, they name me wrongfully those that give me that name, but well +I wot it be the damosels of the turret that so name me, and other such +as they be. Now shall I tell you for what cause I hate them: for they +be sorceresses and enchanters many of them, and be a knight never so +good of his body and full of prowess as man may be, they will make him +a stark coward to have the better of him, and this is the principal +cause that I hate them; and to all good ladies and gentlewomen I owe my +service as a knight ought to do. + +As the book rehearseth in French, there were many knights that +overmatched Sir Gawaine, for all the thrice might that he had: Sir +Launcelot de Lake, Sir Tristram, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Percivale, Sir +Pelleas, and Sir Marhaus, these six knights had the better of Sir +Gawaine. Then within a little while they came to Sir Marhaus’ place, +which was in a little priory, and there they alighted, and ladies and +damosels unarmed them, and hastily looked to their hurts, for they were +all three hurt. And so they had all three good lodging with Sir +Marhaus, and good cheer; for when he wist that they were King Arthur’s +sister’s sons he made them all the cheer that lay in his power, and so +they sojourned there a sennight, and were well eased of their wounds, +and at the last departed. Now, said Sir Marhaus, we will not depart so +lightly, for I will bring you through the forest; and rode day by day +well a seven days or they found any adventure. At the last they came +into a great forest, that was named the country and forest of Arroy, +and the country of strange adventures. In this country, said Sir +Marhaus, came never knight since it was christened but he found strange +adventures; and so they rode, and came into a deep valley full of +stones, and thereby they saw a fair stream of water; above thereby was +the head of the stream a fair fountain, and three damosels sitting +thereby. And then they rode to them, and either saluted other, and the +eldest had a garland of gold about her head, and she was three score +winter of age or more, and her hair was white under the garland. The +second damosel was of thirty winter of age, with a circlet of gold +about her head. The third damosel was but fifteen year of age, and a +garland of flowers about her head. When these knights had so beheld +them, they asked them the cause why they sat at that fountain? We be +here, said the damosels, for this cause: if we may see any errant +knights, to teach them unto strange adventures; and ye be three knights +that seek adventures, and we be three damosels, and therefore each one +of you must choose one of us; and when ye have done so we will lead you +unto three highways, and there each of you shall choose a way and his +damosel with him. And this day twelvemonth ye must meet here again, and +God send you your lives, and thereto ye must plight your troth. This is +well said, said Sir Marhaus. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. How Sir Marhaus, Sir Gawaine, and Sir Uwaine met three +damosels, and each of them took one. + +Now shall everych of us choose a damosel. I shall tell you, said Sir +Uwaine, I am the youngest and most weakest of you both, therefore I +will have the eldest damosel, for she hath seen much, and can best help +me when I have need, for I have most need of help of you both. Now, +said Sir Marhaus, I will have the damosel of thirty winter age, for she +falleth best to me. Well, said Sir Gawaine, I thank you, for ye have +left me the youngest and the fairest, and she is most liefest to me. +Then every damosel took her knight by the reins of his bridle, and +brought him to the three ways, and there was their oath made to meet at +the fountain that day twelvemonth an they were living, and so they +kissed and departed, and each knight set his lady behind him. And Sir +Uwaine took the way that lay west, and Sir Marhaus took the way that +lay south, and Sir Gawaine took the way that lay north. Now will we +begin at Sir Gawaine, that held that way till that he came unto a fair +manor, where dwelled an old knight and a good householder, and there +Sir Gawaine asked the knight if he knew any adventures in that country. +I shall show you some to-morn, said the old knight, and that +marvellous. So, on the morn they rode into the forest of adventures to +a laund, and thereby they found a cross, and as they stood and hoved +there came by them the fairest knight and the seemliest man that ever +they saw, making the greatest dole that ever man made. And then he was +ware of Sir Gawaine, and saluted him, and prayed God to send him much +worship. As to that, said Sir Gawaine, gramercy; also I pray to God +that he send you honour and worship. Ah, said the knight, I may lay +that aside, for sorrow and shame cometh to me after worship. + + + +CHAPTER XX. How a knight and a dwarf strove for a lady. + +And therewith he passed unto the one side of the laund; and on the +other side saw Sir Gawaine ten knights that hoved still and made them +ready with their shields and spears against that one knight that came +by Sir Gawaine. + +Then this one knight aventred a great spear, and one of the ten knights +encountered with him, but this woful knight smote him so hard that he +fell over his horse’s tail. So this same dolorous knight served them +all, that at the leastway he smote down horse and man, and all he did +with one spear; and so when they were all ten on foot, they went to +that one knight, and he stood stone still, and suffered them to pull +him down off his horse, and bound him hand and foot, and tied him under +the horse’s belly, and so led him with them. O Jesu! said Sir Gawaine, +this is a doleful sight, to see the yonder knight so to be entreated, +and it seemeth by the knight that he suffereth them to bind him so, for +he maketh no resistance. No, said his host, that is truth, for an he +would they all were too weak so to do him. Sir, said the damosel unto +Sir Gawaine, meseemeth it were your worship to help that dolorous +knight, for methinketh he is one of the best knights that ever I saw. I +would do for him, said Sir Gawaine, but it seemeth he will have no +help. Then, said the damosel, methinketh ye have no lust to help him. + +Thus as they talked they saw a knight on the other side of the laund +all armed save the head. And on the other side there came a dwarf on +horseback all armed save the head, with a great mouth and a short nose; +and when the dwarf came nigh he said, Where is the lady should meet us +here? and therewithal she came forth out of the wood. And then they +began to strive for the lady; for the knight said he would have her, +and the dwarf said he would have her. Will we do well? said the dwarf; +yonder is a knight at the cross, let us put it both upon him, and as he +deemeth so shall it be. I will well, said the knight, and so they went +all three unto Sir Gawaine and told him wherefore they strove. Well, +sirs, said he, will ye put the matter in my hand? Yea, they said both. +Now damosel, said Sir Gawaine, ye shall stand betwixt them both, and +whether ye list better to go to, he shall have you. And when she was +set between them both, she left the knight and went to the dwarf, and +the dwarf took her and went his way singing, and the knight went his +way with great mourning. + +Then came there two knights all armed, and cried on high, Sir Gawaine! +knight of King Arthur’s, make thee ready in all haste and joust with +me. So they ran together, that either fell down, and then on foot they +drew their swords, and did full actually. The meanwhile the other +knight went to the damosel, and asked her why she abode with that +knight, and if ye would abide with me, I will be your faithful knight. +And with you will I be, said the damosel, for with Sir Gawaine I may +not find in mine heart to be with him; for now here was one knight +discomfited ten knights, and at the last he was cowardly led away; and +therefore let us two go whilst they fight. And Sir Gawaine fought with +that other knight long, but at the last they accorded both. And then +the knight prayed Sir Gawaine to lodge with him that night. So as Sir +Gawaine went with this knight he asked him, What knight is he in this +country that smote down the ten knights? For when he had done so +manfully he suffered them to bind him hand and foot, and so led him +away. Ah, said the knight, that is the best knight I trow in the world, +and the most man of prowess, and he hath been served so as he was even +more than ten times, and his name hight Sir Pelleas, and he loveth a +great lady in this country and her name is Ettard. And so when he loved +her there was cried in this country a great jousts three days, and all +the knights of this country were there and gentlewomen, and who that +proved him the best knight should have a passing good sword and a +circlet of gold, and the circlet the knight should give it to the +fairest lady that was at the jousts. And this knight Sir Pelleas was +the best knight that was there, and there were five hundred knights, +but there was never man that ever Sir Pelleas met withal but he struck +him down, or else from his horse; and every day of three days he struck +down twenty knights, therefore they gave him the prize, and forthwithal +he went thereas the Lady Ettard was, and gave her the circlet, and said +openly she was the fairest lady that there was, and that would he prove +upon any knight that would say nay. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. How King Pelleas suffered himself to be taken prisoner +because he would have a sight of his lady, and how Sir Gawaine promised +him to get to him the love of his lady. + +And so he chose her for his sovereign lady, and never to love other but +her, but she was so proud that she had scorn of him, and said that she +would never love him though he would die for her. Wherefore all ladies +and gentlewomen had scorn of her that she was so proud, for there were +fairer than she, and there was none that was there but an Sir Pelleas +would have proffered them love, they would have loved him for his noble +prowess. And so this knight promised the Lady Ettard to follow her into +this country, and never to leave her till she loved him. And thus he is +here the most part nigh her, and lodged by a priory, and every week she +sendeth knights to fight with him. And when he hath put them to the +worse, then will he suffer them wilfully to take him prisoner, because +he would have a sight of this lady. And always she doth him great +despite, for sometime she maketh her knights to tie him to his horse’s +tail, and some to bind him under the horse’s belly; thus in the most +shamefullest ways that she can think he is brought to her. And all she +doth it for to cause him to leave this country, and to leave his +loving; but all this cannot make him to leave, for an he would have +fought on foot he might have had the better of the ten knights as well +on foot as on horseback. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, it is great pity of +him; and after this night I will seek him to-morrow, in this forest, to +do him all the help I can. So on the morn Sir Gawaine took his leave of +his host Sir Carados, and rode into the forest; and at the last he met +with Sir Pelleas, making great moan out of measure, so each of them +saluted other, and asked him why he made such sorrow. And as it is +above rehearsed, Sir Pelleas told Sir Gawaine: But always I suffer her +knights to fare so with me as ye saw yesterday, in trust at the last to +win her love, for she knoweth well all her knights should not lightly +win me, an me list to fight with them to the uttermost. Wherefore an I +loved her not so sore, I had liefer die an hundred times, an I might +die so oft, rather than I would suffer that despite; but I trust she +will have pity upon me at the last, for love causeth many a good knight +to suffer to have his entent, but alas I am unfortunate. And therewith +he made so great dole and sorrow that unnethe he might hold him on +horseback. + +Now, said Sir Gawaine, leave your mourning and I shall promise you by +the faith of my body to do all that lieth in my power to get you the +love of your lady, and thereto I will plight you my troth. Ah, said Sir +Pelleas, of what court are ye? tell me, I pray you, my good friend. And +then Sir Gawaine said, I am of the court of King Arthur, and his +sister’s son, and King Lot of Orkney was my father, and my name is Sir +Gawaine. And then he said, My name is Sir Pelleas, born in the Isles, +and of many isles I am lord, and never have I loved lady nor damosel +till now in an unhappy time; and, sir knight, since ye are so nigh +cousin unto King Arthur, and a king’s son, therefore betray me not but +help me, for I may never come by her but by some good knight, for she +is in a strong castle here, fast by within this four mile, and over all +this country she is lady of. And so I may never come to her presence, +but as I suffer her knights to take me, and but if I did so that I +might have a sight of her, I had been dead long or this time; and yet +fair word had I never of her, but when I am brought to-fore her she +rebuketh me in the foulest manner. And then they take my horse and +harness and put me out of the gates, and she will not suffer me to eat +nor drink; and always I offer me to be her prisoner, but that she will +not suffer me, for I would desire no more, what pains so ever I had, so +that I might have a sight of her daily. Well, said Sir Gawaine, all +this shall I amend an ye will do as I shall devise: I will have your +horse and your armour, and so will I ride unto her castle and tell her +that I have slain you, and so shall I come within her to cause her to +cherish me, and then shall I do my true part that ye shall not fail to +have the love of her. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. How Sir Gawaine came to the Lady Ettard, and how Sir +Pelleas found them sleeping. + +And therewith Sir Gawaine plight his troth unto Sir Pelleas to be true +and faithful unto him; so each one plight their troth to other, and so +they changed horses and harness, and Sir Gawaine departed, and came to +the castle whereas stood the pavilions of this lady without the gate. +And as soon as Ettard had espied Sir Gawaine she fled in toward the +castle. Sir Gawaine spake on high, and bade her abide, for he was not +Sir Pelleas; I am another knight that have slain Sir Pelleas. Do off +your helm, said the Lady Ettard, that I may see your visage. And so +when she saw that it was not Sir Pelleas, she bade him alight and led +him unto her castle, and asked him faithfully whether he had slain Sir +Pelleas. And he said her yea, and told her his name was Sir Gawaine of +the court of King Arthur, and his sister’s son. Truly, said she, that +is great pity, for he was a passing good knight of his body, but of all +men alive I hated him most, for I could never be quit of him; and for +ye have slain him I shall be your woman, and to do anything that might +please you. So she made Sir Gawaine good cheer. Then Sir Gawaine said +that he loved a lady and by no means she would love him. She is to +blame, said Ettard, an she will not love you, for ye that be so well +born a man, and such a man of prowess, there is no lady in the world +too good for you. Will ye, said Sir Gawaine, promise me to do all that +ye may, by the faith of your body, to get me the love of my lady? Yea, +sir, said she, and that I promise you by the faith of my body. Now, +said Sir Gawaine, it is yourself that I love so well, therefore I pray +you hold your promise. I may not choose, said the Lady Ettard, but if I +should be forsworn; and so she granted him to fulfil all his desire. + +So it was then in the month of May that she and Sir Gawaine went out of +the castle and supped in a pavilion, and there was made a bed, and +there Sir Gawaine and the Lady Ettard went to bed together, and in +another pavilion she laid her damosels, and in the third pavilion she +laid part of her knights, for then she had no dread of Sir Pelleas. And +there Sir Gawaine lay with her in that pavilion two days and two +nights. And on the third day, in the morning early, Sir Pelleas armed +him, for he had never slept since Sir Gawaine departed from him; for +Sir Gawaine had promised him by the faith of his body, to come to him +unto his pavilion by that priory within the space of a day and a night. + +Then Sir Pelleas mounted upon horseback, and came to the pavilions that +stood without the castle, and found in the first pavilion three knights +in three beds, and three squires lying at their feet. Then went he to +the second pavilion and found four gentlewomen lying in four beds. And +then he yede to the third pavilion and found Sir Gawaine lying in bed +with his Lady Ettard, and either clipping other in arms, and when he +saw that his heart well-nigh brast for sorrow, and said: Alas! that +ever a knight should be found so false; and then he took his horse and +might not abide no longer for pure sorrow. And when he had ridden nigh +half a mile he turned again and thought to slay them both; and when he +saw them both so lie sleeping fast, unnethe he might hold him on +horseback for sorrow, and said thus to himself, Though this knight be +never so false, I will never slay him sleeping, for I will never +destroy the high order of knighthood; and therewith he departed again. +And or he had ridden half a mile he returned again, and thought then to +slay them both, making the greatest sorrow that ever man made. And when +he came to the pavilions, he tied his horse unto a tree, and pulled out +his sword naked in his hand, and went to them thereas they lay, and yet +he thought it were shame to slay them sleeping, and laid the naked +sword overthwart both their throats, and so took his horse and rode his +way. + +And when Sir Pelleas came to his pavilions he told his knights and his +squires how he had sped, and said thus to them, For your true and good +service ye have done me I shall give you all my goods, for I will go +unto my bed and never arise until I am dead. And when that I am dead I +charge you that ye take the heart out of my body and bear it her +betwixt two silver dishes, and tell her how I saw her lie with the +false knight Sir Gawaine. Right so Sir Pelleas unarmed himself, and +went unto his bed making marvellous dole and sorrow. + +When Sir Gawaine and Ettard awoke of their sleep, and found the naked +sword overthwart their throats, then she knew well it was Sir Pelleas’ +sword. Alas! said she to Sir Gawaine, ye have betrayed me and Sir +Pelleas both, for ye told me ye had slain him, and now I know well it +is not so, he is alive. And if Sir Pelleas had been as uncourteous to +you as ye have been to him ye had been a dead knight; but ye have +deceived me and betrayed me falsely, that all ladies and damosels may +beware by you and me. And therewith Sir Gawaine made him ready, and +went into the forest. So it happed then that the Damosel of the Lake, +Nimue, met with a knight of Sir Pelleas, that went on his foot in the +forest making great dole, and she asked him the cause. And so the woful +knight told her how his master and lord was betrayed through a knight +and lady, and how he will never arise out of his bed till he be dead. +Bring me to him, said she anon, and I will warrant his life he shall +not die for love, and she that hath caused him so to love, she shall be +in as evil plight as he is or it be long to, for it is no joy of such a +proud lady that will have no mercy of such a valiant knight. Anon that +knight brought her unto him, and when she saw him lie in his bed, she +thought she saw never so likely a knight; and therewith she threw an +enchantment upon him, and he fell asleep. And therewhile she rode unto +the Lady Ettard, and charged no man to awake him till she came again. +So within two hours she brought the Lady Ettard thither, and both +ladies found him asleep: Lo, said the Damosel of the Lake, ye ought to +be ashamed for to murder such a knight. And therewith she threw such an +enchantment upon her that she loved him sore, that well-nigh she was +out of her mind. O Lord Jesu, said the Lady Ettard, how is it befallen +unto me that I love now him that I have most hated of any man alive? +That is the righteous judgment of God, said the damosel. And then anon +Sir Pelleas awaked and looked upon Ettard; and when he saw her he knew +her, and then he hated her more than any woman alive, and said: Away, +traitress, come never in my sight. And when she heard him say so, she +wept and made great sorrow out of measure. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Pelleas loved no more Ettard by means of the +Damosel of the Lake, whom he loved ever after. + +Sir knight Pelleas, said the Damosel of the Lake, take your horse and +come forth with me out of this country, and ye shall love a lady that +shall love you. I will well, said Sir Pelleas, for this Lady Ettard +hath done me great despite and shame, and there he told her the +beginning and ending, and how he had purposed never to have arisen till +that he had been dead. And now such grace God hath sent me, that I hate +her as much as ever I loved her, thanked be our Lord Jesus! Thank me, +said the Damosel of the Lake. Anon Sir Pelleas armed him, and took his +horse, and commanded his men to bring after his pavilions and his stuff +where the Damosel of the Lake would assign. So the Lady Ettard died for +sorrow, and the Damosel of the Lake rejoiced Sir Pelleas, and loved +together during their life days. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Marhaus rode with the damosel, and how he came to +the Duke of the South Marches. + +Now turn we unto Sir Marhaus, that rode with the damosel of thirty +winter of age, southward. And so they came into a deep forest, and by +fortune they were nighted, and rode long in a deep way, and at the last +they came unto a courtelage, and there they asked harbour. But the man +of the courtelage would not lodge them for no treatise that they could +treat, but thus much the good man said, An ye will take the adventure +of your lodging, I shall bring you where ye shall be lodged. What +adventure is that that I shall have for my lodging? said Sir Marhaus. +Ye shall wit when ye come there, said the good man. Sir, what adventure +so it be, bring me thither I pray thee, said Sir Marhaus; for I am +weary, my damosel, and my horse. So the good man went and opened the +gate, and within an hour he brought him unto a fair castle, and then +the poor man called the porter, and anon he was let into the castle, +and so he told the lord how he brought him a knight errant and a +damosel that would be lodged with him. Let him in, said the lord, it +may happen he shall repent that they took their lodging here. + +So Sir Marhaus was let in with torchlight, and there was a goodly sight +of young men that welcomed him. And then his horse was led into the +stable, and he and the damosel were brought into the hall, and there +stood a mighty duke and many goodly men about him. Then this lord asked +him what he hight, and from whence he came, and with whom he dwelt. +Sir, he said, I am a knight of King Arthur’s and knight of the Table +Round, and my name is Sir Marhaus, and born I am in Ireland. And then +said the duke to him, That me sore repenteth: the cause is this, for I +love not thy lord nor none of thy fellows of the Table Round; and +therefore ease thyself this night as well as thou mayest, for as +to-morn I and my six sons shall match with you. Is there no remedy but +that I must have ado with you and your six sons at once? said Sir +Marhaus. No, said the duke, for this cause I made mine avow, for Sir +Gawaine slew my seven sons in a recounter, therefore I made mine avow, +there should never knight of King Arthur’s court lodge with me, or come +thereas I might have ado with him, but that I would have a revenging of +my sons’ death. What is your name? said Sir Marhaus; I require you tell +me, an it please you. Wit thou well I am the Duke of South Marches. Ah, +said Sir Marhaus, I have heard say that ye have been long time a great +foe unto my lord Arthur and to his knights. That shall ye feel to-morn, +said the duke. Shall I have ado with you? said Sir Marhaus. Yea, said +the duke, thereof shalt thou not choose, and therefore take you to your +chamber, and ye shall have all that to you longeth. So Sir Marhaus +departed and was led to a chamber, and his damosel was led unto her +chamber. And on the morn the duke sent unto Sir Marhaus and bade make +him ready. And so Sir Marhaus arose and armed him, and then there was a +mass sung afore him, and brake his fast, and so mounted on horseback in +the court of the castle where they should do the battle. So there was +the duke all ready on horseback, clean armed, and his six sons by him, +and everych had a spear in his hand, and so they encountered, whereas +the duke and his two sons brake their spears upon him, but Sir Marhaus +held up his spear and touched none of them. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Marhaus fought with the duke and his four sons and +made them to yield them. + +Then came the four sons by couple, and two of them brake their spears, +and so did the other two. And all this while Sir Marhaus touched them +not. Then Sir Marhaus ran to the duke, and smote him with his spear +that horse and man fell to the earth, and so he served his sons; and +then Sir Marhaus alighted down and bade the duke yield him or else he +would slay him. And then some of his sons recovered, and would have set +upon Sir Marhaus; then Sir Marhaus said to the duke, Cease thy sons, or +else I will do the uttermost to you all. Then the duke saw he might not +escape the death, he cried to his sons, and charged them to yield them +to Sir Marhaus; and they kneeled all down and put the pommels of their +swords to the knight, and so he received them. And then they helped up +their father, and so by their cominal assent promised to Sir Marhaus +never to be foes unto King Arthur, and thereupon at Whitsuntide after +to come, he and his sons, and put them in the king’s grace. + +Then Sir Marhaus departed, and within two days his damosel brought him +whereas was a great tournament that the Lady de Vawse had cried. And +who that did best should have a rich circlet of gold worth a thousand +besants. And there Sir Marhaus did so nobly that he was renowned, and +had sometime down forty knights, and so the circlet of gold was +rewarded him. Then he departed from them with great worship; and so +within seven nights his damosel brought him to an earl’s place, his +name was the Earl Fergus, that after was Sir Tristram’s knight; and +this earl was but a young man, and late come into his lands, and there +was a giant fast by him that hight Taulurd, and he had another brother +in Cornwall that hight Taulas, that Sir Tristram slew when he was out +of his mind. So this earl made his complaint unto Sir Marhaus, that +there was a giant by him that destroyed all his lands, and how he durst +nowhere ride nor go for him. Sir, said the knight, whether useth he to +fight on horseback or on foot? Nay, said the earl, there may no horse +bear him. Well, said Sir Marhaus, then will I fight with him on foot; +so on the morn Sir Marhaus prayed the earl that one of his men might +bring him whereas the giant was; and so he was, for he saw him sit +under a tree of holly, and many clubs of iron and gisarms about him. So +this knight dressed him to the giant, putting his shield afore him, and +the giant took an iron club in his hand, and at the first stroke he +clave Sir Marhaus’ shield in two pieces. And there he was in great +peril, for the giant was a wily fighter, but at last Sir Marhaus smote +off his right arm above the elbow. + +Then the giant fled and the knight after him, and so he drove him into +a water, but the giant was so high that he might not wade after him. +And then Sir Marhaus made the Earl Fergus’ man to fetch him stones, and +with those stones the knight gave the giant many sore knocks, till at +the last he made him fall down into the water, and so was he there +dead. Then Sir Marhaus went unto the giant’s castle, and there he +delivered twenty-four ladies and twelve knights out of the giant’s +prison, and there he had great riches without number, so that the days +of his life he was never poor man. Then he returned to the Earl Fergus, +the which thanked him greatly, and would have given him half his lands, +but he would none take. So Sir Marhaus dwelled with the earl nigh half +a year, for he was sore bruised with the giant, and at the last he took +his leave. And as he rode by the way, he met with Sir Gawaine and Sir +Uwaine, and so by adventure he met with four knights of Arthur’s court, +the first was Sir Sagramore le Desirous, Sir Osanna, Sir Dodinas le +Savage, and Sir Felot of Listinoise; and there Sir Marhaus with one +spear smote down these four knights, and hurt them sore. So he departed +to meet at his day aforeset. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. How Sir Uwaine rode with the damosel of sixty year of +age, and how he gat the prize at tourneying. + +Now turn we unto Sir Uwaine, that rode westward with his damosel of +three score winter of age, and she brought him thereas was a tournament +nigh the march of Wales. And at that tournament Sir Uwaine smote down +thirty knights, therefore was given him the prize, and that was a +gerfalcon, and a white steed trapped with cloth of gold. So then Sir +Uwaine did many strange adventures by the means of the old damosel, and +so she brought him to a lady that was called the Lady of the Rock, the +which was much courteous. So there were in the country two knights that +were brethren, and they were called two perilous knights, the one +knight hight Sir Edward of the Red Castle, and the other Sir Hue of the +Red Castle; and these two brethren had disherited the Lady of the Rock +of a barony of lands by their extortion. And as this knight was lodged +with this lady she made her complaint to him of these two knights. + +Madam, said Sir Uwaine, they are to blame, for they do against the high +order of knighthood, and the oath that they made; and if it like you I +will speak with them, because I am a knight of King Arthur’s, and I +will entreat them with fairness; and if they will not, I shall do +battle with them, and in the defence of your right. Gramercy said the +lady, and thereas I may not acquit you, God shall. So on the morn the +two knights were sent for, that they should come thither to speak with +the Lady of the Rock, and wit ye well they failed not, for they came +with an hundred horse. But when this lady saw them in this manner so +big, she would not suffer Sir Uwaine to go out to them upon no surety +nor for no fair language, but she made him speak with them over a +tower, but finally these two brethren would not be entreated, and +answered that they would keep that they had. Well, said Sir Uwaine, +then will I fight with one of you, and prove that ye do this lady +wrong. That will we not, said they, for an we do battle, we two will +fight with one knight at once, and therefore if ye will fight so, we +will be ready at what hour ye will assign. And if ye win us in battle +the lady shall have her lands again. Ye say well, said Sir Uwaine, +therefore make you ready so that ye be here to-morn in the defence of +the lady’s right. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Uwaine fought with two knights and overcame +them. + +So was there sikerness made on both parties that no treason should be +wrought on neither party; so then the knights departed and made them +ready, and that night Sir Uwaine had great cheer. And on the morn he +arose early and heard mass, and brake his fast, and so he rode unto the +plain without the gates, where hoved the two brethren abiding him. So +they rode together passing sore, that Sir Edward and Sir Hue brake +their spears upon Sir Uwaine. And Sir Uwaine smote Sir Edward that he +fell over his horse and yet his spear brast not. And then he spurred +his horse and came upon Sir Hue and overthrew him, but they soon +recovered and dressed their shields and drew their swords and bade Sir +Uwaine alight and do his battle to the uttermost. Then Sir Uwaine +devoided his horse suddenly, and put his shield afore him and drew his +sword, and so they dressed together, and either gave other such +strokes, and there these two brethren wounded Sir Uwaine passing +grievously that the Lady of the Rock weened he should have died. And +thus they fought together five hours as men raged out of reason. And at +the last Sir Uwaine smote Sir Edward upon the helm such a stroke that +his sword carved unto his canel bone, and then Sir Hue abated his +courage, but Sir Uwaine pressed fast to have slain him. That saw Sir +Hue: he kneeled down and yielded him to Sir Uwaine. And he of his +gentleness received his sword, and took him by the hand, and went into +the castle together. Then the Lady of the Rock was passing glad, and +the other brother made great sorrow for his brother’s death. Then the +lady was restored of all her lands, and Sir Hue was commanded to be at +the court of King Arthur at the next feast of Pentecost. So Sir Uwaine +dwelt with the lady nigh half a year, for it was long or he might be +whole of his great hurts. And so when it drew nigh the term-day that +Sir Gawaine, Sir Marhaus, and Sir Uwaine should meet at the cross-way, +then every knight drew him thither to hold his promise that they had +made; and Sir Marhaus and Sir Uwaine brought their damosels with them, +but Sir Gawaine had lost his damosel, as it is afore rehearsed. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. How at the year’s end all three knights with their +three damosels met at the fountain. + +Right so at the twelvemonths’ end they met all three knights at the +fountain and their damosels, but the damosel that Sir Gawaine had could +say but little worship of him so they departed from the damosels and +rode through a great forest, and there they met with a messenger that +came from King Arthur, that had sought them well-nigh a twelvemonth +throughout all England, Wales, and Scotland, and charged if ever he +might find Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine to bring them to the court again. +And then were they all glad, and so prayed they Sir Marhaus to ride +with them to the king’s court. And so within twelve days they came to +Camelot, and the king was passing glad of their coming, and so was all +the court. Then the king made them to swear upon a book to tell him all +their adventures that had befallen them that twelvemonth, and so they +did. And there was Sir Marhaus well known, for there were knights that +he had matched aforetime, and he was named one of the best knights +living. + +Against the feast of Pentecost came the Damosel of the Lake and brought +with her Sir Pelleas; and at that high feast there was great jousting +of knights, and of all knights that were at that jousts, Sir Pelleas +had the prize, and Sir Marhaus was named the next; but Sir Pelleas was +so strong there might but few knights sit him a buffet with a spear. +And at that next feast Sir Pelleas and Sir Marhaus were made knights of +the Table Round, for there were two sieges void, for two knights were +slain that twelvemonth, and great joy had King Arthur of Sir Pelleas +and of Sir Marhaus. But Pelleas loved never after Sir Gawaine, but as +he spared him for the love of King Arthur; but ofttimes at jousts and +tournaments Sir Pelleas quit Sir Gawaine, for so it rehearseth in the +book of French. So Sir Tristram many days after fought with Sir Marhaus +in an island, and there they did a great battle, but at the last Sir +Tristram slew him, so Sir Tristram was wounded that unnethe he might +recover, and lay at a nunnery half a year. And Sir Pelleas was a +worshipful knight, and was one of the four that achieved the Sangreal, +and the Damosel of the Lake made by her means that never he had ado +with Sir Launcelot de Lake, for where Sir Launcelot was at any jousts +or any tournament, she would not suffer him be there that day, but if +it were on the side of Sir Launcelot. + +Explicit liber quartus. +Incipit liber quintus. + + + +BOOK V. + + + +CHAPTER I. How twelve aged ambassadors of Rome came to King Arthur to +demand truage for Britain. + +When King Arthur had after long war rested, and held a royal feast and +Table Round with his allies of kings, princes, and noble knights all of +the Round Table, there came into his hall, he sitting in his throne +royal, twelve ancient men, bearing each of them a branch of olive, in +token that they came as ambassadors and messengers from the Emperor +Lucius, which was called at that time, Dictator or Procuror of the +Public Weal of Rome. Which said messengers, after their entering and +coming into the presence of King Arthur, did to him their obeisance in +making to him reverence, and said to him in this wise: The high and +mighty Emperor Lucius sendeth to the King of Britain greeting, +commanding thee to acknowledge him for thy lord, and to send him the +truage due of this realm unto the Empire, which thy father and other +to-fore thy precessors have paid as is of record, and thou as rebel not +knowing him as thy sovereign, withholdest and retainest contrary to the +statutes and decrees made by the noble and worthy Julius Cesar, +conqueror of this realm, and first Emperor of Rome. And if thou refuse +his demand and commandment know thou for certain that he shall make +strong war against thee, thy realms and lands, and shall chastise thee +and thy subjects, that it shall be ensample perpetual unto all kings +and princes, for to deny their truage unto that noble empire which +domineth upon the universal world. Then when they had showed the effect +of their message, the king commanded them to withdraw them, and said he +should take advice of council and give to them an answer. Then some of +the young knights, hearing this their message, would have run on them +to have slain them, saying that it was a rebuke to all the knights +there being present to suffer them to say so to the king. And anon the +king commanded that none of them, upon pain of death, to missay them +nor do them any harm, and commanded a knight to bring them to their +lodging, and see that they have all that is necessary and requisite for +them, with the best cheer, and that no dainty be spared, for the Romans +be great lords, and though their message please me not nor my court, +yet I must remember mine honour. + +After this the king let call all his lords and knights of the Round +Table to counsel upon this matter, and desired them to say their +advice. Then Sir Cador of Cornwall spake first and said, Sir, this +message liketh me well, for we have many days rested us and have been +idle, and now I hope ye shall make sharp war on the Romans, where I +doubt not we shall get honour. I believe well, said Arthur, that this +matter pleaseth thee well, but these answers may not be answered, for +the demand grieveth me sore, for truly I will never pay truage to Rome, +wherefore I pray you to counsel me. I have understood that Belinus and +Brenius, kings of Britain, have had the empire in their hands many +days, and also Constantine the son of Heleine, which is an open +evidence that we owe no tribute to Rome but of right we that be +descended of them have right to claim the title of the empire. + + + +CHAPTER II. How the kings and lords promised to King Arthur aid and +help against the Romans. + +Then answered King Anguish of Scotland, Sir, ye ought of right to be +above all other kings, for unto you is none like nor pareil in +Christendom, of knighthood nor of dignity, and I counsel you never to +obey the Romans, for when they reigned on us they distressed our +elders, and put this land to great extortions and tallies, wherefore I +make here mine avow to avenge me on them; and for to strengthen your +quarrel I shall furnish twenty thousand good men of war, and wage them +on my costs, which shall await on you with myself when it shall please +you. And the king of Little Britain granted him to the same thirty +thousand; wherefore King Arthur thanked them. And then every man agreed +to make war, and to aid after their power; that is to wit, the lord of +West Wales promised to bring thirty thousand men, and Sir Uwaine, Sir +Ider his son, with their cousins, promised to bring thirty thousand. +Then Sir Launcelot with all other promised in likewise every man a +great multitude. + +And when King Arthur understood their courages and good wills he +thanked them heartily, and after let call the ambassadors to hear their +answer. And in presence of all his lords and knights he said to them in +this wise: I will that ye return unto your lord and Procuror of the +Common Weal for the Romans, and say ye to him, Of his demand and +commandment I set nothing, and that I know of no truage nor tribute +that I owe to him, nor to none earthly prince, Christian nor heathen; +but I pretend to have and occupy the sovereignty of the empire, wherein +I am entitled by the right of my predecessors, sometime kings of this +land; and say to him that I am delibered and fully concluded, to go +with mine army with strength and power unto Rome, by the grace of God, +to take possession in the empire and subdue them that be rebel. +Wherefore I command him and all them of Rome, that incontinent they +make to me their homage, and to acknowledge me for their Emperor and +Governor, upon pain that shall ensue. And then he commanded his +treasurer to give to them great and large gifts, and to pay all their +dispenses, and assigned Sir Cador to convey them out of the land. And +so they took their leave and departed, and took their shipping at +Sandwich, and passed forth by Flanders, Almaine, the mountains, and all +Italy, until they came unto Lucius. And after the reverence made, they +made relation of their answer, like as ye to-fore have heard. + +When the Emperor Lucius had well understood their credence, he was sore +moved as he had been all araged, and said, I had supposed that Arthur +would have obeyed to my commandment, and have served you himself, as +him well beseemed or any other king to do. O Sir, said one of the +senators, let be such vain words, for we let you wit that I and my +fellows were full sore afeard to behold his countenance; I fear me ye +have made a rod for yourself, for he intendeth to be lord of this +empire, which sore is to be doubted if he come, for he is all another +man than ye ween, and holdeth the most noble court of the world, all +other kings nor princes may not compare unto his noble maintenance. On +New Year’s Day we saw him in his estate, which was the royalest that +ever we saw, for he was served at his table with nine kings, and the +noblest fellowship of other princes, lords, and knights that be in the +world, and every knight approved and like a lord, and holdeth Table +Round: and in his person the most manly man that liveth, and is like to +conquer all the world, for unto his courage it is too little: wherefore +I advise you to keep well your marches and straits in the mountains; +for certainly he is a lord to be doubted. Well, said Lucius, before +Easter I suppose to pass the mountains, and so forth into France, and +there bereave him his lands with Genoese and other mighty warriors of +Tuscany and Lombardy. And I shall send for them all that be subjects +and allied to the empire of Rome to come to mine aid. And forthwith +sent old wise knights unto these countries following: first to Ambage +and Arrage, to Alexandria, to India, to Armenia, whereas the river of +Euphrates runneth into Asia, to Africa, and Europe the Large, to +Ertayne and Elamye, to Araby, Egypt, and to Damascus, to Damietta and +Cayer, to Cappadocia, to Tarsus, Turkey, Pontus and Pamphylia, to Syria +and Galatia. And all these were subject to Rome and many more, as +Greece, Cyprus, Macedonia, Calabria, Cateland, Portugal, with many +thousands of Spaniards. Thus all these kings, dukes, and admirals, +assembled about Rome, with sixteen kings at once, with great multitude +of people. When the emperor understood their coming he made ready his +Romans and all the people between him and Flanders. + +Also he had gotten with him fifty giants which had been engendered of +fiends; and they were ordained to guard his person, and to break the +front of the battle of King Arthur. And thus departed from Rome, and +came down the mountains for to destroy the lands that Arthur had +conquered, and came unto Cologne, and besieged a castle thereby, and +won it soon, and stuffed it with two hundred Saracens or Infidels, and +after destroyed many fair countries which Arthur had won of King +Claudas. And thus Lucius came with all his host, which were disperplyd +sixty mile in breadth, and commanded them to meet with him in Burgoyne, +for he purposed to destroy the realm of Little Britain. + + + +CHAPTER III. How King Arthur held a parliament at York, and how he +ordained the realm should be governed in his absence. + +Now leave we of Lucius the Emperor and speak we of King Arthur, that +commanded all them of his retinue to be ready at the utas of Hilary for +to hold a parliament at York. And at that parliament was concluded to +arrest all the navy of the land, and to be ready within fifteen days at +Sandwich, and there he showed to his army how he purposed to conquer +the empire which he ought to have of right. And there he ordained two +governors of this realm, that is to say, Sir Baudwin of Britain, for to +counsel to the best, and Sir Constantine, son to Sir Cador of Cornwall, +which after the death of Arthur was king of this realm. And in the +presence of all his lords he resigned the rule of the realm and +Guenever his queen to them, wherefore Sir Launcelot was wroth, for he +left Sir Tristram with King Mark for the love of Beale Isould. Then the +Queen Guenever made great sorrow for the departing of her lord and +other, and swooned in such wise that the ladies bare her into her +chamber. Thus the king with his great army departed, leaving the queen +and realm in the governance of Sir Baudwin and Constantine. And when he +was on his horse he said with an high voice, If I die in this journey I +will that Sir Constantine be mine heir and king crowned of this realm +as next of my blood. And after departed and entered into the sea at +Sandwich with all his army, with a great multitude of ships, galleys, +cogs, and dromounds, sailing on the sea. + + + +CHAPTER IV. How King Arthur being shipped and lying in his cabin had a +marvellous dream and of the exposition thereof. + +And as the king lay in his cabin in the ship, he fell in a slumbering +and dreamed a marvellous dream: him seemed that a dreadful dragon did +drown much of his people, and he came flying out of the west, and his +head was enamelled with azure, and his shoulders shone as gold, his +belly like mails of a marvellous hue, his tail full of tatters, his +feet full of fine sable, and his claws like fine gold; and an hideous +flame of fire flew out of his mouth, like as the land and water had +flamed all of fire. After, him seemed there came out of the orient, a +grimly boar all black in a cloud, and his paws as big as a post; he was +rugged looking roughly, he was the foulest beast that ever man saw, he +roared and romed so hideously that it were marvel to hear. Then the +dreadful dragon advanced him and came in the wind like a falcon giving +great strokes on the boar, and the boar hit him again with his grizzly +tusks that his breast was all bloody, and that the hot blood made all +the sea red of his blood. Then the dragon flew away all on an height, +and came down with such a swough, and smote the boar on the ridge, +which was ten foot large from the head to the tail, and smote the boar +all to powder both flesh and bones, that it flittered all abroad on the +sea. + +And therewith the king awoke anon, and was sore abashed of this dream, +and sent anon for a wise philosopher, commanding to tell him the +signification of his dream. Sir, said the philosopher, the dragon that +thou dreamedst of betokeneth thine own person that sailest here, and +the colours of his wings be thy realms that thou hast won, and his tail +which is all to-tattered signifieth the noble knights of the Round +Table; and the boar that the dragon slew coming from the clouds +betokeneth some tyrant that tormenteth the people, or else thou art +like to fight with some giant thyself, being horrible and abominable, +whose peer ye saw never in your days, wherefore of this dreadful dream +doubt thee nothing, but as a conqueror come forth thyself. + +Then after this soon they had sight of land, and sailed till they +arrived at Barflete in Flanders, and when they were there he found many +of his great lords ready, as they had been commanded to wait upon him. + + + +CHAPTER V. How a man of the country told to him of a marvellous giant, +and how he fought and conquered him. + +Then came to him an husbandman of the country, and told him how there +was in the country of Constantine beside Brittany, a great giant which +had slain, murdered and devoured much people of the country, and had +been sustained seven year with the children of the commons of that +land, insomuch that all the children be all slain and destroyed; and +now late he hath taken the Duchess of Brittany as she rode with her +meiny, and hath led her to his lodging which is in a mountain, for to +ravish and lie by her to her life’s end, and many people followed her, +more than five hundred, but all they might not rescue her, but they +left her shrieking and crying lamentably, wherefore I suppose that he +hath slain her in fulfilling his foul lust of lechery. She was wife +unto thy cousin Sir Howell, whom we call full nigh of thy blood. Now, +as thou art a rightful king, have pity on this lady, and revenge us all +as thou art a noble conqueror. Alas, said King Arthur, this is a great +mischief, I had liefer than the best realm that I have that I had been +a furlong way to-fore him for to have rescued that lady. Now, fellow, +said King Arthur, canst thou bring me thereas this giant haunteth? Yea, +Sir, said the good man, look yonder whereas thou seest those two great +fires, there shalt thou find him, and more treasure than I suppose is +in all France. When the king had understood this piteous case, he +returned into his tent. + +Then he called to him Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere, and commanded them +secretly to make ready horse and harness for himself and them twain; +for after evensong he would ride on pilgrimage with them two only unto +Saint Michael’s mount. And then anon he made him ready, and armed him +at all points, and took his horse and his shield. And so they three +departed thence and rode forth as fast as ever they might till that +they came to the foreland of that mount. And there they alighted, and +the king commanded them to tarry there, for he would himself go up into +that mount. And so he ascended up into that hill till he came to a +great fire, and there he found a careful widow wringing her hands and +making great sorrow, sitting by a grave new made. And then King Arthur +saluted her, and demanded of her wherefore she made such lamentation, +to whom she answered and said, Sir knight, speak soft, for yonder is a +devil, if he hear thee speak he will come and destroy thee; I hold thee +unhappy; what dost thou here in this mountain? for if ye were such +fifty as ye be, ye were not able to make resistance against this devil: +here lieth a duchess dead, the which was the fairest of all the world, +wife to Sir Howell, Duke of Brittany, he hath murdered her in forcing +her, and hath slit her unto the navel. + +Dame, said the king, I come from the noble conqueror King Arthur, for +to treat with that tyrant for his liege people. Fie on such treaties, +said she, he setteth not by the king nor by no man else; but an if thou +have brought Arthur’s wife, dame Guenever, he shall be gladder than +thou hadst given to him half France. Beware, approach him not too nigh, +for he hath vanquished fifteen kings, and hath made him a coat full of +precious stones embroidered with their beards, which they sent him to +have his love for salvation of their people at this last Christmas. And +if thou wilt, speak with him at yonder great fire at supper. Well, said +Arthur, I will accomplish my message for all your fearful words; and +went forth by the crest of that hill, and saw where he sat at supper +gnawing on a limb of a man, baking his broad limbs by the fire, and +breechless, and three fair damosels turning three broaches whereon were +broached twelve young children late born, like young birds. + +When King Arthur beheld that piteous sight he had great compassion on +them, so that his heart bled for sorrow, and hailed him, saying in this +wise: He that all the world wieldeth give thee short life and shameful +death; and the devil have thy soul; why hast thou murdered these young +innocent children, and murdered this duchess? Therefore, arise and +dress thee, thou glutton, for this day shalt thou die of my hand. Then +the glutton anon started up, and took a great club in his hand, and +smote at the king that his coronal fell to the earth. And the king hit +him again that he carved his belly and cut off his genitours, that his +guts and his entrails fell down to the ground. Then the giant threw +away his club, and caught the king in his arms that he crushed his +ribs. Then the three maidens kneeled down and called to Christ for help +and comfort of Arthur. And then Arthur weltered and wrung, that he was +other while under and another time above. And so weltering and +wallowing they rolled down the hill till they came to the sea mark, and +ever as they so weltered Arthur smote him with his dagger. + +And it fortuned they came to the place whereas the two knights were and +kept Arthur’s horse; then when they saw the king fast in the giant’s +arms they came and loosed him. And then the king commanded Sir Kay to +smite off the giant’s head, and to set it upon a truncheon of a spear, +and bear it to Sir Howell, and tell him that his enemy was slain; and +after let this head be bound to a barbican that all the people may see +and behold it; and go ye two up to the mountain, and fetch me my +shield, my sword, and the club of iron; and as for the treasure, take +ye it, for ye shall find there goods out of number; so I have the +kirtle and the club I desire no more. This was the fiercest giant that +ever I met with, save one in the mount of Araby, which I overcame, but +this was greater and fiercer. Then the knights fetched the club and the +kirtle, and some of the treasure they took to themselves, and returned +again to the host. And anon this was known through all the country, +wherefore the people came and thanked the king. And he said again, Give +the thanks to God, and depart the goods among you. + +And after that King Arthur said and commanded his cousin Howell, that +he should ordain for a church to be builded on the same hill in the +worship of Saint Michael. And on the morn the king removed with his +great battle, and came into Champayne and in a valley, and there they +pight their tents; and the king being set at his dinner, there came in +two messengers, of whom that one was Marshal of France, and said to the +king that the emperor was entered into France, and had destroyed a +great part, and was in Burgoyne, and had destroyed and made great +slaughter of people, and burnt towns and boroughs; wherefore, if thou +come not hastily, they must yield up their bodies and goods. + + + +CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur sent Sir Gawaine and other to Lucius, and +how they were assailed and escaped with worship. + +Then the king did do call Sir Gawaine, Sir Bors, Sir Lionel, and Sir +Bedivere, and commanded them to go straight to Sir Lucius, and say ye +to him that hastily he remove out of my land; and if he will not, bid +him make him ready to battle and not distress the poor people. Then +anon these noble knights dressed them to horseback, and when they came +to the green wood, they saw many pavilions set in a meadow, of silk of +divers colours, beside a river, and the emperor’s pavilion was in the +middle with an eagle displayed above. To the which tent our knights +rode toward, and ordained Sir Gawaine and Sir Bors to do the message, +and left in a bushment Sir Lionel and Sir Bedivere. And then Sir +Gawaine and Sir Bors did their message, and commanded Lucius, in +Arthur’s name to avoid his land, or shortly to address him to battle. +To whom Lucius answered and said, Ye shall return to your lord, and say +ye to him that I shall subdue him and all his lands. Then Sir Gawaine +was wroth and said, I had liefer than all France fight against thee; +and so had I, said Sir Bors, liefer than all Brittany or Burgoyne. + +Then a knight named Sir Gainus, nigh cousin to the emperor, said, Lo, +how these Britons be full of pride and boast, and they brag as though +they bare up all the world. Then Sir Gawaine was sore grieved with +these words, and pulled out his sword and smote off his head. And +therewith turned their horses and rode over waters and through woods +till they came to their bushment, whereas Sir Lionel and Sir Bedivere +were hoving. The Romans followed fast after, on horseback and on foot, +over a champaign unto a wood; then Sir Bors turned his horse and saw a +knight come fast on, whom he smote through the body with a spear that +he fell dead down to the earth; then came Caliburn one of the strongest +of Pavie, and smote down many of Arthur’s knights. And when Sir Bors +saw him do so much harm, he addressed toward him, and smote him through +the breast, that he fell down dead to the earth. Then Sir Feldenak +thought to revenge the death of Gainus upon Sir Gawaine, but Sir +Gawaine was ware thereof, and smote him on the head, which stroke +stinted not till it came to his breast. And then he returned and came +to his fellows in the bushment. And there was a recounter, for the +bushment brake on the Romans, and slew and hew down the Romans, and +forced the Romans to flee and return, whom the noble knights chased +unto their tents. + +Then the Romans gathered more people, and also footmen came on, and +there was a new battle, and so much people that Sir Bors and Sir Berel +were taken. But when Sir Gawaine saw that, he took with him Sir Idrus +the good knight, and said he would never see King Arthur but if he +rescued them, and pulled out Galatine his good sword, and followed them +that led those two knights away; and he smote him that led Sir Bors, +and took Sir Bors from him and delivered him to his fellows. And Sir +Idrus in likewise rescued Sir Berel. Then began the battle to be great, +that our knights were in great jeopardy, wherefore Sir Gawaine sent to +King Arthur for succour, and that he hie him, for I am sore wounded, +and that our prisoners may pay goods out of number. And the messenger +came to the king and told him his message. And anon the king did do +assemble his army, but anon, or he departed the prisoners were come, +and Sir Gawaine and his fellows gat the field and put the Romans to +flight, and after returned and came with their fellowship in such wise +that no man of worship was lost of them, save that Sir Gawaine was sore +hurt. Then the king did do ransack his wounds and comforted him. And +thus was the beginning of the first journey of the Britons and Romans, +and there were slain of the Romans more than ten thousand, and great +joy and mirth was made that night in the host of King Arthur. And on +the morn he sent all the prisoners into Paris under the guard of Sir +Launcelot, with many knights, and of Sir Cador. + + + +CHAPTER VII. How Lucius sent certain spies in a bushment for to have +taken his knights being prisoners, and how they were letted. + +Now turn we to the Emperor of Rome, which espied that these prisoners +should be sent to Paris, and anon he sent to lie in a bushment certain +knights and princes with sixty thousand men, for to rescue his knights +and lords that were prisoners. And so on the morn as Launcelot and Sir +Cador, chieftains and governors of all them that conveyed the +prisoners, as they should pass through a wood, Sir Launcelot sent +certain knights to espy if any were in the woods to let them. And when +the said knights came into the wood, anon they espied and saw the great +embushment, and returned and told Sir Launcelot that there lay in await +for them three score thousand Romans. And then Sir Launcelot with such +knights as he had, and men of war to the number of ten thousand, put +them in array, and met with them and fought with them manly, and slew +and detrenched many of the Romans, and slew many knights and admirals +of the party of the Romans and Saracens; there was slain the king of +Lyly and three great lords, Aladuke, Herawd, and Heringdale. But Sir +Launcelot fought so nobly that no man might endure a stroke of his +hand, but where he came he showed his prowess and might, for he slew +down right on every side; and the Romans and Saracens fled from him as +the sheep from the wolf or from the lion, and put them, all that abode +alive, to flight. + +And so long they fought that tidings came to King Arthur, and anon he +graithed him and came to the battle, and saw his knights how they had +vanquished the battle, he embraced them knight by knight in his arms, +and said, Ye be worthy to wield all your honour and worship; there was +never king save myself that had so noble knights. Sir, said Cador, +there was none of us failed other, but of the prowess and manhood of +Sir Launcelot were more than wonder to tell, and also of his cousins +which did that day many noble feats of war. And also Sir Cador told who +of his knights were slain, as Sir Berel, and other Sir Moris and Sir +Maurel, two good knights. Then the king wept, and dried his eyes with a +kerchief, and said, Your courage had near-hand destroyed you, for +though ye had returned again, ye had lost no worship; for I call it +folly, knights to abide when they be overmatched. Nay, said Launcelot +and the other, for once shamed may never be recovered. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. How a senator told to Lucius of their discomfiture, and +also of the great battle between Arthur and Lucius. + +Now leave we King Arthur and his noble knights which had won the field, +and had brought their prisoners to Paris, and speak we of a senator +which escaped from the battle, and came to Lucius the emperor, and said +to him, Sir emperor, I advise thee for to withdraw thee; what dost thou +here? thou shalt win nothing in these marches but great strokes out of +all measure, for this day one of Arthur’s knights was worth in the +battle an hundred of ours. Fie on thee, said Lucius, thou speakest +cowardly; for thy words grieve me more than all the loss that I had +this day. And anon he sent forth a king, which hight Sir Leomie, with a +great army, and bade him hie him fast to-fore, and he would follow +hastily after. King Arthur was warned privily, and sent his people to +Sessoine, and took up the towns and castles from the Romans. Then the +king commanded Sir Cador to take the rearward, and to take with him +certain knights of the Round Table, and Sir Launcelot, Sir Bors, Sir +Kay, Sir Marrok, with Sir Marhaus, shall await on our person. Thus the +King Arthur disperpled his host in divers parties, to the end that his +enemies should not escape. + +When the emperor was entered into the vale of Sessoine, he might see +where King Arthur was embattled and his banner displayed; and he was +beset round about with his enemies, that needs he must fight or yield +him, for he might not flee, but said openly unto the Romans, Sirs, I +admonish you that this day ye fight and acquit you as men, and remember +how Rome domineth and is chief and head over all the earth and +universal world, and suffer not these Britons this day to abide against +us; and therewith he did command his trumpets to blow the bloody +sounds, in such wise that the ground trembled and dindled. + +Then the battles approached and shoved and shouted on both sides, and +great strokes were smitten on both sides, many men overthrown, hurt, +and slain; and great valiances, prowesses and appertices of war were +that day showed, which were over long to recount the noble feats of +every man, for they should contain an whole volume. But in especial, +King Arthur rode in the battle exhorting his knights to do well, and +himself did as nobly with his hands as was possible a man to do; he +drew out Excalibur his sword, and awaited ever whereas the Romans were +thickest and most grieved his people, and anon he addressed him on that +part, and hew and slew down right, and rescued his people; and he slew +a great giant named Galapas, which was a man of an huge quantity and +height, he shorted him and smote off both his legs by the knees, +saying, Now art thou better of a size to deal with than thou were, and +after smote off his head. There Sir Gawaine fought nobly and slew three +admirals in that battle. And so did all the knights of the Round Table. +Thus the battle between King Arthur and Lucius the Emperor endured +long. Lucius had on his side many Saracens which were slain. And thus +the battle was great, and oftsides that one party was at a fordeal and +anon at an afterdeal, which endured so long till at the last King +Arthur espied where Lucius the Emperor fought, and did wonder with his +own hands. And anon he rode to him. And either smote other fiercely, +and at last Lucius smote Arthur thwart the visage, and gave him a large +wound. And when King Arthur felt himself hurt, anon he smote him again +with Excalibur that it cleft his head, from the summit of his head, and +stinted not till it came to his breast. And then the emperor fell down +dead and there ended his life. + +And when it was known that the emperor was slain, anon all the Romans +with all their host put them to flight, and King Arthur with all his +knights followed the chase, and slew down right all them that they +might attain. And thus was the victory given to King Arthur, and the +triumph; and there were slain on the part of Lucius more than an +hundred thousand. And after King Arthur did do ransack the dead bodies, +and did do bury them that were slain of his retinue, every man +according to the estate and degree that he was of. And them that were +hurt he let the surgeons do search their hurts and wounds, and +commanded to spare no salves nor medicines till they were whole. + +Then the king rode straight to the place where the Emperor Lucius lay +dead, and with him he found slain the Soudan of Syria, the King of +Egypt and of Ethiopia, which were two noble kings, with seventeen other +kings of divers regions, and also sixty senators of Rome, all noble +men, whom the king did do balm and gum with many good gums aromatic, +and after did do cere them in sixty fold of cered cloth of sendal, and +laid them in chests of lead, because they should not chafe nor savour, +and upon all these bodies their shields with their arms and banners +were set, to the end they should be known of what country they were. +And after he found three senators which were alive, to whom he said, +For to save your lives I will that ye take these dead bodies, and carry +them with you unto great Rome, and present them to the Potestate on my +behalf, shewing him my letters, and tell them that I in my person shall +hastily be at Rome. And I suppose the Romans shall beware how they +shall demand any tribute of me. And I command you to say when ye shall +come to Rome, to the Potestate and all the Council and Senate, that I +send to them these dead bodies for the tribute that they have demanded. +And if they be not content with these, I shall pay more at my coming, +for other tribute owe I none, nor none other will I pay. And methinketh +this sufficeth for Britain, Ireland and all Almaine with Germany. And +furthermore, I charge you to say to them, that I command them upon pain +of their heads never to demand tribute nor tax of me nor of my lands. +Then with this charge and commandment, the three senators aforesaid +departed with all the said dead bodies, laying the body of Lucius in a +car covered with the arms of the Empire all alone; and after alway two +bodies of kings in a chariot, and then the bodies of the senators after +them, and so went toward Rome, and showed their legation and message to +the Potestate and Senate, recounting the battle done in France, and how +the field was lost and much people and innumerable slain. Wherefore +they advised them in no wise to move no more war against that noble +conqueror Arthur, for his might and prowess is most to be doubted, seen +the noble kings and great multitude of knights of the Round Table, to +whom none earthly prince may compare. + + + +CHAPTER IX. How Arthur, after he had achieved the battle against the +Romans, entered into Almaine, and so into Italy. + +Now turn we unto King Arthur and his noble knights, which, after the +great battle achieved against the Romans, entered into Lorraine, +Brabant and Flanders, and sithen returned into Haut Almaine, and so +over the mountains into Lombardy, and after, into Tuscany wherein was a +city which in no wise would yield themself nor obey, wherefore King +Arthur besieged it, and lay long about it, and gave many assaults to +the city; and they within defended them valiantly. Then, on a time, the +king called Sir Florence, a knight, and said to him they lacked +victual, And not far from hence be great forests and woods, wherein be +many of mine enemies with much bestial: I will that thou make thee +ready and go thither in foraying, and take with thee Sir Gawaine my +nephew, Sir Wisshard, Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremond, and the Captain of +Cardiff with other, and bring with you all the beasts that ye there can +get. + +And anon these knights made them ready, and rode over holts and hills, +through forests and woods, till they came into a fair meadow full of +fair flowers and grass; and there they rested them and their horses all +that night. And in the springing of the day in the next morn, Sir +Gawaine took his horse and stole away from his fellowship, to seek some +adventures. And anon he was ware of a man armed, walking his horse +easily by a wood’s side, and his shield laced to his shoulder, sitting +on a strong courser, without any man saving a page bearing a mighty +spear. The knight bare in his shield three griffins of gold, in sable +carbuncle, the chief of silver. When Sir Gawaine espied this gay +knight, he feutred his spear, and rode straight to him, and demanded of +him from whence that he was. That other answered and said he was of +Tuscany, and demanded of Sir Gawaine, What, profferest thou, proud +knight, thee so boldly? here gettest thou no prey, thou mayest prove +what thou wilt, for thou shalt be my prisoner or thou depart. Then said +Gawaine, thou avauntest thee greatly and speakest proud words, I +counsel thee for all thy boast that thou make thee ready, and take thy +gear to thee, to-fore greater grame fall to thee. + + + +CHAPTER X. Of a battle done by Sir Gawaine against a Saracen, which +after was yielden and became Christian. + +Then they took their spears and ran each at other with all the might +they had, and smote each other through their shields into their +shoulders, wherefore anon they pulled out their swords, and smote great +strokes that the fire sprang out of their helms. Then Sir Gawaine was +all abashed, and with Galatine his good sword he smote through shield +and thick hauberk made of thick mails, and all to-rushed and break the +precious stones, and made him a large wound, that men might see both +liver and lung. Then groaned that knight, and addressed him to Sir +Gawaine, and with an awk stroke gave him a great wound and cut a vein, +which grieved Gawaine sore, and he bled sore. Then the knight said to +Sir Gawaine, bind thy wound or thy blee[ding] change, for thou +be-bleedest all thy horse and thy fair arms, for all the barbers of +Brittany shall not con staunch thy blood, for whosomever is hurt with +this blade he shall never be staunched of bleeding. Then answered +Gawaine, it grieveth me but little, thy great words shall not fear me +nor lessen my courage, but thou shalt suffer teen and sorrow or we +depart, but tell me in haste who may staunch my bleeding. That may I +do, said the knight, if I will, and so will I if thou wilt succour and +aid me, that I may be christened and believe on God, and thereof I +require thee of thy manhood, and it shall be great merit for thy soul. +I grant, said Gawaine, so God help me, to accomplish all thy desire, +but first tell me what thou soughtest here thus alone, and of what land +and liegiance thou art of. Sir, he said, my name is Priamus, and a +great prince is my father, and he hath been rebel unto Rome and +overridden many of their lands. My father is lineally descended of +Alexander and of Hector by right line. And Duke Joshua and Maccabaeus +were of our lineage. I am right inheritor of Alexandria and Africa, and +all the out isles, yet will I believe on thy Lord that thou believest +on; and for thy labour I shall give thee treasure enough. I was so +elate and hauteyn in my heart that I thought no man my peer, nor to me +semblable. I was sent into this war with seven score knights, and now I +have encountered with thee, which hast given to me of fighting my fill, +wherefore sir knight, I pray thee to tell me what thou art. I am no +knight, said Gawaine, I have been brought up in the guardrobe with the +noble King Arthur many years, for to take heed to his armour and his +other array, and to point his paltocks that long to himself. At Yule +last he made me yeoman, and gave to me horse and harness, and an +hundred pound in money; and if fortune be my friend, I doubt not but to +be well advanced and holpen by my liege lord. Ah, said Priamus, if his +knaves be so keen and fierce, his knights be passing good: now for the +King’s love of Heaven, whether thou be a knave or a knight, tell thou +me thy name. By God, said Sir Gawaine, now I will say thee sooth, my +name is Sir Gawaine, and known I am in his court and in his chamber, +and one of the knights of the Round Table, he dubbed me a duke with his +own hand. Therefore grudge not if this grace is to me fortuned, it is +the goodness of God that lent to me my strength. Now am I better +pleased, said Priamus, than thou hadst given to me all the Provence and +Paris the rich. I had liefer to have been torn with wild horses, than +any varlet had won such loos, or any page or priker should have had +prize on me. But now sir knight I warn thee that hereby is a Duke of +Lorraine with his army, and the noblest men of Dolphiny, and lords of +Lombardy, with the garrison of Godard, and Saracens of Southland, +y-numbered sixty thousand of good men of arms; wherefore but if we hie +us hence, it will harm us both, for we be sore hurt, never like to +recover; but take heed to my page, that he no horn blow, for if he do, +there be hoving here fast by an hundred knights awaiting on my person, +and if they take thee, there shall no ransom of gold nor silver acquit +thee. + +Then Sir Gawaine rode over a water for to save him, and the knight +followed him, and so rode forth till they came to his fellows which +were in the meadow, where they had been all the night. Anon as Sir +Wisshard was ware of Sir Gawaine and saw that he was hurt, he ran to +him sorrowfully weeping, and demanded of him who had so hurt him; and +Gawaine told how he had foughten with that man, and each of them had +hurt other, and how he had salves to heal them; but I can tell you +other tidings, that soon we shall have ado with many enemies. + +Then Sir Priamus and Sir Gawaine alighted, and let their horses graze +in the meadow, and unarmed them, and then the blood ran freshly from +their wounds. And Priamus took from his page a vial full of the four +waters that came out of Paradise, and with certain balm anointed their +wounds, and washed them with that water, and within an hour after they +were both as whole as ever they were. And then with a trumpet were they +all assembled to council, and there Priamus told unto them what lords +and knights had sworn to rescue him, and that without fail they should +be assailed with many thousands, wherefore he counselled them to +withdraw them. Then Sir Gawaine said, it were great shame to them to +avoid without any strokes; Wherefore I advise to take our arms and to +make us ready to meet with these Saracens and misbelieving men, and +with the help of God we shall overthrow them and have a fair day on +them. And Sir Florence shall abide still in this field to keep the +stale as a noble knight, and we shall not forsake yonder fellows. Now, +said Priamus, cease your words, for I warn you ye shall find in yonder +woods many perilous knights; they will put forth beasts to call you on, +they be out of number, and ye are not past seven hundred, which be over +few to fight with so many. Nevertheless, said Sir Gawaine, we shall +once encounter them, and see what they can do, and the best shall have +the victory. + + + +CHAPTER XI. How the Saracens came out of a wood for to rescue their +beasts, and of a great battle. + +Then Sir Florence called to him Sir Floridas, with an hundred knights, +and drove forth the herd of beasts. Then followed him seven hundred men +of arms; and Sir Ferant of Spain on a fair steed came springing out of +the woods, and came to Sir Florence and asked him why he fled. Then Sir +Florence took his spear and rode against him, and smote him in the +forehead and brake his neck bone. Then all the other were moved, and +thought to avenge the death of Sir Ferant, and smote in among them, and +there was great fight, and many slain and laid down to ground, and Sir +Florence with his hundred knights alway kept the stale, and fought +manly. + +Then when Priamus the good knight perceived the great fight, he went to +Sir Gawaine, and bade him that he should go and succour his fellowship, +which were sore bestead with their enemies. Sir, grieve you not, said +Sir Gawaine, for their gree shall be theirs. I shall not once move my +horse to them ward, but if I see more than there be; for they be strong +enough to match them. + +And with that he saw an earl called Sir Ethelwold and the duke of +Dutchmen, came leaping out of a wood with many thousands, and Priamus’ +knights, and came straight unto the battle. Then Sir Gawaine comforted +his knights, and bade them not to be abashed, for all shall be ours. +Then they began to wallop and met with their enemies, there were men +slain and overthrown on every side. Then thrust in among them the +knights of the Table Round, and smote down to the earth all them that +withstood them, in so much that they made them to recoil and flee. By +God, said Sir Gawaine, this gladdeth my heart, for now be they less in +number by twenty thousand. Then entered into the battle Jubance a +giant, and fought and slew down right, and distressed many of our +knights, among whom was slain Sir Gherard, a knight of Wales. Then our +knights took heart to them, and slew many Saracens. And then came in +Sir Priamus with his pennon, and rode with the knights of the Round +Table, and fought so manfully that many of their enemies lost their +lives. And there Sir Priamus slew the Marquis of Moises land, and Sir +Gawaine with his fellows so quit them that they had the field, but in +that stour was Sir Chestelaine, a child and ward of Sir Gawaine slain, +wherefore was much sorrow made, and his death was soon avenged. Thus +was the battle ended, and many lords of Lombardy and Saracens left dead +in the field. + +Then Sir Florence and Sir Gawaine harboured surely their people, and +took great plenty of bestial, of gold and silver, and great treasure +and riches, and returned unto King Arthur, which lay still at the +siege. And when they came to the king they presented their prisoners +and recounted their adventures, and how they had vanquished their +enemies. + + + +CHAPTER XII. How Sir Gawaine returned to King Arthur with his +prisoners, and how the King won a city, and how he was crowned Emperor. + +Now thanked be God, said the noble King Arthur. But what manner man is +he that standeth by himself, him seemeth no prisoner. Sir, said +Gawaine, this is a good man of arms, he hath matched me, but he is +yielden unto God, and to me, for to become Christian; had not he have +been we should never have returned, wherefore I pray you that he may be +baptised, for there liveth not a nobler man nor better knight of his +hands. Then the king let him anon be christened, and did do call him +his first name Priamus, and made him a duke and knight of the Table +Round. And then anon the king let do cry assault to the city, and there +was rearing of ladders, breaking of walls, and the ditch filled, that +men with little pain might enter into the city. Then came out a +duchess, and Clarisin the countess, with many ladies and damosels, and +kneeling before King Arthur, required him for the love of God to +receive the city, and not to take it by assault, for then should many +guiltless be slain. Then the king avaled his visor with a meek and +noble countenance, and said, Madam, there shall none of my subjects +misdo you nor your maidens, nor to none that to you belong, but the +duke shall abide my judgment. Then anon the king commanded to leave the +assault, and anon the duke’s oldest son brought out the keys, and +kneeling delivered them to the king, and besought him of grace; and the +king seized the town by assent of his lords, and took the duke and sent +him to Dover, there for to abide prisoner term of his life, and +assigned certain rents for the dower of the duchess and for her +children. + +Then he made lords to rule those lands, and laws as a lord ought to do +in his own country; and after he took his journey toward Rome, and sent +Sir Floris and Sir Floridas to-fore, with five hundred men of arms, and +they came to the city of Urbino and laid there a bushment, thereas them +seemed most best for them, and rode to-fore the town, where anon issued +out much people and skirmished with the fore-riders. Then brake out the +bushment and won the bridge, and after the town, and set upon the walls +the king’s banner. Then came the king upon an hill, and saw the city +and his banner on the walls, by which he knew that the city was won. +And anon he sent and commanded that none of his liege men should defoul +nor lie by no lady, wife nor maid; and when he came into the city, he +passed to the castle, and comforted them that were in sorrow, and +ordained there a captain, a knight of his own country. + +And when they of Milan heard that thilk city was won, they sent to King +Arthur great sums of money, and besought him as their lord to have pity +on them, promising to be his subjects for ever, and yield to him homage +and fealty for the lands of Pleasance and Pavia, Petersaint, and the +Port of Tremble, and to give him yearly a million of gold all his +lifetime. Then he rideth into Tuscany, and winneth towns and castles, +and wasted all in his way that to him will not obey, and so to Spolute +and Viterbe, and from thence he rode into the Vale of Vicecount among +the vines. And from thence he sent to the senators, to wit whether they +would know him for their lord. But soon after on a Saturday came unto +King Arthur all the senators that were left alive, and the noblest +cardinals that then dwelt in Rome, and prayed him of peace, and +proferred him full large, and besought him as governor to give licence +for six weeks for to assemble all the Romans, and then to crown him +emperor with chrism as it belongeth to so high estate. I assent, said +the king, like as ye have devised, and at Christmas there to be +crowned, and to hold my Round Table with my knights as me liketh. And +then the senators made ready for his enthronization. And at the day +appointed, as the romance telleth, he came into Rome, and was crowned +emperor by the pope’s hand, with all the royalty that could be made, +and sojourned there a time, and established all his lands from Rome +into France, and gave lands and realms unto his servants and knights, +to everych after his desert, in such wise that none complained, rich +nor poor. And he gave to Sir Priamus the duchy of Lorraine; and he +thanked him, and said he would serve him the days of his life; and +after made dukes and earls, and made every man rich. + +Then after this all his knights and lords assembled them afore him, and +said: Blessed be God, your war is finished and your conquest achieved, +in so much that we know none so great nor mighty that dare make war +against you: wherefore we beseech you to return homeward, and give us +licence to go home to our wives, from whom we have been long, and to +rest us, for your journey is finished with honour and worship. Then +said the king, Ye say truth, and for to tempt God it is no wisdom, and +therefore make you ready and return we into England. Then there was +trussing of harness and baggage and great carriage. And after licence +given, he returned and commanded that no man in pain of death should +not rob nor take victual, nor other thing by the way but that he should +pay therefore. And thus he came over the sea and landed at Sandwich, +against whom Queen Guenever his wife came and met him, and he was nobly +received of all his commons in every city and burgh, and great gifts +presented to him at his home-coming to welcome him with. + +Thus endeth the fifth book of the conquest that King Arthur had against +Lucius the Emperor of Rome, and here followeth the sixth book, which is +of Sir Launcelot du Lake. + + + +BOOK VI. + + + +CHAPTER I. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel departed from the court, +and how Sir Lionel left him sleeping and was taken. + +Soon after that King Arthur was come from Rome into England, then all +the knights of the Table Round resorted unto the king, and made many +jousts and tournaments, and some there were that were but knights, +which increased so in arms and worship that they passed all their +fellows in prowess and noble deeds, and that was well proved on many; +but in especial it was proved on Sir Launcelot du Lake, for in all +tournaments and jousts and deeds of arms, both for life and death, he +passed all other knights, and at no time he was never overcome but if +it were by treason or enchantment; so Sir Launcelot increased so +marvellously in worship, and in honour, therefore is he the first +knight that the French book maketh mention of after King Arthur came +from Rome. Wherefore Queen Guenever had him in great favour above all +other knights, and in certain he loved the queen again above all other +ladies and damosels of his life, and for her he did many deeds of arms, +and saved her from the fire through his noble chivalry. + +Thus Sir Launcelot rested him long with play and game. And then he +thought himself to prove himself in strange adventures, then he bade +his nephew, Sir Lionel, for to make him ready; for we two will seek +adventures. So they mounted on their horses, armed at all rights, and +rode into a deep forest and so into a deep plain. And then the weather +was hot about noon, and Sir Launcelot had great lust to sleep. Then Sir +Lionel espied a great apple-tree that stood by an hedge, and said, +Brother, yonder is a fair shadow, there may we rest us [and] our +horses. It is well said, fair brother, said Sir Launcelot, for this +eight year I was not so sleepy as I am now; and so they there alighted +and tied their horses unto sundry trees, and so Sir Launcelot laid him +down under an appletree, and his helm he laid under his head. And Sir +Lionel waked while he slept. So Sir Launcelot was asleep passing fast. + +And in the meanwhile there came three knights riding, as fast fleeing +as ever they might ride. And there followed them three but one knight. +And when Sir Lionel saw him, him thought he saw never so great a +knight, nor so well faring a man, neither so well apparelled unto all +rights. So within a while this strong knight had overtaken one of these +knights, and there he smote him to the cold earth that he lay still. +And then he rode unto the second knight, and smote him so that man and +horse fell down. And then straight to the third knight he rode, and +smote him behind his horse’s arse a spear length. And then he alighted +down and reined his horse on the bridle, and bound all the three +knights fast with the reins of their own bridles. When Sir Lionel saw +him do thus, he thought to assay him, and made him ready, and stilly +and privily he took his horse, and thought not for to awake Sir +Launcelot. And when he was mounted upon his horse, he overtook this +strong knight, and bade him turn, and the other smote Sir Lionel so +hard that horse and man he bare to the earth, and so he alighted down +and bound him fast, and threw him overthwart his own horse, and so he +served them all four, and rode with them away to his own castle. And +when he came there he gart unarm them, and beat them with thorns all +naked, and after put them in a deep prison where were many more +knights, that made great dolour. + + + +CHAPTER II. How Sir Ector followed for to seek Sir Launcelot, and how +he was taken by Sir Turquine. + +When Sir Ector de Maris wist that Sir Launcelot was passed out of the +court to seek adventures, he was wroth with himself, and made him ready +to seek Sir Launcelot, and as he had ridden long in a great forest he +met with a man was like a forester. Fair fellow, said Sir Ector, +knowest thou in this country any adventures that be here nigh hand? +Sir, said the forester, this country know I well, and hereby, within +this mile, is a strong manor, and well dyked, and by that manor, on the +left hand, there is a fair ford for horses to drink of, and over that +ford there groweth a fair tree, and thereon hang many fair shields that +wielded sometime good knights, and at the hole of the tree hangeth a +basin of copper and latten, and strike upon that basin with the butt of +thy spear thrice, and soon after thou shalt hear new tidings, and else +hast thou the fairest grace that many a year had ever knight that +passed through this forest. Gramercy, said Sir Ector, and departed and +came to the tree, and saw many fair shields. And among them he saw his +brother’s shield, Sir Lionel, and many more that he knew that were his +fellows of the Round Table, the which grieved his heart, and promised +to revenge his brother. + +Then anon Sir Ector beat on the basin as he were wood, and then he gave +his horse drink at the ford, and there came a knight behind him and +bade him come out of the water and make him ready; and Sir Ector anon +turned him shortly, and in feuter cast his spear, and smote the other +knight a great buffet that his horse turned twice about. This was well +done, said the strong knight, and knightly thou hast stricken me; and +therewith he rushed his horse on Sir Ector, and cleight him under his +right arm, and bare him clean out of the saddle, and rode with him away +into his own hall, and threw him down in midst of the floor. The name +of this knight was Sir Turquine. Then he said unto Sir Ector, For thou +hast done this day more unto me than any knight did these twelve years, +now will I grant thee thy life, so thou wilt be sworn to be my prisoner +all thy life days. Nay, said Sir Ector, that will I never promise thee, +but that I will do mine advantage. That me repenteth, said Sir +Turquine. And then he gart to unarm him, and beat him with thorns all +naked, and sithen put him down in a deep dungeon, where he knew many of +his fellows. But when Sir Ector saw Sir Lionel, then made he great +sorrow. Alas, brother, said Sir Ector, where is my brother Sir +Launcelot? Fair brother, I left him asleep when that I from him yode, +under an apple-tree, and what is become of him I cannot tell you. Alas, +said the knights, but Sir Launcelot help us we may never be delivered, +for we know now no knight that is able to match our master Turquine. + + + +CHAPTER III. How four queens found Launcelot sleeping, and how by +enchantment he was taken and led into a castle. + +Now leave we these knights prisoners, and speak we of Sir Launcelot du +Lake that lieth under the apple-tree sleeping. Even about the noon +there came by him four queens of great estate; and, for the heat should +not annoy them, there rode four knights about them, and bare a cloth of +green silk on four spears, betwixt them and the sun, and the queens +rode on four white mules. Thus as they rode they heard by them a great +horse grimly neigh, then were they ware of a sleeping knight, that lay +all armed under an apple-tree; anon as these queens looked on his face, +they knew it was Sir Launcelot. Then they began for to strive for that +knight, everych one said they would have him to her love. We shall not +strive, said Morgan le Fay, that was King Arthur’s sister, I shall put +an enchantment upon him that he shall not awake in six hours, and then +I will lead him away unto my castle, and when he is surely within my +hold, I shall take the enchantment from him, and then let him choose +which of us he will have unto paramour. + +So this enchantment was cast upon Sir Launcelot, and then they laid him +upon his shield, and bare him so on horseback betwixt two knights, and +brought him unto the castle Chariot, and there they laid him in a +chamber cold, and at night they sent unto him a fair damosel with his +supper ready dight. By that the enchantment was past, and when she came +she saluted him, and asked him what cheer. I cannot say, fair damosel, +said Sir Launcelot, for I wot not how I came into this castle but it be +by an enchantment. Sir, said she, ye must make good cheer, and if ye be +such a knight as it is said ye be, I shall tell you more to-morn by +prime of the day. Gramercy, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, of your +good will I require you. And so she departed. And there he lay all that +night without comfort of anybody. And on the morn early came these four +queens, passingly well beseen, all they bidding him good morn, and he +them again. + +Sir knight, the four queens said, thou must understand thou art our +prisoner, and we here know thee well that thou art Sir Launcelot du +Lake, King Ban’s son, and because we understand your worthiness, that +thou art the noblest knight living, and as we know well there can no +lady have thy love but one, and that is Queen Guenever, and now thou +shalt lose her for ever, and she thee, and therefore thee behoveth now +to choose one of us four. I am the Queen Morgan le Fay, queen of the +land of Gore, and here is the queen of Northgalis, and the queen of +Eastland, and the queen of the Out Isles; now choose one of us which +thou wilt have to thy paramour, for thou mayest not choose or else in +this prison to die. This is an hard case, said Sir Launcelot, that +either I must die or else choose one of you, yet had I liefer to die in +this prison with worship, than to have one of you to my paramour maugre +my head. And therefore ye be answered, I will none of you, for ye be +false enchantresses, and as for my lady, Dame Guenever, were I at my +liberty as I was, I would prove it on you or on yours, that she is the +truest lady unto her lord living. Well, said the queens, is this your +answer, that ye will refuse us. Yea, on my life, said Sir Launcelot, +refused ye be of me. So they departed and left him there alone that +made great sorrow. + + + +CHAPTER IV. How Sir Launcelot was delivered by the mean of a damosel. + +Right so at the noon came the damosel unto him with his dinner, and +asked him what cheer. Truly, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, in my +life days never so ill. Sir, she said, that me repenteth, but an ye +will be ruled by me, I shall help you out of this distress, and ye +shall have no shame nor villainy, so that ye hold me a promise. Fair +damosel, I will grant you, and sore I am of these queen-sorceresses +afeard, for they have destroyed many a good knight. Sir, said she, that +is sooth, and for the renown and bounty that they hear of you they +would have your love, and Sir, they say, your name is Sir Launcelot du +Lake, the flower of knights, and they be passing wroth with you that ye +have refused them. But Sir, an ye would promise me to help my father on +Tuesday next coming, that hath made a tournament betwixt him and the +King of Northgalis—for the last Tuesday past my father lost the field +through three knights of Arthur’s court—an ye will be there on Tuesday +next coming, and help my father, to-morn or prime, by the grace of God, +I shall deliver you clean. Fair maiden, said Sir Launcelot, tell me +what is your father’s name, and then shall I give you an answer. Sir +knight, she said, my father is King Bagdemagus, that was foul rebuked +at the last tournament. I know your father well, said Sir Launcelot, +for a noble king and a good knight, and by the faith of my body, ye +shall have my body ready to do your father and you service at that day. +Sir, she said, gramercy, and to-morn await ye be ready betimes and I +shall be she that shall deliver you and take you your armour and your +horse, shield and spear, and hereby within this ten mile, is an abbey +of white monks, there I pray you that ye me abide, and thither shall I +bring my father unto you. All this shall be done, said Sir Launcelot as +I am true knight. + +And so she departed, and came on the morn early, and found him ready; +then she brought him out of twelve locks, and brought him unto his +armour, and when he was clean armed, she brought him until his own +horse, and lightly he saddled him and took a great spear in his hand +and so rode forth, and said, Fair damosel, I shall not fail you, by the +grace of God. And so he rode into a great forest all that day, and +never could find no highway and so the night fell on him, and then was +he ware in a slade, of a pavilion of red sendal. By my faith, said Sir +Launcelot, in that pavilion will I lodge all this night, and so there +he alighted down, and tied his horse to the pavilion, and there he +unarmed him, and there he found a bed, and laid him therein and fell +asleep sadly. + + + +CHAPTER V. How a knight found Sir Launcelot lying in his leman’s bed, +and how Sir Launcelot fought with the knight. + +Then within an hour there came the knight to whom the pavilion ought, +and he weened that his leman had lain in that bed, and so he laid him +down beside Sir Launcelot, and took him in his arms and began to kiss +him. And when Sir Launcelot felt a rough beard kissing him, he started +out of the bed lightly, and the other knight after him, and either of +them gat their swords in their hands, and out at the pavilion door went +the knight of the pavilion, and Sir Launcelot followed him, and there +by a little slake Sir Launcelot wounded him sore, nigh unto the death. +And then he yielded him unto Sir Launcelot, and so he granted him, so +that he would tell him why he came into the bed. Sir, said the knight, +the pavilion is mine own, and there this night I had assigned my lady +to have slept with me, and now I am likely to die of this wound. That +me repenteth, said Launcelot, of your hurt, but I was adread of +treason, for I was late beguiled, and therefore come on your way into +your pavilion and take your rest, and as I suppose I shall staunch your +blood. And so they went both into the pavilion, and anon Sir Launcelot +staunched his blood. + +Therewithal came the knight’s lady, that was a passing fair lady, and +when she espied that her lord Belleus was sore wounded, she cried out +on Sir Launcelot, and made great dole out of measure. Peace, my lady +and my love, said Belleus, for this knight is a good man, and a knight +adventurous, and there he told her all the cause how he was wounded; +And when that I yielded me unto him, he left me goodly and hath +staunched my blood. Sir, said the lady, I require thee tell me what +knight ye be, and what is your name? Fair lady, he said, my name is Sir +Launcelot du Lake. So me thought ever by your speech, said the lady, +for I have seen you oft or this, and I know you better than ye ween. +But now an ye would promise me of your courtesy, for the harms that ye +have done to me and my Lord Belleus, that when he cometh unto Arthur’s +court for to cause him to be made knight of the Round Table, for he is +a passing good man of arms, and a mighty lord of lands of many out +isles. + +Fair lady, said Sir Launcelot, let him come unto the court the next +high feast, and look that ye come with him, and I shall do my power, an +ye prove you doughty of your hands, that ye shall have your desire. So +thus within a while, as they thus talked, the night passed, and the day +shone, and then Sir Launcelot armed him, and took his horse, and they +taught him to the Abbey, and thither he rode within the space of two +hours. + + + +CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot was received of King Bagdemagus’ +daughter, and how he made his complaint to her father. + +And soon as Sir Launcelot came within the abbey yard, the daughter of +King Bagdemagus heard a great horse go on the pavement. And she then +arose and yede unto a window, and there she saw Sir Launcelot, and anon +she made men fast to take his horse from him and let lead him into a +stable, and himself was led into a fair chamber, and unarmed him, and +the lady sent him a long gown, and anon she came herself. And then she +made Launcelot passing good cheer, and she said he was the knight in +the world was most welcome to her. Then in all haste she sent for her +father Bagdemagus that was within twelve mile of that Abbey, and afore +even he came, with a fair fellowship of knights with him. And when the +king was alighted off his horse he yode straight unto Sir Launcelot’s +chamber and there he found his daughter, and then the king embraced Sir +Launcelot in his arms, and either made other good cheer. + +Anon Sir Launcelot made his complaint unto the king how he was +betrayed, and how his brother Sir Lionel was departed from him he wist +not where, and how his daughter had delivered him out of prison; +Therefore while I live I shall do her service and all her kindred. Then +am I sure of your help, said the king, on Tuesday next coming. Yea, +sir, said Sir Launcelot, I shall not fail you, for so I have promised +my lady your daughter. But, sir, what knights be they of my lord +Arthur’s that were with the King of Northgalis? And the king said it +was Sir Mador de la Porte, and Sir Mordred and Sir Gahalantine that all +for-fared my knights, for against them three I nor my knights might +bear no strength. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, as I hear say that the +tournament shall be here within this three mile of this abbey, ye shall +send unto me three knights of yours, such as ye trust, and look that +the three knights have all white shields, and I also, and no painture +on the shields, and we four will come out of a little wood in midst of +both parties, and we shall fall in the front of our enemies and grieve +them that we may; and thus shall I not be known what knight I am. + +So they took their rest that night, and this was on the Sunday, and so +the king departed, and sent unto Sir Launcelot three knights with the +four white shields. And on the Tuesday they lodged them in a little +leaved wood beside there the tournament should be. And there were +scaffolds and holes that lords and ladies might behold and to give the +prize. Then came into the field the King of Northgalis with eight score +helms. And then the three knights of Arthur’s stood by themselves. Then +came into the field King Bagdemagus with four score of helms. And then +they feutred their spears, and came together with a great dash, and +there were slain of knights at the first recounter twelve of King +Bagdemagus’ party, and six of the King of Northgalis’ party, and King +Bagdemagus’ party was far set aback. + + + +CHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot behaved him in a tournament, and how he +met with Sir Turquine leading Sir Gaheris. + +With that came Sir Launcelot du Lake, and he thrust in with his spear +in the thickest of the press, and there he smote down with one spear +five knights, and of four of them he brake their backs. And in that +throng he smote down the King of Northgalis, and brake his thigh in +that fall. All this doing of Sir Launcelot saw the three knights of +Arthur’s. Yonder is a shrewd guest, said Sir Mador de la Porte, +therefore have here once at him. So they encountered, and Sir Launcelot +bare him down horse and man, so that his shoulder went out of lith. Now +befalleth it to me to joust, said Mordred, for Sir Mador hath a sore +fall. Sir Launcelot was ware of him, and gat a great spear in his hand, +and met him, and Sir Mordred brake a spear upon him, and Sir Launcelot +gave him such a buffet that the arson of his saddle brake, and so he +flew over his horse’s tail, that his helm butted into the earth a foot +and more, that nigh his neck was broken, and there he lay long in a +swoon. + +Then came in Sir Gahalantine with a great spear and Launcelot against +him, with all their strength that they might drive, that both their +spears to-brast even to their hands, and then they flang out with their +swords and gave many a grim stroke. Then was Sir Launcelot wroth out of +measure, and then he smote Sir Gahalantine on the helm that his nose +brast out on blood, and ears and mouth both, and therewith his head +hung low. And therewith his horse ran away with him, and he fell down +to the earth. Anon therewithal Sir Launcelot gat a great spear in his +hand, and or ever that great spear brake, he bare down to the earth +sixteen knights, some horse and man, and some the man and not the +horse, and there was none but that he hit surely, he bare none arms +that day. And then he gat another great spear, and smote down twelve +knights, and the most part of them never throve after. And then the +knights of the King of Northgalis would joust no more. And there the +gree was given to King Bagdemagus. + +So either party departed unto his own place, and Sir Launcelot rode +forth with King Bagdemagus unto his castle, and there he had passing +good cheer both with the king and with his daughter, and they proffered +him great gifts. And on the morn he took his leave, and told the king +that he would go and seek his brother Sir Lionel, that went from him +when that he slept, so he took his horse, and betaught them all to God. +And there he said unto the king’s daughter, If ye have need any time of +my service I pray you let me have knowledge, and I shall not fail you +as I am true knight. And so Sir Launcelot departed, and by adventure he +came into the same forest there he was taken sleeping. And in the midst +of a highway he met a damosel riding on a white palfrey, and there +either saluted other. Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, know ye in this +country any adventures? Sir knight, said that damosel, here are +adventures near hand, an thou durst prove them. Why should I not prove +adventures? said Sir Launcelot for that cause come I hither. Well, said +she, thou seemest well to be a good knight, and if thou dare meet with +a good knight, I shall bring thee where is the best knight, and the +mightiest that ever thou found, so thou wilt tell me what is thy name, +and what knight thou art. Damosel, as for to tell thee my name I take +no great force; truly my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Sir, thou +beseemest well, here be adventures by that fall for thee, for hereby +dwelleth a knight that will not be overmatched for no man I know but ye +overmatch him, and his name is Sir Turquine. And, as I understand, he +hath in his prison, of Arthur’s court, good knights three score and +four, that he hath won with his own hands. But when ye have done that +journey ye shall promise me as ye are a true knight for to go with me, +and to help me and other damosels that are distressed daily with a +false knight. All your intent, damosel, and desire I will fulfil, so ye +will bring me unto this knight. Now, fair knight, come on your way; and +so she brought him unto the ford and the tree where hung the basin. + +So Sir Launcelot let his horse drink, and then he beat on the basin +with the butt of his spear so hard with all his might till the bottom +fell out, and long he did so, but he saw nothing. Then he rode endlong +the gates of that manor nigh half-an-hour. And then was he ware of a +great knight that drove an horse afore him, and overthwart the horse +there lay an armed knight bound. And ever as they came near and near, +Sir Launcelot thought he should know him. Then Sir Launcelot was ware +that it was Sir Gaheris, Gawaine’s brother, a knight of the Table +Round. Now, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, I see yonder cometh a +knight fast bounden that is a fellow of mine, and brother he is unto +Sir Gawaine. And at the first beginning I promise you, by the leave of +God, to rescue that knight; but if his master sit better in the saddle +I shall deliver all the prisoners that he hath out of danger, for I am +sure he hath two brethren of mine prisoners with him. By that time that +either had seen other, they gripped their spears unto them. Now, fair +knight, said Sir Launcelot, put that wounded knight off the horse, and +let him rest awhile, and let us two prove our strengths; for as it is +informed me, thou doest and hast done great despite and shame unto +knights of the Round Table, and therefore now defend thee. An thou be +of the Table Round, said Turquine, I defy thee and all thy fellowship. +That is overmuch said, said Sir Launcelot. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Turquine fought together. + +And then they put their spears in the rests, and came together with +their horses as fast as they might run, and either smote other in midst +of their shields, that both their horses’ backs brast under them, and +the knights were both stonied. And as soon as they might avoid their +horses, they took their shields afore them, and drew out their swords, +and came together eagerly, and either gave other many strong strokes, +for there might neither shields nor harness hold their strokes. And so +within a while they had both grimly wounds, and bled passing +grievously. Thus they fared two hours or more trasing and rasing either +other, where they might hit any bare place. + +Then at the last they were breathless both, and stood leaning on their +swords. Now fellow, said Sir Turquine, hold thy hand a while, and tell +me what I shall ask thee. Say on. Then Turquine said, Thou art the +biggest man that ever I met withal, and the best breathed, and like one +knight that I hate above all other knights; so be it that thou be not +he I will lightly accord with thee, and for thy love I will deliver all +the prisoners that I have, that is three score and four, so thou wilt +tell me thy name. And thou and I we will be fellows together, and never +to fail thee while that I live. It is well said, said Sir Launcelot, +but sithen it is so that I may have thy friendship, what knight is he +that thou so hatest above all other? Faithfully, said Sir Turquine, his +name is Sir Launcelot du Lake, for he slew my brother, Sir Carados, at +the dolorous tower, that was one of the best knights alive; and +therefore him I except of all knights, for may I once meet with him, +the one of us shall make an end of other, I make mine avow. And for Sir +Launcelot’s sake I have slain an hundred good knights, and as many I +have maimed all utterly that they might never after help themselves, +and many have died in prison, and yet have I three score and four, and +all shall be delivered so thou wilt tell me thy name, so be it that +thou be not Sir Launcelot. + +Now, see I well, said Sir Launcelot, that such a man I might be, I +might have peace, and such a man I might be, that there should be war +mortal betwixt us. And now, sir knight, at thy request I will that thou +wit and know that I am Launcelot du Lake, King Ban’s son of Benwick, +and very knight of the Table Round. And now I defy thee, and do thy +best. Ah, said Turquine, Launcelot, thou art unto me most welcome that +ever was knight, for we shall never depart till the one of us be dead. +Then they hurtled together as two wild bulls rushing and lashing with +their shields and swords, that sometime they fell both over their +noses. Thus they fought still two hours and more, and never would have +rest, and Sir Turquine gave Sir Launcelot many wounds that all the +ground thereas they fought was all bespeckled with blood. + + + +CHAPTER IX. How Sir Turquine was slain, and how Sir Launcelot bade Sir +Gaheris deliver all the prisoners. + +Then at the last Sir Turquine waxed faint, and gave somewhat aback, and +bare his shield low for weariness. That espied Sir Launcelot, and leapt +upon him fiercely and gat him by the beaver of his helmet, and plucked +him down on his knees, and anon he raced off his helm, and smote his +neck in sunder. And when Sir Launcelot had done this, he yode unto the +damosel and said, Damosel, I am ready to go with you where ye will have +me, but I have no horse. Fair sir, said she, take this wounded knight’s +horse and send him into this manor, and command him to deliver all the +prisoners. So Sir Launcelot went unto Gaheris, and prayed him not to be +aggrieved for to lend him his horse. Nay, fair lord, said Gaheris, I +will that ye take my horse at your own commandment, for ye have both +saved me and my horse, and this day I say ye are the best knight in the +world, for ye have slain this day in my sight the mightiest man and the +best knight except you that ever I saw, and, fair sir, said Gaheris, I +pray you tell me your name. Sir, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake, that +ought to help you of right for King Arthur’s sake, and in especial for +my lord Sir Gawaine’s sake, your own dear brother; and when that ye +come within yonder manor, I am sure ye shall find there many knights of +the Round Table, for I have seen many of their shields that I know on +yonder tree. There is Kay’s shield, and Sir Brandel’s shield, and Sir +Marhaus’ shield, and Sir Galind’s shield, and Sir Brian de Listnois’ +shield, and Sir Aliduke’s shield, with many more that I am not now +advised of, and also my two brethren’s shields, Sir Ector de Maris and +Sir Lionel; wherefore I pray you greet them all from me, and say that I +bid them take such stuff there as they find, and that in any wise my +brethren go unto the court and abide me there till that I come, for by +the feast of Pentecost I cast me to be there, for as at this time I +must ride with this damosel for to save my promise. + +And so he departed from Gaheris, and Gaheris yede in to the manor, and +there he found a yeoman porter keeping there many keys. Anon withal Sir +Gaheris threw the porter unto the ground and took the keys from him, +and hastily he opened the prison door, and there he let out all the +prisoners, and every man loosed other of their bonds. And when they saw +Sir Gaheris, all they thanked him, for they weened that he was wounded. +Not so, said Gaheris, it was Launcelot that slew him worshipfully with +his own hands. I saw it with mine own eyes. And he greeteth you all +well, and prayeth you to haste you to the court; and as unto Sir Lionel +and Ector de Maris he prayeth you to abide him at the court. That shall +we not do, says his brethren, we will find him an we may live. So shall +I, said Sir Kay, find him or I come at the court, as I am true knight. + +Then all those knights sought the house thereas the armour was, and +then they armed them, and every knight found his own horse, and all +that ever longed unto him. And when this was done, there came a +forester with four horses laden with fat venison. Anon, Sir Kay said, +Here is good meat for us for one meal, for we had not many a day no +good repast. And so that venison was roasted, baken, and sodden, and so +after supper some abode there all night, but Sir Lionel and Ector de +Maris and Sir Kay rode after Sir Launcelot to find him if they might. + + + +CHAPTER X. How Sir Launcelot rode with a damosel and slew a knight that +distressed all ladies and also a villain that kept a bridge. + +Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot, that rode with the damosel in a fair +highway. Sir, said the damosel, here by this way haunteth a knight that +distressed all ladies and gentlewomen, and at the least he robbeth them +or lieth by them. What, said Sir Launcelot, is he a thief and a knight +and a ravisher of women? he doth shame unto the order of knighthood, +and contrary unto his oath; it is pity that he liveth. But, fair +damosel, ye shall ride on afore, yourself, and I will keep myself in +covert, and if that he trouble you or distress you I shall be your +rescue and learn him to be ruled as a knight. + +So the maid rode on by the way a soft ambling pace, and within a while +came out that knight on horseback out of the wood, and his page with +him, and there he put the damosel from her horse, and then she cried. +With that came Launcelot as fast as he might till he came to that +knight, saying, O thou false knight and traitor unto knighthood, who +did learn thee to distress ladies and gentlewomen? When the knight saw +Sir Launcelot thus rebuking him he answered not, but drew his sword and +rode unto Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot threw his spear from him, +and drew out his sword, and struck him such a buffet on the helmet that +he clave his head and neck unto the throat. Now hast thou thy payment +that long thou hast deserved! That is truth, said the damosel, for like +as Sir Turquine watched to destroy knights, so did this knight attend +to destroy and distress ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen, and his name +was Sir Peris de Forest Savage. Now, damosel, said Sir Launcelot, will +ye any more service of me? Nay, sir, she said, at this time, but +almighty Jesu preserve you wheresomever ye ride or go, for the curteist +knight thou art, and meekest unto all ladies and gentlewomen, that now +liveth. But one thing, sir knight, methinketh ye lack, ye that are a +knight wifeless, that he will not love some maiden or gentlewoman, for +I could never hear say that ever ye loved any of no manner degree, and +that is great pity; but it is noised that ye love Queen Guenever, and +that she hath ordained by enchantment that ye shall never love none +other but her, nor none other damosel nor lady shall rejoice you; +wherefore many in this land, of high estate and low, make great sorrow. + +Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, I may not warn people to speak of me +what it pleaseth them; but for to be a wedded man, I think it not; for +then I must couch with her, and leave arms and tournaments, battles, +and adventures; and as for to say for to take my pleasaunce with +paramours, that will I refuse in principal for dread of God; for +knights that be adventurous or lecherous shall not be happy nor +fortunate unto the wars, for other they shall be overcome with a +simpler knight than they be themselves, other else they shall by unhap +and their cursedness slay better men than they be themselves. And so +who that useth paramours shall be unhappy, and all thing is unhappy +that is about them. + +And so Sir Launcelot and she departed. And then he rode in a deep +forest two days and more, and had strait lodging. So on the third day +he rode over a long bridge, and there stert upon him suddenly a passing +foul churl, and he smote his horse on the nose that he turned about, +and asked him why he rode over that bridge without his licence. Why +should I not ride this way? said Sir Launcelot, I may not ride beside. +Thou shalt not choose, said the churl, and lashed at him with a great +club shod with iron. Then Sir Launcelot drew his sword and put the +stroke aback, and clave his head unto the paps. At the end of the +bridge was a fair village, and all the people, men and women, cried on +Sir Launcelot, and said, A worse deed didst thou never for thyself, for +thou hast slain the chief porter of our castle. Sir Launcelot let them +say what they would, and straight he went into the castle; and when he +came into the castle he alighted, and tied his horse to a ring on the +wall and there he saw a fair green court, and thither he dressed him, +for there him thought was a fair place to fight in. So he looked about, +and saw much people in doors and windows that said, Fair knight, thou +art unhappy. + + + +CHAPTER XI. How Sir Launcelot slew two giants, and made a castle free. + +Anon withal came there upon him two great giants, well armed all save +the heads, with two horrible clubs in their hands. Sir Launcelot put +his shield afore him and put the stroke away of the one giant, and with +his sword he clave his head asunder. When his fellow saw that, he ran +away as he were wood, for fear of the horrible strokes, and Launcelot +after him with all his might, and smote him on the shoulder, and clave +him to the navel. Then Sir Launcelot went into the hall, and there came +afore him three score ladies and damosels, and all kneeled unto him, +and thanked God and him of their deliverance; For sir, said they, the +most party of us have been here this seven year their prisoners, and we +have worked all manner of silk works for our meat, and we are all great +gentlewomen born; and blessed be the time, knight, that ever thou be +born, for thou hast done the most worship that ever did knight in this +world, that will we bear record, and we all pray you to tell us your +name, that we may tell our friends who delivered us out of prison. Fair +damosel, he said, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Ah, sir, said they +all, well mayest thou be he, for else save yourself, as we deemed, +there might never knight have the better of these two giants; for many +fair knights have assayed it, and here have ended, and many times have +we wished after you, and these two giants dread never knight but you. +Now may ye say, said Sir Launcelot, unto your friends how and who hath +delivered you, and greet them all from me, and if that I come in any of +your marches, show me such cheer as ye have cause, and what treasure +that there in this castle is I give it you for a reward for your +grievance, and the lord that is owner of this castle I would he +received it as is right. Fair sir, said they, the name of this castle +is Tintagil, and a duke ought it sometime that had wedded fair Igraine, +and after wedded her Uther Pendragon, and gat on her Arthur. Well, said +Sir Launcelot, I understand to whom this castle longeth; and so he +departed from them, and betaught them unto God. + +And then he mounted upon his horse, and rode into many strange and wild +countries, and through many waters and valleys, and evil was he lodged. +And at the last by fortune him happened, against a night, to come to a +fair courtelage, and therein he found an old gentlewoman that lodged +him with good will, and there he had good cheer for him and his horse. +And when time was, his host brought him into a fair garret, over the +gate, to his bed. There Sir Launcelot unarmed him, and set his harness +by him, and went to bed, and anon he fell asleep. So, soon after, there +came one on horseback, and knocked at the gate in great haste, and when +Sir Launcelot heard this, he arose up and looked out at the window, and +saw by the moonlight three knights came riding after that one man, and +all three lashed on him at once with swords, and that one knight turned +on them knightly again, and defended him. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, +yonder one knight shall I help, for it were shame for me to see three +knights on one, and if he be slain I am partner of his death; and +therewith he took his harness, and went out at a window by a sheet down +to the four knights, and then Sir Launcelot said on high, Turn you +knights unto me, and leave your fighting with that knight. And then +they all three left Sir Kay, and turned unto Sir Launcelot, and there +began great battle, for they alighted all three, and struck many great +strokes at Sir Launcelot, and assailed him on every side. Then Sir Kay +dressed him for to have holpen Sir Launcelot. Nay, sir, said he, I will +none of your help; therefore as ye will have my help, let me alone with +them. Sir Kay, for the pleasure of the knight, suffered him for to do +his will, and so stood aside. And then anon within six strokes, Sir +Launcelot had stricken them to the earth. + +And then they all three cried: Sir knight, we yield us unto you as a +man of might makeless. As to that, said Sir Launcelot, I will not take +your yielding unto me. But so that ye will yield you unto Sir Kay the +Seneschal, on that covenant I will save your lives, and else not. Fair +knight, said they, that were we loath to do; for as for Sir Kay, we +chased him hither, and had overcome him had not ye been, therefore to +yield us unto him it were no reason. Well, as to that, said Launcelot, +advise you well, for ye may choose whether ye will die or live, for an +ye be yolden it shall be unto Sir Kay. Fair knight, then they said, in +saving of our lives we will do as thou commandest us. Then shall ye, +said Sir Launcelot, on Whitsunday next coming, go unto the court of +King Arthur, and there shall ye yield you unto Queen Guenever, and put +you all three in her grace and mercy, and say that Sir Kay sent you +thither to be her prisoners. Sir, they said, it shall be done by the +faith of our bodies, an we be living, and there they swore every knight +upon his sword. And so Sir Launcelot suffered them so to depart. And +then Sir Launcelot knocked at the gate with the pommel of his sword, +and with that came his host, and in they entered Sir Kay and he. Sir, +said his host, I weened ye had been in your bed. So I was, said Sir +Launcelot, but I rose and leapt out at my window for to help an old +fellow of mine. And so when they came nigh the light, Sir Kay knew well +that it was Sir Launcelot, and therewith he kneeled down and thanked +him of all his kindness that he had holpen him twice from the death. +Sir, he said, I have nothing done but that me ought for to do, and ye +are welcome, and here shall ye repose you and take your rest. + +So when Sir Kay was unarmed, he asked after meat; so there was meat +fetched him, and he ate strongly. And when he had supped they went to +their beds and were lodged together in one bed. On the morn Sir +Launcelot arose early, and left Sir Kay sleeping, and Sir Launcelot +took Sir Kay’s armour and his shield, and armed him, and so he went to +the stable, and took his horse, and took his leave of his host, and so +he departed. Then soon after arose Sir Kay and missed Sir Launcelot. +And then he espied that he had his armour and his horse. Now by my +faith I know well that he will grieve some of the court of King Arthur; +for on him knights will be bold, and deem that it is I, and that will +beguile them. And because of his armour and shield I am sure I shall +ride in peace. And then soon after departed Sir Kay and thanked his +host. + + + +CHAPTER XII. How Sir Launcelot rode disguised in Sir Kay’s harness, and +how he smote down a knight. + +Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot that had ridden long in a great forest, +and at the last he came into a low country, full of fair rivers and +meadows. And afore him he saw a long bridge, and three pavilions stood +thereon, of silk and sendal of divers hue. And without the pavilions +hung three white shields on truncheons of spears, and great long spears +stood upright by the pavilions, and at every pavilion’s door stood +three fresh squires, and so Sir Launcelot passed by them and spake no +word. When he was passed the three knights said them that it was the +proud Kay; He weeneth no knight so good as he, and the contrary is +ofttime proved. By my faith, said one of the knights, his name was Sir +Gaunter, I will ride after him and assay him for all his pride, and ye +may behold how that I speed. So this knight, Sir Gaunter, armed him, +and hung his shield upon his shoulder, and mounted upon a great horse, +and gat his spear in his hand, and walloped after Sir Launcelot. And +when he came nigh him, he cried, Abide, thou proud knight Sir Kay, for +thou shalt not pass quit. So Sir Launcelot turned him, and either +feutred their spears, and came together with all their mights, and Sir +Gaunter’s spear brake, but Sir Launcelot smote him down horse and man. +And when Sir Gaunter was at the earth his brethren said each one to +other, Yonder knight is not Sir Kay, for he is bigger than he. I dare +lay my head, said Sir Gilmere, yonder knight hath slain Sir Kay and +hath taken his horse and his harness. Whether it be so or no, said Sir +Raynold, the third brother, let us now go mount upon our horses and +rescue our brother Sir Gaunter, upon pain of death. We all shall have +work enough to match that knight, for ever meseemeth by his person it +is Sir Launcelot, or Sir Tristram, or Sir Pelleas, the good knight. + +Then anon they took their horses and overtook Sir Launcelot, and Sir +Gilmere put forth his spear, and ran to Sir Launcelot, and Sir +Launcelot smote him down that he lay in a swoon. Sir knight, said Sir +Raynold, thou art a strong man, and as I suppose thou hast slain my two +brethren, for the which raseth my heart sore against thee, and if I +might with my worship I would not have ado with you, but needs I must +take part as they do, and therefore, knight, he said, keep thyself. And +so they hurtled together with all their mights, and all to-shivered +both their spears. And then they drew their swords and lashed together +eagerly. Anon therewith arose Sir Gaunter, and came unto his brother +Sir Gilmere, and bade him, Arise, and help we our brother Sir Raynold, +that yonder marvellously matched yonder good knight. Therewithal, they +leapt on their horses and hurtled unto Sir Launcelot. + +And when he saw them come he smote a sore stroke unto Sir Raynold, that +he fell off his horse to the ground, and then he struck to the other +two brethren, and at two strokes he struck them down to the earth. With +that Sir Raynold began to start up with his head all bloody, and came +straight unto Sir Launcelot. Now let be, said Sir Launcelot, I was not +far from thee when thou wert made knight, Sir Raynold, and also I know +thou art a good knight, and loath I were to slay thee. Gramercy, said +Sir Raynold, as for your goodness; and I dare say as for me and my +brethren, we will not be loath to yield us unto you, with that we knew +your name, for well we know ye are not Sir Kay. As for that be it as it +be may, for ye shall yield you unto dame Guenever, and look that ye be +with her on Whitsunday, and yield you unto her as prisoners, and say +that Sir Kay sent you unto her. Then they swore it should be done, and +so passed forth Sir Launcelot, and each one of the brethren holp other +as well as they might. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Launcelot jousted against four knights of the +Round Table and overthrew them. + +So Sir Launcelot rode into a deep forest, and thereby in a slade, he +saw four knights hoving under an oak, and they were of Arthur’s court, +one was Sir Sagramour le Desirous, and Ector de Maris, and Sir Gawaine, +and Sir Uwaine. Anon as these four knights had espied Sir Launcelot, +they weened by his arms it had been Sir Kay. Now by my faith, said Sir +Sagramour, I will prove Sir Kay’s might, and gat his spear in his hand, +and came toward Sir Launcelot. Therewith Sir Launcelot was ware and +knew him well, and feutred his spear against him, and smote Sir +Sagramour so sore that horse and man fell both to the earth. Lo, my +fellows, said he, yonder ye may see what a buffet he hath; that knight +is much bigger than ever was Sir Kay. Now shall ye see what I may do to +him. So Sir Ector gat his spear in his hand and walloped toward Sir +Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot smote him through the shield and shoulder, +that man and horse went to the earth, and ever his spear held. + +By my faith, said Sir Uwaine, yonder is a strong knight, and I am sure +he hath slain Sir Kay; and I see by his great strength it will be hard +to match him. And therewithal, Sir Uwaine gat his spear in his hand and +rode toward Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot knew him well, and so he +met him on the plain, and gave him such a buffet that he was astonied, +that long he wist not where he was. Now see I well, said Sir Gawaine, I +must encounter with that knight. Then he dressed his shield and gat a +good spear in his hand, and Sir Launcelot knew him well; and then they +let run their horses with all their mights, and either knight smote +other in midst of the shield. But Sir Gawaine’s spear to-brast, and Sir +Launcelot charged so sore upon him that his horse reversed up-so-down. +And much sorrow had Sir Gawaine to avoid his horse, and so Sir +Launcelot passed on a pace and smiled, and said, God give him joy that +this spear made, for there came never a better in my hand. + +Then the four knights went each one to other and comforted each other. +What say ye by this guest? said Sir Gawaine, that one spear hath felled +us all four. We commend him unto the devil, they said all, for he is a +man of great might. Ye may well say it, said Sir Gawaine, that he is a +man of might, for I dare lay my head it is Sir Launcelot, I know it by +his riding. Let him go, said Sir Gawaine, for when we come to the court +then shall we wit; and then had they much sorrow to get their horses +again. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Launcelot followed a brachet into a castle, where +he found a dead knight, and how he after was required of a damosel to +heal her brother. + +Now leave we there and speak of Sir Launcelot that rode a great while +in a deep forest, where he saw a black brachet, seeking in manner as it +had been in the feute of an hurt deer. And therewith he rode after the +brachet, and he saw lie on the ground a large feute of blood. And then +Sir Launcelot rode after. And ever the brachet looked behind her, and +so she went through a great marsh, and ever Sir Launcelot followed. And +then was he ware of an old manor, and thither ran the brachet, and so +over the bridge. So Sir Launcelot rode over that bridge that was old +and feeble; and when he came in midst of a great hall, there he saw lie +a dead knight that was a seemly man, and that brachet licked his +wounds. And therewithal came out a lady weeping and wringing her hands; +and then she said, O knight, too much sorrow hast thou brought me. Why +say ye so? said Sir Launcelot, I did never this knight no harm, for +hither by feute of blood this brachet brought me; and therefore, fair +lady, be not displeased with me, for I am full sore aggrieved of your +grievance. Truly, sir, she said, I trow it be not ye that hath slain my +husband, for he that did that deed is sore wounded, and he is never +likely to recover, that shall I ensure him. What was your husband’s +name? said Sir Launcelot. Sir, said she, his name was called Sir +Gilbert the Bastard, one of the best knights of the world, and he that +hath slain him I know not his name. Now God send you better comfort, +said Sir Launcelot; and so he departed and went into the forest again, +and there he met with a damosel, the which knew him well, and she said +aloud, Well be ye found, my lord; and now I require thee, on thy +knighthood, help my brother that is sore wounded, and never stinteth +bleeding; for this day he fought with Sir Gilbert the Bastard and slew +him in plain battle, and there was my brother sore wounded, and there +is a lady a sorceress that dwelleth in a castle here beside, and this +day she told me my brother’s wounds should never be whole till I could +find a knight that would go into the Chapel Perilous, and there he +should find a sword and a bloody cloth that the wounded knight was +lapped in, and a piece of that cloth and sword should heal my brother’s +wounds, so that his wounds were searched with the sword and the cloth. +This is a marvellous thing, said Sir Launcelot, but what is your +brother’s name? Sir, she said, his name was Sir Meliot de Logres. That +me repenteth, said Sir Launcelot, for he is a fellow of the Table +Round, and to his help I will do my power. Then, sir, said she, follow +even this highway, and it will bring you unto the Chapel Perilous; and +here I shall abide till God send you here again, and, but you speed, I +know no knight living that may achieve that adventure. + + + +CHAPTER XV. How Sir Launcelot came into the Chapel Perilous and gat +there of a dead corpse a piece of the cloth and a sword. + +Right so Sir Launcelot departed, and when he came unto the Chapel +Perilous he alighted down, and tied his horse unto a little gate. And +as soon as he was within the churchyard he saw on the front of the +chapel many fair rich shields turned up-so-down, and many of the +shields Sir Launcelot had seen knights bear beforehand. With that he +saw by him there stand a thirty great knights, more by a yard than any +man that ever he had seen, and all those grinned and gnashed at Sir +Launcelot. And when he saw their countenance he dreaded him sore, and +so put his shield afore him, and took his sword ready in his hand ready +unto battle, and they were all armed in black harness ready with their +shields and their swords drawn. And when Sir Launcelot would have gone +throughout them, they scattered on every side of him, and gave him the +way, and therewith he waxed all bold, and entered into the chapel, and +then he saw no light but a dim lamp burning, and then was he ware of a +corpse hilled with a cloth of silk. Then Sir Launcelot stooped down, +and cut a piece away of that cloth, and then it fared under him as the +earth had quaked a little; therewithal he feared. And then he saw a +fair sword lie by the dead knight, and that he gat in his hand and hied +him out of the chapel. + +Anon as ever he was in the chapel yard all the knights spake to him +with a grimly voice, and said, Knight, Sir Launcelot, lay that sword +from thee or else thou shalt die. Whether that I live or die, said Sir +Launcelot, with no great word get ye it again, therefore fight for it +an ye list. Then right so he passed throughout them, and beyond the +chapel yard there met him a fair damosel, and said, Sir Launcelot, +leave that sword behind thee, or thou wilt die for it. I leave it not, +said Sir Launcelot, for no treaties. No, said she, an thou didst leave +that sword, Queen Guenever should thou never see. Then were I a fool an +I would leave this sword, said Launcelot. Now, gentle knight, said the +damosel, I require thee to kiss me but once. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, +that God me forbid. Well, sir, said she, an thou hadst kissed me thy +life days had been done, but now, alas, she said, I have lost all my +labour, for I ordained this chapel for thy sake, and for Sir Gawaine. +And once I had Sir Gawaine within me, and at that time he fought with +that knight that lieth there dead in yonder chapel, Sir Gilbert the +Bastard; and at that time he smote the left hand off of Sir Gilbert the +Bastard. And, Sir Launcelot, now I tell thee, I have loved thee this +seven year, but there may no woman have thy love but Queen Guenever. +But sithen I may not rejoice thee to have thy body alive, I had kept no +more joy in this world but to have thy body dead. Then would I have +balmed it and served it, and so have kept it my life days, and daily I +should have clipped thee, and kissed thee, in despite of Queen +Guenever. Ye say well, said Sir Launcelot, Jesu preserve me from your +subtle crafts. And therewithal he took his horse and so departed from +her. And as the book saith, when Sir Launcelot was departed she took +such sorrow that she died within a fourteen night, and her name was +Hellawes the sorceress, Lady of the Castle Nigramous. + +Anon Sir Launcelot met with the damosel, Sir Meliot’s sister. And when +she saw him she clapped her hands, and wept for joy. And then they rode +unto a castle thereby where lay Sir Meliot. And anon as Sir Launcelot +saw him he knew him, but he was passing pale, as the earth, for +bleeding. When Sir Meliot saw Sir Launcelot he kneeled upon his knees +and cried on high: O lord Sir Launcelot, help me! Anon Sir Launcelot +leapt unto him and touched his wounds with Sir Gilbert’s sword. And +then he wiped his wounds with a part of the bloody cloth that Sir +Gilbert was wrapped in, and anon an wholer man in his life was he +never. And then there was great joy between them, and they made Sir +Launcelot all the cheer that they might, and so on the morn Sir +Launcelot took his leave, and bade Sir Meliot hie him to the court of +my lord Arthur, for it draweth nigh to the Feast of Pentecost, and +there by the grace of God ye shall find me. And therewith they +departed. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Launcelot at the request of a lady recovered a +falcon, by which he was deceived. + +And so Sir Launcelot rode through many strange countries, over marshes +and valleys, till by fortune he came to a fair castle, and as he passed +beyond the castle him thought he heard two bells ring. And then was he +ware of a falcon came flying over his head toward an high elm, and long +lunes about her feet, and as she flew unto the elm to take her perch +the lunes over-cast about a bough. And when she would have taken her +flight she hung by the legs fast; and Sir Launcelot saw how she hung, +and beheld the fair falcon perigot, and he was sorry for her. + +The meanwhile came a lady out of the castle and cried on high: O +Launcelot, Launcelot, as thou art flower of all knights, help me to get +my hawk, for an my hawk be lost my lord will destroy me; for I kept the +hawk and she slipped from me, and if my lord my husband wit it he is so +hasty that he will slay me. What is your lord’s name? said Sir +Launcelot. Sir, she said, his name is Sir Phelot, a knight that longeth +unto the King of Northgalis. Well, fair lady, since that ye know my +name, and require me of knighthood to help you, I will do what I may to +get your hawk, and yet God knoweth I am an ill climber, and the tree is +passing high, and few boughs to help me withal. And therewith Sir +Launcelot alighted, and tied his horse to the same tree, and prayed the +lady to unarm him. And so when he was unarmed, he put off all his +clothes unto his shirt and breech, and with might and force he clomb up +to the falcon, and tied the lines to a great rotten boyshe, and threw +the hawk down and it withal. + +Anon the lady gat the hawk in her hand; and therewithal came out Sir +Phelot out of the groves suddenly, that was her husband, all armed and +with his naked sword in his hand, and said: O knight Launcelot, now +have I found thee as I would, and stood at the bole of the tree to slay +him. Ah, lady, said Sir Launcelot, why have ye betrayed me? She hath +done, said Sir Phelot, but as I commanded her, and therefore there nis +none other boot but thine hour is come that thou must die. That were +shame unto thee, said Sir Launcelot, thou an armed knight to slay a +naked man by treason. Thou gettest none other grace, said Sir Phelot, +and therefore help thyself an thou canst. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, +that shall be thy shame, but since thou wilt do none other, take mine +harness with thee, and hang my sword upon a bough that I may get it, +and then do thy best to slay me an thou canst. Nay, nay, said Sir +Phelot, for I know thee better than thou weenest, therefore thou +gettest no weapon, an I may keep you therefrom. Alas, said Sir +Launcelot, that ever a knight should die weaponless. And therewith he +waited above him and under him, and over his head he saw a rownsepyk, a +big bough leafless, and therewith he brake it off by the body. And then +he came lower and awaited how his own horse stood, and suddenly he +leapt on the further side of the horse, fro-ward the knight. And then +Sir Phelot lashed at him eagerly, weening to have slain him. But Sir +Launcelot put away the stroke with the rownsepyk, and therewith he +smote him on the one side of the head, that he fell down in a swoon to +the ground. So then Sir Launcelot took his sword out of his hand, and +struck his neck from the body. Then cried the lady, Alas! why hast thou +slain my husband? I am not causer, said Sir Launcelot, for with +falsehood ye would have had slain me with treason, and now it is fallen +on you both. And then she swooned as though she would die. And +therewithal Sir Launcelot gat all his armour as well as he might, and +put it upon him for dread of more resort, for he dreaded that the +knight’s castle was so nigh. And so, as soon as he might, he took his +horse and departed, and thanked God that he had escaped that adventure. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Launcelot overtook a knight which chased his wife +to have slain her, and how he said to him. + +So Sir Launcelot rode many wild ways, throughout marches and many wild +ways. And as he rode in a valley he saw a knight chasing a lady, with a +naked sword, to have slain her. And by fortune as this knight should +have slain this lady, she cried on Sir Launcelot and prayed him to +rescue her. When Sir Launcelot saw that mischief, he took his horse and +rode between them, saying, Knight, fie for shame, why wilt thou slay +this lady? thou dost shame unto thee and all knights. What hast thou to +do betwixt me and my wife? said the knight. I will slay her maugre thy +head. That shall ye not, said Sir Launcelot, for rather we two will +have ado together. Sir Launcelot, said the knight, thou dost not thy +part, for this lady hath betrayed me. It is not so, said the lady, +truly he saith wrong on me. And for because I love and cherish my +cousin germain, he is jealous betwixt him and me; and as I shall answer +to God there was never sin betwixt us. But, sir, said the lady, as thou +art called the worshipfullest knight of the world, I require thee of +true knighthood, keep me and save me. For whatsomever ye say he will +slay me, for he is without mercy. Have ye no doubt, said Launcelot, it +shall not lie in his power. Sir, said the knight, in your sight I will +be ruled as ye will have me. And so Sir Launcelot rode on the one side +and she on the other: he had not ridden but a while, but the knight +bade Sir Launcelot turn him and look behind him, and said, Sir, yonder +come men of arms after us riding. And so Sir Launcelot turned him and +thought no treason, and therewith was the knight and the lady on one +side, and suddenly he swapped off his lady’s head. + +And when Sir Launcelot had espied him what he had done, he said, and +called him, Traitor, thou hast shamed me for ever. And suddenly Sir +Launcelot alighted off his horse, and pulled out his sword to slay him, +and therewithal he fell flat to the earth, and gripped Sir Launcelot by +the thighs, and cried mercy. Fie on thee, said Sir Launcelot, thou +shameful knight, thou mayest have no mercy, and therefore arise and +fight with me. Nay, said the knight, I will never arise till ye grant +me mercy. Now will I proffer thee fair, said Launcelot, I will unarm me +unto my shirt, and I will have nothing upon me but my shirt, and my +sword and my hand. And if thou canst slay me, quit be thou for ever. +Nay, sir, said Pedivere, that will I never. Well, said Sir Launcelot, +take this lady and the head, and bear it upon thee, and here shalt thou +swear upon my sword, to bear it always upon thy back, and never to rest +till thou come to Queen Guenever. Sir, said he, that will I do, by the +faith of my body. Now, said Launcelot, tell me what is your name? Sir, +my name is Pedivere. In a shameful hour wert thou born, said Launcelot. + +So Pedivere departed with the dead lady and the head, and found the +queen with King Arthur at Winchester, and there he told all the truth. +Sir knight, said the queen, this is an horrible deed and a shameful, +and a great rebuke unto Sir Launcelot; but notwithstanding his worship +is not known in many divers countries; but this shall I give you in +penance, make ye as good shift as ye can, ye shall bear this lady with +you on horseback unto the Pope of Rome, and of him receive your penance +for your foul deeds; and ye shall never rest one night whereas ye do +another; an ye go to any bed the dead body shall lie with you. This +oath there he made, and so departed. And as it telleth in the French +book, when he came to Rome, the Pope bade him go again unto Queen +Guenever, and in Rome was his lady buried by the Pope’s commandment. +And after this Sir Pedivere fell to great goodness, and was an holy man +and an hermit. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Launcelot came to King Arthur’s Court, and how +there were recounted all his noble feats and acts. + +Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot du Lake, that came home two days afore +the Feast of Pentecost; and the king and all the court were passing +fain of his coming. And when Sir Gawaine, Sir Uwaine, Sir Sagramore, +Sir Ector de Maris, saw Sir Launcelot in Kay’s armour, then they wist +well it was he that smote them down all with one spear. Then there was +laughing and smiling among them. And ever now and now came all the +knights home that Sir Turquine had prisoners, and they all honoured and +worshipped Sir Launcelot. + +When Sir Gaheris heard them speak, he said, I saw all the battle from +the beginning to the ending, and there he told King Arthur all how it +was, and how Sir Turquine was the strongest knight that ever he saw +except Sir Launcelot: there were many knights bare him record, nigh +three score. Then Sir Kay told the king how Sir Launcelot had rescued +him when he should have been slain, and how he made the knights yield +them to me, and not to him. And there they were all three, and bare +record. And by Jesu, said Sir Kay, because Sir Launcelot took my +harness and left me his I rode in good peace, and no man would have ado +with me. + +Anon therewithal there came the three knights that fought with Sir +Launcelot at the long bridge. And there they yielded them unto Sir Kay, +and Sir Kay forsook them and said he fought never with them. But I +shall ease your heart, said Sir Kay, yonder is Sir Launcelot that +overcame you. When they wist that they were glad. And then Sir Meliot +de Logres came home, and told the king how Sir Launcelot had saved him +from the death. And all his deeds were known, how four queens, +sorceresses, had him in prison, and how he was delivered by King +Bagdemagus’ daughter. Also there were told all the great deeds of arms +that Sir Launcelot did betwixt the two kings, that is for to say the +King of Northgalis and King Bagdemagus. All the truth Sir Gahalantine +did tell, and Sir Mador de la Porte and Sir Mordred, for they were at +that same tournament. Then came in the lady that knew Sir Launcelot +when that he wounded Sir Belleus at the pavilion. And there, at request +of Sir Launcelot, Sir Belleus was made knight of the Round Table. And +so at that time Sir Launcelot had the greatest name of any knight of +the world, and most he was honoured of high and low. + + Explicit the noble tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake, which is the vi. + book. Here followeth the tale of Sir Gareth of Orkney that was called + Beaumains by Sir Kay, and is the seventh book. + + + +BOOK VII. + + + +CHAPTER I. How Beaumains came to King Arthur’s Court and demanded three +petitions of King Arthur. + +When Arthur held his Round Table most plenour, it fortuned that he +commanded that the high feast of Pentecost should be holden at a city +and a castle, the which in those days was called Kynke Kenadonne, upon +the sands that marched nigh Wales. So ever the king had a custom that +at the feast of Pentecost in especial, afore other feasts in the year, +he would not go that day to meat until he had heard or seen of a great +marvel. And for that custom all manner of strange adventures came +before Arthur as at that feast before all other feasts. And so Sir +Gawaine, a little to-fore noon of the day of Pentecost, espied at a +window three men upon horseback, and a dwarf on foot, and so the three +men alighted, and the dwarf kept their horses, and one of the three men +was higher than the other twain by a foot and an half. Then Sir Gawaine +went unto the king and said, Sir, go to your meat, for here at the hand +come strange adventures. So Arthur went unto his meat with many other +kings. And there were all the knights of the Round Table, [save] only +those that were prisoners or slain at a recounter. Then at the high +feast evermore they should be fulfilled the whole number of an hundred +and fifty, for then was the Round Table fully complished. + +Right so came into the hall two men well beseen and richly, and upon +their shoulders there leaned the goodliest young man and the fairest +that ever they all saw, and he was large and long, and broad in the +shoulders, and well visaged, and the fairest and the largest handed +that ever man saw, but he fared as though he might not go nor bear +himself but if he leaned upon their shoulders. Anon as Arthur saw him +there was made peace and room, and right so they yede with him unto the +high dais, without saying of any words. Then this much young man pulled +him aback, and easily stretched up straight, saying, King Arthur, God +you bless and all your fair fellowship, and in especial the fellowship +of the Table Round. And for this cause I am come hither, to pray you +and require you to give me three gifts, and they shall not be +unreasonably asked, but that ye may worshipfully and honourably grant +them me, and to you no great hurt nor loss. And the first don and gift +I will ask now, and the other two gifts I will ask this day +twelvemonth, wheresomever ye hold your high feast. Now ask, said +Arthur, and ye shall have your asking. + +Now, sir, this is my petition for this feast, that ye will give me meat +and drink sufficiently for this twelvemonth, and at that day I will ask +mine other two gifts. + +My fair son, said Arthur, ask better, I counsel thee, for this is but a +simple asking; for my heart giveth me to thee greatly, that thou art +come of men of worship, and greatly my conceit faileth me but thou +shalt prove a man of right great worship. Sir, he said, thereof be as +it be may, I have asked that I will ask. Well, said the king, ye shall +have meat and drink enough; I never defended that none, neither my +friend nor my foe. But what is thy name I would wit? I cannot tell you, +said he. That is marvel, said the king, that thou knowest not thy name, +and thou art the goodliest young man that ever I saw. Then the king +betook him to Sir Kay the steward, and charged him that he should give +him of all manner of meats and drinks of the best, and also that he had +all manner of finding as though he were a lord’s son. That shall little +need, said Sir Kay, to do such cost upon him; for I dare undertake he +is a villain born, and never will make man, for an he had come of +gentlemen he would have asked of you horse and armour, but such as he +is, so he asketh. And sithen he hath no name, I shall give him a name +that shall be Beaumains, that is Fair-hands, and into the kitchen I +shall bring him, and there he shall have fat brose every day, that he +shall be as fat by the twelvemonths’ end as a pork hog. Right so the +two men departed and beleft him to Sir Kay, that scorned him and mocked +him. + + + +CHAPTER II. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine were wroth because Sir +Kay mocked Beaumains, and of a damosel which desired a knight to fight +for a lady. + +Thereat was Sir Gawaine wroth, and in especial Sir Launcelot bade Sir +Kay leave his mocking, for I dare lay my head he shall prove a man of +great worship. Let be said Sir Kay, it may not be by no reason, for as +he is, so he hath asked. Beware, said Sir Launcelot, so ye gave the +good knight Brewnor, Sir Dinadan’s brother, a name, and ye called him +La Cote Male Taile, and that turned you to anger afterward. As for +that, said Sir Kay, this shall never prove none such. For Sir Brewnor +desired ever worship, and this desireth bread and drink and broth; upon +pain of my life he was fostered up in some abbey, and, howsomever it +was, they failed meat and drink, and so hither he is come for his +sustenance. + +And so Sir Kay bade get him a place, and sit down to meat; so Beaumains +went to the hall door, and set him down among boys and lads, and there +he ate sadly. And then Sir Launcelot after meat bade him come to his +chamber, and there he should have meat and drink enough. And so did Sir +Gawaine: but he refused them all; he would do none other but as Sir Kay +commanded him, for no proffer. But as touching Sir Gawaine, he had +reason to proffer him lodging, meat, and drink, for that proffer came +of his blood, for he was nearer kin to him than he wist. But that as +Sir Launcelot did was of his great gentleness and courtesy. + +So thus he was put into the kitchen, and lay nightly as the boys of the +kitchen did. And so he endured all that twelvemonth, and never +displeased man nor child, but always he was meek and mild. But ever +when that he saw any jousting of knights, that would he see an he +might. And ever Sir Launcelot would give him gold to spend, and +clothes, and so did Sir Gawaine, and where there were any masteries +done, thereat would he be, and there might none cast bar nor stone to +him by two yards. Then would Sir Kay say, How liketh you my boy of the +kitchen? So it passed on till the feast of Whitsuntide. And at that +time the king held it at Carlion in the most royallest wise that might +be, like as he did yearly. But the king would no meat eat upon the +Whitsunday, until he heard some adventures. Then came there a squire to +the king and said, Sir, ye may go to your meat, for here cometh a +damosel with some strange adventures. Then was the king glad and sat +him down. + +Right so there came a damosel into the hall and saluted the king, and +prayed him of succour. For whom? said the king, what is the adventure? + +Sir, she said, I have a lady of great worship and renown, and she is +besieged with a tyrant, so that she may not out of her castle; and +because here are called the noblest knights of the world, I come to you +to pray you of succour. What hight your lady, and where dwelleth she, +and who is she, and what is his name that hath besieged her? Sir king, +she said, as for my lady’s name that shall not ye know for me as at +this time, but I let you wit she is a lady of great worship and of +great lands; and as for the tyrant that besiegeth her and destroyeth +her lands, he is called the Red Knight of the Red Launds. I know him +not, said the king. Sir, said Sir Gawaine, I know him well, for he is +one of the perilloust knights of the world; men say that he hath seven +men’s strength, and from him I escaped once full hard with my life. +Fair damosel, said the king, there be knights here would do their power +for to rescue your lady, but because you will not tell her name, nor +where she dwelleth, therefore none of my knights that here be now shall +go with you by my will. Then must I speak further, said the damosel. + + + +CHAPTER III. How Beaumains desired the battle, and how it was granted +to him, and how he desired to be made knight of Sir Launcelot. + +With these words came before the king Beaumains, while the damosel was +there, and thus he said, Sir king, God thank you, I have been this +twelvemonth in your kitchen, and have had my full sustenance, and now I +will ask my two gifts that be behind. Ask, upon my peril, said the +king. Sir, this shall be my two gifts, first that ye will grant me to +have this adventure of the damosel, for it belongeth unto me. Thou +shalt have it, said the king, I grant it thee. Then, sir, this is the +other gift, that ye shall bid Launcelot du Lake to make me knight, for +of him I will be made knight and else of none. And when I am passed I +pray you let him ride after me, and make me knight when I require him. +All this shall be done, said the king. Fie on thee, said the damosel, +shall I have none but one that is your kitchen page? Then was she wroth +and took her horse and departed. And with that there came one to +Beaumains and told him his horse and armour was come for him; and there +was the dwarf come with all thing that him needed, in the richest +manner; thereat all the court had much marvel from whence came all that +gear. So when he was armed there was none but few so goodly a man as he +was; and right so as he came into the hall and took his leave of King +Arthur, and Sir Gawaine, and Sir Launcelot, and prayed that he would +hie after him, and so departed and rode after the damosel. + + + +CHAPTER IV. How Beaumains departed, and how he gat of Sir Kay a spear +and a shield, and how he jousted with Sir Launcelot. + +But there went many after to behold how well he was horsed and trapped +in cloth of gold, but he had neither shield nor spear. Then Sir Kay +said all open in the hall, I will ride after my boy in the kitchen, to +wit whether he will know me for his better. Said Sir Launcelot and Sir +Gawaine, Yet abide at home. So Sir Kay made him ready and took his +horse and his spear, and rode after him. And right as Beaumains +overtook the damosel, right so came Sir Kay and said, Beaumains, what, +sir, know ye not me? Then he turned his horse, and knew it was Sir Kay, +that had done him all the despite as ye have heard afore. Yea, said +Beaumains, I know you for an ungentle knight of the court, and +therefore beware of me. Therewith Sir Kay put his spear in the rest, +and ran straight upon him; and Beaumains came as fast upon him with his +sword in his hand, and so he put away his spear with his sword, and +with a foin thrust him through the side, that Sir Kay fell down as he +had been dead; and he alighted down and took Sir Kay’s shield and his +spear, and stert upon his own horse and rode his way. + +All that saw Sir Launcelot, and so did the damosel. And then he bade +his dwarf stert upon Sir Kay’s horse, and so he did. By that Sir +Launcelot was come, then he proffered Sir Launcelot to joust; and +either made them ready, and they came together so fiercely that either +bare down other to the earth, and sore were they bruised. Then Sir +Launcelot arose and helped him from his horse. And then Beaumains threw +his shield from him, and proffered to fight with Sir Launcelot on foot; +and so they rushed together like boars, tracing, rasing, and foining to +the mountenance of an hour; and Sir Launcelot felt him so big that he +marvelled of his strength, for he fought more liker a giant than a +knight, and that his fighting was durable and passing perilous. For Sir +Launcelot had so much ado with him that he dreaded himself to be +shamed, and said, Beaumains, fight not so sore, your quarrel and mine +is not so great but we may leave off. Truly that is truth, said +Beaumains, but it doth me good to feel your might, and yet, my lord, I +showed not the utterance. + + + +CHAPTER V. How Beaumains told to Sir Launcelot his name, and how he was +dubbed knight of Sir Launcelot, and after overtook the damosel. + +In God’s name, said Sir Launcelot, for I promise you, by the faith of +my body, I had as much to do as I might to save myself from you +unshamed, and therefore have ye no doubt of none earthly knight. Hope +ye so that I may any while stand a proved knight? said Beaumains. Yea, +said Launcelot, do as ye have done, and I shall be your warrant. Then, +I pray you, said Beaumains, give me the order of knighthood. Then must +ye tell me your name, said Launcelot, and of what kin ye be born. Sir, +so that ye will not discover me I shall, said Beaumains. Nay, said Sir +Launcelot, and that I promise you by the faith of my body, until it be +openly known. Then, sir, he said, my name is Gareth, and brother unto +Sir Gawaine of father and mother. Ah, sir, said Sir Launcelot, I am +more gladder of you than I was; for ever me thought ye should be of +great blood, and that ye came not to the court neither for meat nor for +drink. And then Sir Launcelot gave him the order of knighthood, and +then Sir Gareth prayed him for to depart and let him go. + +So Sir Launcelot departed from him and came to Sir Kay, and made him to +be borne home upon his shield, and so he was healed hard with the life; +and all men scorned Sir Kay, and in especial Sir Gawaine and Sir +Launcelot said it was not his part to rebuke no young man, for full +little knew he of what birth he is come, and for what cause he came to +this court; and so we leave Sir Kay and turn we unto Beaumains. + +When he had overtaken the damosel, anon she said, What dost thou here? +thou stinkest all of the kitchen, thy clothes be bawdy of the grease +and tallow that thou gainest in King Arthur’s kitchen; weenest thou, +said she, that I allow thee, for yonder knight that thou killest. Nay +truly, for thou slewest him unhappily and cowardly; therefore turn +again, bawdy kitchen page, I know thee well, for Sir Kay named thee +Beaumains. What art thou but a lusk and a turner of broaches and a +ladle-washer? Damosel, said Beaumains, say to me what ye will, I will +not go from you whatsomever ye say, for I have undertaken to King +Arthur for to achieve your adventure, and so shall I finish it to the +end, either I shall die therefore. Fie on thee, kitchen knave, wilt +thou finish mine adventure? thou shalt anon be met withal, that thou +wouldest not for all the broth that ever thou suppest once look him in +the face. I shall assay, said Beaumains. + +So thus as they rode in the wood, there came a man flying all that ever +he might. Whither wilt thou? said Beaumains. O lord, he said, help me, +for here by in a slade are six thieves that have taken my lord and +bound him, so I am afeard lest they will slay him. Bring me thither, +said Beaumains. And so they rode together until they came thereas was +the knight bounden; and then he rode unto them, and struck one unto the +death, and then another, and at the third stroke he slew the third +thief, and then the other three fled. And he rode after them, and he +overtook them; and then those three thieves turned again and assailed +Beaumains hard, but at the last he slew them, and returned and unbound +the knight. And the knight thanked him, and prayed him to ride with him +to his castle there a little beside, and he should worshipfully reward +him for his good deeds. Sir, said Beaumains, I will no reward have: I +was this day made knight of noble Sir Launcelot, and therefore I will +no reward have, but God reward me. And also I must follow this damosel. + +And when he came nigh her she bade him ride from her, For thou smellest +all of the kitchen: weenest thou that I have joy of thee, for all this +deed that thou hast done is but mishapped thee: but thou shalt see a +sight shall make thee turn again, and that lightly. Then the same +knight which was rescued of the thieves rode after that damosel, and +prayed her to lodge with him all that night. And because it was near +night the damosel rode with him to his castle, and there they had great +cheer, and at supper the knight sat Sir Beaumains afore the damosel. +Fie, fie, said she, Sir knight, ye are uncourteous to set a kitchen +page afore me; him beseemeth better to stick a swine than to sit afore +a damosel of high parage. Then the knight was ashamed at her words, and +took him up, and set him at a sideboard, and set himself afore him, and +so all that night they had good cheer and merry rest. + + + +CHAPTER VI. How Beaumains fought and slew two knights at a passage. + +And on the morn the damosel and he took their leave and thanked the +knight, and so departed, and rode on their way until they came to a +great forest. And there was a great river and but one passage, and +there were ready two knights on the farther side to let them the +passage. What sayest thou, said the damosel, wilt thou match yonder +knights or turn again? Nay, said Sir Beaumains, I will not turn again +an they were six more. And therewithal he rushed into the water, and in +midst of the water either brake their spears upon other to their hands, +and then they drew their swords, and smote eagerly at other. And at the +last Sir Beaumains smote the other upon the helm that his head stonied, +and therewithal he fell down in the water, and there was he drowned. +And then he spurred his horse upon the land, where the other knight +fell upon him, and brake his spear, and so they drew their swords and +fought long together. At the last Sir Beaumains clave his helm and his +head down to the shoulders; and so he rode unto the damosel and bade +her ride forth on her way. + +Alas, she said, that ever a kitchen page should have that fortune to +destroy such two doughty knights: thou weenest thou hast done +doughtily, that is not so; for the first knight his horse stumbled, and +there he was drowned in the water, and never it was by thy force, nor +by thy might. And the last knight by mishap thou camest behind him and +mishappily thou slew him. + +Damosel, said Beaumains, ye may say what ye will, but with whomsomever +I have ado withal, I trust to God to serve him or he depart. And +therefore I reck not what ye say, so that I may win your lady. Fie, +fie, foul kitchen knave, thou shalt see knights that shall abate thy +boast. Fair damosel, give me goodly language, and then my care is past, +for what knights somever they be, I care not, nor I doubt them not. +Also, said she, I say it for thine avail, yet mayest thou turn again +with thy worship; for an thou follow me, thou art but slain, for I see +all that ever thou dost is but by misadventure, and not by prowess of +thy hands. Well, damosel, ye may say what ye will, but wheresomever ye +go I will follow you. So this Beaumains rode with that lady till +evensong time, and ever she chid him, and would not rest. And they came +to a black laund; and there was a black hawthorn, and thereon hung a +black banner, and on the other side there hung a black shield, and by +it stood a black spear great and long, and a great black horse covered +with silk, and a black stone fast by. + + + +CHAPTER VII. How Beaumains fought with the Knight of the Black Launds, +and fought with him till he fell down and died. + +There sat a knight all armed in black harness, and his name was the +Knight of the Black Laund. Then the damosel, when she saw that knight, +she bade him flee down that valley, for his horse was not saddled. +Gramercy, said Beaumains, for always ye would have me a coward. With +that the Black Knight, when she came nigh him, spake and said, Damosel, +have ye brought this knight of King Arthur to be your champion? Nay, +fair knight, said she, this is but a kitchen knave that was fed in King +Arthur’s kitchen for alms. Why cometh he, said the knight, in such +array? it is shame that he beareth you company. Sir, I cannot be +delivered of him, said she, for with me he rideth maugre mine head: God +would that ye should put him from me, other to slay him an ye may, for +he is an unhappy knave, and unhappily he hath done this day: through +mishap I saw him slay two knights at the passage of the water; and +other deeds he did before right marvellous and through unhappiness. +That marvelleth me, said the Black Knight, that any man that is of +worship will have ado with him. They know him not, said the damosel, +and for because he rideth with me, they ween that he be some man of +worship born. That may be, said the Black Knight; howbeit as ye say +that he be no man of worship, he is a full likely person, and full like +to be a strong man: but thus much shall I grant you, said the Black +Knight; I shall put him down upon one foot, and his horse and his +harness he shall leave with me, for it were shame to me to do him any +more harm. + +When Sir Beaumains heard him say thus, he said, Sir knight, thou art +full large of my horse and my harness; I let thee wit it cost thee +nought, and whether it liketh thee or not, this laund will I pass +maugre thine head. And horse nor harness gettest thou none of mine, but +if thou win them with thy hands; and therefore let see what thou canst +do. Sayest thou that? said the Black Knight, now yield thy lady from +thee, for it beseemeth never a kitchen page to ride with such a lady. +Thou liest, said Beaumains, I am a gentleman born, and of more high +lineage than thou, and that will I prove on thy body. + +Then in great wrath they departed with their horses, and came together +as it had been the thunder, and the Black Knight’s spear brake, and +Beaumains thrust him through both his sides, and therewith his spear +brake, and the truncheon left still in his side. But nevertheless the +Black Knight drew his sword, and smote many eager strokes, and of great +might, and hurt Beaumains full sore. But at the last the Black Knight, +within an hour and an half, he fell down off his horse in swoon, and +there he died. And when Beaumains saw him so well horsed and armed, +then he alighted down and armed him in his armour, and so took his +horse and rode after the damosel. + +When she saw him come nigh, she said, Away, kitchen knave, out of the +wind, for the smell of thy bawdy clothes grieveth me. Alas, she said, +that ever such a knave should by mishap slay so good a knight as thou +hast done, but all this is thine unhappiness. But here by is one shall +pay thee all thy payment, and therefore yet I counsel thee, flee. It +may happen me, said Beaumains, to be beaten or slain, but I warn you, +fair damosel, I will not flee away, a nor leave your company, for all +that ye can say; for ever ye say that they will kill me or beat me, but +howsomever it happeneth I escape, and they lie on the ground. And +therefore it were as good for you to hold you still thus all day +rebuking me, for away will I not till I see the uttermost of this +journey, or else I will be slain, other truly beaten; therefore ride on +your way, for follow you I will whatsomever happen. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. How the brother of the knight that was slain met with +Beaumains, and fought with Beaumains till he was yielden. + +Thus as they rode together, they saw a knight come driving by them all +in green, both his horse and his harness; and when he came nigh the +damosel, he asked her, Is that my brother the Black Knight that ye have +brought with you? Nay, nay, she said, this unhappy kitchen knave hath +slain your brother through unhappiness. Alas, said the Green Knight, +that is great pity, that so noble a knight as he was should so +unhappily be slain, and namely of a knave’s hand, as ye say that he is. +Ah! traitor, said the Green Knight, thou shalt die for slaying of my +brother; he was a full noble knight, and his name was Sir Perard. I +defy thee, said Beaumains, for I let thee wit I slew him knightly and +not shamefully. + +Therewithal the Green Knight rode unto an horn that was green, and it +hung upon a thorn, and there he blew three deadly motes, and there came +two damosels and armed him lightly. And then he took a great horse, and +a green shield and a green spear. And then they ran together with all +their mights, and brake their spears unto their hands. And then they +drew their swords, and gave many sad strokes, and either of them +wounded other full ill. And at the last, at an overthwart, Beaumains +with his horse struck the Green Knight’s horse upon the side, that he +fell to the earth. And then the Green Knight avoided his horse lightly, +and dressed him upon foot. That saw Beaumains, and therewithal he +alighted, and they rushed together like two mighty kemps a long while, +and sore they bled both. With that came the damosel, and said, My lord +the Green Knight, why for shame stand ye so long fighting with the +kitchen knave? Alas, it is shame that ever ye were made knight, to see +such a lad to match such a knight, as the weed overgrew the corn. +Therewith the Green Knight was ashamed, and therewithal he gave a great +stroke of might, and clave his shield through. When Beaumains saw his +shield cloven asunder he was a little ashamed of that stroke and of her +language; and then he gave him such a buffet upon the helm that he fell +on his knees. And so suddenly Beaumains pulled him upon the ground +grovelling. And then the Green Knight cried him mercy, and yielded him +unto Sir Beaumains, and prayed him to slay him not. All is in vain, +said Beaumains, for thou shalt die but if this damosel that came with +me pray me to save thy life. And therewithal he unlaced his helm like +as he would slay him. Fie upon thee, false kitchen page, I will never +pray thee to save his life, for I will never be so much in thy danger. +Then shall he die, said Beaumains. Not so hardy, thou bawdy knave, said +the damosel, that thou slay him. Alas, said the Green Knight, suffer me +not to die for a fair word may save me. Fair knight, said the Green +Knight, save my life, and I will forgive thee the death of my brother, +and for ever to become thy man, and thirty knights that hold of me for +ever shall do you service. In the devil’s name, said the damosel, that +such a bawdy kitchen knave should have thee and thirty knights’ +service. + +Sir knight, said Beaumains, all this availeth thee not, but if my +damosel speak with me for thy life. And therewithal he made a semblant +to slay him. Let be, said the damosel, thou bawdy knave; slay him not, +for an thou do thou shalt repent it. Damosel, said Beaumains, your +charge is to me a pleasure, and at your commandment his life shall be +saved, and else not. Then he said, Sir knight with the green arms, I +release thee quit at this damosel’s request, for I will not make her +wroth, I will fulfil all that she chargeth me. And then the Green +Knight kneeled down, and did him homage with his sword. Then said the +damosel, Me repenteth, Green Knight, of your damage, and of your +brother’s death, the Black Knight, for of your help I had great mister, +for I dread me sore to pass this forest. Nay, dread you not, said the +Green Knight, for ye shall lodge with me this night, and to-morn I +shall help you through this forest. So they took their horses and rode +to his manor, which was fast there beside. + + + +CHAPTER IX. How the damosel again rebuked Beaumains, and would not +suffer him to sit at her table, but called him kitchen boy. + +And ever she rebuked Beaumains, and would not suffer him to sit at her +table, but as the Green Knight took him and sat him at a side table. +Marvel methinketh, said the Green Knight to the damosel, why ye rebuke +this noble knight as ye do, for I warn you, damosel, he is a full noble +knight, and I know no knight is able to match him; therefore ye do +great wrong to rebuke him, for he shall do you right good service, for +whatsomever he maketh himself, ye shall prove at the end that he is +come of a noble blood and of king’s lineage. Fie, fie, said the +damosel, it is shame for you to say of him such worship. Truly, said +the Green Knight, it were shame for me to say of him any disworship, +for he hath proved himself a better knight than I am, yet have I met +with many knights in my days, and never or this time have I found no +knight his match. And so that night they yede unto rest, and all that +night the Green Knight commanded thirty knights privily to watch +Beaumains, for to keep him from all treason. + +And so on the morn they all arose, and heard their mass and brake their +fast; and then they took their horses and rode on their way, and the +Green Knight conveyed them through the forest; and there the Green +Knight said, My lord Beaumains, I and these thirty knights shall be +always at your summons, both early and late, at your calling and +whither that ever ye will send us. It is well said, said Beaumains; +when that I call upon you ye must yield you unto King Arthur, and all +your knights. If that ye so command us, we shall be ready at all times, +said the Green Knight. Fie, fie upon thee, in the devil’s name, said +the damosel, that any good knights should be obedient unto a kitchen +knave. So then departed the Green Knight and the damosel. And then she +said unto Beaumains, Why followest thou me, thou kitchen boy? Cast away +thy shield and thy spear, and flee away; yet I counsel thee betimes or +thou shalt say right soon, alas; for wert thou as wight as ever was +Wade or Launcelot, Tristram, or the good knight Sir Lamorak, thou shalt +not pass a pass here that is called the Pass Perilous. Damosel, said +Beaumains, who is afeard let him flee, for it were shame to turn again +sithen I have ridden so long with you. Well, said the damosel, ye shall +soon, whether ye will or not. + + + +CHAPTER X. How the third brother, called the Red Knight, jousted and +fought against Beaumains, and how Beaumains overcame him. + +So within a while they saw a tower as white as any snow, well +matchecold all about, and double dyked. And over the tower gate there +hung a fifty shields of divers colours, and under that tower there was +a fair meadow. And therein were many knights and squires to behold, +scaffolds and pavilions; for there upon the morn should be a great +tournament: and the lord of the tower was in his castle and looked out +at a window, and saw a damosel, a dwarf, and a knight armed at all +points. So God me help, said the lord, with that knight will I joust, +for I see that he is a knight-errant. And so he armed him and horsed +him hastily. And when he was on horseback with his shield and his +spear, it was all red, both his horse and his harness, and all that to +him longeth. And when that he came nigh him he weened it had been his +brother the Black Knight; and then he cried aloud, Brother, what do ye +in these marches? Nay, nay, said the damosel, it is not he; this is but +a kitchen knave that was brought up for alms in King Arthur’s court. +Nevertheless, said the Red Knight, I will speak with him or he depart. +Ah, said the damosel, this knave hath killed thy brother, and Sir Kay +named him Beaumains, and this horse and this harness was thy brother’s, +the Black Knight. Also I saw thy brother the Green Knight overcome of +his hands. Now may ye be revenged upon him, for I may never be quit of +him. + +With this either knights departed in sunder, and they came together +with all their might, and either of their horses fell to the earth, and +they avoided their horses, and put their shields afore them and drew +their swords, and either gave other sad strokes, now here, now there, +rasing, tracing, foining, and hurling like two boars, the space of two +hours. And then she cried on high to the Red Knight, Alas, thou noble +Red Knight, think what worship hath followed thee, let never a kitchen +knave endure thee so long as he doth. Then the Red Knight waxed wroth +and doubled his strokes, and hurt Beaumains wonderly sore, that the +blood ran down to the ground, that it was wonder to see that strong +battle. Yet at the last Sir Beaumains struck him to the earth, and as +he would have slain the Red Knight, he cried mercy, saying, Noble +knight, slay me not, and I shall yield me to thee with fifty knights +with me that be at my commandment. And I forgive thee all the despite +that thou hast done to me, and the death of my brother the Black +Knight. All this availeth not, said Beaumains, but if my damosel pray +me to save thy life. And therewith he made semblant to strike off his +head. Let be, thou Beaumains, slay him not, for he is a noble knight, +and not so hardy, upon thine head, but thou save him. + +Then Beaumains bade the Red Knight, Stand up, and thank the damosel now +of thy life. Then the Red Knight prayed him to see his castle, and to +be there all night. So the damosel then granted him, and there they had +merry cheer. But always the damosel spake many foul words unto +Beaumains, whereof the Red Knight had great marvel; and all that night +the Red Knight made three score knights to watch Beaumains, that he +should have no shame nor villainy. And upon the morn they heard mass +and dined, and the Red Knight came before Beaumains with his three +score knights, and there he proffered him his homage and fealty at all +times, he and his knights to do him service. I thank you, said +Beaumains, but this ye shall grant me: when I call upon you, to come +afore my lord King Arthur, and yield you unto him to be his knights. +Sir, said the Red Knight, I will be ready, and my fellowship, at your +summons. So Sir Beaumains departed and the damosel, and ever she rode +chiding him in the foulest manner. + + + +CHAPTER XI. How Sir Beaumains suffered great rebukes of the damosel, +and he suffered it patiently. + +Damosel, said Beaumains, ye are uncourteous so to rebuke me as ye do, +for meseemeth I have done you good service, and ever ye threaten me I +shall be beaten with knights that we meet, but ever for all your boast +they lie in the dust or in the mire, and therefore I pray you rebuke me +no more; and when ye see me beaten or yielden as recreant, then may ye +bid me go from you shamefully; but first I let you wit I will not +depart from you, for I were worse than a fool an I would depart from +you all the while that I win worship. Well, said she, right soon there +shall meet a knight shall pay thee all thy wages, for he is the most +man of worship of the world, except King Arthur. I will well, said +Beaumains, the more he is of worship, the more shall be my worship to +have ado with him. + +Then anon they were ware where was afore them a city rich and fair. And +betwixt them and the city a mile and an half there was a fair meadow +that seemed new mown, and therein were many pavilions fair to behold. +Lo, said the damosel, yonder is a lord that owneth yonder city, and his +custom is, when the weather is fair, to lie in this meadow to joust and +tourney. And ever there be about him five hundred knights and gentlemen +of arms, and there be all manner of games that any gentleman can +devise. That goodly lord, said Beaumains, would I fain see. Thou shalt +see him time enough, said the damosel, and so as she rode near she +espied the pavilion where he was. Lo, said she, seest thou yonder +pavilion that is all of the colour of Inde, and all manner of thing +that there is about, men and women, and horses trapped, shields and +spears were all of the colour of Inde, and his name is Sir Persant of +Inde, the most lordliest knight that ever thou lookedst on. It may well +be, said Beaumains, but be he never so stout a knight, in this field I +shall abide till that I see him under his shield. Ah, fool, said she, +thou wert better flee betimes. Why, said Beaumains, an he be such a +knight as ye make him, he will not set upon me with all his men, or +with his five hundred knights. For an there come no more but one at +once, I shall him not fail whilst my life lasteth. Fie, fie, said the +damosel, that ever such a stinking knave should blow such a boast. +Damosel, he said, ye are to blame so to rebuke me, for I had liefer do +five battles than so to be rebuked, let him come and then let him do +his worst. + +Sir, she said, I marvel what thou art and of what kin thou art come; +boldly thou speakest, and boldly thou hast done, that have I seen; +therefore I pray thee save thyself an thou mayest, for thy horse and +thou have had great travail, and I dread we dwell over long from the +siege, for it is but hence seven mile, and all perilous passages we are +passed save all only this passage; and here I dread me sore lest ye +shall catch some hurt, therefore I would ye were hence, that ye were +not bruised nor hurt with this strong knight. But I let you wit that +Sir Persant of Inde is nothing of might nor strength unto the knight +that laid the siege about my lady. As for that, said Sir Beaumains, be +it as it be may. For sithen I am come so nigh this knight I will prove +his might or I depart from him, and else I shall be shamed an I now +withdraw me from him. And therefore, damosel, have ye no doubt by the +grace of God I shall so deal with this knight that within two hours +after noon I shall deliver him. And then shall we come to the siege by +daylight. O Jesu, marvel have I, said the damosel, what manner a man ye +be, for it may never be otherwise but that ye be come of a noble blood, +for so foul nor shamefully did never woman rule a knight as I have done +you, and ever courteously ye have suffered me, and that came never but +of a gentle blood. + +Damosel, said Beaumains, a knight may little do that may not suffer a +damosel, for whatsomever ye said unto me I took none heed to your +words, for the more ye said the more ye angered me, and my wrath I +wreaked upon them that I had ado withal. And therefore all the +missaying that ye missaid me furthered me in my battle, and caused me +to think to show and prove myself at the end what I was; for +peradventure though I had meat in King Arthur’s kitchen, yet I might +have had meat enough in other places, but all that I did it for to +prove and assay my friends, and that shall be known another day; and +whether that I be a gentleman born or none, I let you wit, fair +damosel, I have done you gentleman’s service, and peradventure better +service yet will I do or I depart from you. Alas, she said, fair +Beaumains, forgive me all that I have missaid or done against thee. +With all my heart, said he, I forgive it you, for ye did nothing but as +ye should do, for all your evil words pleased me; and damosel, said +Beaumains, since it liketh you to say thus fair unto me, wit ye well it +gladdeth my heart greatly, and now meseemeth there is no knight living +but I am able enough for him. + + + +CHAPTER XII. How Beaumains fought with Sir Persant of Inde, and made +him to be yielden. + +With this Sir Persant of Inde had espied them as they hoved in the +field, and knightly he sent to them whether he came in war or in peace. +Say to thy lord, said Beaumains, I take no force, but whether as him +list himself. So the messenger went again unto Sir Persant and told him +all his answer. Well then will I have ado with him to the utterance, +and so he purveyed him and rode against him. And Beaumains saw him and +made him ready, and there they met with all that ever their horses +might run, and brast their spears either in three pieces, and their +horses rushed so together that both their horses fell dead to the +earth; and lightly they avoided their horses and put their shields +afore them, and drew their swords, and gave many great strokes that +sometime they hurtled together that they fell grovelling on the ground. +Thus they fought two hours and more, that their shields and their +hauberks were all forhewen, and in many steads they were wounded. So at +the last Sir Beaumains smote him through the cost of the body, and then +he retrayed him here and there, and knightly maintained his battle long +time. And at the last, though him loath were, Beaumains smote Sir +Persant above upon the helm, that he fell grovelling to the earth; and +then he leapt upon him overthwart and unlaced his helm to have slain +him. + +Then Sir Persant yielded him and asked him mercy. With that came the +damosel and prayed to save his life. I will well, for it were pity this +noble knight should die. Gramercy, said Persant, gentle knight and +damosel. For certainly now I wot well it was ye that slew my brother +the Black Knight at the black thorn; he was a full noble knight, his +name was Sir Percard. Also I am sure that ye are he that won mine other +brother the Green Knight, his name was Sir Pertolepe. Also ye won my +brother the Red Knight, Sir Perimones. And now since ye have won these, +this shall I do for to please you: ye shall have homage and fealty of +me, and an hundred knights to be always at your commandment, to go and +ride where ye will command us. And so they went unto Sir Persant’s +pavilion and drank the wine, and ate spices, and afterward Sir Persant +made him to rest upon a bed until supper time, and after supper to bed +again. When Beaumains was abed, Sir Persant had a lady, a fair daughter +of eighteen year of age, and there he called her unto him, and charged +her and commanded her upon his blessing to go unto the knight’s bed, +and lie down by his side, and make him no strange cheer, but good +cheer, and take him in thine arms and kiss him, and look that this be +done, I charge you, as ye will have my love and my good will. So Sir +Persant’s daughter did as her father bade her, and so she went unto Sir +Beaumains’ bed, and privily she dispoiled her, and laid her down by +him, and then he awoke and saw her, and asked her what she was. Sir, +she said, I am Sir Persant’s daughter, that by the commandment of my +father am come hither. Be ye a maid or a wife? said he. Sir, she said, +I am a clean maiden. God defend, said he, that I should defoil you to +do Sir Persant such a shame; therefore, fair damosel, arise out of this +bed or else I will. Sir, she said, I came not to you by mine own will, +but as I was commanded. Alas, said Sir Beaumains, I were a shameful +knight an I would do your father any disworship; and so he kissed her, +and so she departed and came unto Sir Persant her father, and told him +all how she had sped. Truly, said Sir Persant, whatsomever he be, he is +come of a noble blood. And so we leave them there till on the morn. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. Of the goodly communication between Sir Persant and +Beaumains, and how he told him that his name was Sir Gareth. + +And so on the morn the damosel and Sir Beaumains heard mass and brake +their fast, and so took their leave. Fair damosel, said Persant, +whitherward are ye way-leading this knight? Sir, she said, this knight +is going to the siege that besiegeth my sister in the Castle Dangerous. +Ah, ah, said Persant, that is the Knight of the Red Laund, the which is +the most perilous knight that I know now living, and a man that is +without mercy, and men say that he hath seven men’s strength. God save +you, said he to Beaumains, from that knight, for he doth great wrong to +that lady, and that is great pity, for she is one of the fairest ladies +of the world, and meseemeth that your damosel is her sister: is not +your name Linet? said he. Yea, sir, said she, and my lady my sister’s +name is Dame Lionesse. Now shall I tell you, said Sir Persant, this Red +Knight of the Red Laund hath lain long at the siege, well-nigh this two +years, and many times he might have had her an he had would, but he +prolongeth the time to this intent, for to have Sir Launcelot du Lake +to do battle with him, or Sir Tristram, or Sir Lamorak de Galis, or Sir +Gawaine, and this is his tarrying so long at the siege. + +Now my lord Sir Persant of Inde, said the damosel Linet, I require you +that ye will make this gentleman knight or ever he fight with the Red +Knight. I will with all my heart, said Sir Persant, an it please him to +take the order of knighthood of so simple a man as I am. Sir, said +Beaumains, I thank you for your good will, for I am better sped, for +certainly the noble knight Sir Launcelot made me knight. Ah, said Sir +Persant, of a more renowned knight might ye not be made knight; for of +all knights he may be called chief of knighthood; and so all the world +saith, that betwixt three knights is departed clearly knighthood, that +is Launcelot du Lake, Sir Tristram de Liones, and Sir Lamorak de Galis: +these bear now the renown. There be many other knights, as Sir +Palamides the Saracen and Sir Safere his brother; also Sir Bleoberis +and Sir Blamore de Ganis his brother; also Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir +Ector de Maris and Sir Percivale de Galis; these and many more be noble +knights, but there be none that pass the three above said; therefore +God speed you well, said Sir Persant, for an ye may match the Red +Knight ye shall be called the fourth of the world. + +Sir, said Beaumains, I would fain be of good fame and of knighthood. +And I let you wit I came of good men, for I dare say my father was a +noble man, and so that ye will keep it in close, and this damosel, I +will tell you of what kin I am. We will not discover you, said they +both, till ye command us, by the faith we owe unto God. Truly then, +said he, my name is Gareth of Orkney, and King Lot was my father, and +my mother is King Arthur’s sister, her name is Dame Morgawse, and Sir +Gawaine is my brother, and Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris, and I am the +youngest of them all. And yet wot not King Arthur nor Sir Gawaine what +I am. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. How the lady that was besieged had word from her sister +how she had brought a knight to fight for her, and what battles he had +achieved. + +So the book saith that the lady that was besieged had word of her +sister’s coming by the dwarf, and a knight with her, and how he had +passed all the perilous passages. What manner a man is he? said the +lady. He is a noble knight, truly, madam, said the dwarf, and but a +young man, but he is as likely a man as ever ye saw any. What is he? +said the damosel, and of what kin is he come, and of whom was he made +knight? Madam, said the dwarf, he is the king’s son of Orkney, but his +name I will not tell you as at this time; but wit ye well, of Sir +Launcelot was he made knight, for of none other would he be made +knight, and Sir Kay named him Beaumains. How escaped he, said the lady, +from the brethren of Persant? Madam, he said, as a noble knight should. +First, he slew two brethren at a passage of a water. Ah! said she, they +were good knights, but they were murderers, the one hight Gherard le +Breuse, and the other knight hight Sir Arnold le Breuse. Then, madam, +he recountered with the Black Knight, and slew him in plain battle, and +so he took his horse and his armour and fought with the Green Knight +and won him in plain battle, and in like wise he served the Red Knight, +and after in the same wise he served the Blue Knight and won him in +plain battle. Then, said the lady, he hath overcome Sir Persant of +Inde, one of the noblest knights of the world, and the dwarf said, He +hath won all the four brethren and slain the Black Knight, and yet he +did more to-fore: he overthrew Sir Kay and left him nigh dead upon the +ground; also he did a great battle with Sir Launcelot, and there they +departed on even hands: and then Sir Launcelot made him knight. + +Dwarf, said the lady, I am glad of these tidings, therefore go thou in +an hermitage of mine hereby, and there shalt thou bear with thee of my +wine in two flagons of silver, they are of two gallons, and also two +cast of bread with fat venison baked, and dainty fowls; and a cup of +gold here I deliver thee, that is rich and precious; and bear all this +to mine hermitage, and put it in the hermit’s hands. And sithen go thou +unto my sister and greet her well, and commend me unto that gentle +knight, and pray him to eat and to drink and make him strong, and say +ye him I thank him of his courtesy and goodness, that he would take +upon him such labour for me that never did him bounty nor courtesy. +Also pray him that he be of good heart and courage, for he shall meet +with a full noble knight, but he is neither of bounty, courtesy, nor +gentleness; for he attendeth unto nothing but to murder, and that is +the cause I cannot praise him nor love him. + +So this dwarf departed, and came to Sir Persant, where he found the +damosel Linet and Sir Beaumains, and there he told them all as ye have +heard; and then they took their leave, but Sir Persant took an ambling +hackney and conveyed them on their ways, and then beleft them to God; +and so within a little while they came to that hermitage, and there +they drank the wine, and ate the venison and the fowls baken. And so +when they had repasted them well, the dwarf returned again with his +vessel unto the castle again; and there met with him the Red Knight of +the Red Launds, and asked him from whence that he came, and where he +had been. Sir, said the dwarf, I have been with my lady’s sister of +this castle, and she hath been at King Arthur’s court, and brought a +knight with her. Then I account her travail but lost; for though she +had brought with her Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, Sir Lamorak, or Sir +Gawaine, I would think myself good enough for them all. + +It may well be, said the dwarf, but this knight hath passed all the +perilous passages, and slain the Black Knight and other two more, and +won the Green Knight, the Red Knight, and the Blue Knight. Then is he +one of these four that I have afore rehearsed. He is none of those, +said the dwarf, but he is a king’s son. What is his name? said the Red +Knight of the Red Launds. That will I not tell you, said the dwarf, but +Sir Kay upon scorn named him Beaumains. I care not, said the knight, +what knight so ever he be, for I shall soon deliver him. And if I ever +match him he shall have a shameful death as many other have had. That +were pity, said the dwarf, and it is marvel that ye make such shameful +war upon noble knights. + + + +CHAPTER XV. How the damosel and Beaumains came to the siege; and came +to a sycamore tree, and there Beaumains blew a horn, and then the +Knight of the Red Launds came to fight with him. + +Now leave we the knight and the dwarf, and speak we of Beaumains, that +all night lay in the hermitage; and upon the morn he and the damosel +Linet heard their mass and brake their fast. And then they took their +horses and rode throughout a fair forest; and then they came to a +plain, and saw where were many pavilions and tents, and a fair castle, +and there was much smoke and great noise; and when they came near the +siege Sir Beaumains espied upon great trees, as he rode, how there hung +full goodly armed knights by the neck, and their shields about their +necks with their swords, and gilt spurs upon their heels, and so there +hung nigh a forty knights shamefully with full rich arms. + +Then Sir Beaumains abated his countenance and said, What meaneth this? +Fair sir, said the damosel, abate not your cheer for all this sight, +for ye must courage yourself, or else ye be all shent, for all these +knights came hither to this siege to rescue my sister Dame Lionesse, +and when the Red Knight of the Red Launds had overcome them, he put +them to this shameful death without mercy and pity. And in the same +wise he will serve you but if you quit you the better. + +Now Jesu defend me, said Beaumains, from such a villainous death and +shenship of arms. For rather than I should so be faren withal, I would +rather be slain manly in plain battle. So were ye better, said the +damosel; for trust not, in him is no courtesy, but all goeth to the +death or shameful murder, and that is pity, for he is a full likely +man, well made of body, and a full noble knight of prowess, and a lord +of great lands and possessions. Truly, said Beaumains, he may well be a +good knight, but he useth shameful customs, and it is marvel that he +endureth so long that none of the noble knights of my lord Arthur’s +have not dealt with him. + +And then they rode to the dykes, and saw them double dyked with full +warlike walls; and there were lodged many great lords nigh the walls; +and there was great noise of minstrelsy; and the sea beat upon the one +side of the walls, where were many ships and mariners’ noise with “hale +and how.” And also there was fast by a sycamore tree, and there hung an +horn, the greatest that ever they saw, of an elephant’s bone; and this +Knight of the Red Launds had hanged it up there, that if there came any +errant-knight, he must blow that horn, and then will he make him ready +and come to him to do battle. But, sir, I pray you, said the damosel +Linet, blow ye not the horn till it be high noon, for now it is about +prime, and now increaseth his might, that as men say he hath seven +men’s strength. Ah, fie for shame, fair damosel, say ye never so more +to me; for, an he were as good a knight as ever was, I shall never fail +him in his most might, for either I will win worship worshipfully, or +die knightly in the field. And therewith he spurred his horse straight +to the sycamore tree, and blew so the horn eagerly that all the siege +and the castle rang thereof. And then there leapt out knights out of +their tents and pavilions, and they within the castle looked over the +walls and out at windows. + +Then the Red Knight of the Red Launds armed him hastily, and two barons +set on his spurs upon his heels, and all was blood red, his armour, +spear and shield. And an earl buckled his helm upon his head, and then +they brought him a red spear and a red steed, and so he rode into a +little vale under the castle, that all that were in the castle and at +the siege might behold the battle. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. How the two knights met together, and of their talking, +and how they began their battle. + +Sir, said the damosel Linet unto Sir Beaumains, look ye be glad and +light, for yonder is your deadly enemy, and at yonder window is my +lady, my sister, Dame Lionesse. Where? said Beaumains. Yonder, said the +damosel, and pointed with her finger. That is truth, said Beaumains. +She beseemeth afar the fairest lady that ever I looked upon; and truly, +he said, I ask no better quarrel than now for to do battle, for truly +she shall be my lady, and for her I will fight. And ever he looked up +to the window with glad countenance, and the Lady Lionesse made curtsey +to him down to the earth, with holding up both their hands. + +With that the Red Knight of the Red Launds called to Sir Beaumains, +Leave, sir knight, thy looking, and behold me, I counsel thee; for I +warn thee well she is my lady, and for her I have done many strong +battles. If thou have so done, said Beaumains, meseemeth it was but +waste labour, for she loveth none of thy fellowship, and thou to love +that loveth not thee is but great folly. For an I understood that she +were not glad of my coming, I would be advised or I did battle for her. +But I understand by the besieging of this castle she may forbear thy +fellowship. And therefore wit thou well, thou Red Knight of the Red +Launds, I love her, and will rescue her, or else to die. Sayst thou +that? said the Red Knight, meseemeth thou ought of reason to be ware by +yonder knights that thou sawest hang upon yonder trees. Fie for shame, +said Beaumains, that ever thou shouldest say or do so evil, for in that +thou shamest thyself and knighthood, and thou mayst be sure there will +no lady love thee that knoweth thy wicked customs. And now thou weenest +that the sight of these hanged knights should fear me. Nay truly, not +so; that shameful sight causeth me to have courage and hardiness +against thee, more than I would have had against thee an thou wert a +well-ruled knight. Make thee ready, said the Red Knight of the Red +Launds, and talk no longer with me. + +Then Sir Beaumains bade the damosel go from him; and then they put +their spears in their rests, and came together with all their might +that they had both, and either smote other in midst of their shields +that the paitrelles, surcingles, and cruppers brast, and fell to the +earth both, and the reins of their bridles in their hands; and so they +lay a great while sore astonied, that all that were in the castle and +in the siege weened their necks had been broken; and then many a +stranger and other said the strange knight was a big man, and a noble +jouster, for or now we saw never no knight match the Red Knight of the +Red Launds: thus they said, both within the castle and without. Then +lightly they avoided their horses and put their shields afore them, and +drew their swords and ran together like two fierce lions, and either +gave other such buffets upon their helms that they reeled backward both +two strides; and then they recovered both, and hewed great pieces off +their harness and their shields that a great part fell into the fields. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. How after long fighting Beaumains overcame the knight and +would have slain him, but at the request of the lords he saved his +life, and made him to yield him to the lady. + +And then thus they fought till it was past noon, and never would stint, +till at the last they lacked wind both; and then they stood wagging and +scattering, panting, blowing and bleeding, that all that beheld them +for the most part wept for pity. So when they had rested them a while +they yede to battle again, tracing, racing, foining as two boars. And +at some time they took their run as it had been two rams, and hurtled +together that sometime they fell grovelling to the earth: and at some +time they were so amazed that either took other’s sword instead of his +own. + +Thus they endured till evensong time, that there was none that beheld +them might know whether was like to win the battle; and their armour +was so forhewn that men might see their naked sides; and in other +places they were naked, but ever the naked places they did defend. And +the Red Knight was a wily knight of war, and his wily fighting taught +Sir Beaumains to be wise; but he abought it full sore or he did espy +his fighting. + +And thus by assent of them both they granted either other to rest; and +so they set them down upon two mole-hills there beside the fighting +place, and either of them unlaced his helm, and took the cold wind; for +either of their pages was fast by them, to come when they called to +unlace their harness and to set them on again at their commandment. And +then when Sir Beaumains’ helm was off, he looked up to the window, and +there he saw the fair lady Dame Lionesse, and she made him such +countenance that his heart waxed light and jolly; and therewith he bade +the Red Knight of the Red Launds make him ready, and let us do the +battle to the utterance. I will well, said the knight, and then they +laced up their helms, and their pages avoided, and they stepped +together and fought freshly; but the Red Knight of the Red Launds +awaited him, and at an overthwart smote him within the hand, that his +sword fell out of his hand; and yet he gave him another buffet upon the +helm that he fell grovelling to the earth, and the Red Knight fell over +him, for to hold him down. + +Then cried the maiden Linet on high: O Sir Beaumains, where is thy +courage become? Alas, my lady my sister beholdeth thee, and she sobbeth +and weepeth, that maketh mine heart heavy. When Sir Beaumains heard her +say so, he abraid up with a great might and gat him upon his feet, and +lightly he leapt to his sword and gripped it in his hand, and doubled +his pace unto the Red Knight, and there they fought a new battle +together. But Sir Beaumains then doubled his strokes, and smote so +thick that he smote the sword out of his hand, and then he smote him +upon the helm that he fell to the earth, and Sir Beaumains fell upon +him, and unlaced his helm to have slain him; and then he yielded him +and asked mercy, and said with a loud voice: O noble knight, I yield me +to thy mercy. + +Then Sir Beaumains bethought him upon the knights that he had made to +be hanged shamefully, and then he said: I may not with my worship save +thy life, for the shameful deaths that thou hast caused many full good +knights to die. Sir, said the Red Knight of the Red Launds, hold your +hand and ye shall know the causes why I put them to so shameful a +death. Say on, said Sir Beaumains. Sir, I loved once a lady, a fair +damosel, and she had her brother slain; and she said it was Sir +Launcelot du Lake, or else Sir Gawaine; and she prayed me as that I +loved her heartily, that I would make her a promise by the faith of my +knighthood, for to labour daily in arms unto I met with one of them; +and all that I might overcome I should put them unto a villainous +death; and this is the cause that I have put all these knights to +death, and so I ensured her to do all the villainy unto King Arthur’s +knights, and that I should take vengeance upon all these knights. And, +sir, now I will thee tell that every day my strength increaseth till +noon, and all this time have I seven men’s strength. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. How the knight yielded him, and how Beaumains made him +to go unto King Arthur’s court, and to cry Sir Launcelot mercy. + +Then came there many earls, and barons, and noble knights, and prayed +that knight to save his life, and take him to your prisoner. And all +they fell upon their knees, and prayed him of mercy, and that he would +save his life; and, Sir, they all said, it were fairer of him to take +homage and fealty, and let him hold his lands of you than for to slay +him; by his death ye shall have none advantage, and his misdeeds that +be done may not be undone; and therefore he shall make amends to all +parties, and we all will become your men and do you homage and fealty. +Fair lords, said Beaumains, wit you well I am full loath to slay this +knight, nevertheless he hath done passing ill and shamefully; but +insomuch all that he did was at a lady’s request I blame him the less; +and so for your sake I will release him that he shall have his life +upon this covenant, that he go within the castle, and yield him there +to the lady, and if she will forgive and quit him, I will well; with +this he make her amends of all the trespass he hath done against her +and her lands. And also, when that is done, that ye go unto the court +of King Arthur, and there that ye ask Sir Launcelot mercy, and Sir +Gawaine, for the evil will ye have had against them. Sir, said the Red +Knight of the Red Launds, all this will I do as ye command, and siker +assurance and borrows ye shall have. And so then when the assurance was +made, he made his homage and fealty, and all those earls and barons +with him. + +And then the maiden Linet came to Sir Beaumains, and unarmed him and +searched his wounds, and stinted his blood, and in likewise she did to +the Red Knight of the Red Launds. And there they sojourned ten days in +their tents; and the Red Knight made his lords and servants to do all +the pleasure that they might unto Sir Beaumains. And so within a while +the Red Knight of the Red Launds yede unto the castle, and put him in +her grace. And so she received him upon sufficient surety, so all her +hurts were well restored of all that she could complain. And then he +departed unto the court of King Arthur, and there openly the Red Knight +of the Red Launds put him in the mercy of Sir Launcelot and Sir +Gawaine, and there he told openly how he was overcome and by whom, and +also he told all the battles from the beginning unto the ending. Jesu +mercy, said King Arthur and Sir Gawaine, we marvel much of what blood +he is come, for he is a noble knight. Have ye no marvel, said Sir +Launcelot, for ye shall right well wit that he is come of a full noble +blood; and as for his might and hardiness, there be but few now living +that is so mighty as he is, and so noble of prowess. It seemeth by you, +said King Arthur, that ye know his name, and from whence he is come, +and of what blood he is. I suppose I do so, said Launcelot, or else I +would not have given him the order of knighthood; but he gave me such +charge at that time that I should never discover him until he required +me, or else it be known openly by some other. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. How Beaumains came to the lady, and when he came to the +castle the gates were closed against him, and of the words that the +lady said to him. + +Now turn we unto Sir Beaumains that desired of Linet that he might see +her sister, his lady. Sir, she said, I would fain ye saw her. Then Sir +Beaumains all armed him, and took his horse and his spear, and rode +straight unto the castle. And when he came to the gate he found there +many men armed, and pulled up the drawbridge and drew the port close. + +Then marvelled he why they would not suffer him to enter. And then he +looked up to the window; and there he saw the fair Lionesse that said +on high: Go thy way, Sir Beaumains, for as yet thou shalt not have +wholly my love, unto the time that thou be called one of the number of +the worthy knights. And therefore go labour in worship this +twelvemonth, and then thou shalt hear new tidings. Alas, fair lady, +said Beaumains, I have not deserved that ye should show me this +strangeness, and I had weened that I should have right good cheer with +you, and unto my power I have deserved thank, and well I am sure I have +bought your love with part of the best blood within my body. Fair +courteous knight, said Dame Lionesse, be not displeased nor over-hasty; +for wit you well your great travail nor good love shall not be lost, +for I consider your great travail and labour, your bounty and your +goodness as me ought to do. And therefore go on your way, and look that +ye be of good comfort, for all shall be for your worship and for the +best, and perdy a twelvemonth will soon be done, and trust me, fair +knight, I shall be true to you, and never to betray you, but to my +death I shall love you and none other. And therewithal she turned her +from the window, and Sir Beaumains rode awayward from the castle, +making great dole, and so he rode here and there and wist not where he +rode, till it was dark night. And then it happened him to come to a +poor man’s house, and there he was harboured all that night. + +But Sir Beaumains had no rest, but wallowed and writhed for the love of +the lady of the castle. And so upon the morrow he took his horse and +rode until underne, and then he came to a broad water, and thereby was +a great lodge, and there he alighted to sleep and laid his head upon +the shield, and betook his horse to the dwarf, and commanded him to +watch all night. + +Now turn we to the lady of the same castle, that thought much upon +Beaumains, and then she called unto her Sir Gringamore her brother, and +prayed him in all manner, as he loved her heartily, that he would ride +after Sir Beaumains: And ever have ye wait upon him till ye may find +him sleeping, for I am sure in his heaviness he will alight down in +some place, and lie him down to sleep; and therefore have ye your wait +upon him, and in the priviest manner ye can, take his dwarf, and go ye +your way with him as fast as ever ye may or Sir Beaumains awake. For my +sister Linet telleth me that he can tell of what kindred he is come, +and what is his right name. And the meanwhile I and my sister will ride +unto your castle to await when ye bring with you the dwarf. And then +when ye have brought him unto your castle, I will have him in +examination myself. Unto the time that I know what is his right name, +and of what kindred he is come, shall I never be merry at my heart. +Sister, said Sir Gringamore, all this shall be done after your intent. + +And so he rode all the other day and the night till that he found Sir +Beaumains lying by a water, and his head upon his shield, for to sleep. +And then when he saw Sir Beaumains fast asleep, he came stilly stalking +behind the dwarf, and plucked him fast under his arm, and so he rode +away with him as fast as ever he might unto his own castle. And this +Sir Gringamore’s arms were all black, and that to him longeth. But ever +as he rode with the dwarf toward his castle, he cried unto his lord and +prayed him of help. And therewith awoke Sir Beaumains, and up he leapt +lightly, and saw where Sir Gringamore rode his way with the dwarf, and +so Sir Gringamore rode out of his sight. + + + +CHAPTER XX. How Sir Beaumains rode after to rescue his dwarf, and came +into the castle where he was. + +Then Sir Beaumains put on his helm anon, and buckled his shield, and +took his horse, and rode after him all that ever he might ride through +marshes, and fields, and great dales, that many times his horse and he +plunged over the head in deep mires, for he knew not the way, but took +the gainest way in that woodness, that many times he was like to +perish. And at the last him happened to come to a fair green way, and +there he met with a poor man of the country, whom he saluted and asked +him whether he met not with a knight upon a black horse and all black +harness, a little dwarf sitting behind him with heavy cheer. Sir, said +the poor man, here by me came Sir Gringamore the knight, with such a +dwarf mourning as ye say; and therefore I rede you not follow him, for +he is one of the periloust knights of the world, and his castle is here +nigh hand but two mile; therefore we advise you ride not after Sir +Gringamore, but if ye owe him good will. + +So leave we Sir Beaumains riding toward the castle, and speak we of Sir +Gringamore and the dwarf. Anon as the dwarf was come to the castle, +Dame Lionesse and Dame Linet her sister, asked the dwarf where was his +master born, and of what lineage he was come. And but if thou tell me, +said Dame Lionesse, thou shalt never escape this castle, but ever here +to be prisoner. As for that, said the dwarf, I fear not greatly to tell +his name and of what kin he is come. Wit you well he is a king’s son, +and his mother is sister to King Arthur, and he is brother to the good +knight Sir Gawaine, and his name is Sir Gareth of Orkney. And now I +have told you his right name, I pray you, fair lady, let me go to my +lord again, for he will never out of this country until that he have me +again. And if he be angry he will do much harm or that he be stint, and +work you wrack in this country. As for that threatening, said Sir +Gringamore, be it as it be may, we will go to dinner. And so they +washed and went to meat, and made them merry and well at ease, and +because the Lady Lionesse of the castle was there, they made great joy. +Truly, madam, said Linet unto her sister, well may he be a king’s son, +for he hath many good tatches on him, for he is courteous and mild, and +the most suffering man that ever I met withal. For I dare say there was +never gentlewoman reviled man in so foul a manner as I have rebuked +him; and at all times he gave me goodly and meek answers again. + +And as they sat thus talking, there came Sir Gareth in at the gate with +an angry countenance, and his sword drawn in his hand, and cried aloud +that all the castle might hear it, saying: Thou traitor, Sir +Gringamore, deliver me my dwarf again, or by the faith that I owe to +the order of knighthood, I shall do thee all the harm that I can. Then +Sir Gringamore looked out at a window and said, Sir Gareth of Orkney, +leave thy boasting words, for thou gettest not thy dwarf again. Thou +coward knight, said Sir Gareth, bring him with thee, and come and do +battle with me, and win him and take him. So will I do, said Sir +Gringamore, an me list, but for all thy great words thou gettest him +not. Ah! fair brother, said Dame Lionesse, I would he had his dwarf +again, for I would he were not wroth, for now he hath told me all my +desire I keep no more of the dwarf. And also, brother, he hath done +much for me, and delivered me from the Red Knight of the Red Launds, +and therefore, brother, I owe him my service afore all knights living. +And wit ye well that I love him before all other, and full fain I would +speak with him. But in nowise I would that he wist what I were, but +that I were another strange lady. + +Well, said Sir Gringamore, sithen I know now your will, I will obey now +unto him. And right therewithal he went down unto Sir Gareth, and said: +Sir, I cry you mercy, and all that I have misdone I will amend it at +your will. And therefore I pray you that ye would alight, and take such +cheer as I can make you in this castle. Shall I have my dwarf? said Sir +Gareth. Yea, sir, and all the pleasaunce that I can make you, for as +soon as your dwarf told me what ye were and of what blood ye are come, +and what noble deeds ye have done in these marches, then I repented of +my deeds. And then Sir Gareth alighted, and there came his dwarf and +took his horse. O my fellow, said Sir Gareth, I have had many +adventures for thy sake. And so Sir Gringamore took him by the hand and +led him into the hall where his own wife was. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. How Sir Gareth, otherwise called Beaumains, came to the +presence of his lady, and how they took acquaintance, and of their +love. + +And then came forth Dame Lionesse arrayed like a princess, and there +she made him passing good cheer, and he her again; and they had goodly +language and lovely countenance together. And Sir Gareth thought many +times, Jesu, would that the lady of the Castle Perilous were so fair as +she was. There were all manner of games and plays, of dancing and +singing. And ever the more Sir Gareth beheld that lady, the more he +loved her; and so he burned in love that he was past himself in his +reason; and forth toward night they yede unto supper, and Sir Gareth +might not eat, for his love was so hot that he wist not where he was. + +All these looks espied Sir Gringamore, and then at-after supper he +called his sister Dame Lionesse into a chamber, and said: Fair sister, +I have well espied your countenance betwixt you and this knight, and I +will, sister, that ye wit he is a full noble knight, and if ye can make +him to abide here I will do him all the pleasure that I can, for an ye +were better than ye are, ye were well bywaryd upon him. Fair brother, +said Dame Lionesse, I understand well that the knight is good, and come +he is of a noble house. Notwithstanding, I will assay him better, +howbeit I am most beholden to him of any earthly man; for he hath had +great labour for my love, and passed many a dangerous passage. + +Right so Sir Gringamore went unto Sir Gareth, and said, Sir, make ye +good cheer, for ye shall have none other cause, for this lady, my +sister, is yours at all times, her worship saved, for wit ye well she +loveth you as well as ye do her, and better if better may be. An I wist +that, said Sir Gareth, there lived not a gladder man than I would be. +Upon my worship, said Sir Gringamore, trust unto my promise; and as +long as it liketh you ye shall sojourn with me, and this lady shall be +with us daily and nightly to make you all the cheer that she can. I +will well, said Sir Gareth, for I have promised to be nigh this country +this twelvemonth. And well I am sure King Arthur and other noble +knights will find me where that I am within this twelvemonth. For I +shall be sought and found, if that I be alive. And then the noble +knight Sir Gareth went unto the Dame Lionesse, which he then much +loved, and kissed her many times, and either made great joy of other. +And there she promised him her love certainly, to love him and none +other the days of her life. Then this lady, Dame Lionesse, by the +assent of her brother, told Sir Gareth all the truth what she was, and +how she was the same lady that he did battle for, and how she was lady +of the Castle Perilous, and there she told him how she caused her +brother to take away his dwarf. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. How at night came an armed knight, and fought with Sir +Gareth, and he, sore hurt in the thigh, smote off the knight’s head. + +For this cause, to know the certainty what was your name, and of what +kin ye were come. + +And then she let fetch to-fore him Linet, the damosel that had ridden +with him many wildsome ways. Then was Sir Gareth more gladder than he +was to-fore. And then they troth-plight each other to love, and never +to fail whiles their life lasteth. And so they burnt both in love, that +they were accorded to abate their lusts secretly. And there Dame +Lionesse counselled Sir Gareth to sleep in none other place but in the +hall. And there she promised him to come to his bed a little afore +midnight. + +This counsel was not so privily kept but it was understood; for they +were but young both, and tender of age, and had not used none such +crafts to-fore. Wherefore the damosel Linet was a little displeased, +and she thought her sister Dame Lionesse was a little over-hasty, that +she might not abide the time of her marriage; and for saving their +worship, she thought to abate their hot lusts. And so she let ordain by +her subtle crafts that they had not their intents neither with other, +as in their delights, until they were married. And so it passed on. +At-after supper was made clean avoidance, that every lord and lady +should go unto his rest. But Sir Gareth said plainly he would go no +farther than the hall, for in such places, he said, was convenient for +an errant-knight to take his rest in; and so there were ordained great +couches, and thereon feather beds, and there laid him down to sleep; +and within a while came Dame Lionesse, wrapped in a mantle furred with +ermine, and laid her down beside Sir Gareth. And therewithal he began +to kiss her. And then he looked afore him, and there he apperceived and +saw come an armed knight, with many lights about him; and this knight +had a long gisarm in his hand, and made grim countenance to smite him. +When Sir Gareth saw him come in that wise, he leapt out of his bed, and +gat in his hand his sword, and leapt straight toward that knight. And +when the knight saw Sir Gareth come so fiercely upon him, he smote him +with a foin through the thick of the thigh that the wound was a +shaftmon broad and had cut a-two many veins and sinews. And therewithal +Sir Gareth smote him upon the helm such a buffet that he fell +grovelling; and then he leapt over him and unlaced his helm, and smote +off his head from the body. And then he bled so fast that he might not +stand, but so he laid him down upon his bed, and there he swooned and +lay as he had been dead. + +Then Dame Lionesse cried aloud, that her brother Sir Gringamore heard, +and came down. And when he saw Sir Gareth so shamefully wounded he was +sore displeased, and said: I am shamed that this noble knight is thus +honoured. Sir, said Sir Gringamore, how may this be, that ye be here, +and this noble knight wounded? Brother, she said, I can not tell you, +for it was not done by me, nor by mine assent. For he is my lord and I +am his, and he must be mine husband; therefore, my brother, I will that +ye wit I shame me not to be with him, nor to do him all the pleasure +that I can. Sister, said Sir Gringamore, and I will that ye wit it, and +Sir Gareth both, that it was never done by me, nor by my assent that +this unhappy deed was done. And there they staunched his bleeding as +well as they might, and great sorrow made Sir Gringamore and Dame +Lionesse. + +And forthwithal came Dame Linet, and took up the head in the sight of +them all, and anointed it with an ointment thereas it was smitten off; +and in the same wise she did to the other part thereas the head stuck, +and then she set it together, and it stuck as fast as ever it did. And +the knight arose lightly up, and the damosel Linet put him in her +chamber. All this saw Sir Gringamore and Dame Lionesse, and so did Sir +Gareth; and well he espied that it was the damosel Linet, that rode +with him through the perilous passages. Ah well, damosel, said Sir +Gareth, I weened ye would not have done as ye have done. My lord +Gareth, said Linet, all that I have done I will avow, and all that I +have done shall be for your honour and worship, and to us all. And so +within a while Sir Gareth was nigh whole, and waxed light and jocund, +and sang, danced, and gamed; and he and Dame Lionesse were so hot in +burning love that they made their covenant at the tenth night after, +that she should come to his bed. And because he was wounded afore, he +laid his armour and his sword nigh his bed’s side. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. How the said knight came again the next night and was +beheaded again, and how at the feast of Pentecost all the knights that +Sir Gareth had overcome came and yielded them to King Arthur. + +Right as she promised she came; and she was not so soon in his bed but +she espied an armed knight coming toward the bed: therewithal she +warned Sir Gareth, and lightly through the good help of Dame Lionesse +he was armed; and they hurtled together with great ire and malice all +about the hall; and there was great light as it had been the number of +twenty torches both before and behind, so that Sir Gareth strained him, +so that his old wound brast again a-bleeding; but he was hot and +courageous and took no keep, but with his great force he struck down +that knight, and voided his helm, and struck off his head. Then he +hewed the head in an hundred pieces. And when he had done so he took up +all those pieces, and threw them out at a window into the ditches of +the castle; and by this done he was so faint that unnethes he might +stand for bleeding. And by when he was almost unarmed he fell in a +deadly swoon on the floor; and then Dame Lionesse cried so that Sir +Gringamore heard; and when he came and found Sir Gareth in that plight +he made great sorrow; and there he awaked Sir Gareth, and gave him a +drink that relieved him wonderly well; but the sorrow that Dame +Lionesse made there may no tongue tell, for she so fared with herself +as she would have died. + +Right so came this damosel Linet before them all, and she had fetched +all the gobbets of the head that Sir Gareth had thrown out at a window, +and there she anointed them as she had done to-fore, and set them +together again. Well, damosel Linet, said Sir Gareth, I have not +deserved all this despite that ye do unto me. Sir knight, she said, I +have nothing done but I will avow, and all that I have done shall be to +your worship, and to us all. And then was Sir Gareth staunched of his +bleeding. But the leeches said that there was no man that bare the life +should heal him throughout of his wound but if they healed him that +caused that stroke by enchantment. + +So leave we Sir Gareth there with Sir Gringamore and his sisters, and +turn we unto King Arthur, that at the next feast of Pentecost held his +feast; and there came the Green Knight with fifty knights, and yielded +them all unto King Arthur. And so there came the Red Knight his +brother, and yielded him to King Arthur, and three score knights with +him. Also there came the Blue Knight, brother to them, with an hundred +knights, and yielded them unto King Arthur; and the Green Knight’s name +was Pertolepe, and the Red Knight’s name was Perimones, and the Blue +Knight’s name was Sir Persant of Inde. These three brethren told King +Arthur how they were overcome by a knight that a damosel had with her, +and called him Beaumains. Jesu, said the king, I marvel what knight he +is, and of what lineage he is come. He was with me a twelvemonth, and +poorly and shamefully he was fostered, and Sir Kay in scorn named him +Beaumains. So right as the king stood so talking with these three +brethren, there came Sir Launcelot du Lake, and told the king that +there was come a goodly lord with six hundred knights with him. + +Then the king went out of Carlion, for there was the feast, and there +came to him this lord, and saluted the king in a goodly manner. What +will ye, said King Arthur, and what is your errand? Sir, he said, my +name is the Red Knight of the Red Launds, but my name is Sir Ironside; +and sir, wit ye well, here I am sent to you of a knight that is called +Beaumains, for he won me in plain battle hand for hand, and so did +never no knight but he, that ever had the better of me this thirty +winter; the which commanded to yield me to you at your will. Ye are +welcome, said the king, for ye have been long a great foe to me and my +court, and now I trust to God I shall so entreat you that ye shall be +my friend. Sir, both I and these five hundred knights shall always be +at your summons to do you service as may lie in our powers. Jesu mercy, +said King Arthur, I am much beholden unto that knight that hath put so +his body in devoir to worship me and my court. And as to thee, +Ironside, that art called the Red Knight of the Red Launds, thou art +called a perilous knight; and if thou wilt hold of me I shall worship +thee and make thee knight of the Table Round; but then thou must be no +more a murderer. Sir, as to that, I have promised unto Sir Beaumains +never more to use such customs, for all the shameful customs that I +used I did at the request of a lady that I loved; and therefore I must +go unto Sir Launcelot, and unto Sir Gawaine, and ask them forgiveness +of the evil will I had unto them; for all that I put to death was all +only for the love of Sir Launcelot and of Sir Gawaine. They be here +now, said the king, afore thee, now may ye say to them what ye will. +And then he kneeled down unto Sir Launcelot, and to Sir Gawaine, and +prayed them of forgiveness of his enmity that ever he had against them. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. How King Arthur pardoned them, and demanded of them where +Sir Gareth was. + +Then goodly they said all at once, God forgive you, and we do, and pray +you that ye will tell us where we may find Sir Beaumains. Fair lords, +said Sir Ironside, I cannot tell you, for it is full hard to find him; +for such young knights as he is one, when they be in their adventures +be never abiding in no place. But to say the worship that the Red +Knight of the Red Launds, and Sir Persant and his brother said of +Beaumains, it was marvel to hear. Well, my fair lords, said King +Arthur, wit you well I shall do you honour for the love of Sir +Beaumains, and as soon as ever I meet with him I shall make you all +upon one day knights of the Table Round. And as to thee, Sir Persant of +Inde, thou hast been ever called a full noble knight, and so have ever +been thy three brethren called. But I marvel, said the king, that I +hear not of the Black Knight your brother, he was a full noble knight. +Sir, said Pertolepe, the Green Knight, Sir Beaumains slew him in a +recounter with his spear, his name was Sir Percard. That was great +pity, said the king, and so said many knights. For these four brethren +were full well known in the court of King Arthur for noble knights, for +long time they had holden war against the knights of the Round Table. +Then said Pertolepe, the Green Knight, to the king: At a passage of the +water of Mortaise there encountered Sir Beaumains with two brethren +that ever for the most part kept that passage, and they were two deadly +knights, and there he slew the eldest brother in the water, and smote +him upon the head such a buffet that he fell down in the water, and +there he was drowned, and his name was Sir Gherard le Breusse; and +after he slew the other brother upon the land, his name was Sir Arnold +le Breusse. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. How the Queen of Orkney came to this feast of Pentecost, +and Sir Gawaine and his brethren came to ask her blessing. + +So then the king and they went to meat, and were served in the best +manner. And as they sat at the meat, there came in the Queen of Orkney, +with ladies and knights a great number. And then Sir Gawaine, Sir +Agravaine, and Gaheris arose, and went to her and saluted her upon +their knees, and asked her blessing; for in fifteen year they had not +seen her. Then she spake on high to her brother King Arthur: Where have +ye done my young son Sir Gareth? He was here amongst you a twelvemonth, +and ye made a kitchen knave of him, the which is shame to you all. +Alas, where have ye done my dear son that was my joy and bliss? O dear +mother, said Sir Gawaine, I knew him not. Nor I, said the king, that +now me repenteth, but thanked be God he is proved a worshipful knight +as any is now living of his years, and I shall never be glad till I may +find him. + +Ah, brother, said the Queen unto King Arthur, and unto Sir Gawaine, and +to all her sons, ye did yourself great shame when ye amongst you kept +my son in the kitchen and fed him like a poor hog. Fair sister, said +King Arthur, ye shall right well wit I knew him not, nor no more did +Sir Gawaine, nor his brethren; but sithen it is so, said the king, that +he is thus gone from us all, we must shape a remedy to find him. Also, +sister, meseemeth ye might have done me to wit of his coming, and then +an I had not done well to him ye might have blamed me. For when he came +to this court he came leaning upon two men’s shoulders, as though he +might not have gone. And then he asked me three gifts; and one he asked +the same day, that was that I would give him meat enough that +twelvemonth; and the other two gifts he asked that day a twelvemonth, +and that was that he might have the adventure of the damosel Linet, and +the third was that Sir Launcelot should make him knight when he desired +him. And so I granted him all his desire, and many in this court +marvelled that he desired his sustenance for a twelvemonth. And +thereby, we deemed, many of us, that he was not come of a noble house. + +Sir, said the Queen of Orkney unto King Arthur her brother, wit ye well +that I sent him unto you right well armed and horsed, and worshipfully +beseen of his body, and gold and silver plenty to spend. It may be, +said the King, but thereof saw we none, save that same day as he +departed from us, knights told me that there came a dwarf hither +suddenly, and brought him armour and a good horse full well and richly +beseen; and thereat we all had marvel from whence that riches came, +that we deemed all that he was come of men of worship. Brother, said +the queen, all that ye say I believe, for ever sithen he was grown he +was marvellously witted, and ever he was faithful and true of his +promise. But I marvel, said she, that Sir Kay did mock him and scorn +him, and gave him that name Beaumains; yet, Sir Kay, said the queen, +named him more righteously than he weened; for I dare say an he be +alive, he is as fair an handed man and well disposed as any is living. +Sir, said Arthur, let this language be still, and by the grace of God +he shall be found an he be within this seven realms, and let all this +pass and be merry, for he is proved to be a man of worship, and that is +my joy. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. How King Arthur sent for the Lady Lionesse, and how she +let cry a tourney at her castle, whereas came many knights. + +Then said Sir Gawaine and his brethren unto Arthur, Sir, an ye will +give us leave, we will go and seek our brother. Nay, said Sir +Launcelot, that shall ye not need; and so said Sir Baudwin of Britain: +for as by our advice the king shall send unto Dame Lionesse a +messenger, and pray her that she will come to the court in all the +haste that she may, and doubt ye not she will come; and then she may +give you best counsel where ye shall find him. This is well said of +you, said the king. So then goodly letters were made, and the messenger +sent forth, that night and day he went till he came unto the Castle +Perilous. And then the lady Dame Lionesse was sent for, thereas she was +with Sir Gringamore her brother and Sir Gareth. And when she understood +this message, she bade him ride on his way unto King Arthur, and she +would come after in all goodly haste. Then when she came to Sir +Gringamore and to Sir Gareth, she told them all how King Arthur had +sent for her. That is because of me, said Sir Gareth. Now advise me, +said Dame Lionesse, what shall I say, and in what manner I shall rule +me. My lady and my love, said Sir Gareth, I pray you in no wise be ye +aknowen where I am; but well I wot my mother is there and all my +brethren, and they will take upon them to seek me, I wot well that they +do. But this, madam, I would ye said and advised the king when he +questioned with you of me. Then may ye say, this is your advice that, +an it like his good grace, ye will do make a cry against the feast of +the Assumption of our Lady, that what knight there proveth him best he +shall wield you and all your land. And if so be that he be a wedded +man, that his wife shall have the degree, and a coronal of gold beset +with stones of virtue to the value of a thousand pound, and a white +gerfalcon. + +So Dame Lionesse departed and came to King Arthur, where she was nobly +received, and there she was sore questioned of the king and of the +Queen of Orkney. And she answered, where Sir Gareth was she could not +tell. But thus much she said unto Arthur: Sir, I will let cry a +tournament that shall be done before my castle at the Assumption of our +Lady, and the cry shall be this: that you, my lord Arthur, shall be +there, and your knights, and I will purvey that my knights shall be +against yours; and then I am sure ye shall hear of Sir Gareth. This is +well advised, said King Arthur; and so she departed. And the king and +she made great provision to that tournament. + +When Dame Lionesse was come to the Isle of Avilion, that was the same +isle thereas her brother Sir Gringamore dwelt, then she told them all +how she had done, and what promise she had made to King Arthur. Alas, +said Sir Gareth, I have been so wounded with unhappiness sithen I came +into this castle that I shall not be able to do at that tournament like +a knight; for I was never thoroughly whole since I was hurt. Be ye of +good cheer, said the damosel Linet, for I undertake within these +fifteen days to make ye whole, and as lusty as ever ye were. And then +she laid an ointment and a salve to him as it pleased to her, that he +was never so fresh nor so lusty. Then said the damosel Linet: Send you +unto Sir Persant of Inde, and assummon him and his knights to be here +with you as they have promised. Also, that ye send unto Sir Ironside, +that is the Red Knight of the Red Launds, and charge him that he be +ready with you with his whole sum of knights, and then shall ye be able +to match with King Arthur and his knights. So this was done, and all +knights were sent for unto the Castle Perilous; and then the Red Knight +answered and said unto Dame Lionesse, and to Sir Gareth, Madam, and my +lord Sir Gareth, ye shall understand that I have been at the court of +King Arthur, and Sir Persant of Inde and his brethren, and there we +have done our homage as ye commanded us. Also Sir Ironside said, I have +taken upon me with Sir Persant of Inde and his brethren to hold part +against my lord Sir Launcelot and the knights of that court. And this +have I done for the love of my lady Dame Lionesse, and you my lord Sir +Gareth. Ye have well done, said Sir Gareth; but wit you well ye shall +be full sore matched with the most noble knights of the world; +therefore we must purvey us of good knights, where we may get them. +That is well said, said Sir Persant, and worshipfully. + +And so the cry was made in England, Wales, and Scotland, Ireland, +Cornwall, and in all the Out Isles, and in Brittany and in many +countries; that at the feast of our Lady the Assumption next coming, +men should come to the Castle Perilous beside the Isle of Avilion; and +there all the knights that there came should have the choice whether +them list to be on the one party with the knights of the castle, or on +the other party with King Arthur. And two months was to the day that +the tournament should be. And so there came many good knights that were +at their large, and held them for the most part against King Arthur and +his knights of the Round Table and came in the side of them of the +castle. For Sir Epinogrus was the first, and he was the king’s son of +Northumberland, and Sir Palamides the Saracen was another, and Sir +Safere his brother, and Sir Segwarides his brother, but they were +christened, and Sir Malegrine another, and Sir Brian de les Isles, a +noble knight, and Sir Grummore Grummursum, a good knight of Scotland, +and Sir Carados of the dolorous tower, a noble knight, and Sir Turquine +his brother, and Sir Arnold and Sir Gauter, two brethren, good knights +of Cornwall. There came Sir Tristram de Liones, and with him Sir Dinas, +the Seneschal, and Sir Sadok; but this Sir Tristram was not at that +time knight of the Table Round, but he was one of the best knights of +the world. And so all these noble knights accompanied them with the +lady of the castle, and with the Red Knight of the Red Launds; but as +for Sir Gareth, he would not take upon him more but as other mean +knights. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. How King Arthur went to the tournament with his knights, +and how the lady received him worshipfully, and how the knights +encountered. + +And then there came with King Arthur Sir Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, +his brethren. And then his nephews Sir Uwaine le Blanchemains, and Sir +Aglovale, Sir Tor, Sir Percivale de Galis, and Sir Lamorak de Galis. +Then came Sir Launcelot du Lake with his brethren, nephews, and +cousins, as Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, and Sir +Galihodin, Sir Galihud, and many more of Sir Launcelot’s blood, and Sir +Dinadan, Sir La Cote Male Taile, his brother, a good knight, and Sir +Sagramore, a good knight; and all the most part of the Round Table. +Also there came with King Arthur these knights, the King of Ireland, +King Agwisance, and the King of Scotland, King Carados and King Uriens +of the land of Gore, and King Bagdemagus and his son Sir Meliaganus, +and Sir Galahault the noble prince. All these kings, princes, and +earls, barons, and other noble knights, as Sir Brandiles, Sir Uwaine +les Avoutres, and Sir Kay, Sir Bedivere, Sir Meliot de Logres, Sir +Petipase of Winchelsea, Sir Godelake: all these came with King Arthur, +and more that cannot be rehearsed. + +Now leave we of these kings and knights, and let us speak of the great +array that was made within the castle and about the castle for both +parties. The Lady Dame Lionesse ordained great array upon her part for +her noble knights, for all manner of lodging and victual that came by +land and by water, that there lacked nothing for her party, nor for the +other, but there was plenty to be had for gold and silver for King +Arthur and his knights. And then there came the harbingers from King +Arthur for to harbour him, and his kings, dukes, earls, barons, and +knights. And then Sir Gareth prayed Dame Lionesse and the Red Knight of +the Red Launds, and Sir Persant and his brother, and Sir Gringamore, +that in no wise there should none of them tell not his name, and make +no more of him than of the least knight that there was, For, he said, I +will not be known of neither more nor less, neither at the beginning +neither at the ending. Then Dame Lionesse said unto Sir Gareth: Sir, I +will lend you a ring, but I would pray you as you love me heartily let +me have it again when the tournament is done, for that ring increaseth +my beauty much more than it is of himself. And the virtue of my ring is +that, that is green it will turn to red, and that is red it will turn +in likeness to green, and that is blue it will turn to likeness of +white, and that is white it will turn in likeness to blue, and so it +will do of all manner of colours. Also who that beareth my ring shall +lose no blood, and for great love I will give you this ring. Gramercy, +said Sir Gareth, mine own lady, for this ring is passing meet for me, +for it will turn all manner of likeness that I am in, and that shall +cause me that I shall not be known. Then Sir Gringamore gave Sir Gareth +a bay courser that was a passing good horse; also he gave him good +armour and sure, and a noble sword that sometime Sir Gringamore’s +father won upon an heathen tyrant. And so thus every knight made him +ready to that tournament. And King Arthur was come two days to-fore the +Assumption of our Lady. And there was all manner of royalty of all +minstrelsy that might be found. Also there came Queen Guenever and the +Queen of Orkney, Sir Gareth’s mother. + +And upon the Assumption Day, when mass and matins were done, there were +heralds with trumpets commanded to blow to the field. And so there came +out Sir Epinogrus, the king’s son of Northumberland, from the castle, +and there encountered with him Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and either of +them brake their spears to their hands. And then came in Sir Palamides +out of the castle, and there encountered with him Gawaine, and either +of them smote other so hard that both the good knights and their horses +fell to the earth. And then knights of either party rescued their +knights. And then came in Sir Safere and Sir Segwarides, brethren to +Sir Palamides; and there encountered Sir Agravaine with Sir Safere and +Sir Gaheris encountered with Sir Segwarides. So Sir Safere smote down +Agravaine, Sir Gawaine’s brother; and Sir Segwarides, Sir Safere’s +brother. And Sir Malegrine, a knight of the castle, encountered with +Sir Uwaine le Blanchemains, and there Sir Uwaine gave Sir Malegrine a +fall, that he had almost broke his neck. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. How the knights bare them in the battle. + +Then Sir Brian de les Isles and Grummore Grummursum, knights of the +castle, encountered with Sir Aglovale, and Sir Tor smote down Sir +Grummore Grummursum to the earth. Then came in Sir Carados of the +dolorous tower, and Sir Turquine, knights of the castle; and there +encountered with them Sir Percivale de Galis and Sir Lamorak de Galis, +that were two brethren. And there encountered Sir Percivale with Sir +Carados, and either brake their spears unto their hands, and then Sir +Turquine with Sir Lamorak, and either of them smote down other’s horse +and all to the earth, and either parties rescued other, and horsed them +again. And Sir Arnold and Sir Gauter, knights of the castle, +encountered with Sir Brandiles and Sir Kay, and these four knights +encountered mightily, and brake their spears to their hands. Then came +in Sir Tristram, Sir Sadok, and Sir Dinas, knights of the castle, and +there encountered Sir Tristram with Sir Bedivere, and there Sir +Bedivere was smitten to the earth both horse and man. And Sir Sadok +encountered with Sir Petipase, and there Sir Sadok was overthrown. And +there Uwaine les Avoutres smote down Sir Dinas, the Seneschal. Then +came in Sir Persant of Inde, a knight of the castle, and there +encountered with him Sir Launcelot du Lake, and there he smote Sir +Persant, horse and man, to the earth. Then came Sir Pertolepe from the +castle, and there encountered with him Sir Lionel, and there Sir +Pertolepe, the Green Knight, smote down Sir Lionel, brother to Sir +Launcelot. All this was marked by noble heralds, who bare him best, and +their names. + +And then came into the field Sir Perimones, the Red Knight, Sir +Persant’s brother, that was a knight of the castle, and he encountered +with Sir Ector de Maris, and either smote other so hard that both their +horses and they fell to the earth. And then came in the Red Knight of +the Red Launds, and Sir Gareth, from the castle, and there encountered +with them Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Bleoberis, and there the Red Knight +and Sir Bors [either] smote other so hard that their spears brast, and +their horses fell grovelling to the earth. Then Sir Bleoberis brake his +spear upon Sir Gareth, but of that stroke Sir Bleoberis fell to the +earth. When Sir Galihodin saw that he bade Sir Gareth keep him, and Sir +Gareth smote him to the earth. Then Sir Galihud gat a spear to avenge +his brother, and in the same wise Sir Gareth served him, and Sir +Dinadan and his brother, La Cote Male Taile, and Sir Sagramore le +Desirous, and Sir Dodinas le Savage. All these he bare down with one +spear. + +When King Agwisance of Ireland saw Sir Gareth fare so, he marvelled +what he might be that one time seemed green, and another time, at his +again coming, he seemed blue. And thus at every course that he rode to +and fro he changed his colour, so that there might neither king nor +knight have ready cognisance of him. Then Sir Agwisance, the King of +Ireland, encountered with Sir Gareth, and there Sir Gareth smote him +from his horse, saddle and all. And then came King Carados of Scotland, +and Sir Gareth smote him down horse and man. And in the same wise he +served King Uriens of the land of Gore. And then came in Sir +Bagdemagus, and Sir Gareth smote him down, horse and man, to the earth. +And Bagdemagus’ son, Meliganus, brake a spear upon Sir Gareth mightily +and knightly. And then Sir Galahault, the noble prince, cried on high: +Knight with the many colours, well hast thou jousted; now make thee +ready that I may joust with thee. Sir Gareth heard him, and he gat a +great spear, and so they encountered together, and there the prince +brake his spear; but Sir Gareth smote him upon the left side of the +helm that he reeled here and there, and he had fallen down had not his +men recovered him. + +So God me help, said King Arthur, that same knight with the many +colours is a good knight. Wherefore the king called unto him Sir +Launcelot, and prayed him to encounter with that knight. Sir, said +Launcelot, I may well find in my heart for to forbear him as at this +time, for he hath had travail enough this day; and when a good knight +doth so well upon some day, it is no good knight’s part to let him of +his worship, and namely, when he seeth a knight hath done so great +labour; for peradventure, said Sir Launcelot, his quarrel is here this +day, and peradventure he is best beloved with this lady of all that be +here; for I see well he paineth him and enforceth him to do great +deeds, and therefore, said Sir Launcelot, as for me, this day he shall +have the honour; though it lay in my power to put him from it I would +not. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. Yet of the said tournament. + +Then when this was done there was drawing of swords, and then there +began a sore tournament. And there did Sir Lamorak marvellous deeds of +arms; and betwixt Sir Lamorak and Sir Ironside, that was the Red Knight +of the Red Launds, there was strong battle; and betwixt Sir Palamides +and Bleoberis there was a strong battle; and Sir Gawaine and Sir +Tristram met, and there Sir Gawaine had the worse, for he pulled Sir +Gawaine from his horse, and there he was long upon foot, and defouled. +Then came in Sir Launcelot, and he smote Sir Turquine, and he him; and +then came Sir Carados his brother, and both at once they assailed him, +and he as the most noblest knight of the world worshipfully fought with +them both, that all men wondered of the noblesse of Sir Launcelot. And +then came in Sir Gareth, and knew that it was Sir Launcelot that fought +with the two perilous knights. And then Sir Gareth came with his good +horse and hurtled them in-sunder, and no stroke would he smite to Sir +Launcelot. That espied Sir Launcelot, and deemed it should be the good +knight Sir Gareth: and then Sir Gareth rode here and there, and smote +on the right hand and on the left hand, and all the folk might well +espy where that he rode. And by fortune he met with his brother Sir +Gawaine, and there he put Sir Gawaine to the worse, for he put off his +helm, and so he served five or six knights of the Round Table, that all +men said he put him in the most pain, and best he did his devoir. For +when Sir Tristram beheld him how he first jousted and after fought so +well with a sword, then he rode unto Sir Ironside and to Sir Persant of +Inde, and asked them, by their faith, What manner a knight is yonder +knight that seemeth in so many divers colours? Truly, meseemeth, said +Tristram, that he putteth himself in great pain, for he never ceaseth. +Wot ye not what he is? said Sir Ironside. No, said Sir Tristram. Then +shall ye know that this is he that loveth the lady of the castle, and +she him again; and this is he that won me when I besieged the lady of +this castle, and this is he that won Sir Persant of Inde, and his three +brethren. What is his name, said Sir Tristram, and of what blood is he +come? He was called in the court of King Arthur, Beaumains, but his +right name is Sir Gareth of Orkney, brother to Sir Gawaine. By my head, +said Sir Tristram, he is a good knight, and a big man of arms, and if +he be young he shall prove a full noble knight. He is but a child, they +all said, and of Sir Launcelot he was made knight. Therefore he is +mickle the better, said Tristram. And then Sir Tristram, Sir Ironside, +Sir Persant, and his brother, rode together for to help Sir Gareth; and +then there were given many strong strokes. + +And then Sir Gareth rode out on the one side to amend his helm; and +then said his dwarf: Take me your ring, that ye lose it not while that +ye drink. And so when he had drunk he gat on his helm, and eagerly took +his horse and rode into the field, and left his ring with his dwarf; +and the dwarf was glad the ring was from him, for then he wist well he +should be known. And then when Sir Gareth was in the field all folks +saw him well and plainly that he was in yellow colours; and there he +rased off helms and pulled down knights, that King Arthur had marvel +what knight he was, for the king saw by his hair that it was the same +knight. + + + +CHAPTER XXX. How Sir Gareth was espied by the heralds, and how he +escaped out of the field. + +But before he was in so many colours, and now he is but in one colour; +that is yellow. Now go, said King Arthur unto divers heralds, and ride +about him, and espy what manner knight he is, for I have spered of many +knights this day that be upon his party, and all say they know him not. + +And so an herald rode nigh Gareth as he could; and there he saw written +about his helm in gold, This helm is Sir Gareth of Orkney. + +Then the herald cried as he were wood, and many heralds with him:—This +is Sir Gareth of Orkney in the yellow arms; that by all kings and +knights of Arthur’s beheld him and awaited; and then they pressed all +to behold him, and ever the heralds cried: This is Sir Gareth of +Orkney, King Lot’s son. + +And when Sir Gareth espied that he was discovered, then he doubled his +strokes, and smote down Sir Sagramore, and his brother Sir Gawaine. + +O brother, said Sir Gawaine, I weened ye would not have stricken me. + +So when he heard him say so he thrang here and there, and so with great +pain he gat out of the press, and there he met with his dwarf. O boy, +said Sir Gareth, thou hast beguiled me foul this day that thou kept my +ring; give it me anon again, that I may hide my body withal; and so he +took it him. And then they all wist not where he was become; and Sir +Gawaine had in manner espied where Sir Gareth rode, and then he rode +after with all his might. That espied Sir Gareth, and rode lightly into +the forest, that Sir Gawaine wist not where he was become. And when Sir +Gareth wist that Sir Gawaine was passed, he asked the dwarf of best +counsel. Sir, said the dwarf, meseemeth it were best, now that ye are +escaped from spying, that ye send my lady Dame Lionesse her ring. It is +well advised, said Sir Gareth; now have it here and bear it to her, and +say that I recommend me unto her good grace, and say her I will come +when I may, and I pray her to be true and faithful to me as I will be +to her. Sir, said the dwarf, it shall be done as ye command: and so he +rode his way, and did his errand unto the lady. Then she said, Where is +my knight, Sir Gareth? Madam, said the dwarf, he bade me say that he +would not be long from you. And so lightly the dwarf came again unto +Sir Gareth, that would full fain have had a lodging, for he had need to +be reposed. And then fell there a thunder and a rain, as heaven and +earth should go together. And Sir Gareth was not a little weary, for of +all that day he had but little rest, neither his horse nor he. So this +Sir Gareth rode so long in that forest until the night came. And ever +it lightened and thundered, as it had been wood. At the last by fortune +he came to a castle, and there he heard the waits upon the walls. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Gareth came to a castle where he was well lodged, +and he jousted with a knight and slew him. + +Then Sir Gareth rode unto the barbican of the castle, and prayed the +porter fair to let him into the castle. The porter answered ungoodly +again, and said, Thou gettest no lodging here. Fair sir, say not so, +for I am a knight of King Arthur’s, and pray the lord or the lady of +this castle to give me harbour for the love of King Arthur. Then the +porter went unto the duchess, and told her how there was a knight of +King Arthur’s would have harbour. Let him in, said the duchess, for I +will see that knight, and for King Arthur’s sake he shall not be +harbourless. Then she yode up into a tower over the gate, with great +torchlight. + +When Sir Gareth saw that torch-light he cried on high: Whether thou be +lord or lady, giant or champion, I take no force so that I may have +harbour this night; and if it so be that I must needs fight, spare me +not to-morn when I have rested me, for both I and mine horse be weary. +Sir knight, said the lady, thou speakest knightly and boldly; but wit +thou well the lord of this castle loveth not King Arthur, nor none of +his court, for my lord hath ever been against him; and therefore thou +were better not to come within this castle; for an thou come in this +night, thou must come in under such form, that wheresomever thou meet +my lord, by stigh or by street, thou must yield thee to him as +prisoner. Madam, said Sir Gareth, what is your lord, and what is his +name? Sir, my lord’s name is the Duke de la Rowse. Well madam, said Sir +Gareth, I shall promise you in what place I meet your lord I shall +yield me unto him and to his good grace; with that I understand he will +do me no harm: and if I understand that he will, I will release myself +an I can with my spear and my sword. Ye say well, said the duchess; and +then she let the drawbridge down, and so he rode into the hall, and +there he alighted, and his horse was led into a stable; and in the hall +he unarmed him and said, Madam, I will not out of this hall this night; +and when it is daylight, let see who will have ado with me, he shall +find me ready. Then was he set unto supper, and had many good dishes. +Then Sir Gareth list well to eat, and knightly he ate his meat, and +eagerly; there was many a fair lady by him, and some said they never +saw a goodlier man nor so well of eating. Then they made him passing +good cheer, and shortly when he had supped his bed was made there; so +he rested him all night. + +And on the morn he heard mass, and brake his fast and took his leave at +the duchess, and at them all; and thanked her goodly of her lodging, +and of his good cheer; and then she asked him his name. Madam, he said, +truly my name is Gareth of Orkney, and some men call me Beaumains. Then +knew she well it was the same knight that fought for Dame Lionesse. So +Sir Gareth departed and rode up into a mountain, and there met him a +knight, his name was Sir Bendelaine, and said to Sir Gareth: Thou shalt +not pass this way, for either thou shalt joust with me, or else be my +prisoner. Then will I joust, said Sir Gareth. And so they let their +horses run, and there Sir Gareth smote him throughout the body; and Sir +Bendelaine rode forth to his castle there beside, and there died. So +Sir Gareth would have rested him, and he came riding to Bendelaine’s +castle. Then his knights and servants espied that it was he that had +slain their lord. Then they armed twenty good men, and came out and +assailed Sir Gareth; and so he had no spear, but his sword, and put his +shield afore him; and there they brake their spears upon him, and they +assailed him passingly sore. But ever Sir Gareth defended him as a +knight. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Gareth fought with a knight that held within his +castle thirty ladies, and how he slew him. + +So when they saw that they might not overcome him, they rode from him, +and took their counsel to slay his horse; and so they came in upon Sir +Gareth, and with spears they slew his horse, and then they assailed him +hard. But when he was on foot, there was none that he fought but he +gave him such a buffet that he did never recover. So he slew them by +one and one till they were but four, and there they fled; and Sir +Gareth took a good horse that was one of theirs, and rode his way. + +Then he rode a great pace till that he came to a castle, and there he +heard much mourning of ladies and gentlewomen. So there came by him a +page. What noise is this, said Sir Gareth, that I hear within this +castle? Sir knight, said the page, here be within this castle thirty +ladies, and all they be widows; for here is a knight that waiteth daily +upon this castle, and his name is the Brown Knight without Pity, and he +is the periloust knight that now liveth; and therefore sir, said the +page, I rede you flee. Nay, said Sir Gareth, I will not flee though +thou be afeard of him. And then the page saw where came the Brown +Knight: Lo, said the page, yonder he cometh. Let me deal with him, said +Sir Gareth. And when either of other had a sight they let their horses +run, and the Brown Knight brake his spear, and Sir Gareth smote him +throughout the body, that he overthrew him to the ground stark dead. So +Sir Gareth rode into the castle, and prayed the ladies that he might +repose him. Alas, said the ladies, ye may not be lodged here. Make him +good cheer, said the page, for this knight hath slain your enemy. Then +they all made him good cheer as lay in their power. But wit ye well +they made him good cheer, for they might none otherwise do, for they +were but poor. + +And so on the morn he went to mass, and there he saw the thirty ladies +kneel, and lay grovelling upon divers tombs, making great dole and +sorrow. Then Sir Gareth wist well that in the tombs lay their lords. +Fair ladies, said Sir Gareth, ye must at the next feast of Pentecost be +at the court of King Arthur, and say that I, Sir Gareth, sent you +thither. We shall do this, said the ladies. So he departed, and by +fortune he came to a mountain, and there he found a goodly knight that +bade him, Abide sir knight, and joust with me. What are ye? said Sir +Gareth. My name is, said he, the Duke de la Rowse. Ah sir, ye are the +same knight that I lodged once in your castle; and there I made promise +unto your lady that I should yield me unto you. Ah, said the duke, art +thou that proud knight that profferest to fight with my knights; +therefore make thee ready, for I will have ado with you. So they let +their horses run, and there Sir Gareth smote the duke down from his +horse. But the duke lightly avoided his horse, and dressed his shield +and drew his sword, and bade Sir Gareth alight and fight with him. So +he did alight, and they did great battle together more than an hour, +and either hurt other full sore. At the last Sir Gareth gat the duke to +the earth, and would have slain him, and then he yield him to him. Then +must ye go, said Sir Gareth, unto Sir Arthur my lord at the next feast, +and say that I, Sir Gareth of Orkney, sent you unto him. It shall be +done, said the duke, and I will do to you homage and fealty with an +hundred knights with me; and all the days of my life to do you service +where ye will command me. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. How Sir Gareth and Sir Gawaine fought each against +other, and how they knew each other by the damosel Linet. + +So the duke departed, and Sir Gareth stood there alone; and there he +saw an armed knight coming toward him. Then Sir Gareth took the duke’s +shield, and mounted upon horseback, and so without biding they ran +together as it had been the thunder. And there that knight hurt Sir +Gareth under the side with his spear. And then they alighted and drew +their swords, and gave great strokes that the blood trailed to the +ground. And so they fought two hours. + +At the last there came the damosel Linet, that some men called the +damosel Savage, and she came riding upon an ambling mule; and there she +cried all on high, Sir Gawaine, Sir Gawaine, leave thy fighting with +thy brother Sir Gareth. + +And when he heard her say so he threw away his shield and his sword, +and ran to Sir Gareth, and took him in his arms, and sithen kneeled +down and asked him mercy. + +What are ye, said Sir Gareth, that right now were so strong and so +mighty, and now so suddenly yield you to me? O Gareth, I am your +brother Sir Gawaine, that for your sake have had great sorrow and +labour. + +Then Sir Gareth unlaced his helm, and kneeled down to him, and asked +him mercy. Then they rose both, and embraced either other in their +arms, and wept a great while or they might speak, and either of them +gave other the prize of the battle. And there were many kind words +between them. + +Alas, my fair brother, said Sir Gawaine, perdy I owe of right to +worship you an ye were not my brother, for ye have worshipped King +Arthur and all his court, for ye have sent me more worshipful knights +this twelvemonth than six the best of the Round Table have done, except +Sir Launcelot. + +Then came the damosel Savage that was the Lady Linet, that rode with +Sir Gareth so long, and there she did staunch Sir Gareth’s wounds and +Sir Gawaine’s. Now what will ye do? said the damosel Savage; meseemeth +that it were well done that Arthur had witting of you both, for your +horses are so bruised that they may not bear. Now, fair damosel, said +Sir Gawaine, I pray you ride unto my lord mine uncle, King Arthur, and +tell him what adventure is to me betid here, and I suppose he will not +tarry long. Then she took her mule, and lightly she came to King Arthur +that was but two mile thence. And when she had told him tidings the +king bade get him a palfrey. And when he was upon his back he bade the +lords and ladies come after, who that would; and there was saddling and +bridling of queens’ horses and princes’ horses, and well was him that +soonest might be ready. + +So when the king came thereas they were, he saw Sir Gawaine and Sir +Gareth sit upon a little hill-side, and then the king avoided his +horse. And when he came nigh Sir Gareth he would have spoken but he +might not; and therewith he sank down in a swoon for gladness. And so +they stert unto their uncle, and required him of his good grace to be +of good comfort. Wit ye well the king made great joy, and many a +piteous complaint he made to Sir Gareth, and ever he wept as he had +been a child. With that came his mother, the Queen of Orkney, Dame +Morgawse, and when she saw Sir Gareth readily in the visage she might +not weep, but suddenly fell down in a swoon, and lay there a great +while like as she had been dead. And then Sir Gareth recomforted his +mother in such wise that she recovered and made good cheer. Then the +king commanded that all manner of knights that were under his +obeissance should make their lodging right there for the love of his +nephews. And so it was done, and all manner of purveyance purveyed, +that there lacked nothing that might be gotten of tame nor wild for +gold or silver. And then by the means of the damosel Savage Sir Gawaine +and Sir Gareth were healed of their wounds; and there they sojourned +eight days. + +Then said King Arthur unto the damosel Savage: I marvel that your +sister, Dame Lionesse, cometh not here to me, and in especial that she +cometh not to visit her knight, my nephew Sir Gareth, that hath had so +much travail for her love. My lord, said the damosel Linet, ye must of +your good grace hold her excused, for she knoweth not that my lord, Sir +Gareth, is here. Go then for her, said King Arthur, that we may be +appointed what is best to be done, according to the pleasure of my +nephew. Sir, said the damosel, that shall be done, and so she rode unto +her sister. And as lightly as she might she made her ready; and she +came on the morn with her brother Sir Gringamore, and with her forty +knights. And so when she was come she had all the cheer that might be +done, both of the king, and of many other kings and queens. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. How Sir Gareth acknowledged that they loved each other +to King Arthur, and of the appointment of their wedding. + +And among all these ladies she was named the fairest, and peerless. +Then when Sir Gawaine saw her there was many a goodly look and goodly +words, that all men of worship had joy to behold them. Then came King +Arthur and many other kings, and Dame Guenever, and the Queen of +Orkney. And there the king asked his nephew, Sir Gareth, whether he +would have that lady as paramour, or to have her to his wife. My lord, +wit you well that I love her above all ladies living. Now, fair lady, +said King Arthur, what say ye? Most noble King, said Dame Lionesse, wit +you well that my lord, Sir Gareth, is to me more liefer to have and +wield as my husband, than any king or prince that is christened; and if +I may not have him I promise you I will never have none. For, my lord +Arthur, said Dame Lionesse, wit ye well he is my first love, and he +shall be the last; and if ye will suffer him to have his will and free +choice I dare say he will have me. That is truth, said Sir Gareth; an I +have not you and wield not you as my wife, there shall never lady nor +gentlewoman rejoice me. What, nephew, said the king, is the wind in +that door? for wit ye well I would not for the stint of my crown to be +causer to withdraw your hearts; and wit ye well ye cannot love so well +but I shall rather increase it than distress it. And also ye shall have +my love and my lordship in the uttermost wise that may lie in my power. +And in the same wise said Sir Gareth’s mother. + +Then there was made a provision for the day of marriage; and by the +king’s advice it was provided that it should be at Michaelmas +following, at Kink Kenadon by the seaside, for there is a plentiful +country. And so it was cried in all the places through the realm. And +then Sir Gareth sent his summons to all these knights and ladies that +he had won in battle to-fore, that they should be at his day of +marriage at Kink Kenadon by the sands. + +And then Dame Lionesse, and the damosel Linet with Sir Gringamore, rode +to their castle; and a goodly and a rich ring she gave to Sir Gareth, +and he gave her another. And King Arthur gave her a rich pair of bee of +gold; and so she departed. + +And King Arthur and his fellowship rode toward Kink Kenadon, and Sir +Gareth brought his lady on the way, and so came to the king again and +rode with him. + +Lord! the great cheer that Sir Launcelot made of Sir Gareth and he of +him, for there was never no knight that Sir Gareth loved so well as he +did Sir Launcelot; and ever for the most part he would be in Sir +Launcelot’s company; for after Sir Gareth had espied Sir Gawaine’s +conditions, he withdrew himself from his brother, Sir Gawaine’s, +fellowship, for he was vengeable, and where he hated he would be +avenged with murder, and that hated Sir Gareth. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. Of the Great Royalty, and what officers were made at the +feast of the wedding, and of the jousts at the feast. + +So it drew fast to Michaelmas; and thither came Dame Lionesse, the lady +of the Castle Perilous, and her sister, Dame Linet, with Sir +Gringamore, her brother, with them for he had the conduct of these +ladies. And there they were lodged at the device of King Arthur. And +upon Michaelmas Day the Bishop of Canterbury made the wedding betwixt +Sir Gareth and the Lady Lionesse with great solemnity. And King Arthur +made Gaheris to wed the Damosel Savage, that was Dame Linet; and King +Arthur made Sir Agravaine to wed Dame Lionesse’s niece, a fair lady, +her name was Dame Laurel. + +And so when this solemnization was done, then came in the Green Knight, +Sir Pertolepe, with thirty knights, and there he did homage and fealty +to Sir Gareth, and these knights to hold of him for evermore. Also Sir +Pertolepe said: I pray you that at this feast I may be your +chamberlain. With a good will, said Sir Gareth sith it liketh you to +take so simple an office. Then came in the Red Knight, with three score +knights with him, and did to Sir Gareth homage and fealty, and all +those knights to hold of him for evermore. And then this Sir Perimones +prayed Sir Gareth to grant him to be his chief butler at that high +feast. I will well, said Sir Gareth, that ye have this office, and it +were better. Then came in Sir Persant of Inde, with an hundred knights +with him, and there he did homage and fealty, and all his knights +should do him service, and hold their lands of him for ever; and there +he prayed Sir Gareth to make him his sewer-chief at the feast. I will +well, said Sir Gareth, that ye have it and it were better. Then came +the Duke de la Rowse with an hundred knights with him, and there he did +homage and fealty to Sir Gareth, and so to hold their lands of him for +ever. And he required Sir Gareth that he might serve him of the wine +that day of that feast. I will well, said Sir Gareth, and it were +better. Then came in the Red Knight of the Red Launds, that was Sir +Ironside, and he brought with him three hundred knights, and there he +did homage and fealty, and all these knights to hold their lands of him +for ever. And then he asked Sir Gareth to be his carver. I will well, +said Sir Gareth, an it please you. + +Then came into the court thirty ladies, and all they seemed widows, and +those thirty ladies brought with them many fair gentlewomen. And all +they kneeled down at once unto King Arthur and unto Sir Gareth, and +there all those ladies told the king how Sir Gareth delivered them from +the dolorous tower, and slew the Brown Knight without Pity: And +therefore we, and our heirs for evermore, will do homage unto Sir +Gareth of Orkney. So then the kings and queens, princes and earls, +barons and many bold knights, went unto meat; and well may ye wit there +were all manner of meat plenteously, all manner revels and games, with +all manner of minstrelsy that was used in those days. Also there was +great jousts three days. But the king would not suffer Sir Gareth to +joust, because of his new bride; for, as the French book saith, that +Dame Lionesse desired of the king that none that were wedded should +joust at that feast. + +So the first day there jousted Sir Lamorak de Galis, for he overthrew +thirty knights, and did passing marvellously deeds of arms; and then +King Arthur made Sir Persant and his two brethren Knights of the Round +Table to their lives’ end, and gave them great lands. Also the second +day there jousted Tristram best, and he overthrew forty knights, and +did there marvellous deeds of arms. And there King Arthur made +Ironside, that was the Red Knight of the Red Launds, a Knight of the +Table Round to his life’s end, and gave him great lands. The third day +there jousted Sir Launcelot du Lake, and he overthrew fifty knights, +and did many marvellous deeds of arms, that all men wondered on him. +And there King Arthur made the Duke de la Rowse a Knight of the Round +Table to his life’s end, and gave him great lands to spend. But when +these jousts were done, Sir Lamorak and Sir Tristram departed suddenly, +and would not be known, for the which King Arthur and all the court +were sore displeased. And so they held the court forty days with great +solemnity. And this Sir Gareth was a noble knight, and a well-ruled, +and fair-languaged. + +Thus endeth this tale of Sir Gareth of Orkney that wedded Dame Lionesse +of the Castle Perilous. And also Sir Gaheris wedded her sister, Dame +Linet, that was called the Damosel Sabage. And Sir Agrabaine wedded +Dame Laurel, a fair lady and great, and mighty lands with great riches +gave with them King Arthur, that royally they might live till their +lives’ end. + + Here followeth the viii. book, the which is the first book of Sir + Tristram de Liones, and who was his father and his mother, and how he + was born and fostered, and how he was made knight. + + + +BOOK VIII. + + + +CHAPTER I. How Sir Tristram de Liones was born, and how his mother died +at his birth, wherefore she named him Tristram. + +It was a king that hight Meliodas, and he was lord and king of the +country of Liones, and this Meliodas was a likely knight as any was +that time living. And by fortune he wedded King Mark’s sister of +Cornwall, and she was called Elizabeth, that was called both good and +fair. And at that time King Arthur reigned, and he was whole king of +England, Wales, and Scotland, and of many other realms: howbeit there +were many kings that were lords of many countries, but all they held +their lands of King Arthur; for in Wales were two kings, and in the +north were many kings; and in Cornwall and in the west were two kings; +also in Ireland were two or three kings, and all were under the +obeissance of King Arthur. So was the King of France, and the King of +Brittany, and all the lordships unto Rome. + +So when this King Meliodas had been with his wife, within a while she +waxed great with child, and she was a full meek lady, and well she +loved her lord, and he her again, so there was great joy betwixt them. +Then there was a lady in that country that had loved King Meliodas +long, and by no mean she never could get his love; therefore she let +ordain upon a day, as King Meliodas rode a-hunting, for he was a great +chaser, and there by an enchantment she made him chase an hart by +himself alone till that he came to an old castle, and there anon he was +taken prisoner by the lady that him loved. When Elizabeth, King +Meliodas’ wife, missed her lord, and she was nigh out of her wit, and +also as great with child as she was, she took a gentlewoman with her, +and ran into the forest to seek her lord. And when she was far in the +forest she might no farther, for she began to travail fast of her +child. And she had many grimly throes; her gentlewoman helped her all +that she might, and so by miracle of Our Lady of Heaven she was +delivered with great pains. But she had taken such cold for the default +of help that deep draughts of death took her, that needs she must die +and depart out of this world; there was none other bote. + +And when this Queen Elizabeth saw that there was none other bote, then +she made great dole, and said unto her gentlewoman: When ye see my +lord, King Meliodas, recommend me unto him, and tell him what pains I +endure here for his love, and how I must die here for his sake for +default of good help; and let him wit that I am full sorry to depart +out of this world from him, therefore pray him to be friend to my soul. +Now let me see my little child, for whom I have had all this sorrow. +And when she saw him she said thus: Ah, my little son, thou hast +murdered thy mother, and therefore I suppose, thou that art a murderer +so young, thou art full likely to be a manly man in thine age. And +because I shall die of the birth of thee, I charge thee, gentlewoman, +that thou pray my lord, King Meliodas, that when he is christened let +call him Tristram, that is as much to say as a sorrowful birth. And +therewith this queen gave up the ghost and died. Then the gentlewoman +laid her under an umbre of a great tree, and then she lapped the child +as well as she might for cold. Right so there came the barons, +following after the queen, and when they saw that she was dead, and +understood none other but the king was destroyed. + + + +CHAPTER II. How the stepmother of Sir Tristram had ordained poison for +to have poisoned Sir Tristram. + +Then certain of them would have slain the child, because they would +have been lords of the country of Liones. But then through the fair +speech of the gentlewoman, and by the means that she made, the most +part of the barons would not assent thereto. And then they let carry +home the dead queen, and much dole was made for her. + +Then this meanwhile Merlin delivered King Meliodas out of prison on the +morn after his queen was dead. And so when the king was come home the +most part of the barons made great joy. But the sorrow that the king +made for his queen that might no tongue tell. So then the king let +inter her richly, and after he let christen his child as his wife had +commanded afore her death. And then he let call him Tristram, the +sorrowful born child. Then the King Meliodas endured seven years +without a wife, and all this time Tristram was nourished well. Then it +befell that King Meliodas wedded King Howell’s daughter of Brittany, +and anon she had children of King Meliodas: then was she heavy and +wroth that her children should not rejoice the country of Liones, +wherefore this queen ordained for to poison young Tristram. So she let +poison be put in a piece of silver in the chamber whereas Tristram and +her children were together, unto that intent that when Tristram were +thirsty he should drink that drink. And so it fell upon a day, the +queen’s son, as he was in that chamber, espied the piece with poison, +and he weened it had been good drink, and because the child was thirsty +he took the piece with poison and drank freely; and therewithal +suddenly the child brast and was dead. + +When the queen of Meliodas wist of the death of her son, wit ye well +that she was heavy. But yet the king understood nothing of her treason. +Notwithstanding the queen would not leave this, but eft she let ordain +more poison, and put it in a piece. And by fortune King Meliodas, her +husband, found the piece with wine where was the poison, and he that +was much thirsty took the piece for to drink thereout. And as he would +have drunken thereof the queen espied him, and then she ran unto him, +and pulled the piece from him suddenly. The king marvelled why she did +so, and remembered him how her son was suddenly slain with poison. And +then he took her by the hand, and said: Thou false traitress, thou +shalt tell me what manner of drink this is, or else I shall slay thee. +And therewith he pulled out his sword, and sware a great oath that he +should slay her but if she told him truth. Ah! mercy, my lord, said +she, and I shall tell you all. And then she told him why she would have +slain Tristram, because her children should rejoice his land. Well, +said King Meliodas, and therefore shall ye have the law. And so she was +condemned by the assent of the barons to be burnt; and then was there +made a great fire, and right as she was at the fire to take her +execution, young Tristram kneeled afore King Meliodas, and besought him +to give him a boon. I will well, said the king again. Then said young +Tristram, Give me the life of thy queen, my stepmother. That is +unrightfully asked, said King Meliodas, for thou ought of right to hate +her, for she would have slain thee with that poison an she might have +had her will; and for thy sake most is my cause that she should die. + +Sir, said Tristram, as for that, I beseech you of your mercy that you +will forgive it her, and as for my part, God forgive it her, and I do; +and so much it liked your highness to grant me my boon, for God’s love +I require you hold your promise. Sithen it is so, said the king, I will +that ye have her life. Then, said the king, I give her to you, and go +ye to the fire and take her, and do with her what ye will. So Sir +Tristram went to the fire, and by the commandment of the king delivered +her from the death. But after that King Meliodas would never have ado +with her, as at bed and board. But by the good means of young Tristram +he made the king and her accorded. But then the king would not suffer +young Tristram to abide no longer in his court. + + + +CHAPTER III. How Sir Tristram was sent into France, and had one to +govern him named Gouvernail, and how he learned to harp, hawk, and +hunt. + +And then he let ordain a gentleman that was well learned and taught, +his name was Gouvernail; and then he sent young Tristram with +Gouvernail into France to learn the language, and nurture, and deeds of +arms. And there was Tristram more than seven years. And then when he +well could speak the language, and had learned all that he might learn +in that country, then he came home to his father, King Meliodas, again. +And so Tristram learned to be an harper passing all other, that there +was none such called in no country, and so on harping and on +instruments of music he applied him in his youth for to learn. + +And after, as he grew in might and strength, he laboured ever in +hunting and in hawking, so that never gentleman more, that ever we +heard read of. And as the book saith, he began good measures of blowing +of beasts of venery, and beasts of chase, and all manner of vermin, and +all these terms we have yet of hawking and hunting. And therefore the +book of venery, of hawking, and hunting, is called the book of Sir +Tristram. Wherefore, as meseemeth, all gentlemen that bear old arms +ought of right to honour Sir Tristram for the goodly terms that +gentlemen have and use, and shall to the day of doom, that thereby in a +manner all men of worship may dissever a gentleman from a yeoman, and +from a yeoman a villain. For he that gentle is will draw him unto +gentle tatches, and to follow the customs of noble gentlemen. + +Thus Sir Tristram endured in Cornwall until he was big and strong, of +the age of eighteen years. And then the King Meliodas had great joy of +Sir Tristram, and so had the queen, his wife. For ever after in her +life, because Sir Tristram saved her from the fire, she did never hate +him more after, but loved him ever after, and gave Tristram many great +gifts; for every estate loved him, where that he went. + + + +CHAPTER IV. How Sir Marhaus came out of Ireland for to ask truage of +Cornwall, or else he would fight therefore. + +Then it befell that King Anguish of Ireland sent unto King Mark of +Cornwall for his truage, that Cornwall had paid many winters. And all +that time King Mark was behind of the truage for seven years. And King +Mark and his barons gave unto the messenger of Ireland these words and +answer, that they would none pay; and bade the messenger go unto his +King Anguish, and tell him we will pay him no truage, but tell your +lord, an he will always have truage of us of Cornwall, bid him send a +trusty knight of his land, that will fight for his right, and we shall +find another for to defend our right. With this answer the messengers +departed into Ireland. And when King Anguish understood the answer of +the messengers he was wonderly wroth. And then he called unto him Sir +Marhaus, the good knight, that was nobly proved, and a Knight of the +Table Round. And this Marhaus was brother unto the queen of Ireland. +Then the king said thus: Fair brother, Sir Marhaus, I pray you go into +Cornwall for my sake, and do battle for our truage that of right we +ought to have; and whatsomever ye spend ye shall have sufficiently, +more than ye shall need. Sir, said Marhaus, wit ye well that I shall +not be loath to do battle in the right of you and your land with the +best knight of the Table Round; for I know them, for the most part, +what be their deeds; and for to advance my deeds and to increase my +worship I will right gladly go unto this journey for our right. + +So in all haste there was made purveyance for Sir Marhaus, and he had +all things that to him needed; and so he departed out of Ireland, and +arrived up in Cornwall even fast by the Castle of Tintagil. And when +King Mark understood that he was there arrived to fight for Ireland, +then made King Mark great sorrow when he understood that the good and +noble knight Sir Marhaus was come. For they knew no knight that durst +have ado with him. For at that time Sir Marhaus was called one of the +famousest and renowned knights of the world. And thus Sir Marhaus abode +in the sea, and every day he sent unto King Mark for to pay the truage +that was behind of seven year, other else to find a knight to fight +with him for the truage. This manner of message Sir Marhaus sent daily +unto King Mark. + +Then they of Cornwall let make cries in every place, that what knight +would fight for to save the truage of Cornwall, he should be rewarded +so that he should fare the better, term of his life. Then some of the +barons said to King Mark, and counselled him to send to the court of +King Arthur for to seek Sir Launcelot du Lake, that was that time named +for the marvelloust knight of all the world. Then there were some other +barons that counselled the king not to do so, and said that it was +labour in vain, because Sir Marhaus was a knight of the Round Table, +therefore any of them will be loath to have ado with other, but if it +were any knight at his own request would fight disguised and unknown. +So the king and all his barons assented that it was no bote to seek any +knight of the Round Table. This mean while came the language and the +noise unto King Meliodas, how that Sir Marhaus abode battle fast by +Tintagil, and how King Mark could find no manner knight to fight for +him. When young Tristram heard of this he was wroth, and sore ashamed +that there durst no knight in Cornwall have ado with Sir Marhaus of +Ireland. + + + +CHAPTER V. How Tristram enterprized the battle to fight for the truage +of Cornwall, and how he was made knight. + +Therewithal Tristram went unto his father, King Meliodas, and asked him +counsel what was best to do for to recover Cornwall from truage. For, +as meseemeth, said Sir Tristram, it were shame that Sir Marhaus, the +queen’s brother of Ireland, should go away unless that he were foughten +withal. As for that, said King Meliodas, wit you well, son Tristram, +that Sir Marhaus is called one of the best knights of the world, and +Knight of the Table Round; and therefore I know no knight in this +country that is able to match with him. Alas, said Sir Tristram, that I +am not made knight; and if Sir Marhaus should thus depart into Ireland, +God let me never have worship: an I were made knight I should match +him. And sir, said Tristram, I pray you give me leave to ride to King +Mark; and, so ye be not displeased, of King Mark will I be made knight. +I will well, said King Meliodas, that ye be ruled as your courage will +rule you. Then Sir Tristram thanked his father much. And then he made +him ready to ride into Cornwall. + +In the meanwhile there came a messenger with letters of love from King +Faramon of France’s daughter unto Sir Tristram, that were full piteous +letters, and in them were written many complaints of love; but Sir +Tristram had no joy of her letters nor regard unto her. Also she sent +him a little brachet that was passing fair. But when the king’s +daughter understood that Sir Tristram would not love her, as the book +saith, she died for sorrow. And then the same squire that brought the +letter and the brachet came again unto Sir Tristram, as after ye shall +hear in the tale. + +So this young Sir Tristram rode unto his eme, King Mark of Cornwall. +And when he came there he heard say that there would no knight fight +with Sir Marhaus. Then yede Sir Tristram unto his eme and said: Sir, if +ye will give me the order of knighthood, I will do battle with Sir +Marhaus. What are ye, said the king, and from whence be ye come? Sir, +said Tristram, I come from King Meliodas that wedded your sister, and a +gentleman wit ye well I am. King Mark beheld Sir Tristram and saw that +he was but a young man of age, but he was passingly well made and big. +Fair sir, said the king, what is your name, and where were ye born? +Sir, said he again, my name is Tristram, and in the country of Liones +was I born. Ye say well, said the king; and if ye will do this battle I +shall make you knight. Therefore I come to you, said Sir Tristram, and +for none other cause. But then King Mark made him knight. And +therewithal, anon as he had made him knight, he sent a messenger unto +Sir Marhaus with letters that said that he had found a young knight +ready for to take the battle to the uttermost. It may well be, said Sir +Marhaus; but tell King Mark I will not fight with no knight but he be +of blood royal, that is to say, other king’s son, other queen’s son, +born of a prince or princess. + +When King Mark understood that, he sent for Sir Tristram de Liones and +told him what was the answer of Sir Marhaus. Then said Sir Tristram: +Sithen that he saith so, let him wit that I am come of father side and +mother side of as noble blood as he is: for, sir, now shall ye know +that I am King Meliodas’ son, born of your own sister, Dame Elizabeth, +that died in the forest in the birth of me. O Jesu, said King Mark, ye +are welcome fair nephew to me. Then in all the haste the king let horse +Sir Tristram, and armed him in the best manner that might be had or +gotten for gold or silver. And then King Mark sent unto Sir Marhaus, +and did him to wit that a better born man than he was himself should +fight with him, and his name is Sir Tristram de Liones, gotten of King +Meliodas, and born of King Mark’s sister. Then was Sir Marhaus glad and +blithe that he should fight with such a gentleman. And so by the assent +of King Mark and of Sir Marhaus they let ordain that they should fight +within an island nigh Sir Marhaus’ ships; and so was Sir Tristram put +into a vessel both his horse and he, and all that to him longed both +for his body and for his horse. Sir Tristram lacked nothing. And when +King Mark and his barons of Cornwall beheld how young Sir Tristram +departed with such a carriage to fight for the right of Cornwall, there +was neither man nor woman of worship but they wept to see and +understand so young a knight to jeopardy himself for their right. + + + +CHAPTER VI. How Sir Tristram arrived into the Island for to furnish the +battle with Sir Marhaus. + +So to shorten this tale, when Sir Tristram was arrived within the +island he looked to the farther side, and there he saw at an anchor six +ships nigh to the land; and under the shadow of the ships upon the +land, there hoved the noble knight, Sir Marhaus of Ireland. Then Sir +Tristram commanded his servant Gouvernail to bring his horse to the +land, and dress his harness at all manner of rights. And then when he +had so done he mounted upon his horse; and when he was in his saddle +well apparelled, and his shield dressed upon his shoulder, Tristram +asked Gouvernail, Where is this knight that I shall have ado withal? +Sir, said Gouvernail, see ye him not? I weened ye had seen him; yonder +he hoveth under the umbre of his ships on horseback, with his spear in +his hand and his shield upon his shoulder. That is truth, said the +noble knight, Sir Tristram, now I see him well enough. + +Then he commanded his servant Gouvernail to go to his vessel again: And +commend me unto mine eme King Mark, and pray him, if that I be slain in +this battle, for to inter my body as him seemed best; and as for me, +let him wit that I will never yield me for cowardice; and if I be slain +and flee not, then they have lost no truage for me; and if so be that I +flee or yield me as recreant, bid mine eme never bury me in Christian +burials. And upon thy life, said Sir Tristram to Gouvernail, come thou +not nigh this island till that thou see me overcome or slain, or else +that I win yonder knight. So either departed from other sore weeping. + + + +CHAPTER VII. How Sir Tristram fought against Sir Marhaus and achieved +his battle, and how Sir Marhaus fled to his ship. + +And then Sir Marhaus avised Sir Tristram, and said thus: Young knight, +Sir Tristram, what dost thou here? me sore repenteth of thy courage, +for wit thou well I have been assayed, and the best knights of this +land have been assayed of my hand; and also I have matched with the +best knights of the world, and therefore by my counsel return again +unto thy vessel. And fair knight, and well-proved knight, said Sir +Tristram, thou shalt well wit I may not forsake thee in this quarrel, +for I am for thy sake made knight. And thou shalt well wit that I am a +king’s son born, and gotten upon a queen; and such promise I have made +at my uncle’s request and mine own seeking, that I shall fight with +thee unto the uttermost, and deliver Cornwall from the old truage. And +also wit thou well, Sir Marhaus, that this is the greatest cause that +thou couragest me to have ado with thee, for thou art called one of the +most renowned knights of the world, and because of that noise and fame +that thou hast thou givest me courage to have ado with thee, for never +yet was I proved with good knight; and sithen I took the order of +knighthood this day, I am well pleased that I may have ado with so good +a knight as thou art. And now wit thou well, Sir Marhaus, that I cast +me to get worship on thy body; and if that I be not proved, I trust to +God that I shall be worshipfully proved upon thy body, and to deliver +the country of Cornwall for ever from all manner of truage from Ireland +for ever. + +When Sir Marhaus had heard him say what he would, he said then thus +again: Fair knight, sithen it is so that thou castest to win worship of +me, I let thee wit worship may thou none lose by me if thou mayest +stand me three strokes; for I let thee wit for my noble deeds, proved +and seen, King Arthur made me Knight of the Table Round. + +Then they began to feutre their spears, and they met so fiercely +together that they smote either other down, both horse and all. But Sir +Marhaus smote Sir Tristram a great wound in the side with his spear, +and then they avoided their horses, and pulled out their swords, and +threw their shields afore them. And then they lashed together as men +that were wild and courageous. And when they had stricken so together +long, then they left their strokes, and foined at their breaths and +visors; and when they saw that that might not prevail them, then they +hurtled together like rams to bear either other down. Thus they fought +still more than half a day, and either were wounded passing sore, that +the blood ran down freshly from them upon the ground. By then Sir +Tristram waxed more fresher than Sir Marhaus, and better winded and +bigger; and with a mighty stroke he smote Sir Marhaus upon the helm +such a buffet that it went through his helm, and through the coif of +steel, and through the brain-pan, and the sword stuck so fast in the +helm and in his brain-pan that Sir Tristram pulled thrice at his sword +or ever he might pull it out from his head; and there Marhaus fell down +on his knees, the edge of Tristram’s sword left in his brain-pan. And +suddenly Sir Marhaus rose grovelling, and threw his sword and his +shield from him, and so ran to his ships and fled his way, and Sir +Tristram had ever his shield and his sword. + +And when Sir Tristram saw Sir Marhaus withdraw him, he said: Ah! Sir +Knight of the Round Table, why withdrawest thou thee? thou dost thyself +and thy kin great shame, for I am but a young knight, or now I was +never proved, and rather than I should withdraw me from thee, I had +rather be hewn in an hundred pieces. Sir Marhaus answered no word but +yede his way sore groaning. Well, Sir Knight, said Sir Tristram, I +promise thee thy sword and thy shield shall be mine; and thy shield +shall I wear in all places where I ride on mine adventures, and in the +sight of King Arthur and all the Round Table. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. How Sir Marhaus after that he was arrived in Ireland died +of the stroke that Sir Tristram had given him, and how Tristram was +hurt. + +Anon Sir Marhaus and his fellowship departed into Ireland. And as soon +as he came to the king, his brother, he let search his wounds. And when +his head was searched a piece of Sir Tristram’s sword was found +therein, and might never be had out of his head for no surgeons, and so +he died of Sir Tristram’s sword; and that piece of the sword the queen, +his sister, kept it for ever with her, for she thought to be revenged +an she might. + +Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram, that was sore wounded, and full +sore bled that he might not within a little while, when he had taken +cold, unnethe stir him of his limbs. And then he set him down softly +upon a little hill, and bled fast. Then anon came Gouvernail, his man, +with his vessel; and the king and his barons came with procession +against him. And when he was come unto the land, King Mark took him in +his arms, and the king and Sir Dinas, the seneschal, led Sir Tristram +into the castle of Tintagil. And then was he searched in the best +manner, and laid in his bed. And when King Mark saw his wounds he wept +heartily, and so did all his lords. So God me help, said King Mark, I +would not for all my lands that my nephew died. So Sir Tristram lay +there a month and more, and ever he was like to die of that stroke that +Sir Marhaus smote him first with the spear. For, as the French book +saith, the spear’s head was envenomed, that Sir Tristram might not be +whole. Then was King Mark and all his barons passing heavy, for they +deemed none other but that Sir Tristram should not recover. Then the +king let send after all manner of leeches and surgeons, both unto men +and women, and there was none that would behote him the life. Then came +there a lady that was a right wise lady, and she said plainly unto King +Mark, and to Sir Tristram, and to all his barons, that he should never +be whole but if Sir Tristram went in the same country that the venom +came from, and in that country should he be holpen or else never. Thus +said the lady unto the king. + +When King Mark understood that, he let purvey for Sir Tristram a fair +vessel, well victualled, and therein was put Sir Tristram, and +Gouvernail with him, and Sir Tristram took his harp with him, and so he +was put into the sea to sail into Ireland; and so by good fortune he +arrived up in Ireland, even fast by a castle where the king and the +queen was; and at his arrival he sat and harped in his bed a merry lay, +such one heard they never none in Ireland before that time. + +And when it was told the king and the queen of such a knight that was +such an harper, anon the king sent for him, and let search his wounds, +and then asked him his name. Then he answered, I am of the country of +Liones, and my name is Tramtrist, that thus was wounded in a battle as +I fought for a lady’s right. So God me help, said King Anguish, ye +shall have all the help in this land that ye may have here; but I let +you wit, in Cornwall I had a great loss as ever had king, for there I +lost the best knight of the world; his name was Marhaus, a full noble +knight, and Knight of the Table Round; and there he told Sir Tristram +wherefore Sir Marhaus was slain. Sir Tristram made semblant as he had +been sorry, and better knew he how it was than the king. + + + +CHAPTER IX. How Sir Tristram was put to the keeping of La Beale Isoud +first for to be healed of his wound. + +Then the king for great favour made Tramtrist to be put in his +daughter’s ward and keeping, because she was a noble surgeon. And when +she had searched him she found in the bottom of his wound that therein +was poison, and so she healed him within a while; and therefore +Tramtrist cast great love to La Beale Isoud, for she was at that time +the fairest maid and lady of the world. And there Tramtrist learned her +to harp, and she began to have a great fantasy unto him. And at that +time Sir Palamides, the Saracen, was in that country, and well +cherished with the king and the queen. And every day Sir Palamides drew +unto La Beale Isoud and proffered her many gifts, for he loved her +passingly well. All that espied Tramtrist, and full well knew he Sir +Palamides for a noble knight and a mighty man. And wit you well Sir +Tramtrist had great despite at Sir Palamides, for La Beale Isoud told +Tramtrist that Palamides was in will to be christened for her sake. +Thus was there great envy betwixt Tramtrist and Sir Palamides. + +Then it befell that King Anguish let cry a great jousts and a great +tournament for a lady that was called the Lady of the Launds, and she +was nigh cousin unto the king. And what man won her, three days after +he should wed her and have all her lands. This cry was made in England, +Wales, Scotland, and also in France and in Brittany. It befell upon a +day La Beale Isoud came unto Sir Tramtrist, and told him of this +tournament. He answered and said: Fair lady, I am but a feeble knight, +and but late I had been dead had not your good ladyship been. Now, fair +lady, what would ye I should do in this matter? well ye wot, my lady, +that I may not joust. Ah, Tramtrist, said La Beale Isoud, why will ye +not have ado at that tournament? well I wot Sir Palamides shall be +there, and to do what he may; and therefore Tramtrist, I pray you for +to be there, for else Sir Palamides is like to win the degree. Madam, +said Tramtrist, as for that, it may be so, for he is a proved knight, +and I am but a young knight and late made; and the first battle that I +did it mishapped me to be sore wounded as ye see. But an I wist ye +would be my better lady, at that tournament I will be, so that ye will +keep my counsel and let no creature have knowledge that I shall joust +but yourself, and such as ye will to keep your counsel, my poor person +shall I jeopard there for your sake, that, peradventure, Sir Palamides +shall know when that I come. Thereto, said La Beale Isoud, do your +best, and as I can, said La Beale Isoud, I shall purvey horse and +armour for you at my device. As ye will so be it, said Sir Tramtrist, I +will be at your commandment. + +So at the day of jousts there came Sir Palamides with a black shield, +and he overthrew many knights, that all the people had marvel of him. +For he put to the worse Sir Gawaine, Gaheris, Agravaine, Bagdemagus, +Kay, Dodinas le Savage, Sagramore le Desirous, Gumret le Petit, and +Griflet le Fise de Dieu. All these the first day Sir Palamides struck +down to the earth. And then all manner of knights were adread of Sir +Palamides, and many called him the Knight with the Black Shield. So +that day Sir Palamides had great worship. + +Then came King Anguish unto Tramtrist, and asked him why he would not +joust. Sir, he said, I was but late hurt, and as yet I dare not +adventure me. Then came there the same squire that was sent from the +king’s daughter of France unto Sir Tristram. And when he had espied Sir +Tristram he fell flat to his feet. All that espied La Beale Isoud, what +courtesy the squire made unto Sir Tristram. And therewithal suddenly +Sir Tristram ran unto his squire, whose name was Hebes le Renoumes, and +prayed him heartily in no wise to tell his name. Sir, said Hebes, I +will not discover your name but if ye command me. + + + +CHAPTER X. How Sir Tristram won the degree at a tournament in Ireland, +and there made Palamides to bear no more harness in a year. + +Then Sir Tristram asked him what he did in those countries. Sir, he +said, I came hither with Sir Gawaine for to be made knight, and if it +please you, of your hands that I may be made knight. Await upon me as +to-morn secretly, and in the field I shall make you a knight. + +Then had La Beale Isoud great suspicion unto Tramtrist, that he was +some man of worship proved, and therewith she comforted herself, and +cast more love unto him than she had done to-fore. And so on the morn +Sir Palamides made him ready to come into the field as he did the first +day. And there he smote down the King with the Hundred Knights, and the +King of Scots. Then had La Beale Isoud ordained and well arrayed Sir +Tristram in white horse and harness. And right so she let put him out +at a privy postern, and so he came into the field as it had been a +bright angel. And anon Sir Palamides espied him, and therewith he +feutred a spear unto Sir Tramtrist, and he again unto him. And there +Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palamides unto the earth. And then there +was a great noise of people: some said Sir Palamides had a fall, some +said the Knight with the Black Shield had a fall. And wit you well La +Beale Isoud was passing glad. And then Sir Gawaine and his fellows nine +had marvel what knight it might be that had smitten down Sir Palamides. +Then would there none joust with Tramtrist, but all that there were +forsook him, most and least. Then Sir Tristram made Hebes a knight, and +caused him to put himself forth, and did right well that day. So after +Sir Hebes held him with Sir Tristram. + +And when Sir Palamides had received this fall, wit ye well that he was +sore ashamed, and as privily as he might he withdrew him out of the +field. All that espied Sir Tristram, and lightly he rode after Sir +Palamides and overtook him, and bade him turn, for better he would +assay him or ever he departed. Then Sir Palamides turned him, and +either lashed at other with their swords. But at the first stroke Sir +Tristram smote down Palamides, and gave him such a stroke upon the head +that he fell to the earth. So then Tristram bade yield him, and do his +commandment, or else he would slay him. When Sir Palamides beheld his +countenance, he dread his buffets so, that he granted all his askings. +Well said, said Sir Tristram, this shall be your charge. First, upon +pain of your life that ye forsake my lady La Beale Isoud, and in no +manner wise that ye draw not to her. Also this twelvemonth and a day +that ye bear none armour nor none harness of war. Now promise me this, +or here shalt thou die. Alas, said Palamides, for ever am I ashamed. +Then he sware as Sir Tristram had commanded him. Then for despite and +anger Sir Palamides cut off his harness, and threw them away. + +And so Sir Tristram turned again to the castle where was La Beale +Isoud; and by the way he met with a damosel that asked after Sir +Launcelot, that won the Dolorous Guard worshipfully; and this damosel +asked Sir Tristram what he was. For it was told her that it was he that +smote down Sir Palamides, by whom the ten knights of King Arthur’s were +smitten down. Then the damosel prayed Sir Tristram to tell her what he +was, and whether that he were Sir Launcelot du Lake, for she deemed +that there was no knight in the world might do such deeds of arms but +if it were Launcelot. Fair damosel, said Sir Tristram, wit ye well that +I am not Sir Launcelot, for I was never of such prowess, but in God is +all that he may make me as good a knight as the good knight Sir +Launcelot. Now, gentle knight, said she, put up thy visor; and when she +beheld his visage she thought she saw never a better man’s visage, nor +a better faring knight. And then when the damosel knew certainly that +he was not Sir Launcelot, then she took her leave, and departed from +him. And then Sir Tristram rode privily unto the postern, where kept +him La Beale Isoud, and there she made him good cheer, and thanked God +of his good speed. So anon, within a while the king and the queen +understood that it was Tramtrist that smote down Sir Palamides; then +was he much made of, more than he was before. + + + +CHAPTER XI. How the queen espied that Sir Tristram had slain her +brother Sir Marhaus by his sword, and in what jeopardy he was. + +Thus was Sir Tramtrist long there well cherished with the king and the +queen, and namely with La Beale Isoud. So upon a day the queen and La +Beale Isoud made a bain for Sir Tramtrist. And when he was in his bain +the queen and Isoud, her daughter, roamed up and down in the chamber; +and therewhiles Gouvernail and Hebes attended upon Tramtrist, and the +queen beheld his sword thereas it lay upon his bed. And then by unhap +the queen drew out his sword and beheld it a long while, and both they +thought it a passing fair sword; but within a foot and an half of the +point there was a great piece thereof out-broken of the edge. And when +the queen espied that gap in the sword, she remembered her of a piece +of a sword that was found in the brain-pan of Sir Marhaus, the good +knight that was her brother. Alas then, said she unto her daughter, La +Beale Isoud, this is the same traitor knight that slew my brother, +thine eme. When Isoud heard her say so she was passing sore abashed, +for passing well she loved Tramtrist, and full well she knew the +cruelness of her mother the queen. + +Anon therewithal the queen went unto her own chamber, and sought her +coffer, and there she took out the piece or the sword that was pulled +out of Sir Marhaus’ head after that he was dead. And then she ran with +that piece of iron to the sword that lay upon the bed. And when she put +that piece of steel and iron unto the sword, it was as meet as it might +be when it was new broken. And then the queen gripped that sword in her +hand fiercely, and with all her might she ran straight upon Tramtrist +where he sat in his bain, and there she had rived him through had not +Sir Hebes gotten her in his arms, and pulled the sword from her, and +else she had thrust him through. + +Then when she was let of her evil will she ran to the King Anguish, her +husband, and said on her knees: O my lord, here have ye in your house +that traitor knight that slew my brother and your servant, that noble +knight, Sir Marhaus. Who is that, said King Anguish, and where is he? +Sir, she said, it is Sir Tramtrist, the same knight that my daughter +healed. Alas, said the king, therefore am I right heavy, for he is a +full noble knight as ever I saw in field. But I charge you, said the +king to the queen, that ye have not ado with that knight, but let me +deal with him. + +Then the king went into the chamber unto Sir Tramtrist, and then was he +gone unto his chamber, and the king found him all ready armed to mount +upon his horse. When the king saw him all ready armed to go unto +horseback, the king said: Nay, Tramtrist, it will not avail to compare +thee against me; but thus much I shall do for my worship and for thy +love; in so much as thou art within my court it were no worship for me +to slay thee: therefore upon this condition I will give thee leave for +to depart from this court in safety, so thou wilt tell me who was thy +father, and what is thy name, and if thou slew Sir Marhaus, my brother. + + + +CHAPTER XII. How Sir Tristram departed from the king and La Beale Isoud +out of Ireland for to come into Cornwall. + +Sir, said Tristram, now I shall tell you all the truth: my father’s +name is Sir Meliodas, King of Liones, and my mother hight Elizabeth, +that was sister unto King Mark of Cornwall; and my mother died of me in +the forest, and because thereof she commanded, or she died, that when I +were christened they should christen me Tristram; and because I would +not be known in this country I turned my name and let me call +Tramtrist; and for the truage of Cornwall I fought for my eme’s sake, +and for the right of Cornwall that ye had posseded many years. And wit +ye well, said Tristram unto the king, I did the battle for the love of +mine uncle, King Mark, and for the love of the country of Cornwall, and +for to increase mine honour; for that same day that I fought with Sir +Marhaus I was made knight, and never or then did I battle with no +knight, and from me he went alive, and left his shield and his sword +behind. + +So God me help, said the king, I may not say but ye did as a knight +should, and it was your part to do for your quarrel, and to increase +your worship as a knight should; howbeit I may not maintain you in this +country with my worship, unless that I should displease my barons, and +my wife and her kin. Sir, said Tristram, I thank you of your good +lordship that I have had with you here, and the great goodness my lady, +your daughter, hath shewed me, and therefore, said Sir Tristram, it may +so happen that ye shall win more by my life than by my death, for in +the parts of England it may happen I may do you service at some season, +that ye shall be glad that ever ye shewed me your good lordship. With +more I promise you as I am true knight, that in all places I shall be +my lady your daughter’s servant and knight in right and in wrong, and I +shall never fail her, to do as much as a knight may do. Also I beseech +your good grace that I may take my leave at my lady, your daughter, and +at all the barons and knights. I will well, said the king. + +Then Sir Tristram went unto La Beale Isoud and took his leave of her. +And then he told her all, what he was, and how he had changed his name +because he would not be known, and how a lady told him that he should +never be whole till he came into this country where the poison was +made, wherethrough I was near my death had not your ladyship been. O +gentle knight, said La Beale Isoud, full woe am I of thy departing, for +I saw never man that I owed so good will to. And therewithal she wept +heartily. Madam, said Sir Tristram, ye shall understand that my name is +Sir Tristram de Liones, gotten of King Meliodas, and born of his queen. +And I promise you faithfully that I shall be all the days of my life +your knight. Gramercy, said La Beale Isoud, and I promise you +there-against that I shall not be married this seven years but by your +assent; and to whom that ye will I shall be married to him will I have, +and he will have me if ye will consent. + +And then Sir Tristram gave her a ring, and she gave him another; and +therewith he departed from her, leaving her making great dole and +lamentation; and he straight went unto the court among all the barons, +and there he took his leave at most and least, and openly he said among +them all: Fair lords, now it is so that I must depart: if there be any +man here that I have offended unto, or that any man be with me grieved, +let complain him here afore me or that ever I depart, and I shall amend +it unto my power. And if there be any that will proffer me wrong, or +say of me wrong or shame behind my back, say it now or never, and here +is my body to make it good, body against body. And all they stood +still, there was not one that would say one word; yet were there some +knights that were of the queen’s blood, and of Sir Marhaus’ blood, but +they would not meddle with him. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Tristram and King Mark hurted each other for the +love of a knight’s wife. + +So Sir Tristram departed, and took the sea, and with good wind he +arrived up at Tintagil in Cornwall; and when King Mark was whole in his +prosperity there came tidings that Sir Tristram was arrived, and whole +of his wounds: thereof was King Mark passing glad, and so were all the +barons; and when he saw his time he rode unto his father, King +Meliodas, and there he had all the cheer that the king and the queen +could make him. And then largely King Meliodas and his queen departed +of their lands and goods to Sir Tristram. + +Then by the license of King Meliodas, his father, he returned again +unto the court of King Mark, and there he lived in great joy long time, +until at the last there befell a jealousy and an unkindness betwixt +King Mark and Sir Tristram, for they loved both one lady. And she was +an earl’s wife that hight Sir Segwarides. And this lady loved Sir +Tristram passingly well. And he loved her again, for she was a passing +fair lady, and that espied Sir Tristram well. Then King Mark understood +that and was jealous, for King Mark loved her passingly well. + +So it fell upon a day this lady sent a dwarf unto Sir Tristram, and +bade him, as he loved her, that he would be with her the night next +following. Also she charged you that ye come not to her but if ye be +well armed, for her lover was called a good knight. Sir Tristram +answered to the dwarf: Recommend me unto my lady, and tell her I will +not fail but I will be with her the term that she hath set me. And with +this answer the dwarf departed. And King Mark espied that the dwarf was +with Sir Tristram upon message from Segwarides’ wife; then King Mark +sent for the dwarf, and when he was come he made the dwarf by force to +tell him all, why and wherefore that he came on message from Sir +Tristram. Now, said King Mark, go where thou wilt, and upon pain of +death that thou say no word that thou spakest with me; so the dwarf +departed from the king. + +And that same night that the steven was set betwixt Segwarides’ wife +and Sir Tristram, King Mark armed him, and made him ready, and took two +knights of his counsel with him; and so he rode afore for to abide by +the way for to wait upon Sir Tristram. And as Sir Tristram came riding +upon his way with his spear in his hand, King Mark came hurtling upon +him with his two knights suddenly. And all three smote him with their +spears, and King Mark hurt Sir Tristram on the breast right sore. And +then Sir Tristram feutred his spear, and smote his uncle, King Mark, so +sore, that he rashed him to the earth, and bruised him that he lay +still in a swoon, and long it was or ever he might wield himself. And +then he ran to the one knight, and eft to the other, and smote them to +the cold earth, that they lay still. And therewithal Sir Tristram rode +forth sore wounded to the lady, and found her abiding him at a postern. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Tristram lay with the lady, and how her husband +fought with Sir Tristram. + +And there she welcomed him fair, and either halsed other in arms, and +so she let put up his horse in the best wise, and then she unarmed him. +And so they supped lightly, and went to bed with great joy and +pleasaunce; and so in his raging he took no keep of his green wound +that King Mark had given him. And so Sir Tristram be-bled both the over +sheet and the nether, and pillows, and head sheet. And within a while +there came one afore, that warned her that her lord was near-hand +within a bow-draught. So she made Sir Tristram to arise, and so he +armed him, and took his horse, and so departed. By then was come +Segwarides, her lord, and when he found her bed troubled and broken, +and went near and beheld it by candle light, then he saw that there had +lain a wounded knight. Ah, false traitress, then he said, why hast thou +betrayed me? And therewithal he swang out a sword, and said: But if +thou tell me who hath been here, here thou shalt die. Ah, my lord, +mercy, said the lady, and held up her hands, saying: Slay me not, and I +shall tell you all who hath been here. Tell anon, said Segwarides, to +me all the truth. Anon for dread she said: Here was Sir Tristram with +me, and by the way as he came to me ward, he was sore wounded. Ah, +false traitress, said Segwarides, where is he become? Sir, she said, he +is armed, and departed on horseback, not yet hence half a mile. Ye say +well, said Segwarides. + +Then he armed him lightly, and gat his horse, and rode after Sir +Tristram that rode straightway unto Tintagil. And within a while he +overtook Sir Tristram, and then he bade him, Turn, false traitor +knight. And Sir Tristram anon turned him against him. And therewithal +Segwarides smote Sir Tristram with a spear that it all to-brast; and +then he swang out his sword and smote fast at Sir Tristram. Sir knight, +said Sir Tristram, I counsel you that ye smite no more, howbeit for the +wrongs that I have done you I will forbear you as long as I may. Nay, +said Segwarides, that shall not be, for either thou shalt die or I. + +Then Sir Tristram drew out his sword, and hurtled his horse unto him +fiercely, and through the waist of the body he smote Sir Segwarides +that he fell to the earth in a swoon. And so Sir Tristram departed and +left him there. And so he rode unto Tintagil and took his lodging +secretly, for he would not be known that he was hurt. Also Sir +Segwarides’ men rode after their master, whom they found lying in the +field sore wounded, and brought him home on his shield, and there he +lay long or that he were whole, but at the last he recovered. Also King +Mark would not be aknown of that Sir Tristram and he had met that +night. And as for Sir Tristram, he knew not that King Mark had met with +him. And so the king askance came to Sir Tristram, to comfort him as he +lay sick in his bed. But as long as King Mark lived he loved never Sir +Tristram after that; though there was fair speech, love was there none. +And thus it passed many weeks and days, and all was forgiven and +forgotten; for Sir Segwarides durst not have ado with Sir Tristram, +because of his noble prowess, and also because he was nephew unto King +Mark; therefore he let it overslip: for he that hath a privy hurt is +loath to have a shame outward. + + + +CHAPTER XV. How Sir Bleoberis demanded the fairest lady in King Mark’s +court, whom he took away, and how he was fought with. + +Then it befell upon a day that the good knight Bleoberis de Ganis, +brother to Blamore de Ganis, and nigh cousin unto the good knight Sir +Launcelot du Lake, this Bleoberis came unto the court of King Mark, and +there he asked of King Mark a boon, to give him what gift that he would +ask in his court. When the king heard him ask so, he marvelled of his +asking, but because he was a knight of the Round Table, and of a great +renown, King Mark granted him his whole asking. Then, said Sir +Bleoberis, I will have the fairest lady in your court that me list to +choose. I may not say nay, said King Mark; now choose at your +adventure. And so Sir Bleoberis did choose Sir Segwarides’ wife, and +took her by the hand, and so went his way with her; and so he took his +horse and gart set her behind his squire, and rode upon his way. + +When Sir Segwarides heard tell that his lady was gone with a knight of +King Arthur’s court, then he armed him and rode after that knight for +to rescue his lady. So when Bleoberis was gone with this lady, King +Mark and all the court was wroth that she was away. Then were there +certain ladies that knew that there were great love between Sir +Tristram and her, and also that lady loved Sir Tristram above all other +knights. Then there was one lady that rebuked Sir Tristram in the +horriblest wise, and called him coward knight, that he would for shame +of his knighthood see a lady so shamefully be taken away from his +uncle’s court. But she meant that either of them had loved other with +entire heart. But Sir Tristram answered her thus: Fair lady, it is not +my part to have ado in such matters while her lord and husband is +present here; and if it had been that her lord had not been here in +this court, then for the worship of this court peradventure I would +have been her champion, and if so be Sir Segwarides speed not well, it +may happen that I will speak with that good knight or ever he pass from +this country. + +Then within a while came one of Sir Segwarides’ squires, and told in +the court that Sir Segwarides was beaten sore and wounded to the point +of death; as he would have rescued his lady Sir Bleoberis overthrew him +and sore hath wounded him. Then was King Mark heavy thereof, and all +the court. When Sir Tristram heard of this he was ashamed and sore +grieved; and then was he soon armed and on horseback, and Gouvernail, +his servant, bare his shield and spear. And so as Sir Tristram rode +fast he met with Sir Andred his cousin, that by the commandment of King +Mark was sent to bring forth, an ever it lay in his power, two knights +of Arthur’s court, that rode by the country to seek their adventures. +When Sir Tristram saw Sir Andred he asked him what tidings. So God me +help, said Sir Andred, there was never worse with me, for here by the +commandment of King Mark I was sent to fetch two knights of King +Arthur’s court, and that one beat me and wounded me, and set nought by +my message. Fair cousin, said Sir Tristram, ride on your way, and if I +may meet them it may happen I shall revenge you. So Sir Andred rode +into Cornwall, and Sir Tristram rode after the two knights, the which +one hight Sagramore le Desirous, and the other hight Dodinas le Savage. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Tristram fought with two knights of the Round +Table. + +Then within a while Sir Tristram saw them afore him, two likely +knights. Sir, said Gouvernail unto his master, Sir, I would counsel you +not to have ado with them, for they be two proved knights of Arthur’s +court. As for that, said Sir Tristram, have ye no doubt but I will have +ado with them to increase my worship, for it is many day sithen I did +any deeds of arms. Do as ye list, said Gouvernail. And therewithal anon +Sir Tristram asked them from whence they came, and whither they would, +and what they did in those marches. Sir Sagramore looked upon Sir +Tristram, and had scorn of his words, and asked him again, Fair knight, +be ye a knight of Cornwall? Whereby ask ye it? said Sir Tristram. For +it is seldom seen, said Sir Sagramore, that ye Cornish knights be +valiant men of arms; for within these two hours there met us one of +your Cornish knights, and great words he spake, and anon with little +might he was laid to the earth. And, as I trow, said Sir Sagramore, ye +shall have the same handsel that he had. Fair lords, said Sir Tristram, +it may so happen that I may better withstand than he did, and whether +ye will or nill I will have ado with you, because he was my cousin that +ye beat. And therefore here do your best, and wit ye well but if ye +quit you the better here upon this ground, one knight of Cornwall shall +beat you both. + +When Sir Dodinas le Savage heard him say so he gat a spear in his hand, +and said, Sir knight, keep well thyself: And then they departed and +came together as it had been thunder. And Sir Dodinas’ spear brast +in-sunder, but Sir Tristram smote him with a more might, that he smote +him clean over the horse-croup, that nigh he had broken his neck. When +Sir Sagramore saw his fellow have such a fall he marvelled what knight +he might be. And he dressed his spear with all his might, and Sir +Tristram against him, and they came together as the thunder, and there +Sir Tristram smote Sir Sagramore a strong buffet, that he bare his +horse and him to the earth, and in the falling he brake his thigh. + +When this was done Sir Tristram asked them: Fair knights, will ye any +more? Be there no bigger knights in the court of King Arthur? it is to +you shame to say of us knights of Cornwall dishonour, for it may happen +a Cornish knight may match you. That is truth, said Sir Sagramore, that +have we well proved; but I require thee, said Sir Sagramore, tell us +your right name, by the faith and troth that ye owe to the high order +of knighthood. Ye charge me with a great thing, said Sir Tristram, and +sithen ye list to wit it, ye shall know and understand that my name is +Sir Tristram de Liones, King Meliodas’ son, and nephew unto King Mark. +Then were they two knights fain that they had met with Tristram, and so +they prayed him to abide in their fellowship. Nay, said Sir Tristram, +for I must have ado with one of your fellows, his name is Sir Bleoberis +de Ganis. God speed you well, said Sir Sagramore and Dodinas. Sir +Tristram departed and rode onward on his way. And then was he ware +before him in a valley where rode Sir Bleoberis, with Sir Segwarides’ +lady, that rode behind his squire upon a palfrey. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Bleoberis for a lady, +and how the lady was put to choice to whom she would go. + +Then Sir Tristram rode more than a pace until that he had overtaken +him. Then spake Sir Tristram: Abide, he said, Knight of Arthur’s court, +bring again that lady, or deliver her to me. I will do neither, said +Bleoberis, for I dread no Cornish knight so sore that me list to +deliver her. Why, said Sir Tristram, may not a Cornish knight do as +well as another knight? this same day two knights of your court within +this three mile met with me, and or ever we departed they found a +Cornish knight good enough for them both. What were their names? said +Bleoberis. They told me, said Sir Tristram, that the one of them hight +Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and the other hight Dodinas le Savage. Ah, +said Sir Bleoberis, have ye met with them? so God me help, they were +two good knights and men of great worship, and if ye have beat them +both ye must needs be a good knight; but if it so be ye have beat them +both, yet shall ye not fear me, but ye shall beat me or ever ye have +this lady. Then defend you, said Sir Tristram. So they departed and +came together like thunder, and either bare other down, horse and all, +to the earth. + +Then they avoided their horses, and lashed together eagerly with +swords, and mightily, now tracing and traversing on the right hand and +on the left hand more than two hours. And sometime they rushed together +with such a might that they lay both grovelling on the ground. Then Sir +Bleoberis de Ganis stert aback, and said thus: Now, gentle good knight, +a while hold your hands, and let us speak together. Say what ye will, +said Tristram, and I will answer you. Sir, said Bleoberis, I would wit +of whence ye be, and of whom ye be come, and what is your name? So God +me help, said Sir Tristram, I fear not to tell you my name. Wit ye well +I am King Meliodas’ son, and my mother is King Mark’s sister, and my +name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and King Mark is mine uncle. Truly, +said Bleoberis, I am right glad of you, for ye are he that slew Marhaus +the knight, hand for hand in an island, for the truage of Cornwall; +also ye overcame Sir Palamides the good knight, at a tournament in an +island, where ye beat Sir Gawaine and his nine fellows. So God me help, +said Sir Tristram, wit ye well that I am the same knight; now I have +told you my name, tell me yours with good will. Wit ye well that my +name is Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, and my brother hight Sir Blamore de +Ganis, that is called a good knight, and we be sister’s children unto +my lord Sir Launcelot du Lake, that we call one of the best knights of +the world. That is truth, said Sir Tristram, Sir Launcelot is called +peerless of courtesy and of knighthood; and for his sake, said Sir +Tristram, I will not with my good will fight no more with you, for the +great love I have to Sir Launcelot du Lake. In good faith, said +Bleoberis, as for me I will be loath to fight with you; but sithen ye +follow me here to have this lady, I shall proffer you kindness, +courtesy, and gentleness right here upon this ground. This lady shall +be betwixt us both, and to whom that she will go, let him have her in +peace. I will well, said Tristram, for, as I deem, she will leave you +and come to me. Ye shall prove it anon, said Bleoberis. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. How the lady forsook Sir Tristram and abode with Sir +Bleoberis, and how she desired to go to her husband. + +So when she was set betwixt them both she said these words unto Sir +Tristram: Wit ye well, Sir Tristram de Liones, that but late thou wast +the man in the world that I most loved and trusted, and I weened thou +hadst loved me again above all ladies; but when thou sawest this knight +lead me away thou madest no cheer to rescue me, but suffered my lord +Segwarides ride after me; but until that time I weened thou haddest +loved me, and therefore now I will leave thee, and never love thee +more. And therewithal she went unto Sir Bleoberis. + +When Sir Tristram saw her do so he was wonderly wroth with that lady, +and ashamed to come to the court. Sir Tristram, said Sir Bleoberis, ye +are in the default, for I hear by this lady’s words she before this day +trusted you above all earthly knights, and, as she saith, ye have +deceived her, therefore wit ye well, there may no man hold that will +away; and rather than ye should be heartily displeased with me I would +ye had her, an she would abide with you. Nay, said the lady, so God me +help I will never go with him; for he that I loved most I weened he had +loved me. And therefore, Sir Tristram, she said, ride as thou came, for +though thou haddest overcome this knight, as ye was likely, with thee +never would I have gone. And I shall pray this knight so fair of his +knighthood, that or ever he pass this country, that he will lead me to +the abbey where my lord Sir Segwarides lieth. So God me help, said +Bleoberis, I let you wit, good knight Sir Tristram, because King Mark +gave me the choice of a gift in this court, and so this lady liked me +best—notwithstanding, she is wedded and hath a lord, and I have +fulfilled my quest, she shall be sent unto her husband again, and in +especial most for your sake, Sir Tristram; and if she would go with you +I would ye had her. I thank you, said Sir Tristram, but for her love I +shall beware what manner a lady I shall love or trust; for had her +lord, Sir Segwarides, been away from the court, I should have been the +first that should have followed you; but sithen that ye have refused +me, as I am true knight I shall her know passingly well that I shall +love or trust. And so they took their leave one from the other and +departed. + +And so Sir Tristram rode unto Tintagil, and Sir Bleoberis rode unto the +abbey where Sir Segwarides lay sore wounded, and there he delivered his +lady, and departed as a noble knight; and when Sir Segwarides saw his +lady, he was greatly comforted; and then she told him that Sir Tristram +had done great battle with Sir Bleoberis, and caused him to bring her +again. These words pleased Sir Segwarides right well, that Sir Tristram +would do so much; and so that lady told all the battle unto King Mark +betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir Bleoberis. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. How King Mark sent Sir Tristram for La Beale Isoud toward +Ireland, and how by fortune he arrived into England. + +Then when this was done King Mark cast always in his heart how he might +destroy Sir Tristram. And then he imagined in himself to send Sir +Tristram into Ireland for La Beale Isoud. For Sir Tristram had so +praised her beauty and her goodness that King Mark said that he would +wed her, whereupon he prayed Sir Tristram to take his way into Ireland +for him on message. And all this was done to the intent to slay Sir +Tristram. Notwithstanding, Sir Tristram would not refuse the message +for no danger nor peril that might fall, for the pleasure of his uncle, +but to go he made him ready in the most goodliest wise that might be +devised. For Sir Tristram took with him the most goodliest knights that +he might find in the court; and they were arrayed, after the guise that +was then used, in the goodliest manner. So Sir Tristram departed and +took the sea with all his fellowship. And anon, as he was in the broad +sea a tempest took him and his fellowship, and drove them back into the +coast of England; and there they arrived fast by Camelot, and full fain +they were to take the land. + +And when they were landed Sir Tristram set up his pavilion upon the +land of Camelot, and there he let hang his shield upon the pavilion. +And that same day came two knights of King Arthur’s, that one was Sir +Ector de Maris, and Sir Morganor. And they touched the shield, and bade +him come out of the pavilion for to joust, an he would joust. Ye shall +be answered, said Sir Tristram, an ye will tarry a little while. So he +made him ready, and first he smote down Sir Ector de Maris, and after +he smote down Sir Morganor, all with one spear, and sore bruised them. +And when they lay upon the earth they asked Sir Tristram what he was, +and of what country he was knight. Fair lords, said Sir Tristram, wit +ye well that I am of Cornwall. Alas, said Sir Ector, now am I ashamed +that ever any Cornish knight should overcome me. And then for despite +Sir Ector put off his armour from him, and went on foot, and would not +ride. + + + +CHAPTER XX. How King Anguish of Ireland was summoned to come to King +Arthur’s court for treason. + +Then it fell that Sir Bleoberis and Sir Blamore de Ganis, that were +brethren, they had summoned the King Anguish of Ireland for to come to +Arthur’s court upon pain of forfeiture of King Arthur’s good grace. And +if the King of Ireland came not in, at the day assigned and set, the +king should lose his lands. So it happened that at the day assigned, +King Arthur neither Sir Launcelot might not be there for to give the +judgment, for King Arthur was with Sir Launcelot at the Castle Joyous +Garde. And so King Arthur assigned King Carados and the King of Scots +to be there that day as judges. So when the kings were at Camelot King +Anguish of Ireland was come to know his accusers. Then was there Sir +Blamore de Ganis, and appealed the King of Ireland of treason, that he +had slain a cousin of his in his court in Ireland by treason. The king +was sore abashed of his accusation, for-why he was come at the summons +of King Arthur, and or he came at Camelot he wist not wherefore he was +sent after. And when the king heard Sir Blamore say his will, he +understood well there was none other remedy but for to answer him +knightly; for the custom was such in those days, that an any man were +appealed of any treason or murder he should fight body for body, or +else to find another knight for him. And all manner of murders in those +days were called treason. + +So when King Anguish understood his accusing he was passing heavy, for +he knew Sir Blamore de Ganis that he was a noble knight, and of noble +knights come. Then the King of Ireland was simply purveyed of his +answer; therefore the judges gave him respite by the third day to give +his answer. So the king departed unto his lodging. The meanwhile there +came a lady by Sir Tristram’s pavilion making great dole. What aileth +you, said Sir Tristram, that ye make such dole? Ah, fair knight, said +the lady, I am ashamed unless that some good knight help me; for a +great lady of worship sent by me a fair child and a rich, unto Sir +Launcelot du Lake, and hereby there met with me a knight, and threw me +down from my palfrey, and took away the child from me. Well, my lady, +said Sir Tristram, and for my lord Sir Launcelot’s sake I shall get you +that child again, or else I shall be beaten for it. And so Sir Tristram +took his horse, and asked the lady which way the knight rode; and then +she told him. And he rode after him, and within a while he overtook +that knight. And then Sir Tristram bade him turn and give again the +child. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. How Sir Tristram rescued a child from a knight, and how +Gouvernail told him of King Anguish. + +The knight turned his horse and made him ready to fight. And then Sir +Tristram smote him with a sword such a buffet that he tumbled to the +earth. And then he yielded him unto Sir Tristram. Then come thy way, +said Sir Tristram, and bring the child to the lady again. So he took +his horse meekly and rode with Sir Tristram; and then by the way Sir +Tristram asked him his name. Then he said, My name is Breuse Saunce +Pité. So when he had delivered that child to the lady, he said: Sir, as +in this the child is well remedied. Then Sir Tristram let him go again +that sore repented him after, for he was a great foe unto many good +knights of King Arthur’s court. + +Then when Sir Tristram was in his pavilion Gouvernail, his man, came +and told him how that King Anguish of Ireland was come thither, and he +was put in great distress; and there Gouvernail told Sir Tristram how +King Anguish was summoned and appealed of murder. So God me help, said +Sir Tristram, these be the best tidings that ever came to me this seven +years, for now shall the King of Ireland have need of my help; for I +daresay there is no knight in this country that is not of Arthur’s +court dare do battle with Sir Blamore de Ganis; and for to win the love +of the King of Ireland I will take the battle upon me; and therefore +Gouvernail bring me, I charge thee, to the king. + +Then Gouvernail went unto King Anguish of Ireland, and saluted him +fair. The king welcomed him and asked him what he would. Sir, said +Gouvernail, here is a knight near hand that desireth to speak with you: +he bade me say he would do you service. What knight is he? said the +king. Sir, said he, it is Sir Tristram de Liones, that for your good +grace that ye showed him in your lands will reward you in this country. +Come on, fellow, said the king, with me anon and show me unto Sir +Tristram. So the king took a little hackney and but few fellowship with +him, until he came unto Sir Tristram’s pavilion. And when Sir Tristram +saw the king he ran unto him and would have holden his stirrup. But the +king leapt from his horse lightly, and either halsed other in their +arms. My gracious lord, said Sir Tristram, gramercy of your great +goodnesses showed unto me in your marches and lands: and at that time I +promised you to do you service an ever it lay in my power. And, gentle +knight, said the king unto Sir Tristram, now have I great need of you, +never had I so great need of no knight’s help. How so, my good lord? +said Sir Tristram. I shall tell you, said the king: I am summoned and +appealed from my country for the death of a knight that was kin unto +the good knight Sir Launcelot; wherefore Sir Blamore de Ganis, brother +to Sir Bleoberis hath appealed me to fight with him, outher to find a +knight in my stead. And well I wot, said the king, these that are come +of King Ban’s blood, as Sir Launcelot and these other, are passing good +knights, and hard men for to win in battle as any that I know now +living. Sir, said Sir Tristram, for the good lordship ye showed me in +Ireland, and for my lady your daughter’s sake, La Beale Isoud, I will +take the battle for you upon this condition that ye shall grant me two +things: that one is that ye shall swear to me that ye are in the right, +that ye were never consenting to the knight’s death; Sir, then said Sir +Tristram, when that I have done this battle, if God give me grace that +I speed, that ye shall give me a reward, what thing reasonable that I +will ask of you. So God me help, said the king, ye shall have +whatsomever ye will ask. It is well said, said Sir Tristram. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. How Sir Tristram fought for Sir Anguish and overcame his +adversary, and how his adversary would never yield him. + +Now make your answer that your champion is ready, for I shall die in +your quarrel rather than to be recreant. I have no doubt of you, said +the king, that, an ye should have ado with Sir Launcelot du Lake— Sir, +said Sir Tristram, as for Sir Launcelot, he is called the noblest +knight of the world, and wit ye well that the knights of his blood are +noble men, and dread shame; and as for Bleoberis, brother unto Sir +Blamore, I have done battle with him, therefore upon my head it is no +shame to call him a good knight. It is noised, said the king, that +Blamore is the hardier knight. Sir, as for that let him be, he shall +never be refused, an as he were the best knight that now beareth shield +or spear. + +So King Anguish departed unto King Carados and the kings that were that +time as judges, and told them that he had found his champion ready. +Then by the commandment of the kings Sir Blamore de Ganis and Sir +Tristram were sent for to hear the charge. And when they were come +before the judges there were many kings and knights beheld Sir +Tristram, and much speech they had of him because that he slew Sir +Marhaus, the good knight, and because he for-jousted Sir Palamides the +good knight. So when they had taken their charge they withdrew them to +make them ready to do battle. + +Then said Sir Bleoberis unto his brother, Sir Blamore: Fair dear +brother, remember of what kin we be come of, and what a man is Sir +Launcelot du Lake, neither farther nor nearer but brother’s children, +and there was never none of our kin that ever was shamed in battle; and +rather suffer death, brother, than to be shamed. Brother, said Blamore, +have ye no doubt of me, for I shall never shame none of my blood; +howbeit I am sure that yonder knight is called a passing good knight as +of his time one of the world, yet shall I never yield me, nor say the +loath word: well may he happen to smite me down with his great might of +chivalry, but rather shall he slay me than I shall yield me as +recreant. God speed you well, said Sir Bleoberis, for ye shall find him +the mightiest knight that ever ye had ado withal, for I know him, for I +have had ado with him. God me speed, said Sir Blamore de Ganis; and +therewith he took his horse at the one end of the lists, and Sir +Tristram at the other end of the lists, and so they feutred their +spears and came together as it had been thunder; and there Sir Tristram +through great might smote down Sir Blamore and his horse to the earth. +Then anon Sir Blamore avoided his horse and pulled out his sword and +threw his shield afore him, and bade Sir Tristram alight: For though an +horse hath failed me, I trust to God the earth will not fail me. And +then Sir Tristram alighted, and dressed him unto battle; and there they +lashed together strongly as racing and tracing, foining and dashing, +many sad strokes, that the kings and knights had great wonder that they +might stand; for ever they fought like wood men, so that there was +never knights seen fight more fiercely than they did; for Sir Blamore +was so hasty that he would have no rest, that all men wondered that +they had breath to stand on their feet; and all the place was bloody +that they fought in. And at the last, Sir Tristram smote Sir Blamore +such a buffet upon the helm that he there fell down upon his side, and +Sir Tristram stood and beheld him. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Blamore desired Tristram to slay him, and how +Sir Tristram spared him, and how they took appointment. + +Then when Sir Blamore might speak, he said thus: Sir Tristram de +Liones, I require thee, as thou art a noble knight, and the best knight +that ever I found, that thou wilt slay me out, for I would not live to +be made lord of all the earth, for I have liefer die with worship than +live with shame; and needs, Sir Tristram, thou must slay me, or else +thou shalt never win the field, for I will never say the loath word. +And therefore if thou dare slay me, slay me, I require thee. When Sir +Tristram heard him say so knightly, he wist not what to do with him; he +remembering him of both parties, of what blood he was come, and for Sir +Launcelot’s sake he would be loath to slay him; and in the other party +in no wise he might not choose, but that he must make him to say the +loath word, or else to slay him. + +Then Sir Tristram stert aback, and went to the kings that were judges, +and there he kneeled down to-fore them, and besought them for their +worships, and for King Arthur’s and Sir Launcelot’s sake, that they +would take this matter in their hands. For, my fair lords, said Sir +Tristram, it were shame and pity that this noble knight that yonder +lieth should be slain; for ye hear well, shamed will he not be, and I +pray to God that he never be slain nor shamed for me. And as for the +king for whom I fight for, I shall require him, as I am his true +champion and true knight in this field, that he will have mercy upon +this good knight. So God me help, said King Anguish, I will for your +sake; Sir Tristram, be ruled as ye will have me, for I know you for my +true knight; and therefore I will heartily pray the kings that be here +as judges to take it in their hands. And the kings that were judges +called Sir Bleoberis to them, and asked him his advice. My lords, said +Bleoberis, though my brother be beaten, and hath the worse through +might of arms, I dare say, though Sir Tristram hath beaten his body he +hath not beaten his heart, and I thank God he is not shamed this day; +and rather than he should be shamed I require you, said Bleoberis, let +Sir Tristram slay him out. It shall not be so, said the kings, for his +part adversary, both the king and the champion, have pity of Sir +Blamore’s knighthood. My lords, said Bleoberis, I will right well as ye +will. + +Then the kings called the King of Ireland, and found him goodly and +treatable. And then, by all their advices, Sir Tristram and Sir +Bleoberis took up Sir Blamore, and the two brethren were accorded with +King Anguish, and kissed and made friends for ever. And then Sir +Blamore and Sir Tristram kissed together, and there they made their +oaths that they would never none of them two brethren fight with Sir +Tristram, and Sir Tristram made the same oath. And for that gentle +battle all the blood of Sir Launcelot loved Sir Tristram for ever. + +Then King Anguish and Sir Tristram took their leave, and sailed into +Ireland with great noblesse and joy. So when they were in Ireland the +king let make it known throughout all the land how and in what manner +Sir Tristram had done for him. Then the queen and all that there were +made the most of him that they might. But the joy that La Beale Isoud +made of Sir Tristram there might no tongue tell, for of all men earthly +she loved him most. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Tristram demanded La Beale Isoud for King Mark, +and how Sir Tristram and Isoud drank the love drink. + +Then upon a day King Anguish asked Sir Tristram why he asked not his +boon, for whatsomever he had promised him he should have it without +fail. Sir, said Sir Tristram, now is it time; this is all that I will +desire, that ye will give me La Beale Isoud, your daughter, not for +myself, but for mine uncle, King Mark, that shall have her to wife, for +so have I promised him. Alas, said the king, I had liefer than all the +land that I have ye would wed her yourself. Sir, an I did then I were +shamed for ever in this world, and false of my promise. Therefore, said +Sir I Tristram, I pray you hold your promise that ye promised me; for +this is my desire, that ye will give me La Beale Isoud to go with me +into Cornwall for to be wedded to King Mark, mine uncle. As for that, +said King Anguish, ye shall have her with you to do with her what it +please you; that is for to say if that ye list to wed her yourself, +that is me liefest, and if ye will give her unto King Mark, your uncle, +that is in your choice. So, to make short conclusion, La Beale Isoud +was made ready to go with Sir Tristram, and Dame Bragwaine went with +her for her chief gentlewoman, with many other. + +Then the queen, Isoud’s mother, gave to her and Dame Bragwaine, her +daughter’s gentlewoman, and unto Gouvernail, a drink, and charged them +that what day King Mark should wed, that same day they should give him +that drink, so that King Mark should drink to La Beale Isoud, and then, +said the queen, I undertake either shall love other the days of their +life. So this drink was given unto Dame Bragwaine, and unto Gouvernail. +And then anon Sir Tristram took the sea, and La Beale Isoud; and when +they were in their cabin, it happed so that they were thirsty, and they +saw a little flasket of gold stand by them, and it seemed by the colour +and the taste that it was noble wine. Then Sir Tristram took the +flasket in his hand, and said, Madam Isoud, here is the best drink that +ever ye drank, that Dame Bragwaine, your maiden, and Gouvernail, my +servant, have kept for themselves. Then they laughed and made good +cheer, and either drank to other freely, and they thought never drink +that ever they drank to other was so sweet nor so good. But by that +their drink was in their bodies, they loved either other so well that +never their love departed for weal neither for woe. And thus it happed +the love first betwixt Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud, the which love +never departed the days of their life. + +So then they sailed till by fortune they came nigh a castle that hight +Pluere, and thereby arrived for to repose them, weening to them to have +had good harbourage. But anon as Sir Tristram was within the castle +they were taken prisoners; for the custom of the castle was such; who +that rode by that castle and brought any lady, he must needs fight with +the lord, that hight Breunor. And if it were so that Breunor won the +field, then should the knight stranger and his lady be put to death, +what that ever they were; and if it were so that the strange knight won +the field of Sir Breunor, then should he die and his lady both. This +custom was used many winters, for it was called the Castle Pluere, that +is to say the Weeping Castle. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Tristram and Isoud were in prison, and how he +fought for her beauty, and smote off another lady’s head. + +Thus as Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud were in prison, it happed a +knight and a lady came unto them where they were, to cheer them. I have +marvel, said Tristram unto the knight and the lady, what is the cause +the lord of this castle holdeth us in prison: it was never the custom +of no place of worship that ever I came in, when a knight and a lady +asked harbour, and they to receive them, and after to destroy them that +be his guests. Sir, said the knight, this is the old custom of this +castle, that when a knight cometh here he must needs fight with our +lord, and he that is weaker must lose his head. And when that is done, +if his lady that he bringeth be fouler than our lord’s wife, she must +lose her head: and if she be fairer proved than is our lady, then shall +the lady of this castle lose her head. So God me help, said Sir +Tristram, this is a foul custom and a shameful. But one advantage have +I, said Sir Tristram, I have a lady is fair enough, fairer saw I never +in all my life-days, and I doubt not for lack of beauty she shall not +lose her head; and rather than I should lose my head I will fight for +it on a fair field. Wherefore, sir knight, I pray you tell your lord +that I will be ready as to-morn with my lady, and myself to do battle, +if it be so I may have my horse and mine armour. Sir, said that knight, +I undertake that your desire shall be sped right well. And then he +said: Take your rest, and look that ye be up betimes and make you ready +and your lady, for ye shall want no thing that you behoveth. And +therewith he departed, and on the morn betimes that same knight came to +Sir Tristram, and fetched him out and his lady, and brought him horse +and armour that was his own, and bade him make him ready to the field, +for all the estates and commons of that lordship were there ready to +behold that battle and judgment. + +Then came Sir Breunor, the lord of that castle, with his lady in his +hand, muffled, and asked Sir Tristram where was his lady: For an thy +lady be fairer than mine, with thy sword smite off my lady’s head; and +if my lady be fairer than thine, with my sword I must strike off her +head. And if I may win thee, yet shall thy lady be mine, and thou shalt +lose thy head. Sir, said Tristram, this is a foul custom and horrible; +and rather than my lady should lose her head, yet had I liefer lose my +head. Nay, nay, said Sir Breunor, the ladies shall be first showed +together, and the one shall have her judgment. Nay, I will not so, said +Sir Tristram, for here is none that will give righteous judgment. But I +doubt not, said Sir Tristram, my lady is fairer than thine, and that +will I prove and make good with my hand. And whosomever he be that will +say the contrary I will prove it on his head. And therewith Sir +Tristram showed La Beale Isoud, and turned her thrice about with his +naked sword in his hand. And when Sir Breunor saw that, he did the same +wise turn his lady. But when Sir Breunor beheld La Beale Isoud, him +thought he saw never a fairer lady, and then he dread his lady’s head +should be off. And so all the people that were there present gave +judgment that La Beale Isoud was the fairer lady and the better made. +How now, said Sir Tristram, meseemeth it were pity that my lady should +lose her head, but because thou and she of long time have used this +wicked custom, and by you both have many good knights and ladies been +destroyed, for that cause it were no loss to destroy you both. So God +me help, said Sir Breunor, for to say the sooth, thy lady is fairer +than mine, and that me sore repenteth. And so I hear the people privily +say, for of all women I saw none so fair; and therefore, an thou wilt +slay my lady, I doubt not but I shall slay thee and have thy lady. Thou +shalt win her, said Sir Tristram, as dear as ever knight won lady. And +because of thine own judgment, as thou wouldst have done to my lady if +that she had been fouler, and because of the evil custom, give me thy +lady, said Sir Tristram. And therewithal Sir Tristram strode unto him +and took his lady from him, and with an awk stroke he smote off her +head clean. Well, knight, said Sir Breunor, now hast thou done me a +despite. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Breunor, and at the last +smote off his head. + +Now take thine horse: sithen I am ladyless I will win thy lady an I +may. + +Then they took their horses and came together as it had been the +thunder; and Sir Tristram smote Sir Breunor clean from his horse, and +lightly he rose up; and as Sir Tristram came again by him he thrust his +horse throughout both the shoulders, that his horse hurled here and +there and fell dead to the ground. And ever Sir Breunor ran after to +have slain Sir Tristram, but Sir Tristram was light and nimble, and +voided his horse lightly. And or ever Sir Tristram might dress his +shield and his sword the other gave him three or four sad strokes. Then +they rushed together like two boars, tracing and traversing mightily +and wisely as two noble knights. For this Sir Breunor was a proved +knight, and had been or then the death of many good knights, that it +was pity that he had so long endured. + +Thus they fought, hurling here and there nigh two hours, and either +were wounded sore. Then at the last Sir Breunor rashed upon Sir +Tristram and took him in his arms, for he trusted much in his strength. +Then was Sir Tristram called the strongest and the highest knight of +the world; for he was called bigger than Sir Launcelot, but Sir +Launcelot was better breathed. So anon Sir Tristram thrust Sir Breunor +down grovelling, and then he unlaced his helm and struck off his head. +And then all they that longed to the castle came to him, and did him +homage and fealty, praying him that he would abide there still a little +while to fordo that foul custom. Sir Tristram granted thereto. The +meanwhile one of the knights of the castle rode unto Sir Galahad, the +haut prince, the which was Sir Breunor’s son, which was a noble knight, +and told him what misadventure his father had and his mother. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Galahad fought with Sir Tristram, and how Sir +Tristram yielded him and promised to fellowship with Launcelot. + +Then came Sir Galahad, and the King with the Hundred Knights with him; +and this Sir Galahad proffered to fight with Sir Tristram hand for +hand. And so they made them ready to go unto battle on horseback with +great courage. Then Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram met together so hard +that either bare other down, horse and all, to the earth. And then they +avoided their horses as noble knights, and dressed their shields, and +drew their swords with ire and rancour, and they lashed together many +sad strokes, and one while striking, another while foining, tracing and +traversing as noble knights; thus they fought long, near half a day, +and either were sore wounded. At the last Sir Tristram waxed light and +big, and doubled his strokes, and drove Sir Galahad aback on the one +side and on the other, so that he was like to have been slain. + +With that came the King with the Hundred Knights, and all that +fellowship went fiercely upon Sir Tristram. When Sir Tristram saw them +coming upon him, then he wist well he might not endure. Then as a wise +knight of war, he said to Sir Galahad, the haut prince: Sir, ye show to +me no knighthood, for to suffer all your men to have ado with me all at +once; and as meseemeth ye be a noble knight of your hands it is great +shame to you. So God me help, said Sir Galahad, there is none other way +but thou must yield thee to me, other else to die, said Sir Galahad to +Sir Tristram. I will rather yield me to you than die for that is more +for the might of your men than of your hands. And therewithal Sir +Tristram took his own sword by the point, and put the pommel in the +hand of Sir Galahad. + +Therewithal came the King with the Hundred Knights, and hard began to +assail Sir Tristram. Let be, said Sir Galahad, be ye not so hardy to +touch him, for I have given this knight his life. That is your shame, +said the King with the Hundred Knights; hath he not slain your father +and your mother? As for that, said Sir Galahad, I may not wite him +greatly, for my father had him in prison, and enforced him to do battle +with him; and my father had such a custom that was a shameful custom, +that what knight came there to ask harbour his lady must needs die but +if she were fairer than my mother; and if my father overcame that +knight he must needs die. This was a shameful custom and usage, a +knight for his harbour-asking to have such harbourage. And for this +custom I would never draw about him. So God me help, said the King, +this was a shameful custom. Truly, said Sir Galahad, so seemed me; and +meseemed it had been great pity that this knight should have been +slain, for I dare say he is the noblest man that beareth life, but if +it were Sir Launcelot du Lake. Now, fair knight, said Sir Galahad, I +require thee tell me thy name, and of whence thou art, and whither thou +wilt. Sir, he said, my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and from King +Mark of Cornwall I was sent on message unto King Anguish of Ireland, +for to fetch his daughter to be his wife, and here she is ready to go +with me into Cornwall, and her name is La Beale Isoud. And, Sir +Tristram, said Sir Galahad, the haut prince, well be ye found in these +marches, and so ye will promise me to go unto Sir Launcelot du Lake, +and accompany with him, ye shall go where ye will, and your fair lady +with you; and I shall promise you never in all my days shall such +customs be used in this castle as have been used. Sir, said Sir +Tristram, now I let you wit, so God me help, I weened ye had been Sir +Launcelot du Lake when I saw you first, and therefore I dread you the +more; and sir, I promise you, said Sir Tristram, as soon as I may I +will see Sir Launcelot and in fellowship me with him; for of all the +knights of the world I most desire his fellowship. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. How Sir Launcelot met with Sir Carados bearing away Sir +Gawaine, and of the rescue of Sir Gawaine. + +And then Sir Tristram took his leave when he saw his time, and took the +sea. And in the meanwhile word came unto Sir Launcelot and to Sir +Tristram that Sir Carados, the mighty king, that was made like a giant, +fought with Sir Gawaine, and gave him such strokes that he swooned in +his saddle, and after that he took him by the collar and pulled him out +of his saddle, and fast bound him to the saddle-bow, and so rode his +way with him toward his castle. And as he rode, by fortune Sir +Launcelot met with Sir Carados, and anon he knew Sir Gawaine that lay +bound after him. Ah, said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Gawaine, how stands it +with you? Never so hard, said Sir Gawaine, unless that ye help me, for +so God me help, without ye rescue me I know no knight that may, but +outher you or Sir Tristram. Wherefore Sir Launcelot was heavy of Sir +Gawaine’s words. And then Sir Launcelot bade Sir Carados: Lay down that +knight and fight with me. Thou art but a fool, said Sir Carados, for I +will serve you in the same wise. As for that, said Sir Launcelot, spare +me not, for I warn thee I will not spare thee. And then he bound Sir +Gawaine hand and foot, and so threw him to the ground. And then he gat +his spear of his squire, and departed from Sir Launcelot to fetch his +course. And so either met with other, and brake their spears to their +hands; and then they pulled out swords, and hurtled together on +horseback more than an hour. And at the last Sir Launcelot smote Sir +Carados such a buffet upon the helm that it pierced his brain-pan. So +then Sir Launcelot took Sir Carados by the collar and pulled him under +his horse’s feet, and then he alighted and pulled off his helm and +struck off his head. And then Sir Launcelot unbound Sir Gawaine. So +this same tale was told to Sir Galahad and to Sir Tristram:—here may ye +hear the nobleness that followeth Sir Launcelot. Alas, said Sir +Tristram, an I had not this message in hand with this fair lady, truly +I would never stint or I had found Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Tristram and +La Beale Isoud went to the sea and came into Cornwall, and there all +the barons met them. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. Of the wedding of King Mark to La Beale Isoud, and of +Bragwaine her maid, and of Palamides. + +And anon they were richly wedded with great noblesse. But ever, as the +French book saith, Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud loved ever together. +Then was there great jousts and great tourneying, and many lords and +ladies were at that feast, and Sir Tristram was most praised of all +other. Thus dured the feast long, and after the feast was done, within +a little while after, by the assent of two ladies that were with Queen +Isoud, they ordained for hate and envy for to destroy Dame Bragwaine, +that was maiden and lady unto La Beale Isoud; and she was sent into the +forest for to fetch herbs, and there she was met, and bound feet and +hand to a tree, and so she was bounden three days. And by fortune, Sir +Palamides found Dame Bragwaine, and there he delivered her from the +death, and brought her to a nunnery there beside, for to be recovered. +When Isoud the queen missed her maiden, wit ye well she was right heavy +as ever was any queen, for of all earthly women she loved her best: the +cause was for she came with her out of her country. And so upon a day +Queen Isoud walked into the forest to put away her thoughts, and there +she went herself unto a well and made great moan. And suddenly there +came Palamides to her, and had heard all her complaint, and said: Madam +Isoud, an ye will grant me my boon, I shall bring to you Dame Bragwaine +safe and sound. And the queen was so glad of his proffer that suddenly +unadvised she granted all his asking. Well, Madam, said Palamides, I +trust to your promise, and if ye will abide here half an hour I shall +bring her to you. I shall abide you, said La Beale Isoud. And Sir +Palamides rode forth his way to that nunnery, and lightly he came again +with Dame Bragwaine; but by her good will she would not have come +again, because for love of the queen she stood in adventure of her +life. Notwithstanding, half against her will, she went with Sir +Palamides unto the queen. And when the queen saw her she was passing +glad. Now, Madam, said Palamides, remember upon your promise, for I +have fulfilled my promise. Sir Palamides, said the queen, I wot not +what is your desire, but I will that ye wit, howbeit I promised you +largely, I thought none evil, nor I warn you none evil will I do. +Madam, said Sir Palamides, as at this time, ye shall not know my +desire, but before my lord your husband there shall ye know that I will +have my desire that ye have promised me. And therewith the queen +departed, and rode home to the king, and Sir Palamides rode after her. +And when Sir Palamides came before the king, he said: Sir King, I +require you as ye be a righteous king, that ye will judge me the right. +Tell me your cause, said the king, and ye shall have right. + + + +CHAPTER XXX. How Palamides demanded Queen Isoud, and how Lambegus rode +after to rescue her, and of the escape of Isoud. + +Sir, said Palamides, I promised your Queen Isoud to bring again Dame +Bragwaine that she had lost, upon this covenant, that she should grant +me a boon that I would ask, and without grudging, outher advisement, +she granted me. What say ye, my lady? said the king. It is as he saith, +so God me help, said the queen; to say thee sooth I promised him his +asking for love and joy that I had to see her. Well, Madam, said the +king, and if ye were hasty to grant him what boon he would ask, I will +well that ye perform your promise. Then, said Palamides, I will that ye +wit that I will have your queen to lead her and govern her whereas me +list. Therewith the king stood still, and bethought him of Sir +Tristram, and deemed that he would rescue her. And then hastily the +king answered: Take her with the adventures that shall fall of it, for +as I suppose thou wilt not enjoy her no while. As for that, said +Palamides, I dare right well abide the adventure. And so, to make short +tale, Sir Palamides took her by the hand and said: Madam, grudge not to +go with me, for I desire nothing but your own promise. As for that, +said the queen, I fear not greatly to go with thee, howbeit thou hast +me at advantage upon my promise, for I doubt not I shall be +worshipfully rescued from thee. As for that, said Sir Palamides, be it +as it be may. So Queen Isoud was set behind Palamides, and rode his +way. + +Anon the king sent after Sir Tristram, but in no wise he could be +found, for he was in the forest a-hunting; for that was always his +custom, but if he used arms, to chase and to hunt in the forests. Alas, +said the king, now I am shamed for ever, that by mine own assent my +lady and my queen shall be devoured. Then came forth a knight, his name +was Lambegus, and he was a knight of Sir Tristram. My lord, said this +knight, sith ye have trust in my lord, Sir Tristram, wit ye well for +his sake I will ride after your queen and rescue her, or else I shall +be beaten. Gramercy, said the king, as I live, Sir Lambegus, I shall +deserve it. And then Sir Lambegus armed him, and rode after as fast as +he might. And then within a while he overtook Sir Palamides. And then +Sir Palamides left the queen. What art thou, said Palamides, art thou +Tristram? Nay, he said, I am his servant, and my name is Sir Lambegus. +That me repenteth, said Palamides. I had liefer thou hadst been Sir +Tristram. I believe you well, said Lambegus, but when thou meetest with +Sir Tristram thou shalt have thy hands full. And then they hurtled +together and all to-brast their spears, and then they pulled out their +swords, and hewed on helms and hauberks. At the last Sir Palamides gave +Sir Lambegus such a wound that he fell down like a dead knight to the +earth. + +Then he looked after La Beale Isoud, and then she was gone he nist +where. Wit ye well Sir Palamides was never so heavy. So the queen ran +into the forest, and there she found a well, and therein she had +thought to have drowned herself. And as good fortune would, there came +a knight to her that had a castle thereby, his name was Sir Adtherp. +And when he found the queen in that mischief he rescued her, and +brought her to his castle. And when he wist what she was he armed him, +and took his horse, and said he would be avenged upon Palamides; and so +he rode on till he met with him, and there Sir Palamides wounded him +sore, and by force he made him to tell him the cause why he did battle +with him, and how he had led the queen unto his castle. Now bring me +there, said Palamides, or thou shalt die of my hands. Sir, said Sir +Adtherp, I am so wounded I may not follow, but ride you this way and it +shall bring you into my castle, and there within is the queen. Then Sir +Palamides rode still till he came to the castle. And at a window La +Beale Isoud saw Sir Palamides; then she made the gates to be shut +strongly. And when he saw he might not come within the castle, he put +off his bridle and his saddle, and put his horse to pasture, and set +himself down at the gate like a man that was out of his wit that recked +not of himself. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Tristram rode after Palamides, and how he found +him and fought with him, and by the means of Isoud the battle ceased. + +Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that when he was come home and wist La +Beale Isoud was gone with Sir Palamides, wit ye well he was wroth out +of measure. Alas, said Sir Tristram, I am this day shamed. Then he +cried to Gouvernail his man: Haste thee that I were armed and on +horseback, for well I wot Lambegus hath no might nor strength to +withstand Sir Palamides: alas that I have not been in his stead! So +anon as he was armed and horsed Sir Tristram and Gouvernail rode after +into the forest, and within a while he found his knight Lambegus almost +wounded to the death; and Sir Tristram bare him to a forester, and +charged him to keep him well. And then he rode forth, and there he +found Sir Adtherp sore wounded, and he told him how the queen would +have drowned herself had he not been, and how for her sake and love he +had taken upon him to do battle with Sir Palamides. Where is my lady? +said Sir Tristram. Sir, said the knight, she is sure enough within my +castle, an she can hold her within it. Gramercy, said Sir Tristram, of +thy great goodness. And so he rode till he came nigh to that castle; +and then Sir Tristram saw where Sir Palamides sat at the gate sleeping, +and his horse pastured fast afore him. Now go thou, Gouvernail, said +Sir Tristram, and bid him awake, and make him ready. So Gouvernail rode +unto him and said: Sir Palamides, arise, and take to thee thine +harness. But he was in such a study he heard not what Gouvernail said. +So Gouvernail came again and told Sir Tristram he slept, or else he was +mad. Go thou again, said Sir Tristram, and bid him arise, and tell him +that I am here, his mortal foe. So Gouvernail rode again and put upon +him the butt of his spear, and said: Sir Palamides, make thee ready, +for wit ye well Sir Tristram hoveth yonder, and sendeth thee word he is +thy mortal foe. And therewithal Sir Palamides arose stilly, without +words, and gat his horse, and saddled him and bridled him, and lightly +he leapt upon, and gat his spear in his hand, and either feutred their +spears and hurtled fast together; and there Tristram smote down Sir +Palamides over his horse’s tail. Then lightly Sir Palamides put his +shield afore him and drew his sword. And there began strong battle on +both parts, for both they fought for the love of one lady, and ever she +lay on the walls and beheld them how they fought out of measure, and +either were wounded passing sore, but Palamides was much sorer wounded. +Thus they fought tracing and traversing more than two hours, that +well-nigh for dole and sorrow La Beale Isoud swooned. Alas, she said, +that one I loved and yet do, and the other I love not, yet it were +great pity that I should see Sir Palamides slain; for well I know by +that time the end be done Sir Palamides is but a dead knight: because +he is not christened I would be loath that he should die a Saracen. And +therewithal she came down and besought Sir Tristram to fight no more. +Ah, madam, said he, what mean you, will ye have me shamed? Well ye know +I will be ruled by you. I will not your dishonour, said La Beale Isoud, +but I would that ye would for my sake spare this unhappy Saracen +Palamides. Madam, said Sir Tristram, I will leave fighting at this time +for your sake. Then she said to Sir Palamides: This shall be your +charge, that thou shalt go out of this country while I am therein. I +will obey your commandment, said Sir Palamides, the which is sore +against my will. Then take thy way, said La Beale Isoud, unto the court +of King Arthur, and there recommend me unto Queen Guenever, and tell +her that I send her word that there be within this land but four +lovers, that is, Sir Launcelot du Lake and Queen Guenever, and Sir +Tristram de Liones and Queen Isoud. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Tristram brought Queen Isoud home, and of the +debate of King Mark and Sir Tristram. + +And so Sir Palamides departed with great heaviness. And Sir Tristram +took the queen and brought her again to King Mark, and then was there +made great joy of her home-coming. Who was cherished but Sir Tristram! +Then Sir Tristram let fetch Sir Lambegus, his knight, from the +forester’s house, and it was long or he was whole, but at the last he +was well recovered. Thus they lived with joy and play a long while. But +ever Sir Andred, that was nigh cousin to Sir Tristram, lay in a watch +to wait betwixt Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud, for to take them and +slander them. So upon a day Sir Tristram talked with La Beale Isoud in +a window, and that espied Sir Andred, and told it to the King. Then +King Mark took a sword in his hand and came to Sir Tristram, and called +him false traitor, and would have stricken him. But Sir Tristram was +nigh him, and ran under his sword, and took it out of his hand. And +then the King cried: Where are my knights and my men? I charge you slay +this traitor. But at that time there was not one would move for his +words. When Sir Tristram saw that there was not one would be against +him, he shook the sword to the king, and made countenance as though he +would have stricken him. And then King Mark fled, and Sir Tristram +followed him, and smote upon him five or six strokes flatling on the +neck, that he made him to fall upon the nose. And then Sir Tristram +yede his way and armed him, and took his horse and his man, and so he +rode into that forest. + +And there upon a day Sir Tristram met with two brethren that were +knights with King Mark, and there he struck off the head of the one, +and wounded the other to the death; and he made him to bear his +brother’s head in his helm unto the king, and thirty more there he +wounded. And when that knight came before the king to say his message, +he there died afore the king and the queen. Then King Mark called his +council unto him, and asked advice of his barons what was best to do +with Sir Tristram. Sir, said the barons, in especial Sir Dinas, the +Seneschal, Sir, we will give you counsel for to send for Sir Tristram, +for we will that ye wit many men will hold with Sir Tristram an he were +hard bestead. And sir, said Sir Dinas, ye shall understand that Sir +Tristram is called peerless and makeless of any Christian knight, and +of his might and hardiness we knew none so good a knight, but if it be +Sir Launcelot du Lake. And if he depart from your court and go to King +Arthur’s court, wit ye well he will get him such friends there that he +will not set by your malice. And therefore, sir, I counsel you to take +him to your grace. I will well, said the king, that he be sent for, +that we may be friends. Then the barons sent for Sir Tristram under a +safe conduct. And so when Sir Tristram came to the king he was welcome, +and no rehearsal was made, and there was game and play. And then the +king and the queen went a-hunting, and Sir Tristram. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. How Sir Lamorak jousted with thirty knights, and Sir +Tristram at the request of King Mark smote his horse down. + +The king and the queen made their pavilions and their tents in that +forest beside a river, and there was daily hunting and jousting, for +there were ever thirty knights ready to joust unto all them that came +in at that time. And there by fortune came Sir Lamorak de Galis and Sir +Driant; and there Sir Driant jousted right well, but at the last he had +a fall. Then Sir Lamorak proffered to joust. And when he began he fared +so with the thirty knights that there was not one of them but that he +gave him a fall, and some of them were sore hurt. I marvel, said King +Mark, what knight he is that doth such deeds of arms. Sir, said Sir +Tristram, I know him well for a noble knight as few now be living, and +his name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. It were great shame, said the king, +that he should go thus away, unless that some of you meet with him +better. Sir, said Sir Tristram, meseemeth it were no worship for a +noble man to have ado with him: and for because at this time he hath +done over much for any mean knight living, therefore, as meseemeth, it +were great shame and villainy to tempt him any more at this time, +insomuch as he and his horse are weary both; for the deeds of arms that +he hath done this day, an they be well considered, it were enough for +Sir Launcelot du Lake. As for that, said King Mark, I require you, as +ye love me and my lady the queen, La Beale Isoud, take your arms and +joust with Sir Lamorak de Galis. Sir, said Sir Tristram, ye bid me do a +thing that is against knighthood, and well I can deem that I shall give +him a fall, for it is no mastery, for my horse and I be fresh both, and +so is not his horse and he; and wit ye well that he will take it for +great unkindness, for ever one good knight is loath to take another at +disadvantage; but because I will not displease you, as ye require me so +will I do, and obey your commandment. + +And so Sir Tristram armed him and took his horse, and put him forth, +and there Sir Lamorak met him mightily, and what with the might of his +own spear, and of Sir Tristram’s spear, Sir Lamorak’s horse fell to the +earth, and he sitting in the saddle. Then anon as lightly as he might +he avoided the saddle and his horse, and put his shield afore him and +drew his sword. And then he bade Sir Tristram: Alight, thou knight, an +thou durst. Nay, said Sir Tristram, I will no more have ado with thee, +for I have done to thee over much unto my dishonour and to thy worship. +As for that, said Sir Lamorak, I can thee no thank; since thou hast +for-jousted me on horseback I require thee and I beseech thee, an thou +be Sir Tristram, fight with me on foot. I will not so, said Sir +Tristram; and wit ye well my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and well I +know ye be Sir Lamorak de Galis, and this that I have done to you was +against my will, but I was required thereto; but to say that I will do +at your request as at this time, I will have no more ado with you, for +me shameth of that I have done. As for the shame, said Sir Lamorak, on +thy part or on mine, bear thou it an thou wilt, for though a mare’s son +hath failed me, now a queen’s son shall not fail thee; and therefore, +an thou be such a knight as men call thee, I require thee, alight, and +fight with me. Sir Lamorak, said Sir Tristram, I understand your heart +is great, and cause why ye have, to say thee sooth; for it would grieve +me an any knight should keep him fresh and then to strike down a weary +knight, for that knight nor horse was never formed that alway might +stand or endure. And therefore, said Sir Tristram, I will not have ado +with you, for me forthinketh of that I have done. As for that, said Sir +Lamorak, I shall quit you, an ever I see my time. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. How Sir Lamorak sent an horn to King Mark in despite of +Sir Tristram, and how Sir Tristram was driven into a chapel. + +So he departed from him with Sir Driant, and by the way they met with a +knight that was sent from Morgan le Fay unto King Arthur; and this +knight had a fair horn harnessed with gold, and the horn had such a +virtue that there might no lady nor gentlewoman drink of that horn but +if she were true to her husband, and if she were false she should spill +all the drink, and if she were true to her lord she might drink +peaceable. And because of the Queen Guenever, and in the despite of Sir +Launcelot, this horn was sent unto King Arthur; and by force Sir +Lamorak made that knight to tell all the cause why he bare that horn. +Now shalt thou bear this horn, said Lamorak, unto King Mark, or else +choose thou to die for it; for I tell thee plainly, in despite and +reproof of Sir Tristram thou shalt bear that horn unto King Mark, his +uncle, and say thou to him that I sent it him for to assay his lady, +and if she be true to him he shall prove her. So the knight went his +way unto King Mark, and brought him that rich horn, and said that Sir +Lamorak sent it him, and thereto he told him the virtue of that horn. +Then the king made Queen Isoud to drink thereof, and an hundred ladies, +and there were but four ladies of all those that drank clean. Alas, +said King Mark, this is a great despite, and sware a great oath that +she should be burnt and the other ladies. + +Then the barons gathered them together, and said plainly they would not +have those ladies burnt for an horn made by sorcery, that came from as +false a sorceress and witch as then was living. For that horn did never +good, but caused strife and debate, and always in her days she had been +an enemy to all true lovers. So there were many knights made their +avow, an ever they met with Morgan le Fay, that they would show her +short courtesy. Also Sir Tristram was passing wroth that Sir Lamorak +sent that horn unto King Mark, for well he knew that it was done in the +despite of him. And therefore he thought to quite Sir Lamorak. + +Then Sir Tristram used daily and nightly to go to Queen Isoud when he +might, and ever Sir Andred his cousin watched him night and day for to +take him with La Beale Isoud. And so upon a night Sir Andred espied the +hour and the time when Sir Tristram went to his lady. Then Sir Andred +gat unto him twelve knights, and at midnight he set upon Sir Tristram +secretly and suddenly and there Sir Tristram was taken naked abed with +La Beale Isoud, and then was he bound hand and foot, and so was he kept +until day. And then by the assent of King Mark, and of Sir Andred, and +of some of the barons, Sir Tristram was led unto a chapel that stood +upon the sea rocks, there for to take his judgment: and so he was led +bounden with forty knights. And when Sir Tristram saw that there was +none other boot but needs that he must die, then said he: Fair lords, +remember what I have done for the country of Cornwall, and in what +jeopardy I have been in for the weal of you all; for when I fought for +the truage of Cornwall with Sir Marhaus, the good knight, I was +promised for to be better rewarded, when ye all refused to take the +battle; therefore, as ye be good gentle knights, see me not thus +shamefully to die, for it is shame to all knighthood thus to see me +die; for I dare say, said Sir Tristram, that I never met with no knight +but I was as good as he, or better. Fie upon thee, said Sir Andred, +false traitor that thou art, with thine avaunting; for all thy boast +thou shalt die this day. O Andred, Andred, said Sir Tristram, thou +shouldst be my kinsman, and now thou art to me full unfriendly, but an +there were no more but thou and I, thou wouldst not put me to death. +No! said Sir Andred, and therewith he drew his sword, and would have +slain him. + +When Sir Tristram saw him make such countenance he looked upon both his +hands that were fast bounden unto two knights, and suddenly he pulled +them both to him, and unwrast his hands, and then he leapt unto his +cousin, Sir Andred, and wrested his sword out of his hands; then he +smote Sir Andred that he fell to the earth, and so Sir Tristram fought +till that he had killed ten knights. So then Sir Tristram gat the +chapel and kept it mightily. Then the cry was great, and the people +drew fast unto Sir Andred, mo than an hundred. When Sir Tristram saw +the people draw unto him, he remembered he was naked, and sperd fast +the chapel door, and brake the bars of a window, and so he leapt out +and fell upon the crags in the sea. And so at that time Sir Andred nor +none of his fellows might get to him, at that time. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. How Sir Tristram was holpen by his men, and of Queen +Isoud which was put in a lazar-cote, and how Tristram was hurt. + +So when they were departed, Gouvernail, and Sir Lambegus, and Sir +Sentraille de Lushon, that were Sir Tristram’s men, sought their +master. When they heard he was escaped then they were passing glad; and +on the rocks they found him, and with towels they pulled him up. And +then Sir Tristram asked them where was La Beale Isoud, for he weened +she had been had away of Andred’s people. Sir, said Gouvernail, she is +put in a lazar-cote. Alas, said Sir Tristram, this is a full ungoodly +place for such a fair lady, and if I may she shall not be long there. +And so he took his men and went thereas was La Beale Isoud, and fetched +her away, and brought her into a forest to a fair manor, and Sir +Tristram there abode with her. So the good knight bade his men go from +him: For at this time I may not help you. So they departed all save +Gouvernail. And so upon a day Sir Tristram yede into the forest for to +disport him, and then it happened that there he fell sleep; and there +came a man that Sir Tristram aforehand had slain his brother, and when +this man had found him he shot him through the shoulder with an arrow, +and Sir Tristram leapt up and killed that man. And in the meantime it +was told King Mark how Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud were in that +same manor, and as soon as ever he might thither he came with many +knights to slay Sir Tristram. And when he came there he found him gone; +and there he took La Beale Isoud home with him, and kept her strait +that by no means never she might wit nor send unto Tristram, nor he +unto her. And then when Sir Tristram came toward the old manor he found +the track of many horses, and thereby he wist his lady was gone. And +then Sir Tristram took great sorrow, and endured with great pain long +time, for the arrow that he was hurt withal was envenomed. + +Then by the mean of La Beale Isoud she told a lady that was cousin unto +Dame Bragwaine, and she came to Sir Tristram, and told him that he +might not be whole by no means. For thy lady, La Beale Isoud, may not +help thee, therefore she biddeth you haste into Brittany to King Howel, +and there ye shall find his daughter, Isoud la Blanche Mains, and she +shall help thee. Then Sir Tristram and Gouvernail gat them shipping, +and so sailed into Brittany. And when King Howel wist that it was Sir +Tristram he was full glad of him. Sir, he said, I am come into this +country to have help of your daughter, for it is told me that there is +none other may heal me but she; and so within a while she healed him. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. How Sir Tristram served in war King Howel of Brittany, +and slew his adversary in the field. + +There was an earl that hight Grip, and this earl made great war upon +the king, and put the king to the worse, and besieged him. And on a +time Sir Kehydius, that was son to King Howel, as he issued out he was +sore wounded, nigh to the death. Then Gouvernail went to the king and +said: Sir, I counsel you to desire my lord, Sir Tristram, as in your +need to help you. I will do by your counsel, said the king. And so he +yede unto Sir Tristram, and prayed him in his wars to help him: For my +son, Sir Kehydius, may not go into the field. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I +will go to the field and do what I may. Then Sir Tristram issued out of +the town with such fellowship as he might make, and did such deeds that +all Brittany spake of him. And then, at the last, by great might and +force, he slew the Earl Grip with his own hands, and more than an +hundred knights he slew that day. And then Sir Tristram was received +worshipfully with procession. Then King Howel embraced him in his arms, +and said: Sir Tristram, all my kingdom I will resign to thee. God +defend, said Sir Tristram, for I am beholden unto you for your +daughter’s sake to do for you. + +Then by the great means of King Howel and Kehydius his son, by great +proffers, there grew great love betwixt Isoud and Sir Tristram, for +that lady was both good and fair, and a woman of noble blood and fame. +And for because Sir Tristram had such cheer and riches, and all other +pleasaunce that he had, almost he had forsaken La Beale Isoud. And so +upon a time Sir Tristram agreed to wed Isoud la Blanche Mains. And at +the last they were wedded, and solemnly held their marriage. And so +when they were abed both Sir Tristram remembered him of his old lady La +Beale Isoud. And then he took such a thought suddenly that he was all +dismayed, and other cheer made he none but with clipping and kissing; +as for other fleshly lusts Sir Tristram never thought nor had ado with +her: such mention maketh the French book; also it maketh mention that +the lady weened there had been no pleasure but kissing and clipping. +And in the meantime there was a knight in Brittany, his name was +Suppinabiles, and he came over the sea into England, and then he came +into the court of King Arthur, and there he met with Sir Launcelot du +Lake, and told him of the marriage of Sir Tristram. Then said Sir +Launcelot: Fie upon him, untrue knight to his lady, that so noble a +knight as Sir Tristram is should be found to his first lady false, La +Beale Isoud, Queen of Cornwall; but say ye him this, said Sir +Launcelot, that of all knights in the world I loved him most, and had +most joy of him, and all was for his noble deeds; and let him wit the +love between him and me is done for ever, and that I give him warning +from this day forth as his mortal enemy. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. How Sir Suppinabiles told Sir Tristram how he was +defamed in the court of King Arthur, and of Sir Lamorak. + +Then departed Sir Suppinabiles unto Brittany again, and there he found +Sir Tristram, and told him that he had been in King Arthur’s court. +Then said Sir Tristram: Heard ye anything of me? So God me help, said +Sir Suppinabiles, there I heard Sir Launcelot speak of you great shame, +and that ye be a false knight to your lady and he bade me do you to wit +that he will be your mortal enemy in every place where he may meet you. +That me repenteth, said Tristram, for of all knights I loved to be in +his fellowship. So Sir Tristram made great moan and was ashamed that +noble knights should defame him for the sake of his lady. And in this +meanwhile La Beale Isoud made a letter unto Queen Guenever, complaining +her of the untruth of Sir Tristram, and how he had wedded the king’s +daughter of Brittany. Queen Guenever sent her another letter, and bade +her be of good cheer, for she should have joy after sorrow, for Sir +Tristram was so noble a knight called, that by crafts of sorcery ladies +would make such noble men to wed them. But in the end, Queen Guenever +said, it shall be thus, that he shall hate her, and love you better +than ever he did to-fore. + +So leave we Sir Tristram in Brittany, and speak we of Sir Lamorak de +Galis, that as he sailed his ship fell on a rock and perished all, save +Sir Lamorak and his squire; and there he swam mightily, and fishers of +the Isle of Servage took him up, and his squire was drowned, and the +shipmen had great labour to save Sir Lamorak’s life, for all the +comfort that they could do. + +And the lord of that isle, hight Sir Nabon le Noire, a great mighty +giant. And this Sir Nabon hated all the knights of King Arthur’s, and +in no wise he would do them favour. And these fishers told Sir Lamorak +all the guise of Sir Nabon; how there came never knight of King +Arthur’s but he destroyed him. And at the last battle that he did was +slain Sir Nanowne le Petite, the which he put to a shameful death in +despite of King Arthur, for he was drawn limb-meal. That forthinketh +me, said Sir Lamorak, for that knight’s death, for he was my cousin; +and if I were at mine ease as well as ever I was, I would revenge his +death. Peace, said the fishers, and make here no words, for or ever ye +depart from hence Sir Nabon must know that ye have been here, or else +we should die for your sake. So that I be whole, said Lamorak, of my +disease that I have taken in the sea, I will that ye tell him that I am +a knight of King Arthur’s, for I was never afeard to reneye my lord. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. How Sir Tristram and his wife arrived in Wales, and +how he met there with Sir Lamorak. + +Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that upon a day he took a little barget, +and his wife Isoud la Blanche Mains, with Sir Kehydius her brother, to +play them in the coasts. And when they were from the land, there was a +wind drove them in to the coast of Wales upon this Isle of Servage, +whereas was Sir Lamorak, and there the barget all to-rove; and there +Dame Isoud was hurt; and as well as they might they gat into the +forest, and there by a well he saw Segwarides and a damosel. And then +either saluted other. Sir, said Segwarides, I know you for Sir Tristram +de Liones, the man in the world that I have most cause to hate, because +ye departed the love between me and my wife; but as for that, said Sir +Segwarides, I will never hate a noble knight for a light lady; and +therefore, I pray you, be my friend, and I will be yours unto my power; +for wit ye well ye are hard bestead in this valley, and we shall have +enough to do either of us to succour other. And then Sir Segwarides +brought Sir Tristram to a lady thereby that was born in Cornwall, and +she told him all the perils of that valley, and how there came never +knight there but he were taken prisoner or slain. Wit you well, fair +lady, said Sir Tristram, that I slew Sir Marhaus and delivered Cornwall +from the truage of Ireland, and I am he that delivered the King of +Ireland from Sir Blamore de Ganis, and I am he that beat Sir Palamides; +and wit ye well I am Sir Tristram de Liones, that by the grace of God +shall deliver this woful Isle of Servage. So Sir Tristram was well +eased. + +Then one told him there was a knight of King Arthur’s that was wrecked +on the rocks. What is his name? said Sir Tristram. We wot not, said the +fishers, but he keepeth it no counsel but that he is a knight of King +Arthur’s, and by the mighty lord of this isle he setteth nought. I pray +you, said Sir Tristram, an ye may, bring him hither that I may see him, +and if he be any of the knights of Arthur’s I shall know him. Then the +lady prayed the fishers to bring him to her place. So on the morrow +they brought him thither in a fisher’s raiment; and as soon as Sir +Tristram saw him he smiled upon him and knew him well, but he knew not +Sir Tristram. Fair sir, said Sir Tristram, meseemeth by your cheer ye +have been diseased but late, and also methinketh I should know you +heretofore. I will well, said Sir Lamorak, that ye have seen me and met +with me. Fair sir, said Sir Tristram, tell me your name. Upon a +covenant I will tell you, said Sir Lamorak, that is, that ye will tell +me whether ye be lord of this island or no, that is called Nabon le +Noire. Forsooth, said Sir Tristram, I am not he, nor I hold not of him; +I am his foe as well as ye be, and so shall I be found or I depart out +of this isle. Well, said Sir Lamorak, since ye have said so largely +unto me, my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis, son unto King Pellinore. +Forsooth, I trow well, said Sir Tristram, for an ye said other I know +the contrary. What are ye, said Sir Lamorak, that knoweth me? I am Sir +Tristram de Liones. Ah, sir, remember ye not of the fall ye did give me +once, and after ye refused me to fight on foot. That was not for fear I +had of you, said Sir Tristram, but me shamed at that time to have more +ado with you, for meseemed ye had enough; but, Sir Lamorak, for my +kindness many ladies ye put to a reproof when ye sent the horn from +Morgan le Fay to King Mark, whereas ye did this in despite of me. Well, +said he, an it were to do again, so would I do, for I had liefer strife +and debate fell in King Mark’s court rather than Arthur’s court, for +the honour of both courts be not alike. As to that, said Sir Tristram, +I know well; but that that was done it was for despite of me, but all +your malice, I thank God, hurt not greatly. Therefore, said Sir +Tristram, ye shall leave all your malice, and so will I, and let us +assay how we may win worship between you and me upon this giant Sir +Nabon le Noire that is lord of this island, to destroy him. Sir, said +Sir Lamorak, now I understand your knighthood, it may not be false that +all men say, for of your bounty, noblesse, and worship, of all knights +ye are peerless, and for your courtesy and gentleness I showed you +ungentleness, and that now me repenteth. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Nabon, and overcame +him, and made Sir Segwarides lord of the isle. + +In the meantime there came word that Sir Nabon had made a cry that all +the people of that isle should be at his castle the fifth day after. +And the same day the son of Nabon should be made knight, and all the +knights of that valley and thereabout should be there to joust, and all +those of the realm of Logris should be there to joust with them of +North Wales: and thither came five hundred knights, and they of the +country brought thither Sir Lamorak, and Sir Tristram, and Sir +Kehydius, and Sir Segwarides, for they durst none otherwise do; and +then Sir Nabon lent Sir Lamorak horse and armour at Sir Lamorak’s +desire, and Sir Lamorak jousted and did such deeds of arms that Nabon +and all the people said there was never knight that ever they saw do +such deeds of arms; for, as the French book saith, he for-jousted all +that were there, for the most part of five hundred knights, that none +abode him in his saddle. + +Then Sir Nabon proffered to play with him his play: For I saw never no +knight do so much upon a day. I will well, said Sir Lamorak, play as I +may, but I am weary and sore bruised. And there either gat a spear, but +Nabon would not encounter with Sir Lamorak, but smote his horse in the +forehead, and so slew him; and then Sir Lamorak yede on foot, and +turned his shield and drew his sword, and there began strong battle on +foot. But Sir Lamorak was so sore bruised and short breathed, that he +traced and traversed somewhat aback. Fair fellow, said Sir Nabon, hold +thy hand and I shall show thee more courtesy than ever I showed knight, +because I have seen this day thy noble knighthood, and therefore stand +thou by, and I will wit whether any of thy fellows will have ado with +me. Then when Sir Tristram heard that, he stepped forth and said: +Nabon, lend me horse and sure armour, and I will have ado with thee. +Well, fellow, said Sir Nabon, go thou to yonder pavilion, and arm thee +of the best thou findest there, and I shall play a marvellous play with +thee. Then said Sir Tristram: Look ye play well, or else peradventure I +shall learn you a new play. That is well said, fellow, said Sir Nabon. +So when Sir Tristram was armed as him liked best, and well shielded and +sworded, he dressed to him on foot; for well he knew that Sir Nabon +would not abide a stroke with a spear, therefore he would slay all +knights’ horses. Now, fair fellow, Sir Nabon, let us play. So then they +fought long on foot, tracing and traversing, smiting and foining long +without any rest. At the last Sir Nabon prayed him to tell him his +name. Sir Nabon, I tell thee my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, a +knight of Cornwall under King Mark. Thou art welcome, said Sir Nabon, +for of all knights I have most desired to fight with thee or with Sir +Launcelot. + +So then they went eagerly together, and Sir Tristram slew Sir Nabon, +and so forthwith he leapt to his son, and struck off his head; and then +all the country said they would hold of Sir Tristram. Nay, said Sir +Tristram, I will not so; here is a worshipful knight, Sir Lamorak de +Galis, that for me he shall be lord of this country, for he hath done +here great deeds of arms. Nay, said Sir Lamorak, I will not be lord of +this country, for I have not deserved it as well as ye, therefore give +ye it where ye will, for I will none have. Well, said Sir Tristram, +since ye nor I will not have it, let us give it to him that hath not so +well deserved it. Do as ye list, said Segwarides, for the gift is +yours, for I will none have an I had deserved it. So was it given to +Segwarides, whereof he thanked them; and so was he lord, and +worshipfully he did govern it. And then Sir Segwarides delivered all +prisoners, and set good governance in that valley; and so he returned +into Cornwall, and told King Mark and La Beale Isoud how Sir Tristram +had advanced him to the Isle of Servage, and there he proclaimed in all +Cornwall of all the adventures of these two knights, so was it openly +known. But full woe was La Beale Isoud when she heard tell that Sir +Tristram was wedded to Isoud la Blanche Mains. + + + +CHAPTER XL. How Sir Lamorak departed from Sir Tristram, and how he met +with Sir Frol, and after with Sir Launcelot. + +So turn we unto Sir Lamorak, that rode toward Arthur’s court, and Sir +Tristram’s wife and Kehydius took a vessel and sailed into Brittany, +unto King Howel, where he was welcome. And when he heard of these +adventures they marvelled of his noble deeds. Now turn we unto Sir +Lamorak, that when he was departed from Sir Tristram he rode out of the +forest, till he came to an hermitage. When the hermit saw him, he asked +him from whence he came. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I come from this +valley. Sir, said the hermit: thereof I marvel. For this twenty winter +I saw never no knight pass this country but he was either slain or +villainously wounded, or pass as a poor prisoner. Those ill customs, +said Sir Lamorak, are fordone, for Sir Tristram slew your lord, Sir +Nabon, and his son. Then was the hermit glad, and all his brethren, for +he said there was never such a tyrant among Christian men. And +therefore, said the hermit, this valley and franchise we will hold of +Sir Tristram. + +So on the morrow Sir Lamorak departed; and as he rode he saw four +knights fight against one, and that one knight defended him well, but +at the last the four knights had him down. And then Sir Lamorak went +betwixt them, and asked them why they would slay that one knight, and +said it was shame, four against one. Thou shalt well wit, said the four +knights, that he is false. That is your tale, said Sir Lamorak, and +when I hear him also speak, I will say as ye say. Then said Lamorak: +Ah, knight, can ye not excuse you, but that ye are a false knight. Sir, +said he, yet can I excuse me both with my word and with my hands, that +I will make good upon one of the best of them, my body to his body. +Then spake they all at once: We will not jeopardy our bodies as for +thee. But wit thou well, they said, an King Arthur were here himself, +it should not lie in his power to save his life. That is too much said, +said Sir Lamorak, but many speak behind a man more than they will say +to his face; and because of your words ye shall understand that I am +one of the simplest of King Arthur’s court; in the worship of my lord +now do your best, and in despite of you I shall rescue him. And then +they lashed all at once to Sir Lamorak, but anon at two strokes Sir +Lamorak had slain two of them, and then the other two fled. So then Sir +Lamorak turned again to that knight, and asked him his name. Sir, he +said, my name is Sir Frol of the Out Isles. Then he rode with Sir +Lamorak and bare him company. + +And as they rode by the way they saw a seemly knight riding against +them, and all in white. Ah, said Frol, yonder knight jousted late with +me and smote me down, therefore I will joust with him. Ye shall not do +so, said Sir Lamorak, by my counsel, an ye will tell me your quarrel, +whether ye jousted at his request, or he at yours. Nay, said Sir Frol, +I jousted with him at my request. Sir, said Lamorak, then will I +counsel you deal no more with him, for meseemeth by his countenance he +should be a noble knight, and no japer; for methinketh he should be of +the Table Round. Therefore I will not spare, said Sir Frol. And then he +cried and said: Sir knight, make thee ready to joust. That needeth not, +said the White Knight, for I have no lust to joust with thee; but yet +they feutred their spears, and the White Knight overthrew Sir Frol, and +then he rode his way a soft pace. Then Sir Lamorak rode after him, and +prayed him to tell him his name: For meseemeth ye should be of the +fellowship of the Round Table. Upon a covenant, said he, I will tell +you my name, so that ye will not discover my name, and also that ye +will tell me yours. Then, said he, my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. And +my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Then they put up their swords, and +kissed heartily together, and either made great joy of other. Sir, said +Sir Lamorak, an it please you I will do you service. God defend, said +Launcelot, that any of so noble a blood as ye be should do me service. +Then he said: More, I am in a quest that I must do myself alone. Now +God speed you, said Sir Lamorak, and so they departed. Then Sir Lamorak +came to Sir Frol and horsed him again. What knight is that? said Sir +Frol. Sir, he said, it is not for you to know, nor it is no point of my +charge. Ye are the more uncourteous, said Sir Frol, and therefore I +will depart from you. Ye may do as ye list, said Sir Lamorak, and yet +by my company ye have saved the fairest flower of your garland; so they +departed. + + + +CHAPTER XLI. How Sir Lamorak slew Sir Frol, and of the courteous +fighting with Sir Belliance his brother. + +Then within two or three days Sir Lamorak found a knight at a well +sleeping, and his lady sat with him and waked. Right so came Sir +Gawaine and took the knight’s lady, and set her up behind his squire. +So Sir Lamorak rode after Sir Gawaine, and said: Sir Gawaine, turn +again. And then said Sir Gawaine: What will ye do with me? for I am +nephew unto King Arthur. Sir, said he, for that cause I will spare you, +else that lady should abide with me, or else ye should joust with me. +Then Sir Gawaine turned him and ran to him that ought the lady, with +his spear, but the knight with pure might smote down Sir Gawaine, and +took his lady with him. All this Sir Lamorak saw, and said to himself: +But I revenge my fellow he will say of me dishonour in King Arthur’s +court. Then Sir Lamorak returned and proffered that knight to joust. +Sir, said he, I am ready. And there they came together with all their +might, and there Sir Lamorak smote the knight through both sides that +he fell to the earth dead. + +Then that lady rode to that knight’s brother that hight Belliance le +Orgulus, that dwelt fast thereby, and then she told him how his brother +was slain. Alas, said he, I will be revenged. And so he horsed him, and +armed him, and within a while he overtook Sir Lamorak, and bade him: +Turn and leave that lady, for thou and I must play a new play; for thou +hast slain my brother Sir Frol, that was a better knight than ever wert +thou. It might well be, said Sir Lamorak, but this day in the field I +was found the better. So they rode together, and unhorsed other, and +turned their shields, and drew their swords, and fought mightily as +noble knights proved, by the space of two hours. So then Sir Belliance +prayed him to tell him his name. Sir, said he, my name is Sir Lamorak +de Galis. Ah, said Sir Belliance, thou art the man in the world that I +most hate, for I slew my sons for thy sake, where I saved thy life, and +now thou hast slain my brother Sir Frol. Alas, how should I be accorded +with thee; therefore defend thee, for thou shalt die, there is none +other remedy. Alas, said Sir Lamorak, full well me ought to know you, +for ye are the man that most have done for me. And therewithal Sir +Lamorak kneeled down, and besought him of grace. Arise, said Sir +Belliance, or else thereas thou kneelest I shall slay thee. That shall +not need, said Sir Lamorak, for I will yield me unto you, not for fear +of you, nor for your strength, but your goodness maketh me full loath +to have ado with you; wherefore I require you for God’s sake, and for +the honour of knighthood, forgive me all that I have offended unto you. +Alas, said Belliance, leave thy kneeling, or else I shall slay thee +without mercy. + +Then they yede again unto battle, and either wounded other, that all +the ground was bloody thereas they fought. And at the last Belliance +withdrew him aback and set him down softly upon a little hill, for he +was so faint for bleeding that he might not stand. Then Sir Lamorak +threw his shield upon his back, and asked him what cheer. Well, said +Sir Belliance. Ah, Sir, yet shall I show you favour in your mal-ease. +Ah, Knight Sir Belliance, said Sir Lamorak, thou art a fool, for an I +had had thee at such advantage as thou hast done me, I should slay +thee; but thy gentleness is so good and so large, that I must needs +forgive thee mine evil will. And then Sir Lamorak kneeled down, and +unlaced first his umberere, and then his own, and then either kissed +other with weeping tears. Then Sir Lamorak led Sir Belliance to an +abbey fast by, and there Sir Lamorak would not depart from Belliance +till he was whole. And then they sware together that none of them +should never fight against other. So Sir Lamorak departed and went to +the court of King Arthur. + + Here leave we of Sir Lamorak and of Sir Tristram. And here beginneth + the history of La Cote Male Taile. + + + +BOOK IX. + + + +CHAPTER I. How a young man came into the court of King Arthur, and how +Sir Kay called him in scorn La Cote Male Taile. + +At the court of King Arthur there came a young man and bigly made, and +he was richly beseen: and he desired to be made knight of the king, but +his over-garment sat over-thwartly, howbeit it was rich cloth of gold. +What is your name? said King Arthur. Sir, said he, my name is Breunor +le Noire, and within short space ye shall know that I am of good kin. +It may well be, said Sir Kay, the Seneschal, but in mockage ye shall be +called La Cote Male Taile, that is as much to say, the evil-shapen +coat. It is a great thing that thou askest, said the king; and for what +cause wearest thou that rich coat? tell me, for I can well think for +some cause it is. Sir, he answered, I had a father, a noble knight, and +as he rode a-hunting, upon a day it happed him to lay him down to +sleep; and there came a knight that had been long his enemy, and when +he saw he was fast asleep he all to-hew him; and this same coat had my +father on the same time; and that maketh this coat to sit so evil upon +me, for the strokes be on it as I found it, and never shall be amended +for me. Thus to have my father’s death in remembrance I wear this coat +till I be revenged; and because ye are called the most noblest king of +the world I come to you that ye should make me knight. Sir, said Sir +Lamorak and Sir Gaheris, it were well done to make him knight; for him +beseemeth well of person and of countenance, that he shall prove a good +man, and a good knight, and a mighty; for, Sir, an ye be remembered, +even such one was Sir Launcelot du Lake when he came first into this +court, and full few of us knew from whence he came; and now is he +proved the man of most worship in the world; and all your court and all +your Round Table is by Sir Launcelot worshipped and amended more than +by any knight now living. That is truth, said the king, and to-morrow +at your request I shall make him knight. + +So on the morrow there was an hart found, and thither rode King Arthur +with a company of his knights to slay the hart. And this young man that +Sir Kay named La Cote Male Taile was there left behind with Queen +Guenever; and by sudden adventure there was an horrible lion kept in a +strong tower of stone, and it happened that he at that time brake +loose, and came hurling afore the queen and her knights. And when the +queen saw the lion she cried and fled, and prayed her knights to rescue +her. And there was none of them all but twelve that abode, and all the +other fled. Then said La Cote Male Taile: Now I see well that all +coward knights be not dead; and therewithal he drew his sword and +dressed him afore the lion. And that lion gaped wide and came upon him +ramping to have slain him. And he then smote him in the midst of the +head such a mighty stroke that it clave his head in sunder, and dashed +to the earth. Then was it told the queen how the young man that Sir Kay +named by scorn La Cote Male Taile had slain the lion. With that the +king came home. And when the queen told him of that adventure, he was +well pleased, and said: Upon pain of mine head he shall prove a noble +man and a faithful knight, and true of his promise: then the king +forthwithal made him knight. Now Sir, said this young knight, I require +you and all the knights of your court, that ye call me by none other +name but La Cote Male Taile: in so much as Sir Kay hath so named me so +will I be called. I assent me well thereto, said the king. + + + +CHAPTER II. How a damosel came into the court and desired a knight to +take on him an enquest, which La Cote Male Taile emprised. + +Then that same day there came a damosel into the court, and she brought +with her a great black shield, with a white hand in the midst holding a +sword. Other picture was there none in that shield. When King Arthur +saw her he asked her from whence she came and what she would. Sir, she +said, I have ridden long and many a day with this shield many ways, and +for this cause I am come to your court: there was a good knight that +ought this shield, and this knight had undertaken a great deed of arms +to enchieve it; and so it misfortuned him another strong knight met +with him by sudden adventure, and there they fought long, and either +wounded other passing sore; and they were so weary that they left that +battle even hand. So this knight that ought this shield saw none other +way but he must die; and then he commanded me to bear this shield to +the court of King Arthur, he requiring and praying some good knight to +take this shield, and that he would fulfil the quest that he was in. +Now what say ye to this quest? said King Arthur; is there any of you +here that will take upon him to wield this shield? Then was there not +one that would speak one word. Then Sir Kay took the shield in his +hands. Sir knight, said the damosel, what is your name? Wit ye well, +said he, my name is Sir Kay, the Seneschal, that wide-where is known. +Sir, said that damosel, lay down that shield, for wit ye well it +falleth not for you, for he must be a better knight than ye that shall +wield this shield. Damosel, said Sir Kay, wit ye well I took this +shield in my hands by your leave for to behold it, not to that intent; +but go wheresomever thou wilt, for I will not go with you. + +Then the damosel stood still a great while and beheld many of those +knights. Then spake the knight, La Cote Male Taile: Fair damosel, I +will take the shield and that adventure upon me, so I wist I should +know whitherward my journey might be; for because I was this day made +knight I would take this adventure upon me. What is your name, fair +young man? said the damosel. My name is, said he, La Cote Male Taile. +Well mayest thou be called so, said the damosel, the knight with the +evil-shapen coat; but an thou be so hardy to take upon thee to bear +that shield and to follow me, wit thou well thy skin shall be as well +hewn as thy coat. As for that, said La Cote Male Taile, when I am so +hewn I will ask you no salve to heal me withal. And forthwithal there +came into the court two squires and brought him great horses, and his +armour, and his spears, and anon he was armed and took his leave. I +would not by my will, said the king, that ye took upon you that hard +adventure. Sir, said he, this adventure is mine, and the first that +ever I took upon me, and that will I follow whatsomever come of me. +Then that damosel departed, and La Cote Male Taile fast followed after. +And within a while he overtook the damosel, and anon she missaid him in +the foulest manner. + + + +CHAPTER III. How La Cote Male Taile overthrew Sir Dagonet the king’s +fool, and of the rebuke that he had of the damosel. + +Then Sir Kay ordained Sir Dagonet, King Arthur’s fool, to follow after +La Cote Male Taile; and there Sir Kay ordained that Sir Dagonet was +horsed and armed, and bade him follow La Cote Male Taile and proffer +him to joust, and so he did; and when he saw La Cote Male Taile, he +cried and bade him make him ready to joust. So Sir La Cote Male Taile +smote Sir Dagonet over his horse’s croup. Then the damosel mocked La +Cote Male Taile, and said: Fie for shame! now art thou shamed in +Arthur’s court, when they send a fool to have ado with thee, and +specially at thy first jousts; thus she rode long, and chid. And within +a while there came Sir Bleoberis, the good knight, and there he jousted +with La Cote Male Taile, and there Sir Bleoberis smote him so sore, +that horse and all fell to the earth. Then La Cote Male Taile arose up +lightly, and dressed his shield, and drew his sword, and would have +done battle to the utterance, for he was wood wroth. Not so, said Sir +Bleoberis de Ganis, as at this time I will not fight upon foot. Then +the damosel Maledisant rebuked him in the foulest manner, and bade him: +Turn again, coward. Ah, damosel, he said, I pray you of mercy to missay +me no more, my grief is enough though ye give me no more; I call myself +never the worse knight when a mare’s son faileth me, and also I count +me never the worse knight for a fall of Sir Bleoberis. + +So thus he rode with her two days; and by fortune there came Sir +Palomides and encountered with him, and he in the same wise served him +as did Bleoberis to-forehand. What dost thou here in my fellowship? +said the damosel Maledisant, thou canst not sit no knight, nor +withstand him one buffet, but if it were Sir Dagonet. Ah, fair damosel, +I am not the worse to take a fall of Sir Palomides, and yet great +disworship have I none, for neither Bleoberis nor yet Palomides would +not fight with me on foot. As for that, said the damosel, wit thou well +they have disdain and scorn to light off their horses to fight with +such a lewd knight as thou art. So in the meanwhile there came Sir +Mordred, Sir Gawaine’s brother, and so he fell in the fellowship with +the damosel Maledisant. And then they came afore the Castle Orgulous, +and there was such a custom that there might no knight come by that +castle but either he must joust or be prisoner, or at the least to lose +his horse and his harness. And there came out two knights against them, +and Sir Mordred jousted with the foremost, and that knight of the +castle smote Sir Mordred down off his horse. And then La Cote Male +Taile jousted with that other, and either of them smote other down, +horse and all, to the earth. And when they avoided their horses, then +either of them took other’s horses. And then La Cote Male Taile rode +unto that knight that smote down Sir Mordred, and jousted with him. And +there Sir La Cote Male Taile hurt and wounded him passing sore, and put +him from his horse as he had been dead. So he turned unto him that met +him afore, and he took the flight towards the castle, and Sir La Cote +Male Taile rode after him into the Castle Orgulous, and there La Cote +Male Taile slew him. + + + +CHAPTER IV. How La Cote Male Taile fought against an hundred knights, +and how he escaped by the mean of a lady. + +And anon there came an hundred knights about him and assailed him; and +when he saw his horse should be slain he alighted and voided his horse, +and put the bridle under his feet, and so put him out of the gate. And +when he had so done he hurled in among them, and dressed his back unto +a lady’s chamber-wall, thinking himself that he had liefer die there +with worship than to abide the rebukes of the damosel Maledisant. And +in the meantime as he stood and fought, that lady whose was the chamber +went out slily at her postern, and without the gates she found La Cote +Male Taile’s horse, and lightly she gat him by the bridle, and tied him +to the postern. And then she went unto her chamber slily again for to +behold how that one knight fought against an hundred knights. And when +she had beheld him long she went to a window behind his back, and said: +Thou knight, thou fightest wonderly well, but for all that at the last +thou must needs die, but, an thou canst through thy mighty prowess, win +unto yonder postern, for there have I fastened thy horse to abide thee: +but wit thou well thou must think on thy worship, and think not to die, +for thou mayst not win unto that postern without thou do nobly and +mightily. When La Cote Male Taile heard her say so he gripped his sword +in his hands, and put his shield fair afore him, and through the +thickest press he thrulled through them. And when he came to the +postern he found there ready four knights, and at two the first strokes +he slew two of the knights, and the other fled; and so he won his horse +and rode from them. And all as it was it was rehearsed in King Arthur’s +court, how he slew twelve knights within the Castle Orgulous; and so he +rode on his way. + +And in the meanwhile the damosel said to Sir Mordred: I ween my foolish +knight be either slain or taken prisoner: then were they ware where he +came riding. And when he was come unto them he told all how he had sped +and escaped in despite of them all: And some of the best of them will +tell no tales. Thou liest falsely, said the damosel, that dare I make +good, but as a fool and a dastard to all knighthood they have let thee +pass. That may ye prove, said La Cote Male Taile. With that she sent a +courier of hers, that rode alway with her, for to know the truth of +this deed; and so he rode thither lightly, and asked how and in what +manner that La Cote Male Taile was escaped out of the castle. Then all +the knights cursed him, and said that he was a fiend and no man: For he +hath slain here twelve of our best knights, and we weened unto this day +that it had been too much for Sir Launcelot du Lake or for Sir Tristram +de Liones. And in despite of us all he is departed from us and maugre +our heads. + +With this answer the courier departed and came to Maledisant his lady, +and told her all how Sir La Cote Male Taile had sped at the Castle +Orgulous. Then she smote down her head, and said little. By my head, +said Sir Mordred to the damosel, ye are greatly to blame so to rebuke +him, for I warn you plainly he is a good knight, and I doubt not but he +shall prove a noble knight; but as yet he may not yet sit sure on +horseback, for he that shall be a good horseman it must come of usage +and exercise. But when he cometh to the strokes of his sword he is then +noble and mighty, and that saw Sir Bleoberis and Sir Palomides, for wit +ye well they are wily men of arms, and anon they know when they see a +young knight by his riding, how they are sure to give him a fall from +his horse or a great buffet. But for the most part they will not light +on foot with young knights, for they are wight and strongly armed. For +in likewise Sir Launcelot du Lake, when he was first made knight, he +was often put to the worse upon horseback, but ever upon foot he +recovered his renown, and slew and defoiled many knights of the Round +Table. And therefore the rebukes that Sir Launcelot did unto many +knights causeth them that be men of prowess to beware; for often I have +seen the old proved knights rebuked and slain by them that were but +young beginners. Thus they rode sure talking by the way together. + +Here leave we off a while of this tale, and speak we of Sir Launcelot +du Lake. + + + +CHAPTER V. How Sir Launcelot came to the court and heard of La Cote +Male Taile, and how he followed after him, and how La Cote Male Taile +was prisoner. + +That when he was come to the court of King Arthur, then heard he tell +of the young knight La Cote Male Taile, how he slew the lion, and how +he took upon him the adventure of the black shield, the which was named +at that time the hardiest adventure of the world. So God me save, said +Sir Launcelot unto many of his fellows, it was shame to all the noble +knights to suffer such a young knight to take such adventure upon him +for his destruction; for I will that ye wit, said Sir Launcelot, that +that damosel Maledisant hath borne that shield many a day for to seek +the most proved knights, and that was she that Breuse Saunce Pité took +that shield from her, and after Tristram de Liones rescued that shield +from him and gave it to the damosel again, a little afore that time +that Sir Tristram fought with my nephew Sir Blamore de Ganis, for a +quarrel that was betwixt the King of Ireland and him. Then many knights +were sorry that Sir La Cote Male Taile was gone forth to that +adventure. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, I cast me to ride after him. And +within seven days Sir Launcelot overtook La Cote Male Taile, and then +he saluted him and the damosel Maledisant. And when Sir Mordred saw Sir +Launcelot, then he left their fellowship; and so Sir Launcelot rode +with them all a day, and ever that damosel rebuked La Cote Male Taile; +and then Sir Launcelot answered for him, then she left off, and rebuked +Sir Launcelot. + +So this meantime Sir Tristram sent by a damosel a letter unto Sir +Launcelot, excusing him of the wedding of Isoud la Blanche Mains; and +said in the letter, as he was a true knight he had never ado fleshly +with Isoud la Blanche Mains; and passing courteously and gentily Sir +Tristram wrote unto Sir Launcelot, ever beseeching him to be his good +friend and unto La Beale Isoud of Cornwall, and that Sir Launcelot +would excuse him if that ever he saw her. And within short time by the +grace of God, said Sir Tristram, that he would speak with La Beale +Isoud, and with him right hastily. Then Sir Launcelot departed from the +damosel and from Sir La Cote Male Taile, for to oversee that letter, +and to write another letter unto Sir Tristram de Liones. + +And in the meanwhile La Cote Male Taile rode with the damosel until +they came to a castle that hight Pendragon; and there were six knights +stood afore him, and one of them proffered to joust with La Cote Male +Taile. And there La Cote Male Taile smote him over his horse’s croup. +And then the five knights set upon him all at once with their spears, +and there they smote La Cote Male Taile down, horse and man. And then +they alighted suddenly, and set their hands upon him all at once, and +took him prisoner, and so led him unto the castle and kept him as +prisoner. + +And on the morn Sir Launcelot arose, and delivered the damosel with +letters unto Sir Tristram, and then he took his way after La Cote Male +Taile; and by the way upon a bridge there was a knight proffered Sir +Launcelot to joust, and Sir Launcelot smote him down, and then they +fought upon foot a noble battle together, and a mighty; and at the last +Sir Launcelot smote him down grovelling upon his hands and his knees. +And then that knight yielded him, and Sir Launcelot received him fair. +Sir, said the knight, I require thee tell me your name, for much my +heart giveth unto you. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, as at this time I will +not tell you my name, unless then that ye tell me your name. Certainly, +said the knight, my name is Sir Nerovens, that was made knight of my +lord Sir Launcelot du Lake. Ah, Nerovens de Lile, said Sir Launcelot, I +am right glad that ye are proved a good knight, for now wit ye well my +name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Alas, said Sir Nerovens de Lile, what +have I done! And therewithal flatling he fell to his feet, and would +have kissed them, but Sir Launcelot would not let him; and then either +made great joy of other. And then Sir Nerovens told Sir Launcelot that +he should not go by the Castle of Pendragon: For there is a lord, a +mighty knight, and many knights with him, and this night I heard say +that they took a knight prisoner yesterday that rode with a damosel, +and they say he is a Knight of the Round Table. + + + +CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot fought with six knights, and after with +Sir Brian, and how he delivered the prisoners. + +Ah, said Sir Launcelot, that knight is my fellow, and him shall I +rescue or else I shall lose my life therefore. And therewithal he rode +fast till he came before the Castle of Pendragon; and anon therewithal +there came six knights, and all made them ready to set upon Sir +Launcelot at once; then Sir Launcelot feutred his spear, and smote the +foremost that he brake his back in-sunder, and three of them hit and +three failed. And then Sir Launcelot passed through them, and lightly +he turned in again, and smote another knight through the breast and +throughout the back more than an ell, and therewithal his spear brake. +So then all the remnant of the four knights drew their swords and +lashed at Sir Launcelot. And at every stroke Sir Launcelot bestowed so +his strokes that at four strokes sundry they avoided their saddles, +passing sore wounded; and forthwithal he rode hurling into that castle. + +And anon the lord of the castle, that was that time cleped Sir Brian de +les Isles, the which was a noble man and a great enemy unto King +Arthur, within a while he was armed and upon horseback. And then they +feutred their spears and hurled together so strongly that both their +horses rashed to the earth. And then they avoided their saddles, and +dressed their shields, and drew their swords, and flang together as +wood men, and there were many strokes given in a while. At the last Sir +Launcelot gave to Sir Brian such a buffet that he kneeled upon his +knees, and then Sir Launcelot rashed upon him, and with great force he +pulled off his helm; and when Sir Brian saw that he should be slain he +yielded him, and put him in his mercy and in his grace. Then Sir +Launcelot made him to deliver all his prisoners that he had within his +castle, and therein Sir Launcelot found of Arthur’s knights thirty, and +forty ladies, and so he delivered them; and then he rode his way. And +anon as La Cote Male Taile was delivered he gat his horse, and his +harness, and his damosel Maledisant. + +The meanwhile Sir Nerovens, that Sir Launcelot had foughten withal +afore at the bridge, he sent a damosel after Sir Launcelot to wit how +he sped at the Castle of Pendragon. And then they within the castle +marvelled what knight he was, when Sir Brian and his knights delivered +all those prisoners. Have ye no marvel, said the damosel, for the best +knight in this world was here, and did this journey, and wit ye well, +she said, it was Sir Launcelot. Then was Sir Brian full glad, and so +was his lady, and all his knights, that such a man should win them. And +when the damosel and La Cote Male Taile understood that it was Sir +Launcelot du Lake that had ridden with them in fellowship, and that she +remembered her how she had rebuked him and called him coward, then was +she passing heavy. + + + +CHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot met with the damosel named Male disant, +and named her the Damosel Bienpensant. + +So then they took their horses and rode forth a pace after Sir +Launcelot. And within two mile they overtook him, and saluted him, and +thanked him, and the damosel cried Sir Launcelot mercy of her evil deed +and saying: For now I know the flower of all knighthood is departed +even between Sir Tristram and you. For God knoweth, said the damosel, +that I have sought you my lord, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Tristram long, +and now I thank God I have met with you; and once at Camelot I met with +Sir Tristram, and there he rescued this black shield with the white +hand holding a naked sword that Sir Breuse Saunce Pité had taken from +me. Now, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, who told you my name? Sir, +said she, there came a damosel from a knight that ye fought withal at +the bridge, and she told me your name was Sir Launcelot du Lake. Blame +have she then, said Sir Launcelot, but her lord, Sir Nerovens, hath +told her. But, damosel, said Sir Launcelot, upon this covenant I will +ride with you, so that ye will not rebuke this knight Sir La Cote Male +Taile no more; for he is a good knight, and I doubt not he shall prove +a noble knight, and for his sake and pity that he should not be +destroyed I followed him to succour him in this great need. Ah, Jesu +thank you, said the damosel, for now I will say unto you and to him +both, I rebuked him never for no hate that I hated him, but for great +love that I had to him. For ever I supposed that he had been too young +and too tender to take upon him these adventures. And therefore by my +will I would have driven him away for jealousy that I had of his life, +for it may be no young knight’s deed that shall enchieve this adventure +to the end. Pardieu, said Sir Launcelot, it is well said, and where ye +are called the Damosel Maledisant I will call you the Damosel +Bienpensant. + +And so they rode forth a great while unto they came to the border of +the country of Surluse, and there they found a fair village with a +strong bridge like a fortress. And when Sir Launcelot and they were at +the bridge there stert forth afore them of gentlemen and yeomen many, +that said: Fair lords, ye may not pass this bridge and this fortress +because of that black shield that I see one of you bear, and therefore +there shall not pass but one of you at once; therefore choose you which +of you shall enter within this bridge first. Then Sir Launcelot +proffered himself first to enter within this bridge. Sir, said La Cote +Male Taile, I beseech you let me enter within this fortress, and if I +may speed well I will send for you, and if it happened that I be slain, +there it goeth. And if so be that I am a prisoner taken, then may ye +rescue me. I am loath, said Sir Launcelot, to let you pass this +passage. Sir, said La Cote Male Taile, I pray you let me put my body in +this adventure. Now go your way, said Sir Launcelot, and Jesu be your +speed. + +So he entered, and anon there met with him two brethren, the one hight +Sir Plaine de Force, and the other hight Sir Plaine de Amours. And anon +they met with Sir La Cote Male Taile; and first La Cote Male Taile +smote down Plaine de Force, and after he smote down Plaine de Amours; +and then they dressed them to their shields and swords, and bade La +Cote Male Taile alight, and so he did; and there was dashing and +foining with swords, and so they began to assail full hard La Cote Male +Taile, and many great wounds they gave him upon his head, and upon his +breast, and upon his shoulders. And as he might ever among he gave sad +strokes again. And then the two brethren traced and traversed for to be +of both hands of Sir La Cote Male Taile, but he by fine force and +knightly prowess gat them afore him. And then when he felt himself so +wounded, then he doubled his strokes, and gave them so many wounds that +he felled them to the earth, and would have slain them had they not +yielded them. And right so Sir La Cote Male Taile took the best horse +that there was of them three, and so rode forth his way to the other +fortress and bridge; and there he met with the third brother whose name +was Sir Plenorius, a full noble knight, and there they jousted +together, and either smote other down, horse and man, to the earth. And +then they avoided their horses, and dressed their shields, and drew +their swords, and gave many sad strokes, and one while the one knight +was afore on the bridge, and another while the other. And thus they +fought two hours and more, and never rested. And ever Sir Launcelot and +the damosel beheld them. Alas, said the damosel, my knight fighteth +passing sore and over long. Now may ye see, said Sir Launcelot, that he +is a noble knight, for to consider his first battle, and his grievous +wounds; and even forthwithal so wounded as he is, it is marvel that he +may endure this long battle with that good knight. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. How La Cote Male Taile was taken prisoner, and after +rescued by Sir Launcelot, and how Sir Launcelot overcame four brethren. + +This meanwhile Sir La Cote Male Taile sank right down upon the earth, +what for-wounded and what for-bled he might not stand. Then the other +knight had pity of him, and said: Fair young knight, dismay you not, +for had ye been fresh when ye met with me, as I was, I wot well that I +should not have endured so long as ye have done; and therefore for your +noble deeds of arms I shall show to you kindness and gentleness in all +that I may. And forthwithal this noble knight, Sir Plenorius, took him +up in his arms, and led him into his tower. And then he commanded him +the wine, and made to search him and to stop his bleeding wounds. Sir, +said La Cote Male Taile, withdraw you from me, and hie you to yonder +bridge again, for there will meet with you another manner knight than +ever was I. Why, said Plenorius, is there another manner knight behind +of your fellowship? Yea, said La Cote Male Taile, there is a much +better knight than I am. What is his name? said Plenorius. Ye shall not +know for me, said La Cote Male Taile. Well, said the knight, he shall +be encountered withal whatsomever he be. + +Then Sir Plenorius heard a knight call that said: Sir Plenorius, where +art thou? either thou must deliver me the prisoner that thou hast led +unto thy tower, or else come and do battle with me. Then Plenorius gat +his horse, and came with a spear in his hand walloping toward Sir +Launcelot; and then they began to feutre their spears, and came +together as thunder, and smote either other so mightily that their +horses fell down under them. And then they avoided their horses, and +pulled out their swords, and like two bulls they lashed together with +great strokes and foins; but ever Sir Launcelot recovered ground upon +him, and Sir Plenorius traced to have gone about him. But Sir Launcelot +would not suffer that, but bare him backer and backer, till he came +nigh his tower gate. And then said Sir Launcelot: I know thee well for +a good knight, but wit thou well thy life and death is in my hand, and +therefore yield thee to me, and thy prisoner. The other answered no +word, but struck mightily upon Sir Launcelot’s helm, that the fire +sprang out of his eyes. Then Sir Launcelot doubled his strokes so +thick, and smote at him so mightily, that he made him kneel upon his +knees. And therewith Sir Launcelot leapt upon him, and pulled him +grovelling down. Then Sir Plenorius yielded him, and his tower, and all +his prisoners at his will. + +Then Sir Launcelot received him and took his troth; and then he rode to +the other bridge, and there Sir Launcelot jousted with other three of +his brethren, the one hight Pillounes, and the other hight Pellogris, +and the third Sir Pellandris. And first upon horseback Sir Launcelot +smote them down, and afterward he beat them on foot, and made them to +yield them unto him; and then he returned unto Sir Plenorius, and there +he found in his prison King Carados of Scotland, and many other +knights, and all they were delivered. And then Sir La Cote Male Taile +came to Sir Launcelot, and then Sir Launcelot would have given him all +these fortresses and these bridges. Nay, said La Cote Male Taile, I +will not have Sir Plenorius’ livelihood; with that he will grant you, +my lord Sir Launcelot, to come unto King Arthur’s court, and to be his +knight, and all his brethren, I will pray you, my lord, to let him have +his livelihood. I will well, said Sir Launcelot, with this that he will +come to the court of King Arthur and become his man, and his brethren +five. And as for you, Sir Plenorius, I will undertake, said Sir +Launcelot, at the next feast, so there be a place voided, that ye shall +be Knight of the Round Table. Sir, said Plenorius, at the next feast of +Pentecost I will be at Arthur’s court, and at that time I will be +guided and ruled as King Arthur and ye will have me. Then Sir Launcelot +and Sir La Cote Male Taile reposed them there, unto the time that Sir +La Cote Male Taile was whole of his wounds, and there they had merry +cheer, and good rest, and many good games, and there were many fair +ladies. + + + +CHAPTER IX. How Sir Launcelot made La Cote Male Taile lord of the +Castle of Pendragon, and after was made knight of the Round Table. + +And in the meanwhile came Sir Kay, the Seneschal, and Sir Brandiles, +and anon they fellowshipped with them. And then within ten days, then +departed those knights of Arthur’s court from these fortresses. And as +Sir Launcelot came by the Castle of Pendragon there he put Sir Brian de +les Isles from his lands, for cause he would never be withhold with +King Arthur; and all that Castle of Pendragon and all the lands thereof +he gave to Sir La Cote Male Taile. And then Sir Launcelot sent for +Nerovens that he made once knight, and he made him to have all the rule +of that castle and of that country, under La Cote Male Taile; and so +they rode to Arthur’s court all wholly together. And at Pentecost next +following there was Sir Plenorius and Sir La Cote Male Taile, called +otherwise by right Sir Breunor le Noire, both made Knights of the Table +Round; and great lands King Arthur gave them, and there Breunor le +Noire wedded that damosel Maledisant. And after she was called +Beauvivante, but ever after for the more part he was called La Cote +Male Taile; and he proved a passing noble knight, and mighty; and many +worshipful deeds he did after in his life; and Sir Plenorius proved a +noble knight and full of prowess, and all the days of their life for +the most part they awaited upon Sir Launcelot; and Sir Plenorius’ +brethren were ever knights of King Arthur. And also, as the French book +maketh mention, Sir La Cote Male Taile avenged his father’s death. + + + +CHAPTER X. How La Beale Isoud sent letters to Sir Tristram by her maid +Bragwaine, and of divers adventures of Sir Tristram. + +Now leave we here Sir La Cote Male Taile, and turn we unto Sir Tristram +de Liones that was in Brittany. When La Beale Isoud understood that he +was wedded she sent to him by her maiden Bragwaine as piteous letters +as could be thought and made, and her conclusion was that, an it +pleased Sir Tristram, that he would come to her court, and bring with +him Isoud la Blanche Mains, and they should be kept as well as she +herself. Then Sir Tristram called unto him Sir Kehydius, and asked him +whether he would go with him into Cornwall secretly. He answered him +that he was ready at all times. And then he let ordain privily a little +vessel, and therein they went, Sir Tristram, Kehydius, Dame Bragwaine, +and Gouvernail, Sir Tristram’s squire. So when they were in the sea a +contrarious wind blew them on the coasts of North Wales, nigh the +Castle Perilous. Then said Sir Tristram: Here shall ye abide me these +ten days, and Gouvernail, my squire, with you. And if so be I come not +again by that day take the next way into Cornwall; for in this forest +are many strange adventures, as I have heard say, and some of them I +cast me to prove or I depart. And when I may I shall hie me after you. + +Then Sir Tristram and Kehydius took their horses and departed from +their fellowship. And so they rode within that forest a mile and more; +and at the last Sir Tristram saw afore him a likely knight, armed, +sitting by a well, and a strong mighty horse passing nigh him tied to +an oak, and a man hoving and riding by him leading an horse laden with +spears. And this knight that sat at the well seemed by his countenance +to be passing heavy. Then Sir Tristram rode near him and said: Fair +knight, why sit ye so drooping? ye seem to be a knight-errant by your +arms and harness, and therefore dress you to joust with one of us, or +with both. Therewithal that knight made no words, but took his shield +and buckled it about his neck, and lightly he took his horse and leapt +upon him. And then he took a great spear of his squire, and departed +his way a furlong. Sir Kehydius asked leave of Sir Tristram to joust +first. Do your best, said Sir Tristram. So they met together, and there +Sir Kehydius had a fall, and was sore wounded on high above the paps. +Then Sir Tristram said: Knight, that is well jousted, now make you +ready unto me. I am ready, said the knight. And then that knight took a +greater spear in his hand, and encountered with Sir Tristram, and there +by great force that knight smote down Sir Tristram from his horse and +had a great fall. Then Sir Tristram was sore ashamed, and lightly he +avoided his horse, and put his shield afore his shoulder, and drew his +sword. And then Sir Tristram required that knight of his knighthood to +alight upon foot and fight with him. I will well, said the knight; and +so he alighted upon foot, and avoided his horse, and cast his shield +upon his shoulder, and drew his sword, and there they fought a long +battle together full nigh two hours. Then Sir Tristram said: Fair +knight, hold thine hand, and tell me of whence thou art, and what is +thy name. As for that, said the knight, I will be avised; but an thou +wilt tell me thy name peradventure I will tell thee mine. + + + +CHAPTER XI. How Sir Tristram met with Sir Lamorak de Galis, and how +they fought, and after accorded never to fight together. + +Now fair knight, he said, my name is Sir Tristram de Liones. Sir, said +the other knight, and my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. Ah, Sir Lamorak, +said Sir Tristram, well be we met, and bethink thee now of the despite +thou didst me of the sending of the horn unto King Mark’s court, to the +intent to have slain or dishonoured my lady the queen, La Beale Isoud; +and therefore wit thou well, said Sir Tristram, the one of us shall die +or we depart. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, remember that we were together in +the Isle of Servage, and at that time ye promised me great friendship. +Then Sir Tristram would make no longer delays, but lashed at Sir +Lamorak; and thus they fought long till either were weary of other. +Then Sir Tristram said to Sir Lamorak: In all my life met I never with +such a knight that was so big and well breathed as ye be, therefore, +said Sir Tristram, it were pity that any of us both should here be +mischieved. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, for your renown and name I will that +ye have the worship of this battle, and therefore I will yield me unto +you. And therewith he took the point of his sword to yield him. Nay, +said Sir Tristram, ye shall not do so, for well I know your proffers, +and more of your gentleness than for any fear or dread ye have of me. +And therewithal Sir Tristram proffered him his sword and said: Sir +Lamorak, as an overcome knight I yield me unto you as to a man of the +most noble prowess that ever I met withal. Nay, said Sir Lamorak, I +will do you gentleness; I require you let us be sworn together that +never none of us shall after this day have ado with other. And +therewithal Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak sware that never none of them +should fight against other, nor for weal nor for woe. + + + +CHAPTER XII. How Sir Palomides followed the Questing Beast, and smote +down Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak with one spear. + +And this meanwhile there came Sir Palomides, the good knight, following +the Questing Beast that had in shape a head like a serpent’s head, and +a body like a leopard, buttocks like a lion, and footed like an hart; +and in his body there was such a noise as it had been the noise of +thirty couple of hounds questing, and such a noise that beast made +wheresomever he went; and this beast ever more Sir Palomides followed, +for it was called his quest. And right so as he followed this beast it +came by Sir Tristram, and soon after came Palomides. And to brief this +matter he smote down Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak both with one spear; +and so he departed after the beast Galtisant, that was called the +Questing Beast; wherefore these two knights were passing wroth that Sir +Palomides would not fight on foot with them. Here men may understand +that be of worship, that he was never formed that all times might +stand, but sometime he was put to the worse by mal-fortune; and at +sometime the worse knight put the better knight to a rebuke. + +Then Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak gat Sir Kehydius upon a shield +betwixt them both, and led him to a forester’s lodge, and there they +gave him in charge to keep him well, and with him they abode three +days. Then the two knights took their horses and at the cross they +departed. And then said Sir Tristram to Sir Lamorak: I require you if +ye hap to meet with Sir Palomides, say him that he shall find me at the +same well where I met him, and there I, Sir Tristram, shall prove +whether he be better knight than I. And so either departed from other a +sundry way, and Sir Tristram rode nigh thereas was Sir Kehydius; and +Sir Lamorak rode until he came to a chapel, and there he put his horse +unto pasture. And anon there came Sir Meliagaunce, that was King +Bagdemagus’ son, and he there put his horse to pasture, and was not +ware of Sir Lamorak; and then this knight Sir Meliagaunce made his moan +of the love that he had to Queen Guenever, and there he made a woful +complaint. All this heard Sir Lamorak, and on the morn Sir Lamorak took +his horse and rode unto the forest, and there he met with two knights +hoving under the wood-shaw. Fair knights, said Sir Lamorak, what do ye +hoving here and watching? and if ye be knights-errant that will joust, +lo I am ready. Nay, sir knight, they said, not so, we abide not here to +joust with you, but we lie here in await of a knight that slew our +brother. What knight was that, said Sir Lamorak, that you would fain +meet withal? Sir, they said, it is Sir Launcelot that slew our brother, +and if ever we may meet with him he shall not escape, but we shall slay +him. Ye take upon you a great charge, said Sir Lamorak, for Sir +Launcelot is a noble proved knight. As for that we doubt not, for there +nis none of us but we are good enough for him. I will not believe that, +said Sir Lamorak, for I heard never yet of no knight the days of my +life but Sir Launcelot was too big for him. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Lamorak met with Sir Meliagaunce, and fought +together for the beauty of Dame Guenever. + +Right so as they stood talking thus Sir Lamorak was ware how Sir +Launcelot came riding straight toward them; then Sir Lamorak saluted +him, and he him again. And then Sir Lamorak asked Sir Launcelot if +there were anything that he might do for him in these marches. Nay, +said Sir Launcelot, not at this time I thank you. Then either departed +from other, and Sir Lamorak rode again thereas he left the two knights, +and then he found them hid in the leaved wood. Fie on you, said Sir +Lamorak, false cowards, pity and shame it is that any of you should +take the high order of knighthood. So Sir Lamorak departed from them, +and within a while he met with Sir Meliagaunce. And then Sir Lamorak +asked him why he loved Queen Guenever as he did: For I was not far from +you when ye made your complaint by the chapel. Did ye so? said Sir +Meliagaunce, then will I abide by it: I love Queen Guenever, what will +ye with it? I will prove and make good that she is the fairest lady and +most of beauty in the world. As to that, said Sir Lamorak, I say nay +thereto, for Queen Morgawse of Orkney, mother to Sir Gawaine, and his +mother is the fairest queen and lady that beareth the life. That is not +so, said Sir Meliagaunce, and that will I prove with my hands upon thy +body. Will ye so? said Sir Lamorak, and in a better quarrel keep I not +to fight. Then they departed either from other in great wrath. And then +they came riding together as it had been thunder, and either smote +other so sore that their horses fell backward to the earth. And then +they avoided their horses, and dressed their shields, and drew their +swords. And then they hurtled together as wild boars, and thus they +fought a great while. For Meliagaunce was a good man and of great +might, but Sir Lamorak was hard big for him, and put him always aback, +but either had wounded other sore. + +And as they stood thus fighting, by fortune came Sir Launcelot and Sir +Bleoberis riding. And then Sir Launcelot rode betwixt them, and asked +them for what cause they fought so together: And ye are both knights of +King Arthur! + +Sir, said Meliagaunce, I shall tell you for what cause we do this +battle. I praised my lady, Queen Guenever, and said she was the fairest +lady of the world, and Sir Lamorak said nay thereto, for he said Queen +Morgawse of Orkney was fairer than she and more of beauty. Ah, Sir +Lamorak, why sayest thou so? it is not thy part to dispraise thy +princess that thou art under her obeissance, and we all. And therewith +he alighted on foot, and said: For this quarrel, make thee ready, for I +will prove upon thee that Queen Guenever is the fairest lady and most +of bounty in the world. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I am loath to have ado +with you in this quarrel, for every man thinketh his own lady fairest; +and though I praise the lady that I love most ye should not be wroth; +for though my lady, Queen Guenever, be fairest in your eye, wit ye well +Queen Morgawse of Orkney is fairest in mine eye, and so every knight +thinketh his own lady fairest; and wit ye well, sir, ye are the man in +the world except Sir Tristram that I am most loathest to have ado +withal, but, an ye will needs fight with me I shall endure you as long +as I may. Then spake Sir Bleoberis and said: My lord Sir Launcelot, I +wist you never so misadvised as ye are now, for Sir Lamorak sayeth you +but reason and knightly; for I warn you I have a lady, and methinketh +that she is the fairest lady of the world. Were this a great reason +that ye should be wroth with me for such language? And well ye wot, +that Sir Lamorak is as noble a knight as I know, and he hath ought you +and us ever good will, and therefore I pray you be good friends. Then +Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Lamorak. I pray you forgive me mine evil +will, and if I was misadvised I will amend it. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, +the amends is soon made betwixt you and me. And so Sir Launcelot and +Sir Bleoberis departed, and Sir Meliagaunce and Sir Lamorak took their +horses, and either departed from other. + +And within a while came King Arthur, and met with Sir Lamorak, and +jousted with him; and there he smote down Sir Lamorak, and wounded him +sore with a spear, and so he rode from him; wherefore Sir Lamorak was +wroth that he would not fight with him on foot, howbeit that Sir +Lamorak knew not King Arthur. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Kay met with Sir Tristram, and after of the shame +spoken of the knights of Cornwall, and how they jousted. + +Now leave we of this tale, and speak we of Sir Tristram, that as he +rode he met with Sir Kay, the Seneschal; and there Sir Kay asked Sir +Tristram of what country he was. He answered that he was of the country +of Cornwall. It may well be, said Sir Kay, for yet heard I never that +ever good knight came out of Cornwall. That is evil spoken, said Sir +Tristram, but an it please you to tell me your name I require you. Sir, +wit ye well, said Sir Kay, that my name is Sir Kay, the Seneschal. Is +that your name? said Sir Tristram, now wit ye well that ye are named +the shamefullest knight of your tongue that now is living; howbeit ye +are called a good knight, but ye are called unfortunate, and passing +overthwart of your tongue. And thus they rode together till they came +to a bridge. And there was a knight would not let them pass till one of +them jousted with him; and so that knight jousted with Sir Kay, and +there that knight gave Sir Kay a fall: his name was Sir Tor, Sir +Lamorak’s half-brother. And then they two rode to their lodging, and +there they found Sir Brandiles, and Sir Tor came thither anon after. +And as they sat at supper these four knights, three of them spake all +shame by Cornish knights. Sir Tristram heard all that they said and he +said but little, but he thought the more, but at that time he +discovered not his name. + +Upon the morn Sir Tristram took his horse and abode them upon their +way. And there Sir Brandiles proffered to joust with Sir Tristram, and +Sir Tristram smote him down, horse and all, to the earth. Then Sir Tor +le Fise de Vayshoure encountered with Sir Tristram and there Sir +Tristram smote him down, and then he rode his way, and Sir Kay followed +him, but he would not of his fellowship. Then Sir Brandiles came to Sir +Kay and said: I would wit fain what is that knight’s name. Come on with +me, said Sir Kay, and we shall pray him to tell us his name. So they +rode together till they came nigh him, and then they were ware where he +sat by a well, and had put off his helm to drink at the well. And when +he saw them come he laced on his helm lightly, and took his horse, and +proffered them to joust. Nay, said Sir Brandiles, we jousted late +enough with you, we come not in that intent. But for this we come to +require you of knighthood to tell us your name. My fair knights, sithen +that is your desire, and to please you, ye shall wit that my name is +Sir Tristram de Liones, nephew unto King Mark of Cornwall. In good +time, said Sir Brandiles, and well be ye found, and wit ye well that we +be right glad that we have found you, and we be of a fellowship that +would be right glad of your company. For ye are the knight in the world +that the noble fellowship of the Round Table most desireth to have the +company of. God thank them, said Sir Tristram, of their great goodness, +but as yet I feel well that I am unable to be of their fellowship, for +I was never yet of such deeds of worthiness to be in the company of +such a fellowship. Ah, said Sir Kay, an ye be Sir Tristram de Liones, +ye are the man called now most of prowess except Sir Launcelot du Lake; +for he beareth not the life, Christian nor heathen, that can find such +another knight, to speak of his prowess, and of his hands, and his +truth withal. For yet could there never creature say of him dishonour +and make it good. Thus they talked a great while, and then they +departed either from other such ways as them seemed best. + + + +CHAPTER XV. How King Arthur was brought into the Forest Perilous, and +how Sir Tristram saved his life. + +Now shall ye hear what was the cause that King Arthur came into the +Forest Perilous, that was in North Wales, by the means of a lady. Her +name was Annowre, and this lady came to King Arthur at Cardiff; and she +by fair promise and fair behests made King Arthur to ride with her into +that Forest Perilous; and she was a great sorceress; and many days she +had loved King Arthur, and because she would have him to lie by her she +came into that country. So when the king was gone with her many of his +knights followed after King Arthur when they missed him, as Sir +Launcelot, Brandiles, and many other; and when she had brought him to +her tower she desired him to lie by her; and then the king remembered +him of his lady, and would not lie by her for no craft that she could +do. Then every day she would make him ride into that forest with his +own knights, to the intent to have had King Arthur slain. For when this +Lady Annowre saw that she might not have him at her will, then she +laboured by false means to have destroyed King Arthur, and slain. + +Then the Lady of the Lake that was alway friendly to King Arthur, she +understood by her subtle crafts that King Arthur was like to be +destroyed. And therefore this Lady of the Lake, that hight Nimue, came +into that forest to seek after Sir Launcelot du Lake or Sir Tristram +for to help King Arthur; foras that same day this Lady of the Lake knew +well that King Arthur should be slain, unless that he had help of one +of these two knights. And thus she rode up and down till she met with +Sir Tristram, and anon as she saw him she knew him. O my lord Sir +Tristram, she said, well be ye met, and blessed be the time that I have +met with you; for this same day, and within these two hours, shall be +done the foulest deed that ever was done in this land. O fair damosel, +said Sir Tristram, may I amend it. Come on with me, she said, and that +in all the haste ye may, for ye shall see the most worshipfullest +knight of the world hard bestead. Then said Sir Tristram: I am ready to +help such a noble man. He is neither better nor worse, said the Lady of +the Lake, but the noble King Arthur himself. God defend, said Sir +Tristram, that ever he should be in such distress. Then they rode +together a great pace, until they came to a little turret or castle; +and underneath that castle they saw a knight standing upon foot +fighting with two knights; and so Sir Tristram beheld them, and at the +last the two knights smote down the one knight, and that one of them +unlaced his helm to have slain him. And the Lady Annowre gat King +Arthur’s sword in her hand to have stricken off his head. And +therewithal came Sir Tristram with all his might, crying: Traitress, +traitress, leave that. And anon there Sir Tristram smote the one of the +knights through the body that he fell dead; and then he rashed to the +other and smote his back asunder; and in the meanwhile the Lady of the +Lake cried to King Arthur: Let not that false lady escape. Then King +Arthur overtook her, and with the same sword he smote off her head, and +the Lady of the Lake took up her head and hung it up by the hair of her +saddle-bow. And then Sir Tristram horsed King Arthur and rode forth +with him, but he charged the Lady of the Lake not to discover his name +as at that time. + +When the king was horsed he thanked heartily Sir Tristram, and desired +to wit his name; but he would not tell him, but that he was a poor +knight adventurous; and so he bare King Arthur fellowship till he met +with some of his knights. And within a while he met with Sir Ector de +Maris, and he knew not King Arthur nor Sir Tristram, and he desired to +joust with one of them. Then Sir Tristram rode unto Sir Ector, and +smote him from his horse. And when he had done so he came again to the +king and said: My lord, yonder is one of your knights, he may bare you +fellowship, and another day that deed that I have done for you I trust +to God ye shall understand that I would do you service. Alas, said King +Arthur, let me wit what ye are? Not at this time, said Sir Tristram. So +he departed and left King Arthur and Sir Ector together. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Tristram came to La Beale Isoud, and how Kehydius +began to love Beale Isoud, and of a letter that Tristram found. + +And then at a day set Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak met at the well; and +then they took Kehydius at the forester’s house, and so they rode with +him to the ship where they left Dame Bragwaine and Gouvernail, and so +they sailed into Cornwall all wholly together. And by assent and +information of Dame Bragwaine when they were landed they rode unto Sir +Dinas, the Seneschal, a trusty friend of Sir Tristram’s. And so Dame +Bragwaine and Sir Dinas rode to the court of King Mark, and told the +queen, La Beale Isoud, that Sir Tristram was nigh her in that country. +Then for very pure joy La Beale Isoud swooned; and when she might speak +she said: Gentle knight Seneschal, help that I might speak with him, +outher my heart will brast. Then Sir Dinas and Dame Bragwaine brought +Sir Tristram and Kehydius privily unto the court, unto a chamber +whereas La Beale Isoud had assigned it; and to tell the joys that were +betwixt La Beale Isoud and Sir Tristram, there is no tongue can tell +it, nor heart think it, nor pen write it. And as the French book maketh +mention, at the first time that ever Sir Kehydius saw La Beale Isoud he +was so enamoured upon her that for very pure love he might never +withdraw it. And at the last, as ye shall hear or the book be ended, +Sir Kehydius died for the love of La Beale Isoud. And then privily he +wrote unto her letters and ballads of the most goodliest that were used +in those days. And when La Beale Isoud understood his letters she had +pity of his complaint, and unavised she wrote another letter to comfort +him withal. + +And Sir Tristram was all this while in a turret at the commandment of +La Beale Isoud, and when she might she came unto Sir Tristram. So on a +day King Mark played at the chess under a chamber window; and at that +time Sir Tristram and Sir Kehydius were within the chamber over King +Mark, and as it mishapped Sir Tristram found the letter that Kehydius +sent unto La Beale Isoud, also he had found the letter that she wrote +unto Kehydius, and at that same time La Beale Isoud was in the same +chamber. Then Sir Tristram came unto La Beale Isoud and said: Madam, +here is a letter that was sent unto you, and here is the letter that ye +sent unto him that sent you that letter. Alas, Madam, the good love +that I have loved you; and many lands and riches have I forsaken for +your love, and now ye are a traitress to me, the which doth me great +pain. But as for thee, Sir Kehydius, I brought thee out of Brittany +into this country, and thy father, King Howel, I won his lands, howbeit +I wedded thy sister Isoud la Blanche Mains for the goodness she did +unto me. And yet, as I am true knight, she is a clean maiden for me; +but wit thou well, Sir Kehydius, for this falsehood and treason thou +hast done me, I will revenge it upon thee. And therewithal Sir Tristram +drew out his sword and said: Sir Kehydius, keep thee, and then La Beale +Isoud swooned to the earth. And when Sir Kehydius saw Sir Tristram come +upon him he saw none other boot, but leapt out at a bay-window even +over the head where sat King Mark playing at the chess. And when the +king saw one come hurling over his head he said: Fellow, what art thou, +and what is the cause thou leapest out at that window? My lord the +king, said Kehydius, it fortuned me that I was asleep in the window +above your head, and as I slept I slumbered, and so I fell down. And +thus Sir Kehydius excused him. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Tristram departed from Tintagil, and how he +sorrowed and was so long in a forest till he was out of his mind. + +Then Sir Tristram dread sore lest he were discovered unto the king that +he was there; wherefore he drew him to the strength of the Tower, and +armed him in such armour as he had for to fight with them that would +withstand him. And so when Sir Tristram saw there was no resistance +against him he sent Gouvernail for his horse and his spear, and +knightly he rode forth out of the castle openly, that was called the +Castle of Tintagil. And even at gate he met with Gingalin, Sir +Gawaine’s son. And anon Sir Gingalin put his spear in his rest, and ran +upon Sir Tristram and brake his spear; and Sir Tristram at that time +had but a sword, and gave him such a buffet upon the helm that he fell +down from his saddle, and his sword slid adown, and carved asunder his +horse’s neck. And so Sir Tristram rode his way into the forest, and all +this doing saw King Mark. And then he sent a squire unto the hurt +knight, and commanded him to come to him, and so he did. And when King +Mark wist that it was Sir Gingalin he welcomed him and gave him an +horse, and asked him what knight it was that had encountered with him. +Sir, said Gingalin, I wot not what knight he was, but well I wot that +he sigheth and maketh great dole. + +Then Sir Tristram within a while met with a knight of his own, that +hight Sir Fergus. And when he had met with him he made great sorrow, +insomuch that he fell down off his horse in a swoon, and in such sorrow +he was in three days and three nights. Then at the last Sir Tristram +sent unto the court by Sir Fergus, for to spere what tidings. And so as +he rode by the way he met with a damosel that came from Sir Palomides, +to know and seek how Sir Tristram did. Then Sir Fergus told her how he +was almost out of his mind. Alas, said the damosel, where shall I find +him? In such a place, said Sir Fergus. Then Sir Fergus found Queen +Isoud sick in her bed, making the greatest dole that ever any earthly +woman made. And when the damosel found Sir Tristram she made great dole +because she might not amend him, for the more she made of him the more +was his pain. And at the last Sir Tristram took his horse and rode away +from her. And then was it three days or that she could find him, and +then she brought him meat and drink, but he would none; and then +another time Sir Tristram escaped away from the damosel, and it happed +him to ride by the same castle where Sir Palomides and Sir Tristram did +battle when La Beale Isoud departed them. And there by fortune the +damosel met with Sir Tristram again, making the greatest dole that ever +earthly creature made; and she yede to the lady of that castle and told +her of the misadventure of Sir Tristram. Alas, said the lady of that +castle, where is my lord, Sir Tristram? Right here by your castle, said +the damosel. In good time, said the lady, is he so nigh me; he shall +have meat and drink of the best; and an harp I have of his whereupon he +taught me, for of goodly harping he beareth the prize in the world. So +this lady and damosel brought him meat and drink, but he ate little +thereof. Then upon a night he put his horse from him, and then he +unlaced his armour, and then Sir Tristram would go into the wilderness, +and brast down the trees and boughs; and otherwhile when he found the +harp that the lady sent him, then would he harp, and play thereupon and +weep together. And sometime when Sir Tristram was in the wood that the +lady wist not where he was, then would she sit her down and play upon +that harp: then would Sir Tristram come to that harp, and hearken +thereto, and sometime he would harp himself. Thus he there endured a +quarter of a year. Then at the last he ran his way, and she wist not +where he was become. And then was he naked and waxed lean and poor of +flesh; and so he fell in the fellowship of herdmen and shepherds, and +daily they would give him some of their meat and drink. And when he did +any shrewd deed they would beat him with rods, and so they clipped him +with shears and made him like a fool. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in a well, and how +Palomides sent a damosel to seek Tristram, and how Palomides met with +King Mark. + +And upon a day Dagonet, King Arthur’s fool, came into Cornwall with two +squires with him; and as they rode through that forest they came by a +fair well where Sir Tristram was wont to be; and the weather was hot, +and they alighted to drink of that well, and in the meanwhile their +horses brake loose. Right so Sir Tristram came unto them, and first he +soused Sir Dagonet in that well, and after his squires, and thereat +laughed the shepherds; and forthwithal he ran after their horses and +brought them again one by one, and right so, wet as they were, he made +them leap up and ride their ways. Thus Sir Tristram endured there an +half year naked, and would never come in town nor village. The +meanwhile the damosel that Sir Palomides sent to seek Sir Tristram, she +yede unto Sir Palomides and told him all the mischief that Sir Tristram +endured. Alas, said Sir Palomides, it is great pity that ever so noble +a knight should be so mischieved for the love of a lady; but +nevertheless, I will go and seek him, and comfort him an I may. Then a +little before that time La Beale Isoud had commanded Sir Kehydius out +of the country of Cornwall. So Sir Kehydius departed with a dolorous +heart, and by adventure he met with Sir Palomides, and they +enfellowshipped together; and either complained to other of their hot +love that they loved La Beale Isoud. Now let us, said Sir Palomides, +seek Sir Tristram, that loved her as well as we, and let us prove +whether we may recover him. So they rode into that forest, and three +days and three nights they would never take their lodging, but ever +sought Sir Tristram. + +And upon a time, by adventure, they met with King Mark that was ridden +from his men all alone. When they saw him Sir Palomides knew him, but +Sir Kehydius knew him not. Ah, false king, said Sir Palomides, it is +pity thou hast thy life, for thou art a destroyer of all worshipful +knights, and by thy mischief and thy vengeance thou hast destroyed that +most noble knight, Sir Tristram de Liones. And therefore defend thee, +said Sir Palomides, for thou shalt die this day. That were shame, said +King Mark, for ye two are armed and I am unarmed. As for that, said Sir +Palomides, I shall find a remedy therefore; here is a knight with me, +and thou shalt have his harness. Nay, said King Mark, I will not have +ado with you, for cause have ye none to me; for all the misease that +Sir Tristram hath was for a letter that he found; for as to me I did to +him no displeasure, and God knoweth I am full sorry for his disease and +malady. So when the king had thus excused him they were friends, and +King Mark would have had them unto Tintagil; but Sir Palomides would +not, but turned unto the realm of Logris, and Sir Kehydius said that he +would go into Brittany. + +Now turn we unto Sir Dagonet again, that when he and his squires were +upon horseback he deemed that the shepherds had sent that fool to array +them so, because that they laughed at them, and so they rode unto the +keepers of beasts and all to-beat them. Sir Tristram saw them beat that +were wont to give him meat and drink, then he ran thither and gat Sir +Dagonet by the head, and gave him such a fall to the earth that he +bruised him sore so that he lay still. And then he wrast his sword out +of his hand, and therewith he ran to one of his squires and smote off +his head, and the other fled. And so Sir Tristram took his way with +that sword in his hand, running as he had been wild wood. Then Sir +Dagonet rode to King Mark and told him how he had sped in that forest. +And therefore, said Sir Dagonet, beware, King Mark, that thou come not +about that well in the forest, for there is a fool naked, and that fool +and I fool met together, and he had almost slain me. Ah, said King +Mark, that is Sir Matto le Breune, that fell out of his wit because he +lost his lady; for when Sir Gaheris smote down Sir Matto and won his +lady of him, never since was he in his mind, and that was pity, for he +was a good knight. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. How it was noised how Sir Tristram was dead, and how La +Beale Isoud would have slain herself. + +Then Sir Andred, that was cousin unto Sir Tristram, made a lady that +was his paramour to say and to noise it that she was with Sir Tristram +or ever he died. And this tale she brought unto King Mark’s court, that +she buried him by a well, and that or he died he besought King Mark to +make his cousin, Sir Andred, king of the country of Liones, of the +which Sir Tristram was lord of. All this did Sir Andred because he +would have had Sir Tristram’s lands. And when King Mark heard tell that +Sir Tristram was dead he wept and made great dole. But when Queen Isoud +heard of these tidings she made such sorrow that she was nigh out of +her mind; and so upon a day she thought to slay herself and never to +live after Sir Tristram’s death. And so upon a day La Beale Isoud gat a +sword privily and bare it to her garden, and there she pight the sword +through a plum tree up to the hilt, so that it stuck fast, and it stood +breast high. And as she would have run upon the sword and to have slain +herself all this espied King Mark, how she kneeled down and said: Sweet +Lord Jesu, have mercy upon me, for I may not live after the death of +Sir Tristram de Liones, for he was my first love and he shall be the +last. And with these words came King Mark and took her in his arms, and +then he took up the sword, and bare her away with him into a tower; and +there he made her to be kept, and watched her surely, and after that +she lay long sick, nigh at the point of death. + +This meanwhile ran Sir Tristram naked in the forest with the sword in +his hand, and so he came to an hermitage, and there he laid him down +and slept; and in the meanwhile the hermit stole away his sword, and +laid meat down by him. Thus was he kept there ten days; and at the last +he departed and came to the herdmen again. And there was a giant in +that country that hight Tauleas, and for fear of Sir Tristram more than +seven year he durst never much go at large, but for the most part he +kept him in a sure castle of his own; and so this Tauleas heard tell +that Sir Tristram was dead, by the noise of the court of King Mark. +Then this Tauleas went daily at large. And so he happed upon a day he +came to the herdmen wandering and langering, and there he set him down +to rest among them. The meanwhile there came a knight of Cornwall that +led a lady with him, and his name was Sir Dinant; and when the giant +saw him he went from the herdmen and hid him under a tree, and so the +knight came to that well, and there he alighted to repose him. And as +soon as he was from his horse this giant Tauleas came betwixt this +knight and his horse, and took the horse and leapt upon him. So +forthwith he rode unto Sir Dinant and took him by the collar, and +pulled him afore him upon his horse, and there would have stricken off +his head. Then the herdmen said unto Sir Tristram: Help yonder knight. +Help ye him, said Sir Tristram. We dare not, said the herdmen. Then Sir +Tristram was ware of the sword of the knight thereas it lay; and so +thither he ran and took up the sword and struck off Sir Tauleas’ head, +and so he yede his way to the herdmen. + + + +CHAPTER XX. How King Mark found Sir Tristram naked, and made him to be +borne home to Tintagil, and how he was there known by a brachet. + +Then the knight took up the giant’s head and bare it with him unto King +Mark, and told him what adventure betid him in the forest, and how a +naked man rescued him from the grimly giant, Tauleas. Where had ye this +adventure? said King Mark. Forsooth, said Sir Dinant, at the fair +fountain in your forest where many adventurous knights meet, and there +is the mad man. Well, said King Mark, I will see that wild man. So +within a day or two King Mark commanded his knights and his hunters +that they should be ready on the morn for to hunt, and so upon the morn +he went unto that forest. And when the king came to that well he found +there lying by that well a fair naked man, and a sword by him. Then +King Mark blew and straked, and therewith his knights came to him; and +then the king commanded his knights to: Take that naked man with +fairness, and bring him to my castle. So they did softly and fair, and +cast mantles upon Sir Tristram, and so led him unto Tintagil; and there +they bathed him, and washed him, and gave him hot suppings till they +had brought him well to his remembrance; but all this while there was +no creature that knew Sir Tristram, nor what man he was. + +So it fell upon a day that the queen, La Beale Isoud, heard of such a +man, that ran naked in the forest, and how the king had brought him +home to the court. Then La Beale Isoud called unto her Dame Bragwaine +and said: Come on with me, for we will go see this man that my lord +brought from the forest the last day. So they passed forth, and spered +where was the sick man. And then a squire told the queen that he was in +the garden taking his rest, and reposing him against the sun. So when +the queen looked upon Sir Tristram she was not remembered of him. But +ever she said unto Dame Bragwaine: Meseemeth I should have seen him +heretofore in many places. But as soon as Sir Tristram saw her he knew +her well enough. And then he turned away his visage and wept. + +Then the queen had always a little brachet with her that Sir Tristram +gave her the first time that ever she came into Cornwall, and never +would that brachet depart from her but if Sir Tristram was nigh thereas +was La Beale Isoud; and this brachet was sent from the king’s daughter +of France unto Sir Tristram for great love. And anon as this little +brachet felt a savour of Sir Tristram, she leapt upon him and licked +his lears and his ears, and then she whined and quested, and she +smelled at his feet and at his hands, and on all parts of his body that +she might come to. Ah, my lady, said Dame Bragwaine unto La Beale +Isoud, alas, alas, said she, I see it is mine own lord, Sir Tristram. +And thereupon Isoud fell down in a swoon, and so lay a great while. And +when she might speak she said: My lord Sir Tristram, blessed be God ye +have your life, and now I am sure ye shall be discovered by this little +brachet, for she will never leave you. And also I am sure as soon as my +lord, King Mark, do know you he will banish you out of the country of +Cornwall, or else he will destroy you; for God’s sake, mine own lord, +grant King Mark his will, and then draw you unto the court of King +Arthur, for there are ye beloved, and ever when I may I shall send unto +you; and when ye list ye may come to me, and at all times early and +late I will be at your commandment, to live as poor a life as ever did +queen or lady. O Madam, said Sir Tristram, go from me, for mickle anger +and danger have I escaped for your love. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. How King Mark, by the advice of his council, banished Sir +Tristram out of Cornwall the term of ten years. + +Then the queen departed, but the brachet would not from him; and +therewithal came King Mark, and the brachet set upon him, and bayed at +them all. There withal Sir Andred spake and said: Sir, this is Sir +Tristram, I see by the brachet. Nay, said the king, I cannot suppose +that. Then the king asked him upon his faith what he was, and what was +his name. So God me help, said he, my name is Sir Tristram de Liones; +now do by me what ye list. Ah, said King Mark, me repenteth of your +recovery. And then he let call his barons to judge Sir Tristram to the +death. Then many of his barons would not assent thereto, and in +especial Sir Dinas, the Seneschal, and Sir Fergus. And so by the advice +of them all Sir Tristram was banished out of the country for ten year, +and thereupon he took his oath upon a book before the king and his +barons. And so he was made to depart out of the country of Cornwall; +and there were many barons brought him unto his ship, of the which some +were his friends and some his foes. And in the meanwhile there came a +knight of King Arthur’s, his name was Dinadan, and his coming was for +to seek after Sir Tristram; then they showed him where he was armed at +all points going to the ship. Now fair knight, said Sir Dinadan, or ye +pass this court that ye will joust with me I require thee. With a good +will, said Sir Tristram, an these lords will give me leave. Then the +barons granted thereto, and so they ran together, and there Sir +Tristram gave Sir Dinadan a fall. And then he prayed Sir Tristram to +give him leave to go in his fellowship. Ye shall be right welcome, said +then Sir Tristram. + +And so they took their horses and rode to their ships together, and +when Sir Tristram was in the sea he said: Greet well King Mark and all +mine enemies, and say them I will come again when I may; and well am I +rewarded for the fighting with Sir Marhaus, and delivered all this +country from servage; and well am I rewarded for the fetching and costs +of Queen Isoud out of Ireland, and the danger that I was in first and +last, and by the way coming home what danger I had to bring again Queen +Isoud from the Castle Pluere; and well am I rewarded when I fought with +Sir Bleoberis for Sir Segwarides’ wife; and well am I rewarded when I +fought with Sir Blamore de Ganis for King Anguish, father unto La Beale +Isoud; and well am I rewarded when I smote down the good knight, Sir +Lamorak de Galis, at King Mark’s request; and well am I rewarded when I +fought with the King with the Hundred Knights, and the King of +Northgalis, and both these would have put his land in servage, and by +me they were put to a rebuke; and well am I rewarded for the slaying of +Tauleas, the mighty giant, and many other deeds have I done for him, +and now have I my warison. And tell King Mark that many noble knights +of the Table Round have spared the barons of this country for my sake. +Also am I not well rewarded when I fought with the good knight Sir +Palomides and rescued Queen Isoud from him; and at that time King Mark +said afore all his barons I should have been better rewarded. And +forthwithal he took the sea. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. How a damosel sought help to help Sir Launcelot against +thirty knights, and how Sir Tristram fought with them. + +And at the next landing, fast by the sea, there met with Sir Tristram +and with Sir Dinadan, Sir Ector de Maris and Sir Bors de Ganis; and +there Sir Ector jousted with Sir Dinadan, and he smote him and his +horse down. And then Sir Tristram would have jousted with Sir Bors, and +Sir Bors said that he would not joust with no Cornish knights, for they +are not called men of worship; and all this was done upon a bridge. And +with this came Sir Bleoberis and Sir Driant, and Sir Bleoberis +proffered to joust with Sir Tristram, and there Sir Tristram smote down +Sir Bleoberis. Then said Sir Bors de Ganis: I wist never Cornish knight +of so great valour nor so valiant as that knight that beareth the +trappings embroidered with crowns. And then Sir Tristram and Sir +Dinadan departed from them into a forest, and there met them a damosel +that came for the love of Sir Launcelot to seek after some noble +knights of King Arthur’s court for to rescue Sir Launcelot. And so Sir +Launcelot was ordained, for-by the treason of Queen Morgan le Fay to +have slain Sir Launcelot, and for that cause she ordained thirty +knights to lie in await for Sir Launcelot, and this damosel knew this +treason. And for this cause the damosel came for to seek noble knights +to help Sir Launcelot. For that night, or the day after, Sir Launcelot +should come where these thirty knights were. And so this damosel met +with Sir Bors and Sir Ector and with Sir Driant, and there she told +them all four of the treason of Morgan le Fay; and then they promised +her that they would be nigh where Sir Launcelot should meet with the +thirty knights. And if so be they set upon him we will do rescues as we +can. + +So the damosel departed, and by adventure the damosel met with Sir +Tristram and with Sir Dinadan, and there the damosel told them all the +treason that was ordained for Sir Launcelot. Fair damosel, said Sir +Tristram, bring me to that same place where they should meet with Sir +Launcelot. Then said Sir Dinadan: What will ye do? it is not for us to +fight with thirty knights, and wit you well I will not thereof; as to +match one knight two or three is enough an they be men, but for to +match fifteen knights that will I never undertake. Fie for shame, said +Sir Tristram, do but your part. Nay, said Sir Dinadan, I will not +thereof but if ye will lend me your shield, for ye bear a shield of +Cornwall; and for the cowardice that is named to the knights of +Cornwall, by your shields ye be ever forborne. Nay, said Sir Tristram, +I will not depart from my shield for her sake that gave it me. But one +thing, said Sir Tristram, I promise thee, Sir Dinadan, but if thou wilt +promise me to abide with me, here I shall slay thee, for I desire no +more of thee but answer one knight. And if thy heart will not serve +thee, stand by and look upon me and them. Sir, said Sir Dinadan, I +promise you to look upon and to do what I may to save myself, but I +would I had not met with you. + +So then anon these thirty knights came fast by these four knights, and +they were ware of them, and either of other. And so these thirty +knights let them pass, for this cause, that they would not wrath them, +if case be that they had ado with Sir Launcelot; and the four knights +let them pass to this intent, that they would see and behold what they +would do with Sir Launcelot. And so the thirty knights passed on and +came by Sir Tristram and by Sir Dinadan, and then Sir Tristram cried on +high: Lo, here is a knight against you for the love of Sir Launcelot. +And there he slew two with one spear and ten with his sword. And then +came in Sir Dinadan and he did passing well, and so of the thirty +knights there went but ten away, and they fled. All this battle saw Sir +Bors de Ganis and his three fellows, and then they saw well it was the +same knight that jousted with them at the bridge; then they took their +horses and rode unto Sir Tristram, and praised him and thanked him of +his good deeds, and they all desired Sir Tristram to go with them to +their lodging; and he said: Nay, he would not go to no lodging. Then +they all four knights prayed him to tell them his name. Fair lords, +said Sir Tristram, as at this time I will not tell you my name. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan came to a lodging where +they must joust with two knights. + +Then Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan rode forth their way till they came +to the shepherds and to the herdmen, and there they asked them if they +knew any lodging or harbour there nigh hand. Forsooth, sirs, said the +herdmen, hereby is good lodging in a castle; but there is such a custom +that there shall no knight be harboured but if he joust with two +knights, and if he be but one knight he must joust with two. And as ye +be therein soon shall ye be matched. There is shrewd harbour, said Sir +Dinadan; lodge where ye will, for I will not lodge there. Fie for +shame, said Sir Tristram, are ye not a knight of the Table Round? +wherefore ye may not with your worship refuse your lodging. Not so, +said the herdmen, for an ye be beaten and have the worse ye shall not +be lodged there, and if ye beat them ye shall be well harboured. Ah, +said Sir Dinadan, they are two sure knights. Then Sir Dinadan would not +lodge there in no manner but as Sir Tristram required him of his +knighthood; and so they rode thither. And to make short tale, Sir +Tristram and Sir Dinadan smote them down both, and so they entered into +the castle and had good cheer as they could think or devise. + +And when they were unarmed, and thought to be merry and in good rest, +there came in at the gates Sir Palomides and Sir Gaheris, requiring to +have the custom of the castle. What array is this? said Sir Dinadan, I +would have my rest. That may not be, said Sir Tristram; now must we +needs defend the custom of this castle, insomuch as we have the better +of the lords of this castle, and therefore, said Sir Tristram, needs +must ye make you ready. In the devil’s name, said Sir Dinadan, came I +into your company. And so they made them ready; and Sir Gaheris +encountered with Sir Tristram, and Sir Gaheris had a fall; and Sir +Palomides encountered with Sir Dinadan, and Sir Dinadan had a fall: +then was it fall for fall. So then must they fight on foot. That would +not Sir Dinadan, for he was so sore bruised of the fall that Sir +Palomides gave him. Then Sir Tristram unlaced Sir Dinadan’s helm, and +prayed him to help him. I will not, said Sir Dinadan, for I am sore +wounded of the thirty knights that we had but late ago to do withal. +But ye fare, said Sir Dinadan unto Sir Tristram, as a madman and as a +man that is out of his mind that would cast himself away, and I may +curse the time that ever I saw you, for in all the world are not two +such knights that be so wood as is Sir Launcelot and ye Sir Tristram; +for once I fell in the fellowship of Sir Launcelot as I have done now +with you, and he set me a work that a quarter of a year I kept my bed. +Jesu defend me, said Sir Dinadan, from such two knights, and specially +from your fellowship. Then, said Sir Tristram, I will fight with them +both. Then Sir Tristram bade them come forth both, for I will fight +with you. Then Sir Palomides and Sir Gaheris dressed them, and smote at +them both. Then Dinadan smote at Sir Gaheris a stroke or two, and +turned from him. Nay, said Sir Palomides, it is too much shame for us +two knights to fight with one. And then he did bid Sir Gaheris stand +aside with that knight that hath no list to fight. Then they rode +together and fought long, and at the last Sir Tristram doubled his +strokes, and drove Sir Palomides aback more than three strides. And +then by one assent Sir Gaheris and Sir Dinadan went betwixt them, and +departed them in-sunder. And then by assent of Sir Tristram they would +have lodged together. But Sir Dinadan would not lodge in that castle. +And then he cursed the time that ever he came in their fellowship, and +so he took his horse, and his harness, and departed. + +Then Sir Tristram prayed the lords of that castle to lend him a man to +bring him to a lodging, and so they did, and overtook Sir Dinadan, and +rode to their lodging two mile thence with a good man in a priory, and +there they were well at ease. And that same night Sir Bors and Sir +Bleoberis, and Sir Ector and Sir Driant, abode still in the same place +thereas Sir Tristram fought with the thirty knights; and there they met +with Sir Launcelot the same night, and had made promise to lodge with +Sir Colgrevance the same night. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Tristram jousted with Sir Kay and Sir Sagramore +le Desirous, and how Sir Gawaine turned Sir Tristram from Morgan le +Fay. + +But anon as the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, heard of the shield of +Cornwall, then wist he well that it was Sir Tristram that fought with +his enemies. And then Sir Launcelot praised Sir Tristram, and called +him the man of most worship in the world. So there was a knight in that +priory that hight Pellinore, and he desired to wit the name of Sir +Tristram, but in no wise he could not; and so Sir Tristram departed and +left Sir Dinadan in the priory, for he was so weary and so sore bruised +that he might not ride. Then this knight, Sir Pellinore, said to Sir +Dinadan: Sithen that ye will not tell me that knight’s name I will ride +after him and make him to tell me his name, or he shall die therefore. +Beware, sir knight, said Sir Dinadan, for an ye follow him ye shall +repent it. So that knight, Sir Pellinore, rode after Sir Tristram and +required him of jousts. Then Sir Tristram smote him down and wounded +him through the shoulder, and so he passed on his way. And on the next +day following Sir Tristram met with pursuivants, and they told him that +there was made a great cry of tournament between King Carados of +Scotland and the King of North Wales, and either should joust against +other at the Castle of Maidens; and these pursuivants sought all the +country after the good knights, and in especial King Carados let make +seeking for Sir Launcelot du Lake, and the King of Northgalis let seek +after Sir Tristram de Liones. And at that time Sir Tristram thought to +be at that jousts; and so by adventure they met with Sir Kay, the +Seneschal, and Sir Sagramore le Desirous; and Sir Kay required Sir +Tristram to joust, and Sir Tristram in a manner refused him, because he +would not be hurt nor bruised against the great jousts that should be +before the Castle of Maidens, and therefore thought to repose him and +to rest him. And alway Sir Kay cried: Sir knight of Cornwall, joust +with me, or else yield thee to me as recreant. When Sir Tristram heard +him say so he turned to him, and then Sir Kay refused him and turned +his back. Then Sir Tristram said: As I find thee I shall take thee. +Then Sir Kay turned with evil will, and Sir Tristram smote Sir Kay +down, and so he rode forth. + +Then Sir Sagramore le Desirous rode after Sir Tristram, and made him to +joust with him, and there Sir Tristram smote down Sir Sagramore le +Desirous from his horse, and rode his way; and the same day he met with +a damosel that told him that he should win great worship of a knight +adventurous that did much harm in all that country. When Sir Tristram +heard her say so, he was glad to go with her to win worship. So Sir +Tristram rode with that damosel a six mile, and then met him Sir +Gawaine, and therewithal Sir Gawaine knew the damosel, that she was a +damosel of Queen Morgan le Fay. Then Sir Gawaine understood that she +led that knight to some mischief. Fair knight, said Sir Gawaine, +whither ride you now with that damosel? Sir, said Sir Tristram, I wot +not whither I shall ride but as the damosel will lead me. Sir, said Sir +Gawaine, ye shall not ride with her, for she and her lady did never +good, but ill. And then Sir Gawaine pulled out his sword and said: +Damosel, but if thou tell me anon for what cause thou leadest this +knight with thee thou shalt die for it right anon: I know all your +lady’s treason, and yours. Mercy, Sir Gawaine, she said, and if ye will +save my life I will tell you. Say on, said Sir Gawaine, and thou shalt +have thy life. Sir, she said, Queen Morgan le Fay, my lady, hath +ordained a thirty ladies to seek and espy after Sir Launcelot or Sir +Tristram, and by the trains of these ladies, who that may first meet +any of these two knights they should turn them unto Morgan le Fay’s +castle, saying that they should do deeds of worship; and if any of the +two knights came there, there be thirty knights lying and watching in a +tower to wait upon Sir Launcelot or upon Sir Tristram. Fie for shame, +said Sir Gawaine, that ever such false treason should be wrought or +used in a queen, and a king’s sister, and a king and queen’s daughter. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Tristram and Sir Gawaine rode to have foughten +with the thirty knights, but they durst not come out. + +Sir, said Sir Gawaine, will ye stand with me, and we will see the +malice of these thirty knights. Sir, said Sir Tristram, go ye to them, +an it please you, and ye shall see I will not fail you, for it is not +long ago since I and a fellow met with thirty knights of that queen’s +fellowship; and God speed us so that we may win worship. So then Sir +Gawaine and Sir Tristram rode toward the castle where Morgan le Fay +was, and ever Sir Gawaine deemed well that he was Sir Tristram de +Liones, because he heard that two knights had slain and beaten thirty +knights. And when they came afore the castle Sir Gawaine spake on high +and said: Queen Morgan le Fay, send out your knights that ye have laid +in a watch for Sir Launcelot and for Sir Tristram. Now, said Sir +Gawaine, I know your false treason, and through all places where that I +ride men shall know of your false treason; and now let see, said Sir +Gawaine, whether ye dare come out of your castle, ye thirty knights. +Then the queen spake and all the thirty knights at once, and said: Sir +Gawaine, full well wottest thou what thou dost and sayest; for by God +we know thee passing well, but all that thou speakest and dost, thou +sayest it upon pride of that good knight that is there with thee. For +there be some of us that know full well the hands of that knight over +all well. And wit thou well, Sir Gawaine, it is more for his sake than +for thine that we will not come out of this castle. For wit ye well, +Sir Gawaine, the knight that beareth the arms of Cornwall, we know him +and what he is. + +Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Tristram departed and rode on their ways a day +or two together; and there by adventure, they met with Sir Kay and Sir +Sagramore le Desirous. And then they were glad of Sir Gawaine, and he +of them, but they wist not what he was with the shield of Cornwall, but +by deeming. And thus they rode together a day or two. And then they +were ware of Sir Breuse Saunce Pité chasing a lady for to have slain +her, for he had slain her paramour afore. Hold you all still, said Sir +Gawaine, and show none of you forth, and ye shall see me reward yonder +false knight; for an he espy you he is so well horsed that he will +escape away. And then Sir Gawaine rode betwixt Sir Breuse and the lady, +and said: False knight, leave her, and have ado with me. When Sir +Breuse saw no more but Sir Gawaine he feutred his spear, and Sir +Gawaine against him; and there Sir Breuse overthrew Sir Gawaine, and +then he rode over him, and overthwart him twenty times to have +destroyed him; and when Sir Tristram saw him do so villainous a deed, +he hurled out against him. And when Sir Breuse saw him with the shield +of Cornwall he knew him well that it was Sir Tristram, and then he +fled, and Sir Tristram followed after him; and Sir Breuse Saunce Pité +was so horsed that he went his way quite, and Sir Tristram followed him +long, for he would fain have been avenged upon him. And so when he had +long chased him, he saw a fair well, and thither he rode to repose him, +and tied his horse till a tree. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. How damosel Bragwaine found Tristram sleeping by a well, +and how she delivered letters to him from La Beale Isoud. + +And then he pulled off his helm and washed his visage and his hands, +and so he fell asleep. In the meanwhile came a damosel that had sought +Sir Tristram many ways and days within this land. And when she came to +the well she looked upon him, and had forgotten him as in remembrance +of Sir Tristram, but by his horse she knew him, that hight Passe-Brewel +that had been Sir Tristram’s horse many years. For when he was mad in +the forest Sir Fergus kept him. So this lady, Dame Bragwaine, abode +still till he was awake. So when she saw him wake she saluted him, and +he her again, for either knew other of old acquaintance; then she told +him how she had sought him long and broad, and there she told him how +she had letters from Queen La Beale Isoud. Then anon Sir Tristram read +them, and wit ye well he was glad, for therein was many a piteous +complaint. Then Sir Tristram said: Lady Bragwaine, ye shall ride with +me till that tournament be done at the Castle of Maidens, and then +shall bear letters and tidings with you. And then Sir Tristram took his +horse and sought lodging, and there he met with a good ancient knight +and prayed him to lodge with him. Right so came Gouvernail unto Sir +Tristram, that was glad of that lady. So this old knight’s name was Sir +Pellounes, and he told of the great tournament that should be at the +Castle of Maidens. And there Sir Launcelot and thirty-two knights of +his blood had ordained shields of Cornwall. And right so there came one +unto Sir Pellounes, and told him that Sir Persides de Bloise was come +home; then that knight held up his hands and thanked God of his coming +home. And there Sir Pellounes told Sir Tristram that in two years he +had not seen his son, Sir Persides. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I know your +son well enough for a good knight. + +So on a time Sir Tristram and Sir Persides came to their lodging both +at once, and so they unarmed them, and put upon them their clothing. +And then these two knights each welcomed other. And when Sir Persides +understood that Sir Tristram was of Cornwall, he said he was once in +Cornwall: And there I jousted afore King Mark; and so it happed me at +that time to overthrow ten knights, and then came to me Sir Tristram de +Liones and overthrew me, and took my lady away from me, and that shall +I never forget, but I shall remember me an ever I see my time. Ah, said +Sir Tristram, now I understand that ye hate Sir Tristram. What deem ye, +ween ye that Sir Tristram is not able to withstand your malice? Yes, +said Sir Persides, I know well that Sir Tristram is a noble knight and +a much better knight than I, yet shall I not owe him my good will. +Right as they stood thus talking at a bay-window of that castle, they +saw many knights riding to and fro toward the tournament. And then was +Sir Tristram ware of a likely knight riding upon a great black horse, +and a black-covered shield. What knight is that, said Sir Tristram, +with the black horse and the black shield? he seemeth a good knight. I +know him well, said Sir Persides, he is one of the best knights of the +world. Then is it Sir Launcelot, said Tristram. Nay, said Sir Persides, +it is Sir Palomides, that is yet unchristened. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Tristram had a fall with Sir Palomides, and how +Launcelot overthrew two knights. + +Then they saw much people of the country salute Sir Palomides. And +within a while after there came a squire of the castle, that told Sir +Pellounes that was lord of that castle, that a knight with a black +shield had smitten down thirteen knights. Fair brother, said Sir +Tristram unto Sir Persides, let us cast upon us cloaks, and let us go +see the play. Not so, said Sir Persides, we will not go like knaves +thither, but we will ride like men and good knights to withstand our +enemies. So they armed them, and took their horses and great spears, +and thither they went thereas many knights assayed themself before the +tournament. And anon Sir Palomides saw Sir Persides, and then he sent a +squire unto him and said: Go thou to the yonder knight with the green +shield and therein a lion of gold, and say him I require him to joust +with me, and tell him that my name is Sir Palomides. When Sir Persides +understood that request of Sir Palomides, he made him ready, and there +anon they met together, but Sir Persides had a fall. Then Sir Tristram +dressed him to be revenged upon Sir Palomides, and that saw Sir +Palomides that was ready and so was not Sir Tristram, and took him at +an advantage and smote him over his horse’s tail when he had no spear +in his rest. Then stert up Sir Tristram and took his horse lightly, and +was wroth out of measure, and sore ashamed of that fall. Then Sir +Tristram sent unto Sir Palomides by Gouvernail, and prayed him to joust +with him at his request. Nay, said Sir Palomides, as at this time I +will not joust with that knight, for I know him better than he weeneth. +And if he be wroth he may right it to-morn at the Castle of Maidens, +where he may see me and many other knights. + +With that came Sir Dinadan, and when he saw Sir Tristram wroth he list +not to jape. Lo, said Sir Dinadan, here may a man prove, be a man never +so good yet may he have a fall, and he was never so wise but he might +be overseen, and he rideth well that never fell. So Sir Tristram was +passing wroth, and said to Sir Persides and to Sir Dinadan: I will +revenge me. Right so as they stood talking there, there came by Sir +Tristram a likely knight riding passing soberly and heavily with a +black shield. What knight is that? said Sir Tristram unto Sir Persides. +I know him well, said Sir Persides, for his name is Sir Briant of North +Wales; so he passed on among other knights of North Wales. And there +came in Sir Launcelot du Lake with a shield of the arms of Cornwall, +and he sent a squire unto Sir Briant, and required him to joust with +him. Well, said Sir Briant, sithen I am required to joust I will do +what I may; and there Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Briant from his +horse a great fall. And then Sir Tristram marvelled what knight he was +that bare the shield of Cornwall. Whatsoever he be, said Sir Dinadan, I +warrant you he is of King Ban’s blood, the which be knights of the most +noble prowess in the world, for to account so many for so many. Then +there came two knights of Northgalis, that one hight Hew de la +Montaine, and the other Sir Madok de la Montaine, and they challenged +Sir Launcelot foot-hot. Sir Launcelot not refusing them but made him +ready, with one spear he smote them down both over their horses’ +croups; and so Sir Launcelot rode his way. By the good lord, said Sir +Tristram, he is a good knight that beareth the shield of Cornwall, and +meseemeth he rideth in the best manner that ever I saw knight ride. + +Then the King of Northgalis rode unto Sir Palomides and prayed him +heartily for his sake to joust with that knight that hath done us of +Northgalis despite. Sir, said Sir Palomides, I am full loath to have +ado with that knight, and cause why is, for as to-morn the great +tournament shall be; and therefore I will keep myself fresh by my will. +Nay, said the King of Northgalis, I pray you require him of jousts. +Sir, said Sir Palomides, I will joust at your request, and require that +knight to joust with me, and often I have seen a man have a fall at his +own request. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. How Sir Launcelot jousted with Palomides and overthrew +him, and after he was assailed with twelve knights. + +Then Sir Palomides sent unto Sir Launcelot a squire, and required him +of jousts. Fair fellow, said Sir Launcelot, tell me thy lord’s name. +Sir, said the squire, my lord’s name is Sir Palomides, the good knight. +In good hour, said Sir Launcelot, for there is no knight that I saw +this seven years that I had liefer ado withal than with him. And so +either knights made them ready with two great spears. Nay, said Sir +Dinadan, ye shall see that Sir Palomides will quit him right well. It +may be so, said Sir Tristram, but I undertake that knight with the +shield of Cornwall shall give him a fall. I believe it not, said Sir +Dinadan. Right so they spurred their horses and feutred their spears, +and either hit other, and Sir Palomides brake a spear upon Sir +Launcelot, and he sat and moved not; but Sir Launcelot smote him so +lightly that he made his horse to avoid the saddle, and the stroke +brake his shield and the hauberk, and had he not fallen he had been +slain. How now, said Sir Tristram, I wist well by the manner of their +riding both that Sir Palomides should have a fall. + +Right so Sir Launcelot rode his way, and rode to a well to drink and to +repose him, and they of Northgalis espied him whither he rode; and then +there followed him twelve knights for to have mischieved him, for this +cause that upon the morn at the tournament of the Castle of Maidens +that he should not win the victory. So they came upon Sir Launcelot +suddenly, and unnethe he might put upon him his helm and take his +horse, but they were in hands with him; and then Sir Launcelot gat his +spear, and rode through them, and there he slew a knight and brake a +spear in his body. Then he drew his sword and smote upon the right hand +and upon the left hand, so that within a few strokes he had slain other +three knights, and the remnant that abode he wounded them sore all that +did abide. Thus Sir Launcelot escaped from his enemies of North Wales, +and then Sir Launcelot rode his way till a friend, and lodged him till +on the morn; for he would not the first day have ado in the tournament +because of his great labour. And on the first day he was with King +Arthur thereas he was set on high upon a scaffold to discern who was +best worthy of his deeds. So Sir Launcelot was with King Arthur, and +jousted not the first day. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. How Sir Tristram behaved him the first day of the +tournament, and there he had the prize. + +Now turn we unto Sir Tristram de Liones, that commanded Gouvernail, his +servant, to ordain him a black shield with none other remembrance +therein. And so Sir Persides and Sir Tristram departed from their host +Sir Pellounes, and they rode early toward the tournament, and then they +drew them to King Carados’ side, of Scotland; and anon knights began +the field what of King Northgalis’ part, and what of King Carados’ +part, and there began great party. Then there was hurling and rashing. +Right so came in Sir Persides and Sir Tristram and so they did fare +that they put the King of Northgalis aback. Then came in Sir Bleoberis +de Ganis and Sir Gaheris with them of Northgalis, and then was Sir +Persides smitten down and almost slain, for more than forty horse men +went over him. For Sir Bleoberis did great deeds of arms, and Sir +Gaheris failed him not. When Sir Tristram beheld them, and saw them do +such deeds of arms, he marvelled what they were. Also Sir Tristram +thought shame that Sir Persides was so done to; and then he gat a great +spear in his hand, and then he rode to Sir Gaheris and smote him down +from his horse. And then was Sir Bleoberis wroth, and gat a spear and +rode against Sir Tristram in great ire; and there Sir Tristram met with +him, and smote Sir Bleoberis from his horse. So then the King with the +Hundred Knights was wroth, and he horsed Sir Bleoberis and Sir Gaheris +again, and there began a great medley; and ever Sir Tristram held them +passing short, and ever Sir Bleoberis was passing busy upon Sir +Tristram; and there came Sir Dinadan against Sir Tristram, and Sir +Tristram gave him such a buffet that he swooned in his saddle. Then +anon Sir Dinadan came to Sir Tristram and said: Sir, I know thee better +than thou weenest; but here I promise thee my troth I will never come +against thee more, for I promise thee that sword of thine shall never +come on mine helm. + +With that came Sir Bleoberis, and Sir Tristram gave him such a buffet +that down he laid his head; and then he caught him so sore by the helm +that he pulled him under his horse’s feet. And then King Arthur blew to +lodging. Then Sir Tristram departed to his pavilion, and Sir Dinadan +rode with him; and Sir Persides and King Arthur then, and the kings +upon both parties, marvelled what knight that was with the black +shield. Many said their advice, and some knew him for Sir Tristram, and +held their peace and would nought say. So that first day King Arthur, +and all the kings and lords that were judges, gave Sir Tristram the +prize; howbeit they knew him not, but named him the Knight with the +Black Shield. + + + +CHAPTER XXX. How Sir Tristram returned against King Arthur’s party +because he saw Sir Palomides on that party. + +Then upon the morn Sir Palomides returned from the King of Northgalis, +and rode to King Arthur’s side, where was King Carados, and the King of +Ireland, and Sir Launcelot’s kin, and Sir Gawaine’s kin. So Sir +Palomides sent the damosel unto Sir Tristram that he sent to seek him +when he was out of his mind in the forest, and this damosel asked Sir +Tristram what he was and what was his name? + +As for that, said Sir Tristram, tell Sir Palomides ye shall not wit as +at this time unto the time I have broken two spears upon him. But let +him wit thus much, said Sir Tristram, that I am the same knight that he +smote down in over evening at the tournament; and tell him plainly on +what party that Sir Palomides be I will be of the contrary party. + +Sir, said the damosel, ye shall understand that Sir Palomides will be +on King Arthur’s side, where the most noble knights of the world be. In +the name of God, said Sir Tristram, then will I be with the King of +Northgalis, because Sir Palomides will be on King Arthur’s side, and +else I would not but for his sake. So when King Arthur was come they +blew unto the field; and then there began a great party, and so King +Carados jousted with the King of the Hundred Knights, and there King +Carados had a fall: then was there hurling and rushing, and right so +came in knights of King Arthur’s, and they bare aback the King of +Northgalis’ knights. + +Then Sir Tristram came in, and began so roughly and so bigly that there +was none might withstand him, and thus Sir Tristram dured long. And at +the last Sir Tristram fell among the fellowship of King Ban, and there +fell upon him Sir Bors de Ganis, and Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir +Blamore de Ganis, and many other knights. And then Sir Tristram smote +on the right hand and on the left hand, that all lords and ladies spake +of his noble deeds. But at the last Sir Tristram should have had the +worse had not the King with the Hundred Knights been. And then he came +with his fellowship and rescued Sir Tristram, and brought him away from +those knights that bare the shields of Cornwall. And then Sir Tristram +saw another fellowship by themself, and there were a forty knights +together, and Sir Kay, the Seneschal, was their governor. Then Sir +Tristram rode in amongst them, and there he smote down Sir Kay from his +horse; and there he fared among those knights like a greyhound among +conies. + +Then Sir Launcelot found a knight that was sore wounded upon the head. +Sir, said Sir Launcelot, who wounded you so sore? Sir, he said, a +knight that beareth a black shield, and I may curse the time that ever +I met with him, for he is a devil and no man. So Sir Launcelot departed +from him and thought to meet with Sir Tristram, and so he rode with his +sword drawn in his hand to seek Sir Tristram; and then he espied him +how he hurled here and there, and at every stroke Sir Tristram wellnigh +smote down a knight. O mercy Jesu! said the king, sith the times I bare +arms saw I never no knight do so marvellous deeds of arms. And if I +should set upon this knight, said Sir Launcelot to himself, I did shame +to myself, and therewithal Sir Launcelot put up his sword. And then the +King with the Hundred Knights and an hundred more of North Wales set +upon the twenty of Sir Launcelot’s kin: and they twenty knights held +them ever together as wild swine, and none would fail other. And so +when Sir Tristram beheld the noblesse of these twenty knights he +marvelled of their good deeds, for he saw by their fare and by their +rule that they had liefer die than avoid the field. Now Jesu, said Sir +Tristram, well may he be valiant and full of prowess that hath such a +sort of noble knights unto his kin, and full like is he to be a noble +man that is their leader and governor. He meant it by Sir Launcelot du +Lake. So when Sir Tristram had beholden them long he thought shame to +see two hundred knights battering upon twenty knights. Then Sir +Tristram rode unto the King with the Hundred Knights and said: Sir, +leave your fighting with those twenty knights, for ye win no worship of +them, ye be so many and they so few; and wit ye well they will not out +of the field I see by their cheer and countenance; and worship get ye +none an ye slay them. Therefore leave your fighting with them, for I to +increase my worship I will ride to the twenty knights and help them +with all my might and power. Nay, said the King with the Hundred +Knights, ye shall not do so; now I see your courage and courtesy I will +withdraw my knights for your pleasure, for evermore a good knight will +favour another, and like will draw to like. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Tristram found Palomides by a well, and brought +him with him to his lodging. + +Then the King with the Hundred Knights withdrew his knights. And all +this while, and long to-fore, Sir Launcelot had watched upon Sir +Tristram with a very purpose to have fellowshipped with him. And then +suddenly Sir Tristram, Sir Dinadan, and Gouvernail, his man, rode their +way into the forest, that no man perceived where they went. So then +King Arthur blew unto lodging, and gave the King of Northgalis the +prize because Sir Tristram was upon his side. Then Sir Launcelot rode +here and there, so wood as lion that fauted his fill, because he had +lost Sir Tristram, and so he returned unto King Arthur. And then in all +the field was a noise that with the wind it might be heard two mile +thence, how the lords and ladies cried: The Knight with the Black +Shield hath won the field. Alas, said King Arthur, where is that knight +become? It is shame to all those in the field so to let him escape away +from you; but with gentleness and courtesy ye might have brought him +unto me to the Castle of Maidens. Then the noble King Arthur went unto +his knights and comforted them in the best wise that he could, and +said: My fair fellows, be not dismayed, howbeit ye have lost the field +this day. And many were hurt and sore wounded, and many were whole. My +fellows, said King Arthur, look that ye be of good cheer, for to-morn I +will be in the field with you and revenge you of your enemies. So that +night King Arthur and his knights reposed themself. + +The damosel that came from La Beale Isoud unto Sir Tristram, all the +while the tournament was a-doing she was with Queen Guenever, and ever +the queen asked her for what cause she came into that country. Madam, +she answered, I come for none other cause but from my lady La Beale +Isoud to wit of your welfare. For in no wise she would not tell the +queen that she came for Sir Tristram’s sake. So this lady, Dame +Bragwaine, took her leave of Queen Guenever, and she rode after Sir +Tristram. And as she rode through the forest she heard a great cry; +then she commanded her squire to go into the forest to wit what was +that noise. And so he came to a well, and there he found a knight +bounden till a tree crying as he had been wood, and his horse and his +harness standing by him. And when he espied that squire, therewith he +abraid and brake himself loose, and took his sword in his hand, and ran +to have slain the squire. Then he took his horse and fled all that ever +he might unto Dame Bragwaine, and told her of his adventure. Then she +rode unto Sir Tristram’s pavilion, and told Sir Tristram what adventure +she had found in the forest. Alas, said Sir Tristram, upon my head +there is some good knight at mischief. + +Then Sir Tristram took his horse and his sword and rode thither, and +there he heard how the knight complained unto himself and said: I, +woful knight Sir Palomides, what misadventure befalleth me, that thus +am defoiled with falsehood and treason, through Sir Bors and Sir Ector. +Alas, he said, why live I so long! And then he gat his sword in his +hands, and made many strange signs and tokens; and so through his +raging he threw his sword into that fountain. Then Sir Palomides wailed +and wrang his hands. And at the last for pure sorrow he ran into that +fountain, over his belly, and sought after his sword. Then Sir Tristram +saw that, and ran upon Sir Palomides, and held him in his arms fast. +What art thou, said Palomides, that holdeth me so? I am a man of this +forest that would thee none harm. Alas, said Sir Palomides, I may never +win worship where Sir Tristram is; for ever where he is an I be there, +then get I no worship; and if he be away for the most part I have the +gree, unless that Sir Launcelot be there or Sir Lamorak. Then Sir +Palomides said: Once in Ireland Sir Tristram put me to the worse, and +another time in Cornwall, and in other places in this land. What would +ye do, said Sir Tristram, an ye had Sir Tristram? I would fight with +him, said Sir Palomides, and ease my heart upon him; and yet, to say +thee sooth, Sir Tristram is the gentlest knight in this world living. +What will ye do, said Sir Tristram, will ye go with me to your lodging? +Nay, said he, I will go to the King with the Hundred Knights, for he +rescued me from Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Ector and else had I been +slain traitorly. Sir Tristram said him such kind words that Sir +Palomides went with him to his lodging. Then Gouvernail went to-fore, +and charged Dame Bragwaine to go out of the way to her lodging. And bid +ye Sir Persides that he make him no quarrels. And so they rode together +till they came to Sir Tristram’s pavilion, and there Sir Palomides had +all the cheer that might be had all that night. But in no wise Sir +Palomides might not know what was Sir Tristram; and so after supper +they yede to rest, and Sir Tristram for great travail slept till it was +day. And Sir Palomides might not sleep for anguish; and in the dawning +of the day he took his horse privily, and rode his way unto Sir Gaheris +and unto Sir Sagramore le Desirous, where they were in their pavilions; +for they three were fellows at the beginning of the tournament. And +then upon the morn the king blew unto the tournament upon the third +day. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides, and how he +jousted with King Arthur, and other feats. + +So the King of Northgalis and the King with the Hundred Knights, they +two encountered with King Carados and with the King of Ireland; and +there the King with the Hundred Knights smote down King Carados, and +the King of Northgalis smote down the King of Ireland. With that came +in Sir Palomides, and when he came he made great work, for by his +indented shield he was well known. So came in King Arthur, and did +great deeds of arms together, and put the King of Northgalis and the +King with the Hundred Knights to the worse. With this came in Sir +Tristram with his black shield, and anon he jousted with Sir Palomides, +and there by fine force Sir Tristram smote Sir Palomides over his +horse’s croup. Then King Arthur cried: Knight with the Black Shield, +make thee ready to me, and in the same wise Sir Tristram smote King +Arthur. And then by force of King Arthur’s knights the King and Sir +Palomides were horsed again. Then King Arthur with a great eager heart +he gat a spear in his hand, and there upon the one side he smote Sir +Tristram over his horse. Then foot-hot Sir Palomides came upon Sir +Tristram, as he was upon foot, to have overridden him. Then Sir +Tristram was ware of him, and there he stooped aside, and with great +ire he gat him by the arm, and pulled him down from his horse. Then Sir +Palomides lightly arose, and then they dashed together mightily with +their swords; and many kings, queens, and lords, stood and beheld them. +And at the last Sir Tristram smote Sir Palomides upon the helm three +mighty strokes, and at every stroke that he gave him he said: This for +Sir Tristram’s sake. With that Sir Palomides fell to the earth +grovelling. + +Then came the King with the Hundred Knights, and brought Sir Tristram +an horse, and so was he horsed again. By then was Sir Palomides horsed, +and with great ire he jousted upon Sir Tristram with his spear as it +was in the rest, and gave him a great dash with his sword. Then Sir +Tristram avoided his spear, and gat him by the neck with his both +hands, and pulled him clean out of his saddle, and so he bare him afore +him the length of ten spears, and then in the presence of them all he +let him fall at his adventure. Then Sir Tristram was ware of King +Arthur with a naked sword in his hand, and with his spear Sir Tristram +ran upon King Arthur; and then King Arthur boldly abode him and with +his sword he smote a-two his spear, and therewithal Sir Tristram +stonied; and so King Arthur gave him three or four strokes or he might +get out his sword, and at the last Sir Tristram drew his sword and +[either] assailed other passing hard. With that the great press +departed [them]. Then Sir Tristram rode here and there and did his +great pain, that eleven of the good knights of the blood of King Ban, +that was of Sir Launcelot’s kin, that day Sir Tristram smote down; that +all the estates marvelled of his great deeds and all cried upon the +Knight with the Black Shield. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. How Sir Launcelot hurt Sir Tristram, and how after Sir +Tristram smote down Sir Palomides. + +Then this cry was so large that Sir Launcelot heard it. And then he gat +a great spear in his hand and came towards the cry. Then Sir Launcelot +cried: The Knight with the Black Shield, make thee ready to joust with +me. When Sir Tristram heard him say so he gat his spear in his hand, +and either abashed down their heads, and came together as thunder; and +Sir Tristram’s spear brake in pieces, and Sir Launcelot by malfortune +struck Sir Tristram on the side a deep wound nigh to the death; but yet +Sir Tristram avoided not his saddle, and so the spear brake. +Therewithal Sir Tristram that was wounded gat out his sword, and he +rushed to Sir Launcelot, and gave him three great strokes upon the helm +that the fire sprang thereout, and Sir Launcelot abashed his head lowly +toward his saddle-bow. And therewithal Sir Tristram departed from the +field, for he felt him so wounded that he weened he should have died; +and Sir Dinadan espied him and followed him into the forest. Then Sir +Launcelot abode and did many marvellous deeds. + +So when Sir Tristram was departed by the forest’s side he alighted, and +unlaced his harness and freshed his wound; then weened Sir Dinadan that +he should have died. Nay, nay, said Sir Tristram, Dinadan never dread +thee, for I am heart-whole, and of this wound I shall soon be whole, by +the mercy of God. By that Sir Dinadan was ware where came Palomides +riding straight upon them. And then Sir Tristram was ware that Sir +Palomides came to have destroyed him. And so Sir Dinadan gave him +warning, and said: Sir Tristram, my lord, ye are so sore wounded that +ye may not have ado with him, therefore I will ride against him and do +to him what I may, and if I be slain ye may pray for my soul; and in +the meanwhile ye may withdraw you and go into the castle, or in the +forest, that he shall not meet with you. Sir Tristram smiled and said: +I thank you, Sir Dinadan, of your good will, but ye shall wit that I am +able to handle him. And then anon hastily he armed him, and took his +horse, and a great spear in his hand, and said to Sir Dinadan: Adieu; +and rode toward Sir Palomides a soft pace. Then when Sir Palomides saw +that, he made countenance to amend his horse, but he did it for this +cause, for he abode Sir Gaheris that came after him. And when he was +come he rode toward Sir Tristram. Then Sir Tristram sent unto Sir +Palomides, and required him to joust with him; and if he smote down Sir +Palomides he would do no more to him; and if it so happened that Sir +Palomides smote down Sir Tristram, he bade him do his utterance. So +they were accorded. Then they met together, and Sir Tristram smote down +Sir Palomides that he had a grievous fall, so that he lay still as he +had been dead. And then Sir Tristram ran upon Sir Gaheris, and he would +not have jousted; but whether he would or not Sir Tristram smote him +over his horse’s croup, that he lay still as though he had been dead. +And then Sir Tristram rode his way and left Sir Persides’ squire within +the pavilions, and Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan rode to an old knight’s +place to lodge them. And that old knight had five sons at the +tournament, for whom he prayed God heartily for their coming home. And +so, as the French book saith, they came home all five well beaten. + +And when Sir Tristram departed into the forest Sir Launcelot held alway +the stour like hard, as a man araged that took no heed to himself, and +wit ye well there was many a noble knight against him. And when King +Arthur saw Sir Launcelot do so marvellous deeds of arms he then armed +him, and took his horse and his armour, and rode into the field to help +Sir Launcelot; and so many knights came in with King Arthur. And to +make short tale in conclusion, the King of Northgalis and the King of +the Hundred Knights were put to the worse; and because Sir Launcelot +abode and was the last in the field the prize was given him. But Sir +Launcelot would neither for king, queen, nor knight, have the prize, +but where the cry was cried through the field: Sir Launcelot, Sir +Launcelot hath won the field this day, Sir Launcelot let make another +cry contrary: Sir Tristram hath won the field, for he began first, and +last he hath endured, and so hath he done the first day, the second, +and the third day. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. How the prize of the third day was given to Sir +Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot gave it to Sir Tristram. + +Then all the estates and degrees high and low said of Sir Launcelot +great worship, for the honour that he did unto Sir Tristram; and for +that honour doing to Sir Tristram he was at that time more praised and +renowned than an he had overthrown five hundred knights; and all the +people wholly for this gentleness, first the estates both high and low, +and after the commonalty cried at once: Sir Launcelot hath won the +field whosoever say nay. Then was Sir Launcelot wroth and ashamed, and +so therewithal he rode to King Arthur. Alas, said the king, we are all +dismayed that Sir Tristram is thus departed from us. By God, said King +Arthur, he is one of the noblest knights that ever I saw hold spear or +sword in hand, and the most courteoust knight in his fighting; for full +hard I saw him, said King Arthur, when he smote Sir Palomides upon the +helm thrice, that he abashed his helm with his strokes, and also he +said: Here is a stroke for Sir Tristram, and thus thrice he said. Then +King Arthur, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Dodinas le Savage took their horses +to seek Sir Tristram, and by the means of Sir Persides he had told King +Arthur where Sir Tristram was in his pavilion. But when they came +there, Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan were gone. + +Then King Arthur and Sir Launcelot were heavy, and returned again to +the Castle of Maidens making great dole for the hurt of Sir Tristram, +and his sudden departing. So God me help, said King Arthur, I am more +heavy that I cannot meet with him than for all the hurts that all my +knights have had at the tournament. Right so came Sir Gaheris and told +King Arthur how Sir Tristram had smitten down Sir Palomides, and it was +at Sir Palomides’ own request. Alas, said King Arthur, that was great +dishonour to Sir Palomides, inasmuch as Sir Tristram was sore wounded, +and now may we all, kings, and knights, and men of worship, say that +Sir Tristram may be called a noble knight, and one of the best knights +that ever I saw the days of my life. For I will that ye all, kings and +knights, know, said King Arthur, that I never saw knight do so +marvellously as he hath done these three days; for he was the first +that began and that longest held on, save this last day. And though he +was hurt, it was a manly adventure of two noble knights, and when two +noble men encounter needs must the one have the worse, like as God will +suffer at that time. As for me, said Sir Launcelot, for all the lands +that ever my father left me I would not have hurt Sir Tristram an I had +known him at that time; that I hurt him was for I saw not his shield. +For an I had seen his black shield, I would not have meddled with him +for many causes; for late he did as much for me as ever did knight, and +that is well known that he had ado with thirty knights, and no help +save Sir Dinadan. And one thing shall I promise, said Sir Launcelot, +Sir Palomides shall repent it as in his unkindly dealing for to follow +that noble knight that I by mishap hurted thus. Sir Launcelot said all +the worship that might be said by Sir Tristram. Then King Arthur made a +great feast to all that would come. And thus we let pass King Arthur, +and a little we will turn unto Sir Palomides, that after he had a fall +of Sir Tristram, he was nigh-hand araged out of his wit for despite of +Sir Tristram. And so he followed him by adventure. And as he came by a +river, in his woodness he would have made his horse to have leapt over; +and the horse failed footing and fell in the river, wherefore Sir +Palomides was adread lest he should have been drowned; and then he +avoided his horse, and swam to the land, and let his horse go down by +adventure. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. How Palomides came to the castle where Sir Tristram was, +and of the quest that Sir Launcelot and ten knights made for Sir +Tristram. + +And when he came to the land he took off his harness, and sat roaring +and crying as a man out of his mind. Right so came a damosel even by +Sir Palomides, that was sent from Sir Gawaine and his brother unto Sir +Mordred, that lay sick in the same place with that old knight where Sir +Tristram was. For, as the French book saith, Sir Persides hurt so Sir +Mordred a ten days afore; and had it not been for the love of Sir +Gawaine and his brother, Sir Persides had slain Sir Mordred. And so +this damosel came by Sir Palomides, and she and he had language +together, the which pleased neither of them; and so the damosel rode +her ways till she came to the old knight’s place, and there she told +that old knight how she met with the woodest knight by adventure that +ever she met withal. What bare he in his shield? said Sir Tristram. It +was indented with white and black, said the damosel. Ah, said Sir +Tristram, that was Sir Palomides, the good knight. For well I know him, +said Sir Tristram, for one of the best knights living in this realm. +Then that old knight took a little hackney, and rode for Sir Palomides, +and brought him unto his own manor; and full well knew Sir Tristram Sir +Palomides, but he said but little, for at that time Sir Tristram was +walking upon his feet, and well amended of his hurts; and always when +Sir Palomides saw Sir Tristram he would behold him full marvellously, +and ever him seemed that he had seen him. Then would he say unto Sir +Dinadan: An ever I may meet with Sir Tristram he shall not escape mine +hands. I marvel, said Sir Dinadan, that ye boast behind Sir Tristram, +for it is but late that he was in your hands, and ye in his hands; why +would ye not hold him when ye had him? for I saw myself twice or thrice +that ye gat but little worship of Sir Tristram. Then was Sir Palomides +ashamed. So leave we them a little while in the old castle with the old +knight Sir Darras. + +Now shall we speak of King Arthur, that said to Sir Launcelot: Had not +ye been we had not lost Sir Tristram, for he was here daily unto the +time ye met with him, and in an evil time, said Arthur, ye encountered +with him. My lord Arthur, said Launcelot, ye put upon me that I should +be cause of his departition; God knoweth it was against my will. But +when men be hot in deeds of arms oft they hurt their friends as well as +their foes. And my lord, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall understand that +Sir Tristram is a man that I am loath to offend, for he hath done for +me more than ever I did for him as yet. But then Sir Launcelot made +bring forth a book: and then Sir Launcelot said: Here we are ten +knights that will swear upon a book never to rest one night where we +rest another this twelvemonth until that we find Sir Tristram. And as +for me, said Sir Launcelot, I promise you upon this book that an I may +meet with him, either with fairness or foulness I shall bring him to +this court, or else I shall die therefore. And the names of these ten +knights that had undertaken this quest were these following: First was +Sir Launcelot, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, and Bleoberis, +and Sir Blamore de Ganis, and Lucan the Butler, Sir Uwaine, Sir Galihud +Lionel, and Galiodin. So these ten noble knights departed from the +court of King Arthur, and so they rode upon their quest together until +they came to a cross where departed four ways, and there departed the +fellowship in four to seek Sir Tristram. + +And as Sir Launcelot rode by adventure he met with Dame Bragwaine that +was sent into that country to seek Sir Tristram, and she fled as fast +as her palfrey might go. So Sir Launcelot met with her and asked her +why she fled. Ah, fair knight, said Dame Bragwaine, I flee for dread of +my life, for here followeth me Sir Breuse Saunce Pité to slay me. Hold +you nigh me, said Sir Launcelot. Then when Sir Launcelot saw Sir Breuse +Saunce Pité, Sir Launcelot cried unto him, and said: False knight, +destroyer of ladies and damosels, now thy last days be come. When Sir +Breuse Saunce Pité saw Sir Launcelot’s shield he knew it well, for at +that time he bare not the arms of Cornwall, but he bare his own shield. +And then Sir Breuse fled, and Sir Launcelot followed after him. But Sir +Breuse was so well horsed that when him list to flee he might well +flee, and also abide when him list. And then Sir Launcelot returned +unto Dame Bragwaine, and she thanked him of his great labour. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. How Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan were +taken and put in prison. + +Now will we speak of Sir Lucan the butler, that by fortune he came +riding to the same place thereas was Sir Tristram, and in he came in +none other intent but to ask harbour. Then the porter asked what was +his name. Tell your lord that my name is Sir Lucan, the butler, a +Knight of the Round Table. So the porter went unto Sir Darras, lord of +the place, and told him who was there to ask harbour. Nay, nay, said +Sir Daname, that was nephew to Sir Darras, say him that he shall not be +lodged here, but let him wit that I, Sir Daname, will meet with him +anon, and bid him make him ready. So Sir Daname came forth on +horseback, and there they met together with spears, and Sir Lucan smote +down Sir Daname over his horse’s croup, and then he fled into that +place, and Sir Lucan rode after him, and asked after him many times. + +Then Sir Dinadan said to Sir Tristram: It is shame to see the lord’s +cousin of this place defoiled. Abide, said Sir Tristram, and I shall +redress it. And in the meanwhile Sir Dinadan was on horseback, and he +jousted with Lucan the butler, and there Sir Lucan smote Dinadan +through the thick of the thigh, and so he rode his way; and Sir +Tristram was wroth that Sir Dinadan was hurt, and followed after, and +thought to avenge him; and within a while he overtook Sir Lucan, and +bade him turn; and so they met together so that Sir Tristram hurt Sir +Lucan passing sore and gave him a fall. With that came Sir Uwaine, a +gentle knight, and when he saw Sir Lucan so hurt he called Sir Tristram +to joust with him. Fair knight, said Sir Tristram, tell me your name I +require you. Sir knight, wit ye well my name is Sir Uwaine le Fise de +Roy Ureine. Ah, said Sir Tristram, by my will I would not have ado with +you at no time. Ye shall not so, said Sir Uwaine, but ye shall have ado +with me. And then Sir Tristram saw none other bote, but rode against +him, and overthrew Sir Uwaine and hurt him in the side, and so he +departed unto his lodging again. And when Sir Dinadan understood that +Sir Tristram had hurt Sir Lucan he would have ridden after Sir Lucan +for to have slain him, but Sir Tristram would not suffer him. Then Sir +Uwaine let ordain an horse litter, and brought Sir Lucan to the abbey +of Ganis, and the castle thereby hight the Castle of Ganis, of the +which Sir Bleoberis was lord. And at that castle Sir Launcelot promised +all his fellows to meet in the quest of Sir Tristram. + +So when Sir Tristram was come to his lodging there came a damosel that +told Sir Darras that three of his sons were slain at that tournament, +and two grievously wounded that they were never like to help themself. +And all this was done by a noble knight that bare the black shield, and +that was he that bare the prize. Then came there one and told Sir +Darras that the same knight was within, him that bare the black shield. +Then Sir Darras yede unto Sir Tristram’s chamber, and there he found +his shield and showed it to the damosel. Ah sir, said the damosel, that +same is he that slew your three sons. Then without any tarrying Sir +Darras put Sir Tristram, and Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan, within a +strong prison, and there Sir Tristram was like to have died of great +sickness; and every day Sir Palomides would reprove Sir Tristram of old +hate betwixt them. And ever Sir Tristram spake fair and said little. +But when Sir Palomides saw the falling of sickness of Sir Tristram, +then was he heavy for him, and comforted him in all the best wise he +could. And as the French book saith, there came forty knights to Sir +Darras that were of his own kin, and they would have slain Sir Tristram +and his two fellows, but Sir Darras would not suffer that, but kept +them in prison, and meat and drink they had. So Sir Tristram endured +there great pain, for sickness had undertaken him, and that is the +greatest pain a prisoner may have. For all the while a prisoner may +have his health of body he may endure under the mercy of God and in +hope of good deliverance; but when sickness toucheth a prisoner’s body, +then may a prisoner say all wealth is him bereft, and then he hath +cause to wail and to weep. Right so did Sir Tristram when sickness had +undertaken him, for then he took such sorrow that he had almost slain +himself. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. How King Mark was sorry for the good renown of Sir +Tristram. Some of King Arthur’s knights jousted with knights of +Cornwall. + +Now will we speak, and leave Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir +Dinadan in prison, and speak we of other knights that sought after Sir +Tristram many divers parts of this land. And some yede into Cornwall; +and by adventure Sir Gaheris, nephew unto King Arthur, came unto King +Mark, and there he was well received and sat at King Mark’s own table +and ate of his own mess. Then King Mark asked Sir Gaheris what tidings +there were in the realm of Logris. Sir, said Sir Gaheris, the king +reigneth as a noble knight; and now but late there was a great jousts +and tournament as ever I saw any in the realm of Logris, and the most +noble knights were at that jousts. But there was one knight that did +marvellously three days, and he bare a black shield, and of all knights +that ever I saw he proved the best knight. Then, said King Mark, that +was Sir Launcelot, or Sir Palomides the paynim. Not so, said Sir +Gheris, for both Sir Launcelot and Sir Palomides were on the contrary +party against the Knight with the Black Shield. Then was it Sir +Tristram, said the king. Yea, said Sir Gaheris. And therewithal the +king smote down his head, and in his heart he feared sore that Sir +Tristram should get him such worship in the realm of Logris +wherethrough that he himself should not be able to withstand him. Thus +Sir Gaheris had great cheer with King Mark, and with Queen La Beale +Isoud, the which was glad of Sir Gaheris’ words; for well she wist by +his deeds and manners that it was Sir Tristram. And then the king made +a feast royal, and to that feast came Sir Uwaine le Fise de Roy Ureine, +and some called him Uwaine le Blanchemains. And this Sir Uwaine +challenged all the knights of Cornwall. Then was the king wood wroth +that he had no knights to answer him. Then Sir Andred, nephew unto King +Mark, leapt up and said: I will encounter with Sir Uwaine. Then he yede +and armed him and horsed him in the best manner. And there Sir Uwaine +met with Sir Andred, and smote him down that he swooned on the earth. +Then was King Mark sorry and wroth out of measure that he had no knight +to revenge his nephew, Sir Andred. + +So the king called unto him Sir Dinas, the Seneschal, and prayed him +for his sake to take upon him to joust with Sir Uwaine. Sir, said Sir +Dinas, I am full loath to have ado with any knight of the Round Table. +Yet, said the king, for my love take upon thee to joust. So Sir Dinas +made him ready, and anon they encountered together with great spears, +but Sir Dinas was overthrown, horse and man, a great fall. Who was +wroth but King Mark! Alas, he said, have I no knight that will +encounter with yonder knight? Sir, said Sir Gaheris, for your sake I +will joust. So Sir Gaheris made him ready, and when he was armed he +rode into the field. And when Sir Uwaine saw Sir Gaheris’ shield he +rode to him and said: Sir, ye do not your part. For, sir, the first +time ye were made Knight of the Round Table ye sware that ye should not +have ado with your fellowship wittingly. And pardie, Sir Gaheris, ye +knew me well enough by my shield, and so do I know you by your shield, +and though ye would break your oath I would not break mine; for there +is not one here, nor ye, that shall think I am afeard of you, but I +durst right well have ado with you, and yet we be sisters’ sons. Then +was Sir Gaheris ashamed, and so therewithal every knight went their +way, and Sir Uwaine rode into the country. + +Then King Mark armed him, and took his horse and his spear, with a +squire with him. And then he rode afore Sir Uwaine, and suddenly at a +gap he ran upon him as he that was not ware of him, and there he smote +him almost through the body, and there left him. So within a while +there came Sir Kay and found Sir Uwaine, and asked him how he was hurt. +I wot not, said Sir Uwaine, why nor wherefore, but by treason I am sure +I gat this hurt; for here came a knight suddenly upon me or that I was +ware, and suddenly hurt me. Then there was come Sir Andred to seek King +Mark. Thou traitor knight, said Sir Kay, an I wist it were thou that +thus traitorly hast hurt this noble knight thou shouldst never pass my +hands. Sir, said Sir Andred, I did never hurt him, and that I will +report me to himself. Fie on you false knight, said Sir Kay, for ye of +Cornwall are nought worth. So Sir Kay made carry Sir Uwaine to the +Abbey of the Black Cross, and there he was healed. And then Sir Gaheris +took his leave of King Mark, but or he departed he said: Sir king, ye +did a foul shame unto you and your court, when ye banished Sir Tristram +out of this country, for ye needed not to have doubted no knight an he +had been here. And so he departed. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. Of the treason of King Mark, and how Sir Gaheris smote +him down and Andred his cousin. + +Then there came Sir Kay, the Seneschal, unto King Mark, and there he +had good cheer showing outward. Now, fair lords, said he, will ye prove +any adventure in the forest of Morris, in the which I know well is as +hard an adventure as I know any. Sir, said Sir Kay, I will prove it. +And Sir Gaheris said he would be avised for King Mark was ever full of +treason: and therewithal Sir Gaheris departed and rode his way. And by +the same way that Sir Kay should ride he laid him down to rest, +charging his squire to wait upon Sir Kay; And warn me when he cometh. +So within a while Sir Kay came riding that way, and then Sir Gaheris +took his horse and met him, and said: Sir Kay, ye are not wise to ride +at the request of King Mark, for he dealeth all with treason. Then said +Sir Kay: I require you let us prove this adventure. I shall not fail +you, said Sir Gaheris. And so they rode that time till a lake that was +that time called the Perilous Lake, and there they abode under the shaw +of the wood. + +The meanwhile King Mark within the castle of Tintagil avoided all his +barons, and all other save such as were privy with him were avoided out +of his chamber. And then he let call his nephew Sir Andred, and bade +arm him and horse him lightly; and by that time it was midnight. And so +King Mark was armed in black, horse and all; and so at a privy postern +they two issued out with their varlets with them, and rode till they +came to that lake. Then Sir Kay espied them first, and gat his spear, +and proffered to joust. And King Mark rode against him, and smote each +other full hard, for the moon shone as the bright day. And there at +that jousts Sir Kay’s horse fell down, for his horse was not so big as +the king’s horse, and Sir Kay’s horse bruised him full sore. Then Sir +Gaheris was wroth that Sir Kay had a fall. Then he cried: Knight, sit +thou fast in thy saddle, for I will revenge my fellow. Then King Mark +was afeard of Sir Gaheris, and so with evil will King Mark rode against +him, and Sir Gaheris gave him such a stroke that he fell down. So then +forthwithal Sir Gaheris ran unto Sir Andred and smote him from his +horse quite, that his helm smote in the earth, and nigh had broken his +neck. And therewithal Sir Gaheris alighted, and gat up Sir Kay. And +then they yode both on foot to them, and bade them yield them, and tell +their names outher they should die. Then with great pain Sir Andred +spake first, and said: It is King Mark of Cornwall, therefore be ye +ware what ye do, and I am Sir Andred, his cousin. Fie on you both, said +Sir Gaheris, for a false traitor, and false treason hast thou wrought +and he both, under the feigned cheer that ye made us! it were pity, +said Sir Gaheris, that thou shouldst live any longer. Save my life, +said King Mark, and I will make amends; and consider that I am a king +anointed. It were the more shame, said Sir Gaheris, to save thy life; +thou art a king anointed with cream, and therefore thou shouldst hold +with all men of worship; and therefore thou art worthy to die. With +that he lashed at King Mark without saying any more, and covered him +with his shield and defended him as he might. And then Sir Kay lashed +at Sir Andred, and therewithal King Mark yielded him unto Sir Gaheris. +And then he kneeled adown, and made his oath upon the cross of the +sword, that never while he lived he would be against errant-knights. +And also he sware to be good friend unto Sir Tristram if ever he came +into Cornwall. + +By then Sir Andred was on the earth, and Sir Kay would have slain him. +Let be, said Sir Gaheris, slay him not I pray you. It were pity, said +Sir Kay, that he should live any longer, for this is nigh cousin unto +Sir Tristram, and ever he hath been a traitor unto him, and by him he +was exiled out of Cornwall, and therefore I will slay him, said Sir +Kay. Ye shall not, said Sir Gaheris; sithen I have given the king his +life, I pray you give him his life. And therewithal Sir Kay let him go. +And so Sir Kay and Sir Gaheris rode their way unto Dinas, the +Seneschal, for because they heard say that he loved well Sir Tristram. +So they reposed them there, and soon after they rode unto the realm of +Logris. And so within a little while they met with Sir Launcelot that +always had Dame Bragwaine with him, to that intent he weened to have +met the sooner with Sir Tristram; and Sir Launcelot asked what tidings +in Cornwall, and whether they heard of Sir Tristram or not. Sir Kay and +Sir Gaheris answered and said, that they heard not of him. Then they +told Sir Launcelot word by word of their adventure. Then Sir Launcelot +smiled and said: Hard it is to take out of the flesh that is bred in +the bone; and so made them merry together. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. How after that Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir +Dinadan had been long in prison they were delivered. + +Now leave we off this tale, and speak we of Sir Dinas that had within +the castle a paramour, and she loved another knight better than him. +And so when Sir Dinas went out a-hunting she slipped down by a towel, +and took with her two brachets, and so she yede to the knight that she +loved, and he her again. And when Sir Dinas came home and missed his +paramour and his brachets, then was he the more wrother for his +brachets than for the lady. So then he rode after the knight that had +his paramour, and bade him turn and joust. So Sir Dinas smote him down, +that with the fall he brake his leg and his arm. And then his lady and +paramour cried Sir Dinas mercy, and said she would love him better than +ever she did. Nay, said Sir Dinas, I shall never trust them that once +betrayed me, and therefore, as ye have begun, so end, for I will never +meddle with you. And so Sir Dinas departed, and took his brachets with +him, and so rode to his castle. + +Now will we turn unto Sir Launcelot, that was right heavy that he could +never hear no tidings of Sir Tristram, for all this while he was in +prison with Sir Darras, Palomides, and Dinadan. Then Dame Bragwaine +took her leave to go into Cornwall, and Sir Launcelot, Sir Kay, and Sir +Gaheris rode to seek Sir Tristram in the country of Surluse. + +Now speaketh this tale of Sir Tristram and of his two fellows, for +every day Sir Palomides brawled and said language against Sir Tristram. +I marvel, said Sir Dinadan, of thee, Sir Palomides, an thou haddest Sir +Tristram here thou wouldst do him no harm; for an a wolf and a sheep +were together in a prison the wolf would suffer the sheep to be in +peace. And wit thou well, said Sir Dinadan, this same is Sir Tristram +at a word, and now must thou do thy best with him, and let see now if +ye can skift it with your hands. Then was Sir Palomides abashed and +said little. Sir Palomides, then said Sir Tristram, I have heard much +of your maugre against me, but I will not meddle with you as at this +time by my will, because I dread the lord of this place that hath us in +governance; for an I dread him not more than I do thee, soon it should +be skift: so they peaced themself. Right so came in a damosel and said: +Knights, be of good cheer, for ye are sure of your lives, and that I +heard say my lord, Sir Darras. Then were they glad all three, for daily +they weened they should have died. + +Then soon after this Sir Tristram fell sick that he weened to have +died; then Sir Dinadan wept, and so did Sir Palomides under them both +making great sorrow. So a damosel came in to them and found them +mourning. Then she went unto Sir Darras, and told him how that mighty +knight that bare the black shield was likely to die. That shall not be, +said Sir Darras, for God defend when knights come to me for succour +that I should suffer them to die within my prison. Therefore, said Sir +Darras to the damosel, fetch that knight and his fellows afore me. And +then anon Sir Darras saw Sir Tristram brought afore him. He said: Sir +knight, me repenteth of thy sickness for thou art called a full noble +knight, and so it seemeth by thee; and wit ye well it shall never be +said that Sir Darras shall destroy such a noble knight as thou art in +prison, howbeit that thou hast slain three of my sons whereby I was +greatly aggrieved. But now shalt thou go and thy fellows, and your +harness and horses have been fair and clean kept, and ye shall go where +it liketh you, upon this covenant, that thou, knight, wilt promise me +to be good friend to my sons two that be now alive, and also that thou +tell me thy name. Sir, said he, as for me my name is Sir Tristram de +Liones, and in Cornwall was I born, and nephew I am unto King Mark. And +as for the death of your sons I might not do withal, for an they had +been the next kin that I have I might have done none otherwise. And if +I had slain them by treason or treachery I had been worthy to have +died. All this I consider, said Sir Darras, that all that ye did was by +force of knighthood, and that was the cause I would not put you to +death. But sith ye be Sir Tristram, the good knight, I pray you +heartily to be my good friend and to my sons. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I +promise you by the faith of my body, ever while I live I will do you +service, for ye have done to us but as a natural knight ought to do. +Then Sir Tristram reposed him there till that he was amended of his +sickness; and when he was big and strong they took their leave, and +every knight took their horses, and so departed and rode together till +they came to a cross way. Now fellows, said Sir Tristram, here will we +depart in sundry ways. And because Sir Dinadan had the first adventure +of him I will begin. + + + +CHAPTER XL. How Sir Dinadan rescued a lady from Sir Breuse Saunce Pité, +and how Sir Tristram received a shield of Morgan le Fay. + +So as Sir Dinadan rode by a well he found a lady making great dole. +What aileth you? said Sir Dinadan. Sir knight, said the lady, I am the +wofullest lady of the world, for within these five days here came a +knight called Sir Breuse Saunce Pité, and he slew mine own brother, and +ever since he hath kept me at his own will, and of all men in the world +I hate him most; and therefore I require you of knighthood to avenge +me, for he will not tarry, but be here anon. Let him come, said Sir +Dinadan, and because of honour of all women I will do my part. With +this came Sir Breuse, and when he saw a knight with his lady he was +wood wroth. And then he said: Sir knight, keep thee from me. So they +hurtled together as thunder, and either smote other passing sore, but +Sir Dinadan put him through the shoulder a grievous wound, and or ever +Sir Dinadan might turn him Sir Breuse was gone and fled. Then the lady +prayed him to bring her to a castle there beside but four mile thence; +and so Sir Dinadan brought her there, and she was welcome, for the lord +of that castle was her uncle; and so Sir Dinadan rode his way upon his +adventure. + +Now turn we this tale unto Sir Tristram, that by adventure he came to a +castle to ask lodging, wherein was Queen Morgan le Fay; and so when Sir +Tristram was let into that castle he had good cheer all that night. And +upon the morn when he would have departed the queen said: Wit ye well +ye shall not depart lightly, for ye are here as a prisoner. Jesu +defend! said Sir Tristram, for I was but late a prisoner. Fair knight, +said the queen, ye shall abide with me till that I wit what ye are and +from whence ye come. And ever the queen would set Sir Tristram on her +own side, and her paramour on the other side. And ever Queen Morgan +would behold Sir Tristram, and thereat the knight was jealous, and was +in will suddenly to have run upon Sir Tristram with a sword, but he +left it for shame. Then the queen said to Sir Tristram: Tell me thy +name, and I shall suffer you to depart when ye will. Upon that covenant +I tell you my name is Sir Tristram de Liones. Ah, said Morgan le Fay, +an I had wist that, thou shouldst not have departed so soon as thou +shalt. But sithen I have made a promise I will hold it, with that thou +wilt promise me to bear upon thee a shield that I shall deliver thee, +unto the castle of the Hard Rock, where King Arthur had cried a great +tournament, and there I pray you that ye will be, and to do for me as +much deeds of arms as ye may do. For at the Castle of Maidens, Sir +Tristram, ye did marvellous deeds of arms as ever I heard knight do. +Madam, said Sir Tristram, let me see the shield that I shall bear. Then +the shield was brought forth, and the field was goldish, with a king +and a queen therein painted, and a knight standing above them, [one +foot] upon the king’s head, and the other upon the queen’s. Madam, said +Sir Tristram, this is a fair shield and a mighty; but what signifieth +this king and this queen, and the knight standing upon both their +heads? I shall tell you, said Morgan le Fay, it signifieth King Arthur +and Queen Guenever, and a knight who holdeth them both in bondage and +in servage. Who is that knight? said Sir Tristram. That shall ye not +wit as at this time, said the queen. But as the French book saith, +Queen Morgan loved Sir Launcelot best, and ever she desired him, and he +would never love her nor do nothing at her request, and therefore she +held many knights together for to have taken him by strength. And +because she deemed that Sir Launcelot loved Queen Guenever paramour, +and she him again, therefore Queen Morgan le Fay ordained that shield +to put Sir Launcelot to a rebuke, to that intent that King Arthur might +understand the love between them. Then Sir Tristram took that shield +and promised her to bear it at the tournament at the Castle of the Hard +Rock. But Sir Tristram knew not that that shield was ordained against +Sir Launcelot, but afterward he knew it. + + + +CHAPTER XLI. How Sir Tristram took with him the shield, and also how he +slew the paramour of Morgan le Fay. + +So then Sir Tristram took his leave of the queen, and took the shield +with him. Then came the knight that held Queen Morgan le Fay, his name +was Sir Hemison, and he made him ready to follow Sir Tristram. Fair +friend, said Morgan, ride not after that knight, for ye shall not win +no worship of him. Fie on him, coward, said Sir Hemison, for I wist +never good knight come out of Cornwall but if it were Sir Tristram de +Liones. What an that be he? said she. Nay, nay, said he, he is with La +Beale Isoud, and this is but a daffish knight. Alas, my fair friend, ye +shall find him the best knight that ever ye met withal, for I know him +better than ye do. For your sake, said Sir Hemison, I shall slay him. +Ah, fair friend, said the queen, me repenteth that ye will follow that +knight, for I fear me sore of your again coming. With this this knight +rode his way wood wroth, and he rode after Sir Tristram as fast as he +had been chased with knights. When Sir Tristram heard a knight come +after him so fast he returned about, and saw a knight coming against +him. And when he came nigh to Sir Tristram he cried on high: Sir +knight, keep thee from me. Then they rushed together as it had been +thunder, and Sir Hemison brised his spear upon Sir Tristram, but his +harness was so good that he might not hurt him. And Sir Tristram smote +him harder, and bare him through the body, and he fell over his horse’s +croup. Then Sir Tristram turned to have done more with his sword, but +he saw so much blood go from him that him seemed he was likely to die, +and so he departed from him and came to a fair manor to an old knight, +and there Sir Tristram lodged. + + + +CHAPTER XLII. How Morgan le Fay buried her paramour, and how Sir +Tristram praised Sir Launcelot and his kin. + +Now leave to speak of Sir Tristram, and speak we of the knight that was +wounded to the death. Then his varlet alighted, and took off his helm, +and then he asked his lord whether there were any life in him. There is +in me life, said the knight, but it is but little; and therefore leap +thou up behind me when thou hast holpen me up, and hold me fast that I +fall not, and bring me to Queen Morgan le Fay; for deep draughts of +death draw to my heart that I may not live, for I would fain speak with +her or I died: for else my soul will be in great peril an I die. +For[thwith] with great pain his varlet brought him to the castle, and +there Sir Hemison fell down dead. When Morgan le Fay saw him dead she +made great sorrow out of reason; and then she let despoil him unto his +shirt, and so she let him put into a tomb. And about the tomb she let +write: Here lieth Sir Hemison, slain by the hands of Sir Tristram de +Liones. + +Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that asked the knight his host if he saw +late any knights adventurous. Sir, he said, the last night here lodged +with me Ector de Maris and a damosel with him, and that damosel told me +that he was one of the best knights of the world. That is not so, said +Sir Tristram, for I know four better knights of his own blood, and the +first is Sir Launcelot du Lake, call him the best knight, and Sir Bors +de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Blamore de Ganis, and Sir Gaheris. Nay, +said his host, Sir Gawaine is a better knight than he. That is not so, +said Sir Tristram, for I have met with them both, and I felt Sir +Gaheris for the better knight, and Sir Lamorak I call him as good as +any of them except Sir Launcelot. Why name ye not Sir Tristram? said +his host, for I account him as good as any of them. I know not Sir +Tristram, said Tristram. Thus they talked and bourded as long as them +list, and then went to rest. And on the morn Sir Tristram departed, and +took his leave of his host, and rode toward the Roche Dure, and none +adventure had Sir Tristram but that; and so he rested not till he came +to the castle, where he saw five hundred tents. + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. How Sir Tristram at a tournament bare the shield that +Morgan le Fay delivered to him. + +Then the King of Scots and the King of Ireland held against King +Arthur’s knights, and there began a great medley. So came in Sir +Tristram and did marvellous deeds of arms, for there he smote down many +knights. And ever he was afore King Arthur with that shield. And when +King Arthur saw that shield he marvelled greatly in what intent it was +made; but Queen Guenever deemed as it was, wherefore she was heavy. +Then was there a damosel of Queen Morgan in a chamber by King Arthur, +and when she heard King Arthur speak of that shield, then she spake +openly unto King Arthur. Sir King, wit ye well this shield was ordained +for you, to warn you of your shame and dishonour, and that longeth to +you and your queen. And then anon that damosel picked her away privily, +that no man wist where she was become. Then was King Arthur sad and +wroth, and asked from whence came that damosel. There was not one that +knew her nor wist where she was become. Then Queen Guenever called to +her Sir Ector de Maris, and there she made her complaint to him, and +said: I wot well this shield was made by Morgan le Fay in despite of me +and of Sir Launcelot, wherefore I dread me sore lest I should be +destroyed. And ever the king beheld Sir Tristram, that did so +marvellous deeds of arms that he wondered sore what knight he might be, +and well he wist it was not Sir Launcelot. And it was told him that Sir +Tristram was in Petit Britain with Isoud la Blanche Mains, for he +deemed, an he had been in the realm of Logris, Sir Launcelot or some of +his fellows that were in the quest of Sir Tristram that they should +have found him or that time. So King Arthur had marvel what knight he +might be. And ever Sir Arthur’s eye was on that shield. All that espied +the queen, and that made her sore afeard. + +Then ever Sir Tristram smote down knights wonderly to behold, what upon +the right hand and upon the left hand, that unnethe no knight might +withstand him. And the King of Scots and the King of Ireland began to +withdraw them. When Arthur espied that, he thought that that knight +with the strange shield should not escape him. Then he called unto him +Sir Uwaine le Blanche Mains, and bade him arm him and make him ready. +So anon King Arthur and Sir Uwaine dressed them before Sir Tristram, +and required him to tell them where he had that shield. Sir, he said, I +had it of Queen Morgan le Fay, sister unto King Arthur. + + So here endeth this history of this book, for it is the first book of + Sir Tristram de Liones and the second book of Sir Tristram followeth. + + +GLOSSARY + +Abashed, abased, lowered, +Abate, depress, calm, +Abought, paid for, +Abraid, started, +Accompted, counted, +Accorded, agreed, +Accordment, agreement, +Acquit, repay, +Actually, actively, +Adoubted, afraid, +Advision, vision, +Afeard, afraid, +Afterdeal, disadvantage, +Againsay, retract, +Aknown, known, +Aligement, alleviation, +Allegeance, alleviation, +Allow, approve, +Almeries, chests, +Alther, gen. pl., of all, +Amounted, mounted, +Anealed, anointed, +Anguishly, in pain, +Anon, at once, +Apair, weaken, +Apparelled, fitted up, +Appeach, impeach, +Appealed, challenged, accused, +Appertices, displays, +Araged, enraged, ; confused, +Araised, raised, +Arase, obliterate, +Areared, reared, +Armyvestal, martial, +Array, plight, state of affairs, +Arrayed, situated, +Arson, saddle-bow, +Askance, casually, +Assoiled, absolved, +Assotted, infatuated, +Assummon, summon, +Astonied, amazed, stunned, +At, of, by, +At-after, after, +Attaint, overcome, +Aumbries, chests, +Avail (at), at an advantage, +Avaled, lowered, +Avaunt, boast, +Aventred, couched, +Avised, be advised, take thought, +Avision, vision, +Avoid, quit, +Avoided, got clear off, +Avow, vow, +Await of (in), in watch for, +Awayward, away, +Awke, sideways, + +Bachelors, probationers for knighthood +Bain, bath, +Barbican, gate-tower, +Barget, little ship, +Battle, division of an army, +Bawdy, dirty, +Beams, trumpets, +Be-closed, enclosed, +Become, pp., befallen, gone to, +Bedashed, splashed, +Behests, promises, +Behight, promised, +Beholden (beholding) to, obliged to, +Behote, promised, +Benome, deprived, taken away, +Besants, gold coins, +Beseek, beseech, +Beseen, appointed, arrayed, +Beskift, shove off, +Bested, beset, +Betaken, entrusted, +Betaught, entrusted, recommended, +Betid, happened, +Betook, committed, entrusted, +Bevered, quivered, +Board, sb., deck, +Bobaunce, boasting, pride, +Boishe, bush, branch of a tree, +Boistous, rough, +Bole, trunk of a tree, +Boot, remedy, +Borrow out, redeem, +Borrows, pledges, +Bote, remedy, +Bound, ready, +Bourded, jested, +Bourder, jester, +Braced, embraced, +Brachet, little hound, +Braide, quick movement, +Brast, burst, break, +Breaths, breathing holes, +Brief, shorten, +Brim, fierce, furious, +Brised, broke, +Broached, pierced, +Broaches, spits, +Bur, hand-guard of a spear, +Burble, bubble, +Burbling, bubbling, +Burgenetts, buds, blossoms, +Bushment, ambush, +By and by, immediately, +Bywaryed, expended, bestowed, + +Canel bone, collar bone, +Cankered, inveterate, +Cantel, slice, strip, +Careful, sorrowful, full of troubles, +Cast (of bread), loaves baked at the same time, +Cast, ref: v., propose, +Cedle, schedule, note, +Cere, wax over, embalm,; cerel, +Certes, certainly, +Chafe, heat, decompose,; chafed, heated, +Chaflet, platform, scaffold, +Champaign, open country, +Chariot (Fr charette), cart, +Cheer, countenance, entertainment, +Chierte, dearness, +Chrism, anointing oil, +Clatter, talk confusedly, +Cleight, clutched, +Cleped, called, +Clipping, embracing, +Cog, small boat, +Cognisance, badge, mark of distinction, +Coif, head-piece, +Comfort, strengthen, help, +Cominal, common, +Complished, complete, +Con, know, be able, ; con thanlt, be grateful, +Conserve, preserve, +Conversant, abiding in, +Cording, agreement, +Coronal, circlet, +Cost, side, +Costed, kept up with, +Couched, lay, +Courage, encourage, +Courtelage, courtyard, +Covert, sheltered, +Covetise, covetousness, +Covin, deceit, +Cream, oil, +Credence, faith, +Croup, crupper, +Curteist, most courteous, + +Daffish, foolish, +Danger (in), under obligation to, in the power of, +Dawed, v tr., revived, intr. dawned, +Deadly, mortal, human, +Deal, part, portion, +Debate, quarrel, strife, +Debonair, courteous, +Deceivable, deceitful, +Defaded, faded, +Default, fault, +Defend, forbid,; defended,; forbidden, +Defoiled, trodden down, fouled, deflowered, +Degree (win the), rank, superiority, +Delibered, determined, +Deliverly, adroitly, +Departed, divided, +Departition, departure, +Dere, harm, +Descrive, describe, +Despoiled, stripped, +Detrenched, cut to pieces, +Devised, looked carefully at, +Devoir, duty, service, +Did off, doffed, +Dight, prepared, +Dindled, trembled, +Disadventure, misfortune, +Discover, reveal, +Disherited, disinherited, +Disparpled, scattered, +Dispenses, expenses, +Disperplyd, scattered, +Dispoiled, stripped, +Distained, sullied, dishonoured, +Disworship, shame, +Dole, gift of alms, +Dole, sorrow, +Domineth, dominates, rules, +Don, gift, +Doted, foolish, +Doubted, redoubtable, +Draughts, privities, secret interviews, recesses, +Drenched, drowned, +Dress, make ready, +Dressed up, raised, +Dretched, troubled in sleep, +Dretching, being troubled in sleep, +Dromounds, war vessels, +Dure, endure, last,; dured,; during, +Duresse, bondage, hardship, +Dwined, dwindled, + +Eased, entertained, +Eft, after, again, +Eftures, passages, +Embattled, ranged for battle, +Embushed, concealed in the woods, +Eme, uncle, +Empoison, poison, +Emprised, undertook, +Enbraid, +Enchafe, heat,; enchafed, heated, +Enchieve, achieve, +Endlong, alongside of, +Enewed, painted, +Enforce, constrain, +Engine, device, +Enow, enough, +Enquest, enterprise, +Ensured, assured, +Entermete, intermeddle, +Errant, wandering, +Estates, ranks, +Even hand, at an equality, +Evenlong, along, +Everych, each, every one, + +Faiter, vagabond, +Fare, sb., ado, commotion, +Faren, pp., treated, +Faute, lack,; fauted, lacked, +Fealty, oath of fidelity, +Fear, frighten, +Feute, trace, track, +Feuter, set in rest, couch, +Feutred, set in socket, +Fiaunce, affiance, promise, +Flang, flung,; rushed, +Flatling, prostrate, +Fleet, float, +Flemed, put to flight, +Flittered, fluttered, +Foiled, defeated, shamed, +Foined, thrust, +Foining, thrusting, +Foins, thrusts, +Foot-hot, hastily, +For-bled, spent with bleeding, +Force (no), no concern, +Fordeal, advantage, +Fordo, destroy,; fordid, +Forecast, preconcerted plot, +For-fared, worsted, +Forfend, forbid, +Forfoughten, weary with fighting, +Forhewn, hewn to pieces, +Forjousted, tired with jousting, +Forthinketh, repents, +Fortuned, happened, +Forward, vanguard, +Forwowmded, sorely wounded, +Free, noble, +Freshed, +Froward, away from, + +Gad, wedge or spike of iron, +Gainest, readiest, +Gar, cause, +Gart, compelled, +Gentily, like a gentleman, +Gerfalcon, a fine hawk, +Germane, closely allied, +Gest, deed, story, +Gisarm, halberd, battle-axe, +Glaive, sword, +Glasting, barking, +Glatisant, barking, yelping, +Gobbets, lumps, +Graithed, made ready, +Gree, degree, superiority, +Greed, pp., pleased, content, +Grescs, steps, +Grimly, ugly, +Grovelling, on his face, +Guerdonless, without reward, +Guise, fashion, + +Habergeon, hauberk with leggings attached, +Hair, a hair-shirt, +Hale and how, a sailor’s cry, +Halp, helped, +Halsed, embraced, +Halsing, embracing, +Handfast, betrothed, +Handsel, earnest-money, +Hangers, testicles, +Harbingers, messengers sent to prepare lodgings, +Harness, armour, +Hart of greese, fat deer, +Hauberk, coat of mail, +Haut, high, noble, +Hauteyn, haughty, +Heavy, sad, +Hete, command, +Hide, skin, +Hied, hurried, +High (on), aloud, +Higher hand, the uppermost, +Hight, called, +Hilled, covered, concealed, +Holden, held, +Holp, helped, +Holts, woods, +Hough-bone, back part of kneejoint, +Houselled, to be given the Eucharist, +Hoved, hovered, waited about, +Hurled, dashed, staggered,; hurling, +Hurtle, dash, + +Incontinent, forthwith, +Ind, dark blue, +Infellowship, join in fellowship, +In like, alike, +Intermit, interpose, + +Japer, jester, +Japes, jests, +Jesseraunt, a short cuirass, + +Keep, sb., care, +Keep, s., care, reck, +Kemps, champions, +Kind, nature, +Kindly, natural, +Knights parters, marshals, +Know, acknowledge, +Knowledging, acknowledgment, confession, + +Lain, conceal, +Langering, sauntering, +Lapped, took in her lap, +Large, generous, +Largeness, liberality, +Laton, latten, brass, +Laund, waste plain, +Layne, conceal, +Lazar-cot, leper-house, +Learn, teach, +Lears, cheeks, +Leaved, leafy, +Lecher, fornicator, +Leech, physician, +Leman, lover, +Let, caused to, +Let, hinder, +Lewdest, most ignorant, +Licours lecherous, +Lief, dear, +Liefer, more gladly, +Lieve, believe, +Limb-meal, limb from limb, +List, desire, pleasure, +Lithe, joint, +Longing unto, belonging to, +Long on (upon), because of, +Loos, praise, +Lotless, without a share, +Loveday, day for. settling disputes, +Loving, praising, +Lunes, leashes, strings, +Lusk, lubber, +Lusts, inclinations, + +Maims, wounds, +Makeless, matchless, +Makers, authors, poets, +Mas,ease, discomfort, +Mal engine, evil design, +Mal-fortune, ill-luck, mishap, +Marches, borders, +Mass-penny, offering at mass for the dead, +Matche old, machicolated, with holes for defence, +Maugre, sb., despite, +Measle, disease, +Medled, mingled, +Medley, melee, general encounter, +Meiny, retinue, +Mickle, much, +Minever, ermine, +Mischieved, hurt, +Mischievous, painful, +Miscorr fort, discomfort, +Miscreature, unbeliever, +Missay, revile,; missaid, +Mo, more, +More and less, rich and poor, +Motes, notes on a horn, +Mount~ lance, amount of, extent, +Much, great, + +Naked, unarmed, +Namely, especially, +Ne, nor, +Near-hand, nearly,; near, +Needly, needs, on your own compulsion, +Nesh, soft, tender, +Nigh-hand, nearly, +Nill, will not, +Nilt, will not, +Nis, ne is, is not, +Nist, ne wist, knew not, +Noblesse, nobleness, +Nobley, nobility, splendour, +Noised, reported, +Nold, would not, +Noseling, on his nose, +Not for then, nevertheless, +Notoyrly, notoriously, +Noyous, hurtful, + +Obeissance, obedience, +Or, before, +Orgule, haughtiness, +Orgulist, haughtiest, +Orgulite, pride, arrogance, +Orgulous, proud, +Other, or, +Ouches, jewels, +Ought, owned, +Outcept, except, +Outher, or, +Out-taken, except, +Over-evening, last night, +Overget, overtake, +Overhylled, covered, +Over-led, domineered over, +Overlong, the length of, +Overslip, pass, +Overthwart, adj., cross, +Overthwart, sb., mischance, +Overthwart and endlong, by the breadth and length, + +Painture, painting, +Paitrelles, breastplate of a horse, +Paltocks, short coats, +Parage, descent, +Pareil, like, +Passing, surpassingly, +Paynim, pagan, +Pensel, pennon, +Perclos, partition, +Perdy, par Dieu, +Perigot, falcon, +Perish, destroy, +Peron, tombstone, +Pight, pitched, +Pike, steal away, +Piked, stole, +Pillers, plunderers, +Pilling, plundering, +Pleasaunce, pleasure, +Plenour, complete, +Plump, sb., cluster, +Pointling, aiming, +Pont, bridge, +Port, gate, +Posseded, possessed, +Potestate, governor, +Precessours, predecessors, +Press, throng, +Pretendeth, belongs to, +Pricker, hard rider, +Pricking, spurring, +Prime, A.M., +Prise, capture, +Puissance, power, +Purfle, trimming, +Purfled, embroidered, +Purvey, provide, + +Quarrels, arrowheads, +Questing, barking, +Quick, alive, +Quit, repaid,; acquitted, behaved, + +Raced (rased), tore, +Rack (of bulls), herd, +Raines, a town in Brittany famous for its cloth, +Ramping, raging, +Range, rank, station, +Ransacked, searched, +Rashed, fell headlong, +Rashing, rushing, +Rasing, rushing, +Rasure, +Raundon, impetuosity, +Rear, raise, +Rechate, note of recall, +Recomforted, comforted, cheered, +Recounter, rencontre, encounter, +Recover, rescue, +Rede, advise, ; sb., counsel, +Redounded, glanced back, +Religion, religious order, +Reneye, deny, +Report, refer, +Resemblaunt; semblance, +Retrayed, drew back, +Rightwise, rightly, +Rivage, shore, +Romed, roared, +Roted, practised, +Rove, cleft, +Rownsepyk, a branch, + +Sacring, consecrating, +Sad, serious, +Sadly, heartily, earnestly, +Salle, room, +Samite, silk stuff with gold or silver +threads, +Sangreal, Holy Grail, +Sarps, girdles, +Saw, proverb, +Scathes, harms, hurts, +icripture, writing, +Search, probe wounds, +Selar, canopy, +Semblable, like, +Semblant, semblance, +Sendal, fine cloth, +Sennight, week, +Servage, slavery, +Sewer, officer who set on dishes and tasted them, +Shaft-mon, handbreadth, +Shaw, thicket, +Sheef, thrust, +Sheer-Thursday, Thursday in Holy Week, +Shend, harm, +Shenship, disgrace, +Shent, undone, blamed, +Shour, attack, +Shrew, rascal, +Shrewd, knavish, +Sib, akin to, +Sideling, sideways, +Siege, seat, +Signified, likened, +Siker, sure, +Sikerness, assurance, +Sith, since, +Sithen, afterwards, since, +Skift, changed, +Slade, valley, +Slake, glen, +Soil (to go to), hunting term for taking the water, +Sonds, messages, +Sort, company, +Sperd, bolted, +Spere, ask, inquire, +Spered, asked, +Sperhawk, sparrowhawk, +Sprent, sprinkled, +Stale, station, +Stark, thoroughly, +Stead, place, +Stert, started, rose quickly, +Steven, appointment,; steven ser. appointment made, +Steven, voice, +Stigh, path, +Stilly, silently, +Stint, fixed revenue, +Stonied, astonished,; became confused, +Stour, battle, +Strain, race, descent, +Strait, narrow, +Straked, blew a horn, +Sue, pursue, +Sued, pursued, +Surcingles, saddle girths, +Swang, swung, +Sweven, dream, +Swough, sound of wind, + +Talent, desire, +Tallages, taxes, +Tallies, taxes, +Tamed, crushed, +Tatches, qualities, +Tene, sorrow, +Term, period of time, +Thilk, that same, +Tho, then, +Thrang, pushed, +Thrulled, pushed, +Till, to, +To-brast, burst, +To-fore, before, +To-morn, to-morrow, +Took, gave, +To-rove, broke up, +To-shivered, broken to pieces, +Traced, advanced and retreated, +Trains, devices, wiles, +Trasing, pressing forward, +Travers (met at), came across, +Traverse, slantwise, +Traversed, moved sideways, +Tray, grief, +Treatise, treaty, +Tree, timber, +Trenchant, cutting, sharp, +Tres:, hunting term, +Truage, tribute, +Trussed, packed, + +Ubblie, wafer, Host, +Umbecast, cast about, +Umberere, the part of the helmet which shaded the eyes, +Umbre, shade, +Unavised, thoughtlessly, +Uncouth, strange, +Underne, - A.M., +Ungoodly, rudely, +Unhappy, unlucky, +Unhilled, uncovered, +Unr the, scarcely, +Unsicker, unstable, +Unwimpled, uncovered, +Unwrast, untwisted, unbound, +Upright, flat on the back, +Up-so-down, upside down, +Ure, usage, +Utas, octave of a festival, +Utterance, uttermost, + +Varlet, servant, +Venery, hunting, +Ven ails, breathing holes, +Villain, man of low birth, +Visors, the perforated parts of helmets, +Voided, slipped away from, + +Wagging, shaking, +Waited, watched, +Waits, watches, +Wallop, gallop, +Wanhope, despair, +Wap, ripple, +Ware, aware, +Warison, reward, +Warn, forbid, refuse, +Weeds, garments, +Weltered, rolled about, +Wend, thought, +Wer-wolf, a man turned into a wolf by magic, +Where, whereas, +Wide-where, over wide space, +Wield, possess, have power over, +Wield himself, come to himself, +Wight, brave, strong, +Wightly, swiftly, +Wildsome, desolate, +Wimpled, with the head covered, +Win, make way, +Wite, v., blame, +Within-forth, on the inside, +Without-forth, on the outside, +Wittiest, cleverest, +Wittily, cleverly, +Witting, knowledge, +Wold or nold, would or would not, +Wonder, adj., wondrous, +Wonder, adv., wondrously, +Wonderly, wonderfully, +Wood, mad, +Woodness, madness, +Wood shaw, thicket of the wood, +Worship, honour, +Worshipped, cause to be honoured, +Worts, roots, +Wot, know, +Wrack, destruction, +Wroken, wreaked, +Wrothe, twisted, + +Yede, ran, +Yelden, yielded, +Yerde, stick, stem, +Yode, went, +Yolden, yielded, +Y-wis, certainly, + + + + + + + + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LE MORTE D'ARTHUR: VOLUME 1 *** + + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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