diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/10745.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10745.txt | 12331 |
1 files changed, 12331 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/10745.txt b/old/10745.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..868ed7e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10745.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12331 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Story of the Champions of the Round +Table, by Howard Pyle, Illustrated by Howard Pyle + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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 + + + + + + + + +Title: The Story of the Champions of the Round Table + +Author: Howard Pyle + +Release Date: January 18, 2004 [eBook #10745] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF THE CHAMPIONS OF THE +ROUND TABLE*** + + +E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Ben Courtney, and Project Gutenberg +Distributed Proofreaders + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 10736-h.htm or 10736-h.zip: + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/0/7/4/10745/10745-h/10745-h.htm) + or + (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/0/7/4/10745/10745-h.zip) + + + + + +THE STORY OF THE CHAMPIONS OF THE ROUND TABLE + +Written and Illustrated by + +HOWARD PYLE. + + + + + + +In 1902 the distinguished American artist Howard Pyle undertook to retell +and illustrate the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round +Table. His four-volume work has long been considered one of the outstanding +interpretations of the Arthur cycle. + +_The Story of the Champions of the Round Table_, the second of Pyle's +volumes, was originally published in 1905. Reissued now, identical in +format to the original volume, with Pyle's superb illustrations and +decorations, it is destined to reach new generations of readers. _The Story +of the Champions of the Round Table_ recounts the full and moving saga of +three of Arthur's famous knights: Percival, Tristram, and Launcelot of the +Lake. + + * * * * * + +_"The period in which Howard Pyle did his work frequently has been spoken +of as that Golden Age in children's literature that was to last for the +decade to follow. It is difficult to do justice to his contribution to the +shining quality of that era. The magnitude and diversity of his work eludes +definition. Creative artist and born storyteller, each aspect of his +twofold genius enriched and interpreted the other."_ + +--Elizabeth Nesbitt, in _A Critical History of Children's Literature_ + +[Illustration: Sir Launcelot of the Lake] + + + + + +Foreword + +In a book which was written by me aforetime, and which was set forth in +print, I therein told much of the history of King Arthur; of how he +manifested his royalty in the achievement of that wonderful magic sword +which he drew forth out of the anvil; of how he established his royalty; of +how he found a splendid sword yclept Excalibur in a miraculously wonderful +manner; of how he won the most beautiful lady in the world for his queen; +and of how he established the famous Round Table of noble worthy knights, +the like of whose prowess the world hath never seen, and will not be likely +ever to behold again. + +Also I told in that book the adventures of certain worthy knights and +likewise how the magician Merlin was betrayed to his undoing by a sorceress +hight Vivien. + +Now, if you took any joy in reading that book, I have great hope that that +which follows may be every whit as pleasing to you; for I shall hereinafter +have to do with the adventures of certain other worthies with whom you may +have already become acquainted through my book and otherwise; and likewise +of the adventures of certain other worthies, of whom you have not yet been +told by me. + +More especially, I believe, you will find entertainment in what I shall +have to tell you of the adventures of that great knight who was altogether +the most noble of spirit, and the most beautiful, and the bravest of heart, +of any knight who ever lived--excepting only his own son, Galahad, who was +the crowning glory of his house and of his name and of the reign of King +Arthur. + +However, if Sir Launcelot of the Lake failed now and then in his behavior, +who is there in the world shall say, "I never fell into error"? And if he +more than once offended, who is there shall have hardihood to say, "I never +committed offence"? + +Yea, that which maketh Launcelot so singularly dear to all the world, is +that he was not different from other men, but like other men, both in his +virtues and his shortcomings; only that he was more strong and more brave +and more untiring than those of us who are his brethren, both in our +endeavors and in our failures. + + +CONTENTS + +The Story of Launcelot + +Chapter First + +How Sir Launcelot Came Forth From the Enchanted Castle of the +Lake and Entered Into the World Again, and How King Arthur +Made Him Knight + +Chapter Second + +How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel Rode Forth Errant Together +and How Sir Lionel Met Sir Turquine to His Great Dole. Also +How Sir Ector Grieved for the Departure of His Brother Launcelot +and So, Following Him, Fell into a Very Sorry Adventure + +Chapter Third + +How Sir Launcelot was Found in a Sleep by Queen Morgana +le Fay and Three Other Queens who were with Her, and How He +was Taken to a Castle of Queen Morgana's and of What Befell Him +There + +Chapter Fourth + +How Sir Launcelot Sought Sir Lionel and How a Young Damsel +Brought Him to the Greatest Battle that Ever He Had in All His +Life + +Chapter Fifth + +How Sir Launcelot Went Upon an Adventure with the Damsel +Croisette as Companion, and How He Overcame Sir Peris of the +Forest Sauvage + +Chapter Sixth + +How Sir Launcelot Took Part in the Tournament Between King +Bagdemagus and the King of North Wales, and How He Won that +Battle for King Bagdemagus + +Chapter Seventh + +How Sir Launcelot Fell Into the Greatest Peril that Ever He Encountered +in all His Life. Also How He Freed a Misfortunate Castle +and Town From the Giants Who Held Them, and How He Released +the Lord Thereof From a Dungeon + +Chapter Eighth + +How Sir Launcelot Rescued Sir Kay From a Perilous Pass Also +How He Changed Armor with Sir Kay and what Befell + + +The Book of Sir Tristram + +PART I + +THE STORY OF SIR TRISTRAM AND THE LADY +BELLE ISOULT + +Chapter First + +How the new Queen of Lyonesse sought Tristram's life; how he went +to France, and how he Returned again to Lyonesse and was Received +With Love at that Place + +Chapter Second + +How Sir Tristram was made Knight by the King of Cornwall, +and how he Fought a Battle with a Famous Champion + +Chapter Third + +How Sir Tristram went to Ireland to be healed of his Wound by +the King's Daughter of Ireland, and of how he came to love the Lady +Belle Isoult. Also concerning Sir Palamydes and the Lady Belle +Isoult + +Chapter Fourth + +How Sir Tristram encountered Sir Palamydes at the Tournament +and of what befell. Also how Sir Tristram was Forced to leave the +Kingdom of Ireland + +Chapter Fifth + +How Sir Tristram was sent by Command of King Mark to go to +Ireland to Bring the Lady the Belle Isoult from Ireland to Cornwall +and how it fared with him + +Chapter Sixth + +How Sir Tristram had to do in Battle with Three Knights of the +Round Table. Also how he had Speech with King Arthur + +Chapter Seventh + +How Sir Tristram had Speech with King Angus of Ireland; how +he Undertook to Champion the Cause of King Angus and of what Happened +Thereafter + +PART II + +THE STORY OF SIR TRISTRAM AND SIR LAMORACK + +Chapter First + +How Sir Lamorack of Gales came to Tintagel and how he and Sir +Tristram Sware Friendship Together in the Forest + +Chapter Second + +How Sir Tristram Started to go to Camelot, and how he Stayed by +the Way to do Battle with Sir Nabon le Noir + +Chapter Third + +How Sir Tristram did justice in the island, and Thereby Released +Sir Lamorack from Captivity. Also how Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorack +Renewed their Great Tenderness Toward one another + +PART III + +THE MADNESS OF SIR TRISTRAM + +Chapter First + +How Sir Tristram was Discovered with the Lady Belle Isoult; +how he Assaulted King Mark, and how he Escaped from Tintagel into +the Forest + +Chapter Second + +How Sir Tristram got him a Sword from Sir Kay, and how he Slew +Therewith a Huge Knight in the Forest and Rescued a Lady in very +Great Distress. Also how Sir Launcelot found Sir Tristram in the +Forest and Brought him Thence to Tintagel again + +Chapter Third + +How Sir Tristram was Discovered at Tintagel and of what Befell +Thereby + +Chapter Fourth + +How Sir Tristram and the Lady Belle Isoult Returned to Cornwall, +and how they Ended their Days Together + + +The Book of Sir Percival + +Chapter First + +How Percival Departed into the World and how he Found a Fair +Damsel in a Pavilion; likewise how he came before Queen Guinevere +and how he Undertook his First Adventure + +Chapter Second + +How Sir Percival was made Knight by King Arthur; how he rode +Forth with Sir Lamorack and how he Left Sir Lamorack in quest +of Adventure upon his own Account; likewise how a Great Knight +Taught him craft in Arms + +Chapter Third + +How Sir Percival met two Strange People in the Forest, and how +he Succored a Knight who was in very Great Sorrow and Dole + +Chapter Fourth + +How Sir Percival Undertook the Adventure of the Castle of Beaurepaire +and how he Fared Therein after Several Excellent Adventures + +Chapter Fifth + +How Sir Percival Repaid Sir Kay the Buffet he one time gave +Yelande the Dumb Maiden, and how, Thereafter, he went Forth to +Seek his own Lady of Love + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + +Head Piece--Table of Contents +Tail Piece--Table of Contents +Head Piece--List of Illustrations +Tail Piece--List of Illustrations + +The Lady Nymue beareth away Launcelot into the Lake +Head Piece--Prologue +Tail Piece--Prologue +Sir Launcelot greets Queen Guinevere +Head Piece--The Story of Launcelot +Sir Lionel of Britain +Queen Morgana appears unto Sir Launcelot +Sir Launcelot doeth battle with Sir Turquine +Sir Launcelot sits with Sir Hilaire and Croisette +Sir Launcelot and Elouise the Fair +Sir Launcelot climbs to catch the lady's falcon +Sir Launcelot takes the armor of Sir Kay +Tail Piece--The Story of Launcelot + +Sir Tristram of Lyonesse +Head Piece--Prologue +Tail Piece--Prologue +Tristram succors the Lady Moeya +Head Piece--The Story of Sir Tristram and the Lady Belle Isoult +King Mark of Cornwall +The Lady Belle Isoult +The Queen of Ireland seeks to slay Sir Tristram +Sir Tristram harpeth before King Mark +Sir Tristram sits with Sir Launcelot +Tail Piece +Belle Isoult and Sir Tristram drink the love draught +Tail Piece--The Story of Sir Tristram and the Lady Belle Isoult +Sir Lamorack of Gales +Head Piece--The Story of Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorack +Sir Tristram cometh to ye castle of Sir Nabon +Sir Lamorack herds the swine of Sir Nabon +Tail Piece--The Story of Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorack +Sir Tristram assaults King Mark +Head Piece--The Madness of Sir Tristram +Sir Kay and the Forest Madman +Sir Tristram leaps into ye Sea +King Mark broods mischief +Tail Piece--The Madness of Sir Tristram + +Sir Percival of Gales +Head Piece--Prologue +The Lady Yvette the Fair +Sir Percival and Sir Lamorack ride together +Sir Percival overcometh ye Enchantress Vivien +The Demoiselle Blanchefleur +Sir Kay interrupts ye meditations of Sir Percival +Tail Piece--The Book of Sir Percival + +[Illustration: The Lady Nymue beareth away Launcelot into the Lake] + + + + +Prologue. + +It hath already been set forth in print in a volume written by me +concerning the adventures of King Arthur when he first became king, how +there were certain lesser kings who favored him and were friendly allies +with him, and how there were certain others of the same sort who were his +enemies. + +Among those who were his friends was King Ban of Benwick, who was an +exceedingly noble lord of high estate and great honor, and who was of a +lineage so exalted that it is not likely that there was anyone in the world +who was of a higher strain. + +[Sidenote: Of King Ban and his misfortunes] Now, upon a certain time, King +Ban of Benwick fell into great trouble; for there came against him a very +powerful enemy, to wit, King Claudas of Scotland. King Claudas brought unto +Benwick a huge army of knights and lords, and these sat down before the +Castle of Trible with intent to take that strong fortress and destroy it. + +This noble Castle of Trible was the chiefest and the strongest place of +defence in all King Ban's dominions, wherefore he had intrenched himself +there with all of his knights and with his Queen, hight Helen, and his +youngest son, hight Launcelot. + +Now this child, Launcelot, was dearer to Queen Helen than all the world +besides, for he was not only large of limb but so extraordinarily beautiful +of face that I do not believe an angel from Paradise could have been more +beautiful than he. He had been born with a singular birth-mark upon his +shoulder, which birth-mark had the appearance as of a golden star enstamped +upon the skin; wherefore, because of this, the Queen would say: "Launcelot, +by reason of that star upon thy shoulder I believe that thou shalt be the +star of our house and that thou shalt shine with such remarkable glory that +all the world shall behold thy lustre and shall marvel thereat for all time +to come." So the Queen took extraordinary delight in Launcelot and loved +him to the very core of her heart--albeit she knew not, at the time she +spake, how that prophecy of hers concerning the star was to fall so +perfectly true. + +Now, though King Ban thought himself very well defended at his Castle of +Trible, yet King Claudas brought so terribly big an army against that place +that it covered the entire plain. A great many battles were fought under +the walls of the castle, but ever King Claudas waxed greater and stronger, +and King Ban's party grew weaker and more fearful. + +[Sidenote: King Ban bethinks him of King Arthur] So by and by things came +to such a pass that King Ban bethought him of King Arthur, and he said to +himself: "I will go to my lord the King and beseech help and aid from him, +for he will certainly give it me. Nor will I trust any messenger in this +affair other than myself; for I myself will go to King Arthur and will +speak to him with my own lips." + +Having thus bethought him, he sent for Queen Helen to come into his privy +closet and he said to her: "My dear love, nothing remaineth for me but to +go unto the court of King Arthur and beseech him to lend his powerful aid +in this extremity of our misfortunes; nor will I trust any messenger in +this affair but myself. Now, this castle is no place for thee, when I am +away, therefore, when I go upon this business, I will take thee and +Launcelot with me, and I will leave you both in safety at King Arthur's +court with our other son, Sir Ector, until this war be ended and done." And +to these Queen Helen lent her assent. + +So King Ban summoned to him the seneschal of the castle, who was named Sir +Malydor le Brun, and said to him: "Messire, I go hence to-night by a secret +pass, with intent to betake me unto King Arthur, and to beseech his aid in +this extremity. Moreover, I shall take with me my lady and the young child +Launcelot, to place them within the care of King Arthur during these +dolorous wars. But besides these, I will take no other one with me but only +my favorite esquire, Foliot. Now I charge thee, sir, to hold this castle in +my behalf with all thy might and main, and yield it not to our enemies upon +any extremity; for I believe I shall in a little while return with +sufficient aid from King Arthur to compass the relief of this place." + +[Sidenote: King Ban with Queen Helen and Launcelot escape from Trible] So +when night had fallen very dark and still, King Ban, and Queen Helen, and +the young child Launcelot, and the esquire Foliot left the town privily by +means of a postern gate. Thence they went by a secret path, known only to a +very few, that led down a steep declivity of rocks, with walls of rock upon +either side that were very high indeed, and so they came out in safety +beyond the army of King Claudas and into the forest of the valley below. +And the forest lay very still and solemn and dark in the silence of the +nighttime. + +Having thus come out in safety into the forest, that small party journeyed +on with all celerity that they were able to achieve until, some little time +before dawn, they came to where was a lake of water in an open meadow of +the forest. Here they rested for a little while, for Queen Helen had fallen +very weary with the rough and hasty journey which they had traveled. + +[Sidenote: Foliot seeth a light] Now whilst they sat there resting, Foliot +spake of a sudden, saying unto King Ban: "Lord, what is that light that +maketh the sky so bright yonder-ways?" Then King Ban looked a little and +presently said: "Methinks it must be the dawn that is breaking." "Lord," +quoth Foliot, "that cannot very well be; for that light in the sky lieth in +the south, whence we have come, and not in the east, where the sun should +arise." + +Then King Ban's heart misgave him, and his soul was shaken with a great +trouble. "Foliot," he said, "I believe that you speak sooth and that that +light bodes very ill for us all." Then he said: "Stay here for a little and +I will go and discover what that light may be." Therewith he mounted his +horse and rode away in the darkness. + +[Sidenote: King Ban beholdeth the burning of Trible] Now there was a very +high hill near-by where they were, and upon the top of the hill was an open +platform of rock whence a man could see a great way off in every direction. +So King Ban went to this place, and, when he had come there, he cast his +eyes in the direction of the light and he straightway beheld with a manner +of terror that the light came from Trible; and then, with that terror still +growing greater at his heart, he beheld that the town and the castle were +all in one great flame of fire. + +When King Ban saw this he sat for a while upon his horse like one turned +into a stone. Then, after a while, he cried out in a great voice: "Woe! +Woe! Woe is me!" And then he cried out still in a very loud voice, "Certes, +God hath deserted me entirely." + +[Sidenote: The death of King Ban] Therewith a great passion of grief took +hold upon him and shook him like to a leaf, and immediately after that he +felt that something brake within him with a very sharp and bitter pain, and +he wist that it was his heart that had broken. So being all alone there +upon the hilltop, and in the perfect stillness of the night, he cried out, +"My heart! My heart!" And therewith, the shadows of death coming upon him, +he could not sit any longer upon his horse, but fell down upon the ground. +And he knew very well that death was nigh him, so, having no cross to pray +upon, he took two blades of grass and twisted them into that holy sign, and +he kissed it and prayed unto it that God would forgive him his sins. So he +died all alone upon that hilltop. + +Meanwhile, Queen Helen and Foliot sat together waiting for him to return +and presently they heard the sound of his horse's hoofs coming down that +rocky path. Then Queen Helen said: "Foliot, methinks my lord cometh." So in +a little came the horse with the empty saddle. When Foliot beheld that he +said: "Lady, here meseems is great trouble come to us, for methinks +something hath befallen my lord, and that he is in sore travail, for here +is his horse without him." + +Then it seemed to Queen Helen as though the spirit of life suddenly went +away from her, for she foresaw what had befallen. So she arose like one in +a dream, and, speaking very quietly, she said: "Foliot, take me whither my +lord went awhile since!" To this Foliot said: "Lady, wait until the +morning, which is near at hand, for it is too dark for you to go +thitherward at this present." Whereunto the Lady Helen replied: "Foliot, I +cannot wait, for if I stay here and wait I believe I shall go mad." Upon +this, Foliot did not try to persuade her any more but made ready to take +her whither she would go. + +Now the young child Launcelot was then asleep upon the Queen's knees, +wherefore she took her cloak and wrapped the child in it and laid him very +gently upon the ground, so that he did not wake. Then she mounted upon her +palfrey and Foliot led the palfrey up the hill whither King Ban had gone a +short time since. + +[Sidenote: The Lady Helen findeth the King] When they came to that place +of open rocks above told of, they found King Ban lying very quiet and still +upon the ground and with a countenance of great peace. For I believe of a +surety that God had forgiven him all his sins, and he would now suffer no +more because of the cares and the troubles of this life. Thus Queen Helen +found him, and finding him she made no moan or outcry of any kind, only she +looked for a long while into his dead face, which she could see very +plainly now, because that the dawn had already broken. And by and by she +said: "Dear Lord, thou art at this time in a happier case than I." And by +and by she said to Foliot: "Go and bring his horse to this place, that we +may bear him hence." "Lady," said Foliot, "it is not good for you to be +left here alone." "Foliot," said the Queen, "thou dost not know how much +alone I am; thy leaving me here cannot make me more alone." Therewith she +fell to weeping with great passion. + +Then Foliot wept also in great measure and, still weeping like rain, he +went away and left her. When he came again with King Ban's horse the sun +had risen and all the birds were singing with great jubilation and +everything was so blithe and gay that no one could have believed that care +and trouble could dwell in a world that was so beautiful. + +[Sidenote: The Lady Helen bringeth her dead down from the Mountain] So +Queen Helen and Foliot lifted the dead king to his horse and then the Queen +said: "Come thou, Foliot, at thine own gait, and I will go ahead and seek +my child, for I have yet Launcelot to be my joy. Haply he will be needing +me at this moment." So the Queen made haste down the steep hill ahead of +Foliot and by and by she came to the margin of that little lake where they +had rested awhile since. + +By now the sun had risen very strong and warm so that all the lake, and the +meadows circumadjacent, and the forest that stood around about that meadow +were illumined with the glory of his effulgence. + +Now as Queen Helen entered that meadow she beheld that a very wonderful +lady was there, and this lady bare the child Launcelot in her arms. And the +lady sang to Launcelot, and the young child looked up into her face and +laughed and set his hand against her cheek. All this Queen Helen beheld; +and she likewise beheld that the lady was of a very extraordinary +appearance, being clad altogether in green that glistered and shone with a +wonderful brightness. And she beheld that around the neck of the lady was a +necklace of gold, inset with opal stones and emeralds; and she perceived +that the lady's face was like ivory--very white and clear--and that her +eyes, which were very bright, shone like jewels set into ivory. And she saw +that the lady was very wonderfully beautiful, so that the beholder, looking +upon her, felt a manner of fear--for that lady was Fay. + +(And that lady was the Lady of the Lake, spoken of aforetime in the Book of +King Arthur, wherein it is told how she aided King Arthur to obtain that +wonderful, famous sword yclept Excalibur, and how she aided Sir Pellias, +the Gentle Knight, in the time of his extremity, and took him into the lake +with her. Also divers other things concerning her are told of therein.) + +Then the Queen came near to where the lady was, and she said to her, + +"Lady, I pray you give me my child again!" Upon this the Lady of the Lake +smiled very strangely and said: "Thou shalt have thy child again, lady, but +not now; after a little thou shalt have him again." Then Queen Helen cried +out with great agony of passion: "Lady, would you take my child from me? +Give him to me again, for he is all I have left in the world. Lo, I have +lost house and lands and husband, and all the other joys that life has me +to give, wherefore, I beseech you, take not my child from me." To this the +Lady of the Lake said: "Thou must endure thy sorrow a while longer; for it +is so ordained that I must take thy child; for I take him only that I may +give him to thee again, reared in such a wise that he shall make the glory +of thy house to be the glory of the world. For he shall become the greatest +knight in the world, and from his loins shall spring a greater still than +he, so that the glory of the House of King Ban shall be spoken of as long +as mankind shall last." But Queen Helen cried out all the more in a great +despair: "What care I for all this? I care only that I shall have my little +child again! Give him to me!" + +[Sidenote: The Lady of the Lake taketh Launcelot into the Lake] Therewith +she would have laid hold of the garments of the Lady of the Lake in +supplication, but the Lady of the Lake drew herself away from Queen Helen's +hand and said: "Touch me not, for I am not mortal, but Fay." And thereupon +she and Launcelot vanished from before Queen Helen's eyes as the breath +vanishes from the face of a mirror. + +For when you breathe upon a mirror the breath will obscure that which lieth +behind; but presently the breath will disappear and vanish, and then you +shall behold all things entirely clear and bright to the sight again. So +the Lady of the Lake vanished away, and everything behind her where she had +stood was clear and bright, and she was gone. + +Then Queen Helen fell down in a swoon, and lay beside the lake of the +meadow like one that is dead; and when Foliot came he found her so and wist +not what to do for her. There was his lord who was dead and his lady who +was so like to death that he knew not whether she was dead or no. So he +knew not what to do but sat down and made great lamentation for a long +while. + +[Sidenote: The Lady Helen taketh to a Nunnery] What time he sat thus there +came that way three nuns who dwelt in an abbey of nuns which was not a +great distance away from that place. These made great pity over that +sorrowful sight, and they took away from there the dead King and the woeful +Queen, and the King they buried in holy ground, and the Queen they let live +with them and she was thereafter known as the "Sister of Sorrows." + +[Sidenote: How Launcelot dwelt in the lake] Now Launcelot dwelt for nigh +seventeen years with the Lady Nymue of the Lake in that wonderful, +beautiful valley covered over with the appearance of such a magical lake as +hath been aforetime described in the Book of King Arthur. + +And that land of the lake was of this sort that shall here be described:-- + +Unto anyone who could enter into the magic water of that lake (and there +were very few of those who were mortal who were allowed to come to those +meadows of Faery that were there concealed beneath those enchanted waters) +he would behold before him a wide and radiant field of extraordinary +beauty. And he would behold that that field was covered all over with such +a multitude of exquisite and beautiful flowers that the heart of the +beholder would be elated with pure joy to find himself in the midst of that +waving sea of multitudinous and fragrant blossoms. And he would behold many +fair and shady groves of trees that here and there grew up from that +valley, each glade overshadowing a fountain of water as clear as crystal. +And he would perhaps behold, at such pleasant places beneath the shade of +those trees, some party of the fair and gentle folk of that country; and he +would see them playing in sport, or he would hear them chanting to the +music of shining golden harps. And he would behold in the midst of that +beautiful plain a wonderful castle with towers and roofs uplifted high into +the sky, and all shining in the peculiar radiance of that land, like to +castles and battlements of pure gold. + +Such was the land unto which Launcelot was brought, and from what I have +told you you may see what a wonderful, beautiful place it was. + +And the mystery of that place entered into the soul of Launcelot, so that +thereafter, when he came out thence, he was never like other folk, but +always appeared to be in a manner remote and distant from other of his +fellow-mortals with whom he dwelt. + +For though he smiled a great deal, it was not often that he laughed; and if +he did laugh, it was never in scorn, but always in loving-kindness. + + * * * * * + +It was here in this land that Sir Pellias had now dwelt for several years, +with great peace and content. (For it hath been told in the Book of King +Arthur how, when he was upon the edge of death, the Lady Nymue of the Lake +brought him back to life again, and how, after that time, he was half fay +and half mortal.) + +And the reason why Launcelot was brought to that place was that Sir Pellias +might teach him and train him in all the arts of chivalry. For no one in +all the world was more skilful in arms than Sir Pellias, and no one could +so well teach Launcelot the duties of chivalry as he. + +So Sir Pellias taught Launcelot all that was best of knighthood, both as to +conduct of manner, and as to the worthiness and skill at arms, wherefore it +was that when Launcelot was completely taught, there was no knight in all +the world who was his peer in strength of arms or in courtesy of behavior, +until his own son, Sir Galahad, appeared in the courts of chivalry as shall +by and by be told of. + +So when Launcelot came forth into the world again he became the greatest +knight in all the history of chivalry, wherefore that prophecy of his +mother was fulfilled as to his being like to a bright star of exceeding +lustre. + +Accordingly, I have herein told you with great particularity all these +circumstances of his early history so that you may know exactly how it was +that he was taken away into the lake, and why it was that he was afterward +known as Sir Launcelot, surnamed of the Lake. + +As to how he came into the world to achieve that greatness unto which he +had been preordained, and as to how King Arthur made him knight, and as to +many very excellent adventures that befell him, you shall immediately read +in what followeth. + + + + +PART I + +The Story of Launcelot + + +_Here beginneth the story of Sir Launcelot, surnamed of the Lake, who was +held by all men to be the most excellent, noble, perfect knight-champion +who was ever seen in the world from the very beginning of chivalry unto the +time when his son, Sir Galahad, appeared like a bright star of +extraordinary splendor shining in the sky of chivalry. + +In this Book it shall be told how he was taken into a magic lake, how he +came out thence to be made knight by King Arthur, and of how he undertook +several of those adventures that made him at once the wonder and the +admiration of all men, and the chiefest glory of the Round Table of +Arthur-Pendragon._ + +[Illustration: Sir Launcelot greets Queen Guinevere] + + + + +Chapter First + + +_How Sir Launcelot Came Forth From the Enchanted Castle of the Lake and +Entered Into the World Again, and How King Arthur Made Him Knight._ + +[Sidenote: Of the springtime of long ago] I know not any time of the year +that is more full of joyfulness than the early summer season; for that time +the sun is wonderfully lusty and strong, yet not so very hot; that time the +trees and shrubs are very full of life and very abundant of shade and yet +have not grown dry with the heats and droughts of later days; that time the +grass is young and lush and green, so that when you walk athwart the +meadow-lands it is as though you walked through a fair billowy lake of +magical verdure, sprinkled over with a great multitude of little flowers; +that time the roses are everywhere a-bloom, both the white rose and the +red, and the eglantine is abundant; that time the nests are brimful of +well-fledged nestlings, and the little hearts of the small parent fowls +are so exalted with gladness that they sing with all their mights and +mains, so that the early daytime is filled full of the sweet jargon and the +jubilant medley of their voices. Yea; that is a goodly season of the year, +for though, haply, the spirit may not be so hilarious as in the young and +golden springtime, yet doth the soul take to itself so great a content in +the fulness of the beauty of the world, that the heart is elated with a +great and abundant joy that it is not apt to feel at another season. + +[Sidenote: King Arthur and two knights ride a-hunting] Now it chanced upon +the day before Saint John's day in the fulness of a summer-time such as +this, that King Arthur looked forth from his chamber very early in the +morning and beheld how exceedingly fair and very lusty was the world +out-of-doors--all in the freshness of the young daylight. For the sun had +not yet risen, though he was about to rise, and the sky was like to pure +gold for brightness; all the grass and leaves and flowers were drenched +with sweet and fragrant dew, and the birds were singing so vehemently that +the heart of any man could not but rejoice in the fulness of life that lay +all around about him. + +There were two knights with King Arthur at that time, one was Sir Ewain, +the son of Morgana le Fay (and he was King Arthur's nephew), and the other +was Sir Ector de Maris, the son of King Ban of Benwick and of Queen +Helen--this latter a very noble, youthful knight, and the youngest of all +the Knights of the Round Table who were at that time elected. These stood +by King Arthur and looked forth out of the window with him and they also +took joy with him in the sweetness of the summer season. Unto them, after a +while, King Arthur spake, saying: "Messires, meseems this is too fair a day +to stay within doors. For, certes, it is a shame that I who am a king +should be prisoner within mine own castle, whilst any ploughman may be free +of the wold and the green woods and the bright sun and the blue sky and the +wind that blows over hill and dale. Now, I too would fain go forth out of +doors and enjoy these things; wherefore I ordain that we shall go +a-hunting this day and that ye and I shall start before any others of the +lords and the ladies that dwell herein are awake. So let us take our horses +and our hounds and let us take certain foresters and huntsmen, and let us +go forth a-hunting into the green forest; for this day shall be holiday for +me and for you and we shall leave care behind us, and for a while we shall +disport ourselves in pleasant places." + +So they all did as King Arthur bade; they made them each man ready with his +own hands, and they bade the huntsmen and the foresters to attend thereupon +as the King had ordained. Then they rode forth from the castle and out into +the wide world that lay beyond, and it was yet so early in the morning that +none of the castle folk were astir to know of their departure. + +All that day they hunted in the forest with much joy and with great sport, +nor did they turn their faces toward home again until the day was so far +spent that the sun had sunk behind the tops of the tall leafy trees. Then, +at that time, King Arthur gave command that they should bend their ways +toward Camelot once more. + +[Sidenote: King Arthur and his companions find a strange damsel and a +dwarf] Now this time, being the Eve of Saint John, fairies and those folk +who are fay come forth, as is very well known, into the world from which +they dwell apart at other times. So when King Arthur and those two knights +and their several foresters and huntsmen came to a certain outlying part of +the forest, they were suddenly aware of a damsel and a dwarf waiting where +the road upon which they were travelling crossed another road, and they +perceived, from her very remarkable appearance, that the damsel was very +likely Fay. For both she and her dwarf sat each upon a milk-white horse, +very strangely still, close to where was a shrine by a hedge of hawthorne; +and the damsel was so wonderfully fair of face that it was a marvel to +behold her. Moreover, she was clad all in white samite from top to toe and +her garments were embroidered with silver; and the trappings and garniture +of her horse were of white samite studded with bright silver bosses, +wherefore, because of this silver, she glistered with a sudden lustre +whensoever she moved a little. When King Arthur and the two knights who +were with him drew nigh this damsel, much marvelling at her appearance, she +hailed him in a voice that was both high and clear, crying: "Welcome, King +Arthur! Welcome, King Arthur! Welcome, King Arthur!" saying three words +three times; and "Welcome, Sir Ewain!" "Welcome, Sir Ector de Maris!" +addressing each of those lords by his name. + +"Damsel," quoth King Arthur, "it is very singular that you should know who +we are and that we should not know you. Now, will you not tell us your name +and whence you come and whither you go? For of a surety I believe you are +Fay." + +"Lord," said the damsel, "it matters not who I am, saving that I am of the +court of a wonderful lady who is your very good friend. She hath sent me +here to meet you and to beseech you to come with me whither I shall lead +you, and I shall lead you unto her." + +"Damsel," said King Arthur, "I shall be right glad to go with you as you +desire me to do. So, if you will lead me to your lady, I and my knights +will gladly follow you thitherway to pay our court unto her." + +[Sidenote: King Arthur and his knights follow the damsel] Upon this the +damsel waved her hand, and drawing her bridle-rein she led the way, +accompanied by the dwarf, and King Arthur and the two knights followed her, +and all their party of foresters and huntsmen and hounds and beagles +followed them. + +By this time the sun had set and the moon had risen very fair and round and +as yellow as gold, making a great light above the silent tree-tops. +Everything now was embalmed in the twilight, and all the world was +enshrouded in the mystery of the midsummer eve. Yet though the sun had gone +the light was wonderfully bright, wherefore all that the eye could see +stood sharp-cut and very clear to the vision. + +So the damsel and the dwarf led the way for somewhat of a distance, though +not for so very far, until they came of a sudden to where was an open +meadow in the forest, hedged all around with the trees of the woodland. And +here the King and his knights were aware of a great bustle of many people, +some working very busily in setting up several pavilions of white samite, +and others preparing a table as for a feast, and others upon this business +and others upon that; and there were various sumpter-mules and pack-horses +and palfreys all about, as though belonging to a party of considerable +estate. + +Then King Arthur and those who were with him beheld that, at some distance +away upon the other side of the meadow, there were three people sitting +under a crab-apple tree upon a couch especially prepared for them, and they +were aware that these people were the chief of all that company. + +[Sidenote: King Arthur and his companions are brought to speak with strange +folk] The first party of the three was a knight of very haughty and noble +appearance, clad all in armor as white as silver; and his jupon was white +embroidered with silver, and the scabbard of the sword and the sword-belt +were white, and his shield hung in the crab-tree above him and that, too, +was all white as of silver. This knight still wore his helmet, so that his +countenance was not to be seen. The second party of the three was a lady +clad all in white raiment. Her face was covered by her wimple so that her +countenance also was not to be seen very clearly, but her garments were of +wonderful sort, being of white sarcenet embroidered over with silver in the +pattern of lily flowers. Also she wore around her breast and throat a chain +of shining silver studded with bright and sparkling gems of divers sorts. +The third party of the three was a youth of eighteen years, so beautiful of +face that it seemed to King Arthur that he had never beheld so noble a +being. For his countenance was white and shining, and his hair was as soft +as silk and as black as it was possible to be, and curled down upon his +shoulders; and his eyes were large and bright and extraordinarily black, +and his eyebrows arched so smoothly that if they had been painted they +could not have been marked upon his forehead more evenly than they were; +and his lips, which pouted a little, though not very much, were as red as +coral, and his upper lip was shaded with a soft down of black. Moreover, +this youth was clad altogether in white cloth of satin with no ornaments +whatsoever saving only a fine chain of shining silver set with opal-stones +and emeralds that hung about his neck. + +Then when King Arthur approached near enough he perceived by certain signs +that the lady was the chiefest of those three, wherefore he paid his court +to her especially, saying to her: "Lady, it seems that I have been brought +hitherward unto you and that you were aware of my name and estate when you +sent for me. Now I should be exceedingly glad if you would enlighten me in +the same manner as to yourself." + +"Sir," she said, "that I shall be glad to do; for if I have known you +aforetime, you have also seen me afore time and have known me as your +friend." Therewith the lady lowered the wimple from her face and King +Arthur perceived that it was the Lady of the Lake. + +[Sidenote: King Arthur findeth Sir Pellias again] Upon this he kneeled +down upon one knee and took her hand and set it to his lips. "Lady," quoth +he, "I have indeed cause to know you very well, for you have, as you +affirm, been a friend to me and to my friends upon many several occasions." +Then King Arthur turned to that knight who was with that Lady of the Lake, +and he said unto him: "Messire, if I mistake not, I should know you also; +and I doubt not, if you will lift the umbril of your helmet, we shall all +three know your face." Upon this the knight without more ado lifted his +umbril as King Arthur had desired him to do and the three beheld that it +was Sir Pellias, the Gentle Knight. + +Now it hath already been very fully told about Sir Pellias in the Book of +King Arthur, and those of you who read of him therein will remember, no +doubt, how sorely he was wounded in a combat with Sir Gawaine, who was his +best friend, and of how the Lady of the Lake took him to dwell with her in +that wonderful city that was hidden by the appearance as of an enchanted +lake, and of how it was Sir Gawaine who last beheld him upon that occasion. +But if Sir Gawaine was the dearest friend that Sir Pellias had at that +time, then Sir Ewain was only less dear to him. Therefore, when Sir Ewain +beheld that the strange knight was Sir Pellias, he wist not what to think +for pure wonder; for no mortal eyes had ever beheld Sir Pellias since he +had gone into the lake with the Lady of the Lake that time as foretold, and +it was not thought that anyone would ever see him again. + +So when Sir Ewain beheld that the knight was Sir Pellias he emitted a great +cry of joy and ran to him and catched him in his arms, and Sir Pellias +forbade him not. For though at most times those who are of Faery do not +suffer themselves to be touched by mortal hands, yet, upon the Eve of Saint +John's Day, fairies and mortals may commune as though they were of the same +flesh and blood. Wherefore Sir Pellias did not forbid Sir Ewain, and they +embraced, as one-time brethren-in-arms should embrace. And each kissed the +other upon the face, and each made great joy the one over the other. Yea, +so great was their joy that all those who stood about were moved with pure +happiness at beholding them. + +Then Sir Pellias came to King Arthur and kneeled down before him and kissed +his hand, as is the bounden duty of every knight unto his lord. + +"Ha, Messire," quoth King Arthur, "methought when I beheld this lady, that +you would not be very far distant from her." Then he said unto the Lady of +the Lake: "Lady, I prithee tell me, who is this fair youth who is with you. +For methinks I never beheld before so noble and so beautiful a countenance +as his. Maybe you will make us acquainted with him also." + +"Lord," said the Lady Nymue, "who he is, and of what quality, shall, I +hope, be made manifest in due time; just now I would not wish that he +should be known even unto you. But touching him, I may say that it was for +his sake that I sent my damsel to meet you at the cross-roads awhile ago. +But of that, more anon; for see! the feast is now spread which we have +prepared for your entertainment. So let us first eat and drink and make +merry together, and then we shall speak further of this matter." + +[Sidenote: The Lady of the Lake prepareth a feast for King Arthur] So they +all six went and sat down to the table that had been spread for them in the +open meadow-land. For the night was very pleasant and warm and a wonderful +full moon shone down upon them with a marvellous lustre, and there was a +pleasant air, soft and warm, from the forest, and, what with the scores of +bright waxen tapers that stood in silver candlesticks upon the table (each +taper sparkling as bright as any star), the night was made all illuminate +like to some singular mid-day. There was set before them a plenty of divers +savory meats and of several excellent wines, some as yellow as gold, and +some as red as carbuncle, and they ate and they drank and they made merry +in the soft moonlight with talk and laughter. Somewhiles they told Sir +Pellias and the lady of all that was toward at court at Camelot; +otherwhiles Sir Pellias and the lady told them such marvellous things +concerning the land in which they two dwelt that it would be hard to +believe that the courts of Heaven could be fairer than the courts of +Fairyland whence they had come. + +Then, after the feast was ended, the Lady of the Lake said to King Arthur, +"Sir, an I have won your favor in any way, there is a certain thing I would +ask of you." To the which King Arthur made reply: "Ask it, Lady, and it +shall be granted thee, no matter what it may be." "Sir," said the Lady of +the Lake, "this is what I would ask of you. I would ask you to look upon +this youth who sits beside me. He is so dear to me that I cannot very well +make you know how dear he is. I have brought him hither from our +dwelling-place for one certain reason; to wit, that you should make him +knight. That is the great favor I would ask of you. To this intent I have +brought armor and all the appurtenances of knighthood; for he is of such +noble lineage that no armor in the world could be too good for him." + +"Lady," quoth King Arthur, "I will do what you ask with much pleasure and +gladness. But, touching that armor of which you speak, it is my custom to +provide anyone whom I make a knight with armor of mine own choosing." + +To this the Lady of the Lake smiled very kindly, saying, "Lord, I pray you, +let be in this case, for I daresay that the armor which hath been provided +for this youth shall be so altogether worthy of your nobility and of his +future credit that you will be entirely contented with it." And with that, +King Arthur was altogether satisfied. + +[Sidenote: Of the armor, etc., of Sir Launcelot] And, touching that armor, +the ancient history that speaketh of these matters saith that it was of +such a sort as this that followeth, and that it was brought from that +enchanted court of the lake in this wise; to wit, in the front came two +youths, leading two white mules, and the mules bore two chests studded with +silver bosses. In one chest was the hauberk of that armor and in the other +were the iron boots. These were bright like to silver and were inlaid with +cunningly devised figures, all of pure gold. Next to them came two +esquires, clad in white robes and mounted upon white horses, bearing the +one a silver shield and the other a shining helmet, as of silver--it +likewise being very wonderfully inlaid with figures of pure gold. After +these came two other esquires, the one bearing a sword in a white sheath +embossed with studs of silver (the belt whereof was of silver with facets +of gold) and the other leading a white charger, whose coat was as soft and +as shining as silk. And all the gear and furniture of this horse was of +silver and of white samite embellished with silver. So from this you can +see how nobly that young acolyte was provided with all that beseemed his +future greatness. For, as you may have guessed, this youth was Launcelot, +King Ban's son of Benwick, who shortly became the greatest knight in the +world. + +[Sidenote: Launcelot guards his armor at night] Now there was in that part +of the forest border a small abbey of monks, and in the chapel of that +abbey Launcelot watched his armor for that night and Sir Ewain was with him +for all that time. Meantime King Arthur and Sir Ector de Maris slept each +in a silken pavilion provided for them by the Lady of the Lake. + +In the morning Sir Ewain took Launcelot to the bath and bathed him, for +such was the custom of those who were being prepared for knighthood. + +Now, whilst Sir Ewain was bathing the youth, he beheld that on his shoulder +was a mark in the likeness of a golden star and he marvelled very much +thereat; but he made no mention of it at that time, but held his peace +concerning what he saw; only he marvelled very greatly thereat. + +[Sidenote: King Arthur creates Sir Launcelot a Knight-Royal] Then, after +Sir Ewain had bathed Launcelot, he clothed him in raiment fitted for that +ceremony unto which he was ordained, and when the youth was so clothed, Sir +Ewain brought him to King Arthur, and King Arthur knighted Launcelot with +great ceremony, and buckled the belt around him with his own hands. After +he had done this Sir Ewain and Sir Ector de Maris set the golden spurs to +his heels, and Sir Ector wist not that he was performing such office for +his own brother. + +So Sir Launcelot was made knight with great estate and ceremony, whereof I +have told you all, unto every particular. For it is fitting that all things +should be so told concerning that most great and famous knight. + +After King Arthur had so dubbed Sir Launcelot knight, it was time that +those two parties should part company--to wit, the party of the Lady of the +Lake and the party of King Arthur. But when they were about to leave one +another the Lady of the Lake took Sir Launcelot aside, and she spake to him +after this manner: + +[Sidenote: The Lady of the Lake gives Sir Launcelot good advice] +"Launcelot, forget not that you are a king's son, and that your lineage is +as noble as that of anyone upon earth--for so I have often told you +aforetime. Wherefore, see to it that your worthiness shall be as great as +your beauty, and that your courtesy and gentleness shall be as great as +your prowess. To-day you shall go unto Camelot with King Arthur to make +yourself known unto that famous Court of Chivalry. But do not tarry there, +but, ere the night cometh, depart and go forth into the world to prove your +knighthood as worthily as God shall give you grace to do. For I would not +have you declare yourself to the world until you have proved your +worthiness by your deeds. Wherefore, do not yourself proclaim your name, +but wait until the world proclaimeth it; for it is better for the world to +proclaim the worthiness of a man than that the man should proclaim his own +worthiness. So hold yourself ready to undertake any adventure whatsoever +that God sendeth to you to do, but never let any other man complete a task +unto which you yourself have set your hand." Then, after the Lady of the +Lake had so advised Sir Launcelot, she kissed him upon the face, and +therewith gave him a ring curiously wrought and set with a wonderful purple +stone, which ring had such power that it would dissolve every enchantment. +Then she said: "Launcelot, wear this ring and never let it be from off your +finger." And Launcelot said: "I will do so." So Sir Launcelot set the ring +upon his finger and it was so that it never left his finger whilst he drew +the breath of life. + +Then King Arthur and Sir Ewain and Sir Ector de Maris and the young Sir +Launcelot laid their ways toward Camelot. And, as they journeyed so +together, Sir Ewain communicated privily to Sir Ector de Maris how that the +youth had a mark as of a golden star upon the skin of his shoulder, and +upon this news Sir Ector fell very silent. For Sir Ector knew that that +sign was upon his own brother's shoulder, and he did not know how it could +be upon the shoulder of any other man. Wherefore, he wist not what to think +that it should be upon the shoulder of this youth. But he said naught of +these thoughts to Sir Ewain, but held his peace. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot cometh to Camelot] So they reached Camelot whilst +it was still quite early in the morning and all they who were there made +great joy at the coming of so wonderfully fair and noble a young knight as +Sir Launcelot appeared to be. Wherefore, there was great sound of rejoicing +at his coming. + +Then, after a while, King Arthur said: "Let us go and see if, haply, this +youth's name is marked upon any of the seats of the Round Table, for I +think it should be there." So all they of the court went to that pavilion +afore described, where the Round Table was established, and they looked; +and lo! upon the seat that King Pellinore had one time occupied was this +name: + +THE KNIGHT OF THE LAKE + +So the name stood at first, nor did it change until the name of Sir +Launcelot of the Lake became so famous in all the world. Then it became +changed to this: + +SIR LAUNCELOT OF THE LAKE. + + * * * * * + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot becometh knight of the Round Table] So Sir +Launcelot remained at Camelot for that entire day and was made acquainted +with a great many of the lords and ladies and knights and dames of King +Arthur's court. And all that while he was like one that walked in a dream, +for he had never before beheld anything of the world of mankind since he +had been carried away into the lake, wherefore he wist not very well +whether what he saw was real or whether he beheld it in a vision of +enchantment. For it was all very new and wonderful to him and he took great +delight in it because that he was a man and because this world was the +world of mankind. Wherefore, though that Castle of the Lake was so +beautiful, yet he felt his heart go forth to this other and less beautiful +land as it did not go forth to that, because he was human and this was +human. + +Nevertheless, though that was so joyful a day for him, yet Sir Launcelot +did not forget what the Lady of the Lake had said concerning the time he +was to abide there! Wherefore, when it drew toward evening he besought +leave of King Arthur to depart from that place in search of adventures, and +King Arthur gave him leave to do as he desired. + +So Sir Launcelot prepared to depart, and whilst he was in his chamber +making ready there came in unto him Sir Ector de Maris. And Sir Ector said +unto him: "Sir, I prithee tell me--is it true that you bear upon your right +shoulder a mark like unto a golden star?" And Sir Launcelot made reply: +"Yea, that is true." Then Sir Ector said: "I beseech you to tell me if your +name is Launcelot." And Sir Launcelot said: "Yea, that is my name." + +[Sidenote: Of the brotherhood of Sir Ector and Sir Launcelot] Upon this +Sir Ector broke out into great weeping and he catched Sir Launcelot in his +arms and he cried out: "Launcelot, thou art mine own brother! For thy +father was my father, and my mother was thy mother! For we are both sons +unto King Ban of Benwick, and Queen Helen was our mother." Therewith he +kissed Sir Launcelot with great passion upon the face. And Sir Launcelot +upon his part kissed Sir Ector with a great passion of joy that he had +found a brother in this strange world into which he had so newly come. But +Sir Launcelot charged Sir Ector that he should say nothing of this to any +man; and Sir Ector pledged his knightly word to that effect. (Nor did he +ever tell anyone who Sir Launcelot was until Sir Launcelot had performed +such deeds that all the world spake his name.) + +For when Sir Launcelot went out into the world in that wise he undertook +several very weighty achievements and brought them all to a successful +issue, so that his name very quickly became known in every court of +chivalry. + +[Sidenote: Of sundry adventures of Sir Launcelot] First he removed an +enchantment that overhung a castle, hight Dolorous Gard; and he freed that +castle and liberated all the sad, sorry captives that lay therein. (And +this castle he held for his own and changed the name from Dolorous Gard to +Joyous Gard and the castle became very famous afterward as his best-loved +possession. For this was the first of all his possessions that he won by +the prowess of his arms and he loved it best of all and considered it +always his home.) After that Sir Launcelot, at the bidding of Queen +Guinevere, took the part of the Lady of Nohan against the King of +Northumberland, and he overcame the King of Northumberland and made him +subject unto King Arthur. Then he overcame Sir Gallehaut, King of the +Marches, and sent him captive to the court of King Arthur (and afterward +Sir Gallehaut and Sir Launcelot became great friends for aye). So in a +little while all the world spoke of Sir Launcelot, for it was said of him, +and truly, that he had never been overcome by any other knight, whether +upon horseback or upon foot, and that he always succeeded in every +adventure which he undertook, whether that adventure were great or whether +it were small. So it was as the Lady of the Lake desired it to be, for Sir +Launcelot's name became famous, not because he was his father's son, but +because of the deeds which he performed upon his own account. + +So Sir Launcelot performed all these famous adventures, and after that he +returned again to the court of King Arthur crowned with the glory of his +successful knighthood, and there he was received with joy and acclaim and +was duly installed in that seat of the Round Table that was his. And in +that court he was held in the greatest honor and esteem of all the knights +who were there. For King Arthur spake many times concerning him to this +effect: that he knew not any honor or glory that could belong to a king +greater than having such a knight for to serve him as was Sir Launcelot of +the Lake. For a knight like Sir Launcelot came hardly ever into the world, +and when he did come his glory must needs illuminate with its effulgence +the entire reign of that king whose servant he was. + +So it was that Sir Launcelot was greatly honored by everybody at the court +of King Arthur, and he thereafter abided at that court for the most part of +his life. + + * * * * * + +[Sidenote: Of Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere] And now I must needs make +mention of that friendship that existed betwixt Sir Launcelot and Queen +Guinevere, for after he thus returned to the court of the king, they two +became such friends that no two people could be greater friends than they +were. + +Now I am aware that there have been many scandalous things said concerning +that friendship, but I do not choose to believe any such evil sayings. For +there are always those who love to think and say evil things of others. Yet +though it is not to be denied that Sir Launcelot never had for his lady any +other dame than the Lady Guinevere, still no one hath ever said with truth +that she regarded Sir Launcelot otherwise than as her very dear friend. For +Sir Launcelot always avouched with his knightly word, unto the last day of +his life, that the Lady Guinevere was noble and worthy in all ways, +wherefore I choose to believe his knightly word and to hold that what he +said was true. For did not he become an hermit, and did not she become a +nun in their latter days, and were they not both broken of heart when King +Arthur departed from this life in so singular a manner as he did? Wherefore +I choose to believe good of such noble souls as they, and not evil of them. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Launcelot dwelt at Camelot] Yet, though Sir Launcelot +thus abided at the court of the King, he ever loved the open world and a +life of adventure above all things else. For he had lived so long in the +Lake that these things of the sturdy life of out-of-doors never lost their +charm for him. So, though he found, for a while, great joy in being at the +court of the King (for there were many jousts held in his honor, and, +whithersoever he rode forth, men would say to one another: "Yonder goeth +that great knight, Sir Launcelot, who is the greatest knight in the +world"), yet he longed ever to be abroad in the wide world again. So one +day he besought King Arthur for leave to depart thence and to go forth for +a while in search of adventures; and King Arthur gave him leave to do as he +desired. + +So now shall be told of several excellent adventures that Sir Launcelot +undertook, and which he carried through with entire success, and to the +great glory and renown of the Round Table, of which he was the foremost +knight. + +[Illustration: Sir Lionel of Britain] + + + + +Chapter Second + + +_How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel Rode Forth Errant Together and How Sir +Lionel Met Sir Turquine to His Great Dole. Also How Sir Ector Grieved for +the Departure of His Brother Launcelot and So, Following Him, Fell into a +Very Sorry Adventure_. + +Now after King Arthur had thus given Sir Launcelot leave to go errant and +whilst Sir Launcelot was making himself ready to depart there came to him +Sir Lionel, who was his cousin germain, and Sir Lionel besought leave to go +with him as his knight-companion, and Sir Launcelot gave him that leave. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel depart in search of adventure] So +when King Arthur confirmed Sir Launcelot's permission Sir Lionel also made +himself ready very joyfully, and early of the morning of the next day they +two took their leave of the court and rode away together; the day being +very fair and gracious and all the air full of the joy of that +season--which was in the flower of the spring-time. + +So, about noon-tide, they came to a certain place where a great apple-tree +stood by a hedge, and by that time they had grown an-hungered. So they tied +their horses near-by in a cool and shady place and straightway sat them +down under the apple-tree in the soft tall grass, which was yet fresh with +the coolness of the morning. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot sleepeth beneath an apple-tree] Then when they +had ended their meal Sir Launcelot said: "Brother, I have a great lust to +sleep for a little space, for I find myself so drowsy that mine eyelids are +like scales of lead." Unto which Sir Lionel made reply: "Very well; sleep +thou for a while, and I will keep watch, and after that thou shalt watch, +and I will sleep for a little space." So Sir Launcelot put his helmet +beneath his head and turned upon his side, and in a little had fallen into +a sleep which had neither dream nor thought of any kind, but which was deep +and pure like to a clear well of water in the forest. + +And, whilst he slept thus, Sir Lionel kept watch, walking up and down in +the shade of a hedge near-by. + +[Sidenote: Sir Lionel perceives how one knight pursues three knights] +Where they were was upon the side of a hill, and beneath them was a little +valley; and a road ran through the valley, very white and shining in the +sunlight, like a silken ribbon, and the road lay between growing fields of +corn and pasture-land. Now as Sir Lionel walked beside the hedge he beheld +three knights come riding into that valley and along that road with very +great speed and in several clouds of dust; and behind them came a fourth +knight, who was very huge of frame and who was clad altogether in black +armor. Moreover, this knight rode upon a black horse and his shield was +black and his spear was black and the furniture of his horse was black, so +that everything appertaining to that knight was as black as any raven. + +And Sir Lionel beheld that this one knight pursued those other three +knights and that his horse went with greater speed than theirs, so that by +and by he overtook the hindermost knight. And Sir Lionel beheld that the +sable knight smote the fleeing knight a great buffet with his sword, so +that that knight fell headlong from his horse and rolled over two or three +times upon the ground and then lay as though he were dead. Then the black +knight catched the second of the three, and served him as he had served his +fellow. Then the third of the three, finding that there was no escape for +him, turned as if to defend himself; but the black knight drave at him, and +smote him so terrible a blow that I believe had a thunderbolt smitten him +he would not have fallen from his horse more suddenly than he did. For, +though that combat was full three furlongs away, yet Sir Lionel heard the +sound of that blow as clearly as though it had been close by. + +Then after the black knight had thus struck down those three knights he +went to each in turn and tied his hands behind his back. Then, lifting each +man with extraordinary ease, he laid him across the saddle of that horse +from which he had fallen, as though he were a sack of grain. And all this +Sir Lionel beheld with very great wonder, marvelling much at the strength +and prowess of that black knight. "Ha," quoth he to himself, "I will go and +inquire into this business, for it may haply be that yonder black knight +shall not find it to be so easy to deal with a knight of the Round Table as +with those other three knights." + +So, with this, Sir Lionel loosed his horse very quietly and went his way so +softly that Sir Launcelot was not awakened. And after he had gone some way, +he mounted his steed and rode off at a fast gallop down into that valley. + +[Sidenote: Sir Lionel addresses the sable knight] When Sir Lionel had come +to that place where the knight was, he found that he had just bound the +last of the three knights upon the saddle of his horse as aforetold. So Sir +Lionel spoke to the sable knight in this wise: "Sir, I pray you tell me +your name and degree and why you treat those knights in so shameful a +fashion as I behold you to do." + +"Messire," said the black knight very fiercely, "this matter concerns you +not at all; yet I may tell you that those knights whom I have overthrown +are knights of King Arthur's court, and so I serve all such as come into +this place. So will I serve you, too, if you be a knight of King Arthur's." + +"Well," said Sir Lionel, "that is a very ungracious thing for you to say. +And as for that, I too am a knight of King Arthur's court, but I do not +believe that you will serve me as you have served those three. Instead of +that, I have great hope that I shall serve you in such a fashion that I +shall be able to set these knights free from your hands." + +[Sidenote: The sable knight overcomes Sir Lionel] Thereupon, without more +ado, he made him ready with spear and shield, and the black knight, +perceiving his design, also made him ready. Then they rode a little +distance apart so as to have a fair course for a tilt upon the roadway. +Then each set spur to his horse and the two drave together with such +violence that the earth shook beneath them. So they met fair in the middle +of the course, but lo! in that encounter the spear of Sir Lionel broke into +as many as thirty or forty pieces, but the spear of the black knight held, +so that Sir Lionel was lifted clean out from his saddle and over the +crupper of his horse with such violence that when he smote the ground he +rolled three times over ere he ceased to fall. And because of that fierce, +terrible blow he swooned away entirely, and all was black before his eyes, +and he knew nothing. + +Therewith the black knight dismounted and tied Sir Lionel's arms behind his +back and he laid him across the saddle of his horse as he had laid those +others across the saddles of their horses; and he tied him there very +securely with strong cords so that Sir Lionel could not move. + +And all this while Sir Launcelot slept beneath the apple-tree upon the +hillside, for he was greatly soothed by the melodious humming of the bees +in the blossoms above where he lay. + +[Sidenote: Of Sir Turquine the sable knight] Now you are to know that he +who had thus taken Sir Lionel and those three knights prisoner was one Sir +Turquine, a very cruel, haughty knight, who had a great and strong castle +out beyond the mouth of that valley in which these knights took combat as +aforetold. Moreover, it was the custom of Sir Turquine to make prisoner all +the knights and ladies who came that way; and all the knights and ladies +who were not of King Arthur's court he set free when they had paid a +sufficient ransom unto him; but the knights who were of King Arthur's +court, and especially those who were of the Round Table, he held prisoner +for aye within his castle. The dungeon of that castle was a very cold, +dismal, and unlovely place, and it was to this prison that he proposed to +take those four knights whom he had overcome, with intent to hold them +prisoner as aforetold. + +And now turn we to King Arthur's court and consider what befell there after +Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel had left it in search of adventures. + +[Sidenote: Sir Ector follows Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel] When Sir Ector +found that Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel had gone away in that fashion he +was very much grieved in spirit; wherefore he said to himself, "Meseems my +brother might have taken me with him as well as our cousin." So he went to +King Arthur and besought his leave to quit the court and to ride after +those other two and to join in their adventures, and King Arthur very +cheerfully gave him that leave. So Sir Ector made him ready with all +despatch, and rode away at a great gait after Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel. +And ever as Sir Ector rode he made diligent inquiry and he found that those +two knights had ridden before him, so he said to himself: "By and by I +shall overtake them--if not to-day, at least by night, or by to-morrow +day." + +[Sidenote: Sir Ector seeks adventure] But after a while he came to a +cross-roads, and there he took a way that Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel had +not taken; so that, after he had gone a distance, he found that he had +missed them by taking that road. Nevertheless, he went on until about the +prime of the day, what time he met a forester, to whom he said: "Sirrah, +saw you two knights ride this way--one knight clad in white armor with a +white shield upon which was depicted the figure of a lady, and the other +knight clad in red armor with the figure of a red gryphon upon his shield?" +"Nay," said the forester, "I saw not such folk." Then said Sir Ector, "Is +there any adventure to be found hereabouts?" Upon this the forester fell to +laughing in great measure. "Yea," he said, "there is an adventure to be +found hard by and it is one that many have undertaken and not one yet hath +ever fulfilled." Then Sir Ector said, "Tell me what that adventure is and I +will undertake it." + +"Sir," said the forester, "if you will follow along yonder road for a +distance you will find a very large, strong castle surrounded by a broad +moat. In front of that castle is a stream of water with a fair, shallow +ford, where the roadway crosses the water. Upon this side of that ford +there groweth a thorn-tree, very large and sturdy, and upon it hangs a +basin of brass. Strike upon that basin with the butt of your spear, and you +shall presently meet with that adventure concerning which I have just now +spoken." "Fellow," said Sir Ector, "grammercy for your news." And, +therewith, straightway he rode off in search of that adventure. + +He rode a great distance at a very fast gait and by and by he came to the +top of a hill and therewith he saw before him the mouth of a fair valley. +Across from where he stood was another hill not very large or high, but +exceedingly steep and rocky. Upon this farther hill was builded a tall, +noble castle of gray stone with many towers and spires and tall chimneys +and with several score of windows, all shining bright in the clear weather. +A fair river ran down into the mouth of that valley and it was as bright +and as smooth as silver, and on each side of it were smooth level +meadow-lands--very green--and here and there shady groves of trees and +plantations of fruit-trees. And Sir Ector perceived that the road upon +which he travelled crossed the aforesaid river by a shallow ford, and he +wist that this must be the ford whereof the forester had spoken. So he rode +down unto that ford, and when he had come nigh he perceived the thorn-tree +of which the forester had told him, and he saw that a great basin of brass +hung to the thorn-tree, just as the forester had said. + +[Sidenote: Sir Ector smites upon the brazen basin] Then Sir Ector rode to +that thorn-tree and he smote upon that basin of brass with the butt of his +spear, so that the basin rang with a noise like thunder; and he smote it +again and again, several times over. But though he was aware of a great +commotion within that fair castle, yet no adventure befell him, although he +smote the brazen basin several times. + +Now, his horse being athirst, Sir Ector drove him into the ford that he +might drink, and whilst he was there he was suddenly aware where, on the +other side of the stream, was a singular party coming along the roadway. +For first of all there rode a knight entirely clad in black, riding upon a +black horse, and all the harness and furniture of that horse entirely of +black. Behind him, that knight led four horses as though they were +pack-horses, and across each one of those four horses was a knight in full +armor, bound fast to the saddle like to a sack of grain, whereat Sir Ector +was very greatly astonished. + +As soon as that sable knight approached the castle, several came running +forth and relieved him of those horses he led and took them into the +castle, and as soon as he had been thus relieved the sable knight rode very +violently up to where Sir Ector was. As soon as he had come to the water's +edge he cried out: "Sir Knight, come forth from out of that water and do me +battle." + +"Very well," said Sir Ector, "I will do so, though it will, I think, be to +thy very great discomfort." + +[Sidenote: Sir Ector essays battle with the sable knight] With that he +came quickly out from the ford, the water whereof was all broken and +churned into foam at his passing, and straightway he cast aside his spear +and drew his sword and, driving against that sable knight, he smote him +such a buffet that his horse turned twice about. + +"Ha," said the black knight, "that is the best blow that ever I had struck +me in all of my life." Therewith he rushed upon Sir Ector, and without +using a weapon of any sort he catched him about the body, underneath the +arms, and dragged him clean out of his saddle, and flung him across the +horn of his own saddle. Thereupon, having accomplished this marvellous +feat, and with Sir Ector still across his saddle-bow, he rode up unto his +castle, nor stopped until he had reached the court-yard of the keep. There +he set Sir Ector down upon the stone pavement. Then he said: "Messire, thou +hast done to me this day what no other knight hath ever done to me before, +wherefore, if thou wilt promise to be my man from henceforth, I will let +thee go free and give thee great rewards for thy services as well." + +But Sir Ector was filled very full of shame, wherefore he cried out +fiercely, "Rather would I lie within a prison all my life than serve so +catiff a knight as thou, who darest to treat other knights as thou hast +just now treated me." + +"Well," said the black knight very grimly, "thou shalt have thy choice." +Therewith he gave certain orders, whereupon a great many fierce fellows set +upon Sir Ector and stripped him of all his armor, and immediately haled him +off, half-naked, to that dungeon aforementioned. + +[Sidenote: The sable knight makes prisoner of Sir Ector] There he found +many knights of King Arthur's court, and several of the Round Table, all of +whom he knew, and when they beheld Sir Ector flung in unto them in that +fashion they lifted up their voices in great lamentation that he should +have been added to their number, instead of freeing them from their +dolorous and pitiable case. "Alas," said they, "there is no knight alive +may free us from this dungeon, unless it be Sir Launcelot. For this Sir +Turquine is, certes, the greatest knight in all the world, unless it be Sir +Launcelot." + +[Illustration: Queen Morgana appears unto Sir Launcelot] + + + + +Chapter Third + + +_How Sir Launcelot was Found in a Sleep by Queen Morgana le Fay and Three +Other Queens who were with Her, and How He was Taken to a Castle of Queen +Morgana's and of What Befell Him There._ + +[Sidenote: Four Queens and their courts pass by where Sir Launcelot lies +sleeping] So Sir Launcelot lay in deep slumber under that apple-tree, and +knew neither that Sir Lionel had left him nor what ill-fortune had befallen +that good knight. Whilst he lay there sleeping in that wise there came by, +along the road, and at a little distance from him, a very fair procession +of lordly people, making a noble parade upon the highway. The chiefest of +this company were four ladies, who were four queens. With them rode four +knights, and, because the day was warm, the four knights bore a canopy of +green silk by the four corners upon the points of their lances in such wise +as to shelter those queens from the strong heat of the sun. And those four +knights rode all armed cap-a-pie on four noble war-horses, and the four +queens, bedight in great estate, rode on four white mules richly +caparisoned with furniture of divers colors embroidered with gold. After +these lordly folk there followed a very excellent court of esquires and +demoiselles to the number of a score or more; some riding upon horses and +some upon mules that ambled very easily. + +Now all these folk of greater or lesser degree were entirely unaware that +Sir Launcelot lay sleeping so nigh to them as they rode by chattering very +gayly together in the spring-time weather, taking great pleasure in the +warm air, and in growing things, and the green fields, and the bright sky; +and they would have had no knowledge that the knight was there, had not Sir +Launcelot's horse neighed very lustily. Thereupon, they were aware of the +horse, and then they were aware of Sir Launcelot where he lay asleep under +the apple-tree, with his head lying upon his helmet. + +Now foremost of all those queens was Queen Morgana le Fay (who was King +Arthur's sister, and a potent, wicked enchantress, of whom much hath been +told in the Book of King Arthur), and besides Queen Morgana there was the +Queen of North Wales, and the Queen of Eastland, and the Queen of the Outer +Isles. + +Now when this party of queens, knights, esquires, and ladies heard the +war-horse neigh, and when they beheld Sir Launcelot where he lay, they +drew rein and marvelled very greatly to see a knight sleeping so soundly at +that place, maugre all the noise and tumult of their passing. So Queen +Morgana called to her one of the esquires who followed after them, and she +said to him: "Go softly and see if thou knowest who is yonder knight; but +do not wake him." + +[Sidenote: An esquire knoweth Sir Launcelot] So the esquire did as she +commanded; he went unto that apple-tree and he looked into Sir Launcelot's +face, and by hap he knew who it was because he had been to Camelot +erstwhiles and he had seen Sir Launcelot at that place. So he hastened back +to Queen Morgana and he said to her: "Lady, I believe that yonder knight is +none other than the great Sir Launcelot of the Lake, concerning whom there +is now such report; for he is reputed to be the most powerful of all the +knights of King Arthur's Round Table, and the greatest knight in the world, +so that King Arthur loves him and favors him above all other knights." + +Now when Queen Morgana le Fay was aware that the knight who was asleep +there was Sir Launcelot, it immediately entered her mind for to lay some +powerful, malignant enchantment upon him to despite King Arthur. For she +too knew how dear Sir Launcelot was to King Arthur, and so she had a mind +to do him mischief for King Arthur's sake. So she went softly to where Sir +Launcelot lay with intent to work some such spell upon him. But when she +had come to Sir Launcelot she was aware that this purpose of mischief was +not possible whilst he wore that ring upon his finger which the Lady of the +Lake had given him; wherefore she had to put by her evil design for a +while. + +[Sidenote: Queen Morgana le Fay sets a mild enchantment upon Sir +Launcelot] But though she was unable to work any malign spell upon him, +she was able to cause it by her magic that that sleep in which he lay +should remain unbroken for three or four hours. So she made certain +movements of her hands above his face and by that means she wove the +threads of his slumber so closely together that he could not break through +them to awake. + +After she had done this she called to her several of the esquires who were +of her party, and these at her command fetched the shield of Sir Launcelot +and laid him upon it. Then they lifted him and bore him away, carrying him +in that manner to a certain castle in the forest that was no great distance +away. And the name of that castle was Chateaubras and it was one of Queen +Morgana's castles. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot awakens in a fair chamber] And all that while Sir +Launcelot wist nothing, but lay in a profound sleep, so that when he awoke +and looked about him he was so greatly astonished that he knew not whether +he was in a vision or whether he was awake. For whilst he had gone asleep +beneath that apple-tree, here he now lay in a fair chamber upon a couch +spread with a coverlet of flame-colored linen. + +Then he perceived that it was a very fair room in which he lay, for it was +hung all about with tapestry hangings representing fair ladies at court and +knights at battle. And there were woven carpets upon the floor, and the +couch whereon he lay was of carved wood, richly gilt. There were two +windows to that chamber, and when he looked forth he perceived that the +chamber where he was was very high from the ground, being built so loftily +upon the rugged rocks at its foot that the forest lay far away beneath him +like a sea of green. And he perceived that there was but one door to this +chamber and that the door was bound with iron and studded with great bosses +of wrought iron, and when he tried that door he found that it was locked. + +So Sir Launcelot was aware from these things that he was a prisoner--though +not a prisoner in a hard case--and he wist not how he had come thither nor +what had happened to him. + +[Sidenote: A fair damsel beareth light and food unto Sir Launcelot] Now +when the twilight of the evening had fallen, a porter, huge of frame and +very forbidding of aspect, came and opened the door of the chamber where +Sir Launcelot lay, and when he had done so there entered a fair damsel, +bearing a very good supper upon a silver tray. Moreover, she bore upon the +tray three tapers of perfumed wax set in three silver candlesticks, and +these gave a fair light to the entire room. But, when Sir Launcelot saw the +maiden coming thus with intent to serve him, he arose and took the tray +from her and set it himself upon the table; and for this civility the +damsel made acknowledgement to him. Then she said to him: "Sir Knight, what +cheer do you have?" "Ha, damsel," said Sir Launcelot, "I do not know how to +answer you that, for I wist not what cheer to have until I know whether I +be with friends or with enemies. For though this chamber wherein I lie is +very fair and well-bedight, yet meseems I must have been brought here by +some enchantment, and that I am a prisoner in this place; wherefore I know +not what cheer to take." + +[Sidenote: The damsel has pity for Sir Launcelot] Then the damsel looked +upon Sir Launcelot, and she was very sorry for him. "Sir," quoth she, "I +take great pity to see you in this pass, for I hear tell you are the best +knight in the world and, of a surety, you are of a very noble appearance. I +must tell you that this castle wherein you lie is a castle of enchantment, +and they who dwell here mean you no good; wherefore I would advise you to +be upon your guard against them." + +"Maiden," said Sir Launcelot, "I give you grammercy for your kind words, +and I will be upon my guard as you advise me." + +Then the damsel would have said more, but she durst not for fear that she +should be overheard and that evil should befall her, for the porter was +still without the door. So in a little she went away and Sir Launcelot was +left alone. + +But though the damsel bade Sir Launcelot have good cheer, yet he had no +very good cheer for that night, as anyone may well suppose, for he wist not +what was to befall him upon the morrow. + +Now when the morning had come Sir Launcelot was aware of someone at his +chamber door, and when that one entered it was Queen Morgana le Fay. + +[Sidenote: How Queen Morgana cometh to Sir Launcelot] She was clad in all +the glory at her command, and her appearance was so shining and radiant +that when she came into that room Sir Launcelot knew not whether it was a +vision his eyes beheld or whether she was a creature of flesh and blood. +For she came with her golden crown upon her head, and her hair, which was +as red as gold, was bound around with ribbons of gold; and she was clad all +in cloth of gold; and she wore golden rings with jewels upon her fingers +and golden bracelets upon her arms and a golden collar around her +shoulders; wherefore, when she came into the room she shone with an +extraordinary splendor, as if she were a marvellous statue made all of pure +gold--only that her face was very soft and beautiful, and her eyes shone +exceedingly bright, and her lips, which were as red as coral, smiled, and +her countenance moved and changed with all the wiles of fascination that +she could cause it to assume. + +When Sir Launcelot beheld her come thus gloriously into his room he rose +and greeted her with a very profound salutation, for he was astonished +beyond measure at beholding that shining vision. Then Queen Morgana gave +him her hand, and he kneeled, and took her jewelled fingers in his and set +her hand to his lips. "Welcome, Sir Launcelot!" quoth she; "welcome to this +place! For it is indeed a great honor to have here so noble and famous a +knight as you!" + +"Ha, Lady," said Sir Launcelot, "you are gracious to me beyond measure! But +I pray you tell me how I came to this place and by what means? For when I +fell asleep yesterday at noon I lay beneath an apple-tree upon a hillside; +and when I awoke--lo! I found myself in this fair chamber." + +[Sidenote: Queen Morgana seeks to beguile Sir Launcelot] To this Queen +Morgana le Fay made smiling reply as follows: "Sir, I am Queen Morgana le +Fay, of whom you may have heard tell, for I am the sister of King Arthur, +whose particular knight you are. Yesterday, at noon, riding with certain +other queens and a small court of knights, esquires, and demoiselles, we +went by where you lay sleeping. Finding you lying so, alone and without any +companion, I was able, by certain arts which I possess, to lay a gentle +enchantment upon you so that the sleep wherein you lay should remain +unbroken for three or four hours. So we brought you to this place in hopes +that you would stay with us for two or three days or more, and give us the +pleasure of your company. For your fame, which is very great, hath reached +even as far as this place, wherefore we have made a gentle prisoner of you +for this time being." + +"Lady," said Sir Launcelot, "such constraint as that would be very pleasing +to me at another time. But when I fell asleep I was with my cousin, Sir +Lionel, and I know not what hath become of him, and haply he will not know +what hath become of me should he seek me. Now I pray you let me go forth +and find my cousin, and when I have done so I will return to you again at +this place with an easy spirit." + +"Well, Messire," said Queen Morgana, "it shall be as you desire, only I +require of you some pledge of your return." (Herewith she drew from her +finger a golden ring set very richly with several jewels.) "Now take this +ring," she said, "and give me that ring which I see upon your finger, and +when you shall return hither each shall have his ring again from the +other." + +"Lady," said Sir Launcelot, "that may not be. For this ring was placed upon +my finger with such a pledge that it may never leave where it is whilst my +soul abideth in my body. Ask of me any other pledge and you shall have it; +but I cannot give this ring to you." + +[Sidenote: Queen Morgana hath anger for Sir Launcelot] Upon this Queen +Morgana's cheeks grew very red, and her eyes shone like sparks of fire. +"Ha, Sir Knight," she said, "I do not think you are very courteous to +refuse a lady and a queen so small a pledge as that. I am much affronted +with you that you should have done so. Wherefore, I now demand of you, as +the sister of King Arthur whom you serve, that you give me that ring." + +"Lady," said Sir Launcelot, "I may not do that, though it grieveth me much +to refuse you." + +Then Queen Morgana looked at Sir Launcelot awhile with a very angry +countenance, but she perceived that she was not to have her will with him, +wherefore she presently turned very quickly and went out of the room, +leaving Sir Launcelot much perturbed in spirit. For he knew how great were +the arts of Queen Morgana le Fay, and he could not tell what harm she might +seek to work upon him by those arts. But he ever bore in mind how that the +ring which he wore was sovereign against such malignant arts as she +practised, wherefore he took what comfort he could from that circumstance. + +Nevertheless, he abode in that chamber in great uncertainty for all that +day, and when night came he was afraid to let himself slumber, lest they of +the castle should come whilst he slept and work him some secret ill; +wherefore he remained awake whilst all the rest of the castle slept. Now at +the middle of the night, and about the time of the first cock-crow, he was +aware of a sound without and a light that fell through the crack of the +door. Then, in a little, the door was opened and there entered that young +damsel who had served him with his supper the night before, and she bare a +lighted taper in her hand. + +[Sidenote: The damsel cometh again to Sir Launcelot] When Sir Launcelot +perceived that damsel he said: "Maiden, do you come hither with good intent +or with evil intent?" "Sir," she said, "I come with good intent, for I take +great pity to see you in such a sorry case as this. I am a King's daughter +in attendance upon Queen Morgana le Fay, but she is so powerful an +enchantress that, in good sooth, I am in great fear lest she some time do +me an ill-hap. So to-morrow I leave her service and return unto my father's +castle. Meantime, I am of a mind to help you in your adversity. For Queen +Morgana trusts me, and I have knowledge of this castle and I have all the +keys thereof, wherefore I can set you free. And I will set you free if you +will, upon your part, serve me in a way that you can very easily do." + +"Well," said Sir Launcelot, "provided I may serve you in a way fitting my +knightly honor, I shall be glad to do so under any condition. Now I pray +you tell me what it is you would have of me." + +[Sidenote: The damsel speaketh to Sir Launcelot of her father, King +Bagdemagus] "Sir," said the damsel, "my father hath made a tournament +betwixt him and the King of North Wales upon Tuesday next, and that is just +a fortnight from this day. Now, already my father hath lost one such a +tournament, for he hath no very great array of knights upon his side, and +the King of North Wales hath three knights of King Arthur's Round Table to +aid his party. Because of the great help of these knights of the Round +Table, the King of North Wales won the last tournament and my father lost +it, and now he feareth to lose the tournament that is to be. Now if you +will enter upon my father's side upon the day of the tournament, I doubt +not that he shall win that tournament; for all men say that you are the +greatest knight in the world at this time. So if you will promise to help +my father and will seal that promise with your knightly word, then will I +set you free of this castle of enchantment." + +"Fair maiden," said Sir Launcelot, "tell me your name and your father's +name, for I cannot give you my promise until I know who ye be." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot promises to aid King Bagdemagus] "Sir," said the +demoiselle, "I am called Elouise the Fair, and my father is King +Bagdemagus." "Ha!" quoth Sir Launcelot, "I know your father, and I know +that he is a good king and a very worthy knight besides. If you did me no +service whatsoever, I would, at your simple asking, were I free of this +place, lend him such aid as it is in my power to give." + +At this the damsel took great joy and gave Sir Launcelot thanks beyond +measure. So they spoke together as to how that matter might be brought +about so that Sir Launcelot should be brought to talk to King Bagdemagus. +And the damsel Elouise said: "Let it be this way, Sir Launcelot. +Imprimis--thou art to know that somewhat of a long distance to the +westward of that place where thou didst fall asleep yesterday, there +standeth a very large, fair abbey known as the Abbey of Saint James the +Lesser. This abbey is surrounded by an exceedingly noble estate that lieth +all around about it so that no man that haps in that part of the country +can miss it if he make inquiry for it. Now I will go and take lodging at +that abbey a little while after I leave this place. So when it suits thee +to do so, come thou thither and thou wilt find me there and I will bring +thee to my father." + +"Very well," said Sir Launcelot, "let it be that way. I will come to that +place in good time for the tournament. Meantime, I prithee, rest in the +assurance that I shall never forgot thy kindness to me this day, nor thy +gracious behavior and speech unto me. Wherefore I shall deem it not a duty +but a pleasure to serve thee." + +[Sidenote: The damsel bringeth Sir Launcelot to freedom] So, having +arranged all these matters, the damsel Elouise opened the door of that room +and led Sir Launcelot out thence; and she led him through various passages +and down several long flights of steps, and so brought him at last unto a +certain chamber, where was his armor. Then the damsel helped Sir Launcelot +to encase him in his armor, so that in a little while he was altogether +armed as he had been when he fell asleep under that apple-tree. Thereafter +the damsel brought him out past the court-yard and unto the stable where +was Sir Launcelot's horse, and the horse knew him when he came. So he +saddled the horse by the light of a half-moon which sailed like a boat high +up in the sky through the silver, floating clouds, and therewith he was +ready to depart. Then the damsel opened the gate and he rode out into the +night, which was now drawing near the dawning of the day. + +Thus Elouise the Fair aided Sir Launcelot to escape from that castle of +enchantment, where else great ill might have befallen him. + + * * * * * + +And now it shall be told how Sir Launcelot did battle with Sir Turquine and +of what happened thereat. + +[Illustration: Sir Launcelot doeth battle with Sir Turquine] + + + + +Chapter Fourth + + +_How Sir Launcelot Sought Sir Lionel and How a Young Damsel Brought Him to +the Greatest Battle that Ever He Had in All His Life_. + +So Sir Launcelot rode through the forest, and whilst he rode the day began +to break. About sunrise he came out into an open clearing where certain +charcoal-burners were plying their trade. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot breaks his fast in the forest] To these rude +fellows he appeared out of the dark forest like some bright and shining +vision; and they made him welcome and offered him to eat of their food, and +he dismounted and sat down with them and brake his fast with them. And when +he had satisfied his hunger, he gave them grammercy for their +entertainment, and took horse and rode away. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot cometh again to the place of the apple-tree] He +made forward until about the middle of the morning, what time he came +suddenly upon that place where, two days before, he had fallen asleep +beneath the blooming apple-tree. Here he drew rein and looked about him for +a considerable while; for he thought that haply he might find some trace of +Sir Lionel thereabouts. But there was no trace of him, and Sir Launcelot +wist not what had become of him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot perceives a damsel upon a palfrey] Now whilst Sir +Launcelot was still there, not knowing what to do to find Sir Lionel, there +passed that way a damsel riding upon a white palfrey. Unto her Sir +Launcelot made salutation, and she made salutation to him and asked him +what cheer. "Maiden," said Sir Launcelot, "the cheer that I have is not +very good, seeing that I have lost my companion-at-arms and know not where +he is." Then he said: "Did you haply meet anywhere with a knight with the +figure of a red gryphon upon his shield?" whereunto the damsel answered: +"Nay, I saw none such." Then Sir Launcelot said: "Tell me, fair damsel, +dost thou know of any adventure hereabouts that I may undertake? For, as +thou seest, I am errant and in search of such." + +Upon this the damsel fell a-laughing: "Yea, Sir Knight," said she, "I know +of an adventure not far away, but it is an adventure that no knight yet +that ever I heard tell of hath accomplished. I can take thee to that +adventure if thou hast a desire to pursue it." + +"Why should I not pursue it," said Sir Launcelot, "seeing that I am here +for that very cause--to pursue adventure?" + +"Well," said the damsel, "then come with me, Sir Knight, I will take thee +to an adventure that shall satisfy thee." + +[Sidenote: The damsel leads Sir Launcelot to an adventure] So Sir +Launcelot and that damsel rode away from that place together; he upon his +great war-horse and she upon her ambling palfrey beside him. And the sun +shone down upon them, very pleasant and warm, and all who passed them +turned to look after them; for the maiden was very fair and slender, and +Sir Launcelot was of so noble and stately a mien that few could behold him +even from a distance without looking twice or three times upon him. And as +they travelled in that way together they fell into converse, and the damsel +said to Sir Launcelot: "Sir, thou appearest to be a very good knight, and +of such a sort as may well undertake any adventure with great hope of +success. Now I prithee to tell me thy name and what knight thou art." + +"Fair maiden," said Sir Launcelot, "as for telling you my name, that I will +gladly do. I am called Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and I am a knight of King +Arthur's court and of his Round Table." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot and the maiden discourse together] At this the +damsel was very greatly astonished and filled with admiration. "Hah!" quoth +she, "it is a great pleasure to me to fall in with you, Sir Launcelot, for +all the world now bespeaketh your fame. Little did I ever think to behold +your person, much less speak with you, and ride in this way with you. Now I +will tell you what this adventure is on which we are set; it is this--there +is, some small distance from this, a castle of a knight hight Sir Turquine, +who hath in his prison a great many knights of King Arthur's court, and +several knights of his Round Table. These knights he keepeth there in great +dole and misery, for it is said that their groans may be heard by the +passers along the high-road below the castle. This Sir Turquine is held to +be the greatest knight in the world (unless it be thou) for he hath never +yet been overcome in battle, whether a-horseback or a-foot. But, indeed, I +think it to be altogether likely that thou wilt overcome him." + +"Fair damsel," quoth Sir Launcelot, "I too have hope that I shall hold mine +own with him, when I meet him, and to that I shall do my best endeavor. Yet +this and all other matters are entirely in the hands of God." + +Then the damsel said, "If you should overcome this Sir Turquine, I know of +still another adventure which, if you do not undertake it, I know of no one +else who may undertake to bring it to a successful issue." + +Quoth Sir Launcelot, "I am glad to hear of that or of any other adventure, +for I take great joy in such adventuring. Now, tell me, what is this other +adventure?" + +[Sidenote: The maiden tells Sir Launcelot of the savage forest knight] +"Sir," said the damsel, "a long distance to the west of this there is a +knight who hath a castle in the woods and he is the evilest disposed knight +that ever I heard tell of. For he lurks continually in the outskirts of the +woods, whence he rushes forth at times upon those who pass by. Especially +he is an enemy to all ladies of that country, for he hath taken many of +them prisoners to his castle and hath held them in the dungeon thereof for +ransom; and sometimes he hath held them for a long while. Now I am fain +that thou undertake that adventure for my sake." + +"Well," said Sir Launcelot, "I believe it would be a good thing for any +knight to do to rid the world of such an evil-disposed knight as that, so +if I have the good fortune to overcome this Sir Turquine, I give my +knightly word that I will undertake this adventure for thy sake, if so be +thou wilt go with me for to show me the way to his castle." + +"That I will do with all gladness," said the damsel, "for it is great pride +for any lady to ride with you upon such an adventure." + +Thus they talked, and all was arranged betwixt them. And thus they rode +very pleasantly through that valley for the distance of two leagues or a +little more, until they came to that place where the road crossed the +smooth stream of water afore told of; and there was the castle of Sir +Turquine as afore told of; and there was the thorn-bush and the basin +hanging upon the thorn-bush as afore told of. Then the maiden said: "Sir +Launcelot, beat upon that basin and so thou shalt summon Sir Turquine to +battle with thee." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot smites upon the basin] So Sir Launcelot rode to +that basin where it hung and he smote upon it very violently with the butt +of his spear. And he smote upon that basin again and again until he smote +the bottom from out it; but at that time immediately no one came. + +Then, after a while, he was ware of one who came riding toward him, and he +beheld that he who came riding was a knight very huge of frame, and long +and strong of limb. And he beheld that the knight was clad entirely in +black, and that the horse upon which he rode and all the furniture of the +horse was black. And he beheld that this knight drave before him another +horse, and that across the saddle of that other horse there lay an armed +knight, bound hand and foot; and Sir Launcelot wist that the sable knight +who came riding was that Sir Turquine whom he sought. + +[Sidenote: The sable knight bringeth Sir Gaheris captive] So Sir Turquine +came very rapidly along the highway toward where Sir Launcelot sat, driving +that other horse and the captive knight before him all the while. And as +they came nearer and nearer Sir Launcelot thought that he should know who +the wounded knight was and when they came right close, so that he could see +the markings of the shield of that captive knight, he wist that it was Sir +Gaheris, the brother of Sir Gawaine, and the nephew of King Arthur, whom +Sir Turquine brought thither in that wise. + +At this Sir Launcelot was very wroth; for he could not abide seeing a +fellow-knight of the Round Table treated with such disregard as that which +Sir Gaheris suffered at the hands of Sir Turquine; wherefore Sir Launcelot +rode to meet Sir Turquine, and he cried out: "Sir Knight! put that wounded +man down from his horse, and let him rest for a while, and we two will +prove our strength, the one against the other! For it is a shame for thee +to treat a noble knight of the Round Table with such despite as thou art +treating that knight." + +"Sir," said Sir Turquine, "as I treat that knight, so treat I all knights +of the Round Table--and so will I treat thee if thou be of the Round +Table." + +"Well," said Sir Launcelot, "as for that, I am indeed of the Round Table, +and I have come hither for no other reason than for to do battle with +thee." + +"Sir Knight," said Sir Turquine, "thou speakest very boldly; now I pray +thee to tell me what knight thou art and what is thy name." + +"Messire," said Sir Launcelot, "I have no fear to do that. I am called Sir +Launcelot of the Lake, and I am a knight of King Arthur's, who made me +knight with his own hand." + +"Ha!" said Sir Turquine, "that is very good news to me, for of all knights +in the world thou art the one I most desire to meet, for I have looked for +thee for a long while with intent to do battle with thee. For it was thou +who didst slay my brother Sir Caradus at Dolorous Gard, who was held to be +the best knight in all the world. Wherefore, because of this, I have the +greatest despite against thee of any man in the world, and it was because +of that despite that I waged particular battle against all the knights of +King Arthur's court. And in despite of thee I now hold five score and eight +knights, who are thy fellows, in the dismallest dungeon of my castle. Also +I have to tell thee that among those knights is thine own brother, Sir +Ector, and thy kinsman, Sir Lionel. For I overthrew Sir Ector and Sir +Lionel only a day or two ago, and now they lie almost naked in the lower +parts of that castle yonder. I will put down this knight as thou biddst me, +and when I have done battle with thee I hope to tie thee on his +saddle-horn in his place." + +So Sir Turquine loosed the cords that bound Sir Gaheris and set him from +off the horse's back, and Sir Gaheris, who was sorely wounded and very +weak, sat him down upon a slab of stone near-by. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot and Sir Turquine do battle together] Then Sir +Launcelot and Sir Turquine made themselves ready at all points, and each +took such stand as seemed to him to be best; and when each was ready for +the assault, each set spurs to his horse and rushed the one against the +other with such terrible violence that they smote together like a clap of +thunder. + +So fierce was that onset that each horse fell back upon the ground and only +by great skill and address did the knight who rode him void his saddle, so +as to save himself from a fall. And in that meeting the horse of Sir +Turquine was killed outright and the back of Sir Launcelot's horse was +broken and he could not rise, but lay like dead upon the ground. + +Then each knight drew his sword and set his shield before him and they came +together with such wrath that it appeared as though their fierce eyes shot +sparks of fire through the oculariums of their helmets. So they met and +struck; and they struck many scores of times, and their blows were so +violent that neither shield nor armor could withstand the strokes they +gave. For their shields were cleft and many pieces of armor were hewn from +their limbs, so that the ground was littered with them. And each knight +gave the other so many grim wounds that the ground presently was all +sprinkled with red where they stood. + +Now that time the day had waxed very hot, for it was come high noontide, so +presently Sir Turquine cried out: "Stay thee, Sir Launcelot, for I have a +boon to ask!" At this Sir Launcelot stayed his hand and said: "What is it +thou hast to ask, Sir Knight?" Sir Turquine said: "Messire, I am +athirst--let me drink." And Sir Launcelot said: "Go and drink." + +So Sir Turquine went to that river and entered into that water, which was +presently stained with red all about him. And he stooped where he stood and +drank his fill, and presently came forth again altogether refreshed. + +Therewith he took up his sword once more and rushed at Sir Launcelot and +smote with double strength, so that Sir Launcelot bent before him and had +much ado to defend himself from these blows. + +Then by and by Sir Launcelot waxed faint upon his part and was athirst, and +he cried out: "I crave of thee a boon, Sir Knight!" "What wouldst thou +have?" said Sir Turquine. "Sir Knight," said Sir Launcelot, "bide while I +drink, for I am athirst." "Nay," said Sir Turquine, "thou shalt not drink +until thou quenchest thy thirst in Paradise." "Ha!" cried Sir Launcelot, +"thou art a foul churl and no true knight. For when thou wert athirst, I +let thee drink; and now that I am athirst, thou deniest me to quench my +thirst." + +Therewith he was filled with such anger that he was like one gone wode; +wherefore he flung aside his shield and took his sword in both hands and +rushed upon Sir Turquine and smote him again and again; and the blows he +gave were so fierce that Sir Turquine waxed somewhat bewildered and bore +aback, and held his shield low for faintness. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot overcometh Sir Turquine] Then when Sir Launcelot +beheld that Sir Turquine was faint in that wise, he rushed upon him and +catched him by the beaver of his helmet and pulled him down upon his knees. +And Sir Launcelot rushed Sir Turquine's helmet from off his head. And he +lifted his sword and smote Sir Turquine's head from off his shoulders, so +that it rolled down upon the ground. + +Then for a while Sir Launcelot stood there panting for to catch his breath +after that sore battle, for he was nearly stifled with the heat and fury +thereof. Then he went down into the water, and he staggered like a drunken +man as he went, and the water ran all red at his coming. And Sir Launcelot +stooped and slaked his thirst, which was very furious and hot. + +Thereafter he came up out of the water again, all dripping, and he went to +where the damsel was and he said to her; "Damsel, lo, I have overcome Sir +Turquine; now I am ready to go with thee upon that other adventure, as I +promised thee I would." + +At this the damsel was astonished beyond measure, wherefore she cried: +"Sir, thou art sorely hurt, and in need of rest for two or three days, and +maybe a long time more, until thy wounds are healed." + +"Nay," said Sir Launcelot, "no need to wait; I will go with thee now." + +Then Sir Launcelot went to Sir Gaheris--for Sir Gaheris had been sitting +for all that while upon that slab of stone. Sir Launcelot said to Sir +Gaheris: "Fair Lord, be not angry if I take your horse, for I must +presently go with this damsel, and you see mine own horse hath broke his +back." + +"Sir Knight," said Sir Gaheris, "this day you have saved both me and my +horse, wherefore it is altogether fitting that my horse or anything that is +mine should be yours to do with as you please. So I pray you take my horse, +only tell me your name and what knight you are; for I swear by my sword +that I never saw any knight in all the world do battle so wonderfully as +you have done to-day." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot makes himself known to Sir Gaheris] "Sir," said +Sir Launcelot, "I am called Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and I am a knight of +King Arthur's. So it is altogether fitting that I should do such service +unto you as this, seeing that you are the brother of that dear knight, Sir +Gawaine. For if I should not do this battle that I have done for your sake, +I should yet do it for the sake of my lord, King Arthur, who is your uncle +and Sir Gawaine's uncle." + +Now when Sir Gaheris heard who Sir Launcelot was, he made great exclamation +of amazement. "Ha, Sir Launcelot!" he cried, "and is it thou! Often have I +heard of thee and of thy prowess at arms! I have desired to meet thee more +than any knight in the world; but never did I think to meet thee in such a +case as this." Therewith Sir Gaheris arose, and went to Sir Launcelot, and +Sir Launcelot came to him and they met and embraced and kissed one another +upon the face; and from that time forth they were as brethren together. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot bids Sir Gaheris to free the castle captives] +Then Sir Launcelot said to Sir Gaheris: "I pray you, Lord, for to go up +unto yonder castle, and bring succor to those unfortunates who lie therein. +For I think you will find there many fellow-knights of the Round Table. And +I believe that you will find therein my brother, Sir Ector, and my cousin, +Sir Lionel. And if you find any other of my kindred I pray you to set them +free and to do what you can for to comfort them and to put them at their +ease. And if there is any treasure in that castle, I bid you give it unto +those knights who are prisoners there, for to compensate them for the pains +they have endured. Moreover, I pray you tell Sir Ector and Sir Lionel not +to follow after me, but to return to court and wait for me there, for I +have two adventures to undertake and I must essay them alone." + +Then Sir Gaheris was very much astonished, and he cried out upon Sir +Launcelot: "Sir! Sir! Surely you will not go forth upon another adventure +at this time, seeing that you are so sorely wounded." + +But Sir Launcelot said: "Yea, I shall go now; for I do not think that my +wounds are so deep that I shall not be able to do my devoirs when my time +cometh to do them." + +At this Sir Gaheris was amazed beyond measure, for Sir Launcelot was very +sorely wounded, and his armor was much broken in that battle, wherefore Sir +Gaheris had never beheld a person who was so steadfast of purpose as to do +battle in such a case. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot departs with the damsel] So Sir Launcelot mounted +Sir Gaheris' horse and rode away with that young damsel, and Sir Gaheris +went to the castle as Sir Launcelot had bidden him to do. + +[Sidenote: Sir Gaheris frees the castle captives] In that castle he found +five score and eight prisoners in dreadful case, for some who were there +had been there for a long time, so that the hair of them had grown down +upon their shoulders, and their beards had grown down upon their breasts. +And some had been there but a short time, as was the case of Sir Lionel and +Sir Ector. But all were in a miserable sorry plight; and all of those sad +prisoners but two were knights of King Arthur's court, and eight of them +were knights of the Round Table. All these crowded around Sir Gaheris, for +they saw that he was wounded and they deemed that it was he had set them +free, wherefore they gave him thanks beyond measure. + +"Not so," said Sir Gaheris, "it was not I who set you free; it was Sir +Launcelot of the Lake. He overcame Sir Turquine in such a battle as I never +before beheld. For I saw that battle with mine own eyes, being at a little +distance seated upon a stone slab and wounded as you see. And I make my +oath that I never beheld so fierce and manful a combat in all of my life. +But now your troubles are over and done, and Sir Launcelot greets you all +with words of good cheer and bids me tell you to take all ease and comfort +that you can in being free, and in especial he bids me greet you, Sir +Ector, and you, Sir Lionel, and to tell you that you are to follow him no +farther, but to return to court and bide there until he cometh; for he +goeth upon an adventure which he must undertake by himself." + +[Sidenote: Sir Lionel and Sir Ector and Sir Kay follow after Sir +Launcelot] "Not so," said Sir Lionel, "I will follow after him, and find +him." And so said Sir Ector likewise, that he would go and find Sir +Launcelot. Then Sir Kay the Seneschal said that he would ride with those +two; so the three took horse and rode away together to find Sir Launcelot. + +As for those others, they ransacked throughout the castle of Sir Turquine, +and they found twelve treasure-chests full of treasure, both of silver and +of gold, together with many precious jewels; and they found many bales of +cloth of silk and of cloth of gold. So, as Sir Launcelot had bid them do +so, they divided the treasure among themselves, setting aside a part for +Sir Ector and a part for Sir Lionel and a part for Sir Kay. Then, whereas +before they had been mournful, now they were joyful at having been made so +rich with those precious things. + +Thus happily ended that great battle with Sir Turquine which was very +likely the fiercest and most dolorous fight that ever Sir Launcelot had in +all of his life. For, unless it was Sir Tristram, he never found any other +knight so big as Sir Turquine except Sir Galahad, who was his own son. + +And now it shall be told how Sir Launcelot fared upon that adventure which +he had promised the young damsel to undertake. + +[Illustration: Sir Launcelot sits with Sir Hilaire and Croisette] + + + + +Chapter Fifth + + +_How Sir Launcelot Went Upon an Adventure with the Damsel Croisette as +Companion, and How He Overcame Sir Peris of the Forest Sauvage._ + +Now after Sir Launcelot had finished that battle with Sir Turquine as +aforetold, and when he had borrowed the horse of Sir Gaheris, he rode away +from that place of combat with the young damsel, with intent to carry out +the other adventure which he had promised her to undertake. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Launcelot's wounds pain him] But though he rode with +her, yet, for a while, he said very little to her, for his wounds ached him +sorely and he was in a great deal of pain. So, because of this, he had +small mind to talk, but only to endure what he had to endure with as much +patience as he might command. And the damsel upon her part was somewhat +aware of what Sir Launcelot was suffering and she was right sorry for him, +wherefore she did not trouble him with idle discourse at that moment, but +waited for a while before she spake. + +Then by and by she said to him: "Messire, I would that thou wouldst rest +for some days, and take thine ease, and have thy wounds searched and +dressed, and have thy armor looked to and redded. Now there is a castle at +some distance from this, and it is my brother's castle, and thither we may +go in a little pass. There thou mayst rest for this night and take thine +ease. For I know that my brother will be wonderfully glad to see thee +because thou art so famous." + +Then Sir Launcelot turned his eyes upon the damsel: "Fair maiden," quoth +he, "I make confession that I do in sooth ache a very great deal, and that +I am somewhat aweary with the battle I have endured this day. Wherefore I +am very well content to follow thy commands in this matter. But I prithee, +damsel, tell me what is thy name, for I know not yet how thou art called." + +"Sir," she said, "I am called Croisette of the Dale, and my brother is +called Sir Hilaire of the Dale, and it is to his castle that I am about to +take thee to rest for this time." + +Then Sir Launcelot said: "I go with thee, damsel, wherever it is thy will +to take me." + +[Sidenote: Of how Sir Launcelot and the damsel ride together] So they two +rode through that valley at a slow pace and very easily. And toward the +waning of the afternoon they left the valley by a narrow side way, and so +in a little while came into a shallow dale, very fertile and smiling, but +of no great size. For the more part that dale was all spread over with +fields and meadow-lands, with here and there a plantation of trees in full +blossom and here and there a farm croft. A winding river flowed down +through the midst of this valley, very quiet and smooth, and brimming its +grassy banks, where were alder and sedge and long rows of pollard willows +overreaching the water. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot and Croisette come to a fair valley] At the +farther end of the valley was a castle of very comely of appearance, being +built part of stone and part of bright red bricks; and the castle had many +windows of glass and tall chimneys, some a-smoke. About the castle and nigh +to it was a little village of thatched cottages, with many trees in blossom +and some without blossom shading the gables of the small houses that took +shelter beneath them. + +Now when Sir Launcelot and Croisette came into that little valley it was at +the declining of the day and the sky was all alight with the slanting sun, +and the swallows were flying above the smooth shining surface of the river +in such multitudes that it was wonderful to behold them. And the lowing +herds were winding slowly along by the river in their homeward way, and all +was so peaceful and quiet that Sir Launcelot drew rein for pure pleasure, +and sat for some while looking down upon that fair, happy dale. Then by and +by he said: "Croisette, meseems I have never beheld so sweet and fair a +country as this, nor one in which it would be so pleasant to live." + +Upon this Croisette was very much pleased, and she smiled upon Sir +Launcelot. "Think you so, Sir Launcelot?" quoth she. "Well, in sooth, I am +very glad that this valley pleasures you; for I love it beyond any other +place in all the world. For here was I born and here was I raised in that +castle yonder. For that is my brother's castle and it was my father's +castle before his time; wherefore meseems that no place in all the world +can ever be so dear to my heart as this dale." + +[Sidenote: Croisette bringeth Sir Launcelot to her brother's house] +Thereupon they went forward up that little valley, and along by the +smoothly flowing river, and the farther they went the more Sir Launcelot +took pleasure in all that he beheld. Thus they came through the pretty +village where the folk stood and watched with great admiration how that +noble knight rode that way; and so they came to the castle and rode into +the court-yard thereof. Then presently there came the lord of that castle, +who was Sir Hilaire of the Dale. And Sir Hilaire greeted Sir Launcelot, +saying: "Welcome, Sir Knight. This is great honor you do me to come into +this quiet dale with my sister, for we do not often have with us travellers +of such quality as you." + +"Brother," said Croisette, "you may well say that it is an honor to have +this knight with us, for this is none other knight than the great Sir +Launcelot of the Lake. This day I beheld him overcome Sir Turquine in fair +and honorable battle. So he doth indeed do great honor for to visit us in +this wise." + +Then Sir Hilaire looked at Sir Launcelot very steadily, and he said: "Sir +Launcelot, your fame is so great that it hath reached even unto this +peaceful outland place; wherefore it shall not soon be forgotten here how +you came hither. Now, I pray you, come in and refresh yourself, for I see +that you are wounded and I doubt not you are weary." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot is made at ease] Upon this several attendants +came, and they took Sir Launcelot and led him to a pleasant chamber. There +they unarmed him and gave him a bath in tepid water, and there came a leech +and searched his wounds and dressed them. Then those in attendance upon him +gave him a soft robe of cloth of velvet, and when Sir Launcelot had put it +on he felt much at ease, and in great comfort of body. + +By and by, when evening had fallen, a very good, excellent feast was spread +in the hall of the castle, and there sat down thereto Sir Launcelot and Sir +Hilaire and the damsel Croisette. As they ate they discoursed of various +things, and Sir Launcelot told many things concerning his adventures, so +that all who were there were very quiet, listening to what he said. For it +was as though he were a visitor come to them from some other world, very +strange and distant, of which they had no knowledge, wherefore they all +listened so as not to lose a single word of what he told them. So that +evening passed very pleasantly, and Sir Launcelot went to his bed with +great content of spirit. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Launcelot abides at the castle of Sir Hilaire] So Sir +Launcelot abided for several days in that place until his wounds were +healed. Then one morning, after they had all broken their fast, he made +request that he and the damsel might be allowed to depart upon that +adventure which he had promised her to undertake, and unto this Sir Hilaire +gave his consent. + +Now, during this while, Sir Launcelot's armor had been so pieced and mended +by the armor-smiths of that castle that when he donned it it was, in a +measure, as sound as it had ever been, and of that Sir Launcelot was very +glad. So having made ready in all ways he and Croisette took leave of that +place, and all they who were there bade them adieu and gave Sir Launcelot +God-speed upon that adventure. + +Now some while after they left that dale they rode through a very ancient +forest, where the sod was exceedingly soft underfoot and silent to the +tread of the horses, and where it was very full of bursting foliage +overhead. And as they rode at an easy pace through that woodland place they +talked of many things in a very pleasant and merry discourse. + +Quoth the damsel unto Sir Launcelot: "Messire, I take very great wonder +that thou hast not some special lady for to serve in all ways as a knight +should serve a lady." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot and Croisette discourse together] "Ha, damsel," +said Sir Launcelot, "I do serve a lady in that manner and she is peerless +above all other ladies; for that lady is the Lady Guinevere, who is King +Arthur's queen. Yet though I am her servant I serve her from a very great +distance. For in serving her I am like one who standeth upon the earth, yet +looketh upward ever toward the bright and morning star. For though such an +one may delight in that star from a distance, yet may he never hope to +reach an altitude whereon that star standeth." + +"Heyday!" quoth Croisette, "for that matter, there are other ways of +serving a lady than that wise. Were I a knight meseems I would rather serve +a lady nearer at hand than at so great distance as that of which thou +speakest. For in most cases a knight would rather serve a lady who may +smile upon him nigh at hand, and not stand so far off from him as a star in +the sky." But to this Sir Launcelot made no reply but only smiled. Then in +a little Croisette said: "Dost thou never think of a lady in that wise, Sir +Launcelot?" + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot speaketh of the Lady Guinevere] "Nay," said Sir +Launcelot, "and neither do I desire so to serve any lady. For it is thus +with me, Croisette--for all that while of my life until I was eighteen +years of age I lived in a very wonderful land beneath a magical lake, of +which I may not tell thee. Then I came out of that lake and into this world +and King Arthur made me a knight. Now because I was so long absent from +this world of mankind and never saw aught of it until I was grown into a +man, meseems I love that world so greatly that I cannot tell thee how +beautiful and wonderful it seems to me. For it is so wonderful and so +beautiful that methinks my soul can never drink its fill of the pleasures +thereof. Yea; methinks I love every blade of grass upon the fields, and +every leaf upon every tree: and that I love everything that creepeth or +that flyeth, so that when I am abroad under the sky and behold those things +about me I am whiles like to weep for very joy of them. Wherefore it is, +Croisette, that I would rather be a knight-errant in this world which I +love so greatly than to be a king seated upon a throne with a golden crown +upon my head and all men kneeling unto me. Yea; meseems that because of my +joy in these things I have no room in my heart for such a love of lady as +thou speakest of, but only for the love of knight-errantry, and a great +wish for to make this world in which I now live the better and the happier +for my dwelling in it. Thus it is, Croisette, that I have no lady for to +serve in the manner thou speakest of. Nor will I ever have such, saving +only the Lady Guinevere, the thought of whom standeth above me like that +bright star afore spoken of." + +"Ha," quoth Croisette, "then am I sad for the sake of some lady, I know not +who. For if thou wert of another mind thou mightest make some lady very +glad to have so great a knight as thou art to serve her." Upon this Sir +Launcelot laughed with a very cheerful spirit, for he and the damsel were +grown to be exceedingly good friends, as you may suppose from such +discourse as this. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot perceives the Castle of Sir Peris] So they wended +their way in this fashion until somewhat after the prime of day, and by +that time they had come out of that forest and into a very rugged country. +For this place into which they were now come was a sort of rocky valley, +rough and bare and in no wise beautiful. When they had entered into it they +perceived, a great way off, a castle built up upon the rocks. And that +castle was built very high, so that the roofs and the chimneys thereof +stood wonderfully sharp and clear against the sky; yet the castle was so +distant that it looked like a toy which you might easily take into your +hand and hold betwixt your fingers. + +Then Croisette said to Sir Launcelot: "Yonder is the castle of that +evil-minded knight of whom I spake to thee yesterday, and his name is Sir +Peris of the Forest Sauvage. Below that castle, where the road leads into +that woodland, there doth he lurk to seize upon wayfarers who come +thitherward. And indeed he is a very catiff knight, for, though he is +strong and powerful, he doth not often attack other knights, but only +ladies and demoiselles who come hither. For these he may take captive +without danger to himself. For I believe that though he is so big of frame +yet is he a coward in his heart." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot advises Croisette what to do] Then Sir Launcelot +sat for a while and regarded that castle, and fell into thought; and he +said, "Damsel, if so be this knight is such a coward as thou sayest, +meseems that if I travel with thee I shall have some ado to come upon him; +because, if he sees me with thee, he may keep himself hidden in the thicket +of the forest from my sight. Now I will have it this way; do thou ride +along the highway in plain sight of the castle, and I will keep within the +woodland skirts, where I may have thee in sight and still be hidden from +the sight of others. Then if this knight assail thee, as I think it likely +he may do, I will come out and do battle with him ere he escapes." + +So it was arranged as Sir Launcelot said and they rode in that wise: +Croisette rode along the highway, and Sir Launcelot rode under the trees in +the outskirts of the forest, where he was hidden from the eyes of anyone +who might be looking that way. So they went on for a long pass until they +came pretty nigh to where the castle was. + +[Sidenote: Sir Peris attacks Croisette] Then, as they came to a certain +part of the road that dipped down toward a small valley, they were suddenly +aware of a great noise, and immediately there issued out from the forest a +knight, large and strong of frame, and followed close behind by a squire +dressed altogether in scarlet from head to foot. This knight bore down with +great speed upon where Croisette was, and the esquire followed close behind +him. When these two had come near to Croisette, the esquire leaped from off +his horse and caught her palfrey by the bridle, and the knight came close +to her and catched her as though to drag her off from her horse. + +With that Croisette shrieked very loud, and immediately Sir Launcelot broke +out from the woods and rode down upon where all this was toward with a +noise like to thunder. As he came he cried aloud in a great and terrible +voice: "Sir Knight, let go that lady, and turn thou to me and defend +thyself!" + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot overthrows Sir Peris] Then Sir Peris of the +Forest Sauvage looked this way and that with intent to escape, but he was +aware that he could not escape from Sir Launcelot, wherefore he took his +shield in hand and drew his sword and put himself into a position of +defence; for, whereas he could not escape, he was, perforce, minded to do +battle. Then Sir Launcelot threw aside his spear, and he set his shield +before him and he took his sword in his hand, and he drave his horse +against Sir Peris. And when he had come nigh to Sir Peris he raised himself +in his stirrups and struck him such a buffet that I believe nothing in the +world could withstand its force. For though Sir Peris raised his shield +against that blow, yet the sword of Sir Launcelot smote through the shield +and it smote down the arm that held the shield, and it smote with such a +terrible force upon the helm of Sir Peris that Sir Peris fell down from his +horse and lay in a swoon without any motion at all. + +Then Sir Launcelot leaped down from his horse and rushed off the helm of +Sir Peris, and lifted his sword with intent to strike off his head. + +Upon that the senses of Sir Peris came somewhat back to him, and he set his +palms together and he cried out, though in a very weak voice: "Spare me, +Sir Knight! I yield myself to thee!" + +"Why should I spare thee?" said Sir Launcelot. + +"Sir," said Sir Peris, "I beseech thee, by thy knighthood, to spare me." + +"Well," said Sir Launcelot, "since thou hast besought me upon my knighthood +I cannot do else than spare thee. But if I do spare thee, thou shalt have +to endure such shame that any true knight in thy stead would rather die +than be spared in such a manner." + +"Sir Knight," said Sir Peris, "I am content with anything thou mayst do, so +be that thou wilt spare my life." + +Upon this Sir Launcelot bade Sir Peris rise. And he took the halter of Sir +Peris's horse, and he bound Sir Peris's arms behind his back, and when he +had done this he drove him up to his castle at the point of his lance. And +when they came to the castle he bade Sir Peris have open the castle; and +Sir Peris did so; and thereupon Sir Launcelot and Sir Peris entered the +castle and the damsel and the squire followed after them. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot liberates the captive ladies] In that castle were +fourteen ladies of high degree held captive for ransom; and some of these +had been there for a considerable time, to their great discomfort. All +these were filled with joy when they were aware that Sir Launcelot had set +them free. So they came to Sir Launcelot and paid their court to him and +gave him great thanks beyond measure. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot gives the castle treasure to the captive ladies] +Sir Launcelot and Croisette abode in that castle all that night, and when +the next morning had come Sir Launcelot made search all over that castle, +and he found a considerable treasure of silver and gold, which had been +gathered there by the ransom of the ladies and the damsels of degree whom +Sir Peris had made prisoner aforetime. All this treasure Sir Launcelot +divided among those ladies who were prisoners, and a share of the treasure +he gave to the damsel Croisette, because that they two were such good +friends and because Croisette had brought him thither to that adventure, +and thereof Croisette was very glad. But Sir Launcelot kept none of that +treasure for himself. + +Then Croisette said: "How is this, Sir Launcelot? You have not kept any of +this treasure for yourself, yet you won it by your own force of arms, +wherefore it is altogether yours to keep if you will to do so." + +"Croisette," said Sir Launcelot, "I do not care for such things as this +treasure; for when I lived within that lake of which I have spoken to thee, +such things as this treasure were there as cheap as pebbles which you may +gather up at any river-bed, wherefore it has come to pass that such things +have no value to me." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot makes Sir Peris a dishonored captive] Now, after +all this had been settled, Sir Launcelot had Sir Peris of the Forest +Sauvage haled before him, and Sir Launcelot said: "Catiff Knight, now is it +time for thy shame to come upon thee." Therewith he had Sir Peris stripped +of all armor and raiment, even to his jerkin and his hose, and he had his +arms tied behind his back, and he had a halter set about his neck; and Sir +Launcelot tied the halter that was about the neck of Sir Peris to the horn +of the saddle of his own horse, so that when he rode away with Croisette +Sir Peris must needs follow behind him at whatever gait the horse of Sir +Launcelot might take. + +[Sidenote: Sir Hilaire sendeth Sir Peris to King Arthur] So Sir Launcelot +and Croisette rode back to the manor of Sir Hilaire of the Dale with Sir +Peris running behind them, and when they had come there Sir Launcelot +delivered Sir Peris unto Sir Hilaire, and Sir Hilaire had Sir Peris bound +upon a horse's back with his feet underneath the belly of the horse; and +sent him to Camelot for King Arthur to deal with him as might seem to the +King to be fit. + +But Sir Launcelot remained with Sir Hilaire of the Dale all the next day +and he was very well content to be in that pleasant place. And upon the day +after that, which was Sunday, he set forth at about the prime of the day to +go to that abbey of monks where he had appointed to meet the damsel Elouise +the Fair, as aforetold. + +And now you shall hear how Sir Launcelot behaved at the tournament of King +Bagdemagus, if it please you to read that which herewith immediately +followeth. + +[Illustration: Sir Launcelot and Elouise the Fair] + + + + +Chapter Sixth + + +_How Sir Launcelot Took Part in the Tournament Between King Bagdemagus and +the King of North Wales, and How He Won that Battle for King Bagdemagus._ + +[Sidenote: How Sir Launcelot rode to find Elouise the Fair] Sir Launcelot +rode by many highways and many byways at a very slow pace, stopping now and +then when it pleased him to do so, for he took great joy in being free in +the open air again. For the day was warm and that time the clouds were very +thick, drifting in great abundance across the sky. And anon there would +fall a sudden shower of rain, and anon the sun would shine forth again, +very warm and strong, so that all the world sparkled as with incredible +myriads of jewels. Then the cock crowed lustily because the shower was +past, and another cock answered him far away, and all the world suddenly +smiled, and the water trickled everywhere, and the little hills clapped +their hands for joy. So Sir Launcelot took great pleasure in the day and he +went his way at so easy a pace that it was night-time ere he reached that +abbey of monks where he was to meet Elouise the Fair. + +Now that evening Elouise was sitting in a certain apartment of the abbey +overlooking the court-yard, and a maiden was reading to her by the light of +several waxen tapers from a book of painted pictures. And the maiden read +in a voice that was both high and clear; meanwhile, Elouise sat very still +and listened to what she read. Now while Elouise the Fair sat so, there was +of a sudden the sound of a great horse coming on the stone pavement of the +court below. Therewith Elouise arose hastily and ran to the window and +looked down into that court-yard. Then she saw who he was that came, and +that it was Sir Launcelot of the Lake. For the light was not yet altogether +gone from the sky, which was all shining with gray, so that she could see +who it was who came there. + +Then Elouise gave great exclamation of joy, and clapped her hands. And she +ran down to the court where Sir Launcelot was, and several of her maidens +went with her. + +[Sidenote: Elouise the Fair gives welcome to Sir Launcelot] When she had +come to the court she gave great welcome to Sir Launcelot, and she summoned +many attendants and she bade them look to Sir Launcelot. So some of them +aided Sir Launcelot to dismount and some took his horse, and some brought +him up to a chamber that had been set apart for him, and there unarmed and +served him, and set him at his ease. + +Then Elouise sent to him a soft robe of purple cloth of velvet, lined with +fur, and Sir Launcelot put it upon him and took great comfort in it. + +After that Sir Launcelot descended to where Elouise was, and he found that +a fair supper had been set for his refreshment. So he sat and ate, and +Elouise the Fair herself served him. + +[Sidenote: Elouise sends for King Bagdemagus] Meanwhile she had sent for +her father, King Bagdemagus, who was at that time no great distance away, +and a little after Sir Launcelot had finished his supper King Bagdemagus +came to that place, much wondering why Elouise had sent for him. + +When King Bagdemagus came, Elouise took him by the hand and led him to Sir +Launcelot, and she said: "Sire, here is a knight who, for my sake, is come +to help you in this tournament upon Tuesday." + +Now King Bagdemagus had never before seen Sir Launcelot, so he knew not who +that knight was. Wherefore he said to him: "Messire, I am much beholden to +you for coming to my aid in this battle. Now I pray you that you tell me +your name and what knight you are." + +"Lord," said Sir Launcelot, "I am hight Launcelot, and am surnamed 'He of +the Lake.'" + +Now when King Bagdemagus heard this he was astonished beyond measure, +wherefore he cried out, "This is wonderful, that you who are the very +flower of knighthood should be here, and that you should come to aid me in +my battle!" + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot talks with King Bagdemagus] "Sire," said Sir +Launcelot, "I know not how much aid I may be to thee until that matter is +proven. But of a surety I owe it to this damsel to do what I am able at her +request, in return for all that she hath done for me to aid me in my time +of great peril. So it is a very small repayment for me to aid thee, her +father, in thy time of difficulties. Wherefore if, by good hap, I may be of +use to thee in this battle which is nigh at hand, then I shall be glad +beyond measure that I have paid some part of that debt which I owe to this +lady." + +"Messire," said King Bagdemagus, "I give thee grammercy for thy good will +in this matter. I am sure that, with thy aid, I shall be successful in this +battle, and that it will always be most renowned in the history of chivalry +because thou hast taken part in it." + +So spake they with great courtesy to one another. Then, by and by, Sir +Launcelot said: "Sir, I pray you tell me who are those knights of King +Arthur's court who are upon the part of the King of North Wales? For I +would fain know against whom I am to do battle." To which King Bagdemagus +said: "Messire, those three knights of the Round Table are as +follows--there is Sir Mordred, nephew unto King Arthur, and there is Sir +Galahantine, and there is Sir Mador de la Porte." + +"Ha," quoth Sir Launcelot, "these are three very good knights indeed, and I +am not at all astonished that the King of North Wales should have had such +good fortune aforetime in that other tournament with you, seeing that he +had three such knights as they to do battle upon his side." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot arranges the order of battle with King +Bagdemagus] After this they fell into discourse as to the manner in which +they should do battle upon the morrow, and Sir Launcelot advised in this +wise: "Lord, let me take three knights of yours, such as you trust, and +such as you hold to be the strongest knights of your party. Let these three +knights paint their shields altogether white and I will paint mine white, +and then no man will know who we are. For I would have it so that I should +not be known to be in this battle until I shall have approved myself in it. +Now, when you have chosen those three knights, we four will take hiding in +some wood or glade nigh to the place of combat, and when you are most +busily engaged, and when you begin to be hard-pressed, then we will come +forth and fall upon the flank of the party of the King of North Wales with +intent to throw them into confusion. Then you will push your assault very +hard, and I doubt not by the grace of God that we shall betwixt us be able +to bear back their array in confusion." + +This advice seemed very good to King Bagdemagus, and so he did as Sir +Launcelot said. He chose him three very strong, worthy, honorable knights, +and these made their shields white as Sir Launcelot directed. + +Thus, all things being arranged as Sir Launcelot willed, it came to be the +eve before the battle. So a little after sunset Sir Launcelot and those +three knights whom King Bagdemagus had chosen rode over toward the place of +tourney (which was some twelve miles from the abbey where the damsel +Elouise was lodged). There they found a little woodland of tall, leafy +trees fit for Sir Launcelot's purpose, and that wood stood to one side of +the meadow of battle and at about the distance of three furlongs from it. +In this little wood Sir Launcelot and the three knights-companion whom King +Bagdemagus had chosen laid themselves down upon the ground and wrapped, +each man, his cloak about him. So they slept there until the morrow, when +the battle was ordained to be. + +Now there had been very great preparation made for this tournament for on +three sides of the meadow of battle scaffolds had been built and rows of +seats had been placed. These were covered over with tapestries and hangings +of divers colors--some of figured and some of plain weaving--so that the +green and level meadow-land was hung all about with these gay and gaudy +colors. + +Now when the morning had come, the folk who came to witness that tournament +began to assemble from all directions--lords and ladies of high degree, +esquires and damsels of lesser rank, burghers and craftsmen with their +wives, townspeople from the town, yeomen from the woodlands, and +freeholders from the farm crofts. With these came many knights of the two +parties in contest, and with the knights came their esquires in attendance. +Now these knights were all in full armor, shining very bright, and the +esquires were clad in raiment of many textures and various colors, so that +they were very gay and debonair. So, with all this throng moving along the +highway toward the meadow of battle, it seemed as though the entire world +was alive with gay and moving figures. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot and his companions lie near the place of +tournament] Now the place where Sir Launcelot and those three knights who +were with him lay hidden was not far from the highway, so, whence they lay, +they could see all that goodly procession of folk taking their way toward +the lists, and they could look down upon the meadow of battle, which, as +hath been said, was not more than three furlongs distant, and they could +see the crowds of people of high and low degree taking their places upon +those seats according to their rank and station. And they could see how the +knights-contestant arrayed themselves upon this side of the field and upon +that, and how the esquires and attendants hurried hither and thither, +busying themselves in making their lords ready for the encounter that was +soon to befall. Yea, all this could they see as plainly as though it lay +upon the palm of a hand. + +So they saw that about noontide all those who had come thither had taken +their places, and that the field was clean, and that the two parties of +combat were arrayed in order for battle. + +Then Sir Launcelot perceived that the party of the King of North Wales was +very much greater than the party of King Bagdemagus; for while the party of +the King of North Wales had nigh eight score of helms, the party of King +Bagdemagus had hardly four score of helms. So Sir Launcelot perceived that +that party of King Bagdemagus would have much labor to do if it was to win +in the battle. + +[Sidenote: How the battle began] Now, all being prepared, the marshal +stood forth and blew upon his trumpet, and therewith those two parties of +knights rushed the one against the other, each in so great a cloud of dust +that one could hardly see the knights in their passage. Therewith they met +in the midst of the meadow of battle, with such a crash and uproar of +splintered lances as was terrible to hear. + +And for a while no man could see what was toward, so great was the dust and +the tumult. But by and by the dust raised itself a little and then Sir +Launcelot perceived that the party of King Bagdemagus had been pushed back +by that other party, as might have been supposed in such a case. + +So Sir Launcelot looked upon the battle for some while and he saw that the +party of King Bagdemagus was pushed farther and farther back. Then by and +by Sir Launcelot said to his knights-companion: "Messires, methinks now is +our time to enter this engagement." + +Therewith he and they rode forth out of that woods, and they rode down the +hill and across the fields and so came into that meadow-of-battle. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot and his companions enter the battle] At that time +the party of the King of North Wales was so busily engaged in its assault +upon the party of King Bagdemagus that very few of those knights engaged +were aware of those four knights coming, and those who were aware of them +thought but very little of the coming of so small a number. So no one +interfered with their coming, wherefore they were able to bear down with +great speed upon the flank of the party of the King of North Wales. +Therewith they struck that flank with such force that both horses and +horsemen were overturned by their assault. + +In that encounter Sir Launcelot carried a spear that was wonderfully strong +and tough. With it he ran with great fierceness into the very thickest of +the press, and before he was checked he struck down five knights with that +one spear. And likewise those three knights that were with him did such +good service that all that flank of the party of the King of North Wales +was thrown into great confusion and wist not what to do for to guard +themselves against that fierce, furious onset. + +Then Sir Launcelot and his three companions bore back a little, and when +they got their distance they ran again into the press, and this time Sir +Launcelot overthrew the King of North Wales himself, and that with such +violence that the bone of his thigh was broken, and he had to be carried +away out of that field by his attendants. And in this second assault Sir +Launcelot and the three knights who were with him overthrew eleven knights +besides the King of North Wales, wherefore all that part of the press began +to break away from them and to seek some place where they could defend +themselves from such another assault. + +Now when the party of King Bagdemagus saw into what confusion the other +party were thrown by these four knights-champion, they began a very fierce +and furious attack, and with such vehemence that in a little the party of +the King of North Wales began to bear back before them. So, what with those +who withdrew before Sir Launcelot's assault, and what with those who +withdrew from the assault of King Bagdemagus, there was a great deal of +confusion in the ranks of the party of the King of North Wales. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot overthrows Sir Mordred] Now those three knights +who were of King Arthur's court perceived how Sir Launcelot and his +knights-companion were throwing the ranks of the party of the King of North +Wales into confusion, and they knew that unless the onset of Sir Launcelot +was checked, the day would of a surety be lost unto them. Wherefore said +Sir Mador de la Porte: "Yonder is a very strong and fierce-fighting knight; +if we do not check his onset we will very likely be brought to shame in +this battle." "Yea," said Sir Mordred, "that is so. Now I will take it upon +me to joust with that knight and to overthrow him." Upon that those other +two knights bade him go and do as he said. So Sir Mordred made way to where +Sir Launcelot was, coming forward very fiercely and with great violence, +and Sir Launcelot was aware of Sir Mordred's coming and made him ready for +that assault. So the two came together with terrible violence and Sir +Launcelot struck Sir Mordred such a buffet that the breast-band of Sir +Mordred's saddle brake, and both the saddle and Sir Mordred flew over his +horse's tail. Therewith Sir Mordred fell upon his head and struck with such +violence upon the ground that his neck was nigh broken, and he lay +altogether in a dead swoon and had to be carried out of the lists by his +attendants. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot overthrows Sir Mador] This saw Sir Mador de la +Porte, and he cried out: "Ha! see what hath befallen Sir Mordred!" And +therewith he also bare down upon Sir Launcelot with all his might and main +with intent to overthrow him. And Sir Launcelot ran against him, and they +struck together so fiercely that it was terrible to behold. But the spear +of Sir Mador de la Porte burst into pieces, whilst the spear of Sir +Launcelot held, so that both Sir Mador and his horse were overthown, the +horse rolling upon the man. And in that encounter Sir Mador's shoulder went +out of place, and he also had to be borne away by his attendants. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot strikes Sir Galahantine a sad blow] Then Sir +Galahantine took a great spear from his esquire, who was nigh him, and he +also ran against Sir Launcelot with all his might; and Sir Launcelot met +him in full course and that onset was more terrible than either of the +other two. For the spear of each knight was burst into splinters, even to +the butt thereof. Then each threw away the butt of his spear and drew out +his sword, and Sir Galahantine struck Sir Launcelot such a blow that the +legs of Sir Launcelot's horse trembled under him because of the weight of +that stroke. At this Sir Launcelot waxed wroth beyond measure and he rose +in his stirrups and he smote Sir Galahantine such a buffet that the blood +burst out from his nose and his ears, and all his senses so went away from +him that he might hardly behold the light of day because of the swimming of +his sight. + +Therewith Sir Galahantine's head hung down upon his breast and he had no +power to guide his horse, wherefore his horse made way out of the press and +galloped off, bearing Sir Galahantine away, whether he would or no. And +after the horse had galloped a little distance Sir Galahantine could not +any longer sit upon his saddle, but he fell off of his horse and rolled +over upon the ground and had not strength to rise therefrom. + +Then Sir Launcelot catched another spear, great and strong, from the +esquire who followed him, and before ever that spear broke he overthrew +sixteen knights therewith. Wherefore all who beheld him were amazed and +terrified at what he did. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot wins the battle for King Bagdemagus] By now the +party of the King of North Wales began to bear more and more aback and in a +little they broke, and then the party of King Bagdemagus pursued them +hither and thither, and those who did not surrender were overthrown so that +it was not possible for them to make any new order of battle. Then that +party surrendered itself as conquered, one and all, and so King Bagdemagus +won that tournament with the greatest glory that it was possible for him to +have. For it had never been heard of before that a party of four-score +knights should overcome in that way a party of eight-score knights, with +three knights of the Round Table to champion them. Nor would such a victory +have been possible only for what Sir Launcelot did in that battle. + +So Sir Launcelot won that tournament for King Bagdemagus, and after the +battle was over and done King Bagdemagus came to Sir Launcelot and said to +him: "Messire, thou hast brought to me the greatest glory this day that +ever fell to my lot in all of my life. Now I prithee come with me and +refresh thyself with me, so that I may give thee fitting thanks for all +thou hast done, and so that I may reward thee in such a way as is fit for a +king to reward a knight-champion such as thou art." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot departs without reward] Unto this Sir Launcelot +made reply: "Lord, I give you thanks for your courtesy, but I need no +reward; for it is meet that I should have done what I could for the sake of +the demoiselle Elouise the Fair, seeing that she rescued me from the +mischiefs that Queen Morgana had intent to do me." + +Then King Bagdemagus besought Sir Launcelot that he would tarry awhile and +rest, but Sir Launcelot would not do so, but would be going upon his way +without any tarrying. But he said to King Bagdemagus: "I prithee greet your +daughter for me, and say to her that if ever she hath need of my services +again let her send to me, and I will come to her even if it be to the end +of the earth. For I have not yet repaid her for what she hath done for me." + +Therewith Sir Launcelot went his way from that meadow of battle, and, +coming to the skirts of the forest he entered therein, and those who were +there at the meadow of battle did not see him any more. + +So endeth the history of that famous tournament betwixt King Bagdemagus and +the King of North Wales. + +[Illustration: Sir Launcelot climbs to catch the lady's falcon] + + + + +Chapter Seventh + + +_How Sir Launcelot Fell Into the Greatest Peril that Ever He Encountered in +all His Life. Also How He Freed a Misfortunate Castle and Town From the +Giants Who Held Them, and How He Released the Lord Thereof From a Dungeon._ + +Now Sir Launcelot wandered errant for many days, meeting no adventure of +any moment, but taking great joy in all that he beheld of the wide world +about him, and in that time he found lodging wheresoever he chanced to be +(if not in house, then beneath the skies), and he endured all sorts of +weather, both wet and dry. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot cometh to a fair valley with a castle] Upon a +certain day, in the prime of the morning, he came across a hilltop, and +beheld beneath him a valley, very fertile and well-tilled, with fields and +meadow-lands spread all over it like to a fair green carpet woven in divers +patterns. And in the midst of the valley was a very large and noble castle, +with many towers, and tall, steep roofs, and clustering chimneys. So Sir +Launcelot descended into that valley, and the road which he took ended in +front of the castle and under the shade of the tall gray walls thereof. But +he did not stop at that castle but went on by it. + +Now after Sir Launcelot had passed by that castle it seemed to him that he +heard very delicate silver bells ringing sweetly in the air above him, and +when he looked up he beheld that a falcon was flying over his head toward a +high elm tree that stood at a little distance, and he wist that it was the +bells upon the cap of the falcon that rang so sweetly. And Sir Launcelot +beheld that long lunes hung from the feet of the falcon as she flew, +wherefore he was aware that the falcon had slipped her lunes and had flown +from her owner. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot beholdeth a falcon entangled] So Sir Launcelot +watched the falcon, and he beheld that she lit in a tall elm tree, where +she took her perch and rested, balancing with her wings part spread. Then +by and by she would have taken her flight again, but the lunes about her +feet had become entangled around the bough on which she sat, so that when +she would have flown she could not do so. Now Sir Launcelot was very sorry +to see the falcon beating herself in that wise, straining to escape from +where she was prisoner, but he knew not what to do to aid her, for the tree +was very high, and he was no good climber of trees. + +While he stood there watching that falcon he heard the portcullis of the +castle lifted, with a great noise, and the drawbridge let fall, and +therewith there came a lady riding out of the castle very rapidly upon a +white mule, and she rode toward where Sir Launcelot watched the falcon upon +the tree. When that lady had come nigh to Sir Launcelot, she cried out to +him: "Sir Knight, didst thou see a falcon fly this way?" Sir Launcelot +said: "Yea, Lady, and there she hangs, caught by her lunes in yonder +elm-tree." + +Then when that lady beheld how that her falcon hung there she smote her +hands together, crying out: "Alas, alas! what shall I do? That falcon is my +lord's favorite hawk! While I was playing with her a while since, she +slipped from me and took flight, and has sped as thou dost see. Now when my +lord findeth that I have lost his hawk in that wise he will be very angry +with me, and will haply do me some grievous hurt." + +[Sidenote: The Lady beseeches Sir Launcelot to get her the falcon again] +Quoth Sir Launcelot: "Lady, I am very sorry for you." "Sir," she said, "it +boots nothing for you to be sorry for me unless you can aid me." "How may I +aid you in this?" said Sir Launcelot. "Messire," quoth she, "how otherwise +could you aid me than by climbing up into this tree for my hawk? For if you +aid me not in such a fashion, I know not what I shall do, for my lord hath +a very hot and violent temper, and he is not likely to brook having his +favorite hawk lost to him, as it is like to be." + +Upon this Sir Launcelot was put to a great pass and knew not what to do, +for he had no good mind to climb that tree. "Lady," quoth he, "I prithee +tell me what is thy lord's name." "Messire," she replied, "he is hight Sir +Phelot, and is a knight of the court of the King of North Wales." + +"Well, Lady," said Sir Launcelot, "thou dost put upon me a very sore task +in this, for God knoweth I am no climber of trees. Yea, I would rather do +battle with twenty knights than to climb one such tree as this. +Nevertheless, I cannot find it in me to refuse the asking of any lady, if +so be it lieth at all in my power to perform her will. Now if you will aid +me to unarm myself, I will endeavor to climb this tree and get your hawk." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot climbs the tree] So the lady dismounted from her +mule, and Sir Launcelot dismounted from his horse, and the lady aided Sir +Launcelot to unarm himself. And when he had unarmed himself he took off all +his clothes saving only his hosen and his doublet. Then he climbed that +tree, though with great labor and pain to himself, and with much dread lest +he should fall. So he, at last, reached the falcon where it was, and he +loosened the lunes from where they were entangled about the branch, and he +freed the bird. Then he brake off a great piece of rotten bough of the tree +and he tied the lunes of the falcon to it and he tossed the falcon down to +where the lady was; and the lady ran with great joy and caught the falcon +and loosed it from the piece of branch and tied the lunes to her wrist, so +that it could not escape again. + +Then Sir Launcelot began to descend the tree with as great labor and pain +as he had climbed into it. + +[Sidenote: Sir Phelot threatens Sir Launcelot's life] But he had not come +very far down when he perceived a knight who came riding very rapidly +toward that tree, and he saw that the knight was in full armor. When this +knight came to the tree he drew rein and bespoke the lady who was there, +though Sir Launcelot could not hear what he said. So, after he had spoken +for a little, the knight dismounted from his horse and went to Sir +Launcelot's shield and looked upon the face of it very carefully. Then +presently he looked upward toward Sir Launcelot, and he said: "Art thou Sir +Launcelot of the Lake?" And Sir Launcelot said: "Yea." "Very well," said +the knight, "I am pleased beyond measure at that. For I am Sir Phelot, the +lord of this castle, and the brother of that Sir Peris of the Forest +Sauvage, whom thou didst treat so shamefully after thou hadst overcome him +in battle." + +"Sir," said Sir Launcelot, "I treated him nowise differently from what he +deserved." "No matter for that," said Sir Phelot, "he was my brother, and +thou didst put great despite and shame upon him. So now I will be revenged +upon thee, for now I have thee where I would have thee, and I will slay +thee as shamefully as thou didst put shame upon him. So say thy prayers +where thou art, for thou shalt never go away from this place alive." + +"Sir Knight," said Sir Launcelot, "I do not believe that thou wouldst +really assault a naked and harmless man, for it would certainly be a great +shame to thee to do me a harm in that wise. For lo! thou art armed in full, +and I am a naked man, and to slay me as I am would be both murder and +treason." + +"No matter for that," said Sir Phelot; "as for the shame of it, I take no +thought of it. I tell thee thou shalt have no grace nor mercy from me. +Wherefore make thy peace with Heaven, for thine hour is come." + +"Sir Knight," said Sir Launcelot, "I ask only one boon of thee; if thou art +of a mind to take so much shame upon thee, as appears to be the case, let +me not, at least, die like a felon without any weapon. Let me have my sword +in my hand, even if I have no other defence. For if a knight must die, it +is a shame for him to die without weapons. So hang my sword upon yonder +bough, where I may reach it, and then thou mayst slay me." + +"Nay," said Sir Phelot, "I will not do that, for I know very well how +wonderful is thy prowess. Wherefore I believe that even if thou wert +otherwise unarmed thou mightst overcome me if thou hadst thy sword. So I +will give thee no such chance, but will have my will of thee as thou art." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot is put to a sad pass to escape] Then Sir +Launcelot was put to a great pass of anxiety, for he wist not what to do to +escape from that danger in which he lay. Wherefore he looked all about him +and above him and below him, and at last he beheld a great branch of the +elm tree just above his head, very straight and tough. So he catched this +branch and broke it off from the tree and shaped it to a club of some sort. +Then he came lower, and the knight waited to strike him with his sword, +when he was low enough; but Sir Launcelot did not come low enough for that. + +Then Sir Launcelot perceived that his horse stood below him and a little to +one side, so of a sudden he ran out along the branch whereon he stood and +he leaped quickly down to the earth upon the farther side of his horse from +where the knight stood. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot overcomes Sir Phelot with a strange weapon] At +this Sir Phelot ran at him and lashed at him with his sword, thinking to +slay him before he had recovered from his leap. But Sir Launcelot was +quicker than he, for he recovered his feet and put away the blow of Sir +Phelot with his club which he held. Then he ran in upon Sir Phelot under +his sword arm, and before he could use his sword he struck Sir Phelot with +all his might upon the side of his head. And he struck him very quickly +again, and he struck him the third time, all in the space whilst one might +count two. And those blows he struck were so direful that Sir Phelot fell +down upon his knees, all stunned and bedazed, and the strength went out of +his thews because of faintness. Then Sir Launcelot took the sword out of +the hand of Sir Phelot and Sir Phelot did not have strength to deny him. +And Sir Launcelot plucked off Sir Phelot's helm and catched him by the hair +and dragged his neck forward so as to have ease to strike his head from off +his body. + +Now all this while the lady had been weeping and watching what befell. But +when she saw the great danger Sir Phelot was in, she ran and clasped her +arms about him, and cried out in a very loud and piercing voice upon Sir +Launcelot to spare Sir Phelot and to slay him not. But Sir Launcelot, still +holding him by the hair of the head, said: "Lady, I cannot spare him, for +he has treated me more treacherously than any other knight with whom I ever +had dealings." But the lady cried out all the more vehemently, "Sir +Launcelot, thou good knight, I beseech thee, of thy knighthood, to spare +him." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot spares Sir Phelot's life] "Well," said Sir +Launcelot, "it hath yet to be said of me that I have denied anything that I +was able to grant unto any lady that hath asked it of me upon my +knighthood. And yet I know not how to trust either of ye. For thou didst +not say one word in my behalf when I was in danger of being slain so +treacherously just now. As for this knight, I perceive that he is every +whit as great a traitor and a coward as was his brother Sir Peris of the +Sauvage Forest. So I will spare him, but I will not trust him, lest he turn +against me ere I arm myself again. Wherefore give me hither the halter rein +of your mule." So the lady gave Sir Launcelot the halter rein, weeping +amain as she did so. And Sir Launcelot took the halter rein and he tied the +arms of Sir Phelot behind him. Then he bade the lady of Sir Phelot to help +him arm himself from head to foot, and she did so, trembling a very great +deal. Then, when she had done so, quoth Sir Launcelot: "Now I fear the +treachery of no man." Therewith he mounted his horse and rode away from +that place And he looked not behind him at all, but rode away as though he +held too much scorn of that knight and of that lady to give any more +thought to them. + +So after that Sir Launcelot travelled for a while through the green fields +of that valley, till by and by he passed out of that valley, and came into +a forest through which he travelled for a very long time. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot cometh to a marish country] For it was about the +slanting of the afternoon ere he came forth out of that forest and under +the open sky again. And when he came out of the forest he beheld before him +a country of perfectly level marish, very lush and green, with many ponds +of water and sluggish streams bordered by rushes and sedge, and with +pollard willows standing in rows beside the waters. In the midst of this +level plain of green (which was like to the surface of a table for +flatness) there stood a noble castle, part built of brick and part of +stone, and a town of no great size and a wall about the town. And this +castle and town stood upon an island surrounded by a lake of water, and a +long bridge, built upon stone buttresses, reached from the mainland to the +island. And this castle and town were a very long distance away, though +they appeared very clear and distinct to the sight across the level marish, +like, as it were, to a fine bit of very small and cunning carving. + +Now the way that Sir Launcelot travelled, led somewhat toward that town, +wherefore he went along that way with intent to view the place more near +by. So he conveyed by that road for some time without meeting any soul upon +the way. But at last he came of a sudden upon an archer hiding behind an +osier tree with intent to shoot the water-fowl that came to a pond that was +there--for he had several such fowl hanging at his girdle. To him Sir +Launcelot said: "Good fellow, what town is that yonderway?" "Sir," said the +yeoman, "that is called the Town of the Marish because it stands in these +Fenlands. And that castle is called the Castle of the Fenlands for the same +reason." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot talks with a yeoman] Quoth Sir Launcelot: "What +manner of place is that? Is it a good place, or is it otherwise?" "Sir," +said the archer, "that place was one while a very good, happy place; for in +times gone by there was a lord who dwelt there who was both just and noble, +and kind to all folk, wherefore he was loved by all the people. But one +night there came two very grim and horrible giants thither from the Welsh +Mountains and these entered into the castle by treachery and made prisoner +of the lord of the castle. Him they cast into the dungeon of the castle, +where they held him prisoner as an hostage. For they threaten that if +friends of that lord's should send force against them to dispossess them, +they will slay him. As for any other rescue, there is no knight who dareth +to go against them because of their terrible size, and their strength, and +their dreadful, horrible countenances." + +"Well," said Sir Launcelot, "that is a pity and I am sorry for that noble +lordling. Now, since there is no other single knight who dareth to +undertake this adventure, I myself will go and encounter these giants." + +"Nay, Sir Knight," said the yeoman, "do not do so, for they are not like +mortal men, but rather like monsters that are neither beast nor man. +Wherefore anyone who beholdeth them, feareth them." + +"Grammercy for thy thought of me, good fellow," quoth Sir Launcelot, "but +if I shall refuse an adventure because I find it perilous, then I am not +like to undertake any adventure at all." + +Therewith he bade good den to that yeoman and rode upon his way, directing +his course toward that town at an easy pass. + +So he came at last to the long bridge that reached from the land to the +island, and he saw that at the farther end of the bridge was the gateway of +the town and through the arch thereof he could perceive a street of the +town, and the houses upon either side of the street, and the people thereof +coming and going. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot crosses the bridge to the town] So he rode forth +upon the bridge and at the noise of his coming (for the hoofs of his horse +sounded like thunder upon the floor of the bridge) the people of the town +came running to see who it was that dared to come so boldly into their +town. + +These, when Sir Launcelot came nigh, began to call to him on high, crying: +"Turn back, Sir Knight! Turn back! Else you will meet your death at this +place." + +But Sir Launcelot would not turn back, but advanced very steadfastly upon +his way. + +Now somewhat nigh the farther end of that bridge there stood a little lodge +of stone, built to shelter the warden of the bridge from stress of weather. +When Sir Launcelot came nigh to this lodge there started suddenly out from +it a great churl, above seven feet high, who bore in his hand a huge club, +shod with iron and with great spikes of iron at the top. This churl ran to +Sir Launcelot and catched his horse by the bridle-rein and thrust it back +upon its haunches, crying out in a great hoarse voice: "Whither goest thou, +Sir Knight, for to cross this bridge?" Sir Launcelot said: "Let go my +horse's rein, Sir Churl." Whereunto the churl made answer: "I will not let +go thy horse's rein, and thou shalt not cross this bridge." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot slays the huge churl] At this Sir Launcelot waxed +very angry, and he drew his sword and struck the churl a blow with the flat +thereof upon the shoulder, so that he dropped the rein very quickly. +Therewith that churl drew back and took his great iron-shod club in both +hands and struck at Sir Launcelot a blow that would have split a millstone. +But Sir Launcelot put by the blow with his sword so that it did him no +harm. But therewith he waxed so wroth that he ground his teeth together +with anger, and, rising in his stirrups, he lashed that churl so woeful a +blow that he cleft through his iron cap and his head and his breast even to +the paps. + +[Sidenote: The folk warn Sir Launcelot] Now when the people of the town +beheld that terrible blow they lifted up their voices in a great outcry, +crying out: "Turn back, Sir Knight! Turn back! For this is a very woful +thing for thee that thou hast done!" and some cried out: "Thou hast killed +the giants' warder of the bridge!" And others cried: "Thou art a dead man +unless thou make haste away from this." But to all this Sir Launcelot paid +no heed, but wiped his sword and thrust it back into its sheath. Then he +went forward upon his way across the bridge as though nothing had befallen, +and so came to the farther side. Then, without paying any heed to all the +people who were there, he rode straight to the castle and into the gate of +the castle and into the court-yard thereof. + +Now by this time all the castle was astir, and in great tumult, and many +people came running to the windows and looked down upon Sir Launcelot. And +Sir Launcelot sat his horse and looked all about him. So he perceived that +beyond the court-yard was a fair space of grass, very smooth and green, +well fitted for battle, wherefore he dismounted from his horse and tied it +to a ring in the wall, and then he went to that green field and made him +ready for whatever might befall. + +Meantime all those people who were at the windows of the castle cried out +to him, as the people of the town had done: "Go away, Sir Knight! Go away +whilst there is still time for you to escape, or else you are a dead man!" + +But Sir Launcelot replied not, but stood there and waited very steadfastly. +Then the great door of the castle hall opened, and there came forth +therefrom those two giants of whom he had heard tell. + +[Sidenote: Two giants attack Sir Launcelot] And in truth Sir Launcelot had +never beheld such horrible beings as they; for they were above ten feet +high, and very huge of body and long of limb. And they were clad in armor +of bull-hide with iron rings upon it, and each was armed with a great club, +huge and thick, and shod with iron, and studded with spikes. These came +toward Sir Launcelot swinging their clubs and laughing very hideously and +gnashing their long white teeth, for they thought to make easy work of him. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Launcelot slays the first giant] Then Sir Launcelot, +seeing them coming thus, set his shield before him, and made ready for that +assault with great calmness of demeanor. Then the giants rushed suddenly +upon him and struck at him, the both of them together; for they deemed that +by so doing the enemy could not escape both blows, but if one failed the +other would slay him. But Sir Launcelot put aside the blow of one giant +with his sword and of the other with his shield, with marvellous dexterity. +Thereupon, ere they could recover themselves, he turned upon that giant who +was upon his left hand and he struck him so terrible a blow upon the +shoulder that he cut through the armor and through the shoulder and +half-way through the body, so that the head and one arm of the giant leaned +toward one way, and the other arm and the shoulder leaned toward the other +way. Therewith the giant fell down upon the ground bellowing, so that it +was most terrible to hear; and in a little he had died where he had fallen. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Launcelot slays the second giant] Now when the fellow +of that giant beheld that dreadful, horrible stroke, he was so possessed +with terror that he stood for a while trembling and like one in a maze. But +when he saw Sir Launcelot turn upon him with intent to make at him also, he +let fall his club and ran away with great and fearful outcry. Therewith he +ran toward the castle and would have entered therein, but those within the +castle had closed the doors and the gates against him, so that he could not +escape in that way. So the giant ran around and around the court with great +outcry, seeking for some escape from his pursuer, and Sir Launcelot ran +after him. And Sir Launcelot struck him several times with his sword, so +that at last, what with terror and pain and weariness, that giant stumbled +and fell upon the ground. Therewith Sir Launcelot ran at him, and, ere he +could rise, he took his sword in both hands and smote off his head so that +it rolled down upon the ground like a ball. Then Sir Launcelot stood there +panting for breath, for he had raced very hard after the giant, and could +hardly catch his breath again. As he stood so, many of those of the castle +and many of those who were of the town came to him from all sides; and they +crowded around him and gave him great acclaim for ridding that place of +those giants. + +Then Sir Launcelot said to them: "Where is your lord?" Whereunto they made +reply: "Sir, he lieth in the dungeon of the castle under the ground chained +to the walls thereof, and there he hath been for three years or more, and +no one hath dared to bring him succor until you came hither." "Go find +him," said Sir Launcelot, "and set him free, and lose no time in doing so. +And put him at all ease that you can." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot departs without refreshment] They say: "Will you +not stay and see him, Messire, and receive his acknowledgements for what +you have done?" But Sir Launcelot replied: "Nay, not so." Then they say: +"Will you not have some refreshment after this battle?" Whereunto Sir +Launcelot said: "I do not need such refreshment." Then they say: "But will +you not rest a little?" "Nay," said Sir Launcelot: "I may not tarry, for I +have far to go and several things to do, so that I do not care to stay." So +he loosed his horse from the ring in the wall, and mounted upon it and rode +away from that castle and from that town and across the bridge whence he +had come. And all the people followed after him, giving him great acclaim. + +So Sir Launcelot left the castle, not because he needed no rest, but +because he could not endure to receive the thanks of those whom he +benefited. For though he loved to bring aid to the needy, yet he did not +love to receive their thanks and their praise. Wherefore, having freed the +lord of that castle from that brood of giants, he was content therewith and +went his way without resting or waiting for thanks. + +For so it was with those noble gallant knights of those days; that whilst +they would perform signal service for mankind, yet they were not pleased to +receive thanks or reward for the same, but took the utmost satisfaction, +not in what they gained by their acts, but in the doing of knightly deeds, +for they found all their reward in their deeds, because that thereby they +made the world in which they lived better; and because they made the glory +of the King, whose servants they were, the more glorious. + +And I hold that such behavior upon the part of anyone makes him the peer of +Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram or Sir Lamorack or Sir Percival; yea, of Sir +Galahad himself. For it does not need either the accolade or the bath to +cause a man to be a true knight of God's making; nor does it need that a +mortal King should lay sword upon shoulder to constitute a man the fellow +of such knightly company as that whose history I am herewith writing; it +needs only that he should prove himself at all times worthy in the +performance of his duty, and that he shall not consider the hope of reward, +or of praise of others in the performance of that duty. + +So look to it that in all your services you take example of the noble Sir +Launcelot of the Lake, and that you do your uttermost with might and main, +and that you therewith rest content with having done your best, maugre any +praise. So you shall become a worthy fellow of Sir Launcelot and of his +fellows. + +[Illustration: Sir Launcelot takes the armor of Sir Kay] + + + + +Chapter Eighth + + +_How Sir Launcelot Rescued Sir Kay From a Perilous Pass. Also How He +Changed Armor with Sir Kay and what Befell._ + +One day Sir Launcelot came at early nightfall to a goodly manor-house and +there he besought lodging for the night, and lodging was granted to him +very willingly. + +[Sidenote: The old gentlewoman makes Sir Launcelot welcome] Now there was +no lord of that manor, but only an old gentlewoman of very good breeding +and address. She made Sir Launcelot right welcome and gave such cheer as +she could, setting before him a very good supper, hot and savory, and a +great beaker of humming mead wherewith to wash it down. Whilst Sir +Launcelot ate, the gentlewoman inquired of him his name and he told her it +was Sir Launcelot of the Lake. "Ha!" quoth she, "I never heard that name +before, but it is a very good name." + +At this Sir Launcelot laughed: "I am glad," said he, "that my name belikes +thee. As for thy not having heard of it--well, I am a young knight as yet, +having had but three years of service. Yet I have hopes that by and by it +may be better known than it is at this present." + +"Thou sayest well," quoth she, "for thou art very young yet, wherefore thou +mayst not know what thou canst do till thou hast tried." And therewith Sir +Launcelot laughed again, and said: "Yea, that is very true." + +Now after Sir Launcelot had supped, his hostess showed him to the lodging +she had provided for him wherein to sleep, and the lodging was in a fair +garret over the gateway of the court. So Sir Launcelot went to his bed and, +being weary with journeying, he presently fell into a deep and gentle +sleep. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot is aroused from sleep] Now about the middle of +the night there fell of a sudden the noise of someone beating upon the gate +and calling in a loud voice and demanding immediate admittance thereat. +This noise awoke Sir Launcelot, and he arose from his couch and went to the +window and looked out to see who it was that shouted so loudly and made +such uproar. + +The moon was shining at that time, very bright and still, and by the light +thereof Sir Launcelot beheld that there was a knight in full armor seated +upon horseback without the gate, and that the knight beat upon the gate +with the pommel of his sword, and shouted that they should let him in. + +But ere anyone could run to answer his call there came a great noise of +horses upon the highroad, and immediately after there appeared three +knights riding very fiercely that way, and these three knights were plainly +pursuing that one knight. For, when they perceived him, they rode very +violently to where he was, and fell upon him fiercely, all three at one +time; wherefore, though that one knight defended himself as well as he +could, yet was he in a very sorry way, and altogether likely to be +overborne. For those three surrounded him so close to the gate that he +could do little to shift himself away from their assaults. + +Now when Sir Launcelot beheld how those three knights attacked that one +knight, he said to himself: "Of a surety, yonder knight is in a very sorry +way. I will do what I can to help him; for it is a shame to behold three +knights attack one knight in that way. And if he be slain in this assault, +meseems I shall be a party to his death." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot goeth to the rescue of the knight assaulted] +Therewith he ran and put his armor upon him, and made ready for battle. +Then he drew the sheet from his bed, and he tied the sheet to the bar of +the window and by it he let himself quickly down to the ground not far from +where those knights were doing battle. So being safely arrived in that way +he cried out in a very loud voice: "Messires, leave that knight whom ye +assail, and turn to me, for I have a mind to do battle with you myself." + +Then one of those knights, speaking very fiercely, said: "Who are you, and +what business have you here?" + +"It matters not who I am," said Sir Launcelot, "but I will not have it that +you three shall attack that one without first having had to do with me." + +"Very well," said that knight who had spoken, "you shall presently have +your will of that." + +Therewith he and his fellows immediately descended from their horses, and +drew their swords and came at Sir Launcelot upon three sides at once. Then +Sir Launcelot set his back against the gate and prepared to defend himself. + +Therewith that knight whom he would defend immediately got down from his +horse with intent to come to the aid of Sir Launcelot, but Sir Launcelot +forbade him very fiercely, saying: "Let be, Sir Knight, this is my quarrel, +and you shall not meddle in it." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot does battle with three knights] Upon this, those +three knights rushed upon him very furiously, and they struck at him all at +once, smiting at him wherever they could and with all their might and main. +So Sir Launcelot had much ado to defend himself from their assault. But he +made shift that they should not all rush in upon him at once, and by and by +he found his chance with one of them. Whereupon he turned suddenly upon +that one, and suddenly he lashed so terrible a buffet at him that the +knight fell down and lay as though he had been struck dead with the force +thereof. + +Then, ere those other two had recovered themselves, he ran at a second and +struck him so fierce a blow that his wits left him, and he staggered like a +drunken man and ran around and around in a circle, not knowing whither he +went. Then he rushed upon the third and thrust him back with great +violence, and as he went back Sir Launcelot struck him, too, as he had +struck his companions and therewith that knight dropped his sword and fell +down upon his knees and had not power to raise himself up. + +Then Sir Launcelot ran to him and snatched off his helmet, and catched him +by the hair with intent to cut off his head. But at that the fallen knight +embraced Sir Launcelot about the knees, crying out: "Spare my life!" + +"Why should I spare you?" said Sir Launcelot. "Sir," cried the knight, "I +beseech you of your knighthood to spare me." + +"What claim have you upon knighthood," said Sir Launcelot, "who would +attack a single knight, three men against one man?" + +Then the other of those knights who had been staggered by Sir Launcelot's +blow, but who had by now somewhat recovered himself, came and kneeled to +Sir Launcelot, and said: "Sir, spare his life, for we all yield ourselves +unto you, for certes, you are the greatest champion in all the world." + +Then Sir Launcelot was appeased, but he said: "Nay, I will not take your +yielding unto me. For as you three assaulted this single knight, so shall +you all three yield to him." + +"Messire," said the knight who kneeled: "I am very loth to yield us to that +knight, for we chased him hither, and he fled from us, and we would have +overcome him had you not come to his aid." + +"Well," said Sir Launcelot, "I care nothing for all that, but only that you +do as I will. And if ye do not do it, then I must perforce slay your +companions and you two. Wherefore you may take your choice." + +[Sidenote: The three knights must yield to the one knight] Then said that +knight who kneeled: "Messire, I see no other thing to do than to yield us +as you would have, wherefore we submit ourselves unto this knight whom you +have rescued from us." + +Then Sir Launcelot turned to that knight to whom he had brought aid in that +matter, and he said: "Sir Knight, these knights yield themselves unto you +to do as you command them. Now I pray you of your courtesy to tell me your +name and who you are." + +"Sir," said that knight, "I am Sir Kay the Seneschal, and am King Arthur's +foster-brother, and a knight of the Round Table. I have been errant now for +some time in search of Sir Launcelot of the Lake. Now, I deem either that +you are Sir Launcelot, or else that you are the peer of Sir Launcelot." + +"Thou art right, Sir Kay," said Sir Launcelot, "and I am Sir Launcelot of +the Lake." So thereat they two made great joy over one another, and +embraced one another as brothers-in-arms should do. + +Then Sir Kay told Sir Launcelot how it was with those three knights who had +assailed him; that they were three brethren, and that he had overthrown the +fourth brother in an adventure at arms and had hurt him very sorely +thereby. So those three had been pursuing him for three days with intent to +do him a harm. + +[Sidenote: Sir Kay taketh submission of the three knights] Now Sir Kay was +very loath to take submission of those three knights, but Sir Launcelot +would have it so and no other way. So Sir Kay consented to let it be as Sir +Launcelot willed. Thereupon those three knights came and submitted +themselves to Sir Kay, and Sir Kay ordained that they should go to Camelot +and lay their case before King Arthur, and that King Arthur should adjudge +their case according to what he considered to be right and fitting. + +Then those three knights mounted upon their horses and rode away, and when +they had done so the gates of the manor were opened, and Sir Launcelot and +Sir Kay entered in. But when the old lady who was his hostess beheld Sir +Launcelot come in, she was very greatly astonished, for she wist he was +still asleep in his bed-chamber. Wherefore she said: "Sir, methought you +were in bed and asleep." "So indeed I was," said Sir Launcelot, "but when I +saw this knight in peril of his life against three knights, I leaped out of +my window and went to his aid." "Well," said his hostess, "meseems that you +will sometime be a very good knight, if you have so much courage whilst you +are so young." And at that both Sir Launcelot and Sir Kay laughed a great +deal. + +Then the chatelaine set bread and wine before Sir Kay, and he ate and +refreshed himself, and thereafter he and Sir Launcelot went to that garret +above the gate, and there fell asleep with great ease of body. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot takes Sir Kay's armor] Now before the sun arose +Sir Launcelot awoke but Sir Kay still slept very soundly. Then Sir +Launcelot beheld how Sir Kay slept, and he had a mind for a jest. So he +clad himself in Sir Kay's armor altogether from head to foot, and he took +Sir Kay's shield and spear, and he left his armor and shield and spear for +Sir Kay to use. Then he went very softly from that room, and left Sir Kay +still sleeping. And he took Sir Kay's horse and mounted upon it and rode +away; and all that while Sir Kay knew not what had befallen, but slept very +deeply. + +Now after a while Sir Kay awoke, and he found that Sir Launcelot was gone, +and when he looked he found that his own armor was gone and that Sir +Launcelot's armor was left. Then he wist what Sir Launcelot had done, and +he said: "Ha! what a noble, courteous knight is the gentleman. For he hath +left me his armor for my protection, and whilst I wear it and carry his +shield and ride his horse, it is not likely that anyone will assail me upon +my way. As for those who assail him, I do not believe that they will be +likely to find great pleasure in their battle." + +Therewith he arose and clad himself in Sir Launcelot's armor, and after he +had broken his fast he thanked his hostess for what she had given him, and +rode upon his way with great content of spirit. + +(And it was as Sir Kay had said, for when he met other knights upon the +road, and when they beheld the figure upon his shield, they all said: "It +is not well to meddle with that knight, for that is Sir Launcelot." And so +he came to Camelot without having to do battle with any man.) + +[Sidenote: How Sir Launcelot travels toward Camelot] As for Sir Launcelot, +he rode upon his way with great cheerfulness of spirit, taking no heed at +all of any trouble in the world, but chanting to himself as he rode in the +pleasant weather. But ever he made his way toward Camelot, for he said: "I +will return to Camelot for a little, and see how it fares with my friends +at the court of the King." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot perceives three knights at feast] So by and by he +entered into the country around about Camelot, which is a very smooth and +fertile country, full of fair rivers and meadows with many cots and +hamlets, and with fair hedge-bordered highways, wonderfully pleasant to +journey in. So travelling he came to a very large meadow where were several +groves of trees standing here and there along by a river. And as he went +through this meadow he saw before him a long bridge, and at the farther +side of the bridge were three pavilions of silk of divers colors, which +pavilions had been cast in the shade of a grove of beech-trees. In front of +each pavilion stood a great spear thrust in the earth, and from the spear +hung the shield of the knight to whom the pavilion belonged. These shields +Sir Launcelot read very easily, and so knew the knights who were there. To +wit: that they were Sir Gunther, Sir Gylmere, and Sir Raynold, who were +three brothers of the Court of King Arthur. As Sir Launcelot passed their +pavilions, he saw that the three knights sat at feast in the midmost +pavilion of the three, and that a number of esquires and pages waited upon +them and served them, for those knights were of very high estate, and so +they were established as high lords should be. + +[Sidenote: The three knights bid Sir Launcelot come to feast with them] +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot overthrows Sir Gunther] Now when those knights +perceived Sir Launcelot they thought it was Sir Kay because of the armor he +wore, and Sir Gunther, who was the eldest of the three brothers, cried out: +"Come hither, Sir Kay, and eat with us!" But to this Sir Launcelot made no +reply, but rode on his way. Then said Sir Gunther: "Meseems Sir Kay hath +grown very proud this morning. Now I will go and bring him back with me, or +else I will bring down his pride to earth." So he made haste and donned his +helmet and ran and took his shield and his spear, and mounted his horse and +rode after Sir Launcelot at a hard gallop. As he drew nigh to Sir Launcelot +he cried out: "Stay, Sir Knight! Turn again, and go with me!" "Why should I +go with you?" said Sir Launcelot. Quoth Sir Gunther: "Because you must +either return with me or do battle with me." "Well," said Sir Launcelot, "I +would rather do battle than return against my will." And at that Sir +Gunther was astonished, for Sir Kay was not wont to be so ready for a +battle. So Sir Launcelot set his shield and spear and took his stand, and +Sir Gunther took his stand. Then, when they were in all ways prepared, each +set spur to his horse and rushed together with terrible speed. So each +knight struck the other in the midst of his shield, but the onset of Sir +Launcelot was so terrible that it was not to be withstood, wherefore both +Sir Gunther and his horse were overthrown in such a cloud of dust that +nothing at all was to be seen of them until that cloud lifted. + +At this both Sir Raynold and Sir Gylmere were astonished beyond measure, +for Sir Gunther was reckoned to be a much better knight than Sir Kay, +wherefore they wist not how it was that Sir Kay should have overthrown him +in that fashion. + +So straightway Sir Gylmere, who was the second of those brothers, called +out to Sir Launcelot to tarry and do battle. "Very well," said Sir +Launcelot, "if I cannot escape thee I must needs do battle. Only make +haste, for I would fain be going upon my way." + +So Sir Gylmere donned his helm in haste and ran and took his shield and +spear and mounted upon his horse. So when he had made himself ready in all +ways he rushed upon Sir Launcelot with all his might and Sir Launcelot +rushed against him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot overthrows Sir Gylmere] In that encounter each +knight struck the other in the midst of his shield, and the spear of Sir +Gylmere burst into pieces, but Sir Launcelot's spear held, so the +breast-strap of Sir Gylmere's saddle bursting, both saddle and knight were +swept entirely off the horse and to the earth, where Sir Gylmere lay +altogether stunned. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot wins from Sir Raynold] Then Sir Raynold came +against Sir Launcelot in like manner as the others had done, and in that +encounter Sir Launcelot overthrew both horse and man so that, had not Sir +Raynold voided his horse, he would likely have been very sadly hurt. + +Then Sir Raynold drew his sword and cried out in a loud voice: "Come, Sir +Knight, and do me battle afoot!" But Sir Launcelot said: "Why will you have +it so, Sir Knight? I have no such quarrel with you as to do battle with +swords." "Ha!" said Sir Raynold, "you shall fight with me. For though you +wear Sir Kay's armor, I wot very well that you are not Sir Kay, but a great +deal bigger man than ever Sir Kay is like to be." + +"Nay," said Sir Launcelot, "I will not do any more battle with you." And +therewith he drew rein and rode away, leaving Sir Raynold standing very +angry in the middle of the highway. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot meets four noble knights] After that Sir +Launcelot rode very easily at a quiet gait, with no great thought whither +he rode, until after a while he came to a place where a road went across a +level field with two rows of tall poplar trees, one upon either side of the +highway. Then Sir Launcelot perceived where, beneath the shade of these +poplar trees, were four knights standing each by his horse. And these four +knights were conversing very pleasantly together. Now as Sir Launcelot drew +nigh he perceived that those were four very famous noble knights of the +Round Table; to wit: one of those knights was his own brother, Sir Ector de +Maris, another was Sir Gawain, another was Sir Ewain, and the fourth was +Sir Sagramore le Desirous. + +Now as Sir Launcelot drew nigh Sir Gawain said: "Look, yonder cometh Sir +Kay the Seneschal." Unto this Sir Sagramore le Desirous said: "Yea, this is +he; now bide you here for a little while, and I will go and take a fall of +him." + +So straightway he mounted upon his horse, and he rode toward Sir Launcelot, +and he cried out: "Stay, Sir Knight, you cannot go farther until you have +had to do with me." "What would you have of me?" quoth Sir Launcelot. +"Sir," said Sir Sagramore, "I will have a fall of you." "Well," said Sir +Launcelot, "I suppose I must pleasure you, since it cannot be otherwise." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot overthrows Sir Sagramore] Therewith he dressed +his shield and his spear and Sir Sagramore dressed his shield and his +spear, and when they were in all ways prepared they ran together at full +tilt. In that encounter Sir Sagramore's spear broke, but Sir Launcelot +struck so powerful a blow that he overthrew both horse and man into a ditch +of water that was near-by. + +Then Sir Ector de Maris said: "Ha, surely some very ill chance has befallen +Sir Sagramore for to be overthrown by Sir Kay. Now I will go and have ado +with him, for if the matter rests here there will be no living at court +with the jests which will be made upon us." + +So he took horse and rode to where Sir Launcelot was, and he went at a very +fast gallop. When he had come near to Sir Launcelot he cried out: "Have at +thee, Sir Kay, for it is my turn next!" "Why should I have at thee?" said +Sir Launcelot, "I have done thee no harm." "No matter," said Sir Ector, +"you can go no farther until you have had to do with me." "Well," said Sir +Launcelot, "if that is so, the sooner I have to do with thee, the sooner +shall I be able to go upon my way." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot overthrows Sir Ector] Therewith each knight made +himself ready and when they were in all ways prepared they came together +with such force that Sir Launcelot's spear went through Sir Ector's shield +and smote him upon the shoulder, and Sir Ector was thrown down upon the +ground with such violence that he lay where he had fallen, without power to +move. + +Then said Sir Ewain to Sir Gawain where they stood together: "That is the +most wonderful thing that ever I beheld, for never did I think to behold +Sir Kay bear himself in battle in such a fashion as that. Now bide thee +here and let me have a try at him." Therewith Sir Ewain mounted his horse +and rode at Sir Launcelot, and there were no words spoken this time, but +each knight immediately took his stand to do battle. Then they ran their +horses together, and Sir Launcelot gave Sir Ewain such a buffet that he was +astonished, and for a little he knew not where he was, for his spear fell +down out of his hand, and he bore his shield so low that Sir Launcelot +might have slain him where he stood if he had been minded to do so. + +[Sidenote: Sir Ewain yields to Sir Launcelot] Then Sir Launcelot said: +"Sir Knight, I bid thee yield to me." And Sir Ewain said: "I yield me. For +I do not believe that thou art Sir Kay but a bigger man than he shall ever +be. Wherefore I yield me." "Then that is well," said Sir Launcelot. "Now +stand thou a little aside where thou mayst bring succor unto these other +two knights, for I see that Sir Gawain has a mind to tilt with me." + +[Sidenote: Sir Gawain fails with Sir Launcelot] And it was as Sir +Launcelot said, for Sir Gawain also had mounted his horse and had made +himself ready for that encounter. So Sir Gawain and Sir Launcelot took +stand at such place as suited them. Then each knight set spurs to his horse +and rushed together like thunder, and each knight smote the other knight in +the midst of his shield; and in that encounter the spear of Sir Gawain +brake in twain but the spear of Sir Launcelot held, and therewith he gave +Sir Gawain such a buffet that Sir Gawain's horse reared up into the air, +and it was with much ado that he was able to void his saddle ere his horse +fell over backward. For if he had not leaped to earth the horse would have +fallen upon him. + +Then Sir Gawain drew his sword and cried very fiercely: "Come down and +fight me, Sir Knight! For thou art not Sir Kay!" + +"Nay, I will not fight thee that way," said Sir Launcelot, and therewith he +passed on his way without tarrying further. + +But he laughed to himself behind his helmet as he rode, and he said: "God +give Sir Kay joy of such a spear as this, for I believe there came never so +good a spear as this into my hand. For with it I have overthrown seven +famous knights in this hour." + +As for those four knights of the Round Table, they comforted one another as +best they could, for they knew not what to think of that which had befallen +them. Only Sir Ector said: "That was never Sir Kay who served us in this +wise, but such a man as is better than ten Sir Kays, or twice ten Sir Kays, +for the matter of that." + +[Sidenote: How Sir Launcelot returned to Camelot] Now Sir Launcelot came +to Camelot about eventide, what time King Arthur and his court were +assembled at their supper. Then there was great joy when news was brought +of his coming and they brought him in to the court and set him beside the +King and the Lady Guinevere all armed as he was. Then King Arthur said: +"Sir Launcelot, how is it with thee?" and Sir Launcelot said: "It is well." +Then King Arthur said: "Tell us what hath befallen thee." And Sir Launcelot +told all that had happened in that month since he had left court. And all +they who were there listened, and were much astonished. + +But when Sir Launcelot told how he had encountered those seven knights, in +the armor of Sir Kay, all laughed beyond measure excepting those of the +seven who were there, for they took no very good grace to be laughed at in +that wise. + + * * * * * + +So now I hope I have made you acquainted with Sir Launcelot of the Lake, +who was the greatest knight in the world. For not only have I told you how +he was created a knight at the hands of King Arthur, but I have also led +you errant along with him, so that you might see for yourself how he +adventured his life for other folk and what a noble and generous gentleman +he was; and how pitiful to the weak and suffering, and how terrible to the +evil-doer. But now I shall have to leave him for a while (but after a while +in another book that shall follow this, I shall return to him to tell you a +great many things concerning other adventures of his), for meantime it is +necessary that I should recount the history of another knight, who was held +by many to be nearly as excellent a knight as Sir Launcelot was himself. + + + + +CONCLUSION + +_Here endeth the story of Sir Launcelot. That which followeth is the story +of Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, who was knit with Sir Launcelot into such +close ties of friendship that if they had been brothers of the same blood, +with the same father and mother, they could not have loved one another more +than they did. + +For indeed it would not be possible to tell any history of Sir Launcelot of +the Lake without telling that of Sir Tristram of Lyonesse as well, for as +the web of a fair fabric is woven in with the woof thereof, so were the +lives of Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram woven closely together. + +Wherefore you shall now hear tell of the goodly adventures of Sir Tristram +of Lyonesse; and God grant that you may have the same joy in reading +thereof that I shall have in telling of them to you._ + + + + +The Book of Sir Tristram + +[Illustration: Sir Tristram of Lyonesse] + + + + +Prologue. + +There was a certain kingdom called Lyonesse, and the King of that country +was hight Meliadus, and the Queen thereof who was hight the Lady Elizabeth, +was sister to King Mark of Cornwall. + +In the country of Lyonesse, there was a very beautiful lady, who was a +cunning and wicked sorceress. This lady took great love for King Meliadus, +who was of an exceedingly noble appearance, and she meditated continually +how she might bring him to her castle so as to have him near her. + +[Sidenote: King Meliadus rides a-hunting] Now King Meliadus was a very +famous huntsman, and he loved the chase above all things in the world, +excepting the joy he took in the love of his Queen, the Lady Elizabeth. So, +upon a certain day, in the late autumn season he was minded to go forth +a-hunting, although the day was very cold and bleak. + +About the prime of the day the hounds started, of a sudden, a very +wonderful stag. For it was white and its horns were gilded very bright, +shining like pure gold, so that the creature itself appeared like a living +miracle in the forest. When this stag broke cover, the hounds immediately +set chase to it with a great outcry of yelling, as though they were +suddenly gone frantic, and when the King beheld the creature, he also was +immediately seized as with a great fury for chasing it. For, beholding it, +he shouted aloud and drove spurs into his horse, and rushed away at such a +pass that his court was, in a little while, left altogether behind him, and +he and the chase were entirely alone in the forest. + +[Sidenote: King Meliadus chases the stag] The stag, with the hounds close +behind it, ran at a great rate through the passes of the woodlands, and +King Meliadus pursued it with might and main until the chase burst out of +the forest into an open plain beyond the woodland. Then King Meliadus +beheld that in the midst of the plain was a considerable lake of water; and +that in the midst of the water was an island; and that upon the island was +a very tall and stately castle. Toward this castle the stag ran with great +speed, and so, coming to the lake, it leaped into the water and swam across +to the island--and there was a thin sheet of clear ice upon the water close +to either bank. + +But when the hounds that pursued the stag came to that frozen water, they +stinted their pursuit and stood whimpering upon the brink, for the ice and +the water repelled them. But King Meliadus made no such pause, but +immediately leaped off from his horse, and plunged into the water and swam +across in pursuit of the stag. And when he reached the other side, he +chased the stag afoot with great speed, and therewith the stag ran to the +castle and into the court-yard thereof, and King Meliadus ran after it. +Then, immediately he had entered in, the gates of the castle were shut and +King Meliadus was a prisoner. + +[Sidenote: King Meliadus is made prisoner at an enchanted castle] (Now you +are to know that that castle was the abode of the beautiful enchantress +afore spoken of, and you are to know that she had sent that enchanted stag +to beguile King Meliadus to her court, and so she made King Meliadus her +captive. Further, it is to be told that when she had him there within her +castle, she wove a web of enchantment all about him so that he forgot the +Lady Elizabeth and his court and his kingdom and thought of nothing but +that beautiful sorceress who had thus beguiled him into her power.) + +[Sidenote: The Lady Elizabeth grieves to distraction] Now, when those who +were with the King returned to the castle of Lyonesse without him, and when +the King did not return that day nor the next day nor at any time, the Lady +Elizabeth grew more and more distracted in her anxiety because of him. And +when a fortnight had gone by and still there was no news of the King, her +grief and apprehension became so great that she turned distracted and they +had to set watch and ward upon her lest she do herself a harm in her +madness. + +So for a long time they kept her within the castle; but upon a certain day +she broke away from her keepers and ran out from the castle and into the +forest ere those in attendance upon her knew she had gone. Only one +gentlewoman saw her, and she called upon a young page to follow her, and +thereupon ran after the Queen whither she went, with intent to bring her +back again. + +[Sidenote: The Lady Elizabeth escapes into the forest] But the Lady +Elizabeth ran very deep into the forest, and the gentlewoman and the page +ran after her; and the Queen thought that she was going to find her lord in +the forest. So she ran very rapidly for a great distance, until by and by +she waxed faint with weariness from running and sank down upon the ground; +and there they that followed her found her lying. And they found that the +Queen was in a great passion of pain and sick to death. For the day was +very wintry, with a fine powder of snow all over the ground, so that the +cold of the weather pierced through the garments of the Lady Elizabeth and +entered into her body and chilled her to the heart. + +Now the gentlewoman, seeing how it was with the Queen, called the page to +her and said: "Make haste! Go back to the castle of Lyonesse, and bring +some of the knights of the castle with all speed, else the Queen will die +at this place." And upon that the page ran off with great speed to do her +bidding and the Queen was left alone with her gentlewoman. + +Then the gentlewoman said, "Lady, what cheer?" And the Queen said, "Alas, I +am sick to death." The gentlewoman said, "Lady, cannot you bear up a little +until help cometh?" Thereupon the Lady Elizabeth fell to weeping very +piteously, and said, "Nay, I cannot bear up any longer, for the cold hath +entered into my heart." (Yea, even at that time death was upon her because +of the cold at her heart.) + +Then by and by in the midst of her tears and in very sore travail a +man-child was born to the Queen, and when that came to pass a great peace +fell suddenly upon her. + +[Sidenote: How Tristram is born in the forest] Then she said, speaking to +the nurse like one in great weariness, "What child is it that I have given +unto the world?" The nurse said, "It is a man-child." The Queen said to +her, "Hold him up until I see him." Thereupon the nurse held the child up +and the Queen looked at him, though she could hardly see him because it was +as though a mist lay upon her eyes which she could not clear away from her +sight; for at that time she was drawing deep draughts of death. Then, when +she had seen the child and had beheld that he was very strong and lusty and +exceedingly comely, she said: "Behold, this is my child, born in the midst +of sore travail and great sorrow; wherefore his name shall be called +Tristram because he hath caused so many tears to be shed." + +Then in a little while the Lady died, and the gentlewoman stood weeping +beside her, making great outcry in that cold and lonely forest. + +Anon there came those knights who were sent from the castle to find the +Queen; and when they came to that place, they beheld that she lay upon the +ground all cold and white like to a statue of marble stone. So they lifted +her up and bare her away upon a litter, and the gentlewoman followed +weeping and wailing in great measure, and bearing the child wrapped in a +mantle. + +So Tristram was born in that wise, and so his name was given to him because +of the tears that were shed at his birth. + +And now it is to be told how King Meliadus returned from that castle of +enchantment where he was held prisoner. + +[Sidenote: King Meliadus is released from durance] At this time Merlin was +still living in the world, for Vivien had not yet bewitched him, as hath +been told in the Book of King Arthur. So by and by it came to pass that he +discovered where King Meliadus was imprisoned and how it fared with him in +the castle of that enchantress. So he made greater spells than those that +enmeshed King Meliadus, and he brought King Meliadus back into his memory +of the Queen and his kingdom. Then straightway the King broke out from the +castle of the enchantress and returned to his kingdom. But when he came +there it was to find everything in great sorrow and dole; for the Lady +Elizabeth was no longer upon this earth to bring joy to the heart of the +King. So for a long while after his return King Meliadus lay altogether +stricken down with the grief of that bereavement. + +Here followeth the story of Tristram, how he passed his youth, and how he +became a knight of Cornwall of King Mark's making. + + + + +PART I + + +The Story of Sir Tristram and the Lady Belle Isoult + +_Here followeth the story of Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, who, with Sir +Launcelot of the Lake, was deemed to be one of the two most worthy and +perfect knights champion of his day. + +Likewise herein shall be told the story of the Lady Belle Isoult, who next +to Queen Guinevere, was reckoned to be the most fair, gentle lady in all of +the world._ + +[Illustration: Tristram succors the Lady Moeya] + + + + +Chapter First + + +_How the new Queen of Lyonesse sought Tristram's life; how he went to +France, and how he returned again to Lyonesse and was received with love at +that place._ + +So King Meliadus grieved very bitterly for the Lady Elizabeth for the space +of seven years, and in that time he took but little pleasure in life, and +still less pleasure in that son who had been born to him in that wise. Then +one day a certain counsellor who was in great favor with the King came to +him and said: "Lord, it is not fitting that you should live in this wise +and without a mate; for you should have a queen, and you should have other +children besides Tristram, else all the fate of this kingdom shall depend +upon the life of that one small child." + +[Sidenote: King Meliadus taketh the Lady Moeya to second wife] And King +Meliadus took this counsel to heart, and after a while he said: "What you +tell me is true, and so I shall take another Queen, even though it is not +in me to love any other woman in all of the world but that dear one who is +dead and gone." So a while after that he took to wife the Lady Moeya, who +was the daughter of King Howell of Britain. + +Now Queen Moeya had been married to an Earl of Britain, and by him she had +a son who was about the age of Tristram. So she brought this son to +Lyonesse with her, and he and Tristram were very good companions. + +But the Lady Moeya took great hatred of Tristram, for she said in her +heart: "Except for this Tristram, mayhap my son might be King and overlord +of this land." And these thoughts brooded with her, so that after a while +she began to meditate how she might make away with Tristram so that her own +son might come into his inheritance. + +Now at that time Tristram was about thirteen years of age and very large +and robust of form and of extraordinary strength of body and beauty of +countenance. But the son of Queen Moeya was not of such a sort, so the more +beautiful and noble Tristram was the more the Queen hated him. So one day +she called to her a very cunning chemist and she said to him: "Give me a +drink of such and such a sort, so that he who drinks thereof shall +certainly die, maugre help of any kind." And the chemist gave her what she +desired, and it was in a phial and was of a golden color. + +[Sidenote: The Lady Moeya devises mischief against Tristram] Now Tristram +and the son of the Lady Moeya were wont to play ball in a certain court of +the castle, and when they would play there they would wax all of a heat +with their sport. This the Lady Moeya was well aware of; so one day she +took that phial of poison and she poured a part of it into a chalice and +she filled the chalice with clear water and she set the chalice upon a +bench where those two would play at ball. For she said to herself: "When +they grow warm with their play, Tristram will certainly drink of this water +to quench his thirst, and then my son will maybe enter into his +inheritance." + +[Sidenote: The son of the Queen drinks of the poison] So the two youths +played very fiercely at their game, and they waxed exceedingly hot and +presently were both very violently athirst. Then Tristram said, "I would I +had somewhat to drink," and his stepbrother said, "Look, yonder is a +chalice of water; drink! and when thou hast quenched thy thirst, then I +will drink also." But Tristram said: "Nay, brother, drink thou first, for +thou art more athirst than I." Then at first the son of the Lady Moeya +would not have it so, but would have Tristram drink; but afterward he did +as Tristram bade him, and, taking the chalice in both hands, he drank +freely of that poison which his own mother had prepared. Then when he had +drunk his fill, Tristram took the chalice and would have drunk too; but the +other said, "Stay, Tristram, there is great bitterness in that chalice"; +and then he said, "Methinks I feel a very bitter pang within my vitals," +and then he cried out, "Woe is me! I am in great pain!" Therewith he fell +down upon the ground and lay there in a great passion of agony. Then +Tristram cried aloud for help in a piercing voice; but when help came +thither it was too late, for the son of the Lady Moeya was dead. + +Then the Lady Moeva was in great torment of soul, and beat her breast and +tore her hair and King Meliadus had much ado for to comfort her. And after +this she hated Tristram worse than ever before, for she would say to +herself: "Except for this Tristram, my own son would yet be alive!" + +So she brooded upon these things until she could not rest, whether by day +or night. Then one day she took the rest of the poison that was in the +phial and poured it into a goblet of yellow wine. This goblet she gave to +one of her pages, saying: "Take this to Tristram, and offer it to him when +I shall tell you to do so!" + +[Sidenote: The Lady Moeya seeks Tristram's life a second time] Therewith +she went down to the hall where Tristram was, and she said, "Tristram, let +there be peace betwixt us." And Tristram said: "Lady, that meets my wishes, +for I have never had in my heart aught but loving-kindness toward you, and +so I would have it in your heart toward me." With this the page came in the +hall with that goblet of yellow wine. Then the Lady Moeya took the goblet +and said: "Take this cup, and drink of the wine that is in it, and so there +shall be peace betwixt us forever." And as she said that she looked very +strangely upon Tristram, but Tristram was altogether innocent of any evil +against him. So he reached out his hand to take the cup which the page +brought to him. + +Now at that moment King Meliadus came into the hall fresh from the chase, +and he was much heated and greatly athirst, wherefore, when he saw that cup +of wine he said: "Stay, Tristram, let me drink, for I am greatly athirst. +After I have quenched my thirst, then thou shalt drink." + +Therewith he took the goblet of wine and made to lift it to his lips. But +at that the Lady Moeya cried out, in a very loud and piercing voice, "Do +not drink of that wine!" The King said, "Why should I not drink of it?" "No +matter," said the Lady Moeya, "thou shalt not drink of it, for there is +death in it." + +Therewith she ran to the King and catched him by the hand, and she plucked +away the goblet so that the wine was spilled out of it upon the ground. + +[Sidenote: King Meliadus threatens to slay the Queen] Then King Meliadus +gazed at the Lady Moeya, and he thought of many things in very little time. +Thereupon he seized her by the hair and dragged her forward, so that she +fell down upon her hands and knees to the pavement of the hall. And King +Meliadus drew his great sword so that it flashed like lightning, and he +cried: "Tell me what thou hast done, and tell me quickly, or thou shalt not +be able to tell me at all!" Then the Lady Moeya clutched King Meliadus +about the thighs, and she cried out: "Do not slay me with thine own hand, +or else my blood will stain thee with dishonor! I will tell thee all, and +then thou mayst deal with me according to the law, for indeed I am not fit +to live." So therewithal the Lady Moeya confessed everything to the King. + +Then King Meliadus shouted aloud and called the attendants and said: "Take +this woman and cast her into prison, and see that no harm befall her there; +for the lords of this country shall adjudge her, and not I." And therewith +he turned away and left her. + +And thereafter, in due season, the Lady Moeya was brought to trial and was +condemned to be burned at the stake. + +[Sidenote: Tristram begs mercy for the Queen] Now when the day came that +she was to be burnt, Tristram was very sorry for her. So when he beheld her +tied fast to the stake he came to where King Meliadus was and he kneeled +before him, and he said, "Father, I crave a boon of thee." Thereupon King +Meliadus looked upon Tristram, and he loved him very tenderly and he said: +"My son, ask what thou wilt, and it shall be thine." Then Tristram said: +"Father, I pray thee, spare the life of this lady, for methinks she hath +repented her of her evil, and surely God hath punished her very sorely for +the wickedness she hath tried to do." + +Then King Meliadus was very wroth that Tristram should interfere with the +law; but yet he had granted that boon to his son and could not withdraw. So +after a while of thought he said: "Well, I have promised, and so I will +perform my promise. Her life is thine; go to the stake and take her. But +when thou hast done so I bid thee go forth from this place and show thy +face here no more. For thou hast interfered with the law, and hast done ill +that thou, the son of the King, should save this murderess. So thou shalt +leave this place, for I mistrust that between you two some murder will +befall in this country." + +So Tristram went weeping to where the Queen was bound to the stake; and he +cut her bonds with his dagger and set her free. And he said: "Lady, thou +art free; now go thy way, and may God forgive thee as I do." Then the Queen +wept also, and said, "Tristram, thou art very good to me." And because she +was barefoot and in her shift, Tristram took his cloak and wrapped it about +her. + +[Sidenote: Tristram departs from Lyonesse] After that, Tristram +straightway left Lyonesse, and King Meliadus appointed that a noble and +honorable lord of the court, hight Gouvernail, should go with him. They two +went to France, and there they were made very welcome at the court of the +King. So Tristram dwelt in France till he was eighteen years old, and +everyone at the court of the King of France loved him and honored him so +that he dwelt there as though he were of the blood of France. + +During the time that he was in France he became the greatest hunter in the +world, and he wrote many books on venery that were read and studied long +after he had ceased to live. Also he became so skilful with the harp that +no minstrel in the world was his equal. And ever he waxed more sturdy of +frame and more beautiful of countenance, and more well-taught in all the +worship of knighthood. For during that time he became so wonderfully +excellent in arms that there was no one in France who was his equal. + +Thus Tristram dwelt at peace in that land for five years, but even he +longed for his own home with all the might and main of his heart. So one +day he said to Gouvernail: "Gouvernail, I cannot deny myself any longer +from seeing my father and my own country, for I feel that I must see them +or else my heart will certainly break because of its great longing." Nor +would he listen to anything that Gouvernail might say contrary to this. So +they two took their departure from France, and Tristram travelled as a +harper and Gouvernail as his attendant. Thus they came to Lyonesse in that +wise. + +[Sidenote: How Tristram returns to Lyonesse] One day whilst King Meliadus +sat at meat, they two came into the hall, and Gouvernail wore a long white +beard which altogether disguised him so that no one knew him. But Tristram +shone with such a great radiance of beauty and of youth that all who looked +upon him marvelled at him. And the heart of King Meliadus went out to +Tristram very strongly, and he said before all of his court, "Who art thou, +fair youth? And whence comest thou?" To which Tristram made reply: "Lord, I +am a harper, and this is my man, and we have come from France." Then King +Meliadus said to Tristram: "Sir, have you seen a youth in France whom men +call Tristram?" And Tristram replied, "Yea, I have seen him several times." +King Meliadus said, "Doth he do well?" "Yea," said Tristram, "he doeth very +well, though at times he is sore oppressed with a great desire for his own +country." At this King Meliadus turned away his face, for his heart went +very strongly out at the thought of his son. Then by and by he said to +Tristram, "Wilt thou play upon thy harp?" And Tristram said, "Yea, if it +will please thee to hear me." Therewith he took his harp and he set it +before him, and he struck the strings and played upon it, and he sang in +such a wise that no one who was there had ever heard the like thereof. + +Then King Meliadus' heart was melted at Tristram's minstrelsy, and he said: +"That is wonderful harping. Now ask what thou wilt of me, and it shall be +thine, whatever it may be." + +To this Tristram said, "Lord, that is a great thing that thou sayest." +"Nevertheless," said King Meliadus, "it shall be as I say." Then Tristram +left his harp and he came to where King Meliadus sat, and he kneeled down +before him and he said: "Lord, if so be that is the case, then that which I +ask of thee is this: that thou wilt forgive me and bring me back into thy +favor again." + +[Sidenote: King Meliadus is reconciled to Tristram] At that King Meliadus +was filled with a great wonder, and he said: "Fair youth, who art thou, and +what have I to forgive thee?" "Lord," said Tristram, "I am thy son, and ask +thee to forgive me that I should have saved the life of that lady who is +thy Queen." + +At this King Meliadus cried out with joy, and he came down from where he +sat and he took Tristram into his arms and kissed him upon the face, and +Tristram wept and kissed his father upon the face. + +So they were reconciled. + +After that, Tristram abode in peace in Lyonesse for some while, and during +that time he made peace betwixt King Meliadus and Queen Moeya, and the +Queen loved him because he was so good to her. + +[Sidenote: Tristram refuses knighthood] Now after the return of Tristram +as aforesaid, King Meliadus would have made him a knight, but Tristram +would not suffer the honor of knighthood to be bestowed upon him at that +time, but always said: "Lord, think not ill of me if I do not accept +knighthood at this time. For I would fain wait until the chance for some +large adventure cometh; then I would be made a knight for to meet that +adventure, so that I might immediately win renown. For what credit could +there be to our house if I should be made knight, only that I might sit in +hall and feast and drink and make merry?" + +So spoke Sir Tristram, and his words sounded well to King Meliadus, +wherefore from thenceforth King Meliadus refrained from urging knighthood +upon him. + +Now the way that Sir Tristram achieved knighthood shall be told in that +which followeth, and also it shall then be told how he fought his first +battle, which was one of the most famous that ever he fought in all of his +life. + +[Illustration: King Mark of Cornwall] + + + + +Chapter Second + + +_How Sir Tristram was made knight by the King of Cornwall, and +how he fought a battle with a famous champion._ + +Now first of all it is to be here said that at that time there was great +trouble come to King Mark of Cornwall (who, as aforesaid, was uncle to Sir +Tristram) and the trouble was this: + +[Sidenote: The King of Ireland claims truage of Cornwall] The King of +Cornwall and the King of Ireland had great debate concerning an island that +lay in the sea betwixt Cornwall and Ireland. For though that island was +held by Cornwall, yet the King of Ireland laid claim to it and demanded +that the King of Cornwall should pay him truage for the same. This King +Mark refused to do, and there was great contention betwixt Cornwall and +Ireland, so that each country made ready for war. + +But the King of Ireland said: "Let there not be war betwixt Ireland and +Cornwall concerning this disagreement, but let us settle this affair in +some other way. Let us each choose a champion and let those two champions +decide the rights of this case by a combat at arms. For so the truth shall +be made manifest." + +Now you are to know that at that time the knights of Cornwall were held in +great disregard by all courts of chivalry; for there was not in those days +any knight of repute in all the court of Cornwall. Wherefore King Mark knew +not where he should find him a champion to meet that challenge from the +King of Ireland. Yet he must needs meet it, for he was ashamed to refuse +such a challenge as that, and so to acknowledge that Cornwall had no +knight-champion to defend it. So he said it should be as the King of +Ireland would have it, and that if the King of Ireland would choose a +champion, he also would do the same. + +[Sidenote: The King of Ireland chooses Sir Marhaus for his champion] +Thereupon the King of Ireland chose for his champion Sir Marhaus of +Ireland, who was one of the greatest knights in the world. For in the Book +of King Arthur (which I wrote aforetime) you may there read in the story of +Sir Pellias how great and puissant a champion Sir Marhaus was, and how he +overthrew Sir Gawaine and others with the greatest ease. Wherefore at that +time he was believed by many to be the greatest knight in the world (it +being before the days of Sir Launcelot of the Lake), and even in the days +of Sir Launcelot it was doubted whether he or Sir Launcelot were the +greater champion. + +So King Mark could not find any knight in Cornwall to stand against Sir +Marhaus. Nor could he easily find any knight outside of Cornwall to do +battle with him. For Sir Marhaus, being a knight of the Round Table, no +other knight of the Round Table would fight against him--and there were no +other knights so great as that famous brotherhood of the Table Round. + +Accordingly, King Mark knew not where to turn to find him a champion to do +battle in his behalf. + +In this strait, King Mark sent a letter by a messenger to Lyonesse, asking +if there was any knight at Lyonesse who would stand his champion against +Sir Marhaus, and he offered great reward if such a champion would undertake +his cause against Ireland. + +[Sidenote: Tristram asks leave to go to Cornwall] Now when young Tristram +heard this letter of his uncle King Mark, he straightway went to his father +and said: "Sire, some whiles ago you desired that I should become a knight. +Now I would that you would let me go to Cornwall upon this occasion. For +when I come there I will beseech my uncle King Mark to make me a knight, +and then I will go out against Sir Marhaus. For I have a great mind to +undertake this adventure in behalf of King Mark, and to stand his champion +against Sir Marhaus. For though Sir Marhaus is so great a knight and so +famous a hero, yet if I should have the good fortune to overcome him in +battle, there would, certes, be great glory to our house through my +knighthood." + +Then King Meliadus looked upon Tristram and loved him very dearly, and he +said: "Tristram, thou hast assuredly a very great heart to undertake this +adventure, which no one else will essay. So I bid thee go, in God's name, +if so be thy heart bids thee to go. For maybe God will lend the strength +necessary to carry this adventure through to a successful issue." + +So that very day Tristram departed from Lyonesse for Cornwall, taking with +him only Gouvernail as his companion. So, by ship, he reached Cornwall, and +the castle of Tintagel, where King Mark was then holding court. + +And it was at the sloping of the afternoon when he so came, and at that +time King Mark was sitting in hall with many of his knights and lords about +him. And the King was brooding in great trouble of spirit. Unto him came an +attendant, saying: "Lord, there are two strangers who stand without, and +crave to be admitted to your presence. One of them hath great dignity and +sobriety of demeanor, and the other, who is a youth, is of so noble and +stately an appearance that I do not believe his like is to be found in the +entire world." + +To this the King said, "Show them in." + +[Sidenote: Tristram and Gouvernail come to Cornwall] So those two were +immediately admitted into the hall and came and stood before King Mark; and +the one of them was Gouvernail and the other was young Tristram. So +Tristram stood forth before Gouvernail and Gouvernail bore the harp of +Tristram, and the harp was of gold and shone most brightly and beautifully. +Then King Mark looked upon Tristram, and marvelled at his size and beauty; +for Tristram stood above any man in that place, so that he looked like a +hero amongst them. His brow was as white as milk and his lips were red like +to coral and his hair was as red as gold and as plentiful as the mane of a +young lion, and his neck was thick and sturdy and straight like to a round +pillar of white-stone, and he was clad in garments of blue silk embroidered +very cunningly with threads of gold and set with a countless multitude of +gems of divers colors. So because of all this he glistened with a singular +radiance of richness and beauty. + +So King Mark marvelled at the haughtiness of Tristram's appearance, and he +felt his heart drawn toward Tristram with love and admiration. Then, after +a little, he spoke, saying: "Fair youth, who are you, and whence come you, +and what is it you would have of me?" + +[Sidenote: Tristram offers himself as champion for Cornwall] "Lord," said +Tristram, "my name is Tristram, and I come from the country of Lyonesse, +where your own sister was one time Queen. Touching the purpose of my coming +hither, it is this: having heard that you are in need of a champion to +contend for your rights against the champion of Ireland, I come hither to +say that if you will make me a knight with your own hand, I will take it +upon me to stand your champion and to meet Sir Marhaus of Ireland upon your +behalf." + +Then King Mark was filled with wonder at the courage of Tristram, and he +said: "Fair youth, are you not aware that Sir Marhaus of Ireland is a +knight well set in years and of such great and accredited deeds of arms +that it is supposed that, excepting Sir Launcelot of the Lake, there is not +his peer in any court of chivalry in all of the world? How then can you, +who are altogether new to the use of arms, hope to stand against so +renowned a champion as he?" + +"Lord," quoth Tristram, "I am well aware of what sort of knight Sir Marhaus +is, and I am very well aware of the great danger of this undertaking. Yet +if one who covets knighthood shall fear to face a danger, what virtue would +there then be in the chivalry of knighthood? So, Messire, I put my trust in +God, His mercies, and I have great hope that He will lend me both courage +and strength in my time of need." + +Then King Mark began to take great joy, for he said to himself: "Maybe this +youth shall indeed bring me forth in safety out of these dangers that +menace my honor." So he said: "Tristram, I do believe that you will stand a +very excellent chance of success in this undertaking, wherefore it shall be +as you desire; I will make you a knight, and besides that I will fit you +with armor and accoutrements in all ways becoming to the estate of a +knight-royal. Likewise I will provide you a Flemish horse of the best +strain, so that you shall be both furnished and horsed as well as any +knight in the world hath ever been." + +[Sidenote: Tristram is made knight-royal] So that night Tristram watched +his armor in the chapel of the castle, and the next day he was made knight +with all the circumstances appertaining to a ceremony of such solemnity as +that. And upon the afternoon of the day upon which he was thus made knight, +King Mark purveyed a ship in all ways befitting the occasion, and in the +ship Tristram and Gouvernail set sail for that island where Sir Marhaus was +known to be abiding at that time. + +Now upon the second day of their voyaging and about the middle of the day +they came to a land which they knew must be the place which they were +seeking, and there the sailors made a safe harbor. As soon as they were at +anchor a gangway was set from the ship to the shore and Sir Tristram and +Gouvernail drave their horses across the gangway and so to the dry land. + +Thereafter they rode forward for a considerable distance, until about the +first slanting of the afternoon they perceived in the distance three very +fair ships drawn up close to the shore. And then they were aware of a +knight, clad in full armor and seated upon a noble horse under the shadow +of those ships, and they wist that that must be he whom Sir Tristram +sought. + +Then Gouvernail spake to Sir Tristram, saying: "Sir, that knight resting +yonder beneath the shelter of the ships must be Sir Marhaus." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram goes forth to meet Sir Marhaus] "Yea," said Sir +Tristram, "that is assuredly he." So he gazed very steadily at the knight +for a long while, and by and by he said: "Gouvernail, yonder seems to me to +be a very great and haughty knight for a knight so young as I am to have to +do with in his first battle; yet if God will lend me His strong aid in this +affair, I shall assuredly win me great credit at his hands." Then after +another short while he said: "Now go, Gouvernail, and leave me alone in +this affair, for I do not choose for anyone to be by when I have to do with +yonder knight. For either I shall overcome him in this combat or else I +will lay down my life at this place. For the case is thus, Gouvernail; if +Sir Marhaus should overcome me and if I should yield me to him as +vanquished, then mine uncle must pay truage to the King of Ireland for the +land of Cornwall; but if I died without yielding me to mine enemy, then he +must yet do battle with another champion at another time, if my uncle the +King can find such an one to do battle in his behalf. So I am determined +either to win this battle or to die therein." + +Now when Gouvernail heard this, he fell a-weeping in great measure; and he +cried out: "Sir, let not this battle be of that sort!" To him Sir Tristram +said very steadfastly: "Say no more, Gouvernail, but go as I bid thee." +Whereupon Gouvernail turned and went away, as he was bidden to do, weeping +very bitterly as he went. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram proclaims his degree] Now by this Sir Marhaus had +caught sight of Sir Tristram where he stood in that field, and so presently +he came riding thitherward to meet Sir Tristram. When he had come nigh, Sir +Marhaus said: "Who art thou, Sir Knight?" Unto these Sir Tristram made +reply: "Sir, I am Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, son of King Meliadus of that +land, and nephew of King Mark of Cornwall. I am come to do battle upon +behalf of the King of Cornwall, to release him from the demands of truage +made by the King of Ireland." Quoth Sir Marhaus: "Messire, are you a knight +of approval and of battles?" "Nay," said Sir Tristram, "I have only been +created knight these three days." + +"Alas!" said Sir Marhaus, "I am very sorry for thee and for thy noble +courage that hath brought thee hither to this place. Thou art not fit to +have to do with me, for I am one who hath fought in more than twice twenty +battles, each one of which was, I believe, greater than this is like to be. +Also I have matched me with the very best knights in the world, and have +never yet been overcome. So I advise thee, because of thy extreme youth, to +return to King Mark and bid him send me another champion in thy stead, who +shall be better seasoned than thou art." + +"Sir," said Sir Tristram, "I give thee gramercy for thy advice. But I may +tell thee that I was made knight for no other purpose than to do battle +with thee; so I may not return without having fulfilled mine adventure. +Moreover, because of thy great renown and thy courage and prowess, I feel +all the more desirous to have to do with thee; for if I should die at thy +hand, then there will be no shame to me, but if I should win this battle +from thee, then I shall have very great renown in the courts of chivalry." + +"Well," said Sir Marhaus, "it is not likely that thou shalt die at my hand. +For because of thy youth I will not have it that this battle shall be so +desperate as that." "Say not so," said Sir Tristram, "for either I shall +die at thy hand, or else I shall overcome thee in this battle, for I make +my vow to God that I will not yield myself to thee so long as there is life +within my body." + +"Alas!" said Sir Marhaus, "that is certes a great pity. But as thou hast +foreordained it, so it must needs be." Therewith he saluted Sir Tristram +and drew rein and rode aside to a little distance where he straightway made +ready for that battle. Nor was Sir Tristram behind him in making +preparation, albeit he was filled with doubts as to the outcome of that +undertaking. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram is wounded] Then when they were in all ways +prepared, each gave shout and drave spurs into his horse and rushed toward +the other with such fury that it was terrible to behold. And each smote the +other with his spear in the centre of his shield, and in that encounter Sir +Marhaus smote through Sir Tristram's shield and gave Sir Tristram a great +wound in his side. Then Sir Tristram felt the blood gush out of that wound +in such abundance that it filled his iron boots, so that they were sodden +therewith, and he thought he had got his death-wound. But in spite of that +grievous bitter stroke, he held his seat and was not overthrown. Then so +soon as he had recovered himself he voided his horse and drew his sword and +set his shield before him; and when Sir Marhaus saw his preparations, he +likewise voided his horse and made ready for battle upon foot. So +straightway they came together with terrible fury, lashing at each other +with such fearful strength and evil will that it was dreadful to behold. +And each gave the other many grievous strokes, so that whole pieces of +armor were hewn off from their bodies; and each gave the other many deep +wounds, so that that part of the armor that still hung to them became red +as though it were painted with red. Likewise the ground was all besprinkled +red where they stood, yet neither gave any thought to quitting that battle +in which they were engaged. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram gives Sir Marhaus a death-wound] Now for a while +Sir Tristram feared because of the wound which he had at first received +that he would die in that battle, but by and by he perceived that he was +stouter than Sir Marhaus and better winded; wherefore great hope came to +him and uplifted him with redoubled strength. Then presently Sir Marhaus +fell back a little and when Sir Tristram perceived that he ran in upon him +and smote him several times, such direful strokes that Sir Marhaus could +not hold up his shield against that assault. Then Sir Tristram perceived +that Sir Marhaus was no longer able to hold up his shield, and therewith he +smote him a great blow with his sword upon the helmet. So direful was that +blow that the sword of Sir Tristram pierced very deep through the helm of +Sir Marhaus and into the brainpan. And Sir Tristram's sword stuck fast in +the helm and the brain-pan of Sir Marhaus so that Sir Tristram could not +pull it out again. Then Sir Marhaus, half a-swoon, fell down upon his +knees, and therewith a part of the edge of the blade brake off from Sir +Tristram's sword, and remained in the wound that he had given to Sir +Marhaus. + +[Sidenote: Sir Marhaus leaves the field] Then Sir Marhaus was aware that +he had got his death-wound, wherefore a certain strength came to him so +that he rose to his feet staggering like a drunken man. And at first he +began going about in a circle and crying most dolorously. Then as he wist +all that had happed he threw away his sword and his shield, and made away +from that place, staggering and stumbling like one who had gone blind; for +he was all bewildered with that mortal wound, and wist not very well what +he was doing or whither he was going. Then Sir Tristram would have made +after him to stop him, but he could not do so because he himself was so +sorely wounded and so weak from the loss of blood. Yet he called after Sir +Marhaus: "Stay, stay, Sir Knight! Let us finish this battle now we are +about it!" But to this Sir Marhaus made no answer, but went on down to his +ships, staggering and stumbling like a blind man as aforesaid, for the sore +wound which he had received still lent him a false strength of body so that +he was able to go his way. Then those who were aboard the ships, beholding +him thus coming staggering toward them, came down and met him and lifted +him up and bore him away to his own ship. Thereafter, as soon as might be +they hoisted sail and lifted anchor and took their way from that place. + +Then by and by came Gouvernail and several others of Sir Tristram's party +to where Sir Tristram was; and there they found him leaning upon his sword +and groaning very sorely because of the great wound in his side. So +presently they perceived that he could not walk, wherefore they lifted him +up upon his own shield and bore him thence to that ship that had brought +him thither. + +And when they had come to the ship they laid him down upon a couch and +stripped him of his armor to search his wounds. Then they beheld what a +great wound it was that Sir Marhaus had given him in the side, and they +lifted up their voices in sorrow, for they all believed that he would die. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristam returns to Cornwall] So they set sail, and in two +days brought him back to King Mark, where he sat at Tintagel in Cornwall. +And when King Mark saw how pale and wan and weak Sir Tristram was, he wept +and grieved very sorely for sorrow of that sight, for he too thought that +Sir Tristram was certainly about to die. + +But Sir Tristram smiled upon King Mark, and he said: "Lord, have I done +well for thy sake?" And King Mark said, "Yea," and fell to weeping again. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram proclaims himself to King Mark] "Then," quoth +Tristram, "it is time for me to tell thee who I am who have saved thy +kingdom from the shame of having to pay truage to Ireland, and that I am +thine own sister's son. For my father is King Meliadus of Lyonesse, and my +mother was the Lady Elizabeth, who was thine own sister till God took her +soul to Paradise to dwell there with His angels." + +But when King Mark heard this he went forth from that place and into his +own chamber. And when he had come there he fell down upon his knees and +cried out aloud: "Alas, alas, that this should be! Rather, God, would I +lose my entire kingdom than that my sister's son should come to his death +in this wise!" + +Now it remaineth to say of Sir Marhaus that those who were with him brought +him back to Ireland and that there in a little while he died of the wound +that Sir Tristram had given him upon the head. But ere he died, and whilst +they were dressing that hurt, the Queen of Ireland, who was sister to Sir +Marhaus, discovered the broken piece of the blade still in that grim wound. +This she drew forth and set aside, and hid very carefully, saying to +herself: "If ever I meet that knight to whose sword this piece of blade +fitteth, then it will be an evil day for him." + +Thus I have told you all the circumstances of that great battle betwixt Sir +Tristram of Lyonesse and Sir Marhaus of Ireland. And now you shall hear how +it befell Sir Tristram thereafter; so harken to what followeth. + +[Illustration: The Lady Belle Isoult] + + + + +Chapter Third + + +_How Sir Tristram went to Ireland to be healed of his wound by the King's +daughter of Ireland, and of how he came to love the Lady Belle Isoult. Also +concerning Sir Palamydes and the Lady Belle Isoult._ + +Now that grievous hurt which Sir Tristram had received at the hands of Sir +Marhaus did not heal, but instead grew even more rankled and sore, so that +there were many who thought that there had been treachery practised and +that the spearhead had been poisoned to cause such a malignant disease as +that with which the wounded man suffered. So by and by Sir Tristram grew so +grievously sick of his hurt that all those who were near him thought that +he must certainly die. + +Then King Mark sent everywhere and into all parts for the most wise and +learned leeches and chirurgeons to come to Cornwall and search the wounds +of Sir Tristram, but of all these no one could bring him any ease. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Tristram lieth sick in Cornwall] Now one day there came +to the court of King Mark a very wise lady, who had travelled much in the +world and had great knowledge of wounds of all sorts. At the bidding of the +King, she went to where Sir Tristram lay, and searched the wound as so many +had already done. And when she had done that she came out of Sir Tristram's +chamber and unto King Mark, where he was waiting for her. Then King Mark +said to her: "Well, how will it be with yonder knight?" "Lord," quoth she, +"it is thus; I can do nothing to save his life, nor do I know of any one +who may save it unless it be the King's daughter of Ireland, who is known +as the Belle Isoult because of her wonderful beauty. She is the most +skilful leech in all of the world, and she alone may hope to bring Sir +Tristram back to life and health again, for I believe that if she fail no +one else can save him." + +Then after the aforesaid lady had gone, King Mark went to where Sir +Tristram lay, and he told him all that she had said concerning his +condition; and King Mark said: "Tristram, wilt thou go to the King's +daughter of Ireland and let her search thy wound?" + +Then Sir Tristram groaned at the thought of the weariness and pain of +moving, and he said: "Lord, this is a great undertaking for one who is so +sick. Moreover, it is a great risk for me, for, if I go to Ireland, and if +it be found that I am he who slew Sir Marhaus, then it is hardly likely +that I shall ever escape from that country again with my life. Ne'theless, +I am so sorely sick of this wound that I would rather die than live as I am +living; wherefore I will go to Ireland for the sake of being healed, if +such a thing is possible." + +Accordingly, a little while after that, King Mark provided a ship to carry +Sir Tristram to Ireland. This ship he furnished with sails of silk of +divers colors, and he had it hung within with fine embroidered cloth, and +fabrics woven with threads of silver and gold, so that in its appearance it +was a worthy vessel even for a great king to sail in. Then, when all was +ready, King Mark had a number of attendants carry Sir Tristram down to the +ship in a litter, and he had them lay Sir Tristram upon a soft couch of +crimson satin, which was set upon the deck beneath a canopy of crimson +silk, embroidered with threads of silver and garnished with fringe of +silver, and Sir Tristram lay there at ease where the breezes of the ocean +came pleasantly to him, and breathed upon his face and his temples and his +hair and his hands with coolness; and Gouvernail was with Sir Tristram all +the while in attendance upon him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram sails to Ireland to have his wound searched] So +they set sail for Ireland, the weather being very fair and pleasant, and on +the third day, at about the time of sunset, they came to a part of the +coast of Ireland where there was a castle built upon the rocks that rose +out of the sea. + +Now there were several fishermen fishing in boats near that castle, and of +these the pilot of Sir Tristram's boat made inquiry what castle that was. +To him the fisherman replied: "That castle is the castle of King Angus of +Ireland." And the fisherman said: "It so happens that the King and Queen +and their daughter, hight the Lady Belle Isoult, and all of their court are +there at this very while." + +This Sir Tristram heard and said: "This is good news, for indeed I am very +sick and am right glad that my voyaging is ended." So he gave orders that +the pilot should bring the ship close under the walls of that castle, and +that he should there let go anchor; and the pilot did as Sir Tristram had +commanded him. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Tristram came to Ireland] Now, as aforesaid, that ship +was of a very wonderful appearance, like to the ship of a king or a high +prince, wherefore many people came down to the walls of the castle and +stood there and gazed at the vessel as it sailed into the harbor. And by +that time the sun had set and all the air was illuminated with a marvellous +golden light; and in this sky of gold the moon hung like a shield of +silver, very bright and steady above the roofs and towers of the castle. +And there came from the land a pleasing perfume of blossoms; for it was +then in the fulness of the spring-time, and all the fruit-bearing trees +were luxuriant with bloom so that the soft air of evening was full of +fragrance thereby. + +Then there came a great content into the heart of Sir Tristram, wherefore +he said to Gouvernail: "Gouvernail, either I shall soon be healed of this +wound, or else I shall presently die and enter into Paradise free of pain, +for I am become very full of content and of peace toward all men." And then +he said: "Bring me hither my harp, that I may play upon it a little, for I +have a desire to chant in this pleasant evening-time." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram sings] So Gouvernail brought to Sir Tristram his +shining harp, and when Sir Tristram had taken it into his hands he tuned +it, and when he had tuned it he struck it and sang; and, because of the +stillness of the evening, his voice sounded marvellously clear and sweet +across the level water, so that those who stood upon the castle walls and +heard it thought that maybe an angel was singing on board of that ship. + +That time the Lady Belle Isoult sat at the window of her bower enjoying the +pleasantness of the evening. She also heard Sir Tristram singing, and she +said to those damsels who were with her, "Ha, what is that I hear?" +Therewith she listened for a little while, and then she said: "Meseems that +must be the voice of some angel that is singing." They say: "Nay, Lady, it +is a wounded knight singing, and he came to this harbor in a wonderful ship +some while ago." Then the Lady Belle Isoult said to a page who was in +attendance: "Bid the King and Queen come hither, that they may hear this +singing also, for never did I think to hear such singing beyond the walls +of Paradise." + +So the page ran with all speed, and in a little the King and Queen came to +the bower of the Lady Belle Isoult; and she and they leaned upon the +window-ledge and listened to Sir Tristram whilst he sang in the soft +twilight. Then by and by King Angus said: "Now I will have yonder minstrel +brought thither to this castle to do us pleasure, for I believe that he +must be the greatest minstrel in all the world to sing in that wise." And +the Lady Belle Isoult said: "I pray you, sir, do so, for it would be great +joy to everybody to have such singing as that in this place." + +So King Angus sent a barge to that ship, and besought that he who sang +should be brought to the castle. At that Sir Tristram was very glad, for he +said: "Now I shall be brought to the Lady the Belle Isoult and maybe she +will heal me." So he had them bare him to the barge of the King of Ireland, +and so they brought him to the castle of King Angus, where they laid him +upon a bed in a fair room of the castle. + +[Sidenote: King Angus cometh to Tristram] Then King Angus came to Sir +Tristram where he lay, and he said: "Messire what can I do for you to put +you more at your ease than you are?" "Lord," said Sir Tristram, "I pray you +to permit the Lady Belle Isoult to search a great wound in my side that I +received in battle. For I hear that she is the most skilful leech in all +the world, and so I have come hither from a great distance, being in such +pain and dole from my grievous hurt that I shall die in a little while +unless it be healed." + +"Messire," said King Angus, "I perceive that you are no ordinary knight, +but somebody of high nobility and estate, so it shall be as you desire." +And then King Angus said: "I pray you, tell me your name and whence you +come." + +Upon this, Sir Tristram communed within his own mind, saying: "An I say my +name is Tristram, haply there may be someone here will know me and that I +was the cause why the brother of the Queen of this place hath died." So he +said: "Lord, my name is Sir Tramtris, and I am come from a country called +Lyonesse, which is a great distance from this." + +Quoth King Angus, "Well, Sir Tramtris, I am glad that you have come to this +place. Now it shall be done to you as you desire, for to-morrow the Lady +Belle Isoult shall search your wound to heal it if possible." + +[Sidenote: My Lady Belle Isoult searches the wound] And so it was as King +Angus said, for the next day the Lady Belle Isoult came with her attendants +to where Sir Tristram lay, and one of the attendants bare a silver basin +and another bare a silver ewer, and others bare napkins of fine linen. So +the Lady Belle Isoult came close to Sir Tristram and kneeled beside the +couch whereon he lay and said, "Let me see the wound." Therewith Sir +Tristram laid bare his bosom and his side and she beheld it. Then she felt +great pity for Sir Tristram because of that dolorous wound, and she said: +"Alas, that so young and so fair and so noble a knight should suffer so +sore a wound as this!" Therewith still kneeling beside Sir Tristram she +searched the wound with very gentle, tender touch (for her fingers were +like to rose leaves for softness) and lo! she found a part of the blade of +a spear-head embedded very deep in the wound of Sir Tristram. + +This she drew forth very deftly (albeit Sir Tristram groaned with a great +passion of pain) and therewithafter came forth an issue of blood like a +crimson fountain, whereupon Sir Tristram swooned away like one who had gone +dead. But he did not die, for they quickly staunched the flow, set aromatic +spices to his nostrils, so that in a little he revived in spirit to find +himself at great ease and peace in his body (albeit it was for a while like +to the peace of death). + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram is healed] Thus it was that the Lady Belle Isoult +saved the life of Sir Tristram, for in a little while he was able to be +about again, and presently waxed almost entirely hale and strong in limb +and body. + +And now it is to be told how Sir Tristram loved the Lady Belle Isoult and +how she loved Sir Tristram. Also how a famous knight, hight Sir Palamydes +the Saracen, loved Belle Isoult and of how she loved not him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram loves the Lady Belle Isoult] For, as was said, it +came about that in a little while Sir Tristram was healed of that grievous +wound aforetold of so that he was able to come and go whithersoever he +chose. But always he would be with the Lady Belle Isoult, for Sir Tristram +loved her with a wonderfully passionate regard. And so likewise the lady +loved Sir Tristram. For if he loved her because she had saved his life, +then she also loved him for the same reason. For she did not ever forget +how she had drawn out the head of that spear from the wound at his side, +and of how he had groaned when she brought it forth, and of how the blood +had gushed out of that wound. Wherefore she loved him very aboundingly for +the agony of pain she had one time caused him to suffer. + +So they two fair and noble creatures were always together in bower or in +hall, and no one in all that while wist that Sir Tramtris was Sir Tristram, +and that it was his hand that had slain Sir Marhaus of Ireland. + +So Sir Tristram was there in Ireland for a year, and in that time he grew +to be altogether well and sturdy again. + +[Sidenote: Sir Palamydes cometh to Ireland] Now it was in those days that +there came Sir Palamydes the Saracen knight to that place, who was held to +be one of the very foremost knights in the world. So great rejoicing was +made over him because he had come thither, and great honor was shown to him +by everyone. + +But when Sir Palamydes beheld the Lady Belle Isoult and when he saw how +fair she was, he came in a short while to love her with almost as +passionate a regard as that with which Sir Tristram loved her, so that he +also sought ever to be with her whenever the chance offered. + +But Belle Isoult felt no regard for Sir Palamydes, but only fear of him, +for all of her love was given to Sir Tristram. Nevertheless, because Sir +Palamydes was so fierce and powerful a knight, she did not dare to offend +him; wherefore she smiled upon him and treated him with all courtesy and +kindness although she loved him not, dissembling her regard for him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram is displeased] All this Sir Tristram beheld from +aside and it displeased him a very great deal to see how Sir Palamydes was +always beside the lady. But Belle Isoult beheld how Sir Tristram was +displeased, wherefore she took occasion to say to him: "Tramtris, be not +displeased, for what am I to do? You know very well that I do not love this +knight, but I am afraid of him because he is so fierce and so strong." + +To this Sir Tristram said: "Lady, it would be a great shame to me if I, +being by, should suffer any knight to come betwixt you and me and win your +regard through fear of him." + +She said: "Tramtris, what would you do? Would you give challenge to this +knight? Lo, you are not yet entirely healed of your hurt, and Sir Palamydes +is in perfect strength of body. For indeed it is for you I am most of all +afraid lest you and Sir Palamydes should come to battle and lest he should +do you a harm before you are entirely healed." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram desires to do battle] "Lady," quoth Sir Tristram, +"I thank God that I am not at all afraid of this knight, or of any other +knight, and I have to thank you that I am now entirely recovered and am as +strong as ever I was. Wherefore I have now a mind to deal with this knight +in your behalf. So if you will provide me with armor I will deal with him +so that maybe he will not trouble you again. Now I will devise it in this +way:--tell your father, King Angus, to proclaim a great jousting. In that +jousting I will seek out Sir Palamydes and will encounter him, and I hope +with God's aid that I shall overcome him, so that you shall be free from +him." + +Belle Isoult said, "Tramtris, are you able for this?" He said, "Yea, I am +as ready as ever I shall be in all of my life." Whereat Belle Isoult said, +"It shall be as you will have it." + +Then Sir Tristram charged Belle Isoult that she should keep secret all this +that had been said betwixt them. And more especially she was to keep it +secret that he was to take part in such a tournament as that which they had +devised. And he said to her: "Lady, I lie here under a great peril to my +life, though I cannot tell you what that peril is. But I may tell you that +if my enemies should discover me at this place, it would go hard with me to +preserve my life from them. Wherefore, if I take part in any such affair as +this, it must be altogether a secret betwixt us." + +So therewith they parted and Lady Belle Isoult went to her father and +besought him to proclaim a great day of jousting in honor of Sir Palamydes, +and the King said that he would do so. So the King sent forth proclamation +to all the courts of that nation that a great tournament was to be held and +that great rewards and great honors were to be given to the best knight +thereat. And that tournament was talked about in all the courts of chivalry +where there were knights who desired to win glory in such affairs at arms. + +And now it shall be told concerning that tournament and how it befell with +Sir Tristram thereat, and with Sir Palamydes thereat. + +[Illustration: The Queen of Ireland seeks to slay Sir Tristram] + + + + +Chapter Fourth + + +_How Sir Tristram encountered Sir Palamydes at the tournament and of what +befell. Also how Sir Tristram was forced to leave the Kingdom of Ireland._ + +So came the time for the tournament that King Angus of Ireland had +ordained; and that was a very famous affair at arms indeed. For it hath +very rarely happened that so noble a gathering of knights hath ever come +together as that company which there presented itself for that occasion at +the court of the King of Ireland. + +[Sidenote: Of the court of chivalry at Ireland] For you may know how +excellent was the court of chivalry that fore gathered thereat when you +shall hear that there came to that tournament, the King of an Hundred +Knights and the King of the Scots, and that there came several knights of +the Round Table, to wit: Sir Gawaine, Sir Gaheris and Sir Agravaine; and +Sir Bagdemagus and Sir Kay and Sir Dodinas, and Sir Sagramore le Desirous, +and Sir Gumret the Less, and Sir Griflet; and that there came besides these +many other knights of great renown. + +These and many others gathered at the court of King Angus of Ireland, so +that all those meadows and fields coadjacent to the place of battle were +gay as beds of flowers with the multitude of tents and pavilions of divers +colors that were there emplanted. + +And on the day of the tournament there came great crowds of people into the +lists, so that all that place was alive with movement. For it was as though +a sea of people had arisen to overflow the seats and stalls thereof. + +Now that tournament was to last for three days, and upon the third day +there was to be a grand melee in which all these knights contestant were to +take stand upon this side or upon that. + +But upon the first two of those three days Sir Tristram sat in the stall of +the King and looked down upon the jousting, for, because of the illness +from which he had recovered, he was minded to save his body until the right +time should come, what time he should be called upon to do his uttermost. + +[Sidenote: Sir Palamydes performeth wonders] And in those two days, Sir +Tristram beheld that Sir Palamydes did more wonderfully in battle than he +would have believed it possible for any knight to do. For Sir Palamydes was +aware that the eyes of the Lady Belle Isoult were gazing upon him, +wherefore he felt himself uplifted to battle as with the strength of ten. +Wherefore he raged about that field like a lion of battle, seeking whom he +might overthrow and destroy. And upon the first day he challenged Sir +Gawaine to joust with him, and then he challenged Sir Gaheris, and the King +of an Hundred Knights, and Sir Griflet, and Sir Sagramore le Desirous and +fourteen other knights, and all of these he met and many he overcame, and +that without any mishap to himself. And upon the second day he met with +great success Sir Agravaine and Sir Griflet and Sir Kay and Sir Dodinas and +twelve other knights. Wherefore those who beheld how he did gave great +shouts and outcries of applause and acclaim, saying: "Certes, there was +never knight in all of the world so great as this knight. Yea; even Sir +Launcelot himself could not do more than that knight doeth." + +Then Belle Isoult was troubled in her mind, and she said: "Tramtris, yonder +in very truth is a most fierce and terrible knight. Now somewhiles I have +fear that you may not be able to overcome him." + +Thereat Sir Tristram smiled very grimly, and said: "Lady, already I have +overcome in battle a bigger knight than ever Sir Palamydes has been or is +like to be." But the Lady Belle Isoult wist not that that knight of whom +Sir Tristram spake was Sir Marhaus of Ireland. + +[Sidenote: Sir Palamydes bespeaks the Lady Belle Isoult] Now upon the +evening of the second day of that tournament, Sir Palamydes came to where +the Lady Belle Isoult was, and he said: "Lady, all these things I have done +for your sake. For had it not been for my love for you, I would not have +been able to do a third part of that which I did. Now I think you should +have pity and regard for one who loves you so strongly as that; wherefore I +beseech you to bestow some part of your good-will upon me." + +"Sir," said the Lady Belle Isoult, "you are not to forget that there is +still another day of this battle, and in it you may not happen to have the +same fortune that favored you to-day; so I will wait until you have won +that battle also before I answer you." + +"Well," said Sir Palamydes, "you shall see that I shall do even more +worthily to-morrow for your sake than I have done to-day." + +But the Lady Belle Isoult was not very well pleased with that saying, for +she began again to fear that maybe the will of Sir Palamydes was so strong +that Sir Tristram would not have any success against him. + +So came the third day of that very famous contest at arms, and when this +morning was come there began to gather together in the two parties those +who were to contest the one against the other. Of one of these parties, Sir +Palamydes was the chiefest knight, and upon that side was also Sir Gawaine +and several of the knights who were with him. For these said, "There shall +certes be greater credit to be had with Sir Palamydes than against him," +and so they joined them with his party. Of the other party the chiefest +knights were the King of an Hundred Knights and the King of Scots, and both +of these were very famous and well-approved champions, of high courage and +remarkable achievements. + +[Sidenote: Belle Isoult arms Sir Tristram] Now when the time was nigh +ready for that tournament, Sir Tristram went to put on the armor that the +Lady Belle Isoult had provided him, and when he was armed he mounted very +lightly upon the horse which she had given him. And the armor of Sir +Tristram was white, shining like to silver, and the horse was altogether +white, and the furniture and trappings thereof were all white, so that Sir +Tristram glistened with extraordinary splendor. + +Now when he was armed and prepared in all ways, the Lady Belle Isoult came +to where he was and she said, "Tramtris, are you ready?" And he answered +"Yea." Therewith she took the horse of Sir Tristram by the bridle and she +led him to the postern gate of the castle, and put him out that way into a +fair field that lay beyond; and Sir Tristram abided in the fields for some +while until the tournament should have begun. + +But the Lady Belle Isoult went to the tournament with her father, the King, +and her mother, the Queen, and took her station at that place assigned to +her whence she might overlook the field. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Palamydes fought in the tournament] So in a little +while that friendly battle began. And again Sir Palamydes was filled with +the vehement fury of contest, wherefore he raged about the field, spreading +terror whithersoever he came. For first he made at the King of an Hundred +Knights, and he struck that knight so direful a blow that both horse and +man fell to the ground with the force thereof. Then in the same manner he +struck the King of Scots with his sword, and smote him straightway out of +the saddle also. Then he struck down one after another, seven other +knights, all of well-proved strength and prowess, so that all those who +looked thereon cried out, "Is he a man or is he a demon?" So, because of +the terror of Sir Palamydes, all those in that contest bore away from him +as they might do from a lion in anger. + +At this time came Sir Tristram, riding at a free pace, shining like to a +figure of silver. Then many saw him and observed him and said to one +another: "Who is this knight, and what party will he join with to do +battle?" These had not long to wait to know what side he would join, for +immediately Sir Tristram took stand with that party which was the party of +the King of an Hundred Knights and the King of Scots, and at that the one +party was very glad, and the other party was sorry; for they deemed that +Sir Tristram was certes some great champion. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram enters the tournament] Then straightway there came +against Sir Tristram four knights of the other party, and one of these was +Sir Gaheris, and another was Sir Griflet and another was Sir Bagdemagus and +another was Sir Kay. But Sir Tristram was possessed with a great joy of +battle, so that in a very short time he had struck down or overthrown all +those knights, beginning with Sir Gaheris, and ending with Sir Kay the +seneschal. + +This Sir Gawaine beheld, and said to Sir Sagramore: "Yonder is certes a +knight of terrible strength; now let us go and see of what mettle he be." + +Therewith Sir Gawaine pushed against Sir Tristram from the one side, and +Sir Sagramore came against him on the other side, and so they met him both +at once. Then first Sir Gawaine struck Sir Tristram such a buffet that the +horse of Sir Tristram turned twice about with the force of that stroke; and +therewith Sir Sagramore smote him a buffet upon the other side so that Sir +Tristram wist not upon which side to defend himself. + +Then, at those blows Sir Tristram waxed so exceedingly fierce that it was +as though a fire of rage flamed up into his brains and set them into a +blaze of rage. So with that he rose up in his stirrups and launched so +dreadful a blow upon Sir Gawaine that I believe nothing could have +withstood the force of that blow. For it clave through the shield of Sir +Gawaine and it descended upon the crown of his helmet and it clave away a +part of his helmet and a part of the epauliere of his shoulder; and with +the force of that dreadful, terrible blow, Sir Gawaine fell down upon the +ground and lay there as though he were dead. + +Then Sir Tristram wheeled upon Sir Sagramore (who sat wonder-struck at that +blow he had beheld) and thereafter he smote him too, so that he fell down +and lay upon the ground in a swoon from which he did not recover for more +than two hours. + +Now Sir Palamydes also had beheld those two strokes that Sir Tristram had +given, wherefore he said: "Hah! Yonder is a very wonderful knight. Now if I +do not presently meet him, and that to my credit, he will have more honor +in this battle than I." + +So therewith Sir Palamydes pushed straight against Sir Tristram, and + +[Sidenote: Sir Palamydes rides against Sir Tristram] when Sir Tristram +beheld that he was very glad, for he said: "Now it will either be Sir +Palamydes his day, or else it will be mine." So he upon his part pushed +against Sir Palamydes with good intent to engage him in battle, and then +they two met in the midst of the field. + +Then immediately Sir Palamydes smote Sir Tristram such a buffet that Sir +Tristram thought a bolt of lightning had burst upon him, and for a little +while he was altogether bemazed and wist not where he was. But when he came +to himself he was so filled with fury that his heart was like to break +therewith. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram smites Sir Palamydes] Thereupon he rushed upon Sir +Palamydes and smote him again and again and again with such fury and +strength that Sir Palamydes was altogether stunned at the blows he received +and bare back before them. Then Sir Tristram perceived how that Sir +Palamydes bare his shield low because of the fierceness of that assault, +and thereupon he rose up in his stirrups and struck Sir Palamydes upon the +crown of the helmet so dreadful a buffet that the brains of Sir Palamydes +swam like water, and he must needs catch the pommel of his saddle to save +himself from falling. Then Sir Tristram smote him another buffet, and +therewith darkness came upon the sight of Sir Palamydes and he rolled off +from his horse into the dust beneath its feet. + +Then all who beheld the encounter shouted very loud and with great +vehemence, for it was the very best and most notable assault at arms that +had been performed in all that battle. But most of those who beheld that +assault cried out "The Silver Knight!" For at that time no one but the Lady +Belle Isoult wist who that silver knight was. But she wist very well who he +was, and was so filled with the glory of his prowess that she wept for joy +thereof. + +[Sidenote: Belle Isoult declares Sir Tristram] Then the King of Ireland +said: "Who is yonder knight who hath so wonderfully overthrown Sir +Palamydes? I had not thought there was any knight in the world so great as +he; but this must be some great champion whom none of us know." Upon that +the Lady Belle Isoult, still weeping for joy, could contain herself no +longer, but cried out: "Sir, that is Tramtris, who came to us so nigh to +death and who hath now done us so great honor being of our household! For I +knew very well that he was no common knight but some mighty champion when I +first beheld him." + +At that the King of Ireland was very much astonished and overjoyed, and he +said: "If that is indeed so, then it is a very great honor for us all." + +Now after that assault Sir Tristram took no more part in that battle but +withdrew to one side. But he perceived where the esquires attendant upon +Sir Palamydes came to him and lifted him up and took him away. Then by and +by he perceived that Sir Palamydes had mounted his horse again with intent +to leave that meadow of battle, and in a little he saw Sir Palamydes ride +away with his head bowed down like to one whose heart was broken. + +All this Sir Tristram beheld and did not try to stay Sir Palamydes in his +departure. But some while after Sir Palamydes had quitted that place, Sir +Tristram also took his departure, going in that same direction that Sir +Palamydes had gone. Then after he had come well away from the meadow of +battle, Sir Tristram set spurs to his horse and rode at a hard gallop along +that way that Sir Palamydes had taken. + +So he rode at such a gait for a considerable pass until, by and by, he +perceived Sir Palamydes upon the road before him; and Sir Palamydes was at +that time come to the edge of a woods where there were several stone +windmills with great sails swinging very slowly around before a strong wind +that was blowing. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram overthrows Palamydes again] Now this was a lonely +place, and one very fit to do battle in, wherefore Sir Tristram cried out +to Sir Palamydes in a loud voice: "Sir Palamydes! Sir Palamydes! Turn you +about! For here is the chance for you to recover the honor that you have +lost to me." Thereupon Sir Palamydes, hearing that loud voice, turned him +about. But when he beheld that the knight who called was he who had just +now wrought such shame upon him, he ground his teeth together with rage, +and therewith drave his horse at Sir Tristram, drawing his sword so that it +flashed like lightning in the bright sunlight. And when he came nigh to Sir +Tristram, he stood up in his stirrups and lashed a blow at him with all his +might and main; for he said to himself: "Maybe I shall now recover mine +honor with one blow which I lost to this knight a while since." But Sir +Tristram put aside that blow of Sir Palamydes with his shield with very +great skill and dexterity, and thereupon, recovering himself, he lashed at +Sir Palamydes upon his part. And at that first stroke Sir Tristram smote +down the shield of Sir Palamydes, and gave him such a blow upon the head +that Sir Palamydes fell down off his horse upon the earth. Then Sir +Tristram voided his own horse very quickly, and running to Sir Palamydes +where he lay he plucked off his helmet with great violence. Therewith he +cried out very fiercely: "Sir Knight, yield thee to me, or I will slay +thee." And therewithal he lifted up his sword as though to strike off the +head of Sir Palamydes. + +Then when Sir Palamydes saw Sir Tristram standing above him in that wise, +he dreaded his buffets so that he said: "Sir Knight, I yield me to thee to +do thy commands, if so be thou wilt spare my life." + +Thereupon Sir Tristram said, "Arise," and at that Sir Palamydes got him up +to his knees with some ado, and so remained kneeling before Sir Tristram. + +"Well," said Sir Tristram, "I believe you have saved your life by thus +yielding yourself to me. Now this shall be my commandment upon you. First +of all, my commandment is that you forsake the Lady Belle Isoult, and that +you do not come near her for the space of an entire year. And this is my +second commandment; that from this day you do not assume the arms of +knighthood for an entire year and a day." + +"Alas!" said Sir Palamydes, "why do you not slay me instead of bringing me +to such shame as this! Would that I had died instead of yielding myself to +you as I did." And therewith he wept for shame and despite. + +"Well," said Sir Tristram, "let that pass which was not done. For now you +have yielded yourself to me and these are my commands." So with that Sir +Tristram set his sword back again into its sheath, and he mounted his horse +and rode away, leaving Sir Palamydes where he was. + +[Sidenote: Sir Palamydes disarms himself] But after Sir Tristram had gone, +Sir Palamydes arose, weeping aloud. And he said: "This is such shame to me +that I think there can be no greater shame." Thereupon he drew his +misericordia, and he cut the thongs of his harness and he tore the pieces +of armor from off his body and flung them away very furiously, upon the +right hand and upon the left. And when he had thus stripped himself of all +of his armor, he mounted his horse and rode away into the forest, weeping +like one altogether brokenhearted. + +So Sir Tristram drave Sir Palamydes away from the Lady Belle Isoult as he +had promised to do. + +Now when Tristram came back to the castle of the King of Ireland once more, +he thought to enter privily in by the postern-gate as he had gone out. But +lo! instead of that he found a great party waiting for him before the +castle and these gave him loud acclaim, crying, "Welcome, Sir Tramtris! +Welcome, Sir Tramtris!" And King Angus came forward and took the hand of +Sir Tristram, and he also said: "Welcome, Sir Tramtris, for you have +brought us great honor this day!" + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram chides Belle Isoult] But Sir Tristram looked at +the Lady the Belle Isoult with great reproach and by and by when they were +together he said: "Lady, why did you betray me who I was when you had +promised me not to do so?" "Sir," she said, "I meant not to betray you, but +in the joy of your victory I know not very well what I said." "Well," said +Sir Tristram, "God grant that no harm come of it." She said, "What harm can +come of it, Messire?" Sir Tristram said: "I may not tell you, Lady, but I +fear that harm will come of it." + +Anon the Queen of Ireland came and said: "Tramtris, one so nigh to death as +you have been should not so soon have done battle as you have done. Now I +will have a bain prepared and you shall bathe therein, for you are not yet +hale and strong." + +"Lady," said Tristram, "I do not need any bain, for I believe I am now +strong and well in all wise." + +"Nay," said the Queen, "you must have that bain so that no ill may come to +you hereafter from this battle which you have fought." + +So she had that bain prepared of tepid water, and it was very strong and +potent with spices and powerful herbs of divers sorts. And when that bain +was prepared, Sir Tristram undressed and entered the bath, and the Queen +and the Lady Belle Isoult were in the adjoining chamber which was his +bed-chamber. + +[Sidenote: The Queen of Ireland beholds Sir Tristram's sword] Now whilst +Sir Tristram was in that bath, the Queen and Belle Isoult looked all about +his chamber. And they beheld the sword of Sir Tristram where it lay, for he +had laid it upon the bed when he had unlatched the belt to make himself +ready for that bath. Then the Queen said to the Lady Belle Isoult, "See +what a great huge sword this is," and thereupon she lifted it and drew the +blade out of its sheath, and she beheld what a fair, bright, glistering +sword it was. Then in a little she saw where, within about a foot and a +half from the point, there was a great piece in the shape of a half-moon +broken out of the edge of the sword; and she looked at that place for a +long while. Then of a sudden she felt a great terror, for she remembered +how even such a piece of sword as that which had been broken off from that +blade, she had found in the wound of Sir Marhaus of which he had died. So +she stood for a while holding that sword of Sir Tristram in her hand and +looking as she had been turned into stone. At this the Lady Belle Isoult +was filled with a sort of fear, wherefore she said, "Lady, what ails you?" +The Queen said, "Nothing that matters," and therewith she laid aside the +sword of Sir Tristram and went very quickly to her own chamber. There she +opened her cabinet and took thence the piece of sword-blade which she had +drawn from the wound of Sir Marhaus, and which she had kept ever since. +With this she hurried back to the chamber of Sir Tristram, and fitted that +piece of the blade to the blade; and lo! it fitted exactly, and without +flaw. + +[Sidenote: The Queen assails Sir Tristram] Upon that the Queen was seized +as with a sudden madness; for she shrieked out in a very loud voice, +"Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!" saying that word three times. Therewith she +snatched up the sword of Sir Tristram and she ran with great fury into the +room where he lay in his bath. And she beheld him where he was there all +naked in his bath, and therewith she rushed at him and lashed at him with +his sword. But Sir Tristram threw himself to one side and so that blow +failed of its purpose. Then the Queen would have lashed at him again or +have thrust him through with the weapon; but at that Gouvernail and Sir +Helles ran to her and catched her and held her back, struggling and +screaming very violently. So they took the sword away from her out of her +hands, and all the while she shrieked like one gone entirely distracted. + +Then as soon as Gouvernail and Sir Helles loosed her, she ran very +violently out of that room with great outcry of screaming, and so to King +Angus and flung herself upon her knees before him, crying out: "Justice! +Justice! I have found that man who slew my brother! I beseech of you that +you will deal justice upon him." + +Then King Angus rose from where he sat, and he said: "Where is that man? +Bring me to him." And the Queen said: "It is Tramtris, who hath come hither +unknown unto this place." + +King Angus said: "Lady, what is this you tell me? I cannot believe that +what you say is true." Upon this the Queen cried out: "Go yourself, Lord, +and inquire, and find out how true it is." + +Then King Angus rose, and went forth from that place, and he went to the +chamber of Sir Tristram. And there he found that Sir Tristram had very +hastily dressed himself and had armed himself in such wise as he was able. +Then King Angus came to Tristram, and he said: "How is this, that I find +thee armed? Art thou an enemy to my house?" And Tristram wept, and said: +"Nay, Lord, I am not your enemy, but your friend, for I have great love for +you and for all that is yours, so that I would be very willing to do battle +for you even unto death if so be I were called upon to do so." + +Then King Angus said: "If that is so, how is it that I find thee here armed +as if for battle, with thy sword in thy hand?" "Lord," said Sir Tristram, +"although I be friends with you and yours, yet I know not whether you be +friends or enemies unto me; wherefore I have prepared myself so that I may +see what is your will with me, for I will not have you slay me without +defence upon my part." Then King Angus said: "Thou speakest in a very +foolish way, for how could a single knight hope to defend himself against +my whole household? Now I bid thee tell me who thou art, and what is thy +name, and why thou earnest hither knowing that thou hadst slain my +brother?" + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram confesses to King Angus] Then Sir Tristram said, +"Lord, I will tell thee all the truth." And therewith he confessed +everything to King Angus, to wit: who was his father and his mother, and +how he was born and reared; how he fought Sir Marhaus, and for what reason; +and of how he came hither to be healed of his wound, from which else he +must die in very grievous pain. And he said: "All this is truth, Lord, and +it is truth that I had no ill-will against Sir Marhaus; for I only stood to +do battle with him for the sake of mine uncle, King Mark of Cornwall, and +to enhance mine own honor; and I took my fortune with him as he took his +with me. Moreover, I fought with Sir Marhaus upon the same day that I was +made knight, and that was the first battle which I fought, and in that +battle I was wounded so sorely that I was like to die as you very well +know. As for him, he was a knight well-tried and seasoned with many +battles, and he suffered by no treachery but only with the fortune of war." + +So King Angus listened to all that Sir Tristram said, and when he had +ended, quoth he: "As God sees me, Tristram, I cannot deny that you did with +Sir Marhaus as a true knight should. For it was certes your part to take +the cause of your uncle upon you if you had the heart to do so, and it was +truly a real knightly thing for you who were so young to seek honor at the +hands of so famous a knight as Sir Marhaus. For I do not believe that until +you came his way there was any knight in the world who was greater than he, +unless it were Sir Launcelot of the Lake. Wherefore, from that, and from +what I saw you do at the tournament, some time ago, I believe that you are +one of the strongest knights in the world, and the peer of Sir Launcelot, +or of anybody else. + +"But though all this is true, nevertheless it will not be possible for me +to maintain you in this country, for if I keep you here I shall greatly +displease not only the Queen and her kin, but many of those lords and +knights who were kin to Sir Marhaus or who were united to him in pledges of +friendship. So you must even save yourself as you can and leave here +straightway, for I may not help or aid you in any way." + +Then Sir Tristram said: "Lord, I thank you for your great kindness unto me, +and I know not how I shall repay the great goodness that my Lady Belle +Isoult hath showed to me. For I swear to you upon the pommel of my sword +which I now hold up before me that I would lay down my life for her sake. +Yea, and my honor too! for she hath the entire love of my heart, so that I +would willingly die for her, or give up for her all that I have in the +world. Now as for my knighthood, I do believe that I shall in time become a +knight of no small worship, for I feel within my heart that this shall be +so. So if my life be spared, it may be that you will gain more having me +for your friend and your true servant than you will by taking my life in +this outland place. For whithersoever I go I give you my knightly word that +I shall be your daughter's servant, and that I shall ever be her true +knight in right or in wrong, and that I shall never fail her if I shall be +called upon to do her service." + +Then King Angus meditated upon this for a while, and he said: "Tristram, +what thou sayest is very well said, but how shall I get you away from this +place in safety?" + +Sir Tristram said: "Lord, there is but one way to get me away with credit +unto yourself. Now I beseech you of your grace that I may take leave of my +lady your daughter, and that I may then take leave of all your knights and +kinsmen as a right knight should. And if there be any among them who +chooses to stop me or to challenge my going, then I must face that one at +my peril, however great it may be." + +"Well," said King Angus, "that is a very knightly way to behave, and so it +shall be as you will have it." + +So Sir Tristram went down stairs to a certain chamber where Belle Isoult +was. And he went straight to her and took her by the hand; and he said: +"Lady, I am to go away from this place, if I may do so with credit to my +honor; but before I go I must tell you that I shall ever be your own true +knight in all ways that a knight may serve a lady. For no other lady shall +have my heart but you, so I shall ever be your true knight. Even though I +shall haply never see your face again, yet I shall ever carry your face +with me in my heart, and the thought of you shall always abide with me +withersoever I go." + +At this the Lady Belle Isoult fell to weeping in great measure, and thereat +the countenance of Sir Tristram also was all writhed with passion, and he +said, "Lady, do not weep so!" She said, "Alas I cannot help it!" Then he +said: "Lady, you gave me my life when I thought I was to lose it, and you +brought me back from pain unto ease, and from sorrow unto joy. Would God I +were suffering all those pangs as aforetime, so that there might be no more +tears upon your face." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram parts from Belle Isoult] Then, King Angus being +by, he took her face into his hands and kissed her upon the forehead, and +the eyes, and the lips. Therewith he turned and went away, all bedazed with +his sorrow, and feeling for the latch of the door ere he was able to find +it and go out from that place. + +After that Sir Tristram went straight unto the hall of the castle, and +there he found a great many of the lords of the castle and knights +attendant upon the King. For the news of these things had flown fast, and +many of them were angry and some were doubtful. But Tristram came in very +boldly, clad all in full armor, and when he stood in the midst of them he +spoke loud and with great courage, saying: "If there be any man here whom I +have offended in any way, let him speak, and I will give him entire +satisfaction whoever he may be. But let such speech be now or never, for +here is my body to make good my knighthood against the body of any man, +whomsoever he may be." + +At this all those knights who were there stood still and held their peace, +and no man said anything against Sir Tristram (although there were several +knights and lords who were kin to the Queen), for the boldness of Tristram +overawed them, and no one had the heart to answer him. + +So after a little while Sir Tristram left that place, without turning his +head to see if any man followed him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram departs from Ireland] So he left that castle and +Gouvernail went with him, and no one stopped him in his going. After that, +he and Gouvernail came to the shore and took a boat and they came to the +ship of Sir Tristram, and so they sailed away from Ireland. But the heart +of Sir Tristram was so full of sorrow that he wished a great many times +that he was dead. + +So Sir Tristram, though as to his body he was very whole and sound, was, as +to his spirit, very ill at ease; for though he was so well and suffered no +pain, yet it appeared to him that all the joy of his life had been left +behind him, so that he could nevermore have any more pleasure in this world +which lieth outside of the walls of Paradise. + +[Illustration: Sir Tristram harpeth before King Mark] + + + + +Chapter Fifth + + +_How Sir Tristram was sent by command of King Mark to go to Ireland to +bring the Lady the Belle Isoult from Ireland to Cornwall and how it fared +with him._ + +So Sir Tristram came back again to Cornwall, and King Mark and all the +knights and lords of the court of the King gave him great welcome and made +much joy over him because he had returned safely. + +But Sir Tristram took no joy in their joy because he was filled with such +heavy melancholy that it was as though even the blue sky had turned to +sackcloth to his eyes, so that he beheld nothing bright in all the world. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram tells of the Lady Bell Isoult] But though he had +no great pleasure in life, yet Sir Tristram made many very good songs about +Belle Isoult; about her beauty and her graciousness; about how he was her +sad, loving knight; about how he was pledged unto her to be true to her all +of his life even though he might never hope to see her again. + +These like words he would sing to the music of his shining, golden harp, +and King Mark loved to listen to him. And sometimes King Mark would sigh +very deeply and maybe say: "Messire, that lady of thine must in sooth be a +very wonderful, beautiful, gracious lady." And Sir Tristram would say, +"Yea, she is all that." + +So it was at that time that King Mark had great love for Sir Tristram; in a +little while all that was very different, and his love was turned to bitter +hate, as you shall presently hear tell. + +Now in those days the knights of Cornwall were considered to be the least +worthy of all knights in that part of the world, for they had so little +skill and prowess at arms that they were a jest and a laughing-stock to +many courts of chivalry. It was said of them that a knight-champion of +Cornwall was maybe a knight, but certes was no champion at all; and this +was great shame to all those of Cornwall, more especially as that saying +was in a great measure true. + +[Sidenote: Sir Bleoberis comes to Cornwall] One day there came to the +court of Cornwall a very noble, haughty knight, hight Sir Bleoberis de +Ganys, who was brother to Sir Blamor de Ganys and right cousin to Sir +Launcelot of the Lake. This knight was a fellow of King Arthur's Round +Table, and so he was received with great honor at Cornwall, and much joy +was taken of his being there; for it was not often that knights of such +repute as he came to those parts. At that time Sir Tristram was not present +at the court, having gone hunting into the forest, but a messenger was sent +to him with news that Sir Bleoberis was present at the court of the King +and that King Mark wished him to be at court also. + +Now whilst Sir Tristram was upon his way to return to the court in +obedience to these commands, there was held a feast at the castle of the +King in honor of Sir Bleoberis. There was much strong wine drunk at that +feast, so that the brains of Sir Bleoberis and of others grew very much +heated therewith. Then, what with the heat of the wine and the noise and +tumult of the feast, Sir Bleoberis waxed very hot-headed, and boastful. So, +being in that condition and not knowing very well how he spake, he made +great boast of the prowess of the knights of King Arthur's court above +those of Cornwall. And in this boastful humor he said: "It is perfectly +true that one single knight of the Round Table is the peer of twenty +knights of Cornwall, for so it is said and so I maintain it to be." + +Upon that there fell a silence over all that part of the feast, for all the +knights and lords who were there heard what Sir Bleoberis said, and yet no +one knew how to reply to him. As for King Mark, he looked upon Sir +Bleoberis, smiling very sourly, and as though with great distaste of his +words, and he said: "Messire, inasmuch as thou art our guest, and sitting +here at feast with us, it is not fit that we should take thy words +seriously; else what thou sayst might be very easily disproved." + +Upon this the blood rushed with great violence into the face and head of +Sir Bleoberis, and he laughed very loud. Then he said: "Well, Lord, it need +not be that I should be a guest here very long. And as for what I say, you +may easily put the truth thereof to the proof." + +[Sidenote: Sir Bleoberis challenges the knights of Cornwall] Therewith Sir +Bleoberis arose and looked about him, and he perceived that there was near +by where he stood a goblet of gold very beautifully chased and cunningly +carved. This Sir Bleoberis took into his hand, and it was half full of red +wine. So he stood up before them all, and he cried in a very loud voice: +"Messires, and all you knights of Cornwall, here I drink to your more +excellent courage and prowess, and wish that you may have better fortune in +arms than you have heretofore proved yourselves to have?" And therewith he +drank all the wine that was in the goblet. Then he said: "Now I go away +from here and take this goblet with me; and if any knight of Cornwall may +take it away from me and bring it back again to the King, then I am very +willing to own that there are better knights in this country than I +supposed there to be." Therewith he turned and went out from that place +very haughtily and scornfully, taking that goblet with him, and not one of +all those knights who were there made any move to stay him, or to reprove +him for his discourteous speech. + +Now after he had come out of the hall and into the cool of the air, the +heat of the wine soon left him, and he began to repent him of what he had +done; and he said: "Alas! meseems I was not very courteous to King Mark, +who was mine host." So for a while he was minded to take that goblet back +again and make amends for what he had said; but afterward he could not do +this because of his pride. So he went to the chamber that had been allotted +to him and clad himself in his armor, and after that he rode away from the +court of King Mark carrying the goblet with him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram is angry] Now some while after he had gone, Sir +Tristram came into the hall where the others were, and there he found them +all sitting with ill countenances, and no man daring, for shame, to look at +his fellow. So Sir Tristram came to King Mark and said: "Where is Sir +Bleoberis?" And King Mark said, "He is gone away." Sir Tristram said, "Why +did he go?" Thereupon King Mark told Sir Tristram of what had befallen, and +how Sir Bleoberis had taken away that goblet to the great shame and scorn +of all those who were there. Upon this the blood flew very violently into +Sir Tristram's face, and he said: "Was there no knight here with spirit +enough to call reproof upon Sir Bleoberis, or to stay him in his going?" +Therewith he looked all about that hall, and he was like a lion standing +among them, and no man dared to look him in the face or to reply to him. +Then he said: "Well, if there is no knight in Cornwall who hath the will to +defend his King, then is there a knight of Lyonesse who will do so because +he received knighthood at the hands of the King of Cornwall." And therewith +he turned and went away, and left them very haughtily, and they were all +still more abashed than they had been before. + +Then Sir Tristram went to his chamber and had himself armed in all wise; +and he took his horse and mounted and rode away in the direction that Sir +Bleoberis had gone, and Gouvernail went with him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram follows Sir Bleoberis] So Sir Tristram and +Gouvernail rode at a good pace for a long time, making inquiry of +whomsoever they met if Sir Bleoberis had passed that way. At last they +entered the forest and rode therein a great way, meeting no one till toward +the latter part of the afternoon. By and by they saw before them two +knights, very large and strong of frame and clad all in bright and shining +armor, and each riding a great war-horse of Flemish strain. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram comes to two knights] "Gouvernail," said Sir +Tristram, "ride forward apace and see for me who are yonder knights." So +Gouvernail rode forward at a gallop, and so, in a little, came near enough +to the two knights to see the devices upon their shields. Upon that he +returned to Sir Tristram, and said: "Messire, those are two very famous +worthy knights of King Arthur's Court, and of the two you are acquainted +with one, but the other is a stranger to you. For the one is Sir Sagramore +le Desirous, who was at that tournament in Ireland, and the other is Sir +Dodinas le Sauvage." + +"Well," said Sir Tristram, "those are indeed two very good, worthy knights. +Now if you will sit here for a while, I will go forward and have speech +with them." "Messire," said Gouvernail, "I would counsel you not to have to +do with those knights, for there are hardly any knights more famous at arms +than they, so it is not likely that you can have success of them if you +should assay them." + +But to this Sir Tristram said: "Peace, Gouvernail! Hold thy peace, and bide +here while I go forward!" + +Now those knights when they became aware that Sir Tristram and Gouvernail +were there, had halted at a clear part of the woodland to await what should +befall. Unto them Sir Tristram came, riding with great dignity and +haughtiness, and when he had come nigh enough he drew rein and spoke with +great pride of bearing, saying: "Messires, I require of you to tell me +whence you come, and whither you go, and what you do in these marches?" + +Unto him Sir Sagramore made reply, speaking very scornfully: "Fair knight, +are you a knight of Cornwall?" and Sir Tristram said: "Why do you ask me +that?" "Messire," said Sir Sagramore, "I ask you that because it hath +seldom been heard tell that a Cornish knight hath courage to call upon two +knights to answer such questions as you have asked of us." + +"Well," said Sir Tristram, "for the matter of that, I am at this present a +knight of Cornwall, and I hereby let you know that you shall not go away +from here unless you either answer my question or give me satisfaction at +arms." + +Then Sir Dodinas spoke very fiercely, saying: "Sir Cornish knight, you +shall presently have all the satisfaction at arms that you desire and a +great deal more than you desire." Therewith he took a very stout spear in +his hand and rode to a little distance, and Sir Tristram, beholding his +intent to do battle, also rode to a little distance, and took stand in such +a place as seemed to him to be best. Then, when they were in all wise +prepared, they rushed together with such astonishing vehemence that the +earth shook and trembled beneath them. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram does battle with Sir Dodinas] Therewith they met +in the middle of their course with a great uproar of iron and wood. But in +that onset the spear of Sir Dodinas broke into a great many small pieces, +but the spear of Sir Tristram held, so that in the encounter he lifted Sir +Dodinas entirely out of his saddle, and out behind the crupper of his +horse. And he flung Sir Dodinas down so violently that his neck was nearly +broken, and he lay for a while in a deep swoon like one who has been struck +dead. + +Then Sir Sagramore said: "Well, Sir Knight, that was certes a very great +buffet that you gave my fellow, but now it is my turn to have ado with +you." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram does battle with Sir Sagramore] So therewith he +took also his spear in hand and chose his station for an assault as Sir +Dodinas had done, and Sir Tristram also took station as he had done before. +Then immediately they two ran together with the same terrible force that +Sir Tristram and Sir Dodinas had coursed, and in that encounter Sir +Tristram struck Sir Sagramore so direful a buffet with his spear that he +overthrew both horse and man, and the horse, falling upon Sir Sagramore, so +bruised his leg that he could not for a while arise from where he lay. + +Therewith Sir Tristram, having run his course, came back to where those two +knights lay upon the ground, and he said, "Fair Knights, will you have any +more fighting?" They said, "No, we have had fighting enough." Then Sir +Tristram said: "I pray you, tell me, are there any bigger knights at the +court of King Arthur than you? If it is not so, then I should think you +would take great shame to yourselves that you have been overthrown the one +after the other by a single knight. For this day a knight of Cornwall hath +assuredly matched you both to your great despite." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram acknowledges his degree] Then Sir Sagramore said: +"Sir, I pray you upon your true knighthood to tell us who you are, for you +are assuredly one of the greatest knights in the world." Upon this Sir +Tristram laughed, "Nay," quoth he, "I am as yet a young knight, who has had +but little proof in battle. As for my name, since you ask it of me, upon my +knighthood I am not ashamed to tell you that I am hight Sir Tristram, and +that I am King Meliadus' son of Lyonesse." + +"Ha!" said Sir Sagramore, "if that be so, then there is little shame in +being overthrown by you. For not only do I well remember how at the court +of the King of Ireland you overthrew six knights of the Round Table, and +how easily you overthrew Sir Palamydes the Saracen, but it is also very +well known how you did battle with Sir Marhaus, and of how you overcame +him. Now Sir Marhaus and Sir Palamydes were two of the best knights in the +world, so it is not astonishing that you should have done as you did with +us. But, since you have overthrown us, what is it you would have us do?" + +"Messires," said Sir Tristram, "I have only to demand two things of you. +One of them is that you give me your word that you will go to Cornwall and +confess to King Mark that you have been overthrown by a Cornish knight; and +the second thing is that you tell me if you saw Sir Bleoberis de Ganys pass +this way?" + +They say: "Messire, touching that demand you make upon us to go to King +Mark and to confess our fall, that we will do as you desire; and as for Sir +Bleoberis, we met him only a short while ago, and he cannot even now be +very far from this place." + +"Well," said Sir Tristram, "I give you good den, and thank you for your +information. I have some words to say to Sir Bleoberis before he leave +these marches." + +So thereafter he called Gouvernail, and they two rode into the forest and +on their way as fast as they were able. As for Sir Dodinas and Sir +Sagramore, they betook their course to the court of King Mark, as they had +promised to do. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram comes to Sir Bleoberis] Now, by and by, after Sir +Tristram and Gouvernail had gone some considerable distance farther upon +that road, they beheld Sir Bleoberis before them in a forest path, riding +very proudly and at an easy pass upon his way. At that time the sun was +setting very low toward the earth, so that all the tops of the forest trees +were aflame with a very ruddy light, though all below in the forest was +both cool and gray. Now when Sir Tristram and Gouvernail with him had come +pretty nigh to Sir Bleoberis, Sir Tristram called to him in a very loud +voice, and bade him turn and stand. Therewith Sir Bleoberis turned about +and waited for Sir Tristram to come up with him. And when Sir Tristram was +come near by, he said to Sir Bleoberis: "Messire, I hear tell that you have +with you a very noble goblet which you have taken in a shameful way from +the table of King Mark of Cornwall. Now I demand of you that you give me +that goblet to take back unto the King again." "Well," said Sir Bleoberis, +"you shall freely have that goblet if you can take it from me, and if you +will look, you will see where it hangs here from my saddle-horn. But I may +tell you that I do not believe that there is any Cornish knight who may +take away that goblet against my will." + +"As for that," said Sir Tristram, "we shall see in a little while how it +may be." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram overcometh Sir Bleoberis] Therewith each knight +took his spear in hand and rode a little distance away, and made himself in +all wise ready for the assault. Then when they were in all ways prepared, +each launched himself against the other, coming together with such violence +that sparks of fire flew out from the points of their spears. And in that +assault the horse of each knight was overthrown, but each knight voided his +saddle and leaped very lightly to earth, without either having had a fall. +Then each drew his sword and set his shield before him, and therewith came +together, foining and lashing with all the power of their might. Each gave +the other many sore strokes, so that the armor of each was indented in +several places and in other places was stained with red. Then at last Sir +Tristram waxed very wode with anger and he rushed at Sir Bleoberis, smiting +him so fiercely that Sir Bleoberis bare back and held his shield low before +him. This Sir Tristram perceived, and therewith, rushing in upon Sir +Bleoberis, he smote that knight such a great buffet upon the head that Sir +Bleoberis fell down upon his knees, without having strength to keep his +feet. Then Sir Tristram rushed off the helmet of Sir Bleoberis, and he +said, "Sir Knight, yield to me or I shall slay you." + +"Messire," said Sir Bleoberis, "I yield myself to you, and indeed you are +as right a knight as ever I met in all of my life." Then Sir Tristram took +Sir Bleoberis by the hand and he lifted him up upon his feet, and he said: +"Sir, I am very sorry for to have had to do with you in this fashion, for +almost would I rather that you should have overcome me than that I should +have overcome you. For I do not at any time forget that you are cousin unto +Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and I honor Sir Launcelot above all men else in +the world, and would rather have his friendship than that of any man +living. So I have had no despite against you in this battle, but have only +fought with you because it behooved me to do so for the sake of the King of +Cornwall, who is my uncle." + +Then Sir Bleoberis said, "Messire, I pray you tell me who you are?" "Lord," +said Sir Tristram, "I am a very young knight hight Tristram, and I am the +son of King Meliadus of Lyonesse and the Lady Elizabeth, sister unto King +Mark of Cornwall." + +[Sidenote: Sir Bleoberis gives the goblet to Sir Tristram] "Ha," said Sir +Bleoberis, "I have heard great report of you, Sir Tristram, and now I know +at mine own cost that you are one of the best knights in the world. Yea; I +have no doubt that at some time you will be the peer of Sir Launcelot of +the Lake himself, or of Sir Lamorak of Gales, and they two are, certes, the +best knights in the world. Now I believe that I would have given you this +goblet, even without your having to fight for it, had I known who you were; +and as it is I herewith give it to you very freely." + +So Sir Bleoberis untied the goblet from where it hung at his saddle-bow, +and Sir Tristram took the goblet and gave him gramercy for it; and +therewith having recovered their horses, each knight mounted, and betook +his way whither he was going. + +So a little after nightfall Sir Tristram came to the King of Cornwall and +his court, and he said to King Mark: "Here is your goblet which I have +brought back to you; and I would God that some of your knights who are so +much older than I had the courage to do for you what I have had to do." And +therewith he went away and left them all sitting ashamed. + +Now it chanced some little while after these things happened as aforesaid, +that King Mark lay down upon his couch after his midday meal for to sleep a +little space during the heat of the day; and it likewise happened that the +window near by where he lay was open so that the air might come into the +room. Now at that time three knights of the court sat in the garden beneath +where the window was. These knights talked to one another concerning Sir +Tristram, and of how he had brought back that goblet from Sir Bleoberis de +Ganys, and of what honor it was to have such a champion in Cornwall for to +stand for the honor of that court. In their talk they said to one another +that if only the King of Cornwall were such a knight as Sir Tristram, then +there would be plenty of knights of good worth who would come to that +court, and Cornwall would no longer have to be ashamed of its chivalry as +it was nowadays. So they said: "Would God our King were such a knight as +Sir Tristram!" + +[Sidenote: King Mark takes hatred to Sir Tristram] All this King Mark +overheard, and the words that they said were like a very bitter poison in +his heart. For their words entered into his soul and abided there, and +thereupon at that same hour all his love for Tristram was turned into hate. +Thus it befell that, after that day, King Mark ever pondered and pondered +upon that which he had heard, and the longer he pondered it, the more +bitter did his life become to him, and the more he hated Sir Tristram. So +it came to pass that whenever he was with Sir Tristram and looked upon him, +he would say in his heart: "So they say that you are a better knight than +I? Would God you were dead or away from this place, for I believe that some +day you will be my undoing!" Yea; there were times when he would look upon +Sir Tristram in that wise and whisper to himself: "Would God would send a +blight upon thee, so that thou wouldst wither away!" + +But always the King dissembled this hatred for Sir Tristram, so that no one +suspected him thereof; least of all did Sir Tristram suspect how changed +was the heart of the King toward him. + +Now one day Sir Tristram was playing upon his harp and singing before King +Mark, and the King sat brooding upon these things as he gazed at Tristram. +And Sir Tristram, as he ofttimes did nowadays, sang of the Lady Belle +Isoult, and of how her face was like to a rose for fairness, and of how her +soul was like to a nightingale in that it uplifted the spirit of whosoever +was near her even though the darkness of sorrow as of night might envelop +him. And whilst Sir Tristram sang thus, King Mark listened to him, and as +he listened a thought entered his heart and therewith he smiled. So when +Sir Tristram had ended his song of the Belle Isoult, King Mark said: "Fair +nephew, I would that you would undertake a quest for me." Sir Tristram +said, "What quest is that, Lord?" "Nay," said King Mark, "I will not tell +you what quest it is unless you will promise me upon your knighthood to +undertake it upon my behalf." Then Sir Tristram suspected no evil, +wherefore he smiled and said: "Dear Lord, if the quest is a thing that it +is in my power to undertake, I will undertake it upon your asking, and unto +that I pledge my knighthood." King Mark said, "It is a quest that you may +undertake." Sir Tristram said, "Then I will undertake it, if you will tell +me what it is." + +[Sidenote: King Mark betrays Sir Tristram to a promise] King Mark said: "I +have listened to your singing for this long while concerning the Lady Belle +Isoult. So the quest I would have you undertake is this: that you go to +Ireland, and bring thence the Lady Belle Isoult to be my Queen. For because +of your songs and ballads I have come to love her so greatly that I believe +that I shall have no happiness in life until I have her for my Queen. So +now, since you have pledged me your word upon your knighthood to do my +bidding in this case, such is the quest that I would send you upon." And +therewith he smiled upon Sir Tristram very strangely. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Tristram fell into despair] Then Sir Tristram perceived +how he had been betrayed and he put aside his harp and rose from where he +sat. And he gazed for a long while at King Mark, and his countenance was +wonderfully white like that of a dead man. Then by and by he said: "Sir, I +know not why you have put this upon me, nor do I know why you have betrayed +me. For I have ever served you truly as a worthy knight and a kinsman +should. Wherefore I know not why you have done this unto me, nor why you +seek to compass my death. For you know very well that if I return to +Ireland I shall very likely be slain either by the Queen or by some of her +kindred, because that for your sake I slew in battle Sir Marhaus, the +Queen's brother of Ireland. Yet, so far as that is concerned, I would +rather lose my life than succeed in this quest, for if so be I do not lose +my life, then I must do that which I would liever die than do. Yea; I +believe that there was never any knight loved a lady as I love the Lady +Belle Isoult. For I love her not only because of her beauty and +graciousness, but because she healed mine infirmities and lent ease unto my +great sufferings and brought me back from death unto life. Wherefore that +which you bid me fulfil is more bitter to me than death." + +"Well," said King Mark, "I know nothing of all this--only I know that you +have given me your knightly word to fulfil this quest." + +"Very well," said Sir Tristram, "if God will give me His good help in this +matter, then I will do that which I have pledged my knighthood to +undertake." Therewith he turned and went out from that place in such great +despair that it was as though his heart had been turned into ashes. But +King Mark was filled with joy that he should have caused Sir Tristram all +that pain, and he said to his heart: "This is some satisfaction for the +hate which I feel for this knight; by and by I shall maybe have greater +satisfaction than that." + +After that Sir Tristram did not come any more where King Mark was, but he +went straight away from the King's court and into a small castle that King +Mark had given him some while since for his own. There he abided for +several days in great despair of soul, for it seemed to him as though God +had deserted him entirely. There for a while Gouvernail alone was with him +and no one else, but after a while several knights came to him and gave him +great condolence and offered to join with him as his knights-companion. And +there were eighteen of these knights, and Sir Tristram was very glad of +their comradeship. + +These said to him: "Sir, you should not lend yourself to such great travail +of soul, but should bend yourself as a true knight should to assume that +burden that God hath assigned you to bear." + +So they spoke, and by and by Sir Tristram aroused himself from his despair +and said to himself: "Well, what these gentlemen say is true, and God hath +assuredly laid this very heavy burden upon me; as that is so, I must needs +assume it for His sake." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram departs from Cornwall] So Sir Tristram and the +knights who were with him abode in that place for a day or two or three, +and then one morning Sir Tristram armed himself and they armed themselves, +and all took their departure from that castle and went down to the sea. +Then they took ship with intent to depart to Ireland upon that quest Sir +Tristram had promised King Mark he would undertake, and in a little they +hoisted sail and departed from Cornwall for Ireland. + +But they were not to make their quest upon that pass so speedily as they +thought, for, upon the second day of their voyaging, there arose a great +storm of wind of such a sort that the sailors of that ship had never seen +the like thereof in all of their lives. For the waves rose up like +mountains, and anon the waters sank away into deep valleys with hills of +water upon either side all crested over with foam as white as snow. And +anon that ship would be uplifted as though the huge sea would toss it into +the clouds; and anon it would fall down into a gulf so deep that it +appeared as though the green waters would swallow it up entirely. The air +roared as though it were full of demons and evil spirits out of hell, and +the wind was wet and very bitter with brine. So the ship fled away before +that tempest, and the hearts of all aboard were melted with fear because of +the great storm of wind and the high angry waves. + +Then toward evening those who were watching from the lookout beheld a land +and a haven, and they saw upon the land overlooking the haven was a noble +castle and a fair large town, surrounded by high walls of stone. So they +told the others of what they saw, and all gave great rejoicing for that +they were so nigh the land. Therewith they sailed the ship toward the +haven, and having entered therein in safety, they cast anchor under the +walls of the castle and the town, taking great joy that God had brought +them safe and sound through that dreadful peril of the tempest. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram comes to Camelot] Then Sir Tristram said to +Gouvernail: "Knowest thou, Gouvernail, what place is this to which we have +come?" "Messire," said Gouvernail, "I think it is Camelot." And then those +knights of Cornwall who stood by said, "Yea, that is true, and it is +Camelot." And one of them said: "Messire, it is likely that King Arthur is +at that place at this very time, for so it was reported that he was, and so +I believe it to be." + +"Ha," quoth Tristram, "that is very good news to me, for I believe that it +would be the greatest joy to me that the world can now give to behold King +Arthur and those noble knights of his court ere I die. More especially do I +desire above all things to behold that great, noble champion, Sir Launcelot +of the Lake. So let us now go ashore, and mayhap it shall come to pass that +I shall see the great King and Sir Launcelot and mayhap shall come to speak +with the one or the other." And that saying of Sir Tristram's seemed good +to those knights who were with him, for they were weary of the sea, and +desired to rest for a while upon the dry land. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram sets up his pavilion] So they presently all went +ashore and bade their attendants set up their pavilions in a fair level +meadow that was somewhat near a league distant away from the castle and the +town. In the midst of the other pavilions upon that plain was set the +pavilion of Sir Tristram. It was of fine crimson cloth striped with silver +and there was the figure of a gryphon carved upon the summit of the centre +pole of the pavilion. The spear of Sir Tristram was emplanted by the point +of the truncheon in the ground outside the pavilion, and thereunto his +shield was hung so that those who passed that way might clearly behold what +was the device thereon. + +And now shall be told how Sir Tristram became united in friendship with the +brotherhood of good knights at King Arthur's court. + +[Illustration: Sir Tristram sits with Sir Launcelot] + + + + +Chapter Sixth + + +_How Sir Tristram had to do in battle with three knights of the Round +Table. Also how he had speech with King Arthur._ + +So came the next morning, and uprose the sun in all the splendor of his +glory, shedding his beams to every quarter with a rare dazzling effulgence. +For by night the clouds of storm had passed away and gone, and now all the +air was clear and blue, and the level beams of light fell athwart the +meadow-lands so that countless drops of water sparkled on leaf and blade of +grass, like an incredible multitude of shining jewels scattered all over +the earth. Then they who slept were awakened by the multitudinous voicing +of the birds; for at that hour the small fowl sang so joyous a roundelay +that all the early morning was full of the sweet jargon of their chanting. + +At this time, so early in the day, there came two knights riding by where +Sir Tristram and his companions had set up their pavilions. These were two +very famous knights of King Arthur's court and of the Round Table; for one +was Sir Ector de Maris and the other was Sir Morganor of Lisle. + +[Sidenote: How two knights came to the pavilion of Sir Tristram] When +these two knights perceived the pavilions of Sir Tristram and his +knights-companion, they made halt, and Sir Ector de Maris said, "What +knights are these who have come hither?" Then Sir Morganor looked and +presently he said: "Sir, I perceive by their shields that these are Cornish +knights, and he who occupies this central pavilion must be the champion of +this party." "Well," quoth Sir Ector, "as for that I take no great thought +of any Cornish knight, so do thou strike the shield of that knight and call +him forth, and let us see of what mettle he is made." + +"I will do so," said Sir Morganor; and therewith he rode forward to where +the shield of Sir Tristram hung from the spear, and he smote the shield +with the point of his lance, so that it rang with a very loud noise. + +Upon this, Sir Tristram immediately came to the door of his pavilion, and +said, "Messires, why did you strike upon my shield?" "Because," said Sir +Ector, "we are of a mind to try your mettle what sort of a knight you be." +Quoth Sir Tristram: "God forbid that you should not be satisfied. So if you +will stay till I put on my armor you shall immediately have your will in +this matter." + +Thereupon he went back into his tent and armed himself and mounted his +horse and took a good stout spear of ash-wood into his hand. + +Then all the knights of Cornwall who were with Sir Tristram came forth to +behold what their champion would do, and all their esquires, pages, and +attendants came forth for the same purpose, and it was a very pleasant time +of day for jousting. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram overthrows Sir Morganor] Then first of all Sir +Morganor essayed Sir Tristram, and in that encounter Sir Tristram smote him +so dreadful, terrible a blow that he cast him a full spear's length over +the crupper of his horse, and that so violently that the blood gushed out +of the nose and mouth and ears of Sir Morganor, and he groaned very +dolorously and could not arise from where he lay. + +"Hah," quoth Sir Ector, "that was a very wonderful buffet you struck my +fellow. But now it is my turn to have ado with you, and I hope God will +send me a better fortune." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram overthrows Sir Ector] So he took stand for battle +as did Sir Tristram likewise, and when they were in all wise prepared they +rushed very violently to the assault. In that encounter Ector suffered +hardly less ill fortune than Sir Morganor had done. For he brake his spear +against Sir Tristram into as many as an hundred pieces, whilst Sir +Tristram's spear held so that he overthrew both the horse and the +knight-rider against whom he drove. + +Then all the knights of Cornwall gave loud acclaim that their knight had +borne himself so well in those encounters. But Sir Tristram rode back to +where those two knights still lay upon the ground, and he said: "Well, +Messires, this is no very good hap that you have had with me." + +Upon that speech Sir Ector de Maris gathered himself up from the dust and +said: "Sir Knight, I pray you of your knighthood to tell us who you be and +what is your degree, for I declare to you, I believe you are one of the +greatest knights-champion of the world." + +"Sir," said Sir Tristram, "I am very willing to tell you my name and my +station; I am Sir Tristram, the son of King Meliadus of Lyonesse." + +"Ha," quoth Sir Ector, "I would God I had known that before I had ado with +you, for your fame hath already reached to these parts, and there hath been +such report of your prowess and several songs have been made about you by +minstrels and poets. I who speak to you am Sir Ector, surnamed de Maris, +and this, my companion, is Sir Morganor of Lisle." + +"Alas!" cried out Sir Tristram, "I would that I had known who you were ere +I did battle with you. For I have greater love for the knights of the Round +Table than all others in the world, and most of all, Sir Ector, do I have +reverence for your noble brother Sir Launcelot of the Lake. So I take great +shame to myself that any mishap should have befallen you this day through +me." + +Upon this Sir Ector laughed. "Well," quoth he, "let not that trouble lie +with you, for it was we who gave you challenge without inquiry who you +were, and you did but defend yourself. We were upon our way to Camelot +yonder, when we fell into this mishap, for King Arthur is at this time +holding court at that place. So now, if we have your leave to go upon our +way, we will betake ourselves to the King and tell him that you are here, +for we know that he will be very glad of that news." + +Upon this Sir Tristram gave them leave to depart, and they did so with many +friendly words of good cheer. And after they had gone Sir Tristram went +back into his pavilion again and partook of refreshment that was brought to +him. + +[Sidenote: There comes a knight in white armor] Now, some while after Sir +Ector and Sir Morganor had left that place, and whilst Sir Tristram was +still resting in his pavilion, there came a single knight riding that way, +and this knight was clad altogether in white armor and his shield was +covered over with a covering of white leather, so that one could not see +what device he bare thereon. + +When this white knight came to the place where Sir Tristram and his +companions had pitched their pavilions, he also stopped as Sir Ector and +Sir Morganor had done, for he desired to know what knights these were. At +that time Gouvernail was standing alone in front of Sir Tristram's +pavilion, and unto him the white knight said: "Sir, I pray you, tell me who +is the knight to whom this pavilion belongs." + +Now Gouvernail thought to himself: "Here is another knight who would have +ado with my master. Perhaps Sir Tristram may have glory by him also." So he +answered the white knight: "Sir, I may not tell you the name of this +knight, for he is my master, and if he pleases to tell you his name he must +tell it himself." + +"Very well," said the white knight, "then I will straightway ask him." + +Therewith he rode to where the shield of Sir Tristram hung, and he struck +upon the shield so violent a blow that it rang very loud and clear. + +Then straightway came forth Sir Tristram and several of his +knights-companion from out of the pavilion, and Sir Tristram said, "Sir +Knight, wherefore did you strike upon my shield?" + +"Messire," quoth the white knight, "I struck upon your shield so that I +might summon you hither for to tell me your name, for I have asked it of +your esquire and he will not tell me." + +"Fair Knight," quoth Sir Tristram, "neither will I tell you my name until I +have wiped out that affront which you have set upon my shield by that +stroke you gave it. For no man may touch my shield without my having to do +with him because of the affront he gives me thereby." + +"Well," said the white knight, "I am satisfied to have it as you please." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram does battle with the white knight] So therewith +Sir Tristram went back into his pavilion and several went with him. These +put his helmet upon his head and they armed him for battle in all ways. +After that Sir Tristram came forth and mounted his horse and took his spear +in hand and made himself in all ways ready for battle, and all that while +the white knight awaited his coming very calmly and steadfastly. Then Sir +Tristram took ground for battle, and the white knight did so likewise. So +being in all ways prepared, each launched forth against the other with such +amazing and terrible violence that those who beheld that encounter stood as +though terrified with the thunder of the onset. + +Therewith the two knights met in the midst of the course, and each knight +smote the other directly in the centre of the shield. In that encounter the +spear of each knight broke all to small pieces, even to the truncheon which +he held in his fist. And so terrible was the blow that each struck the +other that the horse of each fell back upon his haunches, and it was only +because of the great address of the knight-rider that the steed was able to +recover his footing. As for Sir Tristram, that was the most terrible buffet +he ever had struck him in all his life before that time. + +Then straightway Sir Tristram voided his saddle and drew his sword and +dressed his shield. And he cried out: "Ha, Sir Knight! I demand of you that +you descend from your horse and do me battle afoot." + +"Very well," said the white knight, "thou shalt have thy will." And +thereupon he likewise voided his horse and drew his sword and dressed his +shield and made himself in all ways ready for battle as Sir Tristram had +done. + +Therewith they two came together and presently fell to fighting with such +ardor that sparks of fire flew from every stroke. And if Sir Tristram +struck hard and often, the white knight struck as hard and as often as he, +so that all the knights of Cornwall who stood about marvelled at the +strength and fierceness of the knights-combatant. Each knight gave the +other many sore buffets so that the armor was here and there dinted and +here and there was broken through by the edge of the sword so that the red +blood flowed out therefrom and down over the armor, turning its brightness +in places into an ensanguined red. Thus they fought for above an hour and +in all that time neither knight gave ground or gained any vantage over the +other. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram falls in the battle] Then after a while Sir +Tristram grew more weary of fighting than ever he had been in all of his +life before, and he was aware that this was the greatest knight whom he had +ever met. But still he would not give ground, but fought from this side and +from that side with great skill and address until of a sudden, he slipped +upon some of that blood that he himself had shed, and because of his great +weariness, fell down upon his knees, and could not for the instant rise +again. + +Then that white knight might easily have struck him down if he had been +minded to do so. But, instead, he withheld the blow and gave Sir Tristram +his hand and said: "Sir Knight, rise up and stand upon thy feet and let us +go at this battle again if it is thy pleasure to do so; for I do not choose +to take advantage of thy fall." + +Then Sir Tristram was as greatly astonished at the extraordinary courtesy +of his enemy as he had been at his prowess. And because of that courtesy he +would not fight again, but stood leaning upon his sword panting. Then he +said: "Sir Knight, I pray thee of thy knighthood to tell me what is thy +name and who thou art." + +"Messire," said the white knight, "since you ask me that upon my +knighthood, I cannot refuse to tell you my name. And so I will do, provided +you, upon your part, will do me a like courtesy and will first tell me your +name and degree." + +Quoth Sir Tristram: "I will tell you that. My name is Sir Tristram of +Lyonesse, and I am the son of King Meliadus of that land whereby I have my +surname." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot confesses himself] "Ha, Sir Tristram," said the +white knight, "often have I heard of thee and of thy skill at arms, and +well have I proved thy fame this day and that all that is said of thee is +true. I must tell thee that I have never yet met my match until I met thee +this day. For I know not how this battle might have ended hadst thou not +slipped and fallen by chance as thou didst. My name is Sir Launcelot, +surnamed of the Lake, and I am King Ban's son of Benwick." + +At this Sir Tristram cried out in a loud voice: "Sir Launcelot! Sir +Launcelot! Is it thou against whom I have been doing battle! Rather I would +that anything should have happened to me than that, for of all men in the +world I most desire thy love and friendship." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram yields to Sir Launcelot] Then, having so spoken, +Sir Tristram immediately kneeled down upon his knees and said: "Messire, I +yield myself unto thee, being overcome not more by thy prowess than by thy +courtesy. For I freely confess that thou art the greatest knight in the +world, against whom no other knight can hope to stand; for I could fight no +more and thou mightest easily have slain me when I fell down a while +since." + +"Nay, Sir Tristram," said Sir Launcelot, "arise, and kneel not to me, for I +am not willing to accept thy submission, for indeed it is yet to be proved +which of us is the better knight, thou or I. Wherefore let neither of us +yield to the other, but let us henceforth be as dear as brothers-in-arms +the one toward the other." + +Then Sir Tristram rose up to his feet again. "Well, Sir Launcelot," he +said, "whatsoever thou shalt ordain shall be as thou wouldst have it. But +there is one thing I must do because of this battle." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram breaks his sword] Then he looked upon his sword +which he held naked and ensanguined in his hand and he said: "Good sword; +thou hast stood my friend and hast served me well in several battles, but +this day thou hast served me for the last time." Therewith he suddenly took +the blade of the sword in both hands--the one at the point and the other +nigh the haft--and he brake the blade across his knee and flung the pieces +away. + +Upon this Sir Launcelot cried out in a loud voice: "Ha, Messire! why didst +thou do such a thing as that? To break thine own fair sword?" + +"Sir," quoth Sir Tristram, "this sword hath this day received the greatest +honor that is possible for any blade to receive; for it hath been baptized +in thy blood. So, because aught else that might happen to it would diminish +that honor, I have broken it so that its honor might never be made less +than it is at this present time." + +Upon this Sir Launcelot ran to Sir Tristram and catched him in his arms, +and he cried out: "Tristram, I believe that thou art the noblest knight +whom ever I beheld!" And Sir Tristram replied: "And thou, Launcelot, I love +better than father or kindred." Therewith each kissed the other upon the +face, and all they who stood by were so moved at that sight that several of +them wept for pure joy. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram and Sir Launcelot feast together] Thereafter they +two went into Sir Tristram's pavilion and disarmed themselves. Then there +came sundry attendants who were excellent leeches and these searched their +hurts and bathed them and dressed them. And several other attendants came +and fetched soft robes and clothed the knights therein so that they were +very comfortable in their bodies. Then still other attendants brought them +good strong wine and manchets of bread and they sat together at table and +ate very cheerfully and were greatly refreshed. + +So I have told you of that famous affair-at-arms betwixt Sir Launcelot and +Sir Tristram, and I pray God that you may have the same pleasure in reading +of it that I had in writing of it. + +[Sidenote: King Arthur comes to Sir Tristram's pavilion] Now, as Sir +Launcelot and Sir Tristram sat in the pavilion of Sir Tristram making +pleasant converse together, there suddenly entered an esquire to where they +were sitting. This esquire proclaimed: "Messires, hither cometh King +Arthur, and he is very near at hand." Thereupon, even as that esquire +spoke, there came from without the pavilion a great noise of trampling +horses and the pleasant sound of ringing armor, and then immediately a loud +noise of many voices uplifted in acclamation. + +Therewith Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram arose from where they sat, and as +they did so the curtains at the doorway of the pavilion were parted and +there entered King Arthur himself enveloped, as it were, with all the glory +of his royal estate. + +Unto him Sir Tristram ran, and would have fallen upon his knees, but King +Arthur stayed him from so doing. For the great king held him by the hand +and lifted him up, and he said, "Sir, are you Sir Tristram of Lyonesse?" +"Yea," said Sir Tristram, "I am he." "Ha," said King Arthur, "I am gladder +to see you than almost any man I know of in the world," and therewith he +kissed Sir Tristram upon the face, and he said: "Welcome, Messire, to these +parts! Welcome! And thrice welcome!" + +Then Sir Tristram besought King Arthur that he would refresh himself, and +the King said he would do so. So Sir Tristram brought him to the chiefest +place, and there King Arthur sat him down. And Sir Tristram would have +served him with wine and with manchets of bread with his own hand, but King +Arthur would not have it so, but bade Sir Tristram to sit beside him on his +right hand, and Sir Tristram did so. After that, King Arthur spake to Sir +Tristram about many things, and chiefly about King Meliadus, the father of +Sir Tristram, and about the court of Lyonesse. + +Then, after a while King Arthur said: "Messire, I hear tell that you are a +wonderful harper." And Sir Tristram said, "Lord, so men say of me." King +Arthur said, "I would fain hear your minstrelsy." To which Sir Tristram +made reply: "Lord, I will gladly do anything at all that will give you +pleasure." + +So therewith Sir Tristram gave orders to Gouvernail, and Gouvernail brought +him his shining golden harp, and the harp glistered with great splendor in +the dim light of the pavilion. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram sings before King Arthur] Sir Tristram took the +harp in his hands and tuned it and struck upon it. And he played upon the +harp, and he sang to the music thereof so wonderfully that they who sat +there listened in silence as though they were without breath. For not one +of them had ever heard such singing as that music which Sir Tristram sang; +for it was as though some angel were singing to those who sat there +harkening to his chanting. + +So after Sir Tristram had ended, all who were there gave loud acclaim and +much praise to his singing. "Ha, Messire!" quoth King Arthur, "many times +in my life have I heard excellent singing, but never before in my life have +I heard such singing as that. Now I wish that we might always have you at +this court and that you would never leave us." And Sir Tristram said: +"Lord, I too would wish that I might always be with you and with these +noble knights of your court, for I have never met any whom I love as I love +them." + +So they sat there in great joy and friendliness of spirit, and, for the +while, Sir Tristram forgot the mission he was upon and was happy in heart +and glad of that terrible storm that had driven him thitherward. + +And now I shall tell you the conclusion of all these adventures, and of how +it fared with Sir Tristram. + +[Illustration: Belle Isoult and Sir Tristram drink the love draught] + + + + +Chapter Seventh + + +_How Sir Tristram had speech with King Angus of Ireland; how he undertook +to champion the cause of King Angus and of what happened thereafter_. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram hears news of King Angus] Now, as Sir Tristram and +King Arthur and Sir Launcelot sat together in the pavilion of Sir Tristram +in pleasant, friendly discourse, as aforetold, there came Gouvernail of a +sudden into that place. He, coming to Sir Tristram, leaned over his +shoulder and he whispered into his ear: "Sir, I have just been told that +King Angus of Ireland is at this very time at Camelot at the court of the +King." + +Upon this Sir Tristram turned to King Arthur and said: "Lord, my esquire +telleth me that King Angus of Ireland is here at Camelot; now I pray you +tell me, is that saying true?" "Yea," said King Arthur, "that is true; but +what of it?" "Well," said Sir Tristram, "I had set forth to seek King Angus +in Ireland, when I and my companions were driven hither by a great storm of +wind. Yet when I find him, I know not whether King Angus may look upon me +as a friend or as an unfriend." + +[Sidenote: How Sir Bertrand was killed in Ireland] "Ha," said King Arthur, +"you need not take trouble concerning the regard in which King Angus shall +hold you. For he is at this time in such anxiety of spirit that he needs to +have every man his friend who will be his friend, and no man his enemy whom +he can reconcile to him. He is not just now in very good grace, either with +me or with my court, for the case with him is thus: Some while ago, after +you left the court of Ireland, there came to that place Sir Blamor de Ganys +(who is right cousin to Sir Launcelot of the Lake) and with Sir Blamor a +knight-companion hight Sir Bertrand de la Riviere Rouge. These two knights +went to Ireland with intent to win themselves honor at the court of +Ireland. Whilst they were in that kingdom there were held many jousts and +tourneys, and in all of them Sir Blamor and Sir Bertrand were victorious, +and all the knights of Ireland who came against them were put to shame at +their hands. Many of the Irish knights were exceedingly angry at this, and +so likewise was the King of Ireland. Now it happened one day that Sir +Bertrand was found dead and murdered at a certain pass in the King's +forest, and when the news thereof was brought to Sir Blamor, he was very +wroth that his knight-companion should have been thus treacherously slain. +So he immediately quitted Ireland and returned hither straightway, and when +he had come before me he accused King Angus of treason because of that +murder. Now at this time King Angus is here upon my summons for to answer +that charge and to defend himself therefrom; for Sir Blamor offers his body +to defend the truth of his accusation, and as for the King of Ireland, he +can find no knight to take his part in that contention. For not only is Sir +Blamor, as you very well know, one of the best knights in the world, but +also nearly everybody here hath doubt of the innocence of King Angus in +this affair. Now from this you may see that King Angus is very much more in +need of a friend at this time than he is of an enemy." + +"Lord," said Sir Tristram, "what you tell me is very excellent good news, +for now I know that I may have talk with King Angus with safety to myself, +and that he will no doubt receive me as a friend." + +So after King Arthur and his court had taken their departure--it being then +in the early sloping of the afternoon--Sir Tristram called Gouvernail to +him and bade him make ready their horses, and when Gouvernail had done so, +they two mounted and rode away by themselves toward that place where King +Angus had taken up his lodging. When they had come there, Sir Tristram made +demand to have speech with the King, and therewith they in attendance +ushered him in to where the King Angus was. + +[Sidenote: King Angus welcomes Sir Tristram] But when King Angus saw Sir +Tristram who he was, and when he beheld a face that was both familiar and +kind, he gave a great cry of joy, and ran to Sir Tristram and flung his +arms about him, and kissed him upon the cheek; for he was rejoiced beyond +measure to find a friend in that unfriendly place. + +Then Sir Tristram said, "Lord, what cheer have you?" Unto that King Angus +replied: "Tristram, I have very poor cheer; for I am alone amongst enemies +with no one to befriend me, and unless I find some knight who will stand my +champion to-morrow or the next day I am like to lose my life for the murder +of Sir Bertrand de la Riviere Rouge. And where am I to find any one to act +as my champion in defence of my innocence in this place, where I behold an +enemy in every man whom I meet? Alas, Tristram! There is no one in all the +world who will aid me unless it be you, for you alone of all the knights in +the world beyond the circle of the knights of the Round Table may hope to +stand against so excellent and so strong a hero!" + +"Lord," quoth Sir Tristram, "I know very well what great trouble overclouds +you at this time, and it is because of that that I am come hither for to +visit you. For I have not at any time forgotten how that I told you when +you spared my life in Ireland that mayhap the time might come when I might +serve as your friend in your day of need. So if you will satisfy me upon +two points, then I myself will stand for your champion upon this occasion." + +"Ah, Tristram," quoth King Angus, "what you say is very good news to me +indeed. For I believe there is no other knight in all the world (unless it +be Sir Launcelot of the Lake) who is so strong and worthy a knight as you. +So tell me what are those two matters concerning which you would seek +satisfaction, and, if it is possible for me to do so, I will give you such +an answer as may please you." + +"Lord," said Sir Tristram, "the first matter is this: that you shall +satisfy me that you are altogether innocent of the death of Sir Bertrand. +And the second matter is this: that you shall grant me whatsoever favor it +is that I shall have to ask of you." + +[Sidenote: King Angus swears innocence to Sir Tristram] Then King Angus +arose and drew his sword and he said: "Tristram, behold; here is my +sword--and the guard thereof and the blade thereof and the handle thereof +make that holy sign of the cross unto which all Christian men bow down to +worship. Look! See! Here I kiss that holy sign and herewith I swear an oath +upon that sacred symbol, and I furthermore swear upon the honor of my +knighthood, that I am altogether guiltless of the death of that noble, +honorable knight aforesaid. Nor do I at all know how it was he met his +death, for I am innocent of all evil knowledge thereof. Now, Messire, art +thou satisfied upon that point?" And Sir Tristram said, "I am satisfied." + +Then King Angus said: "As to the matter of granting you a favor, that I +would do in any case for the love I bear you. So let me hear what it is +that you have to ask of me." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram asks his boon] "Lord," cried out Sir Tristram, +"the favor is one I had liever die than ask. It is this: that you give me +your daughter, the Lady Belle Isoult, for wife unto mine uncle, King Mark +of Cornwall." + +Upon these words, King Angus sat in silence for a long while, gazing very +strangely upon Sir Tristram. Then by and by he said: "Messire, this is a +very singular thing you ask of me; for from what you said to me aforetime +and from what you said to my daughter I had thought that you desired the +Lady Belle Isoult for yourself. Now I can in no wise understand why you do +not ask for her in your name instead of asking for her in the name of King +Mark." + +Then Sir Tristram cried out as in great despair: "Messire, I love that dear +lady a great deal more than I love my life; but in this affair I am +fulfilling a pledge made upon the honor of my knighthood and unto the King +of Cornwall, who himself made me knight. For I pledged him unaware, and now +I am paying for my hastiness. Yet I would God that you might take the sword +which you hold in your hand and thrust it through my heart; for I had +liefer die than fulfil this obligation to which I am pledged." + +"Well," said King Angus, "you know very well that I will not slay you, but +that I will fulfil your boon as I have promised. As for what you do in this +affair, you must answer for it to God and to the honor of your own +knighthood whether it is better to keep that promise which you made to the +King of Cornwall or to break it." + +Then Sir Tristram cried out again in great travail of soul: "Lord, you know +not what you say, nor what torments I am at this present moment enduring." +And therewith he arose and went forth from that place, for he was ashamed +that anyone should behold the passion that moved him. + +And now is to be told of that famous battle betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir +Blamor de Ganys of which so much hath been written in all the several +histories of chivalry that deal with these matters. + +Now when the next morning had come--clear and fair and with the sun shining +wonderfully bright--a great concourse of people began to betake themselves +to that place where the lists had been set up in preparation for that +ordeal of battle. That place was on a level meadow of grass very fair +bedight with flowers and not far from the walls of the town nor from the +high road that led to the gate of the same. + +[Sidenote: Of the meadow of battle] And, indeed, that was a very beautiful +place for battle, for upon the one hand was the open countryside, all gay +with spring blossoms and flowers; and upon the other hand were the walls of +the town. Over above the top of those walls was to be seen a great many +tall towers--some built of stone and some of brick--that rose high up into +the clear, shining sky all full of slow-drifting clouds, that floated, as +it were, like full-breasted swans in a sea of blue. And beyond the walls of +the town you might behold a great many fair houses with bright windows of +glass all shining against the sky. So you may see how fair was all that +place, where that fierce battle was presently to be fought. + +Meanwhile, great multitudes of people had gathered all about the meadow of +battle, and others stood like flies upon the walls of the town and looked +down into that fair, pleasant meadow-land, spread with its carpet of +flowers. All along one side of the ground of battle was a scaffolding of +seats fair bedraped with fabrics of various colors and textures. In the +midst of all the other seats were two seats hung with cloth of scarlet, and +these seats were the one for King Arthur and the other for King Angus of +Ireland. + +In the centre of the meadow-land Sir Blamor rode up and down very proudly. +He was clad in red armor, and the trappings and the furniture of his horse +were all of red, so that he paraded the field like a crimson flame of fire. + +"Sir." quoth King Arthur to King Angus, "yon is a very strong, powerful, +noble knight; now where mayst thou find one who can hope to stand against +him in this coming battle?" + +[Sidenote: King Angus presents Sir Tristram for his champion] "Lord," said +King Angus, "I do believe that God hath raised up a defender for me in this +extremity. For Sir Tristram of Lyonesse came to me yesterday, and offered +for to take this quarrel of mine upon him. Now I do not believe that there +is any better knight in all of Christendom than he, wherefore I am to-day +uplifted with great hopes that mine innocence shall be proved against mine +accuser." + +"Ha!" quoth King Arthur, "if Sir Tristram is to stand thy champion in this +affair, then I do believe that thou hast indeed found for thyself a very +excellent, worthy defender." + +So anon there came Sir Tristram riding to that place, attended only by +Gouvernail. And he was clad all in bright, polished armor so that he shone +like a star of great splendor as he entered the field of battle. He came +straight to where King Arthur sat and saluted before him. King Arthur said, +"Sir, what knight art thou?" "Lord," answered he, "I am Sir Tristram of +Lyonesse, and I am come to champion King Angus who sits beside you. For I +believe him to be innocent of that matter of which he is accused, and I +will emperil my body in that belief for to prove the truth of the same." + +"Well," quoth King Arthur, "this King accused hath, certes, a very noble +champion in thee. So go and do thy devoirs, and may God defend the right." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram does battle with Sir Blamor] Thereupon each knight +took a good stout spear into his hand and chose his place for the +encounter, and each set his shield before him and feutered his lance in +rest. Then, when each was ready, the marshal blew a great blast upon his +trumpet, and thereupon, in an instant, each knight launched against the +other like a bolt of thunder. So they met in the very middle of the course +with such violence that the spear of each knight was shattered all into +pieces unto the very truncheon thereof. Each horse fell back upon his +haunches, and each would no doubt, have fallen entirely, had not the +knight-rider recovered his steed with the greatest skill and address. + +Then each knight voided his saddle and each drew his sword and set his +shield before him. Therewith they came to battle on foot like two wild +boars--so fiercely and felly that it was terrible to behold. For they +traced this way and that and foined and struck at one another so that whole +pieces of armor were hewn from the bodies of each. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram overcomes Sir Blamor] But in all this battle Sir +Tristram had so much the better that, by and by after they had fought for +above an hour, Sir Blamor de Ganys began to bare back before him, and to +give ground, holding his shield low for weariness. This Sir Tristram +perceived, and, running in suddenly upon Sir Blamor, he struck him so +terrible a blow upon the right shoulder that Sir Blamor's arm was +altogether benumbed thereby, and he could no longer hold his sword in his +hand. + +So the sword of Sir Blamor fell down into the grass, and Sir Tristram, +perceiving this, ran and set his foot upon it. Then Sir Blamor could not +stand any longer, but fell down upon his knees because of a great weariness +and faintness that lay upon him like the weariness and faintness of +approaching death. + +Then Sir Tristram said: "Sir Knight, thou canst fight no longer. Now I bid +thee for to yield thyself to me as overcome in this battle." + +Thereunto Sir Blamor made reply, speaking very deep and hollow from out of +his helmet: "Sir Knight, thou hast overcome me by thy strength and prowess, +but I will not yield myself to thee now nor at any time. For that would be +so great shame that I would rather die than endure it. I am a knight of the +Round Table, and have never yet been overcome in this wise by any man. So +thou mayst slay me, but I will not yield myself to thee." + +Then Sir Tristram cried out: "Sir Knight, I beseech thee to yield thyself, +for thou art not fit to fight any more this day." + +Sir Blamor said, "I will not yield, so strike and have done with it." + +So Sir Tristram wist not what to do, but stood there in doubt looking down +upon Sir Blamor. Then Sir Blamor said, again: "Strike, Sir Knight, and have +done with it." + +Upon this Sir Tristram said: "I may not strike thee, Sir Blamor de Ganys, +to slay thee, for thou art very nigh of blood to Sir Launcelot of the Lake, +and unto him I have sworn brotherhood in arms; wherefore I pray thee now to +yield thyself to me." + +Sir Blamor said, "Nay, I will not yield me to thee." + +"Well," said Sir Tristram, "then I must fain act this day in a manner like +as I acted yesterday." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram gives Sir Blamor back his sword] Therewith +speaking, he took his sword into both his hands and he swung it several +times around his head and when he had done that he flung it to a great +distance away, so that he was now entirely unarmed saving only for his +misericordia. After that he gave Sir Blamor his hand and lifted him up upon +his feet. And he stooped and picked up Sir Blamor's sword out of the grass +and gave it back to Sir Blamor into his hands, and he said: "Sir Knight, +now thou art armed and I am entirely unarmed, and so thou hast me at thy +mercy. Now thou shalt either yield thyself to me or slay me as I stand here +without any weapon; for I cannot now strike thee, and though I have +overcome thee fairly yet thou hast it now in thy power to slay me. So now +do thy will with me in this matter." + +Then Sir Blamor was greatly astonished at the magnanimity of Sir Tristram, +and he said, "Sir Knight, what is thy name?" Sir Tristram said, "It is +Tristram, surnamed of Lyonesse." + +Upon this Sir Blamor came to Sir Tristram and put his arms about his +shoulders, and he said: "Tristram, I yield myself to thee, but in love and +not in hate. For I yield myself not because of thy strength of arms (and +yet I believe there is no knight in the world, unless it be my cousin Sir +Launcelot of the Lake, who is thy peer), but I yield me because of thy +exceeding nobility. Yet I would that I might only be satisfied that this +King of Ireland is no traitor." + +"Messire," said Sir Tristram, "of that I have assured myself very strongly +ere I entered into this contest, wherefore I may now freely avouch upon +mine own knightly word that he is innocent." + +"Then," said Sir Blamor, "I also am satisfied, and I herewith withdraw all +my impeachment against him." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram and Sir Blamor are reconciled] Then those two +noble, excellent knights took one another by the hand and went forward +together to where King Arthur sat in high estate, and all those who looked +on and beheld that reconciliation gave loud acclaim. And when King Arthur +beheld them coming thus, he arose from where he sat and met them and +embraced them both, and he said: "I do not believe that any king can have +greater glory in his life than this, to have such knights about him as ye +be." + +So ended this famous battle with great glory to Sir Tristram and yet with +no disregard to that famous knight against whom he did battle. + +After that, they and King Arthur and King Angus of Ireland and all the +court went up unto the castle of Camelot, and there the two +knights-combatant were bathed in tepid water and their wounds were searched +and dressed and they were put at their ease in all ways that it was +possible. + +Now that very day, as they all sat at feast in the castle of Camelot, there +came one with news that the name of Sir Tristram had suddenly appeared upon +one of the seats of the Round Table. So after they had ended their feast +they all immediately went to see how that might be. When they came to the +pavilion of the Round Table, there, behold! was his name indeed upon that +seat that had once been the seat of King Pellinore. For this was the name +that now was upon that seat: + +SIR TRISTRAM OF LYONESSE + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram becomes knight of the Round Table] So the next day +Sir Tristram was duly installed as a knight-companion of the Round Table +with a great pomp and estate of circumstance, and a day or two after that +he set sail for Ireland with King Angus, taking with him Gouvernail and +those Cornish knights who were his companions. + +So they all reached Ireland in safety, and, because Sir Tristram had aided +the King of Ireland in the day of his extremity, the Queen forgave him all +the despite she held against him, so that he was received at the court of +the King and Queen with great friendship and high honor. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Tristram dwelt in Ireland] For a while Sir Tristram +dwelt in Ireland and said nothing concerning that purpose for which he had +come. Then one day he said to King Angus: "Lord, thou art not to forget to +fulfil that promise which thou madst to me concerning the Lady Belle +Isoult." + +To this King Angus made reply: "I had hoped that now we were come to +Ireland you had changed your purpose in that matter. Are you yet of the +same mind as when you first spake to me?" + +"Yea," said Sir Tristram, "for it cannot be otherwise." + +"Well, then," said King Angus, "I shall go to prepare my daughter for this +ill-hap that is to befall her, though indeed it doth go against my heart to +do such a thing. After I have first spoken to her, you are to take the +matter into your own hands, for, to tell you the truth, I have not the +heart to contrive it further." + +So King Angus went away from where Sir Tristram was, and he was gone a long +while. When he returned he said: "Sir, go you that way and the Lady Belle +Isoult will see you." + +So Sir Tristram went in the direction King Angus had said, and a page +showed him the way. So by and by he came to where the Lady Belle Isoult +was, and it was a great chamber in a certain tower of the castle and high +up Under the eaves of the roof. + +[Sidenote: How Lady Belle Isoult appeared to Sir Tristram] The Lady Belle +Isoult stood upon the farther side of this chamber so that the light from +the windows shone full upon her face, and Sir Tristram perceived that she +was extraordinarily beautiful, and rather like to a shining spirit than to +a lady of flesh and blood. For she was clad altogether in white and her +face was like to wax for whiteness and clearness, and she wore ornaments of +gold set with shining stones of divers colors about her neck and about her +arms so that they glistered with a wonderful lustre. Her eyes shone very +bright and clear like one with a fever, and Sir Tristram beheld that there +were channels of tears upon her face and several tears stood upon her white +cheeks like to shining jewels hanging suspended there. + +So, for a while, Sir Tristram stood still without speaking and regarded her +from afar. Then after a while she spake and said, "Sir, what is this you +have done?" "Lady," he said, "I have done what God set me to do, though I +would rather die than do it." + +She said, "Tristram, you have betrayed me." Upon the which he cried out in +a very loud and piercing voice, "Lady, say not so!" + +She said: "Tristram, tell me, is it better to fulfil this pledge you have +made, knowing that in so doing you sacrifice both my happiness and your +happiness to satisfy your pride of honor; or is it better that you +sacrifice your pride and break this promise so that we may both be happy? +Tristram, I beseech you to break this promise you have made and let us be +happy together." + +At this Sir Tristram cried out in a very loud voice: "Lady, did you put +your hand into my bosom and tear my naked heart, you could not cause me so +much pain as that which I this moment endure. It cannot be as you would +have it, for it is thus with me: were it but myself whom I might consider, +I would freely sacrifice both my life and my honor for your sake. But it +may not be so, lady; for I am held to be one of the chiefest of that order +of knighthood to which I belong, wherefore I may not consider myself, but +must ever consider that order. For if I should violate a pledge given upon +my knighthood, then would I dishonor not myself, but that entire order to +which I belong. For, did I so, all the world would say, what virtue is +there in the order of knighthood when one of the chiefest of that order may +violate his pledge when it pleases him to do so? So, lady, having assumed +that great honor of knighthood I must perform its obligations even to the +uttermost; yea, though in fulfilling my pledge I sacrifice both Thee and +myself." + +Then Belle Isoult looked upon Sir Tristram for some little while, and by +and by she smiled very pitifully and said: "Ah, Tristram, I believe I am +more sorry for thee than I am for myself." + +"Lady," said Tristram, "I would God that I lay here dead before you. But I +am not able to die, but am altogether strong and hale--only very sorrowful +at heart." And therewith he turned and left that place. Only when he had +come to a place where he was entirely by himself with no one but God to see +him, he hid his face in his hands and wept as though his heart were +altogether broken. So it was that Sir Tristram fulfilled his pledge. + +[Sidenote: Belle Isoult and Sir Tristram depart for Cornwall] After that, +King Angus furnished a very noble and beautiful ship with sails of satin +embroidered with figures of divers sorts, and he fitted the ship in all +ways such as became the daughter of a king and the wife of a king to embark +upon. And that ship was intended for the Lady Belle Isoult and Sir Tristram +in which to sail to the court of Cornwall. + +And it was ordained that a certain very excellent lady of the court of the +Queen, who had been attendant upon the Lady Belle Isoult when she was a +little child and who had been with her in attendance ever since that time, +should accompany her to the Court of Cornwall. And the name of this lady +was the Lady Bragwaine. + +[Sidenote: The Queen of Ireland provides a love potion for King Mark and +Belle Isoult] Now the day before the Lady Belle Isoult was to take her +departure from Ireland, the Queen of Ireland came to the Lady Bragwaine and +she bare with her a flagon of gold very curiously wrought. And the Queen +said: "Bragwaine, here is a flask of a very singular and precious sort of +an elixir; for that liquor it is of such a sort that when a man and a woman +drink of it together, they two shall thereafter never cease to love one +another as long as they shall have life. Take this flask, and when you have +come to Cornwall, and when the Lady Belle Isoult and King Mark have been +wedded, then give them both to drink of this elixir; for after they have +drunk they shall forget all else in the world and cleave only to one +another. This I give you to the intent that the Lady Isoult may forget Sir +Tristram, and may become happy in the love of King Mark whom she shall +marry." + +Soon thereafter the Lady Belle Isoult took leave of the King and the Queen +and entered into that ship that had been prepared for her. Thus, with Sir +Tristram and with Dame Bragwaine and with their attendants, she set sail +for Cornwall. + +Now it happened that, whilst they were upon that voyage, the Lady Bragwaine +came of a sudden into the cabin of that ship and there she beheld the Lady +Belle Isoult lying upon a couch weeping. Dame Bragwaine said, "Lady, why do +you weep?" Whereunto the Lady Belle Isoult made reply: "Alas, Bragwaine, +how can I help but weep seeing that I am to be parted from the man I love +and am to be married unto another whom I do not love?" + +Dame Bragwaine laughed and said: "Do you then weep for that? See! Here is a +wonderful flask as it were of precious wine. When you are married to the +King of Cornwall, then you are to quaff of it and he is to quaff of it and +after that you will forget all others in the world and cleave only to one +another. For it is a wonderful love potion and it hath been given to me to +use in that very way. Wherefore dry your eyes, for happiness may still lay +before you." + +When the Lady Belle Isoult heard these words she wept no more but smiled +very strangely. Then by and by she arose and went away to where Sir +Tristram was. + +When she came to him she said, "Tristram, will you drink of a draught with +me?" He said, "Yea, lady, though it were death in the draught." + +She said, "There is not death in it, but something very different," and +thereupon she went away into the cabin where that chalice aforesaid was +hidden. And at that time Dame Bragwaine was not there. + +Then the Lady Belle Isoult took the flagon from where it was hidden, and +poured the elixir out into a chalice of gold and crystal and she brought it +to where Sir Tristram was. When she had come there, she said, "Tristram, I +drink to thee," and therewith she drank the half of the elixir there Was in +the chalice. Then she said, "Now drink thou the rest to me." + +Upon that Sir Tristram took the chalice and lifted it to his lips, and +drank all the rest of that liquor that was therein. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram and Belle Isoult drink the love potion] Now +immediately Sir Tristram had drunk that elixir he felt it run like fire +through every vein in his body. Thereupon he cried out, "Lady, what is this +you have given me to drink?" She said: "Tristram, that was a powerful love +potion intended for King Mark and me. But now thou and I have drunk of it +and never henceforth can either of us love anybody in all of the world but +the other." + +Then Sir Tristram catched her into his arms and he cried out: "Isoult! +Isoult! what hast thou done to us both? Was it not enough that I should +have been unhappy but that thou shouldst have chosen to be unhappy also?" + +Thereat the Lady Belle Isoult both wept and smiled, looking up into Sir +Tristram's face, and she said: "Nay, Tristram; I would rather be sorry with +thee than happy with another." He said, "Isoult, there is much woe in this +for us both." She said, "I care not, so I may share it with thee." + +Thereupon Sir Tristram kissed her thrice upon the face, and then +immediately put her away from him and he left her and went away by himself +in much agony of spirit. + +Thereafter they reached the kingdom of Cornwall in safety, and the Lady +Belle Isoult and King Mark were wedded with much pomp and ceremony and +after that there was much feasting and every appearance of rejoicing. + + + + +PART II + + +The Story of Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorack + +And now shall be told the story of Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorack of Gales, +how they became brothers-in-arms; how Sir Lamorack took offence at Sir +Tristram, and how they became reconciled again. + +But first of all you must know that Sir Lamorack of Gales was deemed to be +one of the greatest knights alive. For it was said that there were three +knights that were the greatest in all of the world, and those three were +Sir Launcelot of the Lake, Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, and Sir Lamorack of +Gales. + +Sir Lamorack was the son of King Pellinore, of whom it hath already been +told in the Book of King Arthur that he was the greatest knight during that +time; and he was the brother of Sir Percival, of whom it is to be told +hereinafter that he was the peer even of Sir Launcelot of the Lake. So +because that house produced three such great and famous knights, the house +of King Pellinore hath always been singularly renowned in all histories of +chivalry. For indeed there was not any house so famous as it saving only +the house of King Ban of Benwick, which brought forth those two peerless +knights beyond all compare:--to wit, Sir Launcelot of the Lake and Sir +Galahad, who achieved the quest of the San Grail. + +So I hope that you may find pleasure in the story of how Sir Tristram and +Sir Lamorack became acquainted, and of how they became brothers-in-arms. + +[Illustration: Sir Lamorack of Gales] + + + + +Chapter First + + +_How Sir Lamorack of Gales came to Tintagel and how he and Sir Tristram +sware friendship together in the forest._ + +After these happenings, Sir Tristram abode for awhile at the Court of +Cornwall, for so King Mark commanded him to do. And he sought in every way +to distract his mind from his sorrows by deeds of prowess. So during this +time he performed several adventures of which there is not now space to +tell you. But these adventures won such credit to his knighthood that all +the world talked of his greatness. + +And ever as he grew more and more famous, King Mark hated him more and +more. For he could not bear to see Sir Tristram so noble and so sorrowful +with love of the Lady Belle Isoult. + +Also Sir Tristram spent a great deal of time at chase with hawk and hound; +for he hoped by means also of such sports to drive away, in some measure, +his grief for the loss of Belle Isoult. + +Now the season whereof this chapter speaketh was in the autumn of the year, +what time all the earth is glorious with the brown and gold of the +woodlands. For anon, when the wind would blow, then the leaves would fall +down from the trees like showers of gold so that everywhere they lay heaped +like flakes of gold upon the russet sward, rustling dry and warm beneath +the feet, and carpeting all the world with splendor. And the deep blue sky +overhead was heaped full of white, slow-moving clouds, and everywhere the +warm air was fragrant with the perfume of the forest, and at every strong +breeze the nuts would fall pattering down upon the ground like hailstones. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram rides ahunting] And because the world was so +beautiful and so lusty, Sir Tristram took great pleasure in life in spite +of that trouble that lay upon him. So he and his court rode very joyfully +amid the trees and thickets, making the woodlands merry with the music of +winding horns and loud-calling voices and with the baying of hounds +sounding like sweet tolling bells in the remoter aisles of the forest +spaces. + +Thus Sir Tristram made sport all one morning, in such an autumn season, and +when noon had come he found himself to be anhungered. So he gave orders to +those who were in attendance upon him that food should be spread at a +certain open space in the forest; and therewith, in accordance with those +orders, they in attendance immediately opened sundry hampers of wicker, and +therefrom brought forth a noble pasty of venison, and manchets of bread and +nuts and apples and several flasks and flagons of noble wine of France and +the Rhine countries. This abundance of good things they set upon a cloth as +white as snow which they had laid out upon the ground. + +Now just as Sir Tristram was about to seat himself at this goodly feast he +beheld amid the thin yellow foliage that there rode through a forest path +not far away a very noble-seeming knight clad all in shining armor and with +vestments and trappings of scarlet so that he shone like a flame of fire in +the woodlands. + +Then Sir Tristram said to those who stood near him, "Know ye who is yonder +knight who rides alone?" They say, "No, Lord, we know him not." Sir +Tristram said, "Go and bid that knight of his courtesy that he come hither +and eat with me." + +So three or four esquires ran to where that knight was riding, and in a +little they came attending him to where Sir Tristram was, and Sir Tristram +went to meet him. + +Then Sir Tristram said: "Sir Knight, I pray you for to tell me your name +and degree, for it seems to me that you are someone very high in order of +knighthood." + +[Sidenote: Sir Lamorack meets Sir Tristam] "Messire," quoth the other, "I +shall be very glad to tell you my name if so be you will do the like +courtesy unto me. I am Sir Lamorack of Gales, and I am son of the late King +Pellinore, who was in his days held to be the foremost knight in this +realm. I come to these parts seeking Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, of whose +fame I hear told in every court of chivalry whither I go. For I have never +beheld Sir Tristram, and I have a great desire to do so." + +"Well," quoth Sir Tristram, "meseems I should be greatly honored that you +should take so much trouble for nothing else than that; for lo! I am that +very Sir Tristram of Lyonesse whom you seek." + +Then Sir Lamorack immediately leaped down from his war-horse and putting up +the umbril of his helmet, he came to Sir Tristram and took him by the hand +and kissed him upon the cheek. And Sir Tristram kissed Sir Lamorack again, +and each made great joy of the other. + +After that, Sir Lamorack, with the aid of these esquires attendant upon Sir +Tristram, put aside his armor, and bathed his face and neck and hands in a +cold forest brook, as clear as crystal, that came brawling down out of the +woodlands. Therewith, being greatly refreshed he and Sir Tristram sat down +to that bountiful feast together, and ate and drank with great joy and +content of spirit. And whiles they ate each made inquiry of the other what +he did, and each told the other many things concerning the goodly +adventures that had befallen him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram sings to Sir Lamorack] And after they were through +eating and drinking, Sir Tristram took his harp in hand and sang several +excellent ballads and rondels which he had made in honor of Belle Isoult, +and Sir Lamorack listened and made great applause at each song that Sir +Tristram sang. And so each knight loved the other more and more the longer +they sat together. + +Then, after a while, Sir Tristram said: "Dear friend, let us swear +brotherhood to one another, for I find that my heart goeth out to thee with +a wonderful strength." + +"Ha, Tristram," said Sir Lamorack, "I would rather live in brotherhood with +thee than with any man whom I know, for I find that the longer I am with +thee, the greater and the stronger my love groweth for thee." + +Then Sir Tristram drew from his finger a very splendid ring (for the ring +held an emerald carved into the likeness of the head of a beautiful woman, +and that emerald was set into the gold of the ring) and Sir Tristram said: +"Give me that ring upon thy finger, O Lamorack! and take thou this ring in +its stead; so we shall have confirmed our brotherhood to one another." + +Then Sir Lamorack did very joyfully as Sir Tristram bade him, and he took +the ring that Sir Tristram gave him and kissed it and put it upon his +finger; and Sir Tristram kissed the ring that Sir Lamorack gave him and put +it upon his finger. + +Thus they confirmed brotherhood with one another that day as they sat +together in the forest at feast, with the golden leaves falling about them. +And so they sat together all that afternoon and until the sun began to hang +low in the west; after that, they arose and took horse, and rode away +together toward Tintagel in great pleasure of companionship. + +[Sidenote: Sir Lamorack is honored at Tintagel] Now all the court at +Tintagel was greatly rejoiced at the presence of so famous a knight as Sir +Lamorack of Gales; so there was great celebration upon that account, and +everybody did the most that he was able to give pleasure to Sir Lamorack. +And during the time that Sir Lamorack was at Tintagel there were several +joustings held in his honor, and in all these assays at arms Sir Lamorack +himself took part and overthrew everyone who came against him, so that he +approved himself to be so wonderful a champion that all men who beheld his +performance exclaimed with astonishment at his prowess. + +But from all these affairs at arms Sir Tristram held himself aloof, and +would not take part in them. For he took such pleasure in Sir Lamorack's +glory that he would not do anything that might imperil the credit that his +friend thus gained by his prowess. For though Sir Tristram dearly loved +such affairs, he would ever say to himself: "Perhaps if I should enter the +lists against my friend it might be my mishap to overthrow him and then his +glory would be forfeited unto me." + +[Sidenote: Sir Lamorack does famous battle] Now upon a certain time there +was held a great day of jousting in honor of Sir Lamorack, and in that +affair at arms twenty of the best knights, both of Cornwall and the +countries circumadjacent, took the field to hold it against all comers. Of +these knights, several were well-known champions, so that they maintained +the field for a long while, to the great credit both of themselves and of +Cornwall. But some while after the prime of day, there came Sir Lamorack +into that field, and, the day being cool and fresh, he was filled with a +wonderful strength and spirit of battle. So he challenged first one of +those Cornish champions and then another, and in all such challenges he was +successful, so that he overthrew of those knights, the one after the other, +fifteen men, some of whom were sorely hurt in the encounter. Upon this, the +other five of those champions, beholding the prowess and strength and skill +of Sir Lamorack said to one another: "Why should we venture against this +man? Of a verity, this knight is no mere man, but a demon of strength and +skill. Wherefore no man may hope to stand against him in an assault of +arms; for lo! if he doth but touch a man with his lance that man +straightway falleth from his saddle." So they withdrew themselves from that +encounter and would not have to do with Sir Lamorack. + +Now at that time Sir Tristram was sitting with the court of the King, and +not far from the Lady Belle Isoult, overlooking the meadow of battle. + +To him King Mark said: "Messire, why do you take no part against this +knight? Is it that you fear him?" + +To this Sir Tristram replied with great calmness: "Nay, I fear not him nor +any man alive, and that you know, Lord, better than anyone in all of the +world." + +"I am glad to hear of your courage and fearlessness," quoth King Mark, "for +meseems it is a great shame to all of us that this gentleman, who is a +stranger amongst us, should win so much credit to the disadvantage of all +the knights of Cornwall. Now, as you say you have no fear of him, I pray +you go down into the field and do battle with him in our behalf." So said +King Mark, for he thought to himself: "Perhaps Sir Lamorack may overthrow +Sir Tristram, and so bring him into disrepute with those who praise him so +greatly." + +But Sir Tristram said: "No; I will not go down to battle against Sir +Lamorack this day whatever I may do another day. For I have sworn +brotherhood to that noble and gentle champion, and it would ill beseem me +to assault him now, when he is weary and short of breath from this great +battle which he hath done to-day against such odds. For if I should +overthrow him now, it would bring great shame upon him. Some other day and +in some other place I may assay him in friendliness, with honor and credit +both to myself and him." + +[Sidenote: King Mark commands Sir Tristram to do battle] "Well," said King +Mark, "as for that, I do not choose to wait. Nor am I pleased that you +should sit by and suffer this knight to carry away all the credit of arms +from Cornwall in despite of the knights of Cornwall. For not only would +this be a great shame to the knights of Cornwall (of whom you are the +acknowledged champion), but it would be equally a shame unto this lady whom +you have fetched hither from Ireland to be Queen of Cornwall. So I lay this +command upon you--not only because I am your King, but because I am he who +made you knight--that you straightway go down into yonder meadow and do +battle with this knight who beareth himself so proudly in our midst." + +Then Sir Tristram looked upon King Mark with great anger and bitterness, +and he said: "This is great shame and despite which you seek to put upon me +by giving such commands unto me. Verily, it would seem that in all ways you +seek to put shame and sorrow upon me. And yet I have ever been your true +knight, and have saved your kingdom from truage to Ireland and have served +you very faithfully in all ways. Would to God I had been made knight by any +man in the world rather than by you." + +At this King Mark smiled very bitterly upon Tristram. "Sirrah," quoth he, +"meseems you speak very outrageously to me who am your King. Now I herewith +command you to go straightway down into that field without any further +words and to do my bidding against yonder knight." + +Then Sir Tristram groaned in spirit, and then he said, "I go." + +So Sir Tristram arose and went away from that place very full of bitterness +and anger against the King and his court. For whiles there were some of +that court who were sorry for the affront that King Mark had put upon him +in public before the eyes of the entire court, yet there were others who +smiled and were glad of his humiliation. For even so true and noble a +gentleman as Sir Tristram, when he groweth great and famous, is like to +have as many enemies as friends. For there are ever those who envy truth +and nobility in a man, as well as others who hate meanness and falsity, and +so Sir Tristram ever had many enemies whithersoever he went. And that also +was the case with Sir Launcelot and Sir Lamorack, and with other noble +knights at that time. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram arms himself] But though Sir Tristram was so +filled with indignation he said nothing to any man, but went to his lodging +and summoned Gouvernail, and bade Gouvernail to help him to his armor and +his horse. + +Gouvernail said: "Lord, what would you do for to arm and horse yourself at +this hour?" Sir Tristram made reply: "The King hath commanded me to do +battle with Sir Lamorack, and yet Sir Lamorack is my very dear friend and +sworn brother-in-arms. He is already weary with battle, and of a surety I +shall be very likely to overthrow him in an assault at arms at this time." +Gouvernail said, "Lord, that would be great shame to you as well as to +him." And Sir Tristram said, "Yea, it is great shame." Then Gouvernail +beheld Sir Tristram's face, how it was all filled with a passion of shame +and indignation, and so he guessed what had passed, and held his peace. + +So when Sir Tristram was armed and mounted, he rode down into the meadow of +battle, where was Sir Lamorack parading with great glory before the +applause of all who looked down upon that field. + +[Sidenote: Sir Lamorack speaks to Sir Tristram] But when Sir Lamorack +beheld that it was Sir Tristram who came against him, he was greatly +astonished, and cried out: "Ha, Tristram, how is this? Is it you who come +against me? Have you then forgot that I am your brother-in-arms and a +fellow of the Round Table?" + +To this Sir Tristram said: "Messire, I come not of my own free will, but +only because I must needs come, being so commanded by the King of +Cornwall." + +"Very well," said Sir Lamorack, "so be it as you will, though I am very +much surprised that you should do battle against me, after all that hath +passed betwixt us. More especially at this season when, as you very well +know, I am weary and winded with battle." + +Thereupon and without further parley, each knight took stand for the +encounter at the position assigned to him. Then when they were in all ways +prepared, the marshal of the field blew upon his trumpet a call for the +assault. + +So rushed those two together like two stones, flung each out of a catapult; +and therewith they two smote together in the midst of their course like to +a clap of thunder. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram overthrows Sir Lamorack] In that encounter the +spear of Sir Lamorack brake into as many as twenty or thirty pieces; but +the spear of Sir Tristram held, so that the horse of Sir Lamorack, which +was weary with the several charges he had made, was overthrown into a great +cloud of dust. + +But Sir Lamorack did not fall with his steed; for he voided his saddle with +a very wonderful agility and dexterity, so that he himself kept his feet, +although his horse fell as aforesaid. Then he was filled with great rage +and shame that he had been so overthrown before all those who looked upon +him; wherefore he immediately drew his sword and cried out aloud: "Come +down, Sir Knight, and do battle with me afoot, for though my horse hath +failed me because of his weariness, yet you shall find that my body shall +not so fail me." + +But that while Sir Tristram sat very sorrowful, and he said: "Nay, I will +not have to do with thee again this day, for it was against my will that I +came hither to do battle with thee, and it is to my shame that I did so. +Wherefore I will not now do further battle with thee. But wait until +to-morrow and until thou art fresh, and then I will give thee the chance of +battle again." + +To this Sir Lamorack made answer very bitterly: "Sir, I think you talk to +amuse me; for first you put shame upon me in this encounter, and then you +bid me wait until to-morrow ere I purge me of that shame. Now I demand of +you to do battle with me upon this moment and not to-morrow." + +Sir Tristram said: "I will not do battle with thee, Lamorack, for I have +done wrong already, and I will not do more wrong." + +[Sidenote: Sir Lamorack reproves Sir Tristram] Upon this, Sir Lamorack was +so filled with anger that he scarce knew what to say or to do. Wherefore he +turned him to several who had come down into the meadow of battle, and he +said: "Hear ye all, and listen to my words: This knight came against me in +this field after I had had to do with fifteen other knights. In that +encounter he overthrew me, because of the weariness of my horse. Having +done that unknightly deed, he now refuseth me any further test of battle, +but allows me to lie beneath that shame which he put upon me. Now I bid you +who stand here to take this word to Sir Launcelot of the Lake; I bid ye +tell Sir Launcelot that Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, having sworn +brother-hood-in-arms to me, and being a fellow-knight of the Round Table, +hath come against me when I was weary with battle and he was fresh. Tell +Sir Launcelot that so Sir Tristram overthrew me with shame to himself and +with discredit to me, and that he then refused me all satisfaction such as +one true knight should afford another." + +Then Sir Tristram cried out in a loud voice, "I pray you, hear me speak, +Messire!" But Sir Lamorack replied, "I will not hear thee!" and therewith +turned and went away, leaving Sir Tristram where he was. And Sir Tristram +sat there without movement, like to a statue of stone. + +[Sidenote: Sir Lamorack leaves Tintagel] After that Sir Lamorack did not +tarry longer at Tintagel, but immediately left the King's court without +making speech with anyone. And thereafter he went down to the seashore and +embarked in a boat with intent to sail to Camelot where King Arthur was +then holding court. For his heart was still so bitter against Sir Tristram +that he intended to lay complaint against him before the court of chivalry +at Camelot. + +But Sir Lamorack did not reach Camelot upon that voyage; for, whilst he was +in passage, there suddenly arose a great tempest of wind, and in spite of +all that the mariners could do, that small ship wherein he sailed was +driven upon a cruel headland of rocks and cliffs where it was dashed to +pieces. + +But Sir Lamorack had foreseen that that small boat was to be wrecked, +wherefore, before the end came, he stripped himself entirely naked and +leaped into the waters and swam for his life. + +[Sidenote: Sir Lamorack is shipwrecked upon a strange land] So he swam for +a long time until he was wellnigh exhausted and upon the point of drowning +in the waters. But at that moment he came by good hap to where was a little +bay of quiet water, whereinto he swam and so made shift to come safe to +land--but faint and weak, and so sick that he feared that he was nigh to +death. Then Sir Lamorack perceived that there was heather at that place +growing upon the rocks of the hillside, so he crawled into the heather and +lay him down therein in a dry spot and immediately fell into such a deep +sleep of weariness that it was more like to the swoon of death than to +slumber. + +[Sidenote: Of Sir Nabon le Noir] Now the lord of that country whereunto +Sir Lamorack had come was a very wicked knight, huge of frame and very +cruel and hard of heart. The name of this knight was Sir Nabon, surnamed le +Noir; for he was very swarth of hue, and he always wore armor entirely of +black. This knight had several years before slain the lord of that land, +and had seized upon all of the island as his own possession, and no one +dared to come against him for to recover these possessions, for his prowess +was so remarkable and his body so huge that all the world was afraid of +him. So he dwelt there unmolested in a strong castle of stone built up upon +a rock near to the seashore, whence he might behold all the ships that +passed him by. Then, whenever he would see such a ship pass by, he would +issue forth in his own ships and seize upon that other vessel, and either +levy toll upon it or sink it with all upon board. And if he found any folk +of high quality aboard such a ship, that one he would seize and hold for +ransom. So Sir Nabon made himself the terror of all that part of the world, +and all men avoided the coasts of so inhospitable a country. Such was the +land upon which Sir Lamorack had been cast by the tempest. + +[Sidenote: The fisher-folk disarm Sir Lamorack] Now whilst Sir Lamorack +lay sleeping in the heather in that wise as aforetold, there came by that +way several fisher-folk; these, when they saw him lying there, thought at +first that he was dead. But as they stood talking concerning him, Sir +Lamorack was aware of their voices and woke and sat up and beheld them. + +Then the chiefest of those fisher-folk spake and said, "Who are you, and +how came you here?" Him Sir Lamorack answered: "Alas! friend! I am a poor +soul who was cast ashore from a shipwreck, naked as you see me. Now I pray +you, give me some clothes to cover my nakedness, and give me some food to +eat, and lend me such succor as man may give to man in distress." + +Then the chief fisherman perceived the ring upon Sir Lamorack's finger that +Sir Tristram had given him, and he said, "How got you that ring upon your +finger?" Sir Lamorack said, "He who was my friend gave it to me." "Well," +quoth the fisherman, "I will give you clothes to wear and food to eat, but +if I do so you must give me that ring that I see upon your hand. As for +lending you aid, I must tell you that the lord of this island hath ordained +upon peril of our lives that all who come hither must straightway be +brought before him to be dealt with as he may deem fitting. Wherefore, +after I have fed you and clothed you I must immediately take you to him." + +[Sidenote: The fisher-folk give Sir Lamorack clothes and food] "Alas!" +quoth Sir Lamorack, "this is certes an inhospitable land into which I have +come! Ne'ertheless, as I am naked and starving, I see that I have no choice +other than that which ye put upon me." So therewith he gave the chief of +the fisher-folk the ring that Sir Tristram had given him, and in return the +fishermen gave him such garments as they could spare to cover his +nakedness; and they gave him black bread and cheese to eat, and bitter ale +to drink from a skin that they carried with them. After that they tied Sir +Lamorack's hands behind his back, and so, having made him prisoner, they +brought him to the castle of Sir Nabon, and before Sir Nabon who was there +at that time. + +Now it chanced that the swineherd of Sir Nabon's castle had been slain in a +quarrel with one of his fellows, so that when Sir Nabon beheld Sir +Lamorack, that he was big and sturdy of frame, he said: "I will spare this +fellow his life, but I will make him my swineherd. So take ye him away and +let him herd my swine." + +[Sidenote: Sir Lamorack turns swineherd] So they led Sir Lamorack away, +and he became swineherd to Sir Nabon surnamed le Noir, and presently in a +little while he grew so rough and shaggy that his own mother would hardly +have known him had she beheld him. + +So endeth this adventure of Sir Lamorack. And now it shall be told how it +befel with Sir Tristram after Sir Lamorack had left Tintagel as aforetold. + +[Illustration: Sir Tristram cometh to ye castle of Sir Nabon] + + + + +Chapter Second + + +_How Sir Tristram started to go to Camelot, and how he stayed by the way to +do battle with Sir Nabon le Noir._ + +Now after Sir Lamorack had quit the court of King Mark of Cornwall as +aforetold, Sir Tristram was very sad at heart for a long while. +Nevertheless, he tried to comfort himself by saying: "Well, it was not by +my will that I did battle with my friend and brother-in-arms, for I had no +choice as to that which I was compelled to do." So he spake to himself, and +took what comfort he was able from such considerations, and that comfort +was not very great. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot sends a letter to Sir Tristram] Then one day +there came from Sir Launcelot of the Lake a letter in which Sir Launcelot +said that he had heard that Sir Tristram had assailed Sir Lamorack when +that knight was weary and spent with battle. And in that letter Sir +Launcelot further said: "It is very strange to me, Messire, that such +things should be said of you, and that by several mouths. Now, I pray you, +set this matter at right, for I do not choose to have such a thing said of +you; that you would wait until a knight was weary with fighting before you +would do battle with him. Moreover, Sir Lamorack is your sworn +brother-at-arms, and a fellow-knight of the Round Table, and is, besides, +one of the noblest and gentlest knights in Christendom. Wherefore I beseech +you to set this matter right, so that those who accuse you of +unknightliness may be brought to confusion." + +So wrote Sir Launcelot, and at those words Sir Tristram was cast into a +great deal of pain and trouble of spirit; for he wist not how to answer +that letter of Sir Launcelot's so as to make the matter clear to that +knight. Wherefore he said: "I will straightway go to Camelot and to Sir +Launcelot and will speak to him by word of mouth, and so will make him +understand why I did that which I had to do." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram rides to Camelot] So when the next day had come +Sir Tristram arose and took horse and rode away from Tintagel with intent +to betake himself to Camelot where King Arthur was then holding court, and +where he might hope to find Sir Launcelot abiding. And Sir Tristram took no +companion with him, not even Gouvernail. + +And now I shall tell you how Sir Tristram rode: the way that he took led +him down by the seashore, and by and by to a deep forest, which was then +nearly altogether devoid of leaves, so that the branches above him were in +some places like to the meshes of a net spread against the sky. Here that +young knight rode upon a deep carpet of leaves, so that the steps of his +war-horse were silenced save only for the loud and continued rustling of +his footfalls in the dry and yellow foliage. And as Sir Tristram rode he +sang several songs in praise of the Lady Belle Isoult, chanting in a voice +that was both clear and loud and very sweet, and that sounded to a great +distance through the deep, silent aisles of the forest. + +Thus he travelled, anon singing as aforetold of, and anon sank in +meditation, so travelling until the day declined and the early gray of the +evening began to fall. Then he began to bethink him how he should spend the +night, and he thought he would have to sleep abroad in the forest. But just +as the gray of the evening was fading away into darkness he came to a +certain place of open land, where, before him, he perceived a tall castle, +partly of stone and partly of red bricks, built up upon a steep hill of +rocks. And upon one side of this castle was the forest, and upon the other +side was the wide and open stretch of sea. + +And Sir Tristram perceived that there were lights shining from several +windows of that castle, and that all within was aglow with red as of a +great fire in the hall of the castle; and at these signs of good cheer, his +heart was greatly expanded with joy that he should not after all have to +spend that night in the darkness and in the chill of the autumn wilds. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram comes to a friendly castle] So Sir Tristram set +spurs to his good horse and rode up to the castle and made request for rest +and refreshment for the night. Then, after a little parley, the drawbridge +was lowered, and the portcullis was raised, and he rode with a great noise +into the stone-paved courtyard of the castle. + +Thereupon there came several attendants of the castle, and took his horse +and aided him to descend from the saddle; and then other attendants came +and led him away into the castle and so to an apartment where there was a +warm bath of tepid water, and where were soft towels and napkins of linen +for to dry himself upon after he was bathed. And when he had bathed and +refreshed himself, there came still other attendants bearing soft warm +robes for him in which to clothe himself after his journey; and Sir +Tristram clothed himself and felt greatly at his ease, and was glad that he +had come to that place. + +For thus it was that worthy knights like Sir Tristram travelled the world +in those days so long ago; and so they were received in castle and hall +with great pleasure and hospitality. For all folk knew the worth of these +noble gentlemen and were glad to make them welcome whithersoever they went. +And so I have told to you how Sir Tristram travelled, that you might, +perchance, find pleasure in the thought thereof. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram meets the lady of the castle] Now after Sir +Tristram had refreshed himself and clothed himself as aforesaid, there came +the steward of the castle and besought him that he would come to where the +lady of the castle was awaiting him for to welcome him. And Sir Tristram +went with the steward, and the steward brought him where the lady sat at a +table prepared for supper. And Sir Tristram perceived that the lady was +very beautiful, but that she was clad in the deep weeds of a widow. + +When the lady perceived Sir Tristram, she arose and went to meet him, and +gave him welcome, speaking in a voice both soft and very sweet. "Messire," +quoth she, "I am grieved that there is no man here to welcome you in such a +manner as is fitting. But, alas! as you may see by the weeds in which I am +clad, I am alone in the world and without any lord of the castle to do the +courtesies thereof as is fitting. Yet such as I am, I give you welcome with +my entire heart." + +"Lady," quoth Sir Tristram, "I give you gramercy for your courtesy. And +indeed I am grieved to see you in such sorrow as your dress foretells. Now +if there is any service I may render to you, I beseech you to call upon me +for whatever aid I may give you." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram feasts with the chatelaine] "Nay," quoth she, +"there is nothing you can do to help me." And therewith the lady, who was +hight Loise, took Sir Tristram by the hand and led him to the table and sat +him down beside her. Then straightway there came sundry attendants, and set +a noble feast before them, with good excellent wines, both white and red; +and they two ate and drank together with great appetite and enjoyment. + +Now after that feast was over and done, Sir Tristram said: "Lady, will you +not of your courtesy tell me why you wear the weeds of sorrow in which you +are clad? This I ask, not from idle humor, but because, as I said before, I +may haply be able to aid you in whatever trouble it is under which you +lie." + +[Sidenote: The Lady telleth Sir Tristram of Sir Nabon le Noir] "Alas, Sir +Knight!" quoth she, "my trouble lieth beyond your power to aid or to amend. +For can you conquer death, or can you bring the dead back to life again? +Nevertheless, I will tell you what my sorrow is, and how it came unto me. +You must know that some distance away across the sea, which you may behold +from yonder window, there lieth an island. The present lord of that island +is a very wicked and cruel knight, huge of frame and big of limb, hight Sir +Nabon surnamed le Noir. One time the noble and gentle knight who was my +husband was the lord of that island and the castle thereon, and of several +other castles and manors and estates upon this mainland as well. But one +evil day when I and my lord were together upon that island, this Sir Nabon +came thither by night, and with certain evil-disposed folk of the island he +overcame my lord and slew him very treacherously. Me also he would have +slain, or else have taken into shameful captivity, but, hearing the noise +of that assault in which my lord was slain, I happily escaped, and so, when +night had come, I got away from that island with several attendants who +were faithful to me, and thus came to this castle where we are. Since that +time Sir Nabon has held that castle as his own, ruling it in a very evil +fashion. For you are to know that the castle sits very high upon the crags +overlooking the sea, and whenever a vessel passeth by that way, Sir Nabon +goeth forth to meet it; and upon some of these crafts he levies toll, and +other ships he sinks after slaying the mariners and sailor-folk who may by +evil hap be aboard thereof. And if anyone is by chance cast ashore upon +that island, that one he either slays or holds for ransom, or makes thereof +a slave for to serve him. Because of this, very few ships now go by that +way, for all people shun the coasts of so evil a country as that. So Sir +Nabon took that land away from me; nor have I any kin who will take up this +quarrel for me, and so I must endure my losses as best I may." + +"Ha!" quoth Sir Tristram, "and is there then no good knight-champion in +this country who will rid the world of such an evil being as that Sir Nabon +of whom you speak?" + +"Nay," said the lady, "there is no one who cares to offer challenge to that +knight, for he is as strong and as doughty as he is huge of frame, and he +is as fierce and cruel as he is strong and masterful, wherefore all men +hold him in terror and avoid him." + +"Well," said Sir Tristram, "meseems it is the business of any knight to rid +the world of such a monster as that, whatever may be the danger to himself. +Now as there is no knight hereabouts who hath heart to undertake such an +adventure, I myself shall undertake it so soon as to-morrow shall have +come." + +"Sir," said the lady, "I beseech you to think twice before you enter into +such an affair as that. Or rather be ruled by me and do not undertake this +quest at all; for I misdoubt that anyone could conquer this huge and +powerful champion, even if that knight were such as Sir Launcelot of the +Lake or Sir Tristram of Lyonesse." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram confesses his degree to the chatelaine] At this +Sir Tristram laughed with great good-will, and he said, "Lady, do you not +then know who I am?" "Nay," said she, "I know you not." "Well," said Sir +Tristram, "then I may tell you that I am that Sir Tristram of Lyonesse of +whom you spoke just now. And I also tell you that I shall undertake this +adventure to-morrow morning." + +Now when the lady found that the stranger she had taken in was Sir Tristram +of Lyonesse, she made great exclamation of surprise and pleasure at having +him at that place, for at that time all the world was talking of Sir +Tristram's performances. So she took great pleasure and pride that her +castle should have given him shelter. She made many inquiries concerning +his adventures, and Sir Tristram told her all she asked of him. + +Then the lady said: "Messire, I hear tell that you sing very sweetly, and +that you are a wonderful harper upon the harp. Now will you not chaunt for +me a song or two or three?" And Sir Tristram said: "Lady, I will do +whatsoever you ask me that may give you pleasure." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram sings to the lady] So the lady bade them bring a +harp and they did so. And Sir Tristram took the harp and set it before him +and tuned it and played upon it, and sang so sweetly that they of the +castle said: "Certes, this is no knight-errant who sings, but an angel from +Paradise who hath come among us. For surely no one save an angel from +Paradise could sing so enchantingly." + +So passed that evening very pleasantly until the hours waxed late. Then Sir +Tristram retired to a very noble apartment where a soft couch spread with +flame-colored linen had been prepared for him, and where he slept a soft +sleep without disturbance of any kind. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram departs for the island of Sir Nabon] Now when the +next morning had come, Sir Tristram armed himself and mounted upon his +war-horse, and rode him to a certain place on the shore. There he found +some mariners in haven with a large boat, and to these he paid ten pieces +of silver money to bear him across the sea to that island where Sir Nabon +le Noir abided. At first these mariners said they would not sail to such a +coast of danger and death; but afterward they said they would, and they did +do so. But still they would not bring Sir Tristram to land nigh to the +castle, but only at a place that was a great way off, and where they deemed +themselves to be more safe from the cruel lord of that land. + +As for Sir Tristram he made merry with their fear, saying: "It is well that +we who are knights-errant have more courage than you who are sailor-men, +else it would not be possible that monsters such as this Sir Nabon should +ever be made an end of." + +Upon this the captain of these sailors replied: "Well, Messire, for the +matter of that, it is true that mariners such as we have not much courage, +for we are the first of our order who have dared to come hither. But it is +also true that you are the first errant-knight who hath ever had courage to +come hither. So what say you for the courage of your own order?" And at +that Sir Tristram laughed with great good will and rode his way. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram arrives at the castle of Sir Nabon] Thereafter he +rode forward along the coast of that land for several leagues, with the +noise of the sea ever beating in his ears, and the shrill clamor of the +sea-fowl ever sounding in the air about him. By and by he came to a place +of certain high fells, and therefrom perceived before him in the distance a +tall and forbidding castle standing upon a high headland of the coast. And +the castle was built of stone, that was like the rocks upon which it stood, +so that at first one could not tell whether what one beheld was a part of +the cliffs or whether it was the habitation of man. But when Sir Tristram +had come somewhat nearer, he perceived the windows of the castle shining +against the sky, and he saw the gateway thereof, and the roofs and the +chimneys thereof, so that he knew that it was a castle of great size and +strength and no wall of rock as he had at first supposed it to be; and he +wist that this must be the castle of that wicked and malignant knight, Sir +Nabon, whom he sought. + +Now as Sir Tristram wended his way toward that castle by a crooked path +meditating how he should come at Sir Nabon for to challenge him to battle, +he was by and by aware of a fellow clad in pied black and white, who walked +along the way in the direction that he himself was taking. At the first +that fellow was not aware of Sir Tristram; then presently he was aware of +him and turned him about, and beheld that a strange knight was riding +rapidly down toward him upon a horse. + +Then at first that fellow stood like one struck with amazement; but in a +moment he cried out aloud as with a great fear, and instantly turned again +and ran away, yelling like one who had gone mad. + +But Sir Tristram thundered after him at speed, and, in a little, came up +with him, and catched him by the collar of his jerkin and held him fast. +And Sir Tristram said: "Fellow, who are you?" + +"Lord," quoth the fellow, "I am an attendant upon the knight of yonder +castle, which same is hight Sir Nabon surnamed le Noir." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram talks with a knave of the earth] Then Sir Tristram +said: "Sirrah, why did you run from me when you first beheld me?" And the +fellow replied: "Messire, you are the first stranger who hath dared to come +hither to this country; wherefore, seeing you, and seeing that you rode +upon horseback, and not knowing how you came to this land, I wist not +whether you were a man of flesh and blood, or whether you were a spirit +come hither for to punish us for our sins; so I ran away from you." + +"Well," said Sir Tristram, "as you see, I am no spirit, but a man of flesh +and blood. Yet I have great hope that I have indeed been sent hither for to +punish those who have done evil, for I come hither seeking the knight of +yonder castle for to do battle with him in behalf of that lady whose lord +he slew so treacherously as I have heard tell. And I hope to take away from +him this island and return it to the Lady Loise, to whom it belongeth." + +"Alas, Messire," quoth the fellow, "this is for you a very sorry quest upon +which you have come. For this Sir Nabon whom you seek is accounted to be +the most potent knight in all of the world. Yea; he is held to be a bigger +knight than even Sir Launcelot of the Lake or Sir Tristram of Lyonesse or +Sir Lamorack of Gales. Wherefore I beseech you to turn about and go away +whither you have come whilst there is still the chance for you to escape." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram sends challenge to Sir Nabon] "Gramercy for your +pity, good fellow," quoth Sir Tristram, "and may God grant that it may not +be deserved. Nevertheless, in spite of the danger in this quest, I am still +of the same mind as I was when I came hither. So do you presently go to +your lord and tell him from me that a knight hath come to do battle with +him upon the behalf of the lady to whom this island by rights belongeth." + +Therewith Sir Tristram let the fellow go, and he ran off with great speed +and so away to the postern of the castle and entered in and shut the door +behind him. + +Now at that time Sir Nabon le Noir was walking along the wall of the +castle, and his son, who was a lad of seventeen years, was with him. There +the messenger from Sir Tristram found him and delivered his message. +Thereupon Sir Nabon looked over the battlements and down below and he +beheld that there was indeed a tall and noble knight seated upon horseback +in a level meadow that reached away, descending inland from the foot of the +crags whereon the castle stood. + +But when Sir Nabon perceived that a stranger knight had dared to come thus +into his country, he was filled with amazement at the boldness of that +knight that he wist not what to think. Then, presently a great rage got +hold upon him, and he ground his teeth together, and the cords on his neck +stood out like knots on the trunk of a tree. For a while he stood as though +bereft of speech; then anon he roared out in a voice like that of a bull, +crying to those who were near him: "Go! Haste ye! Fetch me straightway my +horse and armor and I will go immediately forth and so deal with yonder +champion of ladies that he shall never take trouble upon their account +again." + +Then those who were in attendance upon Sir Nabon were terrified at his +words and ran with all speed to do his bidding, and presently fetched his +armor and clad him in it; and they fetched his horse into the courtyard of +the castle and helped him to mount upon it. And lo! the armor of Sir Nabon +was as black as ink; and the great horse upon which he sat was black; and +all the trappings and furniture of the armor and of the horse were black, +so that from top to toe he was altogether as black and as forbidding as +Death himself. + +[Sidenote: Sir Nabon rides forth to meet Sir Tristram] So when Sir Nabon +was thus in all wise prepared for battle, the portcullis of the castle was +lifted up, and he rode forth to meet Sir Tristram; and his young son rode +with him as his esquire. Then all the people of the castle gathered +together upon the walls to see that battle that was to be, and not one of +those several score of folk thought otherwise than that Sir Tristram would +certainly be overcome in that encounter. + +Sir Nabon rode straight up to Sir Tristram and he said very fiercely, +"Sirrah, what is it brings you hither to this land?" + +"As to that," said Sir Tristram, "the messenger whom I have sent to you +hath, I believe, told you what I come for, and that it is to redeem this +island from your possession, and to restore it to the Lady Loise, to whom +it belongeth. Likewise that I come to punish you for all the evil you have +done." + +"And what business is all this of yours?" quoth Sir Nabon, speaking with +great fury of voice. + +"Messire," quoth Sir Tristram, "know ye not that it is the business of +every true knight to rid the world of all such evil monsters as you be?" + +"Ha!" quoth Sir Nabon, "that was very well said, for whatever mercy I +should have been willing before this to show you hath now been forfeited +unto you. For now I shall have no mercy upon you but shall slay you." + +"Well," quoth Sir Tristram, "as for that, meseems it will be time enough to +offer me mercy after you have overcome me in battle." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram does battle with Sir Nabon] So thereupon each +knight took his place for assault, and when they were in all ways prepared, +each set spurs to his horse and dashed the one against the other, with a +dreadful, terrible fury of onset. Each smote the other in the very midst of +his shield, and at that blow the lance of each was altogether shivered into +pieces to the very truncheon thereof. But each knight recovered his horse +from the fall and each leaped to earth and drew his sword, and each rushed +against the other with such fury that it was as though sparks of pure fire +flew out from the oculariums of the helmets. Therewith they met together, +and each lashed and smote at the other such fell strokes that the noise +thereof might easily have been heard several furlongs away. Now in the +beginning of that battle Sir Tristram was at first sore bestead and wist +that he had met the biggest knight that ever he had encountered in all of +his life, unless it was Sir Launcelot of the Lake, whom he had encountered +as aforetold of in this history. So at first he bore back somewhat from the +might of the blows of Sir Nabon. For Sir Nabon was so huge of frame and the +blows he struck were so heavy that they drove Sir Tristram back as it were +in spite of himself. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram slays Sir Nabon] Then Sir Tristram began to say to +himself: "Tristram, if you indeed lose this battle, then there will be no +one to defend your honor before Sir Launcelot who hath impeached it." +Therewith it was as though new strength and life came back to him, and of a +sudden he rushed that battle, and struck with threefold fury, and gave +stroke upon stroke with such fierceness of strength that Sir Nabon was +astonished and fell back before his assault. Then Sir Tristram perceived +how Sir Nabon held his shield passing low, and therewith he rushed in upon +him and smote him again and again and yet again. And so he smote Sir Nabon +down upon his knees. Then he rushed in upon him and catched his helmet and +plucked it off from his head. And he catched Sir Nabon by the hair of his +head and drew his head forward. And Sir Tristram lifted his sword on high +and he smote Sir Nabon's head from off his body so that it rolled down into +the dust upon the ground. + +Now when the son of Sir Nabon perceived how that his father was slain, he +shrieked like a woman. And he fell down upon his knees and crawled upon his +knees to Sir Tristram and catched him about the thighs, crying out to him, +"Spare me, and slay me not!" + +But Sir Tristram thrust him away and said, "Who art thou?" + +"Messire," said the youth, "I am the son of him whom thou hast just slain." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram slays the son of Sir Nabon] Then Sir Tristram +looked closely into his face, and he perceived that it was wicked and +treacherous and malevolent like to the face of Sir Nabon. Thereupon Sir +Tristram said: "If a man shall slay the wolf and spare the whelp of the +wolf, what shall the world be the better therefor?" Therewith he catched +the son of Sir Nabon by the hair and dragged him down and smote off his +head likewise as he had smitten off the head of his father, so that it fell +upon the ground beside the head of Sir Nabon. + +And now it shall be told how Sir Tristram discovered Sir Lamorack upon the +island and how he made amends to him, so that they became friends and +brethren-in-arms once more as they had been before. + +[Illustration: Sir Lamorack herds the swine of Sir Nabon] + + + + +Chapter Third + + +_How Sir Tristram did justice in the island, and thereby released Sir +Lamorack from captivity. Also how Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorack renewed +their great tenderness toward one another._ + +Now after Sir Tristram had overcome Sir Nabon le Noir, and had slain the +son of Sir Nabon as has been just told, he went straightway to the castle +that had been Sir Nabon's, and commanded that they should bring forth the +seneschal and the officers thereof unto him. Meantime, being a little +wounded in that battle, he sat himself down upon a bench of wood that stood +in the hall of the castle, and there he held his court. + +So, in a little while, there came the seneschal and several of the officers +of the household to where Sir Tristram was, and when the seneschal came +before Sir Tristram, he fell down upon his knees and besought pardon and +mercy. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram talks with the castle help] Then Sir Tristram +said: "I will consider thy case anon, and if I may assure myself that thou +and these others are truly repentant, and if I may have assurity that ye +will henceforth be faithful in your duty toward that lady who is now again +the mistress of this castle and land, then I shall have mercy. But if ye +show yourselves recreant and treacherous, according to the manners of this +Sir Nabon who is dead, then I shall of a surety return hither and shall +punish you even as ye beheld me punish that wicked knight and his young +son." + +Then Sir Tristram said, "Who is the porter of this castle?" And the porter +lifted his hand and said, "Lord, I am he." Sir Tristram said, "What +captives have ye in this place?" The porter said: "Lord, there be four +knights and three ladies who are held captive here for ransom." Then Sir +Tristram said, "Bring them forth hither to me." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram comforts the captives] So the porter and several +other of the castle folk departed with all speed and presently returned +bringing with them those miserable captives whom they had liberated from +the dungeons of the castle. These they led to where Sir Tristram still sat +in justice upon the bench of wood. And Sir Tristram looked upon them with +pity and beheld that they were in a very sad and forlorn condition and so +sorrowful from their captivity that some of them wept from pure weakness of +heart. Then Sir Tristram said: "Comfort ye, and take no more sorrow to +yourselves, for now your troubles are past and gone, and happiness lieth +before you. Sir Nabon is dead, and so is his son, and there is no one now +to torment you. Moreover, I dare say that there is much treasure gathered +at this place by Sir Nabon, and all that treasure shall be divided amongst +you, for to comfort ye, wherefore when ye leave this place, ye shall go +away a great deal richer than ye were when ye came." + +So spake Sir Tristram, promising them much for to comfort them a little. + +As to that treasure he spake of, ye shall immediately be told how it was. +For when Sir Tristram had summoned the treasurer of that place, he brought +Sir Tristram down into the vaults of the castle and there he beheld seven +strong chests bolted and locked. Then Sir Tristram summoned the locksmith +of that castle; and the smith came and burst open the chests; and lo! the +eyes of all were astonished and bedazzled with the treasure which they +therewith beheld; for in those chests was heaped an incalculable treasure +of gold and silver and precious gems of many divers sorts. + +And besides this treasure, you are to know that they found in that vault +many bales of cloths--some of silk and velvet, and some of tissues of cloth +of gold and silver; and they found many precious ornaments, and many fine +suits of armor, and many other valuable things. For in several years Sir +Nabon had gathered all that treasure in toll from those ships that had +sailed past that land. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram divides the treasure amongst the captives] All +this treasure Sir Tristram had them bring forth into the light of day, and +he divided it into seven equal parcels. Then he said to those sad, +sorrowful captives: "Look! See! all this shall be yours for to comfort ye! +Take each of you one parcel and depart hence in joy!" Then all they were +greatly astonished at Sir Tristram's generosity, and they said: "Lord, how +is this? Do you not then take any of this treasure for yourself?" + +To them Sir Tristram made reply: "Nay, why should I take it? I am not sad, +nor sick, nor troubled at heart as you poor captives are. All this I have +taken for to comfort you, and not for to satisfy my own covetousness. So +let each take his share of it and see that ye all use it in comfort and +peace and for the advantage of other men and women who are in trouble as ye +have been. For, as hitherto this treasure hath been used for evil purpose, +so shall it be henceforth that it shall be used to good purpose." + +So there was great rejoicing amongst all those poor people who had been so +sad and sorrowful before. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram appoints Sir Segwarides governor of the castle] +Now, after all this had been settled, Sir Tristram cast about how he might +put that land under good government upon behalf of the Lady Loise. To this +intent he chose from amongst those captives whom he had liberated a certain +very worthy honorable knight of Cornwall hight Sir Segwarides. Him Sir +Tristram appointed to be governor of that island, giving him liberty to +rule it as he chose saving only that he should do homage to the Lady Loise +as lady paramount. And Sir Tristram ordained that Sir Segwarides should pay +tribute to that lady every year such an amount as should be justly +determined upon betwixt them. For Sir Tristram wist that some strong worthy +knight should rule that island, or else, from its position, it might again +some time fall from the Lady Loise's possession into the hands of such an +evil and malignant overlord as Sir Nabon had been. + +So it was done as Sir Tristram had ordained. And it may here be said that +Sir Segwarides ruled that land very justly and that he and the Lady Loise +became dear friends, so that at the end of three years from that time he +and she were made husband and wife. + +Now Sir Tristram remained in that island several days, with intent to see +to it that the power of Sir Segwarides should be established. And he made +all the people of that land come before Sir Segwarides for to pledge +obedience to him. + +Amongst these came Sir Lamorack in the guise of a swineherd, and Sir +Tristram knew him not, because that he was clad in rags and in the skins of +animals and because that his beard and his hair were uncut and unkempt, and +hung down very shaggy upon his breast. But Sir Lamorack knew Sir Tristram +yet would not acknowledge him, being ashamed that Sir Tristram should +discover him in such a guise and so ragged and forlorn as he then was. So +he kept his eyes from Sir Tristram, and Sir Tristram passed him by and knew +him not. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram beholds Sir Lamorack's ring] But amongst other of +the people of the castle that passed before Sir Tristram, there came a +woman, very fair to look upon, and she had been a house-slave to Sir Nabon. +As this woman passed before Sir Tristram, he beheld that she wore upon her +thumb a very fair and shining ring, that bare a green stone set in wrought +gold. And when he looked again he saw it was that ring of carven emerald +that he had given to Sir Lamorack as aforetold. + +At this Sir Tristram was astonished beyond measure, and he ordered that +woman to come before him, and she came and stood before him trembling. Then +Sir Tristram said: "Fear not, but tell me where got ye that ring that I +behold upon your hand?" And the woman said: "Lord, I will tell you the very +truth. My husband is the chief fisherman of this place, and one day, some +while ago, he gave me this ring when I had favor in his sight." + +Sir Tristram said, "Where is your husband?" The slave-woman said, "Yonder +he stands." Then Sir Tristram said: "Come hither, Sirrah!" And therewith +the fisherman came and stood before Sir Tristram as his wife had done, and +he also trembled with fear as she had done. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram questions the fisherman] To him Sir Tristram said, +"Why do you tremble so?" And the fisher-man said, "Lord, I am afeard!" Sir +Tristram said: "Have no fear, unless you have done wrong, but tell me the +truth. Where got ye that ring that yonder woman weareth?" "Lord," said the +fisherman, "I will tell you the perfect truth. One day I and several of my +fellows found a man lying naked in a bed of heather near the seaside. At +first we thought he was dead, but he awoke and arose when he heard our +voices. He was naked and hungry, and he besought us for clothes to cover +his nakedness and for food to eat. So we gave him what we could, demanding +that ring in payment. So he gave the ring to me, who am the chief of the +fishermen, and I gave it to that woman who is my wife; and that, lord, is +the very truth." + +Then Sir Tristram was very much disturbed in mind, for he feared that it +might have gone ill with Sir Lamorack. And he said, "Where now is that man +of whom ye speak?" The fisherman replied: "Lord, he was set to keep the +swine, and he is the swineherd of the castle to this day." + +At this Sir Tristram was very glad that no more ill had befallen Sir +Lamorack, and that he was yet alive. + +Then, after the fisherman had departed from that place, Sir Tristram sat +for a while sunk into deep thought. And he said to himself: "Alas, that so +noble a knight should be brought to such a pass as that! How greatly must +my friend be abased when he would not acknowledge himself to me nor claim +my assistance because of the shame of his appearance! Meseems it is not +fitting for me to send for him to come to me in the guise which he now +wears, for it would be discourteous a thing for me to do, to make him so +declare himself. So first I shall see to it that he is clothed in such a +manner as shall be fitting to his high estate, and then haply he will be +willing to make himself manifest to me. After that, perhaps his love will +return to me again, and remain with me as it was at first." + +So Sir Tristram called to him several of the people of that castle, and he +bade them do certain things according to his command, and straightway they +departed to do as he ordained. + +Now turn we to Sir Lamorack: whilst he sat keeping watch over his swine +there came to him four men from the castle. These say to him, "You must +come straightway with us." Sir Lamorack said, "Whither would you take me?" +They say: "That we are not permitted to tell you, only that you are to go +with us as we bid you." + +So Sir Lamorack arose and went with those four, much wondering what it was +that was to befall him, and whether that which was to happen was good or +evil. + +[Sidenote: Sir Lamorack is brought to the castle] The four men brought him +to the castle and they entered in thereat, and they escorted Sir Lamorack, +still greatly wondering, up the stairway of the castle, and so into a noble +and stately apartment, hung with tapestries and embroidered hangings. And +there Sir Lamorack beheld a great bath of tepid water, hung within and +without with linen. There were at this place several attendants; these took +Sir Lamorack and unclothed him and brought him to the bath, and bathed him +and dried him with soft linen and with fine towels. Then there came the +barber and he shaved Sir Lamorack and clipped his hair, and when he was +thus bathed and trimmed, his nobility shone forth again as the sun shines +forth from a thick cloud that hides its effulgence for a while, only to +withdraw so that the glorious day-star may shine forth again with redoubled +splendor. + +[Sidenote: Sir Lamorack is armed in armor] Then there came divers other +attendants and clothed Sir Lamorack in rich and handsome garments such as +were altogether fitting for a knight-royal to wear. And after that there +came several esquires and brought a very splendid suit of armor; and they +clad Sir Lamorack in that armor; and the armor gleamed as bright as +daylight, being polished to a wonderful clearness, and inlaid with figures +of arabesqued silver. + +Then Sir Lamorack said, "What means all this that ye do to me?" And they +said, "Wait, Messire, and you shall see." + +So after all these things were done, five other esquires appeared to +conduct Sir Lamorack away from that place. These led him through several +passages and hallways until at last they came to a great space of hall +wherein stood a single man; and that man was Sir Tristram. + +And Sir Tristram gazed upon Sir Lamorack and his heart yearned over him +with great loving-kindness. But he would not betray his love to those who +had come with Sir Lamorack, so he contained himself for a little, and he +said to those in attendance, "Get ye gone," and straightway they departed. + +Then Sir Lamorack lifted up his eyes and he came to where Sir Tristram was +standing and he said: "Is it thou, Tristram, who hath bestowed all these +benefits upon me?" And he said: "From thy nobility of soul such things may +be expected." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorack are reconciled] Then Sir Tristram +wept for joy, and he said: "Lamorack, it is little that I have done to +pleasure thee, and much that I have done to affront thee." Then Sir +Lamorack said: "Nay; it is much that thou hast done to comfort me, and +little to cause me discomfort. For lo! thou hast uplifted me from misery +into happiness, and thou hast brought me from nakedness and want into +prosperity and ease, and what more may one man do for another man than +that?" + +"Lamorack," said Sir Tristram, "there is much more than one man may do for +another man than that. For if one man hath given offence to another man, he +may be reconciled to that one so offended, and so the soul of that other +shall be clothed with peace and joy, even as thy body hath been clothed +with garments of silk and fine linen." Then Sir Tristram took Sir Lamorack +by the hand, and he said, "Dear friend, art thou now strong and fresh of +body?" And Sir Lamorack, greatly wondering, said, "Ay." + +"Then," said Sir Tristram, "I may now offer thee reparation for that +offence which I one time unwillingly committed against thee. For lo! I have +had thee clad in the best armor that it is possible to provide, and now +that thou art fresh and hale and strong, I am ready to do battle with thee +at any time thou mayst assign. For if, before, thou wert overcome because +thou wert weary with battle, now thou mayst prove thy prowess upon me being +both strong and sound in wind and limb." + +But upon this Sir Lamorack ran to Sir Tristram and catched him in his arms +and kissed him upon the cheek. And he said: "Tristram, thou art indeed a +very noble soul. I will do no battle with thee, but instead I will take +thee into my heart and cherish thee there forever." + +Sir Tristram said, "Art thou altogether satisfied?" And Sir Lamorack said, +"Yea." And therewith Sir Tristram wept for pure joy. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorack depart from the island] Then Sir +Tristram said: "Let us go to Sir Launcelot of the Lake, so that I may make +my peace with him also. For he hath writ me a letter chiding me for having +done battle with thee when thou wert weary and winded with fighting. And I +was upon my way to see Sir Launcelot and to plead my cause with him when I +came hither by good hap, and was able to uplift thee out of thy distress." +To this Sir Lamorack said: "I will go with thee to Sir Launcelot whenever +it shall please thee; and I will bear full testimony to thy knightliness +and to thy courtesy." + +So when the next morning had come they took boat and sailed away from that +island. And the night of that day they abided at the castle of the Lady +Loise, who gave thanks without measure to Sir Tristram for ridding the +world of so wicked and malign a being as Sir Nabon, and for restoring her +inheritance of that land unto her again. And upon the morning of the next +day those two good knights betook their way to Camelot, where they found +Sir Launcelot. There Sir Lamorack exculpated Sir Tristram, and Sir +Launcelot immediately withdrew his rebuke for that battle which Sir +Tristram had aforetime done against Sir Lamorack. + +After that Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorack abode at the court of King Arthur +for nigh a year, and during that time they went upon many quests and +adventures of various sorts--sometimes alone, sometimes together. All these +have been set down in ancient histories that tell of the adventures of Sir +Tristram and Sir Lamorack. Some of them I would like right well to tell you +of, but should I undertake to do so, the story of those happenings would +fill several volumes such as this. Nevertheless, I may tell you that they +did together many knightly deeds, the fame whereof hath been handed down to +us in several histories of chivalry. Therein you may read of those things +if you should care to do so. + +All this I leave to tell you how Sir Tristram returned into Cornwall, and +likewise to tell you of one more famous adventure that he did at this time. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram hears from Cornwall of Sir Palamydes] Sir Tristram +had been at the court of King Arthur for about a year when one day there +came a messenger unto the court at Camelot with news that Sir Palamydes, +the Saracen knight aforetold of in this history, had through a cunning +trick seized the Lady Belle Isoult and had carried her away to a lonely +tower in the forest of Cornwall. The messenger bore a letter from King Mark +beseeching Sir Tristram to return as immediately as possible unto Cornwall +and to rescue that lady from her captivity. And the letter further said +that two knights of Cornwall had already essayed to rescue the Lady Belle +Isoult, but that they had failed, having been overcome and sorely wounded +in battle by Sir Palamydes. And the letter said that it was acknowledged by +all men that Sir Tristram was the only knight of Cornwall who could achieve +the rescue of Belle Isoult from so wonderful and puissant a knight as Sir +Palamydes. + +So in answer to that letter, Sir Tristram immediately left the court of +King Arthur and returned in all haste to Cornwall, and there he found them +all in great perturbation that the Lady Belle Isoult had thus been stolen +away. + +But Sir Tristram did not remain at court very long for, after he had +obtained such information as he desired, he immediately left Tintagel and +plunged into the forest with Gouvernail as his companion in quest of that +lonely tower where Belle Isoult was said to be held prisoner. + +After several adventures of no great note he came at last very, very deep +into the forest and into an open space thereof; and in the midst of that +open space he beheld a lonely tower surrounded by a moat. And he wist that +that must be the place where the Lady Belle Isoult was held prisoner. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram finds Sir Palamydes in the forest] But when Sir +Tristram drew nigh to this tower he perceived a single knight sitting at +the base of the tower with head hanging down upon his breast as though he +were broken-hearted with sorrow. And when he came still more nigh, Sir +Tristram was astonished to perceive that that mournful knight was Sir +Palamydes the Saracen, and he wondered why Sir Palamydes should be so +broken-hearted. + +And now it must be told why it was that Sir Palamydes came to be in such a +sorry case as that; for the truth was that he was locked and shut outside +of the tower, whilst the Lady Belle Isoult was shut and locked inside +thereof. + +Now it hath already been told how the letter of King Mark had said to Sir +Tristram that two knights of Cornwall went both against Sir Palamydes for +to challenge him and to rescue the Lady Belle Isoult. + +The second of these knights was Sir Adthorp, and he had followed Sir +Palamydes so closely through the forest that he had come to the forest +tower not more than an hour after Sir Palamydes had brought the Lady Belle +Isoult thither. + +Therewith Sir Adthorp gave loud challenge to Sir Palamydes to come forth +and do him battle, and therewith Sir Palamydes came immediately out against +him, full of anger that Sir Adthorp should have meddled in that affair. + +But immediately Sir Palamydes had thus issued forth to do battle with Sir +Adthorp, the Lady Belle Isoult ran down the tower stairs and immediately +shut the door through which he had passed, and she locked it and set a +great bar of oak across the door. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Palamydes came without the tower] So when Sir Palamydes +had overthrown the Cornish knight, and when he would have returned to the +tower, he could not, for lo! it was fastened against him. So now for three +days he had set there at the foot of the tower and beside the moat, sunk in +sorrow like to one who had gone out of his mind. + +So Sir Tristram found him, and perceiving that it was Sir Palamydes who was +sitting there, he said to Gouvernail: "Go thou and bid that knight to come +and do battle with me." + +So Gouvernail went to Sir Palamydes and he said: "Sir, arise, for here is a +knight would speak with you!" But Sir Palamydes would not move. Then +Gouvernail touched him with his lance, and said: "Sir Palamydes, arise and +bestir yourself, for here is Sir Tristram come to do battle with you." With +that, Sir Palamydes awoke from his stupor and arose very slowly and +stiffly. And he gathered up his helmet which was lying beside him and put +it upon his head. Then he took down his shield from where it hung against +the wall and he mounted upon his horse, doing all as though he were moving +in a dream. + +But as soon as he was upon horseback he suddenly aroused himself, for his +fierce spirit had come back to him once more. Then he gnashed his teeth, +crying out in a loud voice, "Tristram, this time either thou or I shall +perish." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram overcomes Sir Palamydes] Therewith he rushed upon +Sir Tristram and smote him so violently that Sir Tristram had much ado to +defend himself. And Sir Palamydes smote him again and again; and with that +Sir Tristram smote in return. And if the blows of Sir Palamydes were +terrible, the blows of Sir Tristram were terrible likewise. Then by and by +Sir Tristram smote Sir Palamydes so sore a buffet that the Saracen knight +fell down from his horse and was unable immediately to arise. Then Sir +Tristram ran to him and rushed off his helmet and catched him by the hair +with intent to cut his head from off his body. + +But with that the Lady Belle Isoult came running from out the tower and +cried out: "Tristram, is it thou? Spare that mistaken knight and have mercy +upon him as thou hopest for mercy." + +"Lady," said Sir Tristram, "for thy sake and at thy bidding I will spare +him." Then he said to Sir Palamydes, "Arise." And Sir Palamydes arose very +painfully, and Sir Tristram said: "Get thee hence, and go to the court of +King Arthur and make thy confession to the King and ask him to forgive +thee, and if he forgive thee, then also I will forgive thee." + +Therewith Sir Palamydes mounted upon his horse and rode away without +speaking another word, his head bowed with sorrow upon his breast for shame +and despair. + +Then Sir Tristram took the Lady Belle Isoult up behind him on his horse, +and he and she and Gouvernail departed from that place. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram brings Belle Isoult back to Cornwall] So Sir +Tristram brought the Lady Isoult back to Cornwall, and there he was +received with loud praise and great rejoicing, for everybody was glad that +Belle Isoult had been brought safely back again. + +And now it shall be told what reward Sir Tristram received for this deed of +arms. + +For, though at first King Mark was greatly beholden to Sir Tristram, that +he had thus rescued the Lady Belle Isoult, yet, by little and little, he +grew to hate that noble knight more bitterly than ever. For he heard men +say to one another: "Lo, Sir Tristram is, certes, the very champion of +Cornwall, for who is there in this country is his equal?" So King Mark, +hearing these things said to himself: "The more noble Tristram is, the more +ignoble will men deem me to be who am under obligations to such an enemy." +So he would say in his heart, "Yea, Tristram; I hate thee more than death." + + + + +PART III + + +The Madness of Sir Tristram + +_Here followeth the story of how Sir Tristram was driven out of Cornwall +and of how he went mad because of his troubles. Likewise it shall be told +how he performed several very wonderful adventures whilst he was in that +state, and of how he was brought back into his senses again._ + +[Illustration: Sir Tristram assaults King Mark] + + + + +Chapter First + + +_How Sir Tristram was discovered with the Lady Belle Isoult; how he +assaulted King Mark, and how he escaped from Tintagel into the forest._ + +After Sir Tristram had thus rescued the Lady Belle Isoult from the hand of +Sir Palamydes, he dwelt very peacefully at the court of Cornwall for all of +that winter and until the spring that followed, and during that time he was +given every meed of praise and honor. But although King Mark and his court +gave praise to Sir Tristram with the lips, yet he and many of his people +hated Sir Tristram at heart, and there were many mischief-makers about the +court who were ever ready to blow the embers of the King's wrath into a +flame. + +Now the chiefest of all these mischief-makers was Sir Andred, who was +nephew unto King Mark, and cousin-germaine unto Sir Tristram. Sir Andred +was a fierce strong knight, and one very dextrous at arms; but he was as +mean and as treacherous as Sir Tristram was generous and noble, wherefore +he hated Sir Tristram with great bitterness (though he dissembled that +hatred) and sought for every opportunity to do Sir Tristram a harm by +bringing him and the King into conflict. + +[Sidenote: Sir Andred of Cornwall sets spies upon Sir Tristram] So Sir +Andred set spies upon Sir Tristram, and he himself spied upon his cousin, +yet neither he nor they were able to find anything with which to accuse Sir +Tristram. Then one day Sir Andred came to Sir Tristram and said: "Sir, the +Lady Belle Isoult wishes to see you to talk with you." Sir Tristram said, +"Where is she?" + +And Sir Andred said, "She is in her bower." Then Sir Tristram said, "Very +well, I will go to her." + +So Sir Tristram arose and departed from where he was with intent to find +the lady; and therewith Sir Andred hurried to where King Mark was, and +said: "Lord, arise, for Sir Tristram and the Lady Isoult are holding +converse together." + +King Mark said, "Where are they?" And Sir Andred said, "They are in the +bower of the Queen." At that King Mark's rage and jealousy blazed up into a +flame, so that he was like one seized with a sudden frensy. So, in that +madness of rage, he looked about for some weapon with which to destroy Sir +Tristram, and he perceived a great sword where it hung against the wall. +Thereupon he ran to the sword and took it down from where it was, and ran +with all speed to that place where Sir Tristram and the Lady Isoult were, +and Sir Andred guided him thither. + +[Sidenote: King Mark assaults Sir Tristram] And when King Mark reached the +bower of the Lady Isoult he flung open the door and found Sir Tristram and +the Lady Isoult sitting together in the seat of a deep window. And he +perceived that the Lady Isoult wept and that Sir Tristram's face was very +sorrowful because of her sorrow. Then King Mark twisted him about and bent +double as with a great pain, and then he cried out thrice in a voice very +hoarse and loud: "Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!" Saying those words three +times. Therewith he ran at Sir Tristram and struck furiously at him with +that sword he held, with intent to slay him. + +Now Sir Tristram was at that time altogether without armor and was clad in +clothes of scarlet silk. Accordingly, he was able to be very quick and +alert in his movements. So perceiving King Mark rushing upon him with +intent to slay him he leaped aside and so avoided the blow. Then +immediately he rushed in upon King Mark and catched him by the wrist and +wrenched the sword out of his hand. + +Then Sir Tristram was blinded with his rage and might have slain his uncle, +but the Lady Isoult, beholding the fury in his face, shrieked in a very +piercing voice, "Forbear! Forbear!" And therewith he remembered him how +that King Mark was his mother's brother and that it was his hand that had +made him a knight. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram beats King Mark] So he turned the sword in his +hand and he smote King Mark with the flat thereof again and again, and at +those blows King Mark was filled with terror so that he howled like a wild +beast. And King Mark fled away from that place, striving to escape, but Sir +Tristram ever pursued him, grinding his teeth like a wild boar in rage, and +smiting the King as he ran, over and over again, with the flat of the sword +so that the whole castle was filled with the tumult and uproar of that +assault. + +Then many of the knights of Cornwall came running with intent to defend the +King, and with them came Sir Andred. But when Sir Tristram saw them, his +rage suddenly left the King and went out toward them; so therewith, naked +of armor as he was, he rushed at them, and he struck at them so fiercely +that they were filled with the terror of his fury, and fled away from +before his face. And Sir Tristram chased them through the courts of the +castle, striking right and left until he was weary with striking, and many +he struck down with the fierceness of his blows, and amongst them was Sir +Andred who was sorely wounded. So after a while Sir Tristram grew weary of +that battle, and he cried out, "Certes, these are not knights, but swine!" +And therewith he ceased striking, and allowed those who could do so to +escape. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram departs from Tintagel] Thereafter he went to his +chamber and armed himself without summoning Gouvernail, and after that he +took horse and rode away altogether from that place. And not even +Gouvernail went with him, but only his favorite hound, hight Houdaine, +which same followed him into the forest as he rode thitherward. And in his +going Sir Tristram looked neither to the right nor to the left but straight +before him very proudly and haughtily, and no one dared to stay him in his +going. + +Yet, though he appeared so steadfast, he was like one who was +brokenhearted, for he wist that in going away from that place he was +leaving behind him all that he held dear in the world, wherefore he was +like one who rode forth from a pleasant garden into an empty wilderness of +sorrow and repining. + +[Sidenote: Gouvernail finds Sir Tristram in the forest] Then, some little +while after Sir Tristram had gone, Gouvernail also took horse and rode into +the forest, and he searched for a long while in the forest without finding +his master. But after a while he came upon Sir Tristram seated under a tree +with his head hanging down upon his breast. And Houdaine lay beside Sir +Tristram and licked his hand, but Sir Tristram paid no heed to him, being +so deeply sunk in his sorrow that he was unaware that Houdaine licked his +hand in that wise. + +Then Gouvernail dismounted from his horse and came to where Sir Tristram +was, and Gouvernail wept at beholding the sorrow of Sir Tristram. And +Gouvernail said: "Messire, look up and take cheer, for there must yet be +joy for thee in the world." + +Then Sir Tristram raised his eyes very slowly (for they were heavy and dull +like lead) and he looked at Gouvernail for some while as though not seeing +him. Then by and by he said: "Gouvernail, what evil have I done that I +should have so heavy a curse laid upon me?" Gouvernail said, still weeping: +"Lord, thou hast done no ill, but art in all wise a very noble, honorable +gentleman." "Alas!" quoth Sir Tristram, "I must unwittingly have done some +great evil in God's sight, for certes the hand of God lieth grievously +heavy upon me." Gouvernail said: "Lord, take heart, and tell me whither +shall we go now?" And Sir Tristram said, "I know not." + +Then Gouvernail said: "Lord, let us go hence, I care not where, for I +reckon nothing of storm or rain or snow or hail if it so be that I am with +you." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram bids Gouvernail return to Tintagel] Then Sir +Tristram looked upon Gouvernail and smiled, and he said: "Gouvernail, it is +great joy to me that you should love me so greatly as you do. But this time +you may not go with me whither I go, for the Lady Belle Isoult hath few +friends at the court of Cornwall, and many enemies, wherefore I would have +you return unto her for my sake, so that you may befriend her and cherish +her when that I am no longer by her for to stand her friend in her hour of +need. And take this dog Houdaine with you and bid the Lady Belle Isoult for +to keep him by her to remind her of my faithfulness unto her. For even as +this creature is faithful unto me under all circumstances, so am I faithful +unto her whether she be glad or sorry, or in good or evil case. So return +to Tintagel as I bid thee, and see that thou pay thy duty unto that lady +even as thou payst it unto me. For she is so singularly dear unto me that, +even as a man's heart is the life of his body, so is her happiness the life +of my life." + +Then Gouvernail wept again in very great measure, and he said, "Lord, I +obey." Therewith he mounted his horse, still weeping with a great passion +of sorrow, and rode away from that place, and Houdaine followed after him +and Sir Tristram was left sitting alone in the deep forest. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram wanders in the forest mad] After that Sir Tristram +wandered for several days in the forest, he knew not whither for he was +bewildered with that which had happened; so that he ate no food and took no +rest of any sort for all that time. Wherefore, because of the hardship he +then endured, he by and by became distraught in his mind. So, after a +while, he forgot who he himself was, and what was his condition, or whence +he came or whither he wended. And because his armor weighed heavily upon +him, he took it off and cast it away from him, and thereafter roamed half +naked through the woodlands. + +Now upon the sixth day of this wandering he came to the outskirts of the +forest and nigh to the coast of the sea at a spot that was not very far +away was the castle of the Lady Loise, where he had once stayed at the time +that he undertook the adventure against Sir Nabon as aforetold. There, +being exhausted with hunger and weariness, he laid himself down in the +sunlight out beyond the borders of the forest and presently fell into a +deep sleep that was like to a swoon. + +Now it chanced at that time that there came that way a certain damsel +attendant upon the Lady Loise. She perceiving that a man lay there on the +grass at the edge of the forest was at first of a mind to quit that place. +Then, seeing that the man lay very strangely still as though he were dead, +she went forward very softly and looked into his face. + +Now that damsel had beheld Sir Tristram a great many times when he was at +the castle of the Lady Loise; wherefore now, in spite of his being so +starved and shrunken, and so unkempt and unshaved, she remembered his face +and she knew that this was Sir Tristram. + +Therewith the damsel hurried away to the Lady Loise (and the lady was not a +very great distance away) and she said: "Lady, yonder way there lieth a man +by the forest side and I believe that it is Sir Tristram of Lyonesse. Yet +he is but half-clad and in great distress of body so that I know not of a +surety whether it is really Sir Tristram or not. Now I pray you come with +me and look upon his face and see if you may know him." + +So the Lady Loise went with the damsel to where Sir Tristram lay and looked +into his face, and she knew Sir Tristram in spite of his ill condition. + +[Sidenote: The Lady Loise finds Sir Tristram] Then the Lady Loise touched +Sir Tristram upon the shoulder and shook him, and thereupon Sir Tristram +awoke and sat up. Then the Lady Loise said, "Sir Tristram, is it thou who +liest here?" And Sir Tristram said, "I know not who I am." The Lady Loise +said, "Messire, how came you here in this sad case?" And Sir Tristram said: +"I know not whence I came, nor how I came hither, nor who I am, nor what it +is that ails me, for I cannot hold my mind with enough steadiness to +remember those things." Then the lady sighed for sorrow of Sir Tristram, +and she said: "Alas, Sir Tristram, that I should find you thus! Now I pray +you, lord, for to come with me to my castle which is hard by. There we may +care for you and may perhaps bring you back to health again." + +To this Sir Tristram said: "Lady, I may not go with you. For though I +cannot remember whence I came, nor who I am, this much I know--I know that +I am mad, and that the forest is the only fit place for such as I am come +to be." + +The lady said: "Alas, Sir Tristram, thou wilt die if thou art left alone +here in the forest." And Sir Tristram said: "Lady, I know not what you mean +when you say I am to die. What is it to die?" So at these words the Lady +Loise saw how it was with Sir Tristram; that his brains were altogether +turned; and she wist that some sore trouble must have befallen to bring him +to such a pass. Then she bethought her of how dearly he loved the music of +the harp, and she said to herself: "Mayhap by means of music I may bring +him back into his senses again." So she said to that damsel who had brought +her thither: "Go thou and bring hither my little harp of gold, and let us +see if music may charm him to remembrance." + +So the damsel ran to the castle and brought the harp thence, and the Lady +Loise took the harp and tuned it and struck it and played upon it. And the +lady sang very sweetly a ballad that she knew Sir Tristram loved. + +[Sidenote: The Lady Loise harps to Sir Tristram] Then when Sir Tristram +heard the sound of the music and singing he aroused himself. For first he +listened with great pleasure, and then he said, "Give it to me! Give it to +me!" and he reached out his hands and would have taken the harp from the +lady. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram comes to the Lady's castle] But the Lady Loise +laughed and shook her head, and she walked away from Sir Tristram and +toward the castle, still playing upon the little harp and singing; and Sir +Tristram followed close after, saying ever, "Give it to me! Give it to me!" +and reaching out his hands for the harp. So the Lady Loise led him away +from that place across the meadows; and she led him to the castle and into +the castle; and ever Sir Tristram followed after her, beseeching her for to +give the harp unto him. And the lady led Sir Tristram that way until she +had brought him to a fair room, and there she gave him the harp, and Sir +Tristram took it very eagerly into his hands and struck upon it and played +and sang most sweetly and with great joy and pleasure. + +Afterward, being so much comforted, he ate and drank with appetite, and +then fell into a fair sound sleep. + +Yet, though he so slept, still Sir Tristram's wits in no wise recovered +themselves; for when he awoke from that slumber he still could not remember +who he was or whence he came, neither could he remember the faces of any of +those who were around about him. But, though he was thus mad, he was still +gentle and kind in his madness and courteous and civil to all those who +came nigh him. + +So Sir Tristram remained a gentle captive in the castle of the Lady Loise +for nigh upon a month, and somewhiles she would sing and harp to him, and +otherwhiles he himself would harp and sing. But ever and anon, when he +found the chance for to do so, he would escape from the captivity of the +castle and seek the forest; for he was aware of his madness and he ever +sought to hide that madness in the deep and shady woodland where only the +wild creatures of the forest might see him. + +Yet always when he so escaped the Lady Loise would take her little golden +harp and go forth to the skirts of the forest and play upon it, and when +the music thereof would reach Sir Tristram's ears he would return to the +castle, being led thither by the music. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram quits the Lady's castle] But one day he wandered +so far astray that the music of the harp could not reach his ears, and then +he wandered on farther and farther until he was altogether lost. At that +Lady Loise took much sorrow for she had much love for Sir Tristram. So she +sent many of her people to search the forest for him, but none of these +were able to find him and thereafter he came no more to the castle. + +Thus Sir Tristram escaped from that castle and after that he wandered in +the forest as he had done at the first. And in that time he took no food +and but little rest. And the brambles tore his clothes, so that in a short +time he was wellnigh altogether naked. + +And somewhiles during this time of wandering he would be seized as with a +fury of battle, and in such case he would shout aloud as though in +challenge to an enemy. And then he would rend and tear great branches from +the trees in the fury of his imaginings. But otherwhiles he would wander +through the leafy aisles of the forest in gentler mood, singing so sweetly +that had you heard him you would have thought that it was some fairy spirit +of the forest chanting in those solitudes. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram dwells with the swineherds] So he wandered until +he failed with faintness, and sank down into the leaves; and I believe that +he would then have died, had it not been that there chanced to come that +way certain swineherds of the forest who fed their swine upon acorns that +were to be therein found. These found Sir Tristram lying there as though +dead, and they gave him to eat and to drink so that he revived once more. +After that they took him with them, and he dwelt with them in those +woodlands. There these forest folk played with him and made merry with him, +and he made them great sport. For he was ever gentle and mild like a little +child for innocence so that he did no harm to anyone, but only talked in +such a way that the swineherds found great sport in him. + +Now Sir Andred of Cornwall very greatly coveted the possessions of Sir +Tristram, so that when several months had passed by and Sir Tristram did +not return to Tintagel, he said to himself: "Of a surety, Tristram must now +be dead in the forest, and, as there is no one nigher of kin to him than I, +it is altogether fitting that I should inherit his possessions." + +But as Sir Andred could not inherit without proof of the death of Sir +Tristram, he suborned a certain very beautiful but wicked lady who dwelt in +the forest, persuading her that she should give false evidence of Sir +Tristram's death. Accordingly, he one day brought that lady before King +Mark, and she gave it as her evidence that Sir Tristram had died in the +forest and that she had been with him when he died. And she showed them a +new-made grave in the forest, and she said: "That is the grave of Sir +Tristram, for I saw him die and I saw him buried there with mine own eyes." + +[Sidenote: Sir Adred seizes Sir Tristram's possessions] So everybody +believed this evidence, and thought that Sir Tristram was really dead, and +so Sir Andred seized upon all the possessions of Sir Tristram. And there +were many who were very sorry that Sir Tristram was dead and there were +others who were glad thereof in the same measure. But when the news was +brought to Belle Isoult that Sir Tristram was dead, she shrieked aloud and +swooned away. And she lay in that swoon so long that they thought for a +while she would never recover from it. But by and by she awoke therefrom, +crying, "Would to God that I were dead with Tristram and had never +awakened!" + +And thereafter she mourned continually for Sir Tristram and would not be +comforted; for she was like to a woman who hath been widowed from a lover +of her youth. + +And now it shall be told of how it fared with Sir Tristram in the forest +where he dwelt with the swineherds, and of how he achieved a very notable +adventure therein. + +[Illustration: Sir Kay and the Forest Madman] + + + + +Chapter Second + + +_How Sir Tristram got him a sword from Sir Kay and how he slew therewith a +huge knight in the forest and rescued a lady in very great distress. Also +how Sir Launcelot found Sir Tristram in the forest and brought him thence +to Tintagel again._ + +Now it chanced one day that Sir Kay the Seneschal came riding through those +parts of the forest where Sir Tristram abided with the swineherds, and with +Sir Kay there came a considerable court of esquires. And with him besides +there travelled Sir Dagonet, King Arthur's Fool. + +[Sidenote: Sir Kay and Sir Dagonet come to the forest] Now, you are to +know that though Sir Dagonet was the King's jester, and though he was slack +of wit, yet he was also a knight of no mean prowess. For he had performed +several deeds of good repute and was well held in all courts of chivalry. +So Sir Dagonet always went armed; though he bore upon his shield the device +of a cockerel's head as a symbol of his calling. + +The time that Sir Kay and his court travelled as aforesaid was in the +summer season and the day was very warm, so that Sir Kay was minded to take +rest during the midday and until the coolness of the afternoon should come. +So they all dismounted from their horses and sat them down under the shade +of the trees where it was cool and pleasant and where the breezes reached +them to breathe upon their faces. + +[Sidenote: Sir Dagonet wanders in the woodland] But whilst Sir Kay and his +court thus rested themselves, Sir Dagonet must needs be gadding, for he was +of a very restless, meddlesome disposition. So, being at that time clad +only in half armor, he wandered hither and thither through the forest as +his fancy led him. For somewhiles he would whistle and somewhiles he would +gape, and otherwhiles he would cut a caper or two. So, as chance would have +it, he came by and by to that open glade of the forest where the swineherds +were gathered; and at that time they were eating their midday meal of black +bread and cheese, and were drinking beer; some talking and laughing and +others silent as they ate their food. Unto these Sir Dagonet appeared, +coming out of the forest in very gay attire, and shining in the half armor +he wore, so that he appeared like a bright bird of the woodland. + +Then Sir Dagonet, seeing where those rude boors were eating their meal of +food, came to them and stood amongst them. And he said, "Who are ye +fellows?" Whereunto they replied, "We are swineherds, Messire; who be ye?" + +Quoth Sir Dagonet: "I am King Arthur's Fool. And whilst there are haply +many in the world with no more wits than I possess, yet there are few so +honest as I to confess that they are fools." + +At these words those swineherds laughed very loudly. "Well," quoth one, "if +King Arthur hath his fool, so have we, and yonder he is," and therewith he +pointed to where Sir Tristram lay in the shade of the trees some distance +away and beside a deep well of the forest. + +Upon that Sir Dagonet must needs go to where Sir Tristram lay, nearly +naked, upon the ground. And when he had come there he said, "Arise, fool." +Whereunto Sir Tristram replied: "Why should I arise? Lo! I am weary." + +Then Sir Dagonet said: "It is not fitting that thou, who art the fool of +swineherds shouldst lie upon the grass, whilst I who am the fool of a king +stand upright upon my shanks. So, fool, I bid thee bestir thyself and +arise." + +But Sir Tristram said, "I will not arise." And therewith Sir Dagonet took +his sword and pricked the thigh of Sir Tristram with the point thereof with +intent to make him bestir himself. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram souses Sir Dagonet in the well] Now when Sir +Tristram felt the prick of Sir Dagonet's sword, a certain part of his +memory of knighthood came back to him and he was seized with a sudden fury +against Sir Dagonet. So he arose and ran at Sir Dagonet and catched him in +his arms, and lifted Sir Dagonet off his feet and he soused him in the well +four or five times so that he was like to have drowned him. + +As for those swineherds, when they saw what their fool did to that other +fool, they roared with laughter so that some of them rolled down upon the +ground and lay grovelling there for pure mirth. But others of them called +out to Sir Tristram, "Let be, or thou wilt drown that man"; and therewith +Sir Tristram let Sir Dagonet go, and Sir Dagonet ran away. + +Nor did Sir Dagonet cease to run until he came to his party under the shade +of the trees. But when Sir Kay perceived what a sorry plight it was in +which Sir Dagonet appeared, he said, "What hath befallen thee?" + +To this Sir Dagonet replied as follows: "Messire, I, who am a fool, went +into the forest and met another fool. I fool would have a jest with he +fool, but he fool catched I fool and soused I fool in a well of cold water. +So it came about that while I fool had the jest, he fool had the sport of +the jest." + +[Sidenote: Sir Kay seeks to avenge Sir Dagonet] Then Sir Kay understood in +some manner what had befallen, and he was very angry that Sir Dagonet +should have been so served. Wherefore he said, "Where did this befall +thee?" And Sir Dagonet said, "Over yonder ways." Then Sir Kay said: "I will +avenge thee for the affront that hath been put upon thee. For no boor shall +serve a knight of King Arthur's court in such a fashion!" So therewith Sir +Kay arose and put on his armor and mounted his horse and rode away; and +after a while he came to that place where the swineherds were. + +Then Sir Kay said very sternly: "Which of ye is that boor who put so +grievous an affront upon a gentleman of my party?" The swineherds say: +"Yonder he is lying by the well; but he is slack of wit, wherefore we +beseech you to do him no harm." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram souses Sir Kay in the water] Then Sir Kay rode to +where Sir Tristram was, and he said: "Sirrah, why did you souse Sir Dagonet +into the water?" To this Sir Tristram did not reply, but only looked at Sir +Kay and laughed, for it pleased him wonderfully to behold that knight all +in shining armor. But when Sir Kay beheld Sir Tristram laugh in that wise, +he waxed exceedingly wroth. Wherefore he drew his sword straightway, and +rode at Sir Tristram with intent to strike him with the blade thereof. But +when Sir Tristram saw the sword of Sir Kay shining like lightning in the +sunlight, somewhat of his knightly spirit arose within him and took wing +like to a bird springing up out of the marish grass into the clear air. For +beholding that bright flashing sword he cried out aloud and arose and came +very steadily toward Sir Kay, and Sir Kay rode toward Sir Tristram. Then +when Sir Kay had come near enough to strike, he arose in his stirrups and +lifted the blade on high with intent to strike Sir Tristram with it. But +therewith Sir Tristram ran very quickly in beneath the blow, so that the +stroke of Sir Kay failed of its mark. Then Sir Tristram leaped up and +catched Sir Kay around the body and dragged him down from off his horse +very violently upon the ground, and with that the sword of Sir Kay fell +down out of his hands and lay in the grass. Then Sir Tristram lifted up Sir +Kay very easily and ran with him to the well of water and soused him +therein several times until Sir Kay cried out, "Fellow, spare me or I +strangle!" Upon that Sir Tristram let go Sir Kay, and Sir Kay ran to his +horse and mounted thereon and rode away from that place with might and +main, all streaming with water like to a fountain. + +And all that while those swineherds roared with great laughter, ten times +louder than they had laughed when Sir Tristram had soused Sir Dagonet into +the well. + +Then Sir Tristram beheld the sword of Sir Kay where it lay in the grass and +forthwith he ran to it and picked it up. And when he held it in his hands +he loved it with a great passion of love, wherefore he hugged it to his +bosom and kissed the pommel thereof. + +But when the swineherds beheld the sword in Sir Tristram's hands, they +said, "That is no fit plaything for a madman to have," and they would have +taken it from him, but Sir Tristram would not permit them, for he would not +give them the sword, and no one dared to try to take it from him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram keeps the sword of Sir Kay] So thereafter he kept +that sword ever by him both by night and by day, and ever he loved it and +kissed it and fondled it; for, as aforesaid, it aroused his knightly spirit +to life within him, wherefore it was he loved it. + +So it hath been told how Sir Tristram got him a sword, and now it shall be +told how well he used it. + +Now there was at that time in the woodlands of that part of Cornwall a +gigantic knight hight Sir Tauleas, and he was the terror of all that +district. For not only was he a head and shoulders taller than the tallest +of Cornish men, but his strength and fierceness were great in the same +degree that he was big of frame. Many knights had undertaken to rid the +world of this Sir Tauleas, but no knight had ever yet encountered him +without meeting some mishap at his hands. + +(Yet it is to be said that heretofore no such knight as Sir Launcelot or +Sir Lamorack had come against Sir Tauleas, but only the knights of Cornwall +and Wales, whose borders marched upon that district where Sir Tauleas +ranged afield.) + +[Sidenote: Sir Daynant and his lady come to the forest] Now one day there +came riding through the forest a very noble, gallant young knight, hight +Sir Daynant, and with him rode his lady, a beautiful dame to whom he had +lately been wedded with a great deal of love. These wayfarers in their +travelling came to that part of the forest where the swineherds abode, and +where were the open glade of grass and the fair well of water aforespoken +of. + +Hereunto coming, and the day being very warm, these two travellers +dismounted and besought refreshment of the swineherds who were there, and +those rude good fellows gladly gave them to eat and to drink of the best +they had. + +[Sidenote: Sir Daynant regards Sir Tristam] Whilst they ate, Sir Tristram +came and sat nigh to Sir Daynant and his lady and smiled upon them, for he +loved them very greatly because of their nobility and beauty. Then Sir +Daynant looked upon Sir Tristram and beheld how strong and beautiful of +body and how noble of countenance he was, and he saw that beautiful shining +sword that Sir Tristram carried ever with him. And Sir Daynant said, "Fair +friend, who are you, and where gat ye that sword?" + +"I know not who I am," said Sir Tristram, "nor know I whence I came nor +whither I go. As for this sword, I had it from a gentleman who came hither +to us no great while ago." + +Then the chiefest of the swineherds said: "Lord, this is a poor madman whom +we found naked and starving in the forest. As for that sword, I may tell +you that he took it away from a knight who came hither to threaten his +life, and he soused that knight into the well so that he was wellnigh +drowned." + +Sir Daynant said: "That is a very strange story, that a naked madman should +take the sword out of the hands of an armed knight and treat that knight as +ye tell me. Now maybe this is some famous hero or knight who hath lost his +wits through sorrow or because of some other reason, and who hath so come +to this sorry pass." + +(So said Sir Daynant, and it may here be said that from that time those +rude swineherds began to look upon Sir Tristram with different eyes than +before, saying amongst themselves: "Maybe what that knight said is true, +and this is indeed no common madman.") + +Now whilst Sir Daynant sat there with his lady, holding converse with the +swineherds concerning Sir Tristram in that wise, there came a great noise +in the forest, and out therefrom there came riding with great speed that +huge savage knight Sir Tauleas aforetold of. Then Sir Daynant cried out, +"Alas, here is misfortune!" And therewith he made all haste to put his +helmet upon his head. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tauleas strikes down Sir Daynant] But ere he could arm +himself in any sufficient wise, Sir Tauleas drave down very fiercely upon +him. And Sir Tauleas rose up in his stirrups and lashed so terrible a blow +at Sir Daynant that it struck through Sir Daynant's helmet and into his +brain-pan, wherefore Sir Daynant immediately fell down to the ground as +though he had been struck dead. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tauleas bears away the lady] Then Sir Tauleas rode +straightway to where the lady of Sir Daynant was, and he said: "Lady, thou +art a prize that it is very well worth while fighting for! And lo! I have +won thee." Therewith he catched her and lifted her up, shrieking and +screaming and struggling, and sat her upon the saddle before him and held +her there maugre all her struggles. Then straightway he rode away into the +forest, carrying her with him; and all that while Sir Tristram stood as +though in a maze, gazing with a sort of terror upon what befell and not +rightly knowing what it all meant. For there lay Sir Daynant as though dead +upon the ground, and he could yet hear the shrieks of the lady sounding out +from the forest whither Sir Tauleas had carried her. + +Then the chief of the swineherds came to Sir Tristram, and said: "Fellow, +as thou hast a sword, let us see if thou canst use it. If thou art a hero +as that knight said of thee a while since, and not a pure madman, then +follow after that knight and bring that lady back hither again." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram follows Sir Tauleas] Then Sir Tristram awoke from +that maze and said, "I will do so." And therewith he ran away very rapidly +into the forest, pursuing the direction that Sir Tauleas had taken. And he +ran for a great distance, and by and by, after a while, he beheld Sir +Tauleas before him where he rode. And by that time the lady was in a deep +swoon and lay as though dead across the saddle of Sir Tauleas. Then Sir +Tristram cried out in a great voice: "Stay, Sir Knight, and turn this way, +for I come to take that lady away from thee and to bring her back unto her +friend again!" + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram slays Sir Tauleas] Then Sir Tauleas turned him and +beheld a naked man running after him with a sword in his hand, whereupon he +was seized with a great rage of anger, so that he put that lady he carried +down to the ground. And he drew his sword and rushed at Sir Tristram very +violently with intent to slay him. And when he came nigh to Sir Tristram he +arose up on his stirrups and lashed so terrible a blow at him that, had it +met its mark, it would have cloven Sir Tristram in twain. But Sir Tristram +leaped aside and turned the blow very skilfully; and therewith a memory of +his knightly prowess came upon him and he, upon his part, lashed a blow at +Sir Tauleas that Sir Tauleas received very unexpectedly. And that blow +struck Sir Tauleas so terrible a buffet upon the head that the brain of Sir +Tauleas swam, and he swayed about and then fell down from off his horse. +Therewith Sir Tristram ran to him and rushed his helmet from off his head. +And when he beheld the naked head of Sir Tauleas he catched it by the hair +and drew the neck of Sir Tauleas forward. Then Sir Tauleas cried out, +"Spare me, fellow!" But Sir Tristram said, "I will not spare thee for thou +art a wicked man!" And therewith he lifted his sword on high and smote off +the head of Sir Tauleas so that it rolled down upon the ground. + +After that, Sir Tristram went to the Lady and he chafed her hands and her +face so that she revived from her swoon. And when she was revived, he said: +"Lady, take cheer; for look yonder and thou wilt see thy enemy is dead, and +so now I may take thee back again unto thy friend." And therewith the lady +smiled upon Sir Tristram and catched his hand in hers and kissed it. + +Then Sir Tristram lifted the lady upon the horse of Sir Tauleas, and after +that he went back again to where he had left Sir Daynant and the +swineherds; and he led the horse of Sir Tauleas by the bridle with the lady +upon the back thereof and he bore the head of Sir Tauleas in his hand by +the hair. + +But when those swineherds saw Sir Tristram come forth thus out of the +forest bringing that lady and bearing the head of Sir Tauleas, they were +amazed beyond measure, and they said to one another: "Of a certainty what +this young knight hath just said is sooth and this madman is indeed some +great champion in distress. But who he is no one may know, since he himself +doth not know." + +And when Sir Daynant had recovered from that blow that Sir Tauleas had +given him, he also gave Sir Tristram great praise for what he had done. And +Sir Tristram was abashed at all the praise that was bestowed upon him. + +Then Sir Daynant and his lady besought Sir Tristram that he would go with +them to their castle so that they might care for him, but Sir Tristram +would not, for he said: "I wist very well that I am mad, and so this forest +is a fit place for me to dwell and these kind rude fellows are fit +companions for me at this time whilst my wits are wandering." + +Thus it was with this adventure. And now you shall hear how Sir Launcelot +found Sir Tristram in the forest and how he brought him out thence and +likewise what befell thereafter. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot enters the forest] For only the next day after +all these things had happened, Sir Launcelot came riding through the forest +that way, seeking for Sir Tauleas with intent to do battle with him because +of his many evil deeds. For Sir Launcelot purposed either to slay him or +else to bring him captive to King Arthur. + +So it came to pass that Sir Launcelot came to that place where Sir Tristram +and the swineherds abode. + +There Sir Launcelot made pause for to rest and to refresh himself, and +whilst he sat with his helmet lying beside him so that the breezes might +cool his face, all those rude swineherds gathered about and stared at him. +And Sir Launcelot smiled upon them, and he said: "Good fellows, I pray you +tell me; do you know where, hereabouts, I shall find a knight whom men call +Sir Tauleas?" + +Unto this the chief swineherd made reply, saying: "Lord, if you come hither +seeking Sir Tauleas, you shall seek him in vain. For yesterday he was +slain, and if you look yonder way you may see his head hanging from a +branch of a tree at the edge of the glade." + +Upon this Sir Launcelot cried out in great amazement, "How hath that come +to pass?" and therewith he immediately arose from where he sat and went to +that tree where the head hung. And he looked into the face of the head, and +therewith he saw that it was indeed the head of Sir Tauleas that hung +there. Then Sir Launcelot said: "This is very wonderful. Now I pray you, +tell me what knight was it who slew this wicked wretch, and how his head +came to be left hanging here?" + +To this the chief of the swineherds made reply: "Messire, he who slew Sir +Tauleas was no knight, but a poor madman whom we found in the forest and +who has dwelt with us now for a year past. Yonder you may see him, lying +half naked, sleeping beside that well of water." + +Sir Launcelot said, "Was it he who did indeed slay Sir Tauleas?" And the +swineherd said, "Yea, lord, it was he." + +Sir Launcelot said, "Do ye not then know who he is?" The swineherd replied: +"No, lord, we only know that one day we found him lying in the forest naked +and nigh to death from hunger and that we fed him and clothed him, and that +since then he hath dwelt ever with us, showing great love for us all." + +Then Sir Launcelot went to where Sir Tristram lay, and he looked upon him +as he slept and he knew him not; for the beard and the hair of Sir Tristram +had grown down all over his breast and shoulders and he was very ragged and +beaten by the weather. But though Sir Launcelot knew him not, yet he beheld +that the body of Sir Tristram was very beautiful and strong, for he saw how +all the muscles and thews thereof were cut very smooth and clean as you +might cut them out of wax, wherefore Sir Launcelot gazed for a long while +and felt great admiration for his appearance. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot regards Sir Tristam] Then Sir Launcelot beheld +how the sleeping man held a naked sword in his arms very caressingly, as +though he loved it, and thereat he was very much surprised to find such a +sword as that in the hands of this forest madman. Wherefore he said to +those swineherds, "Where got this man that sword?" + +"Messire," said the swineherd who had afore spoken, "some while since there +came a knight hitherward who ill-treated him. Thereupon this poor man ran +at the knight and overthrew him and took the sword away from him and soused +him several times in the well. After that he hath ever held fast to this +sword and would not give it up to any of us." + +"Ha!" said Sir Launcelot, "that is a very wonderful story, that a naked man +should overthrow an armed knight and take his sword away from him. Now I +deem that this is no mere madman, but some noble knight in misfortune." + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot awakens Sir Tristram] Therewith he reached +forward and touched Sir Tristram very gently on the shoulder, and at that +Sir Tristram awoke and opened his eyes and sat up. And Sir Tristram looked +upon Sir Launcelot, but knew him not, albeit some small memory moved very +deeply within him. Nevertheless, though he knew not Sir Launcelot, yet he +felt great tenderness for that noble knight in arms, and he smiled very +lovingly upon him. And Sir Launcelot felt in return a very great deal of +regard for Sir Tristram, but wist not why that was; yet it seemed to Sir +Launcelot that he should know the face of Sir Tristram, and that it was not +altogether strange to him. + +Then Sir Launcelot said, "Fair friend, was it thou who slew Sir Tauleas?" +And Sir Tristram said, "Ay." Sir Launcelot said, "Who art thou?" Whereunto +Sir Tristram made reply: "I know not who I am, nor whence I come, nor how I +came hither." + +Then Sir Launcelot felt great pity and tenderness for Sir Tristram, and he +said: "Friend, wilt thou go with me away from this place and into the +habitations of men? There I believe thy mind maybe made whole again, and +that it may be with thee as it was beforetime. And verily, I believe that +when that shall come to pass, the world shall find in thee some great +knight it hath lost." + +Sir Tristram said: "Sir Knight, though I know not who I am, yet I know that +I am not sound in my mind; wherefore I am ashamed to go out in the world +and amongst mankind, but would fain hide myself away in this forest. Yet I +love thee so much that, if thou wert to bid me go with thee to the ends of +the world, I believe I would go with thee." + +Then Sir Launcelot smiled upon Sir Tristram very kindly and said, "I do bid +thee come with me away from here," and Sir Tristram said, "I will go." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram quits the forest with Sir Launcelot] So Sir +Launcelot bade the swineherds clothe Sir Tristram in such a wise that his +nakedness might be covered, and he bade them give Sir Tristram hosen and +shoon, and when Sir Tristram was thus decently clad, Sir Launcelot made +ready to take his departure from that place. + +But ere the two left, all those good fellows crowded around Sir Tristram, +and embraced him and kissed him upon the cheek; for they had come to love +him a very great deal. + +Then the two went away through the forest, Sir Launcelot proudly riding +upon his great horse and Sir Tristram running very lightly beside him. + +But Sir Launcelot had other business at that time than to seek out Sir +Tauleas as aforetold. For at that time there were three knights of very +ill-repute who harried the west coast of that land that overlooked the sea +toward the Kingdom of Ireland, and Sir Launcelot was minded to seek them +out after he had finished with Sir Tauleas. So ere he returned to the court +of King Arthur he had first of all to go thitherward. + +Now you are to know that the castle of Tintagel lay upon the way that he +was to take upon that adventure, and so it was that he brought Sir Tristram +to the castle of Tintagel, where King Mark of Cornwall was then holding +court. For Sir Launcelot was minded to leave Sir Tristram there whilst he +went upon that adventure aforetold of. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram comes to Tintagel] And Sir Launcelot was received +in Tintagel with very great honor and acclaim, for it was the first time he +had ever been there. And King Mark besought Sir Launcelot for to abide a +while in Tintagel; but Sir Launcelot refused this hospitality, saying: "I +have an adventure to do for the sake of my master, King Arthur, and I may +not abide here at this present. But I pray you to grant me a favor, and it +is this: that you cherish this poor madman whom I found in the forest, and +that you keep him here, treating him kindly until I shall return from the +quest I am upon. For I have great love for this poor fellow and I would not +have any harm befall him whilst I am away." + +Then King Mark said: "I am sorry you will not remain with us, but as to +this thing it shall be done as you desire, for we will cherish and care for +this man while you are away." So said King Mark, speaking with great +cheerfulness and courtesy; for neither he nor any of his court at that time +wist who Sir Tristram was. + +So Sir Launcelot went upon his way, and King Mark gave orders that Sir +Tristram should be well-clothed and fed, and it was done as he commanded. + + * * * * * + +Thus it was that Sir Tristram was brought back to the castle of Tintagel +again. And now it shall be told how it befell with him thereat. + +[Illustration: Sir Tristram leaps into ye Sea] + + + + +Chapter Third + + +_How Sir Tristram was discovered at Tintagel and of what befell thereby._ + +Now during the time that Sir Tristram abode thus unknown at the court of +Tintagel, he was allowed to wander thereabouts whithersoever he chose, and +no one hindered him either in going or in coming. For none in all that +place suspected who he was, but everyone thought that he was only a poor +gentle madman of the forest; so he was allowed to wander at will as his +fancy led him. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Tristram dwelt at Tintagel] And Sir Tristram's memory +never awoke; but though it awoke not, yet it stirred within him. For though +he could not remember what this place was whereunto he had come, yet it was +very strangely familiar to him, so that whithersoever he went, he felt that +those places were not altogether strange to him. And in some of those +places he felt great pleasure and in other places somewhat of pain, yet he +knew not why he should have the one feeling or the other. + +Now of all those places whereunto he wandered, Sir Tristram found most +pleasure in the pleasance of the castle where was a fair garden and fruit +trees; for it was there that he and the Lady Belle Isoult had walked +together aforetime ere his affliction had befallen him, and he remembered +this place better than any other, and took more pleasure in it. Now one day +Sir Tristram came wandering thus into that pleasance and, the day being +warm, he sat under the shade of an appletree beside a marble fountain of +water; and the appletree above his head was all full of red and golden +fruit. So Sir Tristram sat there, striving to remember how it was that he +had once aforetime beheld that fountain and that garden and that appletree +beneath which he sat. + +So whilst he sat there pondering in that wise, there came the Lady Belle +Isoult into the garden of that pleasance and her lady, the dame Bragwaine, +was with her, and the hound, hight Houdaine, which Sir Tristram had sent to +her by Gouvernail, walked beside her on the other side. Then Belle Isoult +perceived that there was a man sitting under the appletree, and she said to +dame Bragwaine: "Who is yonder man who hath dared to come hither into our +privy garden?" Unto this, dame Bragwaine replied: "That, lady, is the +gentle madman of the forest whom Sir Launcelot brought hither two days +ago." + +Then the Lady Belle Isoult said, "Let us go nearer and see what manner of +man he is"; and so they went forward toward where Sir Tristram sat, and the +dog Houdaine went with them. + +Then Sir Tristram was aware that someone was nigh; and therewith he turned +his face and beheld the Lady Isoult for the first time since he had gone +mad in the forest; and the lady was looking at him, but knew him not. + +Then of a sudden, because of his great love for Belle Isoult, the memory of +Sir Tristram came all back to him in the instant, and upon that instant he +knew who he was and all that had befallen him, and how he had been brought +there as a madman out of the forest. But though he knew her in that wise, +yet, as has been said, she knew not him. + +Then Sir Tristram was all overwhelmed with shame that he should be thus +found by that dear lady; wherefore he turned away his face and bowed his +head so that she might not remember him, for he perceived that as yet she +did not know him who he was. + +Now at that moment the dog, Houdaine, was aware of the savor of Sir +Tristram; wherefore he leaped away from the Lady Belle Isoult and ran to +Sir Tristram and smelt very eagerly of him. And with that he knew his +master. + +[Sidenote: Houdaine knoweth Sir Tristram] Then the two ladies who looked +beheld Houdaine fall down at the feet of Sir Tristram and grovel there with +joy. And they beheld that he licked Sir Tristram's feet and his hands, and +that he leaped upon Sir Tristram and licked his neck and face, and at that +they were greatly astonished. + +Then of a sudden a thought came to dame Bragwaine, and she catched the Lady +Isoult by the arm and she said: "Lady, know you not who yonder madman is?" +But the Lady Belle Isoult said: "Nay, I know not who he is. Who is he, +Bragwaine?" And Bragwaine said: "Certes, that is Sir Tristram, and no one +else in all the world." + +[Sidenote: Belle Isoult knows Sir Tristram] Therewith, at those words, the +scales suddenly fell from Lady Belle Isoult's eyes and she knew him. Then, +for a little space, she stood as though turned into stone; then she emitted +a great loud cry of joy and ran to Sir Tristram where he sat, and flung +herself down upon the ground at the feet of Sir Tristram and embraced him +about the knees. And she cried out in a voice of great passion: "Tristram! +Tristram! Is it thou? They told me thou wert dead, and lo! thou art come to +life again!" And with that she fell to weeping with such fury of passion +that it was as though the soul of her were struggling to escape from her +body. + +Then Sir Tristram got to his feet in great haste and agitation and he said: +"Lady! Lady! This must not be--arise, and stay your passion or else it will +be our ruin. For behold, I am alone and unarmed in this castle, and there +are several herein who seek my life. So if it be discovered who I am, both +thou and I are lost." + +Then, perceiving how that Belle Isoult was in a way distracted and out of +her mind with joy and grief and love, he turned him unto Bragwaine and said +to her: "Take thy lady hence and by and by I will find means whereby I may +come to speech with her in private. Meanwhile it is death both for her and +for me if she remain here to betray me unto the others of this castle." + +So Bragwaine and Sir Tristram lifted up the Lady Belle Isoult, and +Bragwaine led her thence out of that place; for I believe that Belle Isoult +knew not whither she went but walked like one walking half in a swoon. + +[Sidenote: Sir Andred knoweth Sir Tristram] Now it chanced at that time +that Sir Andred was in a balcony overlooking that pleasance, and, hearing +the sound of voices and the sound of a disturbance that was suppressed, he +looked out and beheld all that passed. Then he also wist who was that +madman whom Sir Launcelot had fetched to that place out of the forest, and +that he was Sir Tristram. + +Therewith he was filled with a great rage and fury and was likewise +overwhelmed with great fear lest, if Sir Tristram should escape from that +castle with his life, he would reclaim those possessions that he, Sir +Andred, had seized upon. + +[Sidenote: Sir Andres betrays Sir Tristram to King Mark] So therewith he +withdrew himself from that balcony very softly, into the apartment behind. +And he sat down in that apartment for a little while as though not knowing +rightly what to do. But after a little while he arose and went to King +Mark; and King Mark looked up and beheld him and said, "What news do you +bring, Messire?" Thereunto Sir Andred made reply: "Lord, know you who that +madman is whom Sir Launcelot hath fetched hither?" King Mark said, "Nay, I +know not who he is." But with that he fell to trembling throughout his +entire body, for he began to bethink him who that madman was. "Lord," said +Sir Andred, "it is Sir Tristram, and me-seems Sir Launcelot was aware who +it was, and that he was plotting treason when he fetched him hither." + +At that King Mark smote his hands together and he cried in a terrible +voice, "I know it! I know it!" And then he said: "Blind! Blind! How was it +that I knew him not?" Then after a little he fell to laughing and he said +to Sir Andred: "Lo! God hath assuredly delivered that traitor, Sir +Tristram, into mine hands so that I may punish him for his treasons. For, +behold! he is here in our midst and he is altogether unarmed. Go, Messire, +with all haste, gather together such force as may be needful, and seize +upon him and bind him so that he may do no further harm to any man. Then +let justice be executed upon him so soon as it is possible to do so." And +Sir Andred said: "Lord, it shall be done according to your demands and upon +the instant." + +Therewith Sir Andred went forth from where the King was, and he armed +himself in complete armor, and he gathered together a number of knights and +esquires and he led them to that place where he knew Sir Tristram would be; +and there he found Sir Tristram sitting sunk in thought. And when Sir +Tristram beheld those armed men come in thus upon him, he arose to defend +himself. But then Sir Andred cried out in a loud voice: "Seize him ere he +can strike and bind him fast, for he is unarmed and may do you no harm!" + +[Sidenote: The castle folk seize Sir Tristram] With that a dozen or more +of those who were with Sir Andred flung themselves upon Sir Tristram, +shouting and roaring like wild beasts. And they bore him to the earth by +numbers, and after a while, by dint of great effort, they held him and +bound his hands together by the wrists. Then they lifted up Sir Tristram +and stood him upon his feet, and lo! his bosom heaved with his struggles, +and his eyes were all shot with blood and his lips afroth with the fury of +his fighting; and his clothes were torn in that struggle so that his body +was half naked. And they held him there, a knight in armor with a naked +sword standing upon his right hand and another armed knight with a naked +sword standing upon his left hand. + +Then Sir Andred came and stood in front of Sir Tristram and taunted him, +saying: "Ha, Tristram, how is it with thee now? Lo! thou camest like a spy +into this place, and now thou art taken with all thy treason upon thee. So +thou shalt die no knightly death, but, in a little while, thou shalt be +hanged like a thief." + +Then he came close to Sir Tristram, and he laughed and said: "Tristram +where is now the glory of thy strength that one time overcame all thine +enemies? Lo! thou art helpless to strike a single blow in defence of thine +honor." And therewith Sir Andred lifted his hand and smote Sir Tristram +upon the face with the palm thereof. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram slays Sir Andred] At that blow the rage of Sir +Tristram so flamed up in him that his eyes burned as with pure green fire. +And in an instant, so quickly that no man wist what he did, he turned with +amazing suddenness upon that knight who stood at his left hand, and he +lifted up both hands that were bound, and he smote that knight such a blow +upon the face that the knight fell down upon the ground and his sword fell +out of his hand. Then Sir Tristram snatched the sword and, turning with +astonishing quickness, he smote the knight upon his right hand such a +buffet that he instantly fell down upon his knees and then rolled over upon +the ground in a swoon. Then Sir Tristram turned upon Sir Andred, and +lifting high the sword with both hands tied, he smote him so terrible a +blow that the blade cut through his epulier and half through his body as +far as the paps. At that great terrible blow the breath fled out of Sir +Andred with a deep groan, and he fell down upon the ground and immediately +died. + +Now all this had happened so suddenly that they who beheld it were +altogether amazed and stood staring as though bewitched by some spell. But +when they beheld Sir Tristram turn upon them and make at them with that +streaming sword lifted on high, the terror of his fury so seized upon them +that they everywhere broke from before him and fled, yelling, and with the +fear of death clutching them in the vitals. And Sir Tristram chased them +out of that place and into the courtyard of the castle, and some he smote +down and others escaped; but all who could do so scattered away before him +like chaff before the wind. + +Then, when they were gone, Sir Tristram stood panting and glaring about him +like a lion at bay. Then he set the point of his sword upon the pavement of +the court and the pommel thereof he set against his breast, and he drew the +bonds that held his wrists across the edge of the sword so that they were +cut and he was free. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram defends the chapel] But Sir Tristram wist that in +a little the whole castle would be aroused against him, and that he would +certainly be overwhelmed by dint of numbers, wherefore he looked about him +for some place of refuge; and he beheld that the door of the chapel which +opened upon the courtyard stood ajar. So he ran into the chapel and shut to +that door and another door and locked and bolted them both, and set a heavy +bar of wood across both of them so that for a while he was safe. + +But yet he was only safe for a little while, for about the time of early +nightfall, which came not long thereafter, a great party of several score +of King Mark's people came against the chapel where he was. And when they +found that the doors were locked and barred, they brought rams for to +batter in the chief door of the chapel. + +Then Sir Tristram beheld how parlous was his case, and that he must in a +little while die if he did not immediately do something to save himself. So +with that he ran to a window of the chapel and opened it and looked out +thence. And lo! below him and far beneath was the sea, and the rocks of the +shore upon which the castle was built; and the sea and the rocks lay twelve +fathoms beneath him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram leaps into the sea] But Sir Tristram said, "Better +death there than here;" and therewith finding that the door was now falling +in beneath the rams, he leaped out from the window-ledge, and thence he +dived down into the sea; and no one saw that terrible leap that he made. So +he sank down deep into the sea, but met no rocks, so that he presently came +up again safe and sound. Then, looking about him, he perceived in the +twilight a cave in the rocks, and thither he swam with the intent to find +shelter for a little. + +Now when they who had come against him had broken into the chapel they all +ran in in one great crowd, for they expected to find Sir Tristram and to do +battle with him. But lo! Sir Tristram was not there, but only the empty +walls. Then at first they were greatly astonished, and knew not what to +think. And some who came cried out: "Is that man then a spirit that he can +melt away into thin air?" But after a little, one of them perceived where +the window of the chapel stood open, and therewith several of them ran +thereunto and looked out, and they wist that Sir Tristram had leaped out +thence into the sea. + +Then they said to one another: "Either that knight is now dead, or else he +will perish when the tide rises and covers the rocks; so to-night we will +do no more with this business; but to-morrow we will go and find his body +where it lies among the rocks of the shore." So thereupon they shut the +window and went their ways. + +Now Gouvernail was not at that time at Tintagel, nor did he return +thereunto until all this affair was over and done. But when he came there, +there were many voices to tell him what had befallen, and to all of them +Gouvernail listened without saying anything. + +But afterward Gouvernail went and sought out a certain knight hight Sir +Santraille de Lushon, who, next to himself, was the most faithful friend to +Sir Tristram at that place. To him Gouvernail said: "Messire, I do not +think that Sir Tristram is dead, for he hath always been a most wonderful +swimmer and diver. But if he be alive, and we do not save him, he will +assuredly perish when the tide comes up and covers over those rocks amongst +which he may now be hidden." + +So Gouvernail and Sir Santraille went to that chapel unknown to anyone, and +they went to that window whence Sir Tristram had leaped, and they opened +the window, and leaned out and called upon Sir Tristram in low voices: "Sir +Tristram, if thou art alive, arise and answer us, for we are friends!" + +Then after a while Sir Tristram recognized Gouvernail's voice and answered +them: "I am alive; but save me, or I perish in a little while." Then +Gouvernail said: "Lord, are you hurt, or are you whole?" Sir Tristram +replied, "I am strong and well in body, but the tide rises fast." +Gouvernail said, "Messire, can you wait a little?" Sir Tristram said, "Ay; +for a little, but not for too long." + +[Sidenote: Gouvernail and Sir Santraille rescue Sir Tristram] Then +Gouvernail and Sir Santraille withdrew from where they were and they made +all haste, and they got together a great number of sheets and napkins, and +tied these together and made a rope, and lowered the rope down to the rocks +where Sir Tristram was. Then Sir Tristram climbed up the rope of linen and +so reached the chapel in safety. And at that time it was nigh to midnight +and very dark. + +But when Sir Tristram stood with them in the chapel, he gave them hardly +any greeting, but said at once: "Messires, how doth it fare with the Lady +Belle Isoult?" For he thought of her the first of all and above all things +else. + +To this Sir Santraille made reply: "Sir, the lady hath been shut into a +tower, and the door thereof hath been locked upon her, and she is a close +prisoner." + +Then Sir Tristram said: "How many knights are there in the place who are my +friends, and who will stand with me to break out hence?" To this Gouvernail +said: "Lord, there are twelve besides ourselves, and that makes fourteen in +all who are with thee in this quarrel unto life or death." + +Sir Tristram said: "Provide me presently with arms and armor and bring +those twelve hither armed at all points. But first let them saddle horses +for themselves and for us, and for the Lady Belle Isoult and for her +waiting-woman, Dame Bragwaine. When this is done, we will depart from this +place unto some other place of refuge, and I do not think there will be any +in the castle will dare stop or stay us after we are armed." + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram arms himself] So it was done as Sir Tristram +commanded, and when all those were gathered together, and their horses +ready, Sir Tristram and several of the knights of his party went openly to +that tower where the Lady Belle Isoult was prisoner. And they burst open +the doors and went in with torches, and found Belle Isoult and her +attendant in the upper part of the castle. + +But when Belle Isoult beheld the face of Sir Tristram, she said: "Is it +thou, my love; and art thou still alive, and art thou come tome?" Sir +Tristram said: "Yea, I am still alive nor will I die, God willing, until I +have first brought thee out of this wicked castle and into some place of +safety. And never again will I entrust thee unto King Mark's hands; for I +have great fear that if he have thee in his hands he will work vengeance +upon thee so as to strike at my heart through thee. So, dear love, I come +to take thee away from this place; and never again right or wrong, shalt +thou be without the shelter of my arm." + +Then the Lady Belle Isoult smiled very wonderfully upon Sir Tristram so +that her face appeared to shine with a great illumination of love. And she +said: "Tristram, I will go with thee whithersoever thou wilt. Yea, I would +go with thee even to the grave, for I believe that I should be happy even +there, so that thou wert lying beside me." + +Then Sir Tristram groaned in spirit and he said: "Isoult, what have I done, +that I should always bring unhappiness upon thee?" But the Lady Belle +Isoult spake very steadily, saying: "Never unhappiness, Tristram, but +always happiness; for I have thy love for aye, and thou hast mine in the +same measure, and in that is happiness, even in tears and sorrow, and never +unhappiness." + +With that Sir Tristram kissed Belle Isoult upon the forehead, and then he +lifted her up and carried her in his arms down the stairs of the tower and +sat her upon her horse. And Bragwaine followed after, and Gouvernail lifted +her up upon her horse. + +[Sidenote: Sir Tristram taketh Belle Isoult away from Tintagel] Now all +they of that castle were amazed beyond measure to find all those knights +armed and prepared for battle so suddenly in their midst. And most of all +were they filled with terror to find Sir Tristram at the head of these +knights. Wherefore when Sir Tristram made demand that they should open the +portcullis of the castle and let fall the drawbridge, the porters thereof +dared not refuse him, but did as he said. + +So Sir Tristram and his knights rode forth with the Lady Belle Isoult and +Bragwaine and no one stayed them. And they rode into the forest, betaking +their way toward a certain castle of Sir Tristram's, which they reached in +the clear dawning of the daytime. + +And so Sir Tristram brought the Lady Belle Isoult away from Tintagel and +into safety. + +[Illustration: King Mark broods mischief] + + + + +Chapter Fourth + + +_How Sir Tristram and the Lady Belle Isoult returned to Cornwall and how +they ended their days together._ + +And now remaineth to be told the rest of these adventures of Sir Tristram +as briefly as may be. + +For indeed I thought not, when I began this history, to tell you as much +concerning him as I have done. But as I have entered into this history I +have come so strongly to perceive how noble and true and loyal was the +knighthood of Sir Tristram, that I could not forbear telling you of many +things that I had not purposed to speak of. + +Yet, as I have said before this, there are a great many adventures that I +have not spoken of in this book. For I have told only those things that +were necessary for to make you understand how it fared with him in his +life. + +So now shall be told those last things that concerned him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot reproves King Mark] Now two days after those +things aforesaid had come to pass, Sir Launcelot returned unto Tintagel +from that quest which he had been upon, and so soon as he came thither he +made inquiry of King Mark concerning the welfare of that madman of the +forest whom he had left in the care of King Mark. But when he heard that +that madman was Sir Tristram, he was astonished beyond all measure; but +when he heard how Sir Tristram had been served by King Mark and by the +people of the castle under the lead of Sir Andred, he was filled with a +great and violent indignation. So he arose and stood before King Mark and +said: "Lord King, I have heard much ill said of thee and shameful things +concerning thy unknightliness in several courts of chivalry where I have +been; and now I know that those things were true; for I have heard from the +lips of many people here, how thou didst betray Sir Tristram into bringing +the Lady Belle Isoult unto thee; and I have heard from many how thou dost +ever do ill and wickedly by him, seeking to take from him both his honor +and his life. And yet Sir Tristram hath always been thy true and faithful +knight, and hath served thee in all ways thou hast demanded of him. I know +that thou hast jealousy for Sir Tristram in thy heart and that thou hast +ever imputed wickedness and sin unto him. Yet all the world knoweth that +Sir Tristram is a true knight and altogether innocent of any evil. For all +the evil which thou hast imputed to him hath no existence saving only in +thine own evil heart. Now I give thee and all thy people to know that had +ill befallen Sir Tristram at your hands I should have held you accountable +therefor and should have punished you in such a way that you would not soon +have forgotten it. But of that there is no need, for Sir Tristram himself +hath punished you in full measure without any aid from me. So now I will go +away from this place and will never come hither again; nor will I +acknowledge you should I meet you in court or in field." + +So saying, Sir Launcelot turned and went away from that place very proudly +and haughtily, leaving them all abashed at his rebuke. + +[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot findeth Sir Tristram and Belle Isoult in the +forest] So that day Sir Launcelot went forward through the forest until he +reached that castle whereunto Sir Tristram had taken the Lady Belle Isoult, +and there he was received by Sir Tristram with all joy and honor. And Sir +Launcelot abided at that place for two days, with great pleasure to himself +and to Sir Tristram and to Belle Isoult. + +At the end of that time Sir Launcelot said to Sir Tristram: "Messire, it is +not well that you and this dear lady should abide here so nigh to Tintagel. +For, certes, King Mark will some time work some grievous ill upon you. So I +beseech you to come with me unto my castle of Joyous Gard. There this lady +shall reign queen paramount and we shall be her very faithful servants to +do her pleasure in all ways. That castle is a very beautiful place, and +there she may dwell in peace and safety and tranquillity all the days of +her life if she chooses to do so." + +[Sidenote: They depart for Joyous Gard] Now that saying of Sir Launcelot's +seemed good to Sir Tristram and to Belle Isoult; wherefore in three days +all they and their court made ready to depart. And they did depart from +that castle in the forest unto Joyous Gard, where they were received with +great honor and rejoicing. + +So the Lady Belle Isoult abided for three years at Joyous Gard, dwelling +there as queen paramount in all truth and innocence of life; and Sir +Launcelot and Sir Tristram were her champions and all their courts were her +servants. And during those three years there were many famous joustings +held at Joyous Gard, and several bel-adventures were performed both by Sir +Launcelot and Sir Tristram in her honor. + +And indeed I believe that this was the happiest time of all the Lady Belle +Isoult's life, for she lived there in peace and love and tranquillity and +she suffered neither grief nor misfortune in all that time. + +[Sidenote: King Arthur comes to Joyous Gard] Then one day there came King +Arthur to Joyous Gard, and he was received with such joy and celebration as +that place had never before beheld. A great feast was set in his honor, and +after the feast King Arthur and Sir Tristram and Belle Isoult withdrew to +one side and sat together in converse. + +Then after a while King Arthur said, "Lady, may I ask you a question?" And +at that Lady Belle Isoult lifted up her eyes and looked very strangely upon +the King, and after a while she said, "Ask thy question, Lord King, and I +will answer it if I can." "Lady," said King Arthur, "answer me this +question: is it better to dwell in honor with sadness or in dishonor with +joy?" + +Then Belle Isoult began to pant with great agitation, and by and by she +said, "Lord, why ask you me that?" King Arthur said: "Because, lady, I +think your heart hath sometimes asked you the selfsame question." Then the +Lady Belle Isoult clasped her hands together and cried out: "Yea, yea, my +heart hath often asked me that question, but I would not answer it." King +Arthur said: "Neither shalt thou answer me, for I am but a weak and erring +man as thou art a woman. But answer thou that question to God, dear lady, +and then thou shalt answer it in truth." + +Therewith King Arthur fell to talking of other things with Sir Tristram, +but the lady could not join them in talk, but sat thenceforth in silence, +finding it hard to breathe because of the oppression of tears that lay upon +her bosom. + +And Belle Isoult said no more concerning that question that King Arthur had +asked. But three days after that time she came to Sir Tristram and said: +"Dear lord, I have bethought me much of what King Arthur said, and this +hath come of it, that I must return again unto Cornwall." + +Then Sir Tristram turned away his face so that she might not see it, and he +said, "Methought it would come to that." And then in a little he went away +from that place, leaving her standing there. + +So it came about that peace was made betwixt Sir Tristram and King Mark, +and Belle Isoult and King Mark, and King Arthur was the peacemaker. + +[Sidenote: Belle Isoult scorns King Mark] Thereafter Sir Tristram and his +court and the Lady Belle Isoult returned unto Cornwall, and there they +dwelt for some time in seeming peace. But in that time the Lady Belle +Isoult would never see King Mark nor exchange a word with him, but lived +entirely apart from him and in her own life in a part of the castle; and at +that King Mark was struck with such bitterness of despair that he was like +to a demon in torment. For he saw, as it were, a treasure very near and yet +afar, for he could not come unto it. And the more he suffered that torment, +the more he hated Sir Tristram, for in his suffering it appeared to him +that Sir Tristram was the cause of that suffering. + +So it came about that King Mark set spies to watch Sir Tristram, for in his +evil heart he suspected Sir Tristram of treason, and he hoped that his +spies might discover Sir Tristram in some act for which he might be +punished. So those spies watched Sir Tristram both night and day, but they +could find nothing that he did that was amiss. + +Now one day Belle Isoult felt such a longing for Sir Tristram that she +could not refrain from sending a note to him beseeching him for to come to +her so that they might see one another again; and though Sir Tristram +misdoubted what he did, yet he went as she desired, even if it should mean +the peril of death to him. + +Then came those spies to King Mark and told him that Sir Tristram was gone +to the bower of the Lady Belle Isoult, and that she had bidden him to come +thither. + +At that the vitals of King Mark were twisted with such an agony of hatred +and despair that he bent him double and cried out, "Woe! Woe! I suffer +torments!" + +[Sidenote: King Mark spies upon Sir Tristram and Isoult] Therewith he +arose and went very quickly to that part of the castle where the Lady Belle +Isoult inhabited; and he went very softly up by a back way and through a +passage to where was a door with curtains hanging before it; and when he +had come there he parted the curtains and peeped within. And he beheld that +the Lady Belle Isoult and Sir Tristram sat at a game of chess, and he +beheld that they played not at the game but that they sat talking together +very sadly; and he beheld that Dame Bragwaine sat in a deep window to one +side--for Belle Isoult did not wish it to be said that she and Sir Tristram +sat alone. + +All this King Mark saw and trembled with a torment of jealousy. So by and +by he left that place and went very quietly back into that passageway +whence he had come. And when he had come there he perceived a great glaive +upon a pole two ells long. This he took into his hand and returned unto +that curtained doorway again. + +Then being in all ways prepared he parted the curtains silently and stepped +very quickly and without noise into the room. And the back of Sir Tristram +was toward him. + +Then King Mark lifted the glaive on high and he struck; and Sir Tristram +sank without a sound. + +Yea, I believe that that good knight knew naught of what had happened until +he awoke in Paradise to find himself in that realm of happiness and peace. + +[Sidenote: Of the passing of Tristram and Isoult] Then Belle Isoult arose, +overturning the table of chessmen as she did so, but she made no outcry nor +sound of any sort. But she stood looking down at Sir Tristram for a little +space, and then she kneeled down beside his body and touched the face +thereof as though to make sure that it was dead. Therewith, as though being +assured, she fell down with her body upon his; and King Mark stood there +looking down upon them. + +All this had passed so quickly that Dame Bragwaine hardly knew what had +befallen; but now, upon an instant, she suddenly fell to shrieking so +piercingly that the whole castle rang with the sound thereof. + +Now there were in the outer room several of the knights of the court of Sir +Tristram who had come thither with him as witnesses that he performed no +treason to the King. These, when Dame Bragwaine shrieked in that wise, came +running into the room and therewith beheld what had happened. Then all they +stood aghast at that sight. + +[Sidenote: Sir Alexander slays King Mark] But there was in the court of +Sir Tristram a very young, gallant knight hight Sir Alexander. This knight +came to where King Mark stood looking down upon his handiwork as though +entranced with what he had done. Then Sir Alexander said to King Mark, "Is +this thy work?" And King Mark raised his eyes very heavily and looked at +Sir Alexander and he answered, "Ay!" Then Sir Alexander cried out, "Thou +hast lived too long!" And therewith drawing his misericordia, he catched +King Mark by the left wrist and lifted his arm. And Sir Alexander drave the +dagger into the side of King Mark, and King Mark groaned and sank down upon +the ground, and in a little while died where he lay. + +Then those knights went to where the Lady Belle Isoult lay and lifted her +up; but, lo! the soul had left her, and she was dead. For I believe that it +was not possible for one of those loving souls to leave its body with out +the other quitting its body also, so that they might meet together in +Paradise. For there never were two souls in all the history of chivalry +that clave to one another so tenderly as did the souls of Tristram and +Isoult. + +So endeth this story of Sir Tristram, with only this to say, that they two +were buried with the graves close together, and that it is said by many who +have written of them that there grew a rose-tree up from Sir Tristram's +grave, and down upon the grave of Belle Isoult; and it is said that this +rose-tree was a miracle, for that upon his grave there grew red roses, and +upon her grave there grew pure white roses. For her soul was white like to +thrice-carded wool, and so his soul was red with all that was of courage or +knightly pride. + +And I pray that God may rest the souls of those two as I pray He may rest +the souls of all of us who must some time go the way that those two and so +many others have travelled before us. Amen. + + + + +The Book of Sir Percival + +_Here beginneth the story of Sir Percival of Gales, who was considered to +be one of the three great knights of the Round Table at that time. For, if +Sir Launcelot was the chiefest of all the knights who ever came unto King +Arthur's court, then it is hard to say whether Sir Tristram of Lyonesse or +Sir Percival of Gales was second unto him in renown_. + +_And I pray that it shall be given unto all of ye to live as brave and +honorable and pure a life as he did; and that you, upon your part, may +claim a like glory and credit in the world in which you dwell by such noble +behavior as he exhibited_. + +[Illustration: Sir Percival of Gales] + + + + +Prologue. + +The father of Sir Percival was that king hight Pellinore who fought so +terrible a battle with King Arthur as has been told in the Book of King +Arthur. For it was after that fight that King Arthur obtained his famous +sword Excalibur, as was therein told. + +Now, King Pellinore was one of those eleven kings who, in the beginning of +King Arthur's reign, were in rebellion against King Arthur as hath been +told in the book aforesaid, and he was one of the last of all those kings +to yield when he was overcome. So King Arthur drove him from town to town +and from place to place until, at last, he was driven away from the +habitations of men and into the forests like to a wild beast. + +[Sidenote: King Pellinore fleeth to the wilderness] Now, King Pellinore +took with him into the wilderness his wife and his four sons; to wit, +Lamorack and Aglaval and Dornar and Percival. Of these, Percival was but +three years of age; the others, excepting Dornar, being nigh to the estate +of manhood. Thereafter that noble family dwelt in the forest like hunted +animals, and that was a very great hardship for the lady who had been +queen; and, likewise, it was greatly to the peril of the young child, +Percival. + +Now, Percival was extraordinarily beautiful and his mother loved him above +all her other sons. Wherefore she feared lest the young child should die of +those hardships in the wilderness. + +So one day King Pellinore said: "Dear love, I am now in no wise prepared +for to defend thee and this little one. Wherefore, for a while, I shall put +ye away from me so that ye may remain in secret hiding until such time as +the child shall have grown in years and stature to the estate of manhood +and may so defend himself. + +"Now of all my one-time possessions I have only two left to me. One of +these is a lonely castle in this forest (unto which I am now betaking my +way), and the other is a solitary tower at a great distance from this, and +in a very desolate part of the world where there are many mountains. Unto +that place I shall send ye, for it will not be likely that mine enemies +will ever find ye there. + +"So my will is this: that if this child groweth in that lonely place to +manhood, and if he be weak in body or timid in spirit, thou shalt make of +him a clerk of holy orders. But if when he groweth, he shall prove to be +strong and lusty of frame and high of spirit, and shall desire to undertake +deeds of knighthood, thou then shalt not stay him from his desires, but +shall let him go forth into the world as he shall have a mind to do. + +"And if a time should come when he desireth to go thus into the world +behold! here is a ring set with a very precious ruby; let him bring that +ring to me or to any of our sons wheresoever he may find us, and by that +ring we shall know that he is my son and their brother, and we will receive +him with great gladness." + +[Sidenote: Percival's mother taketh him to the mountains] And King +Pellinore's lady said, "It shall be done as thou dost ordain." So it was +that King Pellinore betook himself to that lonely castle where King Arthur +found him and fought with him; and Percival's mother betook herself to that +dwelling-place in the mountains of which King Pellinore had spoken--which +was a single tower that reached up into the sky, like unto a finger of +stone. + +There she abided with Percival for sixteen years, and in all that time +Percival knew naught of the world nor of what sort it was, but grew +altogether wild and was entirely innocent like to a little child. + +In the mean time, during those years, it happened very ill to the house of +King Pellinore. For though King Arthur became reconciled to King Pellinore, +yet there were in King Arthur's court many who were bitter enemies to that +good, worthy knight. So it came about that first King Pellinore was slain +by treachery, and then Sir Aglaval and Sir Dornar were slain in the same +way, so that Sir Lamorack alone was left of all that noble family. + +(And it was said that Sir Gawaine and his brothers were implicated in those +murders--they being enemies unto King Pellinore--and great reproach hath +always clung to them for the treacherous, unknightly way in which those +noble knights of the house of Pellinore were slain.) + +[Sidenote: Percival's mother grieveth for the death of her dear ones] Now +the news of those several deaths was brought to that lonely tower of the +mountain wilderness and to Sir Percival's mother; and when she heard how +her husband and two of her sons were dead she gave great outcry of grief, +and smote her hands together and wept with great passion. And she cried +out: "Mefeareth it will be the time of Lamorack next to be slain. As for +Percival; never shall I be willing for him to go out into that cruel world +of wicked murderers. For if he should perish also, my heart would surely +break." + +[Sidenote: How Percival dwelt in the mountains] So she kept Percival +always with her and in ignorance of all that concerned the world of +knighthood. And though Percival waxed great of body and was beautiful and +noble of countenance, yet he dwelt there among those mountains knowing no +more of the world that lay beyond that place in which he dwelt than would a +little innocent child. Nor did he ever see anyone from the outside world, +saving only an old man who was a deaf-mute. And this old man came and went +betwixt that tower where Percival and his mother dwelt and the outer world, +and from the world he would come back with clothing and provisions loaded +upon an old sumpter horse for Percival and his mother and their few +attendants. Yet Percival marvelled many times whence those things came, but +no one told him and so he lived in entire ignorance of the world. + +And Percival's mother would not let him touch any weapon saving only a +small Scot's spear which same is a sort of javelin. But with this Percival +played every day of his life until he grew so cunning in handling it that +he could pierce with it a bird upon the wing in the air. + +Now it chanced upon a time when Percival was nineteen years of age that he +stood upon a pinnacle of rock and looked down into a certain valley. And it +was very early in the spring-time, so that the valley appeared, as it were, +to be carpeted all with clear, thin green. There was a shining stream of +water that ran down through the midst of the valley, and it was a very fair +and peaceful place to behold. + +[Sidenote: Percival beholds a knight-rider] So Percival stood and gazed +into that low-land, and lo! a knight rode up through that valley, and the +sun shone out from behind a cloud of rain and smote upon his armor so that +it appeared to be all ablaze as with pure light, and Percival beheld that +knight and wist not what it was he saw. So, after the knight had gone away +from the valley, he ran straightway to his mother, all filled with a great +wonder, and he said: "Mother! Mother! I have beheld a very wonderful +thing." She said, "What was it thou didst see?" Percival said: "I beheld +somewhat that was like a man, and he rode upon a horse, and he shone very +brightly and with exceeding splendor. Now, I prithee tell me what it was I +saw?" + +Then Percival's mother knew very well what it was he had seen, and she was +greatly troubled at heart, for she wist that if Percival's knightly spirit +should be awakened he would no longer be content to dwell in those peaceful +solitudes. Wherefore she said to herself: "How is this? Is it to be that +this one lamb also shall be taken away from me and nothing left to me of +all my flock?" Then she said to Percival: "My son, that which thou didst +behold was doubtless an angel." And Percival said, "I would that I too were +an angel!" And at that speech the lady, his mother, sighed very deeply. + +Now it chanced upon the next day after that that Percival and his mother +went down into the forest that lay at the foot of the mountain whereon that +tower stood, and they had intent to gather such early flowers of the +spring-time as were then abloom. And whilst they were there, lo! there came +five knights riding through the forest, and, the leaves being thin like to +a mist of green, Percival perceived them a great way off. So he cried out +in a loud voice: "Mother! Mother! Behold! Yonder is a whole company of +angels such as I saw yesterday! Now I will go and give them greeting." + +But his mother said: "How now! How now! Wouldst thou make address unto +angels!" And Percival said: "Yea; for they appear to be both mild of face +and gentle of mien." So he went forward for to greet those knights. + +[Sidenote: Percival holds discourse with five knights] Now the foremost of +that party of knights was Sir Ewaine, who was always both gentle and +courteous to everybody. Wherefore, when Sir Ewaine saw Percival nigh at +hand, he gave him greeting and said, "Fair youth, what is thy name?" Unto +this Percival made reply: "My name is Percival." Sir Ewaine said: "That is +a very good name, and thy face likewise is so extraordinarily comely that I +take thee to be of some very high lineage. Now tell me, I prithee, who is +thy father?" To this Percival said, "I cannot tell thee what is my lineage, +for I do not know," and at that Sir Ewaine marvelled a very great deal. +Then, after a little while, he said: "I prithee tell me, didst thou see a +knight pass this way to-day or yesterday?" And Percival said, "I know not +what sort of a thing is a knight." Sir Ewaine said, "A knight is such a +sort of man as I am." + +Upon this Percival understood many things that he did not know before, and +he willed with all his soul to know more than those. Wherefore he said: "If +thou wilt answer several questions for me, I will gladly answer thine." +Upon this Sir Ewaine smiled very cheerfully (for he liked Percival +exceedingly), and he said: "Ask what thou wilt and I will answer thee in so +far as I am able." + +So Percival said, "I prithee tell me what is this thing?" And he laid his +hand thereon. And Sir Ewaine said, "That is a saddle." And Percival said, +"What is this thing?" And Sir Ewaine said, "That is a sword." And Percival +said, "What is this thing?" And Sir Ewaine said, "That is a shield." And so +Percival asked him concerning all things that appertained to the +accoutrements of a knight, and Sir Ewaine answered all his questions. Then +Percival said: "Now I will answer thy question. I saw a knight ride past +this way yesterday, and he rode up yonder valley and to the westward." + +Upon this Sir Ewaine gave gramercy to Percival and saluted him, and so did +the other knights, and they rode their way. + +After they had gone Percival returned to his mother, and he beheld that she +sat exactly where he had left her, for she was in great travail of soul +because she perceived that Percival would not now stay with her very much +longer. And when Percival came to where she sat he said to her: "Mother, +those were not angels, but very good, excellent knights." And upon this the +lady, his mother, burst into a great passion of weeping, so that Percival +stood before her all abashed, not knowing why she wept. So by and by he +said, "Mother, why dost thou weep?" But she could not answer him for a +while, and after a while she said, "Let us return homeward." And so they +walked in silence. + +Now when they had come to the tower where they dwelt, the lady turned of a +sudden unto Percival and she said to him, "Percival, what is in thy heart?" +And he said, "Mother, thou knowest very well what is there." She said, "Is +it that thou wouldst be a knight also?" And he said, "Thou sayst it." And +upon that she said, "Thou shalt have thy will; come with me." + +So Percival's mother led him to the stable and to where was that poor +pack-horse that brought provisions to that place, and she said: "This is a +sorry horse but I have no other for thee. Now let us make a saddle for +him." So Percival and his mother twisted sundry cloths and wisps of hay and +made a sort of a saddle thereof. And Percival's mother brought him a scrip +with bread and cheese for his refreshment and she hung it about his +shoulder. And she brought him his javelin which he took in his hand. And +then she gave him the ring of King Pellinore with that precious ruby jewel +inset into it, and she said: "Take thou this, Percival, and put it upon thy +finger, for it is a royal ring. Now when thou leavest me, go unto the court +of King Arthur and make diligent inquiry for Sir Lamorack of Gales. And +when thou hast found him, show him that ring, and he will see that thou art +made a very worthy knight; for, Percival, Sir Lamorack is thy brother. One +time thou hadst a father alive, and thou hadst two other brothers. But all +they were slain by treachery of our enemies, and only thou and Lamorack are +left; so look to it that thou guard thyself when thou art in the world and +in the midst of those enemies; for if thou shouldst perish at their hands, +I believe my heart would break." + +[Sidenote: Percival's mother giveth him advice] Then she gave Percival +advice concerning the duty of one who would make himself worthy of +knighthood, and that advice was as follows: "In thy journeying thou art to +observe these sundry things: When thou comest to a church or a shrine say a +pater-noster unto the glory of God; and if thou hearest a cry of anyone in +trouble, hasten to lend thine aid--especially if it be a woman or a child +who hath need of it; and if thou meet a lady or a damosel, salute her in +seemly fashion; and if thou have to do with a man, be both civil and +courageous unto him; and if thou art an-hungered or athirst and findest +food and wine, eat and drink enough to satisfy thee, but no more; and if +thou findest a treasure or a jewel of price and canst obtain those things +without injustice unto another, take that thing for thine own--but give +that which thou hast with equal freedom unto others. So, by obeying these +precepts, thou shalt become worthy to be a true knight and, haply, be also +worthy of thy father, who was a true knight before thee." + +And Percival said, "All these things will I remember and observe to do." + +And Percival's mother said, "But thou wilt not forget me, Percival?" + +[Sidenote: Percival departs from the mountain] And he said: "Nay, mother; +but when I have got me power and fame and wealth, then will I straightway +return thitherward and take thee away from this place, and thou shalt be +like to a Queen for all the glory that I shall bestow upon thee." Upon this +the lady, his mother, both laughed and wept; and Percival stooped and +kissed her upon the lips. Then he turned and left her, and he rode away +down the mountain and into the forest, and she stood and gazed after him as +long as she could see him. And she was very lonely after he had gone. + +So I have told you how it came that Percival went out into the world for to +become a famous knight. + +[Illustration: The Lady Yvette the Fair] + + + + +Chapter First + + +_How Percival departed into the world and how he found a fair damsel in a +pavilion; likewise how he came before Queen Guinevere and how he undertook +his first adventure_. + +[Sidenote: Percival maketh himself armor of willow twigs] Now after +Percival had ridden upon his way for a very long time, he came at last out +of that part of the forest and unto a certain valley where were many osiers +growing along beside a stream of water. So he gathered branches of the +willow-trees and peeled them and wove them very cunningly into the likeness +of armor such as he had seen those knights wear who had come into his +forest. And when he had armed himself with wattled osiers he said unto +himself, "Now am I accoutred as well as they." Whereupon he rode upon his +way with an heart enlarged with joy. + +By and by he came out of the forest altogether and unto a considerable +village where were many houses thatched with straw. And Percival said to +himself: "Ha! how great is the world; I knew not that there were so many +people in the world." + +[Sidenote: How Percival rode in the world] But when the folk of that place +beheld what sort of a saddle was upon the back of the pack-horse; and when +they beheld what sort of armor it was that Percival wore--all woven of +osier twigs; and when they beheld how he was armed with a javelin and with +no other weapon, they mocked and laughed at him and jeered him. But +Percival understood not their mockery, whereupon he said: "Lo! how pleasant +and how cheerful is the world. I knew not it was so merry a place." So he +laughed and nodded and gave them greeting who mocked him in that manner. +And some of them said, "That is a madman." And others said, "Nay, he is a +silly fool." And when Percival heard these he said to himself: "I wonder +whether there are other sorts of knights that I have not yet heard tell +of?" + +So he rode upon his way very happy, and whenever he met travellers, they +would laugh at him; but he would laugh louder than they and give them +greeting because of pure pleasure that the great world was so merry and +kind. + +Now in the declining of the afternoon, he came to a certain pleasant glade, +and there he beheld a very noble and stately pavilion in among the trees, +And that pavilion was all of yellow satin so that it shone like to gold in +the light of the declining sun. + +Then Percival said to himself: "Verily, this must be one of those churches +concerning which my mother spake to me." So he descended from his horse and +went to that pavilion and knelt down and said a pater-noster. + +[Sidenote: Percival enters the golden pavilion] And when he had ended that +prayer, he arose and went into the pavilion, and lo! he beheld there a +wonderfully beautiful young damsel of sixteen years of age who sat in the +pavilion upon a carved bench and upon a cushion of cloth of gold, and who +bent over a frame of embroidery, which she was busy weaving in threads of +silver and gold. And the hair of that damosel was as black as ebony and her +cheeks were like rose leaves for redness, and she wore a fillet of gold +around her head, and she was clad in raiment of sky blue silk. And near by +was a table spread with meats of divers sorts and likewise with several +wines, both white and red. And all the goblets were of silver and all the +pattens were of gold, and the table was spread with a napkin embroidered +with threads of gold. + +Now you are to know that the young lady who sat there was the Lady Yvette +the Fair, the daughter of King Pecheur. + +When Percival came to that pavilion the Lady Yvette looked up and beheld +him with great astonishment, and she said to herself: "That must either be +a madman or a foolish jester who comes hither clad all in armor of wattled +willow twigs." So she said to him, "Sirrah, what dost thou here?" He said, +"Lady, is this a church?" Upon that she was angered thinking that he had +intended to make a jest and she said: "Begone, fool, for if my father, who +is King Pecheur, cometh and findeth thee here, he will punish thee for this +jest." But Percival replied, "Nay; I think he will not, lady." + +Then the damosel looked at Percival more narrowly and she beheld how noble +and beautiful was his countenance and she said to herself: "This is no fool +nor a jester, but who he is or what he is I know not." + +[Sidenote: Percival breaks bread in the golden pavilion] So she said to +Percival, "Whence comest thou?" and he said, "From the mountains and the +wilderness." Then he said: "Lady, when I left my mother she told me that +whenever I saw good food and drink and was an-hungered, I was to take what +I needed. Now I will do so in this case." Whereupon he sat him down to that +table and fell to with great appetite. + +Then when that damosel beheld what he did she laughed in great measure and +clapped her hands together in sport. And she said: "If my father and +brothers should return and find thee at this, they would assuredly punish +thee very sorely, and thou couldst not make thyself right with them." +Percival said, "Why would they do that, lady?" And she said: "Because that +is their food and drink, and because my father is a king and my brethren +are his sons." Then Percival said, "Certes, they would be uncourteous to +begrudge food to a hungry man"; and thereat the damsel laughed again. + +Now when Percival had eaten and drunk his fill, he arose from where he sat. +And he beheld that the damsel wore a very beautiful ring of carved gold set +with a pearl of great price. So he said to her: "Lady, my mother told me +that if I beheld a jewel or treasure and desired it for my own, I was to +take it if I could do so without offence to anyone. Now I prithee give me +that ring upon thy finger, for I desire it a very great deal." At this the +maiden regarded Percival very strangely, and she beheld that he was comely +beyond any man whom she had ever seen and that his countenance was very +noble and exalted and yet exceedingly mild and gentle. So she said to him, +speaking very gently, "Why should I give thee my ring?" Whereunto he made +reply: "Because thou art the most beautiful lady whom mine eyes ever beheld +and I find that I love thee more than I had thought possible to love +anyone." + +At that the damosel smiled upon him and said, "What is thy name?" And he +said, "It is Percival." She said, "That is a good name; who is thy father?" +Whereunto he said: "That I cannot tell thee for my mother hath bidden me +tell his name to no one yet whiles." She said, "I think he must be some +very noble and worthy knight," and Percival said, "He is all that, for he +too was a king." + +[Sidenote: The damsel giveth Percival her ring] Then the damsel said, +"Thou mayst have my ring," and she gave it to him. And when Percival had +placed it upon his finger he said: "My mother also told me that I should +give freely of what is mine own, wherefore I do give thee this ring of mine +in exchange for thine, and I do beseech thee to wear it until I have proved +myself worthy of thy kindness. For I hope to win a very famous knighthood +and great praise and renown, all of which, if I so accomplish my desires, +shall be to thy great glory. I would fain come to thee another time in that +wise instead of as I am at this present." + +At that the damsel said: "I know not what thou art or whence thou comest +who should present thyself in such an extraordinary guise as thou art +pleased to do, but, certes, thou must be of some very noble strain. +Wherefore I do accept thee for my knight, and I believe that I shall some +time have great glory through thee." + +[Sidenote: Percival salutes the damsel of the golden pavilion] Then +Percival said: "Lady, my mother said to me that if I met a damosel I was to +salute her with all civility. Now have I thy leave to salute thee?" And she +said, "Thou hast my leave." So Percival took her by the hand, and kissed +her upon the lips (for that was the only manner in which he knew how to +salute a woman) and, lo! her face grew all red like to fire. Thereupon +Percival quitted that pavilion and mounted his horse and rode away. And it +seemed to him that the world was assuredly a very beautiful and wonderful +place for to live in. + +Yet he knew not what the world was really like nor of what a sort it was +nor how passing wide, else had he not been so certainly assured that he +would win him credit therein, or that he could so easily find that young +damsel again after he had thus parted from her. + +That night Percival came to a part of the forest where were many huts of +folk who made their living by gathering fagots. These people gave him +harborage and shelter for the night, for they thought that he was some +harmless madman who had wandered afar. And they told him many things he had +never known before that time, so that it appeared to him that the world was +still more wonderful than he had thought it to be at first. + +So he abided there for the night, and when the next morning had come he +arose and bathed himself and went his way; and, as he rode upon his poor +starved horse, he brake his fast with the bread and cheese that his mother +had put into his wallet, and he was very glad at heart and rejoiced +exceedingly in the wonderfulness and the beauty of the world in which he +found himself to be. + +[Sidenote: How Percival travelled in the forest] So Percival journeyed on +into that forest, and he took such great delight in the beauty of the world +in which he travelled that he was at times like to shed tears of pure +happiness because of the joy he felt in being alive. For that forest path +he travelled led beneath the trees of the woodland; and the trees at that +time were in their early tender leaf, so that they appeared to shed showers +of golden light everywhere down upon the earth. And the birds of the +woodland sang in every bush and thicket; and, anon, the wood pigeon cooed +so softly that the heart of Percival yearned with great passion for he knew +not what. + +Thus he rode, somewhiles all in a maze of green, and somewhiles out thence +into an open glade where the light was wide and bright; and other whiles he +came to some forest stream where was a shallow pool of golden gravel, and +where the water was so thin and clear that you might not tell where it +ended and the pure air began. And therethrough he would drive his horse, +splashing with great noise, whilst the little silvery fish would dart away +upon all sides, hither and thither, like sparks of light before his coming. + +So, because of the beauty of this forest land in its spring-time verdure +and pleasantness, the heart of Percival was uplifted with so much joy and +delight that he was like to weep for pure pleasure as aforesaid. + +Now it chanced at that time that King Arthur and several of his court had +come into that forest ahawking; but, the day being warm, the Queen had +grown weary of the sport, so she had commanded her attendants to set up a +pavilion for her whilst the King continued his hawking. And the pavilion +was pitched in an open glade of the forest whereunto Percival came riding. + +Then Percival perceived that pavilion set up among the trees, and likewise +he saw that the pavilion was of rose colored silk. Also he perceived that +not far from him was a young page very gayly and richly clad. + +[Sidenote: Percival bespeaketh the Lady Guinevere's page] Now when the +page beheld Percival and what a singular appearance he presented, he +laughed beyond all measure, and Percival, not knowing that he laughed in +mockery, laughed also and gave him a very cheerful greeting in return. Then +Percival said to the page: "I prithee tell me, fair youth, whose is that +pavilion yonder?" And the page said: "It belongeth to Queen Guinevere; for +King Arthur is coming hither into the forest with his court." + +At this Percival was very glad, for he deemed that he should now find Sir +Lamorack. So he said: "I pray thee tell me, is Sir Lamorack of Gales with +the court of the King, for I come hither seeking that good worthy knight?" + +Then the page laughed a very great deal, and said: "Who art thou to seek +Sir Lamorack? Art thou then a jester?" And Percival said, "What sort of a +thing is a jester?" And the page said, "Certes, thou art a silly fool." And +Percival said, "What is a fool?" + +Upon this the page fell alaughing as though he would never stint his mirth +so that Percival began to wax angry for he said to himself: "These people +laugh too much and their mirth maketh me weary." So, without more ado, he +descended from his horse with intent to enter the Queen's pavilion and to +make inquiry there for Sir Lamorack. + +Now when that page saw what Percival had a mind to do, he thrust in to +prevent him, saying, "Thou shalt not go in!" Upon that Percival said, "Ha! +shall I not so?" And thereupon he smote the page such a buffet that the +youth fell down without any motion, as though he had gone dead. + +Then Percival straightway entered the Queen's pavilion. + +[Sidenote: Percival beholdeth Queen Guinevere] And the first thing he saw +was a very beautiful lady surrounded by a court of ladies. And the Queen +was eating a mid-day repast whilst a page waited upon her for to serve her, +bearing for her refreshment pure wine in a cup of entire gold. And he saw +that a noble lord (and the lord was Sir Kay the Seneschal), stood in the +midst of that beautiful rosy pavilion directing the Queen's repast; for Sir +Kay of all the court had been left in charge of the Queen and her ladies. + +Now when Percival entered the tent Sir Kay looked up, and when he perceived +what sort of a figure was there, he frowned with great displeasure. "Ha!" +he said, "what mad fool is this who cometh hitherward?" + +Unto him Percival made reply: "Thou tall man, I prithee tell me, which of +these ladies present here is the Queen?" Sir Kay said, "What wouldst thou +have with the Queen?" To this Percival said: "I have come hither for to lay +my case before King Arthur, and my case is this: I would fain obtain +knighthood, and meseems that King Arthur may best help me thereunto." + +[Sidenote: Sir Kay chides Percival] When the Queen heard the words of +Percival she laughed with great merriment. But Sir Kay was still very +wroth, and he said: "Sirrah, thou certainly art some silly fool who hath +come hither dressed all in armor of willow twigs and without arms or +equipment of any sort save only a little Scots spear. Now this is the +Queen's court and thou art not fit to be here." + +"Ha," said Percival, "it seems to me that thou art very foolish--thou tall +man--to judge of me by my dress and equipment. For, even though I wear such +poor apparel as this, yet I may easily be thy superior both in birth and +station." + +[Sidenote: Sir Boindegardus enters the Queen's pavilion] Then Sir Kay was +exceedingly wroth and would have made a very bitter answer to Percival, but +at that moment something of another sort befell. For, even as Percival +ceased speaking, there suddenly entered the pavilion a certain very large +and savage knight of an exceedingly terrible appearance; and his +countenance was very furious with anger. And this knight was one Sir +Boindegardus le Savage, who was held in terror by all that part of King +Arthur's realm. For Sir Boindegardus was surnamed the Savage because he +dwelt like a wild man in the forest in a lonely dismal castle of the +woodland; and because that from this castle he would issue forth at times +to rob and pillage the wayfarers who passed by along the forest byways. +Many knights had gone against Sir Boindegardus, with intent either to slay +him or else to make him prisoner; but some of these knights he had +overcome, and from others he had escaped, so that he was as yet free to +work his evil will as he chose. + +So now this savage knight entered that pavilion with his helmet upon his +hip and his shield upon his shoulder, and all those ladies who were there +were terrified at his coming, for they wist that he came in anger with +intent of mischief. + +As for Sir Kay (he being clad only in a silken tunic of green color and +with scarlet hosen and velvet shoes, fit for the court of a lady) he was +afraid, and he wist not how to bear himself in the presence of Sir +Boindegardus. Then Sir Boindegardus said, "Where is King Arthur?" And Sir +Kay made no reply because of fear. Then one of the Queen's damsels said, +"He is hawking out beyond here in the outskirts of the forest." Then Sir +Boindegardus said: "I am sorry for that, for I had thought to find him here +at this time and to show challenge to him and his entire court, for I fear +no one of them. But, as King Arthur is not here, I may, at least, affront +his Queen." + +[Sidenote: Sir Boindegardus affronts the Queen] With that he smote the +elbow of the page who held the goblet for the Queen, and the wine was +splashed all in the Queen's face and over her stomacher. + +Thereupon the Queen shrieked with terror, and one of her maidens ran to her +aid and others came with napkins and wiped her face and her apparel and +gave her words of cheer. + +Then Sir Kay found courage to say: "Ha! thou art a churlish knight to so +affront a lady." + +With that Sir Boindegardus turned very fiercely upon him and said: "And +thou likest not my behavior, thou mayst follow me hence into a meadow a +little distance from this to the eastward where thou mayst avenge that +affront upon my person if thou art minded to do so." + +Then Sir Kay knew not what to reply for he wist that Sir Boindegardus was a +very strong and terrible knight. Wherefore he said, "Thou seest that I am +altogether without arms or armor." Upon that Sir Boindegardus laughed in +great scorn, and therewith seized the golden goblet from the hands of the +page and went out from the pavilion, and mounting his horse rode away +bearing that precious chalice with him. + +[Sidenote: Percival berates Sir Kay] Then the Queen fell aweeping very +sorely from fright and shame, and when young Percival beheld her tears, he +could not abide the sight thereof. So he cried out aloud against Sir Kay, +saying: "Thou tall man! that was very ill done of thee; for, certes, with +or without armor thou shouldst have taken the quarrel of this lady upon +thee. For my mother told me I should take upon me the defence of all such +as needed defence, but she did not say that I was to wait for arms or armor +to aid me to do what was right. Now, therefore, though I know little of +arms or of knighthood, I will take this quarrel upon myself and will do +what I may to avenge this lady's affront, if I have her leave to do so." + +And Queen Guinevere said: "Thou hast my leave, since Sir Kay does not +choose to assume my quarrel." + +[Sidenote: The damsel praises Percival] Now there was a certain very +beautiful young damsel of the court of the Queen hight Yelande, surnamed +the "Dumb Maiden," because she would hold no commerce with any knight of +the court. For in all the year she had been at the court of the King, she +had spoken no word to any man, nor had she smiled upon any. This damsel +perceiving how comely and noble was the countenance of Percival, came to +him and took him by the hand and smiled upon him very kindly. And she said +to him: "Fair youth, thou hast a large and noble heart, and I feel very +well assured that thou art of a sort altogether different from what thine +appearance would lead one to suppose. Now I do affirm that if thou art able +to carry this adventure through with thy life, thou wilt some time become +one of the greatest knights in all of the world. For never did I hear tell +of one who, without arm or armor, would take up a quarrel with a +well-approved knight clad in full array. But indeed thy heart is as brave +as thy face is comely, and I believe that thou art as noble as thy speech +and manner is gentle." + +[Sidenote: Sir Kay strikes the damsel] Then Sir Kay was very angry with +that damsel and he said: "Truly, thou art ill taught to remain for all this +year in the court of King Arthur amid the perfect flower of chivalry and +yet not to have given to one of those noble and honorable knights a single +word or a smile such as thou hast bestowed upon this boor." So saying, he +lifted his hand and smote that damsel a box on the ear so that she screamed +out aloud with pain and terror. + +Upon this Percival came very close to Sir Kay and he said: "Thou +discourteous tall man; now I tell thee, except that there are so many +ladies here present, and one of these a Queen, I would have to do with thee +in such a manner as I do not believe would be at all to thy liking. Now, +first of all I shall follow yonder uncivil knight and endeavor to avenge +this noble Queen for the affront he hath put upon her, and when I have done +with him, then will I hope for the time to come in which I shall have to do +with thee for laying hands upon this beautiful young lady who was so kind +to me just now. For, in the fulness of time, I will repay the foul blow +thou gavest her, and that twenty-fold." + +Thereupon Percival straightway went out from that pavilion and mounted upon +his sorry horse and rode away in the direction that Sir Boindegardus had +taken with the golden goblet. + +[Sidenote: Percival follows Sir Boindegardus] Now after a long time, he +came to another level meadow of grass, and there he beheld Sir Boindegardus +riding before him in great state with the golden goblet hanging to the horn +of his saddle. And Sir Boindegardus wore his helmet and carried his spear +in his right hand and his shield upon his other arm, and he was in all ways +prepared for an encounter at arms. And when he perceived Percival come +riding out of the forest in pursuit of him, he drew rein and turned. And +when Percival had come nigh enough Sir Boindegardus said, "Whence comest +thou, fool?" Percival replied, "I come from Queen Guinevere, her pavilion." +Then Sir Boindegardus said, "Does that knight who was there follow me +hitherward?" Unto which Percival made reply: "Nay, but I have followed thee +with intent to punish thee for the affront which thou didst put upon Queen +Guinevere." + +Then Sir Boindegardus was very wroth and he said: "Thou fool; I have a very +good intention for to slay thee." Therewith he raised his spear and smote +Percival with it upon the back of the neck so terrible a blow that he was +flung violently down from off his horse. Upon this Percival was so angry +that the sky all became like scarlet before his eyes. Wherefore, when he +had recovered from the blow he ran unto Sir Boindegardus and catched the +spear in his hands and wrestled with such terrible strength that he plucked +it away from Sir Boindegardus. And having thus made himself master of that +spear, he brake it across his knee and flung it away. + +[Sidenote: Percival slays Sir Boindegardus] Then Sir Boindegardus was in +furious rage, wherefore he drew his bright, shining sword with intent to +slay Percival. But when Percival saw what he would be at, he catched up his +javelin and, running to a little distance, he turned and threw it at Sir +Boindegardus with so cunning an aim that the point of the javelin entered +the ocularium of the helmet of Sir Boindegardus and pierced through the eye +and the brain and came out of the back of the head. Then Sir Boindegardus +pitched down from off his horse all into a heap upon the ground, and +Percival ran to him and stooped over him and perceived that he was dead. +Then Percival said: "Well, it would seem that I have put an end to a +terribly discourteous knight to ladies." + +[Sidenote: King Arthur sends Sir Launcelot and Sir Lamorack in quest of +Percival] Now a little after Percival had quitted the pavilion of Queen +Guinevere, King Arthur and eleven noble knights of the court returned +thither from hawking, and amongst those knights was Sir Launcelot of the +Lake and Sir Lamorack of Gales. Then those who were of the Queen's court +told King Arthur what had befallen, and thereat the King felt great +displeasure toward Sir Kay. And he said: "Kay, not only hast thou been very +discourteous in not assuming this quarrel of the Queen's, but I believe +that thou, a well-approved knight, hast in thy fear of Sir Boindegardus +been the cause of sending this youth upon an adventure in which he will be +subject to such great danger that it may very well be that he shall hardly +escape with his life. Now I will that two of you knights shall follow after +that youth for to rescue him if it be not too late; and those two shall be +Sir Launcelot of the Lake and Sir Lamorack of Gales. So make all haste, +Messires, lest some misfortune shall befall this brave, innocent madman." + +Thereupon those two knights mounted straightway upon their horses and rode +away in that direction whither Percival had gone. + +[Illustration: Sir Percival & Sir Lamorack ride together] + + + + +Chapter Second + + +_How Sir Percival was made knight by King Arthur; how he rode forth with +Sir Lamorack and how he left Sir Lamorack in quest of adventure upon his +own account; likewise how a great knight taught him craft in arms_. + +So after a considerable time they came to that meadow-land where Percival +had found Sir Boindegardus. + +[Sidenote: How the two knights find Percival in the meadow] But when they +came to that place they perceived a very strange sight. For they beheld one +clad all in armor of wattled willow-twigs and that one dragged the body of +an armed knight hither and thither upon the ground. So they two rode up to +where that affair was toward, and when they had come nigh enough, Sir +Launcelot said: "Ha, fair youth, thou art doing a very strange thing. What +art thou about?" + +To him Percival said: "Sir, I would get those plates of armor off this +knight, and I know not how to do it!" + +Then Sir Launcelot laughed, and he said: "Let be for a little while, and I +will show thee how to get the plates of armor off." And he said: "How came +this knight by his death." + +Percival said: "Sir, this knight hath greatly insulted Queen Guinevere +(that beautiful lady), and when I followed him thither with intent to take +her quarrel upon me, he struck me with his spear. And when I took his spear +away from him, and brake it across my knee, he drew his sword and would +have slain me, only that I slew him instead." + +Then Sir Launcelot was filled with amazement, and he said: "Is not that +knight Sir Boindegardus?" And Percival said: "Ay." Then Sir Launcelot said: +"Fair youth, know that thou hast slain one of the strongest and most +terrible knights in all the world. In this thou hast done a great service +unto King Arthur, so if thou wilt come with us to the court of King Arthur, +he will doubtless reward thee very bountifully for what thou hast done." + +Then Percival looked up into the faces of Sir Launcelot and Sir Lamorack +and he perceived that they were very noble. So he smiled upon them and +said: "Messires, I pray you tell me who you are and what is your degree." +Then Sir Launcelot smiled in return and said: "I am called Sir Launcelot of +the Lake, and this, my companion, is called Sir Lamorack of Gales." + +[Sidenote: Percival knoweth Sir Lamorack] Then Percival wist that he stood +in the presence of his own brother, and he looked into the countenance of +Sir Lamorack and marvelled how noble and exalted it was. And he felt a +great passion of love for Sir Lamorack, and a great joy in that love. But +he did not tell Sir Lamorack who he was, for he had learned several things +since he had come out into the world, and one was that he must not be too +hasty in such things. So he said to himself: "I will not as yet tell my +brother who I am, lest he shall be ashamed of me. But first I shall win me +such credit that he shall not be ashamed of me, and then I will acknowledge +to him who I am." + +Then Sir Launcelot said: "I prithee, fair youth, tell me what is thy name +since I have told thee ours, for I find that I have great love for thee so +that I would fain know who thou art." + +Then Percival said: "My name is Percival." + +At that Sir Lamorack cried out: "I knew one whose name was Percival, and he +was mine own brother. And if he be alive he must now be just such a youth +as thou art." + +Then Percival's heart yearned toward Sir Lamorack, so that he looked up and +smiled with great love into his face; yet he would not acknowledge to Sir +Lamorack who he was, but held his peace for that while. + +Then Sir Launcelot said: "Now, fair youth, we will show you how to take the +armor off of this dead knight, and after we have done that, we shall take +you back to King Arthur, so that he may reward you for what you have done +in the way that he may deem best." + +[Sidenote: The two knights arm Percival] So with that Sir Launcelot and +Sir Lamorack dismounted from their horses, and they went to that dead +knight and unlaced his armor and removed the armor from his body. And when +they had done that they aided Percival to remove the armor of wattled osier +twigs and they cased him in the armor of Sir Boindegardus; and thereafter +they all three rode back to that pavilion where the King and Queen were +holding court. + +But when King Arthur heard that Sir Boindegardus was dead he was filled +with great joy; and when he heard how it was that Percival had slain him, +he was amazed beyond measure; and he said to Percival: "Surely God is with +thee, fair youth, to help thee to perform such a worthy feat of arms as +this that thou hast done, for no knight yet hath been able to perform that +service." Then he said: "Tell me what it is that thou hast most desire to +have, and if it is in my power to give it to thee thou shalt have it." + +Then Percival kneeled down before King Arthur, and he said: "Lord, that +which I most desire of all things else is to be made knight. So if it is in +thy power to do so, I pray thee to make me a knight-royal with thine own +hands." + +Then King Arthur smiled upon Percival very kindly, and he said: "Percival, +it shall be as thou dost desire, and to-morrow I will make thee a knight." + +[Sidenote: King Arthur makes Percival a knight-royal] So that night +Percival watched his armor in the chapel of a hermit of the forest, and the +armor that he watched was the armor that had belonged to Sir Boindegardus +(for Percival besought King Arthur that he might wear that armor for his +own because it was what he himself had won in battle). And when the next +morning had come, Sir Launcelot and Sir Lamorack brought Percival before +King Arthur, and King Arthur made him a knight. + +After that Sir Percival besought King Arthur that he would give him leave +to depart from court so that he might do some worthy deed of arms that +might win him worship; and King Arthur gave him that leave he asked for. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival threatens Sir Kay] Then Sir Percival went to where +Sir Kay was sitting, and he said: "Messire, I have not forgot that blow you +gave that fair damsel yesterday when she spake so kindly to me. As yet I am +too young a knight to handle you; but by and by the time will come when I +shall return and repay you that blow tenfold and twentyfold what you gave!" +And at these words Sir Kay was in no wise pleased, for he wist that Sir +Percival would one day become a very strong and worthy knight. + +Now all this while the heart of Sir Lamorack yearned very greatly toward +Sir Percival, though Sir Lamorack knew not why that should be; so when Sir +Percival had obtained permission to go errant, Sir Lamorack asked King +Arthur for leave to ride forth so as to be with him; and King Arthur gave +Sir Lamorack that leave. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival and Sir Lamorack ride together] Thus it befell +that Sir Lamorack and Sir Percival rode forth together very lovingly and +cheerfully. And as they rode upon their way Sir Lamorack told Sir Percival +many things concerning the circumstances of knighthood, and to all that he +said Sir Percival gave great heed. But Sir Lamorack knew not that he was +riding with his own brother or that it was his own brother to whom he was +teaching the mysteries of chivalry, and Sir Percival told him nothing +thereof. But ever in his heart Sir Percival said to himself: "If God will +give me enough of His grace, I will some day do full credit unto thy +teaching, O my brother!" + +Now, after Sir Percival and Sir Lamorack had travelled a great way, they +came at last out of that forest and to an open country where was a +well-tilled land and a wide, smooth river flowing down a level plain. + +And in the centre of that plain was a town of considerable size, and a very +large castle with several tall towers and many roofs and chimneys that +stood overlooking the town. + +That time they came thitherward the day was declining toward its close, so +that all the sky toward the westward shone, like, as it were, to a flame of +gold--exceedingly beautiful. And the highway upon which they entered was +very broad and smooth, like to a floor for smoothness. And there were all +sorts of folk passing along that highway; some afoot and some ahorseback. +Also there was a river path beside the river where the horses dragged +deep-laden barges down to the town and thence again; and these barges were +all painted in bright colors, and the horses were bedight with gay harness +and hung with tinkling bells. + +All these things Sir Percival beheld with wonder for he had never seen +their like before; wherefore he cried out with amazement, saying: "Saints +of Glory! How great and wonderful is the world!" + +Then Sir Lamorack looked upon him and smiled with great loving-kindness; +and he said: "Ha, Percival! This is so small a part of the world that it is +but a patch upon it." + +Unto this Sir Percival made reply: "Dear Messire, I am so glad that I have +come forth into the world that I am hardly able to know whether I am in a +vision or am awake." + +So, after a considerable while, they came to that town with its castle, and +these stood close beside the river--and the town and the castle were hight +Cardennan. And the town was of great consideration, being very well famed +for its dyed woollen fabrics. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival and Sir Lamorack come to Cardennan] So Sir +Percival and Sir Lamorack entered the town. And when Sir Percival beheld +all the people in the streets, coming and going upon their businesses; and +when he beheld all the gay colors and apparels of fine fabrics that the +people wore; and when he beheld the many booths filled with rich wares of +divers sorts, he wist not what to think for the wonder that possessed him; +wherefore he cried out aloud, as with great passion: "What marvel do I +behold! I knew not that a city could be so great as this." + +And again Sir Lamorack smiled very kindly upon him and said: "Sayst thou +so? Now I tell thee that when one compares this place with Camelot (which +is the King's city) it is as a star compared to the full moon in her +glory." And at that Sir Percival knew not what to think for wonder. + +So they went up the street of the town until they came to the castle of +Cardennan and there requested admission. And when the name and the estate +of Sir Lamorack were declared, the porter opened the gate with great joy +and they entered. Then, by and by, the lord and the lady of the castle came +down from a carved wooden gallery and bade them welcome by word of mouth. +And after that sundry attendants immediately appeared and assisted Sir +Percival and Sir Lamorack to dismount and took their horses to the stable, +and sundry other attendants conducted them to certain apartments where they +were eased of their armor and bathed in baths of tepid water and given soft +raiment for to wear. After that the lord and the lady entertained them with +a great feast, where harpers and singers made music, and where certain +actors acted a mystery before them. + +[Sidenote: How the two knights were welcomed by the lord and lady of the +castle] So these two knights and the lord and the lady of the castle ate +together and discoursed very pleasantly for a while; but, when the evening +was pretty well gone, Sir Lamorack bade good-night, and he and Sir Percival +were conducted to a certain very noble apartment where beds of down, spread +with flame-colored cloth, had been prepared for their repose. + +Thus ended that day which was the first day of the knighthood of Sir +Percival of Gales. + +Now though Sir Percival had travelled very contentedly with Sir Lamorack +for all that while, yet he had determined in his own mind that, as soon as +possible, he would leave Sir Lamorack and depart upon his own quest. For he +said to himself: "Lo! I am a very green knight as yet, and haply my brother +may grow weary of my company and cease to love me. So I will leave him ere +he have the chance to tire of me, and I will seek knighthood for myself. +After that, if God wills it that I shall win worthy knighthood, then my +brother will be glad enough to acknowledge me as his father's son." + +So when the next morning had come, Sir Percival arose very softly all in +the dawning, and he put on his armor without disturbing Sir Lamorack. Then +he stooped and looked into Sir Lamorack's face and beheld that his brother +was still enfolded in a deep sleep as in a soft mantle. And as Sir Percival +gazed upon Sir Lamorack thus asleep, he loved him with such ardor that he +could hardly bear the strength of his love. But he said to himself: "Sleep +on, my brother, whilst I go away and leave thee. But when I have earned me +great glory, then will I return unto thee and will lay all that I have +achieved at thy feet, so that thou shalt be very glad to acknowledge me." +So saying to himself, he went away from that place very softly, and Sir +Lamorack slept so deeply that he wist not that Sir Percival was gone. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival leaves Sir Lamorack] Thereafter Sir Percival went +to the courtyard of the castle and he bade certain attendants to prepare +his horse for him, and they did so. And he bade certain others for to arm +him, and they did so. Thereupon he mounted his horse and left that castle +and rode away. + +Now after Sir Percival had left Sir Lamorack still sleeping in the castle +as aforetold, he journeyed upon his way, taking great pleasure in all +things that he beheld. So he travelled all that morning, and the day was +very bright and warm, so that by and by he was an-hungered and athirst. So +after a while he came to a certain road that appeared to him to be good for +his purpose, so he took that way in great hopes that some adventure would +befall him, or else that he would find food and drink. + +Then after a while he heard a bell ringing, and after he had followed that +bell for some distance, he came to where was the dwelling-place of a hermit +and where was a small chapel by the wayside. And Sir Percival beheld that +the hermit, who was an old man with a long white beard, rang the bell of +that chapel. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival meets his fate at the forest chapel] So Sir +Percival thought that here he might find food and drink; and so he rode +forward to where the hermit was ringing the bell. But when Sir Percival +came still more nigh he perceived that behind the chapel and to one side +there was a very noble knight upon horseback; and he perceived that the +knight was clad all in white armor and that his horse (which was white as +milk and of very noble strength and proportions) was furnished altogether +with furniture of white. + +This knight, when he perceived Sir Percival, immediately rode up to meet +him and saluted Sir Percival very courteously. And the knight said: "Sir, +will you not joust a fall with me ere you break your fast? For this is a +very fair and level field of green grass and well fitted for such a +friendly trial at arms if you have the time for it." + +Unto this Sir Percival said: "Messire, I will gladly try a fall with you, +though I must tell you that I am a very young green knight, having been +knighted only yesterday by King Arthur himself. But though I am unskilled +in arms, yet it will pleasure me a great deal to accept so gentle and +courteous a challenge as that which you give me." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival is overthrown by the white knight] So with that +each knight turned his horse and each took such stand as appeared to him to +be best. And when they were in all ways prepared, they drave their horses +together with great speed, the one against the other, meeting one another, +shield against spear, in the very midst of the course. In that encounter +(which was the first that he ever ran) Sir Percival bare himself very well +and with great knightliness of endeavor; for he broke his spear upon the +white knight into small pieces. But the spear of the white knight held so +that Sir Percival was lifted out of his saddle and over the crupper of his +horse, and fell upon the ground with great violence and a cloud of dust. + +Then the white knight returned from his course and came up to where Sir +Percival was. And he inquired of him very courteously: "Sir, art thou +hurt?" Thereunto Sir Percival replied: "Nay, sir! I am not hurt, only +somewhat shaken by my fall.'" + +Then the white knight dismounted from his horse and came to where Sir +Percival was. And he lifted up the umbril of his helmet, and Sir Percival +perceived that that white knight was Sir Launcelot of the Lake. + +And Sir Launcelot said: "Percival, I well knew who you were from the first, +but I thought I would see of what mettle you are, and I have found that you +are of very good mettle indeed. But you are to know that it is impossible +for a young knight such as you, who knoweth naught of the use of knightly +weapons, to have to do with a knight well-seasoned in arms as I am, and to +have any hope of success in such an encounter. Wherefore you need to be +taught the craft of using your weapons perfectly." + +To this Sir Percival said: "Messire, tell me, how may I hope to acquire +craft at arms such as may serve me in such a stead as this?" + +Sir Launcelot said: "I myself will teach thee, imparting to thee such skill +as I have at my command. Less than half a day's journey to the southward of +this is my castle of Joyous Gard. Thither I was upon my way when I met thee +here. Now thou shalt go with me unto Joyous Gard, and there thou shalt +abide until thou art in all ways taught the use of arms so that thou mayst +uphold that knighthood which I believe God hath endowed thee withal." + +So after that Sir Launcelot and Sir Percival went to the dwelling-place of +the hermit, and the hermit fed them with the best of that simple fare which +he had at his command. + +[Sidenote: How Sir Percival dwelt at Joyous Gard] After that, they mounted +horse again and rode away to Joyous Gard, and there Sir Percival abided for +a year, training himself in all wise so as to prepare himself to uphold +that knighthood which in him became so famous. For, during that year Sir +Launcelot was his teacher in the art of arms. Likewise he instructed him in +all the civilities and the customs of chivalry, so it befell that ere Sir +Percival came forth from Joyous Gard again he was well acquainted with all +the ways in which he should comport himself at any time, whether in field +or in court. + +So when Sir Percival came forth again from Joyous Gard, there was no +knight, unless it was Sir Launcelot himself, who could surpass him in skill +at arms; nay, not even his own brother, Sir Lamorack; nor was there +anybody, even if one were Sir Gawaine or Sir Geraint, who surpassed him in +civility of courtliness or nobility of demeanor. + +And now I shall tell you of the great adventure that befell Sir Percival +after Sir Launcelot had thus taught him at Joyous Gard. + +[Illustration: Sir Percival overcometh ye Enchantress Vivien] + + + + +Chapter Third + + +_How Sir Percival met two strange people in the forest, and how he succored +a knight who was in very great sorrow and dole._ + +Now after Sir Percival had left Joyous Gard he rode for several days +seeking adventure but meeting none. + +Then one day he came to a very dark and wonderful forest which appeared to +be so silent and lonely and yet so full of beauty that Sir Percival +bethought him that this must surely be some forest of magic. So he entered +into that forest with intent to discover if he might find any worthy +adventure therein. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival enters the Forest of Arroy] (And that forest was a +forest of magic; for you are to know that it was the Forest of Arroy, +sometimes called the Forest of Adventure, which was several times spoken of +in the book of King Arthur. For no one ever entered into that forest but +some singular adventure befell him.) + +So Sir Percival rode through this wonderful woodland for a long time very +greatly wondering, for everywhere about him was perfect silence, with not +so much as a single note of a bird of the woodlands to lighten that +stillness. Now, as Sir Percival rode through that silence, he presently +became aware of the sound of voices talking together, and shortly +thereafter he perceived a knight with a lady riding amid the thin trees +that grew there. And the knight rode upon a great white horse, and the lady +rode upon a red roan palfrey. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival meets two strange people] These, when they beheld +Sir Percival, waited for him, and as Sir Percival drew nigh to them he +perceived that they were of a very singular appearance. For both of them +were clad altogether in green, and both of them wore about their necks very +wonderful collars of wrought gold inset with opal stones and emeralds. And +the face of each was like clear wax for whiteness; and the eyes of each +were very bright, like jewels set in ivory. And these two neither laughed +nor frowned, but only smiled continually. And that knight whom Sir Percival +beheld was Sir Pellias, and the lady was the Lady Nymue of the Lake. + +Now when Sir Percival beheld these two, he wist that they were fay, +wherefore he dismounted very quickly, and kneeled down upon the ground and +set his palms together. Then the Lady of the Lake smiled very kindly upon +Sir Percival, and she said: "Sir Percival, arise, and tell me what you do +in these parts?" + +Then Sir Percival arose and he stood before that knight and lady, and he +said: "Lady, I wist not how you know who I am, but I believe you are fay +and know many things. Touching my purpose in coming here, it is that I am +in search of adventure. So if you know of any that I may undertake for your +sake, I pray you to tell me of it." + +The lady said: "If so be thy desire is of that sort, I may, perchance be +able to bring thee unto an adventure that is worthy for any knight to +undertake. Go a little distance from this upon the way thou art following +and by and by thou wilt behold a bird whose feathers shall shine like to +gold for brightness. Follow that bird and it will bring thee to a place +where thou shalt find a knight in sore need of thy aid." + +And Percival said: "I will do as thou dost advise." + +[Sidenote: The Lady of the Lake giveth Sir Percival a charm] Then the lady +said: "Wait a little, I have something for thee." Therewith she took from +her neck a small golden amulet pendant from a silken cord very fine and +thin. And she said: "Wear this for it will protect thee from all evil +enchantments." Therewith saying, she hung the amulet about the neck of Sir +Percival, and Sir Percival gave her thanks beyond measure for it. + +Then the knight and the lady saluted him and he saluted them, and they each +went their separate ways. + +[Sidenote: How Percival followed the golden bird] So Sir Percival +travelled that path for some distance as the lady had advised him to do, +and by and by he beheld the bird of which she had spoken. And he saw that +the plumage of the bird glistered as though it was of gold so that he +marvelled at it. And as he drew nigh the bird flew a little distance down +the path and then lit upon the ground and he followed it. And when he had +come nigh to it again it flew a distance farther and still he followed it. +So it flew and he followed for a very great way until by and by the forest +grew thin and Sir Percival beheld that there was an open country lying +beyond the skirts thereof. And when the bird had brought him thus far it +suddenly flew back into the forest again whence it had come, chirping very +keenly and shrilly as it flew. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival beholds a wonderful castle] So Percival came out +of the forest into the open country, the like of which he had never before +seen, for it was a very desolate barren waste of land. And in the midst of +this desolate plain there stood a castle of a very wonderful appearance; +for in some parts it was the color of ultramarine and in other parts it was +of crimson; and the ultramarine and the crimson were embellished with very +extraordinary devices painted in gold. So because of all those +extraordinary colors, that castle shone like a bright rainbow against the +sky, wherefore Sir Percival sat his horse for some while and marvelled very +greatly thereat. + +Then, by and by Sir Percival perceived that the road that led to the castle +crossed a bridge of stone, and when he looked at the bridge he saw that +midway upon it was a pillar of stone and that a knight clad all in full +armor stood chained with iron chains to that stone pillar, and at that +sight Sir Percival was very greatly astonished. So he rode very rapidly +along that way and so to the bridge and upon the bridge to where the knight +was. And when Sir Percival came thus upon the bridge he perceived that the +knight who was bound with chains was very noble and haughty of appearance, +but that he seemed to be in great pain and suffering because of his being +thus bound to that pillar. For the captive knight made continual moan so +that it moved the heart of Sir Percival to hear him. + +So Sir Percival said: "Sir Knight, this is a sorrowful condition thou art +in." And the knight said: "Yea, and I am sorrowful; for I have stood here +now for three days and I am in great torment of mind and body." + +Sir Percival said, "Maybe I can aid thee," and thereupon he got down from +off his horse's back and approached the knight. And he drew his sword so +that it flashed in the sun very brightly. + +Upon this the knight said: "Messire, what would you be at?" And Sir +Percival said: "I would cut the chains that bind thee." + +To this the knight said: "How could you do that? For who could cut through +chains of iron such as these?" + +But Sir Percival said: "I will try what I may do." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival sets free the captive knight] Thereupon he lifted +up his sword and smote so terribly powerful a blow that the like of it had +hardly ever been seen before. For that blow cut through the iron chains and +smote the hauberk of the knight so smart a buffet that he fell down to the +ground altogether deprived of breath. + +But when Sir Percival saw the knight fall down in that wise, he cried out: +"Woe is me! Have I slain this good, gentle knight when I would but do him +service?" Thereupon he lifted the knight up upon his knee and eased the +armor about his throat. But the knight was not dead, and by and by the +breath came back to him again, and he said: "By my faith, that was the most +wonderful stroke that ever I beheld any man strike in all of my life." + +Thereafter, when the knight had sufficiently recovered, Sir Percival helped +him to stand upon his feet; and when he stood thus his strength presently +came back to him again in great measure. + +And the knight was athirst and craved very vehemently to drink. So Sir +Percival helped him to descend a narrow path that led to a stream of water +that flowed beneath the bridge; and there the knight stooped and slaked his +thirst. And when he had drunk his fill, his strength came altogether back +to him again, and he said: "Messire, I have to give thee all thanks that it +is possible for me to do, for hadst thou not come unto mine aid, I would +else have perished very miserably and at no very distant time from this." + +Then Sir Percival said: "I beseech you, Messire, to tell me how you came +into that sad plight in which I found you." + +[Sidenote: The knight telleth his story] To this the knight said: "I will +tell you; it was thus: Two days ago I came thitherward and past yonder +castle, and with me were two excellent esquires--for I am a knight of royal +blood. Now as we went past that castle there came forth a lady clad all in +red and so exceedingly beautiful that she entirely enchanted my heart. And +with this lady there came a number of esquires and pages, all of them very +beautiful of face, and all clad, as she was, in red. Now when this lady had +come nigh to me she spoke me very fair and tempted me with kind words so +that I thought I had never fallen upon anyone so courteous as she. But when +she had come real close to me, she smote me of a sudden across the +shoulders with an ebony staff that she carried in her hand, and at the same +time she cried out certain words that I remember not. For immediately a +great darkness like to a deep swoon fell upon me and I knew nothing. And +when I awakened from that swoon lo! I found myself here, chained fast to +this stone pillar. And hadst thou not come hither I would else certainly +have died in my torment. And as to what hath become of my esquires, I know +not; but as for that lady, methinks she can be none other than a certain +enchantress, hight Vivien, who hath wrought such powerful spells upon +Merlin as to have removed him from the eyes of all mankind." + +Unto all this Sir Percival listened in great wonder, and when the knight +had ended his tale he said: "What is thy name?" And the knight said: "My +name is Percydes and I am the son of King Pecheur--so called because he is +the king of all the fisher-folk who dwell upon the West coast. And now I +prithee tell me also thy name and condition, for I find I love thee a very +great deal." + +And Sir Percival said: "My name is Percival, but I may not at this present +tell thee my condition and of whom I am born; for that I must keep secret +until I have won me good credit as a knight. But now I have somewhat to do, +and that is to deal with this lady Vivien as she shall deserve." + +Upon that Sir Percydes cried out: "Go not near to that sorceress, else she +will do some great harm to thee with her potent spells as she did to me." + +But Sir Percival said: "I have no fear of her." + +So Sir Percival arose and crossed the bridge and went toward that wonderful +enchanted castle; and Sir Percydes would have gone with him, but Sir +Percival said: "Stay where thou art." And so Sir Percydes stayed and Sir +Percival went forward alone. + +[Sidenote: The Lady Vivien cometh forth to Sir Percival] Now as he drew +nigh to the castle the gate thereof was opened, and there came forth thence +an extraordinarily beautiful lady surrounded by a court of esquires and +pages all very beautiful of countenance. And this lady and all of her court +were clad in red so that they shone like to several flames of fire. And the +lady's hair was as red as gold, and she wore gold ornaments about her neck +so that she glistered exceedingly and was very wonderful to behold. And her +eyebrows were very black and fine and were joined in the middle like two +fine lines drawn together with a pencil, and her eyes were narrow and +black, shining like those of a snake. + +Then when Sir Percival beheld this lady how singularly beautiful she was he +was altogether enchanted so that he could not forbear to approach her. And, +lo! she stood still and smiled upon him so that his heart stirred within +his bosom like as though it pulled at the strings that held it. Then she +said to Sir Percival, speaking in a very sweet and gentle voice: "Sir +Knight, thou art welcome to this place. It would pleasure us very greatly +if thou wouldst consider this castle as though it were thine own and would +abide within it with me for a while." Therewith speaking she smiled again +upon Sir Percival more cunningly than before and reached out her hand +toward him. + +Then Sir Percival came toward her with intent to take her hand, she smiling +upon him all the while so that he could not do otherwise than as she +willed. + +Now in the other hand this lady held an ebony staff of about an ell in +length, and when Sir Percival had come close enough to her, she lifted this +staff of a sudden and smote him with it very violently across the +shoulders, crying out at the same time, in a voice terribly piercing and +shrill: "Be thou a stone!" + +Then that charm that the Lady of the Lake had hung around the neck of Sir +Percival stood him in good stead, for, excepting for it, he would that +instant have been transformed into a stone. But the charm of the sorceress +did not work upon him, being prevented by the greater charm of that golden +amulet. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival draweth sword upon the Lady Vivien] But Sir +Percival knew very well what the sorceress Vivien had intended to do to +him, and he was filled with a great rage of indignation against her because +she had meant to transform him into a stone. Therefore he cried out with a +loud voice and seized the enchantress by her long golden hair, and drew her +so violently forward that she fell down upon her knees. Then he drew his +shining sword with intent to sever her long neck, so slender and white like +alabaster. + +But the lady shrieked with great vehemence of terror and besought him +mercy. And at that Sir Percival's heart grew soft for pity, for he +bethought him that she was a woman and he beheld how smooth and beautiful +was her neck, and how her skin was like white satin for smoothness. So when +he heard her voice--the voice of a woman beseeching mercy--his heart grew +soft, and he could not find strength within him to strike that neck apart +with his sword. + +So he bade her to arise--though he still held her by the hair (all warm, it +was, and as soft as silk and very fragrant) and the lady stood up, +trembling before him. + +Then Sir Percival said to her: "If thou wouldst have thy life I command +thee to transform back to their own shape all those people whom thou hast +bewitched as thou wouldst have bewitched me." + +Then the lady said: "It shall be done." Whereupon she smote her hands very +violently together crying out: "All ye who have lost your proper shapes, +return thereunto." + +[Sidenote: The Lady Vivien undoes her enchantment] Then, lo! upon the +instant, a great multitude of round stones that lay scattered about became +quick, like to eggs; and they moved and stirred as the life entered into +them. And they melted away and, behold! there arose up a great many knights +and esquires and several ladies to the number of four score and eight in +all. And certain other stones became quickened in like manner, and as +Percival looked, lo! there rose up the horses of those people, all +caparisoned as though for travel. + +Now when those people who had been thus bewitched beheld the Lady Vivien, +how Sir Percival held her by the hair of her head, they made great outcry +against her for vengeance, saying: "Slay her! Slay her!" And therewith +several made at her as though to do as they said and to slay her. But +Percival waved his sword before her and said: "Not so! Not so! For this +lady is my prisoner and we shall not harm her unless ye come at her through +me." + +Thereat they fell silent in a little while, and when he had thus stilled +them, he turned to the Lady Vivien and said: "This is my command that I lay +upon thee: that thou shalt go into the court of King Arthur and shalt +confess thyself to him and that thou shalt fulfil whatever penance he may +lay upon thee to perform because of thy transgressions. Now wilt thou do +this for to save thy life?" + +And the Lady Vivien made reply: "All shall be done according to thy +command." + +Therewith Sir Percival released his hold upon her and she was free. + +Then, finding herself to be thus free, she stepped back a pace or two and +looked into Sir Percival his face, and she laughed. And she said: "Thou +fool, didst thou think that I would do so mad a thing as that which thou +hast made me promise? For what mercy could I expect at the hands of King +Arthur seeing that it was I who destroyed the Enchanter Merlin, who was the +right adviser of King Arthur! Go to King Arthur thyself and deliver to him +thine own messages." + +[Sidenote: The Lady Vivien escapes] So saying, in an instant, she vanished +from the sight of all those who stood there. And with her vanished that +castle of crimson and ultramarine and gold--and nothing was left but the +bare rocks and the barren plain. + +Then when those who were there recovered from their astonishment, upon +beholding that great castle so suddenly disappear, they turned to Sir +Percival and gave him worship and thanks without measure, saying to him: +"What shall we do in return for saving us from the enchantment of this +sorceress?" + +And Percival said: "Ye shall do this: ye shall go to the court of King +Arthur and tell him how that young knight, Percival, whom he made a knight +a year ago, hath liberated you from the enchantment of this sorceress. And +you shall seek out Sir Kay and shall say to him that, by and by, I shall +return and repay him in full measure, twenty times over, that blow which he +gave to the damosel Yelande, the Dumb Maiden because of her kindness to +me." + +So said Sir Percival, and they said: "It shall be done as thou dost +ordain." + +Then Sir Percydes said: "Wilt thou not come to my castle and rest thyself +there for the night? For thou must be aweary with all thy toil." And Sir +Percival said, "I will go with thee." So Sir Percydes and Sir Percival rode +away together to the castle of Sir Percydes. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percydes knoweth the ring that Percival wears] Now while +Sir Percival and Sir Percydes sat at supper in the castle of Sir Percydes, +Sir Percival chanced to lay his hand in love upon the sleeve of Sir +Percydes's arm, and that moment Sir Percydes saw the ring upon Sir +Percival's finger which the young damosel of the pavilion had given unto +him in exchange for his ring. When Sir Percydes saw that ring he cried out +in great astonishment, "Where didst thou get that ring?" + +Sir Percival said, "I will tell thee"; and therewith he told Sir Percydes +all that had befallen him when he first came down into the world from the +wilderness where he had aforetime dwelt, and how he had entered the yellow +pavilion and had discovered the damosel who was now his chosen lady. When +Sir Percydes heard that story he laughed in great measure, and then he +said: "But how wilt thou find that young damosel again when thou hast a +mind for to go to her once more?" To the which Sir Percival made reply: "I +know not how I shall find her, nevertheless, I shall assuredly do so. For +though the world is much wider and greater than I had thought it to be when +I first came down into it, yet I know that I shall find that lady when the +fit time cometh for me to seek her." + +Then Sir Percydes said: "Dear friend, when thou desireth to find that +damosel to whom belongeth the ring, come thou to me and I will tell thee +where thou mayst find her; yet I know not why thou dost not go and find her +now." + +Unto this Sir Percival made reply: "I do not seek her immediately because I +am yet so young and so unknown to the world that I could not be of any +credit to her should I find her; so first I will seek to obtain credit as a +knight, and then I will seek her." + +Sir Percydes said: "Well, Percival, I think thou hast great promise of a +very wonderful knighthood. Nor do I think thou wilt have difficulty in +finding plenty of adventures to undertake. For even to-day I know of an +adventure, which if thou couldst perform it successfully, would bring thee +such worship that there are very few knights in all the world who will have +more worship than thou." + +Then Sir Percival said: "I prithee, dear friend, tell me what is that +adventure." + +Then Sir Percydes told Sir Percival what that adventure was as followeth: + +[Sidenote: Sir Percydes telleth Sir Percival of Beaurepaire] "Thou art to +know," quoth he, "that somewhat more than a day's journey to the north of +this there is a fair plain, very fertile and beautiful to the sight. In the +midst of that plain is a small lake of water, and in that lake is an +island, and upon the island is a tall castle of very noble size and +proportions. That castle is called Beaurepaire, and the lady of that castle +is thought to be one of the most beautiful damosels in the world. And the +name of the lady is Lady Blanchefleur. + +"Now there is a very strong and powerful knight hight Sir Clamadius, +otherwise known as the King of the Isles; and he is one of the most famous +knights in the world. Sir Clamadius hath for a long while loved the Lady +Blanchefleur with such a passion of love that I do not think that the like +of that passion is to be found anywhere else in the world. But the Lady +Blanchefleur hath no love for Sir Clamadius, but ever turneth away from him +with a heart altogether cold of liking. + +"But Sir Clamadius is a wonderfully proud and haughty King, wherefore he +can ill brook being scorned by any lady. Wherefore he hath now come against +the castle of Beaurepaire with an array of knights of his court, and at +present layeth siege to that castle aforesaid. + +"Now there is not at that castle any knight of sufficient worship to serve +as champion thereof, wherefore all they of Beaurepaire stay within the +castle walls and Sir Clamadius holds the meadows outside of the castle so +that no one enters in or goeth out thereof. + +"If thou couldst liberate the Lady Blanchefleur from the duress which Sir +Clamadius places upon her, I believe thou wouldst have as great credit in +courts of chivalry as it is possible to have. For, since Sir Tristram is +gone, Sir Clamadius is believed by many to be the best knight in the world, +except Sir Launcelot of the Lake; unless it be that Sir Lamorack of Gales +is a better knight than he." + +Then Sir Percival said: "What thou tellest me gives me great pleasure, for +it would be a very good adventure for any young knight to undertake. For if +he should lose there would be no shame in losing, and if he should win +there would be great glory in winning. So to-morrow I will enter upon that +adventure, with intent to discover what fortune I may have therein." + +So I have told you how Sir Percival performed his first adventures in the +world of chivalry after he had perfected himself in the mysteries of +knighthood under the teaching of Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and I have told +you how he achieved that adventure with great credit to himself and with +great glory to the order of knighthood to which he now truly belonged as a +most worthy member. + +That night he abided in the castle of Sir Percydes with great comfort and +rest to his body, and when the next morning had come he arose, much +refreshed and strengthened in spirit. And he descended to the hall where +was set a fair and generous breakfast for his further refreshment, and +thereat he and Sir Percydes sat themselves down and ate with hearty +appetite, discoursing with great amity of spirit as aforetold. + +After he had broken his fast he bade farewell to Sir Percydes and mounted +his horse and rode away through the bright sunlight toward Beaurepaire and +those further adventures that awaited him thereat. + +And, as it was with Sir Percival in that first adventure, so may you meet +with a like success when you ride forth upon your first undertakings after +you have entered into the glory of your knighthood, with your life lying +before you and a whole world whereinto ye may freely enter to do your +devoirs to the glory of God and your own honor. + +So now it shall be told how it fared with Sir Percival in that adventure of +the Castle of Beaurepaire. + +[Illustration: The Demoiselle Blanchefleur] + + + + +Chapter Fourth + + +_How Sir Percival undertook the adventure of the castle of Beaurepaire and +how he fared therein after several excellent adventures_. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival breaks his fast at a forest cottage] Now the way +that Sir Percival travelled led him by the outskirts of the forest, so that +somewhiles he would be in the woodland and somewhiles he would be in the +open country. And about noontide he came to a certain cottage of a neatherd +that stood all alone in a very pleasant dale. That place a little brook +came bickering out from the forest and ran down into the dale and spread +out into a small lake, besides which daffadowndillys bloomed in such +abundance that it appeared as though all that meadow land was scattered +over with an incredible number of yellow stars that had fallen down from +out of the sky. And, because of the pleasantness of this place, Sir +Percival here dismounted from his horse and sat him down upon a little +couch of moss under the shadow of an oak tree that grew nigh to the +cottage, there to rest himself for a while with great pleasure. And as he +sat there there came a barelegged lass from the cottage and brought him +fresh milk to drink; and there came a good, comely housewife and brought +him bread and cheese made of cream; and Sir Percival ate and drank with +great appetite. + +Now whilst Sir Percival sat there resting and refreshing himself in that +wise, there appeared of a sudden coming thitherward, a tall and noble +knight riding upon a piebald war-horse of Norway strain. So when Sir +Percival beheld that knight coming in that wise he quickly put on his +helmet and mounted his horse and made him ready for defence in case the +knight had a mind to assail him. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival bespeaketh the strange knight] Meantime that +knight came riding up with great haughtiness of bearing to where Sir +Percival was, and when he had come nigh enough he bespake Sir Percival, +saying: "Sir Knight, I pray you to tell me your name and whither you go, +and upon what quest?" + +Unto this Sir Percival made reply: "Messire, I do not choose to tell you my +name, for I am a young knight, very new to adventure, and I know not how I +shall succeed in that quest which I have undertaken. So I will wait to try +the success of that adventure before I tell my name. But though I may not +tell my name I will tell you whither I go and upon what quest. I go for to +find a certain castle called Beaurepaire, and I intend to endeavor to +liberate the lady of that castle from the duress of a certain knight hight +Sir Clamadius, who, I understand, holds her by siege within the walls +thereof." + +Now, when Sir Percival had ceased speaking, the strange knight said: "Sir, +this is a very singular thing: for that adventure of which you speak is the +very adventure upon which I myself am bound. Now, as you say, you are a +very young knight unused to arms, and as I am in the same degree a knight +well seasoned in deeds of arms, it is more fitting that I should undertake +this quest than you. For you may know how very well I am used to the +service of arms when I tell you that I have had to do in four and twenty +battles of various sorts; some of them friendly and some of them otherwise; +and that I have had to do in more than four times that many affairs-at-arms +with single knights, nearly all of them of great prowess. So now it would +seem fitting that you should withdraw you from this affair and let me first +essay it. Then, if I fail in my undertaking, you shall assume that +adventure." + +"Messire," quoth Sir Percival, "I see that you are a knight of much greater +experience than I; but, ne'ertheless, I cannot find it in my heart to +forego this adventure. So what I have to propose is this: that you and I do +combat here in this place, and that he who proveth himself to be the better +of us twain shall carry out this undertaking that we are both set upon." + +Unto this, that strange knight lent a very willing assent, saying: "Very +well, Messire, it shall be as you ask." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival doeth battle with the strange knight] So with that +each knight turned his horse and rode a little piece away; and each took +such stand as pleased him; and each dressed his spear and shield and made +him in all wise ready for the encounter. And when they had so prepared +themselves, each knight shouted to his horse, and drave spur into its flank +and rushed, the one against the other, with such terrible noise and +violence that the sound thereof was echoed back from the woods like to a +storm of thunder. + +So they met in the midst of the course with such a vehement impact that it +was terrible to behold. And in that encounter the spear of each knight was +burst all into fragments; and the horse of each fell back upon his haunches +and would have been overthrown had not each knight voided his saddle with a +very wonderful skill and agility. + +Then each knight drew sword and came the one against the other, as +furiously as two rams at battle. So they fought for nigh the space of an +hour, foining and striking, and tracing hither and tracing thither most +furiously; and the noise of the blows they struck might have been heard +several furlongs away. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival overcometh the strange knight] During that battle +Sir Percival received several sore wounds so that by and by a great passion +of rage seized upon him. So he rushed the battle with might and main, and +therewith struck so many furious blows that by and by that other knight +held his shield very low for weariness. This Sir Percival perceived, and +therewith he smote the other so furious a blow upon the head that the +knight sank down upon his knees and could not arise. Then Sir Percival ran +to him and catched him by the neck and flung him down violently upon the +ground, crying out, "Yield or I slay thee!" + +Then that knight besought mercy in a very weak voice, saying: "Sir Knight, +I beseech thee, spare my life!" + +Sir Percival said: "Well, I will spare thee, but tell me, what is thy +name?" To this the other said: "I am Sir Lionel, and I am a knight of King +Arthur's court and of the Round Table." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival giveth aid to Sir Lionel] Now when Sir Percival +heard this he cried out aloud, for he was very greatly grieved, and he +said: "Al as, what have I done for to fight against thee in this wise! I am +Sir Percival, whom thine own kinsman, Sir Launcelot of the Lake, hath +trained in arms. But indeed, I did never think to use that art which he +taught me against one so dear to his heart as thou art, Sir Lionel." So +with that Sir Percival assisted Sir Lionel to arise to his feet, and Sir +Lionel was so weak from that woeful battle that he could hardly stand. + +Now that stream and lake of water above spoken of was near by, so Sir +Percival brought Sir Lionel thither, holding him up as he walked; and there +Sir Lionel refreshed himself. Then, when he was revived a little, he turned +his eyes very languidly upon Sir Percival, and he said: "Percival, thou +hast done to me this day what few knights have ever done before. So all the +glory that ever I have won is now thy glory because of this battle. For +thou hast overcome me in a fair quarrel and I have yielded myself unto +thee, wherefore it is now thy right to command me to thy will." + +Then Percival said: "Alas, dear Sir Knight! It is not meet that I should +lay command upon such as thou art. But, if thou wilt do so, I beseech thee +when thou art come to King Arthur's court that thou wilt tell the King that +I, who am his young knight Percival, have borne myself not unbecomingly in +my battle with thee. For this is the first battle, knight against knight, +that I have undertaken in all of my life. And I beseech thee that thou wilt +greet Sir Kay the Seneschal, from me, and that thou wilt say to him that by +and by I shall meet him and repay him that buffet which he gave to the +damsel Yelande, the Dumb Maiden, in the Queen's pavilion." + +Sir Lionel said: "It shall be as thou sayst, and I will do thy bidding. +But, touching Sir Kay, I do not believe that he will take very much joy at +thy message to him. For he will find small pleasure in the thought of the +payment of that buffet that thou hast promised to give him." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival goeth forward upon his adventure] Now, as the day +by this time was waxing late, Sir Percival abided that night at that +neatherd's hut nigh to which this battle had been fought and there had his +wounds bathed and dressed; and when the next morning had come he arose +early, and saddled his horse, and rode forward upon his way. And as he rode +he was very well pleased at the thought of that battle he had fought with +Sir Lionel, for he wist that he had obtained great credit to himself in +that encounter, and he was aware, now that he had made trial of his +strength against such a one as Sir Lionel, he must be one of the greatest +knights of the world. So his heart was uplifted with great joy and delight +at that thought; that he was now a well-approved knight-champion, worthy of +his knighthood. Therefore he rode away for all that day, greatly rejoicing +in spirit at the thought of what he had done the day before. + +About the first slant of the afternoon Sir Percival came at last out of the +woodlands and into a wide-open plain, very fertile and well tilled, with +fields of wheat and rye abounding on all sides. And he saw that in the +midst of that plain there was a considerable lake, and that in the midst of +that lake there was an island, and that upon the island there stood a fair +noble castle, and he wist that that castle must be the castle of +Beaurepaire. So he rode down into that valley with some speed. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival perceives a red knight] Now after he had so ridden +for a while, he was aware of a knight, very haughty of appearance and +bearing, who rode before him upon the same way that he was going. And that +knight was clad all in red armor, and he rode upon a horse so black that I +believe there was not a single white hair upon him. And all the trappings +and the furniture of that horse were of red, so that he presented a very +noble appearance. So Sir Percival made haste to overtake that knight, and +when he had come nigh he drew rein at a little distance. Thereupon that +knight in red bespake Sir Percival very proudly, saying: "Sir Knight, +whither ride you, and upon what mission?" + +"Messire," quoth Percival, "I ride toward yonder castle, which I take to be +the castle of Beaurepaire, and I come hither with intent to succor the Lady +Blanchefleur of that castle from a knight, hight Sir Clamadius, who keeps +her there a prisoner against her will, so that it behooves any good knight +to attempt her rescue." + +Upon this the red knight spake very fiercely, saying: "Messire, what +business is that of yours? I would have you know that I am a knight of King +Clamadius', wherefore I am able to say to you that you shall go no further +upon that quest. For I am Sir Engeneron of Grandregarde, and I am Seneschal +unto King Clamadius, and I will not have it that thou shalt go any farther +upon this way unless you ride over me to go upon it." + +"Messire," quoth Sir Percival, "I have no quarrel with you, but if you have +a mind to force a quarrel upon me, I will not seek to withdraw myself from +an encounter with you. So make yourself ready, and I will make myself +ready, and then we shall soon see whether or not I am to pass upon this +way." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival doeth battle with Sir Engeneron] So therewith each +knight turned his horse away to such a place as seemed to him to be +fitting; and when they were in all wise prepared they rushed together with +an amazing velocity and a noise like to thunder. So they met in the midst +of the course. And in that encounter the spear of Sir Engeneron broke into +many pieces, but the spear of Sir Percival held, so that he flung Sir +Engeneron entirely out of his saddle and over the crupper of his horse and +down upon the ground so violently that Sir Engeneron lay there in a swoon. + +[Sidenote: Sir Engeneron yields himself to Sir Percival] Then Sir Percival +dismounted from his horse with all speed, and he rushed the helmet of Sir +Engeneron off of his head with intent to slay him. But with that Sir +Engeneron awoke to his danger, and therewith gat upon his knees and clasped +Sir Percival about the thighs, crying out: "Sir, I beseech you upon your +knighthood to spare my life." + +"Well," said Sir Percival, "since you beseech that upon my knighthood I +must needs do as you ask. But I will only do so upon two conditions. The +first of these conditions is that you go to the court of King Arthur, and +that you surrender yourself as captive to a damsel of that court who is +known as the Lady Yelande the Dumb Maiden. And you are to tell that maiden +that the young knight who slew Sir Boindegardus greets her and that he +tells her that in a little while he will return to repay to Sir Kay that +buffet he gave her. This is my first condition." And Sir Engeneron said: "I +will perform that condition." + +"And my second condition," said Sir Percival, "is this: that you give me +your armor for me to use upon this adventure which I have undertaken, and +that you take my armor and deposit it with the hermit of a little chapel +you shall after a while come to if you return upon the road which brought +me hither. After a while I will return and reclaim my armor and will return +your armor. This is my second condition." + +And Sir Engeneron said: "That condition also I shall fulfil according to +your command." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival and Sir Engeneron exchange armor] Then Sir +Percival said: "Arise." And Sir Engeneron did so. And after that Sir +Engeneron put off his armor, and Sir Percival put off his armor. And Sir +Percival put on the armor of Sir Engeneron, and Sir Engeneron packed the +armor of Sir Percival upon his horse and prepared to depart in obedience to +those conditions of Sir Percival. So they parted company, Sir Percival +riding upon his way to Beaurepaire, and Sir Engeneron betaking his way to +find the chapel of that hermit of whom Sir Percival had spoken. + +So it was that after two adventures, Sir Percival entered upon that +undertaking which he had come to perform in behalf of the Lady +Blanchefleur. + +And now, if it please you to read what follows, you shall hear how it +befell with Sir Percival at the castle of Beaurepaire. + +After that adventure with Sir Engeneron, Sir Percival rode onward upon his +way, and by and by he came to the lake whereon stood the castle and the +town of Beaurepaire. And Sir Percival beheld that a long narrow bridge +crossed over that part of the lake from the mainland to the island and the +town. So Sir Percival rode very boldly forth upon that bridge and across +it, and no one stayed him, for all of the knights of Sir Clamadius who +beheld him said: "Yonder rides Sir Engeneron." Thus Sir Percival crossed +the bridge and rode very boldly forward until he came to the gate of the +castle, and those who beheld him said: "Sir Engeneron haply beareth a +message to the castle." For no one wist that that knight was not Sir +Engeneron, but all thought that it was he because of the armor which he +wore. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival cometh to Beaurepaire] So Sir Percival came close +to the castle, and when he was come there he called very loudly to those +within, and by and by there appeared the face of a woman at an upper window +and the face was very pale and woe-begone. + +Then Sir Percival said to the woman at the window: "Bid them open the gate +and let me in; for I come to bring you succor at this place." + +To this the woman said: "I shall not bid them open the gate, for I know +from your armor who you are, and that you are Sir Engeneron the Seneschal. +And I know that you are one of our bitterest enemies; for you have already +slain several of the knights of this castle, and now you seek by guile to +enter into the castle itself." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival entereth Beaurepaire] Then Sir Percival said: "I +am not Sir Engeneron, but one who hath overthrown Sir Engeneron in battle. +I have put on his armor with intent that I might come hither to help defend +this place against Sir Clamadius." So said Sir Percival, and therewith he +put up the umbril of his helmet, saying: "Look, see; I am not Sir +Engeneron." Then the woman at the window saw his face and that it was not +the face of Sir Engeneron. And she saw that the face of Sir Percival was +mild and gentle, wherefore she ran and told the people of the castle that a +knight who was a friend stood without. Therewith they of the castle let +fall the drawbridge and opened the gates, and Sir Percival entered into the +castle. + +Then there came several of the chief people of the castle, and they also +were all pale and woe-begone from long fasting, as was the woman whom Sir +Percival had first seen; for all were greatly wasted because of the toil +and anxiety of that siege. These asked Sir Percival who he was and whence +he came and how he came thither; and Sir Percival told them all that it was +necessary for them to know. For he told them how he was a young knight +trained under the care of Sir Launcelot; and he told them that he had come +thither with the hope of serving the Lady Blanchefleur; and he told them +what adventures had befallen him in the coming and how he had already +overthrown Sir Lionel and Sir Engeneron to get there. Wherefore, from these +things, they of the castle perceived that Sir Percival was a very strong, +worthy knight, and they gave great joy that he should have come thither to +their aid. + +So he who was chief of those castle people summoned several attendants, and +these came and some took the horse of Sir Percival and led it to the +stables, and others relieved Sir Percival of his armor; and others took him +to a bath of tepid water, where he bathed himself, and was dried on soft +linen towels; and others brought soft garments of gray cloth and clad Sir +Percival in them and afterward brought him down into a fair large chamber +where there was a table spread as though ready for meat. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival beholds the Lady Blanchefleur] Now in a little +after Sir Percival was come to that supper-hall the door thereof was opened +and there entered several people. With these came a damsel of such +extraordinary beauty and gracefulness of figure that Sir Percival stood +amazed. For her face was fair beyond words; red upon white, like +rose-leaves upon cream; and her eyes were bright and glancing like those of +a falcon, and her nose was thin and straight, and her lips were very red, +like to coral for redness, and her hair was dark and abundant and like to +silk for softness. She was clad all in a dress of black, shot with stars of +gold, and the dress was lined with ermine and was trimmed with sable at the +collar and the cuffs and the hem thereof. + +So Sir Percival stood and gazed at that lady with a pleasure beyond words +to express, and he wist that this must be the Lady Blanchefleur, for whose +sake he had come thither. + +And the Lady Blanchefleur looked upon Sir Percival with great kindness, for +he appeared to her like to a hero for strength and beauty; wherefore she +smiled upon Sir Percival very graciously and came forward and gave him her +hand. And Sir Percival took her hand and set it to his lips; and lo! her +hand was as soft as silk and very warm, rosy and fragrant, and the fingers +thereof glistered with bright golden rings and with gems of divers colors. + +Then that beautiful Lady Blanchefleur said: "Messire, this is a very +knightly thing for you to do to come hither to this place. And you come in +good time, for food groweth very scarce with us so that in a little while +we must face starvation. For because of the watch that Sir Clamadius +keepeth upon this place, no one can either enter in or go out. Yea, thou +art the very first one who hath come hither since he has sat down before +Beaurepaire." + +[Sidenote: The Lady Blanchefleur telleth her sorrows to Sir Percival] Then +presently she ceased smiling and her face clouded over; then bright tears +began to drop from the Lady Blanchefleur's eyes; and then she said: "I fear +me greatly that Sir Clamadius will at last seize upon this castle, for he +hath kept us here prisoner for a long while. Yet though he seize the +castle, he shall never seize that which the castle contains. For I keep by +me a little casket of silver, and therein is a dagger, very sharp and fine. +Therefore the day that Sir Clamadius enters into this castle, I shall +thrust that dagger into my heart. For, though Sir Clamadius may seize upon +my castle, he shall never possess my soul." + +Then Sir Percival was very sorry for the tears he saw shining upon the Lady +Blanchefleur's face, wherefore he said: "Lady, I have great hopes that this +affair may never reach to that woful extremity thou speakest of." The Lady +Blanchefleur said: "I hope not also." And therewith she wiped away her +tears and smiled again. Then she said: "See, Sir Percival, the evening has +come and it is time to sit at supper, now I beseech thee for to come to +table with me, for though we have but little to eat here, yet I assure thee +that thou art very welcome to the best that we have." + +So therewith Lady Blanchefleur led Sir Percival to the table, and they sat +down to such feast as could be had at that place of starvation. For what +they had was little enough, being only such fish as they could catch from +the lake, and a little bread--but not much--and a very little wine. + +[Sidenote: The Lady sings to Sir Percival] Then after they had eaten and +drunk what they had, the Lady Blanchefleur took a golden harp into her hand +and played thereon, and sang in a voice so clear and high and beautiful +that Percival was altogether enchanted and bewitched thereat. + +Thus it was that that evening passed with them very pleasantly and +cheerfully, so that it was the middle of the night ere Sir Percival +withdrew to that couch that had been prepared for his rest. + +Now word was brought to Sir Clamadius that Sir Engeneron the Seneschal had +been overcome by another knight, wherefore Sir Clamadius wist that that was +the knight in Sir Engeneron's armor who had entered into the castle. So Sir +Clamadius said: "Certes, this must be a champion of no small prowess who +hath undertaken single-handed such a dangerous quest as this, and hath thus +entered into the castle, for they appear to make great rejoicings at his +coming. Now if he remaineth there it may very well be that they will be +encouraged to resist me a great while longer, and so all that I have thus +far accomplished shall have been in vain." + +[Sidenote: The old counsellor giveth advice to Sir Clamadius] Now there +was among the counsellors of Sir Clamadius an old knight who was very +cunning and far-sighted. He said to the King: "Sire, I think we may be able +to devise some plan whereby we may withdraw this knight-champion out of the +castle. My plan is this: Let ten of your best knights make parade before +that castle tomorrow, and let them give challenge to those within the +castle to come forth to battle. Then I believe that this knight will come +forth with the other knights from the castle to accept that challenge. +Thereafter let it be that our knights withdraw as though in retreat, and so +lead this knight and the knights of the castle into an ambushment. There +let many fall upon them at once and either slay them or make them +prisoners. So the castle shall be deprived of this new champion that hath +come to it, and therewith may be so disheartened that it will yield to +thee." + +This advice seemed very good to King Clamadius, wherefore, when the next +morning had come, he chose him ten knights from among the foremost of all +his knights, and he bade them give that challenge in that wise. These did +so, and therewith Sir Percival and nine other knights issued out from the +castle against them. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival doeth great battle] But it did not fare as Sir +Clamadius had expected; for the attack of Sir Percival and his knights was +so fierce and sudden that those ten knights could not withdraw so easily as +they intended. For, ere they were able to withdraw, Sir Percival had struck +down six of these knights with his own hand and the other four were made +prisoners. + +Thus Sir Percival and his knights did not come into that ambush that had +been prepared for them. + +Then those who were in ambush perceived that their plan had failed +wherefore they broke from cover with intent to do what they could. But Sir +Percival and his knights beheld them coming, and so withdrew, defending +themselves with great valor. So they came into the castle again in safety. + +Thus it was that the plans of King Clamadius and his counsellor failed of +effect, whereupon Sir Clamadius was very angry at that wise old knight. So +that, when that counsellor came to him again and said: "Sir, I have another +plan," King Clamadius cried out very fiercely: "Away with thy plans! They +are all of no avail." Then Sir Clamadius said: "When to-morrow comes, I +myself will undertake this affair. For I will go and give challenge to this +knight, and so I shall hope to decide this quarrel man to man. For unless +yonder knight be Sir Launcelot of the Lake or Sir Lamorack of Gales, I do +not think he will be my peer in an encounter of man to man." + +[Sidenote: Sir Clamadius arms himself for battle] So when the next morning +had come, Sir Clamadius armed himself at all points and straightway betook +himself to a fair, smooth meadow beneath the walls of the castle. And when +he had come there he cried out: "Sir Red Knight, come forth and speak with +me." + +So after a while Sir Percival appeared at the top of the castle wall, and +he said: "Messire, here I am; what is it you would have of me?" + +Then Sir Clamadius said: "Messire, are you Sir Launcelot of the Lake?" And +Sir Percival said: "Nay, I am not he." Sir Clamadius said: "Art thou then +Sir Lamorack of Gales?" And Sir Percival said: "Nay, I am not he." Then Sir +Clamadius said: "Who, then, art thou?" Sir Percival said: "I am not any +great knight-champion such as those two of whom you speak, but am a young +knight who have not fought more than twice or thrice in my life." + +At that Sir Clamadius was very glad, for he feared that Sir Percival might +be some famous knight well-seasoned in arms. Wherefore when he found that +Sir Percival was only a young and untried knight, he thought it would be an +easy matter to deal with him. So he said: "Messire, I challenge thee to +come forth to battle with me man to man so that thou and I may settle this +quarrel betwixt us, for it is a pity to shed more blood than is necessary +in this quarrel. So if thou wilt come forth and overthrow me, then I will +withdraw my people from this place; but if I overthrow thee, then this +castle shall be yielded up to me with all that it contains." + +To this Sir Percival said: "Sir Knight, I am very willing to fight with +thee upon that issue. But first of all I must obtain the consent of the +Lady Blanchefleur to stand her champion." + +So Sir Percival went to the Lady Blanchefleur, and he said: "Lady, will you +accept me as your champion to fight the issue of this quarrel man to man +with Sir Clamadius?" + +She said: "Percival, thou art very young to have to do with so old and +well-seasoned a knight. Now I greatly fear for your life in such a battle +as that." + +To this Sir Percival said: "Lady, I know that I am young, but indeed I feel +a very big spirit stir within me, so that if thou wilt trust me, I have +belief that, with the grace of God, I shall win this battle." + +Then the Lady Blanchefleur smiled upon Sir Percival and she said: +"Percival, I will gladly entrust my life and safety into thy keeping, for I +too have great dependence in thy knighthood." + +So straightway Sir Percival armed himself, and when he was in all wise +prepared he went forth to that battle with a heart very full of great +courage and hope. + +There he found Sir Clamadius still parading in that meadow beneath the +walls, awaiting the coming of his opponent. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival and Sir Clamadius do battle] Meanwhile many folk +came and stood upon the walls of the castle to behold that encounter, +whilst each knight took such stand as appeared good to him. Then, when they +were in all wise prepared, each knight drave spurs into his horse and +rushed himself against the other with most terrible and fierce violence. +Therewith they met in the very midst of the course with an uproar like to +thunder that echoed back from the flat walls of the castle. + +In that encounter the spear of Sir Percival held, but the spear of Sir +Clamadius was riven into splinters. And so, Sir Percival riding forward +with furious violence, Sir Clamadius was overthrown, horse and man, with +such violence that he lay there upon the ground as though he were dead. + +Then all those upon the walls shouted aloud with a great noise of +rejoicing, whilst those of the party of Sir Clamadius gave lamentation in +the same degree. + +[Sidenote: Sir Clamadius yields himself] But Sir Percival voided his +saddle in haste, and ran to where Sir Clamadius lay. And Sir Percival +rushed the helmet off from the head of Sir Clamadius, and he catched him by +the hair of the head, and he raised his sword on high with intent to finish +the work he had begun. Therewith Sir Clamadius aroused himself unto his +danger, and he cried in a very piercing voice: "Messire, I beseech thee of +thy knighthood to spare my life!" + +"Well," said Sir Percival, "since you ask me upon my knighthood, I cannot +refuse you, for so I was taught by the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, to +refuse no boon asked upon my knighthood that I was able to grant. But I +will only spare your life upon one condition, and that is this: That you +disarm yourself in all wise, and that you go without armor to the court of +King Arthur. There you shall deliver yourself as a servant unto a damsel of +King Arthur's court, hight Yelande, surnamed the Dumb Maiden. Her you are +to tell that the youth who slew Sir Boindegardus hath sent you unto her as +a servant. And you are to say to Sir Kay, the Seneschal of King Arthur, +that the young knight Percival will in a little while come to repay that +buffet he gave to the damoiselle Yelande aforesaid." + +So said Sir Percival, and Sir Clamadius said: "It shall be done in all wise +as you command, if so be you will spare my life." Then Sir Percival said: +"Arise"; and Sir Clamadius arose; and Sir Percival said: "Go hence"; and +therewith Sir Clamadius departed as Sir Percival commanded. + +So that day Sir Clamadius withdrew from the castle of Beaurepaire with all +his array of knights, and after that he went to the court of King Arthur +and did in all respects as Sir Percival had commanded him to do. + +So it was that Sir Percival fulfilled that quest, and set the Lady +Blanchefleur free from duress; and may God grant that you also fulfil all +your quests with as great honor and nobility as therein exhibited. + +[Illustration: Sir Kay interrupts ye meditations of Sir Percival] + + + + +Chapter Fifth + + +_How Sir Percival repaid Sir Kay the buffet he one time gave Yelande the +Dumb Maiden, and how, thereafter, he went forth to seek his own lady of +love._ + +Now, after these adventures aforesaid, Sir Percival remained for a long +while at Beaurepaire, and during that time he was the knight-champion to +the Lady Blanchefleur. And the Lady Blanchefleur loved Sir Percival every +day with a greater and greater passion, but Sir Percival showed no passion +of love for her in return, and thereat Lady Blanchefleur was greatly +troubled. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival and the Lady Blanchefleur walk together] Now one +day the Lady Blanchefleur and Sir Percival were walking together on a +terrace; and it was then come to be the fall of the year, so that the +leaves of the trees were showering all down about them like flakes of gold. +And that day the Lady Blanchefleur loved Sir Percival so much that her +heart was pierced with that love as though with a great agony. But Sir +Percival wist not of that. + +Then the Lady Blanchefleur said: "Messire, I would that thou wouldst stay +here always as our knight-champion." + +"Lady," quoth Percival, "that may not be, for in a little while now I must +leave you. For, though I shall be sad to go from such a friendly place as +this is, yet I am an errant knight, and as I am errant I must fulfil many +adventures besides the one I have accomplished here." + +"Messire," said the Lady Blanchefleur, "if you will but remain here, this +castle shall be yours and all that it contains." + +At this Sir Percival was greatly astonished, wherefore he said: "Lady, how +may that be? Lo! this castle is yours, and no one can take it away from +you, nor can you give it to me for mine own." + +Then the Lady Blanchefleur turned away her face and bowed her head, and +said in a voice as though it were stifling her for to speak: "Percival, it +needs not to take the castle from me; take thou me for thine own, and then +the castle and all shall be thine." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival denies the Lady Blanchefleur] At that Sir Percival +stood for a space very still as though without breathing. Then by and by he +said: "Lady, meseems that no knight could have greater honor paid to him +than that which you pay to me. Yet should I accept such a gift as you +offer, then I would be doing such dishonor to my knighthood that would make +it altogether unworthy of that high honor you pay it. For already I have +made my vow to serve a lady, and if I should forswear that vow, I would be +a dishonored and unworthy knight." + +Then the Lady Blanchefleur cried out in a great voice of suffering: "Say no +more, for I am ashamed." + +Sir Percival said: "Nay, there is no shame to thee, but great honor to me." +But the Lady Blanchefleur would not hear him, but brake away from him in +great haste, and left him standing where he was. + +So Sir Percival could stay no longer at that place; but as soon as might +be, he took horse and rode away. Nor did he see Blanchefleur again after +they had thus talked together upon that terrace as aforesaid. + +And after Sir Percival had gone, the Lady Blanchefleur abandoned herself to +great sorrow, for she wept a long while and a very great deal; nor would +she, for a long while, take any joy in living or in the world in which she +lived. + +[Sidenote: Of the further adventures of Sir Percival] So Sir Percival +performed that adventure of setting free the duress of the castle of +Beaurepaire. And after that and ere the winter came, he performed several +other adventures of more or less fame. And during that time, he overthrew +eleven knights in various affairs at arms and in all those adventures he +met with no mishap himself. And besides such encounters at arms, he +performed several very worthy works; for he slew a wild boar that was a +terror to all that dwelt nigh to the forest of Umber; and he also slew a +very savage wolf that infested the moors of the Dart. Wherefore, because of +these several adventures, the name of Sir Percival became very famous in +all courts of chivalry, and many said: "Verily, this young knight must be +the peer of Sir Launcelot of the Lake himself." + +Now one day toward eventide (and it was a very cold winter day) Sir +Percival came to the hut of a hermit in the forest of Usk; and he abode all +night at that place. + +Now when the morning had come he went out and stood in front of the hut, +and he saw that during the night a soft snow had fallen so that all the +earth was covered with white. And he saw that it likewise had happened that +a hawk had struck a raven in front of the hermit's habitation, and that +some of the raven's feathers and some of its blood lay upon the snow. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival stands in meditation] Now when Sir Percival beheld +the blood and the black feathers upon that white snow, he said to himself: +"Behold! that snow is not whiter than the brow and the neck of my lady; and +that red is not redder than her lips; and that black is not blacker than +her hair." Therewith the thought of that lady took great hold upon him and +he sighed so deeply that he felt his heart lifted within him because of +that sigh. So he stood and gazed upon that white and red and black, and he +forgot all things else in the world than his lady-love. + +Now it befell at that time that there came a party riding through those +parts, and that party were Sir Gawaine and Sir Geraint and Sir Kay. And +when they saw Sir Percival where he stood leaning against a tree and +looking down upon the ground in deep meditation, Sir Kay said: "Who is +yonder knight?" (For he wist not that that knight was Sir Percival.) And +Sir Kay said further: "I will go and bespeak that knight and ask him who he +is." + +But Sir Gawaine perceived that Sir Percival was altogether sunk in deep +thought, wherefore he said: "Nay, thou wilt do ill to disturb that knight; +for either he hath some weighty matter upon his mind, or else he is +bethinking him of his lady, and in either case it would be a pity to +disturb him until he arouses himself." + +[Sidenote: Sir Kay shakes the arm of Sir Percival] But Sir Kay would not +heed what Sir Gawaine said, but forthwith he went to where Sir Percival +stood; and Sir Percival was altogether unaware of his coming, being so +deeply sunk in his thoughts. Then Sir Kay said: "Sir Knight,"--but Sir +Percival did not hear him. And Sir Kay said: "Sir Knight, who art thou?" +But still Sir Percival did not reply. Then Sir Kay said: "Sir Knight, thou +shalt answer me!" And therewith he catched Sir Percival by the arm and +shook him very roughly. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival smites Sir Kay a buffet] Then Sir Percival aroused +himself, and he was filled with indignation that anyone should have laid +rough hands upon his person. And Sir Percival did not recognize Sir Kay +because he was still entangled in that network of thought, but he said very +fiercely: "Ha, sirrah! wouldst thou lay hands upon me!" and therewith he +raised his fist and smote Sir Kay so terrible a buffet beside the head that +Sir Kay instantly fell down as though he were dead and lay without sense of +motion upon the ground. Then Sir Percival perceived that there were two +other knights standing not far off, and therewith his thoughts of other +things came back to him again and he was aware of what he had done in his +anger, and was very sorry and ashamed that he should have been so hasty as +to have struck that blow. + +Then Sir Gawaine came to Sir Percival and spake sternly to him saying. "Sir +Knight, why didst thou strike my companion so unknightly a blow as that?" + +[Sidenote: Sir Gawaine chides Sir Percival] To which Sir Percival said: +"Messire, it grieves me sorely that I should have been so hasty, but I was +bethinking me of my lady, and this knight disturbed my thoughts; wherefore +I smote him in haste." + +To this Sir Gawaine made reply: "Sir, I perceive that thou hadst great +excuse for thy blow. Ne'theless, I am displeased that thou shouldst have +struck that knight. Now I make demand of thee what is thy name and +condition?" + +And Sir Percival said: "My name is Percival, and I am a knight of King +Arthur's making." + +[Sidenote: Sir Gawaine and Sir Geraint rejoice over Sir Percival] At that, +when Sir Gawaine and Sir Geraint heard what Sir Percival said, they cried +out in great amazement; and Sir Gawaine said: "Ha, Sir Percival! this is +indeed well met, for my name is Gawaine and I am a nephew unto King Arthur +and am of his court; and this knight is Sir Geraint, and he also is of King +Arthur's court and of his Round Table. And we have been in search of thee +for this long time for to bring thee unto King Arthur at Camelot. For thy +renown is now spread all over this realm, so that they talk of thee in +every court of chivalry." + +And Sir Percival said: "That is good news to me, for I wist not that I had +so soon won so much credit. But, touching the matter of returning unto King +Arthur's court with you; unto that I crave leave to give my excuses. For, +since you tell me that I now have so much credit of knighthood, it behooves +me to go immediately unto my lady and to offer my services unto her. For +when I parted from her I promised her that I would come to her as soon as I +had won me sufficient credit of knighthood. As for this knight whom I have +struck, I cannot be sorry for that buffet, even if it was given with my +fist and not with my sword as I should have given it. For I have promised +Sir Kay by several mouths that I would sometime repay him with just such a +buffet as that which he struck the damosel Yelande. So now I have fulfilled +my promise and have given him that buffet." + +Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Geraint laughed, and Sir Gawaine said: "Well, Sir +Percival, thou hast indeed fulfilled thy promise in very good measure. For +I make my vow that no one could have been better served with his dessert +than was Sir Kay." + +Now by this time Sir Kay had recovered from that blow, so that he rose up +very ruefully, looking about as though he wist not yet just where he was. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival will not return to court] Then Sir Gawaine said to +Sir Percival: "As to thy coming unto the court of the King, thou dost right +to fulfil thy promise unto thy lady before undertaking any other +obligation. For, even though the King himself bid thee come, yet is thy +obligation to thy lady superior to the command of the King. So now I bid +thee go in quest of thy lady in God's name; only see to it that thou comest +to the King's court as soon as thou art able." + +So it was that Sir Percival fulfilled the promise of that buffet unto Sir +Kay. + +And now you shall hear how he found the Lady Yvette the Fair. + + * * * * * + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival cometh to the castle of Sir Percydes] Now after +Sir Percival had parted from Sir Gawaine, and Sir Geraint and Sir Kay, he +went his way in that direction he wist, and by and by, toward eventide, he +came again to the castle of Sir Percydes. And Sir Percydes was at home and +he welcomed Sir Percival with great joy and congratulations. For the fame +of Sir Percival was now abroad in all the world, so that Sir Percydes +welcomed him with great acclaim. + +So Sir Percival sat down with Sir Percydes and they ate and drank together, +and, for the time, Sir Percival said nothing of that which was upon his +heart--for he was of a very continent nature and was in no wise hasty in +his speech. + +But after they had satisfied themselves with food and drink, then Sir +Percival spake to Sir Percydes of that which was upon his mind, saying: +"Dear friend, thou didst tell me that when I was ready for to come to thee +with a certain intent thou wouldst tell me who is the lady whose ring I +wear and where I shall find her. Now, I believe that I am a great deal more +worthy for to be her knight than I was when I first saw thee; wherefore I +am now come to beseech thee to redeem thy promise to me. Now tell me, I beg +of thee, who is that lady and where does she dwell?" + +[Sidenote: Sir Percydes declares himself to Sir Percival] Then Sir +Percydes said: "Friend, I will declare to thee that which thou dost ask of +me. Firstly, that lady is mine own sister, hight Yvette, and she is the +daughter of King Pecheur. Secondly, thou shalt find her at the castle of my +father, which standeth upon the west coast of this land. Nor shalt thou +have any difficulty in finding that castle, for thou mayst easily come to +it by inquiring the way of those whom thou mayst meet in that region. But, +indeed, it hath been two years since I have seen my father and my sister, +and I know not how it is with them." + +Then Sir Percival came to Sir Percydes and he put his arm about him and +kissed him upon either cheek, and he said: "Should I obtain the kind regard +of that lady, I know nothing that would more rejoice me than to know that +thou art her brother. For, indeed, I entertain a great deal of love for +thee." + +At that Sir Percydes laughed for joy and he said: "Percival, wilt thou not +tell me of what house thou art come?" Percival said: "I will tell thee what +thou dost ask: my father is King Pellinore who was a very good, noble +knight of the court of King Arthur and of his Round Table." + +Then Sir Percydes cried out with great amazement, saying: "That is very +marvellous! I would that I had known this before, for thy mother and my +mother were sisters of one father and one mother. So we are cousins +german." + +Then Sir Percival said: "This is great joy to me!" And his heart was +expanded with pleasure at finding that Sir Percydes was of his kindred and +that he was no longer alone in that part of the world. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival departs for the castle of King Pecheur] So Sir +Percival abided for two days with Sir Percydes and then he betook his way +to the westward in pursuance of that adventure. And he was upon the road +three days, and upon the morning of the fourth day he came, through +diligent inquiry, within sight of the castle of King Pecheur. This castle +stood upon a high crag of rock from which it arose against the sky so that +it looked to be a part of the crag. And it was a very noble and stately +castle, having many tall towers and many buildings within the walls +thereof. And a village of white houses of the fisher-folk gathered upon the +rocks beneath the castle walls like chicks beneath the shadow of their +mother's wings. + +And, behold! Percival saw the great sea for the first time in all his life, +and was filled with wonder at the huge waves that ran toward the shore and +burst upon the rocks, all white like snow. And he was amazed at the +multitude of sea fowl that flew about the rocks in such prodigious numbers +that they darkened the sky. Likewise he was astonished at the fisher-boats +that spread their white sails against the wind, and floated upon the water +like swans, for he had never seen their like before. So he sat his horse +upon a high rock nigh to the sea and gazed his fill upon those things that +were so wonderful to him. + +Then after a while Sir Percival went forward to the castle. And as he drew +nigh to the castle he became aware that a very reverend man, whose hair and +beard were as white as snow, sat upon a cushion of crimson velvet upon a +rock that overlooked the sea. Two pages, richly clad in black and silver, +stood behind him; and the old man gazed out across the sea, and Sir +Percival saw that he neither spake nor moved. But when Sir Percival came +near to him the old man arose and went into the castle, and the two pages +took up the two crimson velvet cushions and followed him. + +But Percival rode up to the castle, and he saw that the gateway of the +castle stood open, wherefore he rode into the courtyard of the castle. And +when he had come into the courtyard, two attendants immediately appeared +and took his horse and assisted him to dismount; but neither of these +attendants said aught to him, but both were as silent as deaf-mutes. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival finds King Pecheur] Then Percival entered the hall +and there he saw the old man whom he had before seen, and the old man sat +in a great carved chair beside a fire of large logs of wood. And Sir +Percival saw that the eyes of the old man were all red and that his cheeks +were channeled with weeping; and Percival was abashed at the sadness of his +aspect. Nevertheless, he came to where the old man sat and saluted him with +great reverence, and he said: "Art thou King Pecheur?" And the old man +answered, "Aye, for I am both a fisher and a sinner" (for that word Pecheur +meaneth both fisher and sinner). + +Then Sir Percival said: "Sire, I bring thee greetings from thy son, Sir +Percydes, who is a very dear friend to me. And likewise I bring thee +greeting from myself: for I am Percival, King Pellinore's son, and thy +Queen and my mother are sisters. And likewise I come to redeem a pledge, +for, behold, here is the ring of thy daughter Yvette, unto whom I am +pledged for her true knight. Wherefore, having now achieved a not +dishonorable renown in the world of chivalry, I am come to beseech her +kindness and to redeem my ring which she hath upon her finger and to give +her back her ring again." + +Then King Pecheur fell to weeping in great measure and he said: "Percival +thy fame hath reached even to this remote place, for every one talketh of +thee with great unction. But, touching my daughter Yvette, if thou wilt +come with me I will bring thee to her." + +So King Pecheur arose and went forth and Sir Percival followed him. And +King Pecheur brought Sir Percival to a certain tower; and he brought him up +a long and winding stair; and at the top of the stairway was a door. And +King Pecheur opened the door and Sir Percival entered the apartment. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival findeth the Lady Yvette] The windows of the +apartment stood open, and a cold wind came in thereat from off the sea; and +there stood a couch in the middle of the room, and it was spread with black +velvet; and the Lady Yvette lay reclined upon the couch, and, lo! her face +was like to wax for whiteness, and she neither moved nor spake, but only +lay there perfectly still; for she was dead. + +Seven waxen candles burned at her head, and seven others at her feet, and +the flames of the candles spread and wavered as the cold wind blew upon +them. And the hair of her head (as black as those raven feathers that Sir +Percival had beheld lying upon the snow) moved like threads of black silk +as the wind blew in through the window--but the Lady Yvette moved not nor +stirred, but lay like a statue of marble all clad in white. + +Then at the first Sir Percival stood very still at the door-way as though +he had of a sudden been turned into stone. Then he went forward and stood +beside the couch and held his hands very tightly together and gazed at the +Lady Yvette where she lay. So he stood for a long while, and he wist not +why it was that he felt like as though he had been turned into a stone, +without such grief at his heart as he had thought to feel thereat. (For +indeed, his spirit was altogether broken though he knew it not.) + +[Sidenote: Of the grief of Sir Percival] Then he spake unto that still +figure, and he said: "Dear lady, is it thus I find thee after all this long +endeavor of mine? Yet from Paradise, haply, thou mayst perceive all that I +have accomplished in thy behalf. So shalt thou be my lady always to the end +of my life and I will have none other than thee. Wherefore I herewith give +thee thy ring again and take mine own in its stead." Therewith, so +speaking, he lifted that hand (all so cold like the snow) and took his ring +from off her finger and put her ring back upon it again. + +Then King Pecheur said, "Percival, hast thou no tears?" + +And Percival said, "Nay, I have none." Therewith he turned and left that +place, and King Pecheur went with him. + +After that Sir Percival abided in that place for three days, and King +Pecheur and his lady Queen and their two young sons who dwelt at that place +made great pity over him, and wept a great deal. But Sir Percival said but +little in reply and wept not at all. + + * * * * * + +And now I shall tell you of that wonderful vision that came unto Sir +Percival at this place upon Christmas day. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival beholds the grail] For on the third day (which was +Christmas day) it chanced that Sir Percival sat alone in the hall of the +castle, and he meditated upon the great sorrow that lay upon him. And as he +sat thus this very wonderful thing befell him: He suddenly beheld two +youths enter that hall. And the faces of the two youths shone with +exceeding brightness, and their hair shone like gold, and their raiment was +very bright and glistering like to gold. One of these youths bare in his +hand a spear of mighty size, and blood dropped from the point of the spear; +and the other youth bare in his hand a chalice of pure gold, very wonderful +to behold, and he held the chalice in a napkin of fine cambric linen. + +Then, at first, Sir Percival thought that that which he beheld was a vision +conjured up by the deep sorrow that filled his heart, and he was afeard. +But the youth who bare the chalice spake in a voice extraordinarily high +and clear. And he said: "Percival! Percival! be not afraid! This which thou +here beholdest is the Sangreal, and that is the Spear of Sorrow. What then +may thy sorrow be in the presence of these holy things that brought with +them such great sorrow and affliction of soul that they have become +entirely sanctified thereby! Thus, Percival, should thy sorrow so sanctify +thy life and not make it bitter to thy taste. For so did this bitter cup +become sanctified by the great sorrow that tasted of it." + +Percival said: "Are these things real or are they a vision that I behold?" + +He who bare the chalice said, "They are real." And he who bare the spear +said, "They are real." + +Then a great peace and comfort came to Sir Percival's heart and they never +left him to the day of his death. + +Then they who bare the Sangreal and the Spear went out of the hall, and Sir +Percival kneeled there for a while after they had gone and prayed with +great devotion and with much comfort and satisfaction. + +And this was the first time that any of those knights that were of King +Arthur's Round Table ever beheld that holy chalice, the which Sir Percival +was one of three to achieve in after-years. + +So when Sir Percival came forth from that hall, all those who beheld him +were astonished at the great peace and calmness that appeared to emanate +from him. But he told no one of that miraculous vision which he had just +beheld, and, though it appeareth in the history of these things, yet it was +not then made manifest. + +Then Sir Percival said to King Pecheur, his uncle and to his aunt and to +their sons: "Now, dear friends, the time hath come when I must leave you. +For I must now presently go to the court of King Arthur in obedience to his +commands and to acknowledge myself unto my brother, Sir Lamorack." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival departs for court] So that day Sir Percival set +forth with intent to go to Camelot, where King Arthur was then holding +court in great estate of pomp. And Sir Percival reached Camelot upon the +fourth day from that time and that was during the feasts of Christmas-tide. + +Now King Arthur sat at those feasts and there were six score of very noble +company seated with him. And the King's heart was greatly uplifted and +expanded with mirth and good cheer. Then, while all were feasting with +great concord, there suddenly came into that hall an herald-messenger; the +whom, when King Arthur beheld him, he asked: "What message hast thou +brought?" Upon this the messenger said: "Lord, there hath come one asking +permission to enter here whom you will be very well pleased to see." The +King said, "Who is it?" And the herald-messenger said, "He saith his name +is Percival." + +Upon this King Arthur arose from where he sat and all the others uprose +with him and there was a great sound of loud voices; for the fame of Sir +Percival had waxed very great since he had begun his adventures. So King +Arthur and the others went down the hall for to meet Sir Percival. + +Then the door opened and Sir Percival came into that place, and his face +shone very bright with peace and good-will; and he was exceedingly comely. + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival is received with joy] King Arthur said, "Art thou +Percival?" And Percival said, "I am he." Thereupon King Arthur took Sir +Percival's head into his hands, and he kissed him upon the brow. And Sir +Percival kissed King Arthur's hand and he kissed the ring of royalty upon +the King's finger, and so he became a true knight in fealty unto King +Arthur. + +Then Sir Percival said: "Lord, have I thy leave to speak?" And King Arthur +said, "Say on." Sir Percival said, "Where is Sir Lamorack?" And King Arthur +said, "Yonder he is." Then Sir Percival perceived where Sir Lamorack stood +among the others, and he went to Sir Lamorack and knelt down before him; +and Sir Lamorack was very much astonished, and said: "Why dost thou kneel +to me, Percival?" Then Sir Percival said, "Dost thou know this ring?" + +Then Sir Lamorack knew his father's ring and he cried out in a loud voice: +"That is my father's ring; how came ye by it?" + +Percival said: "Our mother gave it to me, for I am thy brother." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival declares himself to Sir Lamorack] Upon this Sir +Lamorack cried out with great passion; and he flung his arms about Sir +Percival, and he kissed him repeatedly upon the face. And so ardent was the +great love and the great passion that moved him that all those who stood +about could in no wise contain themselves, but wept at that which they +beheld. + +Then, after a while, King Arthur said: "Percival, come with me, for I have +somewhat to show thee." + +[Sidenote: Sir Percival is made Knight of the Round Table] So King Arthur +and Sir Lamorack and Sir Percival and several others went unto that +pavilion which was the pavilion of the Round Table, and there King Arthur +showed Sir Percival a seat which was immediately upon the right hand of the +Seat Perilous. + +And upon the back of that seat there was a name emblazoned in letters of +gold; and the name was this: + +PERCIVAL OF GALES + +Then King Arthur said: "Behold, Sir Percival, this is thy seat, for four +days ago that name appeared most miraculously, of a sudden, where thou +seest it; wherefore that seat is thine." + +Then Sir Percival was aware that that name had manifested itself at the +time when the Sangreal had appeared unto him in the castle of King Pecheur, +and he was moved with a great passion of love and longing for the Lady +Yvette; so that, because of the strength of that passion, it took upon it +the semblance of a terrible joy. And he said to himself: "If my lady could +but have beheld these, how proud would she have been! But, doubtless, she +now looketh down from Paradise and beholdeth us and all that we do." +Thereupon he lifted up his eyes as though to behold her, but she was not +there, but only the roof of that pavilion. + +But he held his peace and said naught to anyone of those thoughts that +disturbed him. + +With this I conclude for the present the adventures of Sir Percival with +only this to say: that thereafter, as soon as might be, he and Sir Lamorack +went up into the mountains where their mother dwelt and brought her down +thence into the world, and that she was received at the court of King +Arthur with great honor and high regard until, after a while, she entered +into a nunnery and took the veil. + +Likewise it is to be said that Sir Percival lived, as he had vowed to do, a +virgin knight for all of his life; for he never paid court to any lady from +that time, but ever held within the sanctuary of his mind the image of that +dear lady who waited for him in Paradise until he should come unto her in +such season as God should see fit. + +But you must not think that this is all that there is to tell of that +noble, gentle and worthy young knight whose history we have been +considering. For after this he performed many glorious services to the +great honor of his knighthood and achieved so many notable adventures that +the world spoke of him as being second in worship only to Sir Launcelot of +the Lake. Yea; there were many who doubted whether Sir Launcelot himself +was really a greater knight than Sir Percival; and though I may admit that +Sir Launcelot had the greater prowess, yet Sir Percival was, certes, the +more pure in heart and transparent of soul of those two. + +So, hereafter, if God so wills, I shall tell more of Sir Percival, for I +shall have much to write concerning him when I have to tell of the +achievement of the Sangreal which he beheld in that vision at the Castle of +King Pecheur as aforetold. + +So, for this time, no more of these adventures, but fare you well. + + + + +CONCLUSION + +Thus endeth the particular history of those three worthy, noble, excellent +knights-champion--Sir Launcelot of the Lake, Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, and +Sir Percival of Gales. + +And I do hope that you may have found pleasure in considering their lives +and their works as I have done. For as I wrote of their behavior and +pondered upon it, meseemed they offered a very high example that anyone +might follow to his betterment who lives in this world where so much that +is ill needs to be amended. + +But though I have told so much, yet, as I have just said, there remain many +other things to tell concerning Sir Launcelot and Sir Percival, which may +well afford anyone pleasure to read. These I shall recount in another +volume at another time, with such particularity as those histories may +demand. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF THE CHAMPIONS OF THE +ROUND TABLE*** + + +******* This file should be named 10745.txt or 10745.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/7/4/10745 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions 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-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + +https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** |