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diff --git a/1251-h/1251-h.htm b/1251-h/1251-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dc60f47 --- /dev/null +++ b/1251-h/1251-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,16576 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Le Morte D’Arthur, Volume I (of II), by Thomas Malory</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + +body { background:#faebd0; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 175%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 2em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.right {text-align: right; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1251 ***</div> + +<h1>Le Morte D’Arthur</h1> + +<h4>King Arthur and of his Noble Knights of the Round Table</h4> + +<h3>by Thomas Malory</h3> + +<h4>IN TWO VOLS.—VOL. I</h4> + +<hr /> + +<h3>Contents</h3> + +<table summary="" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto"> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#bibl01">BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#pref01">PREFACE OF WILLIAM CAXTON</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#part01"><b>BOOK I.</b></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">CHAPTER I. First, How Uther Pendragon sent for the duke +of Cornwall and Igraine his wife, and of their departing suddenly again.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">CHAPTER II. How Uther Pendragon made war on the duke of +Cornwall, and how by the mean of Merlin he lay by the duchess and gat Arthur.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">CHAPTER III. Of the birth of King Arthur and of his +nurture.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">CHAPTER IV. Of the death of King Uther Pendragon.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">CHAPTER V. How Arthur was chosen king, and of wonders +and marvels of a sword taken out of a stone by the said Arthur.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur pulled out the sword divers +times.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">CHAPTER VII. How King Arthur was crowned, and how he +made officers.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap08">CHAPTER VIII. How King Arthur held in Wales, at a +Pentecost, a great feast, and what kings and lords came to his feast.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap09">CHAPTER IX. Of the first war that King Arthur had, and +how he won the field.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap10">CHAPTER X. How Merlin counselled King Arthur to send for +King Ban and King Bors, and of their counsel taken for the war.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap11">CHAPTER XI. Of a great tourney made by King Arthur and +the two kings Ban and Bors, and how they went over the sea.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap12">CHAPTER XII. How eleven kings gathered a great host +against King Arthur.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap13">CHAPTER XIII. Of a dream of the King with the Hundred +Knights.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap14">CHAPTER XIV. How the eleven kings with their host fought +against Arthur and his host, and many great feats of the war.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap15">CHAPTER XV. Yet of the same battle.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap16">CHAPTER XVI. Yet more of the same battle.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap17">CHAPTER XVII. Yet more of the same battle, and how it +was ended by Merlin.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap18">CHAPTER XVIII. How King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors +rescued King Leodegrance, and other incidents.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap19">CHAPTER XIX. How King Arthur rode to Carlion, and of his +dream, and how he saw the questing beast.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap20">CHAPTER XX. How King Pellinore took Arthur's horse and +followed the Questing Beast, and how Merlin met with Arthur.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap21">CHAPTER XXI. How Ulfius impeached Queen Igraine, +Arthur's mother, of treason; and how a knight came and desired to have the +death of his master revenged.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap22">CHAPTER XXII. How Griflet was made knight, and jousted +with a knight</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap23">CHAPTER XXIII. How twelve knights came from Rome and +asked truage for this land of Arthur, and how Arthur fought with a knight.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap24">CHAPTER XXIV. How Merlin saved Arthur's life, and threw +an enchantment on King Pellinore and made him to sleep.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap25">CHAPTER XXV. How Arthur by the mean of Merlin gat +Excalibur his sword of the Lady of the Lake.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap26">CHAPTER XXVI. How tidings came to Arthur that King +Rience had overcome eleven kings, and how he desired Arthur's beard to trim his +mantle.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap27">CHAPTER XXVII. How all the children were sent for that +were born on May-day, and how Mordred was saved.</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#part02"><b>BOOK II.</b></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap28">CHAPTER I. Of a damosel which came girt with a sword for +to find a man of such virtue to draw it out of the scabbard.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap29">CHAPTER II. How Balin, arrayed like a poor knight, +pulled out the sword, which afterward was the cause of his death.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap30">CHAPTER III. How the Lady of the Lake demanded the +knight's head that had won the sword, or the maiden's head.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap31">CHAPTER IV. How Merlin told the adventure of this +damosel.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap32">CHAPTER V. How Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor, knight +of Ireland, and how he jousted and slew him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap33">CHAPTER VI. How a damosel, which was love to Lanceor, +slew herself for love, and how Balin met with his brother Balan.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap34">CHAPTER VII. How a dwarf reproved Balin for the death of +Lanceor, and how King Mark of Cornwall found them, and made a tomb over them.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap35">CHAPTER VIII. How Merlin prophesied that two the best +knights of the world should fight there, which were Sir Lancelot and Sir +Tristram.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap36">CHAPTER IX. How Balin and his brother, by the counsel of +Merlin, took King Rience and brought him to King Arthur.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap37">CHAPTER X. How King Arthur had a battle against Nero and +King Lot of Orkney, and how King Lot was deceived by Merlin, and how twelve +kings were slain.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap38">CHAPTER XI. Of the interment of twelve kings, and of the +prophecy of Merlin, and how Balin should give the dolorous stroke.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap39">CHAPTER XII. How a sorrowful knight came before Arthur, +and how Balin fetched him, and how that knight was slain by a knight invisible.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap40">CHAPTER XIII. How Balin and the damosel met with a +knight which was in likewise slain, and how the damosel bled for the custom of +a castle.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap41">CHAPTER XIV. How Balin met with that knight named Garlon +at a feast, and there he slew him, to have his blood to heal therewith the son +of his host.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap42">CHAPTER XV. How Balin fought with King Pellam, and how +his sword brake, and how he gat a spear wherewith he smote the dolorous stroke.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap43">CHAPTER XVI. How Balin was delivered by Merlin, and +saved a knight that would have slain himself for love.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap44">CHAPTER XVII. How that knight slew his love and a knight +lying by her, and after, how he slew himself with his own sword, and how Balin +rode toward a castle where he lost his life.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap45">CHAPTER XVIII. How Balin met with his brother Balan, and +how each of them slew other unknown, till they were wounded to death.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap46">CHAPTER XIX. How Merlin buried them both in one tomb, +and of Balin's sword.</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#part03"><b>BOOK III.</b></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap47">CHAPTER I. How King Arthur took a wife, and wedded +Guenever, daughter to Leodegrance, King of the Land of Cameliard, with whom he +had the Round Table.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap48">CHAPTER II. How the Knights of the Round Table were +ordained and their sieges blessed by the Bishop of Canterbury.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap49">CHAPTER III. How a poor man riding upon a lean mare +desired King Arthur to make his son knight.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap50">CHAPTER IV. How Sir Tor was known for son of King +Pellinore, and how Gawaine was made knight.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap51">CHAPTER V. How at feast of the wedding of King Arthur to +Guenever, a white hart came into the hall, and thirty couple hounds, and how a +brachet pinched the hart which was taken away.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap52">CHAPTER VI. How Sir Gawaine rode for to fetch again the +hart, and how two brethren fought each against other for the hart.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap53">CHAPTER VII How the hart was chased into a castle and +there slain, and how Sir Gawaine slew a lady.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap54">CHAPTER VIII. How four knights fought against Gawaine +and Gaheris, and how they were overcome, and their lives saved at request of +four ladies.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap55">CHAPTER IX. How Sir Tor rode after the knight with the +brachet, and of his adventure by the way.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap56">CHAPTER X. How Sir Tor found the brachet with a lady, +and how a knight assailed him for the said brachet.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap57">CHAPTER XI. How Sir Tor overcame the knight, and how he +lost his head at the request of a lady.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap58">CHAPTER XII. How King Pellinore rode after the lady and +the knight that led her away, and how a lady desired help of him, and how he +fought with two knights for that lady, of whom he slew the one at the first +stroke.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap59">CHAPTER XIII. How King Pellinore gat the lady and +brought her to Camelot to the court of King Arthur.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap60">CHAPTER XIV. How on the way he heard two knights, as he +lay by night in a valley, and of their adventures.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap61">CHAPTER XV. How when he was come to Camelot he was sworn +upon a book to tell the truth of his quest.</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#part04"><b>BOOK IV.</b></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap62">CHAPTER I. How Merlin was assotted and doted on one of +the ladies of the lake, and how he was shut in a rock under a stone and there +died.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap63">CHAPTER II. How five kings came into this land to war +against King Arthur, and what counsel Arthur had against them.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap64">CHAPTER III. How King Arthur had ado with them and +overthrew them, and slew the five kings and made the remnant to flee.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap65">CHAPTER IV. How the battle was finished or he came, and +how King Arthur founded an abbey where the battle was.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap66">CHAPTER V. How Sir Tor was made knight of the Round +Table, and how Bagdemagus was displeased.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap67">CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir +Accolon of Gaul, chased an hart, and of their marvellous adventures.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap68">CHAPTER VII. How Arthur took upon him to fight to be +delivered out of prison, and also for to deliver twenty knights that were in +prison.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap69">CHAPTER VIII. How Accolon found himself by a well, and +he took upon him to do battle against Arthur.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap70">CHAPTER IX. Of the battle between King Arthur and +Accolon.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap71">CHAPTER X. How King Arthur's sword that he fought with +brake, and how he recovered of Accolon his own sword Excalibur, and overcame +his enemy.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap72">CHAPTER XI. How Accolon confessed the treason of Morgan +le Fay, King Arthur's sister, and how she would have done slay him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap73">CHAPTER XII. How Arthur accorded the two brethren, and +delivered the twenty knights, and how Sir Accolon died.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap74">CHAPTER XIII. How Morgan would have slain Sir Uriens her +husband, and how Sir Uwaine her son saved him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap75">CHAPTER XIV. How Queen Morgan le Fay made great sorrow +for the death of Accolon, and how she stole away the scabbard from Arthur.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap76">CHAPTER XV. How Morgan le Fay saved a knight that should +have been drowned, and how King Arthur returned home again.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap77">CHAPTER XVI. How the Damosel of the Lake saved King +Arthur from mantle that should have burnt him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap78">CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine met with +twelve fair damosels, and how they complained on Sir Marhaus.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap79">CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Marhaus jousted with Sir Gawaine +and Sir Uwaine, and overthrew them both.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap80">CHAPTER XIX. How Sir Marhaus, Sir Gawaine, and Sir +Uwaine met three damosels, and each of them took one.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap81">CHAPTER XX. How a knight and a dwarf strove for a lady.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap82">CHAPTER XXI. How King Pelleas suffered himself to be +taken prisoner because he would have a sight of his lady, and how Sir Gawaine +promised him to get to him the love of his lady.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap83">CHAPTER XXII. How Sir Gawaine came to the Lady Ettard, +and how Sir Pelleas found them sleeping.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap84">CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Pelleas loved no more Ettard by +means of the Damosel of the Lake, whom he loved ever after.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap85">CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Marhaus rode with the damosel, and +how he came to the Duke of the South Marches.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap86">CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Marhaus fought with the duke and +his four sons and made them to yield them.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap87">CHAPTER XXVI. How Sir Uwaine rode with the damosel of +sixty year of age, and how he gat the prize at tourneying.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap88">CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Uwaine fought with two knights +and overcame them.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap89">CHAPTER XXVIII. How at the year's end all three knights +with their three damosels met at the fountain.</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#part05"><b>BOOK V.</b></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap90">CHAPTER I. How twelve aged ambassadors of Rome came to +King Arthur to demand truage for Britain.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap91">CHAPTER II. How the kings and lords promised to King +Arthur aid and help against the Romans.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap92">CHAPTER III. How King Arthur held a parliament at York, +and how he ordained the realm should be governed in his absence.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap93">CHAPTER IV. How King Arthur being shipped and lying in +his cabin had a marvellous dream and of the exposition thereof.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap94">CHAPTER V. How a man of the country told to him of a +marvellous giant, and how he fought and conquered him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap95">CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur sent Sir Gawaine and other +to Lucius, and how they were assailed and escaped with worship.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap96">CHAPTER VII. How Lucius sent certain spies in a bushment +for to have taken his knights being prisoners, and how they were letted.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap97">CHAPTER VIII. How a senator told to Lucius of their +discomfiture, and also of the great battle between Arthur and Lucius.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap98">CHAPTER IX How Arthur, after he had achieved the battle +against the Romans, entered into Almaine, and so into Italy.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap99">CHAPTER X. Of a battle done by Sir Gawaine against a +Saracen, which after was yielden and became Christian.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap100">CHAPTER XI. How the Saracens came out of a wood for to +rescue their beasts, and of a great battle.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap101">CHAPTER XII. How Sir Gawaine returned to King Arthur +with his prisoners, and how the King won a city, and how he was crowned +Emperor.</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#part06"><b>BOOK VI.</b></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap102">CHAPTER I. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel departed +from the court, and how Sir Lionel left him sleeping and was taken.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap103">CHAPTER II. How Sir Ector followed for to seek Sir +Launcelot, and how he was taken by Sir Turquine.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap104">CHAPTER III How four queens found Launcelot sleeping, +and how by enchantment he was taken and led into a castle.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap105">CHAPTER IV. How Sir Launcelot was delivered by the mean +of a damosel.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap106">CHAPTER V. How a knight found Sir Launcelot lying in his +leman's bed, and how Sir Launcelot fought with the knight.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap107">CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot was received of King +Bagdemagus' daughter, and how he made his complaint to her father.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap108">CHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot behaved him in a +tournament, and how he met with Sir Turquine leading Sir Gaheris.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap109">CHAPTER VIII. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Turquine fought +together.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap110">CHAPTER IX. How Sir Turquine was slain, and how Sir +Launcelot bade Sir Gaheris deliver all the prisoners.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap111">CHAPTER X. How Sir Launcelot rode with a damosel and +slew a knight that distressed all ladies and also a villain that kept a bridge.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap112">CHAPTER XI. How Sir Launcelot slew two giants, and made +a castle free.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap113">CHAPTER XII. How Sir Launcelot rode disguised in Sir +Kay's harness, and how he smote down a knight.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap114">CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Launcelot jousted against four +knights of the Round Table and overthrew them.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap115">CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Launcelot followed a brachet into a +castle, where he found a dead knight, and how he after was required of a +damosel to heal her brother.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap116">CHAPTER XV. How Sir Launcelot came into the Chapel +Perilous and gat there of a dead corpse a piece of the cloth and a sword.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap117">CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Launcelot at the request of a lady +recovered a falcon, by which he was deceived.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap118">CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Launcelot overtook a knight which +chased his wife to have slain her, and how he said to him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap119">CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Launcelot came to King Arthur's +Court, and how there were recounted all his noble feats and acts.</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#part07"><b>BOOK VII.</b></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap120">CHAPTER I. How Beaumains came to King Arthur's Court and +demanded three petitions of King Arthur.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap121">CHAPTER II. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine were wroth +because Sir Kay mocked Beaumains, and of a damosel which desired a knight to +fight for a lady.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap122">CHAPTER III. How Beaumains desired the battle, and how +it was granted to him, and how he desired to be made knight of Sir Launcelot.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap123">CHAPTER IV. How Beaumains departed, and how he gat of +Sir Kay a spear and a shield, and how he jousted with Sir Launcelot.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap124">CHAPTER V. How Beaumains told to Sir Launcelot his name, +and how he was dubbed knight of Sir Launcelot, and after overtook the damosel.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap125">CHAPTER VI. How Beaumains fought and slew two knights at +a passage.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap126">CHAPTER VII. How Beaumains fought with the Knight of the +Black Launds, and fought with him till he fell down and died.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap127">CHAPTER VIII. How the brother of the knight that was +slain met with Beaumains, and fought with Beaumains till he was yielden.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap128">CHAPTER IX. How the damosel again rebuked Beaumains, and +would not suffer him to sit at her table, but called him kitchen boy.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap129">CHAPTER X. How the third brother, called the Red Knight, +jousted and fought against Beaumains, and how Beaumains overcame him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap130">CHAPTER XI. How Sir Beaumains suffered great rebukes of +the damosel, and he suffered it patiently.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap131">CHAPTER XII. How Beaumains fought with Sir Persant of +Inde, and made him to be yielden.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap132">CHAPTER XIII. Of the goodly communication between Sir +Persant and Beaumains, and how he told him that his name was Sir Gareth.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap133">CHAPTER XIV. How the lady that was besieged had word +from her sister how she had brought a knight to fight for her, and what battles +he had achieved.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap134">CHAPTER XV. How the damosel and Beaumains came to the +siege; and came to a sycamore tree, and there Beaumains blew a horn, and then +the Knight of the Red Launds came to fight with him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap135">CHAPTER XVI. How the two knights met together, and of +their talking, and how they began their battle.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap136">CHAPTER XVII. How after long fighting Beaumains overcame +the knight and would have slain him, but at the request of the lords he saved +his life, and made him to yield him to the lady.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap137">CHAPTER XVIII. How the knight yielded him, and how +Beaumains made him to go unto King Arthur's court, and to cry Sir Launcelot +mercy.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap138">CHAPTER XIX How Beaumains came to the lady, and when he +came to the castle the gates were closed against him, and of the words that the +lady said to him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap139">CHAPTER XX. How Sir Beaumains rode after to rescue his +dwarf, and came into the castle where he was.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap140">CHAPTER XXI. How Sir Gareth, otherwise called Beaumains, +came to the presence of his lady, and how they took acquaintance, and of their +love.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap141">CHAPTER XXII. How at night came an armed knight, and +fought with Sir Gareth, and he, sore hurt in the thigh, smote off the knight's +head.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap142">CHAPTER XXIII. How the said knight came again the next +night and was beheaded again, and how at the feast of Pentecost all the knights +that Sir Gareth had overcome came and yielded them to King Arthur.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap143">CHAPTER XXIV. How King Arthur pardoned them, and +demanded of them where Sir Gareth was.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap144">CHAPTER XXV. How the Queen of Orkney came to this feast +of Pentecost, and Sir Gawaine and his brethren came to ask her blessing.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap145">CHAPTER XXVI. How King Arthur sent for the Lady +Lionesse, and how she let cry a tourney at her castle, whereas came many +knights.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap146">CHAPTER XXVII. How King Arthur went to the tournament +with his knights, and how the lady received him worshipfully, and how the +knights encountered.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap147">CHAPTER XXVIII. How the knights bare them in the battle.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap148">CHAPTER XXIX. Yet of the said tournament.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap149">CHAPTER XXX. How Sir Gareth was espied by the heralds, +and how he escaped out of the field.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap150">CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Gareth came to a castle where he +was well lodged, and he jousted with a knight and slew him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap151">CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Gareth fought with a knight that +held within his castle thirty ladies, and how he slew him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap152">CHAPTER XXXIII. How Sir Gareth and Sir Gawaine fought +each against other, and how they knew each other by the damosel Linet.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap153">CHAPTER XXXIV. How Sir Gareth acknowledged that they +loved each other to King Arthur, and of the appointment of their wedding.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap154">CHAPTER XXXV. Of the Great Royalty, and what officers +were made at the feast of the wedding, and of the jousts at the feast.</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#part08"><b>BOOK VIII.</b></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap155">CHAPTER I. How Sir Tristram de Liones was born, and how +his mother died at his birth, wherefore she named him Tristram.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap156">CHAPTER II. How the stepmother of Sir Tristram had +ordained poison for to have poisoned Sir Tristram.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap157">CHAPTER III. How Sir Tristram was sent into France, and +had one to govern him named Gouvernail, and how he learned to harp, hawk, and +hunt.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap158">CHAPTER IV. How Sir Marhaus came out of Ireland for to +ask truage of Cornwall, or else he would fight therefore.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap159">CHAPTER V. How Tristram enterprized the battle to fight +for the truage of Cornwall, and how he was made knight.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap160">CHAPTER VI. How Sir Tristram arrived into the Island for +to furnish the battle with Sir Marhaus.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap161">CHAPTER VII. How Sir Tristram fought against Sir Marhaus +and achieved his battle, and how Sir Marhaus fled to his ship.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap162">CHAPTER VIII. How Sir Marhaus after that he was arrived +in Ireland died of the stroke that Sir Tristram had given him, and how Tristram +was hurt.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap163">CHAPTER IX. How Sir Tristram was put to the keeping of +La Beale Isoud first for to be healed of his wound.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap164">CHAPTER X. How Sir Tristram won the degree at a +tournament in Ireland, and there made Palamides to bear no more harness in a +year.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap165">CHAPTER XI. How the queen espied that Sir Tristram had +slain her brother Sir Marhaus by his sword, and in what jeopardy he was.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap166">CHAPTER XII. How Sir Tristram departed from the king and +La Beale Isoud out of Ireland for to come into Cornwall.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap167">CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Tristram and King Mark hurted each +other for the love of a knight's wife.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap168">CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Tristram lay with the lady, and how +her husband fought with Sir Tristram.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap169">CHAPTER XV. How Sir Bleoberis demanded the fairest lady +in King Mark's court, whom he took away, and how he was fought with.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap170">CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Tristram fought with two knights of +the Round Table.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap171">CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Bleoberis +for a lady, and how the lady was put to choice to whom she would go.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap172">CHAPTER XVIII. How the lady forsook Sir Tristram and +abode with Sir Bleoberis, and how she desired to go to her husband.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap173">CHAPTER XIX. How King Mark sent Sir Tristram for La +Beale Isoud toward Ireland, and how by fortune he arrived into England.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap174">CHAPTER XX. How King Anguish of Ireland was summoned to +come to King Arthur's court for treason.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap175">CHAPTER XXI. How Sir Tristram rescued a child from a +knight, and how Gouvernail told him of King Anguish.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap176">CHAPTER XXII. How Sir Tristram fought for Sir Anguish +and overcame his adversary, and how his adversary would never yield him.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap177">CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Blamore desired Tristram to slay +him, and how Sir Tristram spared him, and how they took appointment.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap178">CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Tristram demanded La Beale Isoud +for King Mark, and how Sir Tristram and Isoud drank the love drink.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap179">CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Tristram and Isoud were in prison, +and how he fought for her beauty, and smote off another lady's head.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap180">CHAPTER XXVI. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Breunor, +and at the last smote off his head.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap181">CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Galahad fought with Sir Tristram, +and how Sir Tristram yielded him and promised to fellowship with Launcelot.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap182">CHAPTER XXVIII. How Sir Launcelot met with Sir Carados +bearing away Sir Gawaine, and of the rescue of Sir Gawaine.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap183">CHAPTER XXIX. Of the wedding of King Mark to La Beale +Isoud, and of Bragwaine her maid, and of Palamides.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap184">CHAPTER XXX. How Palamides demanded Queen Isoud, and how +Lambegus rode after to rescue her, and of the escape of Isoud.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap185">CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Tristram rode after Palamides, and +how he found him and fought with him, and by the means of Isoud the battle +ceased.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap186">CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Tristram brought Queen Isoud +home, and of the debate of King Mark and Sir Tristram.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap187">CHAPTER XXXIII. How Sir Lamorak jousted with thirty +knights, and Sir Tristram at the request of King Mark smote his horse down.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap188">CHAPTER XXXIV. How Sir Lamorak sent an horn to King Mark +in despite of Sir Tristram, and how Sir Tristram was driven into a chapel.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap189">CHAPTER XXXV. How Sir Tristram was holpen by his men, +and of Queen Isoud which was put in a lazar-cote, and how Tristram was hurt.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap190">CHAPTER XXXVI. How Sir Tristram served in war King Howel +of Brittany, and slew his adversary in the field.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap191">CHAPTER XXXVII. How Sir Suppinabiles told Sir Tristram +how he was defamed in the court of King Arthur, and of Sir Lamorak.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap192">CHAPTER XXXVIII. How Sir Tristram and his wife arrived +in Wales, and how he met there with Sir Lamorak.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap193">CHAPTER XXXIX. How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Nabon, +and overcame him, and made Sir Segwarides lord of the isle.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap194">CHAPTER XL</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap195">CHAPTER XLI. How Sir Lamorak slew Sir Frol, and of the +courteous fighting with Sir Belliance his brother.</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#part09"><b>BOOK IX.</b></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap196">CHAPTER I. How a young man came into the court of King +Arthur, and how Sir Kay called him in scorn La Cote Male Taile.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap197">CHAPTER II. How a damosel came into the court and +desired a knight to take on him an enquest, which La Cote Male Taile emprised.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap198">CHAPTER III. How La Cote Male Taile overthrew Sir +Dagonet the king's fool, and of the rebuke that he had of the damosel.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap199">CHAPTER IV. How La Cote Male Taile fought against an +hundred knights, and how he escaped by the mean of a lady.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap200">CHAPTER V. How Sir Launcelot came to the court and heard +of La Cote Male Taile, and how he followed after him, and how La Cote Male +Taile was prisoner.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap201">CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot fought with six knights, +and after with Sir Brian, and how he delivered the prisoners.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap202">CHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot met with the damosel +named Male disant, and named her the Damosel Bienpensant.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap203">CHAPTER VIII. How La Cote Male Taile was taken prisoner, +and after rescued by Sir Launcelot, and how Sir Launcelot overcame four +brethren.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap204">CHAPTER IX. How Sir Launcelot made La Cote Male Taile +lord of the Castle of Pendragon, and after was made knight of the Round Table.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap205">CHAPTER X. How La Beale Isoud sent letters to Sir +Tristram by her maid Bragwaine, and of divers adventures of Sir Tristram.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap206">CHAPTER XI. How Sir Tristram met with Sir Lamorak de +Galis, and how they fought, and after accorded never to fight together.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap207">CHAPTER XII. How Sir Palomides followed the Questing +Beast, and smote down Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak with one spear.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap208">CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Lamorak met with Sir Meliagaunce, +and fought together for the beauty of Dame Guenever.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap209">CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Kay met with Sir Tristram, and after +of the shame spoken of the knights of Cornwall, and how they jousted.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap210">CHAPTER XV. How King Arthur was brought into the Forest +Perilous, and how Sir Tristram saved his life.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap211">CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Tristram came to La Beale Isoud, +and how Kehydius began to love Beale Isoud, and of a letter that Tristram +found.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap212">CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Tristram departed from Tintagil, +and how he sorrowed and was so long in a forest till he was out of his mind.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap213">CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in a +well, and how Palomides sent a damosel to seek Tristram, and how Palomides met +with King Mark.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap214">CHAPTER XIX. How it was noised how Sir Tristram was dead, +and how La Beale Isoud would have slain herself.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap215">CHAPTER XX. How King Mark found Sir Tristram naked, and +made him to be borne home to Tintagil, and how he was there known by a brachet.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap216">CHAPTER XXI. How King Mark, by the advice of his +council, banished Sir Tristram out of Cornwall the term of ten years.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap217">CHAPTER XXII. How a damosel sought help to help Sir +Launcelot against thirty knights, and how Sir Tristram fought with them.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap218">CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan came to a +lodging where they must joust with two knights.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap219">CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Tristram jousted with Sir Kay and +Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and how Sir Gawaine turned Sir Tristram from Morgan +le Fay.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap220">CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Tristram and Sir Gawaine rode to +have foughten with the thirty knights, but they durst not come out.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap221">CHAPTER XXVI. How damosel Bragwaine found Tristram +sleeping by a well, and how she delivered letters to him from La Beale Isoud.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap222">CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Tristram had a fall with Sir +Palomides, and how Launcelot overthrew two knights.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap223">CHAPTER XXVIII. How Sir Launcelot jousted with Palomides +and overthrew him, and after he was assailed with twelve knights.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap224">CHAPTER XXIX. How Sir Tristram behaved him the first day +of the tournament, and there he had the prize.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap225">CHAPTER XXX. How Sir Tristram returned against King +Arthur's party because he saw Sir Palomides on that party.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap226">CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Tristram found Palomides by a +well, and brought him with him to his lodging.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap227">CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Tristram smote down Sir +Palomides, and how he jousted with King Arthur, and other feats.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap228">CHAPTER XXXIII. How Sir Launcelot hurt Sir Tristram, and +how after Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap229">CHAPTER XXXIV. How the prize of the third day was given +to Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot gave it to Sir Tristram.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap230">CHAPTER XXXV. How Palomides came to the castle where +Sir Tristram was, and of the quest that Sir Launcelot and ten knights made for +Sir Tristram.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap231">CHAPTER XXXVI. How Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir +Dinadan were taken and put in prison.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap232">CHAPTER XXXVII. How King Mark was sorry for the good +renown of Sir Tristram. Some of King Arthur's knights jousted with knights of +Cornwall.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap233">CHAPTER XXXVIII. Of the treason of King Mark, and how Sir +Gaheris smote him down and Andred his cousin.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap234">CHAPTER XXXIX. How after that Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, +and Sir Dinadan had been long in prison they were delivered.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap235">CHAPTER XL. How Sir Dinadan rescued a lady from Sir +Breuse Saunce Pité, and how Sir Tristram received a shield of Morgan le Fay.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap236">CHAPTER XLI. How Sir Tristram took with him the shield, +and also how he slew the paramour of Morgan le Fay.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap237">CHAPTER XLII. How Morgan le Fay buried her paramour, +and how Sir Tristram praised Sir Launcelot and his kin.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap238">CHAPTER XLIII. How Sir Tristram at a tournament bare the +shield that Morgan le Fay delivered to him.</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#glos01"><b>GLOSSARY</b></a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="bibl01"></a>BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE</h3> + +<p> +The Morte D’Arthur was finished, as the epilogue tells us, in the ninth +year of Edward IV., i.e. between March 4, 1469 and the same date in 1470. It is +thus, fitly enough, the last important English book written before the +introduction of printing into this country, and since no manuscript of it has +come down to us it is also the first English classic for our knowledge of which +we are entirely dependent on a printed text. Caxton’s story of how the +book was brought to him and he was induced to print it may be read farther on +in his own preface. From this we learn also that he was not only the printer of +the book, but to some extent its editor also, dividing Malory’s work into +twenty-one books, splitting up the books into chapters, by no means skilfully, +and supplying the “Rubrish” or chapter-headings. It may be added +that Caxton’s preface contains, moreover, a brief criticism which, on the +points on which it touches, is still the soundest and most sympathetic that has +been written. +</p> + +<p> +Caxton finished his edition the last day of July 1485, some fifteen or sixteen +years after Malory wrote his epilogue. It is clear that the author was then +dead, or the printer would not have acted as a clumsy editor to the book, and +recent discoveries (if bibliography may, for the moment, enlarge its bounds to +mention such matters) have revealed with tolerable certainty when Malory died +and who he was. In letters to The Athenaeum in July 1896 Mr. T. Williams +pointed out that the name of a Sir Thomas Malorie occurred among those of a +number of other Lancastrians excluded from a general pardon granted by Edward +IV. in 1468, and that a William Mallerye was mentioned in the same year as +taking part in a Lancastrian rising. In September 1897, again, in another +letter to the same paper, Mr. A. T. Martin reported the finding of the will of +a Thomas Malory of Papworth, a hundred partly in Cambridgeshire, partly in +Hunts. This will was made on September 16, 1469, and as it was proved the 27th +of the next month the testator must have been in immediate expectation of +death. It contains the most careful provision for the education and starting in +life of a family of three daughters and seven sons, of whom the youngest seems +to have been still an infant. We cannot say with certainty that this Thomas +Malory, whose last thoughts were so busy for his children, was our author, or +that the Lancastrian knight discovered by Mr. Williams was identical with +either or both, but such evidence as the Morte D’Arthur offers favours +such a belief. There is not only the epilogue with its petition, “pray +for me while I am alive that God send me good deliverance and when I am dead +pray you all for my soul,” but this very request is foreshadowed at the +end of chap. 37 of Book ix. in the touching passage, surely inspired by +personal experience, as to the sickness “that is the greatest pain a +prisoner may have”; and the reflections on English fickleness in the +first chapter of Book xxi., though the Wars of the Roses might have inspired +them in any one, come most naturally from an author who was a Lancastrian +knight. +</p> + +<p> +If the Morte D’Arthur was really written in prison and by a prisoner +distressed by ill-health as well as by lack of liberty, surely no task was ever +better devised to while away weary hours. Leaving abundant scope for +originality in selection, modification, and arrangement, as a compilation and +translation it had in it that mechanical element which adds the touch of +restfulness to literary work. No original, it is said, has yet been found for +Book vii., and it is possible that none will ever be forthcoming for chap. 20 +of Book xviii., which describes the arrival of the body of the Fair Maiden of +Astolat at Arthur’s court, or vii for chap. 25 of the same book, with its +discourse on true love; but the great bulk of the work has been traced chapter +by chapter to the “Merlin” of Robert de Borron and his successors +(Bks. i.-iv.), the English metrical romance La Morte Arthur of the Thornton +manuscript (Bk. v.), the French romances of Tristan (Bks. viii.-x.) and of +Launcelot (Bks. vi., xi.-xix.), and lastly to the English prose Morte Arthur of +Harley MS. 2252 (Bks. xviii., xx., xxi.). As to Malory’s choice of his +authorities critics have not failed to point out that now and again he gives a +worse version where a better has come down to us, and if he had been able to +order a complete set of Arthurian manuscripts from his bookseller, no doubt he +would have done even better than he did! But of the skill, approaching to +original genius, with which he used the books from which he worked there is +little dispute. +</p> + +<p> +Malory died leaving his work obviously unrevised, and in this condition it was +brought to Caxton, who prepared it for the press with his usual enthusiasm in +the cause of good literature, and also, it must be added, with his usual +carelessness. New chapters are sometimes made to begin in the middle of a +sentence, and in addition to simple misprints there are numerous passages in +which it is impossible to believe that we have the text as Malory intended it +to stand. After Caxton’s edition Malory’s manuscript must have +disappeared, and subsequent editions are differentiated only by the degree of +closeness with which they follow the first. Editions appeared printed by Wynkyn +de Worde in 1498 and 1529, by William Copland in 1559, by Thomas East about +1585, and by Thomas Stansby in 1634, each printer apparently taking the text of +his immediate predecessor and reproducing it with modifications. +Stansby’s edition served for reprints in 1816 and 1856 (the latter edited +by Thomas Wright); but in 1817 an edition supervised by Robert Southey went +back to Caxton’s text, though to a copy (only two are extant, and only +one perfect!) in which eleven leaves were supplied from Wynkyn de Worde’s +reprint. In 1868 Sir Edward Strachey produced for the present publishers a +reprint of Southey’s text in modern spelling, with the substitution of +current words for those now obsolete, and the softening of a handful of +passages likely, he thought, to prevent the book being placed in the hands of +boys. In 1889 a boon was conferred on scholars by the publication of Dr. H. +Oskar Sommer’s page-for-page reprint of Caxton’s text, with an +elaborate discussion of Malory’s sources. Dr. Sommer’s edition was +used by Sir E. Strachey to revise his Globe text, and in 1897 Mr. Israel +Gollancz produced for the “Temple Classics” a very pretty edition +in which Sir Edward Strachey’s principles of modernisation in spelling +and punctuation were adopted, but with the restoration of obsolete words and +omitted phrases. As to the present edition, Sir Edward Strachey altered with so +sparing a hand that on many pages differences between his version and that here +printed will be looked for in vain; but the most anxious care has been taken to +produce a text modernised as to its spelling, but in other respects in accurate +accordance with Caxton’s text, as represented by Dr Sommer’s +reprint. Obvious misprints have been silently corrected, but in a few cases +notes show where emendations have been introduced from Wynkyn de +Worde—not that Wynkyn had any more right to emend Caxton than we, but +because even a printer’s conjecture gains a little sanctity after four +centuries. The restoration of obsolete words has necessitated a much fuller +glossary, and the index of names has therefore been separated from it and +enlarged. In its present form the index is the work of Mr. Henry Littlehales. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +A. W. POLLARD. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="pref01"></a>PREFACE OF WILLIAM CAXTON</h3> + +<p> +After that I had accomplished and finished divers histories, as well of +contemplation as of other historial and worldly acts of great conquerors and +princes, and also certain books of ensamples and doctrine, many noble and +divers gentlemen of this realm of England came and demanded me many and oft +times, wherefore that I have not do made and imprint the noble history of the +Saint Greal, and of the most renowned Christian king, first and chief of the +three best Christian, and worthy, King Arthur, which ought most to be +remembered among us Englishmen to-fore all other Christian kings; for it is +notoyrly known through the universal world, that there be nine worthy and the +best that ever were, that is to wit, three Paynims, three Jews, and three +Christian men. As for the Paynims, they were to-fore the Incarnation of Christ, +which were named, the first Hector of Troy, of whom the history is comen both +in ballad and in prose, the second Alexander the Great, and the third Julius +Caesar, Emperor of Rome, of whom the histories be well known and had. And as +for the three Jews, which also were to-fore the incarnation of our Lord, of +whom the first was duke Joshua which brought the children of Israel into the +land of behest, the second David king of Jerusalem, and the third Judas +Machabeus, of these three the Bible rehearseth all their noble histories and +acts. And since the said Incarnation have been three noble Christian men, +stalled and admitted through the universal world into the number of the nine +best and worthy. Of whom was first the noble Arthur, whose noble acts I purpose +to write in this present book here following. The second was Charlemain, or +Charles the Great, of whom the history is had in many places, both in French +and in English. And the third and last was Godfrey of Boloine, of whose acts +and life I made a book unto the excellent prince and king of noble memory, King +Edward the Fourth. +</p> + +<p> +The said noble gentlemen instantly required me to imprint the history of the +said noble king and conqueror King Arthur, and of his knights, with the history +of the Saint Greal, and of the death and ending of the said Arthur; affirming +that I ought rather to imprint his acts and noble feats, than of Godfrey of +Boloine, or any of the other eight, considering that he was a man born within +this realm, and king and emperor of the same: and that there be in French +divers and many noble volumes of his acts, and also of his knights. To whom I +answered that divers men hold opinion that there was no such Arthur, and that +all such books as been made of him be feigned and fables, because that some +chronicles make of him no mention, nor remember him nothing, nor of his +knights. Whereto they answered, and one in special said, that in him that +should say or think that there was never such a king called Arthur might well +be aretted great folly and blindness. For he said that there were many +evidences of the contrary. First ye may see his sepulchre in the monastery of +Glastonbury. And also in Policronicon, in the fifth book the sixth chapter, and +in the seventh book the twenty-third chapter, where his body was buried, and +after found, and translated into the said monastery. Ye shall see also in the +history of Bochas, in his book De Casu Principum, part of his noble acts, and +also of his fall. Also Galfridus in his British book recounteth his life: and +in divers places of England many remembrances be yet of him, and shall remain +perpetually, and also of his knights. First in the abbey of Westminster, at St. +Edward’s shrine, remaineth the print of his seal in red wax closed in +beryl, in which is written, Patricius Arthurus Britannie, Gallie, Germanie, +Dacie, Imperator. Item in the castle of Dover ye may see Gawaine’s skull, +and Cradok’s mantle: at Winchester the Round Table: in other places +Launcelot’s sword and many other things. Then all these things +considered, there can no man reasonably gainsay but there was a king of this +land named Arthur. For in all places, Christian and heathen, he is reputed and +taken for one of the nine worthy, and the first of the three Christian men. And +also, he is more spoken of beyond the sea, more books made of his noble acts, +than there be in England, as well in Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and Greekish, as +in French. And yet of record remain in witness of him in Wales, in the town of +Camelot, the great stones and the marvellous works of iron lying under the +ground, and royal vaults, which divers now living have seen. Wherefore it is a +marvel why he is no more renowned in his own country, save only it accordeth to +the Word of God, which saith that no man is accepted for a prophet in his own +country. +</p> + +<p> +Then all these things aforesaid alleged, I could not well deny but that there +was such a noble king named Arthur, and reputed one of the nine worthy, and +first and chief of the Christian men. And many noble volumes be made of him and +of his noble knights in French, which I have seen and read beyond the sea, +which be not had in our maternal tongue. But in Welsh be many and also in +French, and some in English but nowhere nigh all. Wherefore, such as have late +been drawn out briefly into English I have after the simple conning that God +hath sent to me, under the favour and correction of all noble lords and +gentlemen, enprised to imprint a book of the noble histories of the said King +Arthur, and of certain of his knights, after a copy unto me delivered, which +copy Sir Thomas Malorye did take out of certain books of French, and reduced it +into English. And I, according to my copy, have done set it in imprint, to the +intent that noble men may see and learn the noble acts of chivalry, the gentle +and virtuous deeds that some knights used in those days, by which they came to +honour, and how they that were vicious were punished and oft put to shame and +rebuke; humbly beseeching all noble lords and ladies, with all other estates of +what estate or degree they been of, that shall see and read in this said book +and work, that they take the good and honest acts in their remembrance, and to +follow the same. Wherein they shall find many joyous and pleasant histories, +and noble and renowned acts of humanity, gentleness, and chivalry. For herein +may be seen noble chivalry, courtesy, humanity, friendliness, hardiness, love, +friendship, cowardice, murder, hate, virtue, and sin. Do after the good and +leave the evil, and it shall bring you to good fame and renown. And for to pass +the time this book shall be pleasant to read in, but for to give faith and +belief that all is true that is contained herein, ye be at your liberty: but +all is written for our doctrine, and for to beware that we fall not to vice nor +sin, but to exercise and follow virtue, by which we may come and attain to good +fame and renown in this life, and after this short and transitory life to come +unto everlasting bliss in heaven; the which He grant us that reigneth in +heaven, the blessed Trinity. Amen. +</p> + +<p> +Then to proceed forth in this said book, which I direct unto all noble princes, +lords and ladies, gentlemen or gentlewomen, that desire to read or hear read of +the noble and joyous history of the great conqueror and excellent king, King +Arthur, sometime king of this noble realm, then called Britain; I, William +Caxton, simple person, present this book following, which I have enprised to +imprint: and treateth of the noble acts, feats of arms of chivalry, prowess, +hardiness, humanity, love, courtesy, and very gentleness, with many wonderful +histories and adventures. And for to understand briefly the content of this +volume, I have divided it into XXI Books, and every book chaptered, as +hereafter shall by God’s grace follow. The First Book shall treat how +Uther Pendragon gat the noble conqueror King Arthur, and containeth xxviii +chapters. The Second Book treateth of Balin the noble knight, and containeth +xix chapters. The Third Book treateth of the marriage of King Arthur to Queen +Guenever, with other matters, and containeth xv chapters. The Fourth Book, how +Merlin was assotted, and of war made to King Arthur, and containeth xxix +chapters. The Fifth Book treateth of the conquest of Lucius the emperor, and +containeth xii chapters. The Sixth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir +Lionel, and marvellous adventures, and containeth xviii chapters. The Seventh +Book treateth of a noble knight called Sir Gareth, and named by Sir Kay +Beaumains, and containeth xxxvi chapters. The Eighth Book treateth of the birth +of Sir Tristram the noble knight, and of his acts, and containeth xli chapters. +The Ninth Book treateth of a knight named by Sir Kay Le Cote Male Taille, and +also of Sir Tristram, and containeth xliv chapters. The Tenth Book treateth of +Sir Tristram, and other marvellous adventures, and containeth lxxxviii +chapters. The Eleventh Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir Galahad, and +containeth xiv chapters. The Twelfth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and his +madness, and containeth xiv chapters. The Thirteenth Book treateth how Galahad +came first to king Arthur’s court, and the quest how the Sangreal was +begun, and containeth xx chapters. The Fourteenth Book treateth of the quest of +the Sangreal, and containeth x chapters. The Fifteenth Book treateth of Sir +Launcelot, and containeth vi chapters. The Sixteenth Book treateth of Sir Bors +and Sir Lionel his brother, and containeth xvii chapters. The Seventeenth Book +treateth of the Sangreal, and containeth xxiii chapters. The Eighteenth Book +treateth of Sir Launcelot and the queen, and containeth xxv chapters. The +Nineteenth Book treateth of Queen Guenever and Launcelot, and containeth xiii +chapters. The Twentieth Book treateth of the piteous death of Arthur, and +containeth xxii chapters. The Twenty-first Book treateth of his last departing, +and how Sir Launcelot came to revenge his death, and containeth xiii chapters. +The sum is twenty-one books, which contain the sum of five hundred and seven +chapters, as more plainly shall follow hereafter. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="part01"></a>BOOK I.</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap01"></a>CHAPTER I.<br/>First, How Uther Pendragon sent for the +duke of Cornwall and Igraine his wife, and of their departing suddenly +again.</h3> + +<p> +It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was king of all England, and +so reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that held war against him +long time. And the duke was called the Duke of Tintagil. And so by means King +Uther sent for this duke, charging him to bring his wife with him, for she was +called a fair lady, and a passing wise, and her name was called Igraine. +</p> + +<p> +So when the duke and his wife were come unto the king, by the means of great +lords they were accorded both. The king liked and loved this lady well, and he +made them great cheer out of measure, and desired to have lain by her. But she +was a passing good woman, and would not assent unto the king. And then she told +the duke her husband, and said, I suppose that we were sent for that I should +be dishonoured; wherefore, husband, I counsel you, that we depart from hence +suddenly, that we may ride all night unto our own castle. And in like wise as +she said so they departed, that neither the king nor none of his council were +ware of their departing. All so soon as King Uther knew of their departing so +suddenly, he was wonderly wroth. Then he called to him his privy council, and +told them of the sudden departing of the duke and his wife. +</p> + +<p> +Then they advised the king to send for the duke and his wife by a great charge; +and if he will not come at your summons, then may ye do your best, then have ye +cause to make mighty war upon him. So that was done, and the messengers had +their answers; and that was this shortly, that neither he nor his wife would +not come at him. +</p> + +<p> +Then was the king wonderly wroth. And then the king sent him plain word again, +and bade him be ready and stuff him and garnish him, for within forty days he +would fetch him out of the biggest castle that he hath. +</p> + +<p> +When the duke had this warning, anon he went and furnished and garnished two +strong castles of his, of the which the one hight Tintagil, and the other +castle hight Terrabil. So his wife Dame Igraine he put in the castle of +Tintagil, and himself he put in the castle of Terrabil, the which had many +issues and posterns out. Then in all haste came Uther with a great host, and +laid a siege about the castle of Terrabil. And there he pight many pavilions, +and there was great war made on both parties, and much people slain. Then for +pure anger and for great love of fair Igraine the king Uther fell sick. So came +to the king Uther Sir Ulfius, a noble knight, and asked the king why he was +sick. I shall tell thee, said the king, I am sick for anger and for love of +fair Igraine, that I may not be whole. Well, my lord, said Sir Ulfius, I shall +seek Merlin, and he shall do you remedy, that your heart shall be pleased. So +Ulfius departed, and by adventure he met Merlin in a beggar’s array, and +there Merlin asked Ulfius whom he sought. And he said he had little ado to tell +him. Well, said Merlin, I know whom thou seekest, for thou seekest Merlin; +therefore seek no farther, for I am he; and if King Uther will well reward me, +and be sworn unto me to fulfil my desire, that shall be his honour and profit +more than mine; for I shall cause him to have all his desire. All this will I +undertake, said Ulfius, that there shall be nothing reasonable but thou shalt +have thy desire. Well, said Merlin, he shall have his intent and desire. And +therefore, said Merlin, ride on your way, for I will not be long behind. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap02"></a>CHAPTER II.<br/>How Uther Pendragon made war on the +duke of Cornwall, and how by the mean of Merlin he lay by the duchess and gat +Arthur.</h3> + +<p> +Then Ulfius was glad, and rode on more than a pace till that he came to King +Uther Pendragon, and told him he had met with Merlin. Where is he? said the +king. Sir, said Ulfius, he will not dwell long. Therewithal Ulfius was ware +where Merlin stood at the porch of the pavilion’s door. And then Merlin +was bound to come to the king. When King Uther saw him, he said he was welcome. +Sir, said Merlin, I know all your heart every deal; so ye will be sworn unto me +as ye be a true king anointed, to fulfil my desire, ye shall have your desire. +Then the king was sworn upon the Four Evangelists. Sir, said Merlin, this is my +desire: the first night that ye shall lie by Igraine ye shall get a child on +her, and when that is born, that it shall be delivered to me for to nourish +there as I will have it; for it shall be your worship, and the child’s +avail, as mickle as the child is worth. I will well, said the king, as thou +wilt have it. Now make you ready, said Merlin, this night ye shall lie with +Igraine in the castle of Tintagil; and ye shall be like the duke her husband, +Ulfius shall be like Sir Brastias, a knight of the duke’s, and I will be +like a knight that hight Sir Jordanus, a knight of the duke’s. But wait +ye make not many questions with her nor her men, but say ye are diseased, and +so hie you to bed, and rise not on the morn till I come to you, for the castle +of Tintagil is but ten miles hence; so this was done as they devised. But the +duke of Tintagil espied how the king rode from the siege of Terrabil, and +therefore that night he issued out of the castle at a postern for to have +distressed the king’s host. And so, through his own issue, the duke +himself was slain or ever the king came at the castle of Tintagil. +</p> + +<p> +So after the death of the duke, King Uther lay with Igraine more than three +hours after his death, and begat on her that night Arthur, and on day came +Merlin to the king, and bade him make him ready, and so he kissed the lady +Igraine and departed in all haste. But when the lady heard tell of the duke her +husband, and by all record he was dead or ever King Uther came to her, then she +marvelled who that might be that lay with her in likeness of her lord; so she +mourned privily and held her peace. Then all the barons by one assent prayed +the king of accord betwixt the lady Igraine and him; the king gave them leave, +for fain would he have been accorded with her. So the king put all the trust in +Ulfius to entreat between them, so by the entreaty at the last the king and she +met together. Now will we do well, said Ulfius, our king is a lusty knight and +wifeless, and my lady Igraine is a passing fair lady; it were great joy unto us +all, an it might please the king to make her his queen. Unto that they all well +accorded and moved it to the king. And anon, like a lusty knight, he assented +thereto with good will, and so in all haste they were married in a morning with +great mirth and joy. +</p> + +<p> +And King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney then wedded Margawse that was +Gawaine’s mother, and King Nentres of the land of Garlot wedded Elaine. +All this was done at the request of King Uther. And the third sister Morgan le +Fay was put to school in a nunnery, and there she learned so much that she was +a great clerk of necromancy. And after she was wedded to King Uriens of the +land of Gore, that was Sir Ewain’s le Blanchemain’s father. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap03"></a>CHAPTER III.<br/>Of the birth of King Arthur and of +his nurture.</h3> + +<p> +Then Queen Igraine waxed daily greater and greater, so it befell after within +half a year, as King Uther lay by his queen, he asked her, by the faith she +owed to him, whose was the body; then she sore abashed to give answer. Dismay +you not, said the king, but tell me the truth, and I shall love you the better, +by the faith of my body. Sir, said she, I shall tell you the truth. The same +night that my lord was dead, the hour of his death, as his knights record, +there came into my castle of Tintagil a man like my lord in speech and in +countenance, and two knights with him in likeness of his two knights Brastias +and Jordanus, and so I went unto bed with him as I ought to do with my lord, +and the same night, as I shall answer unto God, this child was begotten upon +me. That is truth, said the king, as ye say; for it was I myself that came in +the likeness, and therefore dismay you not, for I am father of the child; and +there he told her all the cause, how it was by Merlin’s counsel. Then the +queen made great joy when she knew who was the father of her child. +</p> + +<p> +Soon came Merlin unto the king, and said, Sir, ye must purvey you for the +nourishing of your child. As thou wilt, said the king, be it. Well, said +Merlin, I know a lord of yours in this land, that is a passing true man and a +faithful, and he shall have the nourishing of your child, and his name is Sir +Ector, and he is a lord of fair livelihood in many parts in England and Wales; +and this lord, Sir Ector, let him be sent for, for to come and speak with you, +and desire him yourself, as he loveth you, that he will put his own child to +nourishing to another woman, and that his wife nourish yours. And when the +child is born let it be delivered to me at yonder privy postern unchristened. +So like as Merlin devised it was done. And when Sir Ector was come he made +fiaunce to the king for to nourish the child like as the king desired; and +there the king granted Sir Ector great rewards. Then when the lady was +delivered, the king commanded two knights and two ladies to take the child, +bound in a cloth of gold, and that ye deliver him to what poor man ye meet at +the postern gate of the castle. So the child was delivered unto Merlin, and so +he bare it forth unto Sir Ector, and made an holy man to christen him, and +named him Arthur; and so Sir Ector’s wife nourished him with her own pap. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap04"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br/>Of the death of King Uther +Pendragon.</h3> + +<p> +Then within two years King Uther fell sick of a great malady. And in the +meanwhile his enemies usurped upon him, and did a great battle upon his men, +and slew many of his people. Sir, said Merlin, ye may not lie so as ye do, for +ye must to the field though ye ride on an horse-litter: for ye shall never have +the better of your enemies but if your person be there, and then shall ye have +the victory. So it was done as Merlin had devised, and they carried the king +forth in an horse-litter with a great host towards his enemies. And at St. +Albans there met with the king a great host of the North. And that day Sir +Ulfius and Sir Brastias did great deeds of arms, and King Uther’s men +overcame the Northern battle and slew many people, and put the remnant to +flight. And then the king returned unto London, and made great joy of his +victory. And then he fell passing sore sick, so that three days and three +nights he was speechless: wherefore all the barons made great sorrow, and asked +Merlin what counsel were best. There is none other remedy, said Merlin, but God +will have his will. But look ye all barons be before King Uther to-morn, and +God and I shall make him to speak. So on the morn all the barons with Merlin +came to-fore the king; then Merlin said aloud unto King Uther, Sir, shall your +son Arthur be king after your days, of this realm with all the appurtenance? +Then Uther Pendragon turned him, and said in hearing of them all, I give him +God’s blessing and mine, and bid him pray for my soul, and righteously +and worshipfully that he claim the crown, upon forfeiture of my blessing; and +therewith he yielded up the ghost, and then was he interred as longed to a +king. Wherefore the queen, fair Igraine, made great sorrow, and all the barons. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap05"></a>CHAPTER V.<br/>How Arthur was chosen king, and of +wonders and marvels of a sword taken out of a stone by the said Arthur.</h3> + +<p> +Then stood the realm in great jeopardy long while, for every lord that was +mighty of men made him strong, and many weened to have been king. Then Merlin +went to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and counselled him for to send for all +the lords of the realm, and all the gentlemen of arms, that they should to +London come by Christmas, upon pain of cursing; and for this cause, that Jesus, +that was born on that night, that he would of his great mercy show some +miracle, as he was come to be king of mankind, for to show some miracle who +should be rightwise king of this realm. So the Archbishop, by the advice of +Merlin, sent for all the lords and gentlemen of arms that they should come by +Christmas even unto London. And many of them made them clean of their life, +that their prayer might be the more acceptable unto God. So in the greatest +church of London, whether it were Paul’s or not the French book maketh no +mention, all the estates were long or day in the church for to pray. And when +matins and the first mass was done, there was seen in the churchyard, against +the high altar, a great stone four square, like unto a marble stone; and in +midst thereof was like an anvil of steel a foot on high, and therein stuck a +fair sword naked by the point, and letters there were written in gold about the +sword that said thus:—Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and +anvil, is rightwise king born of all England. Then the people marvelled, and +told it to the Archbishop. +</p> + +<p> +I command, said the Archbishop, that ye keep you within your church and pray +unto God still, that no man touch the sword till the high mass be all done. So +when all masses were done all the lords went to behold the stone and the sword. +And when they saw the scripture some assayed, such as would have been king. But +none might stir the sword nor move it. He is not here, said the Archbishop, +that shall achieve the sword, but doubt not God will make him known. But this +is my counsel, said the Archbishop, that we let purvey ten knights, men of good +fame, and they to keep this sword. So it was ordained, and then there was made +a cry, that every man should assay that would, for to win the sword. And upon +New Year’s Day the barons let make a jousts and a tournament, that all +knights that would joust or tourney there might play, and all this was ordained +for to keep the lords together and the commons, for the Archbishop trusted that +God would make him known that should win the sword. +</p> + +<p> +So upon New Year’s Day, when the service was done, the barons rode unto +the field, some to joust and some to tourney, and so it happened that Sir +Ector, that had great livelihood about London, rode unto the jousts, and with +him rode Sir Kay his son, and young Arthur that was his nourished brother; and +Sir Kay was made knight at All Hallowmass afore. So as they rode to the +jousts-ward, Sir Kay lost his sword, for he had left it at his father’s +lodging, and so he prayed young Arthur for to ride for his sword. I will well, +said Arthur, and rode fast after the sword, and when he came home, the lady and +all were out to see the jousting. Then was Arthur wroth, and said to himself, I +will ride to the churchyard, and take the sword with me that sticketh in the +stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this day. So when he +came to the churchyard, Sir Arthur alighted and tied his horse to the stile, +and so he went to the tent, and found no knights there, for they were at the +jousting. And so he handled the sword by the handles, and lightly and fiercely +pulled it out of the stone, and took his horse and rode his way until he came +to his brother Sir Kay, and delivered him the sword. And as soon as Sir Kay saw +the sword, he wist well it was the sword of the stone, and so he rode to his +father Sir Ector, and said: Sir, lo here is the sword of the stone, wherefore I +must be king of this land. When Sir Ector beheld the sword, he returned again +and came to the church, and there they alighted all three, and went into the +church. And anon he made Sir Kay swear upon a book how he came to that sword. +Sir, said Sir Kay, by my brother Arthur, for he brought it to me. How gat ye +this sword? said Sir Ector to Arthur. Sir, I will tell you. When I came home +for my brother’s sword, I found nobody at home to deliver me his sword; +and so I thought my brother Sir Kay should not be swordless, and so I came +hither eagerly and pulled it out of the stone without any pain. Found ye any +knights about this sword? said Sir Ector. Nay, said Arthur. Now, said Sir Ector +to Arthur, I understand ye must be king of this land. Wherefore I, said Arthur, +and for what cause? Sir, said Ector, for God will have it so; for there should +never man have drawn out this sword, but he that shall be rightwise king of +this land. Now let me see whether ye can put the sword there as it was, and +pull it out again. That is no mastery, said Arthur, and so he put it in the +stone; wherewithal Sir Ector assayed to pull out the sword and failed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap06"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br/>How King Arthur pulled out the sword +divers times.</h3> + +<p> +Now assay, said Sir Ector unto Sir Kay. And anon he pulled at the sword with +all his might; but it would not be. Now shall ye assay, said Sir Ector to +Arthur. I will well, said Arthur, and pulled it out easily. And therewithal Sir +Ector knelt down to the earth, and Sir Kay. Alas, said Arthur, my own dear +father and brother, why kneel ye to me? Nay, nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so; +I was never your father nor of your blood, but I wot well ye are of an higher +blood than I weened ye were. And then Sir Ector told him all, how he was +betaken him for to nourish him, and by whose commandment, and by Merlin’s +deliverance. +</p> + +<p> +Then Arthur made great dole when he understood that Sir Ector was not his +father. Sir, said Ector unto Arthur, will ye be my good and gracious lord when +ye are king? Else were I to blame, said Arthur, for ye are the man in the world +that I am most beholden to, and my good lady and mother your wife, that as well +as her own hath fostered me and kept. And if ever it be God’s will that I +be king as ye say, ye shall desire of me what I may do, and I shall not fail +you; God forbid I should fail you Sir, said Sir Ector, I will ask no more of +you, but that ye will make my son, your foster brother, Sir Kay, seneschal of +all your lands. That shall be done, said Arthur, and more, by the faith of my +body, that never man shall have that office but he, while he and I live. +Therewithal they went unto the Archbishop, and told him how the sword was +achieved, and by whom; and on Twelfth-day all the barons came thither, and to +assay to take the sword, who that would assay. But there afore them all, there +might none take it out but Arthur; wherefore there were many lords wroth, and +said it was great shame unto them all and the realm, to be overgoverned with a +boy of no high blood born. And so they fell out at that time that it was put +off till Candlemas and then all the barons should meet there again; but always +the ten knights were ordained to watch the sword day and night, and so they set +a pavilion over the stone and the sword, and five always watched. So at +Candlemas many more great lords came thither for to have won the sword, but +there might none prevail. And right as Arthur did at Christmas, he did at +Candlemas, and pulled out the sword easily, whereof the barons were sore +aggrieved and put it off in delay till the high feast of Easter. And as Arthur +sped before, so did he at Easter; yet there were some of the great lords had +indignation that Arthur should be king, and put it off in a delay till the +feast of Pentecost. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Archbishop of Canterbury by Merlin’s providence let purvey then +of the best knights that they might get, and such knights as Uther Pendragon +loved best and most trusted in his days. And such knights were put about Arthur +as Sir Baudwin of Britain, Sir Kay, Sir Ulfius, Sir Brastias. All these, with +many other, were always about Arthur, day and night, till the feast of +Pentecost. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap07"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br/>How King Arthur was crowned, and how +he made officers.</h3> + +<p> +And at the feast of Pentecost all manner of men assayed to pull at the sword +that would assay; but none might prevail but Arthur, and pulled it out afore +all the lords and commons that were there, wherefore all the commons cried at +once, We will have Arthur unto our king, we will put him no more in delay, for +we all see that it is God’s will that he shall be our king, and who that +holdeth against it, we will slay him. And therewithal they kneeled at once, +both rich and poor, and cried Arthur mercy because they had delayed him so +long, and Arthur forgave them, and took the sword between both his hands, and +offered it upon the altar where the Archbishop was, and so was he made knight +of the best man that was there. And so anon was the coronation made. And there +was he sworn unto his lords and the commons for to be a true king, to stand +with true justice from thenceforth the days of this life. Also then he made all +lords that held of the crown to come in, and to do service as they ought to do. +And many complaints were made unto Sir Arthur of great wrongs that were done +since the death of King Uther, of many lands that were bereaved lords, knights, +ladies, and gentlemen. Wherefore King Arthur made the lands to be given again +unto them that owned them. +</p> + +<p> +When this was done, that the king had stablished all the countries about +London, then he let make Sir Kay seneschal of England; and Sir Baudwin of +Britain was made constable; and Sir Ulfius was made chamberlain; and Sir +Brastias was made warden to wait upon the north from Trent forwards, for it was +that time the most party the king’s enemies. But within few years after +Arthur won all the north, Scotland, and all that were under their obeissance. +Also Wales, a part of it, held against Arthur, but he overcame them all, as he +did the remnant, through the noble prowess of himself and his knights of the +Round Table. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap08"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br/>How King Arthur held in Wales, at a +Pentecost, a great feast, and what kings and lords came to his feast.</h3> + +<p> +Then the king removed into Wales, and let cry a great feast that it should be +holden at Pentecost after the incoronation of him at the city of Carlion. Unto +the feast came King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney, with five hundred knights +with him. Also there came to the feast King Uriens of Gore with four hundred +knights with him. Also there came to that feast King Nentres of Garlot, with +seven hundred knights with him. Also there came to the feast the king of +Scotland with six hundred knights with him, and he was but a young man. Also +there came to the feast a king that was called the King with the Hundred +Knights, but he and his men were passing well beseen at all points. Also there +came the king of Carados with five hundred knights. And King Arthur was glad of +their coming, for he weened that all the kings and knights had come for great +love, and to have done him worship at his feast; wherefore the king made great +joy, and sent the kings and knights great presents. But the kings would none +receive, but rebuked the messengers shamefully, and said they had no joy to +receive no gifts of a beardless boy that was come of low blood, and sent him +word they would none of his gifts, but that they were come to give him gifts +with hard swords betwixt the neck and the shoulders: and therefore they came +thither, so they told to the messengers plainly, for it was great shame to all +them to see such a boy to have a rule of so noble a realm as this land was. +With this answer the messengers departed and told to King Arthur this answer. +Wherefore, by the advice of his barons, he took him to a strong tower with five +hundred good men with him. And all the kings aforesaid in a manner laid a siege +to-fore him, but King Arthur was well victualed. And within fifteen days there +came Merlin among them into the city of Carlion. Then all the kings were +passing glad of Merlin, and asked him, For what cause is that boy Arthur made +your king? Sirs, said Merlin, I shall tell you the cause, for he is King Uther +Pendragon’s son, born in wedlock, gotten on Igraine, the duke’s +wife of Tintagil. Then is he a bastard, they said all. Nay, said Merlin, after +the death of the duke, more than three hours, was Arthur begotten, and thirteen +days after King Uther wedded Igraine; and therefore I prove him he is no +bastard. And who saith nay, he shall be king and overcome all his enemies; and, +or he die, he shall be long king of all England, and have under his obeissance +Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, and more realms than I will now rehearse. Some of +the kings had marvel of Merlin’s words, and deemed well that it should be +as he said; and some of them laughed him to scorn, as King Lot; and more other +called him a witch. But then were they accorded with Merlin, that King Arthur +should come out and speak with the kings, and to come safe and to go safe, such +surance there was made. So Merlin went unto King Arthur, and told him how he +had done, and bade him fear not, but come out boldly and speak with them, and +spare them not, but answer them as their king and chieftain; for ye shall +overcome them all, whether they will or nill. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap09"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br/>Of the first war that King Arthur had, +and how he won the field.</h3> + +<p> +Then King Arthur came out of his tower, and had under his gown a jesseraunt of +double mail, and there went with him the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir +Baudwin of Britain, and Sir Kay, and Sir Brastias: these were the men of most +worship that were with him. And when they were met there was no meekness, but +stout words on both sides; but always King Arthur answered them, and said he +would make them to bow an he lived. Wherefore they departed with wrath, and +King Arthur bade keep them well, and they bade the king keep him well. So the +king returned him to the tower again and armed him and all his knights. What +will ye do? said Merlin to the kings; ye were better for to stint, for ye shall +not here prevail though ye were ten times so many. Be we well advised to be +afeared of a dream-reader? said King Lot. With that Merlin vanished away, and +came to King Arthur, and bade him set on them fiercely; and in the meanwhile +there were three hundred good men, of the best that were with the kings, that +went straight unto King Arthur, and that comforted him greatly. Sir, said +Merlin to Arthur, fight not with the sword that ye had by miracle, till that ye +see ye go unto the worse, then draw it out and do your best. So forthwithal +King Arthur set upon them in their lodging. And Sir Baudwin, Sir Kay, and Sir +Brastias slew on the right hand and on the left hand that it was marvel; and +always King Arthur on horseback laid on with a sword, and did marvellous deeds +of arms, that many of the kings had great joy of his deeds and hardiness. +</p> + +<p> +Then King Lot brake out on the back side, and the King with the Hundred +Knights, and King Carados, and set on Arthur fiercely behind him. With that Sir +Arthur turned with his knights, and smote behind and before, and ever Sir +Arthur was in the foremost press till his horse was slain underneath him. And +therewith King Lot smote down King Arthur. With that his four knights received +him and set him on horseback. Then he drew his sword Excalibur, but it was so +bright in his enemies’ eyes, that it gave light like thirty torches. And +therewith he put them a-back, and slew much people. And then the commons of +Carlion arose with clubs and staves and slew many knights; but all the kings +held them together with their knights that were left alive, and so fled and +departed. And Merlin came unto Arthur, and counselled him to follow them no +further. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap10"></a>CHAPTER X.<br/>How Merlin counselled King Arthur to +send for King Ban and King Bors, and of their counsel taken for the war.</h3> + +<p> +So after the feast and journey, King Arthur drew him unto London, and so by the +counsel of Merlin, the king let call his barons to council, for Merlin had told +the king that the six kings that made war upon him would in all haste be awroke +on him and on his lands. Wherefore the king asked counsel at them all. They +could no counsel give, but said they were big enough. Ye say well, said Arthur; +I thank you for your good courage, but will ye all that loveth me speak with +Merlin? ye know well that he hath done much for me, and he knoweth many things, +and when he is afore you, I would that ye prayed him heartily of his best +advice. All the barons said they would pray him and desire him. So Merlin was +sent for, and fair desired of all the barons to give them best counsel. I shall +say you, said Merlin, I warn you all, your enemies are passing strong for you, +and they are good men of arms as be alive, and by this time they have gotten to +them four kings more, and a mighty duke; and unless that our king have more +chivalry with him than he may make within the bounds of his own realm, an he +fight with them in battle, he shall be overcome and slain. What were best to do +in this cause? said all the barons. I shall tell you, said Merlin, mine advice; +there are two brethren beyond the sea, and they be kings both, and marvellous +good men of their hands; and that one hight King Ban of Benwick, and that other +hight King Bors of Gaul, that is France. And on these two kings warreth a +mighty man of men, the King Claudas, and striveth with them for a castle, and +great war is betwixt them. But this Claudas is so mighty of goods whereof he +getteth good knights, that he putteth these two kings most part to the worse; +wherefore this is my counsel, that our king and sovereign lord send unto the +kings Ban and Bors by two trusty knights with letters well devised, that an +they will come and see King Arthur and his court, and so help him in his wars, +that he will be sworn unto them to help them in their wars against King +Claudas. Now, what say ye unto this counsel? said Merlin. This is well +counselled, said the king and all the barons. +</p> + +<p> +Right so in all haste there were ordained to go two knights on the message unto +the two kings. So were there made letters in the pleasant wise according unto +King Arthur’s desire. Ulfius and Brastias were made the messengers, and +so rode forth well horsed and well armed and as the guise was that time, and so +passed the sea and rode toward the city of Benwick. And there besides were +eight knights that espied them, and at a strait passage they met with Ulfius +and Brastias, and would have taken them prisoners; so they prayed them that +they might pass, for they were messengers unto King Ban and Bors sent from King +Arthur. Therefore, said the eight knights, ye shall die or be prisoners, for we +be knights of King Claudas. And therewith two of them dressed their spears, and +Ulfius and Brastias dressed their spears, and ran together with great raundon. +And Claudas’ knights brake their spears, and theirs to-held and bare the +two knights out of their saddles to the earth, and so left them lying, and rode +their ways. And the other six knights rode afore to a passage to meet with them +again, and so Ulfius and Brastias smote other two down, and so passed on their +ways. And at the fourth passage there met two for two, and both were laid unto +the earth; so there was none of the eight knights but he was sore hurt or +bruised. And when they come to Benwick it fortuned there were both kings, Ban +and Bors. +</p> + +<p> +And when it was told the kings that there were come messengers, there were sent +unto them two knights of worship, the one hight Lionses, lord of the country of +Payarne, and Sir Phariance a worshipful knight. Anon they asked from whence +they came, and they said from King Arthur, king of England; so they took them +in their arms and made great joy each of other. But anon, as the two kings wist +they were messengers of Arthur’s, there was made no tarrying, but +forthwith they spake with the knights, and welcomed them in the faithfullest +wise, and said they were most welcome unto them before all the kings living; +and therewith they kissed the letters and delivered them. And when Ban and Bors +understood the letters, then they were more welcome than they were before. And +after the haste of the letters they gave them this answer, that they would +fulfil the desire of King Arthur’s writing, and Ulfius and Brastias, +tarry there as long as they would, they should have such cheer as might be made +them in those marches. Then Ulfius and Brastias told the kings of the adventure +at their passages of the eight knights. Ha! ah! said Ban and Bors, they were my +good friends. I would I had wist of them; they should not have escaped so. So +Ulfius and Brastias had good cheer and great gifts, as much as they might bear +away; and had their answer by mouth and by writing, that those two kings would +come unto Arthur in all the haste that they might. So the two knights rode on +afore, and passed the sea, and came to their lord, and told him how they had +sped, whereof King Arthur was passing glad. At what time suppose ye the two +kings will be here? Sir, said they, afore All Hallowmass. Then the king let +purvey for a great feast, and let cry a great jousts. And by All Hallowmass the +two kings were come over the sea with three hundred knights well arrayed both +for the peace and for the war. And King Arthur met with them ten mile out of +London, and there was great joy as could be thought or made. And on All +Hallowmass at the great feast, sat in the hall the three kings, and Sir Kay +seneschal served in the hall, and Sir Lucas the butler, that was Duke +Corneus’ son, and Sir Griflet, that was the son of Cardol, these three +knights had the rule of all the service that served the kings. And anon, as +they had washen and risen, all knights that would joust made them ready; by +then they were ready on horseback there were seven hundred knights. And Arthur, +Ban, and Bors, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir Ector, Kay’s +father, they were in a place covered with cloth of gold like an hall, with +ladies and gentlewomen, for to behold who did best, and thereon to give +judgment. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap11"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br/>Of a great tourney made by King Arthur +and the two kings Ban and Bors, and how they went over the sea.</h3> + +<p> +And King Arthur and the two kings let depart the seven hundred knights in two +parties. And there were three hundred knights of the realm of Benwick and of +Gaul turned on the other side. Then they dressed their shields, and began to +couch their spears many good knights. So Griflet was the first that met with a +knight, one Ladinas, and they met so eagerly that all men had wonder; and they +so fought that their shields fell to pieces, and horse and man fell to the +earth; and both the French knight and the English knight lay so long that all +men weened they had been dead. When Lucas the butler saw Griflet so lie, he +horsed him again anon, and they two did marvellous deeds of arms with many +bachelors. Also Sir Kay came out of an ambushment with five knights with him, +and they six smote other six down. But Sir Kay did that day marvellous deeds of +arms, that there was none did so well as he that day. Then there came Ladinas +and Gracian, two knights of France, and did passing well, that all men praised +them. +</p> + +<p> +Then came there Sir Placidas, a good knight, and met with Sir Kay, and smote +him down horse and man, where fore Sir Griflet was wroth, and met with Sir +Placidas so hard, that horse and man fell to the earth. But when the five +knights wist that Sir Kay had a fall, they were wroth out of wit, and therewith +each of them five bare down a knight. When King Arthur and the two kings saw +them begin to wax wroth on both parties, they leapt on small hackneys, and let +cry that all men should depart unto their lodging. And so they went home and +unarmed them, and so to evensong and supper. And after, the three kings went +into a garden, and gave the prize unto Sir Kay, and to Lucas the butler, and +unto Sir Griflet. And then they went unto council, and with them Gwenbaus, the +brother unto Sir Ban and Bors, a wise clerk, and thither went Ulfius and +Brastias, and Merlin. And after they had been in council, they went unto bed. +And on the morn they heard mass, and to dinner, and so to their council, and +made many arguments what were best to do. At the last they were concluded, that +Merlin should go with a token of King Ban, and that was a ring, unto his men +and King Bors’; and Gracian and Placidas should go again and keep their +castles and their countries, as for [dread of King Claudas] King Ban of +Benwick, and King Bors of Gaul had ordained them, and so passed the sea and +came to Benwick. And when the people saw King Ban’s ring, and Gracian and +Placidas, they were glad, and asked how the kings fared, and made great joy of +their welfare and cording, and according unto the sovereign lords desire, the +men of war made them ready in all haste possible, so that they were fifteen +thousand on horse and foot, and they had great plenty of victual with them, by +Merlin’s provision. But Gracian and Placidas were left to furnish and +garnish the castles, for dread of King Claudas. Right so Merlin passed the sea, +well victualled both by water and by land. And when he came to the sea he sent +home the footmen again, and took no more with him but ten thousand men on +horseback, the most part men of arms, and so shipped and passed the sea into +England, and landed at Dover; and through the wit of Merlin, he had the host +northward, the priviest way that could be thought, unto the forest of +Bedegraine, and there in a valley he lodged them secretly. +</p> + +<p> +Then rode Merlin unto Arthur and the two kings, and told them how he had sped; +whereof they had great marvel, that man on earth might speed so soon, and go +and come. So Merlin told them ten thousand were in the forest of Bedegraine, +well armed at all points. Then was there no more to say, but to horseback went +all the host as Arthur had afore purveyed. So with twenty thousand he passed by +night and day, but there was made such an ordinance afore by Merlin, that there +should no man of war ride nor go in no country on this side Trent water, but if +he had a token from King Arthur, where through the king’s enemies durst +not ride as they did to-fore to espy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap12"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br/>How eleven kings gathered a great +host against King Arthur.</h3> + +<p> +And so within a little space the three kings came unto the castle of +Bedegraine, and found there a passing fair fellowship, and well beseen, whereof +they had great joy, and victual they wanted none. This was the cause of the +northern host: that they were reared for the despite and rebuke the six kings +had at Carlion. And those six kings by their means, gat unto them five other +kings; and thus they began to gather their people. +</p> + +<p> +And now they sware that for weal nor woe, they should not leave other, till +they had destroyed Arthur. And then they made an oath. The first that began the +oath was the Duke of Cambenet, that he would bring with him five thousand men +of arms, the which were ready on horseback. Then sware King Brandegoris of +Stranggore that he would bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Then +sware King Clariance of Northumberland he would bring three thousand men of +arms. Then sware the King of the Hundred Knights, that was a passing good man +and a young, that he would bring four thousand men of arms on horseback. Then +there swore King Lot, a passing good knight, and Sir Gawain’s father, +that he would bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore +King Urience, that was Sir Uwain’s father, of the land of Gore, and he +would bring six thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King Idres +of Cornwall, that he would bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Also +there swore King Cradelmas to bring five thousand men on horseback. Also there +swore King Agwisance of Ireland to bring five thousand men of arms on +horseback. Also there swore King Nentres to bring five thousand men of arms on +horseback. Also there swore King Carados to bring five thousand men of arms on +horseback. So their whole host was of clean men of arms on horseback fifty +thousand, and a-foot ten thousand of good men’s bodies. Then were they +soon ready, and mounted upon horse and sent forth their fore-riders, for these +eleven kings in their ways laid a siege unto the castle of Bedegraine; and so +they departed and drew toward Arthur, and left few to abide at the siege, for +the castle of Bedegraine was holden of King Arthur, and the men that were +therein were Arthur’s. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap13"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br/>Of a dream of the King with the +Hundred Knights.</h3> + +<p> +So by Merlin’s advice there were sent fore-riders to skim the country, +and they met with the fore-riders of the north, and made them to tell which way +the host came, and then they told it to Arthur, and by King Ban and Bors’ +council they let burn and destroy all the country afore them, there they should +ride. +</p> + +<p> +The King with the Hundred Knights met a wonder dream two nights afore the +battle, that there blew a great wind, and blew down their castles and their +towns, and after that came a water and bare it all away. All that heard of the +sweven said it was a token of great battle. Then by counsel of Merlin, when +they wist which way the eleven kings would ride and lodge that night, at +midnight they set upon them, as they were in their pavilions. But the +scout-watch by their host cried, Lords! at arms! for here be your enemies at +your hand! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap14"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br/>How the eleven kings with their host +fought against Arthur and his host, and many great feats of the war.</h3> + +<p> +Then King Arthur and King Ban and King Bors, with their good and trusty +knights, set on them so fiercely that they made them overthrow their pavilions +on their heads, but the eleven kings, by manly prowess of arms, took a fair +champaign, but there was slain that morrowtide ten thousand good men’s +bodies. And so they had afore them a strong passage, yet were they fifty +thousand of hardy men. Then it drew toward day. Now shall ye do by mine advice, +said Merlin unto the three kings: I would that King Ban and King Bors, with +their fellowship of ten thousand men, were put in a wood here beside, in an +ambushment, and keep them privy, and that they be laid or the light of the day +come, and that they stir not till ye and your knights have fought with them +long. And when it is daylight, dress your battle even afore them and the +passage, that they may see all your host, for then will they be the more hardy, +when they see you but about twenty thousand men, and cause them to be the +gladder to suffer you and your host to come over the passage. All the three +kings and the whole barons said that Merlin said passingly well, and it was +done anon as Merlin had devised. So on the morn, when either host saw other, +the host of the north was well comforted. Then to Ulfius and Brastias were +delivered three thousand men of arms, and they set on them fiercely in the +passage, and slew on the right hand and on the left hand that it was wonder to +tell. +</p> + +<p> +When that the eleven kings saw that there was so few a fellowship did such +deeds of arms, they were ashamed and set on them again fiercely; and there was +Sir Ulfius’s horse slain under him, but he did marvellously well on foot. +But the Duke Eustace of Cambenet and King Clariance of Northumberland, were +alway grievous on Ulfius. Then Brastias saw his fellow fared so withal he smote +the duke with a spear, that horse and man fell down. That saw King Clariance +and returned unto Brastias, and either smote other so that horse and man went +to the earth, and so they lay long astonied, and their horses’ knees +brast to the hard bone. Then came Sir Kay the seneschal with six fellows with +him, and did passing well. With that came the eleven kings, and there was +Griflet put to the earth, horse and man, and Lucas the butler, horse and man, +by King Brandegoris, and King Idres, and King Agwisance. Then waxed the medley +passing hard on both parties. When Sir Kay saw Griflet on foot, he rode on King +Nentres and smote him down, and led his horse unto Sir Griflet, and horsed him +again. Also Sir Kay with the same spear smote down King Lot, and hurt him +passing sore. That saw the King with the Hundred Knights, and ran unto Sir Kay +and smote him down, and took his horse, and gave him King Lot, whereof he said +gramercy. When Sir Griflet saw Sir Kay and Lucas the butler on foot, he took a +sharp spear, great and square, and rode to Pinel, a good man of arms, and smote +horse and man down, and then he took his horse, and gave him unto Sir Kay. Then +King Lot saw King Nentres on foot, he ran unto Melot de la Roche, and smote him +down, horse and man, and gave King Nentres the horse, and horsed him again. +Also the King of the Hundred Knights saw King Idres on foot; then he ran unto +Gwiniart de Bloi, and smote him down, horse and man, and gave King Idres the +horse, and horsed him again; and King Lot smote down Clariance de la Forest +Savage, and gave the horse unto Duke Eustace. And so when they had horsed the +kings again they drew them, all eleven kings, together, and said they would be +revenged of the damage that they had taken that day. The meanwhile came in Sir +Ector with an eager countenance, and found Ulfius and Brastias on foot, in +great peril of death, that were foul defoiled under horse-feet. +</p> + +<p> +Then Arthur as a lion, ran unto King Cradelment of North Wales, and smote him +through the left side, that the horse and the king fell down; and then he took +the horse by the rein, and led him unto Ulfius, and said, Have this horse, mine +old friend, for great need hast thou of horse. Gramercy, said Ulfius. Then Sir +Arthur did so marvellously in arms, that all men had wonder. When the King with +the Hundred Knights saw King Cradelment on foot, he ran unto Sir Ector, that +was well horsed, Sir Kay’s father, and smote horse and man down, and gave +the horse unto the king, and horsed him again. And when King Arthur saw the +king ride on Sir Ector’s horse, he was wroth and with his sword he smote +the king on the helm, that a quarter of the helm and shield fell down, and so +the sword carved down unto the horse’s neck, and so the king and the +horse fell down to the ground. Then Sir Kay came unto Sir Morganore, seneschal +with the King of the Hundred Knights, and smote him down, horse and man, and +led the horse unto his father, Sir Ector; then Sir Ector ran unto a knight, +hight Lardans, and smote horse and man down, and led the horse unto Sir +Brastias, that great need had of an horse, and was greatly defoiled. When +Brastias beheld Lucas the butler, that lay like a dead man under the +horses’ feet, and ever Sir Griflet did marvellously for to rescue him, +and there were always fourteen knights on Sir Lucas; then Brastias smote one of +them on the helm, that it went to the teeth, and he rode to another and smote +him, that the arm flew into the field. Then he went to the third and smote him +on the shoulder, that shoulder and arm flew in the field. And when Griflet saw +rescues, he smote a knight on the temples, that head and helm went to the +earth, and Griflet took the horse of that knight, and led him unto Sir Lucas, +and bade him mount upon the horse and revenge his hurts. For Brastias had slain +a knight to-fore and horsed Griflet. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap15"></a>CHAPTER XV.<br/>Yet of the same battle.</h3> + +<p> +Then Lucas saw King Agwisance, that late had slain Moris de la Roche, and Lucas +ran to him with a short spear that was great, that he gave him such a fall, +that the horse fell down to the earth. Also Lucas found there on foot, Bloias +de La Flandres, and Sir Gwinas, two hardy knights, and in that woodness that +Lucas was in, he slew two bachelors and horsed them again. Then waxed the +battle passing hard on both parties, but Arthur was glad that his knights were +horsed again, and then they fought together, that the noise and sound rang by +the water and the wood. Wherefore King Ban and King Bors made them ready, and +dressed their shields and harness, and they were so courageous that many +knights shook and bevered for eagerness. All this while Lucas, and Gwinas, and +Briant, and Bellias of Flanders, held strong medley against six kings, that was +King Lot, King Nentres, King Brandegoris, King Idres, King Uriens, and King +Agwisance. So with the help of Sir Kay and of Sir Griflet they held these six +kings hard, that unnethe they had any power to defend them. But when Sir Arthur +saw the battle would not be ended by no manner, he fared wood as a lion, and +steered his horse here and there, on the right hand, and on the left hand, that +he stinted not till he had slain twenty knights. Also he wounded King Lot sore +on the shoulder, and made him to leave that ground, for Sir Kay and Griflet did +with King Arthur there great deeds of arms. Then Ulfius, and Brastias, and Sir +Ector encountered against the Duke Eustace, and King Cradelment, and King +Clariance of Northumberland, and King Carados, and against the King with the +Hundred Knights. So these knights encountered with these kings, that they made +them to avoid the ground. Then King Lot made great dole for his damages and his +fellows, and said unto the ten kings, But if ye will do as I devise we shall be +slain and destroyed; let me have the King with the Hundred Knights, and King +Agwisance, and King Idres, and the Duke of Cambenet, and we five kings will +have fifteen thousand men of arms with us, and we will go apart while ye six +kings hold medley with twelve thousand; an we see that ye have foughten with +them long, then will we come on fiercely, and else shall we never match them, +said King Lot, but by this mean. So they departed as they here devised, and six +kings made their party strong against Arthur, and made great war long. +</p> + +<p> +In the meanwhile brake the ambushment of King Ban and King Bors, and Lionses +and Phariance had the vanguard, and they two knights met with King Idres and +his fellowship, and there began a great medley of breaking of spears, and +smiting of swords, with slaying of men and horses, and King Idres was near at +discomforture. +</p> + +<p> +That saw Agwisance the king, and put Lionses and Phariance in point of death; +for the Duke of Cambenet came on withal with a great fellowship. So these two +knights were in great danger of their lives that they were fain to return, but +always they rescued themselves and their fellowship marvellously. When King +Bors saw those knights put aback, it grieved him sore; then he came on so fast +that his fellowship seemed as black as Inde. When King Lot had espied King +Bors, he knew him well, then he said, O Jesu, defend us from death and horrible +maims! for I see well we be in great peril of death; for I see yonder a king, +one of the most worshipfullest men and one of the best knights of the world, is +inclined unto his fellowship. What is he? said the King with the Hundred +Knights. It is, said King Lot, King Bors of Gaul; I marvel how they came into +this country without witting of us all. It was by Merlin’s advice, said +the knight. As for him, said King Carados, I will encounter with King Bors, an +ye will rescue me when myster is. Go on, said they all, we will do all that we +may. Then King Carados and his host rode on a soft pace, till that they came as +nigh King Bors as bow-draught; then either battle let their horse run as fast +as they might. And Bleoberis, that was godson unto King Bors, he bare his chief +standard, that was a passing good knight. Now shall we see, said King Bors, how +these northern Britons can bear the arms: and King Bors encountered with a +knight, and smote him throughout with a spear that he fell dead unto the earth; +and after drew his sword and did marvellous deeds of arms, that all parties had +great wonder thereof; and his knights failed not, but did their part, and King +Carados was smitten to the earth. With that came the King with the Hundred +Knights and rescued King Carados mightily by force of arms, for he was a +passing good knight of a king, and but a young man. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap16"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br/>Yet more of the same battle.</h3> + +<p> +By then came into the field King Ban as fierce as a lion, with bands of green +and thereupon gold. Ha! a! said King Lot, we must be discomfited, for yonder I +see the most valiant knight of the world, and the man of the most renown, for +such two brethren as is King Ban and King Bors are not living, wherefore we +must needs void or die; and but if we avoid manly and wisely there is but +death. When King Ban came into the battle, he came in so fiercely that the +strokes redounded again from the wood and the water; wherefore King Lot wept +for pity and dole that he saw so many good knights take their end. But through +the great force of King Ban they made both the northern battles that were +departed hurtled together for great dread; and the three kings and their +knights slew on ever, that it was pity on to behold that multitude of the +people that fled. But King Lot, and King of the Hundred Knights, and King +Morganore gathered the people together passing knightly, and did great prowess +of arms, and held the battle all that day, like hard. +</p> + +<p> +When the King of the Hundred Knights beheld the great damage that King Ban did, +he thrust unto him with his horse, and smote him on high upon the helm, a great +stroke, and astonied him sore. Then King Ban was wroth with him, and followed +on him fiercely; the other saw that, and cast up his shield, and spurred his +horse forward, but the stroke of King Ban fell down and carved a cantel off the +shield, and the sword slid down by the hauberk behind his back, and cut through +the trapping of steel and the horse even in two pieces, that the sword felt the +earth. Then the King of the Hundred Knights voided the horse lightly, and with +his sword he broached the horse of King Ban through and through. With that King +Ban voided lightly from the dead horse, and then King Ban smote at the other so +eagerly, and smote him on the helm that he fell to the earth. Also in that ire +he felled King Morganore, and there was great slaughter of good knights and +much people. By then came into the press King Arthur, and found King Ban +standing among dead men and dead horses, fighting on foot as a wood lion, that +there came none nigh him, as far as he might reach with his sword, but he +caught a grievous buffet; whereof King Arthur had great pity. And Arthur was so +bloody, that by his shield there might no man know him, for all was blood and +brains on his sword. And as Arthur looked by him he saw a knight that was +passingly well horsed, and therewith Sir Arthur ran to him, and smote him on +the helm, that his sword went unto his teeth, and the knight sank down to the +earth dead, and anon Arthur took the horse by the rein, and led him unto King +Ban, and said, Fair brother, have this horse, for he have great myster thereof, +and me repenteth sore of your great damage. It shall be soon revenged, said +King Ban, for I trust in God mine ure is not such but some of them may sore +repent this. I will well, said Arthur, for I see your deeds full actual; +nevertheless, I might not come at you at that time. +</p> + +<p> +But when King Ban was mounted on horseback, then there began new battle, the +which was sore and hard, and passing great slaughter. And so through great +force King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors made their knights a little to +withdraw them. But alway the eleven kings with their chivalry never turned +back; and so withdrew them to a little wood, and so over a little river, and +there they rested them, for on the night they might have no rest on the field. +And then the eleven kings and knights put them on a heap all together, as men +adread and out of all comfort. But there was no man might pass them, they held +them so hard together both behind and before, that King Arthur had marvel of +their deeds of arms, and was passing wroth. Ah, Sir Arthur, said King Ban and +King Bors, blame them not, for they do as good men ought to do. For by my +faith, said King Ban, they are the best fighting men, and knights of most +prowess, that ever I saw or heard speak of, and those eleven kings are men of +great worship; and if they were longing unto you there were no king under the +heaven had such eleven knights, and of such worship. I may not love them, said +Arthur, they would destroy me. That wot we well, said King Ban and King Bors, +for they are your mortal enemies, and that hath been proved aforehand; and this +day they have done their part, and that is great pity of their wilfulness. +</p> + +<p> +Then all the eleven kings drew them together, and then said King Lot, Lords, ye +must other ways than ye do, or else the great loss is behind; ye may see what +people we have lost, and what good men we lose, because we wait always on these +foot-men, and ever in saving of one of the foot-men we lose ten horsemen for +him; therefore this is mine advice, let us put our foot-men from us, for it is +near night, for the noble Arthur will not tarry on the footmen, for they may +save themselves, the wood is near hand. And when we horsemen be together, look +every each of you kings let make such ordinance that none break upon pain of +death. And who that seeth any man dress him to flee, lightly that he be slain, +for it is better that we slay a coward, than through a coward all we to be +slain. How say ye? said King Lot, answer me all ye kings. It is well said, +quoth King Nentres; so said the King of the Hundred Knights; the same said the +King Carados, and King Uriens; so did King Idres and King Brandegoris; and so +did King Cradelment, and the Duke of Cambenet; the same said King Clariance and +King Agwisance, and sware they would never fail other, neither for life nor for +death. And whoso that fled, but did as they did, should be slain. Then they +amended their harness, and righted their shields, and took new spears and set +them on their thighs, and stood still as it had been a plump of wood. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap17"></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br/>Yet more of the same battle, and how +it was ended by Merlin.</h3> + +<p> +When Sir Arthur and King Ban and Bors beheld them and all their knights, they +praised them much for their noble cheer of chivalry, for the hardiest fighters +that ever they heard or saw. With that, there dressed them a forty noble +knights, and said unto the three kings, they would break their battle; these +were their names: Lionses, Phariance, Ulfius, Brastias, Ector, Kay, Lucas the +butler, Griflet le Fise de Dieu, Mariet de la Roche, Guinas de Bloi, Briant de +la Forest Savage, Bellaus, Morians of the Castle [of] Maidens, Flannedrius of +the Castle of Ladies, Annecians that was King Bors’ godson, a noble +knight, Ladinas de la Rouse, Emerause, Caulas, Graciens le Castlein, one Blois +de la Case, and Sir Colgrevaunce de Gorre; all these knights rode on afore with +spears on their thighs, and spurred their horses mightily as the horses might +run. And the eleven kings with part of their knights rushed with their horses +as fast as they might with their spears, and there they did on both parties +marvellous deeds of arms. So came into the thick of the press, Arthur, Ban, and +Bors, and slew down right on both hands, that their horses went in blood up to +the fetlocks. But ever the eleven kings and their host was ever in the visage +of Arthur. Wherefore Ban and Bors had great marvel, considering the great +slaughter that there was, but at the last they were driven aback over a little +river. With that came Merlin on a great black horse, and said unto Arthur, Thou +hast never done! Hast thou not done enough? of three score thousand this day +hast thou left alive but fifteen thousand, and it is time to say Ho! For God is +wroth with thee, that thou wilt never have done; for yonder eleven kings at +this time will not be overthrown, but an thou tarry on them any longer, thy +fortune will turn and they shall increase. And therefore withdraw you unto your +lodging, and rest you as soon as ye may, and reward your good knights with gold +and with silver, for they have well deserved it; there may no riches be too +dear for them, for of so few men as ye have, there were never men did more of +prowess than they have done today, for ye have matched this day with the best +fighters of the world. That is truth, said King Ban and Bors. Also said Merlin, +withdraw you where ye list, for this three year I dare undertake they shall not +dere you; and by then ye shall hear new tidings. And then Merlin said unto +Arthur, These eleven kings have more on hand than they are ware of, for the +Saracens are landed in their countries, more than forty thousand, that burn and +slay, and have laid siege at the castle Wandesborow, and make great +destruction; therefore dread you not this three year. Also, sir, all the goods +that be gotten at this battle, let it be searched, and when ye have it in your +hands, let it be given freely unto these two kings, Ban and Bors, that they may +reward their knights withal; and that shall cause strangers to be of better +will to do you service at need. Also you be able to reward your own knights of +your own goods whensomever it liketh you. It is well said, quoth Arthur, and as +thou hast devised, so shall it be done. When it was delivered to Ban and Bors, +they gave the goods as freely to their knights as freely as it was given to +them. Then Merlin took his leave of Arthur and of the two kings, for to go and +see his master Bleise, that dwelt in Northumberland; and so he departed and +came to his master, that was passing glad of his coming; and there he told how +Arthur and the two kings had sped at the great battle, and how it was ended, +and told the names of every king and knight of worship that was there. And so +Bleise wrote the battle word by word, as Merlin told him, how it began, and by +whom, and in likewise how it was ended, and who had the worse. All the battles +that were done in Arthur’s days Merlin did his master Bleise do write; +also he did do write all the battles that every worthy knight did of +Arthur’s court. +</p> + +<p> +After this Merlin departed from his master and came to King Arthur, that was in +the castle of Bedegraine, that was one of the castles that stand in the forest +of Sherwood. And Merlin was so disguised that King Arthur knew him not, for he +was all befurred in black sheep-skins, and a great pair of boots, and a bow and +arrows, in a russet gown, and brought wild geese in his hand, and it was on the +morn after Candlemas day; but King Arthur knew him not. Sir, said Merlin unto +the king, will ye give me a gift? Wherefore, said King Arthur, should I give +thee a gift, churl? Sir, said Merlin, ye were better to give me a gift that is +not in your hand than to lose great riches, for here in the same place where +the great battle was, is great treasure hid in the earth. Who told thee so, +churl? said Arthur. Merlin told me so, said he. Then Ulfius and Brastias knew +him well enough, and smiled. Sir, said these two knights, it is Merlin that so +speaketh unto you. Then King Arthur was greatly abashed, and had marvel of +Merlin, and so had King Ban and King Bors, and so they had great disport at +him. So in the meanwhile there came a damosel that was an earl’s +daughter: his name was Sanam, and her name was Lionors, a passing fair damosel; +and so she came thither for to do homage, as other lords did after the great +battle. And King Arthur set his love greatly upon her, and so did she upon him, +and the king had ado with her, and gat on her a child: his name was Borre, that +was after a good knight, and of the Table Round. Then there came word that the +King Rience of North Wales made great war on King Leodegrance of Cameliard, for +the which thing Arthur was wroth, for he loved him well, and hated King Rience, +for he was alway against him. So by ordinance of the three kings that were sent +home unto Benwick, all they would depart for dread of King Claudas; and +Phariance, and Antemes, and Gratian, and Lionses [of] Payarne, with the leaders +of those that should keep the kings’ lands. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap18"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br/>How King Arthur, King Ban, and King +Bors rescued King Leodegrance, and other incidents.</h3> + +<p> +And then King Arthur, and King Ban, and King Bors departed with their +fellowship, a twenty thousand, and came within six days into the country of +Cameliard, and there rescued King Leodegrance, and slew there much people of +King Rience, unto the number of ten thousand men, and put him to flight. And +then had these three kings great cheer of King Leodegrance, that thanked them +of their great goodness, that they would revenge him of his enemies; and there +had Arthur the first sight of Guenever, the king’s daughter of Cameliard, +and ever after he loved her. After they were wedded, as it telleth in the book. +So, briefly to make an end, they took their leave to go into their own +countries, for King Claudas did great destruction on their lands. Then said +Arthur, I will go with you. Nay, said the kings, ye shall not at this time, for +ye have much to do yet in these lands, therefore we will depart, and with the +great goods that we have gotten in these lands by your gifts, we shall wage +good knights and withstand the King Claudas’ malice, for by the grace of +God, an we have need we will send to you for your succour; and if ye have need, +send for us, and we will not tarry, by the faith of our bodies. It shall not, +said Merlin, need that these two kings come again in the way of war, but I know +well King Arthur may not be long from you, for within a year or two ye shall +have great need, and then shall he revenge you on your enemies, as ye have done +on his. For these eleven kings shall die all in a day, by the great might and +prowess of arms of two valiant knights (as it telleth after); their names be +Balin le Savage, and Balan, his brother, that be marvellous good knights as be +any living. +</p> + +<p> +Now turn we to the eleven kings that returned unto a city that hight Sorhaute, +the which city was within King Uriens’, and there they refreshed them as +well as they might, and made leeches search their wounds, and sorrowed greatly +for the death of their people. With that there came a messenger and told how +there was come into their lands people that were lawless as well as Saracens, a +forty thousand, and have burnt and slain all the people that they may come by, +without mercy, and have laid siege on the castle of Wandesborow. Alas, said the +eleven kings, here is sorrow upon sorrow, and if we had not warred against +Arthur as we have done, he would soon revenge us. As for King Leodegrance, he +loveth Arthur better than us, and as for King Rience, he hath enough to do with +Leodegrance, for he hath laid siege unto him. So they consented together to +keep all the marches of Cornwall, of Wales, and of the North. So first, they +put King Idres in the City of Nauntes in Britain, with four thousand men of +arms, to watch both the water and the land. Also they put in the city of +Windesan, King Nentres of Garlot, with four thousand knights to watch both on +water and on land. Also they had of other men of war more than eight thousand, +for to fortify all the fortresses in the marches of Cornwall. Also they put +more knights in all the marches of Wales and Scotland, with many good men of +arms, and so they kept them together the space of three year, and ever allied +them with mighty kings and dukes and lords. And to them fell King Rience of +North Wales, the which and Nero that was a mighty man of men. And all this +while they furnished them and garnished them of good men of arms, and victual, +and of all manner of habiliment that pretendeth to the war, to avenge them for +the battle of Bedegraine, as it telleth in the book of adventures following. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap19"></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br/>How King Arthur rode to Carlion, and +of his dream, and how he saw the questing beast.</h3> + +<p> +Then after the departing of King Ban and of King Bors, King Arthur rode into +Carlion. And thither came to him, King Lot’s wife, of Orkney, in manner +of a message, but she was sent thither to espy the court of King Arthur; and +she came richly beseen, with her four sons, Gawaine, Gaheris, Agravine, and +Gareth, with many other knights and ladies. For she was a passing fair lady, +therefore the king cast great love unto her, and desired to lie by her; so they +were agreed, and he begat upon her Mordred, and she was his sister, on his +mother’s side, Igraine. So there she rested her a month, and at the last +departed. Then the king dreamed a marvellous dream whereof he was sore adread. +But all this time King Arthur knew not that King Lot’s wife was his +sister. Thus was the dream of Arthur: Him thought there was come into this land +griffins and serpents, and him thought they burnt and slew all the people in +the land, and then him thought he fought with them, and they did him passing +great harm, and wounded him full sore, but at the last he slew them. When the +king awaked, he was passing heavy of his dream, and so to put it out of +thoughts, he made him ready with many knights to ride a-hunting. As soon as he +was in the forest the king saw a great hart afore him. This hart will I chase, +said King Arthur, and so he spurred the horse, and rode after long, and so by +fine force oft he was like to have smitten the hart; whereas the king had +chased the hart so long, that his horse lost his breath, and fell down dead. +Then a yeoman fetched the king another horse. +</p> + +<p> +So the king saw the hart enbushed, and his horse dead, he set him down by a +fountain, and there he fell in great thoughts. And as he sat so, him thought he +heard a noise of hounds, to the sum of thirty. And with that the king saw +coming toward him the strangest beast that ever he saw or heard of; so the +beast went to the well and drank, and the noise was in the beast’s belly +like unto the questing of thirty couple hounds; but all the while the beast +drank there was no noise in the beast’s belly: and there with the beast +departed with a great noise, whereof the king had great marvel. And so he was +in a great thought, and therewith he fell asleep. Right so there came a knight +afoot unto Arthur and said, Knight full of thought and sleepy, tell me if thou +sawest a strange beast pass this way. Such one saw I, said King Arthur, that is +past two mile; what would ye with the beast? said Arthur. Sir, I have followed +that beast long time, and killed mine horse, so would God I had another to +follow my quest. Right so came one with the king’s horse, and when the +knight saw the horse, he prayed the king to give him the horse: for I have +followed this quest this twelvemonth, and either I shall achieve him, or bleed +of the best blood of my body. Pellinore, that time king, followed the Questing +Beast, and after his death Sir Palamides followed it. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap20"></a>CHAPTER XX.<br/>How King Pellinore took Arthur’s +horse and followed the Questing Beast, and how Merlin met with Arthur.</h3> + +<p> +Sir knight, said the king, leave that quest, and suffer me to have it, and I +will follow it another twelvemonth. Ah, fool, said the knight unto Arthur, it +is in vain thy desire, for it shall never be achieved but by me, or my next +kin. Therewith he started unto the king’s horse and mounted into the +saddle, and said, Gramercy, this horse is my own. Well, said the king, thou +mayst take my horse by force, but an I might prove thee whether thou were +better on horseback or I.—Well, said the knight, seek me here when thou +wilt, and here nigh this well thou shalt find me, and so passed on his way. +Then the king sat in a study, and bade his men fetch his horse as fast as ever +they might. Right so came by him Merlin like a child of fourteen year of age, +and saluted the king, and asked him why he was so pensive. I may well be +pensive, said the king, for I have seen the marvellest sight that ever I saw. +That know I well, said Merlin, as well as thyself, and of all thy thoughts, but +thou art but a fool to take thought, for it will not amend thee. Also I know +what thou art, and who was thy father, and of whom thou wert begotten; King +Uther Pendragon was thy father, and begat thee on Igraine. That is false, said +King Arthur, how shouldest thou know it, for thou art not so old of years to +know my father? Yes, said Merlin, I know it better than ye or any man living. I +will not believe thee, said Arthur, and was wroth with the child. So departed +Merlin, and came again in the likeness of an old man of fourscore year of age, +whereof the king was right glad, for he seemed to be right wise. +</p> + +<p> +Then said the old man, Why are ye so sad? I may well be heavy, said Arthur, for +many things. Also here was a child, and told me many things that meseemeth he +should not know, for he was not of age to know my father. Yes, said the old +man, the child told you truth, and more would he have told you an ye would have +suffered him. But ye have done a thing late that God is displeased with you, +for ye have lain by your sister, and on her ye have gotten a child that shall +destroy you and all the knights of your realm. What are ye, said Arthur, that +tell me these tidings? I am Merlin, and I was he in the child’s likeness. +Ah, said King Arthur, ye are a marvellous man, but I marvel much of thy words +that I must die in battle. Marvel not, said Merlin, for it is God’s will +your body to be punished for your foul deeds; but I may well be sorry, said +Merlin, for I shall die a shameful death, to be put in the earth quick, and ye +shall die a worshipful death. And as they talked this, came one with the +king’s horse, and so the king mounted on his horse, and Merlin on +another, and so rode unto Carlion. And anon the king asked Ector and Ulfius how +he was begotten, and they told him Uther Pendragon was his father and Queen +Igraine his mother. Then he said to Merlin, I will that my mother be sent for +that I may speak with her; and if she say so herself then will I believe it. In +all haste, the queen was sent for, and she came and brought with her Morgan le +Fay, her daughter, that was as fair a lady as any might be, and the king +welcomed Igraine in the best manner. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap21"></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br/>How Ulfius impeached Queen Igraine, +Arthur’s mother, of treason; and how a knight came and desired to have +the death of his master revenged.</h3> + +<p> +Right so came Ulfius, and said openly, that the king and all might hear that +were feasted that day, Ye are the falsest lady of the world, and the most +traitress unto the king’s person. Beware, said Arthur, what thou sayest; +thou speakest a great word. I am well ware, said Ulfius, what I speak, and here +is my glove to prove it upon any man that will say the contrary, that this +Queen Igraine is causer of your great damage, and of your great war. For, an +she would have uttered it in the life of King Uther Pendragon, of the birth of +you, and how ye were begotten ye had never had the mortal wars that ye have +had; for the most part of your barons of your realm knew never whose son ye +were, nor of whom ye were begotten; and she that bare you of her body should +have made it known openly in excusing of her worship and yours, and in like +wise to all the realm, wherefore I prove her false to God and to you and to all +your realm, and who will say the contrary I will prove it on his body. +</p> + +<p> +Then spake Igraine and said, I am a woman and I may not fight, but rather than +I should be dishonoured, there would some good man take my quarrel. More, she +said, Merlin knoweth well, and ye Sir Ulfius, how King Uther came to me in the +Castle of Tintagil in the likeness of my lord, that was dead three hours +to-fore, and thereby gat a child that night upon me. And after the thirteenth +day King Uther wedded me, and by his commandment when the child was born it was +delivered unto Merlin and nourished by him, and so I saw the child never after, +nor wot not what is his name, for I knew him never yet. And there, Ulfius said +to the queen, Merlin is more to blame than ye. Well I wot, said the queen, I +bare a child by my lord King Uther, but I wot not where he is become. Then +Merlin took the king by the hand, saying, This is your mother. And therewith +Sir Ector bare witness how he nourished him by Uther’s commandment. And +therewith King Arthur took his mother, Queen Igraine, in his arms and kissed +her, and either wept upon other. And then the king let make a feast that lasted +eight days. +</p> + +<p> +Then on a day there came in the court a squire on horseback, leading a knight +before him wounded to the death, and told him how there was a knight in the +forest had reared up a pavilion by a well, and hath slain my master, a good +knight, his name was Miles; wherefore I beseech you that my master may be +buried, and that some knight may revenge my master’s death. Then the +noise was great of that knight’s death in the court, and every man said +his advice. Then came Griflet that was but a squire, and he was but young, of +the age of the king Arthur, so he besought the king for all his service that he +had done him to give the order of knighthood. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap22"></a>CHAPTER XXII.<br/>How Griflet was made knight, and +jousted with a knight.</h3> + +<p> +Thou art full young and tender of age, said Arthur, for to take so high an +order on thee. Sir, said Griflet, I beseech you make me knight. Sir, said +Merlin, it were great pity to lose Griflet, for he will be a passing good man +when he is of age, abiding with you the term of his life. And if he adventure +his body with yonder knight at the fountain, it is in great peril if ever he +come again, for he is one of the best knights of the world, and the strongest +man of arms. Well, said Arthur. So at the desire of Griflet the king made him +knight. Now, said Arthur unto Sir Griflet, sith I have made you knight thou +must give me a gift. What ye will, said Griflet. Thou shalt promise me by the +faith of thy body, when thou hast jousted with the knight at the fountain, +whether it fall ye be on foot or on horseback, that right so ye shall come +again unto me without making any more debate. I will promise you, said Griflet, +as you desire. Then took Griflet his horse in great haste, and dressed his +shield and took a spear in his hand, and so he rode a great wallop till he came +to the fountain, and thereby he saw a rich pavilion, and thereby under a cloth +stood a fair horse well saddled and bridled, and on a tree a shield of divers +colours and a great spear. Then Griflet smote on the shield with the butt of +his spear, that the shield fell down to the ground. With that the knight came +out of the pavilion, and said, Fair knight, why smote ye down my shield? For I +will joust with you, said Griflet. It is better ye do not, said the knight, for +ye are but young, and late made knight, and your might is nothing to mine. As +for that, said Griflet, I will joust with you. That is me loath, said the +knight, but sith I must needs, I will dress me thereto. Of whence be ye? said +the knight. Sir, I am of Arthur’s court. So the two knights ran together +that Griflet’s spear all to-shivered; and there withal he smote Griflet +through the shield and the left side, and brake the spear that the truncheon +stuck in his body, that horse and knight fell down. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap23"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.<br/>How twelve knights came from Rome +and asked truage for this land of Arthur, and how Arthur fought with a +knight.</h3> + +<p> +When the knight saw him lie so on the ground, he alighted, and was passing +heavy, for he weened he had slain him, and then he unlaced his helm and gat him +wind, and so with the truncheon he set him on his horse, and so betook him to +God, and said he had a mighty heart, and if he might live he would prove a +passing good knight. And so Sir Griflet rode to the court, where great dole was +made for him. But through good leeches he was healed and saved. Right so came +into the court twelve knights, and were aged men, and they came from the +Emperor of Rome, and they asked of Arthur truage for this realm, other else the +emperor would destroy him and his land. Well, said King Arthur, ye are +messengers, therefore ye may say what ye will, other else ye should die +therefore. But this is mine answer: I owe the emperor no truage, nor none will +I hold him, but on a fair field I shall give him my truage that shall be with a +sharp spear, or else with a sharp sword, and that shall not be long, by my +father’s soul, Uther Pendragon. And therewith the messengers departed +passingly wroth, and King Arthur as wroth, for in evil time came they then; for +the king was passingly wroth for the hurt of Sir Griflet. And so he commanded a +privy man of his chamber that or it be day his best horse and armour, with all +that longeth unto his person, be without the city or to-morrow day. Right so or +to-morrow day he met with his man and his horse, and so mounted up and dressed +his shield and took his spear, and bade his chamberlain tarry there till he +came again. And so Arthur rode a soft pace till it was day, and then was he +ware of three churls chasing Merlin, and would have slain him. Then the king +rode unto them, and bade them: Flee, churls! then were they afeard when they +saw a knight, and fled. O Merlin, said Arthur, here hadst thou been slain for +all thy crafts had I not been. Nay, said Merlin, not so, for I could save +myself an I would; and thou art more near thy death than I am, for thou goest +to the deathward, an God be not thy friend. +</p> + +<p> +So as they went thus talking they came to the fountain, and the rich pavilion +there by it. Then King Arthur was ware where sat a knight armed in a chair. Sir +knight, said Arthur, for what cause abidest thou here, that there may no knight +ride this way but if he joust with thee? said the king. I rede thee leave that +custom, said Arthur. This custom, said the knight, have I used and will use +maugre who saith nay, and who is grieved with my custom let him amend it that +will. I will amend it, said Arthur. I shall defend thee, said the knight. Anon +he took his horse and dressed his shield and took a spear, and they met so hard +either in other’s shields, that all to-shivered their spears. Therewith +anon Arthur pulled out his sword. Nay, not so, said the knight; it is fairer, +said the knight, that we twain run more together with sharp spears. I will +well, said Arthur, an I had any more spears. I have enow, said the knight; so +there came a squire and brought two good spears, and Arthur chose one and he +another; so they spurred their horses and came together with all their mights, +that either brake their spears to their hands. Then Arthur set hand on his +sword. Nay, said the knight, ye shall do better, ye are a passing good jouster +as ever I met withal, and once for the love of the high order of knighthood let +us joust once again. I assent me, said Arthur. Anon there were brought two +great spears, and every knight gat a spear, and therewith they ran together +that Arthur’s spear all to-shivered. But the other knight hit him so hard +in midst of the shield, that horse and man fell to the earth, and therewith +Arthur was eager, and pulled out his sword, and said, I will assay thee, sir +knight, on foot, for I have lost the honour on horseback. I will be on +horseback, said the knight. Then was Arthur wroth, and dressed his shield +toward him with his sword drawn. When the knight saw that, he alighted, for him +thought no worship to have a knight at such avail, he to be on horseback and he +on foot, and so he alighted and dressed his shield unto Arthur. And there began +a strong battle with many great strokes, and so hewed with their swords that +the cantels flew in the fields, and much blood they bled both, that all the +place there as they fought was overbled with blood, and thus they fought long +and rested them, and then they went to the battle again, and so hurtled +together like two rams that either fell to the earth. So at the last they smote +together that both their swords met even together. But the sword of the knight +smote King Arthur’s sword in two pieces, wherefore he was heavy. Then +said the knight unto Arthur, Thou art in my daunger whether me list to save +thee or slay thee, and but thou yield thee as overcome and recreant, thou shalt +die. As for death, said King Arthur, welcome be it when it cometh, but to yield +me unto thee as recreant I had liefer die than to be so shamed. And therewithal +the king leapt unto Pellinore, and took him by the middle and threw him down, +and raced off his helm. When the knight felt that he was adread, for he was a +passing big man of might, and anon he brought Arthur under him, and raced off +his helm and would have smitten off his head. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap24"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.<br/>How Merlin saved Arthur’s +life, and threw an enchantment on King Pellinore and made him to sleep.</h3> + +<p> +Therewithal came Merlin and said, Knight, hold thy hand, for an thou slay that +knight thou puttest this realm in the greatest damage that ever was realm: for +this knight is a man of more worship than thou wotest of. Why, who is he? said +the knight. It is King Arthur. Then would he have slain him for dread of his +wrath, and heaved up his sword, and therewith Merlin cast an enchantment to the +knight, that he fell to the earth in a great sleep. Then Merlin took up King +Arthur, and rode forth on the knight’s horse. Alas! said Arthur, what +hast thou done, Merlin? hast thou slain this good knight by thy crafts? There +liveth not so worshipful a knight as he was; I had liefer than the stint of my +land a year that he were alive. Care ye not, said Merlin, for he is wholer than +ye; for he is but asleep, and will awake within three hours. I told you, said +Merlin, what a knight he was; here had ye been slain had I not been. Also there +liveth not a bigger knight than he is one, and he shall hereafter do you right +good service; and his name is Pellinore, and he shall have two sons that shall +be passing good men; save one they shall have no fellow of prowess and of good +living, and their names shall be Percivale of Wales and Lamerake of Wales, and +he shall tell you the name of your own son, begotten of your sister, that shall +be the destruction of all this realm. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap25"></a>CHAPTER XXV.<br/>How Arthur by the mean of Merlin gat +Excalibur his sword of the Lady of the Lake.</h3> + +<p> +Right so the king and he departed, and went unto an hermit that was a good man +and a great leech. So the hermit searched all his wounds and gave him good +salves; so the king was there three days, and then were his wounds well amended +that he might ride and go, and so departed. And as they rode, Arthur said, I +have no sword. No force, said Merlin, hereby is a sword that shall be yours, an +I may. So they rode till they came to a lake, the which was a fair water and +broad, and in the midst of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white +samite, that held a fair sword in that hand. Lo! said Merlin, yonder is that +sword that I spake of. With that they saw a damosel going upon the lake. What +damosel is that? said Arthur. That is the Lady of the Lake, said Merlin; and +within that lake is a rock, and therein is as fair a place as any on earth, and +richly beseen; and this damosel will come to you anon, and then speak ye fair +to her that she will give you that sword. Anon withal came the damosel unto +Arthur, and saluted him, and he her again. Damosel, said Arthur, what sword is +that, that yonder the arm holdeth above the water? I would it were mine, for I +have no sword. Sir Arthur, king, said the damosel, that sword is mine, and if +ye will give me a gift when I ask it you, ye shall have it. By my faith, said +Arthur, I will give you what gift ye will ask. Well! said the damosel, go ye +into yonder barge, and row yourself to the sword, and take it and the scabbard +with you, and I will ask my gift when I see my time. So Sir Arthur and Merlin +alighted and tied their horses to two trees, and so they went into the ship, +and when they came to the sword that the hand held, Sir Arthur took it up by +the handles, and took it with him, and the arm and the hand went under the +water. And so [they] came unto the land and rode forth, and then Sir Arthur saw +a rich pavilion. What signifieth yonder pavilion? It is the knight’s +pavilion, said Merlin, that ye fought with last, Sir Pellinore; but he is out, +he is not there. He hath ado with a knight of yours that hight Egglame, and +they have foughten together, but at the last Egglame fled, and else he had been +dead, and he hath chased him even to Carlion, and we shall meet with him anon +in the highway. That is well said, said Arthur, now have I a sword, now will I +wage battle with him, and be avenged on him. Sir, you shall not so, said +Merlin, for the knight is weary of fighting and chasing, so that ye shall have +no worship to have ado with him; also he will not be lightly matched of one +knight living, and therefore it is my counsel, let him pass, for he shall do +you good service in short time, and his sons after his days. Also ye shall see +that day in short space, you shall be right glad to give him your sister to +wed. When I see him, I will do as ye advise, said Arthur. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Arthur looked on the sword, and liked it passing well. Whether liketh +you better, said Merlin, the sword or the scabbard? Me liketh better the sword, +said Arthur. Ye are more unwise, said Merlin, for the scabbard is worth ten of +the swords, for whiles ye have the scabbard upon you, ye shall never lose no +blood, be ye never so sore wounded; therefore keep well the scabbard always +with you. So they rode unto Carlion, and by the way they met with Sir +Pellinore; but Merlin had done such a craft, that Pellinore saw not Arthur, and +he passed by without any words. I marvel, said Arthur, that the knight would +not speak. Sir, said Merlin, he saw you not, for an he had seen you, ye had not +lightly departed. So they came unto Carlion, whereof his knights were passing +glad. And when they heard of his adventures, they marvelled that he would +jeopard his person so, alone. But all men of worship said it was merry to be +under such a chieftain, that would put his person in adventure as other poor +knights did. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap26"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.<br/>How tidings came to Arthur that King +Rience had overcome eleven kings, and how he desired Arthur’s beard to +trim his mantle.</h3> + +<p> +This meanwhile came a messenger from King Rience of North Wales, and king he +was of all Ireland, and of many isles. And this was his message, greeting well +King Arthur in this manner wise, saying that King Rience had discomfited and +overcome eleven kings, and everych of them did him homage, and that was this, +they gave him their beards clean flayed off, as much as there was; wherefore +the messenger came for King Arthur’s beard. For King Rience had purfled a +mantle with kings’ beards, and there lacked one place of the mantle; +wherefore he sent for his beard, or else he would enter into his lands, and +burn and slay, and never leave till he have the head and the beard. Well, said +Arthur, thou hast said thy message, the which is the most villainous and +lewdest message that ever man heard sent unto a king; also thou mayest see my +beard is full young yet to make a purfle of it. But tell thou thy king this: I +owe him none homage, nor none of mine elders; but or it be long to, he shall do +me homage on both his knees, or else he shall lose his head, by the faith of my +body, for this is the most shamefulest message that ever I heard speak of. I +have espied thy king met never yet with worshipful man, but tell him, I will +have his head without he do me homage. Then the messenger departed. +</p> + +<p> +Now is there any here, said Arthur, that knoweth King Rience? Then answered a +knight that hight Naram, Sir, I know the king well; he is a passing good man of +his body, as few be living, and a passing proud man, and Sir, doubt ye not he +will make war on you with a mighty puissance. Well, said Arthur, I shall ordain +for him in short time. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap27"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.<br/>How all the children were sent for +that were born on May-day, and how Mordred was saved.</h3> + +<p> +Then King Arthur let send for all the children born on May-day, begotten of +lords and born of ladies; for Merlin told King Arthur that he that should +destroy him should be born on May-day, wherefore he sent for them all, upon +pain of death; and so there were found many lords’ sons, and all were +sent unto the king, and so was Mordred sent by King Lot’s wife, and all +were put in a ship to the sea, and some were four weeks old, and some less. And +so by fortune the ship drave unto a castle, and was all to-riven, and destroyed +the most part, save that Mordred was cast up, and a good man found him, and +nourished him till he was fourteen year old, and then he brought him to the +court, as it rehearseth afterward, toward the end of the Death of Arthur. So +many lords and barons of this realm were displeased, for their children were so +lost, and many put the wite on Merlin more than on Arthur; so what for dread +and for love, they held their peace. But when the messenger came to King +Rience, then was he wood out of measure, and purveyed him for a great host, as +it rehearseth after in the book of Balin le Savage, that followeth next after, +how by adventure Balin gat the sword. +</p> + +<h5>Explicit liber primus.</h5> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="part02"></a>BOOK II.</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap28"></a>CHAPTER I.<br/>Of a damosel which came girt with a +sword for to find a man of such virtue to draw it out of the scabbard.</h3> + +<p> +After the death of Uther Pendragon reigned Arthur his son, the which had great +war in his days for to get all England into his hand. For there were many kings +within the realm of England, and in Wales, Scotland, and Cornwall. So it befell +on a time when King Arthur was at London, there came a knight and told the king +tidings how that the King Rience of North Wales had reared a great number of +people, and were entered into the land, and burnt and slew the king’s +true liege people. If this be true, said Arthur, it were great shame unto mine +estate but that he were mightily withstood. It is truth, said the knight, for I +saw the host myself. Well, said the king, let make a cry, that all the lords, +knights, and gentlemen of arms, should draw unto a castle called Camelot in +those days, and there the king would let make a council-general and a great +jousts. +</p> + +<p> +So when the king was come thither with all his baronage, and lodged as they +seemed best, there was come a damosel the which was sent on message from the +great lady Lile of Avelion. And when she came before King Arthur, she told from +whom she came, and how she was sent on message unto him for these causes. Then +she let her mantle fall that was richly furred; and then was she girt with a +noble sword whereof the king had marvel, and said, Damosel, for what cause are +ye girt with that sword? it beseemeth you not. Now shall I tell you, said the +damosel; this sword that I am girt withal doth me great sorrow and cumbrance, +for I may not be delivered of this sword but by a knight, but he must be a +passing good man of his hands and of his deeds, and without villainy or +treachery, and without treason. And if I may find such a knight that hath all +these virtues, he may draw out this sword out of the sheath, for I have been at +King Rience’s it was told me there were passing good knights, and he and +all his knights have assayed it and none can speed. This is a great marvel, +said Arthur, if this be sooth; I will myself assay to draw out the sword, not +presuming upon myself that I am the best knight, but that I will begin to draw +at your sword in giving example to all the barons that they shall assay everych +one after other when I have assayed it. Then Arthur took the sword by the +sheath and by the girdle and pulled at it eagerly, but the sword would not out. +</p> + +<p> +Sir, said the damosel, you need not to pull half so hard, for he that shall +pull it out shall do it with little might. Ye say well, said Arthur; now assay +ye all my barons; but beware ye be not defiled with shame, treachery, nor +guile. Then it will not avail, said the damosel, for he must be a clean knight +without villainy, and of a gentle strain of father side and mother side. Most +of all the barons of the Round Table that were there at that time assayed all +by row, but there might none speed; wherefore the damosel made great sorrow out +of measure, and said, Alas! I weened in this court had been the best knights +without treachery or treason. By my faith, said Arthur, here are good knights, +as I deem, as any be in the world, but their grace is not to help you, +wherefore I am displeased. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap29"></a>CHAPTER II.<br/>How Balin, arrayed like a poor knight, +pulled out the sword, which afterward was the cause of his death.</h3> + +<p> +Then fell it so that time there was a poor knight with King Arthur, that had +been prisoner with him half a year and more for slaying of a knight, the which +was cousin unto King Arthur. The name of this knight was called Balin, and by +good means of the barons he was delivered out of prison, for he was a good man +named of his body, and he was born in Northumberland. And so he went privily +into the court, and saw this adventure, whereof it raised his heart, and he +would assay it as other knights did, but for he was poor and poorly arrayed he +put him not far in press. But in his heart he was fully assured to do as well, +if his grace happed him, as any knight that there was. And as the damosel took +her leave of Arthur and of all the barons, so departing, this knight Balin +called unto her, and said, Damosel, I pray you of your courtesy, suffer me as +well to assay as these lords; though that I be so poorly clothed, in my heart +meseemeth I am fully assured as some of these others, and meseemeth in my heart +to speed right well. The damosel beheld the poor knight, and saw he was a +likely man, but for his poor arrayment she thought he should be of no worship +without villainy or treachery. And then she said unto the knight, Sir, it +needeth not to put me to more pain or labour, for it seemeth not you to speed +there as other have failed. Ah! fair damosel, said Balin, worthiness, and good +tatches, and good deeds, are not only in arrayment, but manhood and worship is +hid within man’s person, and many a worshipful knight is not known unto +all people, and therefore worship and hardiness is not in arrayment. By God, +said the damosel, ye say sooth; therefore ye shall assay to do what ye may. +Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and sheath, and drew it out easily; and +when he looked on the sword it pleased him much. Then had the king and all the +barons great marvel that Balin had done that adventure, and many knights had +great despite of Balin. Certes, said the damosel, this is a passing good +knight, and the best that ever I found, and most of worship without treason, +treachery, or villainy, and many marvels shall he do. Now, gentle and courteous +knight, give me the sword again. Nay, said Balin, for this sword will I keep, +but it be taken from me with force. Well, said the damosel, ye are not wise to +keep the sword from me, for ye shall slay with the sword the best friend that +ye have, and the man that ye most love in the world, and the sword shall be +your destruction. I shall take the adventure, said Balin, that God will ordain +me, but the sword ye shall not have at this time, by the faith of my body. Ye +shall repent it within short time, said the damosel, for I would have the sword +more for your avail than for mine, for I am passing heavy for your sake; for ye +will not believe that sword shall be your destruction, and that is great pity. +With that the damosel departed, making great sorrow. +</p> + +<p> +Anon after, Balin sent for his horse and armour, and so would depart from the +court, and took his leave of King Arthur. Nay, said the king, I suppose ye will +not depart so lightly from this fellowship, I suppose ye are displeased that I +have shewed you unkindness; blame me the less, for I was misinformed against +you, but I weened ye had not been such a knight as ye are, of worship and +prowess, and if ye will abide in this court among my fellowship, I shall so +advance you as ye shall be pleased. God thank your highness, said Balin, your +bounty and highness may no man praise half to the value; but at this time I +must needs depart, beseeching you alway of your good grace. Truly, said the +king, I am right wroth for your departing; I pray you, fair knight, that ye +tarry not long, and ye shall be right welcome to me, and to my barons, and I +shall amend all miss that I have done against you; God thank your great +lordship, said Balin, and therewith made him ready to depart. Then the most +part of the knights of the Round Table said that Balin did not this adventure +all only by might, but by witchcraft. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap30"></a>CHAPTER III.<br/>How the Lady of the Lake demanded the +knight’s head that had won the sword, or the maiden’s head.</h3> + +<p> +The meanwhile, that this knight was making him ready to depart, there came into +the court a lady that hight the Lady of the Lake. And she came on horseback, +richly beseen, and saluted King Arthur, and there asked him a gift that he +promised her when she gave him the sword. That is sooth, said Arthur, a gift I +promised you, but I have forgotten the name of my sword that ye gave me. The +name of it, said the lady, is Excalibur, that is as much to say as Cut-steel. +Ye say well, said the king; ask what ye will and ye shall have it, an it lie in +my power to give it. Well, said the lady, I ask the head of the knight that +hath won the sword, or else the damosel’s head that brought it; I take no +force though I have both their heads, for he slew my brother, a good knight and +a true, and that gentlewoman was causer of my father’s death. Truly, said +King Arthur, I may not grant neither of their heads with my worship, therefore +ask what ye will else, and I shall fulfil your desire. I will ask none other +thing, said the lady. When Balin was ready to depart, he saw the Lady of the +Lake, that by her means had slain Balin’s mother, and he had sought her +three years; and when it was told him that she asked his head of King Arthur, +he went to her straight and said, Evil be you found; ye would have my head, and +therefore ye shall lose yours, and with his sword lightly he smote off her head +before King Arthur. Alas, for shame! said Arthur, why have ye done so? ye have +shamed me and all my court, for this was a lady that I was beholden to, and +hither she came under my safe-conduct; I shall never forgive you that trespass. +Sir, said Balin, me forthinketh of your displeasure, for this same lady was the +untruest lady living, and by enchantment and sorcery she hath been the +destroyer of many good knights, and she was causer that my mother was burnt, +through her falsehood and treachery. What cause soever ye had, said Arthur, ye +should have forborne her in my presence; therefore, think not the contrary, ye +shall repent it, for such another despite had I never in my court; therefore +withdraw you out of my court in all haste ye may. +</p> + +<p> +Then Balin took up the head of the lady, and bare it with him to his hostelry, +and there he met with his squire, that was sorry he had displeased King Arthur +and so they rode forth out of the town. Now, said Balin, we must depart, take +thou this head and bear it to my friends, and tell them how I have sped, and +tell my friends in Northumberland that my most foe is dead. Also tell them how +I am out of prison, and what adventure befell me at the getting of this sword. +Alas! said the squire, ye are greatly to blame for to displease King Arthur. As +for that, said Balin, I will hie me, in all the haste that I may, to meet with +King Rience and destroy him, either else to die therefore; and if it may hap me +to win him, then will King Arthur be my good and gracious lord. Where shall I +meet with you? said the squire. In King Arthur’s court, said Balin. So +his squire and he departed at that time. Then King Arthur and all the court +made great dole and had shame of the death of the Lady of the Lake. Then the +king buried her richly. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap31"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br/>How Merlin told the adventure of this +damosel.</h3> + +<p> +At that time there was a knight, the which was the king’s son of Ireland, +and his name was Lanceor, the which was an orgulous knight, and counted himself +one of the best of the court; and he had great despite at Balin for the +achieving of the sword, that any should be accounted more hardy, or more of +prowess; and he asked King Arthur if he would give him leave to ride after +Balin and to revenge the despite that he had done. Do your best, said Arthur, I +am right wroth with Balin; I would he were quit of the despite that he hath +done to me and to my court. Then this Lanceor went to his hostelry to make him +ready. In the meanwhile came Merlin unto the court of King Arthur, and there +was told him the adventure of the sword, and the death of the Lady of the Lake. +Now shall I say you, said Merlin; this same damosel that here standeth, that +brought the sword unto your court, I shall tell you the cause of her coming: +she was the falsest damosel that liveth. Say not so, said they. She hath a +brother, a passing good knight of prowess and a full true man; and this damosel +loved another knight that held her to paramour, and this good knight her +brother met with the knight that held her to paramour, and slew him by force of +his hands. When this false damosel understood this, she went to the Lady Lile +of Avelion, and besought her of help, to be avenged on her own brother. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap32"></a>CHAPTER V.<br/>How Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor, +knight of Ireland, and how he jousted and slew him.</h3> + +<p> +And so this Lady Lile of Avelion took her this sword that she brought with her, +and told there should no man pull it out of the sheath but if he be one of the +best knights of this realm, and he should be hard and full of prowess, and with +that sword he should slay her brother. This was the cause that the damosel came +into this court. I know it as well as ye. Would God she had not come into this +court, but she came never in fellowship of worship to do good, but always great +harm; and that knight that hath achieved the sword shall be destroyed by that +sword, for the which will be great damage, for there liveth not a knight of +more prowess than he is, and he shall do unto you, my Lord Arthur, great honour +and kindness; and it is great pity he shall not endure but a while, for of his +strength and hardiness I know not his match living. +</p> + +<p> +So the knight of Ireland armed him at all points, and dressed his shield on his +shoulder, and mounted upon horseback, and took his spear in his hand, and rode +after a great pace, as much as his horse might go; and within a little space on +a mountain he had a sight of Balin, and with a loud voice he cried, Abide, +knight, for ye shall abide whether ye will or nill, and the shield that is +to-fore you shall not help. When Balin heard the noise, he turned his horse +fiercely, and said, Fair knight, what will ye with me, will ye joust with me? +Yea, said the Irish knight, therefore come I after you. Peradventure, said +Balin, it had been better to have holden you at home, for many a man weeneth to +put his enemy to a rebuke, and oft it falleth to himself. Of what court be ye +sent from? said Balin. I am come from the court of King Arthur, said the knight +of Ireland, that come hither for to revenge the despite ye did this day to King +Arthur and to his court. Well, said Balin, I see well I must have ado with you, +that me forthinketh for to grieve King Arthur, or any of his court; and your +quarrel is full simple, said Balin, unto me, for the lady that is dead, did me +great damage, and else would I have been loath as any knight that liveth for to +slay a lady. Make you ready, said the knight Lanceor, and dress you unto me, +for that one shall abide in the field. Then they took their spears, and came +together as much as their horses might drive, and the Irish knight smote Balin +on the shield, that all went shivers off his spear, and Balin hit him through +the shield, and the hauberk perished, and so pierced through his body and the +horse’s croup, and anon turned his horse fiercely, and drew out his +sword, and wist not that he had slain him; and then he saw him lie as a dead +corpse. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap33"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br/>How a damosel, which was love to +Lanceor, slew herself for love, and how Balin met with his brother Balan.</h3> + +<p> +Then he looked by him, and was ware of a damosel that came riding full fast as +the horse might ride, on a fair palfrey. And when she espied that Lanceor was +slain, she made sorrow out of measure, and said, O Balin, two bodies thou hast +slain and one heart, and two hearts in one body, and two souls thou hast lost. +And therewith she took the sword from her love that lay dead, and fell to the +ground in a swoon. And when she arose she made great dole out of measure, the +which sorrow grieved Balin passingly sore, and he went unto her for to have +taken the sword out of her hand, but she held it so fast he might not take it +out of her hand unless he should have hurt her, and suddenly she set the pommel +to the ground, and rove herself through the body. When Balin espied her deeds, +he was passing heavy in his heart, and ashamed that so fair a damosel had +destroyed herself for the love of his death. Alas, said Balin, me repenteth +sore the death of this knight, for the love of this damosel, for there was much +true love betwixt them both, and for sorrow might not longer behold him, but +turned his horse and looked toward a great forest, and there he was ware, by +the arms, of his brother Balan. And when they were met they put off their helms +and kissed together, and wept for joy and pity. Then Balan said, I little +weened to have met with you at this sudden adventure; I am right glad of your +deliverance out of your dolorous prisonment, for a man told me, in the castle +of Four Stones, that ye were delivered, and that man had seen you in the court +of King Arthur, and therefore I came hither into this country, for here I +supposed to find you. Anon the knight Balin told his brother of his adventure +of the sword, and of the death of the Lady of the Lake, and how King Arthur was +displeased with him. Wherefore he sent this knight after me, that lieth here +dead, and the death of this damosel grieveth me sore. So doth it me, said +Balan, but ye must take the adventure that God will ordain you. Truly, said +Balin, I am right heavy that my Lord Arthur is displeased with me, for he is +the most worshipful knight that reigneth now on earth, and his love will I get +or else will I put my life in adventure. For the King Rience lieth at a siege +at the Castle Terrabil, and thither will we draw in all haste, to prove our +worship and prowess upon him. I will well, said Balan, that we do, and we will +help each other as brethren ought to do. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap34"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br/>How a dwarf reproved Balin for the +death of Lanceor, and how King Mark of Cornwall found them, and made a tomb +over them.</h3> + +<p> +Now go we hence, said Balin, and well be we met. The meanwhile as they talked, +there came a dwarf from the city of Camelot on horseback, as much as he might; +and found the dead bodies, wherefore he made great dole, and pulled out his +hair for sorrow, and said, Which of you knights have done this deed? Whereby +askest thou it? said Balan. For I would wit it, said the dwarf. It was I, said +Balin, that slew this knight in my defence, for hither he came to chase me, and +either I must slay him or he me; and this damosel slew herself for his love, +which repenteth me, and for her sake I shall owe all women the better love. +Alas, said the dwarf, thou hast done great damage unto thyself, for this knight +that is here dead was one of the most valiantest men that lived, and trust +well, Balin, the kin of this knight will chase you through the world till they +have slain you. As for that, said Balin, I fear not greatly, but I am right +heavy that I have displeased my lord King Arthur, for the death of this knight. +So as they talked together, there came a king of Cornwall riding, the which +hight King Mark. And when he saw these two bodies dead, and understood how they +were dead, by the two knights above said, then made the king great sorrow for +the true love that was betwixt them, and said, I will not depart till I have on +this earth made a tomb, and there he pight his pavilions and sought through all +the country to find a tomb, and in a church they found one was fair and rich, +and then the king let put them both in the earth, and put the tomb upon them, +and wrote the names of them both on the tomb. How here lieth Lanceor the +king’s son of Ireland, that at his own request was slain by the hands of +Balin; and how his lady, Colombe, and paramour, slew herself with her +love’s sword for dole and sorrow. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap35"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br/>How Merlin prophesied that two the +best knights of the world should fight there, which were Sir Lancelot and Sir +Tristram.</h3> + +<p> +The meanwhile as this was a-doing, in came Merlin to King Mark, and seeing all +his doing, said, Here shall be in this same place the greatest battle betwixt +two knights that was or ever shall be, and the truest lovers, and yet none of +them shall slay other. And there Merlin wrote their names upon the tomb with +letters of gold that should fight in that place, whose names were Launcelot de +Lake, and Tristram. Thou art a marvellous man, said King Mark unto Merlin, that +speakest of such marvels, thou art a boistous man and an unlikely to tell of +such deeds. What is thy name? said King Mark. At this time, said Merlin, I will +not tell, but at that time when Sir Tristram is taken with his sovereign lady, +then ye shall hear and know my name, and at that time ye shall hear tidings +that shall not please you. Then said Merlin to Balin, Thou hast done thyself +great hurt, because that thou savest not this lady that slew herself, that +might have saved her an thou wouldest. By the faith of my body, said Balin, I +might not save her, for she slew herself suddenly. Me repenteth, said Merlin; +because of the death of that lady thou shalt strike a stroke most dolorous that +ever man struck, except the stroke of our Lord, for thou shalt hurt the truest +knight and the man of most worship that now liveth, and through that stroke +three kingdoms shall be in great poverty, misery and wretchedness twelve years, +and the knight shall not be whole of that wound for many years. Then Merlin +took his leave of Balin. And Balin said, If I wist it were sooth that ye say I +should do such a perilous deed as that, I would slay myself to make thee a +liar. Therewith Merlin vanished away suddenly. And then Balan and his brother +took their leave of King Mark. First, said the king, tell me your name. Sir, +said Balan, ye may see he beareth two swords, thereby ye may call him the +Knight with the Two Swords. And so departed King Mark unto Camelot to King +Arthur, and Balin took the way toward King Rience; and as they rode together +they met with Merlin disguised, but they knew him not. Whither ride you? said +Merlin. We have little to do, said the two knights, to tell thee. But what is +thy name? said Balin. At this time, said Merlin, I will not tell it thee. It is +evil seen, said the knights, that thou art a true man that thou wilt not tell +thy name. As for that, said Merlin, be it as it be may, I can tell you +wherefore ye ride this way, for to meet King Rience; but it will not avail you +without ye have my counsel. Ah! said Balin, ye are Merlin; we will be ruled by +your counsel. Come on, said Merlin, ye shall have great worship, and look that +ye do knightly, for ye shall have great need. As for that, said Balin, dread +you not, we will do what we may. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap36"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br/>How Balin and his brother, by the +counsel of Merlin, took King Rience and brought him to King Arthur.</h3> + +<p> +Then Merlin lodged them in a wood among leaves beside the highway, and took off +the bridles of their horses and put them to grass and laid them down to rest +them till it was nigh midnight. Then Merlin bade them rise, and make them +ready, for the king was nigh them, that was stolen away from his host with a +three score horses of his best knights, and twenty of them rode to-fore to warn +the Lady de Vance that the king was coming; for that night King Rience should +have lain with her. Which is the king? said Balin. Abide, said Merlin, here in +a strait way ye shall meet with him; and therewith he showed Balin and his +brother where he rode. +</p> + +<p> +Anon Balin and his brother met with the king, and smote him down, and wounded +him fiercely, and laid him to the ground; and there they slew on the right hand +and the left hand, and slew more than forty of his men, and the remnant fled. +Then went they again to King Rience and would have slain him had he not yielded +him unto their grace. Then said he thus: Knights full of prowess, slay me not, +for by my life ye may win, and by my death ye shall win nothing. Then said +these two knights, Ye say sooth and truth, and so laid him on a horse-litter. +With that Merlin was vanished, and came to King Arthur aforehand, and told him +how his most enemy was taken and discomfited. By whom? said King Arthur. By two +knights, said Merlin, that would please your lordship, and to-morrow ye shall +know what knights they are. Anon after came the Knight with the Two Swords and +Balan his brother, and brought with them King Rience of North Wales, and there +delivered him to the porters, and charged them with him; and so they two +returned again in the dawning of the day. King Arthur came then to King Rience, +and said, Sir king, ye are welcome: by what adventure come ye hither? Sir, said +King Rience, I came hither by an hard adventure. Who won you? said King Arthur. +Sir, said the king, the Knight with the Two Swords and his brother, which are +two marvellous knights of prowess. I know them not, said Arthur, but much I am +beholden to them. Ah, said Merlin, I shall tell you: it is Balin that achieved +the sword, and his brother Balan, a good knight, there liveth not a better of +prowess and of worthiness, and it shall be the greatest dole of him that ever I +knew of knight, for he shall not long endure. Alas, said King Arthur, that is +great pity; for I am much beholden unto him, and I have ill deserved it unto +him for his kindness. Nay, said Merlin, he shall do much more for you, and that +shall ye know in haste. But, sir, are ye purveyed, said Merlin, for to-morn the +host of Nero, King Rience’s brother, will set on you or noon with a great +host, and therefore make you ready, for I will depart from you. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap37"></a>CHAPTER X.<br/>How King Arthur had a battle against +Nero and King Lot of Orkney, and how King Lot was deceived by Merlin, and how +twelve kings were slain.</h3> + +<p> +Then King Arthur made ready his host in ten battles and Nero was ready in the +field afore the Castle Terrabil with a great host, and he had ten battles, with +many more people than Arthur had. Then Nero had the vanguard with the most part +of his people, and Merlin came to King Lot of the Isle of Orkney, and held him +with a tale of prophecy, till Nero and his people were destroyed. And there Sir +Kay the seneschal did passingly well, that the days of his life the worship +went never from him; and Sir Hervis de Revel did marvellous deeds with King +Arthur, and King Arthur slew that day twenty knights and maimed forty. At that +time came in the Knight with the Two Swords and his brother Balan, but they two +did so marvellously that the king and all the knights marvelled of them, and +all they that beheld them said they were sent from heaven as angels, or devils +from hell; and King Arthur said himself they were the best knights that ever he +saw, for they gave such strokes that all men had wonder of them. +</p> + +<p> +In the meanwhile came one to King Lot, and told him while he tarried there Nero +was destroyed and slain with all his people. Alas, said King Lot, I am ashamed, +for by my default there is many a worshipful man slain, for an we had been +together there had been none host under the heaven that had been able for to +have matched with us; this faiter with his prophecy hath mocked me. All that +did Merlin, for he knew well that an King Lot had been with his body there at +the first battle, King Arthur had been slain, and all his people destroyed; and +well Merlin knew that one of the kings should be dead that day, and loath was +Merlin that any of them both should be slain; but of the twain, he had liefer +King Lot had been slain than King Arthur. Now what is best to do? said King Lot +of Orkney; whether is me better to treat with King Arthur or to fight, for the +greater part of our people are slain and destroyed? Sir, said a knight, set on +Arthur for they are weary and forfoughten and we be fresh. As for me, said King +Lot, I would every knight would do his part as I would do mine. And then they +advanced banners and smote together and all to-shivered their spears; and +Arthur’s knights, with the help of the Knight with the Two Swords and his +brother Balan put King Lot and his host to the worse. But always King Lot held +him in the foremost front, and did marvellous deeds of arms, for all his host +was borne up by his hands, for he abode all knights. Alas he might not endure, +the which was great pity, that so worthy a knight as he was one should be +overmatched, that of late time afore had been a knight of King Arthur’s, +and wedded the sister of King Arthur; and for King Arthur lay by King +Lot’s wife, the which was Arthur’s sister, and gat on her Mordred, +therefore King Lot held against Arthur. So there was a knight that was called +the Knight with the Strange Beast, and at that time his right name was called +Pellinore, the which was a good man of prowess, and he smote a mighty stroke at +King Lot as he fought with all his enemies, and he failed of his stroke, and +smote the horse’s neck, that he fell to the ground with King Lot. And +therewith anon Pellinore smote him a great stroke through the helm and head +unto the brows. And then all the host of Orkney fled for the death of King Lot, +and there were slain many mothers’ sons. But King Pellinore bare the wite +of the death of King Lot, wherefore Sir Gawaine revenged the death of his +father the tenth year after he was made knight, and slew King Pellinore with +his own hands. Also there were slain at that battle twelve kings on the side of +King Lot with Nero, and all were buried in the Church of Saint Stephen’s +in Camelot, and the remnant of knights and of others were buried in a great +rock. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap38"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br/>Of the interment of twelve kings, and +of the prophecy of Merlin, and how Balin should give the dolorous stroke.</h3> + +<p> +So at the interment came King Lot’s wife Margawse with her four sons, +Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth. Also there came thither King Uriens, +Sir Ewaine’s father, and Morgan le Fay his wife that was King +Arthur’s sister. All these came to the interment. But of all these twelve +kings King Arthur let make the tomb of King Lot passing richly, and made his +tomb by his own; and then Arthur let make twelve images of latten and copper, +and over-gilt it with gold, in the sign of twelve kings, and each one of them +held a taper of wax that burnt day and night; and King Arthur was made in sign +of a figure standing above them with a sword drawn in his hand, and all the +twelve figures had countenance like unto men that were overcome. All this made +Merlin by his subtle craft, and there he told the king, When I am dead these +tapers shall burn no longer, and soon after the adventures of the Sangreal +shall come among you and be achieved. Also he told Arthur how Balin the +worshipful knight shall give the dolorous stroke, whereof shall fall great +vengeance. Oh, where is Balin and Balan and Pellinore? said King Arthur. As for +Pellinore, said Merlin, he will meet with you soon; and as for Balin he will +not be long from you; but the other brother will depart, ye shall see him no +more. By my faith, said Arthur, they are two marvellous knights, and namely +Balin passeth of prowess of any knight that ever I found, for much beholden am +I unto him; would God he would abide with me. Sir, said Merlin, look ye keep +well the scabbard of Excalibur, for ye shall lose no blood while ye have the +scabbard upon you, though ye have as many wounds upon you as ye may have. So +after, for great trust, Arthur betook the scabbard to Morgan le Fay his sister, +and she loved another knight better than her husband King Uriens or King +Arthur, and she would have had Arthur her brother slain, and therefore she let +make another scabbard like it by enchantment, and gave the scabbard Excalibur +to her love; and the knight’s name was called Accolon, that after had +near slain King Arthur. After this Merlin told unto King Arthur of the prophecy +that there should be a great battle beside Salisbury, and Mordred his own son +should be against him. Also he told him that Bagdemegus was his cousin, and +germain unto King Uriens. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap39"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br/>How a sorrowful knight came before +Arthur, and how Balin fetched him, and how that knight was slain by a knight +invisible.</h3> + +<p> +Within a day or two King Arthur was somewhat sick, and he let pitch his +pavilion in a meadow, and there he laid him down on a pallet to sleep, but he +might have no rest. Right so he heard a great noise of an horse, and therewith +the king looked out at the porch of the pavilion, and saw a knight coming even +by him, making great dole. Abide, fair sir, said Arthur, and tell me wherefore +thou makest this sorrow. Ye may little amend me, said the knight, and so passed +forth to the castle of Meliot. Anon after there came Balin, and when he saw +King Arthur he alighted off his horse, and came to the King on foot, and +saluted him. By my head, said Arthur, ye be welcome. Sir, right now came riding +this way a knight making great mourn, for what cause I cannot tell; wherefore I +would desire of you of your courtesy and of your gentleness to fetch again that +knight either by force or else by his good will. I will do more for your +lordship than that, said Balin; and so he rode more than a pace, and found the +knight with a damosel in a forest, and said, Sir knight, ye must come with me +unto King Arthur, for to tell him of your sorrow. That will I not, said the +knight, for it will scathe me greatly, and do you none avail. Sir, said Balin, +I pray you make you ready, for ye must go with me, or else I must fight with +you and bring you by force, and that were me loath to do. Will ye be my +warrant, said the knight, an I go with you? Yea, said Balin, or else I will die +therefore. And so he made him ready to go with Balin, and left the damosel +still. And as they were even afore King Arthur’s pavilion, there came one +invisible, and smote this knight that went with Balin throughout the body with +a spear. Alas, said the knight, I am slain under your conduct with a knight +called Garlon; therefore take my horse that is better than yours, and ride to +the damosel, and follow the quest that I was in as she will lead you, and +revenge my death when ye may. That shall I do, said Balin, and that I make vow +unto knighthood; and so he departed from this knight with great sorrow. So King +Arthur let bury this knight richly, and made a mention on his tomb, how there +was slain Herlews le Berbeus, and by whom the treachery was done, the knight +Garlon. But ever the damosel bare the truncheon of the spear with her that Sir +Herlews was slain withal. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap40"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br/>How Balin and the damosel met with a +knight which was in likewise slain, and how the damosel bled for the custom of +a castle.</h3> + +<p> +So Balin and the damosel rode into a forest, and there met with a knight that +had been a-hunting, and that knight asked Balin for what cause he made so great +sorrow. Me list not to tell you, said Balin. Now, said the knight, an I were +armed as ye be I would fight with you. That should little need, said Balin, I +am not afeard to tell you, and told him all the cause how it was. Ah, said the +knight, is this all? here I ensure you by the faith of my body never to depart +from you while my life lasteth. And so they went to the hostelry and armed +them, and so rode forth with Balin. And as they came by an hermitage even by a +churchyard, there came the knight Garlon invisible, and smote this knight, +Perin de Mountbeliard, through the body with a spear. Alas, said the knight, I +am slain by this traitor knight that rideth invisible. Alas, said Balin, it is +not the first despite he hath done me; and there the hermit and Balin buried +the knight under a rich stone and a tomb royal. And on the morn they found +letters of gold written, how Sir Gawaine shall revenge his father’s +death, King Lot, on the King Pellinore. Anon after this Balin and the damosel +rode till they came to a castle, and there Balin alighted, and he and the +damosel went to go into the castle, and anon as Balin came within the +castle’s gate the portcullis fell down at his back, and there fell many +men about the damosel, and would have slain her. When Balin saw that, he was +sore aggrieved, for he might not help the damosel. Then he went up into the +tower, and leapt over walls into the ditch, and hurt him not; and anon he +pulled out his sword and would have foughten with them. And they all said nay, +they would not fight with him, for they did nothing but the old custom of the +castle; and told him how their lady was sick, and had lain many years, and she +might not be whole but if she had a dish of silver full of blood of a clean +maid and a king’s daughter; and therefore the custom of this castle is, +there shall no damosel pass this way but she shall bleed of her blood in a +silver dish full. Well, said Balin, she shall bleed as much as she may bleed, +but I will not lose the life of her whiles my life lasteth. And so Balin made +her to bleed by her good will, but her blood helped not the lady. And so he and +she rested there all night, and had there right good cheer, and on the morn +they passed on their ways. And as it telleth after in the Sangreal, that Sir +Percivale’s sister helped that lady with her blood, whereof she was dead. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap41"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br/>How Balin met with that knight named +Garlon at a feast, and there he slew him, to have his blood to heal therewith +the son of his host.</h3> + +<p> +Then they rode three or four days and never met with adventure, and by hap they +were lodged with a gentle man that was a rich man and well at ease. And as they +sat at their supper Balin overheard one complain grievously by him in a chair. +What is this noise? said Balin. Forsooth, said his host, I will tell you. I was +but late at a jousting, and there I jousted with a knight that is brother unto +King Pellam, and twice smote I him down, and then he promised to quit me on my +best friend; and so he wounded my son, that cannot be whole till I have of that +knight’s blood, and he rideth alway invisible; but I know not his name. +Ah! said Balin, I know that knight, his name is Garlon, he hath slain two +knights of mine in the same manner, therefore I had liefer meet with that +knight than all the gold in this realm, for the despite he hath done me. Well, +said his host, I shall tell you, King Pellam of Listeneise hath made do cry in +all this country a great feast that shall be within these twenty days, and no +knight may come there but if he bring his wife with him, or his paramour; and +that knight, your enemy and mine, ye shall see that day. Then I behote you, +said Balin, part of his blood to heal your son withal. We will be forward +to-morn, said his host. So on the morn they rode all three toward Pellam, and +they had fifteen days’ journey or they came thither; and that same day +began the great feast. And so they alighted and stabled their horses, and went +into the castle; but Balin’s host might not be let in because he had no +lady. Then Balin was well received and brought unto a chamber and unarmed him; +and there were brought him robes to his pleasure, and would have had Balin +leave his sword behind him. Nay, said Balin, that do I not, for it is the +custom of my country a knight always to keep his weapon with him, and that +custom will I keep, or else I will depart as I came. Then they gave him leave +to wear his sword, and so he went unto the castle, and was set among knights of +worship, and his lady afore him. +</p> + +<p> +Soon Balin asked a knight, Is there not a knight in this court whose name is +Garlon? Yonder he goeth, said a knight, he with the black face; he is the +marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for +he goeth invisible. Ah well, said Balin, is that he? Then Balin advised him +long: If I slay him here I shall not escape, and if I leave him now, +peradventure I shall never meet with him again at such a steven, and much harm +he will do an he live. Therewith this Garlon espied that this Balin beheld him, +and then he came and smote Balin on the face with the back of his hand, and +said, Knight, why beholdest me so? for shame therefore, eat thy meat and do +that thou came for. Thou sayest sooth, said Balin, this is not the first +despite that thou hast done me, and therefore I will do what I came for, and +rose up fiercely and clave his head to the shoulders. Give me the truncheon, +said Balin to his lady, wherewith he slew your knight. Anon she gave it him, +for alway she bare the truncheon with her. And therewith Balin smote him +through the body, and said openly, With that truncheon thou hast slain a good +knight, and now it sticketh in thy body. And then Balin called unto him his +host, saying, Now may ye fetch blood enough to heal your son withal. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap42"></a>CHAPTER XV.<br/>How Balin fought with King Pellam, and +how his sword brake, and how he gat a spear wherewith he smote the dolorous +stroke.</h3> + +<p> +Anon all the knights arose from the table for to set on Balin, and King Pellam +himself arose up fiercely, and said, Knight, hast thou slain my brother? thou +shalt die therefore or thou depart. Well, said Balin, do it yourself. Yes, said +King Pellam, there shall no man have ado with thee but myself, for the love of +my brother. Then King Pellam caught in his hand a grim weapon and smote eagerly +at Balin; but Balin put the sword betwixt his head and the stroke, and +therewith his sword burst in sunder. And when Balin was weaponless he ran into +a chamber for to seek some weapon, and so from chamber to chamber, and no +weapon he could find, and always King Pellam after him. And at the last he +entered into a chamber that was marvellously well dight and richly, and a bed +arrayed with cloth of gold, the richest that might be thought, and one lying +therein, and thereby stood a table of clean gold with four pillars of silver +that bare up the table, and upon the table stood a marvellous spear strangely +wrought. And when Balin saw that spear, he gat it in his hand and turned him to +King Pellam, and smote him passingly sore with that spear, that King Pellam +fell down in a swoon, and therewith the castle roof and walls brake and fell to +the earth, and Balin fell down so that he might not stir foot nor hand. And so +the most part of the castle, that was fallen down through that dolorous stroke, +lay upon Pellam and Balin three days. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap43"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br/>How Balin was delivered by Merlin, +and saved a knight that would have slain himself for love.</h3> + +<p> +Then Merlin came thither and took up Balin, and gat him a good horse, for his +was dead, and bade him ride out of that country. I would have my damosel, said +Balin. Lo, said Merlin, where she lieth dead. And King Pellam lay so, many +years sore wounded, and might never be whole till Galahad the haut prince +healed him in the quest of the Sangreal, for in that place was part of the +blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Joseph of Arimathea brought into this +land, and there himself lay in that rich bed. And that was the same spear that +Longius smote our Lord to the heart; and King Pellam was nigh of Joseph’s +kin, and that was the most worshipful man that lived in those days, and great +pity it was of his hurt, for through that stroke, turned to great dole, tray +and tene. Then departed Balin from Merlin, and said, In this world we meet +never no more. So he rode forth through the fair countries and cities, and +found the people dead, slain on every side. And all that were alive cried, O +Balin, thou hast caused great damage in these countries; for the dolorous +stroke thou gavest unto King Pellam three countries are destroyed, and doubt +not but the vengeance will fall on thee at the last. When Balin was past those +countries he was passing fain. +</p> + +<p> +So he rode eight days or he met with adventure. And at the last he came into a +fair forest in a valley, and was ware of a tower, and there beside he saw a +great horse of war, tied to a tree, and there beside sat a fair knight on the +ground and made great mourning, and he was a likely man, and a well made. Balin +said, God save you, why be ye so heavy? tell me and I will amend it, an I may, +to my power. Sir knight, said he again, thou dost me great grief, for I was in +merry thoughts, and now thou puttest me to more pain. Balin went a little from +him, and looked on his horse; then heard Balin him say thus: Ah, fair lady, why +have ye broken my promise, for thou promisest me to meet me here by noon, and I +may curse thee that ever ye gave me this sword, for with this sword I slay +myself, and pulled it out. And therewith Balin stert unto him and took him by +the hand. Let go my hand, said the knight, or else I shall slay thee. That +shall not need, said Balin, for I shall promise you my help to get you your +lady, an ye will tell me where she is. What is your name? said the knight. My +name is Balin le Savage. Ah, sir, I know you well enough, ye are the Knight +with the Two Swords, and the man of most prowess of your hands living. What is +your name? said Balin. My name is Garnish of the Mount, a poor man’s son, +but by my prowess and hardiness a duke hath made me knight, and gave me lands; +his name is Duke Hermel, and his daughter is she that I love, and she me as I +deemed. How far is she hence? said Balin. But six mile, said the knight. Now +ride we hence, said these two knights. So they rode more than a pace, till that +they came to a fair castle well walled and ditched. I will into the castle, +said Balin, and look if she be there. So he went in and searched from chamber +to chamber, and found her bed, but she was not there. Then Balin looked into a +fair little garden, and under a laurel tree he saw her lie upon a quilt of +green samite and a knight in her arms, fast halsing either other, and under +their heads grass and herbs. When Balin saw her lie so with the foulest knight +that ever he saw, and she a fair lady, then Balin went through all the chambers +again, and told the knight how he found her as she had slept fast, and so +brought him in the place there she lay fast sleeping. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap44"></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br/>How that knight slew his love and a +knight lying by her, and after, how he slew himself with his own sword, and how +Balin rode toward a castle where he lost his life.</h3> + +<p> +And when Garnish beheld her so lying, for pure sorrow his mouth and nose burst +out a-bleeding, and with his sword he smote off both their heads, and then he +made sorrow out of measure, and said, O Balin, much sorrow hast thou brought +unto me, for hadst thou not shewed me that sight I should have passed my +sorrow. Forsooth, said Balin, I did it to this intent that it should better thy +courage, and that ye might see and know her falsehood, and to cause you to +leave love of such a lady; God knoweth I did none other but as I would ye did +to me. Alas, said Garnish, now is my sorrow double that I may not endure, now +have I slain that I most loved in all my life; and therewith suddenly he rove +himself on his own sword unto the hilts. When Balin saw that, he dressed him +thenceward, lest folk would say he had slain them; and so he rode forth, and +within three days he came by a cross, and thereon were letters of gold written, +that said, It is not for no knight alone to ride toward this castle. Then saw +he an old hoar gentleman coming toward him, that said, Balin le Savage, thou +passest thy bounds to come this way, therefore turn again and it will avail +thee. And he vanished away anon; and so he heard an horn blow as it had been +the death of a beast. That blast, said Balin, is blown for me, for I am the +prize and yet am I not dead. Anon withal he saw an hundred ladies and many +knights, that welcomed him with fair semblant, and made him passing good cheer +unto his sight, and led him into the castle, and there was dancing and +minstrelsy and all manner of joy. Then the chief lady of the castle said, +Knight with the Two Swords, ye must have ado and joust with a knight hereby +that keepeth an island, for there may no man pass this way but he must joust or +he pass. That is an unhappy custom, said Balin, that a knight may not pass this +way but if he joust. Ye shall not have ado but with one knight, said the lady. +</p> + +<p> +Well, said Balin, since I shall thereto I am ready, but travelling men are oft +weary and their horses too, but though my horse be weary my heart is not weary, +I would be fain there my death should be. Sir, said a knight to Balin, +methinketh your shield is not good, I will lend you a bigger. Thereof I pray +you. And so he took the shield that was unknown and left his own, and so rode +unto the island, and put him and his horse in a great boat; and when he came on +the other side he met with a damosel, and she said, O knight Balin, why have ye +left your own shield? alas ye have put yourself in great danger, for by your +shield ye should have been known; it is great pity of you as ever was of +knight, for of thy prowess and hardiness thou hast no fellow living. Me +repenteth, said Balin, that ever I came within this country, but I may not turn +now again for shame, and what adventure shall fall to me, be it life or death, +I will take the adventure that shall come to me. And then he looked on his +armour, and understood he was well armed, and therewith blessed him and mounted +upon his horse. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap45"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br/>How Balin met with his brother +Balan, and how each of them slew other unknown, till they were wounded to +death.</h3> + +<p> +Then afore him he saw come riding out of a castle a knight, and his horse +trapped all red, and himself in the same colour. When this knight in the red +beheld Balin, him thought it should be his brother Balin by cause of his two +swords, but by cause he knew not his shield he deemed it was not he. And so +they aventryd their spears and came marvellously fast together, and they smote +each other in the shields, but their spears and their course were so big that +it bare down horse and man, that they lay both in a swoon. But Balin was +bruised sore with the fall of his horse, for he was weary of travel. And Balan +was the first that rose on foot and drew his sword, and went toward Balin, and +he arose and went against him; but Balan smote Balin first, and he put up his +shield and smote him through the shield and tamed his helm. Then Balin smote +him again with that unhappy sword, and well-nigh had felled his brother Balan, +and so they fought there together till their breaths failed. Then Balin looked +up to the castle and saw the towers stand full of ladies. So they went unto +battle again, and wounded everych other dolefully, and then they breathed +ofttimes, and so went unto battle that all the place there as they fought was +blood red. And at that time there was none of them both but they had either +smitten other seven great wounds, so that the least of them might have been the +death of the mightiest giant in this world. +</p> + +<p> +Then they went to battle again so marvellously that doubt it was to hear of +that battle for the great blood-shedding, and their hauberks unnailed that +naked they were on every side. At last Balan the younger brother withdrew him a +little and laid him down. Then said Balin le Savage, What knight art thou? for +or now I found never no knight that matched me. My name is, said he, Balan, +brother unto the good knight, Balin. Alas, said Balin, that ever I should see +this day, and therewith he fell backward in a swoon. Then Balan yede on all +four feet and hands, and put off the helm off his brother, and might not know +him by the visage it was so ful hewn and bled; but when he awoke he said, O +Balan, my brother, thou hast slain me and I thee, wherefore all the wide world +shall speak of us both. Alas, said Balan, that ever I saw this day, that +through mishap I might not know you, for I espied well your two swords, but by +cause ye had another shield I deemed ye had been another knight. Alas, said +Balin, all that made an unhappy knight in the castle, for he caused me to leave +my own shield to our both’s destruction, and if I might live I would +destroy that castle for ill customs. That were well done, said Balan, for I had +never grace to depart from them since that I came hither, for here it happed me +to slay a knight that kept this island, and since might I never depart, and no +more should ye, brother, an ye might have slain me as ye have, and escaped +yourself with the life. +</p> + +<p> +Right so came the lady of the tower with four knights and six ladies and six +yeomen unto them, and there she heard how they made their moan either to other, +and said, We came both out of one tomb, that is to say one mother’s +belly, and so shall we lie both in one pit. So Balan prayed the lady of her +gentleness, for his true service, that she would bury them both in that same +place there the battle was done. And she granted them, with weeping, it should +be done richly in the best manner. Now, will ye send for a priest, that we may +receive our sacrament, and receive the blessed body of our Lord Jesus Christ? +Yea, said the lady, it shall be done; and so she sent for a priest and gave +them their rights. Now, said Balin, when we are buried in one tomb, and the +mention made over us how two brethren slew each other, there will never good +knight, nor good man, see our tomb but they will pray for our souls. And so all +the ladies and gentlewomen wept for pity. Then anon Balan died, but Balin died +not till the midnight after, and so were they buried both, and the lady let +make a mention of Balan how he was there slain by his brother’s hands, +but she knew not Balin’s name. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap46"></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br/>How Merlin buried them both in one +tomb, and of Balin’s sword.</h3> + +<p> +In the morn came Merlin and let write Balin’s name on the tomb with +letters of gold, that Here lieth Balin le Savage that was the Knight with the +Two Swords, and he that smote the Dolorous Stroke. Also Merlin let make there a +bed, that there should never man lie therein but he went out of his wit, yet +Launcelot de Lake fordid that bed through his noblesse. And anon after Balin +was dead, Merlin took his sword, and took off the pommel and set on another +pommel. So Merlin bade a knight that stood afore him handle that sword, and he +assayed, and he might not handle it. Then Merlin laughed. Why laugh ye? said +the knight. This is the cause, said Merlin: there shall never man handle this +sword but the best knight of the world, and that shall be Sir Launcelot or else +Galahad his son, and Launcelot with this sword shall slay the man that in the +world he loved best, that shall be Sir Gawaine. All this he let write in the +pommel of the sword. Then Merlin let make a bridge of iron and of steel into +that island, and it was but half a foot broad, and there shall never man pass +that bridge, nor have hardiness to go over, but if he were a passing good man +and a good knight without treachery or villainy. Also the scabbard of +Balin’s sword Merlin left it on this side the island, that Galahad should +find it. Also Merlin let make by his subtilty that Balin’s sword was put +in a marble stone standing upright as great as a mill stone, and the stone +hoved always above the water and did many years, and so by adventure it swam +down the stream to the City of Camelot, that is in English Winchester. And that +same day Galahad the haut prince came with King Arthur, and so Galahad brought +with him the scabbard and achieved the sword that was there in the marble stone +hoving upon the water. And on Whitsunday he achieved the sword as it is +rehearsed in the book of Sangreal. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after this was done Merlin came to King Arthur and told him of the +dolorous stroke that Balin gave to King Pellam, and how Balin and Balan fought +together the marvellest battle that ever was heard of, and how they were buried +both in one tomb. Alas, said King Arthur, this is the greatest pity that ever I +heard tell of two knights, for in the world I know not such two knights. Thus +endeth the tale of Balin and of Balan, two brethren born in Northumberland, +good knights. +</p> + +<h5>Sequitur iii. liber.</h5> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="part03"></a>BOOK III.</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap47"></a>CHAPTER I.<br/>How King Arthur took a wife, and wedded +Guenever, daughter to Leodegrance, King of the Land of Cameliard, with whom he +had the Round Table.</h3> + +<p> +In the beginning of Arthur, after he was chosen king by adventure and by grace; +for the most part of the barons knew not that he was Uther Pendragon’s +son, but as Merlin made it openly known. But yet many kings and lords held +great war against him for that cause, but well Arthur overcame them all, for +the most part the days of his life he was ruled much by the counsel of Merlin. +So it fell on a time King Arthur said unto Merlin, My barons will let me have +no rest, but needs I must take a wife, and I will none take but by thy counsel +and by thine advice. It is well done, said Merlin, that ye take a wife, for a +man of your bounty and noblesse should not be without a wife. Now is there any +that ye love more than another? Yea, said King Arthur, I love Guenever the +king’s daughter, Leodegrance of the land of Cameliard, the which holdeth +in his house the Table Round that ye told he had of my father Uther. And this +damosel is the most valiant and fairest lady that I know living, or yet that +ever I could find. Sir, said Merlin, as of her beauty and fairness she is one +of the fairest alive, but, an ye loved her not so well as ye do, I should find +you a damosel of beauty and of goodness that should like you and please you, an +your heart were not set; but there as a man’s heart is set, he will be +loath to return. That is truth, said King Arthur. But Merlin warned the king +covertly that Guenever was not wholesome for him to take to wife, for he warned +him that Launcelot should love her, and she him again; and so he turned his +tale to the adventures of Sangreal. +</p> + +<p> +Then Merlin desired of the king for to have men with him that should enquire of +Guenever, and so the king granted him, and Merlin went forth unto King +Leodegrance of Cameliard, and told him of the desires of the king that he would +have unto his wife Guenever his daughter. That is to me, said King Leodegrance, +the best tidings that ever I heard, that so worthy a king of prowess and +noblesse will wed my daughter. And as for my lands, I will give him, wist I it +might please him, but he hath lands enow, him needeth none; but I shall send +him a gift shall please him much more, for I shall give him the Table Round, +the which Uther Pendragon gave me, and when it is full complete, there is an +hundred knights and fifty. And as for an hundred good knights I have myself, +but I faute fifty, for so many have been slain in my days. And so Leodegrance +delivered his daughter Guenever unto Merlin, and the Table Round with the +hundred knights, and so they rode freshly, with great royalty, what by water +and what by land, till that they came nigh unto London. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap48"></a>CHAPTER II.<br/>How the Knights of the Round Table +were ordained and their sieges blessed by the Bishop of Canterbury.</h3> + +<p> +When King Arthur heard of the coming of Guenever and the hundred knights with +the Table Round, then King Arthur made great joy for her coming, and that rich +present, and said openly, This fair lady is passing welcome unto me, for I have +loved her long, and therefore there is nothing so lief to me. And these knights +with the Round Table please me more than right great riches. And in all haste +the king let ordain for the marriage and the coronation in the most honourable +wise that could be devised. Now, Merlin, said King Arthur, go thou and espy me +in all this land fifty knights which be of most prowess and worship. Within +short time Merlin had found such knights that should fulfil twenty and eight +knights, but no more he could find. Then the Bishop of Canterbury was fetched, +and he blessed the sieges with great royalty and devotion, and there set the +eight and twenty knights in their sieges. And when this was done Merlin said, +Fair sirs, ye must all arise and come to King Arthur for to do him homage; he +will have the better will to maintain you. And so they arose and did their +homage, and when they were gone Merlin found in every sieges letters of gold +that told the knights’ names that had sitten therein. But two sieges were +void. And so anon came young Gawaine and asked the king a gift. Ask, said the +king, and I shall grant it you. Sir, I ask that ye will make me knight that +same day ye shall wed fair Guenever. I will do it with a good will, said King +Arthur, and do unto you all the worship that I may, for I must by reason ye are +my nephew, my sister’s son. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap49"></a>CHAPTER III.<br/>How a poor man riding upon a lean +mare desired King Arthur to make his son knight.</h3> + +<p> +Forthwithal there came a poor man into the court, and brought with him a fair +young man of eighteen years of age riding upon a lean mare; and the poor man +asked all men that he met, Where shall I find King Arthur? Yonder he is, said +the knights, wilt thou anything with him? Yea, said the poor man, therefore I +came hither. Anon as he came before the king, he saluted him and said: O King +Arthur, the flower of all knights and kings, I beseech Jesu save thee. Sir, it +was told me that at this time of your marriage ye would give any man the gift +that he would ask, out except that were unreasonable. That is truth, said the +king, such cries I let make, and that will I hold, so it apair not my realm nor +mine estate. Ye say well and graciously, said the poor man; Sir, I ask nothing +else but that ye will make my son here a knight. It is a great thing thou +askest of me, said the king. What is thy name? said the king to the poor man. +Sir, my name is Aries the cowherd. Whether cometh this of thee or of thy son? +said the king. Nay, sir, said Aries, this desire cometh of my son and not of +me, for I shall tell you I have thirteen sons, and all they will fall to what +labour I put them, and will be right glad to do labour, but this child will not +labour for me, for anything that my wife or I may do, but always he will be +shooting or casting darts, and glad for to see battles and to behold knights, +and always day and night he desireth of me to be made a knight. What is thy +name? said the king unto the young man. Sir, my name is Tor. The king beheld +him fast, and saw he was passingly well-visaged and passingly well made of his +years. Well, said King Arthur unto Aries the cowherd, fetch all thy sons afore +me that I may see them. And so the poor man did, and all were shaped much like +the poor man. But Tor was not like none of them all in shape nor in +countenance, for he was much more than any of them. Now, said King Arthur unto +the cow herd, where is the sword he shall be made knight withal? It is here, +said Tor. Take it out of the sheath, said the king, and require me to make you +a knight. +</p> + +<p> +Then Tor alighted off his mare and pulled out his sword, kneeling, and +requiring the king that he would make him knight, and that he might be a knight +of the Table Round. As for a knight I will make you, and therewith smote him in +the neck with the sword, saying, Be ye a good knight, and so I pray to God so +ye may be, and if ye be of prowess and of worthiness ye shall be a knight of +the Table Round. Now Merlin, said Arthur, say whether this Tor shall be a good +knight or no. Yea, sir, he ought to be a good knight, for he is come of as good +a man as any is alive, and of kings’ blood. How so, sir? said the king. I +shall tell you, said Merlin: This poor man, Aries the cowherd, is not his +father; he is nothing sib to him, for King Pellinore is his father. I suppose +nay, said the cowherd. Fetch thy wife afore me, said Merlin, and she shall not +say nay. Anon the wife was fetched, which was a fair housewife, and there she +answered Merlin full womanly, and there she told the king and Merlin that when +she was a maid, and went to milk kine, there met with her a stern knight, and +half by force he had my maidenhead, and at that time he begat my son Tor, and +he took away from me my greyhound that I had that time with me, and said that +he would keep the greyhound for my love. Ah, said the cowherd, I weened not +this, but I may believe it well, for he had never no tatches of me. Sir, said +Tor unto Merlin, dishonour not my mother. Sir, said Merlin, it is more for your +worship than hurt, for your father is a good man and a king, and he may right +well advance you and your mother, for ye were begotten or ever she was wedded. +That is truth, said the wife. It is the less grief unto me, said the cowherd. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap50"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br/>How Sir Tor was known for son of King +Pellinore, and how Gawaine was made knight.</h3> + +<p> +So on the morn King Pellinore came to the court of King Arthur, which had great +joy of him, and told him of Tor, how he was his son, and how he had made him +knight at the request of the cowherd. When Pellinore beheld Tor, he pleased him +much. So the king made Gawaine knight, but Tor was the first he made at the +feast. What is the cause, said King Arthur, that there be two places void in +the sieges? Sir, said Merlin, there shall no man sit in those places but they +that shall be of most worship. But in the Siege Perilous there shall no man sit +therein but one, and if there be any so hardy to do it he shall be destroyed, +and he that shall sit there shall have no fellow. And therewith Merlin took +King Pellinore by the hand, and in the one hand next the two sieges and the +Siege Perilous he said, in open audience, This is your place and best ye are +worthy to sit therein of any that is here. Thereat sat Sir Gawaine in great +envy and told Gaheris his brother, yonder knight is put to great worship, the +which grieveth me sore, for he slew our father King Lot, therefore I will slay +him, said Gawaine, with a sword that was sent me that is passing trenchant. Ye +shall not so, said Gaheris, at this time, for at this time I am but a squire, +and when I am made knight I will be avenged on him, and therefore, brother, it +is best ye suffer till another time, that we may have him out of the court, for +an we did so we should trouble this high feast. I will well, said Gawaine, as +ye will. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap51"></a>CHAPTER V.<br/>How at feast of the wedding of King +Arthur to Guenever, a white hart came into the hall, and thirty couple hounds, +and how a brachet pinched the hart which was taken away.</h3> + +<p> +Then was the high feast made ready, and the king was wedded at Camelot unto +Dame Guenever in the church of Saint Stephen’s, with great solemnity. And +as every man was set after his degree, Merlin went to all the knights of the +Round Table, and bade them sit still, that none of them remove. For ye shall +see a strange and a marvellous adventure. Right so as they sat there came +running in a white hart into the hall, and a white brachet next him, and thirty +couple of black running hounds came after with a great cry, and the hart went +about the Table Round as he went by other boards. The white brachet bit him by +the buttock and pulled out a piece, wherethrough the hart leapt a great leap +and overthrew a knight that sat at the board side; and therewith the knight +arose and took up the brachet, and so went forth out of the hall, and took his +horse and rode his way with the brachet. Right so anon came in a lady on a +white palfrey, and cried aloud to King Arthur, Sir, suffer me not to have this +despite, for the brachet was mine that the knight led away. I may not do +therewith, said the king. +</p> + +<p> +With this there came a knight riding all armed on a great horse, and took the +lady away with him with force, and ever she cried and made great dole. When she +was gone the king was glad, for she made such a noise. Nay, said Merlin, ye may +not leave these adventures so lightly; for these adventures must be brought +again or else it would be disworship to you and to your feast. I will, said the +king, that all be done by your advice. Then, said Merlin, let call Sir Gawaine, +for he must bring again the white hart. Also, sir, ye must let call Sir Tor, +for he must bring again the brachet and the knight, or else slay him. Also let +call King Pellinore, for he must bring again the lady and the knight, or else +slay him. And these three knights shall do marvellous adventures or they come +again. Then were they called all three as it rehearseth afore, and each of them +took his charge, and armed them surely. But Sir Gawaine had the first request, +and therefore we will begin at him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap52"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br/>How Sir Gawaine rode for to fetch +again the hart, and how two brethren fought each against other for the +hart.</h3> + +<p> +Sir Gawaine rode more than a pace, and Gaheris his brother that rode with him +instead of a squire to do him service. So as they rode they saw two knights +fight on horseback passing sore, so Sir Gawaine and his brother rode betwixt +them, and asked them for what cause they fought so. The one knight answered and +said, We fight for a simple matter, for we two be two brethren born and +begotten of one man and of one woman. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, why do ye so? +Sir, said the elder, there came a white hart this way this day, and many hounds +chased him, and a white brachet was alway next him, and we understood it was +adventure made for the high feast of King Arthur, and therefore I would have +gone after to have won me worship; and here my younger brother said he would go +after the hart, for he was better knight than I: and for this cause we fell at +debate, and so we thought to prove which of us both was better knight. This is +a simple cause, said Sir Gawaine; uncouth men ye should debate withal, and not +brother with brother; therefore but if you will do by my counsel I will have +ado with you, that is ye shall yield you unto me, and that ye go unto King +Arthur and yield you unto his grace. Sir knight, said the two brethren, we are +forfoughten and much blood have we lost through our wilfulness, and therefore +we would be loath to have ado with you. Then do as I will have you, said Sir +Gawaine. We will agree to fulfil your will; but by whom shall we say that we be +thither sent? Ye may say, By the knight that followeth the quest of the hart +that was white. Now what is your name? said Gawaine. Sorlouse of the Forest, +said the elder. And my name is, said the younger, Brian of the Forest. And so +they departed and went to the king’s court, and Sir Gawaine on his quest. +</p> + +<p> +And as Gawaine followed the hart by the cry of the hounds, even afore him there +was a great river, and the hart swam over; and as Sir Gawaine would follow +after, there stood a knight over the other side, and said, Sir knight, come not +over after this hart but if thou wilt joust with me. I will not fail as for +that, said Sir Gawaine, to follow the quest that I am in, and so made his horse +to swim over the water. And anon they gat their spears and ran together full +hard; but Sir Gawaine smote him off his horse, and then he turned his horse and +bade him yield him. Nay, said the knight, not so, though thou have the better +of me on horseback. I pray thee, valiant knight, alight afoot, and match we +together with swords. What is your name? said Sir Gawaine. Allardin of the +Isles, said the other. Then either dressed their shields and smote together, +but Sir Gawaine smote him so hard through the helm that it went to the brains, +and the knight fell down dead. Ah! said Gaheris, that was a mighty stroke of a +young knight. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap53"></a>CHAPTER VII<br/>How the hart was chased into a castle +and there slain, and how Sir Gawaine slew a lady.</h3> + +<p> +Then Gawaine and Gaheris rode more than a pace after the white hart, and let +slip at the hart three couple of greyhounds, and so they chased the hart into a +castle, and in the chief place of the castle they slew the hart; Sir Gawaine +and Gaheris followed after. Right so there came a knight out of a chamber with +a sword drawn in his hand and slew two of the greyhounds, even in the sight of +Sir Gawaine, and the remnant he chased them with his sword out of the castle. +And when he came again, he said, O my white hart, me repenteth that thou art +dead, for my sovereign lady gave thee to me, and evil have I kept thee, and thy +death shall be dear bought an I live. And anon he went into his chamber and +armed him, and came out fiercely, and there met he with Sir Gawaine. Why have +ye slain my hounds? said Sir Gawaine, for they did but their kind, and liefer I +had ye had wroken your anger upon me than upon a dumb beast. Thou sayest truth, +said the knight, I have avenged me on thy hounds, and so I will on thee or thou +go. Then Sir Gawaine alighted afoot and dressed his shield, and struck together +mightily, and clave their shields, and stoned their helms, and brake their +hauberks that the blood ran down to their feet. +</p> + +<p> +At the last Sir Gawaine smote the knight so hard that he fell to the earth, and +then he cried mercy, and yielded him, and besought him as he was a knight and +gentleman, to save his life. Thou shalt die, said Sir Gawaine, for slaying of +my hounds. I will make amends, said the knight, unto my power. Sir Gawaine +would no mercy have, but unlaced his helm to have stricken off his head. Right +so came his lady out of a chamber and fell over him, and so he smote off her +head by misadventure. Alas, said Gaheris, that is foully and shamefully done, +that shame shall never from you; also ye should give mercy unto them that ask +mercy, for a knight without mercy is without worship. Sir Gawaine was so +stonied of the death of this fair lady that he wist not what he did, and said +unto the knight, Arise, I will give thee mercy. Nay, nay, said the knight, I +take no force of mercy now, for thou hast slain my love and my lady that I +loved best of all earthly things. Me sore repenteth it, said Sir Gawaine, for I +thought to strike unto thee; but now thou shalt go unto King Arthur and tell +him of thine adventures, and how thou art overcome by the knight that went in +the quest of the white hart. I take no force, said the knight, whether I live +or I die; but so for dread of death he swore to go unto King Arthur, and he +made him to bear one greyhound before him on his horse, and another behind him. +What is your name? said Sir Gawaine, or we depart. My name is, said the knight, +Ablamar of the Marsh. So he departed toward Camelot. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap54"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br/>How four knights fought against +Gawaine and Gaheris, and how they were overcome, and their lives saved at +request of four ladies.</h3> + +<p> +And Sir Gawaine went into the castle, and made him ready to lie there all +night, and would have unarmed him. What will ye do, said Gaheris, will ye unarm +you in this country? Ye may think ye have many enemies here. They had not +sooner said that word but there came four knights well armed, and assailed Sir +Gawaine hard, and said unto him, Thou new-made knight, thou hast shamed thy +knighthood, for a knight without mercy is dishonoured. Also thou hast slain a +fair lady to thy great shame to the world’s end, and doubt thou not thou +shalt have great need of mercy or thou depart from us. And therewith one of +them smote Sir Gawaine a great stroke that nigh he fell to the earth, and +Gaheris smote him again sore, and so they were on the one side and on the +other, that Sir Gawaine and Gaheris were in jeopardy of their lives; and one +with a bow, an archer, smote Sir Gawaine through the arm that it grieved him +wonderly sore. And as they should have been slain, there came four fair ladies, +and besought the knights of grace for Sir Gawaine; and goodly at request of the +ladies they gave Sir Gawaine and Gaheris their lives, and made them to yield +them as prisoners. Then Gawaine and Gaheris made great dole. Alas! said Sir +Gawaine, mine arm grieveth me sore, I am like to be maimed; and so made his +complaint piteously. +</p> + +<p> +Early on the morrow there came to Sir Gawaine one of the four ladies that had +heard all his complaint, and said, Sir knight, what cheer? Not good, said he. +It is your own default, said the lady, for ye have done a passing foul deed in +the slaying of the lady, the which will be great villainy unto you. But be ye +not of King Arthur’s kin? said the lady. Yes truly, said Sir Gawaine. +What is your name? said the lady, ye must tell it me or ye pass. My name is +Gawaine, the King Lot of Orkney’s son, and my mother is King +Arthur’s sister. Ah! then are ye nephew unto King Arthur, said the lady, +and I shall so speak for you that ye shall have conduct to go to King Arthur +for his love. And so she departed and told the four knights how their prisoner +was King Arthur’s nephew, and his name is Sir Gawaine, King Lot’s +son of Orkney. And they gave him the hart’s head because it was in his +quest. Then anon they delivered Sir Gawaine under this promise, that he should +bear the dead lady with him in this manner; the head of her was hanged about +his neck, and the whole body of her lay before him on his horse’s mane. +Right so rode he forth unto Camelot. And anon as he was come, Merlin desired of +King Arthur that Sir Gawaine should be sworn to tell of all his adventures, and +how he slew the lady, and how he would give no mercy unto the knight, +wherethrough the lady was slain. Then the king and the queen were greatly +displeased with Sir Gawaine for the slaying of the lady. And there by ordinance +of the queen there was set a quest of ladies on Sir Gawaine, and they judged +him for ever while he lived to be with all ladies, and to fight for their +quarrels; and that ever he should be courteous, and never to refuse mercy to +him that asketh mercy. Thus was Gawaine sworn upon the Four Evangelists that he +should never be against lady nor gentlewoman, but if he fought for a lady and +his adversary fought for another. And thus endeth the adventure of Sir Gawaine +that he did at the marriage of King Arthur. Amen. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap55"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br/>How Sir Tor rode after the knight with +the brachet, and of his adventure by the way.</h3> + +<p> +When Sir Tor was ready, he mounted upon his horseback, and rode after the +knight with the brachet. So as he rode he met with a dwarf suddenly that smote +his horse on the head with a staff, that he went backward his spear length. Why +dost thou so? said Sir Tor. For thou shalt not pass this way, but if thou joust +with yonder knights of the pavilions. Then was Tor ware where two pavilions +were, and great spears stood out, and two shields hung on trees by the +pavilions. I may not tarry, said Sir Tor, for I am in a quest that I must needs +follow. Thou shalt not pass, said the dwarf, and therewithal he blew his horn. +Then there came one armed on horseback, and dressed his shield, and came fast +toward Tor, and he dressed him against him, and so ran together that Tor bare +him from his horse. And anon the knight yielded him to his mercy. But, sir, I +have a fellow in yonder pavilion that will have ado with you anon. He shall be +welcome, said Sir Tor. Then was he ware of another knight coming with great +raundon, and each of them dressed to other, that marvel it was to see; but the +knight smote Sir Tor a great stroke in midst of the shield that his spear all +to-shivered. And Sir Tor smote him through the shield below of the shield that +it went through the cost of the knight, but the stroke slew him not. And +therewith Sir Tor alighted and smote him on the helm a great stroke, and +therewith the knight yielded him and besought him of mercy. I will well, said +Sir Tor, but thou and thy fellow must go unto King Arthur, and yield you +prisoners unto him. By whom shall we say are we thither sent? Ye shall say by +the knight that went in the quest of the knight that went with the brachet. +Now, what be your two names? said Sir Tor. My name is, said the one, Sir Felot +of Langduk; and my name is, said the other, Sir Petipase of Winchelsea. Now go +ye forth, said Sir Tor, and God speed you and me. Then came the dwarf and said +unto Sir Tor, I pray you give me a gift. I will well, said Sir Tor, ask. I ask +no more, said the dwarf, but that ye will suffer me to do you service, for I +will serve no more recreant knights. Take an horse, said Sir Tor, and ride on +with me. I wot ye ride after the knight with the white brachet, and I shall +bring you where he is, said the dwarf. And so they rode throughout a forest, +and at the last they were ware of two pavilions, even by a priory, with two +shields, and the one shield was enewed with white, and the other shield was +red. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap56"></a>CHAPTER X.<br/>How Sir Tor found the brachet with a +lady, and how a knight assailed him for the said brachet.</h3> + +<p> +Therewith Sir Tor alighted and took the dwarf his glaive, and so he came to the +white pavilion, and saw three damosels lie in it, on one pallet, sleeping, and +so he went to the other pavilion, and found a lady lying sleeping therein, but +there was the white brachet that bayed at her fast, and therewith the lady yede +out of the pavilion and all her damosels. But anon as Sir Tor espied the white +brachet, he took her by force and took her to the dwarf. What, will ye so, said +the lady, take my brachet from me? Yea, said Sir Tor, this brachet have I +sought from King Arthur’s court hither. Well, said the lady, knight, ye +shall not go far with her, but that ye shall be met and grieved. I shall abide +what adventure that cometh by the grace of God, and so mounted upon his horse, +and passed on his way toward Camelot; but it was so near night he might not +pass but little further. Know ye any lodging? said Tor. I know none, said the +dwarf, but here beside is an hermitage, and there ye must take lodging as ye +find. And within a while they came to the hermitage and took lodging; and was +there grass, oats and bread for their horses; soon it was sped, and full hard +was their supper; but there they rested them all night till on the morn, and +heard a mass devoutly, and took their leave of the hermit, and Sir Tor prayed +the hermit to pray for him. He said he would, and betook him to God. And so +mounted upon horseback and rode towards Camelot a long while. +</p> + +<p> +With that they heard a knight call loud that came after them, and he said, +Knight, abide and yield my brachet that thou took from my lady. Sir Tor +returned again, and beheld him how he was a seemly knight and well horsed, and +well armed at all points; then Sir Tor dressed his shield, and took his spear +in his hands, and the other came fiercely upon him, and smote both horse and +man to the earth. Anon they arose lightly and drew their swords as eagerly as +lions, and put their shields afore them, and smote through the shields, that +the cantels fell off both parties. Also they tamed their helms that the hot +blood ran out, and the thick mails of their hauberks they carved and rove in +sunder that the hot blood ran to the earth, and both they had many wounds and +were passing weary. But Sir Tor espied that the other knight fainted, and then +he sued fast upon him, and doubled his strokes, and gart him go to the earth on +the one side. Then Sir Tor bade him yield him. That will I not, said Abelleus, +while my life lasteth and the soul is within my body, unless that thou wilt +give me the brachet. That will I not do, said Sir Tor, for it was my quest to +bring again thy brachet, thee, or both. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap57"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br/>How Sir Tor overcame the knight, and +how he lost his head at the request of a lady.</h3> + +<p> +With that came a damosel riding on a palfrey as fast as she might drive, and +cried with a loud voice unto Sir Tor. What will ye with me? said Sir Tor. I +beseech thee, said the damosel, for King Arthur’s love, give me a gift; I +require thee, gentle knight, as thou art a gentleman. Now, said Tor, ask a gift +and I will give it you. Gramercy, said the damosel; now I ask the head of the +false knight Abelleus, for he is the most outrageous knight that liveth, and +the greatest murderer. I am loath, said Sir Tor, of that gift I have given you; +let him make amends in that he hath trespassed unto you. Now, said the damosel, +he may not, for he slew mine own brother before mine own eyes, that was a +better knight than he, an he had had grace; and I kneeled half an hour afore +him in the mire for to save my brother’s life, that had done him no +damage, but fought with him by adventure of arms, and so for all that I could +do he struck off his head; wherefore I require thee, as thou art a true knight, +to give me my gift, or else I shall shame thee in all the court of King Arthur; +for he is the falsest knight living, and a great destroyer of good knights. +Then when Abelleus heard this, he was more afeard, and yielded him and asked +mercy. I may not now, said Sir Tor, but if I should be found false of my +promise; for while I would have taken you to mercy ye would none ask, but if ye +had the brachet again, that was my quest. And therewith he took off his helm, +and he arose and fled, and Sir Tor after him, and smote off his head quite. +</p> + +<p> +Now sir, said the damosel, it is near night; I pray you come and lodge with me +here at my place, it is here fast by. I will well, said Sir Tor, for his horse +and he had fared evil since they departed from Camelot, and so he rode with +her, and had passing good cheer with her; and she had a passing fair old knight +to her husband that made him passing good cheer, and well eased both his horse +and him. And on the morn he heard his mass, and brake his fast, and took his +leave of the knight and of the lady, that besought him to tell them his name. +Truly, he said, my name is Sir Tor that was late made knight, and this was the +first quest of arms that ever I did, to bring again that this knight Abelleus +took away from King Arthur’s court. O fair knight, said the lady and her +husband, an ye come here in our marches, come and see our poor lodging, and it +shall be always at your commandment. So Sir Tor departed and came to Camelot on +the third day by noon, and the king and the queen and all the court was passing +fain of his coming, and made great joy that he was come again; for he went from +the court with little succour, but as King Pellinore his father gave him an old +courser, and King Arthur gave him armour and a sword, and else had he none +other succour, but rode so forth himself alone. And then the king and the queen +by Merlin’s advice made him to swear to tell of his adventures, and so he +told and made proofs of his deeds as it is afore rehearsed, wherefore the king +and the queen made great joy. Nay, nay, said Merlin, these be but japes to that +he shall do; for he shall prove a noble knight of prowess, as good as any is +living, and gentle and courteous, and of good tatches, and passing true of his +promise, and never shall outrage. Wherethrough Merlin’s words King Arthur +gave him an earldom of lands that fell unto him. And here endeth the quest of +Sir Tor, King Pellinore’s son. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap58"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br/>How King Pellinore rode after the +lady and the knight that led her away, and how a lady desired help of him, and +how he fought with two knights for that lady, of whom he slew the one at the +first stroke.</h3> + +<p> +Then King Pellinore armed him and mounted upon his horse, and rode more than a +pace after the lady that the knight led away. And as he rode in a forest, he +saw in a valley a damosel sit by a well, and a wounded knight in her arms, and +Pellinore saluted her. And when she was ware of him, she cried overloud, Help +me, knight; for Christ’s sake, King Pellinore. And he would not tarry, he +was so eager in his quest, and ever she cried an hundred times after help. When +she saw he would not abide, she prayed unto God to send him as much need of +help as she had, and that he might feel it or he died. So, as the book telleth, +the knight there died that there was wounded, wherefore the lady for pure +sorrow slew herself with his sword. As King Pellinore rode in that valley he +met with a poor man, a labourer. Sawest thou not, said Pellinore, a knight +riding and leading away a lady? Yea, said the man, I saw that knight, and the +lady that made great dole; and yonder beneath in a valley there shall ye see +two pavilions, and one of the knights of the pavilions challenged that lady of +that knight, and said she was his cousin near, wherefore he should lead her no +farther. And so they waged battle in that quarrel, the one said he would have +her by force, and the other said he would have the rule of her, by cause he was +her kinsman, and would lead her to her kin. For this quarrel he left them +fighting. And if ye will ride a pace ye shall find them fighting, and the lady +was beleft with the two squires in the pavilions. God thank thee, said King +Pellinore. +</p> + +<p> +Then he rode a wallop till he had a sight of the two pavilions, and the two +knights fighting. Anon he rode unto the pavilions, and saw the lady that was +his quest, and said, Fair lady, ye must go with me unto the court of King +Arthur. Sir knight, said the two squires that were with her, yonder are two +knights that fight for this lady, go thither and depart them, and be agreed +with them, and then may ye have her at your pleasure. Ye say well, said King +Pellinore. And anon he rode betwixt them, and departed them, and asked them the +causes why that they fought? Sir knight, said the one, I shall tell you, this +lady is my kinswoman nigh, mine aunt’s daughter, and when I heard her +complain that she was with him maugre her head, I waged battle to fight with +him. Sir knight, said the other, whose name was Hontzlake of Wentland, and this +lady I gat by my prowess of arms this day at Arthur’s court. That is +untruly said, said King Pellinore, for ye came in suddenly there as we were at +the high feast, and took away this lady or any man might make him ready; and +therefore it was my quest to bring her again and you both, or else the one of +us to abide in the field; therefore the lady shall go with me, or I will die +for it, for I have promised it King Arthur. And therefore fight ye no more, for +none of you shall have no part of her at this time; and if ye list to fight for +her, fight with me, and I will defend her. Well, said the knights, make you +ready, and we shall assail you with all our power. And as King Pellinore would +have put his horse from them, Sir Hontzlake rove his horse through with a +sword, and said: Now art thou on foot as well as we are. When King Pellinore +espied that his horse was slain, lightly he leapt from his horse and pulled out +his sword, and put his shield afore him, and said, Knight, keep well thy head, +for thou shalt have a buffet for the slaying of my horse. So King Pellinore +gave him such a stroke upon the helm that he clave the head down to the chin, +that he fell to the earth dead. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap59"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br/>How King Pellinore gat the lady and +brought her to Camelot to the court of King Arthur.</h3> + +<p> +And then he turned him to the other knight, that was sore wounded. But when he +saw the other’s buffet, he would not fight, but kneeled down and said, +Take my cousin the lady with you at your request, and I require you, as ye be a +true knight, put her to no shame nor villainy. What, said King Pellinore, will +ye not fight for her? No, sir, said the knight, I will not fight with such a +knight of prowess as ye be. Well, said Pellinore, ye say well; I promise you +she shall have no villainy by me, as I am true knight; but now me lacketh an +horse, said Pellinore, but I will have Hontzlake’s horse. Ye shall not +need, said the knight, for I shall give you such an horse as shall please you, +so that you will lodge with me, for it is near night. I will well, said King +Pellinore, abide with you all night. And there he had with him right good +cheer, and fared of the best with passing good wine, and had merry rest that +night. And on the morn he heard a mass and dined; and then was brought him a +fair bay courser, and King Pellinore’s saddle set upon him. Now, what +shall I call you? said the knight, inasmuch as ye have my cousin at your desire +of your quest. Sir, I shall tell you, my name is King Pellinore of the Isles +and knight of the Table Round. Now I am glad, said the knight, that such a +noble man shall have the rule of my cousin. Now, what is your name? said +Pellinore, I pray you tell me. Sir, my name is Sir Meliot of Logurs, and this +lady my cousin hight Nimue, and the knight that was in the other pavilion is my +sworn brother, a passing good knight, and his name is Brian of the Isles, and +he is full loath to do wrong, and full loath to fight with any man, but if he +be sore sought on, so that for shame he may not leave it. It is marvel, said +Pellinore, that he will not have ado with me. Sir, he will not have ado with no +man but if it be at his request. Bring him to the court, said Pellinore, one of +these days. Sir, we will come together. And ye shall be welcome, said +Pellinore, to the court of King Arthur, and greatly allowed for your coming. +And so he departed with the lady, and brought her to Camelot. +</p> + +<p> +So as they rode in a valley it was full of stones, and there the lady’s +horse stumbled and threw her down, that her arm was sore bruised and near she +swooned for pain. Alas! sir, said the lady, mine arm is out of lithe, +wherethrough I must needs rest me. Ye shall well, said King Pellinore. And so +he alighted under a fair tree where was fair grass, and he put his horse +thereto, and so laid him under the tree and slept till it was nigh night. And +when he awoke he would have ridden. Sir, said the lady, it is so dark that ye +may as well ride backward as forward. So they abode still and made there their +lodging. Then Sir Pellinore put off his armour; then a little afore midnight +they heard the trotting of an horse. Be ye still, said King Pellinore, for we +shall hear of some adventure. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap60"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br/>How on the way he heard two knights, +as he lay by night in a valley, and of their adventures.</h3> + +<p> +And therewith he armed him. So right even afore him there met two knights, the +one came froward Camelot, and the other from the north, and either saluted +other. What tidings at Camelot? said the one. By my head, said the other, there +have I been and espied the court of King Arthur, and there is such a fellowship +they may never be broken, and well-nigh all the world holdeth with Arthur, for +there is the flower of chivalry. Now for this cause I am riding into the north, +to tell our chieftains of the fellowship that is withholden with King Arthur. +As for that, said the other knight, I have brought a remedy with me, that is +the greatest poison that ever ye heard speak of, and to Camelot will I with it, +for we have a friend right nigh King Arthur, and well cherished, that shall +poison King Arthur; for so he hath promised our chieftains, and received great +gifts for to do it. Beware, said the other knight, of Merlin, for he knoweth +all things by the devil’s craft. Therefore will I not let it, said the +knight. And so they departed asunder. Anon after Pellinore made him ready, and +his lady, [and] rode toward Camelot; and as they came by the well there as the +wounded knight was and the lady, there he found the knight, and the lady eaten +with lions or wild beasts, all save the head, wherefore he made great sorrow, +and wept passing sore, and said, Alas! her life might I have saved; but I was +so fierce in my quest, therefore I would not abide. Wherefore make ye such +dole? said the lady. I wot not, said Pellinore, but my heart mourneth sore of +the death of her, for she was a passing fair lady and a young. Now, will ye do +by mine advice? said the lady, take this knight and let him be buried in an +hermitage, and then take the lady’s head and bear it with you unto +Arthur. So King Pellinore took this dead knight on his shoulders, and brought +him to the hermitage, and charged the hermit with the corpse, that service +should be done for the soul; and take his harness for your pain. It shall be +done, said the hermit, as I will answer unto God. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap61"></a>CHAPTER XV.<br/>How when he was come to Camelot he was +sworn upon a book to tell the truth of his quest.</h3> + +<p> +And therewith they departed, and came there as the head of the lady lay with a +fair yellow hair that grieved King Pellinore passingly sore when he looked on +it, for much he cast his heart on the visage. And so by noon they came to +Camelot; and the king and the queen were passing fain of his coming to the +court. And there he was made to swear upon the Four Evangelists, to tell the +truth of his quest from the one to the other. Ah! Sir Pellinore, said Queen +Guenever, ye were greatly to blame that ye saved not this lady’s life. +Madam, said Pellinore, ye were greatly to blame an ye would not save your own +life an ye might, but, save your pleasure, I was so furious in my quest that I +would not abide, and that repenteth me, and shall the days of my life. Truly, +said Merlin, ye ought sore to repent it, for that lady was your own daughter +begotten on the lady of the Rule, and that knight that was dead was her love, +and should have wedded her, and he was a right good knight of a young man, and +would have proved a good man, and to this court was he coming, and his name was +Sir Miles of the Launds, and a knight came behind him and slew him with a +spear, and his name is Loraine le Savage, a false knight and a coward; and she +for great sorrow and dole slew herself with his sword, and her name was Eleine. +And because ye would not abide and help her, ye shall see your best friend fail +you when ye be in the greatest distress that ever ye were or shall be. And that +penance God hath ordained you for that deed, that he that ye shall most trust +to of any man alive, he shall leave you there ye shall be slain. Me +forthinketh, said King Pellinore, that this shall me betide, but God may fordo +well destiny. +</p> + +<p> +Thus, when the quest was done of the white hart, the which followed Sir +Gawaine; and the quest of the brachet, followed of Sir Tor, Pellinore’s +son; and the quest of the lady that the knight took away, the which King +Pellinore at that time followed; then the king stablished all his knights, and +them that were of lands not rich he gave them lands, and charged them never to +do outrageousity nor murder, and always to flee treason; also, by no means to +be cruel, but to give mercy unto him that asketh mercy, upon pain of forfeiture +of their worship and lordship of King Arthur for evermore; and always to do +ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen succour, upon pain of death. Also, that no +man take no battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law, nor for no world’s +goods. Unto this were all the knights sworn of the Table Round, both old and +young. And every year were they sworn at the high feast of Pentecost. +</p> + +<h5>Explicit the Wedding of King Arthur.<br/>Sequitur quartus liber.</h5> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="part04"></a>BOOK IV.</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap62"></a>CHAPTER I.<br/>How Merlin was assotted and doted on +one of the ladies of the lake, and how he was shut in a rock under a stone and +there died.</h3> + +<p> +So after these quests of Sir Gawaine, Sir Tor, and King Pellinore, it fell so +that Merlin fell in a dotage on the damosel that King Pellinore brought to +court, and she was one of the damosels of the lake, that hight Nimue. But +Merlin would let her have no rest, but always he would be with her. And ever +she made Merlin good cheer till she had learned of him all manner thing that +she desired; and he was assotted upon her, that he might not be from her. So on +a time he told King Arthur that he should not dure long, but for all his crafts +he should be put in the earth quick. And so he told the king many things that +should befall, but always he warned the king to keep well his sword and the +scabbard, for he told him how the sword and the scabbard should be stolen by a +woman from him that he most trusted. Also he told King Arthur that he should +miss him,—Yet had ye liefer than all your lands to have me again. Ah, +said the king, since ye know of your adventure, purvey for it, and put away by +your crafts that misadventure. Nay, said Merlin, it will not be; so he departed +from the king. And within a while the Damosel of the Lake departed, and Merlin +went with her evermore wheresomever she went. And ofttimes Merlin would have +had her privily away by his subtle crafts; then she made him to swear that he +should never do none enchantment upon her if he would have his will. And so he +sware; so she and Merlin went over the sea unto the land of Benwick, whereas +King Ban was king that had great war against King Claudas, and there Merlin +spake with King Ban’s wife, a fair lady and a good, and her name was +Elaine, and there he saw young Launcelot. There the queen made great sorrow for +the mortal war that King Claudas made on her lord and on her lands. Take none +heaviness, said Merlin, for this same child within this twenty year shall +revenge you on King Claudas, that all Christendom shall speak of it; and this +same child shall be the most man of worship of the world, and his first name is +Galahad, that know I well, said Merlin, and since ye have confirmed him +Launcelot. That is truth, said the queen, his first name was Galahad. O Merlin, +said the queen, shall I live to see my son such a man of prowess? Yea, lady, on +my peril ye shall see it, and live many winters after. +</p> + +<p> +And so, soon after, the lady and Merlin departed, and by the way Merlin showed +her many wonders, and came into Cornwall. And always Merlin lay about the lady +to have her maidenhood, and she was ever passing weary of him, and fain would +have been delivered of him, for she was afeard of him because he was a +devil’s son, and she could not beskift him by no mean. And so on a time +it happed that Merlin showed to her in a rock whereas was a great wonder, and +wrought by enchantment, that went under a great stone. So by her subtle working +she made Merlin to go under that stone to let her wit of the marvels there; but +she wrought so there for him that he came never out for all the craft he could +do. And so she departed and left Merlin. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap63"></a>CHAPTER II.<br/>How five kings came into this land to +war against King Arthur, and what counsel Arthur had against them.</h3> + +<p> +And as King Arthur rode to Camelot, and held there a great feast with mirth and +joy, so soon after he returned unto Cardoile, and there came unto Arthur new +tidings that the king of Denmark, and the king of Ireland that was his brother, +and the king of the Vale, and the king of Soleise, and the king of the Isle of +Longtains, all these five kings with a great host were entered into the land of +King Arthur, and burnt and slew clean afore them, both cities and castles, that +it was pity to hear. Alas, said Arthur, yet had I never rest one month since I +was crowned king of this land. Now shall I never rest till I meet with those +kings in a fair field, that I make mine avow; for my true liege people shall +not be destroyed in my default, go with me who will, and abide who that will. +Then the king let write unto King Pellinore, and prayed him in all haste to +make him ready with such people as he might lightliest rear and hie him after +in all haste. All the barons were privily wroth that the king would depart so +suddenly; but the king by no mean would abide, but made writing unto them that +were not there, and bade them hie after him, such as were not at that time in +the court. Then the king came to Queen Guenever, and said, Lady, make you +ready, for ye shall go with me, for I may not long miss you; ye shall cause me +to be the more hardy, what adventure so befall me; I will not wit my lady to be +in no jeopardy. Sir, said she, I am at your commandment, and shall be ready +what time so ye be ready. So on the morn the king and the queen departed with +such fellowship as they had, and came into the north, into a forest beside +Humber, and there lodged them. When the word and tiding came unto the five +kings above said, that Arthur was beside Humber in a forest, there was a +knight, brother unto one of the five kings, that gave them this counsel: Ye +know well that Sir Arthur hath the flower of chivalry of the world with him, as +it is proved by the great battle he did with the eleven kings; and therefore +hie unto him night and day till that we be nigh him, for the longer he tarrieth +the bigger he is, and we ever the weaker; and he is so courageous of himself +that he is come to the field with little people, and therefore let us set upon +him or day and we shall slay down; of his knights there shall none escape. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap64"></a>CHAPTER III.<br/>How King Arthur had ado with them and +overthrew them, and slew the five kings and made the remnant to flee.</h3> + +<p> +Unto this counsel these five kings assented, and so they passed forth with +their host through North Wales, and came upon Arthur by night, and set upon his +host as the king and his knights were in their pavilions. King Arthur was +unarmed, and had laid him to rest with his Queen Guenever. Sir, said Sir Kay, +it is not good we be unarmed. We shall have no need, said Sir Gawaine and Sir +Griflet, that lay in a little pavilion by the king. With that they heard a +great noise, and many cried, Treason, treason! Alas, said King Arthur, we be +betrayed! Unto arms, fellows, then he cried. So they were armed anon at all +points. Then came there a wounded knight unto the king, and said, Sir, save +yourself and my lady the queen, for our host is destroyed, and much people of +ours slain. So anon the king and the queen and the three knights took their +horses, and rode toward Humber to pass over it, and the water was so rough that +they were afraid to pass over. Now may ye choose, said King Arthur, whether ye +will abide and take the adventure on this side, for an ye be taken they will +slay you. It were me liefer, said the queen, to die in the water than to fall +in your enemies’ hands and there be slain. +</p> + +<p> +And as they stood so talking, Sir Kay saw the five kings coming on horseback by +themselves alone, with their spears in their hands even toward them. Lo, said +Sir Kay, yonder be the five kings; let us go to them and match them. That were +folly, said Sir Gawaine, for we are but three and they be five. That is truth, +said Sir Griflet. No force, said Sir Kay, I will undertake for two of them, and +then may ye three undertake for the other three. And therewithal, Sir Kay let +his horse run as fast as he might, and struck one of them through the shield +and the body a fathom, that the king fell to the earth stark dead. That saw Sir +Gawaine, and ran unto another king so hard that he smote him through the body. +And therewithal King Arthur ran to another, and smote him through the body with +a spear, that he fell to the earth dead. Then Sir Griflet ran unto the fourth +king, and gave him such a fall that his neck brake. Anon Sir Kay ran unto the +fifth king, and smote him so hard on the helm that the stroke clave the helm +and the head to the earth. That was well stricken, said King Arthur, and +worshipfully hast thou holden thy promise, therefore I shall honour thee while +that I live. And therewithal they set the queen in a barge into Humber; but +always Queen Guenever praised Sir Kay for his deeds, and said, What lady that +ye love, and she love you not again she were greatly to blame; and among +ladies, said the queen, I shall bear your noble fame, for ye spake a great +word, and fulfilled it worshipfully. And therewith the queen departed. +</p> + +<p> +Then the king and the three knights rode into the forest, for there they +supposed to hear of them that were escaped; and there he found the most part of +his people, and told them all how the five kings were dead. And therefore let +us hold us together till it be day, and when their host have espied that their +chieftains be slain, they will make such dole that they shall no more help +themselves. And right so as the king said, so it was; for when they found the +five kings dead, they made such dole that they fell from their horses. +Therewithal came King Arthur but with a few people, and slew on the left hand +and on the right hand, that well-nigh there escaped no man, but all were slain +to the number thirty thousand. And when the battle was all ended, the king +kneeled down and thanked God meekly. And then he sent for the queen, and soon +she was come, and she made great joy of the overcoming of that battle. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap65"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br/>How the battle was finished or he +came, and how King Arthur founded an abbey where the battle was.</h3> + +<p> +Therewithal came one to King Arthur, and told him that King Pellinore was +within three mile with a great host; and he said, Go unto him, and let him +understand how we have sped. So within a while King Pellinore came with a great +host, and saluted the people and the king, and there was great joy made on +every side. Then the king let search how much people of his party there was +slain; and there were found but little past two hundred men slain and eight +knights of the Table Round in their pavilions. Then the king let rear and +devise in the same place whereat the battle was done a fair abbey, and endowed +it with great livelihood, and let it call the Abbey of La Beale Adventure. But +when some of them came into their countries, whereof the five kings were kings, +and told them how they were slain, there was made great dole. And all King +Arthur’s enemies, as the King of North Wales, and the kings of the North, +[when they] wist of the battle, they were passing heavy. And so the king +returned unto Camelot in haste. +</p> + +<p> +And when he was come to Camelot he called King Pellinore unto him, and said, Ye +understand well that we have lost eight knights of the best of the Table Round, +and by your advice we will choose eight again of the best we may find in this +court. Sir, said Pellinore, I shall counsel you after my conceit the best: +there are in your court full noble knights both of old and young; and therefore +by mine advice ye shall choose half of the old and half of the young. Which be +the old? said King Arthur. Sir, said King Pellinore, meseemeth that King Uriens +that hath wedded your sister Morgan le Fay, and the King of the Lake, and Sir +Hervise de Revel, a noble knight, and Sir Galagars, the fourth. This is well +devised, said King Arthur, and right so shall it be. Now, which are the four +young knights? said Arthur. Sir, said Pellinore, the first is Sir Gawaine, your +nephew, that is as good a knight of his time as any is in this land; and the +second as meseemeth best is Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, that is a good knight +and full desirous in arms, and who may see him live he shall prove a good +knight; and the third as meseemeth is well to be one of the knights of the +Round Table, Sir Kay the Seneschal, for many times he hath done full +worshipfully, and now at your last battle he did full honourably for to +undertake to slay two kings. By my head, said Arthur, he is best worth to be a +knight of the Round Table of any that ye have rehearsed, an he had done no more +prowess in his life days. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap66"></a>CHAPTER V.<br/>How Sir Tor was made knight of the +Round Table, and how Bagdemagus was displeased.</h3> + +<p> +Now, said King Pellinore, I shall put to you two knights, and ye shall choose +which is most worthy, that is Sir Bagdemagus, and Sir Tor, my son. But because +Sir Tor is my son I may not praise him, but else, an he were not my son, I +durst say that of his age there is not in this land a better knight than he is, +nor of better conditions and loath to do any wrong, and loath to take any +wrong. By my head, said Arthur, he is a passing good knight as any ye spake of +this day, that wot I well, said the king; for I have seen him proved, but he +saith little and he doth much more, for I know none in all this court an he +were as well born on his mother’s side as he is on your side, that is +like him of prowess and of might: and therefore I will have him at this time, +and leave Sir Bagdemagus till another time. So when they were so chosen by the +assent of all the barons, so were there found in their sieges every +knights’ names that here are rehearsed, and so were they set in their +sieges; whereof Sir Bagdemagus was wonderly wroth, that Sir Tor was advanced +afore him, and therefore suddenly he departed from the court, and took his +squire with him, and rode long in a forest till they came to a cross, and there +alighted and said his prayers devoutly. The meanwhile his squire found written +upon the cross, that Bagdemagus should never return unto the court again, till +he had won a knight’s body of the Round Table, body for body. So, sir, +said the squire, here I find writing of you, therefore I rede you return again +to the court. That shall I never, said Bagdemagus, till men speak of me great +worship, and that I be worthy to be a knight of the Round Table. And so he rode +forth, and there by the way he found a branch of an holy herb that was the sign +of the Sangreal, and no knight found such tokens but he were a good liver. +</p> + +<p> +So, as Sir Bagdemagus rode to see many adventures, it happed him to come to the +rock whereas the Lady of the Lake had put Merlin under the stone, and there he +heard him make great dole; whereof Sir Bagdemagus would have holpen him, and +went unto the great stone, and it was so heavy that an hundred men might not +lift it up. When Merlin wist he was there, he bade leave his labour, for all +was in vain, for he might never be holpen but by her that put him there. And so +Bagdemagus departed and did many adventures, and proved after a full good +knight, and came again to the court and was made knight of the Round Table. So +on the morn there fell new tidings and other adventures. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap67"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br/>How King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir +Accolon of Gaul, chased an hart, and of their marvellous adventures.</h3> + +<p> +Then it befell that Arthur and many of his knights rode a-hunting into a great +forest, and it happed King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon of Gaul, +followed a great hart, for they three were well horsed, and so they chased so +fast that within a while they three were then ten mile from their fellowship. +And at the last they chased so sore that they slew their horses underneath +them. Then were they all three on foot, and ever they saw the hart afore them +passing weary and enbushed. What will we do? said King Arthur, we are hard +bestead. Let us go on foot, said King Uriens, till we may meet with some +lodging. Then were they ware of the hart that lay on a great water bank, and a +brachet biting on his throat, and more other hounds came after. Then King +Arthur blew the prise and dight the hart. +</p> + +<p> +Then the king looked about the world, and saw afore him in a great water a +little ship, all apparelled with silk down to the water, and the ship came +right unto them and landed on the sands. Then Arthur went to the bank and +looked in, and saw none earthly creature therein. Sirs, said the king, come +thence, and let us see what is in this ship. So they went in all three, and +found it richly behanged with cloth of silk. By then it was dark night, and +there suddenly were about them an hundred torches set upon all the sides of the +ship boards, and it gave great light; and therewithal there came out twelve +fair damosels and saluted King Arthur on their knees, and called him by his +name, and said he was right welcome, and such cheer as they had he should have +of the best. The king thanked them fair. Therewithal they led the king and his +two fellows into a fair chamber, and there was a cloth laid, richly beseen of +all that longed unto a table, and there were they served of all wines and meats +that they could think; of that the king had great marvel, for he fared never +better in his life as for one supper. And so when they had supped at their +leisure, King Arthur was led into a chamber, a richer beseen chamber saw he +never none, and so was King Uriens served, and led into such another chamber, +and Sir Accolon was led into the third chamber passing richly and well beseen; +and so they were laid in their beds easily. And anon they fell asleep, and +slept marvellously sore all the night. And on the morrow King Uriens was in +Camelot abed in his wife’s arms, Morgan le Fay. And when he awoke he had +great marvel, how he came there, for on the even afore he was two days’ +journey from Camelot. And when King Arthur awoke he found himself in a dark +prison, hearing about him many complaints of woful knights. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap68"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br/>How Arthur took upon him to fight to +be delivered out of prison, and also for to deliver twenty knights that were in +prison.</h3> + +<p> +What are ye that so complain? said King Arthur. We be here twenty knights, +prisoners, said they, and some of us have lain here seven year, and some more +and some less. For what cause? said Arthur. We shall tell you, said the +knights; this lord of this castle, his name is Sir Damas, and he is the falsest +knight that liveth, and full of treason, and a very coward as any liveth, and +he hath a younger brother, a good knight of prowess, his name is Sir Ontzlake; +and this traitor Damas, the elder brother will give him no part of his +livelihood, but as Sir Ontzlake keepeth thorough prowess of his hands, and so +he keepeth from him a full fair manor and a rich, and therein Sir Ontzlake +dwelleth worshipfully, and is well beloved of all people. And this Sir Damas, +our master is as evil beloved, for he is without mercy, and he is a coward, and +great war hath been betwixt them both, but Ontzlake hath ever the better, and +ever he proffereth Sir Damas to fight for the livelihood, body for body, but he +will not do; other-else to find a knight to fight for him. Unto that Sir Damas +had granted to find a knight, but he is so evil beloved and hated, that there +is never a knight will fight for him. And when Damas saw this, that there was +never a knight would fight for him, he hath daily lain await with many knights +with him, and taken all the knights in this country to see and espy their +adventures, he hath taken them by force and brought them to his prison. And so +he took us separately as we rode on our adventures, and many good knights have +died in this prison for hunger, to the number of eighteen knights; and if any +of us all that here is, or hath been, would have foughten with his brother +Ontzlake, he would have delivered us, but for because this Damas is so false +and so full of treason we would never fight for him to die for it. And we be so +lean for hunger that unnethe we may stand on our feet. God deliver you, for his +mercy, said Arthur. +</p> + +<p> +Anon, therewithal there came a damosel unto Arthur, and asked him, What cheer? +I cannot say, said he. Sir, said she, an ye will fight for my lord, ye shall be +delivered out of prison, and else ye escape never the life. Now, said Arthur, +that is hard, yet had I liefer to fight with a knight than to die in prison; +with this, said Arthur, I may be delivered and all these prisoners, I will do +the battle. Yes, said the damosel. I am ready, said Arthur, an I had horse and +armour. Ye shall lack none, said the damosel. Meseemeth, damosel, I should have +seen you in the court of Arthur. Nay said the damosel, I came never there, I am +the lord’s daughter of this castle. Yet was she false, for she was one of +the damosels of Morgan le Fay. +</p> + +<p> +Anon she went unto Sir Damas, and told him how he would do battle for him, and +so he sent for Arthur. And when he came he was well coloured, and well made of +his limbs, that all knights that saw him said it were pity that such a knight +should die in prison. So Sir Damas and he were agreed that he should fight for +him upon this covenant, that all other knights should be delivered; and unto +that was Sir Damas sworn unto Arthur, and also to do the battle to the +uttermost. And with that all the twenty knights were brought out of the dark +prison into the hall, and delivered, and so they all abode to see the battle. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap69"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br/>How Accolon found himself by a well, +and he took upon him to do battle against Arthur.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Accolon of Gaul, that when he awoke he found himself by a deep +well-side, within half a foot, in great peril of death. And there came out of +that fountain a pipe of silver, and out of that pipe ran water all on high in a +stone of marble. When Sir Accolon saw this, he blessed him and said, Jesus save +my lord King Arthur, and King Uriens, for these damosels in this ship have +betrayed us, they were devils and no women; and if I may escape this +misadventure, I shall destroy all where I may find these false damosels that +use enchantments. Right with that there came a dwarf with a great mouth and a +flat nose, and saluted Sir Accolon, and said how he came from Queen Morgan le +Fay, and she greeteth you well, and biddeth you be of strong heart, for ye +shall fight to morrow with a knight at the hour of prime, and therefore she +hath sent you here Excalibur, Arthur’s sword, and the scabbard, and she +biddeth you as ye love her, that ye do the battle to the uttermost, without any +mercy, like as ye had promised her when ye spake together in privity; and what +damosel that bringeth her the knight’s head, which ye shall fight withal, +she will make her a queen. Now I understand you well, said Accolon, I shall +hold that I have promised her now I have the sword: when saw ye my lady Queen +Morgan le Fay? Right late, said the dwarf. Then Accolon took him in his arms +and said, Recommend me unto my lady queen, and tell her all shall be done that +I have promised her, and else I will die for it. Now I suppose, said Accolon, +she hath made all these crafts and enchantments for this battle. Ye may well +believe it, said the dwarf. Right so there came a knight and a lady with six +squires, and saluted Accolon, and prayed him for to arise, and come and rest +him at his manor. And so Accolon mounted upon a void horse, and went with the +knight unto a fair manor by a priory, and there he had passing good cheer. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Damas sent unto his brother Sir Ontzlake, and bade make him ready by +to-morn at the hour of prime, and to be in the field to fight with a good +knight, for he had found a good knight that was ready to do battle at all +points. When this word came unto Sir Ontzlake he was passing heavy, for he was +wounded a little to-fore through both his thighs with a spear, and made great +dole; but as he was wounded, he would have taken the battle on hand. So it +happed at that time, by the means of Morgan le Fay, Accolon was with Sir +Ontzlake lodged; and when he heard of that battle, and how Ontzlake was +wounded, he said that he would fight for him. Because Morgan le Fay had sent +him Excalibur and the sheath for to fight with the knight on the morn: this was +the cause Sir Accolon took the battle on hand. Then Sir Ontzlake was passing +glad, and thanked Sir Accolon with all his heart that he would do so much for +him. And therewithal Sir Ontzlake sent word unto his brother Sir Damas, that he +had a knight that for him should be ready in the field by the hour of prime. +</p> + +<p> +So on the morn Sir Arthur was armed and well horsed, and asked Sir Damas, When +shall we to the field? Sir, said Sir Damas, ye shall hear mass. And so Arthur +heard a mass, and when mass was done there came a squire on a great horse, and +asked Sir Damas if his knight were ready, for our knight is ready in the field. +Then Sir Arthur mounted upon horseback, and there were all the knights and +commons of that country; and so by all advices there were chosen twelve good +men of the country for to wait upon the two knights. And right as Arthur was on +horseback there came a damosel from Morgan le Fay, and brought unto Sir Arthur +a sword like unto Excalibur, and the scabbard, and said unto Arthur, Morgan le +Fay sendeth here your sword for great love. And he thanked her, and weened it +had been so, but she was false, for the sword and the scabbard was counterfeit, +and brittle, and false. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap70"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br/>Of the battle between King Arthur and +Accolon.</h3> + +<p> +And then they dressed them on both parties of the field, and let their horses +run so fast that either smote other in the midst of the shield with their +spear-heads, that both horse and man went to the earth; and then they started +up both, and pulled out their swords. The meanwhile that they were thus at the +battle, came the Damosel of the Lake into the field, that put Merlin under the +stone; and she came thither for love of King Arthur, for she knew how Morgan le +Fay had so ordained that King Arthur should have been slain that day, and +therefore she came to save his life. And so they went eagerly to the battle, +and gave many great strokes, but always Arthur’s sword bit not like +Accolon’s sword; but for the most part, every stroke that Accolon gave he +wounded sore Arthur, that it was marvel he stood, and always his blood fell +from him fast. +</p> + +<p> +When Arthur beheld the ground so sore be-bled he was dismayed, and then he +deemed treason that his sword was changed; for his sword bit not steel as it +was wont to do, therefore he dreaded him sore to be dead, for ever him seemed +that the sword in Accolon’s hand was Excalibur, for at every stroke that +Accolon struck he drew blood on Arthur. Now, knight, said Accolon unto Arthur, +keep thee well from me; but Arthur answered not again, and gave him such a +buffet on the helm that it made him to stoop, nigh falling down to the earth. +Then Sir Accolon withdrew him a little, and came on with Excalibur on high, and +smote Sir Arthur such a buffet that he fell nigh to the earth. Then were they +wroth both, and gave each other many sore strokes, but always Sir Arthur lost +so much blood that it was marvel he stood on his feet, but he was so full of +knighthood that knightly he endured the pain. And Sir Accolon lost not a deal +of blood, therefore he waxed passing light, and Sir Arthur was passing feeble, +and weened verily to have died; but for all that he made countenance as though +he might endure, and held Accolon as short as he might. But Accolon was so bold +because of Excalibur that he waxed passing hardy. But all men that beheld him +said they saw never knight fight so well as Arthur did considering the blood +that he bled. So was all the people sorry for him, but the two brethren would +not accord. Then always they fought together as fierce knights, and Sir Arthur +withdrew him a little for to rest him, and Sir Accolon called him to battle and +said, It is no time for me to suffer thee to rest. And therewith he came +fiercely upon Arthur, and Sir Arthur was wroth for the blood that he had lost, +and smote Accolon on high upon the helm, so mightily, that he made him nigh to +fall to the earth; and therewith Arthur’s sword brast at the cross, and +fell in the grass among the blood, and the pommel and the sure handles he held +in his hands. When Sir Arthur saw that, he was in great fear to die, but always +he held up his shield and lost no ground, nor bated no cheer. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap71"></a>CHAPTER X.<br/>How King Arthur’s sword that he +fought with brake, and how he recovered of Accolon his own sword Excalibur, and +overcame his enemy.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Accolon began with words of treason, and said, Knight, thou art +overcome, and mayst not endure, and also thou art weaponless, and thou hast +lost much of thy blood, and I am full loath to slay thee, therefore yield thee +to me as recreant. Nay, said Sir Arthur, I may not so, for I have promised to +do the battle to the uttermost by the faith of my body, while me lasteth the +life, and therefore I had liefer to die with honour than to live with shame; +and if it were possible for me to die an hundred times, I had liefer to die so +oft than yield me to thee; for though I lack weapon, I shall lack no worship, +and if thou slay me weaponless that shall be thy shame. Well, said Accolon, as +for the shame I will not spare, now keep thee from me, for thou art but a dead +man. And therewith Accolon gave him such a stroke that he fell nigh to the +earth, and would have had Arthur to have cried him mercy. But Sir Arthur +pressed unto Accolon with his shield, and gave him with the pommel in his hand +such a buffet that he went three strides aback. +</p> + +<p> +When the Damosel of the Lake beheld Arthur, how full of prowess his body was, +and the false treason that was wrought for him to have had him slain, she had +great pity that so good a knight and such a man of worship should so be +destroyed. And at the next stroke Sir Accolon struck him such a stroke that by +the damosel’s enchantment the sword Excalibur fell out of Accolon’s +hand to the earth. And therewithal Sir Arthur lightly leapt to it, and gat it +in his hand, and forthwithal he knew that it was his sword Excalibur, and said, +Thou hast been from me all too long, and much damage hast thou done me; and +therewith he espied the scabbard hanging by his side, and suddenly he sterte to +him and pulled the scabbard from him, and threw it from him as far as he might +throw it. O knight, said Arthur, this day hast thou done me great damage with +this sword; now are ye come unto your death, for I shall not warrant you but ye +shall as well be rewarded with this sword, or ever we depart, as thou hast +rewarded me; for much pain have ye made me to endure, and much blood have I +lost. And therewith Sir Arthur rushed on him with all his might and pulled him +to the earth, and then rushed off his helm, and gave him such a buffet on the +head that the blood came out at his ears, his nose, and his mouth. Now will I +slay thee, said Arthur. Slay me ye may well, said Accolon, an it please you, +for ye are the best knight that ever I found, and I see well that God is with +you. But for I promised to do this battle, said Accolon, to the uttermost, and +never to be recreant while I lived, therefore shall I never yield me with my +mouth, but God do with my body what he will. Then Sir Arthur remembered him, +and thought he should have seen this knight. Now tell me, said Arthur, or I +will slay thee, of what country art thou, and of what court? Sir Knight, said +Sir Accolon, I am of the court of King Arthur, and my name is Accolon of Gaul. +Then was Arthur more dismayed than he was beforehand; for then he remembered +him of his sister Morgan le Fay, and of the enchantment of the ship. O sir +knight, said he, I pray you tell me who gave you this sword, and by whom ye had +it. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap72"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br/>How Accolon confessed the treason of +Morgan le Fay, King Arthur’s sister, and how she would have done slay +him.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Accolon bethought him, and said, Woe worth this sword, for by it have +I got my death. It may well be, said the king. Now, sir, said Accolon, I will +tell you; this sword hath been in my keeping the most part of this twelvemonth; +and Morgan le Fay, King Uriens’ wife, sent it me yesterday by a dwarf, to +this intent, that I should slay King Arthur, her brother. For ye shall +understand King Arthur is the man in the world that she most hateth, because he +is most of worship and of prowess of any of her blood; also she loveth me out +of measure as paramour, and I her again; and if she might bring about to slay +Arthur by her crafts, she would slay her husband King Uriens lightly, and then +had she me devised to be king in this land, and so to reign, and she to be my +queen; but that is now done, said Accolon, for I am sure of my death. Well, +said Sir Arthur, I feel by you ye would have been king in this land. It had +been great damage to have destroyed your lord, said Arthur. It is truth, said +Accolon, but now I have told you truth, wherefore I pray you tell me of whence +ye are, and of what court? O Accolon, said King Arthur, now I let thee wit that +I am King Arthur, to whom thou hast done great damage. When Accolon heard that +he cried aloud, Fair, sweet lord, have mercy on me, for I knew not you. O Sir +Accolon, said King Arthur, mercy shalt thou have, because I feel by thy words +at this time thou knewest not my person; but I understand well by thy words +that thou hast agreed to the death of my person, and therefore thou art a +traitor; but I wite thee the less, for my sister Morgan le Fay by her false +crafts made thee to agree and consent to her false lusts, but I shall be sore +avenged upon her an I live, that all Christendom shall speak of it; God knoweth +I have honoured her and worshipped her more than all my kin, and more have I +trusted her than mine own wife and all my kin after. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Arthur called the keepers of the field, and said, Sirs, come hither, +for here are we two knights that have fought unto a great damage unto us both, +and like each one of us to have slain other, if it had happed so; and had any +of us known other, here had been no battle, nor stroke stricken. Then all aloud +cried Accolon unto all the knights and men that were then there gathered +together, and said to them in this manner, O lords, this noble knight that I +have fought withal, the which me sore repenteth, is the most man of prowess, of +manhood, and of worship in the world, for it is himself King Arthur, our alther +liege lord, and with mishap and with misadventure have I done this battle with +the king and lord that I am holden withal. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap73"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br/>How Arthur accorded the two brethren, +and delivered the twenty knights, and how Sir Accolon died.</h3> + +<p> +Then all the people fell down on their knees and cried King Arthur mercy. Mercy +shall ye have, said Arthur: here may ye see what adventures befall ofttime of +errant knights, how that I have fought with a knight of mine own unto my great +damage and his both. But, sirs, because I am sore hurt, and he both, and I had +great need of a little rest, ye shall understand the opinion betwixt you two +brethren: As to thee, Sir Damas, for whom I have been champion and won the +field of this knight, yet will I judge because ye, Sir Damas, are called an +orgulous knight, and full of villainy, and not worth of prowess your deeds, +therefore I will that ye give unto your brother all the whole manor with the +appurtenance, under this form, that Sir Ontzlake hold the manor of you, and +yearly to give you a palfrey to ride upon, for that will become you better to +ride on than upon a courser. Also I charge thee, Sir Damas, upon pain of death, +that thou never distress no knights errant that ride on their adventure. And +also that thou restore these twenty knights that thou hast long kept prisoners, +of all their harness, that they be content for; and if any of them come to my +court and complain of thee, by my head thou shalt die therefore. Also, Sir +Ontzlake, as to you, because ye are named a good knight, and full of prowess, +and true and gentle in all your deeds, this shall be your charge I will give +you, that in all goodly haste ye come unto me and my court, and ye shall be a +knight of mine, and if your deeds be thereafter I shall so prefer you, by the +grace of God, that ye shall in short time be in ease for to live as +worshipfully as your brother Sir Damas. God thank your largeness of your +goodness and of your bounty, I shall be from henceforward at all times at your +commandment; for, sir, said Sir Ontzlake, as God would, as I was hurt but late +with an adventurous knight through both my thighs, that grieved me sore, and +else had I done this battle with you. God would, said Arthur, it had been so, +for then had not I been hurt as I am. I shall tell you the cause why: for I had +not been hurt as I am, had it not been mine own sword, that was stolen from me +by treason; and this battle was ordained aforehand to have slain me, and so it +was brought to the purpose by false treason, and by false enchantment. Alas, +said Sir Ontzlake, that is great pity that ever so noble a man as ye are of +your deeds and prowess, that any man or woman might find in their hearts to +work any treason against you. I shall reward them, said Arthur, in short time, +by the grace of God. Now, tell me, said Arthur, how far am I from Camelot? Sir, +ye are two days’ journey therefrom. I would fain be at some place of +worship, said Sir Arthur, that I might rest me. Sir, said Sir Ontzlake, hereby +is a rich abbey of your elders’ foundation, of nuns, but three miles +hence. So the king took his leave of all the people, and mounted upon +horseback, and Sir Accolon with him. And when they were come to the abbey, he +let fetch leeches and search his wounds and Accolon’s both; but Sir +Accolon died within four days, for he had bled so much blood that he might not +live, but King Arthur was well recovered. So when Accolon was dead he let send +him on an horse-bier with six knights unto Camelot, and said: Bear him to my +sister Morgan le Fay, and say that I send her him to a present, and tell her I +have my sword Excalibur and the scabbard; so they departed with the body. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap74"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br/>How Morgan would have slain Sir +Uriens her husband, and how Sir Uwaine her son saved him.</h3> + +<p> +The meanwhile Morgan le Fay had weened King Arthur had been dead. So on a day +she espied King Uriens lay in his bed sleeping. Then she called unto her a +maiden of her counsel, and said, Go fetch me my lord’s sword, for I saw +never better time to slay him than now. O madam, said the damosel, an ye slay +my lord ye can never escape. Care not you, said Morgan le Fay, for now I see my +time in the which it is best to do it, and therefore hie thee fast and fetch me +the sword. Then the damosel departed, and found Sir Uwaine sleeping upon a bed +in another chamber, so she went unto Sir Uwaine, and awaked him, and bade him, +Arise, and wait on my lady your mother, for she will slay the king your father +sleeping in his bed, for I go to fetch his sword. Well, said Sir Uwaine, go on +your way, and let me deal. Anon the damosel brought Morgan the sword with +quaking hands, and she lightly took the sword, and pulled it out, and went +boldly unto the bed’s side, and awaited how and where she might slay him +best. And as she lifted up the sword to smite, Sir Uwaine leapt unto his +mother, and caught her by the hand, and said, Ah, fiend, what wilt thou do? An +thou wert not my mother, with this sword I should smite off thy head. Ah, said +Sir Uwaine, men saith that Merlin was begotten of a devil, but I may say an +earthly devil bare me. O fair son, Uwaine, have mercy upon me, I was tempted +with a devil, wherefore I cry thee mercy; I will never more do so; and save my +worship and discover me not. On this covenant, said Sir Uwaine, I will forgive +it you, so ye will never be about to do such deeds. Nay, son, said she, and +that I make you assurance. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap75"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br/>How Queen Morgan le Fay made great +sorrow for the death of Accolon, and how she stole away the scabbard from +Arthur.</h3> + +<p> +Then came tidings unto Morgan le Fay that Accolon was dead, and his body +brought unto the church, and how King Arthur had his sword again. But when +Queen Morgan wist that Accolon was dead, she was so sorrowful that near her +heart to-brast. But because she would not it were known, outward she kept her +countenance, and made no semblant of sorrow. But well she wist an she abode +till her brother Arthur came thither, there should no gold go for her life. +</p> + +<p> +Then she went unto Queen Guenever, and asked her leave to ride into the +country. Ye may abide, said Queen Guenever, till your brother the king come +home. I may not, said Morgan le Fay, for I have such hasty tidings, that I may +not tarry. Well, said Guenever, ye may depart when ye will. So early on the +morn, or it was day, she took her horse and rode all that day and most part of +the night, and on the morn by noon she came to the same abbey of nuns whereas +lay King Arthur; and she knowing he was there, she asked where he was. And they +answered how he had laid him in his bed to sleep, for he had had but little +rest these three nights. Well, said she, I charge you that none of you awake +him till I do, and then she alighted off her horse, and thought for to steal +away Excalibur his sword, and so she went straight unto his chamber, and no man +durst disobey her commandment, and there she found Arthur asleep in his bed, +and Excalibur in his right hand naked. When she saw that she was passing heavy +that she might not come by the sword without she had awaked him, and then she +wist well she had been dead. Then she took the scabbard and went her way on +horseback. When the king awoke and missed his scabbard, he was wroth, and he +asked who had been there, and they said his sister, Queen Morgan had been +there, and had put the scabbard under her mantle and was gone. Alas, said +Arthur, falsely ye have watched me. Sir, said they all, we durst not disobey +your sister’s commandment. Ah, said the king, let fetch the best horse +may be found, and bid Sir Ontzlake arm him in all haste, and take another good +horse and ride with me. So anon the king and Ontzlake were well armed, and rode +after this lady, and so they came by a cross and found a cowherd, and they +asked the poor man if there came any lady riding that way. Sir, said this poor +man, right late came a lady riding with a forty horses, and to yonder forest +she rode. Then they spurred their horses, and followed fast, and within a while +Arthur had a sight of Morgan le Fay; then he chased as fast as he might. When +she espied him following her, she rode a greater pace through the forest till +she came to a plain, and when she saw she might not escape, she rode unto a +lake thereby, and said, Whatsoever come of me, my brother shall not have this +scabbard. And then she let throw the scabbard in the deepest of the water so it +sank, for it was heavy of gold and precious stones. +</p> + +<p> +Then she rode into a valley where many great stones were, and when she saw she +must be overtaken, she shaped herself, horse and man, by enchantment unto a +great marble stone. Anon withal came Sir Arthur and Sir Ontzlake whereas the +king might know his sister and her men, and one knight from another. Ah, said +the king, here may ye see the vengeance of God, and now am I sorry that this +misadventure is befallen. And then he looked for the scabbard, but it would not +be found, so he returned to the abbey where he came from. So when Arthur was +gone she turned all into the likeliness as she and they were before, and said, +Sirs, now may we go where we will. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap76"></a>CHAPTER XV.<br/>How Morgan le Fay saved a knight that +should have been drowned, and how King Arthur returned home again.</h3> + +<p> +Then said Morgan, Saw ye Arthur, my brother? Yea, said her knights, right well, +and that ye should have found an we might have stirred from one stead, for by +his armyvestal countenance he would have caused us to have fled. I believe you, +said Morgan. Anon after as she rode she met a knight leading another knight on +his horse before him, bound hand and foot, blindfold, to have drowned him in a +fountain. When she saw this knight so bound, she asked him, What will ye do +with that knight? Lady, said he, I will drown him. For what cause? she asked. +For I found him with my wife, and she shall have the same death anon. That were +pity, said Morgan le Fay. Now, what say ye, knight, is it truth that he saith +of you? she said to the knight that should be drowned. Nay truly, madam, he +saith not right on me. Of whence be ye, said Morgan le Fay, and of what +country? I am of the court of King Arthur, and my name is Manassen, cousin unto +Accolon of Gaul. Ye say well, said she, and for the love of him ye shall be +delivered, and ye shall have your adversary in the same case ye be in. So +Manassen was loosed and the other knight bound. And anon Manassen unarmed him, +and armed himself in his harness, and so mounted on horseback, and the knight +afore him, and so threw him into the fountain and drowned him. And then he rode +unto Morgan again, and asked if she would anything unto King Arthur. Tell him +that I rescued thee, not for the love of him but for the love of Accolon, and +tell him I fear him not while I can make me and them that be with me in +likeness of stones; and let him wit I can do much more when I see my time. And +so she departed into the country of Gore, and there was she richly received, +and made her castles and towns passing strong, for always she dreaded much King +Arthur. +</p> + +<p> +When the king had well rested him at the abbey, he rode unto Camelot, and found +his queen and his barons right glad of his coming. And when they heard of his +strange adventures as is afore rehearsed, then all had marvel of the falsehood +of Morgan le Fay; many knights wished her burnt. Then came Manassen to court +and told the king of his adventure. Well, said the king, she is a kind sister; +I shall so be avenged on her an I live, that all Christendom shall speak of it. +So on the morn there came a damosel from Morgan to the king, and she brought +with her the richest mantle that ever was seen in that court, for it was set as +full of precious stones as one might stand by another, and there were the +richest stones that ever the king saw. And the damosel said, Your sister +sendeth you this mantle, and desireth that ye should take this gift of her; and +in what thing she hath offended you, she will amend it at your own pleasure. +When the king beheld this mantle it pleased him much, but he said but little. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap77"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br/>How the Damosel of the Lake saved +King Arthur from mantle that should have burnt him.</h3> + +<p> +With that came the Damosel of the Lake unto the king, and said, Sir, I must +speak with you in privity. Say on, said the king, what ye will. Sir, said the +damosel, put not on you this mantle till ye have seen more, and in no wise let +it not come on you, nor on no knight of yours, till ye command the bringer +thereof to put it upon her. Well, said King Arthur, it shall be done as ye +counsel me. And then he said unto the damosel that came from his sister, +Damosel, this mantle that ye have brought me, I will see it upon you. Sir, she +said, It will not beseem me to wear a king’s garment. By my head, said +Arthur, ye shall wear it or it come on my back, or any man’s that here +is. And so the king made it to be put upon her, and forth withal she fell down +dead, and never more spake word after and burnt to coals. Then was the king +wonderly wroth, more than he was to-forehand, and said unto King Uriens, My +sister, your wife, is alway about to betray me, and well I wot either ye, or my +nephew, your son, is of counsel with her to have me destroyed; but as for you, +said the king to King Uriens, I deem not greatly that ye be of her counsel, for +Accolon confessed to me by his own mouth, that she would have destroyed you as +well as me, therefore I hold you excused; but as for your son, Sir Uwaine, I +hold him suspect, therefore I charge you put him out of my court. So Sir Uwaine +was discharged. And when Sir Gawaine wist that, he made him ready to go with +him; and said, Whoso banisheth my cousin-germain shall banish me. So they two +departed, and rode into a great forest, and so they came to an abbey of monks, +and there were well lodged. But when the king wist that Sir Gawaine was +departed from the court, there was made great sorrow among all the estates. +Now, said Gaheris, Gawaine’s brother, we have lost two good knights for +the love of one. So on the morn they heard their masses in the abbey, and so +they rode forth till that they came to a great forest. Then was Sir Gawaine +ware in a valley by a turret [of] twelve fair damosels, and two knights armed +on great horses, and the damosels went to and fro by a tree. And then was Sir +Gawaine ware how there hung a white shield on that tree, and ever as the +damosels came by it they spit upon it, and some threw mire upon the shield. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap78"></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br/>How Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine met +with twelve fair damosels, and how they complained on Sir Marhaus.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine went and saluted them, and asked why they did +that despite to the shield. Sir, said the damosels, we shall tell you. There is +a knight in this country that owneth this white shield, and he is a passing +good man of his hands, but he hateth all ladies and gentlewomen, and therefore +we do all this despite to the shield. I shall say you, said Sir Gawaine, it +beseemeth evil a good knight to despise all ladies and gentlewomen, and +peradventure though he hate you he hath some certain cause, and peradventure he +loveth in some other places ladies and gentlewomen, and to be loved again, an +he be such a man of prowess as ye speak of. Now, what is his name? Sir, said +they, his name is Marhaus, the king’s son of Ireland. I know him well, +said Sir Uwaine, he is a passing good knight as any is alive, for I saw him +once proved at a jousts where many knights were gathered, and that time there +might no man withstand him. Ah! said Sir Gawaine, damosels, methinketh ye are +to blame, for it is to suppose, he that hung that shield there, he will not be +long therefrom, and then may those knights match him on horseback, and that is +more your worship than thus; for I will abide no longer to see a knight’s +shield dishonoured. And therewith Sir Uwaine and Gawaine departed a little from +them, and then were they ware where Sir Marhaus came riding on a great horse +straight toward them. And when the twelve damosels saw Sir Marhaus they fled +into the turret as they were wild, so that some of them fell by the way. Then +the one of the knights of the tower dressed his shield, and said on high, Sir +Marhaus, defend thee. And so they ran together that the knight brake his spear +on Marhaus, and Marhaus smote him so hard that he brake his neck and the +horse’s back. That saw the other knight of the turret, and dressed him +toward Marhaus, and they met so eagerly together that the knight of the turret +was soon smitten down, horse and man, stark dead. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap79"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br/>How Sir Marhaus jousted with Sir +Gawaine and Sir Uwaine, and overthrew them both.</h3> + +<p> +And then Sir Marhaus rode unto his shield, and saw how it was defouled, and +said, Of this despite I am a part avenged, but for her love that gave me this +white shield I shall wear thee, and hang mine where thou wast; and so he hanged +it about his neck. Then he rode straight unto Sir Gawaine and to Sir Uwaine, +and asked them what they did there? They answered him that they came from King +Arthur’s court to see adventures. Well, said Sir Marhaus, here am I +ready, an adventurous knight that will fulfil any adventure that ye will +desire; and so departed from them, to fetch his range. Let him go, said Sir +Uwaine unto Sir Gawaine, for he is a passing good knight as any is living; I +would not by my will that any of us were matched with him. Nay, said Sir +Gawaine, not so, it were shame to us were he not assayed, were he never so good +a knight. Well, said Sir Uwaine, I will assay him afore you, for I am more +weaker than ye, and if he smite me down then may ye revenge me. So these two +knights came together with great raundon, that Sir Uwaine smote Sir Marhaus +that his spear brast in pieces on the shield, and Sir Marhaus smote him so sore +that horse and man he bare to the earth, and hurt Sir Uwaine on the left side. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Marhaus turned his horse and rode toward Gawaine with his spear, and +when Sir Gawaine saw that he dressed his shield, and they aventred their +spears, and they came together with all the might of their horses, that either +knight smote other so hard in midst of their shields, but Sir Gawaine’s +spear brake, but Sir Marhaus’ spear held; and therewith Sir Gawaine and +his horse rushed down to the earth. And lightly Sir Gawaine rose on his feet, +and pulled out his sword, and dressed him toward Sir Marhaus on foot, and Sir +Marhaus saw that, and pulled out his sword and began to come to Sir Gawaine on +horseback. Sir knight, said Sir Gawaine, alight on foot, or else I will slay +thy horse. Gramercy, said Sir Marhaus, of your gentleness ye teach me courtesy, +for it is not for one knight to be on foot, and the other on horseback. And +therewith Sir Marhaus set his spear against a tree and alighted and tied his +horse to a tree, and dressed his shield, and either came unto other eagerly, +and smote together with their swords that their shields flew in cantels, and +they bruised their helms and their hauberks, and wounded either other. But Sir +Gawaine from it passed nine of the clock waxed ever stronger and stronger, for +then it came to the hour of noon, and thrice his might was increased. All this +espied Sir Marhaus and had great wonder how his might increased, and so they +wounded other passing sore. And then when it was past noon, and when it drew +toward evensong, Sir Gawaine’s strength feebled, and waxed passing faint +that unnethes he might dure any longer, and Sir Marhaus was then bigger and +bigger. Sir knight, said Sir Marhaus, I have well felt that ye are a passing +good knight and a marvellous man of might as ever I felt any, while it lasteth, +and our quarrels are not great, and therefore it were pity to do you hurt, for +I feel ye are passing feeble. Ah, said Sir Gawaine, gentle knight, ye say the +word that I should say. And therewith they took off their helms, and either +kissed other, and there they swore together either to love other as brethren. +And Sir Marhaus prayed Sir Gawaine to lodge with him that night. And so they +took their horses, and rode toward Sir Marhaus’ house. And as they rode +by the way, Sir knight, said Sir Gawaine, I have marvel that so valiant a man +as ye be love no ladies nor damosels. Sir, said Sir Marhaus, they name me +wrongfully those that give me that name, but well I wot it be the damosels of +the turret that so name me, and other such as they be. Now shall I tell you for +what cause I hate them: for they be sorceresses and enchanters many of them, +and be a knight never so good of his body and full of prowess as man may be, +they will make him a stark coward to have the better of him, and this is the +principal cause that I hate them; and to all good ladies and gentlewomen I owe +my service as a knight ought to do. +</p> + +<p> +As the book rehearseth in French, there were many knights that overmatched Sir +Gawaine, for all the thrice might that he had: Sir Launcelot de Lake, Sir +Tristram, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Percivale, Sir Pelleas, and Sir Marhaus, these +six knights had the better of Sir Gawaine. Then within a little while they came +to Sir Marhaus’ place, which was in a little priory, and there they +alighted, and ladies and damosels unarmed them, and hastily looked to their +hurts, for they were all three hurt. And so they had all three good lodging +with Sir Marhaus, and good cheer; for when he wist that they were King +Arthur’s sister’s sons he made them all the cheer that lay in his +power, and so they sojourned there a sennight, and were well eased of their +wounds, and at the last departed. Now, said Sir Marhaus, we will not depart so +lightly, for I will bring you through the forest; and rode day by day well a +seven days or they found any adventure. At the last they came into a great +forest, that was named the country and forest of Arroy, and the country of +strange adventures. In this country, said Sir Marhaus, came never knight since +it was christened but he found strange adventures; and so they rode, and came +into a deep valley full of stones, and thereby they saw a fair stream of water; +above thereby was the head of the stream a fair fountain, and three damosels +sitting thereby. And then they rode to them, and either saluted other, and the +eldest had a garland of gold about her head, and she was three score winter of +age or more, and her hair was white under the garland. The second damosel was +of thirty winter of age, with a circlet of gold about her head. The third +damosel was but fifteen year of age, and a garland of flowers about her head. +When these knights had so beheld them, they asked them the cause why they sat +at that fountain? We be here, said the damosels, for this cause: if we may see +any errant knights, to teach them unto strange adventures; and ye be three +knights that seek adventures, and we be three damosels, and therefore each one +of you must choose one of us; and when ye have done so we will lead you unto +three highways, and there each of you shall choose a way and his damosel with +him. And this day twelvemonth ye must meet here again, and God send you your +lives, and thereto ye must plight your troth. This is well said, said Sir +Marhaus. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap80"></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br/>How Sir Marhaus, Sir Gawaine, and Sir +Uwaine met three damosels, and each of them took one.</h3> + +<p> +Now shall everych of us choose a damosel. I shall tell you, said Sir Uwaine, I +am the youngest and most weakest of you both, therefore I will have the eldest +damosel, for she hath seen much, and can best help me when I have need, for I +have most need of help of you both. Now, said Sir Marhaus, I will have the +damosel of thirty winter age, for she falleth best to me. Well, said Sir +Gawaine, I thank you, for ye have left me the youngest and the fairest, and she +is most liefest to me. Then every damosel took her knight by the reins of his +bridle, and brought him to the three ways, and there was their oath made to +meet at the fountain that day twelvemonth an they were living, and so they +kissed and departed, and each knight set his lady behind him. And Sir Uwaine +took the way that lay west, and Sir Marhaus took the way that lay south, and +Sir Gawaine took the way that lay north. Now will we begin at Sir Gawaine, that +held that way till that he came unto a fair manor, where dwelled an old knight +and a good householder, and there Sir Gawaine asked the knight if he knew any +adventures in that country. I shall show you some to-morn, said the old knight, +and that marvellous. So, on the morn they rode into the forest of adventures to +a laund, and thereby they found a cross, and as they stood and hoved there came +by them the fairest knight and the seemliest man that ever they saw, making the +greatest dole that ever man made. And then he was ware of Sir Gawaine, and +saluted him, and prayed God to send him much worship. As to that, said Sir +Gawaine, gramercy; also I pray to God that he send you honour and worship. Ah, +said the knight, I may lay that aside, for sorrow and shame cometh to me after +worship. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap81"></a>CHAPTER XX.<br/>How a knight and a dwarf strove for a +lady.</h3> + +<p> +And therewith he passed unto the one side of the laund; and on the other side +saw Sir Gawaine ten knights that hoved still and made them ready with their +shields and spears against that one knight that came by Sir Gawaine. +</p> + +<p> +Then this one knight aventred a great spear, and one of the ten knights +encountered with him, but this woful knight smote him so hard that he fell over +his horse’s tail. So this same dolorous knight served them all, that at +the leastway he smote down horse and man, and all he did with one spear; and so +when they were all ten on foot, they went to that one knight, and he stood +stone still, and suffered them to pull him down off his horse, and bound him +hand and foot, and tied him under the horse’s belly, and so led him with +them. O Jesu! said Sir Gawaine, this is a doleful sight, to see the yonder +knight so to be entreated, and it seemeth by the knight that he suffereth them +to bind him so, for he maketh no resistance. No, said his host, that is truth, +for an he would they all were too weak so to do him. Sir, said the damosel unto +Sir Gawaine, meseemeth it were your worship to help that dolorous knight, for +methinketh he is one of the best knights that ever I saw. I would do for him, +said Sir Gawaine, but it seemeth he will have no help. Then, said the damosel, +methinketh ye have no lust to help him. +</p> + +<p> +Thus as they talked they saw a knight on the other side of the laund all armed +save the head. And on the other side there came a dwarf on horseback all armed +save the head, with a great mouth and a short nose; and when the dwarf came +nigh he said, Where is the lady should meet us here? and therewithal she came +forth out of the wood. And then they began to strive for the lady; for the +knight said he would have her, and the dwarf said he would have her. Will we do +well? said the dwarf; yonder is a knight at the cross, let us put it both upon +him, and as he deemeth so shall it be. I will well, said the knight, and so +they went all three unto Sir Gawaine and told him wherefore they strove. Well, +sirs, said he, will ye put the matter in my hand? Yea, they said both. Now +damosel, said Sir Gawaine, ye shall stand betwixt them both, and whether ye +list better to go to, he shall have you. And when she was set between them +both, she left the knight and went to the dwarf, and the dwarf took her and +went his way singing, and the knight went his way with great mourning. +</p> + +<p> +Then came there two knights all armed, and cried on high, Sir Gawaine! knight +of King Arthur’s, make thee ready in all haste and joust with me. So they +ran together, that either fell down, and then on foot they drew their swords, +and did full actually. The meanwhile the other knight went to the damosel, and +asked her why she abode with that knight, and if ye would abide with me, I will +be your faithful knight. And with you will I be, said the damosel, for with Sir +Gawaine I may not find in mine heart to be with him; for now here was one +knight discomfited ten knights, and at the last he was cowardly led away; and +therefore let us two go whilst they fight. And Sir Gawaine fought with that +other knight long, but at the last they accorded both. And then the knight +prayed Sir Gawaine to lodge with him that night. So as Sir Gawaine went with +this knight he asked him, What knight is he in this country that smote down the +ten knights? For when he had done so manfully he suffered them to bind him hand +and foot, and so led him away. Ah, said the knight, that is the best knight I +trow in the world, and the most man of prowess, and he hath been served so as +he was even more than ten times, and his name hight Sir Pelleas, and he loveth +a great lady in this country and her name is Ettard. And so when he loved her +there was cried in this country a great jousts three days, and all the knights +of this country were there and gentlewomen, and who that proved him the best +knight should have a passing good sword and a circlet of gold, and the circlet +the knight should give it to the fairest lady that was at the jousts. And this +knight Sir Pelleas was the best knight that was there, and there were five +hundred knights, but there was never man that ever Sir Pelleas met withal but +he struck him down, or else from his horse; and every day of three days he +struck down twenty knights, therefore they gave him the prize, and forthwithal +he went thereas the Lady Ettard was, and gave her the circlet, and said openly +she was the fairest lady that there was, and that would he prove upon any +knight that would say nay. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap82"></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br/>How King Pelleas suffered himself to +be taken prisoner because he would have a sight of his lady, and how Sir +Gawaine promised him to get to him the love of his lady.</h3> + +<p> +And so he chose her for his sovereign lady, and never to love other but her, +but she was so proud that she had scorn of him, and said that she would never +love him though he would die for her. Wherefore all ladies and gentlewomen had +scorn of her that she was so proud, for there were fairer than she, and there +was none that was there but an Sir Pelleas would have proffered them love, they +would have loved him for his noble prowess. And so this knight promised the +Lady Ettard to follow her into this country, and never to leave her till she +loved him. And thus he is here the most part nigh her, and lodged by a priory, +and every week she sendeth knights to fight with him. And when he hath put them +to the worse, then will he suffer them wilfully to take him prisoner, because +he would have a sight of this lady. And always she doth him great despite, for +sometime she maketh her knights to tie him to his horse’s tail, and some +to bind him under the horse’s belly; thus in the most shamefullest ways +that she can think he is brought to her. And all she doth it for to cause him +to leave this country, and to leave his loving; but all this cannot make him to +leave, for an he would have fought on foot he might have had the better of the +ten knights as well on foot as on horseback. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, it is +great pity of him; and after this night I will seek him to-morrow, in this +forest, to do him all the help I can. So on the morn Sir Gawaine took his leave +of his host Sir Carados, and rode into the forest; and at the last he met with +Sir Pelleas, making great moan out of measure, so each of them saluted other, +and asked him why he made such sorrow. And as it is above rehearsed, Sir +Pelleas told Sir Gawaine: But always I suffer her knights to fare so with me as +ye saw yesterday, in trust at the last to win her love, for she knoweth well +all her knights should not lightly win me, an me list to fight with them to the +uttermost. Wherefore an I loved her not so sore, I had liefer die an hundred +times, an I might die so oft, rather than I would suffer that despite; but I +trust she will have pity upon me at the last, for love causeth many a good +knight to suffer to have his entent, but alas I am unfortunate. And therewith +he made so great dole and sorrow that unnethe he might hold him on horseback. +</p> + +<p> +Now, said Sir Gawaine, leave your mourning and I shall promise you by the faith +of my body to do all that lieth in my power to get you the love of your lady, +and thereto I will plight you my troth. Ah, said Sir Pelleas, of what court are +ye? tell me, I pray you, my good friend. And then Sir Gawaine said, I am of the +court of King Arthur, and his sister’s son, and King Lot of Orkney was my +father, and my name is Sir Gawaine. And then he said, My name is Sir Pelleas, +born in the Isles, and of many isles I am lord, and never have I loved lady nor +damosel till now in an unhappy time; and, sir knight, since ye are so nigh +cousin unto King Arthur, and a king’s son, therefore betray me not but +help me, for I may never come by her but by some good knight, for she is in a +strong castle here, fast by within this four mile, and over all this country +she is lady of. And so I may never come to her presence, but as I suffer her +knights to take me, and but if I did so that I might have a sight of her, I had +been dead long or this time; and yet fair word had I never of her, but when I +am brought to-fore her she rebuketh me in the foulest manner. And then they +take my horse and harness and put me out of the gates, and she will not suffer +me to eat nor drink; and always I offer me to be her prisoner, but that she +will not suffer me, for I would desire no more, what pains so ever I had, so +that I might have a sight of her daily. Well, said Sir Gawaine, all this shall +I amend an ye will do as I shall devise: I will have your horse and your +armour, and so will I ride unto her castle and tell her that I have slain you, +and so shall I come within her to cause her to cherish me, and then shall I do +my true part that ye shall not fail to have the love of her. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap83"></a>CHAPTER XXII.<br/>How Sir Gawaine came to the Lady +Ettard, and how Sir Pelleas found them sleeping.</h3> + +<p> +And therewith Sir Gawaine plight his troth unto Sir Pelleas to be true and +faithful unto him; so each one plight their troth to other, and so they changed +horses and harness, and Sir Gawaine departed, and came to the castle whereas +stood the pavilions of this lady without the gate. And as soon as Ettard had +espied Sir Gawaine she fled in toward the castle. Sir Gawaine spake on high, +and bade her abide, for he was not Sir Pelleas; I am another knight that have +slain Sir Pelleas. Do off your helm, said the Lady Ettard, that I may see your +visage. And so when she saw that it was not Sir Pelleas, she bade him alight +and led him unto her castle, and asked him faithfully whether he had slain Sir +Pelleas. And he said her yea, and told her his name was Sir Gawaine of the +court of King Arthur, and his sister’s son. Truly, said she, that is +great pity, for he was a passing good knight of his body, but of all men alive +I hated him most, for I could never be quit of him; and for ye have slain him I +shall be your woman, and to do anything that might please you. So she made Sir +Gawaine good cheer. Then Sir Gawaine said that he loved a lady and by no means +she would love him. She is to blame, said Ettard, an she will not love you, for +ye that be so well born a man, and such a man of prowess, there is no lady in +the world too good for you. Will ye, said Sir Gawaine, promise me to do all +that ye may, by the faith of your body, to get me the love of my lady? Yea, +sir, said she, and that I promise you by the faith of my body. Now, said Sir +Gawaine, it is yourself that I love so well, therefore I pray you hold your +promise. I may not choose, said the Lady Ettard, but if I should be forsworn; +and so she granted him to fulfil all his desire. +</p> + +<p> +So it was then in the month of May that she and Sir Gawaine went out of the +castle and supped in a pavilion, and there was made a bed, and there Sir +Gawaine and the Lady Ettard went to bed together, and in another pavilion she +laid her damosels, and in the third pavilion she laid part of her knights, for +then she had no dread of Sir Pelleas. And there Sir Gawaine lay with her in +that pavilion two days and two nights. And on the third day, in the morning +early, Sir Pelleas armed him, for he had never slept since Sir Gawaine departed +from him; for Sir Gawaine had promised him by the faith of his body, to come to +him unto his pavilion by that priory within the space of a day and a night. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Pelleas mounted upon horseback, and came to the pavilions that stood +without the castle, and found in the first pavilion three knights in three +beds, and three squires lying at their feet. Then went he to the second +pavilion and found four gentlewomen lying in four beds. And then he yede to the +third pavilion and found Sir Gawaine lying in bed with his Lady Ettard, and +either clipping other in arms, and when he saw that his heart well-nigh brast +for sorrow, and said: Alas! that ever a knight should be found so false; and +then he took his horse and might not abide no longer for pure sorrow. And when +he had ridden nigh half a mile he turned again and thought to slay them both; +and when he saw them both so lie sleeping fast, unnethe he might hold him on +horseback for sorrow, and said thus to himself, Though this knight be never so +false, I will never slay him sleeping, for I will never destroy the high order +of knighthood; and therewith he departed again. And or he had ridden half a +mile he returned again, and thought then to slay them both, making the greatest +sorrow that ever man made. And when he came to the pavilions, he tied his horse +unto a tree, and pulled out his sword naked in his hand, and went to them +thereas they lay, and yet he thought it were shame to slay them sleeping, and +laid the naked sword overthwart both their throats, and so took his horse and +rode his way. +</p> + +<p> +And when Sir Pelleas came to his pavilions he told his knights and his squires +how he had sped, and said thus to them, For your true and good service ye have +done me I shall give you all my goods, for I will go unto my bed and never +arise until I am dead. And when that I am dead I charge you that ye take the +heart out of my body and bear it her betwixt two silver dishes, and tell her +how I saw her lie with the false knight Sir Gawaine. Right so Sir Pelleas +unarmed himself, and went unto his bed making marvellous dole and sorrow. +</p> + +<p> +When Sir Gawaine and Ettard awoke of their sleep, and found the naked sword +overthwart their throats, then she knew well it was Sir Pelleas’ sword. +Alas! said she to Sir Gawaine, ye have betrayed me and Sir Pelleas both, for ye +told me ye had slain him, and now I know well it is not so, he is alive. And if +Sir Pelleas had been as uncourteous to you as ye have been to him ye had been a +dead knight; but ye have deceived me and betrayed me falsely, that all ladies +and damosels may beware by you and me. And therewith Sir Gawaine made him +ready, and went into the forest. So it happed then that the Damosel of the +Lake, Nimue, met with a knight of Sir Pelleas, that went on his foot in the +forest making great dole, and she asked him the cause. And so the woful knight +told her how his master and lord was betrayed through a knight and lady, and +how he will never arise out of his bed till he be dead. Bring me to him, said +she anon, and I will warrant his life he shall not die for love, and she that +hath caused him so to love, she shall be in as evil plight as he is or it be +long to, for it is no joy of such a proud lady that will have no mercy of such +a valiant knight. Anon that knight brought her unto him, and when she saw him +lie in his bed, she thought she saw never so likely a knight; and therewith she +threw an enchantment upon him, and he fell asleep. And therewhile she rode unto +the Lady Ettard, and charged no man to awake him till she came again. So within +two hours she brought the Lady Ettard thither, and both ladies found him +asleep: Lo, said the Damosel of the Lake, ye ought to be ashamed for to murder +such a knight. And therewith she threw such an enchantment upon her that she +loved him sore, that well-nigh she was out of her mind. O Lord Jesu, said the +Lady Ettard, how is it befallen unto me that I love now him that I have most +hated of any man alive? That is the righteous judgment of God, said the +damosel. And then anon Sir Pelleas awaked and looked upon Ettard; and when he +saw her he knew her, and then he hated her more than any woman alive, and said: +Away, traitress, come never in my sight. And when she heard him say so, she +wept and made great sorrow out of measure. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap84"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.<br/>How Sir Pelleas loved no more +Ettard by means of the Damosel of the Lake, whom he loved ever after.</h3> + +<p> +Sir knight Pelleas, said the Damosel of the Lake, take your horse and come +forth with me out of this country, and ye shall love a lady that shall love +you. I will well, said Sir Pelleas, for this Lady Ettard hath done me great +despite and shame, and there he told her the beginning and ending, and how he +had purposed never to have arisen till that he had been dead. And now such +grace God hath sent me, that I hate her as much as ever I loved her, thanked be +our Lord Jesus! Thank me, said the Damosel of the Lake. Anon Sir Pelleas armed +him, and took his horse, and commanded his men to bring after his pavilions and +his stuff where the Damosel of the Lake would assign. So the Lady Ettard died +for sorrow, and the Damosel of the Lake rejoiced Sir Pelleas, and loved +together during their life days. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap85"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.<br/>How Sir Marhaus rode with the +damosel, and how he came to the Duke of the South Marches.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Sir Marhaus, that rode with the damosel of thirty winter of +age, southward. And so they came into a deep forest, and by fortune they were +nighted, and rode long in a deep way, and at the last they came unto a +courtelage, and there they asked harbour. But the man of the courtelage would +not lodge them for no treatise that they could treat, but thus much the good +man said, An ye will take the adventure of your lodging, I shall bring you +where ye shall be lodged. What adventure is that that I shall have for my +lodging? said Sir Marhaus. Ye shall wit when ye come there, said the good man. +Sir, what adventure so it be, bring me thither I pray thee, said Sir Marhaus; +for I am weary, my damosel, and my horse. So the good man went and opened the +gate, and within an hour he brought him unto a fair castle, and then the poor +man called the porter, and anon he was let into the castle, and so he told the +lord how he brought him a knight errant and a damosel that would be lodged with +him. Let him in, said the lord, it may happen he shall repent that they took +their lodging here. +</p> + +<p> +So Sir Marhaus was let in with torchlight, and there was a goodly sight of +young men that welcomed him. And then his horse was led into the stable, and he +and the damosel were brought into the hall, and there stood a mighty duke and +many goodly men about him. Then this lord asked him what he hight, and from +whence he came, and with whom he dwelt. Sir, he said, I am a knight of King +Arthur’s and knight of the Table Round, and my name is Sir Marhaus, and +born I am in Ireland. And then said the duke to him, That me sore repenteth: +the cause is this, for I love not thy lord nor none of thy fellows of the Table +Round; and therefore ease thyself this night as well as thou mayest, for as +to-morn I and my six sons shall match with you. Is there no remedy but that I +must have ado with you and your six sons at once? said Sir Marhaus. No, said +the duke, for this cause I made mine avow, for Sir Gawaine slew my seven sons +in a recounter, therefore I made mine avow, there should never knight of King +Arthur’s court lodge with me, or come thereas I might have ado with him, +but that I would have a revenging of my sons’ death. What is your name? +said Sir Marhaus; I require you tell me, an it please you. Wit thou well I am +the Duke of South Marches. Ah, said Sir Marhaus, I have heard say that ye have +been long time a great foe unto my lord Arthur and to his knights. That shall +ye feel to-morn, said the duke. Shall I have ado with you? said Sir Marhaus. +Yea, said the duke, thereof shalt thou not choose, and therefore take you to +your chamber, and ye shall have all that to you longeth. So Sir Marhaus +departed and was led to a chamber, and his damosel was led unto her chamber. +And on the morn the duke sent unto Sir Marhaus and bade make him ready. And so +Sir Marhaus arose and armed him, and then there was a mass sung afore him, and +brake his fast, and so mounted on horseback in the court of the castle where +they should do the battle. So there was the duke all ready on horseback, clean +armed, and his six sons by him, and everych had a spear in his hand, and so +they encountered, whereas the duke and his two sons brake their spears upon +him, but Sir Marhaus held up his spear and touched none of them. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap86"></a>CHAPTER XXV.<br/>How Sir Marhaus fought with the duke +and his four sons and made them to yield them.</h3> + +<p> +Then came the four sons by couple, and two of them brake their spears, and so +did the other two. And all this while Sir Marhaus touched them not. Then Sir +Marhaus ran to the duke, and smote him with his spear that horse and man fell +to the earth, and so he served his sons; and then Sir Marhaus alighted down and +bade the duke yield him or else he would slay him. And then some of his sons +recovered, and would have set upon Sir Marhaus; then Sir Marhaus said to the +duke, Cease thy sons, or else I will do the uttermost to you all. Then the duke +saw he might not escape the death, he cried to his sons, and charged them to +yield them to Sir Marhaus; and they kneeled all down and put the pommels of +their swords to the knight, and so he received them. And then they helped up +their father, and so by their cominal assent promised to Sir Marhaus never to +be foes unto King Arthur, and thereupon at Whitsuntide after to come, he and +his sons, and put them in the king’s grace. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Marhaus departed, and within two days his damosel brought him whereas +was a great tournament that the Lady de Vawse had cried. And who that did best +should have a rich circlet of gold worth a thousand besants. And there Sir +Marhaus did so nobly that he was renowned, and had sometime down forty knights, +and so the circlet of gold was rewarded him. Then he departed from them with +great worship; and so within seven nights his damosel brought him to an +earl’s place, his name was the Earl Fergus, that after was Sir +Tristram’s knight; and this earl was but a young man, and late come into +his lands, and there was a giant fast by him that hight Taulurd, and he had +another brother in Cornwall that hight Taulas, that Sir Tristram slew when he +was out of his mind. So this earl made his complaint unto Sir Marhaus, that +there was a giant by him that destroyed all his lands, and how he durst nowhere +ride nor go for him. Sir, said the knight, whether useth he to fight on +horseback or on foot? Nay, said the earl, there may no horse bear him. Well, +said Sir Marhaus, then will I fight with him on foot; so on the morn Sir +Marhaus prayed the earl that one of his men might bring him whereas the giant +was; and so he was, for he saw him sit under a tree of holly, and many clubs of +iron and gisarms about him. So this knight dressed him to the giant, putting +his shield afore him, and the giant took an iron club in his hand, and at the +first stroke he clave Sir Marhaus’ shield in two pieces. And there he was +in great peril, for the giant was a wily fighter, but at last Sir Marhaus smote +off his right arm above the elbow. +</p> + +<p> +Then the giant fled and the knight after him, and so he drove him into a water, +but the giant was so high that he might not wade after him. And then Sir +Marhaus made the Earl Fergus’ man to fetch him stones, and with those +stones the knight gave the giant many sore knocks, till at the last he made him +fall down into the water, and so was he there dead. Then Sir Marhaus went unto +the giant’s castle, and there he delivered twenty-four ladies and twelve +knights out of the giant’s prison, and there he had great riches without +number, so that the days of his life he was never poor man. Then he returned to +the Earl Fergus, the which thanked him greatly, and would have given him half +his lands, but he would none take. So Sir Marhaus dwelled with the earl nigh +half a year, for he was sore bruised with the giant, and at the last he took +his leave. And as he rode by the way, he met with Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine, +and so by adventure he met with four knights of Arthur’s court, the first +was Sir Sagramore le Desirous, Sir Osanna, Sir Dodinas le Savage, and Sir Felot +of Listinoise; and there Sir Marhaus with one spear smote down these four +knights, and hurt them sore. So he departed to meet at his day aforeset. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap87"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.<br/>How Sir Uwaine rode with the damosel +of sixty year of age, and how he gat the prize at tourneying.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Sir Uwaine, that rode westward with his damosel of three score +winter of age, and she brought him thereas was a tournament nigh the march of +Wales. And at that tournament Sir Uwaine smote down thirty knights, therefore +was given him the prize, and that was a gerfalcon, and a white steed trapped +with cloth of gold. So then Sir Uwaine did many strange adventures by the means +of the old damosel, and so she brought him to a lady that was called the Lady +of the Rock, the which was much courteous. So there were in the country two +knights that were brethren, and they were called two perilous knights, the one +knight hight Sir Edward of the Red Castle, and the other Sir Hue of the Red +Castle; and these two brethren had disherited the Lady of the Rock of a barony +of lands by their extortion. And as this knight was lodged with this lady she +made her complaint to him of these two knights. +</p> + +<p> +Madam, said Sir Uwaine, they are to blame, for they do against the high order +of knighthood, and the oath that they made; and if it like you I will speak +with them, because I am a knight of King Arthur’s, and I will entreat +them with fairness; and if they will not, I shall do battle with them, and in +the defence of your right. Gramercy said the lady, and thereas I may not acquit +you, God shall. So on the morn the two knights were sent for, that they should +come thither to speak with the Lady of the Rock, and wit ye well they failed +not, for they came with an hundred horse. But when this lady saw them in this +manner so big, she would not suffer Sir Uwaine to go out to them upon no surety +nor for no fair language, but she made him speak with them over a tower, but +finally these two brethren would not be entreated, and answered that they would +keep that they had. Well, said Sir Uwaine, then will I fight with one of you, +and prove that ye do this lady wrong. That will we not, said they, for an we do +battle, we two will fight with one knight at once, and therefore if ye will +fight so, we will be ready at what hour ye will assign. And if ye win us in +battle the lady shall have her lands again. Ye say well, said Sir Uwaine, +therefore make you ready so that ye be here to-morn in the defence of the +lady’s right. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap88"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.<br/>How Sir Uwaine fought with two +knights and overcame them.</h3> + +<p> +So was there sikerness made on both parties that no treason should be wrought +on neither party; so then the knights departed and made them ready, and that +night Sir Uwaine had great cheer. And on the morn he arose early and heard +mass, and brake his fast, and so he rode unto the plain without the gates, +where hoved the two brethren abiding him. So they rode together passing sore, +that Sir Edward and Sir Hue brake their spears upon Sir Uwaine. And Sir Uwaine +smote Sir Edward that he fell over his horse and yet his spear brast not. And +then he spurred his horse and came upon Sir Hue and overthrew him, but they +soon recovered and dressed their shields and drew their swords and bade Sir +Uwaine alight and do his battle to the uttermost. Then Sir Uwaine devoided his +horse suddenly, and put his shield afore him and drew his sword, and so they +dressed together, and either gave other such strokes, and there these two +brethren wounded Sir Uwaine passing grievously that the Lady of the Rock weened +he should have died. And thus they fought together five hours as men raged out +of reason. And at the last Sir Uwaine smote Sir Edward upon the helm such a +stroke that his sword carved unto his canel bone, and then Sir Hue abated his +courage, but Sir Uwaine pressed fast to have slain him. That saw Sir Hue: he +kneeled down and yielded him to Sir Uwaine. And he of his gentleness received +his sword, and took him by the hand, and went into the castle together. Then +the Lady of the Rock was passing glad, and the other brother made great sorrow +for his brother’s death. Then the lady was restored of all her lands, and +Sir Hue was commanded to be at the court of King Arthur at the next feast of +Pentecost. So Sir Uwaine dwelt with the lady nigh half a year, for it was long +or he might be whole of his great hurts. And so when it drew nigh the term-day +that Sir Gawaine, Sir Marhaus, and Sir Uwaine should meet at the cross-way, +then every knight drew him thither to hold his promise that they had made; and +Sir Marhaus and Sir Uwaine brought their damosels with them, but Sir Gawaine +had lost his damosel, as it is afore rehearsed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap89"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.<br/>How at the year’s end all +three knights with their three damosels met at the fountain.</h3> + +<p> +Right so at the twelvemonths’ end they met all three knights at the +fountain and their damosels, but the damosel that Sir Gawaine had could say but +little worship of him so they departed from the damosels and rode through a +great forest, and there they met with a messenger that came from King Arthur, +that had sought them well-nigh a twelvemonth throughout all England, Wales, and +Scotland, and charged if ever he might find Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine to bring +them to the court again. And then were they all glad, and so prayed they Sir +Marhaus to ride with them to the king’s court. And so within twelve days +they came to Camelot, and the king was passing glad of their coming, and so was +all the court. Then the king made them to swear upon a book to tell him all +their adventures that had befallen them that twelvemonth, and so they did. And +there was Sir Marhaus well known, for there were knights that he had matched +aforetime, and he was named one of the best knights living. +</p> + +<p> +Against the feast of Pentecost came the Damosel of the Lake and brought with +her Sir Pelleas; and at that high feast there was great jousting of knights, +and of all knights that were at that jousts, Sir Pelleas had the prize, and Sir +Marhaus was named the next; but Sir Pelleas was so strong there might but few +knights sit him a buffet with a spear. And at that next feast Sir Pelleas and +Sir Marhaus were made knights of the Table Round, for there were two sieges +void, for two knights were slain that twelvemonth, and great joy had King +Arthur of Sir Pelleas and of Sir Marhaus. But Pelleas loved never after Sir +Gawaine, but as he spared him for the love of King Arthur; but ofttimes at +jousts and tournaments Sir Pelleas quit Sir Gawaine, for so it rehearseth in +the book of French. So Sir Tristram many days after fought with Sir Marhaus in +an island, and there they did a great battle, but at the last Sir Tristram slew +him, so Sir Tristram was wounded that unnethe he might recover, and lay at a +nunnery half a year. And Sir Pelleas was a worshipful knight, and was one of +the four that achieved the Sangreal, and the Damosel of the Lake made by her +means that never he had ado with Sir Launcelot de Lake, for where Sir Launcelot +was at any jousts or any tournament, she would not suffer him be there that +day, but if it were on the side of Sir Launcelot. +</p> + +<h5>Explicit liber quartus.<br/> +Incipit liber quintus.</h5> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="part05"></a>BOOK V.</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap90"></a>CHAPTER I.<br/>How twelve aged ambassadors of Rome +came to King Arthur to demand truage for Britain.</h3> + +<p> +When King Arthur had after long war rested, and held a royal feast and Table +Round with his allies of kings, princes, and noble knights all of the Round +Table, there came into his hall, he sitting in his throne royal, twelve ancient +men, bearing each of them a branch of olive, in token that they came as +ambassadors and messengers from the Emperor Lucius, which was called at that +time, Dictator or Procuror of the Public Weal of Rome. Which said messengers, +after their entering and coming into the presence of King Arthur, did to him +their obeisance in making to him reverence, and said to him in this wise: The +high and mighty Emperor Lucius sendeth to the King of Britain greeting, +commanding thee to acknowledge him for thy lord, and to send him the truage due +of this realm unto the Empire, which thy father and other to-fore thy +precessors have paid as is of record, and thou as rebel not knowing him as thy +sovereign, withholdest and retainest contrary to the statutes and decrees made +by the noble and worthy Julius Cesar, conqueror of this realm, and first +Emperor of Rome. And if thou refuse his demand and commandment know thou for +certain that he shall make strong war against thee, thy realms and lands, and +shall chastise thee and thy subjects, that it shall be ensample perpetual unto +all kings and princes, for to deny their truage unto that noble empire which +domineth upon the universal world. Then when they had showed the effect of +their message, the king commanded them to withdraw them, and said he should +take advice of council and give to them an answer. Then some of the young +knights, hearing this their message, would have run on them to have slain them, +saying that it was a rebuke to all the knights there being present to suffer +them to say so to the king. And anon the king commanded that none of them, upon +pain of death, to missay them nor do them any harm, and commanded a knight to +bring them to their lodging, and see that they have all that is necessary and +requisite for them, with the best cheer, and that no dainty be spared, for the +Romans be great lords, and though their message please me not nor my court, yet +I must remember mine honour. +</p> + +<p> +After this the king let call all his lords and knights of the Round Table to +counsel upon this matter, and desired them to say their advice. Then Sir Cador +of Cornwall spake first and said, Sir, this message liketh me well, for we have +many days rested us and have been idle, and now I hope ye shall make sharp war +on the Romans, where I doubt not we shall get honour. I believe well, said +Arthur, that this matter pleaseth thee well, but these answers may not be +answered, for the demand grieveth me sore, for truly I will never pay truage to +Rome, wherefore I pray you to counsel me. I have understood that Belinus and +Brenius, kings of Britain, have had the empire in their hands many days, and +also Constantine the son of Heleine, which is an open evidence that we owe no +tribute to Rome but of right we that be descended of them have right to claim +the title of the empire. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap91"></a>CHAPTER II.<br/>How the kings and lords promised to +King Arthur aid and help against the Romans.</h3> + +<p> +Then answered King Anguish of Scotland, Sir, ye ought of right to be above all +other kings, for unto you is none like nor pareil in Christendom, of knighthood +nor of dignity, and I counsel you never to obey the Romans, for when they +reigned on us they distressed our elders, and put this land to great extortions +and tallies, wherefore I make here mine avow to avenge me on them; and for to +strengthen your quarrel I shall furnish twenty thousand good men of war, and +wage them on my costs, which shall await on you with myself when it shall +please you. And the king of Little Britain granted him to the same thirty +thousand; wherefore King Arthur thanked them. And then every man agreed to make +war, and to aid after their power; that is to wit, the lord of West Wales +promised to bring thirty thousand men, and Sir Uwaine, Sir Ider his son, with +their cousins, promised to bring thirty thousand. Then Sir Launcelot with all +other promised in likewise every man a great multitude. +</p> + +<p> +And when King Arthur understood their courages and good wills he thanked them +heartily, and after let call the ambassadors to hear their answer. And in +presence of all his lords and knights he said to them in this wise: I will that +ye return unto your lord and Procuror of the Common Weal for the Romans, and +say ye to him, Of his demand and commandment I set nothing, and that I know of +no truage nor tribute that I owe to him, nor to none earthly prince, Christian +nor heathen; but I pretend to have and occupy the sovereignty of the empire, +wherein I am entitled by the right of my predecessors, sometime kings of this +land; and say to him that I am delibered and fully concluded, to go with mine +army with strength and power unto Rome, by the grace of God, to take possession +in the empire and subdue them that be rebel. Wherefore I command him and all +them of Rome, that incontinent they make to me their homage, and to acknowledge +me for their Emperor and Governor, upon pain that shall ensue. And then he +commanded his treasurer to give to them great and large gifts, and to pay all +their dispenses, and assigned Sir Cador to convey them out of the land. And so +they took their leave and departed, and took their shipping at Sandwich, and +passed forth by Flanders, Almaine, the mountains, and all Italy, until they +came unto Lucius. And after the reverence made, they made relation of their +answer, like as ye to-fore have heard. +</p> + +<p> +When the Emperor Lucius had well understood their credence, he was sore moved +as he had been all araged, and said, I had supposed that Arthur would have +obeyed to my commandment, and have served you himself, as him well beseemed or +any other king to do. O Sir, said one of the senators, let be such vain words, +for we let you wit that I and my fellows were full sore afeard to behold his +countenance; I fear me ye have made a rod for yourself, for he intendeth to be +lord of this empire, which sore is to be doubted if he come, for he is all +another man than ye ween, and holdeth the most noble court of the world, all +other kings nor princes may not compare unto his noble maintenance. On New +Year’s Day we saw him in his estate, which was the royalest that ever we +saw, for he was served at his table with nine kings, and the noblest fellowship +of other princes, lords, and knights that be in the world, and every knight +approved and like a lord, and holdeth Table Round: and in his person the most +manly man that liveth, and is like to conquer all the world, for unto his +courage it is too little: wherefore I advise you to keep well your marches and +straits in the mountains; for certainly he is a lord to be doubted. Well, said +Lucius, before Easter I suppose to pass the mountains, and so forth into +France, and there bereave him his lands with Genoese and other mighty warriors +of Tuscany and Lombardy. And I shall send for them all that be subjects and +allied to the empire of Rome to come to mine aid. And forthwith sent old wise +knights unto these countries following: first to Ambage and Arrage, to +Alexandria, to India, to Armenia, whereas the river of Euphrates runneth into +Asia, to Africa, and Europe the Large, to Ertayne and Elamye, to Araby, Egypt, +and to Damascus, to Damietta and Cayer, to Cappadocia, to Tarsus, Turkey, +Pontus and Pamphylia, to Syria and Galatia. And all these were subject to Rome +and many more, as Greece, Cyprus, Macedonia, Calabria, Cateland, Portugal, with +many thousands of Spaniards. Thus all these kings, dukes, and admirals, +assembled about Rome, with sixteen kings at once, with great multitude of +people. When the emperor understood their coming he made ready his Romans and +all the people between him and Flanders. +</p> + +<p> +Also he had gotten with him fifty giants which had been engendered of fiends; +and they were ordained to guard his person, and to break the front of the +battle of King Arthur. And thus departed from Rome, and came down the mountains +for to destroy the lands that Arthur had conquered, and came unto Cologne, and +besieged a castle thereby, and won it soon, and stuffed it with two hundred +Saracens or Infidels, and after destroyed many fair countries which Arthur had +won of King Claudas. And thus Lucius came with all his host, which were +disperplyd sixty mile in breadth, and commanded them to meet with him in +Burgoyne, for he purposed to destroy the realm of Little Britain. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap92"></a>CHAPTER III.<br/>How King Arthur held a parliament at +York, and how he ordained the realm should be governed in his absence.</h3> + +<p> +Now leave we of Lucius the Emperor and speak we of King Arthur, that commanded +all them of his retinue to be ready at the utas of Hilary for to hold a +parliament at York. And at that parliament was concluded to arrest all the navy +of the land, and to be ready within fifteen days at Sandwich, and there he +showed to his army how he purposed to conquer the empire which he ought to have +of right. And there he ordained two governors of this realm, that is to say, +Sir Baudwin of Britain, for to counsel to the best, and Sir Constantine, son to +Sir Cador of Cornwall, which after the death of Arthur was king of this realm. +And in the presence of all his lords he resigned the rule of the realm and +Guenever his queen to them, wherefore Sir Launcelot was wroth, for he left Sir +Tristram with King Mark for the love of Beale Isould. Then the Queen Guenever +made great sorrow for the departing of her lord and other, and swooned in such +wise that the ladies bare her into her chamber. Thus the king with his great +army departed, leaving the queen and realm in the governance of Sir Baudwin and +Constantine. And when he was on his horse he said with an high voice, If I die +in this journey I will that Sir Constantine be mine heir and king crowned of +this realm as next of my blood. And after departed and entered into the sea at +Sandwich with all his army, with a great multitude of ships, galleys, cogs, and +dromounds, sailing on the sea. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap93"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br/>How King Arthur being shipped and +lying in his cabin had a marvellous dream and of the exposition thereof.</h3> + +<p> +And as the king lay in his cabin in the ship, he fell in a slumbering and +dreamed a marvellous dream: him seemed that a dreadful dragon did drown much of +his people, and he came flying out of the west, and his head was enamelled with +azure, and his shoulders shone as gold, his belly like mails of a marvellous +hue, his tail full of tatters, his feet full of fine sable, and his claws like +fine gold; and an hideous flame of fire flew out of his mouth, like as the land +and water had flamed all of fire. After, him seemed there came out of the +orient, a grimly boar all black in a cloud, and his paws as big as a post; he +was rugged looking roughly, he was the foulest beast that ever man saw, he +roared and romed so hideously that it were marvel to hear. Then the dreadful +dragon advanced him and came in the wind like a falcon giving great strokes on +the boar, and the boar hit him again with his grizzly tusks that his breast was +all bloody, and that the hot blood made all the sea red of his blood. Then the +dragon flew away all on an height, and came down with such a swough, and smote +the boar on the ridge, which was ten foot large from the head to the tail, and +smote the boar all to powder both flesh and bones, that it flittered all abroad +on the sea. +</p> + +<p> +And therewith the king awoke anon, and was sore abashed of this dream, and sent +anon for a wise philosopher, commanding to tell him the signification of his +dream. Sir, said the philosopher, the dragon that thou dreamedst of betokeneth +thine own person that sailest here, and the colours of his wings be thy realms +that thou hast won, and his tail which is all to-tattered signifieth the noble +knights of the Round Table; and the boar that the dragon slew coming from the +clouds betokeneth some tyrant that tormenteth the people, or else thou art like +to fight with some giant thyself, being horrible and abominable, whose peer ye +saw never in your days, wherefore of this dreadful dream doubt thee nothing, +but as a conqueror come forth thyself. +</p> + +<p> +Then after this soon they had sight of land, and sailed till they arrived at +Barflete in Flanders, and when they were there he found many of his great lords +ready, as they had been commanded to wait upon him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap94"></a>CHAPTER V.<br/>How a man of the country told to him of +a marvellous giant, and how he fought and conquered him.</h3> + +<p> +Then came to him an husbandman of the country, and told him how there was in +the country of Constantine beside Brittany, a great giant which had slain, +murdered and devoured much people of the country, and had been sustained seven +year with the children of the commons of that land, insomuch that all the +children be all slain and destroyed; and now late he hath taken the Duchess of +Brittany as she rode with her meiny, and hath led her to his lodging which is +in a mountain, for to ravish and lie by her to her life’s end, and many +people followed her, more than five hundred, but all they might not rescue her, +but they left her shrieking and crying lamentably, wherefore I suppose that he +hath slain her in fulfilling his foul lust of lechery. She was wife unto thy +cousin Sir Howell, whom we call full nigh of thy blood. Now, as thou art a +rightful king, have pity on this lady, and revenge us all as thou art a noble +conqueror. Alas, said King Arthur, this is a great mischief, I had liefer than +the best realm that I have that I had been a furlong way to-fore him for to +have rescued that lady. Now, fellow, said King Arthur, canst thou bring me +thereas this giant haunteth? Yea, Sir, said the good man, look yonder whereas +thou seest those two great fires, there shalt thou find him, and more treasure +than I suppose is in all France. When the king had understood this piteous +case, he returned into his tent. +</p> + +<p> +Then he called to him Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere, and commanded them secretly to +make ready horse and harness for himself and them twain; for after evensong he +would ride on pilgrimage with them two only unto Saint Michael’s mount. +And then anon he made him ready, and armed him at all points, and took his +horse and his shield. And so they three departed thence and rode forth as fast +as ever they might till that they came to the foreland of that mount. And there +they alighted, and the king commanded them to tarry there, for he would himself +go up into that mount. And so he ascended up into that hill till he came to a +great fire, and there he found a careful widow wringing her hands and making +great sorrow, sitting by a grave new made. And then King Arthur saluted her, +and demanded of her wherefore she made such lamentation, to whom she answered +and said, Sir knight, speak soft, for yonder is a devil, if he hear thee speak +he will come and destroy thee; I hold thee unhappy; what dost thou here in this +mountain? for if ye were such fifty as ye be, ye were not able to make +resistance against this devil: here lieth a duchess dead, the which was the +fairest of all the world, wife to Sir Howell, Duke of Brittany, he hath +murdered her in forcing her, and hath slit her unto the navel. +</p> + +<p> +Dame, said the king, I come from the noble conqueror King Arthur, for to treat +with that tyrant for his liege people. Fie on such treaties, said she, he +setteth not by the king nor by no man else; but an if thou have brought +Arthur’s wife, dame Guenever, he shall be gladder than thou hadst given +to him half France. Beware, approach him not too nigh, for he hath vanquished +fifteen kings, and hath made him a coat full of precious stones embroidered +with their beards, which they sent him to have his love for salvation of their +people at this last Christmas. And if thou wilt, speak with him at yonder great +fire at supper. Well, said Arthur, I will accomplish my message for all your +fearful words; and went forth by the crest of that hill, and saw where he sat +at supper gnawing on a limb of a man, baking his broad limbs by the fire, and +breechless, and three fair damosels turning three broaches whereon were +broached twelve young children late born, like young birds. +</p> + +<p> +When King Arthur beheld that piteous sight he had great compassion on them, so +that his heart bled for sorrow, and hailed him, saying in this wise: He that +all the world wieldeth give thee short life and shameful death; and the devil +have thy soul; why hast thou murdered these young innocent children, and +murdered this duchess? Therefore, arise and dress thee, thou glutton, for this +day shalt thou die of my hand. Then the glutton anon started up, and took a +great club in his hand, and smote at the king that his coronal fell to the +earth. And the king hit him again that he carved his belly and cut off his +genitours, that his guts and his entrails fell down to the ground. Then the +giant threw away his club, and caught the king in his arms that he crushed his +ribs. Then the three maidens kneeled down and called to Christ for help and +comfort of Arthur. And then Arthur weltered and wrung, that he was other while +under and another time above. And so weltering and wallowing they rolled down +the hill till they came to the sea mark, and ever as they so weltered Arthur +smote him with his dagger. +</p> + +<p> +And it fortuned they came to the place whereas the two knights were and kept +Arthur’s horse; then when they saw the king fast in the giant’s +arms they came and loosed him. And then the king commanded Sir Kay to smite off +the giant’s head, and to set it upon a truncheon of a spear, and bear it +to Sir Howell, and tell him that his enemy was slain; and after let this head +be bound to a barbican that all the people may see and behold it; and go ye two +up to the mountain, and fetch me my shield, my sword, and the club of iron; and +as for the treasure, take ye it, for ye shall find there goods out of number; +so I have the kirtle and the club I desire no more. This was the fiercest giant +that ever I met with, save one in the mount of Araby, which I overcame, but +this was greater and fiercer. Then the knights fetched the club and the kirtle, +and some of the treasure they took to themselves, and returned again to the +host. And anon this was known through all the country, wherefore the people +came and thanked the king. And he said again, Give the thanks to God, and +depart the goods among you. +</p> + +<p> +And after that King Arthur said and commanded his cousin Howell, that he should +ordain for a church to be builded on the same hill in the worship of Saint +Michael. And on the morn the king removed with his great battle, and came into +Champayne and in a valley, and there they pight their tents; and the king being +set at his dinner, there came in two messengers, of whom that one was Marshal +of France, and said to the king that the emperor was entered into France, and +had destroyed a great part, and was in Burgoyne, and had destroyed and made +great slaughter of people, and burnt towns and boroughs; wherefore, if thou +come not hastily, they must yield up their bodies and goods. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap95"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br/>How King Arthur sent Sir Gawaine and +other to Lucius, and how they were assailed and escaped with worship.</h3> + +<p> +Then the king did do call Sir Gawaine, Sir Bors, Sir Lionel, and Sir Bedivere, +and commanded them to go straight to Sir Lucius, and say ye to him that hastily +he remove out of my land; and if he will not, bid him make him ready to battle +and not distress the poor people. Then anon these noble knights dressed them to +horseback, and when they came to the green wood, they saw many pavilions set in +a meadow, of silk of divers colours, beside a river, and the emperor’s +pavilion was in the middle with an eagle displayed above. To the which tent our +knights rode toward, and ordained Sir Gawaine and Sir Bors to do the message, +and left in a bushment Sir Lionel and Sir Bedivere. And then Sir Gawaine and +Sir Bors did their message, and commanded Lucius, in Arthur’s name to +avoid his land, or shortly to address him to battle. To whom Lucius answered +and said, Ye shall return to your lord, and say ye to him that I shall subdue +him and all his lands. Then Sir Gawaine was wroth and said, I had liefer than +all France fight against thee; and so had I, said Sir Bors, liefer than all +Brittany or Burgoyne. +</p> + +<p> +Then a knight named Sir Gainus, nigh cousin to the emperor, said, Lo, how these +Britons be full of pride and boast, and they brag as though they bare up all +the world. Then Sir Gawaine was sore grieved with these words, and pulled out +his sword and smote off his head. And therewith turned their horses and rode +over waters and through woods till they came to their bushment, whereas Sir +Lionel and Sir Bedivere were hoving. The Romans followed fast after, on +horseback and on foot, over a champaign unto a wood; then Sir Bors turned his +horse and saw a knight come fast on, whom he smote through the body with a +spear that he fell dead down to the earth; then came Caliburn one of the +strongest of Pavie, and smote down many of Arthur’s knights. And when Sir +Bors saw him do so much harm, he addressed toward him, and smote him through +the breast, that he fell down dead to the earth. Then Sir Feldenak thought to +revenge the death of Gainus upon Sir Gawaine, but Sir Gawaine was ware thereof, +and smote him on the head, which stroke stinted not till it came to his breast. +And then he returned and came to his fellows in the bushment. And there was a +recounter, for the bushment brake on the Romans, and slew and hew down the +Romans, and forced the Romans to flee and return, whom the noble knights chased +unto their tents. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Romans gathered more people, and also footmen came on, and there was a +new battle, and so much people that Sir Bors and Sir Berel were taken. But when +Sir Gawaine saw that, he took with him Sir Idrus the good knight, and said he +would never see King Arthur but if he rescued them, and pulled out Galatine his +good sword, and followed them that led those two knights away; and he smote him +that led Sir Bors, and took Sir Bors from him and delivered him to his fellows. +And Sir Idrus in likewise rescued Sir Berel. Then began the battle to be great, +that our knights were in great jeopardy, wherefore Sir Gawaine sent to King +Arthur for succour, and that he hie him, for I am sore wounded, and that our +prisoners may pay goods out of number. And the messenger came to the king and +told him his message. And anon the king did do assemble his army, but anon, or +he departed the prisoners were come, and Sir Gawaine and his fellows gat the +field and put the Romans to flight, and after returned and came with their +fellowship in such wise that no man of worship was lost of them, save that Sir +Gawaine was sore hurt. Then the king did do ransack his wounds and comforted +him. And thus was the beginning of the first journey of the Britons and Romans, +and there were slain of the Romans more than ten thousand, and great joy and +mirth was made that night in the host of King Arthur. And on the morn he sent +all the prisoners into Paris under the guard of Sir Launcelot, with many +knights, and of Sir Cador. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap96"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br/>How Lucius sent certain spies in a +bushment for to have taken his knights being prisoners, and how they were +letted.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we to the Emperor of Rome, which espied that these prisoners should be +sent to Paris, and anon he sent to lie in a bushment certain knights and +princes with sixty thousand men, for to rescue his knights and lords that were +prisoners. And so on the morn as Launcelot and Sir Cador, chieftains and +governors of all them that conveyed the prisoners, as they should pass through +a wood, Sir Launcelot sent certain knights to espy if any were in the woods to +let them. And when the said knights came into the wood, anon they espied and +saw the great embushment, and returned and told Sir Launcelot that there lay in +await for them three score thousand Romans. And then Sir Launcelot with such +knights as he had, and men of war to the number of ten thousand, put them in +array, and met with them and fought with them manly, and slew and detrenched +many of the Romans, and slew many knights and admirals of the party of the +Romans and Saracens; there was slain the king of Lyly and three great lords, +Aladuke, Herawd, and Heringdale. But Sir Launcelot fought so nobly that no man +might endure a stroke of his hand, but where he came he showed his prowess and +might, for he slew down right on every side; and the Romans and Saracens fled +from him as the sheep from the wolf or from the lion, and put them, all that +abode alive, to flight. +</p> + +<p> +And so long they fought that tidings came to King Arthur, and anon he graithed +him and came to the battle, and saw his knights how they had vanquished the +battle, he embraced them knight by knight in his arms, and said, Ye be worthy +to wield all your honour and worship; there was never king save myself that had +so noble knights. Sir, said Cador, there was none of us failed other, but of +the prowess and manhood of Sir Launcelot were more than wonder to tell, and +also of his cousins which did that day many noble feats of war. And also Sir +Cador told who of his knights were slain, as Sir Berel, and other Sir Moris and +Sir Maurel, two good knights. Then the king wept, and dried his eyes with a +kerchief, and said, Your courage had near-hand destroyed you, for though ye had +returned again, ye had lost no worship; for I call it folly, knights to abide +when they be overmatched. Nay, said Launcelot and the other, for once shamed +may never be recovered. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap97"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br/>How a senator told to Lucius of +their discomfiture, and also of the great battle between Arthur and +Lucius.</h3> + +<p> +Now leave we King Arthur and his noble knights which had won the field, and had +brought their prisoners to Paris, and speak we of a senator which escaped from +the battle, and came to Lucius the emperor, and said to him, Sir emperor, I +advise thee for to withdraw thee; what dost thou here? thou shalt win nothing +in these marches but great strokes out of all measure, for this day one of +Arthur’s knights was worth in the battle an hundred of ours. Fie on thee, +said Lucius, thou speakest cowardly; for thy words grieve me more than all the +loss that I had this day. And anon he sent forth a king, which hight Sir +Leomie, with a great army, and bade him hie him fast to-fore, and he would +follow hastily after. King Arthur was warned privily, and sent his people to +Sessoine, and took up the towns and castles from the Romans. Then the king +commanded Sir Cador to take the rearward, and to take with him certain knights +of the Round Table, and Sir Launcelot, Sir Bors, Sir Kay, Sir Marrok, with Sir +Marhaus, shall await on our person. Thus the King Arthur disperpled his host in +divers parties, to the end that his enemies should not escape. +</p> + +<p> +When the emperor was entered into the vale of Sessoine, he might see where King +Arthur was embattled and his banner displayed; and he was beset round about +with his enemies, that needs he must fight or yield him, for he might not flee, +but said openly unto the Romans, Sirs, I admonish you that this day ye fight +and acquit you as men, and remember how Rome domineth and is chief and head +over all the earth and universal world, and suffer not these Britons this day +to abide against us; and therewith he did command his trumpets to blow the +bloody sounds, in such wise that the ground trembled and dindled. +</p> + +<p> +Then the battles approached and shoved and shouted on both sides, and great +strokes were smitten on both sides, many men overthrown, hurt, and slain; and +great valiances, prowesses and appertices of war were that day showed, which +were over long to recount the noble feats of every man, for they should contain +an whole volume. But in especial, King Arthur rode in the battle exhorting his +knights to do well, and himself did as nobly with his hands as was possible a +man to do; he drew out Excalibur his sword, and awaited ever whereas the Romans +were thickest and most grieved his people, and anon he addressed him on that +part, and hew and slew down right, and rescued his people; and he slew a great +giant named Galapas, which was a man of an huge quantity and height, he shorted +him and smote off both his legs by the knees, saying, Now art thou better of a +size to deal with than thou were, and after smote off his head. There Sir +Gawaine fought nobly and slew three admirals in that battle. And so did all the +knights of the Round Table. Thus the battle between King Arthur and Lucius the +Emperor endured long. Lucius had on his side many Saracens which were slain. +And thus the battle was great, and oftsides that one party was at a fordeal and +anon at an afterdeal, which endured so long till at the last King Arthur espied +where Lucius the Emperor fought, and did wonder with his own hands. And anon he +rode to him. And either smote other fiercely, and at last Lucius smote Arthur +thwart the visage, and gave him a large wound. And when King Arthur felt +himself hurt, anon he smote him again with Excalibur that it cleft his head, +from the summit of his head, and stinted not till it came to his breast. And +then the emperor fell down dead and there ended his life. +</p> + +<p> +And when it was known that the emperor was slain, anon all the Romans with all +their host put them to flight, and King Arthur with all his knights followed +the chase, and slew down right all them that they might attain. And thus was +the victory given to King Arthur, and the triumph; and there were slain on the +part of Lucius more than an hundred thousand. And after King Arthur did do +ransack the dead bodies, and did do bury them that were slain of his retinue, +every man according to the estate and degree that he was of. And them that were +hurt he let the surgeons do search their hurts and wounds, and commanded to +spare no salves nor medicines till they were whole. +</p> + +<p> +Then the king rode straight to the place where the Emperor Lucius lay dead, and +with him he found slain the Soudan of Syria, the King of Egypt and of Ethiopia, +which were two noble kings, with seventeen other kings of divers regions, and +also sixty senators of Rome, all noble men, whom the king did do balm and gum +with many good gums aromatic, and after did do cere them in sixty fold of cered +cloth of sendal, and laid them in chests of lead, because they should not chafe +nor savour, and upon all these bodies their shields with their arms and banners +were set, to the end they should be known of what country they were. And after +he found three senators which were alive, to whom he said, For to save your +lives I will that ye take these dead bodies, and carry them with you unto great +Rome, and present them to the Potestate on my behalf, shewing him my letters, +and tell them that I in my person shall hastily be at Rome. And I suppose the +Romans shall beware how they shall demand any tribute of me. And I command you +to say when ye shall come to Rome, to the Potestate and all the Council and +Senate, that I send to them these dead bodies for the tribute that they have +demanded. And if they be not content with these, I shall pay more at my coming, +for other tribute owe I none, nor none other will I pay. And methinketh this +sufficeth for Britain, Ireland and all Almaine with Germany. And furthermore, I +charge you to say to them, that I command them upon pain of their heads never +to demand tribute nor tax of me nor of my lands. Then with this charge and +commandment, the three senators aforesaid departed with all the said dead +bodies, laying the body of Lucius in a car covered with the arms of the Empire +all alone; and after alway two bodies of kings in a chariot, and then the +bodies of the senators after them, and so went toward Rome, and showed their +legation and message to the Potestate and Senate, recounting the battle done in +France, and how the field was lost and much people and innumerable slain. +Wherefore they advised them in no wise to move no more war against that noble +conqueror Arthur, for his might and prowess is most to be doubted, seen the +noble kings and great multitude of knights of the Round Table, to whom none +earthly prince may compare. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap98"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br/>How Arthur, after he had achieved the +battle against the Romans, entered into Almaine, and so into Italy.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we unto King Arthur and his noble knights, which, after the great +battle achieved against the Romans, entered into Lorraine, Brabant and +Flanders, and sithen returned into Haut Almaine, and so over the mountains into +Lombardy, and after, into Tuscany wherein was a city which in no wise would +yield themself nor obey, wherefore King Arthur besieged it, and lay long about +it, and gave many assaults to the city; and they within defended them +valiantly. Then, on a time, the king called Sir Florence, a knight, and said to +him they lacked victual, And not far from hence be great forests and woods, +wherein be many of mine enemies with much bestial: I will that thou make thee +ready and go thither in foraying, and take with thee Sir Gawaine my nephew, Sir +Wisshard, Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremond, and the Captain of Cardiff with other, and +bring with you all the beasts that ye there can get. +</p> + +<p> +And anon these knights made them ready, and rode over holts and hills, through +forests and woods, till they came into a fair meadow full of fair flowers and +grass; and there they rested them and their horses all that night. And in the +springing of the day in the next morn, Sir Gawaine took his horse and stole +away from his fellowship, to seek some adventures. And anon he was ware of a +man armed, walking his horse easily by a wood’s side, and his shield +laced to his shoulder, sitting on a strong courser, without any man saving a +page bearing a mighty spear. The knight bare in his shield three griffins of +gold, in sable carbuncle, the chief of silver. When Sir Gawaine espied this gay +knight, he feutred his spear, and rode straight to him, and demanded of him +from whence that he was. That other answered and said he was of Tuscany, and +demanded of Sir Gawaine, What, profferest thou, proud knight, thee so boldly? +here gettest thou no prey, thou mayest prove what thou wilt, for thou shalt be +my prisoner or thou depart. Then said Gawaine, thou avauntest thee greatly and +speakest proud words, I counsel thee for all thy boast that thou make thee +ready, and take thy gear to thee, to-fore greater grame fall to thee. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap99"></a>CHAPTER X.<br/>Of a battle done by Sir Gawaine against +a Saracen, which after was yielden and became Christian.</h3> + +<p> +Then they took their spears and ran each at other with all the might they had, +and smote each other through their shields into their shoulders, wherefore anon +they pulled out their swords, and smote great strokes that the fire sprang out +of their helms. Then Sir Gawaine was all abashed, and with Galatine his good +sword he smote through shield and thick hauberk made of thick mails, and all +to-rushed and break the precious stones, and made him a large wound, that men +might see both liver and lung. Then groaned that knight, and addressed him to +Sir Gawaine, and with an awk stroke gave him a great wound and cut a vein, +which grieved Gawaine sore, and he bled sore. Then the knight said to Sir +Gawaine, bind thy wound or thy blee[ding] change, for thou be-bleedest all thy +horse and thy fair arms, for all the barbers of Brittany shall not con staunch +thy blood, for whosomever is hurt with this blade he shall never be staunched +of bleeding. Then answered Gawaine, it grieveth me but little, thy great words +shall not fear me nor lessen my courage, but thou shalt suffer teen and sorrow +or we depart, but tell me in haste who may staunch my bleeding. That may I do, +said the knight, if I will, and so will I if thou wilt succour and aid me, that +I may be christened and believe on God, and thereof I require thee of thy +manhood, and it shall be great merit for thy soul. I grant, said Gawaine, so +God help me, to accomplish all thy desire, but first tell me what thou +soughtest here thus alone, and of what land and liegiance thou art of. Sir, he +said, my name is Priamus, and a great prince is my father, and he hath been +rebel unto Rome and overridden many of their lands. My father is lineally +descended of Alexander and of Hector by right line. And Duke Joshua and +Maccabaeus were of our lineage. I am right inheritor of Alexandria and Africa, +and all the out isles, yet will I believe on thy Lord that thou believest on; +and for thy labour I shall give thee treasure enough. I was so elate and +hauteyn in my heart that I thought no man my peer, nor to me semblable. I was +sent into this war with seven score knights, and now I have encountered with +thee, which hast given to me of fighting my fill, wherefore sir knight, I pray +thee to tell me what thou art. I am no knight, said Gawaine, I have been +brought up in the guardrobe with the noble King Arthur many years, for to take +heed to his armour and his other array, and to point his paltocks that long to +himself. At Yule last he made me yeoman, and gave to me horse and harness, and +an hundred pound in money; and if fortune be my friend, I doubt not but to be +well advanced and holpen by my liege lord. Ah, said Priamus, if his knaves be +so keen and fierce, his knights be passing good: now for the King’s love +of Heaven, whether thou be a knave or a knight, tell thou me thy name. By God, +said Sir Gawaine, now I will say thee sooth, my name is Sir Gawaine, and known +I am in his court and in his chamber, and one of the knights of the Round +Table, he dubbed me a duke with his own hand. Therefore grudge not if this +grace is to me fortuned, it is the goodness of God that lent to me my strength. +Now am I better pleased, said Priamus, than thou hadst given to me all the +Provence and Paris the rich. I had liefer to have been torn with wild horses, +than any varlet had won such loos, or any page or priker should have had prize +on me. But now sir knight I warn thee that hereby is a Duke of Lorraine with +his army, and the noblest men of Dolphiny, and lords of Lombardy, with the +garrison of Godard, and Saracens of Southland, y-numbered sixty thousand of +good men of arms; wherefore but if we hie us hence, it will harm us both, for +we be sore hurt, never like to recover; but take heed to my page, that he no +horn blow, for if he do, there be hoving here fast by an hundred knights +awaiting on my person, and if they take thee, there shall no ransom of gold nor +silver acquit thee. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Gawaine rode over a water for to save him, and the knight followed +him, and so rode forth till they came to his fellows which were in the meadow, +where they had been all the night. Anon as Sir Wisshard was ware of Sir Gawaine +and saw that he was hurt, he ran to him sorrowfully weeping, and demanded of +him who had so hurt him; and Gawaine told how he had foughten with that man, +and each of them had hurt other, and how he had salves to heal them; but I can +tell you other tidings, that soon we shall have ado with many enemies. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Priamus and Sir Gawaine alighted, and let their horses graze in the +meadow, and unarmed them, and then the blood ran freshly from their wounds. And +Priamus took from his page a vial full of the four waters that came out of +Paradise, and with certain balm anointed their wounds, and washed them with +that water, and within an hour after they were both as whole as ever they were. +And then with a trumpet were they all assembled to council, and there Priamus +told unto them what lords and knights had sworn to rescue him, and that without +fail they should be assailed with many thousands, wherefore he counselled them +to withdraw them. Then Sir Gawaine said, it were great shame to them to avoid +without any strokes; Wherefore I advise to take our arms and to make us ready +to meet with these Saracens and misbelieving men, and with the help of God we +shall overthrow them and have a fair day on them. And Sir Florence shall abide +still in this field to keep the stale as a noble knight, and we shall not +forsake yonder fellows. Now, said Priamus, cease your words, for I warn you ye +shall find in yonder woods many perilous knights; they will put forth beasts to +call you on, they be out of number, and ye are not past seven hundred, which be +over few to fight with so many. Nevertheless, said Sir Gawaine, we shall once +encounter them, and see what they can do, and the best shall have the victory. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap100"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br/>How the Saracens came out of a wood +for to rescue their beasts, and of a great battle.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Florence called to him Sir Floridas, with an hundred knights, and +drove forth the herd of beasts. Then followed him seven hundred men of arms; +and Sir Ferant of Spain on a fair steed came springing out of the woods, and +came to Sir Florence and asked him why he fled. Then Sir Florence took his +spear and rode against him, and smote him in the forehead and brake his neck +bone. Then all the other were moved, and thought to avenge the death of Sir +Ferant, and smote in among them, and there was great fight, and many slain and +laid down to ground, and Sir Florence with his hundred knights alway kept the +stale, and fought manly. +</p> + +<p> +Then when Priamus the good knight perceived the great fight, he went to Sir +Gawaine, and bade him that he should go and succour his fellowship, which were +sore bestead with their enemies. Sir, grieve you not, said Sir Gawaine, for +their gree shall be theirs. I shall not once move my horse to them ward, but if +I see more than there be; for they be strong enough to match them. +</p> + +<p> +And with that he saw an earl called Sir Ethelwold and the duke of Dutchmen, +came leaping out of a wood with many thousands, and Priamus’ knights, and +came straight unto the battle. Then Sir Gawaine comforted his knights, and bade +them not to be abashed, for all shall be ours. Then they began to wallop and +met with their enemies, there were men slain and overthrown on every side. Then +thrust in among them the knights of the Table Round, and smote down to the +earth all them that withstood them, in so much that they made them to recoil +and flee. By God, said Sir Gawaine, this gladdeth my heart, for now be they +less in number by twenty thousand. Then entered into the battle Jubance a +giant, and fought and slew down right, and distressed many of our knights, +among whom was slain Sir Gherard, a knight of Wales. Then our knights took +heart to them, and slew many Saracens. And then came in Sir Priamus with his +pennon, and rode with the knights of the Round Table, and fought so manfully +that many of their enemies lost their lives. And there Sir Priamus slew the +Marquis of Moises land, and Sir Gawaine with his fellows so quit them that they +had the field, but in that stour was Sir Chestelaine, a child and ward of Sir +Gawaine slain, wherefore was much sorrow made, and his death was soon avenged. +Thus was the battle ended, and many lords of Lombardy and Saracens left dead in +the field. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Florence and Sir Gawaine harboured surely their people, and took great +plenty of bestial, of gold and silver, and great treasure and riches, and +returned unto King Arthur, which lay still at the siege. And when they came to +the king they presented their prisoners and recounted their adventures, and how +they had vanquished their enemies. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap101"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br/>How Sir Gawaine returned to King +Arthur with his prisoners, and how the King won a city, and how he was crowned +Emperor.</h3> + +<p> +Now thanked be God, said the noble King Arthur. But what manner man is he that +standeth by himself, him seemeth no prisoner. Sir, said Gawaine, this is a good +man of arms, he hath matched me, but he is yielden unto God, and to me, for to +become Christian; had not he have been we should never have returned, wherefore +I pray you that he may be baptised, for there liveth not a nobler man nor +better knight of his hands. Then the king let him anon be christened, and did +do call him his first name Priamus, and made him a duke and knight of the Table +Round. And then anon the king let do cry assault to the city, and there was +rearing of ladders, breaking of walls, and the ditch filled, that men with +little pain might enter into the city. Then came out a duchess, and Clarisin +the countess, with many ladies and damosels, and kneeling before King Arthur, +required him for the love of God to receive the city, and not to take it by +assault, for then should many guiltless be slain. Then the king avaled his +visor with a meek and noble countenance, and said, Madam, there shall none of +my subjects misdo you nor your maidens, nor to none that to you belong, but the +duke shall abide my judgment. Then anon the king commanded to leave the +assault, and anon the duke’s oldest son brought out the keys, and +kneeling delivered them to the king, and besought him of grace; and the king +seized the town by assent of his lords, and took the duke and sent him to +Dover, there for to abide prisoner term of his life, and assigned certain rents +for the dower of the duchess and for her children. +</p> + +<p> +Then he made lords to rule those lands, and laws as a lord ought to do in his +own country; and after he took his journey toward Rome, and sent Sir Floris and +Sir Floridas to-fore, with five hundred men of arms, and they came to the city +of Urbino and laid there a bushment, thereas them seemed most best for them, +and rode to-fore the town, where anon issued out much people and skirmished +with the fore-riders. Then brake out the bushment and won the bridge, and after +the town, and set upon the walls the king’s banner. Then came the king +upon an hill, and saw the city and his banner on the walls, by which he knew +that the city was won. And anon he sent and commanded that none of his liege +men should defoul nor lie by no lady, wife nor maid; and when he came into the +city, he passed to the castle, and comforted them that were in sorrow, and +ordained there a captain, a knight of his own country. +</p> + +<p> +And when they of Milan heard that thilk city was won, they sent to King Arthur +great sums of money, and besought him as their lord to have pity on them, +promising to be his subjects for ever, and yield to him homage and fealty for +the lands of Pleasance and Pavia, Petersaint, and the Port of Tremble, and to +give him yearly a million of gold all his lifetime. Then he rideth into +Tuscany, and winneth towns and castles, and wasted all in his way that to him +will not obey, and so to Spolute and Viterbe, and from thence he rode into the +Vale of Vicecount among the vines. And from thence he sent to the senators, to +wit whether they would know him for their lord. But soon after on a Saturday +came unto King Arthur all the senators that were left alive, and the noblest +cardinals that then dwelt in Rome, and prayed him of peace, and proferred him +full large, and besought him as governor to give licence for six weeks for to +assemble all the Romans, and then to crown him emperor with chrism as it +belongeth to so high estate. I assent, said the king, like as ye have devised, +and at Christmas there to be crowned, and to hold my Round Table with my +knights as me liketh. And then the senators made ready for his enthronization. +And at the day appointed, as the romance telleth, he came into Rome, and was +crowned emperor by the pope’s hand, with all the royalty that could be +made, and sojourned there a time, and established all his lands from Rome into +France, and gave lands and realms unto his servants and knights, to everych +after his desert, in such wise that none complained, rich nor poor. And he gave +to Sir Priamus the duchy of Lorraine; and he thanked him, and said he would +serve him the days of his life; and after made dukes and earls, and made every +man rich. +</p> + +<p> +Then after this all his knights and lords assembled them afore him, and said: +Blessed be God, your war is finished and your conquest achieved, in so much +that we know none so great nor mighty that dare make war against you: wherefore +we beseech you to return homeward, and give us licence to go home to our wives, +from whom we have been long, and to rest us, for your journey is finished with +honour and worship. Then said the king, Ye say truth, and for to tempt God it +is no wisdom, and therefore make you ready and return we into England. Then +there was trussing of harness and baggage and great carriage. And after licence +given, he returned and commanded that no man in pain of death should not rob +nor take victual, nor other thing by the way but that he should pay therefore. +And thus he came over the sea and landed at Sandwich, against whom Queen +Guenever his wife came and met him, and he was nobly received of all his +commons in every city and burgh, and great gifts presented to him at his +home-coming to welcome him with. +</p> + +<h5>Thus endeth the fifth book of the conquest that King Arthur had against +Lucius the Emperor of Rome, and here followeth the sixth book, which is of Sir +Launcelot du Lake.</h5> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="part06"></a>BOOK VI.</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap102"></a>CHAPTER I.<br/>How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel +departed from the court, and how Sir Lionel left him sleeping and was +taken.</h3> + +<p> +Soon after that King Arthur was come from Rome into England, then all the +knights of the Table Round resorted unto the king, and made many jousts and +tournaments, and some there were that were but knights, which increased so in +arms and worship that they passed all their fellows in prowess and noble deeds, +and that was well proved on many; but in especial it was proved on Sir +Launcelot du Lake, for in all tournaments and jousts and deeds of arms, both +for life and death, he passed all other knights, and at no time he was never +overcome but if it were by treason or enchantment; so Sir Launcelot increased +so marvellously in worship, and in honour, therefore is he the first knight +that the French book maketh mention of after King Arthur came from Rome. +Wherefore Queen Guenever had him in great favour above all other knights, and +in certain he loved the queen again above all other ladies and damosels of his +life, and for her he did many deeds of arms, and saved her from the fire +through his noble chivalry. +</p> + +<p> +Thus Sir Launcelot rested him long with play and game. And then he thought +himself to prove himself in strange adventures, then he bade his nephew, Sir +Lionel, for to make him ready; for we two will seek adventures. So they mounted +on their horses, armed at all rights, and rode into a deep forest and so into a +deep plain. And then the weather was hot about noon, and Sir Launcelot had +great lust to sleep. Then Sir Lionel espied a great apple-tree that stood by an +hedge, and said, Brother, yonder is a fair shadow, there may we rest us [and] +our horses. It is well said, fair brother, said Sir Launcelot, for this eight +year I was not so sleepy as I am now; and so they there alighted and tied their +horses unto sundry trees, and so Sir Launcelot laid him down under an +appletree, and his helm he laid under his head. And Sir Lionel waked while he +slept. So Sir Launcelot was asleep passing fast. +</p> + +<p> +And in the meanwhile there came three knights riding, as fast fleeing as ever +they might ride. And there followed them three but one knight. And when Sir +Lionel saw him, him thought he saw never so great a knight, nor so well faring +a man, neither so well apparelled unto all rights. So within a while this +strong knight had overtaken one of these knights, and there he smote him to the +cold earth that he lay still. And then he rode unto the second knight, and +smote him so that man and horse fell down. And then straight to the third +knight he rode, and smote him behind his horse’s arse a spear length. And +then he alighted down and reined his horse on the bridle, and bound all the +three knights fast with the reins of their own bridles. When Sir Lionel saw him +do thus, he thought to assay him, and made him ready, and stilly and privily he +took his horse, and thought not for to awake Sir Launcelot. And when he was +mounted upon his horse, he overtook this strong knight, and bade him turn, and +the other smote Sir Lionel so hard that horse and man he bare to the earth, and +so he alighted down and bound him fast, and threw him overthwart his own horse, +and so he served them all four, and rode with them away to his own castle. And +when he came there he gart unarm them, and beat them with thorns all naked, and +after put them in a deep prison where were many more knights, that made great +dolour. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap103"></a>CHAPTER II.<br/>How Sir Ector followed for to seek +Sir Launcelot, and how he was taken by Sir Turquine.</h3> + +<p> +When Sir Ector de Maris wist that Sir Launcelot was passed out of the court to +seek adventures, he was wroth with himself, and made him ready to seek Sir +Launcelot, and as he had ridden long in a great forest he met with a man was +like a forester. Fair fellow, said Sir Ector, knowest thou in this country any +adventures that be here nigh hand? Sir, said the forester, this country know I +well, and hereby, within this mile, is a strong manor, and well dyked, and by +that manor, on the left hand, there is a fair ford for horses to drink of, and +over that ford there groweth a fair tree, and thereon hang many fair shields +that wielded sometime good knights, and at the hole of the tree hangeth a basin +of copper and latten, and strike upon that basin with the butt of thy spear +thrice, and soon after thou shalt hear new tidings, and else hast thou the +fairest grace that many a year had ever knight that passed through this forest. +Gramercy, said Sir Ector, and departed and came to the tree, and saw many fair +shields. And among them he saw his brother’s shield, Sir Lionel, and many +more that he knew that were his fellows of the Round Table, the which grieved +his heart, and promised to revenge his brother. +</p> + +<p> +Then anon Sir Ector beat on the basin as he were wood, and then he gave his +horse drink at the ford, and there came a knight behind him and bade him come +out of the water and make him ready; and Sir Ector anon turned him shortly, and +in feuter cast his spear, and smote the other knight a great buffet that his +horse turned twice about. This was well done, said the strong knight, and +knightly thou hast stricken me; and therewith he rushed his horse on Sir Ector, +and cleight him under his right arm, and bare him clean out of the saddle, and +rode with him away into his own hall, and threw him down in midst of the floor. +The name of this knight was Sir Turquine. Then he said unto Sir Ector, For thou +hast done this day more unto me than any knight did these twelve years, now +will I grant thee thy life, so thou wilt be sworn to be my prisoner all thy +life days. Nay, said Sir Ector, that will I never promise thee, but that I will +do mine advantage. That me repenteth, said Sir Turquine. And then he gart to +unarm him, and beat him with thorns all naked, and sithen put him down in a +deep dungeon, where he knew many of his fellows. But when Sir Ector saw Sir +Lionel, then made he great sorrow. Alas, brother, said Sir Ector, where is my +brother Sir Launcelot? Fair brother, I left him asleep when that I from him +yode, under an apple-tree, and what is become of him I cannot tell you. Alas, +said the knights, but Sir Launcelot help us we may never be delivered, for we +know now no knight that is able to match our master Turquine. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap104"></a>CHAPTER III.<br/>How four queens found Launcelot +sleeping, and how by enchantment he was taken and led into a castle.</h3> + +<p> +Now leave we these knights prisoners, and speak we of Sir Launcelot du Lake +that lieth under the apple-tree sleeping. Even about the noon there came by him +four queens of great estate; and, for the heat should not annoy them, there +rode four knights about them, and bare a cloth of green silk on four spears, +betwixt them and the sun, and the queens rode on four white mules. Thus as they +rode they heard by them a great horse grimly neigh, then were they ware of a +sleeping knight, that lay all armed under an apple-tree; anon as these queens +looked on his face, they knew it was Sir Launcelot. Then they began for to +strive for that knight, everych one said they would have him to her love. We +shall not strive, said Morgan le Fay, that was King Arthur’s sister, I +shall put an enchantment upon him that he shall not awake in six hours, and +then I will lead him away unto my castle, and when he is surely within my hold, +I shall take the enchantment from him, and then let him choose which of us he +will have unto paramour. +</p> + +<p> +So this enchantment was cast upon Sir Launcelot, and then they laid him upon +his shield, and bare him so on horseback betwixt two knights, and brought him +unto the castle Chariot, and there they laid him in a chamber cold, and at +night they sent unto him a fair damosel with his supper ready dight. By that +the enchantment was past, and when she came she saluted him, and asked him what +cheer. I cannot say, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, for I wot not how I came +into this castle but it be by an enchantment. Sir, said she, ye must make good +cheer, and if ye be such a knight as it is said ye be, I shall tell you more +to-morn by prime of the day. Gramercy, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, of +your good will I require you. And so she departed. And there he lay all that +night without comfort of anybody. And on the morn early came these four queens, +passingly well beseen, all they bidding him good morn, and he them again. +</p> + +<p> +Sir knight, the four queens said, thou must understand thou art our prisoner, +and we here know thee well that thou art Sir Launcelot du Lake, King +Ban’s son, and because we understand your worthiness, that thou art the +noblest knight living, and as we know well there can no lady have thy love but +one, and that is Queen Guenever, and now thou shalt lose her for ever, and she +thee, and therefore thee behoveth now to choose one of us four. I am the Queen +Morgan le Fay, queen of the land of Gore, and here is the queen of Northgalis, +and the queen of Eastland, and the queen of the Out Isles; now choose one of us +which thou wilt have to thy paramour, for thou mayest not choose or else in +this prison to die. This is an hard case, said Sir Launcelot, that either I +must die or else choose one of you, yet had I liefer to die in this prison with +worship, than to have one of you to my paramour maugre my head. And therefore +ye be answered, I will none of you, for ye be false enchantresses, and as for +my lady, Dame Guenever, were I at my liberty as I was, I would prove it on you +or on yours, that she is the truest lady unto her lord living. Well, said the +queens, is this your answer, that ye will refuse us. Yea, on my life, said Sir +Launcelot, refused ye be of me. So they departed and left him there alone that +made great sorrow. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap105"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br/>How Sir Launcelot was delivered by +the mean of a damosel.</h3> + +<p> +Right so at the noon came the damosel unto him with his dinner, and asked him +what cheer. Truly, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, in my life days never so +ill. Sir, she said, that me repenteth, but an ye will be ruled by me, I shall +help you out of this distress, and ye shall have no shame nor villainy, so that +ye hold me a promise. Fair damosel, I will grant you, and sore I am of these +queen-sorceresses afeard, for they have destroyed many a good knight. Sir, said +she, that is sooth, and for the renown and bounty that they hear of you they +would have your love, and Sir, they say, your name is Sir Launcelot du Lake, +the flower of knights, and they be passing wroth with you that ye have refused +them. But Sir, an ye would promise me to help my father on Tuesday next coming, +that hath made a tournament betwixt him and the King of Northgalis—for +the last Tuesday past my father lost the field through three knights of +Arthur’s court—an ye will be there on Tuesday next coming, and help +my father, to-morn or prime, by the grace of God, I shall deliver you clean. +Fair maiden, said Sir Launcelot, tell me what is your father’s name, and +then shall I give you an answer. Sir knight, she said, my father is King +Bagdemagus, that was foul rebuked at the last tournament. I know your father +well, said Sir Launcelot, for a noble king and a good knight, and by the faith +of my body, ye shall have my body ready to do your father and you service at +that day. Sir, she said, gramercy, and to-morn await ye be ready betimes and I +shall be she that shall deliver you and take you your armour and your horse, +shield and spear, and hereby within this ten mile, is an abbey of white monks, +there I pray you that ye me abide, and thither shall I bring my father unto +you. All this shall be done, said Sir Launcelot as I am true knight. +</p> + +<p> +And so she departed, and came on the morn early, and found him ready; then she +brought him out of twelve locks, and brought him unto his armour, and when he +was clean armed, she brought him until his own horse, and lightly he saddled +him and took a great spear in his hand and so rode forth, and said, Fair +damosel, I shall not fail you, by the grace of God. And so he rode into a great +forest all that day, and never could find no highway and so the night fell on +him, and then was he ware in a slade, of a pavilion of red sendal. By my faith, +said Sir Launcelot, in that pavilion will I lodge all this night, and so there +he alighted down, and tied his horse to the pavilion, and there he unarmed him, +and there he found a bed, and laid him therein and fell asleep sadly. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap106"></a>CHAPTER V.<br/>How a knight found Sir Launcelot lying +in his leman’s bed, and how Sir Launcelot fought with the knight.</h3> + +<p> +Then within an hour there came the knight to whom the pavilion ought, and he +weened that his leman had lain in that bed, and so he laid him down beside Sir +Launcelot, and took him in his arms and began to kiss him. And when Sir +Launcelot felt a rough beard kissing him, he started out of the bed lightly, +and the other knight after him, and either of them gat their swords in their +hands, and out at the pavilion door went the knight of the pavilion, and Sir +Launcelot followed him, and there by a little slake Sir Launcelot wounded him +sore, nigh unto the death. And then he yielded him unto Sir Launcelot, and so +he granted him, so that he would tell him why he came into the bed. Sir, said +the knight, the pavilion is mine own, and there this night I had assigned my +lady to have slept with me, and now I am likely to die of this wound. That me +repenteth, said Launcelot, of your hurt, but I was adread of treason, for I was +late beguiled, and therefore come on your way into your pavilion and take your +rest, and as I suppose I shall staunch your blood. And so they went both into +the pavilion, and anon Sir Launcelot staunched his blood. +</p> + +<p> +Therewithal came the knight’s lady, that was a passing fair lady, and +when she espied that her lord Belleus was sore wounded, she cried out on Sir +Launcelot, and made great dole out of measure. Peace, my lady and my love, said +Belleus, for this knight is a good man, and a knight adventurous, and there he +told her all the cause how he was wounded; And when that I yielded me unto him, +he left me goodly and hath staunched my blood. Sir, said the lady, I require +thee tell me what knight ye be, and what is your name? Fair lady, he said, my +name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. So me thought ever by your speech, said the +lady, for I have seen you oft or this, and I know you better than ye ween. But +now an ye would promise me of your courtesy, for the harms that ye have done to +me and my Lord Belleus, that when he cometh unto Arthur’s court for to +cause him to be made knight of the Round Table, for he is a passing good man of +arms, and a mighty lord of lands of many out isles. +</p> + +<p> +Fair lady, said Sir Launcelot, let him come unto the court the next high feast, +and look that ye come with him, and I shall do my power, an ye prove you +doughty of your hands, that ye shall have your desire. So thus within a while, +as they thus talked, the night passed, and the day shone, and then Sir +Launcelot armed him, and took his horse, and they taught him to the Abbey, and +thither he rode within the space of two hours. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap107"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br/>How Sir Launcelot was received of +King Bagdemagus’ daughter, and how he made his complaint to her +father.</h3> + +<p> +And soon as Sir Launcelot came within the abbey yard, the daughter of King +Bagdemagus heard a great horse go on the pavement. And she then arose and yede +unto a window, and there she saw Sir Launcelot, and anon she made men fast to +take his horse from him and let lead him into a stable, and himself was led +into a fair chamber, and unarmed him, and the lady sent him a long gown, and +anon she came herself. And then she made Launcelot passing good cheer, and she +said he was the knight in the world was most welcome to her. Then in all haste +she sent for her father Bagdemagus that was within twelve mile of that Abbey, +and afore even he came, with a fair fellowship of knights with him. And when +the king was alighted off his horse he yode straight unto Sir Launcelot’s +chamber and there he found his daughter, and then the king embraced Sir +Launcelot in his arms, and either made other good cheer. +</p> + +<p> +Anon Sir Launcelot made his complaint unto the king how he was betrayed, and +how his brother Sir Lionel was departed from him he wist not where, and how his +daughter had delivered him out of prison; Therefore while I live I shall do her +service and all her kindred. Then am I sure of your help, said the king, on +Tuesday next coming. Yea, sir, said Sir Launcelot, I shall not fail you, for so +I have promised my lady your daughter. But, sir, what knights be they of my +lord Arthur’s that were with the King of Northgalis? And the king said it +was Sir Mador de la Porte, and Sir Mordred and Sir Gahalantine that all +for-fared my knights, for against them three I nor my knights might bear no +strength. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, as I hear say that the tournament shall be +here within this three mile of this abbey, ye shall send unto me three knights +of yours, such as ye trust, and look that the three knights have all white +shields, and I also, and no painture on the shields, and we four will come out +of a little wood in midst of both parties, and we shall fall in the front of +our enemies and grieve them that we may; and thus shall I not be known what +knight I am. +</p> + +<p> +So they took their rest that night, and this was on the Sunday, and so the king +departed, and sent unto Sir Launcelot three knights with the four white +shields. And on the Tuesday they lodged them in a little leaved wood beside +there the tournament should be. And there were scaffolds and holes that lords +and ladies might behold and to give the prize. Then came into the field the +King of Northgalis with eight score helms. And then the three knights of +Arthur’s stood by themselves. Then came into the field King Bagdemagus +with four score of helms. And then they feutred their spears, and came together +with a great dash, and there were slain of knights at the first recounter +twelve of King Bagdemagus’ party, and six of the King of +Northgalis’ party, and King Bagdemagus’ party was far set aback. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap108"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br/>How Sir Launcelot behaved him in a +tournament, and how he met with Sir Turquine leading Sir Gaheris.</h3> + +<p> +With that came Sir Launcelot du Lake, and he thrust in with his spear in the +thickest of the press, and there he smote down with one spear five knights, and +of four of them he brake their backs. And in that throng he smote down the King +of Northgalis, and brake his thigh in that fall. All this doing of Sir +Launcelot saw the three knights of Arthur’s. Yonder is a shrewd guest, +said Sir Mador de la Porte, therefore have here once at him. So they +encountered, and Sir Launcelot bare him down horse and man, so that his +shoulder went out of lith. Now befalleth it to me to joust, said Mordred, for +Sir Mador hath a sore fall. Sir Launcelot was ware of him, and gat a great +spear in his hand, and met him, and Sir Mordred brake a spear upon him, and Sir +Launcelot gave him such a buffet that the arson of his saddle brake, and so he +flew over his horse’s tail, that his helm butted into the earth a foot +and more, that nigh his neck was broken, and there he lay long in a swoon. +</p> + +<p> +Then came in Sir Gahalantine with a great spear and Launcelot against him, with +all their strength that they might drive, that both their spears to-brast even +to their hands, and then they flang out with their swords and gave many a grim +stroke. Then was Sir Launcelot wroth out of measure, and then he smote Sir +Gahalantine on the helm that his nose brast out on blood, and ears and mouth +both, and therewith his head hung low. And therewith his horse ran away with +him, and he fell down to the earth. Anon therewithal Sir Launcelot gat a great +spear in his hand, and or ever that great spear brake, he bare down to the +earth sixteen knights, some horse and man, and some the man and not the horse, +and there was none but that he hit surely, he bare none arms that day. And then +he gat another great spear, and smote down twelve knights, and the most part of +them never throve after. And then the knights of the King of Northgalis would +joust no more. And there the gree was given to King Bagdemagus. +</p> + +<p> +So either party departed unto his own place, and Sir Launcelot rode forth with +King Bagdemagus unto his castle, and there he had passing good cheer both with +the king and with his daughter, and they proffered him great gifts. And on the +morn he took his leave, and told the king that he would go and seek his brother +Sir Lionel, that went from him when that he slept, so he took his horse, and +betaught them all to God. And there he said unto the king’s daughter, If +ye have need any time of my service I pray you let me have knowledge, and I +shall not fail you as I am true knight. And so Sir Launcelot departed, and by +adventure he came into the same forest there he was taken sleeping. And in the +midst of a highway he met a damosel riding on a white palfrey, and there either +saluted other. Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, know ye in this country any +adventures? Sir knight, said that damosel, here are adventures near hand, an +thou durst prove them. Why should I not prove adventures? said Sir Launcelot +for that cause come I hither. Well, said she, thou seemest well to be a good +knight, and if thou dare meet with a good knight, I shall bring thee where is +the best knight, and the mightiest that ever thou found, so thou wilt tell me +what is thy name, and what knight thou art. Damosel, as for to tell thee my +name I take no great force; truly my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Sir, thou +beseemest well, here be adventures by that fall for thee, for hereby dwelleth a +knight that will not be overmatched for no man I know but ye overmatch him, and +his name is Sir Turquine. And, as I understand, he hath in his prison, of +Arthur’s court, good knights three score and four, that he hath won with +his own hands. But when ye have done that journey ye shall promise me as ye are +a true knight for to go with me, and to help me and other damosels that are +distressed daily with a false knight. All your intent, damosel, and desire I +will fulfil, so ye will bring me unto this knight. Now, fair knight, come on +your way; and so she brought him unto the ford and the tree where hung the +basin. +</p> + +<p> +So Sir Launcelot let his horse drink, and then he beat on the basin with the +butt of his spear so hard with all his might till the bottom fell out, and long +he did so, but he saw nothing. Then he rode endlong the gates of that manor +nigh half-an-hour. And then was he ware of a great knight that drove an horse +afore him, and overthwart the horse there lay an armed knight bound. And ever +as they came near and near, Sir Launcelot thought he should know him. Then Sir +Launcelot was ware that it was Sir Gaheris, Gawaine’s brother, a knight +of the Table Round. Now, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, I see yonder cometh +a knight fast bounden that is a fellow of mine, and brother he is unto Sir +Gawaine. And at the first beginning I promise you, by the leave of God, to +rescue that knight; but if his master sit better in the saddle I shall deliver +all the prisoners that he hath out of danger, for I am sure he hath two +brethren of mine prisoners with him. By that time that either had seen other, +they gripped their spears unto them. Now, fair knight, said Sir Launcelot, put +that wounded knight off the horse, and let him rest awhile, and let us two +prove our strengths; for as it is informed me, thou doest and hast done great +despite and shame unto knights of the Round Table, and therefore now defend +thee. An thou be of the Table Round, said Turquine, I defy thee and all thy +fellowship. That is overmuch said, said Sir Launcelot. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap109"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br/>How Sir Launcelot and Sir Turquine +fought together.</h3> + +<p> +And then they put their spears in the rests, and came together with their +horses as fast as they might run, and either smote other in midst of their +shields, that both their horses’ backs brast under them, and the knights +were both stonied. And as soon as they might avoid their horses, they took +their shields afore them, and drew out their swords, and came together eagerly, +and either gave other many strong strokes, for there might neither shields nor +harness hold their strokes. And so within a while they had both grimly wounds, +and bled passing grievously. Thus they fared two hours or more trasing and +rasing either other, where they might hit any bare place. +</p> + +<p> +Then at the last they were breathless both, and stood leaning on their swords. +Now fellow, said Sir Turquine, hold thy hand a while, and tell me what I shall +ask thee. Say on. Then Turquine said, Thou art the biggest man that ever I met +withal, and the best breathed, and like one knight that I hate above all other +knights; so be it that thou be not he I will lightly accord with thee, and for +thy love I will deliver all the prisoners that I have, that is three score and +four, so thou wilt tell me thy name. And thou and I we will be fellows +together, and never to fail thee while that I live. It is well said, said Sir +Launcelot, but sithen it is so that I may have thy friendship, what knight is +he that thou so hatest above all other? Faithfully, said Sir Turquine, his name +is Sir Launcelot du Lake, for he slew my brother, Sir Carados, at the dolorous +tower, that was one of the best knights alive; and therefore him I except of +all knights, for may I once meet with him, the one of us shall make an end of +other, I make mine avow. And for Sir Launcelot’s sake I have slain an +hundred good knights, and as many I have maimed all utterly that they might +never after help themselves, and many have died in prison, and yet have I three +score and four, and all shall be delivered so thou wilt tell me thy name, so be +it that thou be not Sir Launcelot. +</p> + +<p> +Now, see I well, said Sir Launcelot, that such a man I might be, I might have +peace, and such a man I might be, that there should be war mortal betwixt us. +And now, sir knight, at thy request I will that thou wit and know that I am +Launcelot du Lake, King Ban’s son of Benwick, and very knight of the +Table Round. And now I defy thee, and do thy best. Ah, said Turquine, +Launcelot, thou art unto me most welcome that ever was knight, for we shall +never depart till the one of us be dead. Then they hurtled together as two wild +bulls rushing and lashing with their shields and swords, that sometime they +fell both over their noses. Thus they fought still two hours and more, and +never would have rest, and Sir Turquine gave Sir Launcelot many wounds that all +the ground thereas they fought was all bespeckled with blood. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap110"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br/>How Sir Turquine was slain, and how +Sir Launcelot bade Sir Gaheris deliver all the prisoners.</h3> + +<p> +Then at the last Sir Turquine waxed faint, and gave somewhat aback, and bare +his shield low for weariness. That espied Sir Launcelot, and leapt upon him +fiercely and gat him by the beaver of his helmet, and plucked him down on his +knees, and anon he raced off his helm, and smote his neck in sunder. And when +Sir Launcelot had done this, he yode unto the damosel and said, Damosel, I am +ready to go with you where ye will have me, but I have no horse. Fair sir, said +she, take this wounded knight’s horse and send him into this manor, and +command him to deliver all the prisoners. So Sir Launcelot went unto Gaheris, +and prayed him not to be aggrieved for to lend him his horse. Nay, fair lord, +said Gaheris, I will that ye take my horse at your own commandment, for ye have +both saved me and my horse, and this day I say ye are the best knight in the +world, for ye have slain this day in my sight the mightiest man and the best +knight except you that ever I saw, and, fair sir, said Gaheris, I pray you tell +me your name. Sir, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake, that ought to help you of +right for King Arthur’s sake, and in especial for my lord Sir +Gawaine’s sake, your own dear brother; and when that ye come within +yonder manor, I am sure ye shall find there many knights of the Round Table, +for I have seen many of their shields that I know on yonder tree. There is +Kay’s shield, and Sir Brandel’s shield, and Sir Marhaus’ +shield, and Sir Galind’s shield, and Sir Brian de Listnois’ shield, +and Sir Aliduke’s shield, with many more that I am not now advised of, +and also my two brethren’s shields, Sir Ector de Maris and Sir Lionel; +wherefore I pray you greet them all from me, and say that I bid them take such +stuff there as they find, and that in any wise my brethren go unto the court +and abide me there till that I come, for by the feast of Pentecost I cast me to +be there, for as at this time I must ride with this damosel for to save my +promise. +</p> + +<p> +And so he departed from Gaheris, and Gaheris yede in to the manor, and there he +found a yeoman porter keeping there many keys. Anon withal Sir Gaheris threw +the porter unto the ground and took the keys from him, and hastily he opened +the prison door, and there he let out all the prisoners, and every man loosed +other of their bonds. And when they saw Sir Gaheris, all they thanked him, for +they weened that he was wounded. Not so, said Gaheris, it was Launcelot that +slew him worshipfully with his own hands. I saw it with mine own eyes. And he +greeteth you all well, and prayeth you to haste you to the court; and as unto +Sir Lionel and Ector de Maris he prayeth you to abide him at the court. That +shall we not do, says his brethren, we will find him an we may live. So shall +I, said Sir Kay, find him or I come at the court, as I am true knight. +</p> + +<p> +Then all those knights sought the house thereas the armour was, and then they +armed them, and every knight found his own horse, and all that ever longed unto +him. And when this was done, there came a forester with four horses laden with +fat venison. Anon, Sir Kay said, Here is good meat for us for one meal, for we +had not many a day no good repast. And so that venison was roasted, baken, and +sodden, and so after supper some abode there all night, but Sir Lionel and +Ector de Maris and Sir Kay rode after Sir Launcelot to find him if they might. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap111"></a>CHAPTER X.<br/>How Sir Launcelot rode with a damosel +and slew a knight that distressed all ladies and also a villain that kept a +bridge.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot, that rode with the damosel in a fair highway. +Sir, said the damosel, here by this way haunteth a knight that distressed all +ladies and gentlewomen, and at the least he robbeth them or lieth by them. +What, said Sir Launcelot, is he a thief and a knight and a ravisher of women? +he doth shame unto the order of knighthood, and contrary unto his oath; it is +pity that he liveth. But, fair damosel, ye shall ride on afore, yourself, and I +will keep myself in covert, and if that he trouble you or distress you I shall +be your rescue and learn him to be ruled as a knight. +</p> + +<p> +So the maid rode on by the way a soft ambling pace, and within a while came out +that knight on horseback out of the wood, and his page with him, and there he +put the damosel from her horse, and then she cried. With that came Launcelot as +fast as he might till he came to that knight, saying, O thou false knight and +traitor unto knighthood, who did learn thee to distress ladies and gentlewomen? +When the knight saw Sir Launcelot thus rebuking him he answered not, but drew +his sword and rode unto Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot threw his spear from +him, and drew out his sword, and struck him such a buffet on the helmet that he +clave his head and neck unto the throat. Now hast thou thy payment that long +thou hast deserved! That is truth, said the damosel, for like as Sir Turquine +watched to destroy knights, so did this knight attend to destroy and distress +ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen, and his name was Sir Peris de Forest Savage. +Now, damosel, said Sir Launcelot, will ye any more service of me? Nay, sir, she +said, at this time, but almighty Jesu preserve you wheresomever ye ride or go, +for the curteist knight thou art, and meekest unto all ladies and gentlewomen, +that now liveth. But one thing, sir knight, methinketh ye lack, ye that are a +knight wifeless, that he will not love some maiden or gentlewoman, for I could +never hear say that ever ye loved any of no manner degree, and that is great +pity; but it is noised that ye love Queen Guenever, and that she hath ordained +by enchantment that ye shall never love none other but her, nor none other +damosel nor lady shall rejoice you; wherefore many in this land, of high estate +and low, make great sorrow. +</p> + +<p> +Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, I may not warn people to speak of me what it +pleaseth them; but for to be a wedded man, I think it not; for then I must +couch with her, and leave arms and tournaments, battles, and adventures; and as +for to say for to take my pleasaunce with paramours, that will I refuse in +principal for dread of God; for knights that be adventurous or lecherous shall +not be happy nor fortunate unto the wars, for other they shall be overcome with +a simpler knight than they be themselves, other else they shall by unhap and +their cursedness slay better men than they be themselves. And so who that useth +paramours shall be unhappy, and all thing is unhappy that is about them. +</p> + +<p> +And so Sir Launcelot and she departed. And then he rode in a deep forest two +days and more, and had strait lodging. So on the third day he rode over a long +bridge, and there stert upon him suddenly a passing foul churl, and he smote +his horse on the nose that he turned about, and asked him why he rode over that +bridge without his licence. Why should I not ride this way? said Sir Launcelot, +I may not ride beside. Thou shalt not choose, said the churl, and lashed at him +with a great club shod with iron. Then Sir Launcelot drew his sword and put the +stroke aback, and clave his head unto the paps. At the end of the bridge was a +fair village, and all the people, men and women, cried on Sir Launcelot, and +said, A worse deed didst thou never for thyself, for thou hast slain the chief +porter of our castle. Sir Launcelot let them say what they would, and straight +he went into the castle; and when he came into the castle he alighted, and tied +his horse to a ring on the wall and there he saw a fair green court, and +thither he dressed him, for there him thought was a fair place to fight in. So +he looked about, and saw much people in doors and windows that said, Fair +knight, thou art unhappy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap112"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br/>How Sir Launcelot slew two giants, +and made a castle free.</h3> + +<p> +Anon withal came there upon him two great giants, well armed all save the +heads, with two horrible clubs in their hands. Sir Launcelot put his shield +afore him and put the stroke away of the one giant, and with his sword he clave +his head asunder. When his fellow saw that, he ran away as he were wood, for +fear of the horrible strokes, and Launcelot after him with all his might, and +smote him on the shoulder, and clave him to the navel. Then Sir Launcelot went +into the hall, and there came afore him three score ladies and damosels, and +all kneeled unto him, and thanked God and him of their deliverance; For sir, +said they, the most party of us have been here this seven year their prisoners, +and we have worked all manner of silk works for our meat, and we are all great +gentlewomen born; and blessed be the time, knight, that ever thou be born, for +thou hast done the most worship that ever did knight in this world, that will +we bear record, and we all pray you to tell us your name, that we may tell our +friends who delivered us out of prison. Fair damosel, he said, my name is Sir +Launcelot du Lake. Ah, sir, said they all, well mayest thou be he, for else +save yourself, as we deemed, there might never knight have the better of these +two giants; for many fair knights have assayed it, and here have ended, and +many times have we wished after you, and these two giants dread never knight +but you. Now may ye say, said Sir Launcelot, unto your friends how and who hath +delivered you, and greet them all from me, and if that I come in any of your +marches, show me such cheer as ye have cause, and what treasure that there in +this castle is I give it you for a reward for your grievance, and the lord that +is owner of this castle I would he received it as is right. Fair sir, said +they, the name of this castle is Tintagil, and a duke ought it sometime that +had wedded fair Igraine, and after wedded her Uther Pendragon, and gat on her +Arthur. Well, said Sir Launcelot, I understand to whom this castle longeth; and +so he departed from them, and betaught them unto God. +</p> + +<p> +And then he mounted upon his horse, and rode into many strange and wild +countries, and through many waters and valleys, and evil was he lodged. And at +the last by fortune him happened, against a night, to come to a fair +courtelage, and therein he found an old gentlewoman that lodged him with good +will, and there he had good cheer for him and his horse. And when time was, his +host brought him into a fair garret, over the gate, to his bed. There Sir +Launcelot unarmed him, and set his harness by him, and went to bed, and anon he +fell asleep. So, soon after, there came one on horseback, and knocked at the +gate in great haste, and when Sir Launcelot heard this, he arose up and looked +out at the window, and saw by the moonlight three knights came riding after +that one man, and all three lashed on him at once with swords, and that one +knight turned on them knightly again, and defended him. Truly, said Sir +Launcelot, yonder one knight shall I help, for it were shame for me to see +three knights on one, and if he be slain I am partner of his death; and +therewith he took his harness, and went out at a window by a sheet down to the +four knights, and then Sir Launcelot said on high, Turn you knights unto me, +and leave your fighting with that knight. And then they all three left Sir Kay, +and turned unto Sir Launcelot, and there began great battle, for they alighted +all three, and struck many great strokes at Sir Launcelot, and assailed him on +every side. Then Sir Kay dressed him for to have holpen Sir Launcelot. Nay, +sir, said he, I will none of your help; therefore as ye will have my help, let +me alone with them. Sir Kay, for the pleasure of the knight, suffered him for +to do his will, and so stood aside. And then anon within six strokes, Sir +Launcelot had stricken them to the earth. +</p> + +<p> +And then they all three cried: Sir knight, we yield us unto you as a man of +might makeless. As to that, said Sir Launcelot, I will not take your yielding +unto me. But so that ye will yield you unto Sir Kay the Seneschal, on that +covenant I will save your lives, and else not. Fair knight, said they, that +were we loath to do; for as for Sir Kay, we chased him hither, and had overcome +him had not ye been, therefore to yield us unto him it were no reason. Well, as +to that, said Launcelot, advise you well, for ye may choose whether ye will die +or live, for an ye be yolden it shall be unto Sir Kay. Fair knight, then they +said, in saving of our lives we will do as thou commandest us. Then shall ye, +said Sir Launcelot, on Whitsunday next coming, go unto the court of King +Arthur, and there shall ye yield you unto Queen Guenever, and put you all three +in her grace and mercy, and say that Sir Kay sent you thither to be her +prisoners. Sir, they said, it shall be done by the faith of our bodies, an we +be living, and there they swore every knight upon his sword. And so Sir +Launcelot suffered them so to depart. And then Sir Launcelot knocked at the +gate with the pommel of his sword, and with that came his host, and in they +entered Sir Kay and he. Sir, said his host, I weened ye had been in your bed. +So I was, said Sir Launcelot, but I rose and leapt out at my window for to help +an old fellow of mine. And so when they came nigh the light, Sir Kay knew well +that it was Sir Launcelot, and therewith he kneeled down and thanked him of all +his kindness that he had holpen him twice from the death. Sir, he said, I have +nothing done but that me ought for to do, and ye are welcome, and here shall ye +repose you and take your rest. +</p> + +<p> +So when Sir Kay was unarmed, he asked after meat; so there was meat fetched +him, and he ate strongly. And when he had supped they went to their beds and +were lodged together in one bed. On the morn Sir Launcelot arose early, and +left Sir Kay sleeping, and Sir Launcelot took Sir Kay’s armour and his +shield, and armed him, and so he went to the stable, and took his horse, and +took his leave of his host, and so he departed. Then soon after arose Sir Kay +and missed Sir Launcelot. And then he espied that he had his armour and his +horse. Now by my faith I know well that he will grieve some of the court of +King Arthur; for on him knights will be bold, and deem that it is I, and that +will beguile them. And because of his armour and shield I am sure I shall ride +in peace. And then soon after departed Sir Kay and thanked his host. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap113"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br/>How Sir Launcelot rode disguised in +Sir Kay’s harness, and how he smote down a knight.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot that had ridden long in a great forest, and at +the last he came into a low country, full of fair rivers and meadows. And afore +him he saw a long bridge, and three pavilions stood thereon, of silk and sendal +of divers hue. And without the pavilions hung three white shields on truncheons +of spears, and great long spears stood upright by the pavilions, and at every +pavilion’s door stood three fresh squires, and so Sir Launcelot passed by +them and spake no word. When he was passed the three knights said them that it +was the proud Kay; He weeneth no knight so good as he, and the contrary is +ofttime proved. By my faith, said one of the knights, his name was Sir Gaunter, +I will ride after him and assay him for all his pride, and ye may behold how +that I speed. So this knight, Sir Gaunter, armed him, and hung his shield upon +his shoulder, and mounted upon a great horse, and gat his spear in his hand, +and walloped after Sir Launcelot. And when he came nigh him, he cried, Abide, +thou proud knight Sir Kay, for thou shalt not pass quit. So Sir Launcelot +turned him, and either feutred their spears, and came together with all their +mights, and Sir Gaunter’s spear brake, but Sir Launcelot smote him down +horse and man. And when Sir Gaunter was at the earth his brethren said each one +to other, Yonder knight is not Sir Kay, for he is bigger than he. I dare lay my +head, said Sir Gilmere, yonder knight hath slain Sir Kay and hath taken his +horse and his harness. Whether it be so or no, said Sir Raynold, the third +brother, let us now go mount upon our horses and rescue our brother Sir +Gaunter, upon pain of death. We all shall have work enough to match that +knight, for ever meseemeth by his person it is Sir Launcelot, or Sir Tristram, +or Sir Pelleas, the good knight. +</p> + +<p> +Then anon they took their horses and overtook Sir Launcelot, and Sir Gilmere +put forth his spear, and ran to Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot smote him down +that he lay in a swoon. Sir knight, said Sir Raynold, thou art a strong man, +and as I suppose thou hast slain my two brethren, for the which raseth my heart +sore against thee, and if I might with my worship I would not have ado with +you, but needs I must take part as they do, and therefore, knight, he said, +keep thyself. And so they hurtled together with all their mights, and all +to-shivered both their spears. And then they drew their swords and lashed +together eagerly. Anon therewith arose Sir Gaunter, and came unto his brother +Sir Gilmere, and bade him, Arise, and help we our brother Sir Raynold, that +yonder marvellously matched yonder good knight. Therewithal, they leapt on +their horses and hurtled unto Sir Launcelot. +</p> + +<p> +And when he saw them come he smote a sore stroke unto Sir Raynold, that he fell +off his horse to the ground, and then he struck to the other two brethren, and +at two strokes he struck them down to the earth. With that Sir Raynold began to +start up with his head all bloody, and came straight unto Sir Launcelot. Now +let be, said Sir Launcelot, I was not far from thee when thou wert made knight, +Sir Raynold, and also I know thou art a good knight, and loath I were to slay +thee. Gramercy, said Sir Raynold, as for your goodness; and I dare say as for +me and my brethren, we will not be loath to yield us unto you, with that we +knew your name, for well we know ye are not Sir Kay. As for that be it as it be +may, for ye shall yield you unto dame Guenever, and look that ye be with her on +Whitsunday, and yield you unto her as prisoners, and say that Sir Kay sent you +unto her. Then they swore it should be done, and so passed forth Sir Launcelot, +and each one of the brethren holp other as well as they might. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap114"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br/>How Sir Launcelot jousted against +four knights of the Round Table and overthrew them.</h3> + +<p> +So Sir Launcelot rode into a deep forest, and thereby in a slade, he saw four +knights hoving under an oak, and they were of Arthur’s court, one was Sir +Sagramour le Desirous, and Ector de Maris, and Sir Gawaine, and Sir Uwaine. +Anon as these four knights had espied Sir Launcelot, they weened by his arms it +had been Sir Kay. Now by my faith, said Sir Sagramour, I will prove Sir +Kay’s might, and gat his spear in his hand, and came toward Sir +Launcelot. Therewith Sir Launcelot was ware and knew him well, and feutred his +spear against him, and smote Sir Sagramour so sore that horse and man fell both +to the earth. Lo, my fellows, said he, yonder ye may see what a buffet he hath; +that knight is much bigger than ever was Sir Kay. Now shall ye see what I may +do to him. So Sir Ector gat his spear in his hand and walloped toward Sir +Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot smote him through the shield and shoulder, that +man and horse went to the earth, and ever his spear held. +</p> + +<p> +By my faith, said Sir Uwaine, yonder is a strong knight, and I am sure he hath +slain Sir Kay; and I see by his great strength it will be hard to match him. +And therewithal, Sir Uwaine gat his spear in his hand and rode toward Sir +Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot knew him well, and so he met him on the plain, and +gave him such a buffet that he was astonied, that long he wist not where he +was. Now see I well, said Sir Gawaine, I must encounter with that knight. Then +he dressed his shield and gat a good spear in his hand, and Sir Launcelot knew +him well; and then they let run their horses with all their mights, and either +knight smote other in midst of the shield. But Sir Gawaine’s spear +to-brast, and Sir Launcelot charged so sore upon him that his horse reversed +up-so-down. And much sorrow had Sir Gawaine to avoid his horse, and so Sir +Launcelot passed on a pace and smiled, and said, God give him joy that this +spear made, for there came never a better in my hand. +</p> + +<p> +Then the four knights went each one to other and comforted each other. What say +ye by this guest? said Sir Gawaine, that one spear hath felled us all four. We +commend him unto the devil, they said all, for he is a man of great might. Ye +may well say it, said Sir Gawaine, that he is a man of might, for I dare lay my +head it is Sir Launcelot, I know it by his riding. Let him go, said Sir +Gawaine, for when we come to the court then shall we wit; and then had they +much sorrow to get their horses again. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap115"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br/>How Sir Launcelot followed a brachet +into a castle, where he found a dead knight, and how he after was required of a +damosel to heal her brother.</h3> + +<p> +Now leave we there and speak of Sir Launcelot that rode a great while in a deep +forest, where he saw a black brachet, seeking in manner as it had been in the +feute of an hurt deer. And therewith he rode after the brachet, and he saw lie +on the ground a large feute of blood. And then Sir Launcelot rode after. And +ever the brachet looked behind her, and so she went through a great marsh, and +ever Sir Launcelot followed. And then was he ware of an old manor, and thither +ran the brachet, and so over the bridge. So Sir Launcelot rode over that bridge +that was old and feeble; and when he came in midst of a great hall, there he +saw lie a dead knight that was a seemly man, and that brachet licked his +wounds. And therewithal came out a lady weeping and wringing her hands; and +then she said, O knight, too much sorrow hast thou brought me. Why say ye so? +said Sir Launcelot, I did never this knight no harm, for hither by feute of +blood this brachet brought me; and therefore, fair lady, be not displeased with +me, for I am full sore aggrieved of your grievance. Truly, sir, she said, I +trow it be not ye that hath slain my husband, for he that did that deed is sore +wounded, and he is never likely to recover, that shall I ensure him. What was +your husband’s name? said Sir Launcelot. Sir, said she, his name was +called Sir Gilbert the Bastard, one of the best knights of the world, and he +that hath slain him I know not his name. Now God send you better comfort, said +Sir Launcelot; and so he departed and went into the forest again, and there he +met with a damosel, the which knew him well, and she said aloud, Well be ye +found, my lord; and now I require thee, on thy knighthood, help my brother that +is sore wounded, and never stinteth bleeding; for this day he fought with Sir +Gilbert the Bastard and slew him in plain battle, and there was my brother sore +wounded, and there is a lady a sorceress that dwelleth in a castle here beside, +and this day she told me my brother’s wounds should never be whole till I +could find a knight that would go into the Chapel Perilous, and there he should +find a sword and a bloody cloth that the wounded knight was lapped in, and a +piece of that cloth and sword should heal my brother’s wounds, so that +his wounds were searched with the sword and the cloth. This is a marvellous +thing, said Sir Launcelot, but what is your brother’s name? Sir, she +said, his name was Sir Meliot de Logres. That me repenteth, said Sir Launcelot, +for he is a fellow of the Table Round, and to his help I will do my power. +Then, sir, said she, follow even this highway, and it will bring you unto the +Chapel Perilous; and here I shall abide till God send you here again, and, but +you speed, I know no knight living that may achieve that adventure. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap116"></a>CHAPTER XV.<br/>How Sir Launcelot came into the +Chapel Perilous and gat there of a dead corpse a piece of the cloth and a +sword.</h3> + +<p> +Right so Sir Launcelot departed, and when he came unto the Chapel Perilous he +alighted down, and tied his horse unto a little gate. And as soon as he was +within the churchyard he saw on the front of the chapel many fair rich shields +turned up-so-down, and many of the shields Sir Launcelot had seen knights bear +beforehand. With that he saw by him there stand a thirty great knights, more by +a yard than any man that ever he had seen, and all those grinned and gnashed at +Sir Launcelot. And when he saw their countenance he dreaded him sore, and so +put his shield afore him, and took his sword ready in his hand ready unto +battle, and they were all armed in black harness ready with their shields and +their swords drawn. And when Sir Launcelot would have gone throughout them, +they scattered on every side of him, and gave him the way, and therewith he +waxed all bold, and entered into the chapel, and then he saw no light but a dim +lamp burning, and then was he ware of a corpse hilled with a cloth of silk. +Then Sir Launcelot stooped down, and cut a piece away of that cloth, and then +it fared under him as the earth had quaked a little; therewithal he feared. And +then he saw a fair sword lie by the dead knight, and that he gat in his hand +and hied him out of the chapel. +</p> + +<p> +Anon as ever he was in the chapel yard all the knights spake to him with a +grimly voice, and said, Knight, Sir Launcelot, lay that sword from thee or else +thou shalt die. Whether that I live or die, said Sir Launcelot, with no great +word get ye it again, therefore fight for it an ye list. Then right so he +passed throughout them, and beyond the chapel yard there met him a fair +damosel, and said, Sir Launcelot, leave that sword behind thee, or thou wilt +die for it. I leave it not, said Sir Launcelot, for no treaties. No, said she, +an thou didst leave that sword, Queen Guenever should thou never see. Then were +I a fool an I would leave this sword, said Launcelot. Now, gentle knight, said +the damosel, I require thee to kiss me but once. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, that +God me forbid. Well, sir, said she, an thou hadst kissed me thy life days had +been done, but now, alas, she said, I have lost all my labour, for I ordained +this chapel for thy sake, and for Sir Gawaine. And once I had Sir Gawaine +within me, and at that time he fought with that knight that lieth there dead in +yonder chapel, Sir Gilbert the Bastard; and at that time he smote the left hand +off of Sir Gilbert the Bastard. And, Sir Launcelot, now I tell thee, I have +loved thee this seven year, but there may no woman have thy love but Queen +Guenever. But sithen I may not rejoice thee to have thy body alive, I had kept +no more joy in this world but to have thy body dead. Then would I have balmed +it and served it, and so have kept it my life days, and daily I should have +clipped thee, and kissed thee, in despite of Queen Guenever. Ye say well, said +Sir Launcelot, Jesu preserve me from your subtle crafts. And therewithal he +took his horse and so departed from her. And as the book saith, when Sir +Launcelot was departed she took such sorrow that she died within a fourteen +night, and her name was Hellawes the sorceress, Lady of the Castle Nigramous. +</p> + +<p> +Anon Sir Launcelot met with the damosel, Sir Meliot’s sister. And when +she saw him she clapped her hands, and wept for joy. And then they rode unto a +castle thereby where lay Sir Meliot. And anon as Sir Launcelot saw him he knew +him, but he was passing pale, as the earth, for bleeding. When Sir Meliot saw +Sir Launcelot he kneeled upon his knees and cried on high: O lord Sir +Launcelot, help me! Anon Sir Launcelot leapt unto him and touched his wounds +with Sir Gilbert’s sword. And then he wiped his wounds with a part of the +bloody cloth that Sir Gilbert was wrapped in, and anon an wholer man in his +life was he never. And then there was great joy between them, and they made Sir +Launcelot all the cheer that they might, and so on the morn Sir Launcelot took +his leave, and bade Sir Meliot hie him to the court of my lord Arthur, for it +draweth nigh to the Feast of Pentecost, and there by the grace of God ye shall +find me. And therewith they departed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap117"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br/>How Sir Launcelot at the request of +a lady recovered a falcon, by which he was deceived.</h3> + +<p> +And so Sir Launcelot rode through many strange countries, over marshes and +valleys, till by fortune he came to a fair castle, and as he passed beyond the +castle him thought he heard two bells ring. And then was he ware of a falcon +came flying over his head toward an high elm, and long lunes about her feet, +and as she flew unto the elm to take her perch the lunes over-cast about a +bough. And when she would have taken her flight she hung by the legs fast; and +Sir Launcelot saw how she hung, and beheld the fair falcon perigot, and he was +sorry for her. +</p> + +<p> +The meanwhile came a lady out of the castle and cried on high: O Launcelot, +Launcelot, as thou art flower of all knights, help me to get my hawk, for an my +hawk be lost my lord will destroy me; for I kept the hawk and she slipped from +me, and if my lord my husband wit it he is so hasty that he will slay me. What +is your lord’s name? said Sir Launcelot. Sir, she said, his name is Sir +Phelot, a knight that longeth unto the King of Northgalis. Well, fair lady, +since that ye know my name, and require me of knighthood to help you, I will do +what I may to get your hawk, and yet God knoweth I am an ill climber, and the +tree is passing high, and few boughs to help me withal. And therewith Sir +Launcelot alighted, and tied his horse to the same tree, and prayed the lady to +unarm him. And so when he was unarmed, he put off all his clothes unto his +shirt and breech, and with might and force he clomb up to the falcon, and tied +the lines to a great rotten boyshe, and threw the hawk down and it withal. +</p> + +<p> +Anon the lady gat the hawk in her hand; and therewithal came out Sir Phelot out +of the groves suddenly, that was her husband, all armed and with his naked +sword in his hand, and said: O knight Launcelot, now have I found thee as I +would, and stood at the bole of the tree to slay him. Ah, lady, said Sir +Launcelot, why have ye betrayed me? She hath done, said Sir Phelot, but as I +commanded her, and therefore there nis none other boot but thine hour is come +that thou must die. That were shame unto thee, said Sir Launcelot, thou an +armed knight to slay a naked man by treason. Thou gettest none other grace, +said Sir Phelot, and therefore help thyself an thou canst. Truly, said Sir +Launcelot, that shall be thy shame, but since thou wilt do none other, take +mine harness with thee, and hang my sword upon a bough that I may get it, and +then do thy best to slay me an thou canst. Nay, nay, said Sir Phelot, for I +know thee better than thou weenest, therefore thou gettest no weapon, an I may +keep you therefrom. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, that ever a knight should die +weaponless. And therewith he waited above him and under him, and over his head +he saw a rownsepyk, a big bough leafless, and therewith he brake it off by the +body. And then he came lower and awaited how his own horse stood, and suddenly +he leapt on the further side of the horse, fro-ward the knight. And then Sir +Phelot lashed at him eagerly, weening to have slain him. But Sir Launcelot put +away the stroke with the rownsepyk, and therewith he smote him on the one side +of the head, that he fell down in a swoon to the ground. So then Sir Launcelot +took his sword out of his hand, and struck his neck from the body. Then cried +the lady, Alas! why hast thou slain my husband? I am not causer, said Sir +Launcelot, for with falsehood ye would have had slain me with treason, and now +it is fallen on you both. And then she swooned as though she would die. And +therewithal Sir Launcelot gat all his armour as well as he might, and put it +upon him for dread of more resort, for he dreaded that the knight’s +castle was so nigh. And so, as soon as he might, he took his horse and +departed, and thanked God that he had escaped that adventure. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap118"></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br/>How Sir Launcelot overtook a knight +which chased his wife to have slain her, and how he said to him.</h3> + +<p> +So Sir Launcelot rode many wild ways, throughout marches and many wild ways. +And as he rode in a valley he saw a knight chasing a lady, with a naked sword, +to have slain her. And by fortune as this knight should have slain this lady, +she cried on Sir Launcelot and prayed him to rescue her. When Sir Launcelot saw +that mischief, he took his horse and rode between them, saying, Knight, fie for +shame, why wilt thou slay this lady? thou dost shame unto thee and all knights. +What hast thou to do betwixt me and my wife? said the knight. I will slay her +maugre thy head. That shall ye not, said Sir Launcelot, for rather we two will +have ado together. Sir Launcelot, said the knight, thou dost not thy part, for +this lady hath betrayed me. It is not so, said the lady, truly he saith wrong +on me. And for because I love and cherish my cousin germain, he is jealous +betwixt him and me; and as I shall answer to God there was never sin betwixt +us. But, sir, said the lady, as thou art called the worshipfullest knight of +the world, I require thee of true knighthood, keep me and save me. For +whatsomever ye say he will slay me, for he is without mercy. Have ye no doubt, +said Launcelot, it shall not lie in his power. Sir, said the knight, in your +sight I will be ruled as ye will have me. And so Sir Launcelot rode on the one +side and she on the other: he had not ridden but a while, but the knight bade +Sir Launcelot turn him and look behind him, and said, Sir, yonder come men of +arms after us riding. And so Sir Launcelot turned him and thought no treason, +and therewith was the knight and the lady on one side, and suddenly he swapped +off his lady’s head. +</p> + +<p> +And when Sir Launcelot had espied him what he had done, he said, and called +him, Traitor, thou hast shamed me for ever. And suddenly Sir Launcelot alighted +off his horse, and pulled out his sword to slay him, and therewithal he fell +flat to the earth, and gripped Sir Launcelot by the thighs, and cried mercy. +Fie on thee, said Sir Launcelot, thou shameful knight, thou mayest have no +mercy, and therefore arise and fight with me. Nay, said the knight, I will +never arise till ye grant me mercy. Now will I proffer thee fair, said +Launcelot, I will unarm me unto my shirt, and I will have nothing upon me but +my shirt, and my sword and my hand. And if thou canst slay me, quit be thou for +ever. Nay, sir, said Pedivere, that will I never. Well, said Sir Launcelot, +take this lady and the head, and bear it upon thee, and here shalt thou swear +upon my sword, to bear it always upon thy back, and never to rest till thou +come to Queen Guenever. Sir, said he, that will I do, by the faith of my body. +Now, said Launcelot, tell me what is your name? Sir, my name is Pedivere. In a +shameful hour wert thou born, said Launcelot. +</p> + +<p> +So Pedivere departed with the dead lady and the head, and found the queen with +King Arthur at Winchester, and there he told all the truth. Sir knight, said +the queen, this is an horrible deed and a shameful, and a great rebuke unto Sir +Launcelot; but notwithstanding his worship is not known in many divers +countries; but this shall I give you in penance, make ye as good shift as ye +can, ye shall bear this lady with you on horseback unto the Pope of Rome, and +of him receive your penance for your foul deeds; and ye shall never rest one +night whereas ye do another; an ye go to any bed the dead body shall lie with +you. This oath there he made, and so departed. And as it telleth in the French +book, when he came to Rome, the Pope bade him go again unto Queen Guenever, and +in Rome was his lady buried by the Pope’s commandment. And after this Sir +Pedivere fell to great goodness, and was an holy man and an hermit. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap119"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br/>How Sir Launcelot came to King +Arthur’s Court, and how there were recounted all his noble feats and +acts.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot du Lake, that came home two days afore the Feast +of Pentecost; and the king and all the court were passing fain of his coming. +And when Sir Gawaine, Sir Uwaine, Sir Sagramore, Sir Ector de Maris, saw Sir +Launcelot in Kay’s armour, then they wist well it was he that smote them +down all with one spear. Then there was laughing and smiling among them. And +ever now and now came all the knights home that Sir Turquine had prisoners, and +they all honoured and worshipped Sir Launcelot. +</p> + +<p> +When Sir Gaheris heard them speak, he said, I saw all the battle from the +beginning to the ending, and there he told King Arthur all how it was, and how +Sir Turquine was the strongest knight that ever he saw except Sir Launcelot: +there were many knights bare him record, nigh three score. Then Sir Kay told +the king how Sir Launcelot had rescued him when he should have been slain, and +how he made the knights yield them to me, and not to him. And there they were +all three, and bare record. And by Jesu, said Sir Kay, because Sir Launcelot +took my harness and left me his I rode in good peace, and no man would have ado +with me. +</p> + +<p> +Anon therewithal there came the three knights that fought with Sir Launcelot at +the long bridge. And there they yielded them unto Sir Kay, and Sir Kay forsook +them and said he fought never with them. But I shall ease your heart, said Sir +Kay, yonder is Sir Launcelot that overcame you. When they wist that they were +glad. And then Sir Meliot de Logres came home, and told the king how Sir +Launcelot had saved him from the death. And all his deeds were known, how four +queens, sorceresses, had him in prison, and how he was delivered by King +Bagdemagus’ daughter. Also there were told all the great deeds of arms +that Sir Launcelot did betwixt the two kings, that is for to say the King of +Northgalis and King Bagdemagus. All the truth Sir Gahalantine did tell, and Sir +Mador de la Porte and Sir Mordred, for they were at that same tournament. Then +came in the lady that knew Sir Launcelot when that he wounded Sir Belleus at +the pavilion. And there, at request of Sir Launcelot, Sir Belleus was made +knight of the Round Table. And so at that time Sir Launcelot had the greatest +name of any knight of the world, and most he was honoured of high and low. +</p> + +<h5> Explicit the noble tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake, which is the vi. book. +Here followeth the tale of Sir Gareth of Orkney that was called Beaumains by +Sir Kay, and is the seventh book. </h5> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="part07"></a>BOOK VII.</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap120"></a>CHAPTER I.<br/>How Beaumains came to King +Arthur’s Court and demanded three petitions of King Arthur.</h3> + +<p> +When Arthur held his Round Table most plenour, it fortuned that he commanded +that the high feast of Pentecost should be holden at a city and a castle, the +which in those days was called Kynke Kenadonne, upon the sands that marched +nigh Wales. So ever the king had a custom that at the feast of Pentecost in +especial, afore other feasts in the year, he would not go that day to meat +until he had heard or seen of a great marvel. And for that custom all manner of +strange adventures came before Arthur as at that feast before all other feasts. +And so Sir Gawaine, a little to-fore noon of the day of Pentecost, espied at a +window three men upon horseback, and a dwarf on foot, and so the three men +alighted, and the dwarf kept their horses, and one of the three men was higher +than the other twain by a foot and an half. Then Sir Gawaine went unto the king +and said, Sir, go to your meat, for here at the hand come strange adventures. +So Arthur went unto his meat with many other kings. And there were all the +knights of the Round Table, [save] only those that were prisoners or slain at a +recounter. Then at the high feast evermore they should be fulfilled the whole +number of an hundred and fifty, for then was the Round Table fully complished. +</p> + +<p> +Right so came into the hall two men well beseen and richly, and upon their +shoulders there leaned the goodliest young man and the fairest that ever they +all saw, and he was large and long, and broad in the shoulders, and well +visaged, and the fairest and the largest handed that ever man saw, but he fared +as though he might not go nor bear himself but if he leaned upon their +shoulders. Anon as Arthur saw him there was made peace and room, and right so +they yede with him unto the high dais, without saying of any words. Then this +much young man pulled him aback, and easily stretched up straight, saying, King +Arthur, God you bless and all your fair fellowship, and in especial the +fellowship of the Table Round. And for this cause I am come hither, to pray you +and require you to give me three gifts, and they shall not be unreasonably +asked, but that ye may worshipfully and honourably grant them me, and to you no +great hurt nor loss. And the first don and gift I will ask now, and the other +two gifts I will ask this day twelvemonth, wheresomever ye hold your high +feast. Now ask, said Arthur, and ye shall have your asking. +</p> + +<p> +Now, sir, this is my petition for this feast, that ye will give me meat and +drink sufficiently for this twelvemonth, and at that day I will ask mine other +two gifts. +</p> + +<p> +My fair son, said Arthur, ask better, I counsel thee, for this is but a simple +asking; for my heart giveth me to thee greatly, that thou art come of men of +worship, and greatly my conceit faileth me but thou shalt prove a man of right +great worship. Sir, he said, thereof be as it be may, I have asked that I will +ask. Well, said the king, ye shall have meat and drink enough; I never defended +that none, neither my friend nor my foe. But what is thy name I would wit? I +cannot tell you, said he. That is marvel, said the king, that thou knowest not +thy name, and thou art the goodliest young man that ever I saw. Then the king +betook him to Sir Kay the steward, and charged him that he should give him of +all manner of meats and drinks of the best, and also that he had all manner of +finding as though he were a lord’s son. That shall little need, said Sir +Kay, to do such cost upon him; for I dare undertake he is a villain born, and +never will make man, for an he had come of gentlemen he would have asked of you +horse and armour, but such as he is, so he asketh. And sithen he hath no name, +I shall give him a name that shall be Beaumains, that is Fair-hands, and into +the kitchen I shall bring him, and there he shall have fat brose every day, +that he shall be as fat by the twelvemonths’ end as a pork hog. Right so +the two men departed and beleft him to Sir Kay, that scorned him and mocked +him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap121"></a>CHAPTER II.<br/>How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine +were wroth because Sir Kay mocked Beaumains, and of a damosel which desired a +knight to fight for a lady.</h3> + +<p> +Thereat was Sir Gawaine wroth, and in especial Sir Launcelot bade Sir Kay leave +his mocking, for I dare lay my head he shall prove a man of great worship. Let +be said Sir Kay, it may not be by no reason, for as he is, so he hath asked. +Beware, said Sir Launcelot, so ye gave the good knight Brewnor, Sir +Dinadan’s brother, a name, and ye called him La Cote Male Taile, and that +turned you to anger afterward. As for that, said Sir Kay, this shall never +prove none such. For Sir Brewnor desired ever worship, and this desireth bread +and drink and broth; upon pain of my life he was fostered up in some abbey, +and, howsomever it was, they failed meat and drink, and so hither he is come +for his sustenance. +</p> + +<p> +And so Sir Kay bade get him a place, and sit down to meat; so Beaumains went to +the hall door, and set him down among boys and lads, and there he ate sadly. +And then Sir Launcelot after meat bade him come to his chamber, and there he +should have meat and drink enough. And so did Sir Gawaine: but he refused them +all; he would do none other but as Sir Kay commanded him, for no proffer. But +as touching Sir Gawaine, he had reason to proffer him lodging, meat, and drink, +for that proffer came of his blood, for he was nearer kin to him than he wist. +But that as Sir Launcelot did was of his great gentleness and courtesy. +</p> + +<p> +So thus he was put into the kitchen, and lay nightly as the boys of the kitchen +did. And so he endured all that twelvemonth, and never displeased man nor +child, but always he was meek and mild. But ever when that he saw any jousting +of knights, that would he see an he might. And ever Sir Launcelot would give +him gold to spend, and clothes, and so did Sir Gawaine, and where there were +any masteries done, thereat would he be, and there might none cast bar nor +stone to him by two yards. Then would Sir Kay say, How liketh you my boy of the +kitchen? So it passed on till the feast of Whitsuntide. And at that time the +king held it at Carlion in the most royallest wise that might be, like as he +did yearly. But the king would no meat eat upon the Whitsunday, until he heard +some adventures. Then came there a squire to the king and said, Sir, ye may go +to your meat, for here cometh a damosel with some strange adventures. Then was +the king glad and sat him down. +</p> + +<p> +Right so there came a damosel into the hall and saluted the king, and prayed +him of succour. For whom? said the king, what is the adventure? +</p> + +<p> +Sir, she said, I have a lady of great worship and renown, and she is besieged +with a tyrant, so that she may not out of her castle; and because here are +called the noblest knights of the world, I come to you to pray you of succour. +What hight your lady, and where dwelleth she, and who is she, and what is his +name that hath besieged her? Sir king, she said, as for my lady’s name +that shall not ye know for me as at this time, but I let you wit she is a lady +of great worship and of great lands; and as for the tyrant that besiegeth her +and destroyeth her lands, he is called the Red Knight of the Red Launds. I know +him not, said the king. Sir, said Sir Gawaine, I know him well, for he is one +of the perilloust knights of the world; men say that he hath seven men’s +strength, and from him I escaped once full hard with my life. Fair damosel, +said the king, there be knights here would do their power for to rescue your +lady, but because you will not tell her name, nor where she dwelleth, therefore +none of my knights that here be now shall go with you by my will. Then must I +speak further, said the damosel. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap122"></a>CHAPTER III.<br/>How Beaumains desired the battle, +and how it was granted to him, and how he desired to be made knight of Sir +Launcelot.</h3> + +<p> +With these words came before the king Beaumains, while the damosel was there, +and thus he said, Sir king, God thank you, I have been this twelvemonth in your +kitchen, and have had my full sustenance, and now I will ask my two gifts that +be behind. Ask, upon my peril, said the king. Sir, this shall be my two gifts, +first that ye will grant me to have this adventure of the damosel, for it +belongeth unto me. Thou shalt have it, said the king, I grant it thee. Then, +sir, this is the other gift, that ye shall bid Launcelot du Lake to make me +knight, for of him I will be made knight and else of none. And when I am passed +I pray you let him ride after me, and make me knight when I require him. All +this shall be done, said the king. Fie on thee, said the damosel, shall I have +none but one that is your kitchen page? Then was she wroth and took her horse +and departed. And with that there came one to Beaumains and told him his horse +and armour was come for him; and there was the dwarf come with all thing that +him needed, in the richest manner; thereat all the court had much marvel from +whence came all that gear. So when he was armed there was none but few so +goodly a man as he was; and right so as he came into the hall and took his +leave of King Arthur, and Sir Gawaine, and Sir Launcelot, and prayed that he +would hie after him, and so departed and rode after the damosel. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap123"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br/>How Beaumains departed, and how he +gat of Sir Kay a spear and a shield, and how he jousted with Sir +Launcelot.</h3> + +<p> +But there went many after to behold how well he was horsed and trapped in cloth +of gold, but he had neither shield nor spear. Then Sir Kay said all open in the +hall, I will ride after my boy in the kitchen, to wit whether he will know me +for his better. Said Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine, Yet abide at home. So Sir +Kay made him ready and took his horse and his spear, and rode after him. And +right as Beaumains overtook the damosel, right so came Sir Kay and said, +Beaumains, what, sir, know ye not me? Then he turned his horse, and knew it was +Sir Kay, that had done him all the despite as ye have heard afore. Yea, said +Beaumains, I know you for an ungentle knight of the court, and therefore beware +of me. Therewith Sir Kay put his spear in the rest, and ran straight upon him; +and Beaumains came as fast upon him with his sword in his hand, and so he put +away his spear with his sword, and with a foin thrust him through the side, +that Sir Kay fell down as he had been dead; and he alighted down and took Sir +Kay’s shield and his spear, and stert upon his own horse and rode his +way. +</p> + +<p> +All that saw Sir Launcelot, and so did the damosel. And then he bade his dwarf +stert upon Sir Kay’s horse, and so he did. By that Sir Launcelot was +come, then he proffered Sir Launcelot to joust; and either made them ready, and +they came together so fiercely that either bare down other to the earth, and +sore were they bruised. Then Sir Launcelot arose and helped him from his horse. +And then Beaumains threw his shield from him, and proffered to fight with Sir +Launcelot on foot; and so they rushed together like boars, tracing, rasing, and +foining to the mountenance of an hour; and Sir Launcelot felt him so big that +he marvelled of his strength, for he fought more liker a giant than a knight, +and that his fighting was durable and passing perilous. For Sir Launcelot had +so much ado with him that he dreaded himself to be shamed, and said, Beaumains, +fight not so sore, your quarrel and mine is not so great but we may leave off. +Truly that is truth, said Beaumains, but it doth me good to feel your might, +and yet, my lord, I showed not the utterance. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap124"></a>CHAPTER V.<br/>How Beaumains told to Sir Launcelot +his name, and how he was dubbed knight of Sir Launcelot, and after overtook the +damosel.</h3> + +<p> +In God’s name, said Sir Launcelot, for I promise you, by the faith of my +body, I had as much to do as I might to save myself from you unshamed, and +therefore have ye no doubt of none earthly knight. Hope ye so that I may any +while stand a proved knight? said Beaumains. Yea, said Launcelot, do as ye have +done, and I shall be your warrant. Then, I pray you, said Beaumains, give me +the order of knighthood. Then must ye tell me your name, said Launcelot, and of +what kin ye be born. Sir, so that ye will not discover me I shall, said +Beaumains. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, and that I promise you by the faith of my +body, until it be openly known. Then, sir, he said, my name is Gareth, and +brother unto Sir Gawaine of father and mother. Ah, sir, said Sir Launcelot, I +am more gladder of you than I was; for ever me thought ye should be of great +blood, and that ye came not to the court neither for meat nor for drink. And +then Sir Launcelot gave him the order of knighthood, and then Sir Gareth prayed +him for to depart and let him go. +</p> + +<p> +So Sir Launcelot departed from him and came to Sir Kay, and made him to be +borne home upon his shield, and so he was healed hard with the life; and all +men scorned Sir Kay, and in especial Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot said it was +not his part to rebuke no young man, for full little knew he of what birth he +is come, and for what cause he came to this court; and so we leave Sir Kay and +turn we unto Beaumains. +</p> + +<p> +When he had overtaken the damosel, anon she said, What dost thou here? thou +stinkest all of the kitchen, thy clothes be bawdy of the grease and tallow that +thou gainest in King Arthur’s kitchen; weenest thou, said she, that I +allow thee, for yonder knight that thou killest. Nay truly, for thou slewest +him unhappily and cowardly; therefore turn again, bawdy kitchen page, I know +thee well, for Sir Kay named thee Beaumains. What art thou but a lusk and a +turner of broaches and a ladle-washer? Damosel, said Beaumains, say to me what +ye will, I will not go from you whatsomever ye say, for I have undertaken to +King Arthur for to achieve your adventure, and so shall I finish it to the end, +either I shall die therefore. Fie on thee, kitchen knave, wilt thou finish mine +adventure? thou shalt anon be met withal, that thou wouldest not for all the +broth that ever thou suppest once look him in the face. I shall assay, said +Beaumains. +</p> + +<p> +So thus as they rode in the wood, there came a man flying all that ever he +might. Whither wilt thou? said Beaumains. O lord, he said, help me, for here by +in a slade are six thieves that have taken my lord and bound him, so I am +afeard lest they will slay him. Bring me thither, said Beaumains. And so they +rode together until they came thereas was the knight bounden; and then he rode +unto them, and struck one unto the death, and then another, and at the third +stroke he slew the third thief, and then the other three fled. And he rode +after them, and he overtook them; and then those three thieves turned again and +assailed Beaumains hard, but at the last he slew them, and returned and unbound +the knight. And the knight thanked him, and prayed him to ride with him to his +castle there a little beside, and he should worshipfully reward him for his +good deeds. Sir, said Beaumains, I will no reward have: I was this day made +knight of noble Sir Launcelot, and therefore I will no reward have, but God +reward me. And also I must follow this damosel. +</p> + +<p> +And when he came nigh her she bade him ride from her, For thou smellest all of +the kitchen: weenest thou that I have joy of thee, for all this deed that thou +hast done is but mishapped thee: but thou shalt see a sight shall make thee +turn again, and that lightly. Then the same knight which was rescued of the +thieves rode after that damosel, and prayed her to lodge with him all that +night. And because it was near night the damosel rode with him to his castle, +and there they had great cheer, and at supper the knight sat Sir Beaumains +afore the damosel. Fie, fie, said she, Sir knight, ye are uncourteous to set a +kitchen page afore me; him beseemeth better to stick a swine than to sit afore +a damosel of high parage. Then the knight was ashamed at her words, and took +him up, and set him at a sideboard, and set himself afore him, and so all that +night they had good cheer and merry rest. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap125"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br/>How Beaumains fought and slew two +knights at a passage.</h3> + +<p> +And on the morn the damosel and he took their leave and thanked the knight, and +so departed, and rode on their way until they came to a great forest. And there +was a great river and but one passage, and there were ready two knights on the +farther side to let them the passage. What sayest thou, said the damosel, wilt +thou match yonder knights or turn again? Nay, said Sir Beaumains, I will not +turn again an they were six more. And therewithal he rushed into the water, and +in midst of the water either brake their spears upon other to their hands, and +then they drew their swords, and smote eagerly at other. And at the last Sir +Beaumains smote the other upon the helm that his head stonied, and therewithal +he fell down in the water, and there was he drowned. And then he spurred his +horse upon the land, where the other knight fell upon him, and brake his spear, +and so they drew their swords and fought long together. At the last Sir +Beaumains clave his helm and his head down to the shoulders; and so he rode +unto the damosel and bade her ride forth on her way. +</p> + +<p> +Alas, she said, that ever a kitchen page should have that fortune to destroy +such two doughty knights: thou weenest thou hast done doughtily, that is not +so; for the first knight his horse stumbled, and there he was drowned in the +water, and never it was by thy force, nor by thy might. And the last knight by +mishap thou camest behind him and mishappily thou slew him. +</p> + +<p> +Damosel, said Beaumains, ye may say what ye will, but with whomsomever I have +ado withal, I trust to God to serve him or he depart. And therefore I reck not +what ye say, so that I may win your lady. Fie, fie, foul kitchen knave, thou +shalt see knights that shall abate thy boast. Fair damosel, give me goodly +language, and then my care is past, for what knights somever they be, I care +not, nor I doubt them not. Also, said she, I say it for thine avail, yet mayest +thou turn again with thy worship; for an thou follow me, thou art but slain, +for I see all that ever thou dost is but by misadventure, and not by prowess of +thy hands. Well, damosel, ye may say what ye will, but wheresomever ye go I +will follow you. So this Beaumains rode with that lady till evensong time, and +ever she chid him, and would not rest. And they came to a black laund; and +there was a black hawthorn, and thereon hung a black banner, and on the other +side there hung a black shield, and by it stood a black spear great and long, +and a great black horse covered with silk, and a black stone fast by. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap126"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br/>How Beaumains fought with the Knight +of the Black Launds, and fought with him till he fell down and died.</h3> + +<p> +There sat a knight all armed in black harness, and his name was the Knight of +the Black Laund. Then the damosel, when she saw that knight, she bade him flee +down that valley, for his horse was not saddled. Gramercy, said Beaumains, for +always ye would have me a coward. With that the Black Knight, when she came +nigh him, spake and said, Damosel, have ye brought this knight of King Arthur +to be your champion? Nay, fair knight, said she, this is but a kitchen knave +that was fed in King Arthur’s kitchen for alms. Why cometh he, said the +knight, in such array? it is shame that he beareth you company. Sir, I cannot +be delivered of him, said she, for with me he rideth maugre mine head: God +would that ye should put him from me, other to slay him an ye may, for he is an +unhappy knave, and unhappily he hath done this day: through mishap I saw him +slay two knights at the passage of the water; and other deeds he did before +right marvellous and through unhappiness. That marvelleth me, said the Black +Knight, that any man that is of worship will have ado with him. They know him +not, said the damosel, and for because he rideth with me, they ween that he be +some man of worship born. That may be, said the Black Knight; howbeit as ye say +that he be no man of worship, he is a full likely person, and full like to be a +strong man: but thus much shall I grant you, said the Black Knight; I shall put +him down upon one foot, and his horse and his harness he shall leave with me, +for it were shame to me to do him any more harm. +</p> + +<p> +When Sir Beaumains heard him say thus, he said, Sir knight, thou art full large +of my horse and my harness; I let thee wit it cost thee nought, and whether it +liketh thee or not, this laund will I pass maugre thine head. And horse nor +harness gettest thou none of mine, but if thou win them with thy hands; and +therefore let see what thou canst do. Sayest thou that? said the Black Knight, +now yield thy lady from thee, for it beseemeth never a kitchen page to ride +with such a lady. Thou liest, said Beaumains, I am a gentleman born, and of +more high lineage than thou, and that will I prove on thy body. +</p> + +<p> +Then in great wrath they departed with their horses, and came together as it +had been the thunder, and the Black Knight’s spear brake, and Beaumains +thrust him through both his sides, and therewith his spear brake, and the +truncheon left still in his side. But nevertheless the Black Knight drew his +sword, and smote many eager strokes, and of great might, and hurt Beaumains +full sore. But at the last the Black Knight, within an hour and an half, he +fell down off his horse in swoon, and there he died. And when Beaumains saw him +so well horsed and armed, then he alighted down and armed him in his armour, +and so took his horse and rode after the damosel. +</p> + +<p> +When she saw him come nigh, she said, Away, kitchen knave, out of the wind, for +the smell of thy bawdy clothes grieveth me. Alas, she said, that ever such a +knave should by mishap slay so good a knight as thou hast done, but all this is +thine unhappiness. But here by is one shall pay thee all thy payment, and +therefore yet I counsel thee, flee. It may happen me, said Beaumains, to be +beaten or slain, but I warn you, fair damosel, I will not flee away, a nor +leave your company, for all that ye can say; for ever ye say that they will +kill me or beat me, but howsomever it happeneth I escape, and they lie on the +ground. And therefore it were as good for you to hold you still thus all day +rebuking me, for away will I not till I see the uttermost of this journey, or +else I will be slain, other truly beaten; therefore ride on your way, for +follow you I will whatsomever happen. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap127"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br/>How the brother of the knight that +was slain met with Beaumains, and fought with Beaumains till he was +yielden.</h3> + +<p> +Thus as they rode together, they saw a knight come driving by them all in +green, both his horse and his harness; and when he came nigh the damosel, he +asked her, Is that my brother the Black Knight that ye have brought with you? +Nay, nay, she said, this unhappy kitchen knave hath slain your brother through +unhappiness. Alas, said the Green Knight, that is great pity, that so noble a +knight as he was should so unhappily be slain, and namely of a knave’s +hand, as ye say that he is. Ah! traitor, said the Green Knight, thou shalt die +for slaying of my brother; he was a full noble knight, and his name was Sir +Perard. I defy thee, said Beaumains, for I let thee wit I slew him knightly and +not shamefully. +</p> + +<p> +Therewithal the Green Knight rode unto an horn that was green, and it hung upon +a thorn, and there he blew three deadly motes, and there came two damosels and +armed him lightly. And then he took a great horse, and a green shield and a +green spear. And then they ran together with all their mights, and brake their +spears unto their hands. And then they drew their swords, and gave many sad +strokes, and either of them wounded other full ill. And at the last, at an +overthwart, Beaumains with his horse struck the Green Knight’s horse upon +the side, that he fell to the earth. And then the Green Knight avoided his +horse lightly, and dressed him upon foot. That saw Beaumains, and therewithal +he alighted, and they rushed together like two mighty kemps a long while, and +sore they bled both. With that came the damosel, and said, My lord the Green +Knight, why for shame stand ye so long fighting with the kitchen knave? Alas, +it is shame that ever ye were made knight, to see such a lad to match such a +knight, as the weed overgrew the corn. Therewith the Green Knight was ashamed, +and therewithal he gave a great stroke of might, and clave his shield through. +When Beaumains saw his shield cloven asunder he was a little ashamed of that +stroke and of her language; and then he gave him such a buffet upon the helm +that he fell on his knees. And so suddenly Beaumains pulled him upon the ground +grovelling. And then the Green Knight cried him mercy, and yielded him unto Sir +Beaumains, and prayed him to slay him not. All is in vain, said Beaumains, for +thou shalt die but if this damosel that came with me pray me to save thy life. +And therewithal he unlaced his helm like as he would slay him. Fie upon thee, +false kitchen page, I will never pray thee to save his life, for I will never +be so much in thy danger. Then shall he die, said Beaumains. Not so hardy, thou +bawdy knave, said the damosel, that thou slay him. Alas, said the Green Knight, +suffer me not to die for a fair word may save me. Fair knight, said the Green +Knight, save my life, and I will forgive thee the death of my brother, and for +ever to become thy man, and thirty knights that hold of me for ever shall do +you service. In the devil’s name, said the damosel, that such a bawdy +kitchen knave should have thee and thirty knights’ service. +</p> + +<p> +Sir knight, said Beaumains, all this availeth thee not, but if my damosel speak +with me for thy life. And therewithal he made a semblant to slay him. Let be, +said the damosel, thou bawdy knave; slay him not, for an thou do thou shalt +repent it. Damosel, said Beaumains, your charge is to me a pleasure, and at +your commandment his life shall be saved, and else not. Then he said, Sir +knight with the green arms, I release thee quit at this damosel’s +request, for I will not make her wroth, I will fulfil all that she chargeth me. +And then the Green Knight kneeled down, and did him homage with his sword. Then +said the damosel, Me repenteth, Green Knight, of your damage, and of your +brother’s death, the Black Knight, for of your help I had great mister, +for I dread me sore to pass this forest. Nay, dread you not, said the Green +Knight, for ye shall lodge with me this night, and to-morn I shall help you +through this forest. So they took their horses and rode to his manor, which was +fast there beside. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap128"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br/>How the damosel again rebuked +Beaumains, and would not suffer him to sit at her table, but called him kitchen +boy.</h3> + +<p> +And ever she rebuked Beaumains, and would not suffer him to sit at her table, +but as the Green Knight took him and sat him at a side table. Marvel +methinketh, said the Green Knight to the damosel, why ye rebuke this noble +knight as ye do, for I warn you, damosel, he is a full noble knight, and I know +no knight is able to match him; therefore ye do great wrong to rebuke him, for +he shall do you right good service, for whatsomever he maketh himself, ye shall +prove at the end that he is come of a noble blood and of king’s lineage. +Fie, fie, said the damosel, it is shame for you to say of him such worship. +Truly, said the Green Knight, it were shame for me to say of him any +disworship, for he hath proved himself a better knight than I am, yet have I +met with many knights in my days, and never or this time have I found no knight +his match. And so that night they yede unto rest, and all that night the Green +Knight commanded thirty knights privily to watch Beaumains, for to keep him +from all treason. +</p> + +<p> +And so on the morn they all arose, and heard their mass and brake their fast; +and then they took their horses and rode on their way, and the Green Knight +conveyed them through the forest; and there the Green Knight said, My lord +Beaumains, I and these thirty knights shall be always at your summons, both +early and late, at your calling and whither that ever ye will send us. It is +well said, said Beaumains; when that I call upon you ye must yield you unto +King Arthur, and all your knights. If that ye so command us, we shall be ready +at all times, said the Green Knight. Fie, fie upon thee, in the devil’s +name, said the damosel, that any good knights should be obedient unto a kitchen +knave. So then departed the Green Knight and the damosel. And then she said +unto Beaumains, Why followest thou me, thou kitchen boy? Cast away thy shield +and thy spear, and flee away; yet I counsel thee betimes or thou shalt say +right soon, alas; for wert thou as wight as ever was Wade or Launcelot, +Tristram, or the good knight Sir Lamorak, thou shalt not pass a pass here that +is called the Pass Perilous. Damosel, said Beaumains, who is afeard let him +flee, for it were shame to turn again sithen I have ridden so long with you. +Well, said the damosel, ye shall soon, whether ye will or not. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap129"></a>CHAPTER X.<br/>How the third brother, called the Red +Knight, jousted and fought against Beaumains, and how Beaumains overcame +him.</h3> + +<p> +So within a while they saw a tower as white as any snow, well matchecold all +about, and double dyked. And over the tower gate there hung a fifty shields of +divers colours, and under that tower there was a fair meadow. And therein were +many knights and squires to behold, scaffolds and pavilions; for there upon the +morn should be a great tournament: and the lord of the tower was in his castle +and looked out at a window, and saw a damosel, a dwarf, and a knight armed at +all points. So God me help, said the lord, with that knight will I joust, for I +see that he is a knight-errant. And so he armed him and horsed him hastily. And +when he was on horseback with his shield and his spear, it was all red, both +his horse and his harness, and all that to him longeth. And when that he came +nigh him he weened it had been his brother the Black Knight; and then he cried +aloud, Brother, what do ye in these marches? Nay, nay, said the damosel, it is +not he; this is but a kitchen knave that was brought up for alms in King +Arthur’s court. Nevertheless, said the Red Knight, I will speak with him +or he depart. Ah, said the damosel, this knave hath killed thy brother, and Sir +Kay named him Beaumains, and this horse and this harness was thy +brother’s, the Black Knight. Also I saw thy brother the Green Knight +overcome of his hands. Now may ye be revenged upon him, for I may never be quit +of him. +</p> + +<p> +With this either knights departed in sunder, and they came together with all +their might, and either of their horses fell to the earth, and they avoided +their horses, and put their shields afore them and drew their swords, and +either gave other sad strokes, now here, now there, rasing, tracing, foining, +and hurling like two boars, the space of two hours. And then she cried on high +to the Red Knight, Alas, thou noble Red Knight, think what worship hath +followed thee, let never a kitchen knave endure thee so long as he doth. Then +the Red Knight waxed wroth and doubled his strokes, and hurt Beaumains wonderly +sore, that the blood ran down to the ground, that it was wonder to see that +strong battle. Yet at the last Sir Beaumains struck him to the earth, and as he +would have slain the Red Knight, he cried mercy, saying, Noble knight, slay me +not, and I shall yield me to thee with fifty knights with me that be at my +commandment. And I forgive thee all the despite that thou hast done to me, and +the death of my brother the Black Knight. All this availeth not, said +Beaumains, but if my damosel pray me to save thy life. And therewith he made +semblant to strike off his head. Let be, thou Beaumains, slay him not, for he +is a noble knight, and not so hardy, upon thine head, but thou save him. +</p> + +<p> +Then Beaumains bade the Red Knight, Stand up, and thank the damosel now of thy +life. Then the Red Knight prayed him to see his castle, and to be there all +night. So the damosel then granted him, and there they had merry cheer. But +always the damosel spake many foul words unto Beaumains, whereof the Red Knight +had great marvel; and all that night the Red Knight made three score knights to +watch Beaumains, that he should have no shame nor villainy. And upon the morn +they heard mass and dined, and the Red Knight came before Beaumains with his +three score knights, and there he proffered him his homage and fealty at all +times, he and his knights to do him service. I thank you, said Beaumains, but +this ye shall grant me: when I call upon you, to come afore my lord King +Arthur, and yield you unto him to be his knights. Sir, said the Red Knight, I +will be ready, and my fellowship, at your summons. So Sir Beaumains departed +and the damosel, and ever she rode chiding him in the foulest manner. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap130"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br/>How Sir Beaumains suffered great +rebukes of the damosel, and he suffered it patiently.</h3> + +<p> +Damosel, said Beaumains, ye are uncourteous so to rebuke me as ye do, for +meseemeth I have done you good service, and ever ye threaten me I shall be +beaten with knights that we meet, but ever for all your boast they lie in the +dust or in the mire, and therefore I pray you rebuke me no more; and when ye +see me beaten or yielden as recreant, then may ye bid me go from you +shamefully; but first I let you wit I will not depart from you, for I were +worse than a fool an I would depart from you all the while that I win worship. +Well, said she, right soon there shall meet a knight shall pay thee all thy +wages, for he is the most man of worship of the world, except King Arthur. I +will well, said Beaumains, the more he is of worship, the more shall be my +worship to have ado with him. +</p> + +<p> +Then anon they were ware where was afore them a city rich and fair. And betwixt +them and the city a mile and an half there was a fair meadow that seemed new +mown, and therein were many pavilions fair to behold. Lo, said the damosel, +yonder is a lord that owneth yonder city, and his custom is, when the weather +is fair, to lie in this meadow to joust and tourney. And ever there be about +him five hundred knights and gentlemen of arms, and there be all manner of +games that any gentleman can devise. That goodly lord, said Beaumains, would I +fain see. Thou shalt see him time enough, said the damosel, and so as she rode +near she espied the pavilion where he was. Lo, said she, seest thou yonder +pavilion that is all of the colour of Inde, and all manner of thing that there +is about, men and women, and horses trapped, shields and spears were all of the +colour of Inde, and his name is Sir Persant of Inde, the most lordliest knight +that ever thou lookedst on. It may well be, said Beaumains, but be he never so +stout a knight, in this field I shall abide till that I see him under his +shield. Ah, fool, said she, thou wert better flee betimes. Why, said Beaumains, +an he be such a knight as ye make him, he will not set upon me with all his +men, or with his five hundred knights. For an there come no more but one at +once, I shall him not fail whilst my life lasteth. Fie, fie, said the damosel, +that ever such a stinking knave should blow such a boast. Damosel, he said, ye +are to blame so to rebuke me, for I had liefer do five battles than so to be +rebuked, let him come and then let him do his worst. +</p> + +<p> +Sir, she said, I marvel what thou art and of what kin thou art come; boldly +thou speakest, and boldly thou hast done, that have I seen; therefore I pray +thee save thyself an thou mayest, for thy horse and thou have had great +travail, and I dread we dwell over long from the siege, for it is but hence +seven mile, and all perilous passages we are passed save all only this passage; +and here I dread me sore lest ye shall catch some hurt, therefore I would ye +were hence, that ye were not bruised nor hurt with this strong knight. But I +let you wit that Sir Persant of Inde is nothing of might nor strength unto the +knight that laid the siege about my lady. As for that, said Sir Beaumains, be +it as it be may. For sithen I am come so nigh this knight I will prove his +might or I depart from him, and else I shall be shamed an I now withdraw me +from him. And therefore, damosel, have ye no doubt by the grace of God I shall +so deal with this knight that within two hours after noon I shall deliver him. +And then shall we come to the siege by daylight. O Jesu, marvel have I, said +the damosel, what manner a man ye be, for it may never be otherwise but that ye +be come of a noble blood, for so foul nor shamefully did never woman rule a +knight as I have done you, and ever courteously ye have suffered me, and that +came never but of a gentle blood. +</p> + +<p> +Damosel, said Beaumains, a knight may little do that may not suffer a damosel, +for whatsomever ye said unto me I took none heed to your words, for the more ye +said the more ye angered me, and my wrath I wreaked upon them that I had ado +withal. And therefore all the missaying that ye missaid me furthered me in my +battle, and caused me to think to show and prove myself at the end what I was; +for peradventure though I had meat in King Arthur’s kitchen, yet I might +have had meat enough in other places, but all that I did it for to prove and +assay my friends, and that shall be known another day; and whether that I be a +gentleman born or none, I let you wit, fair damosel, I have done you +gentleman’s service, and peradventure better service yet will I do or I +depart from you. Alas, she said, fair Beaumains, forgive me all that I have +missaid or done against thee. With all my heart, said he, I forgive it you, for +ye did nothing but as ye should do, for all your evil words pleased me; and +damosel, said Beaumains, since it liketh you to say thus fair unto me, wit ye +well it gladdeth my heart greatly, and now meseemeth there is no knight living +but I am able enough for him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap131"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br/>How Beaumains fought with Sir +Persant of Inde, and made him to be yielden.</h3> + +<p> +With this Sir Persant of Inde had espied them as they hoved in the field, and +knightly he sent to them whether he came in war or in peace. Say to thy lord, +said Beaumains, I take no force, but whether as him list himself. So the +messenger went again unto Sir Persant and told him all his answer. Well then +will I have ado with him to the utterance, and so he purveyed him and rode +against him. And Beaumains saw him and made him ready, and there they met with +all that ever their horses might run, and brast their spears either in three +pieces, and their horses rushed so together that both their horses fell dead to +the earth; and lightly they avoided their horses and put their shields afore +them, and drew their swords, and gave many great strokes that sometime they +hurtled together that they fell grovelling on the ground. Thus they fought two +hours and more, that their shields and their hauberks were all forhewen, and in +many steads they were wounded. So at the last Sir Beaumains smote him through +the cost of the body, and then he retrayed him here and there, and knightly +maintained his battle long time. And at the last, though him loath were, +Beaumains smote Sir Persant above upon the helm, that he fell grovelling to the +earth; and then he leapt upon him overthwart and unlaced his helm to have slain +him. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Persant yielded him and asked him mercy. With that came the damosel +and prayed to save his life. I will well, for it were pity this noble knight +should die. Gramercy, said Persant, gentle knight and damosel. For certainly +now I wot well it was ye that slew my brother the Black Knight at the black +thorn; he was a full noble knight, his name was Sir Percard. Also I am sure +that ye are he that won mine other brother the Green Knight, his name was Sir +Pertolepe. Also ye won my brother the Red Knight, Sir Perimones. And now since +ye have won these, this shall I do for to please you: ye shall have homage and +fealty of me, and an hundred knights to be always at your commandment, to go +and ride where ye will command us. And so they went unto Sir Persant’s +pavilion and drank the wine, and ate spices, and afterward Sir Persant made him +to rest upon a bed until supper time, and after supper to bed again. When +Beaumains was abed, Sir Persant had a lady, a fair daughter of eighteen year of +age, and there he called her unto him, and charged her and commanded her upon +his blessing to go unto the knight’s bed, and lie down by his side, and +make him no strange cheer, but good cheer, and take him in thine arms and kiss +him, and look that this be done, I charge you, as ye will have my love and my +good will. So Sir Persant’s daughter did as her father bade her, and so +she went unto Sir Beaumains’ bed, and privily she dispoiled her, and laid +her down by him, and then he awoke and saw her, and asked her what she was. +Sir, she said, I am Sir Persant’s daughter, that by the commandment of my +father am come hither. Be ye a maid or a wife? said he. Sir, she said, I am a +clean maiden. God defend, said he, that I should defoil you to do Sir Persant +such a shame; therefore, fair damosel, arise out of this bed or else I will. +Sir, she said, I came not to you by mine own will, but as I was commanded. +Alas, said Sir Beaumains, I were a shameful knight an I would do your father +any disworship; and so he kissed her, and so she departed and came unto Sir +Persant her father, and told him all how she had sped. Truly, said Sir Persant, +whatsomever he be, he is come of a noble blood. And so we leave them there till +on the morn. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap132"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br/>Of the goodly communication between +Sir Persant and Beaumains, and how he told him that his name was Sir +Gareth.</h3> + +<p> +And so on the morn the damosel and Sir Beaumains heard mass and brake their +fast, and so took their leave. Fair damosel, said Persant, whitherward are ye +way-leading this knight? Sir, she said, this knight is going to the siege that +besiegeth my sister in the Castle Dangerous. Ah, ah, said Persant, that is the +Knight of the Red Laund, the which is the most perilous knight that I know now +living, and a man that is without mercy, and men say that he hath seven +men’s strength. God save you, said he to Beaumains, from that knight, for +he doth great wrong to that lady, and that is great pity, for she is one of the +fairest ladies of the world, and meseemeth that your damosel is her sister: is +not your name Linet? said he. Yea, sir, said she, and my lady my sister’s +name is Dame Lionesse. Now shall I tell you, said Sir Persant, this Red Knight +of the Red Laund hath lain long at the siege, well-nigh this two years, and +many times he might have had her an he had would, but he prolongeth the time to +this intent, for to have Sir Launcelot du Lake to do battle with him, or Sir +Tristram, or Sir Lamorak de Galis, or Sir Gawaine, and this is his tarrying so +long at the siege. +</p> + +<p> +Now my lord Sir Persant of Inde, said the damosel Linet, I require you that ye +will make this gentleman knight or ever he fight with the Red Knight. I will +with all my heart, said Sir Persant, an it please him to take the order of +knighthood of so simple a man as I am. Sir, said Beaumains, I thank you for +your good will, for I am better sped, for certainly the noble knight Sir +Launcelot made me knight. Ah, said Sir Persant, of a more renowned knight might +ye not be made knight; for of all knights he may be called chief of knighthood; +and so all the world saith, that betwixt three knights is departed clearly +knighthood, that is Launcelot du Lake, Sir Tristram de Liones, and Sir Lamorak +de Galis: these bear now the renown. There be many other knights, as Sir +Palamides the Saracen and Sir Safere his brother; also Sir Bleoberis and Sir +Blamore de Ganis his brother; also Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Ector de Maris and +Sir Percivale de Galis; these and many more be noble knights, but there be none +that pass the three above said; therefore God speed you well, said Sir Persant, +for an ye may match the Red Knight ye shall be called the fourth of the world. +</p> + +<p> +Sir, said Beaumains, I would fain be of good fame and of knighthood. And I let +you wit I came of good men, for I dare say my father was a noble man, and so +that ye will keep it in close, and this damosel, I will tell you of what kin I +am. We will not discover you, said they both, till ye command us, by the faith +we owe unto God. Truly then, said he, my name is Gareth of Orkney, and King Lot +was my father, and my mother is King Arthur’s sister, her name is Dame +Morgawse, and Sir Gawaine is my brother, and Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris, and +I am the youngest of them all. And yet wot not King Arthur nor Sir Gawaine what +I am. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap133"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br/>How the lady that was besieged had +word from her sister how she had brought a knight to fight for her, and what +battles he had achieved.</h3> + +<p> +So the book saith that the lady that was besieged had word of her +sister’s coming by the dwarf, and a knight with her, and how he had +passed all the perilous passages. What manner a man is he? said the lady. He is +a noble knight, truly, madam, said the dwarf, and but a young man, but he is as +likely a man as ever ye saw any. What is he? said the damosel, and of what kin +is he come, and of whom was he made knight? Madam, said the dwarf, he is the +king’s son of Orkney, but his name I will not tell you as at this time; +but wit ye well, of Sir Launcelot was he made knight, for of none other would +he be made knight, and Sir Kay named him Beaumains. How escaped he, said the +lady, from the brethren of Persant? Madam, he said, as a noble knight should. +First, he slew two brethren at a passage of a water. Ah! said she, they were +good knights, but they were murderers, the one hight Gherard le Breuse, and the +other knight hight Sir Arnold le Breuse. Then, madam, he recountered with the +Black Knight, and slew him in plain battle, and so he took his horse and his +armour and fought with the Green Knight and won him in plain battle, and in +like wise he served the Red Knight, and after in the same wise he served the +Blue Knight and won him in plain battle. Then, said the lady, he hath overcome +Sir Persant of Inde, one of the noblest knights of the world, and the dwarf +said, He hath won all the four brethren and slain the Black Knight, and yet he +did more to-fore: he overthrew Sir Kay and left him nigh dead upon the ground; +also he did a great battle with Sir Launcelot, and there they departed on even +hands: and then Sir Launcelot made him knight. +</p> + +<p> +Dwarf, said the lady, I am glad of these tidings, therefore go thou in an +hermitage of mine hereby, and there shalt thou bear with thee of my wine in two +flagons of silver, they are of two gallons, and also two cast of bread with fat +venison baked, and dainty fowls; and a cup of gold here I deliver thee, that is +rich and precious; and bear all this to mine hermitage, and put it in the +hermit’s hands. And sithen go thou unto my sister and greet her well, and +commend me unto that gentle knight, and pray him to eat and to drink and make +him strong, and say ye him I thank him of his courtesy and goodness, that he +would take upon him such labour for me that never did him bounty nor courtesy. +Also pray him that he be of good heart and courage, for he shall meet with a +full noble knight, but he is neither of bounty, courtesy, nor gentleness; for +he attendeth unto nothing but to murder, and that is the cause I cannot praise +him nor love him. +</p> + +<p> +So this dwarf departed, and came to Sir Persant, where he found the damosel +Linet and Sir Beaumains, and there he told them all as ye have heard; and then +they took their leave, but Sir Persant took an ambling hackney and conveyed +them on their ways, and then beleft them to God; and so within a little while +they came to that hermitage, and there they drank the wine, and ate the venison +and the fowls baken. And so when they had repasted them well, the dwarf +returned again with his vessel unto the castle again; and there met with him +the Red Knight of the Red Launds, and asked him from whence that he came, and +where he had been. Sir, said the dwarf, I have been with my lady’s sister +of this castle, and she hath been at King Arthur’s court, and brought a +knight with her. Then I account her travail but lost; for though she had +brought with her Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, Sir Lamorak, or Sir Gawaine, I +would think myself good enough for them all. +</p> + +<p> +It may well be, said the dwarf, but this knight hath passed all the perilous +passages, and slain the Black Knight and other two more, and won the Green +Knight, the Red Knight, and the Blue Knight. Then is he one of these four that +I have afore rehearsed. He is none of those, said the dwarf, but he is a +king’s son. What is his name? said the Red Knight of the Red Launds. That +will I not tell you, said the dwarf, but Sir Kay upon scorn named him +Beaumains. I care not, said the knight, what knight so ever he be, for I shall +soon deliver him. And if I ever match him he shall have a shameful death as +many other have had. That were pity, said the dwarf, and it is marvel that ye +make such shameful war upon noble knights. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap134"></a>CHAPTER XV.<br/>How the damosel and Beaumains came to +the siege; and came to a sycamore tree, and there Beaumains blew a horn, and +then the Knight of the Red Launds came to fight with him.</h3> + +<p> +Now leave we the knight and the dwarf, and speak we of Beaumains, that all +night lay in the hermitage; and upon the morn he and the damosel Linet heard +their mass and brake their fast. And then they took their horses and rode +throughout a fair forest; and then they came to a plain, and saw where were +many pavilions and tents, and a fair castle, and there was much smoke and great +noise; and when they came near the siege Sir Beaumains espied upon great trees, +as he rode, how there hung full goodly armed knights by the neck, and their +shields about their necks with their swords, and gilt spurs upon their heels, +and so there hung nigh a forty knights shamefully with full rich arms. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Beaumains abated his countenance and said, What meaneth this? Fair +sir, said the damosel, abate not your cheer for all this sight, for ye must +courage yourself, or else ye be all shent, for all these knights came hither to +this siege to rescue my sister Dame Lionesse, and when the Red Knight of the +Red Launds had overcome them, he put them to this shameful death without mercy +and pity. And in the same wise he will serve you but if you quit you the +better. +</p> + +<p> +Now Jesu defend me, said Beaumains, from such a villainous death and shenship +of arms. For rather than I should so be faren withal, I would rather be slain +manly in plain battle. So were ye better, said the damosel; for trust not, in +him is no courtesy, but all goeth to the death or shameful murder, and that is +pity, for he is a full likely man, well made of body, and a full noble knight +of prowess, and a lord of great lands and possessions. Truly, said Beaumains, +he may well be a good knight, but he useth shameful customs, and it is marvel +that he endureth so long that none of the noble knights of my lord +Arthur’s have not dealt with him. +</p> + +<p> +And then they rode to the dykes, and saw them double dyked with full warlike +walls; and there were lodged many great lords nigh the walls; and there was +great noise of minstrelsy; and the sea beat upon the one side of the walls, +where were many ships and mariners’ noise with “hale and +how.” And also there was fast by a sycamore tree, and there hung an horn, +the greatest that ever they saw, of an elephant’s bone; and this Knight +of the Red Launds had hanged it up there, that if there came any errant-knight, +he must blow that horn, and then will he make him ready and come to him to do +battle. But, sir, I pray you, said the damosel Linet, blow ye not the horn till +it be high noon, for now it is about prime, and now increaseth his might, that +as men say he hath seven men’s strength. Ah, fie for shame, fair damosel, +say ye never so more to me; for, an he were as good a knight as ever was, I +shall never fail him in his most might, for either I will win worship +worshipfully, or die knightly in the field. And therewith he spurred his horse +straight to the sycamore tree, and blew so the horn eagerly that all the siege +and the castle rang thereof. And then there leapt out knights out of their +tents and pavilions, and they within the castle looked over the walls and out +at windows. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Red Knight of the Red Launds armed him hastily, and two barons set on +his spurs upon his heels, and all was blood red, his armour, spear and shield. +And an earl buckled his helm upon his head, and then they brought him a red +spear and a red steed, and so he rode into a little vale under the castle, that +all that were in the castle and at the siege might behold the battle. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap135"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br/>How the two knights met together, +and of their talking, and how they began their battle.</h3> + +<p> +Sir, said the damosel Linet unto Sir Beaumains, look ye be glad and light, for +yonder is your deadly enemy, and at yonder window is my lady, my sister, Dame +Lionesse. Where? said Beaumains. Yonder, said the damosel, and pointed with her +finger. That is truth, said Beaumains. She beseemeth afar the fairest lady that +ever I looked upon; and truly, he said, I ask no better quarrel than now for to +do battle, for truly she shall be my lady, and for her I will fight. And ever +he looked up to the window with glad countenance, and the Lady Lionesse made +curtsey to him down to the earth, with holding up both their hands. +</p> + +<p> +With that the Red Knight of the Red Launds called to Sir Beaumains, Leave, sir +knight, thy looking, and behold me, I counsel thee; for I warn thee well she is +my lady, and for her I have done many strong battles. If thou have so done, +said Beaumains, meseemeth it was but waste labour, for she loveth none of thy +fellowship, and thou to love that loveth not thee is but great folly. For an I +understood that she were not glad of my coming, I would be advised or I did +battle for her. But I understand by the besieging of this castle she may +forbear thy fellowship. And therefore wit thou well, thou Red Knight of the Red +Launds, I love her, and will rescue her, or else to die. Sayst thou that? said +the Red Knight, meseemeth thou ought of reason to be ware by yonder knights +that thou sawest hang upon yonder trees. Fie for shame, said Beaumains, that +ever thou shouldest say or do so evil, for in that thou shamest thyself and +knighthood, and thou mayst be sure there will no lady love thee that knoweth +thy wicked customs. And now thou weenest that the sight of these hanged knights +should fear me. Nay truly, not so; that shameful sight causeth me to have +courage and hardiness against thee, more than I would have had against thee an +thou wert a well-ruled knight. Make thee ready, said the Red Knight of the Red +Launds, and talk no longer with me. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Beaumains bade the damosel go from him; and then they put their spears +in their rests, and came together with all their might that they had both, and +either smote other in midst of their shields that the paitrelles, surcingles, +and cruppers brast, and fell to the earth both, and the reins of their bridles +in their hands; and so they lay a great while sore astonied, that all that were +in the castle and in the siege weened their necks had been broken; and then +many a stranger and other said the strange knight was a big man, and a noble +jouster, for or now we saw never no knight match the Red Knight of the Red +Launds: thus they said, both within the castle and without. Then lightly they +avoided their horses and put their shields afore them, and drew their swords +and ran together like two fierce lions, and either gave other such buffets upon +their helms that they reeled backward both two strides; and then they recovered +both, and hewed great pieces off their harness and their shields that a great +part fell into the fields. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap136"></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br/>How after long fighting Beaumains +overcame the knight and would have slain him, but at the request of the lords +he saved his life, and made him to yield him to the lady.</h3> + +<p> +And then thus they fought till it was past noon, and never would stint, till at +the last they lacked wind both; and then they stood wagging and scattering, +panting, blowing and bleeding, that all that beheld them for the most part wept +for pity. So when they had rested them a while they yede to battle again, +tracing, racing, foining as two boars. And at some time they took their run as +it had been two rams, and hurtled together that sometime they fell grovelling +to the earth: and at some time they were so amazed that either took +other’s sword instead of his own. +</p> + +<p> +Thus they endured till evensong time, that there was none that beheld them +might know whether was like to win the battle; and their armour was so forhewn +that men might see their naked sides; and in other places they were naked, but +ever the naked places they did defend. And the Red Knight was a wily knight of +war, and his wily fighting taught Sir Beaumains to be wise; but he abought it +full sore or he did espy his fighting. +</p> + +<p> +And thus by assent of them both they granted either other to rest; and so they +set them down upon two mole-hills there beside the fighting place, and either +of them unlaced his helm, and took the cold wind; for either of their pages was +fast by them, to come when they called to unlace their harness and to set them +on again at their commandment. And then when Sir Beaumains’ helm was off, +he looked up to the window, and there he saw the fair lady Dame Lionesse, and +she made him such countenance that his heart waxed light and jolly; and +therewith he bade the Red Knight of the Red Launds make him ready, and let us +do the battle to the utterance. I will well, said the knight, and then they +laced up their helms, and their pages avoided, and they stepped together and +fought freshly; but the Red Knight of the Red Launds awaited him, and at an +overthwart smote him within the hand, that his sword fell out of his hand; and +yet he gave him another buffet upon the helm that he fell grovelling to the +earth, and the Red Knight fell over him, for to hold him down. +</p> + +<p> +Then cried the maiden Linet on high: O Sir Beaumains, where is thy courage +become? Alas, my lady my sister beholdeth thee, and she sobbeth and weepeth, +that maketh mine heart heavy. When Sir Beaumains heard her say so, he abraid up +with a great might and gat him upon his feet, and lightly he leapt to his sword +and gripped it in his hand, and doubled his pace unto the Red Knight, and there +they fought a new battle together. But Sir Beaumains then doubled his strokes, +and smote so thick that he smote the sword out of his hand, and then he smote +him upon the helm that he fell to the earth, and Sir Beaumains fell upon him, +and unlaced his helm to have slain him; and then he yielded him and asked +mercy, and said with a loud voice: O noble knight, I yield me to thy mercy. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Beaumains bethought him upon the knights that he had made to be hanged +shamefully, and then he said: I may not with my worship save thy life, for the +shameful deaths that thou hast caused many full good knights to die. Sir, said +the Red Knight of the Red Launds, hold your hand and ye shall know the causes +why I put them to so shameful a death. Say on, said Sir Beaumains. Sir, I loved +once a lady, a fair damosel, and she had her brother slain; and she said it was +Sir Launcelot du Lake, or else Sir Gawaine; and she prayed me as that I loved +her heartily, that I would make her a promise by the faith of my knighthood, +for to labour daily in arms unto I met with one of them; and all that I might +overcome I should put them unto a villainous death; and this is the cause that +I have put all these knights to death, and so I ensured her to do all the +villainy unto King Arthur’s knights, and that I should take vengeance +upon all these knights. And, sir, now I will thee tell that every day my +strength increaseth till noon, and all this time have I seven men’s +strength. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap137"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br/>How the knight yielded him, and +how Beaumains made him to go unto King Arthur’s court, and to cry Sir +Launcelot mercy.</h3> + +<p> +Then came there many earls, and barons, and noble knights, and prayed that +knight to save his life, and take him to your prisoner. And all they fell upon +their knees, and prayed him of mercy, and that he would save his life; and, +Sir, they all said, it were fairer of him to take homage and fealty, and let +him hold his lands of you than for to slay him; by his death ye shall have none +advantage, and his misdeeds that be done may not be undone; and therefore he +shall make amends to all parties, and we all will become your men and do you +homage and fealty. Fair lords, said Beaumains, wit you well I am full loath to +slay this knight, nevertheless he hath done passing ill and shamefully; but +insomuch all that he did was at a lady’s request I blame him the less; +and so for your sake I will release him that he shall have his life upon this +covenant, that he go within the castle, and yield him there to the lady, and if +she will forgive and quit him, I will well; with this he make her amends of all +the trespass he hath done against her and her lands. And also, when that is +done, that ye go unto the court of King Arthur, and there that ye ask Sir +Launcelot mercy, and Sir Gawaine, for the evil will ye have had against them. +Sir, said the Red Knight of the Red Launds, all this will I do as ye command, +and siker assurance and borrows ye shall have. And so then when the assurance +was made, he made his homage and fealty, and all those earls and barons with +him. +</p> + +<p> +And then the maiden Linet came to Sir Beaumains, and unarmed him and searched +his wounds, and stinted his blood, and in likewise she did to the Red Knight of +the Red Launds. And there they sojourned ten days in their tents; and the Red +Knight made his lords and servants to do all the pleasure that they might unto +Sir Beaumains. And so within a while the Red Knight of the Red Launds yede unto +the castle, and put him in her grace. And so she received him upon sufficient +surety, so all her hurts were well restored of all that she could complain. And +then he departed unto the court of King Arthur, and there openly the Red Knight +of the Red Launds put him in the mercy of Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine, and +there he told openly how he was overcome and by whom, and also he told all the +battles from the beginning unto the ending. Jesu mercy, said King Arthur and +Sir Gawaine, we marvel much of what blood he is come, for he is a noble knight. +Have ye no marvel, said Sir Launcelot, for ye shall right well wit that he is +come of a full noble blood; and as for his might and hardiness, there be but +few now living that is so mighty as he is, and so noble of prowess. It seemeth +by you, said King Arthur, that ye know his name, and from whence he is come, +and of what blood he is. I suppose I do so, said Launcelot, or else I would not +have given him the order of knighthood; but he gave me such charge at that time +that I should never discover him until he required me, or else it be known +openly by some other. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap138"></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br/>How Beaumains came to the lady, and +when he came to the castle the gates were closed against him, and of the words +that the lady said to him.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Sir Beaumains that desired of Linet that he might see her +sister, his lady. Sir, she said, I would fain ye saw her. Then Sir Beaumains +all armed him, and took his horse and his spear, and rode straight unto the +castle. And when he came to the gate he found there many men armed, and pulled +up the drawbridge and drew the port close. +</p> + +<p> +Then marvelled he why they would not suffer him to enter. And then he looked up +to the window; and there he saw the fair Lionesse that said on high: Go thy +way, Sir Beaumains, for as yet thou shalt not have wholly my love, unto the +time that thou be called one of the number of the worthy knights. And therefore +go labour in worship this twelvemonth, and then thou shalt hear new tidings. +Alas, fair lady, said Beaumains, I have not deserved that ye should show me +this strangeness, and I had weened that I should have right good cheer with +you, and unto my power I have deserved thank, and well I am sure I have bought +your love with part of the best blood within my body. Fair courteous knight, +said Dame Lionesse, be not displeased nor over-hasty; for wit you well your +great travail nor good love shall not be lost, for I consider your great +travail and labour, your bounty and your goodness as me ought to do. And +therefore go on your way, and look that ye be of good comfort, for all shall be +for your worship and for the best, and perdy a twelvemonth will soon be done, +and trust me, fair knight, I shall be true to you, and never to betray you, but +to my death I shall love you and none other. And therewithal she turned her +from the window, and Sir Beaumains rode awayward from the castle, making great +dole, and so he rode here and there and wist not where he rode, till it was +dark night. And then it happened him to come to a poor man’s house, and +there he was harboured all that night. +</p> + +<p> +But Sir Beaumains had no rest, but wallowed and writhed for the love of the +lady of the castle. And so upon the morrow he took his horse and rode until +underne, and then he came to a broad water, and thereby was a great lodge, and +there he alighted to sleep and laid his head upon the shield, and betook his +horse to the dwarf, and commanded him to watch all night. +</p> + +<p> +Now turn we to the lady of the same castle, that thought much upon Beaumains, +and then she called unto her Sir Gringamore her brother, and prayed him in all +manner, as he loved her heartily, that he would ride after Sir Beaumains: And +ever have ye wait upon him till ye may find him sleeping, for I am sure in his +heaviness he will alight down in some place, and lie him down to sleep; and +therefore have ye your wait upon him, and in the priviest manner ye can, take +his dwarf, and go ye your way with him as fast as ever ye may or Sir Beaumains +awake. For my sister Linet telleth me that he can tell of what kindred he is +come, and what is his right name. And the meanwhile I and my sister will ride +unto your castle to await when ye bring with you the dwarf. And then when ye +have brought him unto your castle, I will have him in examination myself. Unto +the time that I know what is his right name, and of what kindred he is come, +shall I never be merry at my heart. Sister, said Sir Gringamore, all this shall +be done after your intent. +</p> + +<p> +And so he rode all the other day and the night till that he found Sir Beaumains +lying by a water, and his head upon his shield, for to sleep. And then when he +saw Sir Beaumains fast asleep, he came stilly stalking behind the dwarf, and +plucked him fast under his arm, and so he rode away with him as fast as ever he +might unto his own castle. And this Sir Gringamore’s arms were all black, +and that to him longeth. But ever as he rode with the dwarf toward his castle, +he cried unto his lord and prayed him of help. And therewith awoke Sir +Beaumains, and up he leapt lightly, and saw where Sir Gringamore rode his way +with the dwarf, and so Sir Gringamore rode out of his sight. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap139"></a>CHAPTER XX.<br/>How Sir Beaumains rode after to +rescue his dwarf, and came into the castle where he was.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Beaumains put on his helm anon, and buckled his shield, and took his +horse, and rode after him all that ever he might ride through marshes, and +fields, and great dales, that many times his horse and he plunged over the head +in deep mires, for he knew not the way, but took the gainest way in that +woodness, that many times he was like to perish. And at the last him happened +to come to a fair green way, and there he met with a poor man of the country, +whom he saluted and asked him whether he met not with a knight upon a black +horse and all black harness, a little dwarf sitting behind him with heavy +cheer. Sir, said the poor man, here by me came Sir Gringamore the knight, with +such a dwarf mourning as ye say; and therefore I rede you not follow him, for +he is one of the periloust knights of the world, and his castle is here nigh +hand but two mile; therefore we advise you ride not after Sir Gringamore, but +if ye owe him good will. +</p> + +<p> +So leave we Sir Beaumains riding toward the castle, and speak we of Sir +Gringamore and the dwarf. Anon as the dwarf was come to the castle, Dame +Lionesse and Dame Linet her sister, asked the dwarf where was his master born, +and of what lineage he was come. And but if thou tell me, said Dame Lionesse, +thou shalt never escape this castle, but ever here to be prisoner. As for that, +said the dwarf, I fear not greatly to tell his name and of what kin he is come. +Wit you well he is a king’s son, and his mother is sister to King Arthur, +and he is brother to the good knight Sir Gawaine, and his name is Sir Gareth of +Orkney. And now I have told you his right name, I pray you, fair lady, let me +go to my lord again, for he will never out of this country until that he have +me again. And if he be angry he will do much harm or that he be stint, and work +you wrack in this country. As for that threatening, said Sir Gringamore, be it +as it be may, we will go to dinner. And so they washed and went to meat, and +made them merry and well at ease, and because the Lady Lionesse of the castle +was there, they made great joy. Truly, madam, said Linet unto her sister, well +may he be a king’s son, for he hath many good tatches on him, for he is +courteous and mild, and the most suffering man that ever I met withal. For I +dare say there was never gentlewoman reviled man in so foul a manner as I have +rebuked him; and at all times he gave me goodly and meek answers again. +</p> + +<p> +And as they sat thus talking, there came Sir Gareth in at the gate with an +angry countenance, and his sword drawn in his hand, and cried aloud that all +the castle might hear it, saying: Thou traitor, Sir Gringamore, deliver me my +dwarf again, or by the faith that I owe to the order of knighthood, I shall do +thee all the harm that I can. Then Sir Gringamore looked out at a window and +said, Sir Gareth of Orkney, leave thy boasting words, for thou gettest not thy +dwarf again. Thou coward knight, said Sir Gareth, bring him with thee, and come +and do battle with me, and win him and take him. So will I do, said Sir +Gringamore, an me list, but for all thy great words thou gettest him not. Ah! +fair brother, said Dame Lionesse, I would he had his dwarf again, for I would +he were not wroth, for now he hath told me all my desire I keep no more of the +dwarf. And also, brother, he hath done much for me, and delivered me from the +Red Knight of the Red Launds, and therefore, brother, I owe him my service +afore all knights living. And wit ye well that I love him before all other, and +full fain I would speak with him. But in nowise I would that he wist what I +were, but that I were another strange lady. +</p> + +<p> +Well, said Sir Gringamore, sithen I know now your will, I will obey now unto +him. And right therewithal he went down unto Sir Gareth, and said: Sir, I cry +you mercy, and all that I have misdone I will amend it at your will. And +therefore I pray you that ye would alight, and take such cheer as I can make +you in this castle. Shall I have my dwarf? said Sir Gareth. Yea, sir, and all +the pleasaunce that I can make you, for as soon as your dwarf told me what ye +were and of what blood ye are come, and what noble deeds ye have done in these +marches, then I repented of my deeds. And then Sir Gareth alighted, and there +came his dwarf and took his horse. O my fellow, said Sir Gareth, I have had +many adventures for thy sake. And so Sir Gringamore took him by the hand and +led him into the hall where his own wife was. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap140"></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br/>How Sir Gareth, otherwise called +Beaumains, came to the presence of his lady, and how they took acquaintance, +and of their love.</h3> + +<p> +And then came forth Dame Lionesse arrayed like a princess, and there she made +him passing good cheer, and he her again; and they had goodly language and +lovely countenance together. And Sir Gareth thought many times, Jesu, would +that the lady of the Castle Perilous were so fair as she was. There were all +manner of games and plays, of dancing and singing. And ever the more Sir Gareth +beheld that lady, the more he loved her; and so he burned in love that he was +past himself in his reason; and forth toward night they yede unto supper, and +Sir Gareth might not eat, for his love was so hot that he wist not where he +was. +</p> + +<p> +All these looks espied Sir Gringamore, and then at-after supper he called his +sister Dame Lionesse into a chamber, and said: Fair sister, I have well espied +your countenance betwixt you and this knight, and I will, sister, that ye wit +he is a full noble knight, and if ye can make him to abide here I will do him +all the pleasure that I can, for an ye were better than ye are, ye were well +bywaryd upon him. Fair brother, said Dame Lionesse, I understand well that the +knight is good, and come he is of a noble house. Notwithstanding, I will assay +him better, howbeit I am most beholden to him of any earthly man; for he hath +had great labour for my love, and passed many a dangerous passage. +</p> + +<p> +Right so Sir Gringamore went unto Sir Gareth, and said, Sir, make ye good +cheer, for ye shall have none other cause, for this lady, my sister, is yours +at all times, her worship saved, for wit ye well she loveth you as well as ye +do her, and better if better may be. An I wist that, said Sir Gareth, there +lived not a gladder man than I would be. Upon my worship, said Sir Gringamore, +trust unto my promise; and as long as it liketh you ye shall sojourn with me, +and this lady shall be with us daily and nightly to make you all the cheer that +she can. I will well, said Sir Gareth, for I have promised to be nigh this +country this twelvemonth. And well I am sure King Arthur and other noble +knights will find me where that I am within this twelvemonth. For I shall be +sought and found, if that I be alive. And then the noble knight Sir Gareth went +unto the Dame Lionesse, which he then much loved, and kissed her many times, +and either made great joy of other. And there she promised him her love +certainly, to love him and none other the days of her life. Then this lady, +Dame Lionesse, by the assent of her brother, told Sir Gareth all the truth what +she was, and how she was the same lady that he did battle for, and how she was +lady of the Castle Perilous, and there she told him how she caused her brother +to take away his dwarf. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap141"></a>CHAPTER XXII.<br/>How at night came an armed knight, +and fought with Sir Gareth, and he, sore hurt in the thigh, smote off the +knight’s head.</h3> + +<p> +For this cause, to know the certainty what was your name, and of what kin ye +were come. +</p +> +<p> +And then she let fetch to-fore him Linet, the damosel that had ridden with him +many wildsome ways. Then was Sir Gareth more gladder than he was to-fore. And +then they troth-plight each other to love, and never to fail whiles their life +lasteth. And so they burnt both in love, that they were accorded to abate their +lusts secretly. And there Dame Lionesse counselled Sir Gareth to sleep in none +other place but in the hall. And there she promised him to come to his bed a +little afore midnight. +</p> + +<p> +This counsel was not so privily kept but it was understood; for they were but +young both, and tender of age, and had not used none such crafts to-fore. +Wherefore the damosel Linet was a little displeased, and she thought her sister +Dame Lionesse was a little over-hasty, that she might not abide the time of her +marriage; and for saving their worship, she thought to abate their hot lusts. +And so she let ordain by her subtle crafts that they had not their intents +neither with other, as in their delights, until they were married. And so it +passed on. At-after supper was made clean avoidance, that every lord and lady +should go unto his rest. But Sir Gareth said plainly he would go no farther +than the hall, for in such places, he said, was convenient for an errant-knight +to take his rest in; and so there were ordained great couches, and thereon +feather beds, and there laid him down to sleep; and within a while came Dame +Lionesse, wrapped in a mantle furred with ermine, and laid her down beside Sir +Gareth. And therewithal he began to kiss her. And then he looked afore him, and +there he apperceived and saw come an armed knight, with many lights about him; +and this knight had a long gisarm in his hand, and made grim countenance to +smite him. When Sir Gareth saw him come in that wise, he leapt out of his bed, +and gat in his hand his sword, and leapt straight toward that knight. And when +the knight saw Sir Gareth come so fiercely upon him, he smote him with a foin +through the thick of the thigh that the wound was a shaftmon broad and had cut +a-two many veins and sinews. And therewithal Sir Gareth smote him upon the helm +such a buffet that he fell grovelling; and then he leapt over him and unlaced +his helm, and smote off his head from the body. And then he bled so fast that +he might not stand, but so he laid him down upon his bed, and there he swooned +and lay as he had been dead. +</p> + +<p> +Then Dame Lionesse cried aloud, that her brother Sir Gringamore heard, and came +down. And when he saw Sir Gareth so shamefully wounded he was sore displeased, +and said: I am shamed that this noble knight is thus honoured. Sir, said Sir +Gringamore, how may this be, that ye be here, and this noble knight wounded? +Brother, she said, I can not tell you, for it was not done by me, nor by mine +assent. For he is my lord and I am his, and he must be mine husband; therefore, +my brother, I will that ye wit I shame me not to be with him, nor to do him all +the pleasure that I can. Sister, said Sir Gringamore, and I will that ye wit +it, and Sir Gareth both, that it was never done by me, nor by my assent that +this unhappy deed was done. And there they staunched his bleeding as well as +they might, and great sorrow made Sir Gringamore and Dame Lionesse. +</p> + +<p> +And forthwithal came Dame Linet, and took up the head in the sight of them all, +and anointed it with an ointment thereas it was smitten off; and in the same +wise she did to the other part thereas the head stuck, and then she set it +together, and it stuck as fast as ever it did. And the knight arose lightly up, +and the damosel Linet put him in her chamber. All this saw Sir Gringamore and +Dame Lionesse, and so did Sir Gareth; and well he espied that it was the +damosel Linet, that rode with him through the perilous passages. Ah well, +damosel, said Sir Gareth, I weened ye would not have done as ye have done. My +lord Gareth, said Linet, all that I have done I will avow, and all that I have +done shall be for your honour and worship, and to us all. And so within a while +Sir Gareth was nigh whole, and waxed light and jocund, and sang, danced, and +gamed; and he and Dame Lionesse were so hot in burning love that they made +their covenant at the tenth night after, that she should come to his bed. And +because he was wounded afore, he laid his armour and his sword nigh his +bed’s side. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap142"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.<br/>How the said knight came again the +next night and was beheaded again, and how at the feast of Pentecost all the +knights that Sir Gareth had overcome came and yielded them to King Arthur.</h3> + +<p> +Right as she promised she came; and she was not so soon in his bed but she +espied an armed knight coming toward the bed: therewithal she warned Sir +Gareth, and lightly through the good help of Dame Lionesse he was armed; and +they hurtled together with great ire and malice all about the hall; and there +was great light as it had been the number of twenty torches both before and +behind, so that Sir Gareth strained him, so that his old wound brast again +a-bleeding; but he was hot and courageous and took no keep, but with his great +force he struck down that knight, and voided his helm, and struck off his head. +Then he hewed the head in an hundred pieces. And when he had done so he took up +all those pieces, and threw them out at a window into the ditches of the +castle; and by this done he was so faint that unnethes he might stand for +bleeding. And by when he was almost unarmed he fell in a deadly swoon on the +floor; and then Dame Lionesse cried so that Sir Gringamore heard; and when he +came and found Sir Gareth in that plight he made great sorrow; and there he +awaked Sir Gareth, and gave him a drink that relieved him wonderly well; but +the sorrow that Dame Lionesse made there may no tongue tell, for she so fared +with herself as she would have died. +</p> + +<p> +Right so came this damosel Linet before them all, and she had fetched all the +gobbets of the head that Sir Gareth had thrown out at a window, and there she +anointed them as she had done to-fore, and set them together again. Well, +damosel Linet, said Sir Gareth, I have not deserved all this despite that ye do +unto me. Sir knight, she said, I have nothing done but I will avow, and all +that I have done shall be to your worship, and to us all. And then was Sir +Gareth staunched of his bleeding. But the leeches said that there was no man +that bare the life should heal him throughout of his wound but if they healed +him that caused that stroke by enchantment. +</p> + +<p> +So leave we Sir Gareth there with Sir Gringamore and his sisters, and turn we +unto King Arthur, that at the next feast of Pentecost held his feast; and there +came the Green Knight with fifty knights, and yielded them all unto King +Arthur. And so there came the Red Knight his brother, and yielded him to King +Arthur, and three score knights with him. Also there came the Blue Knight, +brother to them, with an hundred knights, and yielded them unto King Arthur; +and the Green Knight’s name was Pertolepe, and the Red Knight’s +name was Perimones, and the Blue Knight’s name was Sir Persant of Inde. +These three brethren told King Arthur how they were overcome by a knight that a +damosel had with her, and called him Beaumains. Jesu, said the king, I marvel +what knight he is, and of what lineage he is come. He was with me a +twelvemonth, and poorly and shamefully he was fostered, and Sir Kay in scorn +named him Beaumains. So right as the king stood so talking with these three +brethren, there came Sir Launcelot du Lake, and told the king that there was +come a goodly lord with six hundred knights with him. +</p> + +<p> +Then the king went out of Carlion, for there was the feast, and there came to +him this lord, and saluted the king in a goodly manner. What will ye, said King +Arthur, and what is your errand? Sir, he said, my name is the Red Knight of the +Red Launds, but my name is Sir Ironside; and sir, wit ye well, here I am sent +to you of a knight that is called Beaumains, for he won me in plain battle hand +for hand, and so did never no knight but he, that ever had the better of me +this thirty winter; the which commanded to yield me to you at your will. Ye are +welcome, said the king, for ye have been long a great foe to me and my court, +and now I trust to God I shall so entreat you that ye shall be my friend. Sir, +both I and these five hundred knights shall always be at your summons to do you +service as may lie in our powers. Jesu mercy, said King Arthur, I am much +beholden unto that knight that hath put so his body in devoir to worship me and +my court. And as to thee, Ironside, that art called the Red Knight of the Red +Launds, thou art called a perilous knight; and if thou wilt hold of me I shall +worship thee and make thee knight of the Table Round; but then thou must be no +more a murderer. Sir, as to that, I have promised unto Sir Beaumains never more +to use such customs, for all the shameful customs that I used I did at the +request of a lady that I loved; and therefore I must go unto Sir Launcelot, and +unto Sir Gawaine, and ask them forgiveness of the evil will I had unto them; +for all that I put to death was all only for the love of Sir Launcelot and of +Sir Gawaine. They be here now, said the king, afore thee, now may ye say to +them what ye will. And then he kneeled down unto Sir Launcelot, and to Sir +Gawaine, and prayed them of forgiveness of his enmity that ever he had against +them. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap143"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.<br/>How King Arthur pardoned them, and +demanded of them where Sir Gareth was.</h3> + +<p> +Then goodly they said all at once, God forgive you, and we do, and pray you +that ye will tell us where we may find Sir Beaumains. Fair lords, said Sir +Ironside, I cannot tell you, for it is full hard to find him; for such young +knights as he is one, when they be in their adventures be never abiding in no +place. But to say the worship that the Red Knight of the Red Launds, and Sir +Persant and his brother said of Beaumains, it was marvel to hear. Well, my fair +lords, said King Arthur, wit you well I shall do you honour for the love of Sir +Beaumains, and as soon as ever I meet with him I shall make you all upon one +day knights of the Table Round. And as to thee, Sir Persant of Inde, thou hast +been ever called a full noble knight, and so have ever been thy three brethren +called. But I marvel, said the king, that I hear not of the Black Knight your +brother, he was a full noble knight. Sir, said Pertolepe, the Green Knight, Sir +Beaumains slew him in a recounter with his spear, his name was Sir Percard. +That was great pity, said the king, and so said many knights. For these four +brethren were full well known in the court of King Arthur for noble knights, +for long time they had holden war against the knights of the Round Table. Then +said Pertolepe, the Green Knight, to the king: At a passage of the water of +Mortaise there encountered Sir Beaumains with two brethren that ever for the +most part kept that passage, and they were two deadly knights, and there he +slew the eldest brother in the water, and smote him upon the head such a buffet +that he fell down in the water, and there he was drowned, and his name was Sir +Gherard le Breusse; and after he slew the other brother upon the land, his name +was Sir Arnold le Breusse. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap144"></a>CHAPTER XXV.<br/>How the Queen of Orkney came to this +feast of Pentecost, and Sir Gawaine and his brethren came to ask her blessing. +</h3> + +<p> +So then the king and they went to meat, and were served in the best manner. And +as they sat at the meat, there came in the Queen of Orkney, with ladies and +knights a great number. And then Sir Gawaine, Sir Agravaine, and Gaheris arose, +and went to her and saluted her upon their knees, and asked her blessing; for +in fifteen year they had not seen her. Then she spake on high to her brother +King Arthur: Where have ye done my young son Sir Gareth? He was here amongst +you a twelvemonth, and ye made a kitchen knave of him, the which is shame to +you all. Alas, where have ye done my dear son that was my joy and bliss? O dear +mother, said Sir Gawaine, I knew him not. Nor I, said the king, that now me +repenteth, but thanked be God he is proved a worshipful knight as any is now +living of his years, and I shall never be glad till I may find him. +</p> + +<p> +Ah, brother, said the Queen unto King Arthur, and unto Sir Gawaine, and to all +her sons, ye did yourself great shame when ye amongst you kept my son in the +kitchen and fed him like a poor hog. Fair sister, said King Arthur, ye shall +right well wit I knew him not, nor no more did Sir Gawaine, nor his brethren; +but sithen it is so, said the king, that he is thus gone from us all, we must +shape a remedy to find him. Also, sister, meseemeth ye might have done me to +wit of his coming, and then an I had not done well to him ye might have blamed +me. For when he came to this court he came leaning upon two men’s +shoulders, as though he might not have gone. And then he asked me three gifts; +and one he asked the same day, that was that I would give him meat enough that +twelvemonth; and the other two gifts he asked that day a twelvemonth, and that +was that he might have the adventure of the damosel Linet, and the third was +that Sir Launcelot should make him knight when he desired him. And so I granted +him all his desire, and many in this court marvelled that he desired his +sustenance for a twelvemonth. And thereby, we deemed, many of us, that he was +not come of a noble house. +</p> + +<p> +Sir, said the Queen of Orkney unto King Arthur her brother, wit ye well that I +sent him unto you right well armed and horsed, and worshipfully beseen of his +body, and gold and silver plenty to spend. It may be, said the King, but +thereof saw we none, save that same day as he departed from us, knights told me +that there came a dwarf hither suddenly, and brought him armour and a good +horse full well and richly beseen; and thereat we all had marvel from whence +that riches came, that we deemed all that he was come of men of worship. +Brother, said the queen, all that ye say I believe, for ever sithen he was +grown he was marvellously witted, and ever he was faithful and true of his +promise. But I marvel, said she, that Sir Kay did mock him and scorn him, and +gave him that name Beaumains; yet, Sir Kay, said the queen, named him more +righteously than he weened; for I dare say an he be alive, he is as fair an +handed man and well disposed as any is living. Sir, said Arthur, let this +language be still, and by the grace of God he shall be found an he be within +this seven realms, and let all this pass and be merry, for he is proved to be a +man of worship, and that is my joy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap145"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.<br/>How King Arthur sent for the Lady +Lionesse, and how she let cry a tourney at her castle, whereas came many +knights.</h3> + +<p> +Then said Sir Gawaine and his brethren unto Arthur, Sir, an ye will give us +leave, we will go and seek our brother. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, that shall ye +not need; and so said Sir Baudwin of Britain: for as by our advice the king +shall send unto Dame Lionesse a messenger, and pray her that she will come to +the court in all the haste that she may, and doubt ye not she will come; and +then she may give you best counsel where ye shall find him. This is well said +of you, said the king. So then goodly letters were made, and the messenger sent +forth, that night and day he went till he came unto the Castle Perilous. And +then the lady Dame Lionesse was sent for, thereas she was with Sir Gringamore +her brother and Sir Gareth. And when she understood this message, she bade him +ride on his way unto King Arthur, and she would come after in all goodly haste. +Then when she came to Sir Gringamore and to Sir Gareth, she told them all how +King Arthur had sent for her. That is because of me, said Sir Gareth. Now +advise me, said Dame Lionesse, what shall I say, and in what manner I shall +rule me. My lady and my love, said Sir Gareth, I pray you in no wise be ye +aknowen where I am; but well I wot my mother is there and all my brethren, and +they will take upon them to seek me, I wot well that they do. But this, madam, +I would ye said and advised the king when he questioned with you of me. Then +may ye say, this is your advice that, an it like his good grace, ye will do +make a cry against the feast of the Assumption of our Lady, that what knight +there proveth him best he shall wield you and all your land. And if so be that +he be a wedded man, that his wife shall have the degree, and a coronal of gold +beset with stones of virtue to the value of a thousand pound, and a white +gerfalcon. +</p> + +<p> +So Dame Lionesse departed and came to King Arthur, where she was nobly +received, and there she was sore questioned of the king and of the Queen of +Orkney. And she answered, where Sir Gareth was she could not tell. But thus +much she said unto Arthur: Sir, I will let cry a tournament that shall be done +before my castle at the Assumption of our Lady, and the cry shall be this: that +you, my lord Arthur, shall be there, and your knights, and I will purvey that +my knights shall be against yours; and then I am sure ye shall hear of Sir +Gareth. This is well advised, said King Arthur; and so she departed. And the +king and she made great provision to that tournament. +</p> + +<p> +When Dame Lionesse was come to the Isle of Avilion, that was the same isle +thereas her brother Sir Gringamore dwelt, then she told them all how she had +done, and what promise she had made to King Arthur. Alas, said Sir Gareth, I +have been so wounded with unhappiness sithen I came into this castle that I +shall not be able to do at that tournament like a knight; for I was never +thoroughly whole since I was hurt. Be ye of good cheer, said the damosel Linet, +for I undertake within these fifteen days to make ye whole, and as lusty as +ever ye were. And then she laid an ointment and a salve to him as it pleased to +her, that he was never so fresh nor so lusty. Then said the damosel Linet: Send +you unto Sir Persant of Inde, and assummon him and his knights to be here with +you as they have promised. Also, that ye send unto Sir Ironside, that is the +Red Knight of the Red Launds, and charge him that he be ready with you with his +whole sum of knights, and then shall ye be able to match with King Arthur and +his knights. So this was done, and all knights were sent for unto the Castle +Perilous; and then the Red Knight answered and said unto Dame Lionesse, and to +Sir Gareth, Madam, and my lord Sir Gareth, ye shall understand that I have been +at the court of King Arthur, and Sir Persant of Inde and his brethren, and +there we have done our homage as ye commanded us. Also Sir Ironside said, I +have taken upon me with Sir Persant of Inde and his brethren to hold part +against my lord Sir Launcelot and the knights of that court. And this have I +done for the love of my lady Dame Lionesse, and you my lord Sir Gareth. Ye have +well done, said Sir Gareth; but wit you well ye shall be full sore matched with +the most noble knights of the world; therefore we must purvey us of good +knights, where we may get them. That is well said, said Sir Persant, and +worshipfully. +</p> + +<p> +And so the cry was made in England, Wales, and Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, and +in all the Out Isles, and in Brittany and in many countries; that at the feast +of our Lady the Assumption next coming, men should come to the Castle Perilous +beside the Isle of Avilion; and there all the knights that there came should +have the choice whether them list to be on the one party with the knights of +the castle, or on the other party with King Arthur. And two months was to the +day that the tournament should be. And so there came many good knights that +were at their large, and held them for the most part against King Arthur and +his knights of the Round Table and came in the side of them of the castle. For +Sir Epinogrus was the first, and he was the king’s son of Northumberland, +and Sir Palamides the Saracen was another, and Sir Safere his brother, and Sir +Segwarides his brother, but they were christened, and Sir Malegrine another, +and Sir Brian de les Isles, a noble knight, and Sir Grummore Grummursum, a good +knight of Scotland, and Sir Carados of the dolorous tower, a noble knight, and +Sir Turquine his brother, and Sir Arnold and Sir Gauter, two brethren, good +knights of Cornwall. There came Sir Tristram de Liones, and with him Sir Dinas, +the Seneschal, and Sir Sadok; but this Sir Tristram was not at that time knight +of the Table Round, but he was one of the best knights of the world. And so all +these noble knights accompanied them with the lady of the castle, and with the +Red Knight of the Red Launds; but as for Sir Gareth, he would not take upon him +more but as other mean knights. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap146"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.<br/>How King Arthur went to the +tournament with his knights, and how the lady received him worshipfully, and +how the knights encountered.</h3> + +<p> +And then there came with King Arthur Sir Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, his +brethren. And then his nephews Sir Uwaine le Blanchemains, and Sir Aglovale, +Sir Tor, Sir Percivale de Galis, and Sir Lamorak de Galis. Then came Sir +Launcelot du Lake with his brethren, nephews, and cousins, as Sir Lionel, Sir +Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, and Sir Galihodin, Sir Galihud, and many +more of Sir Launcelot’s blood, and Sir Dinadan, Sir La Cote Male Taile, +his brother, a good knight, and Sir Sagramore, a good knight; and all the most +part of the Round Table. Also there came with King Arthur these knights, the +King of Ireland, King Agwisance, and the King of Scotland, King Carados and +King Uriens of the land of Gore, and King Bagdemagus and his son Sir +Meliaganus, and Sir Galahault the noble prince. All these kings, princes, and +earls, barons, and other noble knights, as Sir Brandiles, Sir Uwaine les +Avoutres, and Sir Kay, Sir Bedivere, Sir Meliot de Logres, Sir Petipase of +Winchelsea, Sir Godelake: all these came with King Arthur, and more that cannot +be rehearsed. +</p> + +<p> +Now leave we of these kings and knights, and let us speak of the great array +that was made within the castle and about the castle for both parties. The Lady +Dame Lionesse ordained great array upon her part for her noble knights, for all +manner of lodging and victual that came by land and by water, that there lacked +nothing for her party, nor for the other, but there was plenty to be had for +gold and silver for King Arthur and his knights. And then there came the +harbingers from King Arthur for to harbour him, and his kings, dukes, earls, +barons, and knights. And then Sir Gareth prayed Dame Lionesse and the Red +Knight of the Red Launds, and Sir Persant and his brother, and Sir Gringamore, +that in no wise there should none of them tell not his name, and make no more +of him than of the least knight that there was, For, he said, I will not be +known of neither more nor less, neither at the beginning neither at the ending. +Then Dame Lionesse said unto Sir Gareth: Sir, I will lend you a ring, but I +would pray you as you love me heartily let me have it again when the tournament +is done, for that ring increaseth my beauty much more than it is of himself. +And the virtue of my ring is that, that is green it will turn to red, and that +is red it will turn in likeness to green, and that is blue it will turn to +likeness of white, and that is white it will turn in likeness to blue, and so +it will do of all manner of colours. Also who that beareth my ring shall lose +no blood, and for great love I will give you this ring. Gramercy, said Sir +Gareth, mine own lady, for this ring is passing meet for me, for it will turn +all manner of likeness that I am in, and that shall cause me that I shall not +be known. Then Sir Gringamore gave Sir Gareth a bay courser that was a passing +good horse; also he gave him good armour and sure, and a noble sword that +sometime Sir Gringamore’s father won upon an heathen tyrant. And so thus +every knight made him ready to that tournament. And King Arthur was come two +days to-fore the Assumption of our Lady. And there was all manner of royalty of +all minstrelsy that might be found. Also there came Queen Guenever and the +Queen of Orkney, Sir Gareth’s mother. +</p> + +<p> +And upon the Assumption Day, when mass and matins were done, there were heralds +with trumpets commanded to blow to the field. And so there came out Sir +Epinogrus, the king’s son of Northumberland, from the castle, and there +encountered with him Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and either of them brake their +spears to their hands. And then came in Sir Palamides out of the castle, and +there encountered with him Gawaine, and either of them smote other so hard that +both the good knights and their horses fell to the earth. And then knights of +either party rescued their knights. And then came in Sir Safere and Sir +Segwarides, brethren to Sir Palamides; and there encountered Sir Agravaine with +Sir Safere and Sir Gaheris encountered with Sir Segwarides. So Sir Safere smote +down Agravaine, Sir Gawaine’s brother; and Sir Segwarides, Sir +Safere’s brother. And Sir Malegrine, a knight of the castle, encountered +with Sir Uwaine le Blanchemains, and there Sir Uwaine gave Sir Malegrine a +fall, that he had almost broke his neck. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap147"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.<br/>How the knights bare them in the +battle.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Brian de les Isles and Grummore Grummursum, knights of the castle, +encountered with Sir Aglovale, and Sir Tor smote down Sir Grummore Grummursum +to the earth. Then came in Sir Carados of the dolorous tower, and Sir Turquine, +knights of the castle; and there encountered with them Sir Percivale de Galis +and Sir Lamorak de Galis, that were two brethren. And there encountered Sir +Percivale with Sir Carados, and either brake their spears unto their hands, and +then Sir Turquine with Sir Lamorak, and either of them smote down other’s +horse and all to the earth, and either parties rescued other, and horsed them +again. And Sir Arnold and Sir Gauter, knights of the castle, encountered with +Sir Brandiles and Sir Kay, and these four knights encountered mightily, and +brake their spears to their hands. Then came in Sir Tristram, Sir Sadok, and +Sir Dinas, knights of the castle, and there encountered Sir Tristram with Sir +Bedivere, and there Sir Bedivere was smitten to the earth both horse and man. +And Sir Sadok encountered with Sir Petipase, and there Sir Sadok was +overthrown. And there Uwaine les Avoutres smote down Sir Dinas, the Seneschal. +Then came in Sir Persant of Inde, a knight of the castle, and there encountered +with him Sir Launcelot du Lake, and there he smote Sir Persant, horse and man, +to the earth. Then came Sir Pertolepe from the castle, and there encountered +with him Sir Lionel, and there Sir Pertolepe, the Green Knight, smote down Sir +Lionel, brother to Sir Launcelot. All this was marked by noble heralds, who +bare him best, and their names. +</p> + +<p> +And then came into the field Sir Perimones, the Red Knight, Sir Persant’s +brother, that was a knight of the castle, and he encountered with Sir Ector de +Maris, and either smote other so hard that both their horses and they fell to +the earth. And then came in the Red Knight of the Red Launds, and Sir Gareth, +from the castle, and there encountered with them Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir +Bleoberis, and there the Red Knight and Sir Bors [either] smote other so hard +that their spears brast, and their horses fell grovelling to the earth. Then +Sir Bleoberis brake his spear upon Sir Gareth, but of that stroke Sir Bleoberis +fell to the earth. When Sir Galihodin saw that he bade Sir Gareth keep him, and +Sir Gareth smote him to the earth. Then Sir Galihud gat a spear to avenge his +brother, and in the same wise Sir Gareth served him, and Sir Dinadan and his +brother, La Cote Male Taile, and Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and Sir Dodinas le +Savage. All these he bare down with one spear. +</p> + +<p> +When King Agwisance of Ireland saw Sir Gareth fare so, he marvelled what he +might be that one time seemed green, and another time, at his again coming, he +seemed blue. And thus at every course that he rode to and fro he changed his +colour, so that there might neither king nor knight have ready cognisance of +him. Then Sir Agwisance, the King of Ireland, encountered with Sir Gareth, and +there Sir Gareth smote him from his horse, saddle and all. And then came King +Carados of Scotland, and Sir Gareth smote him down horse and man. And in the +same wise he served King Uriens of the land of Gore. And then came in Sir +Bagdemagus, and Sir Gareth smote him down, horse and man, to the earth. And +Bagdemagus’ son, Meliganus, brake a spear upon Sir Gareth mightily and +knightly. And then Sir Galahault, the noble prince, cried on high: Knight with +the many colours, well hast thou jousted; now make thee ready that I may joust +with thee. Sir Gareth heard him, and he gat a great spear, and so they +encountered together, and there the prince brake his spear; but Sir Gareth +smote him upon the left side of the helm that he reeled here and there, and he +had fallen down had not his men recovered him. +</p> + +<p> +So God me help, said King Arthur, that same knight with the many colours is a +good knight. Wherefore the king called unto him Sir Launcelot, and prayed him +to encounter with that knight. Sir, said Launcelot, I may well find in my heart +for to forbear him as at this time, for he hath had travail enough this day; +and when a good knight doth so well upon some day, it is no good knight’s +part to let him of his worship, and namely, when he seeth a knight hath done so +great labour; for peradventure, said Sir Launcelot, his quarrel is here this +day, and peradventure he is best beloved with this lady of all that be here; +for I see well he paineth him and enforceth him to do great deeds, and +therefore, said Sir Launcelot, as for me, this day he shall have the honour; +though it lay in my power to put him from it I would not. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap148"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.<br/>Yet of the said tournament.</h3> + +<p> +Then when this was done there was drawing of swords, and then there began a +sore tournament. And there did Sir Lamorak marvellous deeds of arms; and +betwixt Sir Lamorak and Sir Ironside, that was the Red Knight of the Red +Launds, there was strong battle; and betwixt Sir Palamides and Bleoberis there +was a strong battle; and Sir Gawaine and Sir Tristram met, and there Sir +Gawaine had the worse, for he pulled Sir Gawaine from his horse, and there he +was long upon foot, and defouled. Then came in Sir Launcelot, and he smote Sir +Turquine, and he him; and then came Sir Carados his brother, and both at once +they assailed him, and he as the most noblest knight of the world worshipfully +fought with them both, that all men wondered of the noblesse of Sir Launcelot. +And then came in Sir Gareth, and knew that it was Sir Launcelot that fought +with the two perilous knights. And then Sir Gareth came with his good horse and +hurtled them in-sunder, and no stroke would he smite to Sir Launcelot. That +espied Sir Launcelot, and deemed it should be the good knight Sir Gareth: and +then Sir Gareth rode here and there, and smote on the right hand and on the +left hand, and all the folk might well espy where that he rode. And by fortune +he met with his brother Sir Gawaine, and there he put Sir Gawaine to the worse, +for he put off his helm, and so he served five or six knights of the Round +Table, that all men said he put him in the most pain, and best he did his +devoir. For when Sir Tristram beheld him how he first jousted and after fought +so well with a sword, then he rode unto Sir Ironside and to Sir Persant of +Inde, and asked them, by their faith, What manner a knight is yonder knight +that seemeth in so many divers colours? Truly, meseemeth, said Tristram, that +he putteth himself in great pain, for he never ceaseth. Wot ye not what he is? +said Sir Ironside. No, said Sir Tristram. Then shall ye know that this is he +that loveth the lady of the castle, and she him again; and this is he that won +me when I besieged the lady of this castle, and this is he that won Sir Persant +of Inde, and his three brethren. What is his name, said Sir Tristram, and of +what blood is he come? He was called in the court of King Arthur, Beaumains, +but his right name is Sir Gareth of Orkney, brother to Sir Gawaine. By my head, +said Sir Tristram, he is a good knight, and a big man of arms, and if he be +young he shall prove a full noble knight. He is but a child, they all said, and +of Sir Launcelot he was made knight. Therefore he is mickle the better, said +Tristram. And then Sir Tristram, Sir Ironside, Sir Persant, and his brother, +rode together for to help Sir Gareth; and then there were given many strong +strokes. +</p> + +<p> +And then Sir Gareth rode out on the one side to amend his helm; and then said +his dwarf: Take me your ring, that ye lose it not while that ye drink. And so +when he had drunk he gat on his helm, and eagerly took his horse and rode into +the field, and left his ring with his dwarf; and the dwarf was glad the ring +was from him, for then he wist well he should be known. And then when Sir +Gareth was in the field all folks saw him well and plainly that he was in +yellow colours; and there he rased off helms and pulled down knights, that King +Arthur had marvel what knight he was, for the king saw by his hair that it was +the same knight. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap149"></a>CHAPTER XXX.<br/>How Sir Gareth was espied by the +heralds, and how he escaped out of the field.</h3> + +<p> +But before he was in so many colours, and now he is but in one colour; that is +yellow. Now go, said King Arthur unto divers heralds, and ride about him, and +espy what manner knight he is, for I have spered of many knights this day that +be upon his party, and all say they know him not. +</p> + +<p> +And so an herald rode nigh Gareth as he could; and there he saw written about +his helm in gold, This helm is Sir Gareth of Orkney. +</p> + +<p> +Then the herald cried as he were wood, and many heralds with him:—This is +Sir Gareth of Orkney in the yellow arms; that by all kings and knights of +Arthur’s beheld him and awaited; and then they pressed all to behold him, +and ever the heralds cried: This is Sir Gareth of Orkney, King Lot’s son. +</p> + +<p> +And when Sir Gareth espied that he was discovered, then he doubled his strokes, +and smote down Sir Sagramore, and his brother Sir Gawaine. +</p> + +<p> +O brother, said Sir Gawaine, I weened ye would not have stricken me. +</p> + +<p> +So when he heard him say so he thrang here and there, and so with great pain he +gat out of the press, and there he met with his dwarf. O boy, said Sir Gareth, +thou hast beguiled me foul this day that thou kept my ring; give it me anon +again, that I may hide my body withal; and so he took it him. And then they all +wist not where he was become; and Sir Gawaine had in manner espied where Sir +Gareth rode, and then he rode after with all his might. That espied Sir Gareth, +and rode lightly into the forest, that Sir Gawaine wist not where he was +become. And when Sir Gareth wist that Sir Gawaine was passed, he asked the +dwarf of best counsel. Sir, said the dwarf, meseemeth it were best, now that ye +are escaped from spying, that ye send my lady Dame Lionesse her ring. It is +well advised, said Sir Gareth; now have it here and bear it to her, and say +that I recommend me unto her good grace, and say her I will come when I may, +and I pray her to be true and faithful to me as I will be to her. Sir, said the +dwarf, it shall be done as ye command: and so he rode his way, and did his +errand unto the lady. Then she said, Where is my knight, Sir Gareth? Madam, +said the dwarf, he bade me say that he would not be long from you. And so +lightly the dwarf came again unto Sir Gareth, that would full fain have had a +lodging, for he had need to be reposed. And then fell there a thunder and a +rain, as heaven and earth should go together. And Sir Gareth was not a little +weary, for of all that day he had but little rest, neither his horse nor he. So +this Sir Gareth rode so long in that forest until the night came. And ever it +lightened and thundered, as it had been wood. At the last by fortune he came to +a castle, and there he heard the waits upon the walls. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap150"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.<br/>How Sir Gareth came to a castle +where he was well lodged, and he jousted with a knight and slew him.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Gareth rode unto the barbican of the castle, and prayed the porter +fair to let him into the castle. The porter answered ungoodly again, and said, +Thou gettest no lodging here. Fair sir, say not so, for I am a knight of King +Arthur’s, and pray the lord or the lady of this castle to give me harbour +for the love of King Arthur. Then the porter went unto the duchess, and told +her how there was a knight of King Arthur’s would have harbour. Let him +in, said the duchess, for I will see that knight, and for King Arthur’s +sake he shall not be harbourless. Then she yode up into a tower over the gate, +with great torchlight. +</p> + +<p> +When Sir Gareth saw that torch-light he cried on high: Whether thou be lord or +lady, giant or champion, I take no force so that I may have harbour this night; +and if it so be that I must needs fight, spare me not to-morn when I have +rested me, for both I and mine horse be weary. Sir knight, said the lady, thou +speakest knightly and boldly; but wit thou well the lord of this castle loveth +not King Arthur, nor none of his court, for my lord hath ever been against him; +and therefore thou were better not to come within this castle; for an thou come +in this night, thou must come in under such form, that wheresomever thou meet +my lord, by stigh or by street, thou must yield thee to him as prisoner. Madam, +said Sir Gareth, what is your lord, and what is his name? Sir, my lord’s +name is the Duke de la Rowse. Well madam, said Sir Gareth, I shall promise you +in what place I meet your lord I shall yield me unto him and to his good grace; +with that I understand he will do me no harm: and if I understand that he will, +I will release myself an I can with my spear and my sword. Ye say well, said +the duchess; and then she let the drawbridge down, and so he rode into the +hall, and there he alighted, and his horse was led into a stable; and in the +hall he unarmed him and said, Madam, I will not out of this hall this night; +and when it is daylight, let see who will have ado with me, he shall find me +ready. Then was he set unto supper, and had many good dishes. Then Sir Gareth +list well to eat, and knightly he ate his meat, and eagerly; there was many a +fair lady by him, and some said they never saw a goodlier man nor so well of +eating. Then they made him passing good cheer, and shortly when he had supped +his bed was made there; so he rested him all night. +</p> + +<p> +And on the morn he heard mass, and brake his fast and took his leave at the +duchess, and at them all; and thanked her goodly of her lodging, and of his +good cheer; and then she asked him his name. Madam, he said, truly my name is +Gareth of Orkney, and some men call me Beaumains. Then knew she well it was the +same knight that fought for Dame Lionesse. So Sir Gareth departed and rode up +into a mountain, and there met him a knight, his name was Sir Bendelaine, and +said to Sir Gareth: Thou shalt not pass this way, for either thou shalt joust +with me, or else be my prisoner. Then will I joust, said Sir Gareth. And so +they let their horses run, and there Sir Gareth smote him throughout the body; +and Sir Bendelaine rode forth to his castle there beside, and there died. So +Sir Gareth would have rested him, and he came riding to Bendelaine’s +castle. Then his knights and servants espied that it was he that had slain +their lord. Then they armed twenty good men, and came out and assailed Sir +Gareth; and so he had no spear, but his sword, and put his shield afore him; +and there they brake their spears upon him, and they assailed him passingly +sore. But ever Sir Gareth defended him as a knight. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap151"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.<br/>How Sir Gareth fought with a +knight that held within his castle thirty ladies, and how he slew him.</h3> + +<p> +So when they saw that they might not overcome him, they rode from him, and took +their counsel to slay his horse; and so they came in upon Sir Gareth, and with +spears they slew his horse, and then they assailed him hard. But when he was on +foot, there was none that he fought but he gave him such a buffet that he did +never recover. So he slew them by one and one till they were but four, and +there they fled; and Sir Gareth took a good horse that was one of theirs, and +rode his way. +</p> + +<p> +Then he rode a great pace till that he came to a castle, and there he heard +much mourning of ladies and gentlewomen. So there came by him a page. What +noise is this, said Sir Gareth, that I hear within this castle? Sir knight, +said the page, here be within this castle thirty ladies, and all they be +widows; for here is a knight that waiteth daily upon this castle, and his name +is the Brown Knight without Pity, and he is the periloust knight that now +liveth; and therefore sir, said the page, I rede you flee. Nay, said Sir +Gareth, I will not flee though thou be afeard of him. And then the page saw +where came the Brown Knight: Lo, said the page, yonder he cometh. Let me deal +with him, said Sir Gareth. And when either of other had a sight they let their +horses run, and the Brown Knight brake his spear, and Sir Gareth smote him +throughout the body, that he overthrew him to the ground stark dead. So Sir +Gareth rode into the castle, and prayed the ladies that he might repose him. +Alas, said the ladies, ye may not be lodged here. Make him good cheer, said the +page, for this knight hath slain your enemy. Then they all made him good cheer +as lay in their power. But wit ye well they made him good cheer, for they might +none otherwise do, for they were but poor. +</p> + +<p> +And so on the morn he went to mass, and there he saw the thirty ladies kneel, +and lay grovelling upon divers tombs, making great dole and sorrow. Then Sir +Gareth wist well that in the tombs lay their lords. Fair ladies, said Sir +Gareth, ye must at the next feast of Pentecost be at the court of King Arthur, +and say that I, Sir Gareth, sent you thither. We shall do this, said the +ladies. So he departed, and by fortune he came to a mountain, and there he +found a goodly knight that bade him, Abide sir knight, and joust with me. What +are ye? said Sir Gareth. My name is, said he, the Duke de la Rowse. Ah sir, ye +are the same knight that I lodged once in your castle; and there I made promise +unto your lady that I should yield me unto you. Ah, said the duke, art thou +that proud knight that profferest to fight with my knights; therefore make thee +ready, for I will have ado with you. So they let their horses run, and there +Sir Gareth smote the duke down from his horse. But the duke lightly avoided his +horse, and dressed his shield and drew his sword, and bade Sir Gareth alight +and fight with him. So he did alight, and they did great battle together more +than an hour, and either hurt other full sore. At the last Sir Gareth gat the +duke to the earth, and would have slain him, and then he yield him to him. Then +must ye go, said Sir Gareth, unto Sir Arthur my lord at the next feast, and say +that I, Sir Gareth of Orkney, sent you unto him. It shall be done, said the +duke, and I will do to you homage and fealty with an hundred knights with me; +and all the days of my life to do you service where ye will command me. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap152"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.<br/>How Sir Gareth and Sir Gawaine +fought each against other, and how they knew each other by the damosel +Linet.</h3> + +<p> +So the duke departed, and Sir Gareth stood there alone; and there he saw an +armed knight coming toward him. Then Sir Gareth took the duke’s shield, +and mounted upon horseback, and so without biding they ran together as it had +been the thunder. And there that knight hurt Sir Gareth under the side with his +spear. And then they alighted and drew their swords, and gave great strokes +that the blood trailed to the ground. And so they fought two hours. +</p> + +<p> +At the last there came the damosel Linet, that some men called the damosel +Savage, and she came riding upon an ambling mule; and there she cried all on +high, Sir Gawaine, Sir Gawaine, leave thy fighting with thy brother Sir Gareth. +</p> + +<p> +And when he heard her say so he threw away his shield and his sword, and ran to +Sir Gareth, and took him in his arms, and sithen kneeled down and asked him +mercy. +</p> + +<p> +What are ye, said Sir Gareth, that right now were so strong and so mighty, and +now so suddenly yield you to me? O Gareth, I am your brother Sir Gawaine, that +for your sake have had great sorrow and labour. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Gareth unlaced his helm, and kneeled down to him, and asked him mercy. +Then they rose both, and embraced either other in their arms, and wept a great +while or they might speak, and either of them gave other the prize of the +battle. And there were many kind words between them. +</p> + +<p> +Alas, my fair brother, said Sir Gawaine, perdy I owe of right to worship you an +ye were not my brother, for ye have worshipped King Arthur and all his court, +for ye have sent me more worshipful knights this twelvemonth than six the best +of the Round Table have done, except Sir Launcelot. +</p> + +<p> +Then came the damosel Savage that was the Lady Linet, that rode with Sir Gareth +so long, and there she did staunch Sir Gareth’s wounds and Sir +Gawaine’s. Now what will ye do? said the damosel Savage; meseemeth that +it were well done that Arthur had witting of you both, for your horses are so +bruised that they may not bear. Now, fair damosel, said Sir Gawaine, I pray you +ride unto my lord mine uncle, King Arthur, and tell him what adventure is to me +betid here, and I suppose he will not tarry long. Then she took her mule, and +lightly she came to King Arthur that was but two mile thence. And when she had +told him tidings the king bade get him a palfrey. And when he was upon his back +he bade the lords and ladies come after, who that would; and there was saddling +and bridling of queens’ horses and princes’ horses, and well was +him that soonest might be ready. +</p> + +<p> +So when the king came thereas they were, he saw Sir Gawaine and Sir Gareth sit +upon a little hill-side, and then the king avoided his horse. And when he came +nigh Sir Gareth he would have spoken but he might not; and therewith he sank +down in a swoon for gladness. And so they stert unto their uncle, and required +him of his good grace to be of good comfort. Wit ye well the king made great +joy, and many a piteous complaint he made to Sir Gareth, and ever he wept as he +had been a child. With that came his mother, the Queen of Orkney, Dame +Morgawse, and when she saw Sir Gareth readily in the visage she might not weep, +but suddenly fell down in a swoon, and lay there a great while like as she had +been dead. And then Sir Gareth recomforted his mother in such wise that she +recovered and made good cheer. Then the king commanded that all manner of +knights that were under his obeissance should make their lodging right there +for the love of his nephews. And so it was done, and all manner of purveyance +purveyed, that there lacked nothing that might be gotten of tame nor wild for +gold or silver. And then by the means of the damosel Savage Sir Gawaine and Sir +Gareth were healed of their wounds; and there they sojourned eight days. +</p> + +<p> +Then said King Arthur unto the damosel Savage: I marvel that your sister, Dame +Lionesse, cometh not here to me, and in especial that she cometh not to visit +her knight, my nephew Sir Gareth, that hath had so much travail for her love. +My lord, said the damosel Linet, ye must of your good grace hold her excused, +for she knoweth not that my lord, Sir Gareth, is here. Go then for her, said +King Arthur, that we may be appointed what is best to be done, according to the +pleasure of my nephew. Sir, said the damosel, that shall be done, and so she +rode unto her sister. And as lightly as she might she made her ready; and she +came on the morn with her brother Sir Gringamore, and with her forty knights. +And so when she was come she had all the cheer that might be done, both of the +king, and of many other kings and queens. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap153"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.<br/>How Sir Gareth acknowledged that +they loved each other to King Arthur, and of the appointment of their +wedding.</h3> + +<p> +And among all these ladies she was named the fairest, and peerless. Then when +Sir Gawaine saw her there was many a goodly look and goodly words, that all men +of worship had joy to behold them. Then came King Arthur and many other kings, +and Dame Guenever, and the Queen of Orkney. And there the king asked his +nephew, Sir Gareth, whether he would have that lady as paramour, or to have her +to his wife. My lord, wit you well that I love her above all ladies living. +Now, fair lady, said King Arthur, what say ye? Most noble King, said Dame +Lionesse, wit you well that my lord, Sir Gareth, is to me more liefer to have +and wield as my husband, than any king or prince that is christened; and if I +may not have him I promise you I will never have none. For, my lord Arthur, +said Dame Lionesse, wit ye well he is my first love, and he shall be the last; +and if ye will suffer him to have his will and free choice I dare say he will +have me. That is truth, said Sir Gareth; an I have not you and wield not you as +my wife, there shall never lady nor gentlewoman rejoice me. What, nephew, said +the king, is the wind in that door? for wit ye well I would not for the stint +of my crown to be causer to withdraw your hearts; and wit ye well ye cannot +love so well but I shall rather increase it than distress it. And also ye shall +have my love and my lordship in the uttermost wise that may lie in my power. +And in the same wise said Sir Gareth’s mother. +</p> + +<p> +Then there was made a provision for the day of marriage; and by the +king’s advice it was provided that it should be at Michaelmas following, +at Kink Kenadon by the seaside, for there is a plentiful country. And so it was +cried in all the places through the realm. And then Sir Gareth sent his summons +to all these knights and ladies that he had won in battle to-fore, that they +should be at his day of marriage at Kink Kenadon by the sands. +</p> + +<p> +And then Dame Lionesse, and the damosel Linet with Sir Gringamore, rode to +their castle; and a goodly and a rich ring she gave to Sir Gareth, and he gave +her another. And King Arthur gave her a rich pair of bee of gold; and so she +departed. +</p> + +<p> +And King Arthur and his fellowship rode toward Kink Kenadon, and Sir Gareth +brought his lady on the way, and so came to the king again and rode with him. +</p> + +<p> +Lord! the great cheer that Sir Launcelot made of Sir Gareth and he of him, for +there was never no knight that Sir Gareth loved so well as he did Sir +Launcelot; and ever for the most part he would be in Sir Launcelot’s +company; for after Sir Gareth had espied Sir Gawaine’s conditions, he +withdrew himself from his brother, Sir Gawaine’s, fellowship, for he was +vengeable, and where he hated he would be avenged with murder, and that hated +Sir Gareth. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap154"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.<br/>Of the Great Royalty, and what +officers were made at the feast of the wedding, and of the jousts at the +feast.</h3> + +<p> +So it drew fast to Michaelmas; and thither came Dame Lionesse, the lady of the +Castle Perilous, and her sister, Dame Linet, with Sir Gringamore, her brother, +with them for he had the conduct of these ladies. And there they were lodged at +the device of King Arthur. And upon Michaelmas Day the Bishop of Canterbury +made the wedding betwixt Sir Gareth and the Lady Lionesse with great solemnity. +And King Arthur made Gaheris to wed the Damosel Savage, that was Dame Linet; +and King Arthur made Sir Agravaine to wed Dame Lionesse’s niece, a fair +lady, her name was Dame Laurel. +</p> + +<p> +And so when this solemnization was done, then came in the Green Knight, Sir +Pertolepe, with thirty knights, and there he did homage and fealty to Sir +Gareth, and these knights to hold of him for evermore. Also Sir Pertolepe said: +I pray you that at this feast I may be your chamberlain. With a good will, said +Sir Gareth sith it liketh you to take so simple an office. Then came in the Red +Knight, with three score knights with him, and did to Sir Gareth homage and +fealty, and all those knights to hold of him for evermore. And then this Sir +Perimones prayed Sir Gareth to grant him to be his chief butler at that high +feast. I will well, said Sir Gareth, that ye have this office, and it were +better. Then came in Sir Persant of Inde, with an hundred knights with him, and +there he did homage and fealty, and all his knights should do him service, and +hold their lands of him for ever; and there he prayed Sir Gareth to make him +his sewer-chief at the feast. I will well, said Sir Gareth, that ye have it and +it were better. Then came the Duke de la Rowse with an hundred knights with +him, and there he did homage and fealty to Sir Gareth, and so to hold their +lands of him for ever. And he required Sir Gareth that he might serve him of +the wine that day of that feast. I will well, said Sir Gareth, and it were +better. Then came in the Red Knight of the Red Launds, that was Sir Ironside, +and he brought with him three hundred knights, and there he did homage and +fealty, and all these knights to hold their lands of him for ever. And then he +asked Sir Gareth to be his carver. I will well, said Sir Gareth, an it please +you. +</p> + +<p> +Then came into the court thirty ladies, and all they seemed widows, and those +thirty ladies brought with them many fair gentlewomen. And all they kneeled +down at once unto King Arthur and unto Sir Gareth, and there all those ladies +told the king how Sir Gareth delivered them from the dolorous tower, and slew +the Brown Knight without Pity: And therefore we, and our heirs for evermore, +will do homage unto Sir Gareth of Orkney. So then the kings and queens, princes +and earls, barons and many bold knights, went unto meat; and well may ye wit +there were all manner of meat plenteously, all manner revels and games, with +all manner of minstrelsy that was used in those days. Also there was great +jousts three days. But the king would not suffer Sir Gareth to joust, because +of his new bride; for, as the French book saith, that Dame Lionesse desired of +the king that none that were wedded should joust at that feast. +</p> + +<p> +So the first day there jousted Sir Lamorak de Galis, for he overthrew thirty +knights, and did passing marvellously deeds of arms; and then King Arthur made +Sir Persant and his two brethren Knights of the Round Table to their +lives’ end, and gave them great lands. Also the second day there jousted +Tristram best, and he overthrew forty knights, and did there marvellous deeds +of arms. And there King Arthur made Ironside, that was the Red Knight of the +Red Launds, a Knight of the Table Round to his life’s end, and gave him +great lands. The third day there jousted Sir Launcelot du Lake, and he +overthrew fifty knights, and did many marvellous deeds of arms, that all men +wondered on him. And there King Arthur made the Duke de la Rowse a Knight of +the Round Table to his life’s end, and gave him great lands to spend. But +when these jousts were done, Sir Lamorak and Sir Tristram departed suddenly, +and would not be known, for the which King Arthur and all the court were sore +displeased. And so they held the court forty days with great solemnity. And +this Sir Gareth was a noble knight, and a well-ruled, and fair-languaged. +</p> + +<p> +Thus endeth this tale of Sir Gareth of Orkney that wedded Dame Lionesse of the +Castle Perilous. And also Sir Gaheris wedded her sister, Dame Linet, that was +called the Damosel Sabage. And Sir Agrabaine wedded Dame Laurel, a fair lady +and great, and mighty lands with great riches gave with them King Arthur, that +royally they might live till their lives’ end. +</p> + +<h5> Here followeth the viii. book, the which is the first book of Sir Tristram +de Liones, and who was his father and his mother, and how he was born and +fostered, and how he was made knight. </h5> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="part08"></a>BOOK VIII.</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap155"></a>CHAPTER I.<br/>How Sir Tristram de Liones was born, +and how his mother died at his birth, wherefore she named him Tristram.</h3> + +<p> +It was a king that hight Meliodas, and he was lord and king of the country of +Liones, and this Meliodas was a likely knight as any was that time living. And +by fortune he wedded King Mark’s sister of Cornwall, and she was called +Elizabeth, that was called both good and fair. And at that time King Arthur +reigned, and he was whole king of England, Wales, and Scotland, and of many +other realms: howbeit there were many kings that were lords of many countries, +but all they held their lands of King Arthur; for in Wales were two kings, and +in the north were many kings; and in Cornwall and in the west were two kings; +also in Ireland were two or three kings, and all were under the obeissance of +King Arthur. So was the King of France, and the King of Brittany, and all the +lordships unto Rome. +</p> + +<p> +So when this King Meliodas had been with his wife, within a while she waxed +great with child, and she was a full meek lady, and well she loved her lord, +and he her again, so there was great joy betwixt them. Then there was a lady in +that country that had loved King Meliodas long, and by no mean she never could +get his love; therefore she let ordain upon a day, as King Meliodas rode +a-hunting, for he was a great chaser, and there by an enchantment she made him +chase an hart by himself alone till that he came to an old castle, and there +anon he was taken prisoner by the lady that him loved. When Elizabeth, King +Meliodas’ wife, missed her lord, and she was nigh out of her wit, and +also as great with child as she was, she took a gentlewoman with her, and ran +into the forest to seek her lord. And when she was far in the forest she might +no farther, for she began to travail fast of her child. And she had many grimly +throes; her gentlewoman helped her all that she might, and so by miracle of Our +Lady of Heaven she was delivered with great pains. But she had taken such cold +for the default of help that deep draughts of death took her, that needs she +must die and depart out of this world; there was none other bote. +</p> + +<p> +And when this Queen Elizabeth saw that there was none other bote, then she made +great dole, and said unto her gentlewoman: When ye see my lord, King Meliodas, +recommend me unto him, and tell him what pains I endure here for his love, and +how I must die here for his sake for default of good help; and let him wit that +I am full sorry to depart out of this world from him, therefore pray him to be +friend to my soul. Now let me see my little child, for whom I have had all this +sorrow. And when she saw him she said thus: Ah, my little son, thou hast +murdered thy mother, and therefore I suppose, thou that art a murderer so +young, thou art full likely to be a manly man in thine age. And because I shall +die of the birth of thee, I charge thee, gentlewoman, that thou pray my lord, +King Meliodas, that when he is christened let call him Tristram, that is as +much to say as a sorrowful birth. And therewith this queen gave up the ghost +and died. Then the gentlewoman laid her under an umbre of a great tree, and +then she lapped the child as well as she might for cold. Right so there came +the barons, following after the queen, and when they saw that she was dead, and +understood none other but the king was destroyed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap156"></a>CHAPTER II.<br/>How the stepmother of Sir Tristram +had ordained poison for to have poisoned Sir Tristram.</h3> + +<p> +Then certain of them would have slain the child, because they would have been +lords of the country of Liones. But then through the fair speech of the +gentlewoman, and by the means that she made, the most part of the barons would +not assent thereto. And then they let carry home the dead queen, and much dole +was made for her. +</p> + +<p> +Then this meanwhile Merlin delivered King Meliodas out of prison on the morn +after his queen was dead. And so when the king was come home the most part of +the barons made great joy. But the sorrow that the king made for his queen that +might no tongue tell. So then the king let inter her richly, and after he let +christen his child as his wife had commanded afore her death. And then he let +call him Tristram, the sorrowful born child. Then the King Meliodas endured +seven years without a wife, and all this time Tristram was nourished well. Then +it befell that King Meliodas wedded King Howell’s daughter of Brittany, +and anon she had children of King Meliodas: then was she heavy and wroth that +her children should not rejoice the country of Liones, wherefore this queen +ordained for to poison young Tristram. So she let poison be put in a piece of +silver in the chamber whereas Tristram and her children were together, unto +that intent that when Tristram were thirsty he should drink that drink. And so +it fell upon a day, the queen’s son, as he was in that chamber, espied +the piece with poison, and he weened it had been good drink, and because the +child was thirsty he took the piece with poison and drank freely; and +therewithal suddenly the child brast and was dead. +</p> + +<p> +When the queen of Meliodas wist of the death of her son, wit ye well that she +was heavy. But yet the king understood nothing of her treason. Notwithstanding +the queen would not leave this, but eft she let ordain more poison, and put it +in a piece. And by fortune King Meliodas, her husband, found the piece with +wine where was the poison, and he that was much thirsty took the piece for to +drink thereout. And as he would have drunken thereof the queen espied him, and +then she ran unto him, and pulled the piece from him suddenly. The king +marvelled why she did so, and remembered him how her son was suddenly slain +with poison. And then he took her by the hand, and said: Thou false traitress, +thou shalt tell me what manner of drink this is, or else I shall slay thee. And +therewith he pulled out his sword, and sware a great oath that he should slay +her but if she told him truth. Ah! mercy, my lord, said she, and I shall tell +you all. And then she told him why she would have slain Tristram, because her +children should rejoice his land. Well, said King Meliodas, and therefore shall +ye have the law. And so she was condemned by the assent of the barons to be +burnt; and then was there made a great fire, and right as she was at the fire +to take her execution, young Tristram kneeled afore King Meliodas, and besought +him to give him a boon. I will well, said the king again. Then said young +Tristram, Give me the life of thy queen, my stepmother. That is unrightfully +asked, said King Meliodas, for thou ought of right to hate her, for she would +have slain thee with that poison an she might have had her will; and for thy +sake most is my cause that she should die. +</p> + +<p> +Sir, said Tristram, as for that, I beseech you of your mercy that you will +forgive it her, and as for my part, God forgive it her, and I do; and so much +it liked your highness to grant me my boon, for God’s love I require you +hold your promise. Sithen it is so, said the king, I will that ye have her +life. Then, said the king, I give her to you, and go ye to the fire and take +her, and do with her what ye will. So Sir Tristram went to the fire, and by the +commandment of the king delivered her from the death. But after that King +Meliodas would never have ado with her, as at bed and board. But by the good +means of young Tristram he made the king and her accorded. But then the king +would not suffer young Tristram to abide no longer in his court. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap157"></a>CHAPTER III.<br/>How Sir Tristram was sent into +France, and had one to govern him named Gouvernail, and how he learned to harp, +hawk, and hunt.</h3> + +<p> +And then he let ordain a gentleman that was well learned and taught, his name +was Gouvernail; and then he sent young Tristram with Gouvernail into France to +learn the language, and nurture, and deeds of arms. And there was Tristram more +than seven years. And then when he well could speak the language, and had +learned all that he might learn in that country, then he came home to his +father, King Meliodas, again. And so Tristram learned to be an harper passing +all other, that there was none such called in no country, and so on harping and +on instruments of music he applied him in his youth for to learn. +</p> + +<p> +And after, as he grew in might and strength, he laboured ever in hunting and in +hawking, so that never gentleman more, that ever we heard read of. And as the +book saith, he began good measures of blowing of beasts of venery, and beasts +of chase, and all manner of vermin, and all these terms we have yet of hawking +and hunting. And therefore the book of venery, of hawking, and hunting, is +called the book of Sir Tristram. Wherefore, as meseemeth, all gentlemen that +bear old arms ought of right to honour Sir Tristram for the goodly terms that +gentlemen have and use, and shall to the day of doom, that thereby in a manner +all men of worship may dissever a gentleman from a yeoman, and from a yeoman a +villain. For he that gentle is will draw him unto gentle tatches, and to follow +the customs of noble gentlemen. +</p> + +<p> +Thus Sir Tristram endured in Cornwall until he was big and strong, of the age +of eighteen years. And then the King Meliodas had great joy of Sir Tristram, +and so had the queen, his wife. For ever after in her life, because Sir +Tristram saved her from the fire, she did never hate him more after, but loved +him ever after, and gave Tristram many great gifts; for every estate loved him, +where that he went. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap158"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br/>How Sir Marhaus came out of Ireland +for to ask truage of Cornwall, or else he would fight therefore.</h3> + +<p> +Then it befell that King Anguish of Ireland sent unto King Mark of Cornwall for +his truage, that Cornwall had paid many winters. And all that time King Mark +was behind of the truage for seven years. And King Mark and his barons gave +unto the messenger of Ireland these words and answer, that they would none pay; +and bade the messenger go unto his King Anguish, and tell him we will pay him +no truage, but tell your lord, an he will always have truage of us of Cornwall, +bid him send a trusty knight of his land, that will fight for his right, and we +shall find another for to defend our right. With this answer the messengers +departed into Ireland. And when King Anguish understood the answer of the +messengers he was wonderly wroth. And then he called unto him Sir Marhaus, the +good knight, that was nobly proved, and a Knight of the Table Round. And this +Marhaus was brother unto the queen of Ireland. Then the king said thus: Fair +brother, Sir Marhaus, I pray you go into Cornwall for my sake, and do battle +for our truage that of right we ought to have; and whatsomever ye spend ye +shall have sufficiently, more than ye shall need. Sir, said Marhaus, wit ye +well that I shall not be loath to do battle in the right of you and your land +with the best knight of the Table Round; for I know them, for the most part, +what be their deeds; and for to advance my deeds and to increase my worship I +will right gladly go unto this journey for our right. +</p> + +<p> +So in all haste there was made purveyance for Sir Marhaus, and he had all +things that to him needed; and so he departed out of Ireland, and arrived up in +Cornwall even fast by the Castle of Tintagil. And when King Mark understood +that he was there arrived to fight for Ireland, then made King Mark great +sorrow when he understood that the good and noble knight Sir Marhaus was come. +For they knew no knight that durst have ado with him. For at that time Sir +Marhaus was called one of the famousest and renowned knights of the world. And +thus Sir Marhaus abode in the sea, and every day he sent unto King Mark for to +pay the truage that was behind of seven year, other else to find a knight to +fight with him for the truage. This manner of message Sir Marhaus sent daily +unto King Mark. +</p> + +<p> +Then they of Cornwall let make cries in every place, that what knight would +fight for to save the truage of Cornwall, he should be rewarded so that he +should fare the better, term of his life. Then some of the barons said to King +Mark, and counselled him to send to the court of King Arthur for to seek Sir +Launcelot du Lake, that was that time named for the marvelloust knight of all +the world. Then there were some other barons that counselled the king not to do +so, and said that it was labour in vain, because Sir Marhaus was a knight of +the Round Table, therefore any of them will be loath to have ado with other, +but if it were any knight at his own request would fight disguised and unknown. +So the king and all his barons assented that it was no bote to seek any knight +of the Round Table. This mean while came the language and the noise unto King +Meliodas, how that Sir Marhaus abode battle fast by Tintagil, and how King Mark +could find no manner knight to fight for him. When young Tristram heard of this +he was wroth, and sore ashamed that there durst no knight in Cornwall have ado +with Sir Marhaus of Ireland. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap159"></a>CHAPTER V.<br/>How Tristram enterprized the battle to +fight for the truage of Cornwall, and how he was made knight.</h3> + +<p> +Therewithal Tristram went unto his father, King Meliodas, and asked him counsel +what was best to do for to recover Cornwall from truage. For, as meseemeth, +said Sir Tristram, it were shame that Sir Marhaus, the queen’s brother of +Ireland, should go away unless that he were foughten withal. As for that, said +King Meliodas, wit you well, son Tristram, that Sir Marhaus is called one of +the best knights of the world, and Knight of the Table Round; and therefore I +know no knight in this country that is able to match with him. Alas, said Sir +Tristram, that I am not made knight; and if Sir Marhaus should thus depart into +Ireland, God let me never have worship: an I were made knight I should match +him. And sir, said Tristram, I pray you give me leave to ride to King Mark; +and, so ye be not displeased, of King Mark will I be made knight. I will well, +said King Meliodas, that ye be ruled as your courage will rule you. Then Sir +Tristram thanked his father much. And then he made him ready to ride into +Cornwall. +</p> + +<p> +In the meanwhile there came a messenger with letters of love from King Faramon +of France’s daughter unto Sir Tristram, that were full piteous letters, +and in them were written many complaints of love; but Sir Tristram had no joy +of her letters nor regard unto her. Also she sent him a little brachet that was +passing fair. But when the king’s daughter understood that Sir Tristram +would not love her, as the book saith, she died for sorrow. And then the same +squire that brought the letter and the brachet came again unto Sir Tristram, as +after ye shall hear in the tale. +</p> + +<p> +So this young Sir Tristram rode unto his eme, King Mark of Cornwall. And when +he came there he heard say that there would no knight fight with Sir Marhaus. +Then yede Sir Tristram unto his eme and said: Sir, if ye will give me the order +of knighthood, I will do battle with Sir Marhaus. What are ye, said the king, +and from whence be ye come? Sir, said Tristram, I come from King Meliodas that +wedded your sister, and a gentleman wit ye well I am. King Mark beheld Sir +Tristram and saw that he was but a young man of age, but he was passingly well +made and big. Fair sir, said the king, what is your name, and where were ye +born? Sir, said he again, my name is Tristram, and in the country of Liones was +I born. Ye say well, said the king; and if ye will do this battle I shall make +you knight. Therefore I come to you, said Sir Tristram, and for none other +cause. But then King Mark made him knight. And therewithal, anon as he had made +him knight, he sent a messenger unto Sir Marhaus with letters that said that he +had found a young knight ready for to take the battle to the uttermost. It may +well be, said Sir Marhaus; but tell King Mark I will not fight with no knight +but he be of blood royal, that is to say, other king’s son, other +queen’s son, born of a prince or princess. +</p> + +<p> +When King Mark understood that, he sent for Sir Tristram de Liones and told him +what was the answer of Sir Marhaus. Then said Sir Tristram: Sithen that he +saith so, let him wit that I am come of father side and mother side of as noble +blood as he is: for, sir, now shall ye know that I am King Meliodas’ son, +born of your own sister, Dame Elizabeth, that died in the forest in the birth +of me. O Jesu, said King Mark, ye are welcome fair nephew to me. Then in all +the haste the king let horse Sir Tristram, and armed him in the best manner +that might be had or gotten for gold or silver. And then King Mark sent unto +Sir Marhaus, and did him to wit that a better born man than he was himself +should fight with him, and his name is Sir Tristram de Liones, gotten of King +Meliodas, and born of King Mark’s sister. Then was Sir Marhaus glad and +blithe that he should fight with such a gentleman. And so by the assent of King +Mark and of Sir Marhaus they let ordain that they should fight within an island +nigh Sir Marhaus’ ships; and so was Sir Tristram put into a vessel both +his horse and he, and all that to him longed both for his body and for his +horse. Sir Tristram lacked nothing. And when King Mark and his barons of +Cornwall beheld how young Sir Tristram departed with such a carriage to fight +for the right of Cornwall, there was neither man nor woman of worship but they +wept to see and understand so young a knight to jeopardy himself for their +right. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap160"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br/>How Sir Tristram arrived into the +Island for to furnish the battle with Sir Marhaus.</h3> + +<p> +So to shorten this tale, when Sir Tristram was arrived within the island he +looked to the farther side, and there he saw at an anchor six ships nigh to the +land; and under the shadow of the ships upon the land, there hoved the noble +knight, Sir Marhaus of Ireland. Then Sir Tristram commanded his servant +Gouvernail to bring his horse to the land, and dress his harness at all manner +of rights. And then when he had so done he mounted upon his horse; and when he +was in his saddle well apparelled, and his shield dressed upon his shoulder, +Tristram asked Gouvernail, Where is this knight that I shall have ado withal? +Sir, said Gouvernail, see ye him not? I weened ye had seen him; yonder he +hoveth under the umbre of his ships on horseback, with his spear in his hand +and his shield upon his shoulder. That is truth, said the noble knight, Sir +Tristram, now I see him well enough. +</p> + +<p> +Then he commanded his servant Gouvernail to go to his vessel again: And commend +me unto mine eme King Mark, and pray him, if that I be slain in this battle, +for to inter my body as him seemed best; and as for me, let him wit that I will +never yield me for cowardice; and if I be slain and flee not, then they have +lost no truage for me; and if so be that I flee or yield me as recreant, bid +mine eme never bury me in Christian burials. And upon thy life, said Sir +Tristram to Gouvernail, come thou not nigh this island till that thou see me +overcome or slain, or else that I win yonder knight. So either departed from +other sore weeping. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap161"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br/>How Sir Tristram fought against Sir +Marhaus and achieved his battle, and how Sir Marhaus fled to his ship.</h3> + +<p> +And then Sir Marhaus avised Sir Tristram, and said thus: Young knight, Sir +Tristram, what dost thou here? me sore repenteth of thy courage, for wit thou +well I have been assayed, and the best knights of this land have been assayed +of my hand; and also I have matched with the best knights of the world, and +therefore by my counsel return again unto thy vessel. And fair knight, and +well-proved knight, said Sir Tristram, thou shalt well wit I may not forsake +thee in this quarrel, for I am for thy sake made knight. And thou shalt well +wit that I am a king’s son born, and gotten upon a queen; and such +promise I have made at my uncle’s request and mine own seeking, that I +shall fight with thee unto the uttermost, and deliver Cornwall from the old +truage. And also wit thou well, Sir Marhaus, that this is the greatest cause +that thou couragest me to have ado with thee, for thou art called one of the +most renowned knights of the world, and because of that noise and fame that +thou hast thou givest me courage to have ado with thee, for never yet was I +proved with good knight; and sithen I took the order of knighthood this day, I +am well pleased that I may have ado with so good a knight as thou art. And now +wit thou well, Sir Marhaus, that I cast me to get worship on thy body; and if +that I be not proved, I trust to God that I shall be worshipfully proved upon +thy body, and to deliver the country of Cornwall for ever from all manner of +truage from Ireland for ever. +</p> + +<p> +When Sir Marhaus had heard him say what he would, he said then thus again: Fair +knight, sithen it is so that thou castest to win worship of me, I let thee wit +worship may thou none lose by me if thou mayest stand me three strokes; for I +let thee wit for my noble deeds, proved and seen, King Arthur made me Knight of +the Table Round. +</p> + +<p> +Then they began to feutre their spears, and they met so fiercely together that +they smote either other down, both horse and all. But Sir Marhaus smote Sir +Tristram a great wound in the side with his spear, and then they avoided their +horses, and pulled out their swords, and threw their shields afore them. And +then they lashed together as men that were wild and courageous. And when they +had stricken so together long, then they left their strokes, and foined at +their breaths and visors; and when they saw that that might not prevail them, +then they hurtled together like rams to bear either other down. Thus they +fought still more than half a day, and either were wounded passing sore, that +the blood ran down freshly from them upon the ground. By then Sir Tristram +waxed more fresher than Sir Marhaus, and better winded and bigger; and with a +mighty stroke he smote Sir Marhaus upon the helm such a buffet that it went +through his helm, and through the coif of steel, and through the brain-pan, and +the sword stuck so fast in the helm and in his brain-pan that Sir Tristram +pulled thrice at his sword or ever he might pull it out from his head; and +there Marhaus fell down on his knees, the edge of Tristram’s sword left +in his brain-pan. And suddenly Sir Marhaus rose grovelling, and threw his sword +and his shield from him, and so ran to his ships and fled his way, and Sir +Tristram had ever his shield and his sword. +</p> + +<p> +And when Sir Tristram saw Sir Marhaus withdraw him, he said: Ah! Sir Knight of +the Round Table, why withdrawest thou thee? thou dost thyself and thy kin great +shame, for I am but a young knight, or now I was never proved, and rather than +I should withdraw me from thee, I had rather be hewn in an hundred pieces. Sir +Marhaus answered no word but yede his way sore groaning. Well, Sir Knight, said +Sir Tristram, I promise thee thy sword and thy shield shall be mine; and thy +shield shall I wear in all places where I ride on mine adventures, and in the +sight of King Arthur and all the Round Table. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap162"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br/>How Sir Marhaus after that he was +arrived in Ireland died of the stroke that Sir Tristram had given him, and how +Tristram was hurt.</h3> + +<p> +Anon Sir Marhaus and his fellowship departed into Ireland. And as soon as he +came to the king, his brother, he let search his wounds. And when his head was +searched a piece of Sir Tristram’s sword was found therein, and might +never be had out of his head for no surgeons, and so he died of Sir +Tristram’s sword; and that piece of the sword the queen, his sister, kept +it for ever with her, for she thought to be revenged an she might. +</p> + +<p> +Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram, that was sore wounded, and full sore bled +that he might not within a little while, when he had taken cold, unnethe stir +him of his limbs. And then he set him down softly upon a little hill, and bled +fast. Then anon came Gouvernail, his man, with his vessel; and the king and his +barons came with procession against him. And when he was come unto the land, +King Mark took him in his arms, and the king and Sir Dinas, the seneschal, led +Sir Tristram into the castle of Tintagil. And then was he searched in the best +manner, and laid in his bed. And when King Mark saw his wounds he wept +heartily, and so did all his lords. So God me help, said King Mark, I would not +for all my lands that my nephew died. So Sir Tristram lay there a month and +more, and ever he was like to die of that stroke that Sir Marhaus smote him +first with the spear. For, as the French book saith, the spear’s head was +envenomed, that Sir Tristram might not be whole. Then was King Mark and all his +barons passing heavy, for they deemed none other but that Sir Tristram should +not recover. Then the king let send after all manner of leeches and surgeons, +both unto men and women, and there was none that would behote him the life. +Then came there a lady that was a right wise lady, and she said plainly unto +King Mark, and to Sir Tristram, and to all his barons, that he should never be +whole but if Sir Tristram went in the same country that the venom came from, +and in that country should he be holpen or else never. Thus said the lady unto +the king. +</p> + +<p> +When King Mark understood that, he let purvey for Sir Tristram a fair vessel, +well victualled, and therein was put Sir Tristram, and Gouvernail with him, and +Sir Tristram took his harp with him, and so he was put into the sea to sail +into Ireland; and so by good fortune he arrived up in Ireland, even fast by a +castle where the king and the queen was; and at his arrival he sat and harped +in his bed a merry lay, such one heard they never none in Ireland before that +time. +</p> + +<p> +And when it was told the king and the queen of such a knight that was such an +harper, anon the king sent for him, and let search his wounds, and then asked +him his name. Then he answered, I am of the country of Liones, and my name is +Tramtrist, that thus was wounded in a battle as I fought for a lady’s +right. So God me help, said King Anguish, ye shall have all the help in this +land that ye may have here; but I let you wit, in Cornwall I had a great loss +as ever had king, for there I lost the best knight of the world; his name was +Marhaus, a full noble knight, and Knight of the Table Round; and there he told +Sir Tristram wherefore Sir Marhaus was slain. Sir Tristram made semblant as he +had been sorry, and better knew he how it was than the king. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap163"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br/>How Sir Tristram was put to the +keeping of La Beale Isoud first for to be healed of his wound.</h3> + +<p> +Then the king for great favour made Tramtrist to be put in his daughter’s +ward and keeping, because she was a noble surgeon. And when she had searched +him she found in the bottom of his wound that therein was poison, and so she +healed him within a while; and therefore Tramtrist cast great love to La Beale +Isoud, for she was at that time the fairest maid and lady of the world. And +there Tramtrist learned her to harp, and she began to have a great fantasy unto +him. And at that time Sir Palamides, the Saracen, was in that country, and well +cherished with the king and the queen. And every day Sir Palamides drew unto La +Beale Isoud and proffered her many gifts, for he loved her passingly well. All +that espied Tramtrist, and full well knew he Sir Palamides for a noble knight +and a mighty man. And wit you well Sir Tramtrist had great despite at Sir +Palamides, for La Beale Isoud told Tramtrist that Palamides was in will to be +christened for her sake. Thus was there great envy betwixt Tramtrist and Sir +Palamides. +</p> + +<p> +Then it befell that King Anguish let cry a great jousts and a great tournament +for a lady that was called the Lady of the Launds, and she was nigh cousin unto +the king. And what man won her, three days after he should wed her and have all +her lands. This cry was made in England, Wales, Scotland, and also in France +and in Brittany. It befell upon a day La Beale Isoud came unto Sir Tramtrist, +and told him of this tournament. He answered and said: Fair lady, I am but a +feeble knight, and but late I had been dead had not your good ladyship been. +Now, fair lady, what would ye I should do in this matter? well ye wot, my lady, +that I may not joust. Ah, Tramtrist, said La Beale Isoud, why will ye not have +ado at that tournament? well I wot Sir Palamides shall be there, and to do what +he may; and therefore Tramtrist, I pray you for to be there, for else Sir +Palamides is like to win the degree. Madam, said Tramtrist, as for that, it may +be so, for he is a proved knight, and I am but a young knight and late made; +and the first battle that I did it mishapped me to be sore wounded as ye see. +But an I wist ye would be my better lady, at that tournament I will be, so that +ye will keep my counsel and let no creature have knowledge that I shall joust +but yourself, and such as ye will to keep your counsel, my poor person shall I +jeopard there for your sake, that, peradventure, Sir Palamides shall know when +that I come. Thereto, said La Beale Isoud, do your best, and as I can, said La +Beale Isoud, I shall purvey horse and armour for you at my device. As ye will +so be it, said Sir Tramtrist, I will be at your commandment. +</p> + +<p> +So at the day of jousts there came Sir Palamides with a black shield, and he +overthrew many knights, that all the people had marvel of him. For he put to +the worse Sir Gawaine, Gaheris, Agravaine, Bagdemagus, Kay, Dodinas le Savage, +Sagramore le Desirous, Gumret le Petit, and Griflet le Fise de Dieu. All these +the first day Sir Palamides struck down to the earth. And then all manner of +knights were adread of Sir Palamides, and many called him the Knight with the +Black Shield. So that day Sir Palamides had great worship. +</p> + +<p> +Then came King Anguish unto Tramtrist, and asked him why he would not joust. +Sir, he said, I was but late hurt, and as yet I dare not adventure me. Then +came there the same squire that was sent from the king’s daughter of +France unto Sir Tristram. And when he had espied Sir Tristram he fell flat to +his feet. All that espied La Beale Isoud, what courtesy the squire made unto +Sir Tristram. And therewithal suddenly Sir Tristram ran unto his squire, whose +name was Hebes le Renoumes, and prayed him heartily in no wise to tell his +name. Sir, said Hebes, I will not discover your name but if ye command me. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap164"></a>CHAPTER X.<br/>How Sir Tristram won the degree at a +tournament in Ireland, and there made Palamides to bear no more harness in a +year.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram asked him what he did in those countries. Sir, he said, I +came hither with Sir Gawaine for to be made knight, and if it please you, of +your hands that I may be made knight. Await upon me as to-morn secretly, and in +the field I shall make you a knight. +</p> + +<p> +Then had La Beale Isoud great suspicion unto Tramtrist, that he was some man of +worship proved, and therewith she comforted herself, and cast more love unto +him than she had done to-fore. And so on the morn Sir Palamides made him ready +to come into the field as he did the first day. And there he smote down the +King with the Hundred Knights, and the King of Scots. Then had La Beale Isoud +ordained and well arrayed Sir Tristram in white horse and harness. And right so +she let put him out at a privy postern, and so he came into the field as it had +been a bright angel. And anon Sir Palamides espied him, and therewith he +feutred a spear unto Sir Tramtrist, and he again unto him. And there Sir +Tristram smote down Sir Palamides unto the earth. And then there was a great +noise of people: some said Sir Palamides had a fall, some said the Knight with +the Black Shield had a fall. And wit you well La Beale Isoud was passing glad. +And then Sir Gawaine and his fellows nine had marvel what knight it might be +that had smitten down Sir Palamides. Then would there none joust with +Tramtrist, but all that there were forsook him, most and least. Then Sir +Tristram made Hebes a knight, and caused him to put himself forth, and did +right well that day. So after Sir Hebes held him with Sir Tristram. +</p> + +<p> +And when Sir Palamides had received this fall, wit ye well that he was sore +ashamed, and as privily as he might he withdrew him out of the field. All that +espied Sir Tristram, and lightly he rode after Sir Palamides and overtook him, +and bade him turn, for better he would assay him or ever he departed. Then Sir +Palamides turned him, and either lashed at other with their swords. But at the +first stroke Sir Tristram smote down Palamides, and gave him such a stroke upon +the head that he fell to the earth. So then Tristram bade yield him, and do his +commandment, or else he would slay him. When Sir Palamides beheld his +countenance, he dread his buffets so, that he granted all his askings. Well +said, said Sir Tristram, this shall be your charge. First, upon pain of your +life that ye forsake my lady La Beale Isoud, and in no manner wise that ye draw +not to her. Also this twelvemonth and a day that ye bear none armour nor none +harness of war. Now promise me this, or here shalt thou die. Alas, said +Palamides, for ever am I ashamed. Then he sware as Sir Tristram had commanded +him. Then for despite and anger Sir Palamides cut off his harness, and threw +them away. +</p> + +<p> +And so Sir Tristram turned again to the castle where was La Beale Isoud; and by +the way he met with a damosel that asked after Sir Launcelot, that won the +Dolorous Guard worshipfully; and this damosel asked Sir Tristram what he was. +For it was told her that it was he that smote down Sir Palamides, by whom the +ten knights of King Arthur’s were smitten down. Then the damosel prayed +Sir Tristram to tell her what he was, and whether that he were Sir Launcelot du +Lake, for she deemed that there was no knight in the world might do such deeds +of arms but if it were Launcelot. Fair damosel, said Sir Tristram, wit ye well +that I am not Sir Launcelot, for I was never of such prowess, but in God is all +that he may make me as good a knight as the good knight Sir Launcelot. Now, +gentle knight, said she, put up thy visor; and when she beheld his visage she +thought she saw never a better man’s visage, nor a better faring knight. +And then when the damosel knew certainly that he was not Sir Launcelot, then +she took her leave, and departed from him. And then Sir Tristram rode privily +unto the postern, where kept him La Beale Isoud, and there she made him good +cheer, and thanked God of his good speed. So anon, within a while the king and +the queen understood that it was Tramtrist that smote down Sir Palamides; then +was he much made of, more than he was before. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap165"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br/>How the queen espied that Sir +Tristram had slain her brother Sir Marhaus by his sword, and in what jeopardy +he was.</h3> + +<p> +Thus was Sir Tramtrist long there well cherished with the king and the queen, +and namely with La Beale Isoud. So upon a day the queen and La Beale Isoud made +a bain for Sir Tramtrist. And when he was in his bain the queen and Isoud, her +daughter, roamed up and down in the chamber; and therewhiles Gouvernail and +Hebes attended upon Tramtrist, and the queen beheld his sword thereas it lay +upon his bed. And then by unhap the queen drew out his sword and beheld it a +long while, and both they thought it a passing fair sword; but within a foot +and an half of the point there was a great piece thereof out-broken of the +edge. And when the queen espied that gap in the sword, she remembered her of a +piece of a sword that was found in the brain-pan of Sir Marhaus, the good +knight that was her brother. Alas then, said she unto her daughter, La Beale +Isoud, this is the same traitor knight that slew my brother, thine eme. When +Isoud heard her say so she was passing sore abashed, for passing well she loved +Tramtrist, and full well she knew the cruelness of her mother the queen. +</p> + +<p> +Anon therewithal the queen went unto her own chamber, and sought her coffer, +and there she took out the piece or the sword that was pulled out of Sir +Marhaus’ head after that he was dead. And then she ran with that piece of +iron to the sword that lay upon the bed. And when she put that piece of steel +and iron unto the sword, it was as meet as it might be when it was new broken. +And then the queen gripped that sword in her hand fiercely, and with all her +might she ran straight upon Tramtrist where he sat in his bain, and there she +had rived him through had not Sir Hebes gotten her in his arms, and pulled the +sword from her, and else she had thrust him through. +</p> + +<p> +Then when she was let of her evil will she ran to the King Anguish, her +husband, and said on her knees: O my lord, here have ye in your house that +traitor knight that slew my brother and your servant, that noble knight, Sir +Marhaus. Who is that, said King Anguish, and where is he? Sir, she said, it is +Sir Tramtrist, the same knight that my daughter healed. Alas, said the king, +therefore am I right heavy, for he is a full noble knight as ever I saw in +field. But I charge you, said the king to the queen, that ye have not ado with +that knight, but let me deal with him. +</p> + +<p> +Then the king went into the chamber unto Sir Tramtrist, and then was he gone +unto his chamber, and the king found him all ready armed to mount upon his +horse. When the king saw him all ready armed to go unto horseback, the king +said: Nay, Tramtrist, it will not avail to compare thee against me; but thus +much I shall do for my worship and for thy love; in so much as thou art within +my court it were no worship for me to slay thee: therefore upon this condition +I will give thee leave for to depart from this court in safety, so thou wilt +tell me who was thy father, and what is thy name, and if thou slew Sir Marhaus, +my brother. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap166"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br/>How Sir Tristram departed from the +king and La Beale Isoud out of Ireland for to come into Cornwall.</h3> + +<p> +Sir, said Tristram, now I shall tell you all the truth: my father’s name +is Sir Meliodas, King of Liones, and my mother hight Elizabeth, that was sister +unto King Mark of Cornwall; and my mother died of me in the forest, and because +thereof she commanded, or she died, that when I were christened they should +christen me Tristram; and because I would not be known in this country I turned +my name and let me call Tramtrist; and for the truage of Cornwall I fought for +my eme’s sake, and for the right of Cornwall that ye had posseded many +years. And wit ye well, said Tristram unto the king, I did the battle for the +love of mine uncle, King Mark, and for the love of the country of Cornwall, and +for to increase mine honour; for that same day that I fought with Sir Marhaus I +was made knight, and never or then did I battle with no knight, and from me he +went alive, and left his shield and his sword behind. +</p> + +<p> +So God me help, said the king, I may not say but ye did as a knight should, and +it was your part to do for your quarrel, and to increase your worship as a +knight should; howbeit I may not maintain you in this country with my worship, +unless that I should displease my barons, and my wife and her kin. Sir, said +Tristram, I thank you of your good lordship that I have had with you here, and +the great goodness my lady, your daughter, hath shewed me, and therefore, said +Sir Tristram, it may so happen that ye shall win more by my life than by my +death, for in the parts of England it may happen I may do you service at some +season, that ye shall be glad that ever ye shewed me your good lordship. With +more I promise you as I am true knight, that in all places I shall be my lady +your daughter’s servant and knight in right and in wrong, and I shall +never fail her, to do as much as a knight may do. Also I beseech your good +grace that I may take my leave at my lady, your daughter, and at all the barons +and knights. I will well, said the king. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram went unto La Beale Isoud and took his leave of her. And then +he told her all, what he was, and how he had changed his name because he would +not be known, and how a lady told him that he should never be whole till he +came into this country where the poison was made, wherethrough I was near my +death had not your ladyship been. O gentle knight, said La Beale Isoud, full +woe am I of thy departing, for I saw never man that I owed so good will to. And +therewithal she wept heartily. Madam, said Sir Tristram, ye shall understand +that my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, gotten of King Meliodas, and born of +his queen. And I promise you faithfully that I shall be all the days of my life +your knight. Gramercy, said La Beale Isoud, and I promise you there-against +that I shall not be married this seven years but by your assent; and to whom +that ye will I shall be married to him will I have, and he will have me if ye +will consent. +</p> + +<p> +And then Sir Tristram gave her a ring, and she gave him another; and therewith +he departed from her, leaving her making great dole and lamentation; and he +straight went unto the court among all the barons, and there he took his leave +at most and least, and openly he said among them all: Fair lords, now it is so +that I must depart: if there be any man here that I have offended unto, or that +any man be with me grieved, let complain him here afore me or that ever I +depart, and I shall amend it unto my power. And if there be any that will +proffer me wrong, or say of me wrong or shame behind my back, say it now or +never, and here is my body to make it good, body against body. And all they +stood still, there was not one that would say one word; yet were there some +knights that were of the queen’s blood, and of Sir Marhaus’ blood, +but they would not meddle with him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap167"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br/>How Sir Tristram and King Mark +hurted each other for the love of a knight’s wife.</h3> + +<p> +So Sir Tristram departed, and took the sea, and with good wind he arrived up at +Tintagil in Cornwall; and when King Mark was whole in his prosperity there came +tidings that Sir Tristram was arrived, and whole of his wounds: thereof was +King Mark passing glad, and so were all the barons; and when he saw his time he +rode unto his father, King Meliodas, and there he had all the cheer that the +king and the queen could make him. And then largely King Meliodas and his queen +departed of their lands and goods to Sir Tristram. +</p> + +<p> +Then by the license of King Meliodas, his father, he returned again unto the +court of King Mark, and there he lived in great joy long time, until at the +last there befell a jealousy and an unkindness betwixt King Mark and Sir +Tristram, for they loved both one lady. And she was an earl’s wife that +hight Sir Segwarides. And this lady loved Sir Tristram passingly well. And he +loved her again, for she was a passing fair lady, and that espied Sir Tristram +well. Then King Mark understood that and was jealous, for King Mark loved her +passingly well. +</p> + +<p> +So it fell upon a day this lady sent a dwarf unto Sir Tristram, and bade him, +as he loved her, that he would be with her the night next following. Also she +charged you that ye come not to her but if ye be well armed, for her lover was +called a good knight. Sir Tristram answered to the dwarf: Recommend me unto my +lady, and tell her I will not fail but I will be with her the term that she +hath set me. And with this answer the dwarf departed. And King Mark espied that +the dwarf was with Sir Tristram upon message from Segwarides’ wife; then +King Mark sent for the dwarf, and when he was come he made the dwarf by force +to tell him all, why and wherefore that he came on message from Sir Tristram. +Now, said King Mark, go where thou wilt, and upon pain of death that thou say +no word that thou spakest with me; so the dwarf departed from the king. +</p> + +<p> +And that same night that the steven was set betwixt Segwarides’ wife and +Sir Tristram, King Mark armed him, and made him ready, and took two knights of +his counsel with him; and so he rode afore for to abide by the way for to wait +upon Sir Tristram. And as Sir Tristram came riding upon his way with his spear +in his hand, King Mark came hurtling upon him with his two knights suddenly. +And all three smote him with their spears, and King Mark hurt Sir Tristram on +the breast right sore. And then Sir Tristram feutred his spear, and smote his +uncle, King Mark, so sore, that he rashed him to the earth, and bruised him +that he lay still in a swoon, and long it was or ever he might wield himself. +And then he ran to the one knight, and eft to the other, and smote them to the +cold earth, that they lay still. And therewithal Sir Tristram rode forth sore +wounded to the lady, and found her abiding him at a postern. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap168"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br/>How Sir Tristram lay with the lady, +and how her husband fought with Sir Tristram.</h3> + +<p> +And there she welcomed him fair, and either halsed other in arms, and so she +let put up his horse in the best wise, and then she unarmed him. And so they +supped lightly, and went to bed with great joy and pleasaunce; and so in his +raging he took no keep of his green wound that King Mark had given him. And so +Sir Tristram be-bled both the over sheet and the nether, and pillows, and head +sheet. And within a while there came one afore, that warned her that her lord +was near-hand within a bow-draught. So she made Sir Tristram to arise, and so +he armed him, and took his horse, and so departed. By then was come Segwarides, +her lord, and when he found her bed troubled and broken, and went near and +beheld it by candle light, then he saw that there had lain a wounded knight. +Ah, false traitress, then he said, why hast thou betrayed me? And therewithal +he swang out a sword, and said: But if thou tell me who hath been here, here +thou shalt die. Ah, my lord, mercy, said the lady, and held up her hands, +saying: Slay me not, and I shall tell you all who hath been here. Tell anon, +said Segwarides, to me all the truth. Anon for dread she said: Here was Sir +Tristram with me, and by the way as he came to me ward, he was sore wounded. +Ah, false traitress, said Segwarides, where is he become? Sir, she said, he is +armed, and departed on horseback, not yet hence half a mile. Ye say well, said +Segwarides. +</p> + +<p> +Then he armed him lightly, and gat his horse, and rode after Sir Tristram that +rode straightway unto Tintagil. And within a while he overtook Sir Tristram, +and then he bade him, Turn, false traitor knight. And Sir Tristram anon turned +him against him. And therewithal Segwarides smote Sir Tristram with a spear +that it all to-brast; and then he swang out his sword and smote fast at Sir +Tristram. Sir knight, said Sir Tristram, I counsel you that ye smite no more, +howbeit for the wrongs that I have done you I will forbear you as long as I +may. Nay, said Segwarides, that shall not be, for either thou shalt die or I. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram drew out his sword, and hurtled his horse unto him fiercely, +and through the waist of the body he smote Sir Segwarides that he fell to the +earth in a swoon. And so Sir Tristram departed and left him there. And so he +rode unto Tintagil and took his lodging secretly, for he would not be known +that he was hurt. Also Sir Segwarides’ men rode after their master, whom +they found lying in the field sore wounded, and brought him home on his shield, +and there he lay long or that he were whole, but at the last he recovered. Also +King Mark would not be aknown of that Sir Tristram and he had met that night. +And as for Sir Tristram, he knew not that King Mark had met with him. And so +the king askance came to Sir Tristram, to comfort him as he lay sick in his +bed. But as long as King Mark lived he loved never Sir Tristram after that; +though there was fair speech, love was there none. And thus it passed many +weeks and days, and all was forgiven and forgotten; for Sir Segwarides durst +not have ado with Sir Tristram, because of his noble prowess, and also because +he was nephew unto King Mark; therefore he let it overslip: for he that hath a +privy hurt is loath to have a shame outward. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap169"></a>CHAPTER XV.<br/>How Sir Bleoberis demanded the +fairest lady in King Mark’s court, whom he took away, and how he was +fought with.</h3> + +<p> +Then it befell upon a day that the good knight Bleoberis de Ganis, brother to +Blamore de Ganis, and nigh cousin unto the good knight Sir Launcelot du Lake, +this Bleoberis came unto the court of King Mark, and there he asked of King +Mark a boon, to give him what gift that he would ask in his court. When the +king heard him ask so, he marvelled of his asking, but because he was a knight +of the Round Table, and of a great renown, King Mark granted him his whole +asking. Then, said Sir Bleoberis, I will have the fairest lady in your court +that me list to choose. I may not say nay, said King Mark; now choose at your +adventure. And so Sir Bleoberis did choose Sir Segwarides’ wife, and took +her by the hand, and so went his way with her; and so he took his horse and +gart set her behind his squire, and rode upon his way. +</p> + +<p> +When Sir Segwarides heard tell that his lady was gone with a knight of King +Arthur’s court, then he armed him and rode after that knight for to +rescue his lady. So when Bleoberis was gone with this lady, King Mark and all +the court was wroth that she was away. Then were there certain ladies that knew +that there were great love between Sir Tristram and her, and also that lady +loved Sir Tristram above all other knights. Then there was one lady that +rebuked Sir Tristram in the horriblest wise, and called him coward knight, that +he would for shame of his knighthood see a lady so shamefully be taken away +from his uncle’s court. But she meant that either of them had loved other +with entire heart. But Sir Tristram answered her thus: Fair lady, it is not my +part to have ado in such matters while her lord and husband is present here; +and if it had been that her lord had not been here in this court, then for the +worship of this court peradventure I would have been her champion, and if so be +Sir Segwarides speed not well, it may happen that I will speak with that good +knight or ever he pass from this country. +</p> + +<p> +Then within a while came one of Sir Segwarides’ squires, and told in the +court that Sir Segwarides was beaten sore and wounded to the point of death; as +he would have rescued his lady Sir Bleoberis overthrew him and sore hath +wounded him. Then was King Mark heavy thereof, and all the court. When Sir +Tristram heard of this he was ashamed and sore grieved; and then was he soon +armed and on horseback, and Gouvernail, his servant, bare his shield and spear. +And so as Sir Tristram rode fast he met with Sir Andred his cousin, that by the +commandment of King Mark was sent to bring forth, an ever it lay in his power, +two knights of Arthur’s court, that rode by the country to seek their +adventures. When Sir Tristram saw Sir Andred he asked him what tidings. So God +me help, said Sir Andred, there was never worse with me, for here by the +commandment of King Mark I was sent to fetch two knights of King Arthur’s +court, and that one beat me and wounded me, and set nought by my message. Fair +cousin, said Sir Tristram, ride on your way, and if I may meet them it may +happen I shall revenge you. So Sir Andred rode into Cornwall, and Sir Tristram +rode after the two knights, the which one hight Sagramore le Desirous, and the +other hight Dodinas le Savage. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap170"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br/>How Sir Tristram fought with two +knights of the Round Table.</h3> + +<p> +Then within a while Sir Tristram saw them afore him, two likely knights. Sir, +said Gouvernail unto his master, Sir, I would counsel you not to have ado with +them, for they be two proved knights of Arthur’s court. As for that, said +Sir Tristram, have ye no doubt but I will have ado with them to increase my +worship, for it is many day sithen I did any deeds of arms. Do as ye list, said +Gouvernail. And therewithal anon Sir Tristram asked them from whence they came, +and whither they would, and what they did in those marches. Sir Sagramore +looked upon Sir Tristram, and had scorn of his words, and asked him again, Fair +knight, be ye a knight of Cornwall? Whereby ask ye it? said Sir Tristram. For +it is seldom seen, said Sir Sagramore, that ye Cornish knights be valiant men +of arms; for within these two hours there met us one of your Cornish knights, +and great words he spake, and anon with little might he was laid to the earth. +And, as I trow, said Sir Sagramore, ye shall have the same handsel that he had. +Fair lords, said Sir Tristram, it may so happen that I may better withstand +than he did, and whether ye will or nill I will have ado with you, because he +was my cousin that ye beat. And therefore here do your best, and wit ye well +but if ye quit you the better here upon this ground, one knight of Cornwall +shall beat you both. +</p> + +<p> +When Sir Dodinas le Savage heard him say so he gat a spear in his hand, and +said, Sir knight, keep well thyself: And then they departed and came together +as it had been thunder. And Sir Dodinas’ spear brast in-sunder, but Sir +Tristram smote him with a more might, that he smote him clean over the +horse-croup, that nigh he had broken his neck. When Sir Sagramore saw his +fellow have such a fall he marvelled what knight he might be. And he dressed +his spear with all his might, and Sir Tristram against him, and they came +together as the thunder, and there Sir Tristram smote Sir Sagramore a strong +buffet, that he bare his horse and him to the earth, and in the falling he +brake his thigh. +</p> + +<p> +When this was done Sir Tristram asked them: Fair knights, will ye any more? Be +there no bigger knights in the court of King Arthur? it is to you shame to say +of us knights of Cornwall dishonour, for it may happen a Cornish knight may +match you. That is truth, said Sir Sagramore, that have we well proved; but I +require thee, said Sir Sagramore, tell us your right name, by the faith and +troth that ye owe to the high order of knighthood. Ye charge me with a great +thing, said Sir Tristram, and sithen ye list to wit it, ye shall know and +understand that my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, King Meliodas’ son, +and nephew unto King Mark. Then were they two knights fain that they had met +with Tristram, and so they prayed him to abide in their fellowship. Nay, said +Sir Tristram, for I must have ado with one of your fellows, his name is Sir +Bleoberis de Ganis. God speed you well, said Sir Sagramore and Dodinas. Sir +Tristram departed and rode onward on his way. And then was he ware before him +in a valley where rode Sir Bleoberis, with Sir Segwarides’ lady, that +rode behind his squire upon a palfrey. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap171"></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br/>How Sir Tristram fought with Sir +Bleoberis for a lady, and how the lady was put to choice to whom she would +go.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram rode more than a pace until that he had overtaken him. Then +spake Sir Tristram: Abide, he said, Knight of Arthur’s court, bring again +that lady, or deliver her to me. I will do neither, said Bleoberis, for I dread +no Cornish knight so sore that me list to deliver her. Why, said Sir Tristram, +may not a Cornish knight do as well as another knight? this same day two +knights of your court within this three mile met with me, and or ever we +departed they found a Cornish knight good enough for them both. What were their +names? said Bleoberis. They told me, said Sir Tristram, that the one of them +hight Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and the other hight Dodinas le Savage. Ah, +said Sir Bleoberis, have ye met with them? so God me help, they were two good +knights and men of great worship, and if ye have beat them both ye must needs +be a good knight; but if it so be ye have beat them both, yet shall ye not fear +me, but ye shall beat me or ever ye have this lady. Then defend you, said Sir +Tristram. So they departed and came together like thunder, and either bare +other down, horse and all, to the earth. +</p> + +<p> +Then they avoided their horses, and lashed together eagerly with swords, and +mightily, now tracing and traversing on the right hand and on the left hand +more than two hours. And sometime they rushed together with such a might that +they lay both grovelling on the ground. Then Sir Bleoberis de Ganis stert +aback, and said thus: Now, gentle good knight, a while hold your hands, and let +us speak together. Say what ye will, said Tristram, and I will answer you. Sir, +said Bleoberis, I would wit of whence ye be, and of whom ye be come, and what +is your name? So God me help, said Sir Tristram, I fear not to tell you my +name. Wit ye well I am King Meliodas’ son, and my mother is King +Mark’s sister, and my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and King Mark is +mine uncle. Truly, said Bleoberis, I am right glad of you, for ye are he that +slew Marhaus the knight, hand for hand in an island, for the truage of +Cornwall; also ye overcame Sir Palamides the good knight, at a tournament in an +island, where ye beat Sir Gawaine and his nine fellows. So God me help, said +Sir Tristram, wit ye well that I am the same knight; now I have told you my +name, tell me yours with good will. Wit ye well that my name is Sir Bleoberis +de Ganis, and my brother hight Sir Blamore de Ganis, that is called a good +knight, and we be sister’s children unto my lord Sir Launcelot du Lake, +that we call one of the best knights of the world. That is truth, said Sir +Tristram, Sir Launcelot is called peerless of courtesy and of knighthood; and +for his sake, said Sir Tristram, I will not with my good will fight no more +with you, for the great love I have to Sir Launcelot du Lake. In good faith, +said Bleoberis, as for me I will be loath to fight with you; but sithen ye +follow me here to have this lady, I shall proffer you kindness, courtesy, and +gentleness right here upon this ground. This lady shall be betwixt us both, and +to whom that she will go, let him have her in peace. I will well, said +Tristram, for, as I deem, she will leave you and come to me. Ye shall prove it +anon, said Bleoberis. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap172"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br/>How the lady forsook Sir Tristram +and abode with Sir Bleoberis, and how she desired to go to her husband.</h3> + +<p> +So when she was set betwixt them both she said these words unto Sir Tristram: +Wit ye well, Sir Tristram de Liones, that but late thou wast the man in the +world that I most loved and trusted, and I weened thou hadst loved me again +above all ladies; but when thou sawest this knight lead me away thou madest no +cheer to rescue me, but suffered my lord Segwarides ride after me; but until +that time I weened thou haddest loved me, and therefore now I will leave thee, +and never love thee more. And therewithal she went unto Sir Bleoberis. +</p> + +<p> +When Sir Tristram saw her do so he was wonderly wroth with that lady, and +ashamed to come to the court. Sir Tristram, said Sir Bleoberis, ye are in the +default, for I hear by this lady’s words she before this day trusted you +above all earthly knights, and, as she saith, ye have deceived her, therefore +wit ye well, there may no man hold that will away; and rather than ye should be +heartily displeased with me I would ye had her, an she would abide with you. +Nay, said the lady, so God me help I will never go with him; for he that I +loved most I weened he had loved me. And therefore, Sir Tristram, she said, +ride as thou came, for though thou haddest overcome this knight, as ye was +likely, with thee never would I have gone. And I shall pray this knight so fair +of his knighthood, that or ever he pass this country, that he will lead me to +the abbey where my lord Sir Segwarides lieth. So God me help, said Bleoberis, I +let you wit, good knight Sir Tristram, because King Mark gave me the choice of +a gift in this court, and so this lady liked me best—notwithstanding, she +is wedded and hath a lord, and I have fulfilled my quest, she shall be sent +unto her husband again, and in especial most for your sake, Sir Tristram; and +if she would go with you I would ye had her. I thank you, said Sir Tristram, +but for her love I shall beware what manner a lady I shall love or trust; for +had her lord, Sir Segwarides, been away from the court, I should have been the +first that should have followed you; but sithen that ye have refused me, as I +am true knight I shall her know passingly well that I shall love or trust. And +so they took their leave one from the other and departed. +</p> + +<p> +And so Sir Tristram rode unto Tintagil, and Sir Bleoberis rode unto the abbey +where Sir Segwarides lay sore wounded, and there he delivered his lady, and +departed as a noble knight; and when Sir Segwarides saw his lady, he was +greatly comforted; and then she told him that Sir Tristram had done great +battle with Sir Bleoberis, and caused him to bring her again. These words +pleased Sir Segwarides right well, that Sir Tristram would do so much; and so +that lady told all the battle unto King Mark betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir +Bleoberis. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap173"></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br/>How King Mark sent Sir Tristram for +La Beale Isoud toward Ireland, and how by fortune he arrived into England.</h3> + +<p> +Then when this was done King Mark cast always in his heart how he might destroy +Sir Tristram. And then he imagined in himself to send Sir Tristram into Ireland +for La Beale Isoud. For Sir Tristram had so praised her beauty and her goodness +that King Mark said that he would wed her, whereupon he prayed Sir Tristram to +take his way into Ireland for him on message. And all this was done to the +intent to slay Sir Tristram. Notwithstanding, Sir Tristram would not refuse the +message for no danger nor peril that might fall, for the pleasure of his uncle, +but to go he made him ready in the most goodliest wise that might be devised. +For Sir Tristram took with him the most goodliest knights that he might find in +the court; and they were arrayed, after the guise that was then used, in the +goodliest manner. So Sir Tristram departed and took the sea with all his +fellowship. And anon, as he was in the broad sea a tempest took him and his +fellowship, and drove them back into the coast of England; and there they +arrived fast by Camelot, and full fain they were to take the land. +</p> + +<p> +And when they were landed Sir Tristram set up his pavilion upon the land of +Camelot, and there he let hang his shield upon the pavilion. And that same day +came two knights of King Arthur’s, that one was Sir Ector de Maris, and +Sir Morganor. And they touched the shield, and bade him come out of the +pavilion for to joust, an he would joust. Ye shall be answered, said Sir +Tristram, an ye will tarry a little while. So he made him ready, and first he +smote down Sir Ector de Maris, and after he smote down Sir Morganor, all with +one spear, and sore bruised them. And when they lay upon the earth they asked +Sir Tristram what he was, and of what country he was knight. Fair lords, said +Sir Tristram, wit ye well that I am of Cornwall. Alas, said Sir Ector, now am I +ashamed that ever any Cornish knight should overcome me. And then for despite +Sir Ector put off his armour from him, and went on foot, and would not ride. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap174"></a>CHAPTER XX.<br/>How King Anguish of Ireland was +summoned to come to King Arthur’s court for treason.</h3> + +<p> +Then it fell that Sir Bleoberis and Sir Blamore de Ganis, that were brethren, +they had summoned the King Anguish of Ireland for to come to Arthur’s +court upon pain of forfeiture of King Arthur’s good grace. And if the +King of Ireland came not in, at the day assigned and set, the king should lose +his lands. So it happened that at the day assigned, King Arthur neither Sir +Launcelot might not be there for to give the judgment, for King Arthur was with +Sir Launcelot at the Castle Joyous Garde. And so King Arthur assigned King +Carados and the King of Scots to be there that day as judges. So when the kings +were at Camelot King Anguish of Ireland was come to know his accusers. Then was +there Sir Blamore de Ganis, and appealed the King of Ireland of treason, that +he had slain a cousin of his in his court in Ireland by treason. The king was +sore abashed of his accusation, for-why he was come at the summons of King +Arthur, and or he came at Camelot he wist not wherefore he was sent after. And +when the king heard Sir Blamore say his will, he understood well there was none +other remedy but for to answer him knightly; for the custom was such in those +days, that an any man were appealed of any treason or murder he should fight +body for body, or else to find another knight for him. And all manner of +murders in those days were called treason. +</p> + +<p> +So when King Anguish understood his accusing he was passing heavy, for he knew +Sir Blamore de Ganis that he was a noble knight, and of noble knights come. +Then the King of Ireland was simply purveyed of his answer; therefore the +judges gave him respite by the third day to give his answer. So the king +departed unto his lodging. The meanwhile there came a lady by Sir +Tristram’s pavilion making great dole. What aileth you, said Sir +Tristram, that ye make such dole? Ah, fair knight, said the lady, I am ashamed +unless that some good knight help me; for a great lady of worship sent by me a +fair child and a rich, unto Sir Launcelot du Lake, and hereby there met with me +a knight, and threw me down from my palfrey, and took away the child from me. +Well, my lady, said Sir Tristram, and for my lord Sir Launcelot’s sake I +shall get you that child again, or else I shall be beaten for it. And so Sir +Tristram took his horse, and asked the lady which way the knight rode; and then +she told him. And he rode after him, and within a while he overtook that +knight. And then Sir Tristram bade him turn and give again the child. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap175"></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br/>How Sir Tristram rescued a child +from a knight, and how Gouvernail told him of King Anguish.</h3> + +<p> +The knight turned his horse and made him ready to fight. And then Sir Tristram +smote him with a sword such a buffet that he tumbled to the earth. And then he +yielded him unto Sir Tristram. Then come thy way, said Sir Tristram, and bring +the child to the lady again. So he took his horse meekly and rode with Sir +Tristram; and then by the way Sir Tristram asked him his name. Then he said, My +name is Breuse Saunce Pité. So when he had delivered that child to the lady, he +said: Sir, as in this the child is well remedied. Then Sir Tristram let him go +again that sore repented him after, for he was a great foe unto many good +knights of King Arthur’s court. +</p> + +<p> +Then when Sir Tristram was in his pavilion Gouvernail, his man, came and told +him how that King Anguish of Ireland was come thither, and he was put in great +distress; and there Gouvernail told Sir Tristram how King Anguish was summoned +and appealed of murder. So God me help, said Sir Tristram, these be the best +tidings that ever came to me this seven years, for now shall the King of +Ireland have need of my help; for I daresay there is no knight in this country +that is not of Arthur’s court dare do battle with Sir Blamore de Ganis; +and for to win the love of the King of Ireland I will take the battle upon me; +and therefore Gouvernail bring me, I charge thee, to the king. +</p> + +<p> +Then Gouvernail went unto King Anguish of Ireland, and saluted him fair. The +king welcomed him and asked him what he would. Sir, said Gouvernail, here is a +knight near hand that desireth to speak with you: he bade me say he would do +you service. What knight is he? said the king. Sir, said he, it is Sir Tristram +de Liones, that for your good grace that ye showed him in your lands will +reward you in this country. Come on, fellow, said the king, with me anon and +show me unto Sir Tristram. So the king took a little hackney and but few +fellowship with him, until he came unto Sir Tristram’s pavilion. And when +Sir Tristram saw the king he ran unto him and would have holden his stirrup. +But the king leapt from his horse lightly, and either halsed other in their +arms. My gracious lord, said Sir Tristram, gramercy of your great goodnesses +showed unto me in your marches and lands: and at that time I promised you to do +you service an ever it lay in my power. And, gentle knight, said the king unto +Sir Tristram, now have I great need of you, never had I so great need of no +knight’s help. How so, my good lord? said Sir Tristram. I shall tell you, +said the king: I am summoned and appealed from my country for the death of a +knight that was kin unto the good knight Sir Launcelot; wherefore Sir Blamore +de Ganis, brother to Sir Bleoberis hath appealed me to fight with him, outher +to find a knight in my stead. And well I wot, said the king, these that are +come of King Ban’s blood, as Sir Launcelot and these other, are passing +good knights, and hard men for to win in battle as any that I know now living. +Sir, said Sir Tristram, for the good lordship ye showed me in Ireland, and for +my lady your daughter’s sake, La Beale Isoud, I will take the battle for +you upon this condition that ye shall grant me two things: that one is that ye +shall swear to me that ye are in the right, that ye were never consenting to +the knight’s death; Sir, then said Sir Tristram, when that I have done +this battle, if God give me grace that I speed, that ye shall give me a reward, +what thing reasonable that I will ask of you. So God me help, said the king, ye +shall have whatsomever ye will ask. It is well said, said Sir Tristram. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap176"></a>CHAPTER XXII.<br/>How Sir Tristram fought for Sir +Anguish and overcame his adversary, and how his adversary would never yield +him.</h3> + +<p> +Now make your answer that your champion is ready, for I shall die in your +quarrel rather than to be recreant. I have no doubt of you, said the king, +that, an ye should have ado with Sir Launcelot du Lake— Sir, said Sir +Tristram, as for Sir Launcelot, he is called the noblest knight of the world, +and wit ye well that the knights of his blood are noble men, and dread shame; +and as for Bleoberis, brother unto Sir Blamore, I have done battle with him, +therefore upon my head it is no shame to call him a good knight. It is noised, +said the king, that Blamore is the hardier knight. Sir, as for that let him be, +he shall never be refused, an as he were the best knight that now beareth +shield or spear. +</p> + +<p> +So King Anguish departed unto King Carados and the kings that were that time as +judges, and told them that he had found his champion ready. Then by the +commandment of the kings Sir Blamore de Ganis and Sir Tristram were sent for to +hear the charge. And when they were come before the judges there were many +kings and knights beheld Sir Tristram, and much speech they had of him because +that he slew Sir Marhaus, the good knight, and because he for-jousted Sir +Palamides the good knight. So when they had taken their charge they withdrew +them to make them ready to do battle. +</p> + +<p> +Then said Sir Bleoberis unto his brother, Sir Blamore: Fair dear brother, +remember of what kin we be come of, and what a man is Sir Launcelot du Lake, +neither farther nor nearer but brother’s children, and there was never +none of our kin that ever was shamed in battle; and rather suffer death, +brother, than to be shamed. Brother, said Blamore, have ye no doubt of me, for +I shall never shame none of my blood; howbeit I am sure that yonder knight is +called a passing good knight as of his time one of the world, yet shall I never +yield me, nor say the loath word: well may he happen to smite me down with his +great might of chivalry, but rather shall he slay me than I shall yield me as +recreant. God speed you well, said Sir Bleoberis, for ye shall find him the +mightiest knight that ever ye had ado withal, for I know him, for I have had +ado with him. God me speed, said Sir Blamore de Ganis; and therewith he took +his horse at the one end of the lists, and Sir Tristram at the other end of the +lists, and so they feutred their spears and came together as it had been +thunder; and there Sir Tristram through great might smote down Sir Blamore and +his horse to the earth. Then anon Sir Blamore avoided his horse and pulled out +his sword and threw his shield afore him, and bade Sir Tristram alight: For +though an horse hath failed me, I trust to God the earth will not fail me. And +then Sir Tristram alighted, and dressed him unto battle; and there they lashed +together strongly as racing and tracing, foining and dashing, many sad strokes, +that the kings and knights had great wonder that they might stand; for ever +they fought like wood men, so that there was never knights seen fight more +fiercely than they did; for Sir Blamore was so hasty that he would have no +rest, that all men wondered that they had breath to stand on their feet; and +all the place was bloody that they fought in. And at the last, Sir Tristram +smote Sir Blamore such a buffet upon the helm that he there fell down upon his +side, and Sir Tristram stood and beheld him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap177"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.<br/>How Sir Blamore desired Tristram +to slay him, and how Sir Tristram spared him, and how they took +appointment.</h3> + +<p> +Then when Sir Blamore might speak, he said thus: Sir Tristram de Liones, I +require thee, as thou art a noble knight, and the best knight that ever I +found, that thou wilt slay me out, for I would not live to be made lord of all +the earth, for I have liefer die with worship than live with shame; and needs, +Sir Tristram, thou must slay me, or else thou shalt never win the field, for I +will never say the loath word. And therefore if thou dare slay me, slay me, I +require thee. When Sir Tristram heard him say so knightly, he wist not what to +do with him; he remembering him of both parties, of what blood he was come, and +for Sir Launcelot’s sake he would be loath to slay him; and in the other +party in no wise he might not choose, but that he must make him to say the +loath word, or else to slay him. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram stert aback, and went to the kings that were judges, and +there he kneeled down to-fore them, and besought them for their worships, and +for King Arthur’s and Sir Launcelot’s sake, that they would take +this matter in their hands. For, my fair lords, said Sir Tristram, it were +shame and pity that this noble knight that yonder lieth should be slain; for ye +hear well, shamed will he not be, and I pray to God that he never be slain nor +shamed for me. And as for the king for whom I fight for, I shall require him, +as I am his true champion and true knight in this field, that he will have +mercy upon this good knight. So God me help, said King Anguish, I will for your +sake; Sir Tristram, be ruled as ye will have me, for I know you for my true +knight; and therefore I will heartily pray the kings that be here as judges to +take it in their hands. And the kings that were judges called Sir Bleoberis to +them, and asked him his advice. My lords, said Bleoberis, though my brother be +beaten, and hath the worse through might of arms, I dare say, though Sir +Tristram hath beaten his body he hath not beaten his heart, and I thank God he +is not shamed this day; and rather than he should be shamed I require you, said +Bleoberis, let Sir Tristram slay him out. It shall not be so, said the kings, +for his part adversary, both the king and the champion, have pity of Sir +Blamore’s knighthood. My lords, said Bleoberis, I will right well as ye +will. +</p> + +<p> +Then the kings called the King of Ireland, and found him goodly and treatable. +And then, by all their advices, Sir Tristram and Sir Bleoberis took up Sir +Blamore, and the two brethren were accorded with King Anguish, and kissed and +made friends for ever. And then Sir Blamore and Sir Tristram kissed together, +and there they made their oaths that they would never none of them two brethren +fight with Sir Tristram, and Sir Tristram made the same oath. And for that +gentle battle all the blood of Sir Launcelot loved Sir Tristram for ever. +</p> + +<p> +Then King Anguish and Sir Tristram took their leave, and sailed into Ireland +with great noblesse and joy. So when they were in Ireland the king let make it +known throughout all the land how and in what manner Sir Tristram had done for +him. Then the queen and all that there were made the most of him that they +might. But the joy that La Beale Isoud made of Sir Tristram there might no +tongue tell, for of all men earthly she loved him most. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap178"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.<br/>How Sir Tristram demanded La Beale +Isoud for King Mark, and how Sir Tristram and Isoud drank the love drink.</h3> + +<p> +Then upon a day King Anguish asked Sir Tristram why he asked not his boon, for +whatsomever he had promised him he should have it without fail. Sir, said Sir +Tristram, now is it time; this is all that I will desire, that ye will give me +La Beale Isoud, your daughter, not for myself, but for mine uncle, King Mark, +that shall have her to wife, for so have I promised him. Alas, said the king, I +had liefer than all the land that I have ye would wed her yourself. Sir, an I +did then I were shamed for ever in this world, and false of my promise. +Therefore, said Sir I Tristram, I pray you hold your promise that ye promised +me; for this is my desire, that ye will give me La Beale Isoud to go with me +into Cornwall for to be wedded to King Mark, mine uncle. As for that, said King +Anguish, ye shall have her with you to do with her what it please you; that is +for to say if that ye list to wed her yourself, that is me liefest, and if ye +will give her unto King Mark, your uncle, that is in your choice. So, to make +short conclusion, La Beale Isoud was made ready to go with Sir Tristram, and +Dame Bragwaine went with her for her chief gentlewoman, with many other. +</p> + +<p> +Then the queen, Isoud’s mother, gave to her and Dame Bragwaine, her +daughter’s gentlewoman, and unto Gouvernail, a drink, and charged them +that what day King Mark should wed, that same day they should give him that +drink, so that King Mark should drink to La Beale Isoud, and then, said the +queen, I undertake either shall love other the days of their life. So this +drink was given unto Dame Bragwaine, and unto Gouvernail. And then anon Sir +Tristram took the sea, and La Beale Isoud; and when they were in their cabin, +it happed so that they were thirsty, and they saw a little flasket of gold +stand by them, and it seemed by the colour and the taste that it was noble +wine. Then Sir Tristram took the flasket in his hand, and said, Madam Isoud, +here is the best drink that ever ye drank, that Dame Bragwaine, your maiden, +and Gouvernail, my servant, have kept for themselves. Then they laughed and +made good cheer, and either drank to other freely, and they thought never drink +that ever they drank to other was so sweet nor so good. But by that their drink +was in their bodies, they loved either other so well that never their love +departed for weal neither for woe. And thus it happed the love first betwixt +Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud, the which love never departed the days of +their life. +</p> + +<p> +So then they sailed till by fortune they came nigh a castle that hight Pluere, +and thereby arrived for to repose them, weening to them to have had good +harbourage. But anon as Sir Tristram was within the castle they were taken +prisoners; for the custom of the castle was such; who that rode by that castle +and brought any lady, he must needs fight with the lord, that hight Breunor. +And if it were so that Breunor won the field, then should the knight stranger +and his lady be put to death, what that ever they were; and if it were so that +the strange knight won the field of Sir Breunor, then should he die and his +lady both. This custom was used many winters, for it was called the Castle +Pluere, that is to say the Weeping Castle. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap179"></a>CHAPTER XXV.<br/>How Sir Tristram and Isoud were in +prison, and how he fought for her beauty, and smote off another lady’s +head.</h3> + +<p> +Thus as Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud were in prison, it happed a knight and +a lady came unto them where they were, to cheer them. I have marvel, said +Tristram unto the knight and the lady, what is the cause the lord of this +castle holdeth us in prison: it was never the custom of no place of worship +that ever I came in, when a knight and a lady asked harbour, and they to +receive them, and after to destroy them that be his guests. Sir, said the +knight, this is the old custom of this castle, that when a knight cometh here +he must needs fight with our lord, and he that is weaker must lose his head. +And when that is done, if his lady that he bringeth be fouler than our +lord’s wife, she must lose her head: and if she be fairer proved than is +our lady, then shall the lady of this castle lose her head. So God me help, +said Sir Tristram, this is a foul custom and a shameful. But one advantage have +I, said Sir Tristram, I have a lady is fair enough, fairer saw I never in all +my life-days, and I doubt not for lack of beauty she shall not lose her head; +and rather than I should lose my head I will fight for it on a fair field. +Wherefore, sir knight, I pray you tell your lord that I will be ready as +to-morn with my lady, and myself to do battle, if it be so I may have my horse +and mine armour. Sir, said that knight, I undertake that your desire shall be +sped right well. And then he said: Take your rest, and look that ye be up +betimes and make you ready and your lady, for ye shall want no thing that you +behoveth. And therewith he departed, and on the morn betimes that same knight +came to Sir Tristram, and fetched him out and his lady, and brought him horse +and armour that was his own, and bade him make him ready to the field, for all +the estates and commons of that lordship were there ready to behold that battle +and judgment. +</p> + +<p> +Then came Sir Breunor, the lord of that castle, with his lady in his hand, +muffled, and asked Sir Tristram where was his lady: For an thy lady be fairer +than mine, with thy sword smite off my lady’s head; and if my lady be +fairer than thine, with my sword I must strike off her head. And if I may win +thee, yet shall thy lady be mine, and thou shalt lose thy head. Sir, said +Tristram, this is a foul custom and horrible; and rather than my lady should +lose her head, yet had I liefer lose my head. Nay, nay, said Sir Breunor, the +ladies shall be first showed together, and the one shall have her judgment. +Nay, I will not so, said Sir Tristram, for here is none that will give +righteous judgment. But I doubt not, said Sir Tristram, my lady is fairer than +thine, and that will I prove and make good with my hand. And whosomever he be +that will say the contrary I will prove it on his head. And therewith Sir +Tristram showed La Beale Isoud, and turned her thrice about with his naked +sword in his hand. And when Sir Breunor saw that, he did the same wise turn his +lady. But when Sir Breunor beheld La Beale Isoud, him thought he saw never a +fairer lady, and then he dread his lady’s head should be off. And so all +the people that were there present gave judgment that La Beale Isoud was the +fairer lady and the better made. How now, said Sir Tristram, meseemeth it were +pity that my lady should lose her head, but because thou and she of long time +have used this wicked custom, and by you both have many good knights and ladies +been destroyed, for that cause it were no loss to destroy you both. So God me +help, said Sir Breunor, for to say the sooth, thy lady is fairer than mine, and +that me sore repenteth. And so I hear the people privily say, for of all women +I saw none so fair; and therefore, an thou wilt slay my lady, I doubt not but I +shall slay thee and have thy lady. Thou shalt win her, said Sir Tristram, as +dear as ever knight won lady. And because of thine own judgment, as thou +wouldst have done to my lady if that she had been fouler, and because of the +evil custom, give me thy lady, said Sir Tristram. And therewithal Sir Tristram +strode unto him and took his lady from him, and with an awk stroke he smote off +her head clean. Well, knight, said Sir Breunor, now hast thou done me a +despite. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap180"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.<br/>How Sir Tristram fought with Sir +Breunor, and at the last smote off his head.</h3> + +<p> +Now take thine horse: sithen I am ladyless I will win thy lady an I may. +</p> + +<p> +Then they took their horses and came together as it had been the thunder; and +Sir Tristram smote Sir Breunor clean from his horse, and lightly he rose up; +and as Sir Tristram came again by him he thrust his horse throughout both the +shoulders, that his horse hurled here and there and fell dead to the ground. +And ever Sir Breunor ran after to have slain Sir Tristram, but Sir Tristram was +light and nimble, and voided his horse lightly. And or ever Sir Tristram might +dress his shield and his sword the other gave him three or four sad strokes. +Then they rushed together like two boars, tracing and traversing mightily and +wisely as two noble knights. For this Sir Breunor was a proved knight, and had +been or then the death of many good knights, that it was pity that he had so +long endured. +</p> + +<p> +Thus they fought, hurling here and there nigh two hours, and either were +wounded sore. Then at the last Sir Breunor rashed upon Sir Tristram and took +him in his arms, for he trusted much in his strength. Then was Sir Tristram +called the strongest and the highest knight of the world; for he was called +bigger than Sir Launcelot, but Sir Launcelot was better breathed. So anon Sir +Tristram thrust Sir Breunor down grovelling, and then he unlaced his helm and +struck off his head. And then all they that longed to the castle came to him, +and did him homage and fealty, praying him that he would abide there still a +little while to fordo that foul custom. Sir Tristram granted thereto. The +meanwhile one of the knights of the castle rode unto Sir Galahad, the haut +prince, the which was Sir Breunor’s son, which was a noble knight, and +told him what misadventure his father had and his mother. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap181"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.<br/>How Sir Galahad fought with Sir +Tristram, and how Sir Tristram yielded him and promised to fellowship with +Launcelot.</h3> + +<p> +Then came Sir Galahad, and the King with the Hundred Knights with him; and this +Sir Galahad proffered to fight with Sir Tristram hand for hand. And so they +made them ready to go unto battle on horseback with great courage. Then Sir +Galahad and Sir Tristram met together so hard that either bare other down, +horse and all, to the earth. And then they avoided their horses as noble +knights, and dressed their shields, and drew their swords with ire and rancour, +and they lashed together many sad strokes, and one while striking, another +while foining, tracing and traversing as noble knights; thus they fought long, +near half a day, and either were sore wounded. At the last Sir Tristram waxed +light and big, and doubled his strokes, and drove Sir Galahad aback on the one +side and on the other, so that he was like to have been slain. +</p> + +<p> +With that came the King with the Hundred Knights, and all that fellowship went +fiercely upon Sir Tristram. When Sir Tristram saw them coming upon him, then he +wist well he might not endure. Then as a wise knight of war, he said to Sir +Galahad, the haut prince: Sir, ye show to me no knighthood, for to suffer all +your men to have ado with me all at once; and as meseemeth ye be a noble knight +of your hands it is great shame to you. So God me help, said Sir Galahad, there +is none other way but thou must yield thee to me, other else to die, said Sir +Galahad to Sir Tristram. I will rather yield me to you than die for that is +more for the might of your men than of your hands. And therewithal Sir Tristram +took his own sword by the point, and put the pommel in the hand of Sir Galahad. +</p> + +<p> +Therewithal came the King with the Hundred Knights, and hard began to assail +Sir Tristram. Let be, said Sir Galahad, be ye not so hardy to touch him, for I +have given this knight his life. That is your shame, said the King with the +Hundred Knights; hath he not slain your father and your mother? As for that, +said Sir Galahad, I may not wite him greatly, for my father had him in prison, +and enforced him to do battle with him; and my father had such a custom that +was a shameful custom, that what knight came there to ask harbour his lady must +needs die but if she were fairer than my mother; and if my father overcame that +knight he must needs die. This was a shameful custom and usage, a knight for +his harbour-asking to have such harbourage. And for this custom I would never +draw about him. So God me help, said the King, this was a shameful custom. +Truly, said Sir Galahad, so seemed me; and meseemed it had been great pity that +this knight should have been slain, for I dare say he is the noblest man that +beareth life, but if it were Sir Launcelot du Lake. Now, fair knight, said Sir +Galahad, I require thee tell me thy name, and of whence thou art, and whither +thou wilt. Sir, he said, my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and from King Mark +of Cornwall I was sent on message unto King Anguish of Ireland, for to fetch +his daughter to be his wife, and here she is ready to go with me into Cornwall, +and her name is La Beale Isoud. And, Sir Tristram, said Sir Galahad, the haut +prince, well be ye found in these marches, and so ye will promise me to go unto +Sir Launcelot du Lake, and accompany with him, ye shall go where ye will, and +your fair lady with you; and I shall promise you never in all my days shall +such customs be used in this castle as have been used. Sir, said Sir Tristram, +now I let you wit, so God me help, I weened ye had been Sir Launcelot du Lake +when I saw you first, and therefore I dread you the more; and sir, I promise +you, said Sir Tristram, as soon as I may I will see Sir Launcelot and in +fellowship me with him; for of all the knights of the world I most desire his +fellowship. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap182"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.<br/>How Sir Launcelot met with Sir +Carados bearing away Sir Gawaine, and of the rescue of Sir Gawaine.</h3> + +<p> +And then Sir Tristram took his leave when he saw his time, and took the sea. +And in the meanwhile word came unto Sir Launcelot and to Sir Tristram that Sir +Carados, the mighty king, that was made like a giant, fought with Sir Gawaine, +and gave him such strokes that he swooned in his saddle, and after that he took +him by the collar and pulled him out of his saddle, and fast bound him to the +saddle-bow, and so rode his way with him toward his castle. And as he rode, by +fortune Sir Launcelot met with Sir Carados, and anon he knew Sir Gawaine that +lay bound after him. Ah, said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Gawaine, how stands it +with you? Never so hard, said Sir Gawaine, unless that ye help me, for so God +me help, without ye rescue me I know no knight that may, but outher you or Sir +Tristram. Wherefore Sir Launcelot was heavy of Sir Gawaine’s words. And +then Sir Launcelot bade Sir Carados: Lay down that knight and fight with me. +Thou art but a fool, said Sir Carados, for I will serve you in the same wise. +As for that, said Sir Launcelot, spare me not, for I warn thee I will not spare +thee. And then he bound Sir Gawaine hand and foot, and so threw him to the +ground. And then he gat his spear of his squire, and departed from Sir +Launcelot to fetch his course. And so either met with other, and brake their +spears to their hands; and then they pulled out swords, and hurtled together on +horseback more than an hour. And at the last Sir Launcelot smote Sir Carados +such a buffet upon the helm that it pierced his brain-pan. So then Sir +Launcelot took Sir Carados by the collar and pulled him under his horse’s +feet, and then he alighted and pulled off his helm and struck off his head. And +then Sir Launcelot unbound Sir Gawaine. So this same tale was told to Sir +Galahad and to Sir Tristram:—here may ye hear the nobleness that +followeth Sir Launcelot. Alas, said Sir Tristram, an I had not this message in +hand with this fair lady, truly I would never stint or I had found Sir +Launcelot. Then Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud went to the sea and came into +Cornwall, and there all the barons met them. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap183"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.<br/>Of the wedding of King Mark to La +Beale Isoud, and of Bragwaine her maid, and of Palamides.</h3> + +<p> +And anon they were richly wedded with great noblesse. But ever, as the French +book saith, Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud loved ever together. Then was there +great jousts and great tourneying, and many lords and ladies were at that +feast, and Sir Tristram was most praised of all other. Thus dured the feast +long, and after the feast was done, within a little while after, by the assent +of two ladies that were with Queen Isoud, they ordained for hate and envy for +to destroy Dame Bragwaine, that was maiden and lady unto La Beale Isoud; and +she was sent into the forest for to fetch herbs, and there she was met, and +bound feet and hand to a tree, and so she was bounden three days. And by +fortune, Sir Palamides found Dame Bragwaine, and there he delivered her from +the death, and brought her to a nunnery there beside, for to be recovered. When +Isoud the queen missed her maiden, wit ye well she was right heavy as ever was +any queen, for of all earthly women she loved her best: the cause was for she +came with her out of her country. And so upon a day Queen Isoud walked into the +forest to put away her thoughts, and there she went herself unto a well and +made great moan. And suddenly there came Palamides to her, and had heard all +her complaint, and said: Madam Isoud, an ye will grant me my boon, I shall +bring to you Dame Bragwaine safe and sound. And the queen was so glad of his +proffer that suddenly unadvised she granted all his asking. Well, Madam, said +Palamides, I trust to your promise, and if ye will abide here half an hour I +shall bring her to you. I shall abide you, said La Beale Isoud. And Sir +Palamides rode forth his way to that nunnery, and lightly he came again with +Dame Bragwaine; but by her good will she would not have come again, because for +love of the queen she stood in adventure of her life. Notwithstanding, half +against her will, she went with Sir Palamides unto the queen. And when the +queen saw her she was passing glad. Now, Madam, said Palamides, remember upon +your promise, for I have fulfilled my promise. Sir Palamides, said the queen, I +wot not what is your desire, but I will that ye wit, howbeit I promised you +largely, I thought none evil, nor I warn you none evil will I do. Madam, said +Sir Palamides, as at this time, ye shall not know my desire, but before my lord +your husband there shall ye know that I will have my desire that ye have +promised me. And therewith the queen departed, and rode home to the king, and +Sir Palamides rode after her. And when Sir Palamides came before the king, he +said: Sir King, I require you as ye be a righteous king, that ye will judge me +the right. Tell me your cause, said the king, and ye shall have right. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap184"></a>CHAPTER XXX.<br/>How Palamides demanded Queen Isoud, +and how Lambegus rode after to rescue her, and of the escape of Isoud.</h3> + +<p> +Sir, said Palamides, I promised your Queen Isoud to bring again Dame Bragwaine +that she had lost, upon this covenant, that she should grant me a boon that I +would ask, and without grudging, outher advisement, she granted me. What say +ye, my lady? said the king. It is as he saith, so God me help, said the queen; +to say thee sooth I promised him his asking for love and joy that I had to see +her. Well, Madam, said the king, and if ye were hasty to grant him what boon he +would ask, I will well that ye perform your promise. Then, said Palamides, I +will that ye wit that I will have your queen to lead her and govern her whereas +me list. Therewith the king stood still, and bethought him of Sir Tristram, and +deemed that he would rescue her. And then hastily the king answered: Take her +with the adventures that shall fall of it, for as I suppose thou wilt not enjoy +her no while. As for that, said Palamides, I dare right well abide the +adventure. And so, to make short tale, Sir Palamides took her by the hand and +said: Madam, grudge not to go with me, for I desire nothing but your own +promise. As for that, said the queen, I fear not greatly to go with thee, +howbeit thou hast me at advantage upon my promise, for I doubt not I shall be +worshipfully rescued from thee. As for that, said Sir Palamides, be it as it be +may. So Queen Isoud was set behind Palamides, and rode his way. +</p> + +<p> +Anon the king sent after Sir Tristram, but in no wise he could be found, for he +was in the forest a-hunting; for that was always his custom, but if he used +arms, to chase and to hunt in the forests. Alas, said the king, now I am shamed +for ever, that by mine own assent my lady and my queen shall be devoured. Then +came forth a knight, his name was Lambegus, and he was a knight of Sir +Tristram. My lord, said this knight, sith ye have trust in my lord, Sir +Tristram, wit ye well for his sake I will ride after your queen and rescue her, +or else I shall be beaten. Gramercy, said the king, as I live, Sir Lambegus, I +shall deserve it. And then Sir Lambegus armed him, and rode after as fast as he +might. And then within a while he overtook Sir Palamides. And then Sir +Palamides left the queen. What art thou, said Palamides, art thou Tristram? +Nay, he said, I am his servant, and my name is Sir Lambegus. That me repenteth, +said Palamides. I had liefer thou hadst been Sir Tristram. I believe you well, +said Lambegus, but when thou meetest with Sir Tristram thou shalt have thy +hands full. And then they hurtled together and all to-brast their spears, and +then they pulled out their swords, and hewed on helms and hauberks. At the last +Sir Palamides gave Sir Lambegus such a wound that he fell down like a dead +knight to the earth. +</p> + +<p> +Then he looked after La Beale Isoud, and then she was gone he nist where. Wit +ye well Sir Palamides was never so heavy. So the queen ran into the forest, and +there she found a well, and therein she had thought to have drowned herself. +And as good fortune would, there came a knight to her that had a castle +thereby, his name was Sir Adtherp. And when he found the queen in that mischief +he rescued her, and brought her to his castle. And when he wist what she was he +armed him, and took his horse, and said he would be avenged upon Palamides; and +so he rode on till he met with him, and there Sir Palamides wounded him sore, +and by force he made him to tell him the cause why he did battle with him, and +how he had led the queen unto his castle. Now bring me there, said Palamides, +or thou shalt die of my hands. Sir, said Sir Adtherp, I am so wounded I may not +follow, but ride you this way and it shall bring you into my castle, and there +within is the queen. Then Sir Palamides rode still till he came to the castle. +And at a window La Beale Isoud saw Sir Palamides; then she made the gates to be +shut strongly. And when he saw he might not come within the castle, he put off +his bridle and his saddle, and put his horse to pasture, and set himself down +at the gate like a man that was out of his wit that recked not of himself. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap185"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.<br/>How Sir Tristram rode after +Palamides, and how he found him and fought with him, and by the means of Isoud +the battle ceased.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that when he was come home and wist La Beale +Isoud was gone with Sir Palamides, wit ye well he was wroth out of measure. +Alas, said Sir Tristram, I am this day shamed. Then he cried to Gouvernail his +man: Haste thee that I were armed and on horseback, for well I wot Lambegus +hath no might nor strength to withstand Sir Palamides: alas that I have not +been in his stead! So anon as he was armed and horsed Sir Tristram and +Gouvernail rode after into the forest, and within a while he found his knight +Lambegus almost wounded to the death; and Sir Tristram bare him to a forester, +and charged him to keep him well. And then he rode forth, and there he found +Sir Adtherp sore wounded, and he told him how the queen would have drowned +herself had he not been, and how for her sake and love he had taken upon him to +do battle with Sir Palamides. Where is my lady? said Sir Tristram. Sir, said +the knight, she is sure enough within my castle, an she can hold her within it. +Gramercy, said Sir Tristram, of thy great goodness. And so he rode till he came +nigh to that castle; and then Sir Tristram saw where Sir Palamides sat at the +gate sleeping, and his horse pastured fast afore him. Now go thou, Gouvernail, +said Sir Tristram, and bid him awake, and make him ready. So Gouvernail rode +unto him and said: Sir Palamides, arise, and take to thee thine harness. But he +was in such a study he heard not what Gouvernail said. So Gouvernail came again +and told Sir Tristram he slept, or else he was mad. Go thou again, said Sir +Tristram, and bid him arise, and tell him that I am here, his mortal foe. So +Gouvernail rode again and put upon him the butt of his spear, and said: Sir +Palamides, make thee ready, for wit ye well Sir Tristram hoveth yonder, and +sendeth thee word he is thy mortal foe. And therewithal Sir Palamides arose +stilly, without words, and gat his horse, and saddled him and bridled him, and +lightly he leapt upon, and gat his spear in his hand, and either feutred their +spears and hurtled fast together; and there Tristram smote down Sir Palamides +over his horse’s tail. Then lightly Sir Palamides put his shield afore +him and drew his sword. And there began strong battle on both parts, for both +they fought for the love of one lady, and ever she lay on the walls and beheld +them how they fought out of measure, and either were wounded passing sore, but +Palamides was much sorer wounded. Thus they fought tracing and traversing more +than two hours, that well-nigh for dole and sorrow La Beale Isoud swooned. +Alas, she said, that one I loved and yet do, and the other I love not, yet it +were great pity that I should see Sir Palamides slain; for well I know by that +time the end be done Sir Palamides is but a dead knight: because he is not +christened I would be loath that he should die a Saracen. And therewithal she +came down and besought Sir Tristram to fight no more. Ah, madam, said he, what +mean you, will ye have me shamed? Well ye know I will be ruled by you. I will +not your dishonour, said La Beale Isoud, but I would that ye would for my sake +spare this unhappy Saracen Palamides. Madam, said Sir Tristram, I will leave +fighting at this time for your sake. Then she said to Sir Palamides: This shall +be your charge, that thou shalt go out of this country while I am therein. I +will obey your commandment, said Sir Palamides, the which is sore against my +will. Then take thy way, said La Beale Isoud, unto the court of King Arthur, +and there recommend me unto Queen Guenever, and tell her that I send her word +that there be within this land but four lovers, that is, Sir Launcelot du Lake +and Queen Guenever, and Sir Tristram de Liones and Queen Isoud. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap186"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.<br/>How Sir Tristram brought Queen +Isoud home, and of the debate of King Mark and Sir Tristram.</h3> + +<p> +And so Sir Palamides departed with great heaviness. And Sir Tristram took the +queen and brought her again to King Mark, and then was there made great joy of +her home-coming. Who was cherished but Sir Tristram! Then Sir Tristram let +fetch Sir Lambegus, his knight, from the forester’s house, and it was +long or he was whole, but at the last he was well recovered. Thus they lived +with joy and play a long while. But ever Sir Andred, that was nigh cousin to +Sir Tristram, lay in a watch to wait betwixt Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud, +for to take them and slander them. So upon a day Sir Tristram talked with La +Beale Isoud in a window, and that espied Sir Andred, and told it to the King. +Then King Mark took a sword in his hand and came to Sir Tristram, and called +him false traitor, and would have stricken him. But Sir Tristram was nigh him, +and ran under his sword, and took it out of his hand. And then the King cried: +Where are my knights and my men? I charge you slay this traitor. But at that +time there was not one would move for his words. When Sir Tristram saw that +there was not one would be against him, he shook the sword to the king, and +made countenance as though he would have stricken him. And then King Mark fled, +and Sir Tristram followed him, and smote upon him five or six strokes flatling +on the neck, that he made him to fall upon the nose. And then Sir Tristram yede +his way and armed him, and took his horse and his man, and so he rode into that +forest. +</p> + +<p> +And there upon a day Sir Tristram met with two brethren that were knights with +King Mark, and there he struck off the head of the one, and wounded the other +to the death; and he made him to bear his brother’s head in his helm unto +the king, and thirty more there he wounded. And when that knight came before +the king to say his message, he there died afore the king and the queen. Then +King Mark called his council unto him, and asked advice of his barons what was +best to do with Sir Tristram. Sir, said the barons, in especial Sir Dinas, the +Seneschal, Sir, we will give you counsel for to send for Sir Tristram, for we +will that ye wit many men will hold with Sir Tristram an he were hard bestead. +And sir, said Sir Dinas, ye shall understand that Sir Tristram is called +peerless and makeless of any Christian knight, and of his might and hardiness +we knew none so good a knight, but if it be Sir Launcelot du Lake. And if he +depart from your court and go to King Arthur’s court, wit ye well he will +get him such friends there that he will not set by your malice. And therefore, +sir, I counsel you to take him to your grace. I will well, said the king, that +he be sent for, that we may be friends. Then the barons sent for Sir Tristram +under a safe conduct. And so when Sir Tristram came to the king he was welcome, +and no rehearsal was made, and there was game and play. And then the king and +the queen went a-hunting, and Sir Tristram. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap187"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.<br/>How Sir Lamorak jousted with +thirty knights, and Sir Tristram at the request of King Mark smote his horse +down.</h3> + +<p> +The king and the queen made their pavilions and their tents in that forest +beside a river, and there was daily hunting and jousting, for there were ever +thirty knights ready to joust unto all them that came in at that time. And +there by fortune came Sir Lamorak de Galis and Sir Driant; and there Sir Driant +jousted right well, but at the last he had a fall. Then Sir Lamorak proffered +to joust. And when he began he fared so with the thirty knights that there was +not one of them but that he gave him a fall, and some of them were sore hurt. I +marvel, said King Mark, what knight he is that doth such deeds of arms. Sir, +said Sir Tristram, I know him well for a noble knight as few now be living, and +his name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. It were great shame, said the king, that he +should go thus away, unless that some of you meet with him better. Sir, said +Sir Tristram, meseemeth it were no worship for a noble man to have ado with +him: and for because at this time he hath done over much for any mean knight +living, therefore, as meseemeth, it were great shame and villainy to tempt him +any more at this time, insomuch as he and his horse are weary both; for the +deeds of arms that he hath done this day, an they be well considered, it were +enough for Sir Launcelot du Lake. As for that, said King Mark, I require you, +as ye love me and my lady the queen, La Beale Isoud, take your arms and joust +with Sir Lamorak de Galis. Sir, said Sir Tristram, ye bid me do a thing that is +against knighthood, and well I can deem that I shall give him a fall, for it is +no mastery, for my horse and I be fresh both, and so is not his horse and he; +and wit ye well that he will take it for great unkindness, for ever one good +knight is loath to take another at disadvantage; but because I will not +displease you, as ye require me so will I do, and obey your commandment. +</p> + +<p> +And so Sir Tristram armed him and took his horse, and put him forth, and there +Sir Lamorak met him mightily, and what with the might of his own spear, and of +Sir Tristram’s spear, Sir Lamorak’s horse fell to the earth, and he +sitting in the saddle. Then anon as lightly as he might he avoided the saddle +and his horse, and put his shield afore him and drew his sword. And then he +bade Sir Tristram: Alight, thou knight, an thou durst. Nay, said Sir Tristram, +I will no more have ado with thee, for I have done to thee over much unto my +dishonour and to thy worship. As for that, said Sir Lamorak, I can thee no +thank; since thou hast for-jousted me on horseback I require thee and I beseech +thee, an thou be Sir Tristram, fight with me on foot. I will not so, said Sir +Tristram; and wit ye well my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, and well I know ye +be Sir Lamorak de Galis, and this that I have done to you was against my will, +but I was required thereto; but to say that I will do at your request as at +this time, I will have no more ado with you, for me shameth of that I have +done. As for the shame, said Sir Lamorak, on thy part or on mine, bear thou it +an thou wilt, for though a mare’s son hath failed me, now a queen’s +son shall not fail thee; and therefore, an thou be such a knight as men call +thee, I require thee, alight, and fight with me. Sir Lamorak, said Sir +Tristram, I understand your heart is great, and cause why ye have, to say thee +sooth; for it would grieve me an any knight should keep him fresh and then to +strike down a weary knight, for that knight nor horse was never formed that +alway might stand or endure. And therefore, said Sir Tristram, I will not have +ado with you, for me forthinketh of that I have done. As for that, said Sir +Lamorak, I shall quit you, an ever I see my time. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap188"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.<br/>How Sir Lamorak sent an horn to +King Mark in despite of Sir Tristram, and how Sir Tristram was driven into a +chapel.</h3> + +<p> +So he departed from him with Sir Driant, and by the way they met with a knight +that was sent from Morgan le Fay unto King Arthur; and this knight had a fair +horn harnessed with gold, and the horn had such a virtue that there might no +lady nor gentlewoman drink of that horn but if she were true to her husband, +and if she were false she should spill all the drink, and if she were true to +her lord she might drink peaceable. And because of the Queen Guenever, and in +the despite of Sir Launcelot, this horn was sent unto King Arthur; and by force +Sir Lamorak made that knight to tell all the cause why he bare that horn. Now +shalt thou bear this horn, said Lamorak, unto King Mark, or else choose thou to +die for it; for I tell thee plainly, in despite and reproof of Sir Tristram +thou shalt bear that horn unto King Mark, his uncle, and say thou to him that I +sent it him for to assay his lady, and if she be true to him he shall prove +her. So the knight went his way unto King Mark, and brought him that rich horn, +and said that Sir Lamorak sent it him, and thereto he told him the virtue of +that horn. Then the king made Queen Isoud to drink thereof, and an hundred +ladies, and there were but four ladies of all those that drank clean. Alas, +said King Mark, this is a great despite, and sware a great oath that she should +be burnt and the other ladies. +</p> + +<p> +Then the barons gathered them together, and said plainly they would not have +those ladies burnt for an horn made by sorcery, that came from as false a +sorceress and witch as then was living. For that horn did never good, but +caused strife and debate, and always in her days she had been an enemy to all +true lovers. So there were many knights made their avow, an ever they met with +Morgan le Fay, that they would show her short courtesy. Also Sir Tristram was +passing wroth that Sir Lamorak sent that horn unto King Mark, for well he knew +that it was done in the despite of him. And therefore he thought to quite Sir +Lamorak. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram used daily and nightly to go to Queen Isoud when he might, +and ever Sir Andred his cousin watched him night and day for to take him with +La Beale Isoud. And so upon a night Sir Andred espied the hour and the time +when Sir Tristram went to his lady. Then Sir Andred gat unto him twelve +knights, and at midnight he set upon Sir Tristram secretly and suddenly and +there Sir Tristram was taken naked abed with La Beale Isoud, and then was he +bound hand and foot, and so was he kept until day. And then by the assent of +King Mark, and of Sir Andred, and of some of the barons, Sir Tristram was led +unto a chapel that stood upon the sea rocks, there for to take his judgment: +and so he was led bounden with forty knights. And when Sir Tristram saw that +there was none other boot but needs that he must die, then said he: Fair lords, +remember what I have done for the country of Cornwall, and in what jeopardy I +have been in for the weal of you all; for when I fought for the truage of +Cornwall with Sir Marhaus, the good knight, I was promised for to be better +rewarded, when ye all refused to take the battle; therefore, as ye be good +gentle knights, see me not thus shamefully to die, for it is shame to all +knighthood thus to see me die; for I dare say, said Sir Tristram, that I never +met with no knight but I was as good as he, or better. Fie upon thee, said Sir +Andred, false traitor that thou art, with thine avaunting; for all thy boast +thou shalt die this day. O Andred, Andred, said Sir Tristram, thou shouldst be +my kinsman, and now thou art to me full unfriendly, but an there were no more +but thou and I, thou wouldst not put me to death. No! said Sir Andred, and +therewith he drew his sword, and would have slain him. +</p> + +<p> +When Sir Tristram saw him make such countenance he looked upon both his hands +that were fast bounden unto two knights, and suddenly he pulled them both to +him, and unwrast his hands, and then he leapt unto his cousin, Sir Andred, and +wrested his sword out of his hands; then he smote Sir Andred that he fell to +the earth, and so Sir Tristram fought till that he had killed ten knights. So +then Sir Tristram gat the chapel and kept it mightily. Then the cry was great, +and the people drew fast unto Sir Andred, mo than an hundred. When Sir Tristram +saw the people draw unto him, he remembered he was naked, and sperd fast the +chapel door, and brake the bars of a window, and so he leapt out and fell upon +the crags in the sea. And so at that time Sir Andred nor none of his fellows +might get to him, at that time. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap189"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.<br/>How Sir Tristram was holpen by his +men, and of Queen Isoud which was put in a lazar-cote, and how Tristram was +hurt.</h3> + +<p> +So when they were departed, Gouvernail, and Sir Lambegus, and Sir Sentraille de +Lushon, that were Sir Tristram’s men, sought their master. When they +heard he was escaped then they were passing glad; and on the rocks they found +him, and with towels they pulled him up. And then Sir Tristram asked them where +was La Beale Isoud, for he weened she had been had away of Andred’s +people. Sir, said Gouvernail, she is put in a lazar-cote. Alas, said Sir +Tristram, this is a full ungoodly place for such a fair lady, and if I may she +shall not be long there. And so he took his men and went thereas was La Beale +Isoud, and fetched her away, and brought her into a forest to a fair manor, and +Sir Tristram there abode with her. So the good knight bade his men go from him: +For at this time I may not help you. So they departed all save Gouvernail. And +so upon a day Sir Tristram yede into the forest for to disport him, and then it +happened that there he fell sleep; and there came a man that Sir Tristram +aforehand had slain his brother, and when this man had found him he shot him +through the shoulder with an arrow, and Sir Tristram leapt up and killed that +man. And in the meantime it was told King Mark how Sir Tristram and La Beale +Isoud were in that same manor, and as soon as ever he might thither he came +with many knights to slay Sir Tristram. And when he came there he found him +gone; and there he took La Beale Isoud home with him, and kept her strait that +by no means never she might wit nor send unto Tristram, nor he unto her. And +then when Sir Tristram came toward the old manor he found the track of many +horses, and thereby he wist his lady was gone. And then Sir Tristram took great +sorrow, and endured with great pain long time, for the arrow that he was hurt +withal was envenomed. +</p> + +<p> +Then by the mean of La Beale Isoud she told a lady that was cousin unto Dame +Bragwaine, and she came to Sir Tristram, and told him that he might not be +whole by no means. For thy lady, La Beale Isoud, may not help thee, therefore +she biddeth you haste into Brittany to King Howel, and there ye shall find his +daughter, Isoud la Blanche Mains, and she shall help thee. Then Sir Tristram +and Gouvernail gat them shipping, and so sailed into Brittany. And when King +Howel wist that it was Sir Tristram he was full glad of him. Sir, he said, I am +come into this country to have help of your daughter, for it is told me that +there is none other may heal me but she; and so within a while she healed him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap190"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.<br/>How Sir Tristram served in war +King Howel of Brittany, and slew his adversary in the field.</h3> + +<p> +There was an earl that hight Grip, and this earl made great war upon the king, +and put the king to the worse, and besieged him. And on a time Sir Kehydius, +that was son to King Howel, as he issued out he was sore wounded, nigh to the +death. Then Gouvernail went to the king and said: Sir, I counsel you to desire +my lord, Sir Tristram, as in your need to help you. I will do by your counsel, +said the king. And so he yede unto Sir Tristram, and prayed him in his wars to +help him: For my son, Sir Kehydius, may not go into the field. Sir, said Sir +Tristram, I will go to the field and do what I may. Then Sir Tristram issued +out of the town with such fellowship as he might make, and did such deeds that +all Brittany spake of him. And then, at the last, by great might and force, he +slew the Earl Grip with his own hands, and more than an hundred knights he slew +that day. And then Sir Tristram was received worshipfully with procession. Then +King Howel embraced him in his arms, and said: Sir Tristram, all my kingdom I +will resign to thee. God defend, said Sir Tristram, for I am beholden unto you +for your daughter’s sake to do for you. +</p> + +<p> +Then by the great means of King Howel and Kehydius his son, by great proffers, +there grew great love betwixt Isoud and Sir Tristram, for that lady was both +good and fair, and a woman of noble blood and fame. And for because Sir +Tristram had such cheer and riches, and all other pleasaunce that he had, +almost he had forsaken La Beale Isoud. And so upon a time Sir Tristram agreed +to wed Isoud la Blanche Mains. And at the last they were wedded, and solemnly +held their marriage. And so when they were abed both Sir Tristram remembered +him of his old lady La Beale Isoud. And then he took such a thought suddenly +that he was all dismayed, and other cheer made he none but with clipping and +kissing; as for other fleshly lusts Sir Tristram never thought nor had ado with +her: such mention maketh the French book; also it maketh mention that the lady +weened there had been no pleasure but kissing and clipping. And in the meantime +there was a knight in Brittany, his name was Suppinabiles, and he came over the +sea into England, and then he came into the court of King Arthur, and there he +met with Sir Launcelot du Lake, and told him of the marriage of Sir Tristram. +Then said Sir Launcelot: Fie upon him, untrue knight to his lady, that so noble +a knight as Sir Tristram is should be found to his first lady false, La Beale +Isoud, Queen of Cornwall; but say ye him this, said Sir Launcelot, that of all +knights in the world I loved him most, and had most joy of him, and all was for +his noble deeds; and let him wit the love between him and me is done for ever, +and that I give him warning from this day forth as his mortal enemy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap191"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.<br/>How Sir Suppinabiles told Sir +Tristram how he was defamed in the court of King Arthur, and of Sir +Lamorak.</h3> + +<p> +Then departed Sir Suppinabiles unto Brittany again, and there he found Sir +Tristram, and told him that he had been in King Arthur’s court. Then said +Sir Tristram: Heard ye anything of me? So God me help, said Sir Suppinabiles, +there I heard Sir Launcelot speak of you great shame, and that ye be a false +knight to your lady and he bade me do you to wit that he will be your mortal +enemy in every place where he may meet you. That me repenteth, said Tristram, +for of all knights I loved to be in his fellowship. So Sir Tristram made great +moan and was ashamed that noble knights should defame him for the sake of his +lady. And in this meanwhile La Beale Isoud made a letter unto Queen Guenever, +complaining her of the untruth of Sir Tristram, and how he had wedded the +king’s daughter of Brittany. Queen Guenever sent her another letter, and +bade her be of good cheer, for she should have joy after sorrow, for Sir +Tristram was so noble a knight called, that by crafts of sorcery ladies would +make such noble men to wed them. But in the end, Queen Guenever said, it shall +be thus, that he shall hate her, and love you better than ever he did to-fore. +</p> + +<p> +So leave we Sir Tristram in Brittany, and speak we of Sir Lamorak de Galis, +that as he sailed his ship fell on a rock and perished all, save Sir Lamorak +and his squire; and there he swam mightily, and fishers of the Isle of Servage +took him up, and his squire was drowned, and the shipmen had great labour to +save Sir Lamorak’s life, for all the comfort that they could do. +</p> + +<p> +And the lord of that isle, hight Sir Nabon le Noire, a great mighty giant. And +this Sir Nabon hated all the knights of King Arthur’s, and in no wise he +would do them favour. And these fishers told Sir Lamorak all the guise of Sir +Nabon; how there came never knight of King Arthur’s but he destroyed him. +And at the last battle that he did was slain Sir Nanowne le Petite, the which +he put to a shameful death in despite of King Arthur, for he was drawn +limb-meal. That forthinketh me, said Sir Lamorak, for that knight’s +death, for he was my cousin; and if I were at mine ease as well as ever I was, +I would revenge his death. Peace, said the fishers, and make here no words, for +or ever ye depart from hence Sir Nabon must know that ye have been here, or +else we should die for your sake. So that I be whole, said Lamorak, of my +disease that I have taken in the sea, I will that ye tell him that I am a +knight of King Arthur’s, for I was never afeard to reneye my lord. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap192"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.<br/>How Sir Tristram and his wife +arrived in Wales, and how he met there with Sir Lamorak.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that upon a day he took a little barget, and his +wife Isoud la Blanche Mains, with Sir Kehydius her brother, to play them in the +coasts. And when they were from the land, there was a wind drove them in to the +coast of Wales upon this Isle of Servage, whereas was Sir Lamorak, and there +the barget all to-rove; and there Dame Isoud was hurt; and as well as they +might they gat into the forest, and there by a well he saw Segwarides and a +damosel. And then either saluted other. Sir, said Segwarides, I know you for +Sir Tristram de Liones, the man in the world that I have most cause to hate, +because ye departed the love between me and my wife; but as for that, said Sir +Segwarides, I will never hate a noble knight for a light lady; and therefore, I +pray you, be my friend, and I will be yours unto my power; for wit ye well ye +are hard bestead in this valley, and we shall have enough to do either of us to +succour other. And then Sir Segwarides brought Sir Tristram to a lady thereby +that was born in Cornwall, and she told him all the perils of that valley, and +how there came never knight there but he were taken prisoner or slain. Wit you +well, fair lady, said Sir Tristram, that I slew Sir Marhaus and delivered +Cornwall from the truage of Ireland, and I am he that delivered the King of +Ireland from Sir Blamore de Ganis, and I am he that beat Sir Palamides; and wit +ye well I am Sir Tristram de Liones, that by the grace of God shall deliver +this woful Isle of Servage. So Sir Tristram was well eased. +</p> + +<p> +Then one told him there was a knight of King Arthur’s that was wrecked on +the rocks. What is his name? said Sir Tristram. We wot not, said the fishers, +but he keepeth it no counsel but that he is a knight of King Arthur’s, +and by the mighty lord of this isle he setteth nought. I pray you, said Sir +Tristram, an ye may, bring him hither that I may see him, and if he be any of +the knights of Arthur’s I shall know him. Then the lady prayed the +fishers to bring him to her place. So on the morrow they brought him thither in +a fisher’s raiment; and as soon as Sir Tristram saw him he smiled upon +him and knew him well, but he knew not Sir Tristram. Fair sir, said Sir +Tristram, meseemeth by your cheer ye have been diseased but late, and also +methinketh I should know you heretofore. I will well, said Sir Lamorak, that ye +have seen me and met with me. Fair sir, said Sir Tristram, tell me your name. +Upon a covenant I will tell you, said Sir Lamorak, that is, that ye will tell +me whether ye be lord of this island or no, that is called Nabon le Noire. +Forsooth, said Sir Tristram, I am not he, nor I hold not of him; I am his foe +as well as ye be, and so shall I be found or I depart out of this isle. Well, +said Sir Lamorak, since ye have said so largely unto me, my name is Sir Lamorak +de Galis, son unto King Pellinore. Forsooth, I trow well, said Sir Tristram, +for an ye said other I know the contrary. What are ye, said Sir Lamorak, that +knoweth me? I am Sir Tristram de Liones. Ah, sir, remember ye not of the fall +ye did give me once, and after ye refused me to fight on foot. That was not for +fear I had of you, said Sir Tristram, but me shamed at that time to have more +ado with you, for meseemed ye had enough; but, Sir Lamorak, for my kindness +many ladies ye put to a reproof when ye sent the horn from Morgan le Fay to +King Mark, whereas ye did this in despite of me. Well, said he, an it were to +do again, so would I do, for I had liefer strife and debate fell in King +Mark’s court rather than Arthur’s court, for the honour of both +courts be not alike. As to that, said Sir Tristram, I know well; but that that +was done it was for despite of me, but all your malice, I thank God, hurt not +greatly. Therefore, said Sir Tristram, ye shall leave all your malice, and so +will I, and let us assay how we may win worship between you and me upon this +giant Sir Nabon le Noire that is lord of this island, to destroy him. Sir, said +Sir Lamorak, now I understand your knighthood, it may not be false that all men +say, for of your bounty, noblesse, and worship, of all knights ye are peerless, +and for your courtesy and gentleness I showed you ungentleness, and that now me +repenteth. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap193"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.<br/>How Sir Tristram fought with Sir +Nabon, and overcame him, and made Sir Segwarides lord of the isle.</h3> + +<p> +In the meantime there came word that Sir Nabon had made a cry that all the +people of that isle should be at his castle the fifth day after. And the same +day the son of Nabon should be made knight, and all the knights of that valley +and thereabout should be there to joust, and all those of the realm of Logris +should be there to joust with them of North Wales: and thither came five +hundred knights, and they of the country brought thither Sir Lamorak, and Sir +Tristram, and Sir Kehydius, and Sir Segwarides, for they durst none otherwise +do; and then Sir Nabon lent Sir Lamorak horse and armour at Sir Lamorak’s +desire, and Sir Lamorak jousted and did such deeds of arms that Nabon and all +the people said there was never knight that ever they saw do such deeds of +arms; for, as the French book saith, he for-jousted all that were there, for +the most part of five hundred knights, that none abode him in his saddle. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Nabon proffered to play with him his play: For I saw never no knight +do so much upon a day. I will well, said Sir Lamorak, play as I may, but I am +weary and sore bruised. And there either gat a spear, but Nabon would not +encounter with Sir Lamorak, but smote his horse in the forehead, and so slew +him; and then Sir Lamorak yede on foot, and turned his shield and drew his +sword, and there began strong battle on foot. But Sir Lamorak was so sore +bruised and short breathed, that he traced and traversed somewhat aback. Fair +fellow, said Sir Nabon, hold thy hand and I shall show thee more courtesy than +ever I showed knight, because I have seen this day thy noble knighthood, and +therefore stand thou by, and I will wit whether any of thy fellows will have +ado with me. Then when Sir Tristram heard that, he stepped forth and said: +Nabon, lend me horse and sure armour, and I will have ado with thee. Well, +fellow, said Sir Nabon, go thou to yonder pavilion, and arm thee of the best +thou findest there, and I shall play a marvellous play with thee. Then said Sir +Tristram: Look ye play well, or else peradventure I shall learn you a new play. +That is well said, fellow, said Sir Nabon. So when Sir Tristram was armed as +him liked best, and well shielded and sworded, he dressed to him on foot; for +well he knew that Sir Nabon would not abide a stroke with a spear, therefore he +would slay all knights’ horses. Now, fair fellow, Sir Nabon, let us play. +So then they fought long on foot, tracing and traversing, smiting and foining +long without any rest. At the last Sir Nabon prayed him to tell him his name. +Sir Nabon, I tell thee my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, a knight of Cornwall +under King Mark. Thou art welcome, said Sir Nabon, for of all knights I have +most desired to fight with thee or with Sir Launcelot. +</p> + +<p> +So then they went eagerly together, and Sir Tristram slew Sir Nabon, and so +forthwith he leapt to his son, and struck off his head; and then all the +country said they would hold of Sir Tristram. Nay, said Sir Tristram, I will +not so; here is a worshipful knight, Sir Lamorak de Galis, that for me he shall +be lord of this country, for he hath done here great deeds of arms. Nay, said +Sir Lamorak, I will not be lord of this country, for I have not deserved it as +well as ye, therefore give ye it where ye will, for I will none have. Well, +said Sir Tristram, since ye nor I will not have it, let us give it to him that +hath not so well deserved it. Do as ye list, said Segwarides, for the gift is +yours, for I will none have an I had deserved it. So was it given to +Segwarides, whereof he thanked them; and so was he lord, and worshipfully he +did govern it. And then Sir Segwarides delivered all prisoners, and set good +governance in that valley; and so he returned into Cornwall, and told King Mark +and La Beale Isoud how Sir Tristram had advanced him to the Isle of Servage, +and there he proclaimed in all Cornwall of all the adventures of these two +knights, so was it openly known. But full woe was La Beale Isoud when she heard +tell that Sir Tristram was wedded to Isoud la Blanche Mains. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap194"></a>CHAPTER XL.<br/>How Sir Lamorak departed from Sir +Tristram, and how he met with Sir Frol, and after with Sir Launcelot.</h3> + +<p> +So turn we unto Sir Lamorak, that rode toward Arthur’s court, and Sir +Tristram’s wife and Kehydius took a vessel and sailed into Brittany, unto +King Howel, where he was welcome. And when he heard of these adventures they +marvelled of his noble deeds. Now turn we unto Sir Lamorak, that when he was +departed from Sir Tristram he rode out of the forest, till he came to an +hermitage. When the hermit saw him, he asked him from whence he came. Sir, said +Sir Lamorak, I come from this valley. Sir, said the hermit: thereof I marvel. +For this twenty winter I saw never no knight pass this country but he was +either slain or villainously wounded, or pass as a poor prisoner. Those ill +customs, said Sir Lamorak, are fordone, for Sir Tristram slew your lord, Sir +Nabon, and his son. Then was the hermit glad, and all his brethren, for he said +there was never such a tyrant among Christian men. And therefore, said the +hermit, this valley and franchise we will hold of Sir Tristram. +</p> + +<p> +So on the morrow Sir Lamorak departed; and as he rode he saw four knights fight +against one, and that one knight defended him well, but at the last the four +knights had him down. And then Sir Lamorak went betwixt them, and asked them +why they would slay that one knight, and said it was shame, four against one. +Thou shalt well wit, said the four knights, that he is false. That is your +tale, said Sir Lamorak, and when I hear him also speak, I will say as ye say. +Then said Lamorak: Ah, knight, can ye not excuse you, but that ye are a false +knight. Sir, said he, yet can I excuse me both with my word and with my hands, +that I will make good upon one of the best of them, my body to his body. Then +spake they all at once: We will not jeopardy our bodies as for thee. But wit +thou well, they said, an King Arthur were here himself, it should not lie in +his power to save his life. That is too much said, said Sir Lamorak, but many +speak behind a man more than they will say to his face; and because of your +words ye shall understand that I am one of the simplest of King Arthur’s +court; in the worship of my lord now do your best, and in despite of you I +shall rescue him. And then they lashed all at once to Sir Lamorak, but anon at +two strokes Sir Lamorak had slain two of them, and then the other two fled. So +then Sir Lamorak turned again to that knight, and asked him his name. Sir, he +said, my name is Sir Frol of the Out Isles. Then he rode with Sir Lamorak and +bare him company. +</p> + +<p> +And as they rode by the way they saw a seemly knight riding against them, and +all in white. Ah, said Frol, yonder knight jousted late with me and smote me +down, therefore I will joust with him. Ye shall not do so, said Sir Lamorak, by +my counsel, an ye will tell me your quarrel, whether ye jousted at his request, +or he at yours. Nay, said Sir Frol, I jousted with him at my request. Sir, said +Lamorak, then will I counsel you deal no more with him, for meseemeth by his +countenance he should be a noble knight, and no japer; for methinketh he should +be of the Table Round. Therefore I will not spare, said Sir Frol. And then he +cried and said: Sir knight, make thee ready to joust. That needeth not, said +the White Knight, for I have no lust to joust with thee; but yet they feutred +their spears, and the White Knight overthrew Sir Frol, and then he rode his way +a soft pace. Then Sir Lamorak rode after him, and prayed him to tell him his +name: For meseemeth ye should be of the fellowship of the Round Table. Upon a +covenant, said he, I will tell you my name, so that ye will not discover my +name, and also that ye will tell me yours. Then, said he, my name is Sir +Lamorak de Galis. And my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Then they put up their +swords, and kissed heartily together, and either made great joy of other. Sir, +said Sir Lamorak, an it please you I will do you service. God defend, said +Launcelot, that any of so noble a blood as ye be should do me service. Then he +said: More, I am in a quest that I must do myself alone. Now God speed you, +said Sir Lamorak, and so they departed. Then Sir Lamorak came to Sir Frol and +horsed him again. What knight is that? said Sir Frol. Sir, he said, it is not +for you to know, nor it is no point of my charge. Ye are the more uncourteous, +said Sir Frol, and therefore I will depart from you. Ye may do as ye list, said +Sir Lamorak, and yet by my company ye have saved the fairest flower of your +garland; so they departed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap195"></a>CHAPTER XLI.<br/>How Sir Lamorak slew Sir Frol, and +of the courteous fighting with Sir Belliance his brother.</h3> + +<p> +Then within two or three days Sir Lamorak found a knight at a well sleeping, +and his lady sat with him and waked. Right so came Sir Gawaine and took the +knight’s lady, and set her up behind his squire. So Sir Lamorak rode +after Sir Gawaine, and said: Sir Gawaine, turn again. And then said Sir +Gawaine: What will ye do with me? for I am nephew unto King Arthur. Sir, said +he, for that cause I will spare you, else that lady should abide with me, or +else ye should joust with me. Then Sir Gawaine turned him and ran to him that +ought the lady, with his spear, but the knight with pure might smote down Sir +Gawaine, and took his lady with him. All this Sir Lamorak saw, and said to +himself: But I revenge my fellow he will say of me dishonour in King +Arthur’s court. Then Sir Lamorak returned and proffered that knight to +joust. Sir, said he, I am ready. And there they came together with all their +might, and there Sir Lamorak smote the knight through both sides that he fell +to the earth dead. +</p> + +<p> +Then that lady rode to that knight’s brother that hight Belliance le +Orgulus, that dwelt fast thereby, and then she told him how his brother was +slain. Alas, said he, I will be revenged. And so he horsed him, and armed him, +and within a while he overtook Sir Lamorak, and bade him: Turn and leave that +lady, for thou and I must play a new play; for thou hast slain my brother Sir +Frol, that was a better knight than ever wert thou. It might well be, said Sir +Lamorak, but this day in the field I was found the better. So they rode +together, and unhorsed other, and turned their shields, and drew their swords, +and fought mightily as noble knights proved, by the space of two hours. So then +Sir Belliance prayed him to tell him his name. Sir, said he, my name is Sir +Lamorak de Galis. Ah, said Sir Belliance, thou art the man in the world that I +most hate, for I slew my sons for thy sake, where I saved thy life, and now +thou hast slain my brother Sir Frol. Alas, how should I be accorded with thee; +therefore defend thee, for thou shalt die, there is none other remedy. Alas, +said Sir Lamorak, full well me ought to know you, for ye are the man that most +have done for me. And therewithal Sir Lamorak kneeled down, and besought him of +grace. Arise, said Sir Belliance, or else thereas thou kneelest I shall slay +thee. That shall not need, said Sir Lamorak, for I will yield me unto you, not +for fear of you, nor for your strength, but your goodness maketh me full loath +to have ado with you; wherefore I require you for God’s sake, and for the +honour of knighthood, forgive me all that I have offended unto you. Alas, said +Belliance, leave thy kneeling, or else I shall slay thee without mercy. +</p> + +<p> +Then they yede again unto battle, and either wounded other, that all the ground +was bloody thereas they fought. And at the last Belliance withdrew him aback +and set him down softly upon a little hill, for he was so faint for bleeding +that he might not stand. Then Sir Lamorak threw his shield upon his back, and +asked him what cheer. Well, said Sir Belliance. Ah, Sir, yet shall I show you +favour in your mal-ease. Ah, Knight Sir Belliance, said Sir Lamorak, thou art a +fool, for an I had had thee at such advantage as thou hast done me, I should +slay thee; but thy gentleness is so good and so large, that I must needs +forgive thee mine evil will. And then Sir Lamorak kneeled down, and unlaced +first his umberere, and then his own, and then either kissed other with weeping +tears. Then Sir Lamorak led Sir Belliance to an abbey fast by, and there Sir +Lamorak would not depart from Belliance till he was whole. And then they sware +together that none of them should never fight against other. So Sir Lamorak +departed and went to the court of King Arthur. +</p> + +<h5> Here leave we of Sir Lamorak and of Sir Tristram. And here beginneth the +history of La Cote Male Taile. </h5> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="part09"></a>BOOK IX.</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap196"></a>CHAPTER I.<br/>How a young man came into the court of +King Arthur, and how Sir Kay called him in scorn La Cote Male Taile.</h3> + +<p> +At the court of King Arthur there came a young man and bigly made, and he was +richly beseen: and he desired to be made knight of the king, but his +over-garment sat over-thwartly, howbeit it was rich cloth of gold. What is your +name? said King Arthur. Sir, said he, my name is Breunor le Noire, and within +short space ye shall know that I am of good kin. It may well be, said Sir Kay, +the Seneschal, but in mockage ye shall be called La Cote Male Taile, that is as +much to say, the evil-shapen coat. It is a great thing that thou askest, said +the king; and for what cause wearest thou that rich coat? tell me, for I can +well think for some cause it is. Sir, he answered, I had a father, a noble +knight, and as he rode a-hunting, upon a day it happed him to lay him down to +sleep; and there came a knight that had been long his enemy, and when he saw he +was fast asleep he all to-hew him; and this same coat had my father on the same +time; and that maketh this coat to sit so evil upon me, for the strokes be on +it as I found it, and never shall be amended for me. Thus to have my +father’s death in remembrance I wear this coat till I be revenged; and +because ye are called the most noblest king of the world I come to you that ye +should make me knight. Sir, said Sir Lamorak and Sir Gaheris, it were well done +to make him knight; for him beseemeth well of person and of countenance, that +he shall prove a good man, and a good knight, and a mighty; for, Sir, an ye be +remembered, even such one was Sir Launcelot du Lake when he came first into +this court, and full few of us knew from whence he came; and now is he proved +the man of most worship in the world; and all your court and all your Round +Table is by Sir Launcelot worshipped and amended more than by any knight now +living. That is truth, said the king, and to-morrow at your request I shall +make him knight. +</p> + +<p> +So on the morrow there was an hart found, and thither rode King Arthur with a +company of his knights to slay the hart. And this young man that Sir Kay named +La Cote Male Taile was there left behind with Queen Guenever; and by sudden +adventure there was an horrible lion kept in a strong tower of stone, and it +happened that he at that time brake loose, and came hurling afore the queen and +her knights. And when the queen saw the lion she cried and fled, and prayed her +knights to rescue her. And there was none of them all but twelve that abode, +and all the other fled. Then said La Cote Male Taile: Now I see well that all +coward knights be not dead; and therewithal he drew his sword and dressed him +afore the lion. And that lion gaped wide and came upon him ramping to have +slain him. And he then smote him in the midst of the head such a mighty stroke +that it clave his head in sunder, and dashed to the earth. Then was it told the +queen how the young man that Sir Kay named by scorn La Cote Male Taile had +slain the lion. With that the king came home. And when the queen told him of +that adventure, he was well pleased, and said: Upon pain of mine head he shall +prove a noble man and a faithful knight, and true of his promise: then the king +forthwithal made him knight. Now Sir, said this young knight, I require you and +all the knights of your court, that ye call me by none other name but La Cote +Male Taile: in so much as Sir Kay hath so named me so will I be called. I +assent me well thereto, said the king. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap197"></a>CHAPTER II.<br/>How a damosel came into the court and +desired a knight to take on him an enquest, which La Cote Male Taile +emprised.</h3> + +<p> +Then that same day there came a damosel into the court, and she brought with +her a great black shield, with a white hand in the midst holding a sword. Other +picture was there none in that shield. When King Arthur saw her he asked her +from whence she came and what she would. Sir, she said, I have ridden long and +many a day with this shield many ways, and for this cause I am come to your +court: there was a good knight that ought this shield, and this knight had +undertaken a great deed of arms to enchieve it; and so it misfortuned him +another strong knight met with him by sudden adventure, and there they fought +long, and either wounded other passing sore; and they were so weary that they +left that battle even hand. So this knight that ought this shield saw none +other way but he must die; and then he commanded me to bear this shield to the +court of King Arthur, he requiring and praying some good knight to take this +shield, and that he would fulfil the quest that he was in. Now what say ye to +this quest? said King Arthur; is there any of you here that will take upon him +to wield this shield? Then was there not one that would speak one word. Then +Sir Kay took the shield in his hands. Sir knight, said the damosel, what is +your name? Wit ye well, said he, my name is Sir Kay, the Seneschal, that +wide-where is known. Sir, said that damosel, lay down that shield, for wit ye +well it falleth not for you, for he must be a better knight than ye that shall +wield this shield. Damosel, said Sir Kay, wit ye well I took this shield in my +hands by your leave for to behold it, not to that intent; but go wheresomever +thou wilt, for I will not go with you. +</p> + +<p> +Then the damosel stood still a great while and beheld many of those knights. +Then spake the knight, La Cote Male Taile: Fair damosel, I will take the shield +and that adventure upon me, so I wist I should know whitherward my journey +might be; for because I was this day made knight I would take this adventure +upon me. What is your name, fair young man? said the damosel. My name is, said +he, La Cote Male Taile. Well mayest thou be called so, said the damosel, the +knight with the evil-shapen coat; but an thou be so hardy to take upon thee to +bear that shield and to follow me, wit thou well thy skin shall be as well hewn +as thy coat. As for that, said La Cote Male Taile, when I am so hewn I will ask +you no salve to heal me withal. And forthwithal there came into the court two +squires and brought him great horses, and his armour, and his spears, and anon +he was armed and took his leave. I would not by my will, said the king, that ye +took upon you that hard adventure. Sir, said he, this adventure is mine, and +the first that ever I took upon me, and that will I follow whatsomever come of +me. Then that damosel departed, and La Cote Male Taile fast followed after. And +within a while he overtook the damosel, and anon she missaid him in the foulest +manner. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap198"></a>CHAPTER III.<br/>How La Cote Male Taile overthrew Sir +Dagonet the king’s fool, and of the rebuke that he had of the +damosel.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Kay ordained Sir Dagonet, King Arthur’s fool, to follow after La +Cote Male Taile; and there Sir Kay ordained that Sir Dagonet was horsed and +armed, and bade him follow La Cote Male Taile and proffer him to joust, and so +he did; and when he saw La Cote Male Taile, he cried and bade him make him +ready to joust. So Sir La Cote Male Taile smote Sir Dagonet over his +horse’s croup. Then the damosel mocked La Cote Male Taile, and said: Fie +for shame! now art thou shamed in Arthur’s court, when they send a fool +to have ado with thee, and specially at thy first jousts; thus she rode long, +and chid. And within a while there came Sir Bleoberis, the good knight, and +there he jousted with La Cote Male Taile, and there Sir Bleoberis smote him so +sore, that horse and all fell to the earth. Then La Cote Male Taile arose up +lightly, and dressed his shield, and drew his sword, and would have done battle +to the utterance, for he was wood wroth. Not so, said Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, +as at this time I will not fight upon foot. Then the damosel Maledisant rebuked +him in the foulest manner, and bade him: Turn again, coward. Ah, damosel, he +said, I pray you of mercy to missay me no more, my grief is enough though ye +give me no more; I call myself never the worse knight when a mare’s son +faileth me, and also I count me never the worse knight for a fall of Sir +Bleoberis. +</p> + +<p> +So thus he rode with her two days; and by fortune there came Sir Palomides and +encountered with him, and he in the same wise served him as did Bleoberis +to-forehand. What dost thou here in my fellowship? said the damosel Maledisant, +thou canst not sit no knight, nor withstand him one buffet, but if it were Sir +Dagonet. Ah, fair damosel, I am not the worse to take a fall of Sir Palomides, +and yet great disworship have I none, for neither Bleoberis nor yet Palomides +would not fight with me on foot. As for that, said the damosel, wit thou well +they have disdain and scorn to light off their horses to fight with such a lewd +knight as thou art. So in the meanwhile there came Sir Mordred, Sir +Gawaine’s brother, and so he fell in the fellowship with the damosel +Maledisant. And then they came afore the Castle Orgulous, and there was such a +custom that there might no knight come by that castle but either he must joust +or be prisoner, or at the least to lose his horse and his harness. And there +came out two knights against them, and Sir Mordred jousted with the foremost, +and that knight of the castle smote Sir Mordred down off his horse. And then La +Cote Male Taile jousted with that other, and either of them smote other down, +horse and all, to the earth. And when they avoided their horses, then either of +them took other’s horses. And then La Cote Male Taile rode unto that +knight that smote down Sir Mordred, and jousted with him. And there Sir La Cote +Male Taile hurt and wounded him passing sore, and put him from his horse as he +had been dead. So he turned unto him that met him afore, and he took the flight +towards the castle, and Sir La Cote Male Taile rode after him into the Castle +Orgulous, and there La Cote Male Taile slew him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap199"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br/>How La Cote Male Taile fought against +an hundred knights, and how he escaped by the mean of a lady.</h3> + +<p> +And anon there came an hundred knights about him and assailed him; and when he +saw his horse should be slain he alighted and voided his horse, and put the +bridle under his feet, and so put him out of the gate. And when he had so done +he hurled in among them, and dressed his back unto a lady’s chamber-wall, +thinking himself that he had liefer die there with worship than to abide the +rebukes of the damosel Maledisant. And in the meantime as he stood and fought, +that lady whose was the chamber went out slily at her postern, and without the +gates she found La Cote Male Taile’s horse, and lightly she gat him by +the bridle, and tied him to the postern. And then she went unto her chamber +slily again for to behold how that one knight fought against an hundred +knights. And when she had beheld him long she went to a window behind his back, +and said: Thou knight, thou fightest wonderly well, but for all that at the +last thou must needs die, but, an thou canst through thy mighty prowess, win +unto yonder postern, for there have I fastened thy horse to abide thee: but wit +thou well thou must think on thy worship, and think not to die, for thou mayst +not win unto that postern without thou do nobly and mightily. When La Cote Male +Taile heard her say so he gripped his sword in his hands, and put his shield +fair afore him, and through the thickest press he thrulled through them. And +when he came to the postern he found there ready four knights, and at two the +first strokes he slew two of the knights, and the other fled; and so he won his +horse and rode from them. And all as it was it was rehearsed in King +Arthur’s court, how he slew twelve knights within the Castle Orgulous; +and so he rode on his way. +</p> + +<p> +And in the meanwhile the damosel said to Sir Mordred: I ween my foolish knight +be either slain or taken prisoner: then were they ware where he came riding. +And when he was come unto them he told all how he had sped and escaped in +despite of them all: And some of the best of them will tell no tales. Thou +liest falsely, said the damosel, that dare I make good, but as a fool and a +dastard to all knighthood they have let thee pass. That may ye prove, said La +Cote Male Taile. With that she sent a courier of hers, that rode alway with +her, for to know the truth of this deed; and so he rode thither lightly, and +asked how and in what manner that La Cote Male Taile was escaped out of the +castle. Then all the knights cursed him, and said that he was a fiend and no +man: For he hath slain here twelve of our best knights, and we weened unto this +day that it had been too much for Sir Launcelot du Lake or for Sir Tristram de +Liones. And in despite of us all he is departed from us and maugre our heads. +</p> + +<p> +With this answer the courier departed and came to Maledisant his lady, and told +her all how Sir La Cote Male Taile had sped at the Castle Orgulous. Then she +smote down her head, and said little. By my head, said Sir Mordred to the +damosel, ye are greatly to blame so to rebuke him, for I warn you plainly he is +a good knight, and I doubt not but he shall prove a noble knight; but as yet he +may not yet sit sure on horseback, for he that shall be a good horseman it must +come of usage and exercise. But when he cometh to the strokes of his sword he +is then noble and mighty, and that saw Sir Bleoberis and Sir Palomides, for wit +ye well they are wily men of arms, and anon they know when they see a young +knight by his riding, how they are sure to give him a fall from his horse or a +great buffet. But for the most part they will not light on foot with young +knights, for they are wight and strongly armed. For in likewise Sir Launcelot +du Lake, when he was first made knight, he was often put to the worse upon +horseback, but ever upon foot he recovered his renown, and slew and defoiled +many knights of the Round Table. And therefore the rebukes that Sir Launcelot +did unto many knights causeth them that be men of prowess to beware; for often +I have seen the old proved knights rebuked and slain by them that were but +young beginners. Thus they rode sure talking by the way together. +</p> + +<p> +Here leave we off a while of this tale, and speak we of Sir Launcelot du Lake. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap200"></a>CHAPTER V.<br/>How Sir Launcelot came to the court +and heard of La Cote Male Taile, and how he followed after him, and how La Cote +Male Taile was prisoner.</h3> + +<p> +That when he was come to the court of King Arthur, then heard he tell of the +young knight La Cote Male Taile, how he slew the lion, and how he took upon him +the adventure of the black shield, the which was named at that time the +hardiest adventure of the world. So God me save, said Sir Launcelot unto many +of his fellows, it was shame to all the noble knights to suffer such a young +knight to take such adventure upon him for his destruction; for I will that ye +wit, said Sir Launcelot, that that damosel Maledisant hath borne that shield +many a day for to seek the most proved knights, and that was she that Breuse +Saunce Pité took that shield from her, and after Tristram de Liones rescued +that shield from him and gave it to the damosel again, a little afore that time +that Sir Tristram fought with my nephew Sir Blamore de Ganis, for a quarrel +that was betwixt the King of Ireland and him. Then many knights were sorry that +Sir La Cote Male Taile was gone forth to that adventure. Truly, said Sir +Launcelot, I cast me to ride after him. And within seven days Sir Launcelot +overtook La Cote Male Taile, and then he saluted him and the damosel +Maledisant. And when Sir Mordred saw Sir Launcelot, then he left their +fellowship; and so Sir Launcelot rode with them all a day, and ever that +damosel rebuked La Cote Male Taile; and then Sir Launcelot answered for him, +then she left off, and rebuked Sir Launcelot. +</p> + +<p> +So this meantime Sir Tristram sent by a damosel a letter unto Sir Launcelot, +excusing him of the wedding of Isoud la Blanche Mains; and said in the letter, +as he was a true knight he had never ado fleshly with Isoud la Blanche Mains; +and passing courteously and gentily Sir Tristram wrote unto Sir Launcelot, ever +beseeching him to be his good friend and unto La Beale Isoud of Cornwall, and +that Sir Launcelot would excuse him if that ever he saw her. And within short +time by the grace of God, said Sir Tristram, that he would speak with La Beale +Isoud, and with him right hastily. Then Sir Launcelot departed from the damosel +and from Sir La Cote Male Taile, for to oversee that letter, and to write +another letter unto Sir Tristram de Liones. +</p> + +<p> +And in the meanwhile La Cote Male Taile rode with the damosel until they came +to a castle that hight Pendragon; and there were six knights stood afore him, +and one of them proffered to joust with La Cote Male Taile. And there La Cote +Male Taile smote him over his horse’s croup. And then the five knights +set upon him all at once with their spears, and there they smote La Cote Male +Taile down, horse and man. And then they alighted suddenly, and set their hands +upon him all at once, and took him prisoner, and so led him unto the castle and +kept him as prisoner. +</p> + +<p> +And on the morn Sir Launcelot arose, and delivered the damosel with letters +unto Sir Tristram, and then he took his way after La Cote Male Taile; and by +the way upon a bridge there was a knight proffered Sir Launcelot to joust, and +Sir Launcelot smote him down, and then they fought upon foot a noble battle +together, and a mighty; and at the last Sir Launcelot smote him down grovelling +upon his hands and his knees. And then that knight yielded him, and Sir +Launcelot received him fair. Sir, said the knight, I require thee tell me your +name, for much my heart giveth unto you. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, as at this +time I will not tell you my name, unless then that ye tell me your name. +Certainly, said the knight, my name is Sir Nerovens, that was made knight of my +lord Sir Launcelot du Lake. Ah, Nerovens de Lile, said Sir Launcelot, I am +right glad that ye are proved a good knight, for now wit ye well my name is Sir +Launcelot du Lake. Alas, said Sir Nerovens de Lile, what have I done! And +therewithal flatling he fell to his feet, and would have kissed them, but Sir +Launcelot would not let him; and then either made great joy of other. And then +Sir Nerovens told Sir Launcelot that he should not go by the Castle of +Pendragon: For there is a lord, a mighty knight, and many knights with him, and +this night I heard say that they took a knight prisoner yesterday that rode +with a damosel, and they say he is a Knight of the Round Table. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap201"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br/>How Sir Launcelot fought with six +knights, and after with Sir Brian, and how he delivered the prisoners.</h3> + +<p> +Ah, said Sir Launcelot, that knight is my fellow, and him shall I rescue or +else I shall lose my life therefore. And therewithal he rode fast till he came +before the Castle of Pendragon; and anon therewithal there came six knights, +and all made them ready to set upon Sir Launcelot at once; then Sir Launcelot +feutred his spear, and smote the foremost that he brake his back in-sunder, and +three of them hit and three failed. And then Sir Launcelot passed through them, +and lightly he turned in again, and smote another knight through the breast and +throughout the back more than an ell, and therewithal his spear brake. So then +all the remnant of the four knights drew their swords and lashed at Sir +Launcelot. And at every stroke Sir Launcelot bestowed so his strokes that at +four strokes sundry they avoided their saddles, passing sore wounded; and +forthwithal he rode hurling into that castle. +</p> + +<p> +And anon the lord of the castle, that was that time cleped Sir Brian de les +Isles, the which was a noble man and a great enemy unto King Arthur, within a +while he was armed and upon horseback. And then they feutred their spears and +hurled together so strongly that both their horses rashed to the earth. And +then they avoided their saddles, and dressed their shields, and drew their +swords, and flang together as wood men, and there were many strokes given in a +while. At the last Sir Launcelot gave to Sir Brian such a buffet that he +kneeled upon his knees, and then Sir Launcelot rashed upon him, and with great +force he pulled off his helm; and when Sir Brian saw that he should be slain he +yielded him, and put him in his mercy and in his grace. Then Sir Launcelot made +him to deliver all his prisoners that he had within his castle, and therein Sir +Launcelot found of Arthur’s knights thirty, and forty ladies, and so he +delivered them; and then he rode his way. And anon as La Cote Male Taile was +delivered he gat his horse, and his harness, and his damosel Maledisant. +</p> + +<p> +The meanwhile Sir Nerovens, that Sir Launcelot had foughten withal afore at the +bridge, he sent a damosel after Sir Launcelot to wit how he sped at the Castle +of Pendragon. And then they within the castle marvelled what knight he was, +when Sir Brian and his knights delivered all those prisoners. Have ye no +marvel, said the damosel, for the best knight in this world was here, and did +this journey, and wit ye well, she said, it was Sir Launcelot. Then was Sir +Brian full glad, and so was his lady, and all his knights, that such a man +should win them. And when the damosel and La Cote Male Taile understood that it +was Sir Launcelot du Lake that had ridden with them in fellowship, and that she +remembered her how she had rebuked him and called him coward, then was she +passing heavy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap202"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br/>How Sir Launcelot met with the +damosel named Male disant, and named her the Damosel Bienpensant.</h3> + +<p> +So then they took their horses and rode forth a pace after Sir Launcelot. And +within two mile they overtook him, and saluted him, and thanked him, and the +damosel cried Sir Launcelot mercy of her evil deed and saying: For now I know +the flower of all knighthood is departed even between Sir Tristram and you. For +God knoweth, said the damosel, that I have sought you my lord, Sir Launcelot, +and Sir Tristram long, and now I thank God I have met with you; and once at +Camelot I met with Sir Tristram, and there he rescued this black shield with +the white hand holding a naked sword that Sir Breuse Saunce Pité had taken from +me. Now, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, who told you my name? Sir, said she, +there came a damosel from a knight that ye fought withal at the bridge, and she +told me your name was Sir Launcelot du Lake. Blame have she then, said Sir +Launcelot, but her lord, Sir Nerovens, hath told her. But, damosel, said Sir +Launcelot, upon this covenant I will ride with you, so that ye will not rebuke +this knight Sir La Cote Male Taile no more; for he is a good knight, and I +doubt not he shall prove a noble knight, and for his sake and pity that he +should not be destroyed I followed him to succour him in this great need. Ah, +Jesu thank you, said the damosel, for now I will say unto you and to him both, +I rebuked him never for no hate that I hated him, but for great love that I had +to him. For ever I supposed that he had been too young and too tender to take +upon him these adventures. And therefore by my will I would have driven him +away for jealousy that I had of his life, for it may be no young knight’s +deed that shall enchieve this adventure to the end. Pardieu, said Sir +Launcelot, it is well said, and where ye are called the Damosel Maledisant I +will call you the Damosel Bienpensant. +</p> + +<p> +And so they rode forth a great while unto they came to the border of the +country of Surluse, and there they found a fair village with a strong bridge +like a fortress. And when Sir Launcelot and they were at the bridge there stert +forth afore them of gentlemen and yeomen many, that said: Fair lords, ye may +not pass this bridge and this fortress because of that black shield that I see +one of you bear, and therefore there shall not pass but one of you at once; +therefore choose you which of you shall enter within this bridge first. Then +Sir Launcelot proffered himself first to enter within this bridge. Sir, said La +Cote Male Taile, I beseech you let me enter within this fortress, and if I may +speed well I will send for you, and if it happened that I be slain, there it +goeth. And if so be that I am a prisoner taken, then may ye rescue me. I am +loath, said Sir Launcelot, to let you pass this passage. Sir, said La Cote Male +Taile, I pray you let me put my body in this adventure. Now go your way, said +Sir Launcelot, and Jesu be your speed. +</p> + +<p> +So he entered, and anon there met with him two brethren, the one hight Sir +Plaine de Force, and the other hight Sir Plaine de Amours. And anon they met +with Sir La Cote Male Taile; and first La Cote Male Taile smote down Plaine de +Force, and after he smote down Plaine de Amours; and then they dressed them to +their shields and swords, and bade La Cote Male Taile alight, and so he did; +and there was dashing and foining with swords, and so they began to assail full +hard La Cote Male Taile, and many great wounds they gave him upon his head, and +upon his breast, and upon his shoulders. And as he might ever among he gave sad +strokes again. And then the two brethren traced and traversed for to be of both +hands of Sir La Cote Male Taile, but he by fine force and knightly prowess gat +them afore him. And then when he felt himself so wounded, then he doubled his +strokes, and gave them so many wounds that he felled them to the earth, and +would have slain them had they not yielded them. And right so Sir La Cote Male +Taile took the best horse that there was of them three, and so rode forth his +way to the other fortress and bridge; and there he met with the third brother +whose name was Sir Plenorius, a full noble knight, and there they jousted +together, and either smote other down, horse and man, to the earth. And then +they avoided their horses, and dressed their shields, and drew their swords, +and gave many sad strokes, and one while the one knight was afore on the +bridge, and another while the other. And thus they fought two hours and more, +and never rested. And ever Sir Launcelot and the damosel beheld them. Alas, +said the damosel, my knight fighteth passing sore and over long. Now may ye +see, said Sir Launcelot, that he is a noble knight, for to consider his first +battle, and his grievous wounds; and even forthwithal so wounded as he is, it +is marvel that he may endure this long battle with that good knight. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap203"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br/>How La Cote Male Taile was taken +prisoner, and after rescued by Sir Launcelot, and how Sir Launcelot overcame +four brethren.</h3> + +<p> +This meanwhile Sir La Cote Male Taile sank right down upon the earth, what +for-wounded and what for-bled he might not stand. Then the other knight had +pity of him, and said: Fair young knight, dismay you not, for had ye been fresh +when ye met with me, as I was, I wot well that I should not have endured so +long as ye have done; and therefore for your noble deeds of arms I shall show +to you kindness and gentleness in all that I may. And forthwithal this noble +knight, Sir Plenorius, took him up in his arms, and led him into his tower. And +then he commanded him the wine, and made to search him and to stop his bleeding +wounds. Sir, said La Cote Male Taile, withdraw you from me, and hie you to +yonder bridge again, for there will meet with you another manner knight than +ever was I. Why, said Plenorius, is there another manner knight behind of your +fellowship? Yea, said La Cote Male Taile, there is a much better knight than I +am. What is his name? said Plenorius. Ye shall not know for me, said La Cote +Male Taile. Well, said the knight, he shall be encountered withal whatsomever +he be. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Plenorius heard a knight call that said: Sir Plenorius, where art +thou? either thou must deliver me the prisoner that thou hast led unto thy +tower, or else come and do battle with me. Then Plenorius gat his horse, and +came with a spear in his hand walloping toward Sir Launcelot; and then they +began to feutre their spears, and came together as thunder, and smote either +other so mightily that their horses fell down under them. And then they avoided +their horses, and pulled out their swords, and like two bulls they lashed +together with great strokes and foins; but ever Sir Launcelot recovered ground +upon him, and Sir Plenorius traced to have gone about him. But Sir Launcelot +would not suffer that, but bare him backer and backer, till he came nigh his +tower gate. And then said Sir Launcelot: I know thee well for a good knight, +but wit thou well thy life and death is in my hand, and therefore yield thee to +me, and thy prisoner. The other answered no word, but struck mightily upon Sir +Launcelot’s helm, that the fire sprang out of his eyes. Then Sir +Launcelot doubled his strokes so thick, and smote at him so mightily, that he +made him kneel upon his knees. And therewith Sir Launcelot leapt upon him, and +pulled him grovelling down. Then Sir Plenorius yielded him, and his tower, and +all his prisoners at his will. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Launcelot received him and took his troth; and then he rode to the +other bridge, and there Sir Launcelot jousted with other three of his brethren, +the one hight Pillounes, and the other hight Pellogris, and the third Sir +Pellandris. And first upon horseback Sir Launcelot smote them down, and +afterward he beat them on foot, and made them to yield them unto him; and then +he returned unto Sir Plenorius, and there he found in his prison King Carados +of Scotland, and many other knights, and all they were delivered. And then Sir +La Cote Male Taile came to Sir Launcelot, and then Sir Launcelot would have +given him all these fortresses and these bridges. Nay, said La Cote Male Taile, +I will not have Sir Plenorius’ livelihood; with that he will grant you, +my lord Sir Launcelot, to come unto King Arthur’s court, and to be his +knight, and all his brethren, I will pray you, my lord, to let him have his +livelihood. I will well, said Sir Launcelot, with this that he will come to the +court of King Arthur and become his man, and his brethren five. And as for you, +Sir Plenorius, I will undertake, said Sir Launcelot, at the next feast, so +there be a place voided, that ye shall be Knight of the Round Table. Sir, said +Plenorius, at the next feast of Pentecost I will be at Arthur’s court, +and at that time I will be guided and ruled as King Arthur and ye will have me. +Then Sir Launcelot and Sir La Cote Male Taile reposed them there, unto the time +that Sir La Cote Male Taile was whole of his wounds, and there they had merry +cheer, and good rest, and many good games, and there were many fair ladies. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap204"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br/>How Sir Launcelot made La Cote Male +Taile lord of the Castle of Pendragon, and after was made knight of the Round +Table.</h3> + +<p> +And in the meanwhile came Sir Kay, the Seneschal, and Sir Brandiles, and anon +they fellowshipped with them. And then within ten days, then departed those +knights of Arthur’s court from these fortresses. And as Sir Launcelot +came by the Castle of Pendragon there he put Sir Brian de les Isles from his +lands, for cause he would never be withhold with King Arthur; and all that +Castle of Pendragon and all the lands thereof he gave to Sir La Cote Male +Taile. And then Sir Launcelot sent for Nerovens that he made once knight, and +he made him to have all the rule of that castle and of that country, under La +Cote Male Taile; and so they rode to Arthur’s court all wholly together. +And at Pentecost next following there was Sir Plenorius and Sir La Cote Male +Taile, called otherwise by right Sir Breunor le Noire, both made Knights of the +Table Round; and great lands King Arthur gave them, and there Breunor le Noire +wedded that damosel Maledisant. And after she was called Beauvivante, but ever +after for the more part he was called La Cote Male Taile; and he proved a +passing noble knight, and mighty; and many worshipful deeds he did after in his +life; and Sir Plenorius proved a noble knight and full of prowess, and all the +days of their life for the most part they awaited upon Sir Launcelot; and Sir +Plenorius’ brethren were ever knights of King Arthur. And also, as the +French book maketh mention, Sir La Cote Male Taile avenged his father’s +death. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap205"></a>CHAPTER X.<br/>How La Beale Isoud sent letters to Sir +Tristram by her maid Bragwaine, and of divers adventures of Sir Tristram.</h3> + +<p> +Now leave we here Sir La Cote Male Taile, and turn we unto Sir Tristram de +Liones that was in Brittany. When La Beale Isoud understood that he was wedded +she sent to him by her maiden Bragwaine as piteous letters as could be thought +and made, and her conclusion was that, an it pleased Sir Tristram, that he +would come to her court, and bring with him Isoud la Blanche Mains, and they +should be kept as well as she herself. Then Sir Tristram called unto him Sir +Kehydius, and asked him whether he would go with him into Cornwall secretly. He +answered him that he was ready at all times. And then he let ordain privily a +little vessel, and therein they went, Sir Tristram, Kehydius, Dame Bragwaine, +and Gouvernail, Sir Tristram’s squire. So when they were in the sea a +contrarious wind blew them on the coasts of North Wales, nigh the Castle +Perilous. Then said Sir Tristram: Here shall ye abide me these ten days, and +Gouvernail, my squire, with you. And if so be I come not again by that day take +the next way into Cornwall; for in this forest are many strange adventures, as +I have heard say, and some of them I cast me to prove or I depart. And when I +may I shall hie me after you. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram and Kehydius took their horses and departed from their +fellowship. And so they rode within that forest a mile and more; and at the +last Sir Tristram saw afore him a likely knight, armed, sitting by a well, and +a strong mighty horse passing nigh him tied to an oak, and a man hoving and +riding by him leading an horse laden with spears. And this knight that sat at +the well seemed by his countenance to be passing heavy. Then Sir Tristram rode +near him and said: Fair knight, why sit ye so drooping? ye seem to be a +knight-errant by your arms and harness, and therefore dress you to joust with +one of us, or with both. Therewithal that knight made no words, but took his +shield and buckled it about his neck, and lightly he took his horse and leapt +upon him. And then he took a great spear of his squire, and departed his way a +furlong. Sir Kehydius asked leave of Sir Tristram to joust first. Do your best, +said Sir Tristram. So they met together, and there Sir Kehydius had a fall, and +was sore wounded on high above the paps. Then Sir Tristram said: Knight, that +is well jousted, now make you ready unto me. I am ready, said the knight. And +then that knight took a greater spear in his hand, and encountered with Sir +Tristram, and there by great force that knight smote down Sir Tristram from his +horse and had a great fall. Then Sir Tristram was sore ashamed, and lightly he +avoided his horse, and put his shield afore his shoulder, and drew his sword. +And then Sir Tristram required that knight of his knighthood to alight upon +foot and fight with him. I will well, said the knight; and so he alighted upon +foot, and avoided his horse, and cast his shield upon his shoulder, and drew +his sword, and there they fought a long battle together full nigh two hours. +Then Sir Tristram said: Fair knight, hold thine hand, and tell me of whence +thou art, and what is thy name. As for that, said the knight, I will be avised; +but an thou wilt tell me thy name peradventure I will tell thee mine. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap206"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br/>How Sir Tristram met with Sir Lamorak +de Galis, and how they fought, and after accorded never to fight together.</h3> + +<p> +Now fair knight, he said, my name is Sir Tristram de Liones. Sir, said the +other knight, and my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis. Ah, Sir Lamorak, said Sir +Tristram, well be we met, and bethink thee now of the despite thou didst me of +the sending of the horn unto King Mark’s court, to the intent to have +slain or dishonoured my lady the queen, La Beale Isoud; and therefore wit thou +well, said Sir Tristram, the one of us shall die or we depart. Sir, said Sir +Lamorak, remember that we were together in the Isle of Servage, and at that +time ye promised me great friendship. Then Sir Tristram would make no longer +delays, but lashed at Sir Lamorak; and thus they fought long till either were +weary of other. Then Sir Tristram said to Sir Lamorak: In all my life met I +never with such a knight that was so big and well breathed as ye be, therefore, +said Sir Tristram, it were pity that any of us both should here be mischieved. +Sir, said Sir Lamorak, for your renown and name I will that ye have the worship +of this battle, and therefore I will yield me unto you. And therewith he took +the point of his sword to yield him. Nay, said Sir Tristram, ye shall not do +so, for well I know your proffers, and more of your gentleness than for any +fear or dread ye have of me. And therewithal Sir Tristram proffered him his +sword and said: Sir Lamorak, as an overcome knight I yield me unto you as to a +man of the most noble prowess that ever I met withal. Nay, said Sir Lamorak, I +will do you gentleness; I require you let us be sworn together that never none +of us shall after this day have ado with other. And therewithal Sir Tristram +and Sir Lamorak sware that never none of them should fight against other, nor +for weal nor for woe. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap207"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br/>How Sir Palomides followed the +Questing Beast, and smote down Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak with one +spear.</h3> + +<p> +And this meanwhile there came Sir Palomides, the good knight, following the +Questing Beast that had in shape a head like a serpent’s head, and a body +like a leopard, buttocks like a lion, and footed like an hart; and in his body +there was such a noise as it had been the noise of thirty couple of hounds +questing, and such a noise that beast made wheresomever he went; and this beast +ever more Sir Palomides followed, for it was called his quest. And right so as +he followed this beast it came by Sir Tristram, and soon after came Palomides. +And to brief this matter he smote down Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak both with +one spear; and so he departed after the beast Galtisant, that was called the +Questing Beast; wherefore these two knights were passing wroth that Sir +Palomides would not fight on foot with them. Here men may understand that be of +worship, that he was never formed that all times might stand, but sometime he +was put to the worse by mal-fortune; and at sometime the worse knight put the +better knight to a rebuke. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak gat Sir Kehydius upon a shield betwixt them +both, and led him to a forester’s lodge, and there they gave him in +charge to keep him well, and with him they abode three days. Then the two +knights took their horses and at the cross they departed. And then said Sir +Tristram to Sir Lamorak: I require you if ye hap to meet with Sir Palomides, +say him that he shall find me at the same well where I met him, and there I, +Sir Tristram, shall prove whether he be better knight than I. And so either +departed from other a sundry way, and Sir Tristram rode nigh thereas was Sir +Kehydius; and Sir Lamorak rode until he came to a chapel, and there he put his +horse unto pasture. And anon there came Sir Meliagaunce, that was King +Bagdemagus’ son, and he there put his horse to pasture, and was not ware +of Sir Lamorak; and then this knight Sir Meliagaunce made his moan of the love +that he had to Queen Guenever, and there he made a woful complaint. All this +heard Sir Lamorak, and on the morn Sir Lamorak took his horse and rode unto the +forest, and there he met with two knights hoving under the wood-shaw. Fair +knights, said Sir Lamorak, what do ye hoving here and watching? and if ye be +knights-errant that will joust, lo I am ready. Nay, sir knight, they said, not +so, we abide not here to joust with you, but we lie here in await of a knight +that slew our brother. What knight was that, said Sir Lamorak, that you would +fain meet withal? Sir, they said, it is Sir Launcelot that slew our brother, +and if ever we may meet with him he shall not escape, but we shall slay him. Ye +take upon you a great charge, said Sir Lamorak, for Sir Launcelot is a noble +proved knight. As for that we doubt not, for there nis none of us but we are +good enough for him. I will not believe that, said Sir Lamorak, for I heard +never yet of no knight the days of my life but Sir Launcelot was too big for +him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap208"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br/>How Sir Lamorak met with Sir +Meliagaunce, and fought together for the beauty of Dame Guenever.</h3> + +<p> +Right so as they stood talking thus Sir Lamorak was ware how Sir Launcelot came +riding straight toward them; then Sir Lamorak saluted him, and he him again. +And then Sir Lamorak asked Sir Launcelot if there were anything that he might +do for him in these marches. Nay, said Sir Launcelot, not at this time I thank +you. Then either departed from other, and Sir Lamorak rode again thereas he +left the two knights, and then he found them hid in the leaved wood. Fie on +you, said Sir Lamorak, false cowards, pity and shame it is that any of you +should take the high order of knighthood. So Sir Lamorak departed from them, +and within a while he met with Sir Meliagaunce. And then Sir Lamorak asked him +why he loved Queen Guenever as he did: For I was not far from you when ye made +your complaint by the chapel. Did ye so? said Sir Meliagaunce, then will I +abide by it: I love Queen Guenever, what will ye with it? I will prove and make +good that she is the fairest lady and most of beauty in the world. As to that, +said Sir Lamorak, I say nay thereto, for Queen Morgawse of Orkney, mother to +Sir Gawaine, and his mother is the fairest queen and lady that beareth the +life. That is not so, said Sir Meliagaunce, and that will I prove with my hands +upon thy body. Will ye so? said Sir Lamorak, and in a better quarrel keep I not +to fight. Then they departed either from other in great wrath. And then they +came riding together as it had been thunder, and either smote other so sore +that their horses fell backward to the earth. And then they avoided their +horses, and dressed their shields, and drew their swords. And then they hurtled +together as wild boars, and thus they fought a great while. For Meliagaunce was +a good man and of great might, but Sir Lamorak was hard big for him, and put +him always aback, but either had wounded other sore. +</p> + +<p> +And as they stood thus fighting, by fortune came Sir Launcelot and Sir +Bleoberis riding. And then Sir Launcelot rode betwixt them, and asked them for +what cause they fought so together: And ye are both knights of King Arthur! +</p> + +<p> +Sir, said Meliagaunce, I shall tell you for what cause we do this battle. I +praised my lady, Queen Guenever, and said she was the fairest lady of the +world, and Sir Lamorak said nay thereto, for he said Queen Morgawse of Orkney +was fairer than she and more of beauty. Ah, Sir Lamorak, why sayest thou so? it +is not thy part to dispraise thy princess that thou art under her obeissance, +and we all. And therewith he alighted on foot, and said: For this quarrel, make +thee ready, for I will prove upon thee that Queen Guenever is the fairest lady +and most of bounty in the world. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I am loath to have ado +with you in this quarrel, for every man thinketh his own lady fairest; and +though I praise the lady that I love most ye should not be wroth; for though my +lady, Queen Guenever, be fairest in your eye, wit ye well Queen Morgawse of +Orkney is fairest in mine eye, and so every knight thinketh his own lady +fairest; and wit ye well, sir, ye are the man in the world except Sir Tristram +that I am most loathest to have ado withal, but, an ye will needs fight with me +I shall endure you as long as I may. Then spake Sir Bleoberis and said: My lord +Sir Launcelot, I wist you never so misadvised as ye are now, for Sir Lamorak +sayeth you but reason and knightly; for I warn you I have a lady, and +methinketh that she is the fairest lady of the world. Were this a great reason +that ye should be wroth with me for such language? And well ye wot, that Sir +Lamorak is as noble a knight as I know, and he hath ought you and us ever good +will, and therefore I pray you be good friends. Then Sir Launcelot said unto +Sir Lamorak. I pray you forgive me mine evil will, and if I was misadvised I +will amend it. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, the amends is soon made betwixt you and +me. And so Sir Launcelot and Sir Bleoberis departed, and Sir Meliagaunce and +Sir Lamorak took their horses, and either departed from other. +</p> + +<p> +And within a while came King Arthur, and met with Sir Lamorak, and jousted with +him; and there he smote down Sir Lamorak, and wounded him sore with a spear, +and so he rode from him; wherefore Sir Lamorak was wroth that he would not +fight with him on foot, howbeit that Sir Lamorak knew not King Arthur. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap209"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br/>How Sir Kay met with Sir Tristram, +and after of the shame spoken of the knights of Cornwall, and how they +jousted.</h3> + +<p> +Now leave we of this tale, and speak we of Sir Tristram, that as he rode he met +with Sir Kay, the Seneschal; and there Sir Kay asked Sir Tristram of what +country he was. He answered that he was of the country of Cornwall. It may well +be, said Sir Kay, for yet heard I never that ever good knight came out of +Cornwall. That is evil spoken, said Sir Tristram, but an it please you to tell +me your name I require you. Sir, wit ye well, said Sir Kay, that my name is Sir +Kay, the Seneschal. Is that your name? said Sir Tristram, now wit ye well that +ye are named the shamefullest knight of your tongue that now is living; howbeit +ye are called a good knight, but ye are called unfortunate, and passing +overthwart of your tongue. And thus they rode together till they came to a +bridge. And there was a knight would not let them pass till one of them jousted +with him; and so that knight jousted with Sir Kay, and there that knight gave +Sir Kay a fall: his name was Sir Tor, Sir Lamorak’s half-brother. And +then they two rode to their lodging, and there they found Sir Brandiles, and +Sir Tor came thither anon after. And as they sat at supper these four knights, +three of them spake all shame by Cornish knights. Sir Tristram heard all that +they said and he said but little, but he thought the more, but at that time he +discovered not his name. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the morn Sir Tristram took his horse and abode them upon their way. And +there Sir Brandiles proffered to joust with Sir Tristram, and Sir Tristram +smote him down, horse and all, to the earth. Then Sir Tor le Fise de Vayshoure +encountered with Sir Tristram and there Sir Tristram smote him down, and then +he rode his way, and Sir Kay followed him, but he would not of his fellowship. +Then Sir Brandiles came to Sir Kay and said: I would wit fain what is that +knight’s name. Come on with me, said Sir Kay, and we shall pray him to +tell us his name. So they rode together till they came nigh him, and then they +were ware where he sat by a well, and had put off his helm to drink at the +well. And when he saw them come he laced on his helm lightly, and took his +horse, and proffered them to joust. Nay, said Sir Brandiles, we jousted late +enough with you, we come not in that intent. But for this we come to require +you of knighthood to tell us your name. My fair knights, sithen that is your +desire, and to please you, ye shall wit that my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, +nephew unto King Mark of Cornwall. In good time, said Sir Brandiles, and well +be ye found, and wit ye well that we be right glad that we have found you, and +we be of a fellowship that would be right glad of your company. For ye are the +knight in the world that the noble fellowship of the Round Table most desireth +to have the company of. God thank them, said Sir Tristram, of their great +goodness, but as yet I feel well that I am unable to be of their fellowship, +for I was never yet of such deeds of worthiness to be in the company of such a +fellowship. Ah, said Sir Kay, an ye be Sir Tristram de Liones, ye are the man +called now most of prowess except Sir Launcelot du Lake; for he beareth not the +life, Christian nor heathen, that can find such another knight, to speak of his +prowess, and of his hands, and his truth withal. For yet could there never +creature say of him dishonour and make it good. Thus they talked a great while, +and then they departed either from other such ways as them seemed best. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap210"></a>CHAPTER XV.<br/>How King Arthur was brought into the +Forest Perilous, and how Sir Tristram saved his life.</h3> + +<p> +Now shall ye hear what was the cause that King Arthur came into the Forest +Perilous, that was in North Wales, by the means of a lady. Her name was +Annowre, and this lady came to King Arthur at Cardiff; and she by fair promise +and fair behests made King Arthur to ride with her into that Forest Perilous; +and she was a great sorceress; and many days she had loved King Arthur, and +because she would have him to lie by her she came into that country. So when +the king was gone with her many of his knights followed after King Arthur when +they missed him, as Sir Launcelot, Brandiles, and many other; and when she had +brought him to her tower she desired him to lie by her; and then the king +remembered him of his lady, and would not lie by her for no craft that she +could do. Then every day she would make him ride into that forest with his own +knights, to the intent to have had King Arthur slain. For when this Lady +Annowre saw that she might not have him at her will, then she laboured by false +means to have destroyed King Arthur, and slain. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Lady of the Lake that was alway friendly to King Arthur, she +understood by her subtle crafts that King Arthur was like to be destroyed. And +therefore this Lady of the Lake, that hight Nimue, came into that forest to +seek after Sir Launcelot du Lake or Sir Tristram for to help King Arthur; foras +that same day this Lady of the Lake knew well that King Arthur should be slain, +unless that he had help of one of these two knights. And thus she rode up and +down till she met with Sir Tristram, and anon as she saw him she knew him. O my +lord Sir Tristram, she said, well be ye met, and blessed be the time that I +have met with you; for this same day, and within these two hours, shall be done +the foulest deed that ever was done in this land. O fair damosel, said Sir +Tristram, may I amend it. Come on with me, she said, and that in all the haste +ye may, for ye shall see the most worshipfullest knight of the world hard +bestead. Then said Sir Tristram: I am ready to help such a noble man. He is +neither better nor worse, said the Lady of the Lake, but the noble King Arthur +himself. God defend, said Sir Tristram, that ever he should be in such +distress. Then they rode together a great pace, until they came to a little +turret or castle; and underneath that castle they saw a knight standing upon +foot fighting with two knights; and so Sir Tristram beheld them, and at the +last the two knights smote down the one knight, and that one of them unlaced +his helm to have slain him. And the Lady Annowre gat King Arthur’s sword +in her hand to have stricken off his head. And therewithal came Sir Tristram +with all his might, crying: Traitress, traitress, leave that. And anon there +Sir Tristram smote the one of the knights through the body that he fell dead; +and then he rashed to the other and smote his back asunder; and in the +meanwhile the Lady of the Lake cried to King Arthur: Let not that false lady +escape. Then King Arthur overtook her, and with the same sword he smote off her +head, and the Lady of the Lake took up her head and hung it up by the hair of +her saddle-bow. And then Sir Tristram horsed King Arthur and rode forth with +him, but he charged the Lady of the Lake not to discover his name as at that +time. +</p> + +<p> +When the king was horsed he thanked heartily Sir Tristram, and desired to wit +his name; but he would not tell him, but that he was a poor knight adventurous; +and so he bare King Arthur fellowship till he met with some of his knights. And +within a while he met with Sir Ector de Maris, and he knew not King Arthur nor +Sir Tristram, and he desired to joust with one of them. Then Sir Tristram rode +unto Sir Ector, and smote him from his horse. And when he had done so he came +again to the king and said: My lord, yonder is one of your knights, he may bare +you fellowship, and another day that deed that I have done for you I trust to +God ye shall understand that I would do you service. Alas, said King Arthur, +let me wit what ye are? Not at this time, said Sir Tristram. So he departed and +left King Arthur and Sir Ector together. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap211"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br/>How Sir Tristram came to La Beale +Isoud, and how Kehydius began to love Beale Isoud, and of a letter that +Tristram found.</h3> + +<p> +And then at a day set Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak met at the well; and then +they took Kehydius at the forester’s house, and so they rode with him to +the ship where they left Dame Bragwaine and Gouvernail, and so they sailed into +Cornwall all wholly together. And by assent and information of Dame Bragwaine +when they were landed they rode unto Sir Dinas, the Seneschal, a trusty friend +of Sir Tristram’s. And so Dame Bragwaine and Sir Dinas rode to the court +of King Mark, and told the queen, La Beale Isoud, that Sir Tristram was nigh +her in that country. Then for very pure joy La Beale Isoud swooned; and when +she might speak she said: Gentle knight Seneschal, help that I might speak with +him, outher my heart will brast. Then Sir Dinas and Dame Bragwaine brought Sir +Tristram and Kehydius privily unto the court, unto a chamber whereas La Beale +Isoud had assigned it; and to tell the joys that were betwixt La Beale Isoud +and Sir Tristram, there is no tongue can tell it, nor heart think it, nor pen +write it. And as the French book maketh mention, at the first time that ever +Sir Kehydius saw La Beale Isoud he was so enamoured upon her that for very pure +love he might never withdraw it. And at the last, as ye shall hear or the book +be ended, Sir Kehydius died for the love of La Beale Isoud. And then privily he +wrote unto her letters and ballads of the most goodliest that were used in +those days. And when La Beale Isoud understood his letters she had pity of his +complaint, and unavised she wrote another letter to comfort him withal. +</p> + +<p> +And Sir Tristram was all this while in a turret at the commandment of La Beale +Isoud, and when she might she came unto Sir Tristram. So on a day King Mark +played at the chess under a chamber window; and at that time Sir Tristram and +Sir Kehydius were within the chamber over King Mark, and as it mishapped Sir +Tristram found the letter that Kehydius sent unto La Beale Isoud, also he had +found the letter that she wrote unto Kehydius, and at that same time La Beale +Isoud was in the same chamber. Then Sir Tristram came unto La Beale Isoud and +said: Madam, here is a letter that was sent unto you, and here is the letter +that ye sent unto him that sent you that letter. Alas, Madam, the good love +that I have loved you; and many lands and riches have I forsaken for your love, +and now ye are a traitress to me, the which doth me great pain. But as for +thee, Sir Kehydius, I brought thee out of Brittany into this country, and thy +father, King Howel, I won his lands, howbeit I wedded thy sister Isoud la +Blanche Mains for the goodness she did unto me. And yet, as I am true knight, +she is a clean maiden for me; but wit thou well, Sir Kehydius, for this +falsehood and treason thou hast done me, I will revenge it upon thee. And +therewithal Sir Tristram drew out his sword and said: Sir Kehydius, keep thee, +and then La Beale Isoud swooned to the earth. And when Sir Kehydius saw Sir +Tristram come upon him he saw none other boot, but leapt out at a bay-window +even over the head where sat King Mark playing at the chess. And when the king +saw one come hurling over his head he said: Fellow, what art thou, and what is +the cause thou leapest out at that window? My lord the king, said Kehydius, it +fortuned me that I was asleep in the window above your head, and as I slept I +slumbered, and so I fell down. And thus Sir Kehydius excused him. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap212"></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br/>How Sir Tristram departed from +Tintagil, and how he sorrowed and was so long in a forest till he was out of +his mind.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram dread sore lest he were discovered unto the king that he was +there; wherefore he drew him to the strength of the Tower, and armed him in +such armour as he had for to fight with them that would withstand him. And so +when Sir Tristram saw there was no resistance against him he sent Gouvernail +for his horse and his spear, and knightly he rode forth out of the castle +openly, that was called the Castle of Tintagil. And even at gate he met with +Gingalin, Sir Gawaine’s son. And anon Sir Gingalin put his spear in his +rest, and ran upon Sir Tristram and brake his spear; and Sir Tristram at that +time had but a sword, and gave him such a buffet upon the helm that he fell +down from his saddle, and his sword slid adown, and carved asunder his +horse’s neck. And so Sir Tristram rode his way into the forest, and all +this doing saw King Mark. And then he sent a squire unto the hurt knight, and +commanded him to come to him, and so he did. And when King Mark wist that it +was Sir Gingalin he welcomed him and gave him an horse, and asked him what +knight it was that had encountered with him. Sir, said Gingalin, I wot not what +knight he was, but well I wot that he sigheth and maketh great dole. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram within a while met with a knight of his own, that hight Sir +Fergus. And when he had met with him he made great sorrow, insomuch that he +fell down off his horse in a swoon, and in such sorrow he was in three days and +three nights. Then at the last Sir Tristram sent unto the court by Sir Fergus, +for to spere what tidings. And so as he rode by the way he met with a damosel +that came from Sir Palomides, to know and seek how Sir Tristram did. Then Sir +Fergus told her how he was almost out of his mind. Alas, said the damosel, +where shall I find him? In such a place, said Sir Fergus. Then Sir Fergus found +Queen Isoud sick in her bed, making the greatest dole that ever any earthly +woman made. And when the damosel found Sir Tristram she made great dole because +she might not amend him, for the more she made of him the more was his pain. +And at the last Sir Tristram took his horse and rode away from her. And then +was it three days or that she could find him, and then she brought him meat and +drink, but he would none; and then another time Sir Tristram escaped away from +the damosel, and it happed him to ride by the same castle where Sir Palomides +and Sir Tristram did battle when La Beale Isoud departed them. And there by +fortune the damosel met with Sir Tristram again, making the greatest dole that +ever earthly creature made; and she yede to the lady of that castle and told +her of the misadventure of Sir Tristram. Alas, said the lady of that castle, +where is my lord, Sir Tristram? Right here by your castle, said the damosel. In +good time, said the lady, is he so nigh me; he shall have meat and drink of the +best; and an harp I have of his whereupon he taught me, for of goodly harping +he beareth the prize in the world. So this lady and damosel brought him meat +and drink, but he ate little thereof. Then upon a night he put his horse from +him, and then he unlaced his armour, and then Sir Tristram would go into the +wilderness, and brast down the trees and boughs; and otherwhile when he found +the harp that the lady sent him, then would he harp, and play thereupon and +weep together. And sometime when Sir Tristram was in the wood that the lady +wist not where he was, then would she sit her down and play upon that harp: +then would Sir Tristram come to that harp, and hearken thereto, and sometime he +would harp himself. Thus he there endured a quarter of a year. Then at the last +he ran his way, and she wist not where he was become. And then was he naked and +waxed lean and poor of flesh; and so he fell in the fellowship of herdmen and +shepherds, and daily they would give him some of their meat and drink. And when +he did any shrewd deed they would beat him with rods, and so they clipped him +with shears and made him like a fool. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap213"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br/>How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in a +well, and how Palomides sent a damosel to seek Tristram, and how Palomides met +with King Mark.</h3> + +<p> +And upon a day Dagonet, King Arthur’s fool, came into Cornwall with two +squires with him; and as they rode through that forest they came by a fair well +where Sir Tristram was wont to be; and the weather was hot, and they alighted +to drink of that well, and in the meanwhile their horses brake loose. Right so +Sir Tristram came unto them, and first he soused Sir Dagonet in that well, and +after his squires, and thereat laughed the shepherds; and forthwithal he ran +after their horses and brought them again one by one, and right so, wet as they +were, he made them leap up and ride their ways. Thus Sir Tristram endured there +an half year naked, and would never come in town nor village. The meanwhile the +damosel that Sir Palomides sent to seek Sir Tristram, she yede unto Sir +Palomides and told him all the mischief that Sir Tristram endured. Alas, said +Sir Palomides, it is great pity that ever so noble a knight should be so +mischieved for the love of a lady; but nevertheless, I will go and seek him, +and comfort him an I may. Then a little before that time La Beale Isoud had +commanded Sir Kehydius out of the country of Cornwall. So Sir Kehydius departed +with a dolorous heart, and by adventure he met with Sir Palomides, and they +enfellowshipped together; and either complained to other of their hot love that +they loved La Beale Isoud. Now let us, said Sir Palomides, seek Sir Tristram, +that loved her as well as we, and let us prove whether we may recover him. So +they rode into that forest, and three days and three nights they would never +take their lodging, but ever sought Sir Tristram. +</p> + +<p> +And upon a time, by adventure, they met with King Mark that was ridden from his +men all alone. When they saw him Sir Palomides knew him, but Sir Kehydius knew +him not. Ah, false king, said Sir Palomides, it is pity thou hast thy life, for +thou art a destroyer of all worshipful knights, and by thy mischief and thy +vengeance thou hast destroyed that most noble knight, Sir Tristram de Liones. +And therefore defend thee, said Sir Palomides, for thou shalt die this day. +That were shame, said King Mark, for ye two are armed and I am unarmed. As for +that, said Sir Palomides, I shall find a remedy therefore; here is a knight +with me, and thou shalt have his harness. Nay, said King Mark, I will not have +ado with you, for cause have ye none to me; for all the misease that Sir +Tristram hath was for a letter that he found; for as to me I did to him no +displeasure, and God knoweth I am full sorry for his disease and malady. So +when the king had thus excused him they were friends, and King Mark would have +had them unto Tintagil; but Sir Palomides would not, but turned unto the realm +of Logris, and Sir Kehydius said that he would go into Brittany. +</p> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Sir Dagonet again, that when he and his squires were upon +horseback he deemed that the shepherds had sent that fool to array them so, +because that they laughed at them, and so they rode unto the keepers of beasts +and all to-beat them. Sir Tristram saw them beat that were wont to give him +meat and drink, then he ran thither and gat Sir Dagonet by the head, and gave +him such a fall to the earth that he bruised him sore so that he lay still. And +then he wrast his sword out of his hand, and therewith he ran to one of his +squires and smote off his head, and the other fled. And so Sir Tristram took +his way with that sword in his hand, running as he had been wild wood. Then Sir +Dagonet rode to King Mark and told him how he had sped in that forest. And +therefore, said Sir Dagonet, beware, King Mark, that thou come not about that +well in the forest, for there is a fool naked, and that fool and I fool met +together, and he had almost slain me. Ah, said King Mark, that is Sir Matto le +Breune, that fell out of his wit because he lost his lady; for when Sir Gaheris +smote down Sir Matto and won his lady of him, never since was he in his mind, +and that was pity, for he was a good knight. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap214"></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br/>How it was noised how Sir Tristram +was dead, and how La Beale Isoud would have slain herself.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Andred, that was cousin unto Sir Tristram, made a lady that was his +paramour to say and to noise it that she was with Sir Tristram or ever he died. +And this tale she brought unto King Mark’s court, that she buried him by +a well, and that or he died he besought King Mark to make his cousin, Sir +Andred, king of the country of Liones, of the which Sir Tristram was lord of. +All this did Sir Andred because he would have had Sir Tristram’s lands. +And when King Mark heard tell that Sir Tristram was dead he wept and made great +dole. But when Queen Isoud heard of these tidings she made such sorrow that she +was nigh out of her mind; and so upon a day she thought to slay herself and +never to live after Sir Tristram’s death. And so upon a day La Beale +Isoud gat a sword privily and bare it to her garden, and there she pight the +sword through a plum tree up to the hilt, so that it stuck fast, and it stood +breast high. And as she would have run upon the sword and to have slain herself +all this espied King Mark, how she kneeled down and said: Sweet Lord Jesu, have +mercy upon me, for I may not live after the death of Sir Tristram de Liones, +for he was my first love and he shall be the last. And with these words came +King Mark and took her in his arms, and then he took up the sword, and bare her +away with him into a tower; and there he made her to be kept, and watched her +surely, and after that she lay long sick, nigh at the point of death. +</p> + +<p> +This meanwhile ran Sir Tristram naked in the forest with the sword in his hand, +and so he came to an hermitage, and there he laid him down and slept; and in +the meanwhile the hermit stole away his sword, and laid meat down by him. Thus +was he kept there ten days; and at the last he departed and came to the herdmen +again. And there was a giant in that country that hight Tauleas, and for fear +of Sir Tristram more than seven year he durst never much go at large, but for +the most part he kept him in a sure castle of his own; and so this Tauleas +heard tell that Sir Tristram was dead, by the noise of the court of King Mark. +Then this Tauleas went daily at large. And so he happed upon a day he came to +the herdmen wandering and langering, and there he set him down to rest among +them. The meanwhile there came a knight of Cornwall that led a lady with him, +and his name was Sir Dinant; and when the giant saw him he went from the +herdmen and hid him under a tree, and so the knight came to that well, and +there he alighted to repose him. And as soon as he was from his horse this +giant Tauleas came betwixt this knight and his horse, and took the horse and +leapt upon him. So forthwith he rode unto Sir Dinant and took him by the +collar, and pulled him afore him upon his horse, and there would have stricken +off his head. Then the herdmen said unto Sir Tristram: Help yonder knight. Help +ye him, said Sir Tristram. We dare not, said the herdmen. Then Sir Tristram was +ware of the sword of the knight thereas it lay; and so thither he ran and took +up the sword and struck off Sir Tauleas’ head, and so he yede his way to +the herdmen. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap215"></a>CHAPTER XX.<br/>How King Mark found Sir Tristram +naked, and made him to be borne home to Tintagil, and how he was there known by +a brachet.</h3> + +<p> +Then the knight took up the giant’s head and bare it with him unto King +Mark, and told him what adventure betid him in the forest, and how a naked man +rescued him from the grimly giant, Tauleas. Where had ye this adventure? said +King Mark. Forsooth, said Sir Dinant, at the fair fountain in your forest where +many adventurous knights meet, and there is the mad man. Well, said King Mark, +I will see that wild man. So within a day or two King Mark commanded his +knights and his hunters that they should be ready on the morn for to hunt, and +so upon the morn he went unto that forest. And when the king came to that well +he found there lying by that well a fair naked man, and a sword by him. Then +King Mark blew and straked, and therewith his knights came to him; and then the +king commanded his knights to: Take that naked man with fairness, and bring him +to my castle. So they did softly and fair, and cast mantles upon Sir Tristram, +and so led him unto Tintagil; and there they bathed him, and washed him, and +gave him hot suppings till they had brought him well to his remembrance; but +all this while there was no creature that knew Sir Tristram, nor what man he +was. +</p> + +<p> +So it fell upon a day that the queen, La Beale Isoud, heard of such a man, that +ran naked in the forest, and how the king had brought him home to the court. +Then La Beale Isoud called unto her Dame Bragwaine and said: Come on with me, +for we will go see this man that my lord brought from the forest the last day. +So they passed forth, and spered where was the sick man. And then a squire told +the queen that he was in the garden taking his rest, and reposing him against +the sun. So when the queen looked upon Sir Tristram she was not remembered of +him. But ever she said unto Dame Bragwaine: Meseemeth I should have seen him +heretofore in many places. But as soon as Sir Tristram saw her he knew her well +enough. And then he turned away his visage and wept. +</p> + +<p> +Then the queen had always a little brachet with her that Sir Tristram gave her +the first time that ever she came into Cornwall, and never would that brachet +depart from her but if Sir Tristram was nigh thereas was La Beale Isoud; and +this brachet was sent from the king’s daughter of France unto Sir +Tristram for great love. And anon as this little brachet felt a savour of Sir +Tristram, she leapt upon him and licked his lears and his ears, and then she +whined and quested, and she smelled at his feet and at his hands, and on all +parts of his body that she might come to. Ah, my lady, said Dame Bragwaine unto +La Beale Isoud, alas, alas, said she, I see it is mine own lord, Sir Tristram. +And thereupon Isoud fell down in a swoon, and so lay a great while. And when +she might speak she said: My lord Sir Tristram, blessed be God ye have your +life, and now I am sure ye shall be discovered by this little brachet, for she +will never leave you. And also I am sure as soon as my lord, King Mark, do know +you he will banish you out of the country of Cornwall, or else he will destroy +you; for God’s sake, mine own lord, grant King Mark his will, and then +draw you unto the court of King Arthur, for there are ye beloved, and ever when +I may I shall send unto you; and when ye list ye may come to me, and at all +times early and late I will be at your commandment, to live as poor a life as +ever did queen or lady. O Madam, said Sir Tristram, go from me, for mickle +anger and danger have I escaped for your love. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap216"></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br/>How King Mark, by the advice of his +council, banished Sir Tristram out of Cornwall the term of ten years.</h3> + +<p> +Then the queen departed, but the brachet would not from him; and therewithal +came King Mark, and the brachet set upon him, and bayed at them all. There +withal Sir Andred spake and said: Sir, this is Sir Tristram, I see by the +brachet. Nay, said the king, I cannot suppose that. Then the king asked him +upon his faith what he was, and what was his name. So God me help, said he, my +name is Sir Tristram de Liones; now do by me what ye list. Ah, said King Mark, +me repenteth of your recovery. And then he let call his barons to judge Sir +Tristram to the death. Then many of his barons would not assent thereto, and in +especial Sir Dinas, the Seneschal, and Sir Fergus. And so by the advice of them +all Sir Tristram was banished out of the country for ten year, and thereupon he +took his oath upon a book before the king and his barons. And so he was made to +depart out of the country of Cornwall; and there were many barons brought him +unto his ship, of the which some were his friends and some his foes. And in the +meanwhile there came a knight of King Arthur’s, his name was Dinadan, and +his coming was for to seek after Sir Tristram; then they showed him where he +was armed at all points going to the ship. Now fair knight, said Sir Dinadan, +or ye pass this court that ye will joust with me I require thee. With a good +will, said Sir Tristram, an these lords will give me leave. Then the barons +granted thereto, and so they ran together, and there Sir Tristram gave Sir +Dinadan a fall. And then he prayed Sir Tristram to give him leave to go in his +fellowship. Ye shall be right welcome, said then Sir Tristram. +</p> + +<p> +And so they took their horses and rode to their ships together, and when Sir +Tristram was in the sea he said: Greet well King Mark and all mine enemies, and +say them I will come again when I may; and well am I rewarded for the fighting +with Sir Marhaus, and delivered all this country from servage; and well am I +rewarded for the fetching and costs of Queen Isoud out of Ireland, and the +danger that I was in first and last, and by the way coming home what danger I +had to bring again Queen Isoud from the Castle Pluere; and well am I rewarded +when I fought with Sir Bleoberis for Sir Segwarides’ wife; and well am I +rewarded when I fought with Sir Blamore de Ganis for King Anguish, father unto +La Beale Isoud; and well am I rewarded when I smote down the good knight, Sir +Lamorak de Galis, at King Mark’s request; and well am I rewarded when I +fought with the King with the Hundred Knights, and the King of Northgalis, and +both these would have put his land in servage, and by me they were put to a +rebuke; and well am I rewarded for the slaying of Tauleas, the mighty giant, +and many other deeds have I done for him, and now have I my warison. And tell +King Mark that many noble knights of the Table Round have spared the barons of +this country for my sake. Also am I not well rewarded when I fought with the +good knight Sir Palomides and rescued Queen Isoud from him; and at that time +King Mark said afore all his barons I should have been better rewarded. And +forthwithal he took the sea. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap217"></a>CHAPTER XXII.<br/>How a damosel sought help to help +Sir Launcelot against thirty knights, and how Sir Tristram fought with +them.</h3> + +<p> +And at the next landing, fast by the sea, there met with Sir Tristram and with +Sir Dinadan, Sir Ector de Maris and Sir Bors de Ganis; and there Sir Ector +jousted with Sir Dinadan, and he smote him and his horse down. And then Sir +Tristram would have jousted with Sir Bors, and Sir Bors said that he would not +joust with no Cornish knights, for they are not called men of worship; and all +this was done upon a bridge. And with this came Sir Bleoberis and Sir Driant, +and Sir Bleoberis proffered to joust with Sir Tristram, and there Sir Tristram +smote down Sir Bleoberis. Then said Sir Bors de Ganis: I wist never Cornish +knight of so great valour nor so valiant as that knight that beareth the +trappings embroidered with crowns. And then Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan +departed from them into a forest, and there met them a damosel that came for +the love of Sir Launcelot to seek after some noble knights of King +Arthur’s court for to rescue Sir Launcelot. And so Sir Launcelot was +ordained, for-by the treason of Queen Morgan le Fay to have slain Sir +Launcelot, and for that cause she ordained thirty knights to lie in await for +Sir Launcelot, and this damosel knew this treason. And for this cause the +damosel came for to seek noble knights to help Sir Launcelot. For that night, +or the day after, Sir Launcelot should come where these thirty knights were. +And so this damosel met with Sir Bors and Sir Ector and with Sir Driant, and +there she told them all four of the treason of Morgan le Fay; and then they +promised her that they would be nigh where Sir Launcelot should meet with the +thirty knights. And if so be they set upon him we will do rescues as we can. +</p> + +<p> +So the damosel departed, and by adventure the damosel met with Sir Tristram and +with Sir Dinadan, and there the damosel told them all the treason that was +ordained for Sir Launcelot. Fair damosel, said Sir Tristram, bring me to that +same place where they should meet with Sir Launcelot. Then said Sir Dinadan: +What will ye do? it is not for us to fight with thirty knights, and wit you +well I will not thereof; as to match one knight two or three is enough an they +be men, but for to match fifteen knights that will I never undertake. Fie for +shame, said Sir Tristram, do but your part. Nay, said Sir Dinadan, I will not +thereof but if ye will lend me your shield, for ye bear a shield of Cornwall; +and for the cowardice that is named to the knights of Cornwall, by your shields +ye be ever forborne. Nay, said Sir Tristram, I will not depart from my shield +for her sake that gave it me. But one thing, said Sir Tristram, I promise thee, +Sir Dinadan, but if thou wilt promise me to abide with me, here I shall slay +thee, for I desire no more of thee but answer one knight. And if thy heart will +not serve thee, stand by and look upon me and them. Sir, said Sir Dinadan, I +promise you to look upon and to do what I may to save myself, but I would I had +not met with you. +</p> + +<p> +So then anon these thirty knights came fast by these four knights, and they +were ware of them, and either of other. And so these thirty knights let them +pass, for this cause, that they would not wrath them, if case be that they had +ado with Sir Launcelot; and the four knights let them pass to this intent, that +they would see and behold what they would do with Sir Launcelot. And so the +thirty knights passed on and came by Sir Tristram and by Sir Dinadan, and then +Sir Tristram cried on high: Lo, here is a knight against you for the love of +Sir Launcelot. And there he slew two with one spear and ten with his sword. And +then came in Sir Dinadan and he did passing well, and so of the thirty knights +there went but ten away, and they fled. All this battle saw Sir Bors de Ganis +and his three fellows, and then they saw well it was the same knight that +jousted with them at the bridge; then they took their horses and rode unto Sir +Tristram, and praised him and thanked him of his good deeds, and they all +desired Sir Tristram to go with them to their lodging; and he said: Nay, he +would not go to no lodging. Then they all four knights prayed him to tell them +his name. Fair lords, said Sir Tristram, as at this time I will not tell you my +name. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap218"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.<br/>How Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan +came to a lodging where they must joust with two knights.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan rode forth their way till they came to the +shepherds and to the herdmen, and there they asked them if they knew any +lodging or harbour there nigh hand. Forsooth, sirs, said the herdmen, hereby is +good lodging in a castle; but there is such a custom that there shall no knight +be harboured but if he joust with two knights, and if he be but one knight he +must joust with two. And as ye be therein soon shall ye be matched. There is +shrewd harbour, said Sir Dinadan; lodge where ye will, for I will not lodge +there. Fie for shame, said Sir Tristram, are ye not a knight of the Table +Round? wherefore ye may not with your worship refuse your lodging. Not so, said +the herdmen, for an ye be beaten and have the worse ye shall not be lodged +there, and if ye beat them ye shall be well harboured. Ah, said Sir Dinadan, +they are two sure knights. Then Sir Dinadan would not lodge there in no manner +but as Sir Tristram required him of his knighthood; and so they rode thither. +And to make short tale, Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan smote them down both, and +so they entered into the castle and had good cheer as they could think or +devise. +</p> + +<p> +And when they were unarmed, and thought to be merry and in good rest, there +came in at the gates Sir Palomides and Sir Gaheris, requiring to have the +custom of the castle. What array is this? said Sir Dinadan, I would have my +rest. That may not be, said Sir Tristram; now must we needs defend the custom +of this castle, insomuch as we have the better of the lords of this castle, and +therefore, said Sir Tristram, needs must ye make you ready. In the +devil’s name, said Sir Dinadan, came I into your company. And so they +made them ready; and Sir Gaheris encountered with Sir Tristram, and Sir Gaheris +had a fall; and Sir Palomides encountered with Sir Dinadan, and Sir Dinadan had +a fall: then was it fall for fall. So then must they fight on foot. That would +not Sir Dinadan, for he was so sore bruised of the fall that Sir Palomides gave +him. Then Sir Tristram unlaced Sir Dinadan’s helm, and prayed him to help +him. I will not, said Sir Dinadan, for I am sore wounded of the thirty knights +that we had but late ago to do withal. But ye fare, said Sir Dinadan unto Sir +Tristram, as a madman and as a man that is out of his mind that would cast +himself away, and I may curse the time that ever I saw you, for in all the +world are not two such knights that be so wood as is Sir Launcelot and ye Sir +Tristram; for once I fell in the fellowship of Sir Launcelot as I have done now +with you, and he set me a work that a quarter of a year I kept my bed. Jesu +defend me, said Sir Dinadan, from such two knights, and specially from your +fellowship. Then, said Sir Tristram, I will fight with them both. Then Sir +Tristram bade them come forth both, for I will fight with you. Then Sir +Palomides and Sir Gaheris dressed them, and smote at them both. Then Dinadan +smote at Sir Gaheris a stroke or two, and turned from him. Nay, said Sir +Palomides, it is too much shame for us two knights to fight with one. And then +he did bid Sir Gaheris stand aside with that knight that hath no list to fight. +Then they rode together and fought long, and at the last Sir Tristram doubled +his strokes, and drove Sir Palomides aback more than three strides. And then by +one assent Sir Gaheris and Sir Dinadan went betwixt them, and departed them +in-sunder. And then by assent of Sir Tristram they would have lodged together. +But Sir Dinadan would not lodge in that castle. And then he cursed the time +that ever he came in their fellowship, and so he took his horse, and his +harness, and departed. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram prayed the lords of that castle to lend him a man to bring +him to a lodging, and so they did, and overtook Sir Dinadan, and rode to their +lodging two mile thence with a good man in a priory, and there they were well +at ease. And that same night Sir Bors and Sir Bleoberis, and Sir Ector and Sir +Driant, abode still in the same place thereas Sir Tristram fought with the +thirty knights; and there they met with Sir Launcelot the same night, and had +made promise to lodge with Sir Colgrevance the same night. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap219"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.<br/>How Sir Tristram jousted with Sir +Kay and Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and how Sir Gawaine turned Sir Tristram from +Morgan le Fay.</h3> + +<p> +But anon as the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, heard of the shield of Cornwall, +then wist he well that it was Sir Tristram that fought with his enemies. And +then Sir Launcelot praised Sir Tristram, and called him the man of most worship +in the world. So there was a knight in that priory that hight Pellinore, and he +desired to wit the name of Sir Tristram, but in no wise he could not; and so +Sir Tristram departed and left Sir Dinadan in the priory, for he was so weary +and so sore bruised that he might not ride. Then this knight, Sir Pellinore, +said to Sir Dinadan: Sithen that ye will not tell me that knight’s name I +will ride after him and make him to tell me his name, or he shall die +therefore. Beware, sir knight, said Sir Dinadan, for an ye follow him ye shall +repent it. So that knight, Sir Pellinore, rode after Sir Tristram and required +him of jousts. Then Sir Tristram smote him down and wounded him through the +shoulder, and so he passed on his way. And on the next day following Sir +Tristram met with pursuivants, and they told him that there was made a great +cry of tournament between King Carados of Scotland and the King of North Wales, +and either should joust against other at the Castle of Maidens; and these +pursuivants sought all the country after the good knights, and in especial King +Carados let make seeking for Sir Launcelot du Lake, and the King of Northgalis +let seek after Sir Tristram de Liones. And at that time Sir Tristram thought to +be at that jousts; and so by adventure they met with Sir Kay, the Seneschal, +and Sir Sagramore le Desirous; and Sir Kay required Sir Tristram to joust, and +Sir Tristram in a manner refused him, because he would not be hurt nor bruised +against the great jousts that should be before the Castle of Maidens, and +therefore thought to repose him and to rest him. And alway Sir Kay cried: Sir +knight of Cornwall, joust with me, or else yield thee to me as recreant. When +Sir Tristram heard him say so he turned to him, and then Sir Kay refused him +and turned his back. Then Sir Tristram said: As I find thee I shall take thee. +Then Sir Kay turned with evil will, and Sir Tristram smote Sir Kay down, and so +he rode forth. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Sagramore le Desirous rode after Sir Tristram, and made him to joust +with him, and there Sir Tristram smote down Sir Sagramore le Desirous from his +horse, and rode his way; and the same day he met with a damosel that told him +that he should win great worship of a knight adventurous that did much harm in +all that country. When Sir Tristram heard her say so, he was glad to go with +her to win worship. So Sir Tristram rode with that damosel a six mile, and then +met him Sir Gawaine, and therewithal Sir Gawaine knew the damosel, that she was +a damosel of Queen Morgan le Fay. Then Sir Gawaine understood that she led that +knight to some mischief. Fair knight, said Sir Gawaine, whither ride you now +with that damosel? Sir, said Sir Tristram, I wot not whither I shall ride but +as the damosel will lead me. Sir, said Sir Gawaine, ye shall not ride with her, +for she and her lady did never good, but ill. And then Sir Gawaine pulled out +his sword and said: Damosel, but if thou tell me anon for what cause thou +leadest this knight with thee thou shalt die for it right anon: I know all your +lady’s treason, and yours. Mercy, Sir Gawaine, she said, and if ye will +save my life I will tell you. Say on, said Sir Gawaine, and thou shalt have thy +life. Sir, she said, Queen Morgan le Fay, my lady, hath ordained a thirty +ladies to seek and espy after Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram, and by the trains +of these ladies, who that may first meet any of these two knights they should +turn them unto Morgan le Fay’s castle, saying that they should do deeds +of worship; and if any of the two knights came there, there be thirty knights +lying and watching in a tower to wait upon Sir Launcelot or upon Sir Tristram. +Fie for shame, said Sir Gawaine, that ever such false treason should be wrought +or used in a queen, and a king’s sister, and a king and queen’s +daughter. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap220"></a>CHAPTER XXV.<br/>How Sir Tristram and Sir Gawaine +rode to have foughten with the thirty knights, but they durst not come +out.</h3> + +<p> +Sir, said Sir Gawaine, will ye stand with me, and we will see the malice of +these thirty knights. Sir, said Sir Tristram, go ye to them, an it please you, +and ye shall see I will not fail you, for it is not long ago since I and a +fellow met with thirty knights of that queen’s fellowship; and God speed +us so that we may win worship. So then Sir Gawaine and Sir Tristram rode toward +the castle where Morgan le Fay was, and ever Sir Gawaine deemed well that he +was Sir Tristram de Liones, because he heard that two knights had slain and +beaten thirty knights. And when they came afore the castle Sir Gawaine spake on +high and said: Queen Morgan le Fay, send out your knights that ye have laid in +a watch for Sir Launcelot and for Sir Tristram. Now, said Sir Gawaine, I know +your false treason, and through all places where that I ride men shall know of +your false treason; and now let see, said Sir Gawaine, whether ye dare come out +of your castle, ye thirty knights. Then the queen spake and all the thirty +knights at once, and said: Sir Gawaine, full well wottest thou what thou dost +and sayest; for by God we know thee passing well, but all that thou speakest +and dost, thou sayest it upon pride of that good knight that is there with +thee. For there be some of us that know full well the hands of that knight over +all well. And wit thou well, Sir Gawaine, it is more for his sake than for +thine that we will not come out of this castle. For wit ye well, Sir Gawaine, +the knight that beareth the arms of Cornwall, we know him and what he is. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Tristram departed and rode on their ways a day or two +together; and there by adventure, they met with Sir Kay and Sir Sagramore le +Desirous. And then they were glad of Sir Gawaine, and he of them, but they wist +not what he was with the shield of Cornwall, but by deeming. And thus they rode +together a day or two. And then they were ware of Sir Breuse Saunce Pité +chasing a lady for to have slain her, for he had slain her paramour afore. Hold +you all still, said Sir Gawaine, and show none of you forth, and ye shall see +me reward yonder false knight; for an he espy you he is so well horsed that he +will escape away. And then Sir Gawaine rode betwixt Sir Breuse and the lady, +and said: False knight, leave her, and have ado with me. When Sir Breuse saw no +more but Sir Gawaine he feutred his spear, and Sir Gawaine against him; and +there Sir Breuse overthrew Sir Gawaine, and then he rode over him, and +overthwart him twenty times to have destroyed him; and when Sir Tristram saw +him do so villainous a deed, he hurled out against him. And when Sir Breuse saw +him with the shield of Cornwall he knew him well that it was Sir Tristram, and +then he fled, and Sir Tristram followed after him; and Sir Breuse Saunce Pité +was so horsed that he went his way quite, and Sir Tristram followed him long, +for he would fain have been avenged upon him. And so when he had long chased +him, he saw a fair well, and thither he rode to repose him, and tied his horse +till a tree. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap221"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.<br/>How damosel Bragwaine found +Tristram sleeping by a well, and how she delivered letters to him from La Beale +Isoud.</h3> + +<p> +And then he pulled off his helm and washed his visage and his hands, and so he +fell asleep. In the meanwhile came a damosel that had sought Sir Tristram many +ways and days within this land. And when she came to the well she looked upon +him, and had forgotten him as in remembrance of Sir Tristram, but by his horse +she knew him, that hight Passe-Brewel that had been Sir Tristram’s horse +many years. For when he was mad in the forest Sir Fergus kept him. So this +lady, Dame Bragwaine, abode still till he was awake. So when she saw him wake +she saluted him, and he her again, for either knew other of old acquaintance; +then she told him how she had sought him long and broad, and there she told him +how she had letters from Queen La Beale Isoud. Then anon Sir Tristram read +them, and wit ye well he was glad, for therein was many a piteous complaint. +Then Sir Tristram said: Lady Bragwaine, ye shall ride with me till that +tournament be done at the Castle of Maidens, and then shall bear letters and +tidings with you. And then Sir Tristram took his horse and sought lodging, and +there he met with a good ancient knight and prayed him to lodge with him. Right +so came Gouvernail unto Sir Tristram, that was glad of that lady. So this old +knight’s name was Sir Pellounes, and he told of the great tournament that +should be at the Castle of Maidens. And there Sir Launcelot and thirty-two +knights of his blood had ordained shields of Cornwall. And right so there came +one unto Sir Pellounes, and told him that Sir Persides de Bloise was come home; +then that knight held up his hands and thanked God of his coming home. And +there Sir Pellounes told Sir Tristram that in two years he had not seen his +son, Sir Persides. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I know your son well enough for a +good knight. +</p> + +<p> +So on a time Sir Tristram and Sir Persides came to their lodging both at once, +and so they unarmed them, and put upon them their clothing. And then these two +knights each welcomed other. And when Sir Persides understood that Sir Tristram +was of Cornwall, he said he was once in Cornwall: And there I jousted afore +King Mark; and so it happed me at that time to overthrow ten knights, and then +came to me Sir Tristram de Liones and overthrew me, and took my lady away from +me, and that shall I never forget, but I shall remember me an ever I see my +time. Ah, said Sir Tristram, now I understand that ye hate Sir Tristram. What +deem ye, ween ye that Sir Tristram is not able to withstand your malice? Yes, +said Sir Persides, I know well that Sir Tristram is a noble knight and a much +better knight than I, yet shall I not owe him my good will. Right as they stood +thus talking at a bay-window of that castle, they saw many knights riding to +and fro toward the tournament. And then was Sir Tristram ware of a likely +knight riding upon a great black horse, and a black-covered shield. What knight +is that, said Sir Tristram, with the black horse and the black shield? he +seemeth a good knight. I know him well, said Sir Persides, he is one of the +best knights of the world. Then is it Sir Launcelot, said Tristram. Nay, said +Sir Persides, it is Sir Palomides, that is yet unchristened. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap222"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.<br/>How Sir Tristram had a fall with +Sir Palomides, and how Launcelot overthrew two knights.</h3> + +<p> +Then they saw much people of the country salute Sir Palomides. And within a +while after there came a squire of the castle, that told Sir Pellounes that was +lord of that castle, that a knight with a black shield had smitten down +thirteen knights. Fair brother, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Persides, let us +cast upon us cloaks, and let us go see the play. Not so, said Sir Persides, we +will not go like knaves thither, but we will ride like men and good knights to +withstand our enemies. So they armed them, and took their horses and great +spears, and thither they went thereas many knights assayed themself before the +tournament. And anon Sir Palomides saw Sir Persides, and then he sent a squire +unto him and said: Go thou to the yonder knight with the green shield and +therein a lion of gold, and say him I require him to joust with me, and tell +him that my name is Sir Palomides. When Sir Persides understood that request of +Sir Palomides, he made him ready, and there anon they met together, but Sir +Persides had a fall. Then Sir Tristram dressed him to be revenged upon Sir +Palomides, and that saw Sir Palomides that was ready and so was not Sir +Tristram, and took him at an advantage and smote him over his horse’s +tail when he had no spear in his rest. Then stert up Sir Tristram and took his +horse lightly, and was wroth out of measure, and sore ashamed of that fall. +Then Sir Tristram sent unto Sir Palomides by Gouvernail, and prayed him to +joust with him at his request. Nay, said Sir Palomides, as at this time I will +not joust with that knight, for I know him better than he weeneth. And if he be +wroth he may right it to-morn at the Castle of Maidens, where he may see me and +many other knights. +</p> + +<p> +With that came Sir Dinadan, and when he saw Sir Tristram wroth he list not to +jape. Lo, said Sir Dinadan, here may a man prove, be a man never so good yet +may he have a fall, and he was never so wise but he might be overseen, and he +rideth well that never fell. So Sir Tristram was passing wroth, and said to Sir +Persides and to Sir Dinadan: I will revenge me. Right so as they stood talking +there, there came by Sir Tristram a likely knight riding passing soberly and +heavily with a black shield. What knight is that? said Sir Tristram unto Sir +Persides. I know him well, said Sir Persides, for his name is Sir Briant of +North Wales; so he passed on among other knights of North Wales. And there came +in Sir Launcelot du Lake with a shield of the arms of Cornwall, and he sent a +squire unto Sir Briant, and required him to joust with him. Well, said Sir +Briant, sithen I am required to joust I will do what I may; and there Sir +Launcelot smote down Sir Briant from his horse a great fall. And then Sir +Tristram marvelled what knight he was that bare the shield of Cornwall. +Whatsoever he be, said Sir Dinadan, I warrant you he is of King Ban’s +blood, the which be knights of the most noble prowess in the world, for to +account so many for so many. Then there came two knights of Northgalis, that +one hight Hew de la Montaine, and the other Sir Madok de la Montaine, and they +challenged Sir Launcelot foot-hot. Sir Launcelot not refusing them but made him +ready, with one spear he smote them down both over their horses’ croups; +and so Sir Launcelot rode his way. By the good lord, said Sir Tristram, he is a +good knight that beareth the shield of Cornwall, and meseemeth he rideth in the +best manner that ever I saw knight ride. +</p> + +<p> +Then the King of Northgalis rode unto Sir Palomides and prayed him heartily for +his sake to joust with that knight that hath done us of Northgalis despite. +Sir, said Sir Palomides, I am full loath to have ado with that knight, and +cause why is, for as to-morn the great tournament shall be; and therefore I +will keep myself fresh by my will. Nay, said the King of Northgalis, I pray you +require him of jousts. Sir, said Sir Palomides, I will joust at your request, +and require that knight to joust with me, and often I have seen a man have a +fall at his own request. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap223"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.<br/>How Sir Launcelot jousted with +Palomides and overthrew him, and after he was assailed with twelve +knights.</h3> + +<p> +Then Sir Palomides sent unto Sir Launcelot a squire, and required him of +jousts. Fair fellow, said Sir Launcelot, tell me thy lord’s name. Sir, +said the squire, my lord’s name is Sir Palomides, the good knight. In +good hour, said Sir Launcelot, for there is no knight that I saw this seven +years that I had liefer ado withal than with him. And so either knights made +them ready with two great spears. Nay, said Sir Dinadan, ye shall see that Sir +Palomides will quit him right well. It may be so, said Sir Tristram, but I +undertake that knight with the shield of Cornwall shall give him a fall. I +believe it not, said Sir Dinadan. Right so they spurred their horses and +feutred their spears, and either hit other, and Sir Palomides brake a spear +upon Sir Launcelot, and he sat and moved not; but Sir Launcelot smote him so +lightly that he made his horse to avoid the saddle, and the stroke brake his +shield and the hauberk, and had he not fallen he had been slain. How now, said +Sir Tristram, I wist well by the manner of their riding both that Sir Palomides +should have a fall. +</p> + +<p> +Right so Sir Launcelot rode his way, and rode to a well to drink and to repose +him, and they of Northgalis espied him whither he rode; and then there followed +him twelve knights for to have mischieved him, for this cause that upon the +morn at the tournament of the Castle of Maidens that he should not win the +victory. So they came upon Sir Launcelot suddenly, and unnethe he might put +upon him his helm and take his horse, but they were in hands with him; and then +Sir Launcelot gat his spear, and rode through them, and there he slew a knight +and brake a spear in his body. Then he drew his sword and smote upon the right +hand and upon the left hand, so that within a few strokes he had slain other +three knights, and the remnant that abode he wounded them sore all that did +abide. Thus Sir Launcelot escaped from his enemies of North Wales, and then Sir +Launcelot rode his way till a friend, and lodged him till on the morn; for he +would not the first day have ado in the tournament because of his great labour. +And on the first day he was with King Arthur thereas he was set on high upon a +scaffold to discern who was best worthy of his deeds. So Sir Launcelot was with +King Arthur, and jousted not the first day. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap224"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.<br/>How Sir Tristram behaved him the +first day of the tournament, and there he had the prize.</h3> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Sir Tristram de Liones, that commanded Gouvernail, his +servant, to ordain him a black shield with none other remembrance therein. And +so Sir Persides and Sir Tristram departed from their host Sir Pellounes, and +they rode early toward the tournament, and then they drew them to King +Carados’ side, of Scotland; and anon knights began the field what of King +Northgalis’ part, and what of King Carados’ part, and there began +great party. Then there was hurling and rashing. Right so came in Sir Persides +and Sir Tristram and so they did fare that they put the King of Northgalis +aback. Then came in Sir Bleoberis de Ganis and Sir Gaheris with them of +Northgalis, and then was Sir Persides smitten down and almost slain, for more +than forty horse men went over him. For Sir Bleoberis did great deeds of arms, +and Sir Gaheris failed him not. When Sir Tristram beheld them, and saw them do +such deeds of arms, he marvelled what they were. Also Sir Tristram thought +shame that Sir Persides was so done to; and then he gat a great spear in his +hand, and then he rode to Sir Gaheris and smote him down from his horse. And +then was Sir Bleoberis wroth, and gat a spear and rode against Sir Tristram in +great ire; and there Sir Tristram met with him, and smote Sir Bleoberis from +his horse. So then the King with the Hundred Knights was wroth, and he horsed +Sir Bleoberis and Sir Gaheris again, and there began a great medley; and ever +Sir Tristram held them passing short, and ever Sir Bleoberis was passing busy +upon Sir Tristram; and there came Sir Dinadan against Sir Tristram, and Sir +Tristram gave him such a buffet that he swooned in his saddle. Then anon Sir +Dinadan came to Sir Tristram and said: Sir, I know thee better than thou +weenest; but here I promise thee my troth I will never come against thee more, +for I promise thee that sword of thine shall never come on mine helm. +</p> + +<p> +With that came Sir Bleoberis, and Sir Tristram gave him such a buffet that down +he laid his head; and then he caught him so sore by the helm that he pulled him +under his horse’s feet. And then King Arthur blew to lodging. Then Sir +Tristram departed to his pavilion, and Sir Dinadan rode with him; and Sir +Persides and King Arthur then, and the kings upon both parties, marvelled what +knight that was with the black shield. Many said their advice, and some knew +him for Sir Tristram, and held their peace and would nought say. So that first +day King Arthur, and all the kings and lords that were judges, gave Sir +Tristram the prize; howbeit they knew him not, but named him the Knight with +the Black Shield. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap225"></a>CHAPTER XXX.<br/>How Sir Tristram returned against +King Arthur’s party because he saw Sir Palomides on that party.</h3> + +<p> +Then upon the morn Sir Palomides returned from the King of Northgalis, and rode +to King Arthur’s side, where was King Carados, and the King of Ireland, +and Sir Launcelot’s kin, and Sir Gawaine’s kin. So Sir Palomides +sent the damosel unto Sir Tristram that he sent to seek him when he was out of +his mind in the forest, and this damosel asked Sir Tristram what he was and +what was his name? +</p> + +<p> +As for that, said Sir Tristram, tell Sir Palomides ye shall not wit as at this +time unto the time I have broken two spears upon him. But let him wit thus +much, said Sir Tristram, that I am the same knight that he smote down in over +evening at the tournament; and tell him plainly on what party that Sir +Palomides be I will be of the contrary party. +</p> + +<p> +Sir, said the damosel, ye shall understand that Sir Palomides will be on King +Arthur’s side, where the most noble knights of the world be. In the name +of God, said Sir Tristram, then will I be with the King of Northgalis, because +Sir Palomides will be on King Arthur’s side, and else I would not but for +his sake. So when King Arthur was come they blew unto the field; and then there +began a great party, and so King Carados jousted with the King of the Hundred +Knights, and there King Carados had a fall: then was there hurling and rushing, +and right so came in knights of King Arthur’s, and they bare aback the +King of Northgalis’ knights. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram came in, and began so roughly and so bigly that there was +none might withstand him, and thus Sir Tristram dured long. And at the last Sir +Tristram fell among the fellowship of King Ban, and there fell upon him Sir +Bors de Ganis, and Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir Blamore de Ganis, and many other +knights. And then Sir Tristram smote on the right hand and on the left hand, +that all lords and ladies spake of his noble deeds. But at the last Sir +Tristram should have had the worse had not the King with the Hundred Knights +been. And then he came with his fellowship and rescued Sir Tristram, and +brought him away from those knights that bare the shields of Cornwall. And then +Sir Tristram saw another fellowship by themself, and there were a forty knights +together, and Sir Kay, the Seneschal, was their governor. Then Sir Tristram +rode in amongst them, and there he smote down Sir Kay from his horse; and there +he fared among those knights like a greyhound among conies. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Launcelot found a knight that was sore wounded upon the head. Sir, +said Sir Launcelot, who wounded you so sore? Sir, he said, a knight that +beareth a black shield, and I may curse the time that ever I met with him, for +he is a devil and no man. So Sir Launcelot departed from him and thought to +meet with Sir Tristram, and so he rode with his sword drawn in his hand to seek +Sir Tristram; and then he espied him how he hurled here and there, and at every +stroke Sir Tristram wellnigh smote down a knight. O mercy Jesu! said the king, +sith the times I bare arms saw I never no knight do so marvellous deeds of +arms. And if I should set upon this knight, said Sir Launcelot to himself, I +did shame to myself, and therewithal Sir Launcelot put up his sword. And then +the King with the Hundred Knights and an hundred more of North Wales set upon +the twenty of Sir Launcelot’s kin: and they twenty knights held them ever +together as wild swine, and none would fail other. And so when Sir Tristram +beheld the noblesse of these twenty knights he marvelled of their good deeds, +for he saw by their fare and by their rule that they had liefer die than avoid +the field. Now Jesu, said Sir Tristram, well may he be valiant and full of +prowess that hath such a sort of noble knights unto his kin, and full like is +he to be a noble man that is their leader and governor. He meant it by Sir +Launcelot du Lake. So when Sir Tristram had beholden them long he thought shame +to see two hundred knights battering upon twenty knights. Then Sir Tristram +rode unto the King with the Hundred Knights and said: Sir, leave your fighting +with those twenty knights, for ye win no worship of them, ye be so many and +they so few; and wit ye well they will not out of the field I see by their +cheer and countenance; and worship get ye none an ye slay them. Therefore leave +your fighting with them, for I to increase my worship I will ride to the twenty +knights and help them with all my might and power. Nay, said the King with the +Hundred Knights, ye shall not do so; now I see your courage and courtesy I will +withdraw my knights for your pleasure, for evermore a good knight will favour +another, and like will draw to like. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap226"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.<br/>How Sir Tristram found Palomides +by a well, and brought him with him to his lodging.</h3> + +<p> +Then the King with the Hundred Knights withdrew his knights. And all this +while, and long to-fore, Sir Launcelot had watched upon Sir Tristram with a +very purpose to have fellowshipped with him. And then suddenly Sir Tristram, +Sir Dinadan, and Gouvernail, his man, rode their way into the forest, that no +man perceived where they went. So then King Arthur blew unto lodging, and gave +the King of Northgalis the prize because Sir Tristram was upon his side. Then +Sir Launcelot rode here and there, so wood as lion that fauted his fill, +because he had lost Sir Tristram, and so he returned unto King Arthur. And then +in all the field was a noise that with the wind it might be heard two mile +thence, how the lords and ladies cried: The Knight with the Black Shield hath +won the field. Alas, said King Arthur, where is that knight become? It is shame +to all those in the field so to let him escape away from you; but with +gentleness and courtesy ye might have brought him unto me to the Castle of +Maidens. Then the noble King Arthur went unto his knights and comforted them in +the best wise that he could, and said: My fair fellows, be not dismayed, +howbeit ye have lost the field this day. And many were hurt and sore wounded, +and many were whole. My fellows, said King Arthur, look that ye be of good +cheer, for to-morn I will be in the field with you and revenge you of your +enemies. So that night King Arthur and his knights reposed themself. +</p> + +<p> +The damosel that came from La Beale Isoud unto Sir Tristram, all the while the +tournament was a-doing she was with Queen Guenever, and ever the queen asked +her for what cause she came into that country. Madam, she answered, I come for +none other cause but from my lady La Beale Isoud to wit of your welfare. For in +no wise she would not tell the queen that she came for Sir Tristram’s +sake. So this lady, Dame Bragwaine, took her leave of Queen Guenever, and she +rode after Sir Tristram. And as she rode through the forest she heard a great +cry; then she commanded her squire to go into the forest to wit what was that +noise. And so he came to a well, and there he found a knight bounden till a +tree crying as he had been wood, and his horse and his harness standing by him. +And when he espied that squire, therewith he abraid and brake himself loose, +and took his sword in his hand, and ran to have slain the squire. Then he took +his horse and fled all that ever he might unto Dame Bragwaine, and told her of +his adventure. Then she rode unto Sir Tristram’s pavilion, and told Sir +Tristram what adventure she had found in the forest. Alas, said Sir Tristram, +upon my head there is some good knight at mischief. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Tristram took his horse and his sword and rode thither, and there he +heard how the knight complained unto himself and said: I, woful knight Sir +Palomides, what misadventure befalleth me, that thus am defoiled with falsehood +and treason, through Sir Bors and Sir Ector. Alas, he said, why live I so long! +And then he gat his sword in his hands, and made many strange signs and tokens; +and so through his raging he threw his sword into that fountain. Then Sir +Palomides wailed and wrang his hands. And at the last for pure sorrow he ran +into that fountain, over his belly, and sought after his sword. Then Sir +Tristram saw that, and ran upon Sir Palomides, and held him in his arms fast. +What art thou, said Palomides, that holdeth me so? I am a man of this forest +that would thee none harm. Alas, said Sir Palomides, I may never win worship +where Sir Tristram is; for ever where he is an I be there, then get I no +worship; and if he be away for the most part I have the gree, unless that Sir +Launcelot be there or Sir Lamorak. Then Sir Palomides said: Once in Ireland Sir +Tristram put me to the worse, and another time in Cornwall, and in other places +in this land. What would ye do, said Sir Tristram, an ye had Sir Tristram? I +would fight with him, said Sir Palomides, and ease my heart upon him; and yet, +to say thee sooth, Sir Tristram is the gentlest knight in this world living. +What will ye do, said Sir Tristram, will ye go with me to your lodging? Nay, +said he, I will go to the King with the Hundred Knights, for he rescued me from +Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Ector and else had I been slain traitorly. Sir +Tristram said him such kind words that Sir Palomides went with him to his +lodging. Then Gouvernail went to-fore, and charged Dame Bragwaine to go out of +the way to her lodging. And bid ye Sir Persides that he make him no quarrels. +And so they rode together till they came to Sir Tristram’s pavilion, and +there Sir Palomides had all the cheer that might be had all that night. But in +no wise Sir Palomides might not know what was Sir Tristram; and so after supper +they yede to rest, and Sir Tristram for great travail slept till it was day. +And Sir Palomides might not sleep for anguish; and in the dawning of the day he +took his horse privily, and rode his way unto Sir Gaheris and unto Sir +Sagramore le Desirous, where they were in their pavilions; for they three were +fellows at the beginning of the tournament. And then upon the morn the king +blew unto the tournament upon the third day. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap227"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.<br/>How Sir Tristram smote down Sir +Palomides, and how he jousted with King Arthur, and other feats.</h3> + +<p> +So the King of Northgalis and the King with the Hundred Knights, they two +encountered with King Carados and with the King of Ireland; and there the King +with the Hundred Knights smote down King Carados, and the King of Northgalis +smote down the King of Ireland. With that came in Sir Palomides, and when he +came he made great work, for by his indented shield he was well known. So came +in King Arthur, and did great deeds of arms together, and put the King of +Northgalis and the King with the Hundred Knights to the worse. With this came +in Sir Tristram with his black shield, and anon he jousted with Sir Palomides, +and there by fine force Sir Tristram smote Sir Palomides over his horse’s +croup. Then King Arthur cried: Knight with the Black Shield, make thee ready to +me, and in the same wise Sir Tristram smote King Arthur. And then by force of +King Arthur’s knights the King and Sir Palomides were horsed again. Then +King Arthur with a great eager heart he gat a spear in his hand, and there upon +the one side he smote Sir Tristram over his horse. Then foot-hot Sir Palomides +came upon Sir Tristram, as he was upon foot, to have overridden him. Then Sir +Tristram was ware of him, and there he stooped aside, and with great ire he gat +him by the arm, and pulled him down from his horse. Then Sir Palomides lightly +arose, and then they dashed together mightily with their swords; and many +kings, queens, and lords, stood and beheld them. And at the last Sir Tristram +smote Sir Palomides upon the helm three mighty strokes, and at every stroke +that he gave him he said: This for Sir Tristram’s sake. With that Sir +Palomides fell to the earth grovelling. +</p> + +<p> +Then came the King with the Hundred Knights, and brought Sir Tristram an horse, +and so was he horsed again. By then was Sir Palomides horsed, and with great +ire he jousted upon Sir Tristram with his spear as it was in the rest, and gave +him a great dash with his sword. Then Sir Tristram avoided his spear, and gat +him by the neck with his both hands, and pulled him clean out of his saddle, +and so he bare him afore him the length of ten spears, and then in the presence +of them all he let him fall at his adventure. Then Sir Tristram was ware of +King Arthur with a naked sword in his hand, and with his spear Sir Tristram ran +upon King Arthur; and then King Arthur boldly abode him and with his sword he +smote a-two his spear, and therewithal Sir Tristram stonied; and so King Arthur +gave him three or four strokes or he might get out his sword, and at the last +Sir Tristram drew his sword and [either] assailed other passing hard. With that +the great press departed [them]. Then Sir Tristram rode here and there and did +his great pain, that eleven of the good knights of the blood of King Ban, that +was of Sir Launcelot’s kin, that day Sir Tristram smote down; that all +the estates marvelled of his great deeds and all cried upon the Knight with the +Black Shield. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap228"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.<br/>How Sir Launcelot hurt Sir +Tristram, and how after Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides.</h3> + +<p> +Then this cry was so large that Sir Launcelot heard it. And then he gat a great +spear in his hand and came towards the cry. Then Sir Launcelot cried: The +Knight with the Black Shield, make thee ready to joust with me. When Sir +Tristram heard him say so he gat his spear in his hand, and either abashed down +their heads, and came together as thunder; and Sir Tristram’s spear brake +in pieces, and Sir Launcelot by malfortune struck Sir Tristram on the side a +deep wound nigh to the death; but yet Sir Tristram avoided not his saddle, and +so the spear brake. Therewithal Sir Tristram that was wounded gat out his +sword, and he rushed to Sir Launcelot, and gave him three great strokes upon +the helm that the fire sprang thereout, and Sir Launcelot abashed his head +lowly toward his saddle-bow. And therewithal Sir Tristram departed from the +field, for he felt him so wounded that he weened he should have died; and Sir +Dinadan espied him and followed him into the forest. Then Sir Launcelot abode +and did many marvellous deeds. +</p> + +<p> +So when Sir Tristram was departed by the forest’s side he alighted, and +unlaced his harness and freshed his wound; then weened Sir Dinadan that he +should have died. Nay, nay, said Sir Tristram, Dinadan never dread thee, for I +am heart-whole, and of this wound I shall soon be whole, by the mercy of God. +By that Sir Dinadan was ware where came Palomides riding straight upon them. +And then Sir Tristram was ware that Sir Palomides came to have destroyed him. +And so Sir Dinadan gave him warning, and said: Sir Tristram, my lord, ye are so +sore wounded that ye may not have ado with him, therefore I will ride against +him and do to him what I may, and if I be slain ye may pray for my soul; and in +the meanwhile ye may withdraw you and go into the castle, or in the forest, +that he shall not meet with you. Sir Tristram smiled and said: I thank you, Sir +Dinadan, of your good will, but ye shall wit that I am able to handle him. And +then anon hastily he armed him, and took his horse, and a great spear in his +hand, and said to Sir Dinadan: Adieu; and rode toward Sir Palomides a soft +pace. Then when Sir Palomides saw that, he made countenance to amend his horse, +but he did it for this cause, for he abode Sir Gaheris that came after him. And +when he was come he rode toward Sir Tristram. Then Sir Tristram sent unto Sir +Palomides, and required him to joust with him; and if he smote down Sir +Palomides he would do no more to him; and if it so happened that Sir Palomides +smote down Sir Tristram, he bade him do his utterance. So they were accorded. +Then they met together, and Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides that he had a +grievous fall, so that he lay still as he had been dead. And then Sir Tristram +ran upon Sir Gaheris, and he would not have jousted; but whether he would or +not Sir Tristram smote him over his horse’s croup, that he lay still as +though he had been dead. And then Sir Tristram rode his way and left Sir +Persides’ squire within the pavilions, and Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan +rode to an old knight’s place to lodge them. And that old knight had five +sons at the tournament, for whom he prayed God heartily for their coming home. +And so, as the French book saith, they came home all five well beaten. +</p> + +<p> +And when Sir Tristram departed into the forest Sir Launcelot held alway the +stour like hard, as a man araged that took no heed to himself, and wit ye well +there was many a noble knight against him. And when King Arthur saw Sir +Launcelot do so marvellous deeds of arms he then armed him, and took his horse +and his armour, and rode into the field to help Sir Launcelot; and so many +knights came in with King Arthur. And to make short tale in conclusion, the +King of Northgalis and the King of the Hundred Knights were put to the worse; +and because Sir Launcelot abode and was the last in the field the prize was +given him. But Sir Launcelot would neither for king, queen, nor knight, have +the prize, but where the cry was cried through the field: Sir Launcelot, Sir +Launcelot hath won the field this day, Sir Launcelot let make another cry +contrary: Sir Tristram hath won the field, for he began first, and last he hath +endured, and so hath he done the first day, the second, and the third day. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap229"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.<br/>How the prize of the third day was +given to Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot gave it to Sir Tristram.</h3> + +<p> +Then all the estates and degrees high and low said of Sir Launcelot great +worship, for the honour that he did unto Sir Tristram; and for that honour +doing to Sir Tristram he was at that time more praised and renowned than an he +had overthrown five hundred knights; and all the people wholly for this +gentleness, first the estates both high and low, and after the commonalty cried +at once: Sir Launcelot hath won the field whosoever say nay. Then was Sir +Launcelot wroth and ashamed, and so therewithal he rode to King Arthur. Alas, +said the king, we are all dismayed that Sir Tristram is thus departed from us. +By God, said King Arthur, he is one of the noblest knights that ever I saw hold +spear or sword in hand, and the most courteoust knight in his fighting; for +full hard I saw him, said King Arthur, when he smote Sir Palomides upon the +helm thrice, that he abashed his helm with his strokes, and also he said: Here +is a stroke for Sir Tristram, and thus thrice he said. Then King Arthur, Sir +Launcelot, and Sir Dodinas le Savage took their horses to seek Sir Tristram, +and by the means of Sir Persides he had told King Arthur where Sir Tristram was +in his pavilion. But when they came there, Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan were +gone. +</p> + +<p> +Then King Arthur and Sir Launcelot were heavy, and returned again to the Castle +of Maidens making great dole for the hurt of Sir Tristram, and his sudden +departing. So God me help, said King Arthur, I am more heavy that I cannot meet +with him than for all the hurts that all my knights have had at the tournament. +Right so came Sir Gaheris and told King Arthur how Sir Tristram had smitten +down Sir Palomides, and it was at Sir Palomides’ own request. Alas, said +King Arthur, that was great dishonour to Sir Palomides, inasmuch as Sir +Tristram was sore wounded, and now may we all, kings, and knights, and men of +worship, say that Sir Tristram may be called a noble knight, and one of the +best knights that ever I saw the days of my life. For I will that ye all, kings +and knights, know, said King Arthur, that I never saw knight do so marvellously +as he hath done these three days; for he was the first that began and that +longest held on, save this last day. And though he was hurt, it was a manly +adventure of two noble knights, and when two noble men encounter needs must the +one have the worse, like as God will suffer at that time. As for me, said Sir +Launcelot, for all the lands that ever my father left me I would not have hurt +Sir Tristram an I had known him at that time; that I hurt him was for I saw not +his shield. For an I had seen his black shield, I would not have meddled with +him for many causes; for late he did as much for me as ever did knight, and +that is well known that he had ado with thirty knights, and no help save Sir +Dinadan. And one thing shall I promise, said Sir Launcelot, Sir Palomides shall +repent it as in his unkindly dealing for to follow that noble knight that I by +mishap hurted thus. Sir Launcelot said all the worship that might be said by +Sir Tristram. Then King Arthur made a great feast to all that would come. And +thus we let pass King Arthur, and a little we will turn unto Sir Palomides, +that after he had a fall of Sir Tristram, he was nigh-hand araged out of his +wit for despite of Sir Tristram. And so he followed him by adventure. And as he +came by a river, in his woodness he would have made his horse to have leapt +over; and the horse failed footing and fell in the river, wherefore Sir +Palomides was adread lest he should have been drowned; and then he avoided his +horse, and swam to the land, and let his horse go down by adventure. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap230"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.<br/>How Palomides came to the castle +where Sir Tristram was, and of the quest that Sir Launcelot and ten knights +made for Sir Tristram.</h3> + +<p> +And when he came to the land he took off his harness, and sat roaring and +crying as a man out of his mind. Right so came a damosel even by Sir Palomides, +that was sent from Sir Gawaine and his brother unto Sir Mordred, that lay sick +in the same place with that old knight where Sir Tristram was. For, as the +French book saith, Sir Persides hurt so Sir Mordred a ten days afore; and had +it not been for the love of Sir Gawaine and his brother, Sir Persides had slain +Sir Mordred. And so this damosel came by Sir Palomides, and she and he had +language together, the which pleased neither of them; and so the damosel rode +her ways till she came to the old knight’s place, and there she told that +old knight how she met with the woodest knight by adventure that ever she met +withal. What bare he in his shield? said Sir Tristram. It was indented with +white and black, said the damosel. Ah, said Sir Tristram, that was Sir +Palomides, the good knight. For well I know him, said Sir Tristram, for one of +the best knights living in this realm. Then that old knight took a little +hackney, and rode for Sir Palomides, and brought him unto his own manor; and +full well knew Sir Tristram Sir Palomides, but he said but little, for at that +time Sir Tristram was walking upon his feet, and well amended of his hurts; and +always when Sir Palomides saw Sir Tristram he would behold him full +marvellously, and ever him seemed that he had seen him. Then would he say unto +Sir Dinadan: An ever I may meet with Sir Tristram he shall not escape mine +hands. I marvel, said Sir Dinadan, that ye boast behind Sir Tristram, for it is +but late that he was in your hands, and ye in his hands; why would ye not hold +him when ye had him? for I saw myself twice or thrice that ye gat but little +worship of Sir Tristram. Then was Sir Palomides ashamed. So leave we them a +little while in the old castle with the old knight Sir Darras. +</p> + +<p> +Now shall we speak of King Arthur, that said to Sir Launcelot: Had not ye been +we had not lost Sir Tristram, for he was here daily unto the time ye met with +him, and in an evil time, said Arthur, ye encountered with him. My lord Arthur, +said Launcelot, ye put upon me that I should be cause of his departition; God +knoweth it was against my will. But when men be hot in deeds of arms oft they +hurt their friends as well as their foes. And my lord, said Sir Launcelot, ye +shall understand that Sir Tristram is a man that I am loath to offend, for he +hath done for me more than ever I did for him as yet. But then Sir Launcelot +made bring forth a book: and then Sir Launcelot said: Here we are ten knights +that will swear upon a book never to rest one night where we rest another this +twelvemonth until that we find Sir Tristram. And as for me, said Sir Launcelot, +I promise you upon this book that an I may meet with him, either with fairness +or foulness I shall bring him to this court, or else I shall die therefore. And +the names of these ten knights that had undertaken this quest were these +following: First was Sir Launcelot, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, and +Bleoberis, and Sir Blamore de Ganis, and Lucan the Butler, Sir Uwaine, Sir +Galihud Lionel, and Galiodin. So these ten noble knights departed from the +court of King Arthur, and so they rode upon their quest together until they +came to a cross where departed four ways, and there departed the fellowship in +four to seek Sir Tristram. +</p> + +<p> +And as Sir Launcelot rode by adventure he met with Dame Bragwaine that was sent +into that country to seek Sir Tristram, and she fled as fast as her palfrey +might go. So Sir Launcelot met with her and asked her why she fled. Ah, fair +knight, said Dame Bragwaine, I flee for dread of my life, for here followeth me +Sir Breuse Saunce Pité to slay me. Hold you nigh me, said Sir Launcelot. Then +when Sir Launcelot saw Sir Breuse Saunce Pité, Sir Launcelot cried unto him, +and said: False knight, destroyer of ladies and damosels, now thy last days be +come. When Sir Breuse Saunce Pité saw Sir Launcelot’s shield he knew it +well, for at that time he bare not the arms of Cornwall, but he bare his own +shield. And then Sir Breuse fled, and Sir Launcelot followed after him. But Sir +Breuse was so well horsed that when him list to flee he might well flee, and +also abide when him list. And then Sir Launcelot returned unto Dame Bragwaine, +and she thanked him of his great labour. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap231"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.<br/>How Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, +and Sir Dinadan were taken and put in prison.</h3> + +<p> +Now will we speak of Sir Lucan the butler, that by fortune he came riding to +the same place thereas was Sir Tristram, and in he came in none other intent +but to ask harbour. Then the porter asked what was his name. Tell your lord +that my name is Sir Lucan, the butler, a Knight of the Round Table. So the +porter went unto Sir Darras, lord of the place, and told him who was there to +ask harbour. Nay, nay, said Sir Daname, that was nephew to Sir Darras, say him +that he shall not be lodged here, but let him wit that I, Sir Daname, will meet +with him anon, and bid him make him ready. So Sir Daname came forth on +horseback, and there they met together with spears, and Sir Lucan smote down +Sir Daname over his horse’s croup, and then he fled into that place, and +Sir Lucan rode after him, and asked after him many times. +</p> + +<p> +Then Sir Dinadan said to Sir Tristram: It is shame to see the lord’s +cousin of this place defoiled. Abide, said Sir Tristram, and I shall redress +it. And in the meanwhile Sir Dinadan was on horseback, and he jousted with +Lucan the butler, and there Sir Lucan smote Dinadan through the thick of the +thigh, and so he rode his way; and Sir Tristram was wroth that Sir Dinadan was +hurt, and followed after, and thought to avenge him; and within a while he +overtook Sir Lucan, and bade him turn; and so they met together so that Sir +Tristram hurt Sir Lucan passing sore and gave him a fall. With that came Sir +Uwaine, a gentle knight, and when he saw Sir Lucan so hurt he called Sir +Tristram to joust with him. Fair knight, said Sir Tristram, tell me your name I +require you. Sir knight, wit ye well my name is Sir Uwaine le Fise de Roy +Ureine. Ah, said Sir Tristram, by my will I would not have ado with you at no +time. Ye shall not so, said Sir Uwaine, but ye shall have ado with me. And then +Sir Tristram saw none other bote, but rode against him, and overthrew Sir +Uwaine and hurt him in the side, and so he departed unto his lodging again. And +when Sir Dinadan understood that Sir Tristram had hurt Sir Lucan he would have +ridden after Sir Lucan for to have slain him, but Sir Tristram would not suffer +him. Then Sir Uwaine let ordain an horse litter, and brought Sir Lucan to the +abbey of Ganis, and the castle thereby hight the Castle of Ganis, of the which +Sir Bleoberis was lord. And at that castle Sir Launcelot promised all his +fellows to meet in the quest of Sir Tristram. +</p> + +<p> +So when Sir Tristram was come to his lodging there came a damosel that told Sir +Darras that three of his sons were slain at that tournament, and two grievously +wounded that they were never like to help themself. And all this was done by a +noble knight that bare the black shield, and that was he that bare the prize. +Then came there one and told Sir Darras that the same knight was within, him +that bare the black shield. Then Sir Darras yede unto Sir Tristram’s +chamber, and there he found his shield and showed it to the damosel. Ah sir, +said the damosel, that same is he that slew your three sons. Then without any +tarrying Sir Darras put Sir Tristram, and Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan, +within a strong prison, and there Sir Tristram was like to have died of great +sickness; and every day Sir Palomides would reprove Sir Tristram of old hate +betwixt them. And ever Sir Tristram spake fair and said little. But when Sir +Palomides saw the falling of sickness of Sir Tristram, then was he heavy for +him, and comforted him in all the best wise he could. And as the French book +saith, there came forty knights to Sir Darras that were of his own kin, and +they would have slain Sir Tristram and his two fellows, but Sir Darras would +not suffer that, but kept them in prison, and meat and drink they had. So Sir +Tristram endured there great pain, for sickness had undertaken him, and that is +the greatest pain a prisoner may have. For all the while a prisoner may have +his health of body he may endure under the mercy of God and in hope of good +deliverance; but when sickness toucheth a prisoner’s body, then may a +prisoner say all wealth is him bereft, and then he hath cause to wail and to +weep. Right so did Sir Tristram when sickness had undertaken him, for then he +took such sorrow that he had almost slain himself. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap232"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.<br/>How King Mark was sorry for the +good renown of Sir Tristram. Some of King Arthur’s knights jousted with +knights of Cornwall.</h3> + +<p> +Now will we speak, and leave Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan in +prison, and speak we of other knights that sought after Sir Tristram many +divers parts of this land. And some yede into Cornwall; and by adventure Sir +Gaheris, nephew unto King Arthur, came unto King Mark, and there he was well +received and sat at King Mark’s own table and ate of his own mess. Then +King Mark asked Sir Gaheris what tidings there were in the realm of Logris. +Sir, said Sir Gaheris, the king reigneth as a noble knight; and now but late +there was a great jousts and tournament as ever I saw any in the realm of +Logris, and the most noble knights were at that jousts. But there was one +knight that did marvellously three days, and he bare a black shield, and of all +knights that ever I saw he proved the best knight. Then, said King Mark, that +was Sir Launcelot, or Sir Palomides the paynim. Not so, said Sir Gheris, for +both Sir Launcelot and Sir Palomides were on the contrary party against the +Knight with the Black Shield. Then was it Sir Tristram, said the king. Yea, +said Sir Gaheris. And therewithal the king smote down his head, and in his +heart he feared sore that Sir Tristram should get him such worship in the realm +of Logris wherethrough that he himself should not be able to withstand him. +Thus Sir Gaheris had great cheer with King Mark, and with Queen La Beale Isoud, +the which was glad of Sir Gaheris’ words; for well she wist by his deeds +and manners that it was Sir Tristram. And then the king made a feast royal, and +to that feast came Sir Uwaine le Fise de Roy Ureine, and some called him Uwaine +le Blanchemains. And this Sir Uwaine challenged all the knights of Cornwall. +Then was the king wood wroth that he had no knights to answer him. Then Sir +Andred, nephew unto King Mark, leapt up and said: I will encounter with Sir +Uwaine. Then he yede and armed him and horsed him in the best manner. And there +Sir Uwaine met with Sir Andred, and smote him down that he swooned on the +earth. Then was King Mark sorry and wroth out of measure that he had no knight +to revenge his nephew, Sir Andred. +</p> + +<p> +So the king called unto him Sir Dinas, the Seneschal, and prayed him for his +sake to take upon him to joust with Sir Uwaine. Sir, said Sir Dinas, I am full +loath to have ado with any knight of the Round Table. Yet, said the king, for +my love take upon thee to joust. So Sir Dinas made him ready, and anon they +encountered together with great spears, but Sir Dinas was overthrown, horse and +man, a great fall. Who was wroth but King Mark! Alas, he said, have I no knight +that will encounter with yonder knight? Sir, said Sir Gaheris, for your sake I +will joust. So Sir Gaheris made him ready, and when he was armed he rode into +the field. And when Sir Uwaine saw Sir Gaheris’ shield he rode to him and +said: Sir, ye do not your part. For, sir, the first time ye were made Knight of +the Round Table ye sware that ye should not have ado with your fellowship +wittingly. And pardie, Sir Gaheris, ye knew me well enough by my shield, and so +do I know you by your shield, and though ye would break your oath I would not +break mine; for there is not one here, nor ye, that shall think I am afeard of +you, but I durst right well have ado with you, and yet we be sisters’ +sons. Then was Sir Gaheris ashamed, and so therewithal every knight went their +way, and Sir Uwaine rode into the country. +</p> + +<p> +Then King Mark armed him, and took his horse and his spear, with a squire with +him. And then he rode afore Sir Uwaine, and suddenly at a gap he ran upon him +as he that was not ware of him, and there he smote him almost through the body, +and there left him. So within a while there came Sir Kay and found Sir Uwaine, +and asked him how he was hurt. I wot not, said Sir Uwaine, why nor wherefore, +but by treason I am sure I gat this hurt; for here came a knight suddenly upon +me or that I was ware, and suddenly hurt me. Then there was come Sir Andred to +seek King Mark. Thou traitor knight, said Sir Kay, an I wist it were thou that +thus traitorly hast hurt this noble knight thou shouldst never pass my hands. +Sir, said Sir Andred, I did never hurt him, and that I will report me to +himself. Fie on you false knight, said Sir Kay, for ye of Cornwall are nought +worth. So Sir Kay made carry Sir Uwaine to the Abbey of the Black Cross, and +there he was healed. And then Sir Gaheris took his leave of King Mark, but or +he departed he said: Sir king, ye did a foul shame unto you and your court, +when ye banished Sir Tristram out of this country, for ye needed not to have +doubted no knight an he had been here. And so he departed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap233"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.<br/>Of the treason of King Mark, and +how Sir Gaheris smote him down and Andred his cousin.</h3> + +<p> +Then there came Sir Kay, the Seneschal, unto King Mark, and there he had good +cheer showing outward. Now, fair lords, said he, will ye prove any adventure in +the forest of Morris, in the which I know well is as hard an adventure as I +know any. Sir, said Sir Kay, I will prove it. And Sir Gaheris said he would be +avised for King Mark was ever full of treason: and therewithal Sir Gaheris +departed and rode his way. And by the same way that Sir Kay should ride he laid +him down to rest, charging his squire to wait upon Sir Kay; And warn me when he +cometh. So within a while Sir Kay came riding that way, and then Sir Gaheris +took his horse and met him, and said: Sir Kay, ye are not wise to ride at the +request of King Mark, for he dealeth all with treason. Then said Sir Kay: I +require you let us prove this adventure. I shall not fail you, said Sir +Gaheris. And so they rode that time till a lake that was that time called the +Perilous Lake, and there they abode under the shaw of the wood. +</p> + +<p> +The meanwhile King Mark within the castle of Tintagil avoided all his barons, +and all other save such as were privy with him were avoided out of his chamber. +And then he let call his nephew Sir Andred, and bade arm him and horse him +lightly; and by that time it was midnight. And so King Mark was armed in black, +horse and all; and so at a privy postern they two issued out with their varlets +with them, and rode till they came to that lake. Then Sir Kay espied them +first, and gat his spear, and proffered to joust. And King Mark rode against +him, and smote each other full hard, for the moon shone as the bright day. And +there at that jousts Sir Kay’s horse fell down, for his horse was not so +big as the king’s horse, and Sir Kay’s horse bruised him full sore. +Then Sir Gaheris was wroth that Sir Kay had a fall. Then he cried: Knight, sit +thou fast in thy saddle, for I will revenge my fellow. Then King Mark was +afeard of Sir Gaheris, and so with evil will King Mark rode against him, and +Sir Gaheris gave him such a stroke that he fell down. So then forthwithal Sir +Gaheris ran unto Sir Andred and smote him from his horse quite, that his helm +smote in the earth, and nigh had broken his neck. And therewithal Sir Gaheris +alighted, and gat up Sir Kay. And then they yode both on foot to them, and bade +them yield them, and tell their names outher they should die. Then with great +pain Sir Andred spake first, and said: It is King Mark of Cornwall, therefore +be ye ware what ye do, and I am Sir Andred, his cousin. Fie on you both, said +Sir Gaheris, for a false traitor, and false treason hast thou wrought and he +both, under the feigned cheer that ye made us! it were pity, said Sir Gaheris, +that thou shouldst live any longer. Save my life, said King Mark, and I will +make amends; and consider that I am a king anointed. It were the more shame, +said Sir Gaheris, to save thy life; thou art a king anointed with cream, and +therefore thou shouldst hold with all men of worship; and therefore thou art +worthy to die. With that he lashed at King Mark without saying any more, and +covered him with his shield and defended him as he might. And then Sir Kay +lashed at Sir Andred, and therewithal King Mark yielded him unto Sir Gaheris. +And then he kneeled adown, and made his oath upon the cross of the sword, that +never while he lived he would be against errant-knights. And also he sware to +be good friend unto Sir Tristram if ever he came into Cornwall. +</p> + +<p> +By then Sir Andred was on the earth, and Sir Kay would have slain him. Let be, +said Sir Gaheris, slay him not I pray you. It were pity, said Sir Kay, that he +should live any longer, for this is nigh cousin unto Sir Tristram, and ever he +hath been a traitor unto him, and by him he was exiled out of Cornwall, and +therefore I will slay him, said Sir Kay. Ye shall not, said Sir Gaheris; sithen +I have given the king his life, I pray you give him his life. And therewithal +Sir Kay let him go. And so Sir Kay and Sir Gaheris rode their way unto Dinas, +the Seneschal, for because they heard say that he loved well Sir Tristram. So +they reposed them there, and soon after they rode unto the realm of Logris. And +so within a little while they met with Sir Launcelot that always had Dame +Bragwaine with him, to that intent he weened to have met the sooner with Sir +Tristram; and Sir Launcelot asked what tidings in Cornwall, and whether they +heard of Sir Tristram or not. Sir Kay and Sir Gaheris answered and said, that +they heard not of him. Then they told Sir Launcelot word by word of their +adventure. Then Sir Launcelot smiled and said: Hard it is to take out of the +flesh that is bred in the bone; and so made them merry together. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap234"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.<br/>How after that Sir Tristram, Sir +Palomides, and Sir Dinadan had been long in prison they were delivered.</h3> + +<p> +Now leave we off this tale, and speak we of Sir Dinas that had within the +castle a paramour, and she loved another knight better than him. And so when +Sir Dinas went out a-hunting she slipped down by a towel, and took with her two +brachets, and so she yede to the knight that she loved, and he her again. And +when Sir Dinas came home and missed his paramour and his brachets, then was he +the more wrother for his brachets than for the lady. So then he rode after the +knight that had his paramour, and bade him turn and joust. So Sir Dinas smote +him down, that with the fall he brake his leg and his arm. And then his lady +and paramour cried Sir Dinas mercy, and said she would love him better than +ever she did. Nay, said Sir Dinas, I shall never trust them that once betrayed +me, and therefore, as ye have begun, so end, for I will never meddle with you. +And so Sir Dinas departed, and took his brachets with him, and so rode to his +castle. +</p> + +<p> +Now will we turn unto Sir Launcelot, that was right heavy that he could never +hear no tidings of Sir Tristram, for all this while he was in prison with Sir +Darras, Palomides, and Dinadan. Then Dame Bragwaine took her leave to go into +Cornwall, and Sir Launcelot, Sir Kay, and Sir Gaheris rode to seek Sir Tristram +in the country of Surluse. +</p> + +<p> +Now speaketh this tale of Sir Tristram and of his two fellows, for every day +Sir Palomides brawled and said language against Sir Tristram. I marvel, said +Sir Dinadan, of thee, Sir Palomides, an thou haddest Sir Tristram here thou +wouldst do him no harm; for an a wolf and a sheep were together in a prison the +wolf would suffer the sheep to be in peace. And wit thou well, said Sir +Dinadan, this same is Sir Tristram at a word, and now must thou do thy best +with him, and let see now if ye can skift it with your hands. Then was Sir +Palomides abashed and said little. Sir Palomides, then said Sir Tristram, I +have heard much of your maugre against me, but I will not meddle with you as at +this time by my will, because I dread the lord of this place that hath us in +governance; for an I dread him not more than I do thee, soon it should be +skift: so they peaced themself. Right so came in a damosel and said: Knights, +be of good cheer, for ye are sure of your lives, and that I heard say my lord, +Sir Darras. Then were they glad all three, for daily they weened they should +have died. +</p> + +<p> +Then soon after this Sir Tristram fell sick that he weened to have died; then +Sir Dinadan wept, and so did Sir Palomides under them both making great sorrow. +So a damosel came in to them and found them mourning. Then she went unto Sir +Darras, and told him how that mighty knight that bare the black shield was +likely to die. That shall not be, said Sir Darras, for God defend when knights +come to me for succour that I should suffer them to die within my prison. +Therefore, said Sir Darras to the damosel, fetch that knight and his fellows +afore me. And then anon Sir Darras saw Sir Tristram brought afore him. He said: +Sir knight, me repenteth of thy sickness for thou art called a full noble +knight, and so it seemeth by thee; and wit ye well it shall never be said that +Sir Darras shall destroy such a noble knight as thou art in prison, howbeit +that thou hast slain three of my sons whereby I was greatly aggrieved. But now +shalt thou go and thy fellows, and your harness and horses have been fair and +clean kept, and ye shall go where it liketh you, upon this covenant, that thou, +knight, wilt promise me to be good friend to my sons two that be now alive, and +also that thou tell me thy name. Sir, said he, as for me my name is Sir +Tristram de Liones, and in Cornwall was I born, and nephew I am unto King Mark. +And as for the death of your sons I might not do withal, for an they had been +the next kin that I have I might have done none otherwise. And if I had slain +them by treason or treachery I had been worthy to have died. All this I +consider, said Sir Darras, that all that ye did was by force of knighthood, and +that was the cause I would not put you to death. But sith ye be Sir Tristram, +the good knight, I pray you heartily to be my good friend and to my sons. Sir, +said Sir Tristram, I promise you by the faith of my body, ever while I live I +will do you service, for ye have done to us but as a natural knight ought to +do. Then Sir Tristram reposed him there till that he was amended of his +sickness; and when he was big and strong they took their leave, and every +knight took their horses, and so departed and rode together till they came to a +cross way. Now fellows, said Sir Tristram, here will we depart in sundry ways. +And because Sir Dinadan had the first adventure of him I will begin. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap235"></a>CHAPTER XL.<br/>How Sir Dinadan rescued a lady from +Sir Breuse Saunce Pité, and how Sir Tristram received a shield of Morgan le +Fay.</h3> + +<p> +So as Sir Dinadan rode by a well he found a lady making great dole. What aileth +you? said Sir Dinadan. Sir knight, said the lady, I am the wofullest lady of +the world, for within these five days here came a knight called Sir Breuse +Saunce Pité, and he slew mine own brother, and ever since he hath kept me at +his own will, and of all men in the world I hate him most; and therefore I +require you of knighthood to avenge me, for he will not tarry, but be here +anon. Let him come, said Sir Dinadan, and because of honour of all women I will +do my part. With this came Sir Breuse, and when he saw a knight with his lady +he was wood wroth. And then he said: Sir knight, keep thee from me. So they +hurtled together as thunder, and either smote other passing sore, but Sir +Dinadan put him through the shoulder a grievous wound, and or ever Sir Dinadan +might turn him Sir Breuse was gone and fled. Then the lady prayed him to bring +her to a castle there beside but four mile thence; and so Sir Dinadan brought +her there, and she was welcome, for the lord of that castle was her uncle; and +so Sir Dinadan rode his way upon his adventure. +</p> + +<p> +Now turn we this tale unto Sir Tristram, that by adventure he came to a castle +to ask lodging, wherein was Queen Morgan le Fay; and so when Sir Tristram was +let into that castle he had good cheer all that night. And upon the morn when +he would have departed the queen said: Wit ye well ye shall not depart lightly, +for ye are here as a prisoner. Jesu defend! said Sir Tristram, for I was but +late a prisoner. Fair knight, said the queen, ye shall abide with me till that +I wit what ye are and from whence ye come. And ever the queen would set Sir +Tristram on her own side, and her paramour on the other side. And ever Queen +Morgan would behold Sir Tristram, and thereat the knight was jealous, and was +in will suddenly to have run upon Sir Tristram with a sword, but he left it for +shame. Then the queen said to Sir Tristram: Tell me thy name, and I shall +suffer you to depart when ye will. Upon that covenant I tell you my name is Sir +Tristram de Liones. Ah, said Morgan le Fay, an I had wist that, thou shouldst +not have departed so soon as thou shalt. But sithen I have made a promise I +will hold it, with that thou wilt promise me to bear upon thee a shield that I +shall deliver thee, unto the castle of the Hard Rock, where King Arthur had +cried a great tournament, and there I pray you that ye will be, and to do for +me as much deeds of arms as ye may do. For at the Castle of Maidens, Sir +Tristram, ye did marvellous deeds of arms as ever I heard knight do. Madam, +said Sir Tristram, let me see the shield that I shall bear. Then the shield was +brought forth, and the field was goldish, with a king and a queen therein +painted, and a knight standing above them, [one foot] upon the king’s +head, and the other upon the queen’s. Madam, said Sir Tristram, this is a +fair shield and a mighty; but what signifieth this king and this queen, and the +knight standing upon both their heads? I shall tell you, said Morgan le Fay, it +signifieth King Arthur and Queen Guenever, and a knight who holdeth them both +in bondage and in servage. Who is that knight? said Sir Tristram. That shall ye +not wit as at this time, said the queen. But as the French book saith, Queen +Morgan loved Sir Launcelot best, and ever she desired him, and he would never +love her nor do nothing at her request, and therefore she held many knights +together for to have taken him by strength. And because she deemed that Sir +Launcelot loved Queen Guenever paramour, and she him again, therefore Queen +Morgan le Fay ordained that shield to put Sir Launcelot to a rebuke, to that +intent that King Arthur might understand the love between them. Then Sir +Tristram took that shield and promised her to bear it at the tournament at the +Castle of the Hard Rock. But Sir Tristram knew not that that shield was +ordained against Sir Launcelot, but afterward he knew it. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap236"></a>CHAPTER XLI.<br/>How Sir Tristram took with him the +shield, and also how he slew the paramour of Morgan le Fay.</h3> + +<p> +So then Sir Tristram took his leave of the queen, and took the shield with him. +Then came the knight that held Queen Morgan le Fay, his name was Sir Hemison, +and he made him ready to follow Sir Tristram. Fair friend, said Morgan, ride +not after that knight, for ye shall not win no worship of him. Fie on him, +coward, said Sir Hemison, for I wist never good knight come out of Cornwall but +if it were Sir Tristram de Liones. What an that be he? said she. Nay, nay, said +he, he is with La Beale Isoud, and this is but a daffish knight. Alas, my fair +friend, ye shall find him the best knight that ever ye met withal, for I know +him better than ye do. For your sake, said Sir Hemison, I shall slay him. Ah, +fair friend, said the queen, me repenteth that ye will follow that knight, for +I fear me sore of your again coming. With this this knight rode his way wood +wroth, and he rode after Sir Tristram as fast as he had been chased with +knights. When Sir Tristram heard a knight come after him so fast he returned +about, and saw a knight coming against him. And when he came nigh to Sir +Tristram he cried on high: Sir knight, keep thee from me. Then they rushed +together as it had been thunder, and Sir Hemison brised his spear upon Sir +Tristram, but his harness was so good that he might not hurt him. And Sir +Tristram smote him harder, and bare him through the body, and he fell over his +horse’s croup. Then Sir Tristram turned to have done more with his sword, +but he saw so much blood go from him that him seemed he was likely to die, and +so he departed from him and came to a fair manor to an old knight, and there +Sir Tristram lodged. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap237"></a>CHAPTER XLII.<br/>How Morgan le Fay buried her +paramour, and how Sir Tristram praised Sir Launcelot and his kin.</h3> + +<p> +Now leave to speak of Sir Tristram, and speak we of the knight that was wounded +to the death. Then his varlet alighted, and took off his helm, and then he +asked his lord whether there were any life in him. There is in me life, said +the knight, but it is but little; and therefore leap thou up behind me when +thou hast holpen me up, and hold me fast that I fall not, and bring me to Queen +Morgan le Fay; for deep draughts of death draw to my heart that I may not live, +for I would fain speak with her or I died: for else my soul will be in great +peril an I die. For[thwith] with great pain his varlet brought him to the +castle, and there Sir Hemison fell down dead. When Morgan le Fay saw him dead +she made great sorrow out of reason; and then she let despoil him unto his +shirt, and so she let him put into a tomb. And about the tomb she let write: +Here lieth Sir Hemison, slain by the hands of Sir Tristram de Liones. +</p> + +<p> +Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that asked the knight his host if he saw late +any knights adventurous. Sir, he said, the last night here lodged with me Ector +de Maris and a damosel with him, and that damosel told me that he was one of +the best knights of the world. That is not so, said Sir Tristram, for I know +four better knights of his own blood, and the first is Sir Launcelot du Lake, +call him the best knight, and Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Blamore de +Ganis, and Sir Gaheris. Nay, said his host, Sir Gawaine is a better knight than +he. That is not so, said Sir Tristram, for I have met with them both, and I +felt Sir Gaheris for the better knight, and Sir Lamorak I call him as good as +any of them except Sir Launcelot. Why name ye not Sir Tristram? said his host, +for I account him as good as any of them. I know not Sir Tristram, said +Tristram. Thus they talked and bourded as long as them list, and then went to +rest. And on the morn Sir Tristram departed, and took his leave of his host, +and rode toward the Roche Dure, and none adventure had Sir Tristram but that; +and so he rested not till he came to the castle, where he saw five hundred +tents. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap238"></a>CHAPTER XLIII.<br/>How Sir Tristram at a tournament +bare the shield that Morgan le Fay delivered to him.</h3> + +<p> +Then the King of Scots and the King of Ireland held against King Arthur’s +knights, and there began a great medley. So came in Sir Tristram and did +marvellous deeds of arms, for there he smote down many knights. And ever he was +afore King Arthur with that shield. And when King Arthur saw that shield he +marvelled greatly in what intent it was made; but Queen Guenever deemed as it +was, wherefore she was heavy. Then was there a damosel of Queen Morgan in a +chamber by King Arthur, and when she heard King Arthur speak of that shield, +then she spake openly unto King Arthur. Sir King, wit ye well this shield was +ordained for you, to warn you of your shame and dishonour, and that longeth to +you and your queen. And then anon that damosel picked her away privily, that no +man wist where she was become. Then was King Arthur sad and wroth, and asked +from whence came that damosel. There was not one that knew her nor wist where +she was become. Then Queen Guenever called to her Sir Ector de Maris, and there +she made her complaint to him, and said: I wot well this shield was made by +Morgan le Fay in despite of me and of Sir Launcelot, wherefore I dread me sore +lest I should be destroyed. And ever the king beheld Sir Tristram, that did so +marvellous deeds of arms that he wondered sore what knight he might be, and +well he wist it was not Sir Launcelot. And it was told him that Sir Tristram +was in Petit Britain with Isoud la Blanche Mains, for he deemed, an he had been +in the realm of Logris, Sir Launcelot or some of his fellows that were in the +quest of Sir Tristram that they should have found him or that time. So King +Arthur had marvel what knight he might be. And ever Sir Arthur’s eye was +on that shield. All that espied the queen, and that made her sore afeard. +</p> + +<p> +Then ever Sir Tristram smote down knights wonderly to behold, what upon the +right hand and upon the left hand, that unnethe no knight might withstand him. +And the King of Scots and the King of Ireland began to withdraw them. When +Arthur espied that, he thought that that knight with the strange shield should +not escape him. Then he called unto him Sir Uwaine le Blanche Mains, and bade +him arm him and make him ready. So anon King Arthur and Sir Uwaine dressed them +before Sir Tristram, and required him to tell them where he had that shield. +Sir, he said, I had it of Queen Morgan le Fay, sister unto King Arthur. +</p> + +<h5> So here endeth this history of this book, for it is the first book of Sir +Tristram de Liones and the second book of Sir Tristram followeth. </h5> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="glos01"></a>GLOSSARY</h2> + +<p class="noindent"> +Abashed, abased, lowered,<br/> +Abate, depress, calm,<br/> +Abought, paid for,<br/> +Abraid, started,<br/> +Accompted, counted,<br/> +Accorded, agreed,<br/> +Accordment, agreement,<br/> +Acquit, repay,<br/> +Actually, actively,<br/> +Adoubted, afraid,<br/> +Advision, vision,<br/> +Afeard, afraid,<br/> +Afterdeal, disadvantage,<br/> +Againsay, retract,<br/> +Aknown, known,<br/> +Aligement, alleviation,<br/> +Allegeance, alleviation,<br/> +Allow, approve,<br/> +Almeries, chests,<br/> +Alther, gen. pl., of all,<br/> +Amounted, mounted,<br/> +Anealed, anointed,<br/> +Anguishly, in pain,<br/> +Anon, at once,<br/> +Apair, weaken,<br/> +Apparelled, fitted up,<br/> +Appeach, impeach,<br/> +Appealed, challenged, accused,<br/> +Appertices, displays,<br/> +Araged, enraged, ; confused,<br/> +Araised, raised,<br/> +Arase, obliterate,<br/> +Areared, reared,<br/> +Armyvestal, martial,<br/> +Array, plight, state of affairs,<br/> +Arrayed, situated,<br/> +Arson, saddle-bow,<br/> +Askance, casually,<br/> +Assoiled, absolved,<br/> +Assotted, infatuated,<br/> +Assummon, summon,<br/> +Astonied, amazed, stunned,<br/> +At, of, by,<br/> +At-after, after,<br/> +Attaint, overcome,<br/> +Aumbries, chests,<br/> +Avail (at), at an advantage,<br/> +Avaled, lowered,<br/> +Avaunt, boast,<br/> +Aventred, couched,<br/> +Avised, be advised, take thought,<br/> +Avision, vision,<br/> +Avoid, quit,<br/> +Avoided, got clear off,<br/> +Avow, vow,<br/> +Await of (in), in watch for,<br/> +Awayward, away,<br/> +Awke, sideways,<br/> +<br/> +Bachelors, probationers for knighthood<br/> +Bain, bath,<br/> +Barbican, gate-tower,<br/> +Barget, little ship,<br/> +Battle, division of an army,<br/> +Bawdy, dirty,<br/> +Beams, trumpets,<br/> +Be-closed, enclosed,<br/> +Become, pp., befallen, gone to,<br/> +Bedashed, splashed,<br/> +Behests, promises,<br/> +Behight, promised,<br/> +Beholden (beholding) to, obliged to,<br/> +Behote, promised,<br/> +Benome, deprived, taken away,<br/> +Besants, gold coins,<br/> +Beseek, beseech,<br/> +Beseen, appointed, arrayed,<br/> +Beskift, shove off,<br/> +Bested, beset,<br/> +Betaken, entrusted,<br/> +Betaught, entrusted, recommended,<br/> +Betid, happened,<br/> +Betook, committed, entrusted,<br/> +Bevered, quivered,<br/> +Board, sb., deck,<br/> +Bobaunce, boasting, pride,<br/> +Boishe, bush, branch of a tree,<br/> +Boistous, rough,<br/> +Bole, trunk of a tree,<br/> +Boot, remedy,<br/> +Borrow out, redeem,<br/> +Borrows, pledges,<br/> +Bote, remedy,<br/> +Bound, ready,<br/> +Bourded, jested,<br/> +Bourder, jester,<br/> +Braced, embraced,<br/> +Brachet, little hound,<br/> +Braide, quick movement,<br/> +Brast, burst, break,<br/> +Breaths, breathing holes,<br/> +Brief, shorten,<br/> +Brim, fierce, furious,<br/> +Brised, broke,<br/> +Broached, pierced,<br/> +Broaches, spits,<br/> +Bur, hand-guard of a spear,<br/> +Burble, bubble,<br/> +Burbling, bubbling,<br/> +Burgenetts, buds, blossoms,<br/> +Bushment, ambush,<br/> +By and by, immediately,<br/> +Bywaryed, expended, bestowed,<br/> +<br/> +Canel bone, collar bone,<br/> +Cankered, inveterate,<br/> +Cantel, slice, strip,<br/> +Careful, sorrowful, full of troubles,<br/> +Cast (of bread), loaves baked at the same time,<br/> +Cast, ref: v., propose,<br/> +Cedle, schedule, note,<br/> +Cere, wax over, embalm,; cerel,<br/> +Certes, certainly,<br/> +Chafe, heat, decompose,; chafed, heated,<br/> +Chaflet, platform, scaffold,<br/> +Champaign, open country,<br/> +Chariot (Fr charette), cart,<br/> +Cheer, countenance, entertainment,<br/> +Chierte, dearness,<br/> +Chrism, anointing oil,<br/> +Clatter, talk confusedly,<br/> +Cleight, clutched,<br/> +Cleped, called,<br/> +Clipping, embracing,<br/> +Cog, small boat,<br/> +Cognisance, badge, mark of distinction,<br/> +Coif, head-piece,<br/> +Comfort, strengthen, help,<br/> +Cominal, common,<br/> +Complished, complete,<br/> +Con, know, be able, ; con thanlt, be grateful,<br/> +Conserve, preserve,<br/> +Conversant, abiding in,<br/> +Cording, agreement,<br/> +Coronal, circlet,<br/> +Cost, side,<br/> +Costed, kept up with,<br/> +Couched, lay,<br/> +Courage, encourage,<br/> +Courtelage, courtyard,<br/> +Covert, sheltered,<br/> +Covetise, covetousness,<br/> +Covin, deceit,<br/> +Cream, oil,<br/> +Credence, faith,<br/> +Croup, crupper,<br/> +Curteist, most courteous,<br/> +<br/> +Daffish, foolish,<br/> +Danger (in), under obligation to, in the power of,<br/> +Dawed, v tr., revived, intr. dawned,<br/> +Deadly, mortal, human,<br/> +Deal, part, portion,<br/> +Debate, quarrel, strife,<br/> +Debonair, courteous,<br/> +Deceivable, deceitful,<br/> +Defaded, faded,<br/> +Default, fault,<br/> +Defend, forbid,; defended,; forbidden,<br/> +Defoiled, trodden down, fouled, deflowered,<br/> +Degree (win the), rank, superiority,<br/> +Delibered, determined,<br/> +Deliverly, adroitly,<br/> +Departed, divided,<br/> +Departition, departure,<br/> +Dere, harm,<br/> +Descrive, describe,<br/> +Despoiled, stripped,<br/> +Detrenched, cut to pieces,<br/> +Devised, looked carefully at,<br/> +Devoir, duty, service,<br/> +Did off, doffed,<br/> +Dight, prepared,<br/> +Dindled, trembled,<br/> +Disadventure, misfortune,<br/> +Discover, reveal,<br/> +Disherited, disinherited,<br/> +Disparpled, scattered,<br/> +Dispenses, expenses,<br/> +Disperplyd, scattered,<br/> +Dispoiled, stripped,<br/> +Distained, sullied, dishonoured,<br/> +Disworship, shame,<br/> +Dole, gift of alms,<br/> +Dole, sorrow,<br/> +Domineth, dominates, rules,<br/> +Don, gift,<br/> +Doted, foolish,<br/> +Doubted, redoubtable,<br/> +Draughts, privities, secret interviews, recesses,<br/> +Drenched, drowned,<br/> +Dress, make ready,<br/> +Dressed up, raised,<br/> +Dretched, troubled in sleep,<br/> +Dretching, being troubled in sleep,<br/> +Dromounds, war vessels,<br/> +Dure, endure, last,; dured,; during,<br/> +Duresse, bondage, hardship,<br/> +Dwined, dwindled,<br/> +<br/> +Eased, entertained,<br/> +Eft, after, again,<br/> +Eftures, passages,<br/> +Embattled, ranged for battle,<br/> +Embushed, concealed in the woods,<br/> +Eme, uncle,<br/> +Empoison, poison,<br/> +Emprised, undertook,<br/> +Enbraid,<br/> +Enchafe, heat,; enchafed, heated,<br/> +Enchieve, achieve,<br/> +Endlong, alongside of,<br/> +Enewed, painted,<br/> +Enforce, constrain,<br/> +Engine, device,<br/> +Enow, enough,<br/> +Enquest, enterprise,<br/> +Ensured, assured,<br/> +Entermete, intermeddle,<br/> +Errant, wandering,<br/> +Estates, ranks,<br/> +Even hand, at an equality,<br/> +Evenlong, along,<br/> +Everych, each, every one,<br/> +<br/> +Faiter, vagabond,<br/> +Fare, sb., ado, commotion,<br/> +Faren, pp., treated,<br/> +Faute, lack,; fauted, lacked,<br/> +Fealty, oath of fidelity,<br/> +Fear, frighten,<br/> +Feute, trace, track,<br/> +Feuter, set in rest, couch,<br/> +Feutred, set in socket,<br/> +Fiaunce, affiance, promise,<br/> +Flang, flung,; rushed,<br/> +Flatling, prostrate,<br/> +Fleet, float,<br/> +Flemed, put to flight,<br/> +Flittered, fluttered,<br/> +Foiled, defeated, shamed,<br/> +Foined, thrust,<br/> +Foining, thrusting,<br/> +Foins, thrusts,<br/> +Foot-hot, hastily,<br/> +For-bled, spent with bleeding,<br/> +Force (no), no concern,<br/> +Fordeal, advantage,<br/> +Fordo, destroy,; fordid,<br/> +Forecast, preconcerted plot,<br/> +For-fared, worsted,<br/> +Forfend, forbid,<br/> +Forfoughten, weary with fighting,<br/> +Forhewn, hewn to pieces,<br/> +Forjousted, tired with jousting,<br/> +Forthinketh, repents,<br/> +Fortuned, happened,<br/> +Forward, vanguard,<br/> +Forwowmded, sorely wounded,<br/> +Free, noble,<br/> +Freshed,<br/> +Froward, away from,<br/> +<br/> +Gad, wedge or spike of iron,<br/> +Gainest, readiest,<br/> +Gar, cause,<br/> +Gart, compelled,<br/> +Gentily, like a gentleman,<br/> +Gerfalcon, a fine hawk,<br/> +Germane, closely allied,<br/> +Gest, deed, story,<br/> +Gisarm, halberd, battle-axe,<br/> +Glaive, sword,<br/> +Glasting, barking,<br/> +Glatisant, barking, yelping,<br/> +Gobbets, lumps,<br/> +Graithed, made ready,<br/> +Gree, degree, superiority,<br/> +Greed, pp., pleased, content,<br/> +Grescs, steps,<br/> +Grimly, ugly,<br/> +Grovelling, on his face,<br/> +Guerdonless, without reward,<br/> +Guise, fashion,<br/> +<br/> +Habergeon, hauberk with leggings attached,<br/> +Hair, a hair-shirt,<br/> +Hale and how, a sailor’s cry,<br/> +Halp, helped,<br/> +Halsed, embraced,<br/> +Halsing, embracing,<br/> +Handfast, betrothed,<br/> +Handsel, earnest-money,<br/> +Hangers, testicles,<br/> +Harbingers, messengers sent to prepare lodgings,<br/> +Harness, armour,<br/> +Hart of greese, fat deer,<br/> +Hauberk, coat of mail,<br/> +Haut, high, noble,<br/> +Hauteyn, haughty,<br/> +Heavy, sad,<br/> +Hete, command,<br/> +Hide, skin,<br/> +Hied, hurried,<br/> +High (on), aloud,<br/> +Higher hand, the uppermost,<br/> +Hight, called,<br/> +Hilled, covered, concealed,<br/> +Holden, held,<br/> +Holp, helped,<br/> +Holts, woods,<br/> +Hough-bone, back part of kneejoint,<br/> +Houselled, to be given the Eucharist,<br/> +Hoved, hovered, waited about,<br/> +Hurled, dashed, staggered,; hurling,<br/> +Hurtle, dash,<br/> +<br/> +Incontinent, forthwith,<br/> +Ind, dark blue,<br/> +Infellowship, join in fellowship,<br/> +In like, alike,<br/> +Intermit, interpose,<br/> +<br/> +Japer, jester,<br/> +Japes, jests,<br/> +Jesseraunt, a short cuirass,<br/> +<br/> +Keep, sb., care,<br/> +Keep, s., care, reck,<br/> +Kemps, champions,<br/> +Kind, nature,<br/> +Kindly, natural,<br/> +Knights parters, marshals,<br/> +Know, acknowledge,<br/> +Knowledging, acknowledgment, confession,<br/> +<br/> +Lain, conceal,<br/> +Langering, sauntering,<br/> +Lapped, took in her lap,<br/> +Large, generous,<br/> +Largeness, liberality,<br/> +Laton, latten, brass,<br/> +Laund, waste plain,<br/> +Layne, conceal,<br/> +Lazar-cot, leper-house,<br/> +Learn, teach,<br/> +Lears, cheeks,<br/> +Leaved, leafy,<br/> +Lecher, fornicator,<br/> +Leech, physician,<br/> +Leman, lover,<br/> +Let, caused to,<br/> +Let, hinder,<br/> +Lewdest, most ignorant,<br/> +Licours lecherous,<br/> +Lief, dear,<br/> +Liefer, more gladly,<br/> +Lieve, believe,<br/> +Limb-meal, limb from limb,<br/> +List, desire, pleasure,<br/> +Lithe, joint,<br/> +Longing unto, belonging to,<br/> +Long on (upon), because of,<br/> +Loos, praise,<br/> +Lotless, without a share,<br/> +Loveday, day for. settling disputes,<br/> +Loving, praising,<br/> +Lunes, leashes, strings,<br/> +Lusk, lubber,<br/> +Lusts, inclinations,<br/> +<br/> +Maims, wounds,<br/> +Makeless, matchless,<br/> +Makers, authors, poets,<br/> +Mas,ease, discomfort,<br/> +Mal engine, evil design,<br/> +Mal-fortune, ill-luck, mishap,<br/> +Marches, borders,<br/> +Mass-penny, offering at mass for the dead,<br/> +Matche old, machicolated, with holes for defence,<br/> +Maugre, sb., despite,<br/> +Measle, disease,<br/> +Medled, mingled,<br/> +Medley, melee, general encounter,<br/> +Meiny, retinue,<br/> +Mickle, much,<br/> +Minever, ermine,<br/> +Mischieved, hurt,<br/> +Mischievous, painful,<br/> +Miscorr fort, discomfort,<br/> +Miscreature, unbeliever,<br/> +Missay, revile,; missaid,<br/> +Mo, more,<br/> +More and less, rich and poor,<br/> +Motes, notes on a horn,<br/> +Mount~ lance, amount of, extent,<br/> +Much, great,<br/> +<br/> +Naked, unarmed,<br/> +Namely, especially,<br/> +Ne, nor,<br/> +Near-hand, nearly,; near,<br/> +Needly, needs, on your own compulsion,<br/> +Nesh, soft, tender,<br/> +Nigh-hand, nearly,<br/> +Nill, will not,<br/> +Nilt, will not,<br/> +Nis, ne is, is not,<br/> +Nist, ne wist, knew not,<br/> +Noblesse, nobleness,<br/> +Nobley, nobility, splendour,<br/> +Noised, reported,<br/> +Nold, would not,<br/> +Noseling, on his nose,<br/> +Not for then, nevertheless,<br/> +Notoyrly, notoriously,<br/> +Noyous, hurtful,<br/> +<br/> +Obeissance, obedience,<br/> +Or, before,<br/> +Orgule, haughtiness,<br/> +Orgulist, haughtiest,<br/> +Orgulite, pride, arrogance,<br/> +Orgulous, proud,<br/> +Other, or,<br/> +Ouches, jewels,<br/> +Ought, owned,<br/> +Outcept, except,<br/> +Outher, or,<br/> +Out-taken, except,<br/> +Over-evening, last night,<br/> +Overget, overtake,<br/> +Overhylled, covered,<br/> +Over-led, domineered over,<br/> +Overlong, the length of,<br/> +Overslip, pass,<br/> +Overthwart, adj., cross,<br/> +Overthwart, sb., mischance,<br/> +Overthwart and endlong, by the breadth and length,<br/> +<br/> +Painture, painting,<br/> +Paitrelles, breastplate of a horse,<br/> +Paltocks, short coats,<br/> +Parage, descent,<br/> +Pareil, like,<br/> +Passing, surpassingly,<br/> +Paynim, pagan,<br/> +Pensel, pennon,<br/> +Perclos, partition,<br/> +Perdy, par Dieu,<br/> +Perigot, falcon,<br/> +Perish, destroy,<br/> +Peron, tombstone,<br/> +Pight, pitched,<br/> +Pike, steal away,<br/> +Piked, stole,<br/> +Pillers, plunderers,<br/> +Pilling, plundering,<br/> +Pleasaunce, pleasure,<br/> +Plenour, complete,<br/> +Plump, sb., cluster,<br/> +Pointling, aiming,<br/> +Pont, bridge,<br/> +Port, gate,<br/> +Posseded, possessed,<br/> +Potestate, governor,<br/> +Precessours, predecessors,<br/> +Press, throng,<br/> +Pretendeth, belongs to,<br/> +Pricker, hard rider,<br/> +Pricking, spurring,<br/> +Prime, A.M.,<br/> +Prise, capture,<br/> +Puissance, power,<br/> +Purfle, trimming,<br/> +Purfled, embroidered,<br/> +Purvey, provide,<br/> +<br/> +Quarrels, arrowheads,<br/> +Questing, barking,<br/> +Quick, alive,<br/> +Quit, repaid,; acquitted, behaved,<br/> +<br/> +Raced (rased), tore,<br/> +Rack (of bulls), herd,<br/> +Raines, a town in Brittany famous for its cloth,<br/> +Ramping, raging,<br/> +Range, rank, station,<br/> +Ransacked, searched,<br/> +Rashed, fell headlong,<br/> +Rashing, rushing,<br/> +Rasing, rushing,<br/> +Rasure,<br/> +Raundon, impetuosity,<br/> +Rear, raise,<br/> +Rechate, note of recall,<br/> +Recomforted, comforted, cheered,<br/> +Recounter, rencontre, encounter,<br/> +Recover, rescue,<br/> +Rede, advise, ; sb., counsel,<br/> +Redounded, glanced back,<br/> +Religion, religious order,<br/> +Reneye, deny,<br/> +Report, refer,<br/> +Resemblaunt; semblance,<br/> +Retrayed, drew back,<br/> +Rightwise, rightly,<br/> +Rivage, shore,<br/> +Romed, roared,<br/> +Roted, practised,<br/> +Rove, cleft,<br/> +Rownsepyk, a branch,<br/> +<br/> +Sacring, consecrating,<br/> +Sad, serious,<br/> +Sadly, heartily, earnestly,<br/> +Salle, room,<br/> +Samite, silk stuff with gold or silver<br/> +threads,<br/> +Sangreal, Holy Grail,<br/> +Sarps, girdles,<br/> +Saw, proverb,<br/> +Scathes, harms, hurts,<br/> +icripture, writing,<br/> +Search, probe wounds,<br/> +Selar, canopy,<br/> +Semblable, like,<br/> +Semblant, semblance,<br/> +Sendal, fine cloth,<br/> +Sennight, week,<br/> +Servage, slavery,<br/> +Sewer, officer who set on dishes and tasted them,<br/> +Shaft-mon, handbreadth,<br/> +Shaw, thicket,<br/> +Sheef, thrust,<br/> +Sheer-Thursday, Thursday in Holy Week,<br/> +Shend, harm,<br/> +Shenship, disgrace,<br/> +Shent, undone, blamed,<br/> +Shour, attack,<br/> +Shrew, rascal,<br/> +Shrewd, knavish,<br/> +Sib, akin to,<br/> +Sideling, sideways,<br/> +Siege, seat,<br/> +Signified, likened,<br/> +Siker, sure,<br/> +Sikerness, assurance,<br/> +Sith, since,<br/> +Sithen, afterwards, since,<br/> +Skift, changed,<br/> +Slade, valley,<br/> +Slake, glen,<br/> +Soil (to go to), hunting term for taking the water,<br/> +Sonds, messages,<br/> +Sort, company,<br/> +Sperd, bolted,<br/> +Spere, ask, inquire,<br/> +Spered, asked,<br/> +Sperhawk, sparrowhawk,<br/> +Sprent, sprinkled,<br/> +Stale, station,<br/> +Stark, thoroughly,<br/> +Stead, place,<br/> +Stert, started, rose quickly,<br/> +Steven, appointment,; steven ser. appointment made,<br/> +Steven, voice,<br/> +Stigh, path,<br/> +Stilly, silently,<br/> +Stint, fixed revenue,<br/> +Stonied, astonished,; became confused,<br/> +Stour, battle,<br/> +Strain, race, descent,<br/> +Strait, narrow,<br/> +Straked, blew a horn,<br/> +Sue, pursue,<br/> +Sued, pursued,<br/> +Surcingles, saddle girths,<br/> +Swang, swung,<br/> +Sweven, dream,<br/> +Swough, sound of wind,<br/> +<br/> +Talent, desire,<br/> +Tallages, taxes,<br/> +Tallies, taxes,<br/> +Tamed, crushed,<br/> +Tatches, qualities,<br/> +Tene, sorrow,<br/> +Term, period of time,<br/> +Thilk, that same,<br/> +Tho, then,<br/> +Thrang, pushed,<br/> +Thrulled, pushed,<br/> +Till, to,<br/> +To-brast, burst,<br/> +To-fore, before,<br/> +To-morn, to-morrow,<br/> +Took, gave,<br/> +To-rove, broke up,<br/> +To-shivered, broken to pieces,<br/> +Traced, advanced and retreated,<br/> +Trains, devices, wiles,<br/> +Trasing, pressing forward,<br/> +Travers (met at), came across,<br/> +Traverse, slantwise,<br/> +Traversed, moved sideways,<br/> +Tray, grief,<br/> +Treatise, treaty,<br/> +Tree, timber,<br/> +Trenchant, cutting, sharp,<br/> +Tres:, hunting term,<br/> +Truage, tribute,<br/> +Trussed, packed,<br/> +<br/> +Ubblie, wafer, Host,<br/> +Umbecast, cast about,<br/> +Umberere, the part of the helmet which shaded the eyes,<br/> +Umbre, shade,<br/> +Unavised, thoughtlessly,<br/> +Uncouth, strange,<br/> +Underne, - A.M.,<br/> +Ungoodly, rudely,<br/> +Unhappy, unlucky,<br/> +Unhilled, uncovered,<br/> +Unr the, scarcely,<br/> +Unsicker, unstable,<br/> +Unwimpled, uncovered,<br/> +Unwrast, untwisted, unbound,<br/> +Upright, flat on the back,<br/> +Up-so-down, upside down,<br/> +Ure, usage,<br/> +Utas, octave of a festival,<br/> +Utterance, uttermost,<br/> +<br/> +Varlet, servant,<br/> +Venery, hunting,<br/> +Ven ails, breathing holes,<br/> +Villain, man of low birth,<br/> +Visors, the perforated parts of helmets,<br/> +Voided, slipped away from,<br/> +<br/> +Wagging, shaking,<br/> +Waited, watched,<br/> +Waits, watches,<br/> +Wallop, gallop,<br/> +Wanhope, despair,<br/> +Wap, ripple,<br/> +Ware, aware,<br/> +Warison, reward,<br/> +Warn, forbid, refuse,<br/> +Weeds, garments,<br/> +Weltered, rolled about,<br/> +Wend, thought,<br/> +Wer-wolf, a man turned into a wolf by magic,<br/> +Where, whereas,<br/> +Wide-where, over wide space,<br/> +Wield, possess, have power over,<br/> +Wield himself, come to himself,<br/> +Wight, brave, strong,<br/> +Wightly, swiftly,<br/> +Wildsome, desolate,<br/> +Wimpled, with the head covered,<br/> +Win, make way,<br/> +Wite, v., blame,<br/> +Within-forth, on the inside,<br/> +Without-forth, on the outside,<br/> +Wittiest, cleverest,<br/> +Wittily, cleverly,<br/> +Witting, knowledge,<br/> +Wold or nold, would or would not,<br/> +Wonder, adj., wondrous,<br/> +Wonder, adv., wondrously,<br/> +Wonderly, wonderfully,<br/> +Wood, mad,<br/> +Woodness, madness,<br/> +Wood shaw, thicket of the wood,<br/> +Worship, honour,<br/> +Worshipped, cause to be honoured,<br/> +Worts, roots,<br/> +Wot, know,<br/> +Wrack, destruction,<br/> +Wroken, wreaked,<br/> +Wrothe, twisted,<br/> +<br/> +Yede, ran,<br/> +Yelden, yielded,<br/> +Yerde, stick, stem,<br/> +Yode, went,<br/> +Yolden, yielded,<br/> +Y-wis, certainly,<br/> +<br/> +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1251 ***</div> +</body> + +</html> + + + + |